“I had enough money to indulge in travel and the daughters of society. Eventually I was punished for my misguided ways.”
“How?”
“Have you ever been to Venice?”
I shook my head. “No.”
“It’s a labyrinth of outdoor hallways. Almost impossible to navigate unless you were born there. At least that’s how it seems after a few Spritz Venezianos. I was attempting to find my way back to my rooms one night when I crossed paths with a vampire. A female vampire who was the essence of horror; the perfect amalgamation of doom lurking within a hypnotically beautiful form.” He sighed deeply and looked away. “I’d like to say I feel fortunate that she didn’t kill me, but that would be a lie. I wish she had. I’ve spent most of my time as a vampire trying to find a way to commit suicide. I haven’t given up the quest, but I’m beginning to resign myself to the idea that it can’t be done.”
I could think of nothing to say. So, I waited quietly.
His eyes glazed over for a time like he was reliving events long passed. When they cleared, he refocused on me and said, “After my encounter with the Venetian vampire, it took time to come to terms with what I’d become. What it means. I decided this was the best place for me. The people here aren’t human. They aren’t afraid of me. And they leave me alone.”
“And therein lies the problem?”
He sighed deeply. “I want to die. But I can’t.”
I thought that over before responding. “Do you really want to die? Or do you just want a better life?”
He looked at the little sandwich on his plate. “This is nice.”
I smiled. “Having tea with someone?”
His gaze came up to meet mine and I was struck by his good looks as I had been the first time I saw him.
“Yes,” he said.
“If I have you to lunch again, you could make more of an effort to join the conversation.”
His knee bounced up and down, indicating either nerves or excitement, while he thought about that. After what seemed like an interminably long silence for modern times, he agreed. “I could.”
“In that case, I’d be delighted to have you join us next Thursday.”
The corners of his mouth threatened to lift. “What’s being served?”
“Oh!” I laughed. “So now you’re picky about what we’re having?”
His grin showed me why he must’ve been a popular fixture with the in-crowd of his day. He was stunning when he smiled.
“Were you ever married?” He shook his head no. “Tempted?” He grinned again and shook his head no. “Because you were in constant demand?” He ducked his head, but the grin stayed in place. “Maggie told me that you can satisfy your, um, vampire urges in the bigger towns. That there are people willing to…”
He nodded. “You don’t need to be afraid of me.”
“I’m not.” I remembered the ‘thing’. “Hey. I wonder if you can help with something. If you can’t, it’s fine. If you don’t want to, that’s fine, too. But if you’re willing, it might be a way for you to finally break the ice with the locals.”
“What?” After telling him everything I knew about the hobknobbit, he said, “You are right about the fact that I’m not vulnerable to the effects of fae magic. But how did you know that?”
“Just a hunch. Molly, at the pub, calls it intuition. I hope it pays off this time because Maggie and Dolan have got me a little freaked out.”
“I might be willing to make a trade.”
“For what?” Asking that required a little boldness because I couldn’t help being afraid of what the answer might be. “You buy back that ridiculous statue and I’ll take the hex off your hands.”
Both pleased and relieved by that answer, I smiled. “I didn’t say it was a hex.”
“What else would it be?”
“When it comes to magical vocabulary, I’m in kindergarten. If you dub it a hex, who am I to argue?”
“Do we have a deal?”
“I would’ve bought back the statue regardless. You may think it’s ridiculous, but I kind of like it. I might put it in my new house.”
“You have a new house?”
“That’s the plan.” I almost laughed at the cuteness of my own word humor, but decided against it for two reasons. First, it wasn’t worth the explanation that would almost certainly be required. And, second, after going to lengths to explain, he still wouldn’t find it funny. I’d have to be satisfied with internally entertaining myself. “By the