“You’re working tonight?” Sebastian asked. “I thought I was the only one.”
“Indeed.” I exchanged a glance with Nova. “Need to earn money for rent.”
“I’m sure the landlord would be happy to come to an arrangement.” She gave me a sly look.
We’d often joked about our arrangement since she owned the house, and she’d say I could pay my share with sexual favors. With us getting married, what would change? I could move over into her side of the house with her. Or would she prefer I kept my bedroom as I kept nocturnal hours and slept for half the day? A relationship between a mortal witch and an immortal vampire was anything but conventional and easy to navigate.
“We’re heading out too,” Lucas said.
“There’s a new horror movie out if anyone wants to join us,” Zoe added.
“No, thanks.” Nova crossed her arms. “Not unless you want to stay awake with me all night as I’d be too petrified to go to sleep.”
“It’s true,” Gianna agreed with a solemn nod. “She’s kept me up after watching scary movies.” She motioned to Nova. “The funny thing is you’ve faced much worse in reality.”
“True.” Nova shrugged. “Your imagination can make things far more terrifying, I suppose.”
“In that case, no way,” Lucas said with a laugh. “Come on, Zoe, before we get roped into some adult-sitting.”
After they left, I hung out for a few more minutes. “Have a fun girls’ night in.” I kissed Nova on the lips and left the house.
Since I was cooped up during the day, I often walked after sunset. Salem was beautiful on this mild summer’s night. The moon wasn’t yet full but would be in a few days and a sprinkle of stars peeked out from overhead.
Pleasant scents from the summer gardens on our blocks reached me as I walked by. It was quiet, save for the sound of neighbors talking in their back yard.
Once I reached downtown, more people were out walking the brick sidewalks past restaurants, pubs, and shops. Although it wasn’t the crowded mess with throngs of tourists looking for a Halloween fix, many still flocked here in the summer.
I kept to myself for the most part. Before Nova, I simply worked and went home, hanging out with my roommates if they were around or spending time alone. I was used to that. Part of being a vampire meant having to accept that everyone would leave you one day.
Maybe even Nova.
I couldn’t brood on our differences in mortal state now, not so soon after we’d gotten engaged. It was a happy time for us, one we should continue to celebrate.
Now I had something to look forward to. When I’d moved to Salem almost three years ago, I was lost. Broken. A vampire without anyone. Now I had my friends, a great place to live, a job that let me make a living despite my nocturnal ways, and most of all, Nova. She’d made immortality so much more bearable. I was the luckiest guy in the world for her to marry me. Despite all my mistakes, I ended up finding happiness at last.
The familiar sound of heels on the brick pavement rang like a warning bell.
“It’s a great night to hunt, isn’t it?”
Diana’s voice made my flesh pucker and crawl, like a hundred red ants slithered beneath my skin. Why did she have to find me and ruin an otherwise amazing night?
I turned to her. She wore a white peasant blouse and black skirt. Her blond hair was pulled up into some sort of bun, and her makeup was perfect as usual. Appearance mattered to her above almost all else.
“How surprising to run into you again, Diana.” I let the sarcasm drawl.
With her fickle nature, I hoped she’d soon grow bored with this city and her renewed interest in me and be on her way. The sooner she left town, the better for everyone.
“Ah, two vampires living in the same town. We’re bound to run into each other often.”
My internal bullshit detector pinged high alert. “It seems more like you’re stalking me.”
She laughed, and it rang with falsity. “Oh Diego, you’re so funny. Always were.”
The bullshit detector released a flag and waved it high. I stopped and faced her. “I don’t know what your game is, Diana, but I’m not playing it. Nova and I are engaged.”
That would show Diana once and for all that I was not interested in a reconciliation.
The false smile slipped off her rehearsed face. “You don’t have a choice.” She raised a glass vial with something pink inside and pulled out the stopper.
