Moonlight Lovers

Five

GODRIC was in his office when he heard Silas’s familiar leather shoes tapping lightly against the coated wooden stairs up to his study. His assistant’s pacing was slower than the movements he could do, so he allowed Silas to reach the top of the stairs before deciding to put away the letter that arrived that morning—Boris Octavius, the leader of the Octavius coven, had sent him a warning regarding his recent actions. The entire letter was laced with threat, Godric could tell how much Boris wants his head on a spike. But he couldn’t care less that his brother is back to trying to discipline him again. He had done so before and it didn’t bother him too much. If any, he was surprised it took that long for his carelessness to reach his estranged brother. Or he probably knew from the beginning and was just letting him know now that his actions are getting out of hand.

Godric stared coldly at the letter before shoving it inside the top drawer of his desk. Silas simultaneously opened the door to his office as he pushed the drawer close.

His assistant drew his brows together, “What was that?” Silas threw a glance towards his desk.

Godric shrugged. “Nothing.” He stood and walked around the furniture to meet the younger man in the middle of the room.

Silas slightly lifted his chin, examining Godric’s face and the whole room, trying to find a small detail that would give him away. When Silas seemed to have found nothing, he relaxed his shoulders and walked inside the room, shutting the door behind him.

Godric almost invisibly exhaled. He has important reasons why he doesn’t want Silas to know about the letter—Boris was not just trying to keep him on his toes by sending him those threats. He was a member of the legislature of the vampire society, too, and he had been trying to please the blood beings holding the highest positions in the council by keeping him in check—an elaborate ruse to secure a potential advancement at his expense. He didn’t want Silas worrying about a stupid letter especially if it is related to whether or not he gets to keep his boss’s cursed undead life.

He knew Silas. He would never just abandon him for no reason, but he has too much on his plate right now, mostly because of his carelessness, and he could not afford to lose such a competent assistant when things get worse and Silas just decided enough is enough just because he has a problematic approach to almost everything. Getting a letter from the council is definitely bad news, and it would surely stress Silas out as it could mean both of them are in danger since they will probably be under the legislature’s surveillance from now on. And he didn’t want to freak the boy out. As his human assistant had told him many times, he needs him. There are many errands he simply cannot do by himself or he would risk the exposure of his nature.

“Went to Clearhollow this morning,” Silas announced, handing over a sealed folder to him. “Edrus will take care of the girl you brought home last time. She’d be given some special concoction to alter her memory. And then, she will be dropped off at the bar where you last met. She will have no memory of you.”

Godric slightly nodded. Half of the words Silas just said went through his ears. He was used to this. Anytime a woman ends up half-conscious after making love to him, Silas would make arrangements for the services of the half-blood Edrus Crest so that his actions can be covered up.

Crest runs a business popular among blood beings and humans alike. Anyone who needs to have their dirty deeds covered up need only to match the man’s price and Crest can make it look like the perpetrator was not even remotely associated with it at all. To keep his precious head perched on his shoulders especially now that the vampire legislature is keeping a close watch on him, Godric was willing to pay the coward’s price.

“Hosmurg’s gift should be able to keep you sustained at least for a few days, right? I’m not expecting you to be bringing your next victim home anytime soon,” Silas said.

The corner of Godric’s lips curved upwards in a lopsided grin. “Who knows? You know I have a big appetite.”

“Godric!”

He ignored his assistant’s outburst and put the folder on his desk. “Clear my schedule. I’m going to Woodfort.”

“Today?”

Godric looked over his shoulder. “Yes. It’s that day again.”

“I see.” Silas nodded as if he instantly understood what his boss said. “Well, I’ll get the car ready, then.”

Godric waited for the door to close before touching the picture frame facing down his desk. He turned it over and smiled poignantly at the woman smiling in the photo.

GODRIC’S face showed no emotion as he stood in front of an unnamed grave resting on a hill in the most rural part of Woodfort. He placed the bouquet Silas bought earlier and gently placed one hand on the tombstone.

Here lies the woman who loved greatly until her last breath.

Died September 1938

The words stung Godric’s heart.

Even though it has been almost a century since he last saw the woman whose remains were laid to rest in that grave, the memory of that woman’s smile, her warmth, the sound of her voice, and even her heartbeat is still fresh in his memories. The truth is Godric could not remember a single mortal woman to whom he confidently divulged his secret and looked at him with the same adoring eyes as her. Most of them were immediately scared once they found out. Others were curious to know what it’s like to have an affair with a blood being and pretend as if their life is safe in the hands of a vampire like him. And some even called his bluff—at least until he bared his fangs and sank his sharp teeth on their jugular.

He turned to look at Silas who was standing not too far from him, silently paying his respects. The younger man had never asked about the identity of the person buried in the grave he visits on the same day of every year. But then again, Silas has been with him since he was merely a boy. And he was sure that by now Silas knew when not to ask questions when questions were not needed to be asked.

When Godric thought enough time had passed, he straightened and took one last look at the old tombstone. And then, finally, his gaze landed on the flowers he placed on the grave—that, which the woman resting in it was named after.

AFTER visiting the grave, Godric decided to stop by a local pub in Woodfort for a few drinks before heading home. Silas went to a coffee shop instead as he will be the one driving.

“Octavius?”

Godric looked over his shoulder in the direction of the owner of the familiar voice that called his name. He released a small puff of breath in a smile, recognizing the man under the dark cloak standing behind him.

When the man pushed the hood of the cloak down his shoulders, a warm smile greeted Godric.

“Hosmurg!” He got up to his feet and pulled the newcomer into a tight brotherly hug. “What brought you here?”

The sinfully handsome blood being just shrugged. “Legislature business.” Roald Hosmurg occupied the empty seat beside him. “But I should be asking you that. Are you supposed to be wandering around when you are still dealing with a possible penalty for your recent scandal?”

Godric shook his head, grinning. “Tell me when I have not deliberately disobeyed the council’s orders.”

Despite being a member of the legislature himself, Roald Hosmurg is the only vampire Godric is closest to. And the only one he trusts, too. Being one of the oldest of their kind, Roald became his mentor shortly after his Change.

The difference in their vampire age, status in the vampire society, and family rank did not matter to Roald at all who treats him like a brother. Not that Godric knew what that was like from experience, of course. Godric’s relationship with his own brother is not that great. Perhaps it was even the reason Roald has been more concerned about him these past few decades.

Unlike other members of the vampire legislature, Roald Hosmurg always practices being fair—something that most vampires, admittedly even him, do not usually practice. Godric actually thinks Roald was the only reason why he can still walk around. There have been countless requests for an order of punishment against him submitted to the legislature for approval just over the last few centuries, but he was just lucky to have a close friend in the higher order somehow going out on a limb for him that’s why he could still avoid such a horrible fate, even though his bloodthirsty brother was in it, too.

Roald laughed in feigned disbelief at what he said. “Touché.” He called the bartender and asked for a Jack and Coke.

While waiting for his drink, Roald glanced at him. “Your brother’s very furious at you, you know. You are tainting the Octavius coven—his words.”

“When was he not furious at me, though?” Godric sipped on his sour whiskey.

“It still does not hurt to be extra careful, Godric. You know what your brother can do.” The bartender placed a glass of Jack and Coke in front of Roald.

He grimaced. “So I have a dysfunctional family, I’m probably not the only one.”

Roald shifted his weight on the chair to face him. “You seem to have no idea what is happening in Courthall right now. Did you hear about what he did to the youngest of the Eriwall brothers? Boris was merciless. If you continue getting on his nerves, he may as well be the one to cut your head off or put a stake to your heart.”

Godric’s jaw tightened. “Him and I, both.” After pushing a bill on the counter to the bartender, he quickly got up and walked to the door.

“Octavius!” Godric waved his hand to dismiss Roald. But the older vampire called him again. “Godric!”

He stopped and looked over at Roald. The latter just sighed seeing the unbothered look on his face. “Look, I know you don’t care one bit. But at least don’t give them a reason to give you the worst punishment of all.”

“What could be a worse punishment to someone already dead?”

Roald shook his head again. He raised his glass as Godric waved goodbye and walked out of the pub.

“I SAW Roald Hosmurg in the bar you went to earlier. What did he talk to you about?”

Godric glanced at Silas who was driving the car. He was sitting in the back seat, leaning against the leather seat.

“You never miss a thing, do you?” He asked, brows crossed.

Silas shrugged. “Part of my job,” he simply said.

Godric sighed. “It was nothing. He just told me news about my brother.”

Silas looked at him from the rearview mirror in the car. “What news?”

“It was really nothing of your concern, Silas. Trust me.”

In an attempt to put a stop to the conversation Silas started, Godric rolled the windows of the back seat down.

Silas overtook a bus that slowly halted in front of a stop and Godric looked at the people waiting there, watching their faces. He remembered being able to find a willing blood bank at the same bus stop just a couple of months ago. He could do that again if he wants to.

No, he thought. He immediately shook his head. Silas would not hesitate to make a scene if he even tries to approach any of the people there.

He was about to pull his face away from the window when he suddenly met a pair of curious and enthralling eyes looking back at him.

They belonged to a young woman waiting by the stop, too. She was probably the prettiest by far out of all the people waiting there. And Godric simply could not take his eyes off her.

As the car sped by, Godric’s back heaved from the leather seat to stare out the window and maintain eye contact with the beautiful stranger who, like him, keeps staring back, rarely blinking, and looking just as amazed.

When a faint breeze swept inside the car from the rolled-down windows, Godric instantly jerked. The wind carried the smell of the woman’s blood. And he could not be mistaken, he knew it was hers.

Being a few centuries old, Godric had learned how to control himself when he smelled blood from the humans around him so he would not go berserk. But the scent of the woman’s blood is different. Godric could feel the monster inside him trying to be released. He gripped the side of the car door and blindly searched for the button that would roll the windows up.

He then pulled a handkerchief from his pockets. “Hand me a perfume or anything!” He told Silas.

Silas worriedly looked at him. “What? What’s wrong, Godric?”

Godric snatched the small bottle of perfume that Silas took from the dashboard compartment of the car. He aggressively sprayed perfume on the handkerchief and pressed it against his nose.

“Godric, you’re making me nervous. Are you okay?” Silas insisted.

“I’m fine!” He talked through the fabric. “Just…something surprised me.”

That was the first time since his Change when human blood excites him like a wild animal excited at the sight of a prey.