Vampire Emeritus (Part #3) ✔

Chapter 6: Human Burgers

By morning, William has returned to the café, and aside from the bartender giving me funny looks from having spent the entire night in here, no one asked anything. Caiden texted me an hour ago and said he had made a breakthrough, and now, we were waiting for him.

"What have you been doing all night?" I asked William.

He looked as fresh and awake as ever. Even after almost three years of being a vampire, I still found it amazing just how little sleep we needed.

"Lurking." He sipped his mochaccino.

"Attractive." I mumbled.

Caiden entered the café. Exhaustion showed on his face, but he still looked better than he had in years. I was glad he wasn't a sulking, depressed kid anymore, but it would take some time getting used to it.

"So," He threw himself in the booth, "I hacked it."

My heart thudded against my chest, "Seriously? Oh, my God, thank you!"

"Yes, well, not all of it." Caiden said. "There seem to be levels of security in the system. I assume there are rankings in the Sacred Order and not everyone has access to everything. Whoever they hired did a good job. I managed to breach the lower levels, the foot soldier levels, I'll show you the information later. But I think I might be able to hack the entire thing."

"Alright." I nodded. "Do you want to continue?"

Caiden took a moment to answer, and when he spoke, his words surprised me.

"I do, but I want something in return." He leaned forward and rested his elbows on the table.

"Whatever you need." I said, hoping it would encourage him.

"Do you think you might be able to fit my computer into that illegally parked car of yours?"

William and I exchanged a glance.

"What do you mean?" I asked.

Caiden looked at me, then William, "And if you could do your magic on my professors for the next week or so, that would be nice."

"Wait, you want to come with us?" I couldn't suspect my own disbelief.

Caiden shrugged, "It's gotten a bit dull around here and it will take me some time to hack the entire system."

William looked at me, his eyes wide, "It's not my house."

"Alright, sure." I nodded.

That wouldn't be weird at all, right?

"Good. I'll get my stuff." Caiden stood up. "We can go right away."

Once he left the bar, William and I looked at each other.

"What just happened?" I mumbled.

William shrugged, "Maybe he's insane."

"Or bored."

"Or both."

A few minutes later, William helped Caiden carry his stuff to the Jaguar, and I was glad Tina couldn't rent a Lamborghini, because there was no way we could fit anything into a Lamborghini. On the other hand, Caiden would find out the car was rented the moment we returned home.

We secured his things in the trunk and were about to enter the car when a female voice reached us.

"Wait, wait!" Sheila hurried towards us, a rucksack on her back.

Tentatively, I glanced at William. His hands dropped by his sides and his mouth fell open once he noticed her. I wondered what he saw when he looked at her. Did he see the dry skin, the lethargic muscles and the dark circles under her eyes? Or did he simply see the woman he still loved?