“I love you, Marianna. Nothing about you would ever repulse me, and there is nowhere else I’d rather be than by your side.”
His thoughts eased her.
“I’d be crying right now if I could,” she said.
Augustus moved to her other side. He picked up the device she’d destroyed and chuckled.
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be sorry, princess. When you’ve destroyed over a hundred of the damn things we’ll talk. I’ll pay for a new one to be delivered in a couple of days.” Augustus lifted her hand to his lips and pressed a kiss to her knuckles. The sweet touch made her smile.
She’d never known such attentive men. Before she turned into a vampire there was nothing about her life that was appealing or exciting. Prior to being a vampire she had lived a mundane existence. Nothing happened to her because she was too afraid to live her life. There was always other worries like paying the rent, affording the bills that came with everyday life, and eating.
“You’re deep in thought,” Gregory said.
“I’m thinking about life before all this. I can’t go back to my old life. This is my life now.” She sipped at the blood this time.
“I’m surprised by your strength. Blood is such an elixir to us vampires,” Augustus said, giving her nudge with his elbow.
“I don’t feel like I need it. Maybe everything is different?”
“It would make sense, Augustus. If all vampires were compelled by blood lust, wouldn’t there be more killings?” Gregory asked.
“It makes sense, I guess.”
She watched as Augustus took a sip of his drink. The other vampire was on edge. Marianna saw it in his posture and the way he kept glancing at Gregory.
“What’s going on?” she asked.
“I’m waiting to see what Gregory decides,” Augustus said.
It was more than that. Augustus was actually nervous about what Gregory wanted. Marianna was sure of it. “I sense the sun is almost down, which can only mean you’ve had a long day to think about it.”
“I have thought about it,” Gregory said. His drink looked and smelled like a sweet tea.
“What have you decided?” Augustus asked.
Gregory rolled the warm cup between his hands.
“What’s this about?” Marianna felt left out of their private discussion. Why weren’t they including her?
“Our little human has spent the day deciding if he wants to be a vampire or remain human.”
“I don’t see why that is a problem,” she said, smiling at Gregory. The decision had been taken away from her, but she was dealing with it. She didn’t have any family to worry about her and no job after Gregory handed in her notice. Besides the need to fuck she didn’t see a huge problem with her turning.
“I made a decision not long after the sun came up.” Gregory took a deep breath. She watched as his chest expanded and retracted. The blood was pounding around his body, but what called to her was the swelling in his pants.
Strange.
“I want to be like you. I want to be a vampire.”
****
Gregory saw the shock on Augustus’s face. He knew his friend had been nervous about whatever decision he’d try to make. Thinking about his life over the next fifty or so years Gregory didn’t like the outcome he saw. He was dying anyway because of the abuse of the drugs, but the blood he took from Augustus wouldn’t be enough to stop the aging.
The aging was slowed down, but it wasn’t over.
He didn’t know how long he’d have with Marianna and Augustus. Gregory only knew he wouldn’t have as long as either of them. They had an eternity together being vampires. He got as long as the blood sustained him. Walking during the day out in the sun wasn’t particularly thrilling.
When Augustus hid for the day, Gregory was alone. There was no one to share his mornings with. Even with Marianna living with them, he was still alone, and being alone sucked. He’d been alone for a long time.
The only future he saw for himself was living throughout the night and dealing with his days as they came. Marianna and Augustus were the only people he wanted to be around. No one else mattered to him.
His family were long gone, and he’d not made any friends in years. From the moment Augustus walked into his life, Gregory knew his path was always due to be with the other man.
“Are you sure?” Augustus asked. “Once you take this path there is no stopping it.” “I know. I’m tired of being alone. The only two people I wish to be with are you two. Please, let me make this choice for myself and respect it,” Gregory said.
“You’re so lonely. I never realised how lonely you felt.” Marianna stroked his cheek.