by Gerald Lopez
Samuel could see him clearly in his mind. He could feel Rory’s excitement grow as he looked at pictures of him from the Civil War to the twenties when he had his mustache and cut his hair short. In the sixties he wore his hair long and he had a full beard and mustache. Rory’s first time experiencing what his own body could do, was all while looking at pictures of him.
“Oh God that beard and mustache really did it for me back then,” Rory said. “I remember getting my magnifying glass so I could see you closer. Your face, your eyes and your long—” He forced himself awake when he realized his cock had become erect. “I can’t believe I just shared that memory with you—that memory. I’m so embarrassed.”
“No, don’t be. That was incredible and so beautiful. I’m intensely flattered.”
“Flattered. Oh God a normal person wouldn’t have said all that.” Rory slid away from Samuel.
Samuel wanted to reach out to him but stopped. Feelings of extreme sadness filled him. Loneliness that had been in Rory for years. “What happened to you as a kid?”
“It wasn’t exactly then—it occurred during my teenage years. Kids could be cruel when they knew you were different. They knew about me right away. Rory the fairy, the class faggot, the untouchable. Nobody wanted anything to do with the nerdy fag… me.”
“That’s horrible. Kids can be cruel. More than adults at times.”
“But I survived because I had my faith in Jesus and I had you. That night in bed with your photos I discovered something. My theory, the one I’d had as a little kid had been correct all along. Every twenty or so years you’d change your hair or grow a mustache, or a beard—some such thing, but it was always you. The face never really changed. All the pictures were of the same man.”
“Clever boy,” Samuel said.
“Not so clever. I shared my theory with my teacher hoping she could help me find you. Instead she phoned my parents.”
“Not good.”
“No, they didn’t even bother to look at the album. They wanted to restrict my outings to the thrift stores but I was too clever for them. I started looking for things I could buy and resell. Some were things I could fix. Others were valuable items still in good shape which people couldn’t see the value in and overlooked. When I began to make money my parents allowed me to keep going to the stores.”
“Good for you. That wasn’t the end of problems though.”
“They found my album and the naked picture of you from the sixties I’d hidden under a loose floorboard under my bed. Not only did I have to stand in front of my parents to explain things but our priest and my teacher were also there.”
“Damn,” Samuel said.
“I didn’t know what to do,” Rory said. “They talked about getting me psychological help and I silently prayed to Jesus for help. Besides you I only had him. I never believed the priest or even some of the stuff the church said but I believed in Jesus the man and God’s own son.”
“His teachings have become twisted and almost unrecognizable at times and in some religions,” Samuel said.
“When the priest held up my album in one hand and the picture of you in the other he said they should be burned. I prayed to Jesus for strength, grabbed the album and picture, pushed the priest down on the floor and ran out the door. Kind of a stupid thing to do, I know. Where would I go? I felt so scared and desperate I ran into a stranger on the sidewalk and practically knocked him down. He didn’t know me but he had such kind eyes. I shoved the loose picture of you in the album then handed the album to the man. After begging him not to let anyone have it especially my parents or the priests I ran to the convenience store and bought a Coke.”
Samuel couldn’t help but chuckle. “I don’t mean to laugh at your troubles but the Coke part struck me as sort of funny. I take it you went home at some point.”
“Home to the belt that evening,” Rory said. “I had a welt on my leg for a week from where my mom hit me. The next day I started my sessions with the psychiatrist. I never talked about you again to anyone. You were my secret friend and I imagined you must be as lonely as me since you’d lived forever. My dad and I still went to the thrift stores and flea market. We’d buy things to fix together and sell. He’d pocket most of the cash of course. My parents died in a car wreck shortly after my eighteenth birthday, but I wasn’t sad for long. How could I be? They’d never understood me. For once in my life I felt free to breathe and live. I’d been left enough money to go to school and study art history and architecture. My degree is in art history. I’ve worked for galleries and auction houses and….”
Rory was silent and Samuel grew nervous.
“I’ve loved you my entire life, Samuel. I wish that night it had been you I’d bumped into with my album.”
“It wasn’t me,” Samuel said. “And we don’t really know each other, Rory.”
“I know that,” Rory said. “For a minute at least I felt happy. When I ran to your porch I knew I’d been vindicated at last! Screw you world I’m right. You fucking psychiatrist, mother fucking parents I’m the one that’s right!” He looked at Samuel. “What’s wrong with me?”
“Nothing, Rory. You’re victorious at last. Fuck the bastards in your past.”
“My son’s dead,” Rory said, coming back down to earth. “Only his body is still alive.”
“You’ve just found out vampires are alive, had your family attacked by them, and your son turned into one of them,” Samuel said. “It’s a lot to deal with, and now here I am your childhood fantasy made real. You’ve had a wild couple of days, friend.”
“Is that why my life is flashing in front of my eyes and I’ve just confessed to a man I’ve never met in person that I love him?”
“That’s it in a nutshell. We’re not strangers anymore, Rory. But I don’t think I was ever quite as lonely as you’ve been in your life. You deserve to be loved in abundance.”
“By you?” Rory said. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have said that.”
“That guy who ran up to the porch and hopped up the steps barefoot caught my heart for a moment. His joy won me over. But we can’t think that way right now.”
“Because you’re the one who’s going to have to kill Will or what’s left of Will.”
“Exactly and when that day comes you won’t know how you’ll react. That crazed vampire in my bunker is your boy who you loved. And you may end up hating me for what I end up doing.”
“Never,” Rory said. “I promise I’ll never hate you.”
“Don’t say that,” Samuel said. “Don’t make a promise you’re not sure you can keep. It’ll hurt me all the more if you did make that promise and then broke it.”
“Are you capable of being hurt in that way?”
“Yes. I feel you could hurt me that way and the pain would never leave me. I don’t usually allow myself to be so drawn in by someone.”
“I’m sorry. It wasn’t my intention to make you feel vulnerable. I’m not myself today. I thought I had things under control but clearly I don’t. Maybe I should go.”
“Stay, please. I haven’t given you a tour of the cottage. Then we need to have a talk.” His cell phone rang. “Saved by a perfectly timed call. I wonder who it is.”
Chapter 22
Catching Up
“HI, VERONIQUE,” SAMUEL said into his cell phone. “Yeah, everything’s good here. We’re all OK. … You what? … Really. … That’s great. … Yes, love you too. … Hang on a second.” He put his hand over the phone and looked at Rory. “Do you like French macaroons, Rory?”
“Yes,” Rory said.
“Hello, Veronique, you still there? … Send me a few boxes of those goodies so I can share them with a friend. … Thank you. … I love you too. … That is a crazy surprise. Have fun.” He closed his cell phone and chuckled. “We’re getting some macaroons direct from Paris, France.”
“Yum,” Rory said.
“My friend Veronique, the vampire who made me, is there. She’s supposed to be heading to Ireland. Bu
t at her layover in New York she got a big surprise. The vampire she was supposed to visit in Ireland was there waiting for her. And he had two first class tickets to Paris. Veronique loves Paris. After they spend some time there, they’ll both head to Ireland.”
“A trip to Paris is a pretty great surprise.”
“She deserves it. Despite things she’s a good person. She’d like you.”
“I know Veronique tried to save William by doing what she did, Samuel. I don’t blame her for anything.”
Even Samuel’s vampiric senses were shocked to realize that Rory had no anger or resentment toward Veronique at all. He could really fall for the guy… if he didn’t already feel like he’d fallen for him. “Hows about that tour?” After standing he gave Rory a hand up. This time he didn’t let go of his hand.
“This is kind of exciting,” Rory said, smiling like he had when he first went up the porch steps.
Samuel opened the door and showed Rory into the living room that still contained only the fainting couch.
“The wood floors look great—I love wood floors,” Rory said then turned to look at the stone fireplace.
“This room, well, the whole place is small by today’s standards, but it’s home,” Samuel said. The two walked to the kitchen that opened into the living room. It had a white farmhouse sink and cabinets made from rustic wood. The stainless steel appliances were the most modern touches in the comfortably-sized space.
“I made the cabinets myself from reclaimed wood,” Samuel said.
“Nicely done,” Rory said then opened a cabinet to look at the workmanship more closely. He looked at the metal handle and ran a finger along the swirls it formed at both ends. “You made the handles too, didn’t you?”
“Hand-forged—a hobby of mine.”
“And songwriting is your occasional career,” Rory said. “I have… I guess I need to say I had all your recordings. Even the ones where you sang in the twenties and then sang and played the guitar in the sixties.”
“Which is your favorite?”
“Songs from my Heart from the sixties. The title perfectly stated what you express so well in the album.”
Samuel smiled, he knew Rory had understood the music and the lyrics. “Veronique did background vocals on that one.”
“She’s good.”
“I have copies of all my albums here. I’ll make sure to make some for you.”
“I’d be grateful if you would.”
They gave each other’s hands a squeeze then walked into the dining room. It was located in the front of the house—to the left of the living room if you were walking in the front door and viewing the house.
“I didn’t expect a separate dining room in the house,” Rory said.
“Daddy insisted we have a room where we’d always gather as a family to eat.” He ran his hand across the simple wood table and pulled out a chair. “He made all the furniture in here himself.”
Rory looked at the wood server that ran across the full length of the side wall. A large wrought iron chandelier hung over the table.
“The chandelier is my handiwork from a couple years ago,” Samuel said.
The two walked from there into the first of two guest rooms on the other side of the house. One room had a simple decor as did the bathroom next to it. The other bedroom featured a completely different style. There were fancy gold curtains with an elaborate valance, ornate wood furniture, and a gold embroidered comforter on the bed.
“This is a style I refer to as gaudy whorehouse,” Samuel said and laughed. “Veronique stays here when she’s visiting. She likes to decorate even though she knows a couple days after she’s gone I’ll redo it and donate the furniture and junk to a charity store.”
Rory chuckled.
As they went back into the living room Samuel read Rory’s mind. He hadn’t meant to but Rory’s thoughts were so strong and clear that Samuel had read them instantly and without trying. Still he felt guilty, like he’d intruded into Rory’s private thoughts and he wanted to come clean about it.
“It’s not a bad thought, you know.”
“Excuse me?” Rory said.
“I wasn’t trying to read your thoughts but they were so strong it happened automatically,” Samuel said. “No matter what, we’re family, Rory. This would be a good place to raise your grandchildren. It’s yours to use for as long as you want. I can move in with Gerard and Deegan or build a small house on the other end of the property.”
“Or you can just stay here with us,” Rory said. “It’s your home. Couldn’t we share it as friends at least?”
“We’re more than friends, Rory… we’re family. And let’s see if you still want me around after everything is over. Let’s go check out my bedroom.”
Both men looked at each other and laughed over how Samuel’s last comment sounded.
“Clearly this home is a mixture of old and new,” Samuel said. “I tried to blend the two as seamlessly as I could.”
“You’ve done a nice job of it,” Rory said as they looked around Samuel’s bedroom. Did you make the furniture in here?”
“This used to be Momma and Daddy’s room. The dresser was a store-bought gift for Momma. Daddy made the bed frame.” He led Rory into the attached bathroom that had a clawfoot tub and separate shower. Next to the tub stood a pedestal sink with a surprisingly ornate Venetian style mirror above it.
“I actually bought the mirror myself on a trip to Venice many years ago,” Samuel said.
“It seems a little out of character for you,” Rory said.
“Can I tell you a secret?”
“Sure,” Rory said.
“The guy who made it caught my eye one day as I strolled along a busy lane of shops. He had long, curly, salt and pepper hair and big brown eyes. I like silver hair on a man.” Using his free hand he combed his fingers through Rory’s hair.
Rory smiled then spoke. “Did you catch the Venetian man’s eye?”
“More than his eye. We had a summer I’ll never forget.” He tickled Rory’s sides then walked him back to the bedroom and playfully pushed him onto the bed. Rory lay stretched out and patted the space next to him.
Samuel laid down close to Rory so that their shoulders were touching. “You’re more handsome than the Venetian man, Rory. In fact, I think you’re the most handsome man I’ve ever met.”
“You’re just saying that cause we’re family,” Rory said and chuckled.
“I’m saying that because I’m very attracted to you.”
Rory felt his heart racing and wasn’t sure what to say so he changed the subject. “This really would be the perfect place to raise kids. Were you serious about letting me and the kids stay here at least until I get back on my feet?”
“You and the kids can stay here forever if you want.”
Silence filled the room. Rory turned, sat up on his elbow and looked down at Samuel. “If I said OK, would that scare you.”
“Only the idea that you might change your mind would scare me,” Samuel said. It was at that moment he realized Rory had already won his heart and it made him nervous.
Rory lay down on top of Samuel and hugged him. It wasn’t a sexual thing but he knew then that he had true feelings for Samuel. “I… um. If we ever did anything, Samuel, it wouldn’t be considered incest, would it?”
“We’re too far removed from one another on the family tree for it to be considered that… I think. Besides, it’s not like we can breed together and produce malformed children.” He chuckled.
“That is true,” Rory said. “William’s kids are beautiful. Ailene’s very quiet even for a two-year-old.”
“That’s not a problem, is it?”
“She grew up in a volatile household. Anna could be loud and aggressive. She and William argued a lot in front of the kids.”
“Aileen will be fine so will the twins. You’ll love them, they’ll love you and it’ll all work out.”
“It didn’t work out with William,” Rory said. “Some pe
ople would accuse me of being self-centered when I found a surrogate so I could have a child. And they wouldn’t be wrong. The reasons I wanted him were purely selfish—I felt lonely. The man I’d been with for six years had dumped me and I wanted someone to love who would love me back.”
“People have kids for less noble reasons,” Samuel said then gave Rory a squeeze. “I wonder how Gerard and Deegan are doing with the babysitting.”
“Gerard wanted some time with them to try and convince Deegan they should see about having little ones of their own.”
“Really,” Samuel said. “I had no idea he ever thought along those lines. He must be serious about Deegan.”
“I hope I didn’t give anything away, I just figured you two must know everything about each other. The whole being able to read minds and thoughts thing.”
“I try not to intrude in people’s private thoughts,” Samuel said. “Despite evidence to the contrary. And I won’t let on to Gerard that you said anything to me. He likes you a lot.”
“We’re good friends,” Rory said then added with some embarrassment. “Friends with benefits.”
“He and I have been friends with benefits too,” Samuel said. “He’s good… real good at a lot of things.”
“Yeah he is,” Rory said and chuckled. “I feel like a happy kid. But I know that’s fixing to change.”
“I’m sorry to say it but yes. Rory, do you want to see William again? I won’t deny you that chance, if it’s what you want.”
“As his father I owe him that,” Rory said. “I know it’ll be difficult but I also know he’s not really my William. I saw his eyes at Gerard’s place. There’s no life in them at all. They’re hollow and empty. Even more so than the times I saw him high.”
“His mind is gone,” Samuel said. “What made him William is no longer there. I met him the night before last at Cesare’s house. William and a Gauthius cult leader were there to watch Cesare and me hunt.”
“What did you hunt?”
“Two vile human beings. One an unrepentant serial murderer, the other a repeat child molester. Our family doesn’t kill innocents for their blood. If we’re desperate we know how to take just enough blood to survive without killing.”
