Page 72 of The Midnight Order
“As long as you won’t sing me children’s songs and as long as you promise to keep the demons at bay.” She smiles.
I flick my wrist, and the lights in the room go out. I slip beneath the covers beside her.
I hum the tune toLucy in the Sky with Diamondsby the Beatles, and Silver snuggles into my side. My arm comes around her shoulders as she drifts beneath the blanket of sleep, breathing heavily as I stare down every nightmare and fitful dream head-on to keep her comfortable.
Thinking about opening myself up to her entirely scares the shit out of me, but thinking of her never knowing me entirely scares me even more.
I know it’s up to me to complete this and determine whether she’s the key to our freedom, and I also know that it will be the hardest thing I’ve ever done.
The keys never get to me, and I was thankful because it’s been centuries since I’ve tasted human blood, and I’m afraid that with one drop of hers, I’ll become who I was before. That all my nightmares and all my demons will come bobbing back to the surface once more, dragging me back down to a hell I won’t be able to escape a second time.
The question is, is she worth it?
Chapter 19
Silver
Waking up,I find myself alone. The spot where Lowell was lying beside me is empty. There’s not even a dent in the mattress to remind me that last night was real.
Half of me wants to get up, get coffee, and see Aunt Soliel’s place in the light of day, but I wonder who’s around and if they’d think I was running if I did so without telling them first.
I can’t deny how I felt last night with Lowell. I also can’t deny how sad it made me to see the haunted look in his red eyes when my hands grazed over the scars beneath his shirt. I don’t know what happened to him, but it was something horrible. Something he’s afraid to share.
After showering and dressing, I brush my teeth and hurry downstairs to see who’s there. Silence greets me, other than the sounds of Milly, who’s dutifully scrubbing the clean counter.
She looks up, smiling from ear to ear as she spots me. “Good morning!”
Looking around the room, I realize it seems different. Pots hang from racks, and dishes dry on the rack beside the sink. There’s also a coffee machine tucked away near the fridge, which I bet is packed full of food for me.
“They did this for me?” I ask her, walking over and running my finger over a silver espresso machine.
“They did. Well, Master Jasper did. I don’t think it was all for you, though. I’m sure he doesn’t want his fancy car disappearing again.” She chuckles, and a smile tips my own lips up at the sound.
“I’m sure you’re right.”
“I took the liberty of making you some breakfast. It’s on a plate in the microwave. And there are fresh-baked muffins over here.”
I turn as she lifts the glass lid on a cake stand. What looks like pumpkin muffins makes my eyes widen, and my belly grumble.
I warm my eggs and bacon, snag a muffin, and sit at the bar.
Milly tells me she’s taken a couple of days to learn how to use the coffee machine and is now confident she can make me a decent cup of coffee. So, as she sets to that task, I eye her while I eat.
“Have you always been with them?” I ask her.
She turns, a sad look in her eyes. “No. I was tested nearly fifty years ago, but wasn’t the one.”
“But you stayed?”
“I did. I found friendship and love here, and it was something I was unwilling to give up.”
“They do seem like decent… men. Are they men?” I laugh, shaking my head. “Sorry, this is all insane. Not in a bad way…” I stop my rambling as she grins.
“When did they change you?” I ask, my tone softens. I don’t know if asking her what I just have is rude.
“I caught the flu in 1988. It was going around outside of here, and a potential key brought it into the manor during her testing. They were faced with a choice.”
“Lose you or change you,” I whisper.
