Page 62 of Fangs with Benefits

Elijah stands speechless, looking between the woman and me. Gemma lets out a cracking meow at the visitor.

‘Well, don’t be a boar, Elijah. Are you going to invite me in?’

Chapter 22

Elijah

My sister.

Evangeline is here. In New York City.

I think of her letter safely tucked in its envelope being used as a bookmark in the book of poems I’ve been returning to every evening.

I didn’t expect her to travel here so quickly but, then again, travel is much faster than it used to be.

‘Come in, please,’ I say, stepping aside for her to enter the apartment, towing a slim suitcase behind her. She looks so cool, so timeless yet contemporary. She’s always been so good at looking human, the mannerisms, the slang, the tech. She’s always tried. I feel at times like I fit into society like a too-small glove. She’s never had this problem, moving from era to era, turn of century or new age with grace and always at the cutting edge. It’s her mind, I think; she’s so very analytical. She loves immortality, not for the creature comforts of this world, but for the knowledge. She’s always been an explorer, an investigator.

And now her eyes are on Molly, sharp and attentive, reading her body language, the wine glass and the mug on the table next to the bowl of eaten ice cream. I am tense all over, wondering what she thinks.

‘Molly, this is Jellie,’ I say. ‘I mean, my sister. Evangeline.’ Jellie hands me the bouquet of flowers and extends a manicured hand to Molly. Molly stands from the couch and shakes it.

‘I didn’t know your family was local,’ Molly says.

‘Oh, I’m across the pond.’ Jellie points a thumb over her shoulder. ‘With everything going on with your government these days I’m rather glad to be.’

‘Fair.’ Molly looks sufficiently disarmed by Jellie’s charms. ‘It’s nice to meet you.’

‘And you. I want to hear everything about you.’ Jellie parks her suitcase near the coat rack, where she hangs her long wool coat and plaid scarf. ‘But, Elijah, do you have anything for me to drink?’

She asks it innocuously, her way of testing the boundaries of my house guest’s knowledge. I pour a blood bag into a glass and microwave it before bringing it to the living room with a straw.

‘Oh, good. She knows.’ Jellie reassesses Molly, then looks back at me. The pause before she takes the glass tells me that this is going to be a conversation later, one I am not looking forward to. Jellie isn’t of the belief that humans and vampires shouldn’t mix–she’s not like my brother in this–but she’s always worried about me mixing with humans. Rightfully so. I have a habit of getting too attached.

Jellie smiles easily and settles into my spot on the couch next to Molly. I try not to stress about this joining of worlds while I arrange the massive bouquet of flowers into two vases (because normal people don’t have vases the size of Rhode Island in the cupboard).

‘Where did you get these?’ I yell from the kitchen.

‘The sweetest man with a flower stand,’ Jellie says. ‘He just gave them to me.’

‘Did he also propose?’ I ask.

‘Elijah, don’t be jealous that men don’t give you bouquets of flowers, I’m sure they would if you smiled more.’

Molly laughs, her eyes darting between us at the back and forth.

‘I’m happy to see you, brother,’ Jellie says when I rejoin them in the living room.

‘Me too,’ I admit, and take her hand in mine for a brief squeeze before I drop into the chair next to the couch.

Jellie leans towards my guest, a curious glint in her eyes. ‘So, Molly, tell me everything.’

‘What do you want to know?’

I shift uncomfortably while Molly answers a couple of simple questions–Where do you work? What do you do there?–and I’m hopeful Jellie won’t ask Molly to define the confines of our relationship. My sister would be way too cool about the friends-with-benefits thing and ask way too many probing questions about it. She’s never met a boundary she didn’t know how to innocently waltz across.

‘You work with Eli? Do you like it? Is he a terrible bother?’ Molly frowns, thinking about the question, then shakes her head. ‘I like it in the way that most people like their corporate job, I think. So, no, it’s not fun but I like having health insurance. And Elijah is less of a terrible bother each day.’

‘And what’s your dream?’