All Souls' Night - Renee Rose Page 0,40

hit the button on the top of the light switch, it will let me know you’re ready for me to come say goodnight. I’ll have your favorite wine and a bottle of cold water brought up.” I kiss her forehead gently.

“Thank you.”

“How is she?” Erik asks me as I come up the stairs and into the parlor. I knew I would find him in here. He holds out a glass of golden liquid with two whiskey stones in it, exactly as I like it. Taking a long swig, I enjoy the warming effect of the whisky as it goes down my throat.

“Better now.”

“Glad to hear it. She’s a good one. It is always a shock when they find out. Some take it better than others,” Erik replies.

“Isn’t that the truth?”

We walk out to the balcony that overlooks the property.

“There is Alnitak, Alnilam, and Mintaka.” Erik points out the three bright stars in the constellation Orion.

“Most just refer to it as Orion’s Belt,” I tease.

“Most aren’t doctors in astronomy,” he responds.

“You can’t help but be a Viking, can you?” He knows I am joking with him. “Of all the professions you could have chosen, of all the hobbies, you pick one that doesn’t make you rich.”

“I am plenty rich. I have millions of dollars in every currency, thank you. My father used celestial navigation to orient himself when the sun went down. He was the helmsman.”

This is a familiar story, I have heard it a thousand times. Erik will tell me how his father used the stars to navigate the ship out of many storms, and used them to evade being killed by my people. I understand his connection to the stars—in a way, it gives him a connection to his people, the way of life which has long since diminished to almost extinction. It makes him feel good to tell it, so I will listen, as a good friend. Just as he listens to my recollections of my father.

They say vampires lose their ability to feel human emotions. I found it to be the complete opposite. We have the choice—to silence those emotions, or to allow them to be magnified by our condition. Erik and I choose to allow them to be magnified, like the rest of our senses, to never lose the humanity that was taken from us against our will.

“He would be proud of who you are today,” I say.

“He is in Valhalla with the rest of the Vikings, waiting for the day that I arrive. Someday, I will join him,” Erik answers.

“I am sure you will, brother.” I don’t believe in Valhalla. Hell, I’m not sure what I believe comes after this existence, but I won’t detract from his feelings.

“Speaking of waiting: I grow weary of waiting for my revenge.”

“I hear you.” Revenge has eaten at us for centuries. We had learned to control it before the monster reappeared, his torture continuing. Two years ago, Erik’s wife was killed in front of him in cold blood. He is convinced it is the monk’s doing.

I am not as sure. My anger, my bloodlust for justice, isn’t as all-consuming as his. I have Keri to distract me.

“Did I mention I found a house?” Erik says.

I am glad for the change in topic of conversation. I want this weekend to be perfect. I don’t want the monk, even the mention of him, to shadow the plans I have for Keri and me.

Chapter 4

Club Toxic is everything I imagined, and more. Walking up to the door with Bentley’s hand on the small of my back, right around the line of people waiting to get in, I feel like a celebrity. There is a man at the door; is he a vampire too? How will I tell the difference between human and vampire?

“I will tell you, when necessary. He is not a vampire,” Bentley leans in to whisper in my ear.

“He’s a wolf,” Erik volunteers.

“A wolf?”

“You didn’t tell her?” Erik looks at Bentley with narrowed eyes. “You told her about us but left out the part about werewolves?”

“He’s teasing, right?” I say.

“Seriously, Bentley? You didn’t think to tell her?” Erik accuses.

“We didn’t make it that far. To be honest, those mangy mutts didn’t enter my mind during our discussions over the past two days. They barely enter my thoughts to begin with.”

“Haha. You two are so funny.” I laugh nervously. They are always joking with me.

We reach the door. The bouncer looks at the three of us and nods hello, waving us