Eva
We finished packing and loaded everything up in my car. Vincent informed me he would have people get the rest of our things and list the apartment for sale. I tried arguing with him, but it was no use. I used our minds for that conversation, because I am still not sure how I will tell Katie the full truth. I have so many questions, but they will have to wait until Katie goes to sleep.
It's still quite dark, but the sun will rise soon as we pull up to Vincent's place. It is a gated, sprawling mansion located on several wooded acres. It's beautiful, but so extravagant. It's near sunrise … don't vampires turn to ash? Or does it have to be direct sunlight? I remember Eric saying something about it making them weaker, but how weak? Vincent just looks at me and shakes his head no. I need to learn more about vampires. I hope he plans to answer my questions.
Katie gasps, "We are living here?!"
Vincent responds, "Yes, there's plenty of room."
She asks, "Do you live alone?"
He says, "I have a small staff, they stay in the small guesthouse out back." I sigh, because this is all way too extravagant. Then I remember how lonely he must be. It's just him in this huge house, all alone.
He snaps his face to mine, "Eva, stop thinking that!"
I bite my lip, "I can't, it is just too much."
Katie says, "He's rich, so what? You've dated rich guys before."
I say, "Dated, not lived with."
Her eyes widened, "Thought this was a vacation?"
I reply, "Umm, yeah, it is. I meant to live with them for a few days."
She smiles, "Good, because I didn't pack all of my stuff."
I look at Vincen, and he motions for me to continue as we walk inside. I asked her, "Were you attached to the apartment?"
She says, "No, it's yours anyway. Why?"
"Just thinking it's time to move. We'll stay here until I find us a place," I tell her. I hear Vincent say in my mind, 'smoo,th very smooth'. Once inside, he shows us where the bedrooms are and lets us have our pick. I decided that I wanted a snack, and Katie did too, so I went into the kitchen.
Vincent motions to the fridge and says, "The house is yours, ladies." I can't help myself. I think 'Just the house, huh?'
Vincent responds in my mind, 'So, what do you want, Eva? Are you believing it all yet?'
I think,k 'Crap, you weren't supposed to hear that. Ugh, this sucks.'
He mentally responds, 'That and so much more could be arranged. I smack him on the shoulder. He says, "What was that for?"
I glare at him, "You know damn well!"
He looks at me quizzically, "Maybe, but that kinda hurts." I turn and pause because vampires shouldn't feel what I did as painful as it would be merely a tap to them. So he tells me that we will talk later. I look through the kitchen, and it is exactly as I would have it, and it is fully stocked, too. Odd, because he's a vampire. Some of his servants must be human. I made cheesecake bites and pepperoni pizza bites.
Katie, as she takes a huge bite, says, "God, I love you so much."
I say, "Just hush and eat."
I know he knows the answers to what he asks, but I appreciate him attempting conversation. He asks, "You always eat late?"
I say, "I do, Katie only does when she doesn't have to be up early to teach."
Katie adds, "But I take leftovers. All the teachers love her cooking."
I say, "It's nothing fancy."
She says, "But it tastes like it."
Vincent asks, "Do you enjoy cooking?"
I respond, "I do when I have people to cook for."
He says, "Ever think of making it a career?"
I say, "No, I like writing."
He remarks, "You can do both." I glare at him. He raises his hands, "Fine, I will drop it!"
Katie asks, "Vincent, what do you do?"
He dismisses her, "It's boring and unimportant." I glare at him. I will snoop and find out unless he tells me first. I think, 'We are talking later, Mister. '
We go to the living room where he makes a fire in the fireplace. I walk over to it and I take in a deep breath, "Love is a flame that burns with a sacred fire, and fills you up with its sweet desire. Yet, once the altar feels love's fiery breath, it makes the heart a crucible until death. What happens when the heart yearns no more? Will you always have to settle the score? Say love is life, and say it is not amiss. Say that love is but a synonym for eternal bliss. Say what you will of love, in what refrain, but the heart knows that it's another word for pain. Yet, the pain we will endure because love comes at a price. A price we will gladly pay, time and time again. Because we all want love as our eternal friend." When I'm nervous or need to think, I recite poetry or quotes. Right now, I'm both nervous and need to think.
Vincent asks, "Who wrote that?"
I say, "I did."
Katie replies, "She's quite talented. She's won awards, too."
He looks at me, "I bet she has."
Katie asks, "Mind if I borrow one of your books and go to bed?" He tells her that he doesn't mind. Katie wishes us good night as she grabs a book before whispering to me, "Please do everything I would do, and most importantly, those things that I wouldn't do."
I sigh, "Seriously?!"
She says, "Girl, I'm not blind."
I say, "Just go to bed. I'm gonna pull some pajamas out." I rushed to my room and put on my silky pink and black pajamas. I went back to find Vincent in the living room. "Much better. I hung my dress up in the hall closet. I hope that's ok," I tell him.
He says, "It's fine."
I'm nervous, and I don't want him in my mind. "Let's talk. I won't read your mind, if you don't mind. Deal?"
He states, "Deal. Ladies first."
I ask, "How old are you?"
He takes a sip of his drink before he speaks, "I was born in 1015, in what is now Brussels, Belgium."
"So, you're older than Prince Eric?" I ask.
"Yes."
I cock my head, "Why aren't you Prince then?"
He says, "No desire for power. I don't like the limelight. My turn, do you know anything about your parents?"
I bite my lip, "No, just that all of my family is dead."
He asks, "Have you encountered immortals before?"
I say, "Yes, I just felt that they were different. Although I didn't peg them as such at the time, I now know they were vampires and a few wolves. I don't think I have met any witches or other beings." I wish for a pen and paper, and they appear.
He jumps, "What the fuck?!"
I giggle, "Um, I needed them. I'm gonna ask you questions and write the answer, and then destroy the paper. It's how my brain works and how I commit things to memory."
He looks confused, "You just wished for the pen and paper?" I nod. "That's not a vampire thing.
We don't have telekinesis outside of being able to compel. We can't control inanimate objects," he says, as his gaze roams over me. "That's a witch's ability, through a spel,; or a higher being, like an angel or demon."
I look at him, "But, I'm not a witch; I didn't say a spell. I'm not evil, and I'm far from angelic."
He says, "No, you're not a witch, as the wolf would've sensed you. They are excellent at detecting magic users."
I inquired, "Then what am I?"
He says, "We will find out, but knowing you have magical abilities is astounding."
I say, "So, I've learned what kills a vampire and that the sun just weakens you. It doesn't affect
I wonder if I have any other vampiric traits?"
He asks, "Vampires have excellent regeneration, do you?"
I shake my head because I am not sure. I am rarely sick, and since my 25th birthday, I have not been injured. That birthday changed so much in me, but why? I went to the sink and cut my hand. It heals fast, like in the movies. I exclaim, "Wow!"
I go to wash the blood off my hands, but he stops me, "Wait! Let me."
I notice him looking hard at my blood. I don't think he will harm me. He's just curious to see how I taste. Maybe that can reveal what I am. I ask, "You're curious, aren't you?"
He nods. We get my hand cleaned. I poke my finger and place it in his mouth. He moans. I pull my finger away, and it's healed. Vincent exclaims, "You're like nothing I've ever tasted before!"
I sigh, "That can't be good."
He looks concerned, "Why?
"Means I'm rare. I don't like that." I am getting more and more scared of this world.
He tries to reassure me, "Well, it's also rare that you might be that wolf's mate, too."
I admit defeat, "Ugh, this is so crazy."
He says, "Yes," as a smile lines his lips.
I state, "I have ESP like a vampire, and regeneration, and telekinesis."
He says, "Yes, but you also said you see our sins and can sense things."
I respond, "Yeah, I see visions, memories. I can feel your emotions, too."
Vincent says, "I saw you touch your cheek before you had the wolf call, why?"
I say, "To link to him, I felt it. He left a trace of himself behind, so I used it to find him and get into his head."
He hums, as he nods, "But you're just in mine; no contact needed."
Where is he going with this? "Maybe, it's because of proximity." It can be just that, right?
He says, "When you hit me earlier, it was fairly strong. It could be a vampire or wolf thing."
I ask, "We need to test it, and test me, to see what we can learn?"
He nods, "Yes, vampires are strong, as are wolves. The more we can learn, the better."
"Okay. I don't crave blood, so that's good. Why do you eat food?" I ask.
He answers, "To appear normal. Most food has no taste for us."
"You said most, what do you like?"
He smiles, "Usually, just wine and some rare meats, but I could taste what you made for dinner tonight."
I ask, "Why?"
He shrugs, "I have no idea."
I decided to ask, "Why do vampires hate wolves?"
He sighs, "We don't hate them or witches; most of us just choose not to be around them."
"Have there been wars?"
He nods, "Very bloody ones. That is why we have the neutrality treaty."
I sigh, "Based on what the Prince said, that would make me the neutrality treaty." He nodded, so I continued, "Okay, back to my questions, do vampires fly and turn into bats?"
He chuckles, "No bats, but the very powerful ones do fly."
I grin, "Like you?" He nods. "But you don't. Why?"
He says, "You are very persistent."
I smirk, "l am, get used to it!"
He glares at me, "Very bossy, too."
I raise my eyebrow, "I prefer the term spirited."
He huffs, "You're so not my type."
I bratted back, "What intellectual and authoritative?"
He rolls his eyes, "I've lived a long time. I know what I like."
I say, "Apparently, Fate thinks you're an idiot!"
He glares, "There's no filter with you, is there?"
I reply, "Only if there has to be. If we are mates, as you think, then I shouldn't have to be fake
around you."
He says, "You're right, but you're also very infuriating."
I snip at him, "The feeling is mutual. Are all vampires rich, arrogant assholes?"
He retorts, "Yeah. Are all journalists annoying, controlling bitches?"
I laugh, "Why, yes, yes we are!" The next thing I know, he's kissing me. It's one of those kisses that you don't want to end. It's electric and so sensual. Our hands lightly roam each other's bodies. He tastes like dark chocolate mixed with a salty spice. I moan and he does too. I have never felt passion like this. It's an all-consuming fire. God, he tastes so good. He smells like just the hint of ocean and musk. It's intoxicating. My legs instinctively wrap around his hips. We continue to allow our tongues to co-mingle in my mouth. Damn, he's a good kisser.