Page 16 of Drink Up, Darling
Dariel actuallyfeltAthens’ whole body relax this time. The other man stopped pulling away and moved back towards Dariel, looking down in sorrow.
“You’re charming, and cool, and maybe it’s because you’re the first person I’ve met who is like me so I could just be intrigued by you, or maybe it’s the adrenaline or fear and confusion of our predicament, but in the very short space of time I’ve known you, I know I want to get to know you more, and whatever happens tonight, I’m kind of looking forward to spending more time with you.” Dariel let out a deep breath, then allowed himself to look up at Athens, pleading. “If you’d want that?”A friend? Or something more?
Athens stayed silent for a beat.
Dariel continued. “And I don’t mind the way you’re acting around me, I’m just…”
“You don’t have to explain. I shouldn’t have been so forward.”
“It’s just been a really long time.” Dariel finished off his confession with a laugh of relief, hoping it would ease Athens.
It did the trick.
“Okay, okay. I get that.” Athens bit his lip. Dariel resisted the urge to slap his arm playfully, maintaining a grin instead.
“I need to see what’s in this room.” Athens professionally changed the subject and went back to the sealed door before them, this time peering through the keyhole. Dariel came up to join him, bending down to his side and immediately scenting the mint again, this time mixed with…eucalyptus?
“I can’t quite make it out, but there’s something fancy in there. Gold perhaps,” Athens said, almost muttering it to himself as though he was trying to calculate something. “I’ve never had the best eyesight, can you…” He shuffled back, hinting for Dariel to take his place, and he did, filling the space and peering into the hole. He was very aware of the position they were now both in, Athens hovering a gentle hand to Dariel’s side as he whispered close. “Anything?”
Dariel surveyed what he could. It appeared to be another bedroom, but a heavily ornate one in comparison to the one down the hall. All blues and golds, an indistinguishable but grand mural of birds and flowers on the far wall where the extremely large bed stood. And the room was lit, with a sense of atmosphere, perhaps by lamps and candles, as opposed to a large overhead light. It seemed very much lived in.
‘What do you see?’
‘He definitely does live here.’
‘His room?’
“Gentlemen!”
‘Shit.’
The pair of them shot up, startled by the bellowing voice from below.
‘It’s okay, he can’t really do anything. We’ll play it off.’
Dariel nodded.
Godwin shouted again, this time from slightly closer as it was clear he’d begun to climb the stairs.
The pair began to descend, meeting their host in the middle. He didn’t look angry, but Dariel read something behind his eyes that indicated frustration.
“Did I not ask you to stay downstairs?” Godwin questioned them both, though more in the manner of self-doubt. They could convince him he forgot, Dariel thought. Athens was perhaps already on it.
Godwin began to smile, his whole manner shifting. “No matter, gents. Dinner is ready, come join me in the dining room!”
And that was it. Godwin gestured towards the direction of the room. Both Athens and Dariel kept their spirits high as they headed down, Athens in front.
‘Close.’
Dariel imagined him winking and kept his head down.
Chapter Six
For about six years, Dariel did have a friend. A companion. Someone to turn to. Shirley, her name was. The pair of them shared a terraced house flat with two other occupants in mid-seventies York. She was the only person Dariel—who went by Kit at the time—would let get close, because he believed them to be similar, immortality aside. She worked as a nurse in the city centre, and would often come in from night shifts in the early hours of the morning, precisely when Dariel would prefer to go hunting for food. It was a frequent occurrence that he was up in the shared kitchen when she’d get in. At first, he’d thought it was going to be too much of a problem, that she would begin to grow suspicious of him, but she would always smile at him and never questioned why he was up—to the point where he began to learn her schedules, and would have a cup of tea ready for her when she got in.
The pair would chat a bit, she had an infectious personality, and before long, their conversations started turning more and more personal. He learned about her difficult family life, and why she moved away from the south as soon as she could. In turn, he shared about his wife andSparrow.She was the only person on planet earth who knew his story. Even thoughhe changed the dates to avoid suspicion, it was the most he’d trusted anyone with.
“You carry them with you, don’t you?” she said once, pulling her steaming mug to her lips, maintaining eye contact.
