Page 67 of Origins of Eternity

“You’re the first vampire?”

“Technically,hewas, but he didn’t last long.”

“What do you mean?” Zara asked.

“He tried time and again to get what he wanted from me, and I didn’t plan on giving it to him before or after he made me a vampire, so I killed him, and I remained alone for centuries. I wandered far and wide until I finally saw humans for the first time. I was surviving on animals I found until then, and eventually, I began making people in my image.”

“So, all vampires descend from you?”

“Yes,” she replied. “Although it’s only when I make you myself that I taste so sweet.” She smiled down at Zara. “And smell so sweet.” She rolled her hips. “Zara, I tell you this now because I want you to understand that I wasn’t born this way. I was a teenage girl first, lost in a jungle with a teenage boy I didn’t know. The God humans worship either dropped us there, or he didn’t – I don’t know of my exact creator – but I was made into a vampire by someone who was truly evil. I have killed, yes – sometimes, because I wanted to, with no thought to the person I’m killing – but if you were me… If you’d lived this long and watched the world recreate itself time and again, would you not be frustrated? Would you not need release?”

“Release?”

“Humans are destroying this planet. Everyone knows it. You even work for an environmental attorney. Vampires don’t cause nearly as many problems as humans.”

“So, you’re suggesting ending human life?” Zara asked.

“No. I’m not stupid; I need them to survive. We all do. All I’m saying is that I want vampires to be the ones making decisions from now on. I am so tired of letting humans runthings. Look what they’ve done so far: war, famine, climate crisis. And nothing ever changes. It all just repeats itself time and again. Vampires offer perspective. We see things differently because we’ve lived longer, and we’ll continue on after the current generations of humans die out. Besides, I’m tired of humans being Iro’s focus when she could be focused on our life together. These deals she makes, the land she buys, the companies she invests in… What’s even the point? She’s going to live forever. She needs none of it. And I have what she needs. I have more than enough money, land, property, women; anything she could possibly want. She only needs me and our life together. That’s all.”

“I don’t want to upset you… I just want to know. What will you do if she decides to stay away? With Arwen or not.”

Cassia didn’t want to entertain this thought, so she decided not to.

“I told you, love conquers fear, Zara,” she said. “Now, you know my secret. Will you tell anyone?”

“No. And no one would believe me even if I did,” Zara replied, gripping Cassia’s hips firmly.

“You’re ready again?”

“I shouldn’t be. I should check on Amy. She’s my fault.”

Cassia smiled down at her. Her plan to make Zara feel the guilt of turning a human accidentally had paid off. All of her plans were finally starting to pay off, and she couldn’t wait to have Iro back in her bed and be back in Florence, where they could return to the life Cassia wanted for them.

“You may go speak with her. I’ll be in my room. Come in whenever you’d like.” She stood. “But, Zara?”

“Yes?”

“Gigi and Miranda have to share a bedroom. We now have more humans than I can deal with in this space. Then, there’s Sarah, Alexia, and now, Amy. I want you to move in here untilIro moves back, but I’ll need another rental to fit everyone I want to keep close. You know the area better than I do. Would you be able to find me one?”

“Another place like this?”

“Yes, of course. I only want the best for my people.”

Zara sat up and said, “My apartment is tiny, and I didn’t even have to make an appointment to see it. I don’t know how to handle something like this.”

“Oh, very well.” Cassia waved her off. “I’ll have someone else do it for me. Close by, though, so that we can easily go back and forth. I will give it to you and Amy for the first couple of weeks, at least, so you two can bond. Then, I will have some new people join you. When you’re ready to leave with Arwen, you let me know, and I’ll give you a list of where you two can go. Does that sound acceptable?”

“Yes,” Zara said.

“Excellent. Now, would you like something to eat? You worked up quite a sweat.” Cassia snapped her fingers, and the human from before entered the room. “Dear, how are you feeling? Did you drink that juice after, like I told you?”

“Yes, Ma’am.”

“And would you like Zara to taste you again?”

“God, yes,” the woman replied.

Cassia looked her over and said, “Take off your clothes and let her make you come.”