Amaia found something adorable about the way Michelle slept. During the day, she was a confident, self-assured woman. As Amaia had observed, hers was the coolest head in any heated situation. In sleep, she was the same. Looking at her, one couldn’t help being struck with the distinct feeling that she meant to be sleeping in just that way and anyone who woke her would be interrupting the natural flow of life.
They had stayed up talking for hours until Michelle finally succumbed to sleep. Amaia had tried to convince her there was no reason for Michelle to love her, and Michelle had tried to convince her that she couldn’t keep living without her. Neither had been successful.
Michelle’s eyes opened. She didn’t yawn or stretch. Somehow, her body had decided it was time to be up, and so she was. “You’re still here.”
Amaia’s chest contracted. Had she misjudged the situation? “Did you want me to leave?”
“No, I’m glad you’re here, just surprised.”
“Well, you said you wanted to learn. I have the time today if you’d like to spend it together.”
“I thought vampires couldn’t be out in daytime.”
Amaia twisted her face, tilting her head as she peered at Michelle. “I’ve been out during the day with you many times.”
Michelle shook her head. “I know. It’s just strange now, knowing what you are.”
“Nothing’s changed. Your knowledge of the truth doesn’t alter reality.”
“You know, you could be gentle with me. This isn’t something I had ever anticipated. It’s going to take some getting used to, some adjusting. I need your patience and help.”
Amaia sat next to her on the bed. “I suppose that’s fair. After all, I believe you were quite patient with me when we were first together.” She tentatively placed her hand on the side of Michelle’s face. For the first time since she had learned how to warm her skin, she purposely left it natural when she touched Michelle.
“You’re cold.”
“I’m always cold. I’m dead.”
“But you’re so alive.” Her gaze was fervent as her hands traced Amaia’s features.
“It’s stolen life that comes from the blood I drink. Other people’s lives flow through me.”
“You don’t find it strange that you expect me to grasp that, but you find it ludicrous that I think you can’t be in daylight?”
Amaia snorted. “I see your point. We don’t like being in the sun. The heat does not bode well for us. Remember, we can’t sweat, so we don’t have a natural cooling system in place. Plus, heat does terrible things to the stench of humans. Not to mention it’s easier for us to blend in at night.”
“I thought you liked the smell of humans.”
“No, only their blood.” Michelle’s face turned a shade of gray that matched her eyes. “If you want to know the truth, I’m going to tell you. I won’t hold anything back.”
Michelle nodded, and the color returned to her cheeks. “Good. I don’t want you to.” Michelle rose and dressed. Amaia helped, not bothering to slow her movements.
“How can you move so quickly?”
Amaia shrugged. “I just can. The real trick is moving slowly like a human.”
“I wish I could move that fast.” The little bit of mirth in her eyes couldn’t hide that Michelle didn’t think it was a fair tradeoff—mortality for blinding speed. “Where to now?”
“Well, if this were any other day, I’d probably be engaging in my secondary profession about now.”
“And what is that?”
“Fortune-telling.”
Michelle’s lips pursed. “You tell fortunes?”
“Yes. It’s something of a hobby of mine.”
“And you take money for it?”
“It’s the only way to get people to take you seriously.”
“But you’re lying to them.”
Amaia cocked her head at Michelle. “So?”
“Amaia, it’s wrong.”
“According to you. I do nothing more than tell them what they want to hear. If anything, I help them live their lives. I don’t see it as any different from what priests do.”
“It’s dishonest.”
“Let me get this straight. You know the true nature of what I am, that I kill people and enjoy it, that I’m a courtesan, but it’s my fortune-telling that upsets you?”
“The other upsets me too, but it’s too foreign. My head can’t comprehend it. Fortune-telling, though, I know you’d be good at.” A gleam of admiration lit her eyes.
“You want to watch?”
***
“All right, only time for one more. Give me your hand.” Amaia reached for Michelle’s hand.
“No, I don’t think so.”
“Don’t be a killjoy. I won’t even charge you.”
Michelle smiled. “Fine. Should I ask you a question?”
“No, I’ll read your palm.” Amaia took Michelle’s hand and bent over it, tilting it slightly from side to side to catch the light, making a show of finding each individual line. “You will live a long and healthful life. A rich man will see your beautiful eyes one day when you’re out walking, and he’ll fall in love with you. After a whirlwind courtship, the two of you will be married. A child will follow in the first year. You’ll have five children, sons and daughters. They will fill you with pride and give you grandchildren. You’ll die an old gray woman, warm in your bed, your husband faithfully by your side.” Amaia set Michelle’s hand down and met her eyes.