Chapter Thirty
Michelle woke up in her own bed. The familiar weight of her blankets covered her, the scent of her favourite brand of laundry detergent filling her nose. She breathed in deeply. Home.
She’d been away from home for a little under a month, but it had felt like years. So much had changed. Michelle nestled deeper into her blankets, revelling in the feeling of not having to get up just yet.
A whole new world had opened up to her, which had brought both unspeakable nightmares as well as wonderful delights. But it wasn’t just the supernatural stuff. She had changed.
She hadn’t realised just how much until she’d returned to her apartment.
The sight of her things brought rushing back the thoughts and fears and concerns that had once plagued her every day.
Suddenly, those worries seemed so insignificant after having nearly died—twice.
It was wonderful to have access to all of her clothes again, and to drink tea from her favourite mug.
To look at the familiar view, and to feel like the mistress of her own home instead of a guest. They were small pleasures that she luxuriated in.
But although her belongings were exactly as she left them, she was finding that sliding back into her old life wasn’t as easy as she’d expected.
It was no longer an easy fit. It had taken six weeks for her to recover sufficiently from the demon’s attack to be able to go back to work.
The demon’s talons had left deep gouges in the muscles of her left arm, and it would take months of physiotherapy to get her full strength back.
Still, the litany of bruises had largely faded, and she’d started leaving the house, had worked a couple of shifts at the hospital again, had eased back into the life she’d always known.
It was wonderful to be able to go wherever she wanted without needing a guard.
Still, she found she struggled to walk home alone at night.
She jumped at shadows, fear rising in the pit of her stomach.
On the surface, it was like everything was back to normal.
Well, not everything.
Michelle turned, opening her eyes in the soft light of a wintery early afternoon.
Lavinia’s emerald eyes greeted her, her smile creating tiny wrinkles at the corners of her eyes.
God, she loved those eyes. Loved those wrinkles.
Loved how they looked at her, ever steady, ever gentle.
Waking up together was a decadent pleasure—one Michelle didn’t think she would ever tire of.
“Good morning,” Lavinia said. Her arm snaked around Michelle’s waist underneath the covers and pulled her close. Michelle nestled her head in the crook of Lavinia’s shoulder, nuzzling her neck.
“Good morning.” She kissed the soft skin she found there.
“Sleep well?”
Michelle hummed her assent and continued the trail of kisses down Lavinia’s shoulder. “You?”
“Wonderful,” Lavinia said, her voice breaking ever so slightly when Michelle found a particularly tender spot on her neck. Michelle smiled to herself and caught Lavinia’s lips in her own. She rolled onto Lavinia, and Lavinia’s arms wrapped themselves around her back tightly, drawing her close.
“I’ve been meaning to ask,” Michelle said, tracing the silvery scar bisecting Lavinia’s eyebrow. “Where did you get this one?”
Lavinia closed her eyes for a moment, enjoying the sensation of Michelle’s touch. “A rogue who’d been hiding in some basement for over a month had a rusty knife. Almost took my eye out.”
Michelle traced the scar with tiny kisses, following its path to Lavinia’s hairline. “And this one?” she said, pointing out a pink line on the front of Lavinia’s bare shoulder.
Lavinia laughed, a delightful sound. “I can thank Quintia for that one. She stabbed me by accident when we were both fighting the same demon a couple of years ago. Didn’t realise I was behind it, she said.
” Michelle made a little sympathetic noise and kissed this scar, too.
Lavinia’s breath caught as her kisses trailed lower.
“And this one?” she muttered, but Lavinia was no longer capable of answering her questions. For another hour, they lost themselves in the delights of touch and taste, revelling in their closeness.
“What is your schedule like today?” Lavinia asked later, as they sat down for a very, very late breakfast.
“I’m going to pop in and see Mum and Bob. I promised her I’d come and help her pack for their cruise. What about you?”
Lavinia spread some butter on her toast. At first, Michelle had felt self-conscious about having Lavinia over.
Lavinia was used to living with luxury: having a housekeeper, living in a fancy apartment or a frigging mansion.
All Michelle had to offer was a cramped and somewhat damp London one-bedder and pretty average cooking skills.
When she’d voiced her insecurity, Lavinia had told her that the only thing that mattered to her was that they spent time together.
That she loved toast made by Michelle as much as a whole feast served at Thornblood.
That any room or bed would do, if only they could share it.
It was all horribly romantic, and Michelle, to her embarrassment, had teared up. Well, it had been an emotional time.
“I have to check in with Octavia in an hour or so. She’s keeping watch over a couple of runaway youngsters. Do you have time tonight? There’s something I want to show you.”
“Sure. What is it?”
The corner of Lavinia’s lips quirked upwards. “It’s a surprise.”
* * *
It had been an incredible relief to Michelle that Zachary, too, had survived that night.
Both of them got pretty battered, and although the demon hadn’t been sent to kill him, it hadn’t shied away from mauling him.
She had no idea how between them they had managed to keep the demon busy enough for Lavinia to be there in time to save them.
It turned out that the heavy base of the lamp they’d used to inexpertly clobber the demon with had been made of pure iron.
“It leaches their strength,” Lavinia had explained.
If Michelle had grabbed anything else, they would have both been dead.
It was a thought she preferred not to linger on.
The fate of the warlock-rogue was equally disturbing. Lavinia had been somewhat tight-lipped about it while Michelle was still in the hospital that first week. She finally caved and had told her that the witches had taken him.
“So he’s not dead?” Michelle had asked.
“Not exactly.” Lavinia said that there were rumours that the witches, led by Balor, had torn the rogue’s soul from his body.
That they had preserved it somehow, keeping it imprisoned.
For the vampires, it was enough that the rogue had been neutralised.
Vampire law made no allowances for punishments of souls, only of bodies.
And the rogue would not be coming back, Lavinia was sure of that.
Still, it was a disturbing thought, and Michelle was infinitely glad she wasn’t a witch herself after all.
Unfortunately, this also meant that the Sisterhood wasn’t able to find out how a vampire could turn into a witch, or vice versa.
The Witch Council had not been willing to share any further information.
That was a mystery that remained unsolved, for now.
That evening, when they arrived at Thornblood, the sprawling mansion nestled between the Pennine hills, it seemed like everyone was waiting for her. Five of the Sisters crowded into the entryway to greet them.
“Michelle!” Proserpina exclaimed, bending forwards to hug her. “I’m so glad you’re here. It has been so dull without you.”
“Always glad to hear we bore you, Pina,” Vesta said, but there was only laughter in her voice. “Still, we’re all happy to see you.”
“Thanks,” Michelle said, somewhat dazzled by the throng of vampires around her.
Luce, with her dark eyes, had smiled, and Brigh had shaken her hand with vigour.
Even Quintia, scowling as always, gave her an awkward slap on the shoulder.
The vampire somewhat misjudged her strength, and Michelle was glad Lavinia was at her elbow to steady her.
“What’s going on?” she said, whispering in Lavinia’s ear. She’d never been the centre of attention like this. It was a bit perplexing, to be honest.
“You’ll see.” Lavinia shooed the other Sisters away and led Michelle up the familiar main staircase.
When Michelle had come to Thornblood the first time, she had been overwhelmed by the splendour of the house.
Now, familiarity had eased the discomfort, allowing her to enjoy being back here.
Lavinia led her into the west wing, towards Lavinia’s room.
Michelle wasn’t sure what she’d been expecting, but it wasn’t this.
“You’re taking me to your room?”
“Sort of.”
What did Lavinia want to show her that had the whole house in a tizzy? It must be something significant, or they wouldn’t be making such a big deal out of it. Anticipation mingled with an edge of anxiety as they stopped one door short of Lavinia’s bedroom.
“Here we are,” Lavinia said, and opened the door.
Michelle stepped inside. It was a spacious room, with windows lining the outer wall. Two doors led away from the room. She looked around, not sure how to respond. It was completely empty, nothing interrupting the expanse of its hardwood floor. “It’s…a room.”
“It’s your room. If you want it.” Lavinia stepped beside her, wrapping her arm around Michelle’s waist. “You’re welcome to decorate it however you like.
Mrs. Frost can put you in touch with our builders if you wish.
There’s a bathroom over there.” She pointed to one door.
“And my bedroom is through the other door. Or, it could be our bedroom. If you’d like. ”
Michelle’s thoughts whirled in her mind. “Lavinia, are you asking me to move in with you?”
Lavinia looked at her earnestly. “With me. With all of us.” She smiled. “I do have eight housemates. Plus Mrs. Frost, of course.”
Vampire housemates. “And they’re okay with this?”
“Yes,” Lavinia said definitively. “We all voted. It was unanimous. We would love to have you here. I would love to have you here.” Her voice lowered. “I want you close to me. Always.”
“Oh,” Michelle said, words struggling to form. She looked around the room again.
“You don’t have to decide right now. You can take your time.”
“No. I mean, yes.” Michelle laughed, nervousness dissipating. “I don’t need time to think about it. I would love to live with you.” Michelle felt like everything was starting to fall into place. There was just one snag.
“I’ll have to think about my job. I really appreciate you guys letting me live with you, but I’m not sure I’d be comfortable…
I mean…” It was one thing to be the Sisterhood’s guest out of necessity.
She didn’t want to be a burden, and it was too far to commute.
Also, she had nowhere near enough money to afford even the most basic of rents…
Lavinia’s eyes sparkled. “I thought you might say that.” She paused, as if gathering her thoughts. Michelle looked at her in anticipation. “We seem to have an opening for a doctor. Someone recently alerted us to the fact that it was irresponsible not to have any medical support nearby.”
Michelle blushed, then laughed. “But I’m not a doctor. I’m a nurse. For humans, not vampires.”
Lavinia shrugged. “We asked Benjamin, and he has agreed to take you on as an apprentice. You impressed him when you took care of Pina.” She tucked a stray hair behind Michelle’s ear. “Don’t feel like you have to. The offer to live here is unconditional. But I think you would be a fantastic doctor.”
Michelle took a moment to think it over.
Living here, with the Sisters of Twilight.
Learning to become a doctor to vampires, under the tutelage of another vampire.
It was such a far cry from that boring everyday life she’d known in London.
It meant giving up her apartment. It meant giving up her normal human life and stepping into a whole new world.
“Yes,” she said. “Yes to everything. To moving here, to being with you, to learning to take care of you all. Lord knows you all need someone with a bit of sense.” Lavinia closed her eyes, as if in relief.
Michelle realised that Lavinia must have felt nervous too—that she had been braced for a rejection.
“Good. I’m—I’m so glad.” And then Lavinia bent down, and they sealed their new life with a kiss.