The Eichorst Test

Coco lay awake, the sun streaming through the window. Eldritch was still sleeping and she lay there looking at him. He looked so handsome and at peace. She supposed that the events of the previous day had taken their toll on him, both physically and emotionally, as he would have been in a state of heightened anxiety as to whether or not she would pull through after having been shot.

She lay very still so she didn't disturb him. She had no wish to move as she was more than content and comfortable wrapped in his embrace.

Finally he began to stir and opened his eyes.

"Good morning beautiful Coco," he said, his mouth stretching into a radiant smile that lit up his face. His eyes sparkled.

"Good morning handsome," she said as her fingertips traced a line down his back, caressing his spine. He shivered with pleasure.

"Oh that feels so good,Coco,"

He kissed her then and it was her turn to shiver as they explored each other's mouths with tongues.

"Oh Eldritch, you certainly know how to kiss."

They continued to caress and stroke each other, ending up making love. He was tender, as well as attentive, and she realised that his touch had been what she'd been missing for her whole life.

They lay still for a while before getting up and getting dressed. In truth they could have stayed there all day but they both knew that Eichorst would be aware of the Master's visit and he would come to see them. Eldritch knew that Eichorst would not venture into his private space and he wanted that encounter to be over and done with as soon as was humanly possible.

"Remember, you saw the Master,"Eldritch said, "but you don't tell him what you learned. That might come in useful in future when he gets a bit too irritating. Just let him know."

"I wouldn't be lying to him if I told him I was impressed by the Master's power, Eldritch."

"I know you truly were. I also know that he appreciated it. He actually seemed surprised when you thanked him."

"It was the only right thing to do, Eldritch. I would be dead otherwise. We both would."

"Rest assured that I won't need to send you out of the room again. I used to do that to protect you but I no longer need to because you know and understand."

"I just wish you had told me everything from the beginning. I was convinced you didn't trust me and, to be honest, that hurt a bit."

"Looking back I truly wish I had, but I can't change that now."

She sat next to him and looked into his eyes.

"Eldritch darling, I would love you if you had nothing but the clothes you're currently wearing. Can you honestly say that all this wealth has made you happy?"

"No it hasn't. It made me isolated and lonely because I can't trust many people and I couldn't buy the good health I craved since childhood. But, without it, I would have died because the Master wouldn't have been interested in the likes of me."

They kissed tenderly.

Eichorst didn't show up until that evening.

"You're looking so much better, my dear," he simpered.

"Thank you,"

"So how did it make you feel to be in the presence of the Master? Not many humans are granted that privilege ,with the exception of Eldritch of course,"

"I felt his power,Herr Eichorst, and it was awesome. I am truly grateful to him. I actually woke up when he was giving me the White and saw him. It took my breath away."

Eldritch smiled.

"Now that Coco knows about the Master I won't be sending her out of the room when we talk so you will have to accept that. My rule,"

"Fair enough,"

Eichorst left but ,had they seen the twisted smile on his face, they wouldn't have rested easily.

The following day, after a torrid night of passion which left them feeling both exhilarated and exhausted in equal measure, Eldritch left to go to a Stoneheart investors meeting. He told Coco that it would bore her to sleep and she had every reason to trust him. However she promised to revitalise him on his return and he left with a wicked glint in his eyes.

In truth she was bored and missed him very much.

Early that afternoon Coco was tidying the office and trying to make sense of Eldritch's filing system when Eichorst arrived unexpectedly.

"Good afternoon Coco. You really are looking good and I suspect it's not just the White that's making you glow today."

"That's mine and Eldritch's business."

Eichorst held his hands up.

"Of course. What humans do between the sheets is of no interest to Strigoi. We couldn't fornicate if we wanted to, due to the lack of certain essential body parts."

"That's way too much information Herr Eichorst,"

Coco suspected that sentient Strigoi had the means to fuck should the mood overtake them but she definitely wasn't planning on asking or speculating.

"Eldritch is out," she said instead.

"I know. It's you I want to talk to."

"How can I help?"

Eichorst took a crisp white envelope out of his jacket pocket and laid it on the desk between them.

Coco eyed it suspiciously. Any Strigoi, other than the Master, bearing gifts should be viewed with suspicion.

"What's this?"

"A cheque for ten million dollars. It's for you if you leave Stoneheart and Eldritch forever."

"You think I can be bought?" Coco was angry.

"Every human has their price."

"Not me, Herr Eichorst. I would never leave Eldritch. I love him and that's something that you are going to have to accept and come to terms with. I am not interested in money. Yes, Eldritch offered me three times my previous salary to work for him but it was a dead end job I was glad to leave. However I would work for Eldritch for barely minimum wage and I would love him if he had nothing but the clothes he stood up in."

Eichorst stepped back, seeing the fiery glint in her eyes.

"I think that the Master would have a use for one as pure hearted as you," his voice dripped with sarcastic vitriol,"I personally would prefer to drink you and snap your neck."

Coco picked up the envelope with disgust and tore it into tiny pieces but first she took it out and snapped a photo of it on her phone. She put the pieces in the bin.

"If there's nothing else, Herr Eichorst, I would like you to leave. Right now."

"You haven't heard the last of this," he said before leaving," oh and, by the way, the effects of the White aren't permanent."

When she was sure he had gone Coco sank down onto a chair and burst into tears.

That was how Eldritch found her when he returned about forty minutes later.

"Coco, my darling

whatever is wrong? Surely you can't have missed me that much?"

He took her in his arms and pulled her close, stroking her back and nuzzling the top of her head until her tears subsided.

"I did actually miss you a lot but that's not why I was crying."

"What's happened, my darling?"

"Eichorst happened." She wiped her eyes on her sleeve.

She took the shreds of the envelope out of the bin and laid them on the desk.

"Mr Eichorst tried to bribe me to leave you, Eldritch. That's the evidence. A check for ten million dollars if I left you. I tore it up in contempt telling him that he couldn't buy me. I think he sees me as your weak spot Eldritch."

"I really am so proud of you for standing up for yourself and us. Some people would probably have taken it."

"I'm not just anyone, Eldritch."

"Thank God you're not. You're my beautiful darling Coco and I love you so much,"

"I love you too, Eldritch my darling,"

"I will have words with Eichorst."

"Let's just leave it. I am sure he won't be able to resist bringing it up again."

"As you wish,"

Coco was a little subdued for the rest of the day, but that evening Eldritch took her out for dinner and a walk and she picked up.

That night he pulled her close to him as they sat on the couch. He smelled absolutely gorgeous and she guessed he was trying a new aftershave.

"I think you passed a major test today," he said, taking her hand and kissing it.

"How so?"

"I have always got the impression that Eichorst doesn't have a high opinion of women, whether that stems from when he was human or not I don't know, but he expected you to fail and you didn't . He's probably sulking right now."

"Good,"

"And we should be getting to bed. It's getting late."

"Those are the best words I have heard all day, Eldritch Palmer."

"Too true."

They lay together, holding each other, and Coco just knew that whatever trials came their way she and Eldritch would take them head on together.