Late Night Bite

We finished packing and loaded everything up in my car. Vincent informed me he would have people get the rest of our things and list the apartment for sale. I tried arguing with him, but it was no use. I used our minds for that conversation, because I am still not sure how I will tell Katie the full truth. I have so many questions, but they will have to wait until Katie goes to sleep. Then maybe I will know how to tell her about all of this. I can’t keep this from her for long, not that I would want to anyway, but our safety depends on knowing as much as we can.

It's still quite dark, but the sun will rise soon, as we pull up to Vincent's place. It is a gated, sprawling mansion located on several wooded acres. It's beautiful, but so extravagant.  It's near sunrise … don't vampires turn to ash? Or does it have to be direct sunlight? I remember Eric saying something about it making them weaker, but how weak? Vincent just looks at me and shakes his head no. I need to learn more about vampires. I hope he plans to answer my questions.

Katie gasps, “We are living here?!”

Vincent responds, “Yes, there's plenty of room.”

She asks, “Do you live alone?”

He says, “I have a small staff, they stay in the small guesthouse out back.” I sigh, because this is all way too extravagant. Then I remember how lonely he must be. It's just him in this huge house, all alone.

He snaps his face to mine, “Eva, stop thinking that!”

I bite my lip, “I can’t, it is just too much.”

Katie says, “He's rich, so what? You've dated rich guys before.”

I say, “Dated, not lived with.”

Her eyes widened, “Thought this was a vacation?”

I reply, “Umm, yeah it is. I meant to live with him for a few days.”

She smiles, “Good, because I didn't pack all of my stuff.”

I look at Vincent and he motions for me to continue as we walk inside. I asked her, “Were you attached to the apartment?”

She says, “No, it's yours anyway. Why?”

“Just thinking it's time to move. We'll stay here until I find us a place,” I tell her. I hear Vincent say in my mind, 'smooth very smooth'. Once inside, he shows us where the bedrooms are and lets us have our pick. I decided that I wanted a snack and Katie did too, so I went into the kitchen.  

Vincent motions to the fridge and says, “The house is yours, ladies.” I can't help myself. I think 'Just the house, huh?' 

Vincent responds in my mind, 'So, what do you want, Eva? Are you believing it all yet?'

I think 'Crap, you weren't supposed to hear that. Ugh, this sucks.’ 

He mentally responds, ‘That and so much more could be arranged'. I smack him on the shoulder. He says, “What was that for?”

I glare at him, “You know damn well!”

He looks at me quizzically, “Maybe, but that kinda hurt.” I turn and pause because vampires shouldn't feel what I did as painful as it would be merely a tap to them. So he tells me that we will talk about it later. I look through the kitchen and it is exactly as I would have it and it is fully stocked, too. Odd, because he's a vampire. Some of his servants must be human. I made cheesecake bites and pepperoni pizza bites. 

Katie, as she takes a huge bite, says, “God, I love you so much.”

I say, “Just hush and eat.” 

I know he knows the answers to what he asks, but I appreciate him attempting conversation.  He asks, “Do you always eat so late?”

I say, “I do, Katie only does when she doesn't have to be up early to teach.”

Katie adds, “But I take leftovers. All the teachers love her cooking.”

I say, “It's nothing fancy.”

She says, “But it tastes like it.”

Vincent asks, “Do you enjoy cooking?”

I respond, “I do when I have people to cook for.”

He says, “Ever think of making it a career?”

I say, “No, I like writing.”

He remarks, “You can do both.” I glare at him. He raises his hands, “Fine, I will drop it!”

Katie asks, “Vincent, what do you do?”

He dismisses her, “It's boring and unimportant.” I glare at him. I will snoop and find out unless he tells me first. I think, 'We are talking later, Mister'.

We go to the living room where he makes a fire in the fireplace. I walk over to it and I take in a deep breath, “Love is a flame that burns with a sacred fire, and fills you up with its sweet desire. Yet, once the altar feels love's fiery breath, it makes the heart be a crucible until death. What happens when the heart yearns no more? Will you always have to settle the score? Say love is life, and say it is not amiss. Say that love is but a synonym for eternal bliss. Say what you will of love, in what refrain, but the heart knows that it's another word for pain. Yet, the pain we will endure, because love comes at a price. A price we will gladly pay, time and time again. Because we all want love as our eternal friend.” When I'm nervous or need to think, I recite poetry or quotes. Right now I'm both nervous and need to think.

Vincent asks, “Who wrote that?”