The Vampire’s Servant
Chapter 39

Victor and I had a better night than we'd ever had. There was a happier and calmer feeling than before. We'd talked about the growing feelings we had finally. I knew he felt what I did. He was more than my friend. After I ate and we cleaned up together, we went to the game room. Victor wanted to try the games I told him about. I was excited to play with him. It wasn't something we'd ever done before.

I showed him the sports games. I thought he might like the tennis or golf and I was right. He saw the boxing game and told me to put it on. It was one of the ones where you used the controllers to move your character's hands. He watched me play against the computer and not do very well. Victor had me stop and showed me how to square my body and punch without over extending. The feeling of his hands on my body sent tingles through me. "Echo, you must focus when you fight. This may be a game, but it's a good start to your training. I want you to practice every day." He murmured into my ear from behind me.

I nodded, not trusting my voice to be strong. I needed to get used to him being close. Ever since Marius left, Victor had been closer to me or touching me. I almost giggled at how he seemed to be petting me.

We played for a little longer, but I was starting to get tired. I didn't want the day to be over so soon. It felt like I'd go to sleep and wake up to realize this was all a dream. I wanted it to be real.

"Victor, do you want to watch a movie with me?" I asked softly.

"When is your bedtime?"

"In an hour and a half. We can just watch a short one." I offered.

"I suppose we could watch a short movie and if it goes past your bedtime a little, it should be fine. I don't want this to be a nightly occurrence. Understand?"

I grinned and put the controllers away before picking out a movie and setting it up. It was a musical that Drew picked out. He said he thought older movies and kids' movies would be the best place for me to start.

Sitting with Victor on the couch, I started the movie. It was called Gigi and about a young girl in France. Gaston reminded me of Victor. Cool and a little bored with everything. I watched the movie happily. I didn't look away until the end card flashed. When I looked at him, he was watching me with a smile. It made me blush.

"Did you like the movie?" I asked.

"It was... cute. I remember Paris around that time. You seemed to like it. You smiled through almost the whole thing." He said.

"I liked the story and the music." I admitted.

"It's getting late, princess. Time for you to get ready for bed."

I got up and stretched. I was more than ready for bed. Victor slipped his arms around me and hugged me close. I relaxed in his embrace.

"We'll need to teach you how to behave in vampire society. The rules are more simple and obvious than those of turn of the century high society. I'll make sure you're ready before we attend any functions." Victor whispered.

"I'll to my very best. I promise not to embarrass you." I swore.

He chuckled. "You could never embarrass me, Echo. You're learning. If you commit a faux pas, it's my fault, not yours. I will make sure you know as much as possible. I never want you to feel like you embarrass me. You are the sweetest person I've ever met." "Even when I'm mean like I was to Gray the other night?" I blushed.

"I thought that was amusing. He was pressing and you were loaded down with a lot of new information. Wolves tend to think that the moon goddess is infallible. Maybe you were meant to be his mate before everything happened. It wouldn't be her fault if your future was changed by someone else. The more I'm with you, the more I think you're meant to be mine."

I pulled away. I didn't like it when he said it like that. It was like when I was around Gray. That same pressure.

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"Don't take that as anything bad, please. I just feel a pull that makes me think you're meant to be my Solus Amor in your next life. Whatever made you what you are, connected us to each other in an undeniable way. It's not something we can test without you dying. I want you to live and have a life. And children.... If you want." Victor replied softly.

"I don't want to talk about this right now. I'm not healthy yet. That should be our focus right now. Remember? We're going back to how we were before. We'll deal with the relationship things later. I might not be as ready for this as I thought." I told him.

"I'll respect that and we'll leave this to later. I just wanted to say it out loud. You're very dear to me, Echo. I love you in a way I haven't loved someone since I was alive."

"You loved someone when you were alive?" I asked.

"I was married. It was a very long time ago. Our families had been friends since our grandparents were children. I fell in love with her as a child and we were married as soon as we were considered adults. I was married to her for seven years before I lost her. We had three children." He said in a wistful voice. "What happened, Victor? Why didn't you stay with them?" I pressed.

"They died. Emma always had hard times with pregnancies. We had several stillborn children. We only had those two living children. Our youngest son, Isaac, got sick. We were hopeful that he would recover, but he didn't. He was only three. Isaac was the brightest light of my life at the time. He had his mother's smile and friendly manner. A couple years later, our oldest, Elias, slipped and fell. He hit his head hard. Elias was adventurous. He was always trying to help out around the house and talked about when he would grow up and take care of us.

Emma wanted to try for another baby. I wanted her to be happy... I always wanted her to be happy. I took on more work around the house and made her rest through the pregnancy. I learned to cook for her. You remind me of Emma a little. The brightness of your smile and how you care for people. I haven't thought about them for years." His voice was strained and I could see tears forming in his eyes.

"Then what? How did you lose her?"

"She died in childbirth. I named our daughter Emma. After her mother. I vowed to care for her and make sure she lived longer than her brothers. She was so small and perfect. I carried her with me when I worked. Other men said I should find another wife or give my daughter to my parents until she was grown. I refused to give up my little Emma. She was the last thing connecting me to my family and to life itself. I felt like I would die without her." Victor whispered.

He sat heavily on the couch. I sat next to him and took his hand. I had no idea that he'd lost so much in his life. He never seemed like it.

"She was two when she got sick. A childhood illness that is now vaccinated against. Something no one fears anymore. The same one that took Isaac from us. I did everything I could think of. I gathered what little money I had to buy medicines that did nothing for my daughter. She died in the same bed her mother and brothers died in. She took her last breath in my arms. There was nothing that could have saved her. I buried her with the rest of my family and felt the world shaking me loose. I wandered aimlessly around the woods near my village and was attacked by a rogue werewolf. I wanted to die. I was welcoming my death as I felt my life draining away."

I couldn't help but start tearing up as Victor told his story. I shook my head. I didn't want him to be dead.

"Talia found me. I couldn't tell her to let me die. I could only watch as she turned me. It was thirty years later that I remembered my life. The pain had dulled. I visited their graves one final time before I let them go and accepted my role as a vampire. There had to be some reason that Talia found me before I died. I believed that so hard, I made it true. I became high ranked in the Council. Passed laws to make children safe in honor of my own lost children. There were too many ways for parents to lose their children. Vampires would be one cause taken off that list." Victor stated firmly.

I hugged him tightly. Victor rubbed my back. It was so sad that I needed a hug. Nothing I had gone through had been as bad as losing everyone he loved.

"Maybe you're right and I was meant to be that thing you said." I sniffled.

"My Solus Amor. It means 'Only Love'. Most vampires don't get one, but I heard some can sense theirs when the partner is still alive. I don't know what it feels like. We can ask Talia when she gets here. Her Solus Amor was alive when they met. We can still be together even if you're not. I still love you and that won't change Echo. Now, we've talked long past your bedtime." He chided me lightly.

"Will you lay down with me until I fall asleep, Victor?" I asked.

"Of course, princess. I want you to get some rest. That will be the best way to get you to sleep." He smiled. "Go get ready for bed and call out to me when you're ready to sleep. I need to go take care of something real quick, then I'll come up." Victor smiled.

I nodded and hurried up to my room. I wouldn't take too long. I wanted to be Victor's only love. I wanted to never leave him alone again. Maybe we could have babies when I was older and he'd get to have happy healthy babies to take care of.

When I was changed into my pajamas, I opened the door and called out for Victor. I was only just climbing into bed when he arrived. He crawled into the bed with me.

I pressed my head into Victor's chest, holding him tight. I would never let him lose someone he loved again. I would learn to fight and take care of myself so that Victor wouldn't have to worry about me. He wouldn't lose me.

Drifting to sleep, I soaked in the comfort of Victor's arms. I felt safe again. Sometimes, I just wanted to be held. I was so glad Victor wanted that too. He rubbed my back comfortingly until darkness overtook me.