Chapter 84 - Creatures Of Darkness

The talk with Anon didn't take as long as I was afraid it would, and it was still relatively early by the time I returned home, burdened by a heavy choice. Should I go to Avarice first, or to Anon's painter?

A question… for another time. At the moment, I just wanted to see JJ's face, listen to his enchanting voice, laugh at his jokes. It was something I waited for all day. The excitement buried under all my other things to do awoke with a vengeance now.

This time, it took me longer than normal to find JJ. I even grew afraid that he wasn't in the building at all, before I realised to look in my dad's—JJ's—room. The lights were off, and he was lying in bed, doing something on his phone, with only light from its screen piercing the darkness.

Did his phone survive the explosion, or did he get a new one? Eh. At least I didn't buy him anything super-expensive the first time.

When I arrived at the doorway, he pocketed his phone and turned towards me, his eyes glowing like a cat's. Besides them, I could only see his general silhouette. "Hello, ma chèrie. How was your search?"

"Hi to you too, and it was great. Now tell me, why are you lying there in darkness?" I asked him, bewildered.

JJ chuckled and sat up in a single smooth motion, without moving his legs. "Darkness is my kind's natural habitat. So, will you go to Avarice soon?"

I nodded and, unsure if he saw the movement, added, "Yep. But before that…" I paused to inhale air and determination. "How about watching a movie together?"

"A movie, hmm?" JJ pocketed his phone and stood up to walk towards. I played with the thought of turning on the lights, but by the time I could decide on it, JJ put his hands on both sides of the doorway. His frame blocked my way into the room, though I still had an entire hallway to retreat to. But I didn't want to.

In the light from the hallway, I could see how his pupils shrunk from the ovals they were in the darkness to the tiny slits I was used to. It was a fascinating sight, though I found myself lost in his eyes, regardless.

"Yes, a movie. We can just download something in the office, move some chairs together, bring snacks… Well, I bring snacks. You don't. Have you watched any modern vampire movies?"

JJ leaned closer, close enough that I felt his breath moving fine hairs on my face when he spoke. His lips widened into a grin. "Why would I need to bring snacks? A dish just brought herself to my door."

If not for the joking tone of his voice, I would've backed off if not in fear, then in certain caution; as it was, I just stuck my tongue at him. "Bite me."

He chuckled and peeled himself off the doorway to put his hands at the sides of my face. "One day, ma chèrie, one day. But not today, and not soon. Until then, I will have to console myself with this."

My breath caught in my lungs as he leaned even closer, until his lips touched mine. It was a slow, languid kiss. Not at all as ferocious as the one we shared yesterday. If yesterday's kiss was a burning bonfire, this was hot coals. Both are just as great for grilling sausages. With me being the sausage.

The kiss left my lips tingling, my skin covered in goosebumps and my thoughts completely out of it.

JJ clicked his tongue as he moved away from me and dropped his arms. "Ah, the flustered look on your face… I don't know if a movie has been made in this century that's more pleasing to my eye than it."

I blinked furiously, returning my thoughts from sausages to movies. "You really haven't seen any if you say such things. Come on! We only have time for one, so I have to show you something good." I began to walk towards the stairs and waved at JJ to follow. He did, but I had to turn around to confirm it—the man moved silently as a shadow.

"Damn, we have to watch Twilight sometimes. And Interview With The Vampire. And Dracula, of course…" I rambled as we walked. "In the opposite order. The history of vampire culture."

"Dracula?" a horror in JJ's voice caused me to stop in my tracks and turn towards him again. The expression of utter revulsion on his face was priceless, even though I had no idea what caused it. "There's a movie about him now, too?"

I blinked at him, thoroughly bewildered. "Of course. Dracula the book is basically a grand-grandfather of modern vampire culture. There's an entire bunch of movies, and then all sorts of re-thinking of the original plot, as well as just a bazillion of media featuring Dracula as a character…"

The more I talked, the more pained JJ's expression became, until he let out a long sigh and put a palm over his eyes. "And I thought it was bad before…"

"Huh? Bad? What? Vampires' fame? You weren't concerned about it before."

"No, no, ma chèrie." JJ straightened up with a dejected expression and resumed his way to the stairs. "It's… foolish, truly. But nothing could be done about it now…"

If I wasn't curious about his weird reaction to the mention of Dracula, I was now. "Will you tell me what's that about, JJ? Please? I promise to not laugh."

JJ was the one to laugh at my words. "Do you always act so childishly, ma chèrie, or only when you try to whine your way to my secrets?"

I gave a sour look to the back of his head, which was the only part I saw. I think his hair was a little longer than yesterday now… Or it was just my imagination.

"But will you tell me, JJ?"