Page 8 of Absolution
“Kinda?”
He laughed. “This is better though, right?” He motioned to the two of us. “Talking, no bloodletting or anger. We talked all the time online.”
“I don’t want to talk about you being myciboright now.” I wrapped my hands around the cup and let the warmth filter through my fingers.
“Okay.” We sat in silence for a minute or so before he asked, “You like to fight?”
Had he seen me at the fight club earlier with Max? “Not like you do.” In a cage surrounded by cheering crazies and monsters.
“It’s a hell of a stress reliever. I’ve been doing it for half a decade at least.”
“I don’t do a lot of fighting. Unfair advantage with me being a vampire and all.”
He shrugged. “I’m a half vampire. In the cage it doesn’t matter. They pit you against someone they think is a pretty even match. Sometimes pushing yourself to the limit is really the only way to know you’re real. Alive. The anger eats at me so much that I just need to break something. It’s better if it’s in an open fight. Medics can help if I fuck up, or maybe I really just need someone to beat the shit out of me to get my head back on straight.”
This was a side of him I hadn’t seen before. Not even a glimpse of it online. “But you only fight monsters.”
“Because I’m stronger than humans. I’m always looking for the next monster to break in half. In the ring I don’t have to hold back. It makes me feel powerful.”
I sighed and got up, heading toward the door. “I really don’t want to be that monster.”
“Hey, that’s not what I meant.” Luca followed me, throwing my cup away and holding the door. We walked in silence for a while. He wasn’t really dressed for this sort of cold, but maybe he was more vampire than human. Finally he said, “I didn’t mean to offend you.” He stuffed his hands in his pockets. “Vampires aren’t monsters. They are people, more than most other paranormals. The genetics are really similar. A hybrid, I guess you could call them. I’ve met ordinary humans who are more monstrous than anyother. It’s all about the mindset, I guess.” His expression was neutral. “I’ve studied a ton of the science on vampires since I’m half one. My mom dropped me off on my dad’s doorstep when I was five. I wasn’t human enough for her and he had no idea I existed until that moment. Apparently I’d gotten really mad and broke the kitchen table with a single hit. Scared the cleaning lady. She thought I was gonna kill her. Cops were called and everything. No one believed her, thought she was on something. I mean, I was five. But my mom knew.”
“Shit.”
“It’s okay. I’m grateful. I could have hurt someone. My father helped me control the rage, strength, and my hunger.”
“You need blood?” The thought surprised me since everything about him said he was human, from the beat of his fast pulse to the warmth of his skin. He even smelled mostly human, under the luscious goodness of his heavenly blood.
“Yeah. Not as often as any full vampire. And the QuickLife crap doesn’t work for me at all.” He got really quiet. “No vampire should be drinking that anymore.”
“It’s awful.”
“It’s more than awful. But that aside—I usually drink from my dad once a month. It’s a little more awkward now that I’m older.”
“I can imagine how sucking on your dad would be awkward.”
He punched me lightly in the shoulder. “Smartass.”
“Better than the alternative. So seriously, is that why you’re here? To find a new vampire to feed on?”
He held up his phone showing the time which was just after four A.M. then shoved it back in his pocket. “Not time for my answer yet. You’ll just have to wait in anticipation.”
I sighed. “You’re pretty sure you’re staying, aren’t you?”
“Not sure at all, but hopeful. You’re an interesting guy.” We walked in silence for a few more minutes. “It’s really cold here. Been in a lot of snowy places, but never someplace quite this cold.”
“You should have a coat and gloves,” I pointed out. “It’s probably two or three above zero right now.”
“I run warmer than most humans. Not as hot as shifters, but close. Part of being half vampire maybe.”
So that was why he was without a heavy coat and normal winter gear. “Did you beat that werewolf?”
“Yeah. They are pretty easy. A hit to the snout and they’re out cold. They fight dirty though, lots of nails and teeth. Ever fought a shifter?”
I thought of my sparring with Seiran and of late Kelly. “No. Just a couple of witches, and a few vampires. A lot of street thugs too, though they’re no challenge.”
“Witches, now that’s a tough fight. They are wicked scary in the ring and outlawed in most fights, especially the stronger elementals like earth and water. In California there was a network of male witches and a few females who would fight. None above level three allowed though as most often times they kill their opponent and that’s frowned upon in cage fighting. No witches up here allowed at all in the ring, but I think that’s because the Dominion presence is pretty strong here.”