I find her comments most intriguing, considering she’s sitting next to a vampire and seems to be exceptionally responsive to me. At least, on a subconscious level.
“Which creature is your favorite?” I ask, more than a little curious if she will say vampire.
Stella’s cheeks flush. “This is a little embarrassing, but the real reason I keep away from all things supernatural related is because when I was nine, my cousin Kevin snuck up on me the day before Halloween wearing fake vampire teeth and a cape, of course—his dark hair slicked back for the full effect—and popped out at me from the corner of the living room. I was legit terrified. I didn’t know he was visiting, and I’d just seen Dracula the night before. I had nightmares for years about a vampire coming out of nowhere to suck my blood. Strange how deep a memory can get into your psyche and really mess with you. Anyway, I stay away from any books, movies, or TV shows that might remind me of the otherworldly. The real world is scary enough.” She laughs a little, but I cannot join her mirth.
If she knew I was a vampire, I strongly sense she would run screaming from the room. Childhood fears are very powerful things in humans, and she just told me that vampires are essentially her equivalent of Muma Padurii—basically an old heinous forest hag I feared as a child. My mother used to tell stories in order to prevent me from wandering off alone in the nearby forest: “Do not go beyond our farm, Bozhidar, or Muma Padurii will nibble off your toes and make soup out of your kneecaps.” It took several centuries to overcome my fear of pine trees, and do not get me started on the smell of kneecap soup. I still cannot go near it. In any case, if Stella fears vampires even one tenth of how much I feared Muma, then it is safe to assume that Stella will never accept me. Perhaps this is a blessing in disguise—for Stella’s sake.
I decide a bit of small talk and sharing can do no harm. “I am also ‘creeped out’ by certain creatures—forest hags especially. Also, ghosts.” I suppress a shudder. It is unnatural to move about without a body. Then I wonder if the strange noise she heard at night was me during one of my nocturnal visits. Perhaps I was distracted by her beauty and did not cast an effective memory erasure on her. “By the way, that noise you mentioned; what did it sound like?”
She waves that away. “Oh, it’s just the creaking of the floorboards in our old house as it settles.”
I move with great stealth, so I know for a fact that was not me. Not a creak to be heard. Perhaps it is simply the old house settling, as she said.
“So, what do you think?” she asks. “Would it be okay for me to start planning some events here for the fall? I really want to do my part in repaying you for all the kindness.”
I absolutely cannot allow random people to roam the castle. Vampires must remain in the shadows of modern society. “You give back simply by being you.”
She blushes prettily, her lashes fluttering down. “Thank you, Boz. That’s so nice of you to say.”
I cannot tear my gaze from her, at a complete loss for words in the face of her sweetness. It is as if she has cast a whammy on me.
“I brought a snack,” Neli announces from behind me.
My head whips toward her. I was so distracted by Stella, I did not hear Neli approach. I must be more careful. Distraction is the quickest way for your enemies to take advantage. Not that Neli is an enemy. She is family, whom I currently wish to strangle for leaving me alone this long with Stella.
“Neli, so good to have you here,” I say with the sharp edge of authority to my voice. “Have a seat. Now we can finally begin the tastings.”
She sets down a platter with a bowl of glossy dark red cherries, small plates, and napkins. “Stella, I think you’ll find the cherries are a nice complement to the red blends I’ve made.”
“They look delicious,” Stella says.
Damn that Neli. Yes, they do look juicy, which means blood-red cherry juice on Stella’s sensual lips.
I tear my gaze away and turn to Neli. “Join us,” I command. I’m tempted to put her under my trance, but I don’t dare do anything suspicious in front of Stella. Now that I know about her fear of the supernatural world, she must remain unknowing of my powers. Not that I ever intended to tell her what I am.
Neli ignores me, instead smiling at Stella. “Boz and I have already tried these blends, but I think it’s best if it’s a blind taste test for you. Would you mind?” She takes a purple ball of cloth from the platter and shakes it out, holding it up to Stella.