Page 101 of The Silver Fox Vampire

“Hey there, I’m Lucia. I’m from Waldo’s apothecary, here to take your blood.”

Clare ushered her inside.

When she was seated in Oliver’s study, Lucia unpacked her equipment. “I will take a pint, is that okay with you?”

“Sure.”

“It’s kinda funny,” Lucia chatted as she got the tourniquet and needle, “that I’m a vampire, who takes blood as part of my job.”

“So youarevampire. I thought so,” Clare said. “But um,” she gesticulated to her own canines, “your teeth seem different.”

“I was born vampire, but I choose not to imbibe blood of any sort. A few years ago I chose to unfang. For my partner.”

“Oh.”

Lucia nodded. “It stops me biting them and accidentally turning them in a moment of passion. My partner, Katrina, is orc and very against living for eternity. It’s an orc spiritual thing, they need to rejuvenate their souls in the deep green waters of the eternal lake. They do believe in reincarnation, so we laugh that she’ll come back in another form, and we’ll reunite. As long as it’s not as a snail-shifter or something.” She shuddered. “I really hate all that slime.”

Clare laughed, then couldn’t help asking, “Is it complicated, navigating relationships, you know, with the eternity thing?”

“As the only species that lives forever, it can be hard. And heartbreaking. Many relationships have fallen apart over the turning issue.”

Clare sat silently, digesting this.

“To see your loved one die, that’s the very hardest thing. I’ve had two previous long-term partners. I don’t talk to Katrina much about them, but I nursed them to the end. Being a nurse and all helps, but it’s still heartbreaking. Now, arm out—oh, what lovely veins.” She tapped the vein with two fingers, andall Clare felt was a tiny prick. She watched her blood, dark and syrupy, fill the vials.

“This case is worrying, isn’t it?” Lucia chatted on. “I was involved in the Shona Dove kidnapping, right at the end, when they rescued her. The whole debacle completely erased most of her memories. The bastard fed her Blood Rose, which is a psychedelic, so she couldn’t remember much. Anyway, the main thing is, we got her out of there in time. Pity we didn’t catch him.”

“Did you know Matteus?”

“Yes, as kids. But I’ve kept right away from vampires since I left the Kominsky clan.”

Clare’s eyes widened. “You’re a Kominsky?”

Lucia pulled a face. “Was. But I’ve had no contact in a hundred and twenty-five years, so I’ve really no idea what they’ve been up to, other than hearsay. But I clearly remember that even as a kid, Matteus was a cruel, narcissistic piece of work. His good looks could fool people for a while, but he was always mean spirited. And he sure hated the Hales with a vengeance.”

“Why?”

“Because they were decent, moral vampires who were well-liked by all. And sadly, the Kominskys weren’t, and never will be.”

“So you really don’t consider them your family?”

“No way.” Lucia shuddered. “My mom was from a clan of more decent clean-living vampires. We fed off cattle, hadn’t touched humans in centuries until mom was abducted by a Kominsky, forced into marriage and fed human blood. Hard to turn away after that. But she raised me with moral standards, and I chose to go to a convent and convert to non-human blood. After I met Katrina, I unfanged, which wasn’t something we knew how to do years ago. Modern science and all can be helpful.”

“Modern science identified my blood type. It’s only recently been discovered in human circles.”

Lucia plopped the vials into her case and stood up. “Yes, I can tell it’s special from its scent.” There was no look of longing in her eyes. “The Kominskys would want to get their fangs into your veins for sure.”

She put a plaster over the puncture wound.

“There.” She smiled and stood up. “All good to go. Have a cuppa and a sweet biscuit and sit quietly for half an hour.”

Clare laughed. “I’ve got a very boring book.”

“Ah, have fun. I’ll see myself out,” Lucia said, turning as she reached the door. “And good luck bringing those humans back from wherever they’ve gotten to.”

“We’re getting closer to solving it,” Clare said. “Lovely to meet you, Lucia.”

“Likewise.”