“Drink.”
Within seconds Gregory was taking enough. When Gregory had taken enough, Augustus collapsed to the floor with his friend in his arms. Slowly he watched the other man’s eyes droop. His heart slowed down.
Bump … bump ……bump.
“I love you, my friend. Come back to both of us.”
Gregory died in his arms, and if Augustus could cry real tears he’d be sobbing and there would be a puddle around him. Holding his dead friend hurt more than he’d ever imagined possible.
****
Marianna sat watching the two men she loved with all of her heart. Her heart no longer worked, but she could still love with the same passion as any woman.
“Are you all right?” she asked, moving closer. The blood didn’t affect her. There wasn’t much mess around. The main bulk of the mess coated Augustus and Gregory.
“He’s dead.”
“He’ll come back.” She covered his hand with her own. The look of despair on Augustus face tore at her emotions.
“He’s still dead. I finally killed him.”
She sat behind Augustus and wrapped her arms around his neck. “I’m still here. We’ll be here when he wakes.”
“What if we’re in the basement when he wakes? I couldn’t bear for him to have no one when he wakes.”
Running fingers through his hair, Marianna struggled to think. There was a deep love between the two men.
“Then we’ll take him down to the basement.”
Augustus nodded.
“I don’t mean to rush you, but we’ve got to get him clean and down to the basement.” Tingles erupted along her arms. The rising of the sun was close.
“I feel the sun, too.”
“Come on.” Marianna rose and helped Augustus to his feet. They worked together, using the rest of the night to clear away the mess. Gregory lay in the bath and was deathly white. She didn’t like the pale look on him. Marianna was used to his happiness and smiles. “My life has changed so much in a matter of days.”
“I know, and I’m sorry.”
She held her hands up to stop him. “I’m not sorry. I didn’t have anything else going for me. My family is gone. They’re dead, and they’re not coming back. You and Gregory are the only family I’ve got. If I could go back and choose, I’d choose this life.”
“But you’re craving sex all the time. I know you want to fuck now.”
“I’m young, Augustus. I’m sure all young women want sex.” She shrugged. “I didn’t get much of a chance to enjoy sex when I was young. I’ve got a lot of catching up to do.”
Marianna washed away the last droplet of blood. “I’m going to be happy with my life. I know this. I hope you can be happy with having two friends for the rest of your life.”
Augustus laughed. “I look forward to it.”
“All right, we better get him out and take him to the basement.”
He carried Gregory down to the basement while she locked up the whole house. She bolted the doors and windows and closed all the curtains.
When she finished, she grabbed some blood from the fridge and took it downstairs. Augustus lay with Gregory in his arms. Both men looked beautiful together.
Letting out a sigh, she moved back to the basement door and locked it.
“Do you think he’ll hate me?” Augustus asked.
“I think when he wakes up and realises how strong he is, Gregory will kick your ass.” She jumped on the bed beside him. “You’ve got to remember he was fighting anyway. Gregory was dying no matter what you did.”
“What if he doesn’t come back?”
The thought struck her deep. She’d be heartbroken without Gregory. He’d been her first, and the thought of never having him to hold or to love filled her with regret. “Then we’ll build a memorial for him. We’ll take him somewhere to be buried, and we’ll care for him. I love him too, Augustus.”
“He’s like the brother I never had.”
Wrapping her arms around Augustus she stared down into Gregory’s face. “He’ll be all right. He’s a fighter.”
Thirty minutes later they both looked at the door.
“The sun is up,” Augustus said.
“Why do I get tingles all over my skin before the sun comes up?”
“It’s a warning. You’re being warned if you don’t find shelter soon, you’ll be dead.”
Staring down at her arms she shivered. “That’s creepy.”
“Or safe. We’ve got inbuilt vampire senses. We know when we’re going to be attacked or what others are thinking.”
“With Gregory being a vampire we won’t be able to hear his thoughts, will we?” she asked.