Page 64 of Abiding Blood

“How did they die?” I asked, not sure if I was overstepping.

“One fell by violence, but the others simply couldn’t accept this life. It’s too much for most. They gave themselves to the sun, or so I heard.” Vincent paused before continuing. “Julian, about what I said in the bath about having to end things for me, I want you to know I wouldn’t let it get that far. I would never put you through that,” he said. “I will let you decide whether to stay with me. And if you choose to be by my side, know that when the time comes, I will embrace the sunrise rather than put you in danger.”

Panic surged through me. “No. Vincent, please don’t say that,” I said, my voice tight with alarm. “How could I sleep each night knowing I might wake up to find you gone? What? A pile of ashes outside the house? No. If we do this, if we stay together, I need to know you won’t do that.” I stared into his blue eyes, willing him to understand how much I needed this vow.

“It’s the only way that makes sense,” Vincent protested. “I couldn’t be near you if I thought I might hurt you, Julian.”

“We’ll figure it out,” I pleaded. “But you have to swear to me that you won’t do that. Swear.” I gripped his arm so hard my nails bit into his skin, waiting for him to respond.

“Okay,” he said slowly, and I let out a relieved breath. “I promise I won’t go into the sun, at least not without talking to you first. You’ll never have to worry that I’ll leave you in the night. You don’t need to worry. But we will have to have this conversation again sometime. Hopefully later rather than sooner.”

I relaxed slightly and rested my head back on the pillow. After a while, I turned onto my side to face him, but I stared across the room over his shoulder as I processed what he’d said. It was a lot to take in. As I glanced at the dresser behind him, his wooden cup caught my eye and reminded me of the stone dog Nathaniel had destroyed. It was the only other possession he’d brought with him, aside from books and clothing.

“What about the cup?” I asked. “Was it from another lover?” The question wasn’t a challenge; I was simply curious.

Vincent got up, retrieved the cup, and brought it to the bed so I could see it. “No, this was given to me by my mother.” He placed it in my hands. The wood was smooth from years of handling, yet I could still make out the flowers painted on the sides. It was beautiful.

“Your mother? Like, your mother, mother, or…”

“My human mother,” Vincent confirmed. “Her name was Catherine. She gave this to me when I was a little boy. I had it with me when I was turned. I’ve kept it with me ever since.”

“Did you see her again…after?”

“No. I didn’t think it was safe to be near her, or my father and little sister. I checked on them occasionally, but always from a distance. I eventually had nephews and nieces, and they had children, but over time I lost track. This is all I have left.”

“It’s lovely,” I said, handing it back. Vincent set the cup on the dresser and crawled under the covers. We lay quietly for a while, and I wondered if he’d fallen asleep. “Vincent?” I asked softly.

“Hmm.”

“Who made you into what you are now? Who turned you?”

“I don’t know.”

“You don’t know? How could you not know?” I asked, turning to get a better look at him.

“I remember, of course. I was in my early twenties and in the army.”

“You were in the army?” For some reason, I had a hard time picturing Vincent following orders and marching around, though the image of him in an old-fashioned uniform was intriguing.

“Yes, briefly,” Vincent said, disrupting my fantasy. “There was this woman who came by our fire a few nights in a row. I thought she was part of the camp, maybe a laundress. On the third night, she joined us, and we ended up alone in my tent. And, well, you know.”

“You had sex with her?” I knew he’d been with women, but somehow that was even harder to picture.

“Yes, she was very beautiful, and there was something about her I found irresistible.”

I snorted. “Hmm, I know the feeling. Go on.”

“Yes, well, she fed from me that night while we lay together. But instead of letting me die, she chose to turn me. I don’t know why, and at the time I didn’t understand what was happening. She carried me away from camp while I was unconscious, and I woke up in a cave miles away. She was gone.”

“She just left you there?”

“Yes. I’m not exactly sure what her intentions were. In the past, vampires sometimes used wars to cover their tracks. Such times can be periods of mass feeding, and some view them as opportunities to increase their numbers.”

“Did you ever see her again?”

“No, I never did. I was left to figure out how to survive on my own.” Vincent grimaced at the memory. “It was painful and messy, but there was a war going on, and I didn’t lack for food.”

“War? This was…”