Page 77 of Night of the Vampire
I heard Killian's voice coming from the kitchen and decided to hop into the shower. As I let the hot water soothe my aching muscles, I hoped I'd be able to get back to sleep at a halfway decent hour. I needed to get back into the shop tomorrow. The holidays were coming up fast and I had things to do. Plus, I just wanted to check in with Mike and see how business had been while I'd been taking time off to settle in with my vampire.
Dressed in loose stretchy pants with a comfy light blue top and my wet hair hanging down my back, I found Killian talking to Jamal and Elias around the kitchen island. He smiled when he saw me, but it didn't quite reach his eyes.
"What is this?" I asked him, laying the paper with the address on the counter. "I assume it was for me since you left it on the bed."
"You assumed right," he told me. He hesitated, and then said, "I called an old friend of mine today. You have an audition the day after tomorrow with Broadway across America. It's only an audition, you still have to prove you're worthy of the part. I know it's not New York," he rushed on. "But you'd still be on stage. And this way you'd get to travel." He nodded down at the paper. "That's where your audition is. You have to be there tomorrow at 8am sharp. I assume you can be ready by then."
I stood speechless, not quite comprehending what he'd just told me.
Killian studied me closely, waiting for my reaction.
"I don't understand," I finally said. "You're trying to get rid of me?"
"Would you both give us a minute?" he asked Elias and Jamal.
They both looked more than happy to leave. "Sure thing," Elias said with a smile in my direction as he grabbed Jamal and dragged him upstairs.
Taking my hand, Killian took me over to the table and sat me down, then pulled his own chair around to sit in front of me, our knees touching. I set the paper down on the table and stared at the address written on it. An audition? I was so out of practice. Was this even something I wanted?
"What about you?" I asked aloud.
"This isn't about me. It's about you. This is what you've always wanted, isn't it?"
I met his eyes. "But, why?" I asked him. "Why now?"
He smiled, but his eyes were filled with sorrow. "That's easy, Acushla. I'm giving you what you've always wanted. Your freedom."
"But what about you?" A wave of possessiveness heated my blood. "I don’t want you to be with anyone else,” I admitted in a rush. Then quickly moved on, ignoring the smile that played around his lips. “You’ll need to feed." And strangely enough, I would miss the intimacy of it.
"I'm a vampire of a certain age.” His eyes danced with humor. “I'll be well enough while you're gone as long as I don't wander in front of a large truck, or an angry witch." He sobered. "And maybe you'll stop by and see me when you pass through New Orleans."
I searched his face for some sign that this was just a game, but he was completely serious. "You're letting me go. Just like that."
He brushed my cheek with the back of his knuckles. "I am."
Sitting back in my chair, I waited for it to hit me. The feelings of relief. Of joy. But there was nothing. Only a strange sense of disbelief and numbness.
Killian suddenly pushed his chair back and stood. "I need to go to the club tonight."
Something sour and ugly rushed through me at the thought of him there, even if he wasn't going to feed from another. I didn't want him in that club, dancing to make other people lust for him.
He gave me an amused look. "I need to work behind the bar tonight, and maybe tomorrow, so the others can feed and Kenya can take a little time off. She's been working every night since she got well."
Oh. "Are you coming back here? After, I mean?"
There was a tortured look in his eyes as he shook his head. "I think it would be best if I didn't. It would give you some time."
Time for what? To decide? To prepare?
To mourn?
Only, it hit me suddenly that there was no decision to make. These last few weeks had been fun, but blood bond or not, I didn't belong here with him. And a second chance to live my dream had just been handed to me. I’d be an idiot not to at least try. "What if I don't make the cut?"
"You will, Lizzy. Of that I have no doubt." Taking my head between his palms, he leaned down and pressed his lips to my wet hair. I reached for him in turn, but he was gone before my fingers touched his shirt, the back door swinging shut behind him.
"Are you okay?"
I blinked hard to clear away the tears in my eyes before I turned to face Jamal. "Yeah, I'm fine." I picked up the piece of paper. "I just don't understand why he would do this."
