Eternal: Chapter Seven, Part 4

Nick would stay with us; Valetta and Mitchell had found a place to rent for a while and wouldn’t be using our spare room. Though I still wasn’t sure how dedicated Kora was at this point, she seemed better by the time she left; she and the others from camp had spent a couple hours catching up with each other and it seemed to calm her worries.

While I washed dishes, Drei came into the kitchen, wrapping his arms around me. I was surprised at first, but leaned into him after a moment, feeling all the worry and self-doubt from earlier in the day fade.

“I missed you,” he whispered into my hair.

“I missed you, too.”

“Valetta told me as much.”

“Are we going walking tonight?” I asked, closing my eyes and resting my hands on the edge of the sink.

“If you would like. Nick may come as well,” he offered. I was hoping this meant any animosity between the two was long gone. Just remembering how they used to fight made me shiver. “Everything all right?”

“Yeah. I was just thinking.”

“Of course.”

We stood in silence for a moment before he asked if I wanted help.

“I’m almost done,” I said, pulling gently away from his to return to work.

He washed his hands anyway; he rinsed the already washed dishes and set them in the drying rack. “There is something else I have planned for you.”

“And what might that be?” I asked, draining the sink and drying my hands off, handing him the towel as he finished rinsing.

“You shall see tomorrow night.”

“You and your mysteries,” I teased, wrapping my arms around him. He bowed his head to stare into my eyes with those amethyst gems. I stood on my tiptoes and kissed him, the touch stirring my vampire. It wasn’t frightening feeling that part of me anymore; the feeling of something shadowy and burning cold blossoming at my core and winding its way through my body. I wasn’t sure what to make of this new side of myself, but it no longer terrified me.

Drei lifted me onto the counter, kissing me hard. I didn’t know what I was feeling, or what he was feeling. It felt like my element had been completely overridden, but I didn’t mind. All I wanted was to feel his touch, to feel him. I only wanted him. And I knew he wanted me when his lips strayed to my neck.

“Did you guys—”

Drei pulled back from me, glaring at Nick. I slid off the counter, quickly turning and searching for something to clean. For anything that gave me an excuse not to look at either of them for a moment. I felt the dual impulse of injuring Nick for his interruption and grabbing to Drei to continue where we’d left off despite Nick’s presence. The flicker of what I knew to be me didn’t want either of those and began pushing against the shadows.

“Oh, sorry,” Nick apologized, backing away slowly. “Didn’t mean to interrupt.”

“You weren’t interrupting,” I lied, glancing at Drei. Even if they weren’t fighting, it was obvious sharing an apartment might still be trying in its own ways. Meeting Nick’s uncertain gaze, I asked, “Was there something you needed?”

His eyes darted in Drei’s direction, as though he felt compelled to leave us alone. However, now that my vampire was again subdued, I felt somewhat embarrassed and angry at myself. Even if that part of me wanted it, I wasn’t ready for it; and Drei wouldn’t know that unless I told him.

“Are you sure you don’t want me to pay anything for staying here?”

“We discussed this already, Nick;” Drei released an aggravated sigh, but it wasn’t because of the question. “You are welcome to reside with us, free of charge, so long as you like. Ask again and I may not be so generous.” He left with that, disappearing into our room, leaving Nick and I in an unnervingly awkward silence.

“I really am sorry,” Nick said, gesturing futilely toward where I had been sitting a moment before.

“Don’t be.” I closed some of the distance between us. It was less awkward if we were standing beside each other. “We were getting a little carried away. I haven’t seen him in so long—and…I’m just making you feel worse;” I crossed my arms and leaned against the counter.

“No, I understand. I really do;” he buried his hands in his jean pockets. “You love him, and you missed him, and it was your first chance all day to be alone together and I messed it up.”

Shaking my head, I wanted to tell him he hadn’t messed it up. Valetta had talked about my vampire’s lust, and I was fairly certain that’s what that had been. It wasn’t Drei’s fault for not being able to tell. He was as swept up as I was, but I couldn’t say that to Nick. No matter how I put it, it would sound wrong. Especially since I couldn’t tell him Drei had turned me. I couldn’t tell anyone.

Nick looked at me, his eyes clouded. “Sorry I didn’t get to say bye this last time.”

“Don’t worry about it…really.”

His lips curled in their signature crooked way, and he ran a hand through his hair. I felt a twinge better seeing him relax.

“You probably want to go talk to him, huh?”

“Yeah,” I said. “But we’ll talk more, okay?” He nodded. “Help yourself to whatever’s in the fridge or the cupboards.”

“Of course.”

Before I left, I squeezed his hand, saying, “I really am glad you’re here.” And then I went to find Drei.

He was leaning out the open window, basking in the cool night air. From the emotions circling around him, he was still perturbed but calming down.

“Nick really didn’t mean anything by it,” I said, approaching him and leaning against the wall beside the window.

Drei straightened and faced me. “I know,” he said softly. “I wanted to be alone with you and had forgotten he was here.”

Smiling, I said, “You’re the one who invited him to stay.”

“I, too, am entitled to forget some things.” Pulling me closer to him, I felt my vampire start to return and, this time, it did scare me.

“Drei,” I whispered, not wanting to offend him, but still wanting him to hold me, maybe even kiss me, vampire or no.

“Yes?” he murmured softly.

“I’m not ready,” I told him, before I lost the words altogether.

“There is nothing wrong with that,” he breathed into my ear. “I shall stop us before it goes that far.”

“Thank you.” And I was gone, slipping into his kisses and the burning cold darkness of this other me. I trusted him; I had to because, in this state, I couldn’t trust myself.