Page 31 of Drink Up, Darling
Godwin’s face dropped, and Dariel no longer felt like winding anyone up.
“Well, actually, erm. It was a similar thing really. I searched for people who were also in the public eye who seemed to maintain a youthful appearance over a good few years. It was a solid starting point. You’re not as publicly known as Dariel, at least your face isn’t. Your craft is… well it’s magnificent. But after a few false starts with the other people on my radar, I narrowed down to you because well… you did an interview in 2002 that stood out to me.”
Athens made no reaction, urging Godwin to continue. “It was in a small magazine. I don’t really think many people would have made connections the way I did, but you mentioned something along the lines of being ‘reborn’ once you started this career five years prior, and I suppose I was just so unhealthily obsessed with finding my answers that the words ‘being reborn’ as opposed to merely feeling it, was enough for me to speculate. It was simply luck or fate… Something gave me the sense I was on the right lines.” Godwin looked ashamed, but he didn’t stop. “I ended up down a rabbit hole of more personal connections. You mentioned losing a friend in 1997 in an article. I narrowed down locations and ended up coming across a police report for an accident in a block of flats in early that same year. The flat’s owner was pronounced deceased at the scene, and her roommate was missing, presumed dead, but…” Godwin’s eyes shot wide as he choked off his words and his hands grabbed for his own neck.
Dariel turned to Athens, the other man sat with a clenched jaw and a face of steel. He could sense the controlling strength leaking from his pores.
Dariel shot out an arm to grip onto Athens’ clammy hand, which was glued tightly to his knee.
‘Athens, please. Let him go. He means no harm.’
‘Does he? Really?’
‘You asked him the question!’
Athens began to shake, his breathing rapid. Godwin was still clawing at his neck, trying to find his words.
A tear fell from Athens’ face as he let go of Godwin’s mind and the other man started panting out breaths, still clutching to his throat.
“I was so careful,” Athens muttered, exhausted.
The fire crackled and a roar of hale erupted from the sky outside. The grandfather clock ticked in the distance.
“I was so careful not to…” Athens melted into the sofa, still breathing hard and barely blinking.
“I’m sorry.” Godwin finally found his voice again.
Athens wouldn’t stop burning his gaze into the human in front of them. As if Godwin, in that moment, held every secret Athens had ever kept in his life.
‘Breathe.’
‘I...’
‘Please. It’s okay.’Dariel let his hand wander to Athens’ thigh, where he rubbed it gently, warm palms sticking to the vinyl.
“You didn’t say anything wrong, Athens. Forgive me. It was all my doing. I was the one who went digging. I couldn’t prove it fully… no one else would have gone that far… I…” Godwin sounded panicked.
Athens still didn’t speak, though he seemed to have relaxed a little under Dariel’s touch.
“I didn’t think about what it would be like to—” Godwin was cut off.
“She saved my life… and I… I couldn’t save her.” Athens finally sat back up straight.
Oh, Athens.
“I’m sorry… I…”
Athens raised a finger to hush their host. “You don’t need to apologise… I would have compelled you to tell me anyway. It’s my own fault.” He sounded like himself again, almost.
They all fell silent once more.
“You don’t have to…” Dariel started, not really sure where he wanted the sentence to go, but it was directed at Athens.
Athens waved a hand, brushing him off. “No, I know. What matters is, I got caught! Congratulations Mr Peters, you are officially a vampire hunter!” It wasn’t hard to detect the sarcasm in his voice.
Godwin wasn’t fazed by this though. Instead, he sat back and dropped his eyelids. “She’s looking for you, you know,” he said quietly.
“What?” Athens snapped.
