“Try.”
“My first encounter with a vampire was at a club two days after I got home from Afghanistan. He didn’t ask if I wanted this. Didn’t even try to help me understand why this happened. Just threw me in a dumpster with the garbage.” I held up a hand forestalling his argument. “I don’t blame all vampires for his actions. I’ve seen enough of what that type of thinking can cause.”
I rubbed my neck. “I guess what it boils down to is I just don’t want to. I like my life. I like my family. I won’t be told what to do, how to live, to give up the people I love. I just won’t do it. I don’t care if you think that’s ridiculous or childish. It’s my life. I’ll live it the way I want as long as I’m not a direct danger to those around me.”
Said out loud, it did seem like something a kid would say. I don’t want to so I’m not gonna. I didn’t care. If there was one thing I’d learned, it’s that life is short, even for vampires. I wasn’t going to waste time doing what others expected of me. I’d already wasted my human life as it was.
It might be messy. It might be difficult, but I was going to live this life the way I wanted to.
“You do sound like a child.”
Figured. I hadn’t really expected him to feel any other way.
“You’re a weapon. One that can explode and kill everyone around you. I’ve told you before that there’s a reason we do things this way.”
Yes, he had. Just like before, I called shenanigans.
I gave a humorless smile. “Tell me. When are vampires the most dangerous to those around them?”
His nostrils flared, and his eyes took on a slight sheen.
Thought so.
“Could it be when they’re first turned? The first year maybe?”
A vein throbbed in his jaw.
Gotcha.
“I’ve been a vampire for over two years. In that time, I’ve never had an accident, never killed anyone. Hell, I haven’t even bitten anyone.”
“You should be biting people. Not drinking from the source is slowly starving you of nutrients you need. If you weren’t so stubborn and convinced you know right, you would know this.”
I took a deep breath, trying to master the spark of anger that flared to life. He had a point, even if he was being an ass while making it. Hadn’t I lamented my lack of knowledge about my situation several times over the last few days?
“Stop being a fool,” he said.
I huffed, biting back the words that I wanted to say. No, I needed to be calm.
“You need to-”
“You want me to learn all this, to give vampires a chance?” I asked loudly. “Then you give me a reason. Don’t try to force it or threaten my family. Teach me what I need to know, or get the hell out of my life. Try to establish a relationship, because I can guarantee you won’t win any other way. I will make life hell for anyone you stick me with and from what I know about your culture that would almost ensure a painful or perhaps deadly time for me. Not really a lot of incentive there for me, is there?”
I stalked off before he could answer.
The sorcerer’s deal would hold. For now, the vampires couldn’t hurt me or force me into their fold. It wasn’t an ideal situation, but it was the best choice I could make.
My anger carried me out of the cemetery and down several streets and several miles before I calmed enough to find my way home.
I climbed the stairs, my legs weary from all the walking. I let myself in, unlocking the door and shutting it behind me without bothering with the light.
I was halfway into the living room when I froze. There was someone sitting in my armchair. The light clicked on. I shielded my eyes, squinting from the sudden brightness after hours of walking in the dark.
“Jerry?”
“Oh, so you remember who I am?” he asked, his voice tight and calm. “I was beginning to wonder since you haven’t bothered to return any of my calls.”
I cringed and patted my pockets. My phone was missing. I didn’t even remember when I’d lost it.
