A Hidden Fire

“I told you once that I missed horses, remember?”

“Mmmhmm, I remember.”

She fell silent, and he suspected she had fallen asleep again, but he felt a small shiver shake her frame.

“Are you cold?” He reached up to feel her cheek. It was chilled and her teeth began to chatter.

“Kind of,” she said. Giovanni had bought a sweatshirt for her in Santiago, but in the damp, winter air of the valley, he knew it was too thin. He began to heat his arms and chest, taking care not to warm up too quickly and alarm her. She didn’t seem startled, but burrowed into his chest and sighed.

“You’re like a seat heater in a car.”

He smiled again. “There should be more clothes at my house. Isabel said she would bring some warm things to fit you.”

“It was so cold in his house,” she murmured. “It looked like it should be warm, but I was cold all the time. Cold and damp.”

His jaw clenched and he leaned down to brush his lips across her forehead. “I’ll make sure you’re not cold, Beatrice.”

“I know,” she said, and he could feel her press her cheek to his chest as he trudged over the muddy ground. “You’re always warm.”

He could hear the snorting of horses as he approached the trail head. Walking past the last stand of trees, he saw Gustavo standing between three mounts, who huffed and whinnied in the moonlight.

The dark-haired vampire walked toward them, holding his hand out and taking the duffel off Giovanni’s shoulder, before he tied it on the back of one of the chestnut mares.

“?Esta durmiendo?” Gustavo asked.

“No, she’s just sleepy,” Giovanni responded in English. “I’ll carry her in front of me. Can you lead the other?”

“Of course,” Gustavo said with a nod.

“Can you stand for a minute, tesoro?”

She nodded, swaying a bit and blinking at Gustavo as Giovanni climbed on his mount.

“Mucho gusto,” she said to their burly host, who smiled in welcome.

“Welcome to the Cochamo Valley, Beatrice De Novo. You are welcome here.”

“Gracias,” she said as Giovanni held out a hand. Gustavo helped her up and soon she had curled into his chest and fallen asleep to the rocking of their horses as they made their way into the secluded valley. He held her on his lap, making sure she was not chilled as he spoke quietly with Gustavo about local news.

A few hours later, they had reached a large wood-shingled house that butted up to one of the granite cliffs. A covered porch stretched around the low structure and jutted out over a green meadow surrounded by towering trees. The interior was lit, and Giovanni could see dark smoke coming from the chimney.

Beatrice woke when they stopped in front of the house and waited for Giovanni to dismount. He held out his arms and she slid to the ground, stretching muscles that would be sore from the four hour trek.

“I’ll put these in the stable for you,” Gustavo said as he grabbed the halter of Giovanni’s horse. “You can use them while you’re here, I’ll send one of the Reverte boys over to tend them in the morning.”

“Thank you, Gustavo.”

Beatrice looked around. The house was clearly visible in the moonlight, and its small windows glowed gold. He could hear Isabel puttering inside and knew his friend would have already stocked the house with everything Beatrice might need for her stay.

“This is my home. Isabel and Gustavo let me build here many years ago.”

She looked around. “It’s beautiful.”

He nodded and motioned her up the path. “It should be warmer inside. Isabel has already started a fire.”

“She’s Carwyn’s daughter?”

“Yes, and Gustavo is her husband. Their clan watches the valley.”

“Clan?” She frowned in confusion as they walked toward the house.

“They’re earth vampires.”

“What does that mean?”

He continued walking and she followed beside him. “Earth vampires are very domestic. Like Carwyn, they tend to settle and have big families. They usually prefer remote places like this.”

They climbed onto the porch and she followed him when he stomped the mud off his boots and placed them under a bench. He opened the door and showed her in, immediately taking a deep breath to enjoy the familiar scent of home.

“Giovanni?” he heard Isabel call from the kitchen, walking toward them with open arms.

He glanced over at Beatrice, curious how she would perceive the friendly vampire. Like her father, Isabel was one of the most loyal and friendly immortals he had ever met, and her gracious demeanor spilled out in her greeting. Unlike Carwyn, she was Spanish, appeared to be in her late forties, and was around the same age Giovanni was in vampire years.

She kissed both his cheeks as they exchanged quiet greetings.

“Beatrice.” She turned to the girl. “It’s wonderful to meet you. I’m sure you’re exhausted after your journey, so we must visit another time. There are clothes in the front bedroom, and the bathroom is stocked. There are no electric lamps, but there is running water and plenty of candles throughout the house.”

Giovanni scowled, forgetting that Beatrice might be disturbed by the lack of electricity in the valley. She didn’t say anything except a quiet ‘thank you’ as Isabel kissed both her cheeks and departed. He showed her down the hall and indicated two doors.

“This is your room for as long as you want it. The bathroom is across from it. My room is at the back of the house,” he said. “Part of it is cut into the rocks, but your room has windows, so it won’t be dark during the daytime.”

“It’s fine,” she murmured.

He stood motionless, suddenly nervous to be alone with her and wishing he could secure her in his own room.

“Beatrice-”

“I think I’ll wash up and go to my room. Are there books I could borrow?”

“There are always books.” He smirked and nodded toward the front room. “Help yourself to any from the bookcases in the living room. I keep most of my personal collection here.”

She smiled for a moment before her eyes clouded. “Fine, I’ll figure it out tomorrow.”

“Did you want me to-”

“Good night,” she said abruptly. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

He nodded silently, confused by the sudden shift in her demeanor. He checked the doors, windows, and any other access points, securing them before he went to his room in the back of the house. He was reluctant to leave her, even with the knowledge of Isabel and Gustavo’s ever-present guards, but he sensed she wanted to be alone.

Giovanni could feel the pull of dawn dragging him under when he heard the first soft cries from her room, and when he dreamed, her accusing eyes haunted him.

He woke when the sun set and threw on a pair of pants before he went to Beatrice’s room, noticing that her scent lingered in the hallway outside his door. He stood in the hallway, listening for her, but did not sense anyone in the house. Walking out to the kitchen, he noticed traces of her littering the main room, and a fire burned in the large stone hearth. No note indicated her whereabouts, and he immediately began to worry. He walked out to the porch, still barefoot, and searched the dim forest.

His ears picked up Isabel’s voice calling through the trees. “Calmate, Gio. You pace like an irritated cat. She’s at our house; some of the boys were teaching her to ride. She’s fine.”

He halted on the porch, waiting for Isabel to emerge from the trees before he responded.

“She needs to leave me a note if she’s going to leave the house. I was about-”

“Ay, yes, you’d burn down your lovely piece of forest with worry. You’re such an old man! Calm down.”

He sank into one of the large chairs that decorated the porch and scowled. “I am the same age as you.”