Chapter 8
Theo
Theo, much calmer now that he’d eaten, felt half confident Peter wouldn’t just drag him into the basement. He sat in an armchair in Peter’s ridiculously large living room and read through the contract the vampire had drawn up for him. It all looked very official.
Peter had taken Theo’s laptop and excused himself to “the downstairs office,” which, given they were on the first floor, was the basement. Creepy.
The contract was easier to understand than some literary works Theo had read. It said Peter would provide housing and provide Theo food for the duration of the contract, which in and of itself gave Theo a basic level of stuff he didn’t have to worry about.
Theo hadn’t known that kind of security before, not since he was a child. The contract also detailed that feedings were not to exceed a monthly rhythm unless they could be considered “smaller bites” with no “sucking of blood.”
I didn’t even think that was an option. Bernard never… Theo glanced at the door Peter had vanished through on his way to the basement. Maybe this can work. Just until I have my degree, and then…then I’ll leave this place, start fresh where no one knows me.
Theo wasn’t sure what he would or could do if Peter just started draining him daily like Bernard had done for a time. The contract was all good and well, but there wasn’t much Theo could hope to do to enforce it.
Except he could’ve just dragged me into his creepy basement after compelling me earlier. This is a lot of trouble to go to just to drink me dry.
Theo sighed. He had to at least consider the possibility that Peter wasn’t like Bernard.
After giving the contract one final read-through, Theo picked up the pen Peter had left on the living room table, rolled it in his hand for a few seconds, then put it and the contract down. He needed to move, to think.
Peter kept a bookshelf in his living room, and Theo naturally gravitated toward that. It had looked fake from a distance—not the bookshelf itself, but the books on it.
The bindings appeared aged and more colorful than any books Theo normally came across in the library, except maybe the ones in the historical section, which was closed to the public and only open to researchers.
But as he approached, Theo realized Peter collected old books. Or maybe he just never got rid of the books he bought as first editions. He’s a vampire; there’s no telling how old he is.
Theo spotted Frankenstein and several Dickenses.
A Christmas Carol was on a higher shelf than most of the others.
The order of the entire shelf was haphazard.
On the Origin of Species snuggled next to The War of the Worlds, and Theo’s heart fluttered when he saw The Monk and Carmilla.
And yes, Dracula hid on the bottom shelf.
“Feel free to borrow them, although I must warn you that some are quite delicate.”
Theo jumped at the sound of Peter’s voice, but the vampire was standing across the room, under the archway that opened into the foyer. He was holding a laptop, and approached once Theo had turned.
“Not really a complicated issue.” He tapped the device.
“Your data was all there, and the drive wasn’t even damaged.
I cannot say the same for the hardware, so I transferred everything to this new machine.
” He put the laptop on the table next to the contract.
“I took the liberty of setting up the OS and the software you had on your old laptop, as well as a few programs I think you might find helpful.”
“My OS? You what? What did you do with my computer?”
Peter narrowed his eyes at Theo. “Your laptop is dead. I’m sorry. But your data is okay. Think of it like a brain transfer. I put the brain in a new body. You might want to consider putting important things in the cloud.”
Theo nodded. “Right. The cloud. I can use that?”
Peter nodded. “Yes. Any issues or questions about the contract?”
Theo crossed his arms. “It looks good.”
“Excellent.”
“But how do I make you adhere to it?”
Peter sat in the far armchair. “Not in a human court, that is true. But you are in New Elvenswood. There is a large community of witches here who would happily help a human abused by a vampire. Did you know they all make fancy stakes at some point in their lives? Truly baffling. At any rate, I personally would advise you to approach the Elven lord watching over this city.”
“What?” Theo said, because while he knew about witches and several other creatures, that was new.
Peter leaned back. “It is how things are handled in this city.”
Theo straightened. “That’s how you’ll make Bernard go away then? By asking the witches for help?”
Peter gave him a level look. “Sure.”
“And how would I contact these people?”
Peter linked his fingers behind his head. “You know the folklore museum?”
Theo nodded. The Museum of Folklore and Local History was a beautiful building in the city’s main square, and when he’d first come to New Elvenswood, Theo had just sat on a bench outside of it and taken in the feeling of being free.
“The building itself is succor. That means that, should any supernatural creature ever wish you or any human harm, go inside and you will be safe. And ask for…well, I’m not sure who runs it now. I can find out for you.”
“You’re saying the museum is enchanted?”
Peter nodded. “In a manner of speaking. All of it was before my time, but it’s my understanding that early on, there were many elven and human relationships here.
The human spouses had family and friends, and, of course, any children would’ve been part human.
The elves sought to ensure there was a place of safety, and it’s been like that ever since. ”
“Right. Okay.”
Peter licked his smooth lips, and Theo found his gaze drawn to the soft pink flesh of Peter’s tongue. Theo remembered Peter gently licking his neck the previous night. It had barely even hurt at all—not the bite, not when he’d drunk.
“Of course, I have no intention of breaking this contract if you are willing to sign and uphold your end.”
“I need to think about that. I just… I don’t want to decide right away.”
Peter nodded. “Of course. I hope you will agree since your blood is really quite tempting. So much like a drug.” He crossed his legs, leaned back in the armchair, and licked his lips again. “But waiting for a good thing to come true will be exquisitely rewarding.”
Theo traced the lines of Peter’s lips and face with his eyes. He couldn’t help himself. At some point between last night and that hot chocolate, Theo had begun looking at Peter not like a threat, but like something else. A possibility maybe. Theo wasn’t sure.
“I’ll let you know after work tomorrow. I should get going now, actually.”
Peter nodded. “I can have an associate of mine drive you from here to your apartment and then to Madame Celeste’s, or I can drive you.”
Theo liked the idea of someone else taking him, but he didn’t like the idea of another person finding out what his job was. Such rumors spread, and Theo didn’t want his fellow students and professors looking at him and seeing the sex worker rather than the student.
“You can take me,” he said.
Peter nodded. “It’ll be my pleasure, Theo.”
Theo had hoped to get some rest before heading into work, but with all that had happened, he’d changed into his work clothes while Peter had stood statue still next to the desk.
A bag of things Theo would need for a few days at Peter’s place was packed and ready, and really, Theo owned so little that hardly anything was left in his wardrobe.
The drive to Madame Celeste’s was uneventful and quiet, though Theo kept looking over his shoulder, scared Bernard would just be there, coming at him again.
“I’ll chat with Celeste about our arrangement,” Peter said as the two of them walked to the elevators for clients.
“Everything all right here?” said a security person when he saw Peter and Theo together.
Theo didn’t remember the man’s name, but he knew they were supposed to recognize every employee on sight and to make sure they were not approached by clients.
Theo nodded. “Yes, it’s fine.”
“Balzac,” Peter said to the security guard by way of greeting.
“Mr. Collins. I’ll be taking Puck up through the employee entrance.”
“That’s kind of you, thank you.”
Peter nodded to Theo as the guard, Balzac, held out his arm to lead Theo the other way.
He followed the broad man, watching Peter just stand there.
At the employee door, Balzac swiped his keycard, and once they were inside, he gave Theo a once-over.
“Are you okay?”
Theo let out a heavy breath. “Yeah. Just… He ran into me on campus. Helped me with a situation. I’ll talk to Celeste.”
Balzac nodded. “Okay then. Odd cookie, that one. You’re okay to go up alone?” Balzac indicated the stairs.
“Yeah.”
The guard left again, and Theo headed up.
At the top of the stairs, Theo remembered the previous night, and how Peter had asked Theo to sit on his lap. Peter’s tongue had been soft against Theo’s skin, and remembering the feeling made Theo shiver even now.
I can’t be an idiot. I have an arrangement with him. Business, and nothing more.
Straightening, Theo opened the door to start the night’s work.