1923. That makes her eighty-nine years old. Finn was right, she really doesn’t look too bad for an old broad. “So your father’s dead then?”
“You are very inquisitive tonight, aren’t you Tegan,” says Delilah with a slight grin.
“I just want to get to know you all better, get things into perspective in my head. Forgive me if I’m fascinated by the fact that you are all so young but so old at the same time.”
Delilah laughs now. “I’ve never heard it put that way before. And yes, my father is dead, he died about twenty years ago.”
“I’m sorry.”
Delilah shrugs, but then her expression goes serious for a moment. “Ethan mentioned your father has gone missing.”
I slump my shoulders at the reminder. “Yeah, I had planned on leaving again soon, but I can’t go until I’ve found him and made sure he’s safe.”
Delilah comes and sits down beside me. “I’ll keep my ear to the ground in the club and let you know if I hear anything suspicious.”
“Thanks.”
“No, thank you,” she says, “talking to you has reminded me that I’m not the only person in this city who has something to fear from vampires. I used to take my freedom for granted, I guess once I get it back I’ll learn to appreciate it more.”
I grin. “You do that, I better go find Ethan.”
Delilah smirks. “Yeah, he’s probably in his room upstairs. I’ll just remind you that being a dhamphir I have very good hearing, so please keep that in mind when you go up there, because I don’t wish to hear my brother having intimate relations.”
I roll my eyes. “What, he never brings women back here?”
“To the house? God no, he has other places to go for that kind of thing. Then again, I don’t think he’s been near a female for a while, you managed to leave quite the mark on him.” She smiles at me knowingly. What she says makes me feel both nervous and unworthy. I’m certainly not worth going celibate for, that’s for sure. Unless I have some unusual talents I’m unaware of. Then I remember my blood. Yeah, how could I forget?
I’m about to leave but then I turn back around to her. “You know, you should think about getting in touch with Gabriel, he’s your half-brother and also a really good guy.”
Delilah looks at me cynically. “Gabriel despises me.”
“He despises Ethan, you I think he might just have some time for. After all, you’re both dhamphirs.”
“That’s like me telling you you’ll get along with George Bush because you’re both human.” Delilah replies snidely.
I get her point, but still I grin and respond. “You’re right, we would definitely get on. He’d make me feel all intelligent and shit.”
Delilah shakes her head, not swayed by my attempt at lightening the mood. “I’m not getting in touch with Gabriel, Tegan.”
If I ever convince Delilah to give her half-brother a chance I don’t think now is going to be the time, so I just nod and slip out the door. My bare feet sink into the plush brown carpet that lines the hallway. Making my way up to the next floor, my heart begins to beat frantically. The hall is just as long as the previous one down below, but I see a door cracked open slightly. When I peer inside I find Ethan sitting in a fancy velvet armchair with a hardback book held open in one hand. His eyes scan the words, but he seems to sense me standing there and they flick up to meet my gaze.
His hair is damp like mine, he must have showered too. He’s wearing dark pants and a grey button down shirt which is currently unbuttoned, revealing his olive toned chest that I’m doing my best not to gawk at.
Ethan snaps the book shut and places it on the table beside him. I take a look around his room, in an effort to keep from gazing at him in shameful lust. I never considered myself a danger junkie, but I must be, because I’m finding this killer very appealing right now. It’s like a sickness. I’m sick from wanting him so badly, and I can’t help liking it every time we’re alone together. It’s terrible to say it, but they are my favourite times.
His bed is large with simple dark green sheets, all of the furnishings are dark wood. There’s a massive bookcase lining one wall, full of hardback volumes. It’s not exactly a tidy room, more casually clean, like he only bothers to do housework when it suits him. Same as me. Or perhaps he has a maid. Or maybe Delilah does it, though I have a hard time picturing her doing anything even halfway menial.
Ethan doesn’t breathe a word as I survey his belongings. When I finally turn back to look at him he’s wearing a satisfied smirk on his face. Both arms splayed along the rests of the chair, his legs hanging slightly apart.
“What?” I ask, not knowing
what else to say.
“Nothing, I just never have women in my bedroom, it’s…different.” He answers, his eyes shining in amusement.
“So then you prefer to use hotels or something?”
Ethan shrugs and tilts his head a little to the side. “Sometimes, or else I just go to their place, or even use my office at the club. Bringing women to your home gives them unrealistic expectations.”