Home together

Sunlight and garlic

I got out of bed and worked through my morning routine. Alex was already bursting with enthusiasm over his incoming walk. But something was off.

As I was finishing my coffee, I looked over to the bundle of pillows and blankets littered all over the couch.

"Andrew?"

No answer.

I walked over with Alex in tow. The vampire was nowhere to be found.

"He should have told me if he was going over somewhere else." I sighed and clicked the leash on Alex.

Ready for our morning walk, I exited the house. Then, I stopped in my tracks.

There was a figure laying face down on my lawn. All exposed skin was as red as lobster shell.

Alex barked and trotted over.

"Oh my god, Andrew?" I called as I followed the dog over.

It was Andrew, a very sunburned Andrew. Not responsive Andrew.

I extended my hand to check his heartbeat, and then retracted my hand, feeling silly. There wouldn't be any even if everything was peachy.

Next, I tried to shake him awake. No response.

"Alex. Guard." I ordered my dog who sat by Andrew's side and started surveying our neighborhood for potential threats.

Bad luck would have it that a local gossip walked the other side of the street with her friend. Alex barked a warning to me.

I looked up just as they started staring.

"Good morning." I stood up and walked back into the house to hastily fill a bucket with water. True to their curious nature, I found those two walking over when I got back outside.

I turned Andrew over, his face equally red as the rest of him.

"Hey Jane, is your friend alright?" a sing-song voice asked me.

"Oh, he's fine." I splashed Andrew's face with all the water I had. He gasped, coughed, and sat right up. "See?"

I felt relief wash over me, but I didn't let it show on my face.

I reached and slung Andrew's arm over my shoulders, helping him get to his feet.

"He seems to have forgotten the keys, that's all."

"Alright, see you around." The girls backed off and leaned closer to one another as soon as they were out of my earshot.

"Great..." Dragging Andrew along, I went back inside the house. Alex helpfully carried in the bucket after us.

"Hey! Are you awake?" I nudged Andrew's ribs, getting no response in return. But his weight was on his feet and leaning over to fall on the couch. I let him fall on the pillows and waited for him to collect himself.

After a few moments, he was sitting straight and looking at me.

"Emm... I am sorry I caused a disturbance. It seems my meal had one too many drinks last night and I don't tolerate alcohol well."

"So you got drunk and passed out on my front lawn. Why didn't you get in as you do...how do you usually get in?" I realized I always locked the doors but Andrew had no trouble with getting in or out when he needed to.

Andrew showed me his nails that retracted in front of my eyes to form a single long one on his right index finger.

"I slide it into the lock and form a fitting shape." The nail became thicker and serrated.

"Ohmygod get it back to normal that is uggh." A chill went down my spine.

"Let's forget that for a minute. I need to walk Alex and I'll be back as soon as possible, you are so lucky it's Sunday." I informed him and picked Alex's leash off the floor.

***

The walk calmed me down and gave me time to think over what I just saw.

Vampires were clearly more complicated than what movies and books would have us believe and I have front row seat to this show.

But... He could potentially overpower me and go back on his words any second while I am blissfully enjoying my sleep, pancakes, or shower.

I must have shown that the thought struck me hard because Alex stopped and jumped, placing his front paws on my stomach.

"He won't do it... He seems a gentleman. Right, Alex?"

Alex cocked his head, his droopy ears framing his face.

"I might have to rethink how I act around him..."

***

"I'm home." I took Alex's leash off and he sniffed around for Andrew. I followed to find him in the kitchen, cooking.

"Wow... That smells great." I couldn't help but notice.

Andrew stroke Alex behind the ears and smiled at me, that all sunshine and daisies smile.

"I am terribly sorry for what happened this morning. I imagine I must have significantly frightened you."

"Do you read minds too?" I asked, my voice lacking any sarcasm. "I need to know."

"Well... I make assumptions from experience. There is no magical mind reading power behind it." He turned to the stove, keeping a watchful eye on his work.

I observed. He made full use of my utensils, and the smell of the meal watered my mouth.

"I thought of making an offering of food so we can talk over it. I am sure you have many questions and as we agreed I will give answers." The vampire put his intentions into words.

"Your skin is alright." I noticed that his skin was as pale as I remember it being before this morning.

"Yes, I healed. As long as I am well-fed, I heal quickly. " Andrew gestured for me to set the table and I did.

He filled the plates for us and made a show of taking a spoonful into his mouth.

"No poison." He said after a gulp.

"I didn't think there would be..." I paled at my lack of guard. Again, there was something about Andrew that made me feel at ease around him. Alex whined and started pleading for food, we ignored him.

Andrew smiled at my expression.

I shook my thoughts off and took a bite. It was a chicken risotto with sour cream and garlic... Wait.

"You can eat garlic too?" I asked, bewildered.

He laughed.

"You might want to note down each time you learn a new thing about me. For now, I offer these as payment." Andrew held out three fingers. 

"I can manipulate my body to a degree when I need to partake in a certain action such as unlocking the door." He held up two fingers now. 

"I am highly sensitive to sunlight and it burns me fast but it will not kill me to stand in it for several hours or days. Weeks I have not dared try." One. 

"I can eat or drink anything, but it cannot sustain me."

He allowed me time for this information to settle down.

"I always imagined vampires with a glass of red wine in hand..."

"And you got me."

"And knowing those two we encountered earlier, the whole neighborhood knows that by now as well." I sighed.

"I would not blame you if you wished me gone." Andrew dropped his head and gathered food on his fork.

He was as calm as ever. Years of experience I'd guess.

"About that..."

I reached into my pocket, pulled out two keys, and placed them on the table between us.

"Now it's official."

Slowly, Andrew took the keys.

"Thank you." His eyes shone with gratitude and I couldn't help but grin.