Vampire Born

Fae Errand

By the time I finish the sketch of the fireplace, it’s time for another round of blood.  I heat the blood, find Rose to give hers to her, and then deliver the Master his.  This time I keep my eyes on him so that he knows I listened to what he said.

“Thank you, Dahlia.”  He says.

“You’re welcome, sir.”  I leave then and go to the balcony with my blood.  I enjoy the dusk, or twilight as we call it in the vampire community, and drink my blood thinking about how to get closer to Master.  I come up with a couple ideas, but nothing really sparks as brilliant.  I go back into the kitchen and there stands Master.  “Can I help you with something, sir?”  I ask.

“I was just coming to find you.  I need you to pull together a dinner for me for two wolves who will be coming in two days.  This is very important.  Can you do this for me?”

“Yes.  Of course.”  I say.

“Great.  I’ll get the food so you don’t have to worry about that.  You just have to prepare it.”  He says.

“I can do that.”  I smile.

“Thank you.”  He smiles.

“You’re welcome.”  He leaves and I wash the pan from the blood.  I am suddenly tired so I grab a book from the library and head upstairs to my room.  I lay down in my bed and start to read, but I can’t get my mind off how to get closer to Master.  I am finally able to shut my mind off and read for a little bit.  After about thirty minutes of reading, I put my book and drift off to sleep.

~

When I wake up the next morning, I feel disoriented.  I lay still for a little bit and the feeling subsides.  I go downstairs to the kitchen and there’s Master already making the blood.  I look at the clock and it reads 10:43 a.m.  I slept too late I realize.  ‘Maybe that’s why I felt weird.’  I think to myself.

“Oh good, you’re awake.  I was afraid I was going to have to call a doctor.”  Master says.

“No need for a doctor.  I only slept in a little.”  I chuckle.

“Umm, Dahlia, you slept all day yesterday.”  He says.

“What?!”  I ask bewildered.  “Why would you let me?”

“I thought maybe you needed the rest.  If you didn’t wake up before one today though, I was going to call a doctor.”  He says.

“There must be a zillion things to do before your guests come this evening.”

“No.  Rose cleaned the house yesterday for me so all that’s left is the cooking.  Everything you’ll need food wise is here.  Just use whatever you find.”  He says as he pours the blood into three mugs.  I fill the sink with warm water and soap and put the pan in the water to soak for a couple minutes.

“Dahlia, I wanted to tell you that what you did for your mother was very courageous.  I hope one day you’ll tell me exactly why you chose to do it.”  Master says and leaves the kitchen.  I sigh slumping against the counter.

I straighten up and wash the pan.  After that, I go through the kitchen seeing what there is and planning the meal for this evening.  I’ve decided to make the steaks—rare, of course—homemade mashed potatoes, cream gravy, stuffing, green beans, brown sugared carrots, and fresh blueberry crisp for dessert.  All of this will be made in a decent amount because the wolves have a hearty appetite.

After lunch, I prepare the blueberry crisp so that it is ready to go in the oven while everything else is cooking.  Once that is finished, I start peeling the potatoes for the mashed potatoes.  By the time I have enough peeled and cut into quarters, it’s time to start cooking everything.  As I put the steaks in to cook them ever so slightly, the doorbell rings.

“I’ll get it.”  Master says in the doorway to the kitchen.  I continue cooking.  I put everything in serving dishes and put them out on the dining room table.  The wolves and Master are already seated at the table.  I put the last item on the table and go to leave.  “Stay please, Dahlia.”  Master says before I reach the door.

“Mr. Hemingway, is this really necessary?”  One of the wolves asks.

“Yes, it is.”  He says.  The wolf backs down.  I sit down next to Master and the wolves serve themselves food.  “Dahlia, I’d like you to meet Gerard and Tony.  They came from Dublin to see us.  They have come to discuss having a meeting here for their pack and two other packs.”  Master says watching the wolves.  Probably to see them react to him telling me.

“We’ll cover all the expenses.  Your house is just a good location for the three packs to meet.”  One of them says.

“Will you need me to cook?”  I ask.

“Wait a minute.  You really are the one who cooks?”  The one who keeps speaking says.

“Yes.  Why?”

“We thought you always hired someone when we came, Mr. Hemingway.  And please, Miss Dahlia, I hope I’m not offending you.  The food is excellent.  That is part of why we always thought it was a hired hand.”

“No offense taken.”  I say.  “So, will you need me to cook for you during this meeting?”

“If you don’t mind.”

“I don’t.”  I reply.

“Thank you.”  He smiles.

“You’re welcome.”  I smile back.  The wolves continue to eat while Master and I sit there.  Once the wolves are done, we say goodbye and the cleanup begins.  There is little food left, but I dump what is left down the disposal.  Rose comes into the kitchen and grabs a dish towel.  I wash and she dries.

“Thank you.”  I say once everything is put away.

“You’re welcome.”  She says.  “I noticed Master had you sit in there with him.  How’d that go?’

“Fine.  I guess.  I’m going to need your help in a month.  The wolves will be coming in three packs for a meeting and I am to cook for it.”  I tell Rose.

“Wow!  Big order!”  She chuckles.  I chuckle too.  “Of course, I’ll help you.”

“Thank you.”

“Of course.”  She says patting me on the back.  “You gave me quite the scare not waking up yesterday.”

“Yeah.  Sorry about that.”

“It’s okay.  It just had me worried.”

“I’m sure.”  I get out the pan for blood and heat up the last round for the day.  I pour it into three mugs.

“Well, I’m going to go sit in the hot tub.”  Rose says taking hers.

“Okay.”  I say.  I take Master’s to his study and knock.

“Come in.”  The gruff voice says after a beat.  I enter.

“I brought you more blood.”  I say going further into the room.

“Thank you.”  He seems distracted.  I set the mug on his desk.

“Is everything okay?”  I ask.

“Huh?  Oh yes.  Sorry was just reading something for my business.”  He says.

“Oh.  Okay.  Just checking.”  I smile.  He smiles back.  “I need to go wash the pan.”  I say and leave.  I go to the kitchen and wash and dry the pan.  When I stand up from putting the pan away, there stands Master.  “Is there something you need?”  I ask worried that I forgot something.

“I need to tell you the truth.  Where’s Rose?”

“In the hot tub.”  I say.

“Still, better safe than sorry.  Come with me.”  He says and I follow him back to his study.  When we get there, he closes the door.  “Dahlia, I want you to know the truth.  This is not what I truly look like.”  He says and his looks begin to change.  His hair changes to a dirty blonde, shaggy, short cut.  His skin clears up.  His eyes turn into a blue that are so rich in color I could get lost in them for days.  “This is who I am.”  His voice has even changed into a silky, yet manly voice.

“Wow!”  That’s all I can think to say at first.  My feelings grow stronger for him.  “Why show me this, sir?”

“Please, no more sir or Master.  Call me Marius.”  He says.  “I hated the whole Master thing, but I could never find the opportune moment with your mother to tell her the truth.  With you, I felt I needed to.  I can’t explain why.”

“Thank you.”  I say with a smile.

“You’re welcome.”  Marius says smiling back and the smile makes me almost weak at the knees.  “Please don’t tell Rose yet.  Let me tell her when I’m ready.”  He says.

“Of course.  It’s your secret to tell.  We should come up with a knock so you know it’s me and can let down your disguise.”  I suggest.

“Sounds good to me.”  He chuckles and it’s music to my ears.

“Okay.  How about two knocks, a pause, and then two more knocks.”  I say.

“Works for me.”  He smiles.

“Good.”  I smile back.  “I’m going to go now before Rose gets out of the hot tub and tries to find me.”  I say leaving him.

“Goodnight, Dahlia.”  He says as I leave.

“Goodnight.”  I whisper at the door.  I go to the library and grab a book.  Rose finds me as I’m leaving the library.

“I washed my mug for you.”  She says.

“Thanks.  How was the water?”

“Amazing.  You should have joined me.”

“I would have but I had some last minute cleaning to do.”  I lie.

“Oh I see.”  She says.  “What are you going to do now?”

“Go read in the bath.”  I reply.

“Sounds like a good idea.  I’m going to take a shower and get the chlorine off me.”  She says.  “Goodnight.”

“Goodnight.”  I say.  Rose heads upstairs.  I spot Marius heading upstairs to his room with his disguise back up.  I head up to my room and run the bath water.  I drop a couple drops of lavender oil in the water so I can sleep tonight.  Once the tub is full, I get in.  I soak and read for about fifteen minutes only because my eyes start to droop.  I dry off and get into my pajamas.  I crawl into bed.  I drift off into a peaceful sleep.

~

Thankfully this morning I wake up to my alarm.  I get up and get dressed in something comfortable.  I go downstairs and start making blood.  Rose comes down as I’m pouring the blood into mugs.

“Morning.”  She says.

“Morning.”  I reply.  “I have to take this to Master then I’m sitting outside if you’d like to join me.”

“Sure.”  She says.  I nod and go to Marius’s study.  I knock twice, pause briefly, and then knock twice more.

“Come in, Dahlia.”  He says after a beat.  When I enter, Marius has his disguise down and is already on a business call so I simply drop off the mug and leave.  I still have no idea what he does for a living.  I grab my mug and join Rose out on the patio.

“Looks like rain today.”  She says.

“Yeah it does.”  I agree.  “Which is too bad.  I was hoping to take a walk today.”

“That sucks.”

“Yeah.  But oh well.”  I shrug.  The wind starts to pick up so we move into the house.  Not quite two minutes after we get into the house, it starts pouring.  “Good timing.”  I comment.

“No joke.”  Rose giggles.  Rose and I wash out our mugs and I go into the library.  I grab my sketchbook and pencils.  I grab the book of castles from around the world off one of the shelves.  I sit at the desk and open the castle book to the Edinburgh Castle.  I open my sketchbook to the next blank page and start sketching.  I’m so enthralled in my sketch that I don’t notice Marius walk in.  When I suddenly realize I’m not alone, I jump a bit.  Marius chuckles.

“I didn’t mean to frighten you.”  He says.

“It’s okay.  How long have you been there?”

“Not long.”  He smiles.

“You know Rose could walk in any minute.”

“I’m listening for her.”

“Okay.”  I smile.

“So, what’s the sketch today?”

“The Edinburgh Castle.”  I reply.

“May I see?”

“Not yet.”

“Aw.  Why not?”

“Cause it’s not finished.”

“Okay.”  He says disappointed.  “Well, I have a few more calls to make anyway.”  He puts his disguise back up and leaves.  And here I was going to ask him what he does for a living.  I look at the time, but I still have time before I need to make more blood.  I continue sketching until it’s time to make blood.  I go into the kitchen and get out the pot, but suddenly feel a prescence in the room.  The scent is new to me.  I turn to face someone I’ve never seen before.  I let out a shriek and drop the pan.

“I’m sorry, dear.  I didn’t mean to frighten you.”  She eloquently.  Marius comes rushing into the room.  “Marius, there you are.”  She smiles a wicked grin.

“Aladia.”  He bows his head.  I recognize that name.  But why?  “Dahlia, this is Aladia.  Queen of the Fae.”  Marius says.  That’s why.

“Your Majesty.”  I bow my head.

“Please, child.  Call me Aladia.”  She says lifting my chin and I can feel her power.

“What are you doing here?”  Marius asks.

“I need your help.”

“With?”

“One of my ranks has gone missing.”

“How long ago?”

“Can we discuss this in private?”

“Dahlia is safe to speak in front of.  Besides, she would help me anyway.”  Marius says.

“Very well then.  Can we at least take this in your study?”  Aladia says.

“Of course.”  The three of us head to Marius’s study.  Aladis sits in the arm chair while Marius and I sit on the couch.  “So, Aladia, how long has your rank been missing?”

“”Three days.  I thought it was just a whimsical thing but when it has now been three days I’m worried.”

“I can understand that.  Do you know when or where they were last seen?”

“He was last seen the day he left at Ashford Castle.”  Aladia replies.

“Do you know what he was doing there?”

“He was investigating one of our portals there.  Or at least that’s what he told one of his fellow ranks.”

“Well that will be our first place to investigate.”  Marius says looking to me.  I nod, but become nervous because I’ve never been in the outside world.  Aladia nods approvingly.

“Thank, Marius.  This truly means a lot to me.  He’s one of my best.”  Aladia says.

“I’ll do everything I can, Aladia, to return him to you.”

“You realize if you find him, you’ll earn a favor from me and the Fae.”

“Yes.  I realize that.”  Marius says in a matter of fact tone.  Aladia nods in acknowledgement.  “If there is nothing else, I will see you out.”

“Thank you.  And thank you, Dahlia, for your help as well.”  Aladia smiles wickedly.

“You’re welcome.”  Is all I can say to her.  Marius puts his disguise back up and escorts Aladia to the front door.  When Marius comes back to his study, he lets his disguise down.  “That was intense.”  I say.

“You handled it well.”  He smiles a true smile that shows his dimples.  If I could blush, I would be.  So, I simply smile in return.  “Rose is coming.”  He says somber and puts his disguise back up.

“Was that the Queen of the Fae I saw leaving?”  She asks in surprise.

“Yes, Rose.  It was.  She needs my help with something.”  Marius replies calmly.

“You must be pretty influential to be asked for help from the Fae.”  Rose remarks.  “Sorry that just came out.”  She quickly apologizes.  Marius chuckles.

“It’s quite all right, Rose.”  He says.  “I do have some good sources I can turn to that help make me influential.”

“Oh.  Okay.”  Rose smiles.

“I need to go make more blood since I was interrupted.”  I say and excuse myself.  I go to the kitchen and grab the blood from the fridge.  I get the blood heating and realize I’m not alone.  Standing against the door frame is Marius with his disguise down.  Damn does he look sexy leaning against the door frame.  I quickly look down.

“What’s wrong?”  He asks concerned and I notice I’m breathing as if I were crying.

“Nothing.”  I clear my throat and settle my breathing.

“I beg to differ.”  Marius comes over to me.  He leans in so close to me that I can smell him exceedingly well.  He smells of citrus and pine.  It’s heavenly.  “What’s wrong, my little flower?”  He asks again.  That pet name.  It sounds familiar, but why?

“Why does that sound familiar?”  I ask.

“Because I just asked you the same question.”  Marius replies.

“Not the question.  What you called me.  Why does it sound familiar?”

“Oh.  Um.”  Marius stutters and steps back.

“Tell me.  Please.”

“I used to call you that when you were younger.”  He says backing away some more.

“I see.  Well, most of my younger years are a blur.”  I admit.

“Ah.”  Marius says.  Then I hear Rose coming so Marius puts his disguise back up.  I hand her a mug and she leaves the room.  Marius grabs a mug and leaves too.  I grab my mug and head outside to the patio.  I just sit down when Marius comes out.  He sits across from me and lets his disguise down.  We both sit quietly, sipping our blood, and enjoying the afternoon sun.  Marius disguises himself again and heads into the house.  I finish my blood shortly after that and go in to do the dishes.  Rose comes in as I wash my mug for the millionth time.

“You okay?”  Rose asks as I am still washing my mug.  I drop the mug in the sink.

“Sorry.  What?”  I say.

“Are you okay?”

“Yeah.  I’m fine.  Just thinking of my younger years.”

“What about them?”

“That’s just it.  Most of my memories of those years are a blur.”  I reply.

“Really?”  Rose asks shocked.

“Yeah.  I don’t understand.”  I say shaking my head.

“That’s weird.”  Rose remarks.  I simply nod.  We finish with the dishes and I go to the billiard room.  I shoot some pool for about half an hour.  Then I go to the library and grab my sketchbook.  I continue my sketch of the Edinburgh Castle.  As I am sketching, Rose walks in.  “Hey.”  She says.

“Hey.”  I smile.

“What sketch are you working on now?”

“The Edinburgh Castle.”  I reply and show her the page.  Her mouth falls open and her eyes go wide.

“That’s incredible!”  Rose exclaims.

“Thanks.”  I smile wider.  She nods and sits beside me.  We sit there quietly while I sketch.  At some point, Rose gets up and goes to the bookcase.  She pulls a book down and sits back down beside me.  She opens the book and out falls a letter or something.  “What’s this?”  I ask picking it up off the floor.

“I don’t know.”  She says confused.  I open the paper and there’s a ‘Dear…’ heading.

“It’s a letter.”  I say.  “’Dear Marius, As I lie on my deathbed, I can’t help but think how memorable my time with you has been.  I know one day you will find someone who wants to live forever.  I feel so blessed that I met you.  Be happy, Marius, for I am going to a good place.  Love Always, Meredith.’  Who do you suppose Meredith was?”  I ask.

“Who’s Marius?  And why is his letter in this book?”  Rose asks puzzled.

“Marius must have been the previous owner of the book.  It is a first edition after all.”  I lie.

“Yeah.  I guess that could be it.”  Rose smiles.  I smile in return and fold the letter to hand back to her to put back in the book.  She puts in back in the book and puts the book back on the shelf.  I continue to wonder who Meredith was and what she meant to Marius.  I shake it off and go back to sketching.  Rose leaves the room and I finish my sketch.  I need to go show Marius.  I get up off the couch and go in search of Marius.  I find him in his study with his disguise down.  I knock on the door frame and he looks up with a smile on his face.

“Please, come in, Dahlia.”  He says.

“I finished the Edinburgh Castle sketch.”  I say.

“Really?  Well, let’s see it.”  Marius smiles wider.  I go over to his desk and lay down my sketchbook.  “Wow!  This is remarkable.”  Marius says.  If I could blush, I would be.

“Thanks.”  I smile.  “Any criticism?”  I ask.

“None what so ever.  It’s perfect.  Someday I will take you to see this castle in person.”  He claims.

“That would be great!”  I exclaim.

“Good.”  Marius’s smile deepens and his eyes light up.  I go weak in the knees, but hold my ground.  “So, I was thinking.  I’ll go to Ashford tomorrow and you can stay here and keep me posted from some of my other sources.”  Marius says.

“I can do that.”  I smile.  “I’ll make a thermos of blood for you.”  I say.

“You don’t have to do that.  I’ll hunt while I’m gone.”  He says.  “It will be like when I first started out.”  He chuckles.  I chuckle in turn and his eyes light up again.  “Well, I have some work to do.  I don’t need more blood tonight.”

“Okay.  I’ll talk to you later.”  I smile.  I leave his study and head for the kitchen.  I grab the pot for blood and make two packets of blood.  I go in search of Rose with her mug.  I find her in the bowling alley.

“Care to join me?”  She asks as I hand her her mug.

“Sure.”  I smile.  We bowl two games while sipping our blood.  It is so much fun having this here.  After we finish our blood, Rose helps me do the dishes.  Once the dishes are done, I go to the locker room in the pool and change into a suit.  I swim about ten laps of different strokes.  After I finish my laps, I climb into the hot tub.  Rose joins me shortly after I get in the hot tub.  We sit in the hot tub and talk for about an hour.  I get out after that and go upstairs to wash the chlorine off.  I get out of the shower and into my pajamas.  I spray my pillow with lavender and am soon drifting off to sleep.

The next day I see Marius off to Ashford.  He is gone for two days.