Chapter 3: Lavant Manor

The wind whistled softly through the open windows of Lavant manor. The moonlight beamed across the floor, with candlelight lighting the walls. Edwin Lavant, a tall thin man with long white hair, sat at a vanity in a large master bedroom, combing through his hair with a brush as he softly hummed to himself. His bright red eyes glistened in both forms of light. His silk robe loosened around his body, with one of the sides sliding down his shoulder. His singing was cut short, however, by a knock sounding at the door.

“Come in,” he said as he silently set his brush down on the dark wood of the vanity and stood, re-tied the robe to better fit his frame, albeit leaving one shoulder exposed.

The door then opened, and a young man with short black hair and light chocolate skin entered the room with; a tray in one hand with a glass and bottle of red liquid on it.

“I’ve brought your dinner, my lord,” he said as he walked over and set the tray on a small table next to a lounge chair. “Would you like me to pour you a glass, or would you like to do it yourself tonight?”

“I’ll do it tonight, Jamie; thank you,” Edwin said before going over and opening the bottle, pouring the thick flowing red liquid into the crystal wine glass. His mind filled to the brim with thoughts as he set the bottle down, swirling the substance around in the glass in his left hand as he stared out of the window and into the trees.

“Something seems to be on your mind, my lord... perhaps, if you would like to talk, I am willing to listen,” Jamie said as he picked up a feather duster and began to go around the room.

Edwin shook his head lightly. “Oh, Jamie... I don’t entirely know what’s going on in my mind... All of these parties and events coming up, I feel like my schedule has never been busier...” He sipped the red liquid from the glass and hummed softly, his eyes closing for a moment as he felt the warmth slide down his throat. “Do you ever think I am getting in too deep?”

Jamie looked back at his boss over his shoulder, his deep blue eyes widening a little at what he had asked, “Well... perhaps sometimes we believe you are flying too close to the sun. We can always cancel these next few things…”

“No, no… I’ve already said I would be coming... If I pull back now, people will start to come by here... and we don’t need unneeded guests seeing anything unusual.” He took another sip of the liquid before shutting his balcony doors, “But afterwards, I need to be warier of which invitations I accept.”

Jamie was about to respond when a gentler knock sounded on the other side of the door, “Come in, Lily,” Edwin said, smiling softly, knowing who it was just from how soft they knocked on the door.

A lovely young woman then entered, her pale skin almost glowing in the moonlight with the lack of red in her pigment. Her arms were full of fabric and sewing supplies as she practically glided into the room like she wasn’t even walking. Her long blonde hair flowed behind her like a breeze had hit her and passed over her shoulders, making her clean white dress move in the same pattern.

“I’m here to start on your outfit for Lord and Lady Jules’s masquerade happening in a week,” she spoke with such a quiet voice she could barely be heard.

Edwin gave her a gentle smile. “Of course, dear; how would you like me to stand?” he asked as he walked to the center of the room and took another sip of his wine.

Lily smiled and nodded. “That works perfectly, my lord.”

She then set her things down on a coffee table, grabbed some of the fabric and began to lay it out and pin it around Edwin’s body, referencing a previous notebook that already had all his measurements laid out for her.

Jamie stepped in front of Edwin’s figure. “I have taken note of what you said earlier, my lord. I will be sure to pile together any invitations you get in the future for you to look over thoroughly. And I promise to always look with you to offer my opinions.”

Edwin smiled down at him. “Thank you so much, Jamie… I don’t know what I’d do without you. Or any of you, for that matter.”

“You would have gone mad in a big empty manor for one,” Jamie proclaimed before taking the empty wine glass from Edwin’s hand, his cheeks going a light pink when their fingers brushed together.

Edwin let out a giggle that sounded like pure music. “That’s true; I almost did when I first found this place. I’m glad I have all of you to keep me company,”

Lily pulled a pin from her mouth and stuck it in a spot on his back. “And we are happy that you have given us a place to hide… It’s nice not having to run anymore.”

Jamie nodded in agreement as he refilled Edwin’s glass. “It’s nice to not have to hide our true selves in these walls. Sleeping in my wolf form is much more enjoyable for me.” He walked back over to Edwin and put the glass back into his hand. “How is this deer blood settling with you?”

Edwin took another sip of it and hummed again, satisfied. “It’s honestly my favorite of the animals in this forest; It’s been the most satisfying,”

Jamie nodded. “I will be sure to let the chef know. If you need anything else from me, just ring,” he said before bowing and heading out of the room.

Edwin merely returned the gesture before looking back out of his balcony doors, holding his arms out for Lily to pin the fabric together. His mind still shifting from thought to thought. He hadn’t entirely said everything, he just didn’t want to make anyone feel like they weren’t helping him enough.

His house was full, he had food every day, and he never had to sleep outside. And yet… Edwin felt lonely. He missed the feeling of someone in his bed with him. The companionship of a man holding him close and making him feel safe. Someone to go to events with him. To sip Champagne at the theatre, to dance with him at dances, and to sit next to him at dinners.

He knew it was hopeless; a vampire like himself could never have someone with him for eternity, and he would never ask someone to shift as he had. But these unfortunate truths would never stop him from fantasizing about what could be.