I nod emphatically. “Yeah, fine. I just forgot where he said he was going today and I need to track him down for something. No biggie.” I fake a laugh and shrug my shoulders casually. “See you around.”
I wave goodbye and turn for the door, but he offers one more comment that has me stopping.
“He didn’t look too good,” Layton suggests. “Did he not tell you he was sick?”
I catch Casey staring at me from the corner of my eye.
“Right,” I force out quickly. “That’s why I’m looking for him.” I fake a laugh and roll my eyes. “He’s always working and never taking care of himself, am I right?”
Layton gives me a nervous laugh. He can probably tell there’s something bigger going on here, but he’s too polite to insert himself into our private business.
“He mentioned that Fabio-looking vampire before he left. Maybe he went there for some reason?”
There were only two resident vampires in Shadow Hills: the two hundred year old teenager who never left his property inthe woods, and Aidan, the white haired forever thirty-something specimen who lived beneath the movie theater.
As a good friend of Jamie’s, Aidan frequents Double Double almost every morning. I haven’t spoken to him much, but after his heroic act of stopping Patrick from choking me to death, perhaps I ought to pay him a visit. At least to thank him for saving my life.
I give Layton my appreciation and head the opposite direction down Main, aiming for the movie theater at the very end of the street. I pass the bookstore, my and Jamie’s favorite sushi restaurant, and the local deli. The theater appears at the corner of East and Main, its bright red awning and marquee signaling the building like a beacon. Currently the letters read MONSTER MOVIE WEEKEND THIS SAT & SUN!
I’m shocked to see there’s something new playing, given the same 80s teen movie has been playing for months. No one’s ever been able to complain, because no one can figure out who the owner is. We know it’s definitely someone in town, but they’ve chosen to keep their identity a secret for whatever reason.
To the right of the entrance is a railing that leads to a set of descending steps. The original owner, Maurice who now owns Bones, the only bar in town, decided instead of building his apartment above the business he would create an underground living space to avoid the noise. Now he has his own cabin in the woods, only a few miles past the wolf pack territory.
Suddenly reminded of why I’m here, I grab the large bronze knocker resembling a gargoyle and bang the handle against the door three times. Regardless of how hard I knock, I assume a vampire would hear me. And just like that, less than a second after letting go, the door swings open.
Layton’s Fabio description of Aidan really was quite accurate. His shoulder length white hair is perfectly layered and has enough volume to make me jealous. His deep-set, piercingblue eyes sit slightly too close together, yet remain perfectly symmetrical with the rest of his features. His wide nose leads down to a set of pursed thin lips and a rounded jaw, and his high forehead remains unwrinkled while holding a curious expression.
After realizing who the visitor is, he relaxes. “Raegan.” He says my name softly, as if trying not to spook me.
“Hi!” I greet him animatedly, adding an actual wave, and Aidan looks a bit scared.
You’re overselling it.
“Hey,” I try again, “so, this is odd, but would you happen to know where Jamie is?”
Aidan’s already pale skin turns ashen as he lifts his head and searches the sky. “He hasn’t spoken to you?”
“I saw him this morning, but…” Part of me wants to tell him the truth of why I’m worried. At least he could tell me if I’m overreacting.
Aidan relents and steps aside, gesturing for me to come in. I step over the threshold and am welcomed by an enormous chandelier hanging only a few feet above my head. It hovers even closer above Aidan as he steps beneath it.
“The ceilings are low,” he says, “but I still have standards.”
I find it hilarious he felt the need to explain. The space is much larger than I thought it would be. Besides the low ceilings, I would never be able to tell I was below ground.
Aidan’s home gives off the same vibe as Double Double’s dark and moody aesthetic, only the decor here has a modern gothic twist. The walls are gray and dark, and dramatic furniture fills the room. There’s a baroque-inspired coffee table with ornate legs in the middle of a large woven area rug, surrounded by a black velvet lounge and a deep red brocade armchair. An enormous fireplace sits parallel to the entryway that I’m prettysure is taller than me. I never visited when Maurice lived here, but I’m guessing it looked a lot different than this.
I take a seat on the velvet couch and sink back into a set of fringe pillows. Aidan remains standing, but offers to make tea. I shake my head.
“He didn’t tell you where he was going today?” Aidan asks.
I swallow a lump in my throat. “Well, he told me he was running errands, and that I wouldn’t see him again until tomorrow.” I wipe my sweaty palms down my jeans. “It’s really not a big deal, I was just wondering if he was here, or maybe…I dunno.”
Aidan takes in my defeated sigh with a stoic posture. It’s hard to decipher what he’s feeling when he shows so little emotion on his face. Most of the time his expression rests in an award-winning poker face, giving absolutely nothing away. However, my concern about Jamie has caught him off guard, and the slightest tightening of his jaw reveals his worry.
I don’t know why, but something makes me just blurt out the question that's been on my mind since leaving the cafe. “Has Jamie ever told you anything about himself? Something he might not want others to know.”
Aidan gives me a pointed look, but I hold my chest high. There’s no turning back now. For a moment, he looks as if he wants to slap himself, or possibly me, across the face.
