Gothic by Marie Medina

Author:Marie Medina [Medina, Marie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Evernight Publishing
Published: 2012-09-05T23:26:09+00:00

Chapter Four

Tarquin drank down the cool water from the well, moaning in near bliss as he handed the cup back to Henry to let him drink again. “I never thought water would taste sweeter than wine.”

A smile at last spread over Henry’s face as he raised the cup to his mouth. “And I never thought to hear you say such a thing.” He drank, then tossed the cup into the bucket as they set off up the moonlit hill.

“Did you think I would never come back?”

“I hoped you would not. I did not want you to know me as I am now. Hurting you in any way would have been my final undoing.”

Tarquin wanted to say more as Henry turned away, his usual method for ending an unpleasant topic, but he let it go. He watched the soft movements in the night, astounded at how keen his eyesight was now. “So is fate toying with us? Teasing us? Leading us to such a horrid end only to let us have one another again?”

“I don’t know. I thought I would roam these woods alone until the day I couldn’t bear to live anymore. I half hoped the laudanum would eventually kill me.”

“Two years of dosing seems to have done nothing to you.”

“Much to my disappointment.”

“Not to mine. I’d have been lost if not for you.”

Henry stopped, his eyes fixed on the moon high above them. “Perhaps fate is ridiculing us, having a great deal of sport at our expense.” He began walking again. “We are immortal even without taking blood, Tarquin. You do know that?”

“Yes. And though I’m sorry for all the pain you experienced, I am almost glad to have an eternity to try to make you happy.”

Henry drew him near, kissing his neck. “You already have. The darkness in my head will never go away, but you keep it at bay when you’re near. As an ordinary man … this would not have been possible.” He stroked Tarquin’s neck and let his fingers come up to trace his jawline. “You would have been such a temptation.”

To Tarquin’s surprise, these words sounded sad, not teasing. Did Henry truly believe he would have harmed him? Or did he mean he would have been tempted to turn him? Tarquin remained silent, letting Henry decide if he had more to say. After a moment, the sadness faded.

They kissed briefly, and Henry led him down to the water. “The lake doesn’t feel as cold as it did before.” He pulled back and began to undress. “We’ll not be running for the shore after twenty seconds as we once did.”

Tarquin smiled at the memory and began to undress, too. “I only agreed to go into the water that night to see you naked. I would have stayed in the water despite the cold if you had touched me.”

Henry threw his clothes down on the grass. “Then come touch me now.”

Tarquin fumbled out of his clothes as he watched a naked Henry run for the water.

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