“Since the Fledgling’s body would have disintegrated, their conclusions are logical, if not accurate,” Niko said. “How do you know that’s how it played out?”
“The Fledgling’s Sire was following him, albeit from the rooftops. He was worried about his Child because the young man was fascinated with the idea of feeding from a live host. Something he’d been taught never to do.”
Niko scowled. “If that’s the case, why did his Sire let him out on his own?”
“He was hoping, or so he told me, that his fears were misplaced. If they weren’t, he planned to destroy his Child. Be that as it may, the human took that option out of his hands. Now the man is bragging about what he did to anyone who’ll listen.”
“Not good. Even if most of them still think he’s crazy, one or two might believe him. Why didn’t the Sire take care of him on the spot?”
“He said, and I believe him, he was so shocked by the severing of his connection with his Child that he froze, giving the man time to escape. He’s young himself, barely one hundred. This was his first Child.”
“Do you know where the human is, and what he looks like?” Niko asked.
Darwin did, and told him. The description was vague enough it could have a dozen middle-aged, down-at-their-heels men in the city where he lived. The fact he frequented dive bars, and was now undoubtedly trading his story for free drinks, was a plus. All Niko had to do was be in the right place at the right time.
“I’ll see what I can do,” he said. “I need a visual of the alley.”
Darwin got online, brought up a map of the city, and zoomed in it. Moments later, Niko was standing in the alley. He let his werewolf come to the forefront and sniffed to locate the exact spot where the girl had died. When he found it, which he could have done anyway as there was dried blood on the pavement, he knelt, breathing deeply. Too many scents, but…He sniffed again, picking up the odor of bad booze mixed with sweat and filthy clothing. He was well aware it could have come from any derelict who crashed there recently. Only the fact it was intermingled with the scent of the dead girl led him to believe it might belong to the human he was after.
With the odor firmly implanted in his senses, Niko walked to the end of the alley. The street facing him was comprised of older buildings, several of them bars. Might as well work my way through them. With a bit of luck, I can finish this up tonight and even be home in time to get some sleep before work tomorrow.
He did get lucky, but not until well after midnight. By then he was sick of low-class bars and the people who hung out in them. If he’d had a name for the man, it would have made things much easier, but he didn’t, so he had to pretend he was drinking while he listened to conversations, hoping one of them would involve what he’d taken to calling, sarcastically, the intrepid vampire hunter.
He walked into the last bar, three blocks from the alley, twenty minutes before closing time. Dozens of men were clustered around the bar, trying to get their final drinks. Many of the tables were vacant, at least until the men returned to them, drinks in hand.
At the far side of the room, three men were huddled together. One of them was talking, waving his hands around. Whatever he was saying had the others looking at him in dismay. Then one of them got up, hurrying to the bar. Niko’s best guess was, he’d been sent to get the first man a drink so he’d continue what he was telling them. He eased closer to the table and picked up the scent he’d been searching for. It belonged to a man with dark hair and a scraggly beard.
“I told you I knew what I was talking about,” the man said. “They’re everywhere.”
“Uh-huh,” his companion replied dubiously.
“You’ll believe when I tell you what happened.” The bearded man nodded vigorously, his gaze on the guy at the bar as he licked his lips in anticipation.
“Mind if I join you?” Niko asked, pulling out the remaining chair.
The two men looked at him suspiciously when he sat. “Wha’ for,” his target asked.
“I’ve heard about you,” Niko replied with an ingratiating smile. “I admire what you’re trying to do.”
“What I am doing,” the man replied vehemently.
At that point the third man returned, carrying three beers and a shot. He set the shot and one beer down in front of Niko’s target, and then looked at Niko. “Who the hell are you?”
“A friend,” Niko replied, his vampire side coming to the forefront so he could wipe the man’s memories of everything he’d heard from the target, replacing them with a partial story of the target’s getting it on with some woman he’d met a day ago. He did the same with the second man, when he looked at him.
At that point it was time to deal with his target. Taking control of his mind, he destroyed every memory of his seeing the Fledgling killing the girl, replacing it with the same story he’d given the other men. Then he went deeper, erasing his belief that vampires existed and he was supposed to hunt them down. ::If any of your friends says anything to you about what you’ve told them, you will let them know it was all a big joke, to see how gullible they were. You’ll apologize to them, blaming it on your drinking::
The man nodded, his eyes glazing over. “I was just getting my jollies, to get free drinks,” he murmured.
“Exactly.” Niko caught his gaze again. ::If I hear that you’re still trying to convince people vampires exist, I will kill you::
“You will kill me,” the man whispered.
Getting up, Niko released his hold on the three men. “That was some story,” he said to his target. “I hope she enjoyed being fucked as much you enjoyed fucking her.” He grinned as he gave the man a congratulatory smack on the back.
“She did,” the man replied with a lascivious leer, earning laughs from his companions.
Niko left, going into the nearest alley, and teleported back to Darwin’s home.
“Mission accomplished. Our vampire hunter is no more,” he said when Darwin asked. “Oh, he’s still alive.” He took a seat and went on to tell Darwin what he’d done.
When he finished, Darwin nodded. “That is really the preferable way to deal with the humans, whenever possible. But then you always knew that, and you’ve finally decided to take it to heart.”
“I have, and I try not to kill them unless the circumstances warrant their deaths.” He wondered if his recent change of heart had to do with his feelings for Greg, and came to the conclusion it did.
Getting up, he said, “I’m heading home. At least I can get in a couple of hours sleep before I have to show up at work.” With that, he took off, landing in his bedroom seconds later. After undressing and showering, he got into bed, wishing Greg was there. It’s a damned good thing he’s not. It would be hard to explain where I spent the night. He chuckled. No matter what I said, he’d probably think I was with another man. No. No, he wouldn’t. He knows I love him and only him. That thought made him smile as he fell asleep.
* * * *
“You look like death warmed over,” Greg said when Nick came into work the following day.
“And good morning to you, too,” Nick replied with a tired smile.
“Did you stay up late watching TV?” Greg asked, following him into his office. He kicked the door shut then kissed him soundly.
“Nope. I had trouble sleeping. I think it was because you weren’t with me.”
Obviously Greg didn’t quite believe him, from the dubious arch of his eyebrows, but he smiled seconds later. “Trying to give me an ego boost?”
“Nope. Just letting you know how important you are to me.”
“I love you, too.” Greg rested one hip on the edge of the desk when Nick sat down. “Are we still on for tonight or do you want to go home and crash?”
“Since I’ll breaking a long standing tradition by going out to a movie, instead of waiting until it comes out on video, we’re on. Of course you might have to wake me up halfway through.”
“Honestly, Nick, we can wait and see it tomorrow night, instead.”
“Nope. Dinner, movie, then home to bed.”
Greg grinned, leaning in to give him another kiss. “And we’ll postpone the sex until morning—or not.”
“Guys,” Brenda said, coming into the office. “Can you put off the make-out session until after work?” She eyed Nick. “Did he keep you up all night?”
By this time it was no secret among Nick’s employees that he and Greg were together, despite his often stated words that he would never get involved with someone who worked for him. Two days after he and Greg had declared their love for each other, Nick had made the mistake of forgetting to close his office door before giving Greg a hearty kiss. Brenda and Susan had walked into his office suite at exactly the wrong moment and saw it happen, much to their glee. The word spread fast, and after the usual teasing, it became a given that they were a couple.
Nick rolled his eyes at Brenda’s question. “No, he didn’t. If he’d been there, I’d have slept like a baby.”
“Once I let him go to sleep,” Greg stage-whispered, winking at her.
She shook her head before handing Nick the mail and phone messages. From there, the day continued on as it usually did. Nick’s inherent recuperative powers had already begun to kick in, which he had known they would, so within the hour he was up to speed. He and Greg ended the day, or rather that night, in bed at Greg’s place, where Nick, to quote Greg, “Performed well above expectations, considering how you looked this morning.”
* * * *
“Do your parents know?” Greg asked the following morning as he was getting dressed.
“About us? Yes,” Nick replied. “They are, to put it mildly, elated that I’ve finally found someone to love. I thought I told you that.”
“Not in so many words.”
“I know you’ve told your family,” Nick said. “The phone call from your father…” He shook his head in amusement. “Trying to make certain my intentions were honorable.”
“Yeah. Sorry about that, but he only had my best interests at heart.”
“Which is a good thing, as far as I’m concerned.” Nick finished dressing before asking with a grin, “Are you sure you don’t want to come back with me to help me clean house?”
Greg snorted. “Not even. I’ve got to do something about my own mess, and grocery shop. You’re on your own.”
“Well, hell.” He hugged Greg. “Then I’ll see you tonight. I think you promised me you’d cook steaks and lobster for dinner.”
“More like mac and cheese,” Greg retorted. “On what you pay me, that’s all I can afford.”
“Uh-huh. Bartering for a raise, again?”
They continued what was their usual Saturday morning bantering as Greg walked with Nick to the front door. “In case I haven’t said it enough, love you,” he said, kissing Nick.
“You can never say it too often. You should know that. I love you too, and then some,” Nick replied after returning the kiss then giving him another one. “I expect to this—” he waved his arm around to encompass the living room, “—spotless when I get back.”
“Then leave, so I can get started,” Greg replied, laughing.
“I am, I am.” They shared one more kiss, then Nick took off.
Chapter 10
“I have to tell him, but how?”
Nick paced the living room on one of the few evenings in the last two months that he and Greg weren’t spending together. Greg had the flu, which he didn’t want to pass on to Nick or anyone else. As a result he’d spent the last couple of days at home, trying to recuperate.
“Blurt it out? Yeah, that would go over well. Take him out to a fancy restaurant for dinner and drinks before breaking the news that I’m not quite what I seem?”
He’d been mulling the problem over for what seemed like forever, without coming up with an answer that wouldn’t end with Greg running from him as fast as possible. I would, if the situation was reversed.
He knew he had to do it, in spite of his fears of the consequences, and prayed that Greg loved him enough that he would be able to handle it—in time.
* * * *
“Now that you’ve survived the flu and are feeling better, how do you feel about our doing our run on that trail in the mountains today, instead of at the park,” Nick asked when Greg answered his phone Sunday morning.
“I’ve got no problem with it. Hell, maybe this time I won’t die halfway up, the way I did the last time.”
“I know you won’t,” Nick replied. “Get ready and I’ll pick you up in an hour.”
There was logic for choosing that spot to have his talk with Greg. Nick would be able to prove what he was telling him without anyone else seeing it happen. Before he heads for the hills—literally. He hoped that wouldn’t happen, but realistically he knew it was a possibility. He also hoped, because it was where they had first admitted there was more than just friendship between them, Greg’s memories of that day and all that had followed would make him at least listen to everything Nick had to say before blowing up—Or telling me I’m a bastard and he never wants to see me again.
* * * *
When he pulled into Greg’s driveway, and his lover got into the car, Nick said with a grin, trying to keep things lighter than he felt, “I gather you’re not planning on freezing to death.” A logical statement as Greg was wearing a sweatshirt and pants, and was carrying a lightweight jacket.
“It’s fall, it’s chilly down here. I figured it could be worse up there.” He leaned over to kiss Nick, then said, “You’re hardly one to talk.” The truth since Nick was similarly dressed.
“I checked the weather,” Nick replied as he backed out of the driveway onto the street. “It’s supposed to be sunny and in the mid-forties by noon. Perfect for running.”
Greg snorted. “I’ll believe it when I see it.”
A while later Nick was parking in the pull-off at the bottom of the trail. His was the only car there, which was a relief. They got out, tying their jackets around their waists for the time being. They were doing their warm-ups when Greg said, “Something’s bothering you.”
“Not at all,” Nick replied, doing his best to smile as if he meant it. “What makes you think that?”
“You were too quiet on the way up. I mean, you’re not usually a chatterer when you’re driving, but you hardly said anything unless I did first, and then your replies were only one or two words.”
“Sorry. I was thinking about the ad campaign Charles is working on,” Nick lied. “It’s missing something, but I can’t put my finger on what.”
“Forget about it for now. We’re supposed to be having fun. Relax, well as much as possible considering what we’re facing.” Greg pointed to the trail. “My bet is, if you stop worrying, it’ll come to you by the time we get to work tomorrow.”
If you do, after this afternoon. That thought did nothing to lighten Nick’s mood, although he did his best to hide it.
By the time they got to the clearing at the top of the trail, Greg was winded but not nearly as badly as he had been their first time there. He sat, leaning against the trunk of a tree, his arms wrapped around his knees. “This is as nice as I remember.” He chuckled. “Even more so, since I didn’t get a Charlie horse this time.”
Nick smiled. “I told you you’d do better.” He stretched out beside Greg, his hands behind his head as he stared up at the blue sky dotted with puffy white clouds. For a long moment they stayed like that—silently. Then Nick said “I have something I have to tell you. Please listen and don’t say anything until I’ve finished.”
He felt Greg touch his shoulder saying, “I’m not going to like this, am I?”
Pulling away, Nick replied, “I…don’t know how to answer that. The first and most important thing is for you to believe that I love you with all my heart. That will never change. But, there are things about me you don’t know. Whether you can accept them…Well, it will take a suspension of disbelief to begin with, and accepting that what I’m about to say is the truth. I
can prove it to you, but not yet.”
“Nick, if it has to do with something in your past…” Greg started to say.
“Please, just listen.” Nick took a deep breath. “To begin with, my given name is Nikola de la Fontaine. I Anglicized it, obviously, when I turned twenty-one, thinking it would be better when I decided to open my own business.” That was true, as far as it went, only he didn’t say which business. “You’ve never met my parents. If you do, I think you’ll like them, even though they’re different. Because they are, so am I.” He turned to look at Greg. “Do you remember when we were talking about the kinds of movies we liked and you said you enjoyed paranormal ones?”
Greg nodded, remaining silent, his gaze locked on Nick’s face.
“They’re make-believe, obviously, but there is some truth in them, based on myths and folklore.” He took Greg’s hand, gripping it tightly. “Vampires and werewolves do exist.” When Greg snorted, Nick said, “Hear me out, and then as I said, I’ll prove to you I’m telling you the truth. I was born over three-hundred years ago, in France. My parents didn’t believe they could have a child. It’s rare that a female vampire can become pregnant and when she does, she rarely carries the baby to term.”
“You have got to be kidding me,” Greg spat out, jerking his hand free from Nick’s.
“You promised,” Nick pleaded.
“I promised to listen because I thought you were going to tell me something you were, I don’t know, ashamed of. Or that you had been a criminal in your misspent youth. Something like that. I did not promise to listen to some fairytale you’ve dreamed up for…for whatever reason.” He started to stand, but Nick grabbed his arm, pulling him down again. “You’re hurting me,” Greg said angrily.
“I don’t mean to, but I need you to listen. I swear, I’m not making this up. My mother is a vampire. My father isn’t. He’s a werewolf. Me?” He hit his chest with his free hand. “I’m both. I shouldn’t be. I should have died before I was born. God help me, right now I wish I had, for your sake, and mine. You fell in love with a freak of nature. I fell in love with a man I can never have. Not now. I know my telling you will send you running from me, but I couldn’t keep it a secret any longer. I couldn’t live a lie.” Nick eased his grip on Greg’s arm. “Before you walk away, at least allow me to show you I’m not lying. Give me that, please.”
Love Was Not an Option Page 8
