Blood Match

Chapter 9: Pretty Treasures

Leo took Liam's hand and led him out of the room and across the hall. As they entered the next room, Liam saw that there was a single glass case in the center of the room.

"This is where I keep my memories. These things are the witnesses of my long life," Leo said, looking down at the contents of the case. Liam took a moment and examined the objects. They were pieces of jewelry—some very ornate and elaborate, probably worth a small fortune—and some very simple and plain.

Leo pointed to a gold cuff with a ram’s head. "My father gave me this when I came of age. I was twenty-five, and this cuff was his—and his father's before him. It was the last thing he gave me before he died." He pointed at a gold signet ring with an elaborate cross motif carved into it.

"Don Fernando gave me this signet ring on the day we returned to Spain. This ring symbolized my status as his heir."

"It’s beautiful, but you don’t wear it anymore. Why?" Liam asked, taking Leo’s hand again.

"I took it off the day Don Fernando left us. My heart was broken that day, and I couldn’t bear the reminder of the ring. Genevieve helped me in my grief, but for half a century I was more wraith than Divina. Genevieve forced me to eat, she bathed me, clothed me, put me to bed, and sat by my side. I would have followed Fernando in death if it wasn’t for her."

"She sounds like a formidable woman," Liam said, smiling.

"She was. Divina blood matches usually do not live much longer than their Divina, but Genevieve stayed for another hundred years to make sure that I was okay. She managed the holdings that Fernando had left, interacted with the vampire communities in Spain, and stood by my side as I was acknowledged as the new Sanguinis Divina."

"Are Sanguinis Divina different from other vampires?"

"Yes. We are vampire royalty. All vampires owe allegiance to us. But Fernando was the last King. I refused to ascend and instead left Spain and came here to the New World. Genevieve traveled with me. Once I was settled, she decided it was time—she renounced her immortality and joined Fernando in death."

"It must have been hard for you. I’m sorry." Liam put his arm around Leo’s waist, and Leo reflexively pulled him closer.

"It was, but I was expecting it. I knew she had stayed with me as long as she did to make sure I was okay. I knew it was time and so I let her know it was all right. I would be okay, and she could join Fernando. When I found her the next day, she had a smile on her face. She must have slipped away in her sleep. I took her back to Spain and buried her in the family crypt next to Fernando."

Liam spotted a string of glass beads painted with colorful faces. The work was exquisite.

"What are these?"

"Those are Venetian trade beads from the 19th century. I picked them up when I traveled to Venice to meet with the Italian vampire communities," Leo said, looking at the bead.

"Leo, your past boggles the mind. Are all vampires as complex as you?"

"We live long lives. We become bored. We move around. Time passes slower for us because we are immortal. Humans are born, and in the blink of an eye—if they are lucky—they are on their deathbeds, surrounded by their children and grandchildren. Most vampires are complicated. Immortality makes us so."

Liam spotted a beautiful oval carnelian agate brooch. "Did that belong to Genevieve?"

"Yes. Fernando gave it to her on their 150th year together. It is one of the things that she bade me keep, hoping that I would pass it on to my chosen Blood Match. But in eight hundred years, I have not found them." Next to the brooch was a simple gold Byzantine cross, which looked very old. Leo saw that it had caught Liam’s eye. "That cross belonged to my birth mother. I kept it to remember her after she died."

"Leo, these are very beautiful," Liam said, taking Leo’s hand. "Thank you for sharing this part of yourself with me."

"Come, there is one final room that you must see," Leo said, pulling Liam along. They exited the room and walked down the hallway to the final door. Leo opened it and gestured for Liam to enter. The room was dark—until Leo spoke.

"Lights."

Suddenly, the lights came on, brightening slowly. Recessed lights and discreet pinpoint spotlights cast pools of illumination around the room. In each pool of light was a picture. Liam looked around, seeing photographs from every period of the history of photography.

Fantastically expensive daguerreotypes displayed in their sealed cases were set next to digital photographs taken two years ago. A myriad of places was detailed in this panorama of history. And then there were the portraits: Leo in the dress of an American cowboy, Leo in a white silk shirt and cravat, frock coat and fitted trousers, Leo in a double-breasted suit and fedora in the 1920s. The times changed, but the beautiful, ethereal man in the pictures stayed the same. Liam looked over at Leo, taking time to appreciate the timeless beauty that immortality had bestowed upon him.

"These pictures are amazing, but there is one thing missing from all these portraits of you, my friend," Liam said, pulling Leo’s attention to him.

"What?" Leo asked curiously.

"Joy. Life. Wonder," Liam said. "The man in these pictures is not alive—and it makes me sad."

Leo smiled. "Well, Mr. Von Anderson, what do you suppose we do about it?"

"You gave me a gift when you helped me open the gallery and fulfill my promise to Alexander. I want to repay that with a gift of my own. Let me do a series of portraits for you. For the next three months, let me be in your life and take pictures. Let me try to give you back the joy that is missing here. What do you say?"

"But you haven’t picked up a camera since Alexander..." Leo trailed off, unwilling to bring up the tragedy.

Liam reached over and took his hand. "I think he would want me to do this. And I think if he met you, he would like you as much as I do. So—is it a yes?"

"Yes, Liam. Yes."