The Vampire’s Servant novel Chapter 101

[Echo]

When I woke up Saturday morning, Victor wasn’t in bed with me and Gray. I saw him pacing in my room. He looked distracted and didn’t seem to see me. I watched him for a while.

“What’s he pacing about?” Gray whispered next to me.

“I don’t know.” I answered.

Victor didn’t notice us talking either. I was nervous. I didn’t like it when he was so in his head that nothing else registered. It had been like this over the last few days.

He was stressing out over the curse. We hadn’t gotten any movement on it since. It had only been a couple days, but Victor said he was feeling differently than normal.

“Victor?” I called out.

No response. I got out of bed and tapped his arm. Victor jumped a little. He looked at me like he didn’t fully recognize me for a moment.

“Echo? Why are you up?” He asked.

“My alarm went off, Victor. Are you alright?”

“Already. I didn’t even hear it. Are you excited for your dance tonight?” Victor smiled.

“Maybe we shouldn’t go.” Gray said. “It looks like you need Echo here.”

I nodded. I was worried about Victor. He was always distracted recently. It was like he couldn’t focus on anything else.

“No. You should go. Echo should have this experience. I want her to have fun.” Victor responded.

“I don’t need to, Victor.” I insisted.

“You do. This is just me overthinking. Don’t worry. I want to see you in your dress.” Victor smiled. “I have a surprise for you later. I want this to be a wonderful evening for you.”

“What is it?” I asked, suddenly eager.

“You’ll find out later. Don’t you have training today?” Victor asked with a smile.

“Oh no!” I yipped and rushed to get ready for training.

Once I was dressed, I met the boys downstairs. We headed out for our run and Dillon worked with me while Jean-Claude and Gray sparred. It got me out of my head a little.

Gray had tried to talk them out of training, but I thought it was good for us. Especially me. I was working really hard to be better than before. I didn’t want Victor and Gray to worry about me anymore.

Victor and Finn had breakfast ready for us when we came in. It was really nice to have found our stride as a household. Everything was working smoothly and I wasn’t having any trouble keeping up with the housework now that Gray was helping out around the house.

I went with Victor up to his room when it was time for him to sleep. Soon he would be going to bed before I finished training in the mornings. I would miss having breakfast with him.

As I curled up in his bed with him, I could tell he was tense still. I trailed my hand up and down his stomach, trying to calm him. Though it worked on Gray, it didn’t seem to be working for Victor.

“Are you worried about the curse?” I asked.

“I’m sorry, princess. There’s some invisible, looming deadline hanging over me and we aren’t moving as quickly as I would like. Every night that passes, we get closer to my end, and I can’t shake this feeling of impending doom.” He sighed.

“I know it seems like this is all going slowly, Victor. We’re doing what we can. There are so many people working on it, that I know we’ll see the end before anything happens to you. No one has tried this hard to break the curse before. The light witches are helping even though they know the dark witches are helping too. Everyone who knows about the curse is really focused on ending it. Just have patience.” I said.

“I hissed at Gray this morning. Before you woke up. He rolled over and put an arm around you and I hissed like some angry cat. I didn’t want him touching you. I hated his presence. It was only for a moment, but, I couldn’t help myself. That was part of why I wasn’t in bed when you got up. What if I hurt him? You’d never forgive me.” Victor admitted.

“Don’t tell me what I would feel, Victor. You didn’t hurt him. You pulled yourself together. It may mean working harder on containing your emotions, but I think you can do it. I know you can do it. If there’s an incident, we’ll all work through it. Even if I have to start sleeping alone again.” I insisted.

Victor stopped my hand and brought it up to his lips. “Don’t say that, princess. I love our nights together. I know how much you hated being alone all the time. Even in your sleep, you cling to us. I can’t force you to go back to being alone at night. What if you have a nightmare?”

“I’ll figure it out, Victor. I just want you to know that’s an option I’m willing to explore if we have to. Thank you for being honest with me about your thoughts and feelings. I worry sometimes that you and Gray keep quiet about things so you won’t upset me. That’s not healthy for our relationship. I want to know everything you’re thinking.” I told him.

“I will always tell you my mind, Echo. I promise. I feel the sun tugging at me. I can’t stay awake any longer.” He said softly.

“Close your eyes, Victor. I’ll stay here until you’re asleep. I love you.” I whispered.

“I love you, too, my Echo. I’ll always love you.” Victor murmured as he closed his eyes.

I pulled my hand from his grasp and moved up to kiss him. I wanted him to go to sleep knowing that I was there for him, feeling that I loved him. His kiss was gentle and slowly began to slacken as sleep took him from me.

Tenderly, I ran my fingers through his hair and traced over the curves of his cheek and jaw bones. I managed to keep the tears out of my eyes until he was gone, then I laid my ear over his heart and listened to the slow, muffled beating. He wasn’t dead, just sleeping. I would repeat that phrase throughout the rest of the day.

–

A few hours later, I was dusting in the living room when I heard the buzzer for the front gate. I had decided to clean until Harmony would come to get ready for the dance. It helped me stay calm.

Gray had held me for an hour after I let Victor rest. I told him what Victor said about the hissing and what I told him about sleeping alone. Gray agreed with Victor, that we should wait until there was more of a danger to him. I didn’t like it, but it was two against one.

I went to the entry and hit the intercom. It was Harmony. I looked at the clock on the wall. It was only just one in the afternoon. I didn’t know why she was there so early. Maybe she just wanted to hang out with me a little before we got ready. I smiled and opened the gate.

Returning to the living room, I finished the last of my dusting, then put the duster away in the laundry room. The front door opened just as I was coming back. Harmony grinned and entered with the bag that held her dress and another bag with her other things.

Behind her, two women entered the house. I tensed. I didn’t like people I didn’t know in the house.

I recognized one of the women as Opal from the salon. She smiled and wiggled her fingers. Gray came down the stairs and froze for a moment.

“Hiya, I’m Opal. Master Nightshade requested me and Penny come to help the girls get ready for your dance.” She said.

“Right. I didn’t really expect you this early.” Gray replied with a smile.

“You knew about this?” I asked him.

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