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I led Delphine down the service corridor and out the back door of the aquarium. There were fewer people here on the street, and there was a park just across the way, so I steered her in that direction. We crossed the street and strolled down the sidewalk.
Her energy was tense, rolled up in a ball inside her, and her gaze darted around us. I rubbed her arm through her thin sweater as we walked. She must have left her coat in the aquarium, but the day was warm for November, so I thought she’d be okay. I enjoyed the feel of warm sun on my skin, in a way I hadn’t for two thousand years. Vampires might not burst into flame in the sun, especially ones as old as my brother and me, but it didn’t feel like this. This was amazing.
A man wearing dark glasses walked toward us, a cane in his hand. Just a dozen steps away he stumbled, and we watched, pausing. After righting himself, he took a couple more steps then murmured something to himself. He froze and, reaching up, patted his head frantically. His words were coming faster now, but I didn’t have my vampire hearing to make them out.
Delphine glanced at him and then down at her feet, her shoulders slumping. “I’m sorry,” she said softly. “I’m sorry.”
“Hey, hey,” I said. “It’s okay. It’s only temporary.” I didn’t know what kind of magic the man had, but her power had taken it, just like she’d taken my vampirism.
“But . . .” She eyed the blind man again.
“He’ll be fine,” I insisted. I had no idea if that was true, but she’d said it was a range thing. Once the man got out of our vicinity, he should be okay. And Delphine looked so upset, I found myself wanting to do almost anything to help her. There was a pull in my chest that hadn’t gone away, even though I was human. I didn’t know what it was, but I didn’t want to leave her side.
We stepped through the entrance of the park and by the three statues of the Fates that topped the fountains. The Maiden, the Matron, and the Crone seemed to watch us from their respective posts as we passed. In fact, I could have sworn I saw the old one smile, but if there wasn’t any magic, how could she? Beyond the fountains was the playground and the sound of laughing children and families. We should avoid them in case any were magic. I guided her into the trees instead that clustered along the south and toward the walking paths. The ground was covered in brightly colored fall leaves, reds, oranges, browns, and yellow. Some of them had been raked into piles, and we weaved among them toward the more worn trail.
Delphine gasped when a nearly naked boy popped up out of one of the leaf piles.
He looked down at himself in surprise and then around. “What happened?”
Another boy ran over to him, laughing. “Why’d you shift, you doofus!” Then he glanced our way and froze, tensing.
“No worries,” Roman said. “We’re in the know.”
The boy relaxed and tossed his friend sweatpants. “Come on, let’s go find the rest of your clothes.”
“Last time I listen to you,” the nearly naked boy muttered,yanking the sweats over his cartoon underpants. “I didn’t feel any lighter without my clothes.”
The other boy snorted with laughter.
Delphine’s gaze followed the boys as they ran off, her look pensive.
“Let’s go this way,” I said, trying to distract her. The walking path was clear of other people as far as I could see, but I missed my vampire senses. I wasn’t used to being limited. “I like to come here when I need to think.”
“I just don’t want to be near any supernaturals,” she said, moving ahead of me.
“Except me.” Though she didn’t answer me, I wasn’t letting her go anytime soon. I studied her. She had a classic beauty like a Renaissance sculpture, just the right amount of luscious curves and fine features. The blue sweater and faded blue jeans she wore were tight fitting and didn’t leave much to the imagination. My all-too-human hormones were awake and alive for sure, and I found myself adjusting myself as I watched her ass sway in front of me.
I hurried to catch up before I dragged her down into the brush and had my way with her. I frowned. That wasn’t like me at all. Besides, Delphine was still so skittish. Me jumping her bones, as my brother would say, wouldn’t have been helpful at this juncture. Instead, I looked around for anything to divert her attention—well, both of our attentions. Wildflowers bloomed along the edges of the path despite being so late in the season. “Asters.”
“What?” she asked, looking around a bit frantically, but calming when she saw that we were alone.
“These flowers,” I said, pointing to the white and yellow blooms along the path, “are white wood asters.”
“They’re pretty,” she said, pausing and leaning down to smell them. “They smell kind of minty.”
I nodded. “Butterflies like them.” Now that we’d gotten away from the people, the connection between us felt stronger than ever. I’d thought it was magic and it would disappear under her power, but it was strong and steady, like a heartbeat. Did some magic not react to her power? Like the Fates?
Delphine was beautiful, with pale blonde hair and blue eyes, and her figure was almost buxom, reminding me of the beautiful women of my youth. She wasn’t heavy, and she wasn’t a beanpole either. I’d seen lots of pretty women in my time, still there was something different about her—about my reaction to her. I usually preferred my books and my work to associating with other people, but I could walk with her forever.
“Are you okay?” she asked, placing her hand on my arm. “I know being human can be disconcerting.”
I guessed I had been lost in my thoughts. I gave her a smile. “No, it’s lovely actually. I haven’t felt the warmth of the sun in too long.”
She smiled back at me. “Thank you for being kind.”
I laid my hand on hers. She was a bit cold, but her skin was soft and I wrapped my hand around hers. This was probably the only time I’d ever be able to lend a woman my warmth.
“So you work at the aquarium?” she asked, looking away from me, but she didn’t pull away from my grip.
