Page 43 of The Good Vampire’s Guide to Blood & Boyfriends
THE CALM
FROM THE STURbrIDGE UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT
Dear Students,
We understand there might be some anxiety regarding returning to campus for the spring semester due to recent events in Sturbridge, Boston, and surrounding areas.
Both local and university police are looking into the various animal attacks, deaths, and disappearances, though at this time we have been told there is no reason to suspect foul play or malicious intent.
Therefore, in addition to having a new required online training on wilderness health and safety, we also strongly discourage students from exploring the woods outside campus.
It’s always best to stay within a line of sight of one of our blue-light safety phones, to travel with a partner or group, and to stay on well-lit paths.
Additionally we would like to emphasize the safety protocols and resources available to students who may be struggling or…
brENNAN’S PHONE
[To Nellie]
Brennan
You’ll update me on stuff, right?
I’m back on campus and things still aren’t resolved.
r/occultboston
u/tastefulnobody
You guys convinced me, but now I’m scared to go back to campus
Basically what the title says. I thought all of this was a load of shit when that guy was first talking about dark omens and animal attacks, but having been in this sub for a few weeks and seeing all the weird shit over break, I am totally convinced something is going on.
But now I’m anxious and paranoid over going back to campus, especially with that bullshit email from the school reiterating the same old safety measures while people are dying and going missing.
What are you guys doing to feel safe on campus?
u/micahlandau: If you’re open to meeting up on campus, I’m happy to give you one of my protective herb spell bags. They brought me a great sense of security on campus the weeks leading up to break.
u/btchywitchy: pepper spray for men. silver knife for dark creatures.
Cole
Just got in!!
Can’t wait to see you
Brennan
you too! i can come over to yours?
Cole
yes!
mari isn’t here yet, she took a later flight
Brennan
The week leading up to Cole’s parents visiting, Cole gave him a crash course.
His dad was a big-shot consulting yuppie type who never learned what privilege was, believed affirmative action was “reverse racism,” and buried himself in work to avoid his family and his own emotions.
His mom was a semi-popular crafting YouTuber and self-proclaimed “yarn guru” who thought gay was a curse word, cried on a hair trigger, and bowed to her husband’s decisions in order to avoid conflict.
Cole warned that Brennan had the honor of first ever boyfriend to meet his parents. He’d only ever had a series of flings (“Mari calls it my slut phase,” Cole had admitted), so this was new territory for all of them.
Cole’s dad (“He’ll insist you call him Christopher, and he’ll be offended otherwise, so no mister s, okay?”) was there for a conference and would be busy most of the time, so they’d only have a few hours to spare for their son. Brennan thought it was kind of shitty, but for Cole it was a relief.
“So,” Cole said now, pulling at the edges of his jacket sleeves outside the T station, a block from the restaurant they were meeting his parents at. “They’re gonna be judgy and terrible and it’s gonna suck.”
“Way to really sell it.”
“I’m trying to be honest about what you should expect.”
Brennan flicked Cole’s hands away from where they were mutilating Cole’s tie out of nerves.
He straightened it for him, more of a weak excuse to offer Cole some sort of physical support than anything.
But Brennan was way out of his comfort zone either way; he hadn’t been at a restaurant nice enough to wear a tie to since high school graduation.
He hadn’t had to meet a partner’s parent ever, so there was that, too.
He meant it as a joke but it came out limp and sad: “Do you think they’re gonna hate me?”
“No!” Cole said, immediate and emphatic. “That’s not it. Of course not. It’s not you, it’s them. Don’t panic, please, because if you panic, then we’re both panicking, and at least one of us should keep their shit together.”
“Cole, there’s no reason for either of us to panic, it’s gonna be okay.”
Cole nodded to himself, trying to convince himself to believe it. But he still didn’t make any motion to move. Brennan could hear his pulse racing, and not in the fun way.
“I’m gonna be there the whole time,” Brennan said. He captured one of Cole’s hands in between both of his own and caught Cole’s eye. “And I’m sure they love you no matter what.”
Cole hummed in a tone Brennan identified as agree to disagree. He started walking, though, so Brennan marked it as a win.
The city was cold and gray, even windier this close to the water, as they made their way through the streets. Cole didn’t take his hand, and Brennan couldn’t blame him, so they walked with their shoulders brushing through thick layered coats.
“Thank you for being here for me,” Cole said. “I know it’s not exactly fun.”
“Who said I’m not having fun? I’m having a great time.”
“Yeah?”
“Oh, sure. Going on a double date with middle-aged homophobes from Tennessee is one of my favorite pastimes.”
“You’re the worst,” Cole said and smacked Brennan’s chest, which he generally did when he didn’t want to admit Brennan said something funny, ducking to hide a grin.
They wove through the bustling of people rushing toward somewhere warmer, the wind whipping bare trees and chilling skin.
Brennan recognized the area—it was near the blood cache Nellie had taken him to that first time, the vending machine hidden between restaurants.
He hadn’t been back since; a different cache was more easily accessible by commuter rail from campus.
The noise of all the crowd and clutter wasn’t overwhelming anymore, not like it had been when he was thirsty and confused and drowning under all of his senses. He felt like he might finally be past that, able to focus on the here and now. On Cole.
“I have a great time whenever I’m with you,” Brennan said. He meant it to come out cheeky but ended up far too sincere.
Cole grinned and said, “Cheesy.”
“I distracted you, at least?” Brennan offered, because they were approaching the restaurant, two figures standing huddled near the entrance.
There was Cole’s mom, Deborah, waving Cole down enthusiastically, and his dad, Christopher, who stood beside her scrolling through his phone and looking bored.
Cole looked on with what could only be described as dread.
“Okay,” he said, smoothing down his jacket. “Let’s carpe this diem.”
It was then that, down the alley they were passing, Brennan recognized that vending machine he’d visited with Nellie for blood, and a shadowy figure crouching in front of it.
Choppy black hair and all black clothes, a long skirt and platform boots. He’d recognize that overly enthusiastic Goth attire anywhere.
“Oh shi—” Brennan started, but Cole was already trotting up to his parents. Seizing the day, as such.
Brennan’s ears rang as Cole started to do greetings, hugging them each in turn.
But Brennan couldn’t tear his focus away from the vending machine—the blood cache—that Dom was messing with.
What was she doing? Maybe she just needed blood?
Though she’d made it clear she wasn’t exactly on a cruelty-free diet, so it didn’t make sense. All signs pointed to evil scheme.
Dom stopped in her work, glancing over her shoulder, and locked eyes with Brennan. Brennan’s veins turned to ice, and Dom recognized him instantly, panic flitting across her face.
There was one frozen moment where Brennan realized that he might have the advantage. Whatever she was doing, she hadn’t planned for him to be here. For once, she was the one thrown off, and maybe Brennan could—
“Brennan?”
Cole’s voice pulled him from his thoughts and he realized that both he and his parents were looking at him expectantly. They’d been doing introductions.
This was maybe one of those capital letter Important Choice moments, where he was supposed to step up and solve problems, go after Dom, prove that he had conquered his vampiric skills.
He looked up to see Dom turn the corner of the alley, disappearing. Fleeing.
He turned his back to the alley, put on his parent-charming smile, and made his introductions.
“Sorry about that, I thought I saw a friend,” Brennan said, and Deborah smiled politely.
“It’s nice to meet you,” she said.
“Thanks for letting me interrupt your family dinner.”
They went through the motions of pleasantries and small talk as they went to the host and were seated. Deborah chattered on about nothing.
Once they settled at the table, Brennan excused himself as politely as he could, pleading the bathroom. As soon as he was out of their view he picked up the pace and hauled ass to the bathroom, poking furiously at the phone to dial Nellie’s number.
The ringing taunted him, and he paced the length of the empty men’s room.
What could he have done? What could he do besides turn to Nellie and Sunny? This was the right choice, the logical choice. He should let the experts handle it.
“ Wait, Sunny, what did that say? ” came Nellie’s tinny voice over the speaker, and then a sharp beep.
Voicemail. Brennan glared at his phone like it was at fault.
“Nellie, I saw Dom in Boston, by the aquarium,” Brennan said. “Call me back.”
He dialed Sunny and got the same treatment, albeit with a slightly more self-aware voicemail greeting. He stopped in his pacing to stare in dismay at his phone.
He tried Sunny again. Nothing. His thumbs tore through the feed of the Facebook group, looking for a clue to what they were up to. They were nothing if not eerily responsive. Sunny especially.
He sent a last text with the restaurant info and what he’d seen and faced the bathroom door. That had to be enough.
Brennan had a family dinner to get to.
“So what do you study, Brendan?”