Nino looks at his watch. 2:28 p.m. He moves from behind the bar and to the opposite side, then sits atop one of the oak stools. His employees did an amazing job cleaning the previous night, so he doesn’t need to do much before opening the bar.
He pulls his phone from his pocket and unlocks the home screen. “Let’s see if she picks up.”
Scotch & Amaretto opens at 3:00 p.m. on Fridays. It’s not busy until about 5:00 p.m., and by then one of his two employees will have arrived for their shift. Shalini is human and typically starts the earlier shifts. Mariana is vampiric in nature but low level. Because of her sun aversions, she always closes, but she’s exceptionally smart about the business. She’s been with Nino from the beginning, and the bar is successful in part because of her shrewd insight on the local market. Nino is seriously considering asking Mariana if she wants to become part owner.
He hits speed dial and brings the phone to his ear. After three rings, the line is picked up.
“Hello dear,” Cellina says warmly.
“Ciao bella. Do you have a minute to talk?”
“Only a few minutes,” Cellina says. “I have to finish writing this damn acquisition proposal before I leave in two weeks.”
“Oh, for that artist you don’t like, right?” says Nino. She complained about it a few weeks earlier. Nino knows business and economics like the back of his hand, and he considers himself to be pretty well read. But art is not his forte.
“Right,” she sighs. “For one, this artist was my director’s choice. I don’t even think the artist’s style matches the feel of our other exhibits. And two, his shit paintings are borderline cultural appropriation of African Masquerade. Why would you ask your Black intern to write a proposal to acquire this garbage?”
“Because people are ignorant?” Nino says flatly, sympathizing. “Lina, you have less than two months before your internship is done, and you already have interviews for those jobs in Milan and Greece. You got this.”
“I know, I know,” she breathes. “But I’m a fucking century-old vampire. I know my modern art history. I was there, for God’s sake. Why do I have to jump through these ridiculous bureaucratic hoops? Whatever—thanks for letting me vent. What’s up?”
Nino rolls his shoulders. “When I feed from you… I know since it’s from your hand the impact isn’t very strong, but I pour good feelings into you, yeah?”
“Yeah…”
“Okay… You’ve always made it clear that you don’t want anything from me, but have you ever wanted more? Have you ever wanted me to please you more intentionally when I feed—”
“No,” she says plainly. “Where is this coming from?”
His body tenses. He leans against the bar with his elbows, dropping his head. “Haruka finally fed from my neck last weekend.”
“That’s good,” Cellina says brightly. “You’ve graduated.”
“Yeah, but…” Nino exhales. Just thinking about what he’d felt when Haruka fed sends a rush of heat down his navel and to his groin. “It felt intense—like my insides were on fire. My eyes even alighted, Lina. It was insane.”
“Ah. So you’re trying to figure out if that’s normal, since he’s the first person you’ve ever offered yourself to?” She can’t see him, but Nino nods, running his palm down his face from the stress. She goes on in his silence. “Did you want him to pull your aura?”
“Yes. Very much.”
“Having someone feed to emotionally please you is a very intimate thing. For you purebreds it’s basically a form of sex. If someone pulls your aura, it leaves you vulnerable and exposed. If you trust him enough to do that to you and instinctively crave that from him… maybe deep down, you see him as much more than a friend, Nino.”
Nino groans, rubbing his hand down his face again. “I can’t. This is not what I wanted to hear.”
“Why?” she says, concern in her voice. “I think this is wonderful. You actually attended your first formal aristocratic event as an adult, and you’ve grown so much in the past month just spending time with him.”
“But Haruka isn’t… He does not want this from me.” Nino’s hand is like a permanent fixture against his face. He massages his forehead now, his eyes closed. “He was hiding because vampires are always lusting after him and wanting something from him—and he has strong opinions about bonding. We’ve only grown close like this because we’re friends, so I can’t…”
What is he supposed to do? How can he stop this feeling from consuming him? He knew it was there from the moment he first met Haruka—like the tiniest ember glowing deep within him. Now, the ember is a full-grown flame and he doesn’t know how to snuff it out.
“But you’re nothing like those other vampires, are you?” Cellina reasons. “Don’t stress over it, Nino. Just take it slow. Did he agree to come visit you in Milan next month?”
“Yeah.” Nino sighs, sitting upright. He’s invited Haruka to his home estate, reasoning that they can start distributing surveys for the new section of Lore and Lust. Also, Haruka won’t have to go two full weeks without feeding or finding a new source (neither of which is ideal).
“I’m looking forward to meeting him. Oh, I heard about a vampire attack in Sidmouth earlier this week. Was Haruka involved in that?”
Nino smirks. He’d heard about it as well, and had promptly called the house phone at Sidmouth since Haruka doesn’t own a cell phone (which is both shocking and not shocking).
Asao had answered. He’d confirmed that the report had been about them, but the manservant had sounded downright bored when Nino asked questions, as if Haruka had only been bitten by a mosquito rather than attacked by five ranked vampires in the middle of the night. The report said that four of the trespassers had been easily taken into custody by the local police, largely due to the mysterious mutilation of their lower extremities. The fifth attacker, who Asao had privately identified as Gael, had escaped.
Although no motive, Haruka’s name nor any other details were released in the news report, Nino knows that Gael likely wanted to steal Haruka’s manuscript. Does he want it for personal use? Or does he think he can sell it? Lore and Lust is valuable, but is it worth all this? This barbaric behavior that ranked vampires rarely exhibit in the modern age?
“Yeah, the attack happened at Haruka’s house, but he’s fine.” Nino smiles, thinking fondly of his handsome friend.
Stop that.
“So insane,” Cellina says. “What the hell is happening with our people lately? Are you keeping up with all this bullshit about Brazil and Ladislao? He’s basically being ostracized by other ranked vampires. Everyone is being so snooty and classist. It’s painful to watch.”
“I know,” Nino says, standing and moving toward the front doors of his bar. There are already humans waiting outside for happy hour. “Life in our culture has been peaceful for the past century—even with those terrible human wars. Hopefully things will settle down again, somehow.”
“Ugh. Can we meet for dinner tomorrow? I need comfort food.”
“Sure.” Nino grins. “Let me know what time works for you.”