“That’s not the point!” Neli stomps her foot.
“Then what is?” I turn and snarl down at her. “That I cannot pursue the girl across the road because you, a lowly servant who is bound to me, do not approve?”
Neli groans in frustration and presses the heels of her palms to her face. “I’m sick of this, Boz. I’m sick of you not listening to what I have to say. I’m sick of you treating me like a second-class citizen—”
“Third class. Second class would be my valet, whom you allowed to die of old age, apparently.” Pure laziness.
“Fine!” Neli throws her fists to her sides. “Third! But that doesn’t change the facts.”
“Which are?” I cock a brow.
“That you and I are all we have. I can’t survive without you, and you can’t survive without me.”
“Have you been licking toads again, girl? I’ve warned you to stay away from those.”
Neli stares at me, and then, like a candle that’s been snuffed out, the fight leaves her. She leaves my chamber and goes over to the long padded armchair called a couch, where she plops down. Her lackluster aura sends a wave of dark chills through me.
I follow, feeling genuinely concerned. She lives to fight with me. “Neli? What is the matter, girl?” I take the place next to her on the couch. A stream of tears runs down her pale cheeks. I won’t ever admit it, but I cannot stand to see a woman cry. It feels like nature herself is weeping, and who doesn’t care about nature? “Why are you upset? Is it your moon cycle? Have I not given you enough bread and cheese in your daily ration?”
She covers her face and sobs with even more gusto. I want to cringe, but I hold it in.
“I can’t do this anymore, Boz. I can’t.”
“What?”
“I can’t babysit a grown man, who also happens to be a powerful vampire that refuses to change.”
“What are you saying? I am the prime example of adaptation. Have you not witnessed my very impressive transformation these last few days?” I watched the friends, I used a credit card, and I cut my hair. I even stopped demanding that Neli launder my clothes. The hamper does it for me now.
Neli pushes back a lock of red hair behind her ear, her teary green eyes meeting mine. “Release me.”
“What?” I jerk my head back.
“You heard me.”
“But if I did that, you would turn into a pile of ash and dishonor your name, your family.”
“I don’t care! I want out.”
I lean back into the couch, feeling this odd sensation in my chest. Pain. “I-I do not understand, Cornelia. Why would you choose death over being my major-peon?” I refer to her official title as the head of the servants, a proud moniker from our time long ago. She came up with the idea herself after tiring of being called my slave.
“It’s majordomo! Not major-peon!” She inhales sharply and whooshes out a breath. “For the last five centuries, I’ve been free. Okay, with the exception of having to keep you alive. And figuring out how to move a dormant vampire halfway across the world. And move his castle brick by brick, then have the entire thing put back together because I knew he would never accept anything but the exact castle he inherited from his maker, and I would never hear the end of it if I let it be destroyed. But despite all those challenges, I built a life, Boz. I went to school, I learned about the world and different cultures. I worked hard to give us what you see, and even if I still suck at dating because the world keeps moving faster and faster and I can’t keep up, I’ve learned one thing.” She holds up a pale finger. “I don’t want to be your slave anymore.”
I thought she loved being my slave. This news is shocking. “Then what do you want?”
“I want to find love and live a normal human life.” She bows her head and shakes it with a sigh. “But it’s just not in the cards for me, so I’ll take freedom.”
She wants freedom. I allow that to sink in. “But you know there’s only one way to make that happen.”
She nods. “Yes.”
“Become a vampire.”
“God no!” Her eyes go wide. “I said I want you to release me. I want a swift and painless death.”
Death? “No. I will not allow it!” The ache in my chest grows stronger.
“Why?”
“Because…because…you are like family and…” I look away. I might be a vampire, but I am a man first, and it is a well-known fact that men do not discuss their feelings. It is a sign of great weakness. Also, the other men tease you, and nobody likes that.
“What, Boz?” Neli pushes. “Tell me, dammit! I’m like family and what?”