“Are you sure this place is secure?” I whisper, wanting to protect Stella from worrying. Not that she looks at all concerned. In some ways, her strength gives me peace. She will never be afraid of imaginary things like monsters. No one will ever tell her she runs like a girl or that she can’t grow up to be whatever she wants.
My only fear is that she will always question where she belongs in this world. It’s a terrible way to grow up. I would know. While my friends were going to Girl Scout meetings or soccer games, I was practicing killing vampires with a garden hoe or chopsticks—my parents were big on being prepared and using everyday items as weapons. Then, when I was just sixteen, they sent me to do my first kill. It was just before Christmas, and the vampire worked at a department store in the mall. She had been killing innocent humans, following late night shoppers to their homes and making it look like robberies gone bad.
So, just as I was trained to do, I scouted her out, and right before closing, I walked into the perfume department where she worked, armed with a metal kabob skewer. When no one was looking, I walked over, smiled, and shoved the skewer right in her heart. Two seconds later, there was nothing left of that evil, murdering vampire other than a dustpan’s worth of fine ashes. I walked out of the mall, drove to IHOP, got pancakes for dinner, and then went home. My parents barely said a word. They knew if I was there, it was because I’d done the job and done it right.
I admit, killing vampires was a rush the first few times, but after several years, I began feeling more and more isolated. Books were my only friends and gave me a place where I could escape the pressures of my family. Eventually, books became my whole life. I stopped killing. My parents hardly spoke to me after that, and then they were murdered by Clive six years ago, about a year before I met Michael. My grandparents were already gone by then, three passing of old age and another missing after what we assumed was a vampire-hunting mission that ended badly. But before I lost them, they all broke ties with me. I was a huge disappointment to the family for not wanting to be a Keeper.
The point is, if there is anything I can do to avoid Stella growing up, feeling like she has to be something she’s not just to feel loved, then I will make it happen. If I can get her away from vampires and give her a normal life, I’ll do that too.
“I am very certain it is safe here. Are you coming?” Michael looks at me, and I realize the engine’s off. The garage door is closed behind us. Stella is already out of the car and inside the safe house, as indicated by the open rear passenger door behind me and the lights on inside whichever room is adjacent to us.
“Oh. Yeah. Sorry.” I give a quick nod, trying to mask my heavy thoughts.
He gives my resting hand a squeeze. “It will be all right. There is nothing to fear.”
I inhale deeply and offer him a shallow smile. “Thank you. But how sure are you that this serum will work and that everyone will believe Freddy is you? Or that you’re Freddy?” Their personalities are not the same. Freddy is much warmer and, also, he can say my name.
“Do you believe I’m Michael?” He smiles.
My mind does a little summersault. “What do you mean?”
“It’s a simple question. Do you, in this moment, think you’re talking to Michael?”
Hold on. Back at headquarters, they left the room. “Did you switch clothes again?”
He stares but doesn’t reply. It’s then I notice a little bit of a slouch and a non-Michael vibe coming off him.
“Freddy! Dammit!” I swat his arm. “I was drooling over you and thinking about asking you to bed—”
“Calm yourself, librarian.” He lifts his chin. “It is indeed me, Michael. I was simply proving my point. For one split second just now, I had you convinced I was Freddy again.”
I mash my lips together. I hate feeling like a sucker, but he’s right. I did fall for it just now. “You big jerk.”
“I wanted to ease your worries. We have rehearsed well for this.” Michael goes silent for a long moment. “Do you really mean that—the part about asking me to your bed?”
My face gets all hot. Strange how I’m a vampire and I still blush. “It was really more of a figure of speech.”
Michael falls silent for another long moment. “You could ask me. If you wanted.”
I look at him, feeling confused. Did he just ask if I want to sleep with him?
He doesn’t flinch. Not a smile. Not a blink. “That is, if it’s what you wish. I am at your service, librarian. Now and forever.”
I can’t believe what I’m hearing. He’s offering himself like it’s his duty. I don’t know whether to be upset or touched that he wants to be sure I’m taken care of. Really taken care of.
“Thank you, Michael, but I don’t think I want to be with you unless it’s what you want, too.”
He stares straight ahead at the windshield. “I have not been with anyone since you. And I must admit your risqué outfit is giving me urges.”
“Are you being serious right now?”
“These years apart have taught me two things. My loyalty to you will never end.” He shrugs. “And I will never give up on us. Something inside me will not allow it, which can only mean I want you and only you. Therefore, the logical choice is for us to build a life together.”
His words mean more than he’ll ever know. They confirm that Michael, even this version of him, is what I’ve been searching for my whole life.
