Chapter 27: Chapter 27

PRESENT

CHAPTER 19: THE PROMISE

Compelling an unsuspecting doctor to remove a bullet inside his body and tend to Diana’s wound took every ounce of Gualtiero’s strength. He had never tried to invade a human’s mind in this state before. The power of the vervain in the kadas that hit him made him dizzy. The doctor’s face was fuzzy in his eyes. All his senses were at their weakest. It was a miracle the compulsion worked properly, but it made him lose consciousness for the next few hours. The doctor tended to Diana’s bullet wound first, then removed the kadas from Gualtiero’s body.

The weak vampire voice in the doctor’s head still powered its way through.

“Treat Diana’s wound with utmost urgency. When she’s out of danger, that should be the only time you would start removing the bullet in my system.” The doctor heard it loud and clear, and he did as he was compelled to.

When Gualtiero opened his eyes, he was still frail. It took a while for him to register his surroundings. He was in Anastasia and Diana’s place, on Diana’s bed, with something warm embracing him.

Diana, he realized. His slight movement awakened her, and they held each other’s gaze for a moment before Diana spoke.

“Thank God, you’re awake. I was worried about you. I thought you were – ”

“I am fine, Diana,” he said moving his arm to stroke Diana’s hair. “Your wound has been tended to?”

She nodded. Gualtiero had to detangle himself from her embrace. If Diana attempted a kiss, she would die, like Zari did. “Anastasia. Where is she?”

“Great! That’s cool to know she is the first thing on your mind upon waking,” Diana muttered.

“No, she isn’t. Anastasia was with me when I had this overwhelming desire to check if you had already arrived here from Romania. I didn’t know you were in danger, but I heard the commotion from outside,” Gualtiero explained.

“Is she easier to charm than me? I mean, because she is a clueless human?” Diana said, rolling her eyes. “You know, she actually couldn’t stop gushing about you the last time I saw her. I just can’t tell if it’s because of your vampire charm or she’s just naturally a b – ”

“Diana, listen to me,” Gualtiero interrupted. “Anastasia is not a clueless human. She is my familiar.”

“Your what?” Diana asked in dismay.

“Are you ready to hear me out now?” Gualtiero asked back. Diana slowly nodded. “Thank you, Diana. I prefer to talk to you without you having to yell at me. I mean no harm.”

Diana was embarrassed at herself but did not say anything.

“Two centuries ago, Li- a vampire compelled a group of humans to tend for vampires, one human assigned to each vampire. The compulsion ensured the human would put a vampire’s life above their own. These humans are called familiars. Anastasia is my familiar. So were her ancestors before her. She cannot help what she is, it is in her nature. Just like I cannot help being a vampire. You should not be angry at her for how she treats me. She cannot help it. Her feelings for me, it is similar to a mother’s love for her own child, not like… how we love, loved each other,” Gualtiero explained, correcting himself only for the sake of not offending Diana.

“You’re an idiot,” Diana answered. There was a hint of amusement in her voice. “I know you heard me say I love you back. What is the past tense for? I still…”

“…how we love each other,” Gualtiero was just too happy to correct himself. “I love you, Diana.”

Diana let that sink in. It felt good to hear it. “I love you. I can’t believe she never told me,” she said in disbelief. “We were best friends.”

“Anastasia thought she was protecting my secret from you. I didn’t know you were a… hunter,” Gualtiero said.

“I didn’t know either. But looks like I have to learn fast. That monster, I know he wouldn’t stop until I’m dead. You know him, don’t you? He was like your bestie or something?”

Diana stood up and went to get something from the fridge. She handed it to Gualtiero. “I found a blood bag in the fridge,” she said shrugging, upon noticing the questioning look on his face.

“I was wondering what you meant by ‘bestie’,” Gualtiero admitted. His face was stern. It was obvious the mention of Kieran did not particularly excite him. “Thank you for the food, Diana. Are you sure you don’t mind me drinking blood?”

“You can’t help it,” Diana answered. “And bestie means best friend, duh!”

“He isn’t,” Gualtiero continued. “He came from the Blood of Malkav, like me. I thought he was my family. I also thought he perished a century ago. I have no idea how he is still alive. I saw his body turn to dust. I cannot forgive him for trying to hurt you, though. He is my enemy now.”

“He mentioned a lover – and a near perfect Lilith,” Diana pressed on. “Who is this, an ex?”

“X?” Gualtiero asked, confused.

Diana rolled her eyes. Gualtiero was certainly from another century, he could barely keep up with modern slangs. “Ex-girlfriend, jeez.”

“Why do you give a word a nickname too? It is misleading. Ex could be anything. Extra, examination, extra-terrestrial…”

Diana laughed. “Nice try, but I am asking about Lilith, your ex-girlfriend.”

Gualtiero shook his head. “I’m sorry. I don’t want to talk about it.”

Diana stared at his handsome, blood-smeared face and didn’t press for more information when she noticed the pain on it.

“I’m sorry. I’ll leave that topic alone,” she decided.

“Who is the Romanian human you had an adventure with?” Gualtiero asked. “Zari told me…”

“She was an idiot, may her soul rest in peace,” Diana responded, annoyed. “His name is Lucas, and he is my trainer. Zari couldn’t have possibly known about him. I didn’t even know about him before I got there. Anyway, he is Roman’s brother, and there’s nothing going on between us.”

Gualtiero laughed despite himself. “If he is Roman Hall’s brother, then there’s nothing for me to be mad about.”

“Jealous is the proper word,” Diana suggested. “There is nothing for you to be jealous about. Jealous… it’s this irrational angry feeling like…”

“Like your feeling thinking about Anastasia and me?” Gualtiero teased.

“I’m not jea… Oh my God, don’t tease me,” Diana said with a chuckle.

“Sorry, I can’t help it.”

They stared at each other for a while. Gualtiero almost lost a grip of reality and nearly kissed Diana on the lips. Her eyes were closed, waiting. Gualtiero took a few steps back to get a grip of himself.

“I can’t,” he said. Diana felt embarrassed by the rejection. She stood, ready to go and forget being humiliated to her face. She was already headed out the door when Gualtiero spoke again. “Lilith… she cursed me.”

For the next half hour, Gualtiero talked about the past that he remembered, waking up not knowing who or what he was, the demented things Lilith made him do, murdering vampire hunters and humans alike, including Iosif Michea – he did not leave any secret. He knew nothing meant more to him than being with Diana. Maybe if he would be honest with her about everything, she would give their love a chance to prosper.

By the time he finished, Diana’s face was full of tears.

“I’m so sorry, Diana,” he whispered. He couldn’t help himself seeing her in such pain. He embraced her once more. “I’m so sorry, I never meant to hurt you. I never meant to lie to you. I never meant to – ”

“We’re fucked,” Diana said absentmindedly. Gualtiero did not answer but he looked surprised. He was momentarily lost in thought before he responded.

“Yes, I believe we can do that,” he said. “Not that I know how but…”

“What?” Diana cut him off, her face had completely turned red. “What do you mean?”

“I mean, she cursed me not to be able to kiss anyone without killing them, but there isn’t a curse about… intimacy,” Gualtiero explained. This time it was his turn to be humiliated.

“That’s… good news, I guess,” Diana said, trying hard not to laugh. “When I said ‘we’re fucked’ you thought I meant…”

“…that we could… fornicate, yes,” Gualtiero continued. “Fornication is a capital sin, I know, but I reckon we could get married if you want. Sorry, that came out too bold, I just meant… I should probably just stop talking.”

Diana burst out laughing. Gualtiero smiled, not comprehending what she was laughing about, but he didn’t really mind. She was happy, in that moment, at least.

“When I said ‘we’re fucked’ I meant like, we are doomed,” Diana said in between fits of laughter.

“Oh!” Gualtiero said, his face falling. Maybe it’s not just a stake or sunlight that could kill a vampire, because he felt himself dying of embarrassment.

“Although I don’t mind fornication. I mean if we can do it without kissing obviously. I don’t want to die,” Diana continued. She stopped laughing, noticing his humiliation.

“We’ll get through it, Gualtiero,” Diana said in a serious tone. “Love knows no boundaries, you know? A curse won’t stop us from being together. Now that there are no more secrets between us, I believe we can get through anything.”

Gualtiero was the one crying this time. “I love you, Diana. Thank you for not giving up on me. I will never give up on you either, I promise.”

She wiped his tears away. “Don’t cry,” she whispered. “We will be okay.”

“We will be okay,” he repeated.

“It amuses me that you don’t know what a wallpaper is, or a bestie, or an ex, but you know that word,” Diana said rolling her eyes at him.

“I just hear that word a lot from humans,” Gualtiero said, grinning.

“Sorry for swearing,” Diana said in mock apology. “FYI, we aren’t going to fuck ever, we are going to make love.”

“Make love,” Gualtiero repeated. “I like the sound of it better.”

“I know,” Diana agreed. “You’re like the grandpa that never ages,” she teased.

They spent the rest of the night together, touching each other, careful not to brush their lips onto each other’s, although sometimes they got dangerously close.

In between, they also talked about their future together. Although it was a bleak one to imagine, they decided to take it one day at a time. What was all the rush, anyway? They both felt it in their core. They could get lost into each other over and over every day, for infinity. Against all odds, they vowed to make their relationship work, whatever it takes…