Page 77 of Dead & Breakfast
Arthur frowned. “You packed blood?”
“I said I was getting necessities,” Sal huffed with an exaggerated air of offense that put Arthur a little at ease. “What did you think I was going to get?”
“Honestly? I’m surprised you didn’t try to bring the TV—or your stage makeup and costumes.”
“I can buy more.” He wore a smile that fit neither his face nor the mood. “They were all from small businesses, anyway, so replacing my collection will be beneficial for them.” His words were too light or maybe not light enough. “Besides, it won’t do us any good to leave a string of bodies in our wake. We’ll need to feed, and I no longer have the immoral fortitude to take it without consent.”
If Arthur hadn’t been undead, his heart rate would have skyrocketed. Salvatore was worried, which meant any other person would be howling with terror.
“What happened?” Arthur asked. “Did the sheriff give you trouble?”
As he spoke, Arthur opened the bags and rummaged through them. Camping gear, blood on ice, a few rolls of cash Arthur hadn’t seen before and probably didn’t want to know the provenance of. Food for Rumble, changes of clothes, their passports and undeath certificates. The deed to the Iris Inn.
This was really happening. They were leaving.
“No, didn’t see anyone.” Salvatore moved Rumble’s backpack to his front and shrugged on the large hiking pack.
“Why all this, then?” Arthur asked. “You’re suddenly taking this seriously, and you don’t take anything seriously.”
“Of course I’m taking this seriously! They want to arrest you!”
Arthur blinked. “Sal, you spent half a day in jail, and all you did was play the harmonica.”
“Oh, I knew I’d forgotten to pack something,” Salvatore said, his usual tone of levity finally breaking through. “Doesn’t matter, I can sing as we walk to the nearest bus stop. People never expect vampires to take the bus, you know.”
“You’re avoiding the question.”
Salvatore huffed. “It’s different. They want to arrestyou. I can handle almost anything, you know. Been through it all at least once. There’s not much they can do to me that I can’t shrug off…except if they take you from me…” He shook his head, expression faltering. “I don’t think I could bear it. So, we have to leave. End of story.”
End of story.Arthur would have been touched if he hadn’t been so sad. For Salvatore, losing Arthur was unthinkable. For Arthur, losing Trident Falls was, too. It really was the end of the story, and Arthur could imagine the epilogue now.
They’d move on. And Arthur would be fine.
Salvatore would thrive in Europe. He’d revel in the nightlife. And Arthur would be fine.
Trident Falls would finally succeed in staying normal. They’d run the others off one by one, Theodore and Lore and perhaps some yet unknown to him. And Arthur would be fine.
Fine was enough. It had to be.
“Come on. It’s a long walk, best get started. When night falls it’ll be a little easier at least.” Salvatore shot a distrustful glance at the sun, which negated their powers, limited though they were.
Arthur knew he should sling the huge backpack over his shoulders and fall into step beside Salvatore, entering the next stage of their lives together. The cloud of this murder business would pass,and the FPI wouldn’t search for them forever. In a few decades, they could even return to this continent if they wanted, as long as they kept their heads down. As long as Arthur and Salvatore never set down roots. Never built a home.
He thought of Nora, and how they wouldn’t be able to say goodbye. And Lore, who had never believed they were guilty. Even Theodore, with his smug lawyer smarm and his bustling coffee shop. All the potential friends he’d never fully get to know—welcoming neighbors who were outnumbered by those who didn’t want them around, filling a town that would continue to exist long after they left.
He thought of his little herb garden in the kitchen of the Iris Inn. The flower beds outside. Their tandem bike, abandoned at the dentist’s office.
Arthur didn’t lift the backpack. He couldn’t. He couldn’t walk away now.
“I’m not going,” Arthur said.
Salvatore paused in the middle of giving Rumble a treat to calm her down. “What?”
“I’m not leaving Trident Falls. Not like this.” Arthur took a deep, unnecessary breath. “I can’t run away.”
“Of course you can, you’re halfway there already—”
“This isn’t a joke, Sal.” Arthur stepped away from the backpack.
