Christmas Consort

Honey on the Tongue

Silas came in with a small serving bowl of honeyed mint tea, and Kylie drank it down without hardly swallowing.

"I know how horses can founder, so I hope that women cannot. Shall I make another?"

Kylie nodded.

"Your suitcases are over there."

"How did you get them? When?"

"The shop I took your automobile to called to say they got the trunk open and would I want to retrieve the contents. I went this afternoon first thing. Why did you have so many things in your car?"

"I'm supposed to be moving here, starting a new job this week right before Christmas."

Silas nodded slowly. "That might be problematic. On the bright side, that front trunk was packed so full that the cushion of it all probably saved your life. Those old VW's are death traps."

"I was going pretty slow with the rain and curvy road and all."

"Of course. You would have to be more cautious. Lara didn't run you off the road, did she?"

"No. Some Rudolph the red-nosed sedan hydroplaned in the turn and kept going."

"Well, hopefully she'll never find out who that was. She has a temper and knows how to hold a grudge."

"Are you two married?"

"Oh no. Our relationship is strictly consortial. She's not the type."

"But do other vampires marry and..."

Silas said, "Certainly. It's not as common for us, but in a large consortia there might be all sorts of couples. It actually makes for better consorting."

Kylie was confused. "So the couples aren't monogamous? They consort with--"

"Oh. Oh no. You thought, oh well, that's understandable. No, uh, consorting doesn't have to do with, uh marital relations."

Kylie began to smile. He was so embarrassed. In light of the make out session last night, it seemed silly.

"...not that Lara and I don't, well. But consorting is difficult to explain." He took steps toward the door. "That's best left for another time. Yeah? Yeah. Uh, so I'll get a pen and paper for your shopping list. Besides the tea, is there anything else I can get for you right now?"

"No, thank you."

When she was sure he was gone, Kylie started rooting through her suitcases hoping to find something to jimmy the shutters. Even if Silas was a decent sort, Lara was not. Getting away during daylight was still her best option.