“I know you’re angry, and I never meant to hurt you. You must think me selfish, not willing to share
immortality with you. But this disease, having to be this way... it would break my heart to make you
like me, Obe.”
“But why?” Snod pushed gently. “Wouldn’t losing me be worse?”
“That’s just it,” Frankie said with a sad smile. “If I turned you, you wouldn’t be human anymore. As a
vampire, you might become something else. All of the things I love about you might fade away. You’d
truly be lost to me.”
“Being a vampire is that different?” Snod asked quietly.
Frankie closed his eyes, nodding as he replied, “Yes. It’s too easy to forget who you are... I almost
did.”
“With Terrell?”
“Yes.” Frankie rested up on Snod’s chest, the tips of his fingers lightly tracing along his collarbone.
“All the terrible things the Order believes about vampires are because of monsters like him.”
Snod frowned, watching Frankie blink away to get a towel to clean them both up. Frankie lovingly
wiped away the mess of fluids and blood, tucking them both in beneath the covers.
“I will find a cure,” Frankie whispered, tangling their bodies together and holding Snod close. “We
will have our happy ending, I promise you.”
Snod wanted to believe him with all of his heart and soul. He knew Frankie was certain he could cure
the disease because he could feel his determination. Doubt continued to linger in his mind, wondering
how long would it take.
Years from now, would he lay dying in Frankie’s arms, still listening to his empty promises?
Frankie kissed him softly, reading his thoughts and murmuring, “That won’t happen.”
Snod kissed him earnestly, the kiss turning more passionate by the second and losing himself in
Frankie’s intimate embrace once more. They made love all night, Snod trying to smother all of his
doubts in Frankie’s beautiful flesh.
He fell asleep, exhausted and his thoughts still troubled, restless and stirring often. He woke up at
four o’clock and stared up at the ceiling. Frankie wasn’t in bed; he was able to sense him moving
about in the living room.
He sat up, frowning as Frankie suddenly came through the door carrying a brown envelope,
exclaiming, “Hey! I felt you wake up. I wasn’t going to bother you until morning, but look! Look!”
