Vampiric: Chapter Seven, Part 5

Two months crept by. When Drei was out, time seemed to stop altogether. It was even worse than my imprisonment, but perhaps that was because I was alone at those times. Even when it had felt like Mom wasn't there mentally, at least someone else had been around. Now, I mostly spread out on the sofa under the window, staring past the ceiling to nothingness. That's when I did most of my thinking as well. Not about Drei, Nick, Lily, Mom, or anyone else. Just thinking about whatever came next. Whether that included working for Caroline again, or telling Drei that was it. I couldn't do it anymore. As easy as that would have been for me to say, I knew the easy way wasn’t always the right way. I had to pick whichever path felt more promising, that threatened fewer regrets afterward.

When Drei was around, he was typically reading the newspaper or some magazine and I was curled up next to him. Though this kind of closeness we had avoided previously, he didn't complain, or argue about it. From the way his entire body seemed to relax and melt into the couch at my touch, I could tell he had missed me and he was relieved to have me back. I hoped he could tell the feeling was mutual.

About a week after my return, Ian stopped by, fully equipped to take a blood donation. In ten minutes’ time he was out the door ready to set everything up, gone before Drei returned from wherever he had gone. A few weeks later, my supposed death was on page two of the newspaper. It seemed the plan had worked after all.

“Drei?” I asked one night about two months since my return.

“Yes?” He continued reading as I twirled bit of his shaggy hair around my finger.

“Should I continue working for Caroline?”

His shoulder tensed beneath my hand; he had avoided any mention of her since that day. I took it to mean something had happened in my absence he hadn’t agreed with, but I didn’t want to pry. However, to decide what to do, I needed to figure out what was best and I valued Drei’s opinion on the topic.

“I have to tell her something.” I wished he’d relax again but we had to discuss it sometime. “I just don't know. If I go back, there's the chance of a repeat. And if I don't, I could miss something that might help me.”

Sighing, he faced me. I could see the inner war behind his eyes, even though I couldn't understand why it was there. Whatever he had against Caroline warred with what he knew was the right answer. “Go back,” he said at long last. “The circumstances have not changed; you still need her. The only difference now is she needs you as well.”

“Well, I can't help her needing me;” I shrugged.

“You could have been really bad at your job,” he said, a teasing smile on his lips.

I kissed his cheek; “Then I would never be able to do that.”

He pressed his forehead to mine, grinning like a fool. “Touché.”

When he returned to reading his paper, I thought the moment had passed. My eyes closed and I rested my head on his shoulder, content with being near him. I had hoped that wouldn’t be all, but I had learned to accept the limitations of our relationship.

His paper rustled as it fell onto the coffee table. I felt his hand lift my chin, and his soft lips engaging mine. The hand on my chin quickly tangled itself in my hair while his other wound around my waist, pulling me closer. The fingers of one hand were buried in his hair, my other hand on his shoulder.

Our kisses were so different from our first kiss, more confident in their familiarity but also tinged with something akin to desperation in their desire. The strange warmth he emitted from time to time seeped into my skin as he held me tighter.

Both of us were breathless when we pulled apart. He still held me close, the hand in my hair twisting a curl.

“I love you,” I whispered, my heart racing. It had felt like forever since I had said those words to him; they felt exhilarated to be leaving my lips again to find his ears.

A smile cracked his features as he replied, “And I love you, Abriel.”

The moment seemed too perfect to end but, as they say, all good things must end.

While Drei was out the next day, Caroline called to arrange a meeting with me. Drei had informed her of my decision, and all she would say was that I was being promoted. After clicking the phone off, I went back to staring past the ceiling. This time, though, it wasn't to think about the future. It was to replay that kiss, relishing that feeling of being loved.