Music To My Soul

Ch. 5

Alucard: 

I picked Tim up from work, and I thought I saw Anderson, but I must've imagined it. All this peace and quiet is starting to mess with me. 

" How was work, draga mea?"

" Oh it was wonderful! I have a new co-worker, and from what the kids tell me, they like him well enough, for a religious studies teacher." 

" And his name would be?" 

" Vlad, you know I don't like talking about my co-workers too much. I'm so tired, and it's only Monday. I got class tomorrow too, so I'm gonna be ran ragged to all hell." 

" Actually, I spoke with the school's administration, and told them you'll be taking a mental health day tomorrow." 

" And why would I do that?" 

" Because, we've been together for three weeks and I've yet to take you on a proper date due to you working so much." 

I got the car door for Tim, and he looked flustered. He slid into the car, and I just had to chuckle as I heard through the windshield a small squeak of joy. I got in, and was given a chaste kiss to the cheek.

" So where are we going?" 

" Somewhere elegant, so you'll need a suit. You do have one, yes?" 

" Ah hell naw. I've never even worn one, and this bullshit that the school makes me wear barely counts as formal wear." 

" Good. You have the night off, so we are going to a men's warehouse so you can get one. Every man needs a suit." 

" Do you have one?" 

" I do, actually. I have three last I checked." 

I haven't told him about my vampirism yet. I'm honestly scared to tell him. I don't want to turn him unless it's his choice. I want him to be with me forever, but I can't force him to be a vampire. That wouldn't be fair. As I drove, it was quiet, and I watched as the sunset sank over Tim's face, and it was easily one of the most beautiful things I had ever seen. I had to tell him tonight. I drove us to the beach, and Tim looked confused. 

" Why we going to the beach?" 

" I have something I need to show you." 

" Oh, alright." 

Always so trusting. He always had faith in me. He deserved the same. We get there, and the moon is just peaking over the water, my powers awakening and growing stronger by each second. I got out, and let Tim out, walking us to the place where we first met. 

" Tim, I need to come clean about something. A few days ago, you asked about my past. Do you remember what I said?" 

" Yep. You didn't wanna talk about those demons and they best lay dead. Why?"

" Do you love me, unconditionally?" 

" Absolutely, you silly bat. Why are you acting like this?" 

He's taken to calling me bat due to my dark attire and the large age gap. I stand back, and drop my gaze to the sand. 

" Do you believe in vampires, Timothy?" 

" No. They're stories." 

" Then I did my job good enough to keep you that naïve. The real reason I fled England is because of a hunter, a man hellbent on killing me. I'm much older than I look, and I am very real. My real name isn't Vlad Brenner, it's Count Vlad Dracula, and I am the No-Life King.  I am the ultimate vampire." 

I locked my scarlet gaze on his green one, and fear plastered him in a wave that was so strong he fell to his knees, awe frozen to his face. 

" You....you are a...vampire?"

" Do you still love me, unconditionally? Or am I too monstrous to you? If so, I'll leave, and we can act like we never met." 

" This...this is why you said to be with you was dangerous, that my life could upend in a moments notice, is if a hunter came around you'd take me and run for the hills. This is what you meant by a rabbit hole, isn't it?"

He slowly stood up, and cautiously moved closer. His actions were understandable, but they did hurt. I slowly nod, and his green eyes go from the beautiful palm tree leaf to a hard and stony jade. 

" Why didn't you tell me sooner? I understand why you'd hide this, so I'm not mad you lied to me, but why hide it for so long?" 

" I had to know if I could trust you! You have to understand, I'm centuries old! It isn't easy being like this, to spend your life running and hiding, especially after spending the last century as a slave to one family! I don't want that for you, you deserve the world and then some. You are the greatest treasure in this old dragons horde, with eyes as beautiful as jade and peridot, a smile worthy of a pearls jealousy, the sun that lives under your skin, you are my personal Apollo, and I couldn't have asked for a more handsome man to be with. You deserve the truth, above all else. I don't want you to hate me, but if you do, I'll understand, and I'll vanish." 

He moved closer, with more confidence, and gingerly wiped away the tears I didn't know I was crying. He smiled as gently as his touch, and held a lone hand on my cheek. He had to look up slightly, but he was still perfect.

" The red will take some adjusting, and Greg can never know, but, I'm not mad, and I don't hate you, even though anyone in their right mind should, I can't. You've had a rough go of it, and it's about damn time you got some peace, and if you find that in me, in this relationship, then by all means, I'll stick to what I said. As for the whole blood thing, it's gonna take some getting used to, but as long as you don't make a mess or make it obvious, I don't care. I just don't wanna see it. And as for the idea of being like you, because I know the idea's ran across your mind, give me a few more years, then we can talk about it. Let me at the least graduate collage before we talk about it, ok?"

I felt my chest seize, and a smile as wide as ever graced my face. 

" You mean-" 

" I love you, you silly old bat, that hasn't change, just the level of boundaries we have has. As for myself, you are strictly forbidden from trying to bite me. Love nips are fine, just no blood. Mine stays mine, got it, mister?" 

I laugh deeply and pick him up into a hug, holding him close. I have a Mate, and he is truly my sun and stars. We both laugh, and spend the rest of the night talking, walking the beach with sand under our bare feet, and enjoying the moonlit glow of this especially beautiful night.