“Never mind. How are you feeling?”
“What’s wrong with you?”
He let out an exaggerated sigh. “Would you please just answer the question?”
“Why are you talking to me like this?”
“I’ve invested a lot of time and money into you,” he said, “and I want to make sure it worked. Now answer the question. How are you feeling?”
I fought back more tears, but said, “I feel different, I guess. But what are you talking about, time and money?”
Boaz picked up a notebook from off of his desk. “What feels different?”
“Everything around me is sharper, more clear,” I said, my voice full of frustration. But then it dawned on me, all his questions. “You made me a vampire, didn’t you?”
Boaz scribbled on the lined paper, and then tapped a pencil on his head as if thinking.
“I’m a vampire now, right?” I asked again.
Boaz finally looked up. It took him all of three seconds before he burst out laughing. I’d never heard laughter like this from him before. It made me feel all kinds of wrong.
“Then what did you do to me?” I cried, tears spilling over.
Boaz’s laughter subsided. “Well, if all my research proves to be right, then I have just made you an immortal.”
“How is that different from you?”
“You won’t have my strength or speed. Not even my blood lust. You will simply live forever, unless, of course, someone cuts off your head or you burn to death.”
“How is that possible?”
“You wouldn’t understand, but to put it in simple terms, I gave you the immortal part of vampirism and left out all the good stuff.”
“But why? Why spend your precious time and money when you could’ve just made me a vampire?”
“And risk the chance of you becoming more powerful than me? I couldn’t do that.”
I reared back as if I’d been slapped. “I thought you loved me.”
“I do. I love you like I love those girls out there.”
“And how is that exactly?”
“They give me something I need.”
“And what do I give you?”
He inhaled deeply. “Beautiful, untainted power. I’ve been playing this puppy love charade long enough. I’m so tired of it that if I have to do it for one more second, I’ll slit my throat.”
“I don’t understand,” I said, my voice small.
Boaz mimicked me in a shrill voice, “I don’t understand.” He stood up and crossed the room, tugging on his hair. “I can’t stand hearing you whine. You would think being with me all this time that you would’ve learned something. You are the stupidest, most na?ve—”
“Boaz?”
“Shut up when I’m talking to you!” His arm swept books from off a shelf. I jumped when they crashed to the floor. “It’s about power! It’s always been about power. And unfortunately, I need someone to make mine unstoppable. Not just someone, mind you. I need you, Eve. You were bred for me. I was part of that treaty made over a hundred years ago. In fact, it was my idea. Whenever I came near either side of your family, I could feel my powers grow as it reached out to theirs. It was as if the dark energy between us needed each other. But it wasn’t enough, and eventually the power would fade. That’s when I came up with my brilliant plan. I knew if I could get the two families to breed me a life partner, then I would have enough power to make me invincible. There were some mistakes along the way, of course. Take the mental twins, for example, but ultimately I was right. I knew the moment I held your infant body in my arms that you would be the one. Pity you were such a disappointment. Your parents tried their best, but you were just too good for it all, weren’t you?”
I stared at him, dumbfounded. A single tear traced down my cheek.
“Erik and Sable had their chance, but they failed. They begged me to take you. I didn’t want to, but I couldn’t waste any more time. And I knew I was the only one who could change you. Disgusting as it was, it was all so easy to play the knight in shining armor. You ate it up like a gluttonous pig. But it was unbearable for me. I’ve never felt so dirty.”
The last of my tears fell. There was nothing left. I was numb. “It was all a set up. The diablos in the forest. They weren’t real. My parents weren’t trying to kill me.”
Boaz clapped. “Ladies and Gentleman, she does have a brain!”
The hands in my lap looked small. Everything had been a lie.
“Don’t be sad. You were created for me, yes, but I made you better, too. I mean, you didn’t really think all of those magical stunts you pulled were all you, do you?” He waved his hand and chuckled. “Oh, who am I kidding? Of course you did! You’re self-centered that way. That’s one of the few things I liked about you.”
“Not me? Not my power? But—”