The Black Swan Page 14

  “He was fond enough of them. Most of them were his descendants or Remember’s, and he considered them almost his children.”

  “Is that how he sees me?” Before Noah could castigate himself as an idiot for being in love with a vampyre who’d only see him as second best, Morwen took his hand.

  “Come.” She drew him toward the bench. “Let’s sit down.”

  He sat beside her, and instead of keeping a grip on his hand, she rested her palms on his temples. It was as if she’d unlocked a door he’d barely known was there.

  But now…“Oh my God.” Now it all became clear.

  “Yes. You’ve come back to him.” Even though she couldn’t see, she smiled into his eyes. “Remember.”

  This time it was not only the name but the verb as well, and Noah did remember.

  The first time he met Gabriel—as a twelve-year-old in Colonial Virginia.

  Finding stolen moments for a kiss or an embrace.

  Realizing for Gabriel’s sake that they needed to court a woman.

  Kissing his woman goodbye while Gabriel did the same, and marching off to war, shoulder to shoulder.

  Sharing body heat that awful winter at Valley Forge.

  Offering Gabriel his blood shortly after he’d been turned.

  Kissing the blood off Gabriel’s mouth.

  The wild adventures of a black swan and his vampyre, no longer needing to conceal what they felt for each other.

  Culminating in the Battle of Gettysburg, when a quack took his arm and his leg and gave him little in the way of sulfuric ether or chloroform to numb the pain.

  And Gabriel, with blood-red tears streaming down his cheeks, eased the way for Remember to cross over.

  Noah opened his eyes and blinked the tears from his lashes.

  Mother Morwen rested her palm against his cheek. “So you see, you were always first in his heart.”

  Noah smiled at her. “And now I am again.”

  “And now you are again.”

  * * * *

  Chapter 9

  “Do you hunt?” Morwen asked as she pulled up the buggy in front of her little cabin.

  “I have, although not for a few years.” When the family went camping, they’d hunt for their own food, so he was familiar with a rifle and bow and arrow, as well as a sling similar to what David had used to knock down Goliath.

  He stood watching as Morwen unerringly removed the harness from Daisy and set her free to graze in a nearby pasture.

  “Master Granger won’t wake for another three hours. See if you can find something for him.”

  “Okay.” He tended to wear high-top sneakers when he worked, so the long laces would be perfect to fashion snares. “If I can’t catch anything, Gabriel can feed from me.”

  “It’s too soon.” She smiled, patted his arm, and gave him a light push. “Now go. I’ll have something ready for your dinner.”

  “Thank you.”

  * * * *

  The sun had gone down by the time Noah returned to the cabin. He was sweaty and grubby, but he’d caught a couple of plump rabbits.

  Light shown through the cabin’s windows, and he could see shadows pass behind them. One was too tall to be Mother Morwen. Noah felt his heart give a little leap, and he bounded up the steps and threw open the door.

  “Dinner,” he sang out. His gaze went directly to his vampyre, who lounged casually in a chair at the table, and Noah held up the rabbits. “I’ll just remove the fur on their necks…” His words stumbled to a halt as he realized they weren’t alone. “Pop? Ma? What are you doing here? How did you get here?”

  “I knew Chris was the only one you’d trust the Golden Circle to, so I called him. He told us where to find you. We flew up, rented a car, and drove to Braddockville.”

  “But why? I told you we’d be coming down later. You didn’t have to make this trip.”

  “On the contrary.”

  “Are you going to yell at me?” Noah turned to Morwen. “Mother, do you have a sharp knife?”

  She found one without any trouble and brought it to him, then took a rabbit and stroked it to calm it. Noah began shaving the throat of the rabbit he held.

  “Why are you doing that?” Pop demanded. “I never taught you that. And no, I’m not going to yell at you. You’re an adult.”

  Noah shrugged. “Then why are you here? I told you we’d be down in a few hours.” He handed the rabbit, which was still kicking slightly, to Gabriel.

  “Thank you.” Gabriel rose and ran the backs of his fingers over Noah’s cheek. “For taking care of me.”

  “That’s what I’m supposed to do, isn’t it?”

  “No, because you’re not a black swan,” Pop almost shouted. So much for him not yelling.

  “Pop—”

  “Gamble, leave the boy alone.” It was Mom talking, and Noah almost keeled over from shock. Mom never interfered with how Pop ran the family. “Noah. Are you sure?”

  “Yes.” How could he explain why he was so sure? His mom was a wonderful woman, but she didn’t believe in reincarnation. Shit, it was a wonder she even believed in vampyres, black swans, and kitras.

  “Excuse me a moment.” Gabriel took the rabbit out into the night.

  “Where’s he going?”

  “Where do you think, Pop? Did you want to watch him drain that rabbit?” He retrieved the second rabbit and used the knife to carefully shave its throat.

  “He’s going to…to feed?”

  “Yes. This is his home, and you’re a guest here. If any of this disturbs you, there’s the door. You’re welcome to use it.”

  “Noah! I’m your father!”

  “And I’m Gabriel’s black swan. Accept it.”

  Mom sighed. “We should have waited for them to come to us, Gamble.”

  “And risk losing our son?”

  “You risk losing me anyway, Pop. Please…please don’t try to come between me and Gabriel.”

  “But if he takes you to a foreign country…”

  “Then I go with him.”

  “Gamble.” Gabriel had entered the cabin and given Morwen the first rabbit’s carcass. “I have nothing to do with the government. I haven’t in more than forty years. I’ll keep Noah safe.”

  Noah went to him and gave him the second rabbit.

  “Please, Pop? I don’t want to lose the family, but I won’t lose Gabriel.” Not again, not after getting him back after all this time.

  “How will he feed?”

  “Did you know there were people who want to have a vampyre feed from them? They dress in black and file their canine teeth to points.”

  Pop looked horrified, and Mom didn’t look too thrilled either.

  “Don’t tease your parents, Noah. There’s room in the backyard for a rabbit hutch. We’ll raise rabbits. Maybe I’ll buy Noah a small herd of donkeys.”

  “Gabriel, I don’t mind eating Br’er Rabbit, but I’ll be darned if I eat Donkey from Shrek.”

  He laughed and ruffled Noah’s hair. “I’ll make a cut in our donkey’s ear and gather the blood that way.”

  “Okay. That’s okay.” Noah turned to his parents. “Are you staying for dinner? Morwen, do we have enough?”

  “If Master Granger will finish with that rabbit and let me have it.”

  “All right. Give me a minute. I’m going to have indigestion from rushing my dinner,” Gabriel muttered as he walked out of the cabin again.

  “Noah…”

  He went to his father, leaned against him, and wrapped his arms around his waist. “It will be fine, Pop. I promise.”

  “Let it go, Gamble. It’s time you accepted our baby boy is a man,” Mom said. “Mother Morwen, is there anything I can do to help?”

  “If you wouldn’t mind setting the table? And Gamble, would you mind gutting this rabbit?”

  Noah stood out of the way and watched. He had his family, and he had Gabriel.

  And after Mom and Pop drove back to wherever they were spending the night, maybe he and Gabriel
would be able to make love for the first time. Again. It had been a very long time.

  * * * *

  As it turned out, it was going to be even longer. Pop insisted on staying until just before sunrise. First he rambled about his golf game. Then he brought up the extra televisions Noah had purchased for the Golden Circle, something he did every time he saw Noah. He and Mom had come up for Christmas to spend it with the grandchildren and had stopped at the tavern. “What’s all this, then?”

  “Pop, we need these if we want to keep up with the times.”

  Pop had grumbled about the cost, shutting up only after Noah had showed him the books.

  “All right. Gaye,” Pop said now. “Why don’t you tell Noah about that dance contest we plan to enter?”

  “Gamble, I’m falling asleep here. Let’s go to our hotel. Noah needs to go to bed, and I’m sure Gabriel will give you all the assurances you need tomorrow evening.”

  “I will. I promise I’ll take care of Noah,” Gabriel said.

  “I would think it’s more my son will have to take care of you.”

  “I don’t understand.” Gabriel wasn’t the only one to look puzzled. Noah was also.

  “What are you talking about, Pop?”

  “He’s got no job—he hasn’t worked for the government in more than forty years. You’ll have to support him.”

  Mother Morwen pressed her fingers to her mouth, obviously containing a laugh. “You think Master Granger is penniless?”

  “Well, yes.”

  Gabriel stared at him for a moment, then shook his head, opened the trap door, and went down into the root cellar.

  “Where’s he going?” Pop glared after him. “If that isn’t just like a vampyre.”

  Noah sighed. “I don’t mind taking care of him, Pop. I’m his black swan. That’s part of my job.”

  Pop ground his teeth. Noah shouldn’t keep reminding him he was Gabriel’s black swan, but he figured he had about ten years of rubbing it in coming to him.

  Morwen cleared her throat. “He’s actually quite frugal and has a tidy little nest egg.”

  “What? Script from the Civil War? That’s virtually worthless.” He sneered.

  “There are collectors, Pop.”

  Pop scowled at him.

  Gabriel came out of the root cellar, carrying a wooden chest. “I assume this is what you mean?” He set the chest on the table, opened the lid, and spilled out its contents.

  Pop’s gulp was audible, and Noah couldn’t help biting his lip to prevent his laughter. There were gold and silver coins, probably from as far back as the Mexican-American War, as well as paper money dating to the Second World War, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War.

  “So as you can see, Poynter, I’m quite capable of caring for my black swan.”

  Pop grunted. “I’m still not happy about this.” But he pulled Noah into a hug.

  “I know, Pop.”

  “Good night, son.” He went out to bring the car around from where he’d parked it behind the cabin. Had he thought Noah would take off running as soon as he saw it?

  Mom kissed his cheek. “He worries about you, Noah. Don’t be too hard on him.”

  “No, Ma.” He kissed her. “We’ll see you tomorrow.”

  She smiled and ran her fingers through his hair.

  “What?”

  “It used to be you’d say you alone would see us. Now you’re including Gabriel.”

  “Pardon me, Mrs. Poynter, but would you mind calling me Gabe?”

  “All right. Gabe. May I ask why?”

  “Only Noah calls me Gabriel.”

  “In that case…I’ll see you tomorrow evening, Gabe. Good night, Morwen. Thank you for taking care of my baby.”

  “Ma, please?”

  She ruffled his hair. “I like your hair much better like this,” she said, and then left.

  “So do I.”

  “Huh?”

  But Gabriel suddenly looked boneless.

  “Okay, fine,” Noah muttered, letting it go as he took an extremely lethargic vampyre down into the root cellar. “Tomorrow, after we talk to my parents, I’m taking you home, and you’re moving in with me.”

  “Whatever you say, sweetheart.” Gabriel’s smile was drowsy, and he kissed Noah’s cheek. It was a good thing Noah was holding onto him, because Gabriel was out like a light and would have smashed his chin on the hard dirt floor of the cellar.

  “What am I gonna do with you, Gabriel?” Noah smiled to himself. “I guess I’ll just have to love you forever.”

  * * * *

  Epilogue

  The tavern always drew a crowd on the Fourth of July, and with the holiday falling on a Monday this year, the past three nights had been a mob scene.

  And since the Fourth was also Noah’s twenty-fifth birthday, he’d be hosting a huge party in the Golden Circle.

  It was supposed to be a secret, but he knew the family was coming to Wittington to surprise him. Even Travis and his vampyre were coming in from Hawaii.

  Noah chuckled to himself. It was impossible to keep a secret in this town, but when his family walked in that door, he was going to be the most surprised person in the room.

  Meanwhile, he had a lot to do if he wanted everything to be perfect. He needed to check on his stock of beer, wine, scotch, gin, vodka, and mixers. Orange juice, tomato juice, and cranberry juice. Blood.

  Noah waved and nodded to friends, neighbors, and customers, and he almost danced as he made his way to the Golden Circle.

  * * * *

  Noah planned to open the tavern later than usual, since everyone would be over by the high school’s baseball field watching the fireworks.

  He looked around with satisfaction. Streamers were hung, candles were waiting to be lit, and a band—complete with bagpipes—would be in around nine to play patriotic music. Just now, though, Noah had digital music playing softly in the background.

  Hanging from the ceiling was the Halloween ghoul, dressed in red, white, and blue, and with a sash across its hollow chest reading Happy Birthday.

  Soon, groups of twos and threes and fours, men and women would enter.

  And the occasional vampyre or two.

  Sebastian Hanover, a friend of Gabriel’s, had come down from Connecticut, along with his black swans. They were staying with Noah and Gabriel in the big house up the lane. Martin, Sebastian’s chauffeur, had grinned when he’d first spotted him. “You look better like this.”

  “Huh?”

  But Martin just laughed, tugged a lock of Noah’s hair, and shook his head. Then he brought their luggage up to the bedrooms on the second floor.

  Noah went to the beer signs in the windows and snapped them on one by one.

  There was a tap on the door, and he went to it and cracked it open. “I’m sorry, we’re not open just yet.”

  “No? I’m glad to hear that.” Gabriel slid around the door and pushed it shut behind him.

  “You look good.”

  “I’m glad you approve. A black swan I know helped me choose the clothes.”

  “And he did an amazing job.” Noah gave a slight bow. He’d taken Gabriel to It’s You, a small shop that had recently opened in Charleston. It wasn’t as expensive as Beau Brummel’s, but the three piece black suit and the lilac silk dress shirt would have cost a year’s worth of tips if Gabriel hadn’t insisted on their using some of the paper money from his chest. Selling one of the rare gold coins would have roused curiosity, so they’d decided to save those for a really rainy day.

  The suit was worth it, though. The trousers hugged Gabriel’s thighs and butt, and the shirt brought out the purple in his eyes.

  “Of course, it helps that you look gorgeous in these clothes.”

  “Thank you.” Gabriel couldn’t blush, but he looked pleased at the compliment.

  “Have you had dinner?”

  “I’ll eat later. Right now, I have a gift for you.”

  “Awesomesauce.” Noah tugged aside his collar and offered Gabriel
his throat. He shivered when his vampyre ran his lips over the spot, then objected when Gabriel raised his head and stepped back.

  “Patience, sweetheart. That wasn’t what I meant.” He reached into his jacket pocket.

  “Really, Gabriel? What is it?”

  “Close your eyes.” He took Noah’s hand and ran his fingertips over his palm.

  Noah gave a little gasp and shivered, then moaned when Gabriel took his fingers away. “More, please!” He wanted more of that feeling.

  Gabriel placed something cool and metal in his hand, and Noah opened his eyes and looked down at it. “A pocket watch?” The case was yellow gold and looked very old.

  “It was Remember’s.”

  Noah turned it over and over, then pressed the outer knob, and the lid popped open. Engraved on the inside were the same words he had seen on Remember’s gravestone. For where thou art, there is the world itself, and where thou art not, desolation.

  “Now it’s yours. Happy birthday, sweetheart.”

  “Oh, Gabriel.” He closed his fingers around the watch, then threw himself into Gabriel’s arms and held on. He was never letting him go. “Thank you!”

  “You’ll need a chain.”

  “We can get one tomorrow.” The watch chimed the hour. “We’ll be opening soon.”

  “One thing more.”

  “Yes?” Noah nuzzled his throat.

  Gabriel set Noah away from him. He took something from his vest pocket, took Noah’s left hand, and slid a gold band on his ring finger.

  “For all eternity, Noah.”

  “You…you want to marry me?”

  “Yes. We couldn’t marry the last time, but now—”

  “Yes!” Noah rested his head on his vampyre’s shoulder. “For all eternity, Gabriel.”

  “What are you going to do about the matchmaking agency?”

  “We both found our match.”

  “We did, didn’t we?”

  “I thought I’d keep it open so other vampyres and black swans could find theirs.”

  “That sounds like an excellent idea.” Gabriel kissed him.

  There was a tap on the door. “I’d better get that.” Noah went to the door and opened it to find the band from St. Patrick’s Day, only this time they were calling themselves The Boston Tea Party. They’d changed their name in honor of the day. “Welcome, guys. Why don’t you start warming up?”