Page 28 of Discovery of the Vampire
"It's okay," she said. "It's kind of weird, I know. In all my years living in New York, I never would've imagined I'd end up with someone like him, and I've seen some strange stuff in that city. Our relationship is still pretty new, but…well, he's my mate. Or I’m his mate. Or whatever.” She smiled again.
Her choice of words took me by surprise. "Mate? Like, soulmates?"
She chuckled. "Kind of. You don’t know about how vampires mate?”
Frowning, I shook my head.
“Well, I’m kind of new to all of this myself. But, for vampires, it's a bit more...intense. When they find their mate, it's a connection. A missing piece of themselves that snaps into place. One they never knew was missing. The bond is unbreakable and honestly, it’s...” Looking around for the word, she finally said, “Intenseis the best way I can describe it. For both of us. But more so for him.”
I let that sink in for a moment. Vampires had soulmates. It was almost romantic, in a twisted sort of way. "So, you're his for life?"
"Essentially, yes. It's not always easy, though. The bond can be overwhelming at times, and it takes some getting used to." Lizzy placed a large amethyst geode on the counter, then glanced at me sideways. "Now I have to ask you something, and I'd appreciate it if you'd answer honestly."
Questions lingered on the tip of my tongue, but I set them aside for a different time. "I promise I'll answer as honestly as I can." That was the most I could offer, but apparently it was good enough.
“You really had no idea who I was when you came in here to apply for this job? That’s not why you applied here?"
"No," I answered immediately. “I swear it to you. I had no idea until I saw you at the house last night.”
"What about Killian's club? Did you know who owned it?"
Again, I shook my head. "No. It was purely a coincidence that I chose his club my first night here. Again, I swear to you, I had no idea who they were until I saw them."
Picking up the crystals and some baskets, she motioned for me to follow her and we started setting up the new display. "And how did you know they were vampires? Humans don't normally pick up on that."
I struggled with my choices. Tell her the truth and let the cards fall where they may, or continue to lie to her about who and what I was. I did tell her I would only be as honest as I could. But her expression, though curious, was so open and honest. And I really didn't want to keep lying to her. "Lizzy, I need to tell you something."
“Tell me what?”
Taking a deep breath and praying I wasn’t about to ruin the one truly good relationship I’d made in this city, I told her what I’d confessed to Brogan last night.
She glanced up at me as she checked the bag for any more crystals. “I knew you were a witch the moment you walked into my store,” she told me. Not finding anything else, she moved one of the baskets to a different part of the display and walked away to throw the empty bag in the trash.
I stared after her. Apparently, I wasn’t hiding my magic as well as I thought I was. "So, you know?"
"I've always known." She smiled over her shoulder.
The bell over the door chimed, and a customer came in.
Lizzy greeted them before saying, "Would you finish up this display, please?"
I stared after her retreating form. She'd always known? How was that possible? I'd been so careful to always guard my magic. Yet here she was, casually dropping this bombshell like it was nothing.
As Lizzy helped the customer, I tried to collect myself and do as she'd asked, but I couldn't focus and ended up just standing there staring down at the crystals in my hands. I could tell they'd been in the box for a long time. They had no energy. We should put them in the sun and let them recharge.
I glanced at Lizzy again, watching as she laughed at something the customer said. She seemed so at ease, so comfortable in her own skin and her place in this world. I envied that. I couldn't remember the last time I wasn't constantly looking over my shoulder.
The customer left, and Lizzy made her way back over to me. I took a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves. "How did you know?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. "About me."
Lizzy shrugged, a small smile playing at the corners of her mouth. "Because I'm a witch, too."
"Yes, but not a very powerful one. No offense," I added, trying to soften my words.
But she didn't seem offended in the slightest. "True. But Icansense magic in others. And you, Esme, have it in spades."
"I'm not just a witch, Lizzy."
She stared at me for a long moment. "What do you mean by that?"
