Nocturne | ONC 2024

Seventeen: Last Dances

Despite telling Nikolai that he needed sleep, Aaron hadn't slept at all. His eyes felt raw, his limbs heavy, but his brain was so full of thoughts and worries that true rest completely evaded him. He knew that elsewhere in the house, Nikolai was resting, or whatever else it was he did during daylight hours, but that wasn't as reassuring as it had been before.

It was all just too convenient.

No matter how many different angles he looked at it in his head, he couldn't figure out why Nikolai would have footage faked, but nor could he come up with a convincing reason for Tana to commit the murders. She had too much to lose; she was already at the top. What was the use in murdering her subordinates?

He supposed he couldn't expect himself to understand how a vampire's mind worked - god knew Nikolai was confusing enough. But something wasn't adding up, and he couldn't for the life of him figure out what.

A creak outside his bedroom door alerted him to Nikolai's presence, which meant the man wanted him to know he was there. A soft knock followed, and Aaron shuffled to sitting up in the bed, pulling the covers up self-consciously, as if Nikolai hadn't seen it all before.

The door opened; the vampire slipped inside, and Aaron tried not to be embarrassed about the fact that his lamp was still on, like a child needing reassurance that there was nothing hiding in the closet. But Bill's words kept rolling around his head, and he couldn't help expecting to see Tana in the corner of the room every time he opened his eyes.

"Hello," he said, awkwardly. "Need something?"

A slight pinch in one cheek betrayed Nikolai's effort to keep from smiling. "No."

He paused, and for perhaps the first time since they'd met, he looked uncertain. "I wanted to apologise."

Aaron swallowed. "What for?"

Nikolai tipped up his chin, but seemed to be choosing words carefully. The silence stretched uncomfortably long. "I wanted to offer you the flat."

The change of direction left him temporarily surprised, just before the words sunk in. "You...what?"

"I have plenty of properties," Nikolai said. "And it looks as though you'll be in need of one. At least in the short term, though I'm willing to sell it for a preferential rate."

Aaron squinted, still trying to process. "You're offering me a flat," he said slowly, "in apology for...?"

Something flickered over the vampire's face. Aaron almost thought he read it that time, but it was gone so fast he might also have imagined it.

"I have others," Nikolai said softly, instead of answering. "I'd like you to take that one."

"Or you could tell me what you're apologising for, and then we'll discuss it." Aaron scowled. "Stop being cryptic, Meier. If this is about the sorcerer, you're severely overestimating how angry I am about that. He didn't get my house wrecked."

A ghost of a smile, more convincing this time. "I know."

Frustration bloomed in his chest, and he started getting out of the bed before he remembered he was only wearing his boxers. Heat rushed to his face and he sat quickly back down again, but Nikolai's pupils had already dilated and he'd taken another step into the room.

"I'm going to leave at the end of all this," he finally said, softly. If it hadn't already been silent, Aaron would have missed it. "You likely won't see me again, Evans."

They hadn't known each other very long. It had never been wise to get in any deeper with Meier than surface level. So why did it feel like he'd just missed a step in the dark?