Chapter 20

The morning light was starting to create a blue haze on the horizon as I pulled the blackout curtains on the first floor. I was trying hard not to awaken Jerry. After the fright he had last night I would be surprised if he wanted anything to do with me.

Finishing up with the curtains, I walk over to the kitchen. Nick was standing outside still with his hands in his pocket. Stepping outside, I say as I stand beside him, watching the sky start to brighten with pinks and yellows, 'We better get inside before the sun breaks the horizon.'

'We have two minutes,' He says softly, his eyes squinting.

'You've never seen a sunrise have you?'

'No, not officially. Only the times of twilight am I allowed light. Was the day so much different from the night, bitten?'

Another insult he hurled. But I remembered the first time I had met him. It was early dawn. Just as the pink of daylight was forming, mists upon the ground. We had only spoken for ten minutes or so before dawn. It amazed me how he had taken the time to get to know me. Looking at him now, I couldn't see it. Was he simply wooing me? It hadn't felt that way at the time. He seemed genuinely interested in me. He had done nothing to try to take my blood during that time. He had felt so human. I look up at his profile again and feel that deep ache in my heart I hadn't allowed for centuries. When his eyes cut to me, I glance away, watching as the first rays of sun start to pierce the clouds in the distance.

'Was there something on my face, Nina?'

I could hear the sound of a amused condescentation in his voice, but I just shake my head saying, 'You simply remind me of someone from my past.'

He doesn't ask further, instead saying, 'Jerry is awake.'

I found it interesting how accutely aware he was of Jerry and I ask, 'Does a human appearance in your daily living bother you?'

Nike shakes his head as he turns and walks towards the house, 'No. It is simply strange how something so insignificant can be such a nuisance.'

I frown at him glance back towards the sun about to burst from the horizon and think to myself, 'How true.'

Jerry sat across from us at the dining table, his eyes on Nick like a hawk. He takes a sip of his coffee, a bite of his eggs, before asking, 'So... A vampire huh?'

'Yes.'

'I know you asked me to never ask this, but I'm going to. I think I deserve an answer, what is in Rhode Island.'

'My descendants,' I answer instantly.

Jerry simply nods his head in a slow fashion, as if trying to fathom that idea. He gulps down another bit of coffee and turns to Nick, 'You aren't going to eat me are you?'

'You aren't of interest, too puny.'

Jerry let's out a breath, laughs a little in nervous energy and then turns to me and asks, 'Are all vampires like him?'

'On average no, he's a special being in our higherarcy.'

He nods slowly again, seeming to contemplate things until finally he chugs the last of his coffee, sighs and says with determination, 'Ok, so your family on Rhode Island has one of the biggest paychecks in history and you plan to retrieve it.'

He looks down at his watch, which never left his wrist, then towards the closed curtains, nods and says, 'If my information is right, there will be a plane at the Zurich airport headed to JFK at 7pm that we can get on. I would prefer earlier. But seeing as all the windows are blacked out I'm guessing the sun isn't a friend to your kind.'

'No it's not,' Nick says in a monotone.

'What do you mean, we?'

'I'm going with you,' Jerry says instantly.

'Jerry.'

'Listen Nina, I've been working for you for four years. I know your habits and probably more about the legalities of this venture. You need me.'

I sigh, looking a Nick. His eyes were elsewhere, glazed and disinterested. He was used to getting his way, this was most likely the most unappealing conversation he had ever been a part of. But I turn to Jerry, shake my head, and say, 'No.'

'What?'

Pulling an envelope from my pocket, I slide it towards him. He frowns and picks it up as I say, 'This is your severance package.'

The silent stretched for a time before he finally looks up at me. His eyes were half massed, I was unsure if he was hurt or irritated. Finally he sets it aside and says, 'A pink slip really? You have got to be kidding me!'

Yup, irritated. He says, pointing his finger at me, 'First of all, I can move around in the day...time...'

He stops there, staring at me. Then he frowns, looks at Nick then at me again. I give him a look that said to keep his mouth shut and quickly he continues, 'Which means you can use me, I can get things done that you two can only get done during the night. Two, I have a ton of connections that I can count on. Nina, you know most of them. But seeing as a lot of cops and journalists are looking for you, or your kidnapping or possible murdered body it's up to me to use those connections and third. You need me.'

All he said was true. He had become the best of friends with me and I couldn't bring myself not to have him near. But there were other concerns as I voice them, 'Jerry, that severance package isn't just any package. It provides you protection. At a distance I can keep you safe, but if you are close to me, I can't guarantee your safety.'

'Like with him.' Jerry says pointing at Nick.

Nick let's out a low rumble, his pheremones slowly eeking out as he says, 'Point that finger at me again and you won't have a hand.'

Jerry quickly pulls back his hand, his eyebrows raised at me in a see gesture. I sigh, chuckling as I do and shake my head in defeat, 'Yes and others like him. If you come with us, it will not be easy.'

'Like working with you has ever been easy,' Jerry interjects.

'You may die,' I continue.

'Yup gathered that from last night's little show and tell,' Jerry says, giving Nick a pointed look.

Nick stares back, a muscle in his jaw ticking in anger. I smile and turn back to Jerry and continue, 'And there is a war we are trying to stop, that might end not just our race but yours.'

Jerry is silenced by that and looks from me to Nick. He leans back in his chair, his eyes going to the ceiling before he finally nods and says, 'Ok, I get it, but I'm going with you.'

'Why?' Nick asks, steel making his word sharp. Jerry sits up straight startled by this. It was a quiet minute before he finally says, 'Nina may have been an amazing employer, but she was a better friend. She was always hands on with the company and made a point to get to know her staff. They loved her, true the past year she's been abcent, but still proved to be a better boss. I won't leave until she's back as the CEO of the company she built.'

'And what do you want out of it?' Nick asks, his eyes narrowed.

Jerry shrugs and says, 'Hey immortality would be nice, but besides that, I like my pay.'

I chuckle, looking at the surprised look on Nick's face. He hadn't been expecting that answer. I finally nod and say sarcastically, ' Welcome to the world of the vampire, Jerry.'