Up on the second floor, in front of an east-facing window, there was a solitary table hidden behind two shelves.Those shelves were stuffed with law books, but Theo didn’t mind that.He loved the view, and just like every day since he’d started here, the table was empty when he got there.He plugged his computer in and got to work.
Theo spent most of the morning reading theory and taking notes for his paper on Gothic horror and the appeal of the slasher movie.He had to select a few movies for analysis, and then he’d need to rewatch them.
Once he was done with his notes, he leaned back in his chair, rubbing his eyes before stretching.“Only so many hours in the day.”And work.I have work too.The blond vampire’s face flashed in front of his mind’s eye, making Theo frown before he went back to studying.
Around midday, Theo decided he’d done enough.He packed up his things while he consideredThe Shining,The Witch, and a few other movies for his paper.His laptop went into his bag, and so did his notepad.The apple and the cookies were still there, and Theo scowled at them.In my defense, time flew by today.
Theo was looking forward to the walk across campus and back to the tram stop after sitting in the library for so long, and just walking past the law books and down the stairs relaxed his tense muscles.
The library had grown noisy, in as much as libraries ever got noisy.There were more people here now, their books and laptops spread out on the bigger communal tables on the lower floor.The normalcy of it all was something Theo enjoyed these days; something he hadn’t had for so long.The vaulted ceiling echoed his sense of freedom, his sense of hope.
Smiling to himself, Theo walked out of the library and blinked at the sun.New Elvenswood University’s lawns were lush and green, even in the height of summer, and students were lazing on the grass, though probably not as many as would be here during the semester.
Theo watched a group of people laughing about something and wondered what the joke was, wondered whether it was time to hang out more with other students, find a group he could belong to.He wanted that, and he hated the pang of jealousy that made him look away and despise the students he’d never even met.I used to have friends.Before Bernard scared them away.
With the memories of his time before coming to New Elvenswood haunting his thoughts, he forgot his surroundings, missing the tall, dark-haired man approaching him from the side until it was too late.
“Hey, Theodore.”
Theo froze, his mouth going dry.His eyes widened.He spun to face the man who had come close, way too close.
“Bernard,” Theo said in a small voice.The word felt like razor blades on his tongue.
Bernard was tall, strong.Stronger, because he was a vampire.
“Looks like I finally found my runaway,” he said.
Theo’s vision narrowed and he couldn’t breathe.The hair on his neck stood up, and his mostly empty stomach clenched.
“No.”
Theo turned to run, but Bernard was too quick.He caught Theo by the arm.That taste of freedom Theo had felt just five minutes ago drained out of him like wine from a broken bottle.
5
Peter
Peterleftfortheoffice later than usual.He’d not been able to settle on a tie, that was why, and he’d wondered whether he should maybe call Celeste and ask about Puck, make sure he’d gotten fluids and…all the things people needed after blood donations.Don’t they feed them?What if I send him food?
Peter, possibly wisely, had refrained from doing any of that.He’d reasoned that he’d not kept up with food culture, and the last thing he wanted was to come across as someone who’d send lard to a strawberry fest.
Despite being fully sated after his time with Puck, everyone in the office—when he finally arrived wearing a lavender tie—gave him a wide berth.When he headed past the open concept office where the first-years worked, they even fell silent.
Peter didn’t know why everyone was acting this way.He was much too preoccupied to glare at anyone crossing his path.He was mostly annoyed with his very unfortunate…well, Peter wasn’t sure he would go so far as to use the word infatuation.Surely that was not a thing that happened to him.
With a sigh, he let his office door fall shut behind him.He slumped in his chair and turned on his laptop.The thing took its sweet time booting up, giving Peter enough time to wonder whether he should’ve made sure to cover Puck’s dry cleaning.He’d let the man sleep in his clothes, after all, and they had to be wrinkled all over.
I should’ve undressed him.That would’ve been the right thing to do.Except I can’t just undress people…or can I?Was last night…extenuating circumstances?
The machine was finally ready, and Peter signed in.He vaguely recalled that there were spreadsheets he should be looking at, so he attached them to an email, put Michael’s name in the recipient field, and sent them to the siren with a tediously polite request for a second opinion.
Then he leaned back in his chair, looked up at the ceiling, and groaned.What if I send him strawberries?Surely you cannot go wrong with strawberries?
Peter glanced at his screen.There were emails he’d ignored, and other work, but he was restless.He wanted to pace or do something.Peter closed his email program and frowned at the Photoshop icon.Someone scared Puck.Someone made sure he’s afraid of vampires.That is deserving of my…attention.
Peter knew there was nothing he could do about Puck’s past right then and there, but he was already fantasizing about some faceless Nosferatu creature, the murderous energy building.
I wonder whether Michael has another homicidal ex, and if so, whether that ex could be made to come to town so I can…greet him.
