Total pages in book: 133
Estimated words: 122946 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 615(@200wpm)___ 492(@250wpm)___ 410(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 122946 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 615(@200wpm)___ 492(@250wpm)___ 410(@300wpm)
“At the very least, you owe me for saving your life,” he added.
I pointed my finger directly in his face. “That’s the only reason I’m helping you.”
He grinned. “How kind of you, Ms. Monroe.”
He was sneaky. I felt like he was going to pull another trick, and at the same time, there was something about him.
God, I really hoped this was not how my love story began, with a naked vampire suffering from amnesia and dead witches in northern Virginia.
Chapter 2
Theseus followed behind me, making sure to leave a little distance between us. I wasn’t sure if it was for my sake, or if he wanted to just keep an eye on me. But I had a feeling it was the latter. We were both covered in dirt as he and I had to bury the dead witches. I couldn’t even think of what he suggested instead of burying them. Apparently, his way was to guarantee they were never found. But I couldn’t do it. He didn’t press, and he went along with my preference. I hoped that if I lived as long as he had, I was never so cavalier about humans. It felt like we’d spent hours in the forest when we finally reached the abandoned side of the road where my black, vintage 1956, oval window, Volkswagen beetle—that I’d named, Nightingbug—sat waiting patiently.
I glanced back and caught him as he ran to the driver’s side.
“You are not driving my car!” I snapped.
“I was not planning to do so.” He opened the car door and held it open to the red seats.
It took me a second to realize he was doing it for me. And the calmness that radiated off him felt a bit like arrogance. Feeling a tad stupid now, I moved to open his door for him as well. The corner of his mouth twitched up.
“Yes, but now who will sit first, stubborn one?” he questioned, amused.
“I’m not stubborn,” I stubbornly said, making him more amused. Biting my tongue, I moved around the car and took a seat first, closing the door myself.
I didn’t even have to wait for him before I started the car. He was already in and seated beside me. “Put on your seat belt.”
“Put on what?” he asked, puzzled.
I looked at him, and he just stared back. I reached over my shoulder and pulled on the belt, bringing it over my chest and clicking it into place at my hips.
He looked over his shoulder and then yanked on the belt so hard I heard shirking, but I wasn’t sure if it was the belt or me.
“Oh my God. Stop!” I gasped, quickly reaching over him and grabbing the belt, taking it from his hand. Slowly, I let it go and brought it back down, clicking it in myself.
“My apologies,” he whispered by my face.
Glaring at him, I sat a bit straighter, shifting the gear and driving out of the spot. He was conformable and quiet when we were in the woods. But when we got onto the highway and toward the city, the bright lights and cars made him tense. He scanned everything in slight wonder and amazement. I couldn’t imagine what was going through his mind.
“I worried that mortal social norms would draw attention to us, but it seems humans have evolved over the last century.” His head was nearly out the window.
“What?” It felt like I was saying that a lot, but I wasn’t sure what he was referring to.
He glanced back at me and pointed a finger out the window. “Not only do those of the black skin live freely now, but so do homosexuals. I thought it would be at least another two hundred years before the humans got over such trivial things.”
I thought of the early 1900s, the world Theseus last remembered. I had only been thinking about how technology had advanced and had forgotten how society had as well.
“Oh,” I whispered and nodded, turning onto K Street. “Yeah, a lot has changed, but it’s not perfect by a long shot.”
“Well, they are humans; it is best not to expect too much,” he said as if that were more than enough explanation.
“We were humans once,” I reminded him.
“You truly know nothing of our kind, do you?” He frowned, his grey eyes shifting over me. “I guess it is to be expected as you are an orphan. Do you know nothing of your maker?”
“Shouldn’t you be more worried about yourself? How is possible you don’t remember the last hundred years? Did you bump your head or something?”
“It would take a mighty hard bump.” He snickered, and it bothered me.
I didn’t know anything about this man other than his ridiculous name, and he was from Greece over a thousand years ago, but still, he should take this more seriously. “You are very calm about all of this. Have you ever lost your memory before?”