by M. J. O'Shea
He had been since he’d talked to Vaughn and realized what a moron he was being when he wanted to gush about Tyson all over Jitterbugs. So there was a lot more to Tyson than most guys. So what? Tyson was still attentive and intelligent and kind as hell, and he was so, so beautiful. And Avery wanted to be with him for as long as he could. Starting right now.
He finally shuffled the last student out of his office and hopped on his bike to ride the short distance through the streets to Tyson’s house. He got more nervous by the block, and by the time he pulled up, he was quaking in his shoes. But he wanted Tyson more than he wanted to chicken out. So he parked his bike and walked right up to the front door. He rang the doorbell, and a flustered-looking Mrs. Peggs answered the door. She had a pair of earphones in and looked like she might have been working out.
“Sorry, Mrs. Peggs. Is Tyson around?”
She looked at him suspiciously for a few long tense moments before she opened the door farther and stepped aside. “He’s in his library.”
Library. Right. “Can I show myself in?”
“Yes. That’s fine.”
Avery knew he wasn’t imagining the disapproval. The distrust. He supposed he’d have to earn back her trust. Hopefully he’d earn Tyson’s back as well. He went over to the library and knocked softly before cracking the door open. The library was mostly dark, a little creepy with how big it was, but there was a lamp shining over by Tyson’s chair, and he was sitting there with a book. Avery smiled when he remembered how Tyson had scorned tablets and e-readers. He preferred real books. He wouldn’t use anything else, said it didn’t feel like real reading without that smell and the dry heft of paper in his hands.
“Tyson?” Avery said quietly.
Tyson looked up sharply. “What are you doing here?” he asked.
“I… I’m sorry it took so long to think.” He tentatively walked closer. Tyson looked wan and thin and a lot paler than he had a few days ago. The pink in his cheeks was gone, and his eyes looked tired.
“And?” Tyson asked. He sounded wary. Rightfully so.
“And I’d really like to be with you if you’ll still have me,” Avery said. “I didn’t mean for so many days to pass. All of this was just a lot.”
“I understand.” Tyson smiled a bit. “Do you want to sit?” He closed his book and set it on the side table near his chair.
“Um, sure. Are you okay?”
“I haven’t exactly been sleeping well,” Tyson said. “I’ve been worried, you could say.”
“Because of me?” Avery said.
“No.” Tyson rolled his eyes. “You never crossed my mind.”
At least he was okay enough in Tyson’s graces to be the recipient of sarcasm. They were still that familiar.
“I’m really sorry.”
“Stop apologizing. I said I’d give you time to think about it. Have you?”
“Yes. I want to be here, like I said. I also want to know more. I’m not going into this blindly. I need to know more about your world.”
“Is this because of what happened the other night?”
Avery’s stomach still turned at the thought of those creepy creatures at the bar. “What were those things?”
“We call them leeches. I don’t know what the real word for them is. They function at the edges of society, do all sorts of things that even the shadiest of us couldn’t imagine doing.”
“Why did you and Donovan get involved?”
“Oh. Well, the club is his, and I wanted to help Brooke and Dan.”
“It’s his?” No wonder Avery and Macy were let in so easily when most humans wouldn’t be.
“Yes.”
“If those leech guys are so awful, why were they afraid of you guys?”
“Donovan is a very old vampire, and he’s capable of inflicting a lot of pain. Two leeches wouldn’t be much trouble for someone as strong as him. And me? I guess I’ve earned a bit of authority over the years.”
“I can’t believe that’s Donovan’s club.”
“He doesn’t like to advertise it. Says everyone comes to him with their shit if they know he’s the bottom line.”
“Smart, I suppose. So….” Avery felt awkward all of a sudden. His days away from Tyson had changed things. He’d been starting to belong in Tyson’s huge old house, like there was a place for him there and a place for him with Tyson. He wasn’t sure how to get that feeling back, because at the moment he was an awkward interloper.
“So you’re back? For real?”
“Yes,” Avery murmured.
Tyson nodded. “I just need to make sure. I don’t fall very often. Or ever. I guess this just hit me a lot. I didn’t expect to be so hurt when you left. Logically, I knew you had your reasons. But logic doesn’t always help.”
“This hit me too. I was just scared.”
“I understand.”
Avery didn’t like that he’d hurt Tyson. “Can I come over there?” he asked. Tyson’s chair was huge. More than enough room for two people who hadn’t kissed in nearly four days. All of a sudden, Avery couldn’t stand to not be kissing him, if Tyson would let him.
“Yes, of course.”
Avery crossed the few feet in record time. He crawled into the chair and wrapped his arms around Tyson’s neck. “I missed you.”
Tyson chuckled softly. “I’m sure I come as a bit of a shock.”
“Just a bit.”
Avery didn’t want to ask any more questions for the time being. Or talk. He simply wanted to kiss Tyson over and over and over. So he did.
When they finally came up for air, some of the pink was back on Tyson’s cheeks and he was smiling that beautiful smile Avery had missed so much. More than he’d even realized.
“I’m glad you’re here,” Tyson said.
“Me too. You have no idea.”
AVERY had been back for two weeks, much longer than the time when he and Tyson weren’t speaking, and things were, well, they were great. It was like that blip on the radar had never happened. Tyson had gone back to drinking his tea most of the time, but since Avery understood, he really wasn’t all that worried about it. Instead of going out to dinner, they went on walks and checked out art galleries and talked. Tyson took him to more places that humans like him usually never saw—places where vampires and lycans and more creatures than Avery could ever name hung out in their natural forms, didn’t even bother to pretend they weren’t what they were—gave him tours of the city with information he probably never wanted to know, and seemed excited to finally share what he knew.
“You know Delphine LaLaurie?” Tyson asked one night when they were taking a walk around his neighborhood, right near her notorious house and murder den.
“Do I want to hear this?” Avery asked.
When Tyson started with “do you know,” the things he said usually ended up being on the creepy side. Avery was both sickly fascinated and weirded out.
“She’s still alive.”
“What?” That was absolutely not what Avery had expected to hear. A slick chill ran down his back. “Is she running around out there somewhere?”
Tyson shook his head. “Nah. She’s kept somewhere safe. Lunatic, that one. Nobody is even left who wants to let her out.”
“How is she alive?” He knew she’d supposedly died in Paris, but that was a long time ago. He imagined it would’ve been a lot easier to fake it back then.
“Witch,” Tyson said succinctly. “Not a benevolent one, obviously.”
“Witches are immortal?” Avery hadn’t heard that one before.
“Some types. There are different kinds of witches, ones with deep connection to the earth, ones who are more celestial. More than I could even name.”
“What kind is she?”
He shrugged. “Evil. Her power got corrupted somewhere along the line, and she lost any connection with nature that she once had.”
Avery’s mind was blown. “Is that why there’s still such bad luck associated with that house?”
; “That and the awful energy after everything that happened has stained the property.”
Avery shuddered.
“Who else is still alive?” he asked. “I’m probably going to be sorry I asked that, aren’t I?”
Tyson laughed. “I’d imagine. Marie. Obviously.” He smiled fondly, like they were friends.
“Obviously?” Avery choked. “What about the tomb?”
Tyson rolled his eyes. “It’s not her?” He shrugged.
“Oh my God.”
“You had to have expected that.”
Avery squeezed Tyson’s arm where he was holding on. “I guess so. I’m just… not used to it yet.”
“You will be someday. Maybe I’ll take you to meet her.”
“You’re going to take me to meet Marie Laveau. Does that mean you know her?”
“Everyone knows Marie. At least to a point. She’s cool, but don’t cross her.”
“Jesus. She’s cool,” Avery echoed. “Are you going to tell me Dracula is real now too?”
Tyson snorted. “Don’t be ridiculous.”
“So where is this place we’d meet her?”
“Donovan’s club isn’t the only one. There are places that are quite a bit more exclusive. Say the word and we’ll go.”
“They’d let me in?” It was nearly impossible for his imagination not to run wild.
“Obviously.”
THEY talked for hours and hours most nights—about Tyson’s world, but also about archaeology and history, about music and art and culture. It was incredible, like what they had before without the blocks, without the hidden truths. Everything felt so real. Avery was addicted.
He ended up biking over to Tyson’s house every day after work, and then he did his grading there, ran out and grabbed dinner for himself, and then spent the night reading and talking, and more often than not in Tyson’s bed. He’d never had sex so good. He doubted he ever would again. There was something to be said for many years of experience, he supposed.
He’d just gotten to the house one night when he found Tyson looking agitated and honestly a little pissed off.
“Are you okay?” Avery asked. He hadn’t seen Tyson so angry since that night the goons had showed up at the club.
“Yeah. Listen, do you mind if I go take care of something really quickly?”
“Sure. Do you want me to go home?” Avery asked. “My neighbors might be worried about me since I’ve barely been home this week.”
Tyson looked a little panicked. “No, no. Stay here. I’ll be back later.”
He was acting super antsy and really unlike himself, especially since he’d told Avery the truth and his face had gotten more sweet and open by the day.
Avery was worried, so he did stay. He took a long shower in Tyson’s out-of-this-world bathroom. He graded papers from his US History class. He made himself some dinner from the food he’d stored in Tyson’s kitchen, then watched a movie, fell asleep, and before he knew it, it was morning. He looked over, and Tyson’s side of the bed was still empty. Avery sat up in shock.
Tyson had never come back.
He vaulted out of bed and into a pair of sweats and a T-shirt, and was about to run to Mrs. Peggs to sound the alarm, when the bedroom door opened and there was Tyson. He looked a lot worse for wear. He had a black eye starting to yellow already like his fast-healing body was going to work, and there was blood on his shirt. Avery rushed over to him and ran his hands gently over Tyson’s face and body. Tyson flinched at a spot on his chest but allowed Avery to take his shirt off and inspect the still-painful bruises.
“What on earth happened to you?” Avery asked.
“It’s nothing.”
“Nothing? You were out all night and look like you’ve been through hell.”
“Can we just….” Tyson gestured to the bed.
Avery nodded. It was Saturday, and he didn’t have anything to do at the campus, but he didn’t want to sleep either, no matter how much Tyson looked like he needed it. Avery’s adrenaline had kicked in hard-core. He was worried and truthfully a little pissed off about being left alone. Whatever the hell Tyson was dealing with, well, they were either together or not. And Tyson had promised no more secrets.
“What the hell happened to you?”
“I had some trouble with an ex. It’s nothing. I took care of it. Can we just sleep?”
“An ex.” Avery was so beyond wanting to lie down. He didn’t know if he could, even if he tried. “What the fuck, Tyson? What did he do to you?”
“She. Clara’s her name, and it wasn’t her. It was her goons. I dealt with them. It shouldn’t be a problem anymore.”
“Goons?”
“Remember the leeches? They were at the bar for me that night. She sent them back again after they told her they’d found me there. I guess… they’ve been following me. I guess they followed me last night when I went on an errand for Donovan, and I was worried they’d follow me home. I wanted to get them far, far away from you. I dealt with them, though,” he repeated. “It’s fine.”
Tyson didn’t say how he’d dealt with them, but it was pretty obvious they didn’t just have a few strongly worded arguments. Avery sat there and watched Tyson fall asleep. He vibrated in the bed, angry and scared and wondering what the fuck he’d gotten himself into. Goons and getting into fights in the middle of the night wasn’t the same as having a special sort of diet and living a really long time. It was trouble. Real trouble. Avery wasn’t sure he was equipped to handle it.
Who the hell was this chick Tyson had gotten involved with?
Chapter Twelve
TYSON tried to get that night out of his head. The night he was supposed to help Donovan deal with some trouble that had been skulking around his bar, but ended up getting into a brawl with Clara’s leech goons, who just wouldn’t give up. The original pair had returned with backup. He was glad Dan and Donovan were both there, because he would’ve been toast without them. Still, it was an awful night, and Tyson, despite how it probably looked to Avery lately, had led a fairly calm life. He didn’t like brawls; he didn’t like blood. He’d rather read than watch some violent sport. He just had this one niggling problem in his life that cropped up every so often and caused trouble. And he was sure he hadn’t heard the last of her yet. She’d eventually figure out her leeches had been put away, and she’d either hire more or come for him herself. Tyson hadn’t had to deal with her on a serious level in almost two hundred years. He supposed he was due a good battle with Clara. It was the worst timing possible, though.
“Hey. Come here.”
“Hmm?” They’d been in the library, Avery grading and Tyson reading a book, when Avery pulled his attention up. And it wasn’t hard. Tyson loved looking at Avery. He’d do it as often as he could.
“Let’s go watch a movie. I’m tired of grading, and I want to relax.”
Tyson had always liked Avery’s method of watching a movie. It usually involved cuddling, hand-holding, and quite a few kisses. He wasn’t about to complain. However…
“Why don’t we go out instead?”
“Go out?”
“Sure.” It might not be smart, but Tyson needed a distraction, and a few hours of scripted superheroes or espionage weren’t going to do the trick.
“Yes. My black jeans will fit you. I think I’m going to take you to Chandelier.”
“What’s that? A club?”
“You’ll see when we get there.”
AVERY sure as hell did see.
Chandelier was like Donovan’s club in a way—hidden from the public, another world behind closed doors. But that was where the similarities ended. If Avery had followed Macy there the first night, he’d have bolted the minute they walked through the door. It was almost like Donovan’s club was the starter club, the place where he went to get used to the world Tyson lived in. Chandelier was… not.
“I don’t even understand how this exists,” Avery whispered to Tyson as they walked in.
“Stick with me. I’ll
show you.”
Chandelier was enormous—impossibly enormous. Where Donovan’s club seemed a bit too big to fit behind the façade of the building it inhabited, Chandelier was too big to fit in any building in the Quarter. Yet somehow it did. The place was cavernous, like some emptied-out theater with ornate carved wood, velvets, and gilded details. Every surface was luxe, and the room was filled to the brim with light bouncing off crystals. They entered onto a wide mezzanine that floated above a ballroom floor with tables surrounding it. Already there were hundreds of people. If people was taken in the broadest of terms.
Donovan had made some effort to blend in with the average person, dressed in normal clothes, kept his hair long but still passably modern. The inhabitants of Chandelier made no such effort. Avery felt like he’d just walked into a scene right out of a Anne Rice book—corsets and top hats, fangs out, every single terrifying, incredible thing Avery would have somehow hoped vampires to be.
Avery followed Tyson the rest of the way in, clutching his hand and quite terrified to let go. The thrill pulsed thick underneath his skin.
“Don’t lose me. This place can get a bit debauched.”
It looked mannerly and Victorian at the moment, fangs aside, but Avery took Tyson’s word for it.
“What happens?”
“This is a vampire bar only. Not like Donovan’s, which is open to everyone.”
“Are we supposed to be here?” The last thing Avery wanted was to piss off a room full of vampires.
Tyson chuckled. “The vampires like me. Half of them still assume I’m one of them. The rest of them know I’m friends with Donovan. We’ll be fine.”
“Is this where Marie Laveau is?” he whispered. He had no idea how well the people, vampires, surrounding them could hear.
Tyson chuckled. “No, she’s definitely not a vampire. That’ll be for another night. Tonight’s for observation. But… discreet observation. Don’t stare.”