Chapter eight
Chapter Eight
The look on Henry’s face was one Vicky thought she’d never see. He looked totally dumfounded. He finally managed to say “Excuse Me? Did you just say lifemate? She wants Celluci for her mate? CELLUCI?!”
“Uh huh” Vicky quietly said as she nodded her head.
“Did she say why?” he asked quietly, too quietly for Vicky’s comfort.
Vicky went on to explain what Kathy had told her about her first meeting with Mike, and about the electrical ‘charge’ she’d felt. As she went on with what Kathy had told her Henry got a strange look on his face. His expression went from one of confusion to recognition.
“I need to talk to Katherine, now.” He said firmly.
“Henry she’s not alone, she’s with Mike remember?”
A slow smile crept over Henry’s face. And he got a twinkle to his eyes that hadn’t been there moments before. “He doesn’t know does he? She hasn’t told Celluci that she’s my sister or that she’s a vampire. Sweet.”
“Henry, no” Vicky was afraid he was going to tell Mike himself. “It’s up to her to tell him, not you.” She began but Henry finished for her.
“Yes but I want to be there when she does. As a matter-of-fact I’d give 50 years to see the look on Celluci’s face when she tells him. This is going to be so good, Celluci mating with Fang Boys sister.”
“Oh God!” was the only thing Vicky could say.
Two hours later Katherine sat in Henry’s condo. Vicky had left her a message asking her to go there, but not let Mike know where she was going. Mike had been called out on a case so there wasn’t a problem. The only problem Katherine had was the call on his pager came just as she did. “Talk about no afterglow”, she’d mumbled to Mike as he’d quickly dressed and left.
Now sitting on Henry’s sofa she looked at him as he looked at a lime green pill sitting in the palm of his hand. It didn’t look much different then a green m&m.
“That’s it? This is what’s supposed to change my life?”
“It’s what it does, not what it looks like that’s important Henry” Kathy told him.
“And this works how?”
“Byron found that certain herbs in the right combinations help to correct the effects of Vampirism.” Kathy began.
“Like it’s a disease” Henry said flatly.
“Actually it’s a virus Henry, just like the common cold is one. This isn’t a cure, just think of it like you would a antihistamine. It makes it easier to live with.” Henry just snorted.
“Take the sunlight as an example. For hundreds of years we’ve hidden from the sun because we’ll burst into flames.”
“Tell me something I don’t know.” Henry sounded exasperated.
“Oh Henry just shut up and let me finish.” She scolded him. He in return growled at her. Wrinkling here nose at him she continued. “It’s not the light that hurts us it’s the heat from the sun that does the damage. The more we shunned it the worse it’s become. We are just super sensitive to it, thus we burn. A redhead freckles, vamps ignite. The vitamins sort of give us some immunity. You won’t be able to bake at the beach, but with the right precautions you can go out in daylight. With a powerful sunscreen and dark glasses’, and of course a hat, we can go out during the day. And if the day is cloudy, that’s even better. I would still stay out of the midday sun, but that is just to be on the safe side. Personally I’ve gotten into the habit of resting from 10 am to about 6pm in the evenings. Unless I’m inside and doing other things, of course” Images of a naked Celluci came into her mind. She’d give up sleep for more afternoons with him given the chance.
“You have a choice of when you rest” Henry asked, surprised.
“What? Oh yes,’ she pulled her thoughts back to Henry and Vicky. “It becomes more like drifting off to sleep instead of going back into the dead sleep that you feel now.”
“What else?” Henry was eager to hear more.
“Food. Wonderful food. As your body adapts to the vitamin your appetite will return. And with our enhanced sense of smell and taste you’ll find you enjoy it more than ever before. And you have to admit we come from a food loving family. Father was famous for his feasts after all. Almost as famous as he was for beheading his wives.”
Henry thought back to the banquets at his father’s court. “True” he said.
“Plus the more food you eat the less blood you’ll need. Don’t misunderstand it won’t take the place of blood but supplements it. And that reminds me you’ll need to start using a blood bank, The Congress doesn’t want us to drink from mortals if we can avoid it.”
“The Congress? What the hell is the Congress?” Vicky and Henry both asked.