by Gerald Lopez
“Thank you, Ger. Thank you so, so much.”
“We were headed out of town on one of our journeys, but I told him I needed to get back here to my home for a quick minute. See, I never told him about the album. I kept it secret from everyone just like you wanted me to do. Samuel met Charlie a short time after that and asked me not to look for you again. And I didn’t until you bumped into me all these years later. And man did you ever grow up. So bloody handsome.”
“I told Samuel about the album,” Rory said. “Hopefully I didn’t scare him away.”
“We vampires don’t scare so easily,” Gerard said. “I’m going to tell you a secret now. Just between us. I’m blocking my thoughts and words from the others so they won’t know.”
“Tell me,” Rory said.
“Samuel’s had several lovers but none of them were willing to turn for him. Something about living forever scared them.”
“What?” Rory said.
“I think it had more to do with the fact they couldn’t love Samuel forever. Samuel and I were always buds that messed around only when we were horny. Our love is more the brotherly sort—like you and me. It’s easier to spend forever with a close bud sometimes than a—”
“That’s why Janelle asked me if my love was strong enough.”
“The gal’s pretty insightful,” Gerard said. “Your love for Samuel is real. You just have to discover the real him, not the fantasy of him you had as a child. Not that the two aren’t damn close.”
“I wouldn’t want the kids and me to be a burden to him.”
“In my humble opinion the two of you have been waiting for one another for a helluva long time. You and the kids are just what Samuel needs in his life. Besides, me and Deegan are here to help. And I’ve just about convinced him to give the family thing a go.”
Rory smiled but felt like he was choking and spit up globs of thick blood into the bowl.
“Please, Rory,” Gerard said with tears streaming down his face. “Please, don’t leave us. I’d miss you too damn much.”
“Shut up and g… get Cesare and Samuel, you big softie. Will you stay when they turn me? Is it allowed?”
“Even if it wasn’t I’d stay. Cesare! Samuel! Come quick! Come quick!”
Cesare and Samuel ran into the room followed by Amadeus who barked loudly.
“I’ve decided to join your family, if you’ll have me, Cesare… Samuel,” Rory said.
“I’ll be happy to welcome in another son,” Cesare said with a smile.
When Gerard got up, Samuel went to Rory. He hugged him then sat by his side, kissed his hand, and held it.
“The timing is crucial on this, Samuel,” Cesare said. “It has to be done as he’s taking his dying breath.”
“I’ll follow your lead,” Samuel said.
“No,” Cesare said. “You’ll take the lead. We have ten minutes or so still to wait. Concentrate on Rory’s breathing and his blood pumping. It will start to slow down soon and you can keep time to that.”
“The kids,” Rory said. “Who’s with the kids.”
“Deegan and the Thomas’s are at my house with them,” Gerard said. “Deegan and I went shopping for clothes, diapers and other things all of you will need. That’s why we weren’t around for the fight.”
Rory started coughing violently and spitting up. Samuel looked at Cesare who shook his head no.
Eight minutes had passed and Rory was hot, sweaty, and weak. His arm hung off the side of the bed and Amadeus licked his hand, trying to comfort him. Rory could hear his own shallow breathing and felt his life begin to slip away. But he knew real peace, surrounded by people who loved him. Finally he was no longer alone.
The hard bite on the side of his neck shocked him and Rory reared up. Cesare’s gentle but firm hand pushed him back down. He could feel Samuel suck his blood as it ran through his veins to the open wound in his neck. In his mind he pictured Samuel sucking the blood upward to the wound as if he were drinking soda through a straw. Once or twice he thought he might black out. The third time he felt that way, Samuel had his bleeding wrist aimed toward his mouth.
“Drink, Rory, drink all you need,” Samuel said. “I give you my blood freely.”
Rory drank from Samuel’s wrist. The blood tasted thick and cool rather than warm as Rory had expected. He could taste life in it, although he wasn’t sure exactly what life tasted like. It brought him nourishment and healing. Cesare sucked on his neck now, but not as hard as Samuel had done. Rory felt his neck grow hot when the sucking stopped. It felt like it burned and he yelled out.
“It’s alright,” Cesare said. “I’m sealing your wound with my blood. I had to drain you of just a bit of yours first. The wound is thanks to your earlier experience in the bunker. That’s why it burns. It’s taking a lot of my blood.”
After a few minutes, Samuel moved and Rory fed from Cesare’s wrist.
“He’ll be fine now,” Cesare said. “Let him sleep. Stay at his side, Samuel.”
THE NIGHTMARES CAME first as he recalled the scene in the bunker and felt William gnawing away at his neck. Over and over he saw the chains around Samuel’s neck and tried to call out to him. Every time he called out Samuel’s name, Rory felt two strong arms holding him, making him feel safe. At some point the nightmares disappeared not to return. Instead he pictured himself running through a green field and working in the garden while children played. Amadeus, Samuel, and the others were there. He laughed in his dream and wondered if he were laughing in real life. Seeing Gerard and Deegan running after a small child of mixed race had made him laugh. He actually looked like a combination of Gerard and Deegan although Rory knew vampires couldn’t have children. When Rory finally opened his eyes and sat up, he continued to laugh.
“Finally!” Gerard said from the chair he sat in across from the bed. “Now I can finally ask the son of a bitch what he found so damn funny.”
Samuel laughed in Rory’s ear.
“Couldn’t you all tell what I dreamed?” Rory said.
“We don’t do well when it comes to reading dreams,” Samuel said.
“I was laughing at Gerard and Deegan chasing after a very cute little mixed race child in our backyard,” Rory said.
“At least you didn’t say we were chasing an all white child,” Deegan said as he sat up from where he’d been lying down on a comforter on the floor.
Everyone laughed and Cesare entered the room.
“How’s everyone feeling?” Cesare said.
“Give us a minute to figure that out,” Samuel said. “We just got up”
“What?” Cesare said. “It’s been two days and we’ve got living to do. Also, Janelle has made some luscious looking cupcakes that I helped frost.”
“Yum, I love cupcakes,” Deegan said, then stood up.
“Let’s go chow down, babe,” Gerard said.
Soon Samuel and Rory were alone in the bedroom.
“Hi,” Samuel said. “You called out my name a couple of times in your sleep.”
“And you held me close each time, trying to protect me,” Rory said.
“Are you mad at me?” Samuel said.
Rory responded by kissing Samuel on the lips. The sensations that filled his mind were different than he’d ever felt when kissing someone. Everything was heightened. He couldn’t resist slipping his tongue in Samuel’s mouth. Feelings of absolute joy filled his entire being and Rory finally realized they weren’t wholly his own. He’d picked up on what Samuel felt. At first Samuel felt a sense of relief then happiness, giddiness, and a bit of lustfulness.
Rory pulled away and started laughing out loud. He heard laughter coming from the direction of the kitchen then Gerard’s voice.
“We weren’t spying! Rory’s laugh made us laugh, that’s all! Continue on with whatever you were doing!”
Samuel and Rory both giggled then Samuel checked Rory’s neck.
“How do I look?” Rory said.
“Sexier than ever,” Samuel said. “How do you fe
el?”
“Refreshed and invigorated,” Rory said. “And a little bit hungry”
There was a knock on the door and Cesare entered carrying a tray with two glasses on it. Rory looked at the glasses with concern.
Chapter 26
Happy Rest of Your Life
RORY TOOK THE glass that Samuel handed him. He looked at Samuel then at Cesare and drank the blood until his glass was empty.
“That wasn’t terrible,” Rory said. “I feel like I can go out and run a few miles.”
“The energy we get from blood hits our bodies very quickly,” Samuel said. “That’s how come William could attack us in the bunker. The door hung open long enough for him to summon two field mice and drain their blood.”
“There’s a lot I don’t know about this whole vampire thing,” Rory said as Gerard walked in.
“Well, there are enough of us around to show you the ropes,” Gerard said.
“I’d appreciate that,” Rory said. “Right this moment I’d appreciate a shower even more.”
“Samuel, Janelle has a question for you in the kitchen,” Gerard said. “I’ll stay with Rory.”
“Ok, thanks,” Samuel said. He got out of bed dressed in shorts and a T-shirt. “I’ll be in the kitchen, Rory.”
“As soon as I shower I’ll be out there,” Rory said.
When Samuel had gone, Cesare closed the bedroom door, walked up to Rory and sniffed the air around him.
“He’s checking to make sure things went well when you were turned,” Gerard said.
“I know they went well,” Cesare said. “I’m making sure his body has healed fully from the attack in the bunker.” He touched the spot on Rory’s neck that had been torn open from William’s fangs. “Does that hurt even a little?”
“No,” Rory said. “It’s like Will never bit me.”
“I like you already, Rory,” Cesare said. “You compartmentalize things in order to deal with the situation at hand. That’s wise. When things hit you fully remember that you’re not alone. We’ve all lost loved ones. It never gets easier to deal with that pain and there’s one thing I’ve learned. When the time is right, allow yourself to grieve for your son. We need to remember our humanity. Recognizing our emotions and allowing ourselves to feel them is how we do that. Join us for cupcakes when you’re finished.”
“I didn’t think vampires ate cupcakes or any food except for blood,” Rory said.
“We don’t need to but sometimes we can choose to,” Cesare said. “Once in a while doesn’t hurt. Too much can throw off the balance of our body system. I’ll leave you both to it.”
Once Cesare had gone, Rory heard himself exhale.
“He’s not really all that intimidating, and he did say he liked you,” Gerard said. “I brought some of your new clothes and put them in the dresser. Samuel asked me to clear it out for your use.”
“He didn’t have to do that,” Rory said and took off his shirt. “The kids haven’t been a problem I hope.”
“No.” Gerard chuckled. “Deegan has discovered that he can indeed survive changing a poopy diaper. He heard Rory chuckle then walked over to him and hugged him. “I’m so glad of your choice.”
“I’m still processing everything, Ger,” Rory said as he pulled down his shorts then underwear. “Some of it I’m not allowing to sink in yet. I’d rather focus on the vampire rules than on the fact William’s gone.”
“That makes sense to me.”
“I must be nuts to be so happy I’ve met Samuel even though everything with Will—”
“You know what?” Gerard said. “Your happiness makes sense to me. Fuck it, Rory, you deserve to be happy. And I’ve been told I have to eliminate the ‘F’ word from my vocabulary if I’m planning to have children in my household.”
“Deegan’s already laying down the rules?” He watched Gerard strip.
“Y’up, but honestly I don’t mind it one damn bit. I’m gonna shower with you. No frisky business, just making sure you’re OK. I don’t think you’re gonna have a meltdown today or even tomorrow. But it’ll happen. We all go through it. Even me.”
“Oh well then, if you go through it,” Rory said and chuckled.
GERARD HELPED RORY dry off after the shower then left him alone to dress. Rory opened the dresser drawers and found a pair of shorts, underwear, and a short-sleeved button-down shirt. He fought back tears for a minute, then went to the bathroom to brush his hair. While peering into the ornate Venetian mirror, he studied his face.
I still look the same, he thought. And I’ll never appear older than I do now. He lowered the toilet lid, sat on it, then turned his attention upward. He said a prayer for his dead son then spoke. “I have no doubt you’re up there, Son. I’ll see you again one day and I’ll keep my promise to take good care of your kids. He wiped away a few tears. Jesus, please tell the kiddo I love him and always will. No matter how long I live, I’ll never forget him.” He cried for a few minutes then washed his face and pulled himself together.
Rory had just exited the bedroom when he saw his granddaughter headed his way. She stumbled for a second and Deegan who stood behind her steadied her. Rory chuckled when he notice she was dressed in a frilly pink dress with layers of frou-frou lace. She’d gotten her hair curled and had bows in it. He walked to Aileen, picked her up, and held her close.
“Do you have a kiss for P—” he started to say Papa but changed his mind. He’d be the only dad the kids would know. “Do you have a kiss for Dada?” It pained him to say the word, knowing he had to replace his son in their lives… but he knew he had to. Their lives had changed and they all had to face reality.
Aileen didn’t utter a sound, but she did kiss Rory’s cheek and he hugged her for it, then joined the group in the kitchen.
“My little girl looks like a princess,” Rory said. “This new dress won’t last long when she’s running in the grass and playing in the mud—two of her favorite things to do.” Aileen giggled and Rory had to work hard not to cry. It wasn’t often his granddaughter giggled.
“Well, I for one am not taking credit for that,” Celia said from where she sat next to her husband at the end of the kitchen island eating a cupcake. “I know we don’t taste things like when we were human, but I swear this cupcake tastes like I remember.”
“Thank you so much for saying that,” Janelle said. “I just started cooking classes, it’s my new thing. I’m trying to adjust human recipes for vampires so we can actually enjoy food again.”
“As if she’s not already a genius in so many other fields,” Cesare said.
“I believe you never stop learning things,” Monty said. “Good for you always striving to improve yourself, Janelle. Me and the wife have been taking painting classes at the senior center.”
“Forget the cupcakes and the painting,” Deegan said. “What may I ask is so wrong with what Miss Aileen is wearing? I picked it out myself.”
“Try washing it yourself when that lace gets all muddy,” Gerard said, then hugged Deegan.”
“Mud… ugh… uck,” Deegan said. “Uncle Deegan is gonna take Aileen away from the world of mud and into the pageant world.”
“I don’t know,” Samuel said while feeding one of the twins his bottle. “There’s a whole lotta mud slinging in the pageant world. I think our little Aileen better stick to making mud pies.”
Aileen giggled again and stretched her arms out toward Deegan who rushed over and picked her up.
“Our girl has made her choice as everyone can see,” Deegan said.
“The dress is beautiful, Deegan,” Rory said. “I appreciate you picking it out and she can wear it to church and other formal events.” He smiled.
Deegan laughed. “I guess it is too much for every day. Gerard picked out some more practical play clothes for her. I just wanted her to be all dressed up for the cupcake party.”
“Well, cupcake parties can be considered formal events,” Rory said, then walked to the island and picked up a pink frosted cupcake. He
held it up and looked at Rafael as he fed the other twin while leaning against the counter. “A toast to—”
“To your happy new life,” Roget said.
“And to you sharing that new life with your new family,” Samuel said.
“Hear, Hear,” Cesare said. “Welcome to my newest son Rory and his children.”
Rory thanked everyone. For the first time in his life he felt like he belonged. Although his life as a vampire was sure to have major differences from his life as a human.
Chapter 27
Making Preparations
SAMUEL HANDED THE baby to Monty, then walked to Rory. “I need you outside for a minute.”
They walked out to the porch and sat in the swing.
“Is there a problem?” Rory said.
“You looked so happy inside, I almost hate to mention this,” Samuel said, then reached for Rory’s hand and held it. “The thing is we’ve already waited a while.”
Rory grew serious. “How could I forget? We need to deal with Will’s body.”
“Rafael and Roget were kind enough to wrap the body parts in a sheet. You don’t need to look at him. We’re cremating William today.”
“Should I be there for that? Do I need to help gather the ashes?”
“If you want I can bring the ashes to you when it’s all done. My timing couldn’t be worse with you enjoying the party and all.”
“No, I understand. Um, I don’t think I want to see his body put in the flames, if that’s alright.”
“I don’t blame you at all,” Samuel said. “But I had to ask.”
“We can’t have a funeral because I’m thinking I can’t exactly report that Will died after becoming a vampire. Samuel, Will’s kids need to say good-bye even though they won’t understand. As Will’s family his kids and I need to pay our respects. The best time to do that would be when we spread his ashes. I’m not keeping them on the fireplace mantel in a vase. People usually spread their loved ones ashes over a favorite place the deceased had.” He was silent for a few moments while he thought. “I’m not spreading my son’s ashes in a drug den or in his apartment.”
