Watching him work was an activity all by itself. I sat on the couch in his weird, vampire man cave, sipping a glass of blood. He sat at his desk, the one I had discovered was intended for business, while he wrote what seemed to be a long email. The person on the other end had either done something very good or very bad because Albert generally didn’t stretch things out. He liked to be brief and concise. Well, when it came to everything except romance.
He didn’t wear dress clothes today. It was an odd thing to see him in jeans and a sweatshirt. He never wore that type of clothing. But now, his dark hair was a mess of curls falling to the side of his face while his brows were scrunched in concentration. His posture was perfect, though. It was a vampire thing.
I was still wearing the little nightgown I’d changed into earlier. It was black with lace around the edges. Honestly, I kind of liked it. I would have never picked it out for myself, but it had been in my closet when I’d arrived. Albert did things like that. He’d probably never stop treating me like a prize he’d won. That was all right. I didn’t mind. It made him smile, and that was enough.
He sat back in his chair, turning around to see me. Albert had a grin on his face that told me he had a plan. Of course, like a little girl, I was fascinated to discover what it was. Albert’s ideas were generally extravagant. At least it would be entertaining.
“What’s that look in your eyes?” I asked.
He smirked. “We’re going out tonight.”
I smiled back. “Where?”
“It’s a surprise,” he teased.
I rolled my eyes playfully. “Fine.”
He laughed. “Go look in your room.”
I raised my eyebrows in confusion before standing up and hurrying to my bedroom. I knew he was enjoying surprising me. As I walked up the stairs and down the hallway to my room, his footsteps were behind me. Maybe I could persuade him to stop working for a while. That would be nice. When had I become a giddy teenage girl?
I opened the door to my princess-like room to discover a long, silk gown upon my bed. It was a dark green color that was designed to frame my body until it reached my knees, where it would flare out in a river of smooth material across the floor. I reached out to touch the dress. It hadn’t been in the closet before; this was new. Beside it lay a jacket made of black fur and a pair of silver, lace-up heels.
Albert’s hands landed on my waist as he placed a gentle kiss on my neck. I smiled, reaching up to touch his messy curls. He sighed softly as he leaned in toward me.
“It’s beautiful,” I said.
He smiled. “I thought it would look nice on you.”
I turned around and grinned. “Where are we going?”
“I’m not telling you,” he replied.
I bit my lip. “Why not?”
He smirked. “Because it’s so much fun watching you try to figure it out.”
Albert had gone back to his room to get ready. We’d spent most of the day at the townhouse. He’d shown me his books of research on both of our families’ histories. I was fascinated to see exactly who I was. From my Georgian roots to my Bourbon past, it all made sense. My bright blue eyes were so French. My pale skin and rosy lips certainly added to the look. My black hair was far more Anglo-Saxon, but Albert had found that in my genealogy too.
I imagined what he was doing in his room. Probably putting on one of his suits. Maybe black to match my jacket, with a green tie to go with my dress. His dark eyes would gleam in the candlelight of his bedroom. And when he came to find me, he’d be gorgeous.
I’d tried to look my best. The dress certainly helped with that. It was sleeveless, showing off my shoulders and collarbone. I’d never paid so much attention to my neck before. I still wore the diamond earrings Nina had given me. They looked wonderful with the silver heels. The dress was tight, but not so much that it hurt. It certainly didn’t feel like a corset. My chest was propped up, allowing my abdomen to look even thinner than usual. I’d worn a thick, red lipstick that was almost too dark. The color was blood-like, more so than I’d expected.
Staring at myself in the mirror, I realized something. With my black curls, pale skin, red lips, and slender form, I honestly looked like a vampire. I’d never appeared so vampire-like as I did in this satin dress that made me feel like a model. But right now, I didn’t mind. Usually, I preferred to look human. It made me feel more normal. And with James, I’d tried to pretend.
With Albert, I could be a vampire. He and I were the same. It wasn’t strange that I survived on blood or never slept. My habits weren’t inconvenient or odd. When I kissed him, I didn’t have to worry. He was even more vampire than I. Albert had been living this way for over a hundred years. To him, this was life. I wasn’t a freak show or something out of the ordinary. To him, I was just Anne.
It didn’t have to make sense to me. I was okay with the fact that this had spiraled into something out of my control. I was in love with him, and I knew that. Maybe I had been for most of the time I’d known him. Who knew how long I’d felt something for him? There was something intrinsic about us. It was natural, even easy. And he loved me. Albert truly adored me, and I enjoyed it. I wanted to be loved. And with him, I didn’t have to hide.
I heard the door open and turned around to greet him. My jacket was still laying on the bed, and I wore nothing more than the gorgeous dress that made me feel beautiful. He approached me with a look of awe on his face.
“You are incredible,” he whispered.
He was only inches away from me, and I reached up to kiss his cheek. “So are you.”
He was dressed as I’d predicted. I was starting to understand him. He wasn’t as much of a puzzle as he pretended to be. When he was with me, he showed his true self. We understood each other like that. Our souls were linked. We were connected in a way I didn’t understand. Our energy matched.
He leaned down to reveal a silver choker with a single ruby hanging from it and clipped it around my neck. I didn’t know what to say. Reaching up, I felt the ruby against my neck. It was about the same color as my lips.
“I wanted you to have it,” he whispered.
“Where did you get it?” I asked.
He smiled. “It was my mother’s.”
My mouth fell open. “Shouldn’t this belong to your sister?”
He shook his head. “She didn’t like it. Hazel said it wasn’t really her style.”
“I’m not sure I should take it,” I replied.
He took my face in his hands. “Anne, we went over this. You said yes to me. You said yes to our forever. It’s all yours. Anything I have belongs just as much to you as it does to me. And one day, I’ll prove that.”
My breathing was heavy. I didn’t know what to do. He was so much more than I’d ever imagined. This was a man who loved his family, who deserved to have one of his own. But we never could. It was impossible. Yet he so, so deserved this love. I would give him everything.
“You are more than I ever thought I’d have,” I whispered.
He placed a light kiss on my lips. “I’m still not as much as you deserve.”
~*~
London was alive at night. A fog had descended over the city, but it was still beautiful. In fact, the mist made it almost ethereal. We drove through an area with shops, bars, and restaurants that were so full of people I wondered if they ever slept. Men and women bustled around dressed for parties. The nightlife was brilliant.
Eventually, we reached an area that was far less populated. It wasn’t run down, though. The street was calm. Pretty townhouses with flower-filled yards and pretty lanterns lined the road. Soft light floated out a few of the windows as the curtains blew in the breeze. It was a lovely setting. The night was mysterious and grand, beautiful and calm. I wanted to stay here. It deserved to be painted and written about. I was starting to love London. It wasn’t Savannah, but it was something almost as wonderful.
We stopped in front of a tall, gothic building where a valet took the car. The building was lit by dim candles. Albert opened the tall, elegant wooden doors, and we stepped into a carpeted entry room. Within were lanterns that illuminated the small foyer. Albert took my jacket and hung it on one of the many hangers.
I felt as if I’d stepped into a medieval masterpiece. The wooden floor was covered in a dark red carpet. The walls were shadowy with few windows and decorated with portraits. The paintings were old. The newest ones seemed to be Victorian, and the older ones had to be from before the Renaissance. Each inch of the room seemed as if it held a million memories.
Albert took my hand and led me down the hallway. As we continued, I began to hear voices. They weren’t human but rather vampire. The syllables were slick and smooth. I’d never heard so many vampires together before. The house was devoid of human blood. I could relax.
He stopped in front of a carved wooden door and pulled it open. As soon as I walked in, I was amazed. Candles were everywhere, and satin-covered tables with flowers upon them filled the room. Vampires of all ages and backgrounds were scattered about. Some danced while others sat and talked. The windows were shrouded by dark black curtains. It was like a vampire banquet. Mystery and passion were everywhere. As I glanced around, I saw the flash of fangs and sparkling of immortal eyes.
“Let me guess, you own this too?” I asked.
He smiled. “You’re getting good at this.”
“So, what is it?” I replied.
He put his hand on my back as he led me toward a table. “A lounge for those with more refined taste. I thought you’d like it.”
I nodded and smiled. “I do.”
My dress swished back and forth as Albert guided me toward a large table at the front of the room. A few men dressed in suits like Albert’s sat playing cards. It seemed like an older game, not something that could be easily understood. They glanced up as we approached.
“Albert,” the first one said, “you’re back from America.”
They embraced each other in the way men do. Moments later, they pulled apart. The man smiled at me and kissed my hand. I couldn’t help but give him a small grin in return.
“Ms. Emerson,” he whispered, “I’ve heard a lot about you.”
“Though we didn’t know how gorgeous you are,” the other man added.
Albert rolled his eyes. “Don’t scare her. She only got here yesterday.”
“Have a drink, then,” the first man said.
He handed me a tall glass full of blood. I could smell a hint of cherry mixed in with its familiar taste. I sighed, tilting it up to my mouth. It was fresh, cold, and thick. Albert took one and drank it, too. He smiled.
“Anne, dance with me?” Albert asked.
I laughed. “Isn’t that a familiar question”
He took my hand, pulling me into the small circle of swishing dresses and soft breaths. I’d never been somewhere like this before. Perhaps this was why vampires chose to live in large covens. Albert had his own monstrosity of a clan back home. His mansion was a stronghold. This was almost the same. Everyone here had something in common. We could relate to each other.
But in the middle of it all, there was only one thing I really noticed. Albert was the most magnificent thing in the room. He had one hand on my back and the other around my waist as he pulled me toward him. The music was soft and slow, just the gentle sound of a piano. Albert’s eyes bored into mine as he smiled. I placed a kiss on his cheek. He pulled me closer, planting his lips firmly against mine.
Perhaps I wouldn’t go back to Savannah for a while. Maybe London, vampire-London, was just what I needed. This city was stuffed to the brim with magic. It felt natural to be here. The fog and chill gave it a mystical feel. It was appealing to me. I didn’t seem so out of place.
Being here with Albert was like walking into a dream. Nothing seemed to be wrong. I could forget about James. Even my human life seemed to become insignificant. He filled every hole that threatened to make my heart fall apart. Kissing him was like falling into a bed of bliss. I never wanted to stop. Thankfully, I didn’t have to.
This new world was enough to make my body feel warm. Tingling sensations flowed through me as I relished in the magic of it all. I was overcome with love, comfort, and thrill. How was it possible to be so calm yet thrilled at the same time? Only because of Albert did I feel safer than I ever had before. He made me feel that my world finally had order and peace.
As I looked up to admire his eyes, I let my body press against his. The silk of my dress was brushing up against his jacket. It was a gentle rub of smooth fabrics that blended together. They were like us. Albert and I became seamless, silken ribbons intertwined in a way that didn’t fall apart. Together, we were a beautiful display of art in its finest form.