war is today, at least soldiers have the proper tools and support in battle.
“My second father was a Union officer. I mistook him for a priest because he came so close to me. I thought he had come to take my confession. Of course he had something different in mind. He told me that I was minutes away from dying, but that he could save me. He asked if I wanted to see the world, live a life of endless travel and immortality. I felt my limbs growing cold as the blood left my body and I knew I had little time left to live.”
“Were you scared?”
“Of course,” he said. “I was human like you and as afraid of death as anyone, but I was also intrigued. As a poor man in Tennessee, my life’s prospects were limited. What my new father offered was a life beyond what fate had in store.”
“So you agreed?”
“I did, and I walked out of Baton Rouge the next day and on to a new life.”
“Where did you go?”
“Paris. It was an interesting time to be abroad and my new father was convinced that the United States would never evolve into a civilized country.”
“So you speak French?” I asked, feeling odd at the way our lives seemed so neatly connected.
“Oui, je parle français, et toi?”
“Oui. Bien sûr.”
“Bon,” he said. “If you’re nice to me, maybe we will visit France together.”
I was ready to be very nice to him. I was also very tired. I looked at my watch and realized that it was after midnight. I didn’t want to go home, though. I didn’t want to leave William. Once again, he was not far behind my thoughts.
“You can sleep here tonight. As you can see, I don’t have a bed in my room. I don’t normally sleep, but you can use one of the guest rooms.”
I suddenly had a vision of being one of many who walked down that path. I must have made a face, because William took my hand.
“I am flattered at how popular you think I am, but the fact is I’ve never brought a woman home with me. You’re the first.”
His confession was my undoing. Baton Rouge, dysentery, never being kissed; I considered that maybe it was all a fabulous lie to seduce me. But I was holding out hope that it wasn’t. Regardless, my emotions got the better of me and I burst into tears, overwhelmed. I knew I was in serious danger of falling in love with an old Southern gentleman. OK, an old dead gentleman, but there was no doubt he was different then anyone I’d ever met. I managed to get out an “I’m sorry,” before he picked me up and carried me to one of the guest bedrooms. He pulled down the sheets and laid me on the bed. With little difficulty he pulled off my boots and tucked me in.
“You see, Olivia,” he said gently. “I told you there is a lot to consider when you bring a vampire into your life.” I nodded, but said little else. I was asleep in seconds.
When I opened my eyes the next morning, it took me a few minutes to realize where I was. I was still in my clothing from the night before; everything was buttoned and snapped into place. I glanced at the watch on my wrist, horrified that it was already 9:30 in the morning.
Horribly off schedule, I jumped out of bed and opened the door of the bedroom. I padded down the hall to the bathroom and freshened up. When I came out I heard the sound of guitar coming from upstairs. Slowly, I climbed the steps and walked into the loft. It was a lovely image, and I worked hard to keep my mouth from hanging open.
There, sitting in one of the leather chairs was William, shirtless, a guitar in his lap. His red hair was loose around his shoulders, and as he leaned forward to play his guitar, I could see more of the tattoo work on his back. There was an enormous angel with its wings outstretched across his shoulder blades. It was magnificent work, and I wondered whether the angel was in honor of the man that saved him that day on the battlefield, or for something else.
“Good morning,” I said, knowing he was aware of my presence.
“Hello, sleepy head,” he drawled. “I was beginning to worry you would snooze the day away.”