CHAPTER 19
Valeria’s bedroom was empty, and while Caroline wasn’t surprised, she was a little heartbroken.
Which was entirely foolish because Valeria was a vampire.
She fed off of blood, and it wasn’t as if Caroline could ask her to starve herself.
It was another way they didn’t fit because she couldn’t wait around while Valeria killed innocent people and only hoped it wasn’t anyone she knew.
Because not all of Valeria’s victims were strangers.
There was dear sweet Nellie and even her own father.
Caroline needed to get over Valeria and get her out of her home before Edgar returned. It was the mantra she repeated as she sat on Valeria’s bed and waited for her return, even as she grew more and more tired.
Hours passed before the window slowly moved up and a delicate hand wrapped around the windowsill.
“I wondered how you got in and out of the house without anyone seeing you. How did you get up the house?”
Valeria pulled herself through the window as easily as walking through a doorway. A dark cloak was wrapped around her, and some hair had escaped from her updo, but her face was blank as Caroline searched her for blood splatter.
“I can climb walls.”
“Is that something all vampires can do?”
Valeria unclipped her cloak and hung it up in the armoire. “I’m not allowed to disclose vampire secrets to humans.”
“Oh.” She should have been gathering information to give to Dr. Murnau, but she only asked because she was curious about Valeria’s life, because it was hers. “Are there a lot of rules you have to follow?”
“That’s another question,” Valeria snapped before sighing. “There are rules all vampires must follow, but covens also have their own rules.”
“Is no information for humans a coven rule or a vampire rule?”
“Both. It’s the most important rule for being a vampire. Well, or the second most important. They may be tied.”
“And what is that other rule?”
“Always dispose of your kill.”
It was an uncomfortable reminder of the gulf between them. Valeria was a killer, and Caroline could never sanction that. Even though it didn’t feel like their differences were insurmountable when they were together.
“Is that where you were? Killing people?”
Valeria silently undressed with her back to Caroline. There was nothing sensual about her movements as she got ready for bed, and Caroline was struck by the domesticity of the moment.
“I am a vampire,” Valeria snarled, turning as she buttoned a flannel nightgown.
“I haven’t been one for long, and I’m not very powerful, but I am a vampire.
I will live for the rest of time, and I survive wholly off of blood, and humans are inconvenient cattle that breed too much and cause too many problems. The only problem with killing them too quickly is depleting your food supply, but I get here with you, and you’ve ruined everything. ”
“What have I ruined?” Caroline asks, squeezing her hands in an attempt to calm her body since Valeria knows when her heart races.
“I am starving. It’s been days since I’ve had a real meal, and all I can smell is your blood, but I can’t have it.
I went out tonight, and all I wanted to do was kill.
Not just to eat, but because I wanted to feel a pulse stop beneath my hands.
It’s all I wanted, but even after I found my prey, I couldn’t do it.
Because I heard your voice in my head asking me if I needed to kill or if I could spare him. ”
“And what did you do?”
“I spared him! I left him in his sad little house and found a wild boar to eat instead. Do you know how cumbersome it is to carry a dead boar through the woods? And then I was thinking about how you would probably tell me that someone could eat the meat and I can’t just bury it.
I don’t have time to be butchering wild boars! ”
“What did you do with the meat?”
“I left it for Cook,” she said, throwing up her hands. “I put it in the meat storage before I crawled back up here, and now you’re sitting on my bed looking at me like I’ve massacred an entire city.”
“Did you get a bricklayer to come fix my hearth without pay?”
“Yes,” she said, crossing her arms. “And I won’t apologize for it. Your hearth needs to be fixed, and I didn’t take even a single drop of his blood.”
Her jaw was set in a hard line as she scowled down at Caroline, who still sat on her bed. It took all of her power not to smile because it was rather cute to see Valeria flustered, and it pleased her that she hadn’t killed a person tonight. Or for several days.
“How did you do it? Because he is under the impression that he has been paid, and I know neither of us has the money.
Valeria’s eyes turned wary. “You won’t like it.”
“Please?”
Valeria stared at her for a long time, but Caroline showed her precisely how stubborn she was, and the other woman sighed before mumbling something in Italian, but she didn’t care because she was getting what she wanted.
“I compelled him.”
“How did you do that?”
Valeria hesitated, and Caroline knew that she certainly wouldn’t like whatever she was about to say.
“I looked into his eyes and very strongly suggested that he had an appointment set for several months to fix your hearth and that it had already been paid for and he would do the job as quickly as he could to the best of his ability and use his best materials.”
“And he agreed?”
“Well, he didn’t really have a choice.”
“You forced him. How? Did you say you would hurt him?” The hearth needed to be fixed, but it wasn’t that dire.
Valeria sighed. “It’s a vampire gift. Whoever you compel does what you want because they want to make you happy. It’s some form of magic. I don’t really know how it works, but I do know they can’t fight it.”
“That’s awful.” The implications of this were staggering. An unknown number of beings out there able to make you do anything they wanted? Her stomach dropped. “Have you compelled me?”
“Of course not, cara.” Valeria dropped to her knees and scooped up her hands, kissing the back of her fingers.
“I would never do anything to betray your trust. I mainly compel humans when I’m buying something, or I have to get out of a situation safely.
The Count says we shouldn’t overly rely on those powers. ”
“Is that a vampire rule or coven rule?”
“Coven. He wants us to do things on our own. He says it will make us stronger.”
She wasn’t sure they needed help being stronger if they were capable of such dark magic, but at least it wasn’t a power she used frequently.
“I don’t want you compelling anyone else.”
“I don’t do it much—”
“Promise me.”
“How about I promise to talk to you next time I do it. I can’t do a blanket promise because I won’t sacrifice either of our safety for your human morals.”
“Are vampires no longer human?”
“No.” She kissed her hand again. “I died and have been transformed into something new. Something better. Something you could become too. I want you to join us.”
Valeria looked up at her with such hope it pierced something in her, but never once in all of this had she ever considered that Valeria would want her to become a vampire.
“Who’s us?” She asked, deflecting the question.
“The Count, and Sveta, and Millie. We’re a small coven, but very dedicated to one another, and I think you would love them and they will love you.”
“If your coven is so small, how do you know they would even be interested in having me?”
“Because I love you, they’re sure to as well. I’ve already asked, and I’m waiting for a response.”
Caroline ripped her hands away. “You asked before talking to me? When?”
Valeria’s smile faded. “A few days, but I’m sure The Count has been busy. He’ll respond. He told me when I was Turned that if I ever wanted to add to the coven, all I had to do was ask.”
Everything was moving so quickly she felt like her head was spinning.
She couldn’t imagine being a vampire. Drinking blood.
Perhaps she could stand it if it was only her and Valeria, but she didn’t want to be tied to The Count as well.
Every time they spoke about him, her stomach tightened.
She had no evidence for this, but she didn’t think he was a good man. Or vampire, rather.
“Miss Blythe.”
Caroline looked up to see Lucy nervously hovering in the doorway, and she had never been more thankful for an interruption.
“Yes, Lucy?”
“Mrs. Thomas needs you, ma’am. She says there’s so much water dripping from the roof into the east wing that she’s worried that part of the roof is about to collapse.”
Caroline sighed. It was far too much to hope the roof would have held strong just a few more weeks until Edgar returned. It had been a damp spring, but the snow melted early so she had hoped the damage wasn’t as bad as she feared.
Valeria’s eyebrows shot up. “The roof is under threat of collapse.”
Caroline’s face burned. It was bad enough she knew about the hearth and had fixed it. She didn’t want Valeria to think she was completely inept.
She also didn’t want Valeria to compel someone else to fix it.
“I promise it sounds worse than it is.”
Lucy opened her mouth, but Caroline shot her a harsh look to keep her silent. Unfortunately, Valeria caught the action.
“Don’t argue as the house falls around us.”
Caroline sighed. “It’s only east wing guest rooms so far. Obviously it’s a problem, but it should be easy to contain. We just weren’t able to clear out all of the affected rooms before now.”
“So, that’s why I’m in the family wing.”
Caroline nodded. “I didn’t want to take any chances because of your sun sickness.”
Valeria nodded, but kept silent. She braced herself for the wave of pity that was surely about to come. She hated pity more than anything. Their tale wasn’t unique, especially not in this corner of the country. They weren’t the only family bleeding money.
“Cara, stay here. I will handle the leak.”
Caroline froze. “Why?”
“You haven’t been resting much, and it’s nearly the middle of the night. All you do is take care of other people. Let me do this for you.”
“Are you a roofer?”
“No, but neither are you. I’m stronger and can easily get on the roof to complete any simple repairs. Sleep here, and I’ll come to you when I’m finished.”
Valeria stood and put on her scuffed leather boots before grabbing the cloak she had just put away.
“Are you sure?” She asked, her voice small. She was so, so tired, but it had been so long since she had any help.
“I’m positive, cara,” she said, leaning down to kiss the top of Caroline’s head before she leaned down and whispered in her ear, “I would rather know you are safe and warm waiting for me in my bed.”
Lucy was watching, but she couldn’t help it as she blushed and moved back on the bed. Valeria left, and Lucy trailed behind her, and for once, she wasn’t concerned with Lucy’s gossip as she fell asleep.
* * *
She’s tired. So, so tired, but she can’t remember why. She can’t remember much of anything beyond pain and pleasure. Just that she’s been there for too long.
“There you are.”
She looks up to see the man from the other dream staring down at her.
He looks even more frightening close up, and she hates the way he’s looking at her.
As if he’s looking through her. She goes to open her mouth to ask him what he wants, but she can’t.
She can’t move. Can’t talk. Wherever she is, she’s trapped.
“You haven’t the faintest idea what’s happening right now, do you?
” He flashed a dazzling smile she imagined stopped many dead in their tracks, but to her, it only drew more dread.
“I thought maybe you were a worthy adversary, but you’re just a stupid girl with a power she can’t understand, let alone control.
Her eyes opened to a dark room and fingers petting her hair.
“Shh, I have you, cara.”
Caroline relaxed as she realized she was in Valeria’s arms. The nightmare she had was unsettling, but already slipping away as Valeria held her.
“How’s the roof?”
“Almost crumbling, but it won’t collapse for a bit longer. Enough time for me to find a roofer at least.”
“I told you not to compel anyone.”
“But it’s the roof. You need to keep it safe and dry, or you could lose the whole house.”
“If I can wait a few weeks, then we can fix it the right way.”
Valeria stiffened; they both knew her only other way of acquiring a new roof.
“You don’t have to do that anymore.”
“You were right earlier; we’re so different. My family and my estate are so important, and I can’t bear to leave either when they need me so much.”
“You’re not the only choice. Your parents should be taking care of this anyway. Let them.”
“Neither of them is very good at it, but more than that, I like it. I like taking care of the house and running numbers on the estate. It may not seem interesting to you, but I’m not trying to run from a life I don’t want.”
“Do you really want to get married? Do you even know what kind of man your fiancé is? Shouldn’t he be helping you take care of this?”
“You said it yourself, I was always going to marry.”
“But you don’t have to. Be with me instead.”
Valeria is wrapped behind her back with a hand over her waist; Caroline intertwines her fingers with Valeria’s.
“I don’t know if I want to be a vampire.”
“That’s fine, you don’t have to make that decision yet. We can be together, and The Count can turn you when you’re ready.”
“I could be with you, but I don’t know if I want to be with the rest of your coven.”
“You wouldn’t have to do anything with Sveta and Millie if you don’t want to. They haven’t been together like that in centuries.”
“But are they with The Count?”
Caroline already knew the answer, but Valeria’s silence was confirmation.
“But if you marry—”
“Edgar is my choice,” Caroline interrupted. “I know it’s difficult to understand, but if I must do this, I want it to be on my terms.”
“Don’t you ever get tired of being a martyr?”
“Don’t you ever get tired of running away?”
Valeria’s hand spasmed on her waist, and she knew she hit a nerve, though she didn’t feel bad because Valeria was doing her best to rile her up as well.
“If I ask you to come with me, it isn’t running away.”
“I don’t know if I’ll be able to go with you.”
Valeria squeezed her waist, and she squeezed Valeria’s hand in return. They weren’t sixteen anymore, but that didn’t mean it was easier between them. Perhaps their story was always meant to be a tragedy of two people who loved each other, but could never make it work.