“Hi.” He smiled when he answered.
“Hi?” The sound of Benyamin’s amused voice travelled the line instead of Essence’s. He sat back down on the steps.
“Oh, Benyamin. I thought you were someone else.” The day felt long again, which didn’t make sense since he’d always admired Benyamin and sought his council. “How are you this afternoon?” They were in the same time zone for a change. “You’re also up before sunset.”
He walked to the window and peered around the drapes to see the sun still up in the sky. Alec knew why he was awake, but what had roused Benyamin so early?
“You’ve been on my mind. You and the girl with Constantia’s soul.”
“I saw her last night.”
Benyamin took a moment to answer. “And? How did it go?”
“I actually had a very good time. She’s a very beautiful, kind, smart, sweet girl. She and Constantia seem to share a love of ballet. Other than that, they have nothing in common. One dinner taught me that Essence has quite a backbone. She says what she needs and what she wants. She’s not a fearful person. I admire her.”
There was nothing harder than turning your back on your family. He knew it quite well. His father had driven him so insane, they’d finally had a rip roaring fight that had ended when they’d both been attacked and turned into vampires. He still didn’t speak to his father all these centuries later. Benyamin did and he occasionally got an update, even though he never asked for one.
All Essence had asked of them was to respect her need to dance.
“Her soul came back to you for some reason. When it happened to me…”
He interrupted. “You didn’t mention this happened to you.”
“It’s a rather personal time, and one I don’t let myself think of them very often. I lost my wife and then she came in the form of another. It wasn’t to be in love with me again. She needed something. I was able to help her. That, was why. Ask yourself. Why would she have come back to you?”
He took a deep breath. “I’m not going to lie. I would love romance with Essence. She is beautiful and sweet. And a million more things. But, as for what she needs from me? Well, I think she needs to move. Immediately. She practically lives in a hovel. She might need a doctor. I think I could help her in many ways.”
“Then get to it and let her go. She’s a human. Unless you’ve started changing them in the seclusion of that monstrosity you live in, then you know better than to get involved with humans for anything other than food. Help her and then let her live her life. That is my best advice.”
The phone call disconnected. They weren’t much for pleasantries anymore, if they ever had been. He supposed Benyamin’s advice was as close to an order as anyone would ever give him. He was their unofficial leader by virtue of living the longest and never having tried to kill himself. Most people credited him with taking them from raving monsters to quasi-controlled monster-esque creatures of the night. Alec leaned back on his elbows.
Leave her alone? Find out what she needed and then let her go on her way? He’d admit that when he took her to dinner it was to see how she was like his Constantia. But now he wanted to know more about Essence herself. He genuinely enjoyed her.
But maybe Benyamin was correct. What business did he have inserting his monster into her life? She hadn’t asked for this, hadn’t sought him out other than to come to his house to do her job.
The monster roared to life. Blood. His mouth watered and his fangs descended. It always came down to the blood. The only reason that he knew she shared Constantia’s soul was that he attacked her. Or would have, if she hadn’t already tripped down the stairs.
He needed to feed, and then he would visit her for the last time. Alec would figure out what she needed and get it for her. Then he’d stay out of her life.
Perhaps, if there was a life for him after this one, then her soul would find his again in a place and a way they could actually be together.
He jumped to his feet. His town could have revitalized if he’d let it. There were always people willing to try. Real estate was in abundance. Developers would have a field day. But, he’d kept them away. He owned everything in the whole town. The only people who lived here had family who worked for time immemorial. They volunteered for the job of feeding him. It made things simpler, yet it didn’t satisfy the monster.
The monster wanted to chase.
Even telling his people to run was only slightly satisfying. He’d caught them so frequently it was downright boring.
He’d take a dull meal to safely see Essence for the last time.
Even if his monster disagreed.
*
He couldn’t remember the last time he’d sat in a park and people watched. He’d dressed in the most comfortable pair of black pants he owned and a black t-shirt. The sad truth was his closet held very little else.