Violet

31. Restless Secret.

Matthew told me, that a grander store opening is coming a bit later. Specifically, when my mom starts working there. Until then, "Everything for My Baby" will stay empty. In general, it will remain closed to visitors. The vampire also advised me not to rush. He hinted, that he needed to negotiate everything with Arthur, and it was better to do it gradually. For some unknown reason, this vampire, who showed me the least leniency, insisted so fiercely on separating me from my mom, keeping us at a distance. Why he cared — was unclear, but Matthew assured me it wasn't significant. It was just a matter of principle, that's all. And so, everything would definitely work out and could be renegotiated.

"I've got everything under control," he said, winking at me, while at the same time locking the store's front door. The key wasn't turning properly, which was frustrating Matthew, though he spoke quite calmly, only showing impatience toward the jammed mechanism. "And by the way, our conversation about Claudia stays between us. For now." Finally, he managed to deal with the lock before the door came off its hinges from his inhuman strength. "I mean, at least until Toby shows up." He added with noticeable discontent, perhaps even resentment in his voice. "You're not planning on thinking about anything while he's around, are you? How often do you plan on seeing him anyway, and where? Don't skip school."

As I walked home, carrying the piano under my arm and with some cherished photos on my phone for my mom, I could only think about one thing: why did Matthew start telling me personal, and somewhat unnecessary-to-share details from Toby's life? His best friend, albeit former. Especially such strange things. I couldn't call them bad since the events Matthew described had nothing in common with anything ugly or cruel that a vampire, if he so desired, could do. Out of dire necessity, for example. Due to his bloodthirsty urges. Toby didn't kill Claudia, did he? He's not a murderer.

Without much thought, it didn't take me long to figure out Matthew's true motives. He was still jealous; that's why he was telling me everything he could remember, perhaps even embellishing some of it. He was annoyed and maybe even wishing he were in Toby's place—the place beside me. The spot I was now guarding, along with all my thoughts about him. Thoughts that were mine alone, not influenced by anyone. What did it matter who he used to spend time with or what shirts he wore, when I wasn't even born back then? It's ridiculous.

Either way, I didn't hold a grudge against Matthew, though I still harbored a lingering fear about the incident on the train. Because whatever the vampire did towards me, his goal had always been the same, and perhaps even a noble one—to keep me away from other vampires. And likely, to keep me for himself.

Otherwise, why would he give me a second gift? First the cube, now the piano... and for my mom, a whole store full of everything.

***

During our last meeting, Matthew shared with me some of his upcoming plans. He said he'd continue living in the toy store. Inside, up there on the second floor, which was free of merchandise. Yet despite that, I didn't see him again. It wasn't as though I deliberately passed by his cottage every day, peeking in the windows, hoping for an invitation inside. It just happened sometimes, and I never saw him.

Knowing vampires' ability to instantly travel across space, I really wanted to ask him if he'd returned to the city. To talk to Arthur, perhaps. And had he seen Toby? They surely talk, so he must've seen him too. It's just that Toby hadn't contacted me. Probably because there wasn't a need or an occasion, but I still longed to hear something about him. About what was happening with him now, not some distant, clouded past. Even if it had nothing to do with me.

The last week of September was upon us, and not being able to take it any longer, I waited until evening one day. Until the right moment, when there was still an hour before my stepfather's return home, and I knocked on the store door. For some reason, Matthew had moved the clown to stand sideways. Now, it stared at me even more intently, from any angle. Clown was also the only witness to the fact that I, unlike the other residents of the village, knew the secret: the owner lives inside. Surely, this clever clown considered himself the sole keeper of this restless secret, but now there were two of us.