“It’s the blood,” the vampire said calmly as if trying to soothe a frightened animal.
“You keep saying that!” Snod snapped in frustration. “Everything is because of the damn blood!”
“Because it is!”
Stalking back to the couch, Snod flopped down defeatedly. He was sore all over, frustrated beyond
belief, groaning, “I should have never done it. I’ll never be clean of this filth.”
“Well, I can’t really help you with that. I have to get to work,” the vampire said with an all too human
sounding sigh. “Do you even have someone you can call? Money for a cab? I still expect you to honor
our deal.”
“Phone’s dead,” Snod replied shortly. “No money. Everything I had was in the car.”
“Well, what kind of phone do you have?”
Snod showed him, and the vampire flickered away. He came back, suddenly standing in front of Snod
holding a charger. “Here. I used to have one like that. Take it, call whoever you’re going to call, and
leave the city.”
Snod accepted it, staring at it with a frown. He was out of excuses now. He had to call in.
“What’s wrong?” the vampire teased. “Afraid they’re gonna kick you out of your little crazy person
club?”
“When I tell the Order what I’ve done, I’m afraid they’ll execute me,” Snod replied softly, tangling
the charger cord around his fingers. His brother, Athaliah, would be left all alone.
“Come on,” the vampire scoffed, his face falling when he realized Snod was completely serious. He
walked slowly and deliberately up beside him, gently touching his arm.
Snod flinched slightly, but caught himself leaning into the vampire’s hand.
“There is nothing wrong with what we did,” the vampire assured him. “There is nothing wrong with
wanting what makes you happy. Gay, straight, vampire, human. The Order is wrong, Obadiah. About
so many things, but they’re especially wrong about who you can love.”
Snod bowed his head, continuing to twist the cord to occupy his hands.
“I’m sorry about what I said,” the vampire went on. “About you all being a bunch of dumb virgins or
whatever. There’s nothing wrong with that, not at all! But it’s different when it’s your choice, when
it’s because you want to live that way; not because someone else is telling you to and threatening to
kill you over it.”
Snod still said nothing, tightening the cord until his fingers were beginning to turn colors. He
