Page 28 of Drink Up, Darling
‘I think we need to talk to him.’
Athens paced towards Godwin, arms reaching out. “Godwin, dear, perhaps we should all sit back down now.”
Their host lowered his head to his chest then reached forward to support himself on the table, stretching out his back. “I don’t know what to do,” he muttered, almost silently.
The two vampires looked at each other, lost for words. Dariel watched Athens’ eyes glisten in the ambient light.
‘He’s terrified.’
‘He invited us!’
‘I think he’s…’
Godwin shot up. “I can’t do this,” he announced, tears choking his throat as he made a b-line for the door.
‘Stop him.’
Dariel darted over to catch Godwin before he made it to the door, grabbing the larger man by the biceps and pushing him back so he couldn’t get any further forward. Godwin did not protest, heart racing as he panted out the adrenaline in front of Dariel. Dariel caught their host’s eyes and searched for something, anything, to try and read him. All he found was sorrow.
“Godwin,” he said softly as his host’s arms weakened and he relaxed, dropping most of his weight into the push.
“I thought I’d be strong enough,” Godwin whispered as a tear dropped to his moustache, and Athens quietly appeared behind him, reaching out to place a hand on Godwin’s shoulder.
Dariel’s dead heart ached as Godwin finally pulled back and his breathing returned to normal.
“We’re not going to hurt you, but we can’t let you leave this house,” Athens stated calmly.
Godwin nodded slowly. “I understand.”
“Shall we sit down, yeah?” Athens gestured back over to the table, trying to calm the situation.
“I…” Godwin wheezed a cough. “I’d prefer to sit in the library, actually. If that’s okay.” He looked up through his thick brows at the pair.
Dariel took a deep breath. “Okay.”
“We’ll have to escort you. We cannot let you leave,” Athens asserted again.
Godwin sucked in his lower lip. “Lead the way then, gents.”
Athens shut the door tight as Dariel and Godwin made themselves comfortable on the sofas opposite each other, the fire still breathing; giving the room a deeper, redder hue than before.
Dariel sat with his back to the door this time, eyes fixed on Godwin as Athens came up beside him and sat down. Close. Their thighs almost touched, sending a buzz of electricity to Dariel’s groin. He attempted to ignore it.Not now.
“So,” Athens began. “I want you to tell us everything, from the beginning. You think you know what we are, I want to know how, then you need to explain in great detail why you invited the two of us here tonight.”
Godwin opened his mouth, but Athens raised a finger. “Ah ah, there is no use in lying, so don’t.” It was the harshest Dariel had heard Athens be, but it was necessary. He’d already planned his move if Godwin attempted to run.
Godwin pressed his hands between his thighs, rubbing them together with nerves. He looked younger in that moment, Dariel thought. The way the fire embers cast shadows onto every carved detail of his face graced him with innocence.
“We’re not going to hurt you,” Dariel added as an important reminder.
“I believe that,” Godwin began, tone serious, but face remaining that of a mourning angel atop a gravestone. He did not meet their eyes.
“We’re all ears then.” Athens stretched an arm back along the head of the Chesterfield so his fingertips brushed the shirt on Dariel’s left arm.Not now, please.Dariel adjusted himself, placing both hands casually in his lap.
“I went about this all wrong, please forgive me. I should have been up front and honest from the start. But then you would not have come, would you? Or you would have perhaps had to kill me for good measure? A swift extraction. I am not daft, I understand I’ve put myself in danger regardless.” Godwin’s voice both deepened and wobbled slightly. He looked up at last. “Now I know you both, or at least have begun to scratch the surface of your lives, I do not feel fear. At least not from yourselves.”
“Continue,” Athens remained blunt, but his arm behind Dariel only gave off comfort. Protection. Athens’ fingers wandered up and over his left shoulder.
