by Zoë Fox
Lucas sat there for a moment, quiet, just looking at Alex as if seeing her for the first time. Her face was flushed from the passion she had obviously felt for what she’d said. It suited her.
“What?” She asked, feeling awkward under the intensity of his gaze.
“You have very insightful moments, from time to time. Has anyone ever told you such before?”
“No,” she smiled. “But they should. It’s hard not getting enough credit.”
“I’ll keep that in mind,” he said, returning her smile.
Chapter Seven
“This is nothing short of a fairy tale,” Lucas said in disgust. He closed the book in front of him and pushed the desk chair back, as if to distance himself from the offending text. “A volume of half-truths at best, intended to garner loyalty from a nation’s young.”
Alex looked up from her own reading material. “You were out cold for over a century. How would you know?”
Lucas had requested that she bring him an easily digested guide to what had happened in the world since 1912. Having nothing else at her disposal, she’d shown up with her 11th grade history textbook.
“The beginning alone is enough to raise my suspicions. To hear the writers of this…this…thing tell it, the country’s founding fathers were close to sainthood. Here,” he gestured for her to take it from him. “Please get it out of my sight.”
Alex suppressed a laugh. “That bad, huh?”
“Propaganda, madam, and nothing more. No self-respecting teacher could pass along the information scribbled upon those loathsome pages without losing a part of their soul.” He watched as she slid the textbook under the couch. “And I have yet to even begin speaking of the flaws in its formatting.”
She’d never seen him this passionate before. A week had passed since she’d gotten him to admit to being a vampire, a fact he had, so far, been reluctant to talk about. “Don’t you think you’re being a little over dramatic?”
“Most certainly not! The focus of that atrocity is recitation and memorization. More attention is placed on so called ‘vocabulary’ words than on the importance of all the concepts it barely touches combined.” His brown eyes reflected the candlelight, shining with his anger. “It is a surprise the entire society as a whole has not devolved into grunting, brainless wretches.”
She giggled. “So, you’ve met my classmates, huh?”
“I’m serious, Alex, the ink on those pages went completely to waste. The authors, and I use that word lightly, ought to be drawn and quartered!” He insisted.
“I’m just glad there’s something out there that pisses you off more than I do.” She grinned.
A smile slowly began to cross his face. “Forgive me. I do appreciate your efforts, but I take knowledge very seriously.”
“I’ve noticed.” She closed her book, placing it on the couch beside her, and stretched. “So, what gives?”
“Excuse me?” He’d left his seat at the desk and walked over to the bookshelves, still agitated.
“Why are you so interested in the rapid replay of the last century? You’re a vampire! It’s not like any of it affects you.”
“It most certainly does! I have a vested interest in all things related to the academy, especially those of historical relevance.” He seemed shocked that she’d asked.
“But why?”
“Because I, madam, am a historian.” He stood up a little straighter, a fact Alex wouldn’t have thought possible.
“Really?” She asked, pulling her knees up to her chest so she could rest her chin on them. She liked listening to him. Aside from having a strong, rich voice, he seemed to lack the need for small talk, something Alex had never been good at. Not once had he asked her something trivial, like how she felt about the weather. The few times he had inquired about her day, he had appeared genuinely interested. Although his speech was often wordy, he didn’t seem to waste a syllable. If he had nothing to say, then he sat in silence, leaving Alex to entertain herself.
He nodded. “Why else would one choose immortality, if not to dedicate themselves to a cause of great importance?”
She rolled her eyes. “I don’t know. To never have to grow old or die? To be powerful? To amass great wealth? Oh, or to get chicks?!”
He stared at her for a moment. “Those are very superficial reasons to choose to live eternally.”
“I don’t know,” she shrugged. “I guess it depends on what gets your rocks off. So, I guess, for you, it’s learning things?”
“Not just learning,” he corrected. “Contributing to the already existing body of knowledge, disproving theoretical ideas, coming up with new ones. I myself have had my findings published a multitude of times.”
He was bragging and she could tell. Although he was obviously telling her the truth, she got the feeling he expected her to be impressed. She understood, at least in some regard, the significance of what he was saying. Still, she couldn’t pass up the chance to tease him.
“Hmm,” she forced a yawn. “So, is that a big deal?”
His eyes widened in surprise. “You must be joking!”
She stared up at him and innocently shook her head.
“Madam, I have devoted my entire life—a handful of mortal existences—to one thing: Knowledge!”
“Relax, Luke,” She said, noticing he was upset in earnest. “I was joking.”
He looked away, a faint blush touching his cheek, a small proof that he’d recently fed.
“You just looked so pretentious that I couldn’t resist.” She smiled, showing she meant no harm.
The right corner of his mouth lifted. “I guess I do take myself too seriously on occasion.”
“Try all the time,” she responded without venom. “But, honestly, a historian?”
He nodded. “More of a social historian and certainly nothing like the dilettantes responsible for that idiotic school book you brought me.” He sat on the sofa, turned slightly so he could face her, leaving a chair’s length between them. “I study behaviors, how different elements affect societies, how people react to the changing world around them. People fascinate me.”
You fascinate me. The thought had crept into his head, unbidden, but once there it was hard to shake. A strand of her hair had fallen across her face, but she didn’t seem to notice. Her emerald eyes showed her interest in his words. Although flattered by her attention, that wasn’t what made her so captivating. She had her own mind, often making her unpredictable. She was caring enough to try to assist him in learning the changes the world had made while he slumbered; yet he was sure that if he had even once neglected to show appreciation, she would have blessed him out so badly his ears might have bled. She had a quick mind, not resisting any urge to express it, thankfully never attempting to play dumb as he had witnessed many women do in mixed company. Her level of honesty was refreshing.
“What?” She asked, rubbing her cheek. “Do I have something on my face?”
“No.”
“Then what are you staring at?”
“I apologize. I was lost in thought.”
“About what?”
He made a small noncommittal noise.
A sound from the room above stopped her from pressing. Lucas jumped to his feet, standing at attention. Fangs bared, he stood between Alex and the door. She was shocked by the speed and violence of his reaction.
The yellow beam of a flashlight glowed on the opposite wall.
“Show yourself.” Lucas growled right before the intruder appeared in the doorway.
Short in stature, with messy black hair, the chubby faced boy stood paralyzed in between the two rooms, a look of horror frozen on his face.
“Sean?” Alex stood, putting her hand on Lucas’ shoulder, hoping to keep him still.
He didn’t seem to notice, taking a step toward the teen.
Sean took one look at the larger man, noticed the fangs, and began to sway on his feet. The room spun as he fainted to the floor.
Chapter Eight
“Oh, my God! What were you going to do? Eat him?” Alex yelled as Lucas lifted Sean’s inert body onto the couch.
“Forgive me madam,” he drawled sarcastically. “I had no idea you would be receiving callers at my place of residence.” Although he had already become comfortable with sharing his space with Alex, knowing that another was aware of where he slept during the day made him decidedly uncomfortable.
“I didn’t know he was coming!” She exclaimed. “I haven’t even talked to him since the night I cracked my head on the steps.” She glanced over at her friend. “Still, you didn’t have to try to scare him to death.”
“I was attempting no such thing,” he snapped back. “I had no way of knowing he was a friend of yours.”
“Just go sit over there,” she said, pointing at his desk chair. “I don’t need him having a heart attack when he comes around.”
Lucas glared at her. Sometimes he could hardly believe her nerve. ‘This is my sanctuary,’ he thought as he took a seat. ‘I have a right to protect it however I see fit!’
“Sean,” Alex called as she bent down to his level. “Earth to Sean.”
No response.
“Sean!” She yelled. “Can you hear me?”
“No, but the rest of creation certainly can,” Lucas continued to glare at her.
“Alex?” Sean’s eyes began to open.
“Thank God! You’re okay.”
“My head hurts.” His voice held a dream-like quality.
“You hit your head, genius. What do you expect?”
“Who was that?”
“A friend of mine. Now, what are you doing here?”
“I followed you.” He sat up, rubbing his temples. He kept one eye warily on the still fuming Lucas.
“I’ve been here for like two hours!”
“I know.” He started to nod, but it only made his head hurt worse. “I’ve been outside the entire time.” A reddish blush crept up his neck until his face was deep pink. “I, um, I was trying to get the guts up to come inside.”
“It took you that long?” Lucas asked, one eyebrow raised.
“Be nice!” Alex demanded, glancing at Lucas, her eyes blazing.
“Alex, I’m not as brave as you.” Sean started, trying to explain. “And I’m sorry. I wanted to show you that I could be, so that, maybe, I don’t know, you’d forgive me for the other night. I know I should have come after you, but I was terrified.” He was having trouble breathing.
“We’ve noticed,” Lucas mumbled.
Alex ignored him. “Sean, I forgive you. Where’s your inhaler?”
He fumbled with the pocket of his jean jacket, retrieving the yellow apparatus. Putting it to his mouth, he delivered two pumps and took a deep breath.
“Feel better?”
He nodded.
“Ok.” She turned to Lucas so that she could properly introduce the two of them. “Lucas, this is my friend, Sean. Sean this is Lucas.”
“Charmed.” Lucas’ voice was still edgy, betraying the fact that he felt the complete opposite.
“What are you?” Sean asked, confused. He vaguely remembered fangs and a growled command.
“That, sir, is none of you—”
“He’s a vampire.” Alex interrupted him.
Lucas’ eyes widened. “That is not information you should be handing out to every hapless fool that wanders in.”
“Oh, relax!” Alex rolled her eyes. “Sean, won’t tell anyone. If he did, he knows I’d break his arm. Right, Sean?”
Sean looked like he was going to pass out again.
“Hey, stick with us, buddy.” Alex slapped his face gently a few more times. “I think I should take you home.”
Sean nodded, whimpering.
“Sorry,” Alex said, turning to Lucas. “I guess we’ll have to finish that conversation another time.”
He nodded curtly, still feeling a little sore at the way she’d handled the situation.
“Come on, Sean.” She lifted his arm over her shoulder, bracing him in case he passed out again.
Chapter Nine
“You okay now?” Alex asked as they emerged from inside the mausoleum. The breeze had picked up during the course of the last two hours and she hoped the cold air would help Sean get himself together.
“I think so.” He removed his arm from around Alex’s shoulders.
“Good,” she rubbed her neck to get rid of her tension that had built up. “You were getting heavy. The least you could’ve done was try to move your feet.”
She straightened her jacket, wondering how long Lucas would stay mad at her. He was being unreasonable. She glanced over at her friend. Sean was truly harmless, almost pathetically so.
They walked in silence for a few moments.
“Seriously, you were joking in there, right?” He asked, turning to look at her.
“About what?”
“Come off it, Alex! You know exactly what I’m talking about,” he insisted. “About that guy being a vampire.”
“Oh, that. Nope. He’s the real deal. Sleeps in a coffin. Drinks blood. I don’t know all the particulars, but you get the idea.”
“How is that even possible?”
“I don’t know,” she shrugged. “But I guess over a long enough span of time, anything is possible.”
“Yeah, sure, whatever…but vampires?”
She rolled her eyes. “I think you missed the keyword ‘anything’ in that sentence.”
“What about werewolves? Do you think they’re real, too?” The color drained from his face again.
“Maybe,” she thought for a minute. “I mean, almost every culture throughout the world has had a shapeshifter myth.”
“Are you serious? I mean, but, how?”
He was starting to get on her nerves. “What do I look like? An expert on the supernatural? Get over it already, Sean.”
He took a deep breath. His mind reeled. As much as he would have liked to just forget about it, he couldn’t. “What about the Boogeyman?”
“Oh, come on! Now you’re just being ridiculous.”
“You realize,” he gulped. “That if vampires are real, then this could mean that all the monsters we were afraid of as kids could be.” He paused. “That means our parents lied to us.”
She rolled her eyes again. “You’re just now realizing this?”
He ignored her. “I may never sleep again.”
“Be my guest,” she said, yawning. “But I’m starting to get tired.”
They had turned the corner to his block. Alex always marveled at how their houses were separated by only a few streets, yet the neighborhoods were so different. Though the houses were all built around the same time, only the one’s on her street showed their age. Wear and tear was apparent. A few storm gutters hung on by sheer stubbornness and the yards were overrun by weeds. The homes on Sean’s street were a different story. Every last one seemed to have a brand-new coat of paint, the grass was always cut and there was an SUV in every driveway. It was the perfect image of suburban bliss, which made Alex feel awkward, like she didn’t belong. This was the reason she usually met Sean at her place.
“You probably shouldn’t go back there anymore,” Sean said once they were almost at his house.
“And why is that?” She asked, stopping on the side of the street, forcing him to turn and look at her.
“Alex, he’s a vampire! He’s dangerous!”
She stared at him, knowing he was being protective, but his logic irked her. “I don’t even know if you call that racism or speciesism, but it sure sounds like prejudice to me.”
“I’m being serious!”
“Yeah,” she responded, her hands on her hips, “so am I.”
“He could hurt you,” Sean pleaded with her.
“He isn’t like that!” She insisted.
“How would you know? You’ve only known him for a little over a week.”
“He hasn’t hurt me yet.”
“Hell! Vampires drink blood. You�
�re a hamburger to him.” He needed her to understand. She always did crazy, ridiculous things, in his opinion, but this was the worst. ‘Sometimes,’ he thought, ‘it’s like she has no common sense.’
“Says the guy who didn’t even check on me while I was unconscious,” she snapped back.
He looked hurt. “And I said I was sorry for that. But this is different. He could kill you! You don’t need to be around something like that.”
“Sean, you do realize your mother tells you all the time that I’m not the kind of person you should want to be friends with, right?”
He sighed. “That’s not the same thing!”
“Really? Isn’t it? In both situations someone else is trying to make another person’s decisions for them, without any regard to what they want.”
He stood quiet for a moment, refusing to argue with her. He tried another approach. “Have you been watching the news recently?”
“How does that have anything to do with this?”
“Please, just answer the question.”
“No,” she sighed. “Kirk went all parental and told Toad he couldn’t watch it anymore. He’s been around almost every night since, so neither of us have really had a chance.”
“Okay, well, did you hear about that girl whose head was chopped off that the cops found the other day.”
She nodded. “Yeah, I think everybody has. That whole deal is why Kirk banned the news in the first place.”
“Yeah, well, they found another body today.”
She shrugged. “So what?”
“Alex, think about it? They were both completely drained of blood. What does that sound like to you?”
“Are you implying what I think you are?”
He nodded. “It fits. Two bodies, no blood, one vampire.”
“I’m not going to stand here and listen to this,” she said. Turning in the opposite direction of his house, she started walking home. She knew it wasn’t Lucas. Deep down, in her heart, she just knew it. What had he said about killing? That he found it ‘distasteful’ or something like that.
“What else could explain it?” He asked, following her. “Tell me that.”