Chapter 5: The Secret is Out

Maria woke up in a lavishly decorated room made up of midnight black curtains pulled tight across the window, plush pewter-colored carpet, and gothic-style furniture surrounding the large bed she currently lay in. Her head rested on a pillow, softer than anything she'd ever felt. High above her stretched a dark grey canopy that matched the color of the feather-soft comforter enveloping her body.

It was surreal to be in a room that resembled the layout of hers exactly. Maria could point to where the closet was, despite this one seeming to have been gutted and replaced with an armoire. And she could list the measurements of the bedroom window behind the curtain currently hiding her away from the world.

Everything was lovely, but nothing was hers. Maria’s body jolted in panic, causing the gothic-inspired room to spin due to the sudden movement.

"Wow, wow, wow," came that familiar deep voice. Before she could turn to confirm it was him, Maria felt a heavy hand rest on her chest and softly push her back down on the bed. The mattress beside her sank a bit as a body sat beside hers. Then leaning over her face, he came into view — Alessandro.

"Fancy meeting you here," he said in that smooth voice.

"You're a vampire," was the only thing that Maria could bring herself to say.

She should run. She should scream. She should do anything other than lay in this bed staring up into Alessandro's soft grey eyes.

"It's a long story." Alessandro stretched out beside her, Maria's body both going stiff, yet wanting more of his touch at the sensation of his smooth skin.

"Why tell me?" Maria finally asked. A slight waver came through her voice. However, Maria wasn't sure whether it was from fear of the truth or the fear of how she was drawn to him at this moment.

Alessandro brushed back his hair. His mouth opened and closed a couple of times before he finally admitted, "It was as if something feral took over me."

Maria stifled a laugh.

"Trust me, I know how it sounds," Alessandro said, "But I saw you, and it was as if I lost all my fear, all control...something in my body told me that you needed to know."

Alessandro rolled to his side, maintaining eye contact with Maria. "I've spent the past three centuries hiding, not having any issues avoiding your kind. I've had neighbors in the past, the occasional coworker when life got lonely, but nothing and no one ever gave me this urge. This was more than simply my wanting to tell you. Because gods know, that was my biggest fear when you moved in. No, this was something primal...almost fated."

Maria rolled to her side, mirroring his posture. "That's some deep sh*t."

Alessandro smiled. "Oh, you haven't even heard the half of it."

"So should I be scared now? Are you going to—" Maria made a slicing motion over her throat.

"You'll never have to be scared with me." Alessandro gazed into her green eyes as if he wanted to lean closer. But he made no move. Would she have resisted if he did?

Maria could feel her heart pounding against her chest the longer she stayed in such proximity with him. But she couldn't allow herself to fall for him yet. There were more questions that Maria needed answers to before she could consider releasing her heart to him.

"Besides," Alessandro continued, "I wouldn't—" He mimicked the slicing motion she'd made. "It would be more like —" He bared his teeth, and for the first time, Maria saw the two incisors that extended longer than the rest. Her hand twitched up to the gleaming teeth. But she withheld herself.

"You can touch," Alessandro said with a sly smile.

"No, that's weird." Maria laughed nervously. Alessandro's hand curled around hers. His skin remained cool against her palm, and that spark from the first night they'd high-fived came back.

Slowly, he lifted her fingers, first to his lips, drawing them unhurriedly across.

Touching him this way made the world feel as if it were spinning a bit slower. As if a never-ending list of happily ever afters were possible with him.

Alessandro parted his lips. Once again, baring his teeth. Maria extended her finger gradually, stroking the extended teeth. Slick with moisture, her fingers ran patterns as if memorizing their features. This was all more surreal than she could have imagined.

Eventually, Maria went to remove her hand. Alessandro leaned forward, giving her finger a slight nip with his front teeth. Maria's body went rigid with worry for a moment, but he released his hold, letting a warm smile lift the corners of his mouth.

"I promise I would never hurt you," Alessandro said.

And as Maria studied his deep-set eyes, she knew he was telling the truth.

***

ALESSANDRO'S POV

Alessandro looked upon Maria lying on his bed as she played with her dark curls. His body ached to lean into her touch, but he knew that things would have to go slow. He'd already thrown so much at her, and there was still more to tell. But as he lay beside her, it all felt right.

It was hard to believe that just a few days ago, he'd deemed that his worst fear had come true when he saw her truck pull up. Yet now, he felt as if dreams he didn't know he had were coming to fruition. But dreams had a way of ending, and if he was going to be honest with her, he needed to tell her the complete truth.

"There's something else I need to tell you," Alessandro said solemnly.

"What?" Maria asked, "Do you vant to suck my blood?"

It was the worst Dracula impression he'd ever heard. Even so, the heat in her eyes only further warmed the flame between them.

"I'm..." Alessandro began, then cut himself short.

He wanted her to trust him. He wanted whatever spark was currently forming between the two of them to keep growing. But even so, Alessandro knew that wasn't going to happen on the foundation of secrets.

Maria's face grew serious as the pause lingered. The first confession seemed so much easier than this one.

"I'm..." Alessandro tried again, "I'm betrothed to another woman."