Page 60 of Killer of the Bells
Silence greeted me, but the air around us suddenly lit with soft, twinkling fairy fire. It was a harmless, pretty spell, used mostly for mood lighting.
The Cody was such a romantic.
“Is that a good sign?” Echo asked, reaching out to touch a trailing bit of fire and marveling when it didn’t burn him.
“She’s gone. If she were here, she would have to let us know because she’s as bound to the pact as we are.”
“Good. Then let’s talk.”
Chapter
Fifteen
ECHO
“Let’s talk.”
I’d just uttered the two most panic-inducing syllables known to English speakers across the world, but Vale’s energy told me he was all in.
I didn’t know what I wanted from the conversation, which meant Vale was going to have to begin, so I asked, “How do you want to start?”
I was barely able to accept what was happening between us, so how was I supposed to know what to say?
The only thing I knew was that I couldn’t seem to stay away from Vale, whether he wanted to kill me or not. How many times had I gone to him, fully planning on causing a scene until he killed me, only to end up having sexytimes instead?
How many times a day did I think about the way his beautiful hair gleamed in the sunlight, or how it flowed over his body like water when we were showering? How often had my breath hitched when I remembered his ghost smiles, barely there, but a gift every time I saw one? And how many times had I thought about ways to improve Vix’s traps to help protect their house?
It was time for me to face facts. I couldn’t get enough of Vale or his bizarre household.
“I think I should tell you about myself,” Vale said. He looked away from me and crossed his arms over his chest. “So, you know what it means to be with me. If… if that’s something you wanted, that is.”
The way his resting bitch face broke at the end of his intro had me melting in my shoes, and I rushed to say, “I want to hear anything about yourself you want to share, Vale. You have to know that I’m trapped in your orbit.”
“No, I don’t know,” Vale said with a haughty head tilt. “You spend all your time trying to die every time I see you, and you keep trying to use me to accomplish your goal. As if I’m some kind of tool.”
“I…” That was exactly what I’d been doing, wasn’t it? I’d been spilling my crazy all over Vale without caring about his feelings at all.
I was about to shout something stupid like,Why would you even want to be with someone like me if you feel that way?But something inside me urged caution. It wanted me to think—really think—about what was happening at the moment. What did I truly want from Vale?
No, even deeper. What did I want fromlife?
Finally, I said, “I’m sorry. Please continue.” Then I found a relatively snow-free fallen tree, sat down, and did my best to relax. My shoulders had been up to my ears like I was about to face a firing squad, and I needed to bring my energy down if I was going to be able to listen.
Vale began his story, using a tone of voice and cadence that made me think of a sexy professor. “You were right, Echo. I was born in London in the mid eighteen hundreds. I was bored and annoyed by everything in my life, and I didn’t fail to make sure everyone knew about it. I was supposed to inherit the familyfortune, but I didn’t want it or the responsibility that came with it.
“The world was far vaster than everyone seemed to think it was, and the life I lived was unbearably stifling. The only thing my family cared about was endless parties and social gatherings, and it was hell on earth for me. If I never have to hear another monologue about the best way to trim a hat, it will still be too soon.” Vale shuddered, and I bit back a smile.
It was this part of his personality that drew me to him so fiercely. The way he despised things so openly, and with such wit, reminded me so much of my own inner monologue. It was like Vale was giving voice to my thoughts, and in more ways than one.
“I retreated to my studies as often as I could, spending far longer at the university than the other gentlemen did at the time. By the time my family realized I had no intention of becoming the family heir, it was too late. I was fully corrupted by academia and had entrenched myself in a society that focused on enhancing the health and lifespan of humanity.
“I was obsessed. Their star pupil. The advances we made in medicine are something to be proud of, I’m sure, but the cost…I am no longer sure that was worth paying. I was my own experiment, you see. I used myself as a lab rat far more often than I should have, and it’s ultimately what got me where I am today.”
“You managed to use science to extend your life? How did you keep this to yourself? Was it not replicable?” It was the only way I could think the world wasn’t full of far too many rich Victorian assholes.
Vale gave a scoff full of self-derision. “Oh, it’s replicable, but the cost isn’t worth it.”
“I can think of plenty of people who would disagree. There are a ton of rich folk out there who would be willing to pay any price to live as long as you have.”
