Life in Moonlight: The Primigenio Tales: Book 1

by Alison Beightol

  “No.”

  “Amelie, please let me in for a few minutes. I have the right to know what she told you.”

  She unlocked the door but didn’t open it. Eamon opened the door, took a few steps inside and looked at her. Amelie stared down at the floorboards, avoiding his gaze.

  “I guess it is a myth that vampires need to be invited in.”

  “No, that’s true, but you invited me in long ago, darling.” A large silver cross hanging around her neck caught his attention. “Wearing a cross for protection is a myth,” he said with a sad smile. “I promise I won’t hurt you.”

  She nodded and continued to glance around the room. “I don’t know what you can say.”

  “What did she tell you?”

  “The truth. Actually, she showed me.”

  He scanned her neck for any new marks, fearful that Lauryl had taken her blood. He only saw the fading bruise from his bite.

  “Anything else?”

  “Wasn’t that enough?” she asked. Amelie stopped looking around the living room and faced him.

  “I would never, ever hurt you,” Eamon said. He wanted to reach for her to comfort her, but he knew that if he did her fear would increase.

  “What about the other night?”

  “Do you mean when I took your blood?”

  “Yes.” Amelie reached up to her neck. She touched the bruise gently, pressed her fingers on it for a few seconds, and let her hand fall back to her side.

  “I didn’t hurt you. I did that so we could be together,” he said.

  She shook her head. “You’re trying to kill me.”

  “No. If I had wanted, I could have turned you and not given you a choice.”

  “Like Lauryl.”

  Her reply stung him. Again Lauryl was reaching out and causing misery. “Yes. But I don’t want you to hate me. I don’t want…I can’t have the same thing happen with you.”

  “I don’t know what to say,” she whispered.

  Eamon reached into his pocket and removed the ring box. “This is for you.” He placed it on the sofa table. “I’m giving you a choice. If you choose not to be with me, I swear I won’t harm you. I’ll leave Tampa and you’ll never see me again. But please don’t let Lauryl influence your decision.”

  His rage and sadness battled beneath his calm exterior. He stared down at the ring box, hating the situation he was now in. He hated Lauryl even more for putting him in it. Why was being a vampire such a terrible thing? he wondered. There were those who didn’t think it was so terrible. Lauryl’s club proved that. “Life with me would not be as you think. And don’t believe what those tell you.” Eamon pointed over to the small stack of vampire books she had been reading. “As you can see, vampires aren’t myths or folk tales.”

  Amelie sighed and took a timid step toward him. “I have questions.”

  Eamon ached to touch her. “I wish you would ask them. I’m here. I want to answer them.”

  “Not now. I need to think.”

  “This isn’t an academic problem, Amelie.”

  “I know, but I want to make my decision on my own.”

  He pressed his lips together. “I don’t suppose you could give me an idea about which way you are leaning?”

  She smiled. “I’ll let you know my decision either way.” Amelie picked up the stuffed penguin and hugged it.

  Her smile eased his mind slightly and allowed him to relax. He took a step toward her, the smile withered, and the frightened expression returned. Her mistrust of him, even if it was fleeting, wounded him. Another surge of anger toward Lauryl pulsed through him. Eamon turned away from her.

  “Do you love me, Amelie?” he asked as he walked to the door.

  Tears welled up in her eyes. “I’ve never loved anyone as much as I love you.”

  “I feel the same way. I’m in love with you.” Eamon hesitated at the door for a few seconds. “I just want you to know that,” he said and closed the door behind him.

  * * *

  Amelie stared at the door. Part of her wanted to bolt it shut and part of her wanted to throw it open and run out after him. Now she knew Lauryl caused the nightmare she had. She didn’t know how, but it made sense. Did they really drink baby blood? She had no idea. Only he could tell her that, and she wasn’t ready to ask or hear the answer.

  How do you possibly decide if you want to be a vampire? Choosing to be a vampire wasn’t like choosing to be a democrat or a teacher or something like that. Once you made your choice that was it. Moreover, what was the thought process that got you to your decision? Did you weigh the pros and cons, or did you go with what your heart told you?

  Amelie backed up to her sofa and sat down. From the corner of her eye she noticed the velvet ring box sitting on the table. She picked it up and held it between her hands. It undoubtedly had a diamond ring in it, which meant one thing; he planned to ask her to marry him.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

  Gosh Eamon, I Want to be Like You When I Grow Up

  On the brief drive back to his house, Eamon called Marta but only got her voice mail. She was probably spending time with Isabelle and didn’t want to be disturbed. When I need you most, you’re unavailable, he thought. He fired off a text message, instructing her to call him immediately.

  His thoughts shifted to Lauryl, or Lilith, as she called herself at that ridiculous club. What a perfect name, the name of the willful and problematic first wife of Adam. Lauryl was indeed that. Even when he wasn’t searching for her, she still managed to reach out and cause mayhem. Was that her special talent as a vampire?

  The possibility of losing Amelie settled in his mind. She might not choose to be with him. The thought ripped through him. He’d be alone. Well, not truly alone. Marta would fawn over him and continue to send over a non-stop string of beautiful women to take his mind off of Amelie. They wouldn’t help. They wouldn’t be the little gothic doll he loved. He tightened his grip on the steering wheel and floored the accelerator. His thoughts flew as fast as the car as he raced past his house down Bayshore Boulevard.

  The intensity of his potential loss was more stunning than what he’d felt with Irina. Possibly because with Irina it was a final death. She was gone forever and, while it was painful, he accepted that. With Amelie, he’d have to live with the knowledge that she was out there living her life without him. That was unacceptable, but what if he was forced to accept it? He didn’t know if he could.

  How was it that everyone around him had a companion who loved them? He appeared to be destined not to have that. Even when he truly loved someone, he couldn’t have them. Or that was how it seemed.

  He sped down Bayshore Boulevard until he reached Gandy Boulevard and turned around. His thoughts calmed and he drove back to his house at a sensible speed.

  Eamon jumped out of his car and stalked to the door, ignoring the annoying vampire presence that lingered close by. This one was too close. He stopped and gripped the key ring in his hand. He knew the marker well. It was Lauryl.

  “I know it’s you, Lauryl,” he said as he resumed his approach to the door.

  “Nice car,” she said, referring to the Porsche.

  “Thank you. The dealership thought I would enjoy it.” He spun the key ring around his finger as he walked along.

  “How was your reunion?” she asked from the shadows.

  “You know God damn well how it was.” Eamon turned around. Fury rolled through his body. After all these months, she was here in front of him. His shoulders tensed and his right hand curled into a fist. He stared into her eyes, thinking that she would back away or lower her head in submission, but she didn’t. She simply stood there.

  “It was the only way that I could hurt you.” She leaned against his car.

  “Why?” he demanded in a loud voice. He pointed to the front door. “Inside.”

  “You can’t order me around like that, Eamon.” The skirt of the light-weight, cotton floral dress she wore blew in the warm breeze and a white satin ribbon kept he
r auburn hair off her face.

  Eamon found her innocent appearance both charming and nauseating. He grit his teeth. “Won’t you please come inside, Lauryl? I’d like to talk to you.”

  Lauryl pushed off the car. “You’re much more attractive when you’re nice.”

  Eamon trailed after her into the house. Lauryl stopped in the foyer and folded her arms across her chest as she checked out the furnishings. He brushed past her into the living room, still unable to believe that she had the nerve to show up now. He poured himself a drink and sat down. Without looking at her, he nodded to the chair opposite him.

  “Sit down and tell me why you are here because I cannot think of a single reason for you to show yourself to me.”

  “You mean you aren’t happy to see me?” Lauryl took a seat in the chair he pointed to.

  Happy? Hardly, he thought. “I might have been pleased a few months ago, but not now.”

  “Oh, I think you are,” she said, inching her skirt up over her knees. “After all, I am your offspring.” As she stared at him, she sniffed the air. “I can smell your girlfriend.”

  Eamon raised his eyebrows and smiled. “Can you?” He was accustomed to Amelie’s lingering floral scent but took a second to appreciate it.

  “She’s pretty, Eamon. Smart. Big boobs. That’s what you like.” Her lips twisted in a smirk. “She looks…fat to me.”

  “You’re jealous,” he muttered. “I don’t think she is the least bit fat.” The two stared at each other for a few minutes before he spoke again. “Again, why are you here?”

  “Oh, I’ve been around. We’ve seen and felt each other.” She tipped her head to the side. “Like the other night.”

  “Yes, the other night. Was that the final straw?”

  She sighed and closed her eyes for a second. “Yes.” She opened her eyes and stared down at her pink polished toes. “I hate the connection I have to you. I hate that no matter where I go or what I do, my mind goes back to you.”

  He smirked before draining his glass. “It’s our blood bond, albeit a blood bond you betrayed. I told you that you would always be a part of me.”

  “That doesn’t mean that I have to like it.”

  “Really? You’re capitalizing on our bond with your club. You used my name to get what you wanted. You’ve improved and honed your abilities to a point that astounds both Marta Jimenez de Castillo and me.”

  She dropped her head back against the chair back. “I didn’t mean being a vampire. I meant being connected to you.”

  “As long as I live, you’ll be part of me.” He tapped his finger on the side of the empty glass. “I always knew that your skills would blossom.”

  “They come naturally. What do you want me to do?” She shifted in the chair and sighed.

  “I want you to tell me why you did that to Amelie?” Eamon stood up and walked over to refill his glass.

  “I told you,” she said. “I wanted to hurt you. To make you feel a little of what I’ve felt.” Her green eyes narrowed at him.

  “I think you hurt me when you vanished. You hurt me when I found out about the God damn doctor!” Eamon stopped and pulled back on his growing anger. He rubbed the back of his neck. “Believe me if you wanted to hurt me, you got your wish!”

  “You weren’t too hurt. You found yourself a nice, young girlfriend that you’ve marked to be your next victim. She seems more receptive to your needs of a robot companion. I’m surprised you missed me.”

  “Was that what this was? Some sort of ridiculous test for me? I didn’t know where you were or if you were safe. As your maker, I was devastated. Whether you believe it or not, I feel an affectionate connection to you. Maybe not love like I thought it would grow to but I do feel something. And yes, I found someone else, someone who loves me.”

  “Not anymore.”

  Her words stabbed into him. He set the glass down and spun around. He closed the gap between them with a few strides and loomed over her. The urge to grab her by the throat pushed at him but he stuffed it down. “I wish I had listened to Irina. I don’t know what I saw in you.”

  Lauryl flinched and pushed back in the chair to get away. “You couldn’t have me in a normal way. I never even gave you a second look that night I met you in Seattle! And then in Northup, you always had to semi-glamour me for me to pay any attention you.” She shook her head. “You were so hung up on the chase and the conquest that you never even gave a thought to whether or not we would get along.”

  Eamon walked to the window. “I should have never bothered with you.”

  “I wish! Your selfishness made you do it. Now, you’ve made a mistake that you can’t fix.”

  He stared out across the dark waters of Tampa Bay toward the city. “Don’t be too certain of that. There’s never a mistake that I can’t fix.” The anger he had been nursing began diffuse with each passing second. He knew he couldn’t kill her. She was his only direct offspring left. He placed his hand on the window pane and leaned forward. He could feel her thoughts racing, wondering whether he was going to kill her and wondering why she came here in the first place.

  He closed his eyes for a moment and gathered his thoughts.

  “I know what you’re thinking, but you don’t need to be afraid of me. I’m not going to hurt you.” Eamon turned around. Lauryl was a vampire of his blood and would have been a companion if he’d understood what Lauryl needed. But that was irrelevant now. Still, he had to protect her, no matter what. After standing silent for a moment he chuckled.

  “Why are you laughing?” she asked cautiously.

  “I’m laughing at my life,” he said, now laughing harder. His phone vibrated in his pocket. “Yes, Marta?”

  “Eamon, I got your text. I was otherwise occupied,” she said with a giggle.

  “Yes, I thought so. This is a bad time for me.” He cut his eyes at Lauryl.

  “Amelie is there?”

  “No.”

  “Not L….” she stopped before saying her name.

  “Exactly. I’ll call you later.” He hung up before Marta could say any more.

  “You love that iPhone,” Lauryl pointed to the phone in his hand. “You love it like a teenager does.”

  “So?” he said before replacing it in his pocket.

  “It just doesn’t fit. You’re nothing like what people think a vampire would be.”

  “Should I be writing with a quill and ink pot? Not have electricity?”

  She smiled and relaxed. “No, you’re fine the way you are. Your whole look is dead on. You blend. I guess that’s how you’ve lived so long.”

  Eamon returned her smile but then his expression became serious. “I’m curious about something, Lauryl. How were you able to hide yourself so well from me? Not only me but Marta as well.”

  Lauryl pushed back in her chair and sighed. “When we were in London, I met some vampires on Wardour Street who told me all the things you didn’t.”

  “Is that right?” He recalled his misguided theory that if he withheld information about her powers as a vampire, she’d remain dependent on him.

  She sat forward. “You’re like a rock star to vampires. You do know that, don’t you?”

  “So I’ve been told,” Eamon replied.

  “Vampires bow to you big time. When you were at Bathory, the entire place practically vibrated from your energy and the stir you caused. Then when you would come with Marta, vampires would pour into the place. I mean they were scared shitless of your power but you still brought them in.” She pulled her legs up to her chest. “And I could feel you calling to me.”

  “Yet you never answered,” he said.

  “No, I couldn’t. I mean, I could, but I didn’t want to.”

  Eamon studied her face for a moment. She really didn’t want to be with him. She preferred being anywhere but with him. He could have kept her beside him one thousand years and she would have been unhappy. His heart sank. The only reason she was here now was their blood bond. Maybe she felt some sort of kinshi
p to him, but it was nothing like he wanted. She would never feel anything beyond what any vampire felt for their maker.

  “I understand what you’re telling me, Lauryl. I can’t expect you to come back to me and live some sort of fantasy life.” He sighed. “I suppose I should apologize.”

  “Why apologize? It can’t change anything.”

  Eamon refilled his glass and sat down. “I suppose you’re right,” he said in a defeated tone. “But I do owe you an apology.” He dropped his head back and closed his eyes.

  Lauryl nodded her head and stared at the floor. “I’m sorry for what happened with Amelie.”

  His eyes popped open. “Thank you, but as you said, an apology won’t change anything. Amelie might have reacted the way she did even if I’d told her.”

  “You really love her,” she said.

  “I do.”

  “No, like in a song kind of love. I’ve seen the way you look at each other.”

  “When?”

  “Oh, around and of course at Bathory. You never looked at me like that.”

  “As for Bathory, I’ll just say we were overcome by the moment. In retrospect, it was in poor taste.”

  She shrugged her shoulders. “Maybe I had it coming to me. I don’t know. It was weird. You watching me dance as I watched you f…, make love to her. It bothered me to see you with someone else.”

  “I see that.”

  “What do you think of Bathory? Or the Bat, as I call it,” she asked sheepishly.

  Eamon thought for a second. The urge to chastise Lauryl for her financial risk rose up in him, but he tamped it down. He wanted to be diplomatic and not critical. Although there really wasn’t anything to be critical about, other than the way the upfront money was obtained.

  “Quite honestly, I’m pleased. At first, I was angry, and then I was appalled, and now I think it has its own niche. You’ve done well. I assume it was your idea and not your friend’s.”

  “Who, Anthony? No, it was all my idea. I got it from when we were in London. There are a couple of clubs like it there. When I found out there were a bunch of vampires in this area, I decided to come here.”