0333: The Vampire’s Daughter, Book Four
Vein and Sabastian didn't talk on the elevator ride down. They didn't talk as they left Elizabeth's coven house. They didn't talk as they walked across town or when they turned and went downtown. They didn't talk until Sabastian said, “We have company.”
Vein just stopped. “Would it kill you to make small talk?”
“Excuse me?” Sabastian said, obviously taken aback.
“Would it kill you to just chat? A little? There's got to be something you like to talk about. The weather? The stars? Something, anything!”
Sabastian looked at Vein blankly.
“We've gone all this way, what is it? Two miles? And the first thing you say is that we've got company. By that you mean we're going to have to fight,” Vein said angrily.
“I thought it was something you would like to know.”
“Clearly I want to know as far in advance as possible that my association with you is leading to a fight. But how about a little personality? I'm not expecting much. I know your supposedly in this dark place right now and all, but small talk. At least small talk, please.”
“There's a vampire running up behind you that fully intends to kill you,” Sabastian said.
Vein turned just in time to duck a blow, catch the vampire in the midsection and toss him over his back. Once on the floor, Sabastian simply stepped on his head, causing it to do something between explode and implode. Blood splattered all over Vein's legs, though none got on Sabastian.
As several more vampires came to the fight, Vein began to yell, “You see, that's what I'm talking about. Life is about more than factual events and responsibilities. You can have fun, too.”
Sabastian listened to Vein talk, killing each vampire that Vein deflected. It was a short fight. The cleanup took longer.
After disposing of the bodies without much discussion, Sabastian said, “I thought the joke you made about my choosing to go home at Elizabeth's apartment was quite funny.”
“Thank you,” Vein said, awkwardly. After a long pause, he asked, “How do you do that.” He was pointing to Sabastian's legs.
“Walk?” Sabastian asked. “I would have thought you had mastered that aspect of life.”
Vein laughed loudly, “Now that was funny. Delivered with a completely serious face, dead tone. This is what I'm talking about!”
Sabastian smiled, but did not answer the question.
When they arrived, they found Sabastian's brownstone largely ransacked. Anything of obvious value had been taken leaving it little more than an empty shell.
“It seems I must start anew,” Sabastian said, with an obvious sadness in his voice. “That has been a repeating theme lately. I grow tired of it.”
Vein looked at him and said, “A little elbow grease and this place will be as good as new. I'm not sure who's going to supply the elbow grease, but I'm sure they'll make it look great!”
Sabastian looked at him and said, “Call Elizabeth. Tell her to send Sol's man over to us. He'll arrange for the house to be mended.”
“Do you think it safe to have him here? I mean Thomas must already know we're in his territory.”
“He does.”
“So you want to send a human over?”
“He'll come during the day.”
“Oh, well, yeah, I guess that makes sense.”
“Clearly.”
Vein called Elizabeth, telling her that they were alright and asked that Francis be allowed to leave in the morning. Elizabeth thanked him for letting her know they had arrived safely and consented to Francis joining them.
“Mother was happy to know we arrived safely,” Vein said to Sabastian, who had been listening anyway.
“I am pleased to hear that. I assume Francis will be here by tomorrow night?”
“Yes. He will.”
“Good. For now we need to arrange for the day.”
“Where did you sleep?”
“The basement,” Sabastian said, pointing to a still sealed door.
“Then I assume we should do the same. It even looks like the door is still intact.”
“It is, but we'll have to clear the basement first.”
Vein stopped on his way to the door.
“The house is occupied?”
“The basement anyway.”
“Do we know who is living in your basement?” Vein asked.
“Several very scared and very young vampires who ran down there when we arrived.”
“Ah. And what do we plan to do about it?”
“I plan on asking you to remain upstairs.” Sabastian said, before walking to the door and entering his former room. Vein heard several screams before a long silence. He continued to wait. Finally, Sabastian walked out of the basement holding three drained bodies. “I will put these on the roof,” he stated. Before he was out of earshot, he said, “The bed is mine. You may arrange for yourself in any way you feel comfortable beyond that.”
Vein watched him go upstairs shaking his head. “I'm living with a madman,” he said out loud to himself. Upon walking downstairs, he saw that the only thing in the basement that was still intact was the bed that Sabastian had already claimed. “Very funny,” he said to himself, “A madman and comedian.”
“I thought it was quite funny,” Sabastian said from behind, startling Vein. “You may share the bed with me.”
“OK,” Vein said with a wry look in his eye, “but don't get fresh.”
Reuben Gregg Brewer | V'sD Store | 5:10 PM
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