20. Twenty
Twenty
W e talk into the wee hours. Erin asks questions, some of which are silly, some not. I answer everything. I leave nothing out. By the time we are both fighting sleep, Erin has learned our entire history.
The smell of coffee wakes me. Cracking open my eyes, I let myself adjust to the light stealing into the bedroom. It’s the first time since Erin has stayed here that she is the first one to rise. Sitting up in bed, I stretch my arms over my head. I’m naked, but not because we had sex. It didn’t seem appropriate last night. There was too much to go over.
“Morning, sleepyhead,” Erin calls. She walks in carrying a tray full of delicious smelling treats and, to my utter surprise, a matte black bottle. It’s full of red, I already know that. I’ve kept them hidden ever since Erin started spending time here, but she’s obviously done some investigating.
“Morning,” I reply, eyeing Erin and the bottle.
“So, we have toast, fruit and yogurt, cereal, croissants, and this,” she gestures to the bottle.
“Um, thank you.”
“It’s important you drink it, right?”
“As much as water is important to you.”
“Okay, so drink, eat, and then we’ll talk some more.”
Erin climbs back into bed and starts nibbling on a croissant. I can see her side-eying me as I reach for the bottle. Instead of looking disgusted, Erin seems intrigued. Unscrewing the lid, I take several deep pulls. It has been too long since I’ve had a drink.
With my thirst quenched, I eat some granola with yogurt. I’ve decided not to push Erin, but to wait for her to come to me with questions. The one thing I have learned about her is that she needs time to digest information.
“What does it taste like to a vampire?” Erin already knows we only drink animal blood.
“Water, I suppose. There is no real taste.”
“Can I taste it?” I’m visibly taken aback by the question.
“Um, if you really want, but I’d hazard a guess it will taste metallic to you, just like your own blood.”
“Probably, but I’m interested.”
Handing over the bottle, I continue to eat my breakfast. I can see Erin from the corner of my eye sniffing the liquid. Unperturbed, she takes a small sip.
“It doesn’t really taste of much, you’re right.” That’s strange.
“Really?”
“Yeah, I mean, there is a bit of a metallic taste, but not much.”
We continue breakfast, and I finish the bottle of red. It’s going to be so much easier keeping myself hydrated now Erin knows. “What do you want to do today?”
“That’s what I wanted to talk to you about.” Erin moves the breakfast tray to the floor, then snuggles closer to me. “After everything we spoke about, I think it makes sense that I move in here.”
“What?” Don’t get overexcited Amelia!
“Yes. I can’t see you collapse again, Amelia, and we both know that’s likely to happen the longer I’m away from you. So, until we bond, I want to be here.”
As exciting as that sounds, I’m a little disappointed. Erin moving in should be a celebration of our feelings, not a precaution for my health. “Sounds like a plan,” I reply with a smile.
“I know that look,” she chides. “I’m not simply moving in because of your health, Amelia. I want to be here with you. It feels right to be here.”
“Erin, you’re not responsible for me. You have to understand that. This, us, can’t be forced.”
“Do you think I’m lying about how I feel?” Erin’s eyes turn fiery. “Amelia, I might not have the primal instinct to find my soulmate like you, but that doesn’t mean my feelings are less. Regardless of all the bullshit, we found each other.”
“I’d love for you to move in, Erin. Nothing sounds better, I just don’t want to… I don’t know, I don’t want to mess up your life.”
“Amelia, you’re pissing me off.”
“What? Why?”
“You’re acting like my being with you isn’t my choice. It most definitely is. Actually, that I’m choosing to be with you should be an enormous fucking clue how I feel about you. ”
Erin is now out of bed, standing with her hands on her hips, glaring at me. I do the wrong thing and smile because even though she’s seriously mad at me, I’m enamored by her passion.
“Are you actually laughing at me right now, Amelia Loch?” Lunging forward, I scoop her up and drag her back to bed. My mouth meets her neck and I kiss her all over. Erin’s fire is doused as she giggles under me.
“You’re right, I’m sorry, Erin. If you want to be here, I want that, too. I want everything with you. No more doubts. What you say goes.”
“Glad we got that sorted,” she mumbles into my neck. “Now,” she continues, pushing me back. “I wasn’t finished talking.”
“Sorry,” I laugh, holding my hands up in surrender. “Please go on.”
“Yes, as I was saying, I want to move in. As for us bonding, I don’t think we should rush it. I know there is a time limit, but like you said, it can’t be forced. I don’t want us spending every second worried that we’re not bonding. I also don’t want our sex life to become that either. When it happens, it happens.”
“Agreed.”
“Good. Now, as for today, we’re going back to your parents’ house for a family meeting.”
“Another one?” I groan.
“Yes, because there are way too many unanswered questions for my liking. We need to band together and come up with a plan of action.”
“You’re very sexy when you get all mistress on me, you know.”
“Ah, something you like, huh?”
“Very much. ”
“Maybe I’ll show you my whip one day?” Erin winks at me. Whip? Is she being serious?
“Whip,” I cough.
“You’re so cute,” she giggles. “I’m going to take a shower. You can join me if you like?”
As if she needs to ask that!
Two fantastic orgasms later, we hop out of the shower, dry, and get dressed. I can’t believe I have to go to my parents’ house again. I don’t think we’ve ever spent so much time together.
We arrive and the house looks like a military war room. “What is this?”
“Erin called this morning and told us to get ready. This is us getting ready,” my father chuckles. The dining room table is cleared of all place settings. Books and scrolls are laid out meticulously. Each one with a member of the Loch family poring over them.
“Have you had breakfast?” Mother shouts over the din.
“I fed her up, Victoria,” Erin replies.
“Good girl. Right, let’s have some coffee and get to work.”
“What work are we getting to?” I ask, amused. The whole scenario is surreal.
“Yesterday you told me about a legend or tale, one about a vampire mating successfully with a human,” Erin answers.
“Yeah, but it’s just that Erin, a myth.”
“Nope, I don’t think it is. We all know most myths and legends have some grain of truth to them. I think this is the same.”
“Why?”
“Because in all the thousands of years vampires and humans have coexisted, I find it doubtful there has never been a match between the two species. ”
“Have you found any proof?” I know I sound like I’m trying to shit on her theory, but truthfully, I’m scared to get my hopes up.
“I think I have,” Marcus calls. “I’ve been wading through folktales all night. The tales are from all across the globe. Usually different countries have different versions of the tale, which in this case is true, but there is a common thread. Every tale talks of a raven-haired vampire born of the original, who fell in love with the human daughter of the first human.”
“Maybe,” I mumble. “Or it could be bullshit and just a story that got passed down.”
“I’m going to smack you,” Lucille announces. “It’s not solid proof, but fuck Amelia, it’s a start. Get off the negative train and start helping out.”
“Lucille’s right,” Erin adds. “Buck up, we have work to do.”
My eyeballs feel like sandpaper. If I have to read another old scroll, I’m going to drown myself in the pool.
“I need a break,” Jacob whines. “I can’t see straight anymore.”
“Hear, hear,” I call. Slowly I get up from the table. My back is on fire from the position I’ve held for too long. “Oh Christ, I’m going to need a chiropractor after this.”
“Amelia, it’s injection time,” Erin calls.
“Great,” I groan. Walking towards Erin, I stumble. A pain shoots in my chest. Erin is next to me in a flash. Without asking, she draws me in close, pulling my head down, kissing me with abandon.
“Did that help?” she whispers against my lips. I nod. “Okay, let’s get you medicated.”
We’ve got the whole injecting me in the ass thing down. Minutes later, we rejoin the family. “I think it’s time we bring in the council,” my father says. “I know we wanted to keep it in the family, but they have access to more information.”
“Will the elders be pissed we kept it from them?” Laurence asks.
“We didn’t. Your father and I spoke to a few people we are close to, remember? The Grand Master is still unaware, but I don’t think we can keep it from him any longer.”
“Will Amelia be safe?” Erin asks, with no thought of her own safety.
“Yes, Erin, don’t worry.”
“Unlike humans, we don’t punish vampires that are different,” I snap.
“Whoa there, slugger, what’s with the attitude?” Erin laughs.
“Amelia hates humans,” Lucille unhelpfully supplies.
Erin rounds on me. “Is that true?”
“No, I don’t hate humans, but I have some issues.” Honesty is the best policy, right?
“So, you have an issue with me?”
“Honestly, I did when I first found out you were a human.”
“Wow,” Erin scoffs.
“Will you hear me out?”
“Sure, go for it.” Erin stands with hands across her chest. This woman does not give one tiny fuck that she is surrounded by much larger vampires .
“Over the millennia, humankind has demonized us. So much so that we can’t live in the open as our true selves. My dislike for humans is out of fear and a need to protect my family. I know not every human is the same, and since meeting you, Erin, I know I have been shortsighted. I have behaved the way I accuse humans of behaving.
“When we held your birthday party, I didn’t even realize that most of the guests were human. It was only when Dana pointed it out I understood how silly I’d been to tar every human with the same brush. Sometimes I still get a flare of irritation, especially when I’m reminded of all the terrible things humans have said and done, but I’m sure you would, too, if our roles were reversed.”
“Probably,” Erin conceded.
“I don’t hate your kind, Erin. I just need some time to adjust and unlearn some things.”
“Fine, I’ll give you that, and I know humans are pretty shitty most of the time, but we’re not all bad.”
“I know,” I say softly, pulling her into a hug.
“Right, let’s cut the soppy shit and get back to it,” Lucille barks.
“I’m going to call Mohan,” my father announces. “I think we should prepare for a visit from the Grand Master.”
“I’ll cook,” Mother shouts excitedly.
“Victoria, we’re not hosting a soirée,” Father laughs.
“We might as well turn it into one, Harlan. It’s been ages, and what better way to introduce Erin to the elders?”
“Elders plural?” I ask.
“Why not? Mohan will need to consult them and the council. We might as well get it all over and done with in one fell swoop.”
“I’m ready,” Erin states.
“Of course you are, dear,” Mother coos. “You’re a Loch.”