Page 54 of The Rising Dark
“Oh,” Michelle said, words struggling to form.She looked around the room again.
“You don’t have to decide right now.You can take your time.”
“No.I mean, yes.”Michelle laughed, nervousness dissipating.“I don’t need time to think about it.I would love to live with you.”Michelle felt like everything was starting to fall into place.There was just one snag.
“I’ll have to think about my job.I really appreciate you guys letting me live with you, but I’m not sure I’d be comfortable…I mean…” It was one thing to be the Sisterhood’s guest out of necessity.She didn’t want to be a burden, and it was too far to commute.Also, she had nowhere near enough money to afford even the most basic of rents…
Lavinia’s eyes sparkled.“I thought you might say that.”She paused, as if gathering her thoughts.Michelle looked at her in anticipation.“We seem to have an opening for a doctor.Someone recently alerted us to the fact that it was irresponsible not to have any medical support nearby.”
Michelle blushed, then laughed.“But I’m not a doctor.I’m a nurse.For humans, not vampires.”
Lavinia shrugged.“We asked Benjamin, and he has agreed to take you on as an apprentice.You impressed him when you took care of Pina.”She tucked a stray hair behind Michelle’s ear.“Don’t feel like you have to.The offer to live here is unconditional.But I think you would be a fantastic doctor.”
Michelle took a moment to think it over.Living here, with the Sisters of Twilight.Learning to become a doctor to vampires, under the tutelage of another vampire.It was such a far cry from that boring everyday life she’d known in London.It meant giving up her apartment.It meant giving up her normal human life and stepping into a whole new world.
“Yes,” she said.“Yes to everything.To moving here, to being with you, to learning to take care of you all.Lord knows you all need someone with a bit of sense.”Lavinia closed her eyes, as if in relief.Michelle realised that Lavinia must have felt nervous too—that she had been braced for a rejection.
“Good.I’m—I’m so glad.”And then Lavinia bent down, and they sealed their new life with a kiss.