Page 30 of Vampires of Eden: Oliver

But every time I suggest an activity where we could potentially dig deeper, I’m slapped with some rudimentary label like we’re children: Nerd. Boring. Cold fish. Horse.

What am I supposed to do?

My phone dings loudly and I start. I don’t want to look at it, but because I’m like a trained animal, I slip my hand underneath the pillow while I’m still on my back, take a deep breath and bring it to my face.

I smile. It’s Aries.

[Good morning. Do you have some free time in your schedule today?]

My body tingles as I stare at the screen and scoot upright. Speaking of chemistry, my nature sparks and warms from the simple thought of him—like an entire galaxy of shooting stars, fiery comets and illustrious moons suddenly reside within me.

[Good morning, I think I do. Why?]

[I’ve draped the muslin for your jacket, so I’d like to check the fit.]

[Sure. What time works best for you?]

There’s a pause on his end as I wait. After a moment, his response comes.

[Whatever time is best for you, your grace. You’re the busy one. I’m here to accommodate you.]

I’m almost put out by the formal title, but he adds a winking emoji at the end to soften it.

[Not busy. More like being held hostage. I’ll let you know when I can plan my escape?]

[I look forward to it.]

My smile widens. Does he really? I’m not sure. He’s just trying to do his job. I should let him and stop overcomplicating things. I’ll definitely behave myself today.

“Holy shit—they do it without even asking?” I am definitely not behaving myself today.

Aries sits beside me on his stool again, stylish in a black-and-white paisley-patterned dress shirt layered underneath a royal-purple sweater. Dark ankle-length slacks. The epitome of elegant but eye-catching. Tasteful but bold.

He’s threading the stitching along the shoulder of a jacket. “Sometimes. I had one stick her fingers into my hair when I was riding on a train in Beijing. Not all humans do this, but some absolutely take liberties. As if we’re strange creatures that exist for their own amusement and curiosities.”

Amazed, I fold my arms. “Humans seem strange to me. I’m interested in a lot of things, but I’m more afraid of them than anything else.”

“They’re not like that all the time,” Aries says. “It depends on where you travel.”

“Camille told me that you were in Italy before you came here?”

Aries had stuck the back end of the needle between his lips to fluff out the garment. He takes it out of his mouth. “Yes. I went to visit an old friend of mine in Milan.”

“Oh? Under Giovanni Bianchi’s realm?”

“Yes, although I’ve never met him. After my assignment in New York is finished, I’ll visit Japan to meet up with another friend.”

“What is Japan like? I’ve always wanted to travel there.”

Aries rests the jacket in his lap, considering. “Hm… you’ve asked a broad question. What stands out for me is that Japan has a lot of distinct sounds.”

“Sounds?”

“Yes. Unique dings and bells assigned to menial, everyday tasks like entering a convenience store or stepping onto an elevator. Endless announcements—‘The train will arrive soon’ and ‘There’s a special sale on mackerel today’ or ‘Please don’t forget your belongings.’ And cheerful jingleseverywhere. They ring out at pedestrian crosswalks, in electronics stores… through entire PA systems of some cities to mark the end of a workday. It’s a very peaceful but melodious country where everything has its place. It’s an interesting experience.”

I try to imagine what he’s describing. It’s always quiet around me, so it’s slightly difficult. “It sounds fascinating.”

“It is. Call me clichéd, but springtime is the best.”