Bite Shift

24

"Let's get your furniture inside before we do anything else. It is on the porch and The Weather Channel is calling for storms tonight."

Rhys stood and motioned for me to join.

"We're gonna need help. A king size is awfully big."

Rhys laughed. "My child, you just do not realize your strength yet. I could carry it myself with no problem if I didn't need to open doors as well. You could carry it without breaking a sweat but I do not want the walls damaged and we need to maneuver it down the stairs. Two vampires are more than enough."

I didn't believe him for a second but would eat crow in only a matter of minutes.

We carried the frame, box spring and mattress, as he said, without a single drop of sweat rolling down my face. To me, the massive mattress felt like a box of tissues. I was in awe of the ease at which I lifted one side of the long, solid dresser and steered it down the stairs. The last item on the porch, an armoire, was roughly six feet tall. Rhys tipped it onto its side so I might grab the top. He lifted the base and I carried my end. As we moved down the stairs, through the jungle room and into my bedroom, I started to question the weight of the piece. It was just too light.

There is no way were carrying a solid armoire this easily. It must be cheap; made of plywood.

But, that was not the case. We tipped it up and Rhys asked which side of the room I would like it. I chose the wall to the right and slid it, by myself, to that side of the room. As I moved it into place, I glanced the sticker on the back.

DO NOT MOVE ALONE. 500 LBS.

Holy shit. I am strong. He wasn't lying.

"What else can I do?"

Rhys smiled and it was the most mischievous I had ever seen him look. Then, he turned into a blur. The blur was so fast. Moving from one part of the room to the other. Pieces of the bed frame were being lifted into the air and dropping in place. The headboard was suddenly against the back wall with the box spring appearing in front of it. The mattress was gone from my left and on the box spring before I could ask any questions. The sheets and comforter disappeared from their plastic wrapping and appeared on the bed in seconds. All the while, the blur moved in between the motion. The pieces were still settling into place when Rhys showed up at my side. The grin on his face was one saved for the cat who finally killed the pesky mouse that been scaring "the missus.".

"Damn." It was all I could say. "You have to teach me that."

"That," he patted the top of my head, "comes with practice."

I glanced around at my new furniture, my giant bed and my new room. When he first mentioned that I would have a room at his house, I kind of freaked out. It seemed weird. But, standing there and seeing it, it felt perfect. I felt safe here. It was the one place I didn't need to hide or lie. I understood, now, why vampires would go to Sorin's house. It's a place to drop your guard and stop worrying about maintaining the cover story. Like a tidal wave, I felt all the loneliness I had been hiding from myself over the years after my divorce. I turned to Rhys and hugged him. It was an impulse. I didn't know how to say what I was feeling so I just hugged him.

He hugged me back. "It's just some furniture and some Walmart sheets."

"No, it's not," I responded. "It is so much more."

"I am pleased that you like it. We will get you more over time but, for now, you have a place to sleep and some drawers to fill. The chamber is yours. Do anything you like."

"It's going to be a little sad to not sleep next to you in the morning."

He broke from the hug and locked eyes with me. "You know you can come into my room anytime. You are my family now. You are always welcome."

"Thank you. I'm sure there will be times I take you up on that. But, for now, I'd like to shower and get into some ladies clothes."

"Sounds like a plan. I will change for the evening and we can start lessons. Did you have enough to eat?"

"I think I'll grab one more glass on my way into the bathroom. Will I always be this hungry?"

"You will not. In a week, you will only need a glass a night. Some nights, you won't need any."

"Thank God for that."

I snatched a pair of Yoga pants and a soft, long sleeved blue shirt from the bags. A pair of underwear, a bra, some socks and my new sneakers were gathered into my arms. I was ready for the shower and that fabulous soap.

Let's do this.