More blinking. “Controlling yourself? You’re the soul of self-control–”
“Yes,now. But when I was a young man I was quite violent,” Eiji contradicted. “And when I am turned, that violence might resurface for a time.”
“You wouldn’t attack me!”
“I would never want to evenchancethat,” he said.
She appreciated his kindness and thoughtfulness for her. But still, she didn’t like the thought of not seeing him and helping him adjust to being a Vampire. So she asked, “How long? A week? A few weeks? A month–”
“Nero says that most fledglings are allowed to be around humans after a year–”
“A year?!” Mairead half rose from her seat in her distress. “But that means we won’t see one another at all at the Academy and–”
“Which is why I had asked to be turned after the school year ended,” Eiji said.
“You… you were delaying getting turned for… forme?” Her eyes burned with tears.
He nodded. “Living this experience with you has been a new adventure for me. You have allowed me to… to be open in a way I have not been able to be for… for a very long time.”
She blinked as those tears threatened to fall. “Oh…”
“I have enjoyed it so much, Mairead,” he told her fondly. “And this is not the end. This is thebeginning. For now we will be friends forever.”
Tears had begun to fall. She tried to wipe them away but more came. “Y-yeah, I know. I just… I don’t know. I am sohappyfor you. I will just miss you.”
“Yes, as will I, but once you are turned we can be together. No matter what Bloodline or House is lucky enough to get you. You and I shall always have something special that connects us.”
She nodded, swiping at more tears. He handed her a tissue, which she used to mop us the ever growing dampness on her cheeks. She blew her nose and, as always, it sounded like a clown car’s blast of the horn. She laughed even as he chuckled.
“So lady-like! I’m a mess!” She shook herself. “Don’t worry about me, Eiji-sama. I will be fine. And I’ll have so much to tell you–and you me–when we meet again.”
“We will. And I am so looking forward to it,” Eiji said.
“Go on, Eiji-sama. I know that you want to get prepared for–for tonight. I won’t keep you,” she said.
He looked at her closely and likely knew there was a lie there. But he allowed it to stand between them. She rose when he did. They both bowed as he then shuffled towards his room. She managed to keep to her feet with a smile plastered on her face until he disappeared.
She collapsed down on the couch and covered her face with her hands. Her heart felt like it was being wrung out. Eiji was right that if theybothwere turned then this year–or less–apart would be nothing. Soon forgotten as the decades, centuries and millennia went forward. But that was assumingshewould beturned. So far, she’d gotten no interest whatsoever from any Bloodlines, let alone any individual Vampires.
What if this is the last time I ever see him?
In a very short time, Eiji had become a friend, a mentor, even a father-like figure to her. Far more than any of the men her mother had rotated through their lives over the years. Her constant need to compete and prove herself had become muted in Eiji’s presence, because he made her feel that she wasenoughjust how she was. She didn’t need to try so hard. But now he would be gone and she would be left with her ever-growing fears.
She wiped her face vigorously. Crying and feeling sorry for herself had never gotten her anywhere. She’d clawed her way to where she was. Eiji was going to be turned. And shewashappy that was happening now. Because, though he seemed spry and with it, he was elderly and something could happen to him. That he had been willing to delay his turning for her… Well, she didn’t want him to risk himself like that.
Her eyes landed on the ripped up envelope. She understood why Eiji hadn’t looked at it. His faith and desire to be with Nero had made such an act a betrayal. But Sophia had said there wasmorein there. If she looked, it would not be a betrayal. It would be Mairead being Mairead. Curious to the point of intrusive at times. She knew that. And normally she wouldn’t have violated Eiji’s privacy. But if there was something in that envelope that would help him–or hurt him–if she knew she could help him.
She glanced down the hallway, but his door remained closed. Amara was out with yet another Vampire she was interviewing. Grayson was, undoubtedly, with Ryder. There had been plenty of whispered conversations and comings and goings of many Vampires from his room, but he wasn’t in there now and she didn’t expect him to be back anytime soon. Hue had been staying mostly with her, but she, too, had a meeting with a Mirryr Vampire. So… she could do this and likely not be caught.
Her right hand darted across the table to the two ripped parts of the envelope and she snatched them up. She then carefully teased the two halves of the single piece of paper out of the two halves. Her eyes lifted to the hallway again and again. Her heart rate increased and a sour taste flooded her mouth.
I’m sorry, Eiji!
She unfolded the delicate sheets of paper and fitted them together. There were only three lines of text on the paper. The first was today’s date and time. She checked her watch and saw that it was the likelyexacttime that Eiji had told Nero he wanted to be turned. To the minute. The next line was Nero’s full name and the Ashyr Bloodline. Mairead smiled. Fate and choice had met. More tears fell. She wasn’t surprised, but still, it was good to see.
But it was the third line that perplexed her. It was simply a date. A date next week. Only five days from now. And there was a time beside it, too. There was no other explanation for it. She looked at the back of the paper. Nothing. She angled the paper to see if there was maybe a secret message where the indent of invisible letters could be seen. Nothing. She sat there, thinking about it and what Sophia had said.
It is time.
