Chapter 30
Aspen, they called the town, and it appeared pleasant enough during the short hour or so spent acquiring transport in the dead of night.
His leman consented to select a small blue sedan for their most immediate travel needs, and her apprehension at the thought of his steering the vehicle meant he acceded to her driving once more.
Much more responsive than a lumbering stagecoach, swifter than a steam train, Jonathan found he quite liked this new invention. They were also much easier to take than even a single horse from a locked livery, and he was more than ready to continue his education in this fascinating modern era.
She was still nervous, holding the steering wheel very tightly. Well-fed though ragged, she also watched him carefully, mostly sidelong as she steered their conveyance, her attention especially marked when she could reasonably guess him distracted.
The road rose, fell, swooped upon curves like a hawk enjoying summer updrafts.
I always wanted to go west, she said, and he agreed.
Perhaps he might even find something of his own memories there, as small bits of his wanderings before the fire had begun to return with each deep breath of her fragrance.
Soon the closed interior was dyed with her presence, and he relaxed gratefully into that wonderful flood.
“John?” A small, tentative word.
“Hm?” He turned his attention from the cone of white headlight before them.
Woody Creek, the signs announced at intervals, Snowmass, Basalt, with mile-numbers attached.
The most immediate problem was selecting another mortal town before dawn, and securing a safe resting place for her therein.
Then a busy span of sunlight hours, acquiring various items and solidifying his grasp upon the principles of modernity while she slumbered.
For now, though, he could luxuriate in the closeness of his leman. She seemed almost resigned to his presence once more, and he intended upon using the gift to the hilt.
“You didn’t have to, you know.” This was a new Simone, biting her lower lip as she coaxed the vehicle into a tight curve.
Acceleration pushed and pulled, an invisible dance; he liked the sense of being drawn along with her.
“The… Huske, the guy who caught me? He thought he was going to get a transfusion and live forever.”
“Was that his plan?” The immensity of the idiocy was almost amusing. “It would not work. The change agents in the saliva are necessary as well; you would have had to bite him with intention.”
“With intention,” she muttered, darkly. “I guess I did, in a way. But really, you didn’t have to… to try and rescue me. Thank you.”
Did you think I would not? She did not understand or credit the simplest things, but there was time.
Jonathan weighed his next words carefully indeed.
“I did have to, and I would again. Though it will not be necessary; I will not allow you beyond arm’s reach for a very long while, sweet Simone. Perhaps ever.”
“Allow me, huh?” Another sly sideways glance, this time with a faint gleam of mischief. “We’re going to have some discussions if you want to stick around, old man.”
Old man. Was it mere accuracy, or an endearment? “Whatever you like.”
“I don’t know how to be a vamp.” A catch to her breath, soft and charming, before she corrected herself. “A sanguinant. So, uh, I have some questions. Is that… will you…”
“Ask.” He settled more firmly in the seat, scanning their surroundings.
So, that was what the mortals had designed upon her.
A troubling development, and deserving of caution—there had been others seeking to steal the Dark Gift before, never with much success.
Still, now that a single mortal had attempted it in this particular fashion, others would follow. It was inevitable.
He would have to work swiftly, wrap her in safety, accumulate wealth, familiarize himself with the current levers of mortal power.
But first, there was his sweet, priceless leman. She was uneasy; she knew so little of her own strength, let alone his. And she held to silence for a few miles, the vehicle humming happily under her hands.
What creature would not?
“Okay.” Enchanting, her glance at the instrument panel, her deep breath to brace herself. Her grasp upon the wheel eased a fraction. “First things first, I guess. Can I have coffee?”