Page 42

JULIAN

Islept on the sofa in front of the fire for most of the morning, keeping it going so the room wouldn’t cool down again. For the rest of the day, I tried to keep myself busy. I went through the whole house and organized my stuff.

The house resembled a modern work of art. It featured thick wooden beams, glass, polished concrete floors, and beautiful fixtures. The bathrooms had deep freestanding tubs and black-and-white subway tiles with matte cabinets.

It had been a vacation rental, which explained the lack of personal items and mostly empty cupboards. Still, it was very comfortable and had everything we needed for the season. On the wall by the kitchen was a small framed card with the Wi-Fi info. If only. It was both ordinary-looking and a shocking reminder of a world that no longer existed.

One thing there was plenty of was cleaning supplies, and I decided it was a good way to pass the time. When I was done, everything gleamed, and there was no longer dust clinging to every surface. Moving about also kept me from dwelling on the reality of my situation, and that was just fine with me.

A few minutes after sunset, Vincent climbed out of the hole he’d slept in. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous to see him again—and anxious too. I’d known I wasn’t really alone all day, but it was a relief when he finally reappeared.

But before we could say more than a quick hello, he disappeared again, this time for a shower. I felt foolish for how much I’d wanted to talk to him. I knew I was lonely, but I needed to pull myself together. I went to the kitchen to wash my dishes. He found me there a few minutes later, up to my elbows in cold, soapy water in the large farmhouse sink. Now that he was standing in front of me, I had no idea what to say.

“This place is incredible,” I blurted. “I wish you could see it in daylight. The sun sets just behind the peak, and the view from the windows here is breathtaking.” Was that rude? Would he feel bad that he couldn’t go out in the day?

“I’m sure,” he said, moving the lantern closer to the sink. “It’s beautiful by moonlight, too.” He didn’t sound offended.

My gaze flicked to his and then away. I tried not to stare. I also knew it had been several days since he’d eaten, and here I was, washing up after my own meal. I swallowed down the guilt. I wasn’t ready to make that decision.

“I wish we had power; it would make this so much easier,” I said, continuing the small talk. “At least there’s running water.”

“I didn’t see a generator when I looked around last night,” Vincent said. “But I can explore the nearby town for supplies tonight. I’m sure you’ll need more food than we brought, and I can get anything else you might need.”

“Thanks,” I said. “That would be nice, but you don’t have to go out of your way. I can get what I need.” I didn’t like the idea of him providing for me. It made me uneasy.

“I just want to be helpful. I didn’t mean to… I’m not sure how to do this,” Vincent said, spreading his hands.

The look on his face made me feel a pang of regret. “Do what? Live with a human?” I asked, trying to lighten the mood.

“Precisely.”

“Well, this is new to me too,” I said. “I guess we’ll have to figure it out together, right?”

“I’m sure we will,” Vincent said. “One thing I want to work on is improving the cellar. It really is just a hole in the ground. I think I can do better if we plan to stay for a while.”

“Or we could fix up one of the rooms up here,” I suggested. It was pitiful that he had to sleep in a hole in the ground. “There are plenty of bedrooms, and it shouldn’t take much work to board up a window or two.”

Vincent seemed to consider the idea. “You’re right. That would be better,” he said finally. “I’ll do it tonight and sleep in a bed for a change.”

I smirked at him as I dried the last dish. “What? Didn’t bring a coffin?”

Vincent chuckled. “Very funny. No, I don’t sleep in a coffin, thank you.”

“I’m surprised you could fall asleep down there at all,” I said, setting the dish aside.

“I didn’t have a choice,” Vincent said. He paused again, and I thought he wouldn’t continue, but then he said, “When the sun rises, it’s almost impossible for me to stay conscious. It would take a lot to rouse me before the sun goes down again. If you needed me, I wouldn’t be able to help as long as the sun was up.”

His admission surprised me. Not that he couldn’t stay awake, but that he would admit it to me. It was a big leap of faith, and I felt humbled by it.

“And I guess that means if there’s a threat during the day, you’d need me?” I said.

“Yes,” he said, looking me in the eye. “I would be vulnerable. I would be placing my safety in your hands,” Vincent confessed.

I nodded. “Thank you for trusting me with that information.”

Vincent nodded in return. It had to be a good sign that he’d confided in me. Perhaps he was telling the truth when he said he wanted trust between us. If so, maybe he really wouldn’t hurt me or kill me in the end. Trust. I wasn’t sure how it worked between a human and a vampire, but I was willing to try.

Vincent followed my suggestion and chose one of the two remaining bedrooms. The one at the end of the hall had only one window, making it the obvious choice. We searched the house together and found materials to cover the window. Before long, we covered the window on both sides. Vincent installed metal rings on the door and frame so he could secure the padlock he’d brought. He also hung heavy drapes across the inside of the doorway to keep any light from seeping in around the frame or under the door. I suspected it was far from the security he was used to, but it would have to do until we found something better.