“There are secrets you can’t tell me?”
“Of course. Vampires have existed for a long time without elimination. Why do you think we’ve made up so many myths about ourselves? Some total lies have hung around for years—shifting into a bat, being unable to survive in the sun, the disco ball effect of sparkling in the sunlight….”
“All those horror movies! Vampires made those on purpose?” she asked.
“Turn one director into a vampire and see how well the misinformation campaign works….”
“No way! There’s a vampire moviemaker?”
“Along with practically every other profession. Where do you think blood banks came from?” he asked as he opened the nursery door.
“You’re lying!” she accused, giving him side-eye as she entered.
“Completely.”
“Daddy!”
“Sorry, Little mate. That was too much fun. I’m serious. Ask me anything you want. I’ll try to answer for you.”
“Do vampires need blood to survive?”
“They do. Drinking from someone’s vein is also an erotic delight with the right person.”
“Like when we make love?” she asked.
“Exactly like that. Now would you like to finger paint, or shall we rock and talk?” Titus asked with a smile.
Alessia considered her choices. She could ask questions at any time. Being active would help her forget the bad news about Enzo’s plans. “Let’s get artsy!”
He winked at her and turned to the closet. “Good choice. We need to have some fun. Want to help me spread out this tarp so we don’t finger paint the carpet?”
Alessia jumped in to help with the preparations. In a few short minutes, they both wore aprons to protect their clothing and had large sheets of paper ready for their creations. As she picked her first color, Alessia thanked her luck for getting sent to Nightfall. Titus was so much fun.
A couple of hours later, Alessia had paint in her hair and all over her apron. Polka dots in a variety of colors decorated her forearms. She had finished three fingerpainted masterpieces that hung drying on the rack Titus had found somewhere. His two were interspersed between hers. She looked at the latest one he’d finished.
“I like your frog. He’s super cute,” Alessia complimented.
“What frog?” Titus asked, and frown lines gathered between her eyebrows.
“Oh. Sorry. I thought that green animal was a frog.” Alessia pointed to the picture.
“That’s not a frog. That’s Hopper. He is super sneaky and blended into the grass,” Titus corrected her.
“Hopper isn’t green. He’s a blue bunny.”
“Not in my picture. He’s wearing a coat,” Titus told her.
“Do bunnies need coats?” Alessia asked, tilting her head in confusion.
“If it’s cold outside, of course.” He dipped his finger in white paint and dotted the mixture all over the sky. “Check this out! Snow! You even have a flake on your nose.”
Before she could move, he touched the tip of her nose with the last of the white clinging to his skin. Alessia squinted, trying to see. “Daddy! You gave me a clown nose.”
“Those are red. Watch.” He dunked his thumb into another pot of paint and dabbed that on him.
She lasted exactly three seconds before she burst into laughter. He did resemble a clown. “You should wear that to Nightfall, Daddy! Everyone would love it.”
Titus pantomimed creating a drink as he tossed bottles behind his back and shook an imaginary shaker. Alessia clapped and cheered. “Go, Titus! Make me an Alessia!”
