Maddox reached out, ran his fingers through Will’s hair gently, then suddenly made a tight fist and pulled his head back. Will found himself stuck looking into his vampire master’s dark gaze. Some of his righteous anger and frustration faded, but not much.
“What is the matter? You have been very quiet. I always find myself concerned when you are quiet, perhaps because it occasionally ends with you leaping out a window.”
Will was shocked. He had not expected to be asked what the matter was. He had expected words of censure and punishment and to be sent back to his room to suffer in solitary annoyance. He was so surprised, he didn't even know what to say at first.
“Well?”
“I…” Will tried to form some coherent words. It was hard when he found himself suddenly receiving the full brunt of Maddox’s attention. It was almost too much, like staring at the sun.
“Why is Lorien always with us? And why is he always so…”
“Obnoxious?”
“Yes.”
“Lorien is a young vampire. He will be obnoxious until he grows out of it.”
“And how long does that take?”
“Vampires are truly mature at around five hundred years. That is the earliest age most are able to tolerate midday sun and to successfully create their own fledglings. Those who attempt either before that age either experience or cause excruciating pain.”
“And how old are you?”
“Older than dirt,” Maddox smiled.
“And Lorien is just a baby?”
“Well, he has learned a thing or two in his ninety years. I wouldn’t call him a baby, but his time under the dark sun is only just beginning.”
“Okay. Well. Why me?”
“Why you?”
“I know you don’t need a human. Even a violent one like me. You can kill ferals much faster than I can. And you have cops on your payroll.”
“Of course I don’t need you, pup. I want you.”
Will basked in the warmth of that statement for all of a second before logic blasted it into cold, rational pieces. “But you didn’t even know me when you came to the prison. What was it, what is it about me that makes me useful?”
“Excellent question. And one that will eventually be answered. But you’re not ready to hear that answer yet.”
“I’m not?”
“No.”
“How can you tell?”
“Because your first hint of failure sent you into a shame spiral followed by a gravity fed one and here we are. To know the truth, you must have the stomach for it. I do not intend to burden you with more than you can handle before you are able to bear it.”
Will found himself believing Maddox, though the words themselves sounded like some total bullshit.
“Now, you are tired,” Maddox said. “Go to bed. Let me take care of everything.”
What a beautiful invitation, to be entirely taken care of. Will found himself feeling very sleepy, more sleepy than he had been in quite a while. Perhaps he was very tired, or, more likely, Maddox’s handling had sapped all his ferocious energy and left him with nothing but the softer, gentler impulses.
Yes. He was tired. He needed to sleep. To close his eyes. To stop worrying. To forget.
Maddox was beside him on the long walk back to his bed, guiding him on the journey with soft words and a tender touch. The little part of Will’s mind still functioning clearly was astonished how Mad could be so brutal at some times, and so gentle and kind at others. He felt warm. He felt cared for. He, perhaps, even felt loved.
11
Candy At Work
“As we expected, the deaths of the vampire kings have caused ripples throughout the undead community. The manner of their death raises great concerns, given the viciousness and cruelty of the method. It was clearly an act of vengeance of some kind, and most likely from another, more powerful vampire who is yet to raise his or her hand.”
Maddox had never imagined when he took on the burden of trying to contain the border of vampire and human relations that he would spend so very much time talking in meetings. But here he was, listening to the reports compiled by his human team. They were all very excited, of course. An upheaval such as this had not occurred in their lifetimes. Humans tended to be excitable that way. Everything was always new to them.
“Just say vampires. There’s no general undead community," Lorien interrupted. “There’s no zombies, no werewolves, not even a mummy. There’s just plain vampires.”
Mark Kennedy, a nervous though intelligent young man with pink hair and a wide array of piercings, shuffled his papers nervously and nodded swiftly. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to offend.”
“You didn’t offend. It’s just ‘undead community’ makes us sound like we’re going to host a bake sale and maybe join together in a quilting bee.”
“Lorien, be quiet and let the man speak,” Maddox interrupted.
“Er. Yes. Well. As I was saying,” Mark stammered. “It’s not been good for…”