Their Dark Reflections

by Amanda Meuwissen

  He turned and sat right back down in the armchair.

  Sam gathered his clothes, made sure he had his phone, and hurried across the suite to the bathroom, mostly ignoring Mim and Gerry, who teased him to hurry up.

  He immediately slumped onto the edge of the tub and called Ed.

  “Sam…? I was about to call you. I… I have concerning news.”

  “You too?”

  “What do you mean? Are you all right?”

  “Sort of. No. I don’t know.” Sam clenched his eyes shut and took a steadying breath. “You go first.”

  “I think Midnight killed my sire.”

  “What?” Sam’s eyes snapped open again. “The vampire who made you? He’s dead?”

  “I contacted him, but… his lawyer answered. I’d informed Ødger that I was moving to Riverside. He knew, one of the only people who did. But he was found dead a month ago with all my information gone, other than what was in his will. What if it’s my fault?” Ed’s voice hitched. “If I was the end goal….”

  Sam felt that same nausea from last night, because Black was still there, with Gerry and Mim the only thing between them, and he’d killed a vampire, enough of a blow that Ed sounded more distraught than Sam had ever heard. “It wasn’t your fault. I don’t think you’re the end goal because you’re you, Eddie, just the next target because you’re a vampire. Taking out your maker simply led them to the intel they needed for who to go after next.”

  Ed was quiet for a moment, a shudder coming through the phone before he spoke again like he was stifling tears. “I’ve been trying to contact others. A few are fine, but several aren’t answering. If you’re right, Midnight may be picking through every one of us he can find.”

  “I just wish we knew why.” Sam tried to understand what could possibly be gained from this. “What does he want? Lara said it isn’t only about money, and he said he isn’t a slayer or hunter or whatever.”

  “Such people aren’t as prevalent as modern media would have you believe. But wait… he said?” Ed’s voice took on a note of alarm.

  “I know who Midnight is,” Sam admitted. “He’s here.”

  Chapter 8

  SAM TOLD Ed not to rush over to the Hilton, not with Mim and Gerry there and so many unknowns concerning Cheroneau—Midnight.

  Black.

  If he’d managed to kill so many vampires, including Ed’s creator, then it was dangerous to underestimate him. They needed to find out everything they could, even if Black seemed prepared for that too.

  So, Sam went to the movies with his friends and tried to forget how fucked they were.

  He tried to relax, to have fun, but he was even more terrified of that room than before when he walked back into it after they returned. Black was gone, but that didn’t make Sam feel any better.

  The rest of the evening, Gerry finished hacking into Black’s account and came up with everything Sam had hoped to discover—even Black’s name—but all of it seemed moot now. Sam pretended it was great news, thanked Gerry and said he’d tell Ed right away, but inside, he felt trapped and unsure about what they could do without making everything worse.

  They couldn’t kill a cop, and if they tried, Black was sure to have contingency plans.

  When Sam was finally ready to turn in for the night, he called Ed again.

  “Would you like me to come get you?”

  “No. Come—yes, please. I want you here. But I can’t leave Mim and Gerry again. Will you just be here and stay with me tonight?”

  “Of course.”

  OF COURSE Ed could be there for Sam; it was easy enough to traverse into the city now that the sun was set, and he had many ways of sneaking into the hotel without anyone noticing. He wondered how Black had managed the same but figured a police detective didn’t need to use subterfuge.

  Once Ed was in the room, Sam sank gratefully into his arms. Ed sank against Sam too, probably holding him too tightly, unable to shake the aching loss in his chest.

  “Shit, I’m being so selfish,” Sam said, looking up at him as they embraced beneath the covers. “Yeah, I’m scared, but you… you just found out someone important to you died.” He raised a hand to Ed’s cheek and smoothed a thumb across the skin. “And your eyes are red. I’ve never seen them red before.”

  That’s because Ed almost never cried, and when he did, his natural healing tended to take care of any puffiness or other telling signs. This time, the tears had been too recent. “It’s silly.” He choked on his words. “We rarely talked, and I haven’t seen him in… I don’t remember when.”

  “It’s not silly,” Sam said, petting his cheek again and then letting his hand drop to rest atop Ed’s heart. He must have been able to feel how it didn’t beat, if he hadn’t noticed before, but he didn’t look troubled, only traced his fingers lightly over the spot.

  Neither was undressed, but the gentle touch over Ed’s shirt felt nice too.

  “I never met my parents,” Sam continued, “but if I found out who they were today and that they’d already passed on, even though part of me hates them for giving me up or whatever happened to put me in the system all my life, I think I’d cry too. I wouldn’t be here without them, and even without knowing who they are, sometimes it still feels like this great gap….”

  “Yes,” Ed whispered, thinking he understood, because he hadn’t lied when he said that Ødger had never been his love or the best partner, but he was his sire, and Ed wouldn’t be here without him. “I’ve kept myself from knowing people to try to avoid feeling this way ever again.”

  “Like when you lost your wife?”

  “Yes.”

  “Would you give up having known her, or your… sire, to never have felt that loss?”

  Ed smiled, because it always came down to that, and he knew the answer. “Never. I suppose that makes me a hypocrite for going so many years without making new friends.”

  “Maybe, but at least you were smart enough to make an exception with me.” Sam grinned up at him, almost like his usual self, holding only an edge of the sorrow and fear that clung to him.

  Dipping his head, Ed pressed his lips to Sam’s in a chaste but lingering kiss. He worried that allowing more than friendship with Sam was a far worse mistake than staying solitary, but that concern did nothing to loosen the hold he had on him.

  Ed told Sam to sleep, to not worry about anything else tonight. They could discuss it all in the morning. Sam agreed and snuggled into his arms like he had the night before.

  While Ed didn’t sleep, he didn’t mind dozing, lying there with the warmth of Sam beside him. He got up from time to time to stretch, and at one point discovered the book he’d given to Sam, the one on myths, and brought it back to bed to read while Sam burrowed unconsciously against him.

  The sun was starting to peek through the curtains when Sam groggily asked, “Which one are you on?”

  “Psyche and Eros.” Ed peered down with a warm smile. “My favorite.”

  “They get their happy ending too,” Sam said, smiling in return. “After Psyche joins Eros as a god.”

  “Sam….” Ed set the book aside.

  “I know you’re not a god. Black still managed to kill someone like you.”

  “Maybe more than one.”

  “I really am sorry about your sire.”

  “Thank you,” Ed said quietly.

  It was the first time he’d mourned anyone in ages. He’d lost other vampire friends over the years, but all because they’d chosen to stop living. This was different. This was having someone taken from him that he hadn’t been prepared to lose.

  “He left everything to me, but most of his assets were stolen the night he was murdered. There’s insurance, but I don’t care about money. I never would have thought that the last time I saw him… would be the last time.”

  Sam squeezed him tightly.

  “His lawyer needs me to go to him, meet in person to sign off on everything and get what Ødger left me, but I told him that now isn’t exactly
a good time. We’ll finish this first, bring Black to justice. I still want to know why he’s doing this.”

  “I don’t care why,” Sam said with a boldness lighting his eyes. “I’m so sick of being scared. Of him. Of the Cramers. He and Lara are the ones who should be scared, and we’re going to make them feel that way.” He looked at Ed, his expression softening. “It’s Friday again. You need to feed, and it has to be Alverez.”

  “Are you thinking we should frame Black like he tried to frame me?”

  “That’ll be tough until we have more intel, but I have some ideas. Most of it can’t go down until tonight.”

  “What shall we do in the meantime?”

  Sam shifted, legs tangling with Ed’s and hands grasping him closer to kiss him sweetly on the mouth.

  “Rise and shine, Sammy!”

  “RISE AND shine, Sammy!” Mim called—seconds before opening Sam’s door and walking right in.

  Sam bolted upright. It wasn’t as if they didn’t know Ed existed, but finding them in bed together was very different. He fumbled to think of an explanation, while simultaneously realizing that he could no longer feel Ed at his side.

  Because Ed wasn’t there.

  That vampire speed was a godsend.

  “Hey, lazy ass,” Mim said, leaning in the doorway. She was dressed in her security uniform, which shouldn’t be flattering on anyone, but she was an exception. “We’re heading into work. You gonna be a lump all day or go play house with Simons?”

  “I’m up. I’m getting up right now. And yes, I’ll be with Ed most of the day, but… how about you guys meet me for dinner at Lucifer’s Rest?”

  “Really?” Gerry peeked his head in too.

  “Yes, Gerr, really.” Sam chuckled. “We need to make more of an effort with Lara, right?” Much as it nauseated him.

  “But she works all night.” Gerry pouted.

  Sam knew that—Gerry never shut up about her schedule—but that was the point. “Why do you think we’re going to her? Now, will you two get the hell out of here and go be useful to society?”

  Gerry looked gleefully appeased, while Mim snorted.

  “Don’t work too hard,” she said and blew Sam a kiss.

  As soon as they were gone, thankfully shutting the door behind them, Ed reappeared as if materializing out of the wall.

  “You want to see Lara?” He crawled up from the foot of the bed.

  “I never want to see her. I have to. We have a long day ahead of us.” Sam opened his arms, letting Ed nuzzle against his neck. It was like lying on the cold side of the pillow; Sam was cozy warm beneath the covers, but the chill of Ed was invigorating. “Morning can be for planning, but I need food first. Did you bring your sunglasses?”

  “Yes.” Ed frowned. “But I was hoping we wouldn’t get out of bed yet. Besides, I don’t have a spare set of clothes.”

  Sam pushed the covers aside to get Ed under them with him, making it clear that he was perfectly fine with stealing a few more quiet moments. He kissed Ed, grinding his hips against him to feel that morning hunger rise.

  The hunger was stronger for Ed after a week, and his eyes flashed yellow.

  Sam kissed him anyway but slowed the writhing of their bodies until Ed’s growls became a rumbling purr.

  “The clothes I borrowed from you are still dirty, so I guess you’ll have to borrow mine for once.” Sam liked the idea of Ed in one of his Henleys. “Maybe we can finally get some shopping in today. Breakfast for me, hit a few stores for you, then home before lunch? Minimal time in the sun, I promise.”

  “What are we going to do once we’re home?” Ed asked.

  They’d both started calling Ed’s place home, and Sam was of no mind to correct that.

  He wished his plans for the day involved pinning Ed to the nearest hard surface—the mattress beneath them would have been adequate—but that would have to wait until after Alverez was dead.

  “We’re going to invite the Neu-Ryans over for a swim.”

  ED DID not invite people over—ever—least of all to swim in his pool. But he’d promised those children, and Sam had several ideas brewing for how to turn things in their favor.

  First, Sam ate. With Ed’s sunglasses firmly in place, they found a back corner of a coffee shop, and Ed got a simple black coffee for appearances. The shopping afterward was surprisingly pleasant. Ed usually avoided it, kept his clothes in good shape to hang on to them well after their normal wear, or shopped online, but with Sam, it was… fun.

  Sam chose things for him, gave critiques and hums of approval. Ed found himself enjoying dressing for someone other than himself, catering to Sam’s opinions, which he had to admit were flattering. Ed liked everything they purchased, even if he wouldn’t have thought to try some of it on if he’d been alone.

  Like a green-and-black bomber jacket that Sam said brought out the hazel in his eyes. Very chic.

  They used Sam’s bike to get around, and to eventually head back to the house. Even with the sun glaring and hot, Ed didn’t mind the drive, closing his eyes beneath his shades and clinging to Sam’s waist. The smell of him so close still roused the part of Ed that was growing hungry, but the more time he and Sam spent together, the more certain he was that he could control himself even at the worst of times.

  “Why are we pretending we’re having a garage sale?” he asked later, while aiding Sam in carrying boxes into the living room.

  “We’re not pretending. These are things I didn’t originally think I could get away with stealing, but that you either don’t need or don’t seem to care you have.”

  “I….” Ed was poised to protest, but then took notice of what was in the boxes and couldn’t disagree. “So, we’re going to sell all of it?”

  “We’re going to sort it and decide what might sell and what could be donated or given away. Getting ready for a garage sale is the perfect excuse for why Marie and the kids can come over. It’s tedious work we won’t mind them interrupting, and it’ll give us the perfect chance to learn more about Black.”

  Not that Marie needed any convincing to accept the invite. She showed up not much later in a swimsuit, cover-up, and hat that Ed wasn’t sure would fit through his door, with the twins in tow and a couple bags filled with snacks and pool toys.

  “I promise we’ll clean up whatever mess we make,” she said, already out of a breath, likely just from packing up the kids for the short drive there.

  “Nonsense. That’s what I pay Sam for,” Ed said.

  Sam shot him a dirty look, and Ed chuckled, which made Marie chuckle too.

  “Anything I can do to help today?” she asked as she ushered in the kids, who had floaties on their arms as if ready to dive right in—which, considering they beelined past Ed and Sam for the patio doors, was probably what they planned to do. “No running!” she called after them but didn’t bother giving chase. “And say thank you!”

  “Thanks, Mr. Ed!” the twins parroted without slowing their momentum.

  He really needed to get them to stop that.

  “We invited you here to relax,” Sam said, taking the bag of snacks from her, “not get roped into our manual labor.”

  “Besides,” Ed put in, “it’ll just be us scrutinizing my possessions, trusting in Sam’s keen eye for what might sell. By all means, if you see anything that catches your eye, don’t hesitate to ask about it. If I’m going to get rid of it anyway, I’d rather it go to a good home.”

  Marie cast an interested gaze over the boxes in the living room. The kids had successfully hefted the doors open, darted outside, tossed their towels onto chairs, and were already in the water. “I might do a little window shopping, but I actually have a lot of work to do. There is something amazing about being able to work on a news story while basking in the sunshine, though.” She indicated the laptop tucked into her tote. “Seriously, let me know of any way I can help repay you for letting us come over.”

  “This is our repayment for the barbecue,” Ed insisted, “and just to be
good neighbors. Finally meeting more people from the area was a delight, like your work friend, Linda, and Daniel’s partner, Mr.… umm… oh, I’m terrible with names. Did he say Hal?”

  “Cheroneau.” Marie nodded with a scrunch to her nose. “Harold Cheroneau. He’s uhh… hard to read, isn’t he?”

  “You think so?” Sam played into her obvious dislike. “Seemed friendly to me.”

  “That’s what Daniel says, but he sort of rubs me the wrong way. I don’t know. Daniel says it’s my old reporter instinct on overdrive, but I think I have a right to worry about the man who’s watching my husband’s back day in and day out.

  “He’s fine, I guess. Real sweet with the kids. Has his own, I think, but I never heard of a wife.”

  “Cheroneau has children?” Ed asked.

  “I don’t know for sure. I just got that impression. I suppose if he’s nice to those little rascals—” She smiled toward the doors. “—he can’t be all bad. I really wish they’d get some leads on those murders, though….” She snapped her attention back to them after letting that slip. “Not that you heard anything from me, but since you got all wrapped up in it, it only seems fair.

  “The whole thing sort of stalled,” she said, more hushed. “There was another murder last week, but not as brutal, so they can’t say if it was the same killer. Honestly, I’d be glad if it all just blew over, maybe gang related, and it really was all coincidence that, well….”

  “That I knew everyone who was killed,” Ed said with a wry smile. “Aside from last week. I hadn’t heard about someone new,” he lied.

  “Oh, I don’t think you’d know him, just some thug. Maybe he was one of the ones doing the killing and they’re cleaning house. Daniel swears he’s never noticed any weird behavior around the neighborhood, but I was really worried about you for a while there.

  “That you were being targeted!” she rushed on. “Never that you were involved. Certainly not after meeting you.” She passed her gaze from Ed to Sam with an equally warm smile. “If you’re sure you don’t need any help in here, I better get to work. Thank you both so much again. And feel free to yell at those two if they get too rowdy.”