Oxford Blood (The Cavaliers: Book One)
Page 21
“You shouldn’t let him charm you,” Tom said as he walked over to join Harriet. “Surely you should have learnt your lesson last week out on the Steele Walk.”
Well at least he consistently shows me attention, Harriet wanted to shout. At least he’ll hold me when I’ve had a horrific evening instead of ignoring me all night and then lecturing me.
Instead, she said, “That was a one off mistake. He’s been really sweet ever since.”
“Well that’s hardly surprising,” said Tom with a scowl. “He finds out who your parents are, and suddenly he’s perfect boyfriend material.”
Harriet refused to give him the satisfaction of knowing that she’d worried about that herself.
“I just don’t want you to get hurt. I think you’re safe physically now, but mentally is a different matter.”
They walked along St Aldate’s in silence for a while. Harriet stared straight ahead, trying to compose herself and get her thoughts in order. Whenever she relented and glanced at Tom, he still looked furious.
Harriet broke the silence as they turned onto the High Street. “I guess I owe you an apology. Crazy as it sounds, I suppose you were telling the truth about vampires. I’m ready to listen now.”
Tom took her arm. “All right, where do you want me to start?”
There were a hundred things that she wanted to know. “How old are you?” she managed finally.
“I was turned in 1925, at which time I was twenty. It happened here in Oxford, actually. I was lucky enough to be young and rich during one of the best periods in history to be either. Then I fell in with the Cavaliers, and I have remained young and rich ever since.”
Harriet’s eyes widened and Tom smiled ruefully in response. “Goodness, you look as though you think that’s impressive. I’m definitely amongst the younger ones.”
Harriet thought about the 1920s, one of her favourite periods of history. The idea that he had lived through them and had that glorious interwar experience made her head spin. He must have been born before her great-grandmother.
“So if that makes you young, how old is old?” she asked.
Tom paused. “As far as I’m aware, Augustine is the oldest vampire left by quite some centuries.”
“The oldest? When was he turned?”
“It happened in about 150 BC whilst he was away in some outpost of the Roman Empire. He’s managed to be a powerful figure every century since, disappearing for a few decades before returning to centre stage with a new identity - patrician, warlord, bishop - whatever seemed appropriate for the time and place. He’s always managed to integrate himself into society and to obtain blood by a combination of cunning, charm and light mind control.
“It’s basically what we all try to do, but he’s a real master at it. He’s built up enough money, skills and experience over the centuries to make anything possible.”
Harriet’s mind reeled. She could just about comprehend the idea of Tom being born in the 1900s, but her stepfather had already been ancient by the time of Jesus’ birth.