The Accidental Vampire(104)

drink more than she does. We have to replace that blood so she doesn't suffer for your

visit."

Teddy nodded. "We realized that when we made the plans for you to come here and

arranged the fair to try to build up the blood supply. Though, of course, we didn't tell

Elvi that at the time. She just thought it was yet another of the endless Fairs we have

each summer. There are so many she loses track. But that was the reasoning behind

it… to make sure we had the blood to support this week."

"Yes," Mabel said grimly. "So, perhaps instead of insulting her, you men could be more

supportive. It's not like we expect you to sing for your supper. Elvi and I are willing to

do it for you. Although," she added grimly, "perhaps you should. Maybe if you had to

sing for your supper for a change you'd understand Elvi better and wouldn't be so

damned judgmental." Turning on her heel, she stalked off to join Elvi.

"Elvi isn't a pet," Brunswick said quietly, watching the two women work. "She's well

loved and cared for in Port Henry. She's one of us. And that's why she comes to these

events, not because she's some trained animal expected to perform."

Victor hesitated, knowing that's the way he and everyone else in this town saw it, but

they weren't seeing everything. Finally he asked, "Do you really think she wants to

attend and volunteer at every single event this town holds?"

"Well, why wouldn't she?" Brunswick asked with surprise. "I do."

"That's your job, Brunswick. To make sure there's no trouble. Her job is the restaurant

and bed‐and‐breakfast, not making an appearance as Elvi the town vampire and

running a Biting Booth or whatever else she's done these last five years. When does

she get to just sit back and relax and read a book by the fire? Or anything like that?"

Brunswick looked uncertain. "She could say no if she didn't—"

"How could she possibly say no?" Victor asked. "Look, most immortals get their blood

from the Argeneau Blood Bank. The donors are completely anonymous. They're

faceless, nameless mortals an immortal never has to encounter. It's even delivered like

groceries, leaving us to consume it guilt free.

"Elvi, on the other hand, lives and walks among her donors. Almost every mortal in this

town has donated to her survival, which is kind and giving and really quite marvelous

of you, but it's also guilt‐inducing for her. How could she possibly feel she can say ' No, I

don't feel like attending this or that' to people she feels she owes her very life to?"

DJ nodded and said, "Her life would have been much easier these last five years if

she'd been able to simply order her blood as we do."

"We didn't know she could order blood," Brunswick said defensively, and then added,

"And, hell, she's got nothing to feel guilty for. We're the ones who insisted she take

that damned trip. We all pressured her into it. If we hadn't, she never would have

come back a vampire and wouldn't have needed the blood in the first place. Why the

hell do you think everyone gives blood so willingly? Normally, trying to get blood

donors is like pulling teeth, but mention Elvi needs more blood and everyone from

Dawn down at the grocery store to Jimmy at the garage is lining up to donate because

everyone pushed her to take that damned trip. She couldn't go to the corner store that

fall without the cashier telling her she should go. So, we feel we owe it to her. And

she's one of our own and we take care of our own."

"And I'm sure she's grateful for it," Victor assured him. "I know I am. You kept her alive

for me to find. But you need to see that in saving her life, you also took it. Her life is no

longer her own. She spends her time running from the restaurant where she's

expected to make appearances, to rushing to event after event to pay back for the

blood she needs… To the point where now she's putting her life at risk by attending

this fair so no one's disappointed. That's wrong, Teddy."

Brunswick frowned unhappily and turned to watch the two women work.

"Damn," DJ muttered, his gaze shifting over the mortal men all crowding around Elvi

and Mabel, eager to give blood to please them. "Why don't we just call Bastien and

have a year's worth of blood sent down? Then they wouldn't have an excuse to be

here."

"We can't call Bastien," Victor said.

"Why?"

Victor turned a grim look on the younger immortal and pointed out, "Bastien reports

to Lucian."

"Right," DJ said with defeat.

It appeared the others didn't understand, however. They all looked curious, but it was

Harper who asked, "So?"