Erin jumped up and whirled around, throwing her notebook blindly like it would really deter whoever was sneaking up behind her.
Larten caught the notebook faster than her eyes could follow.
"Ah, the vampire's oldest repellent, paper." He smirked, reaching to hand it back to her.
She snatched it from his hand, glaring at him.
Larten kept smirking, cocking his head. "How did you know I was behind you? No human is capable of hearing a vampire sneak up on them."
"I have these irritating 'last minute' flashes as I call them. Only a minute to split second reaction time. Like when Murlough attacked Brigid and me in the park. Or when a vampire sneaks up behind me in my own home." Erin huffed, tossing the notebook onto the coffee table.
"Human: 1, Vampire: 0." She said, sticking her tongue out at him playfully.
"Very mature for someone who is about to turn thirty."
Erin narrowed her eyes. "And for that you can make your own breakfast tonight then."
Erin tried to walk around him but, again in a way that no human eye could see, Larten was standing in front of her.
"No need to be grumpy, miss Erin." He said smugly.
"I will stake you through-" Erin started to hiss, before noticing the time. It was only 10:45 P.M. Her forehead crinkled in confusion. "It's nowhere near midnight. What are you doing awake so early?"
He shrugged. "Since I got some extra sleep I naturally woke up at this time and instead of sleeping in, as I had very much intended to do, I heard you downstairs and decided to come see how you were doing." He looked into her eyes concerned.
Erin looked taken aback. He had specifically gotten up to see how she was doing.
"I'm feeling much better. I, uh, want to apologize for making you waste your night watching over me." Erin said, keeping her eyes on the floor. "I guess I was a pretty rough mess."
Larten shook his head. "You were not a mess but you were having very, very severe nightmares. You started hyperventilating in your sleep, causing you to start choking. I had to get you to breathe normally and calm down."
"Oh, so that's why you were in bed with me." Erin said, looking up at him. "I know what technique you used. That makes perfect sense. I'm glad you knew what to do."
Larten slightly shifted his weight from one foot to the other. "It was nothing. I did not want you to end up in a hospital again."
"Thank you all the same." Erin smiled at him, sincerely. "I also, uh, hope I didn't bother you when I got up." She said turning her back to place the popcorn bowl back into the cabinet.
Larten felt his throat and face immediately start blushing. He could practically feel the heat radiating off of himself. "No, you did not. I slept very well once you were peacefully asleep."
Erin turned to look over her should at him and smiled. "Good." She said. Though it was slightly awkward to Larten, Erin was hiding it very well to put him at ease as if it was all the most logical thing in the world. And, in all honesty, Larten knew it was the most logical thing to do, but the part about him holding her, her reaching for him to keep him close, and then waking up with her scent on him were the parts that were not logical and were stirring emotions he had deep down, bringing them closer to the surface.
He wondered what she was feeling, or felt, or thought, or...
Larten composed himself and went to the refrigerator door grabbing a fresh dozen of eggs bought just that day. He reached for some sausage and green onion before shoving the door closed with his foot.
Erin started laughing. "I didn't really mean it when I said you had to cook your own breakfast."
Larten laid the items by the stove. "I do not mind." He said casually.
"How about I make you something special. I actually bought steaks to grill but I need to soak them tonight. How about salmon and asparagus and red potatoes? That's what I'm craving."
Larten's eyes lit up.
"I will take that as a yes." Erin grinned brightly at him, putting everything back into the refrigerator.
After an hour and half later, Larten and Erin sat in the dining room enjoying the grilled salmon, asparagus, and red potatoes. Erin had seasoned it all to perfection and Larten was thrilled inside that he was able to have a second helping.
Erin smiled at him over the rim of her wine glass. Larten glanced up, meeting her eyes, and returned her smile, chewing with absolute relish.
"This is exquisite." Larten said after taking a sip of his wine.
"Thank you but I'm sure you've eaten far more sumptuously in those big caverns with the...red drapes on the walls?" Erin said, eating an asparagus.
Larten looked up in surprise, but also warily.
Erin noticed his demeanor change. "It was just a flash I had when we attended the Cirque performance all those months ago. Just large caverns with red. I don't know what they are. But they're very loud." Erin shrugged her shoulders, hoping to put Larten at ease.
It worked. Larten did relax and popped a whole red potato into his mouth. He chewed for a few seconds before swallowing. "Those caverns are where vampires from all over the world meet and yes, they are very loud. You can hardly hear yourself talk. However, as far as the food goes, unless you like bat broth and boar guts, it's rather poor in choice."
Larten laughed out loud at the look on Erin's face. She was repulsed.
"How do you stand it?" She asked, shaking her head.
"It is the vampire way. But that does not mean I turn down delicious meals elsewhere. Especially in such good company." He said, taking his final bite.
"Do you want any more wine?"
"Yes. Thank you." He said, offering his glass.
Erin poured the rest into her glass after refilling his.
"I propose a toast," Larten said, smiling, "to the company of a lovely woman, and not having to eat bat broth or boar guts."
Erin's laughter caused his heart to skip a beat as she touched his glass with hers. Her face was bright and her eyes twinkled in good humor and a touch from the wine.
"So, what do vampires do during their nights?" Erin asked. "Tell me about a typical night performing with the Cirque."
Larten always felt a gentle touch inside when she asked questions about him, his life, etc. She took such interest in him and was curious. It was refreshing to be around someone who wanted to know him without any ulterior motive. Normally he did not share information about himself whatsoever. He always held his cards close to his chest. But she came from a place of pure innocence. How could he deny her?
"Hmm. Let me see. I start off by waking up in my coffin-"
"Vampires really do sleep in coffins?"
Larten knew he would be interrupted with new questions. He was prepared as he scratched his scar.
"Yes, vampires really do sleep in coffins." He answered.
"But why?"
"It is the vampire way."
"But isn't it a bit silly? Honestly, it's almost downright illogical and-"
"Do you want to listen or are you going to argue about coffins?" He said a tad forcefully.
"Oh, I'm sorry. It's just where my mind goes. So you wake up in your coffin and then?" She blushed, embarrassed.
"It is fine." He said with a wave of his hand. He took another sip of his wine and continued. "So, yes, I wake up in my coffin and there is generally a small fire burning where a breakfast of sorts is made, generally sausages. Truska is generally the one who serves."
"I quite liked her performance. And then?"
"Then I change into my attire for the night and milk the venom from Madam Octa's fangs leaving only just enough to kill the goat on the stage leaving her venomless when I do my act. And then, afterwards, we spend the rest of the night either tearing down and packing everything up to move on to the next town or wait and make small adjustments to the line-up of acts for the next night. That's about it." Larten finished his wine.
Erin's eyes were slightly unfocused. "At the end you say that spider webs are a delicacy where you come from. It's a joke, an inside joke with yourself, from your past..." Erin was completely motionless, her wine glass halfway to her mouth.
Larten looked at her, yet again, in surprise, but his surprise turned to slight concern. She still hadn't moved.
Larten reached his hand across the table and laid it on top of hers.
"Erin?"
She slowly came back to herself and did her usual head shake.
"Oh, did I space out?" she set her wine glass down. "Sorry. You ate the spider webs and it's a joke, though, right?" She said peering at him.
He was hesitant to confirm or deny. He couldn't help himself.
"It must be some joke. I almost couldn't look when you threw Madam Octa up and she landed on your open mouth!" Erin laughed and shuddered.
Larten allowed himself to breathe again. That was all she had seen. A small insight, that was all. He smiled back at her.
"All part of the thrill." He grinned at her.
"But are they not missing your act at the Cirque?" She asked, cocking her head to one side.
Larten gave a small shake of his head. "Hibernius, Mr. Tall, the man who leads the Cirque knew I had business to attend to and so is keeping my coffin ready and Madam Octa is well taken care of. When I have dealt with Murlough, I will return to my regular place at the Cirque."
Erin's face tightened in a grimace of pain almost imperceptibly before returning to normal. It might have been imperceptible to a regular man, but not to a vampire. Somehow he knew not to say anything because she knew there was nothing to say.
Her eyes flicked up to meet his, a small smile playing around her lips. "How about a game of cards, Larten?"
Larten widened his eyes in shock. "Cards?"
"That's why they called you Quicksilver, right? I want to see for myself how fast you are." She grinned wickedly.
Larten eyed her before finally splitting into a grin. "Deal."
"Go into the living room, I'll be right back!" Erin darted out of her seat and off to find a pack of playing cards.
Larten walked into the living room and sat on the couch. He hadn't heard that name in so long. He wasn't worried she had all of a sudden knew it. It only dealt with him and cards, nothing more; a small blip as she called it. He didn't know the depth of some of the things she had flashes of from him. She only gave away small bits that were entirely innocent, and they were, but also because anything more would possibly cause Larten to withdraw from her completely or, even worse, leave.
He heard her come into the living room. She sat down in the love seat right by the couch. Larten scooted over to where they were both hovering over a corner of the coffee table.
"Okay, so what should we play?" Erin asked laying the card deck in front of them.
"You choose. You are going to lose so I will give you the benefit of choosing how."
"You never know." She said in a sing-song voice.
"How about Spades then?" Larten offered.
"Spades it is. I kind of remember how to play it. Let's see how I do." Erin said, picking up the deck.
"Please, allow me." Larten offered. He had the cards in his hands, snapped his fingers, and every card was in position on the table before Erin could even blink. He looked up at her beaming with pride. Her mouth was gaping open. "Shall we start?" He raised an eyebrow at her. She bit her lip, giving a lop-sided grin and nodded. He could see the competitiveness behind her eyes. He liked it.
The two played cards well into the small hours of the morning. Erin had actually won a fair amount keeping them almost tied. She started losing her concentration though as she grew sleepy.
Larten clicked his fingers and had all the cards back in the deck box quicker than a flash including the ones she had been holding!
"I believe we should call it quits. You are no longer much of a challenge." Larten scoffed.
Erin tried to say something clever back but instead yawned.
"I believe it is time for bed, miss Erin."
Erin stretched and laid back in the love seat, her feet on the coffee table.
"I don't want to go to sleep. I don't get to spend as much time with you. We only eat together and then do something for a short while aand then I'm off to bed while you still have some hours left until dawn. I don't like it." She mumbled, pulling her feet underneath her, her head resting in her hand, propped on the arm rest.
Larten looked at her, an undecipherable look on his face. She wanted to actually spend more time with him, keeping with his hours, and she didn't like the fact that she couldn't. Her eyes were slowly closing and then fluttering open again as she tried to keep herself awake. It was one of the most touching things anyone had ever said to him.
"How about we make another deal?" Larten asked leaning closer. "You go to bed now. There is only 2 hours and 37 minutes left until the sunrise. I will go to sleep at my usual time, but I will wake myself up so that I may see you during the day. And if I want to go back to bed, I will be so grouchy you will drag me and lock me in your room yourself."
"But are the curtains enough here in the living room?" Erin asked.
"They have been enough since the very first night you told me I had free rein within the house. They make it more than enough for me to walk about in the daytime. You and Brigid did a very thorough job." He chuckled. "So deal?"
"Deal." She said, closing her eyes and smiling.
She was falling asleep on the love seat and in no way making any effort to walk upstairs to bed.
Larten shook his head. Stubborn, stubborn, stubborn, ran through his head. He reached out and picked her up. She didn't fight it. She was limp in his arms, her head resting against his neck, and he could feel her slow breaths against his skin. He carried her up the stairs to Brigid's bedroom door, but before he nudged the door open to lay Erin next to her sister, he turned his face to smell her hair, and before he knew what he was doing, he had planted a full tender kiss against her forehead. He pulled away when she gave a small sigh. Had he woke her up? No, she was still asleep, but with a small smile on her lips. Larten felt a warm feeling deep in his chest. He planted another kiss on her forehead and on the top of her head. He wanted to turn around and take her to her bedroom. He wanted to lay next to her. He wanted to smell like her when he woke up. He wanted to wrap her in his arms and hold her close feeling the softness of her body against his, feeling her every curve. Larten silently growled in frustration. He knew he was getting too close but he couldn't help himself. By the gods of the vampires, he liked the attention, he liked how she made him feel, he liked having a simple and happy routine in his life.
There was a difference to being alone and being lonely, and he was very much the latter.