Page 12 of Drink Up, Darling
“Death, naturally.”
“Makes sense. Something theatrical, I assume?”
“Dariel enjoys a drink. It was only a matter of time before it caught up with him.”
“Fitting. Who will you become?”
Dariel blinked hard. “I hadn’t really thought about it, I was just going to see what happened. I quite fancy France this time.”
Athens nodded. “Interesting. And you’ve really never met anyone like us?”
Dariel shook his head. “Never. I woke up this way forty years ago and yeah… I’ve been alone.”Change the subject.“What about you? I’m sorry I was never well versed in the interior design world, are you well known?”
Athens’ eyes widened and he clutched his hand to his chest with a feigned shock. “Nice insult,” he gasped.
“Oh, no, sorry. I didn’t mean it that way, I’m sure you’ve been doing amazing, I only meant like…”
“Not many people know my face, no.” Athens dropped his head with a grin.
After a brief pause, Dariel adjusted his trousers, angling himself more towards his new friend.New friend. Could he be one?“How long are you going to stay in this profession, do you think?”
“You mean, when will Athens Danek perish in a god-awful accident and find himself in a vineyard in Italy?”
Dariel smiled.
“Funny you brought up your own story, because it was the email that stopped me from becoming a column in the local newspaper too.”
“The industry is so draining. You come in and out of relevance at the click of a finger.” Dariel let his thoughts flow.
“Tell me about it!” Athens agreed enthusiastically. “God, it’s a nightmare. I’m lucky I can leave it whenever, and I kept telling myself I could go when I wanted to. My dad’s no longer around, I have very few memories of my mum, and I’ve not spoken to my sister since I… well, she won’t miss me, let’s just say.”
“I’m sorry,” Dariel found himself saying.
Athens batted a hand at him, pursing his lips. “Don’t be, I’m a lot happier now. What about you? No one to miss in this life?”
“I learned a long time ago to never bother getting too close to anyone. It makes it easier to let go.”
Athens nodded in slow understanding. “Fair enough.”
“Plus, up until today, I thought I was the only one with this condition. I could never tell anyone what I was, so I might as well have lived in blissful solitude.”
“You’re not alone now, though.” Athens’ voice was solemn, but laced with comfort.
Dariel looked up at the other man. “No. I’m not.” He swallowed hard.
“We’re in a cool mansion with a very excited rich man who is going to pay us nearly a quarter of a million pounds. Could be worse.” Athens lightened the mood.
“And he’s invited two immortals into his home.” It was Dariel’s turn to wink now, causing Athens to react smugly.
“That he did, that he did.” Athens pushed his body up and flicked his head back in the direction of the door. “I wonder what he’s cooking up.”
“Hopefully something I can stomach. I’ve never been good with real food.”
Athens scrunched his nose, sliding back into the chair. “Me neither, not as fun if you can’t chase it.”
Dariel gawked and Athens once again burst into a fit of laughter. “A jest, all a jest, darling. I’m actually extremely lazy. I think I’ve rid the entire forest behind my house of grey squirrels.” Athens crossed his legs again, the vinyl sticking. “Which, I’ve heard, might actually help red squirrels return. So, in a way, I’m helping out the animal kingdom.”
“Have you ever fed from a human?” Dariel startled himself with his abruptness, but he didn’t regret the question. He wanted to know more about Athens, quite desperately.
