The Immortal Blood

Chapter 14

 The next two days had passed relatively quietly, allowing Adam to return to work, albeit with his head completely elsewhere.
He couldn't stop brooding over Valentine's revelations, especially Vernon's aims for him: if Todd was right, then he had good reason to be concerned.
His secretary had announced that a man was looking for him in the waiting room, so he replied to let him through, hoping that he would finally be able to concentrate at least in part on the procedures to be carried out.
When his studio door opened, however, he was shocked to see Vernon Foley on the doorpost.
"What the. . . ?!" He exclaimed, and immediately shut up, why didn't Todd tell him?
"Mr. Walsh, please forgive the intrusion. I hope I'm not disturbing you. "
Adam had studied the older man, trying to regain at least in part a certain self-control.
"Uh, yeah. . . problems?"
"Only one, actually. . . "
"What's that?"
"You. "
The blonde had swallowed a big bunch of saliva, uncomfortable.
"Listen, Mr Foley, I. . . "
"Let's drop the formalities, shall we? "You have something that we all, and by we I mean me and the others I live with, desire. " He sat across from him, seriously.
"My blood. . . " Adam in turn had set aside every claim to speech and had stared in the undead's black eyes with apprehension.
"Precisely. An elixir of long life for our species. "
"Species. . . why should I give it to you?" He had pierced him with his cerulean gaze, irritated.
"Unfortunately, I don't think you have much of a choice in this. "
"Don't I? So you've come here to do what, threaten me?"
Vernon had observed him with detachment: "I don't think it's necessary, from the little I could guess about you, is that you're a smart man. "
Adam had sit back in the chair with his arms folded. "Go ahead. "
The elderly vampire had interpreted the gesture as an encouragement, so he continued: "We don't want to cause any harm, Adam, in fact, the exact opposite. Of course, it would be a great sacrifice to ask, considering your family and your daughters. . . "
"Are you proposing that I come and live with you?" He tried to keep a neutral tone, but he couldn't suppress a sarcastic inflection in his words.
"To be placed under our protection, yes. I'm sure Todd mentioned the possible dangers for someone in your situation. . . "
The blonde hadn't replied.
"Well, I understand this won't be easy for you, but I assure you it would be the best option. We all want your good here, Adam. "
"Damn it, Mr Foley, what a commendable offer. . . I'm afraid I'm going to have to turn you down, though. "
The change in the other one's face had been immediate: a shadow had passed over his friendly expression, making his face turn to stone. Adam had observed the marked features, surrounded by wrinkles, only now noticing by sitting so close to him that his skin was unnaturally translucent, ethereal. He was certainly a lot older than Todd, he didn't even dare to imagine a number.
"You're making a mistake, Adam. . . don't let the heat of the moment get to you. We can find a mutually satisfactory agreement. "
Another deal. The boy had flushed, getting even more pissed. "Well, you can't deny that you're a natural born bargainer. . . even if all the alliances you want to make seem only to your advantage. Tell me how I should trust you, you don't seem to bring much security. "
"Hm. " Vernon had smiled after taking the shot. "I understand. I guess Todd told you about me. "
"Maybe. "
"I have no doubt he presented me as a petty antagonist, but believe me, you shouldn't take everything he says for granted. . . "
"Never said that. "
The vampire had squared him with curiosity and malice: "Todd is a real charmer, isn't he? Fascinating, though overly rude. He always finds the right words, the way to turn a situation to his advantage. "
"Forgive me, Mr Foley, but the same could be said of you. . . "
"Of course. I suppose he told you about our meeting. . . about the sad story of how I turned him. Believe me, he knew exactly what he was getting himself into. "
"Mr Foley, I don't see how this. . . "
"Maybe you should also know what Todd says about you. "
Adam looked at him, caught off guard. "What do you mean?"
"Todd has a weakness for you, and not just for the blood you carry. . . he finds you seductive. He said there was some tenderness between the two of you. " Vernon had been staring at him with a raised, allusive eyebrow.
Adam had felt himself blush, but not only in shame. "Even if it were. . . ?" He had heard the lie come out of his lips, disconcerting himself as much as the other. He couldn't explain why, but by then the die had been cast. "Let me tell you something: I know people like you, I see them every day in my work. Todd may not be perfect, he may even have been a murderer. . . but he's certainly not as manipulative as you would have me believe."
Vernon's face had gotten a little cramped as he gave his speech.
"Be careful, Mr. Walsh. " He hissed at the end. "Remember that in this story there is not only you. . . "
Adam stood up at the not-so-sheer intimidation. "Just as I thought!" Eventually, the vampire had revealed his true colours. "If you think threatening my family is gonna get you somewhere, I'll bid you goodbye, Vernon. Go back crawling through the hole where you came from. " He had pressed the button to trigger the studio door opener, inviting him to leave.
The vampire had flashed him a look full of resentment that did not promise anything good, but he had still retired, without further scenes.
Once he disappeared, the blond had fallen into the chair, his heart beating fast. He had just taken a stand in a war that he didn't understand, he had to talk to Todd, the situation was getting out of hand. He found his cell phone, staring at it with uncertainty for several minutes. He'd finally dialed the number and waited.