Chapter 40
Elliott | Edinburgh, present day
We drop off Lucy and Tim at the house and collect our stuff and then say our goodbyes.
They say they’ll help us out if we need them to come to London.
But there are five of us vampires against one, so as Sadie says, ‘Thanks, but we should be cool’.
We’re all of the same mind. As long as we can get to Alexander quickly enough to stop him turning the thralls, kill him, and effectively free them.
Personally, I’m quietly confident that it will be a walk in the park—despite him having superior powers, there is greater strength in numbers.
The atmosphere in the car is contemplative on the way back.
No one seems inclined to talk, apart from Floss and Hester (who is in cat form again).
They’re going over her lines for Twelfth Night on Floss’s lap.
I listen in for the entertainment value.
It sounds like a fun play. I hope she gets the part.
I glance over at Sadie, but she’s staring out the window, lost in her own thoughts.
She seemed fine about Lucy being with Tim.
I thought she might have some residual feelings for him, but forty years is a long time to hold a flame.
And I’m hoping by the way she hugged him and quickly hopped into the car, that hers has well and truly burnt out.
Me: You OK?
Sadie jerks and looks round at me. Jesus, I’m not used to that!
Me: Sorry, I thought I should practise. You know, so I don’t have to message you when I’m in the vicinity with a blood delivery.
Her lips twist ruefully.
Sadie: You’re still doing the donor service then?
Me: Of course, why wouldn’t I? I need it now too.
She shifts in the seat. I thought you might want to ... leave.
Me: Leave? Why would I do that?
Sadie: Duran Duran is still touring. I’m sure they’d be happy to see you.
Me (sarcastically): I can see how that would go. Hey, Simon. Yeah, I’ve finally recovered from my raging case of genital herpes if you need a roadie. By the way, don’t bare your neck in front of me as I’m liable to bite it.
Sadie grins and licks her lips. Doesn’t sound too bad. Maybe I could come too.
Me: No way, I’m not having you get your fangs into Simon Le Bon!
Sadie (pouting): Party pooper.
Me: Besides, we have to go to London and stake a vampire.
Sadie: Oh yeah, back in Covent Garden. Fun times.
Me (cautiously): Your old stomping grounds. You might run into Anya if Alexander is setting up a brothel.
Sadie: Her! I never want to see that bitch again.
She turned me and wiped my mind. And left me to wake up and find Darius under the bed.
It’s fucked me up for two centuries, not knowing what really happened.
I told myself he was sleeping, but I suspected he was dead. But did she drain him? Or did I do it?
Me: It was shitty of her to leave you wondering like that. But my money’s on Anya draining Darius, not you. From what you’ve told me previously, it sounds like she preferred women to men. And maybe she memory-wiped you for your own protection? She didn’t want your first memory to be traumatic.
Sadie (sarcastically): How kind of her.
Me: She must’ve taken a shine to you. Obviously, there’s a lot to like.
Sadie’s cerulean eyes glimmer.
Me: Is that why you never wanted to turn me? You feel bad about Darius?
Her jaw works. I’ve felt bad about him for over two centuries. He said he was the customer I’d never forget, and he was right.
I take her hand. What happened to him wasn’t your fault, sweetheart. You weren’t the one in control of that situation. You can’t blame yourself for Anya’s actions.
Sadie chews her lip. I suppose so. But I think it’s why I didn’t want to turn you. I felt responsible for him and thought something similar would happen to you if I did. Maybe that got mixed up with thinking you’d leave me.
Me: It makes sense but you don’t need to worry about that now. I’m a vampire and I still want to be with you, regardless of anything that’s happened in the past.
Sadie sighs and looks down at her lap. I need some time to process everything … It’s a lot.
I open my mouth to tell her how I feel out loud, but then close it again. It’s not the right time to declare my undying love. Hopefully I’ve said enough to convey it, but I’m never entirely sure when it comes to Sadie. I may have to go bigger.
***
Two days later, I’m round at the apartment, dropping off a cooler of blood bags.
Damian is there as well. He thought going back to work as a vampire might be a challenge, so he’s booked unscheduled leave for two weeks to try and control his bloodlust. By the way he salivates at the blood bag when I hand it to him, it could take more than two weeks.
Hester is at her London audition, and Floss keeps checking her phone anxiously. ‘Nothing yet. She must’ve had it by now. She said she’d message me as soon as she heard anything.’
‘She won’t find out straightaway, surely?’ says Sadie from her revolving leather chair.
Apart from greeting me when I came in, she’s been ignoring me. It’s been like this ever since we got back. No invitation to come over and stay the night either. That strange awkwardness is still there between us, and I’m not sure how to bridge it.
Floss nods. ‘They want to make a decision pretty quickly. It’s between her and two other girls. Oooh, I hope she gets it. She’s perfect for the part, and Will will have to notice her then.’
‘Who is this guy?’ I ask. ‘I keep hearing his name bandied about.’
‘No one really knows, but Hester is obsessed with him,’ scoffs Sadie.
I glance at her. Sounds like someone’s a bit jealous. What’s going on there?
Floss’s phone vibrates, and she clicks into the message and squeals loudly.
I flinch, and Damian almost drops his blood bag. ‘Ow!’ he says, rubbing his left ear. As newbies, our hearing is supersensitive.
‘Sorry, babe.’
‘Did she get it?’ I ask.
‘She says, “Ask Damian if hypnosis can help someone get over stage fright.”’
Damian grins. ‘I think that’s a “yes” then.’
Floss’s phone rings, and she puts it on speaker. ‘Did you get it? Did you get the part?’ she asks breathlessly.
There’s a pause, and Hester says, ‘I just found out ... I got it.’
We all whoop and clap and call out ‘Congratulations!’
Hester laughs. ‘Thanks, guys. I’m flying back up tonight so we can celebrate. And discuss you-know-what.’
Smiling, I look around, but Sadie has disappeared. Fuck it. She’s driving me batty. I can’t wait any longer. I need to do this right now. I should’ve when we first got back, but I chickened out.
I walk into the kitchen to find her boiling the kettle and spooning coffee into a mug. I lean against the door, watching her.
‘Is that for me?’
‘Hah, yeah. Old habits die hard.’
She takes the kitchen knife and starts to draw it across her wrist.
‘Wait,’ I say, walking over and staying her hand. I take it in mine and drop to one knee.
‘Sadie Bouffant. I’ve loved you for forty years.’
She looks at me, expressionless. ‘Elliott, don’t ...’
‘Let me finish. Please,’ I beg. ‘I’ve got a small speech that I’ve prepared.’
Her eyelids flutter, but she nods, and I steel myself. Where was I? Oh yes.
‘I’ve loved you for forty years. To steal Jerry Maguire’s line, “You complete me.”’ I do the hand sign as well since she’s made me watch the movie with her at least a hundred times. Sadie’s mouth twitches. I stumble on.
‘I know it’s corny, but it’s exactly how I feel. I want to spend eternity with you. Will you do me the very great honour of becoming my wife?’
My voice wobbles, but I manage to get it all out without stammering. Thank God vampires can’t cry, or I’d be a blubbering mess right now. With my free hand, I take a black velvet box out of my pocket and present it to her. It contains a Georgian rose-gold engagement ring set with a small emerald.
‘I found it in an antique store a few years ago and I’ve been waiting for the right moment. I know how much you love emeralds ...’
I trail off as Sadie stares first at me, and then at the ring. She doesn’t speak for a long moment, and I realise too late that I shouldn’t have done this in the kitchen. It’s exactly like Tim’s proposal.
She’s going to reject me. I’ve fucked it up!
Then Sadie gives a small smile, which keeps getting bigger until it lights up her beautiful face. She cups my cheeks in her hands and gives me a long, slow kiss.
‘Is that a “yes”?’ I ask, worried that it’s a ‘no’ and this is her way of letting me down gently.
‘Of course it’s a “yes”,’ she says softly. ‘I’ve loved you for decades. Why do you think I kept you as my thrall all these years?’
‘Because you needed an on-site snack?’
She laughs and shakes her head as I slide the emerald ring onto her finger. It fits perfectly!
Sadie’s eyes turn serious as she inspects her emerald ring from all angles. ‘This is truly beautiful, Elliott. I love it, thank you so much. But your timing is atrocious.’
‘Oh, why?’
‘Because as you said quite recently, “we have to go to London and stake a vampire.” And I don’t particularly want to get engaged if there’s a chance you might not make it back for the wedding.’
‘Ah, true.’ That’s a sobering thought that she thinks I won’t. So much for greater strength in numbers.
Sadie grins. ‘I’m joking.’
I drag a hand through my hair. ‘That’s a fucking relief.’
‘Though I do have one condition for marrying you.’
‘Which is?’
‘That I can walk down the aisle to “Hungry Like the Wolf”.’
I rise and sweep her up into my arms with a laugh.
‘Sweetheart’, I growl, nuzzling her neck and never wanting to let her go, ‘you can walk down the aisle to any goddamn Duran Duran song you like!’
Sadie squeals with delight and almost butchers my eardrums, causing the rest of the flat to come rushing into the kitchen.
‘What the fuck is going on? We thought you were being drained!’ cries Floss.
Sadie laughs. She holds up her left hand and wiggles her fingers. ‘Not drained. Engaged! Elliott proposed, and I accepted!’
This elicits more squealing for my ears to contend with from Floss, as well as excited clapping. Damian pumps my hand, wincing as well, but yells ‘Congrats, mate!’
I watch as Sadie hugs Floss gleefully and my undead heart brims with joy and love.
It’s all been worth it for this moment. To see her so happy.
She’s hidden it well over the years, but now I know the truth: my brave, funny, strong girl may be steel on the outside, but inside, she’s soft, gooey marshmallow where I’m concerned.
Harlot, coven protector, mistress, blood bank CEO—Sadie has worn many hats over the centuries, some of which I witnessed firsthand as her thrall—but now I’m thrilled we’re moving forward, preparing for our new future as vampire husband and wife.
Whatever hardships lie ahead, Sadie and I will face them together.
I’m bitten, completely smitten, and I’m planning on us being together forever. Fingers—and fangs—crossed!
To be continued . . .