Chapter 99

Tessa’s POV

“A monster, huh? That’s a little cruel,” Bernard said, folding his arms across his chest. “After I saved your life?”

“Bernard was the neighbor that turned you?” I asked, glancing at Joseph questionably.

“He is,” Joseph answered. “Which is the only reason why I allow him to enter my home when I’m not here.”

Joseph stepped further into the house, still holding my suitcase.

Bernard was eyeing me carefully and I fought to urge to meet his eyes, but I kept my eyes fixed on the ground, afraid to make any sudden movements. Though, Joseh seemed oddly relaxed.

“She has an odd scent,” Bernard spoke about me as if I wasn’t even there.

“You know she can hear you, right?” Joseph asked, rolling his eyes.

Bernard finally pulled his eyes away from me to glare at him.

“You’re bringing a human into a village of vampires with blood that appears highly attractive,” Bernard said, his tone growing dark and angry. “What is wrong with you?”

“She’s off limits,” Joseph said through his teeth. “Nobody is stupid enough to cross me.”

“Maybe not, but they will try. So don’t turn your back for even a second,” Bernard warned.

“How about you be polite and say hi,” Joseph said in return, narrowing his eyes at him.

“How about you don’t speak to me like I’m beneath you,” Bernard snapped. “You might be well-respected and fierce, but don’t forget who’s in charge here.”

Joseph was quiet and they stared at one another for a long while.

I didn’t realize coming here would cause such distress for everyone. I felt my face warming under the pressure of their stare down and then Bernard took a step away.

“I’m heading home,” Bernard muttered. “I just needed to see this for myself. Now that I have, I’m done here.”

He started to walk toward the doorway, Joseph stood his ground, staring after Bernard as he left.

Joseph shook his head at the interaction and began walking toward the kitchen.

“I’m sorry,” I found myself saying, walking after him. “I didn’t mean to cause such a disturbance.”

“It’s not you,” Joseph said in return, without looking at me. “He’s stuck in his own ways. He doesn’t trust humans that aren’t—”

His voice trailed off, unwilling to finish his sentence.

“That isn’t what?” I asked, furrowing my brows together.

“Nothing,” Joseph muttered. “He just doesn’t trust humans.”

He motioned for me to follow him, and we walked through his fairly modern kitchen with marble flooring and granite countertops. His appliances looked fairly new as well and he had a fridge where I could see my reflection.

We went up the staircase and to the second floor. As predicted, there were a couple of different bedrooms and a bathroom connected to each bedroom. We walked down a narrow hallway until we reached a door.

Opening the door, he walked inside.

I paused when I saw the king-sized bed in the center of the room and large wooden dressers and matching nightstands.

On one of the nightstands sat a silver and golden picture frame with a picture of a beautiful-looking woman with curly blonde hair and big blue eyes. She had a little girl that sat on her lap and a young boy that stood beside her. It was a very old photo and they looked very pale, almost sicky, but beautiful at the same time. She wore a big pink dress and had flowers in her hair, just like her daughter did. While her son carried a bouquet in his hands.

Beside them stood a tall and handsome gentleman I recognized right away to be Joseph. He looked different though. His body wasn’t quite as toned, and his eyes were lighter. His features were also very pale and sickly, but he was incredibly handsome.

My heart tugged painfully in my chest as I approached the picture. I’m not sure why this was the first thing that caught my attention upon entering the room.

I wasn’t even shocked to see that this was his bedroom. By the way, he was putting my suitcase down on his bed and opening it for me to unpack, I was assuming he wanted me to stay with him in this room. But I couldn’t take my eyes or mind off the picture that sat on his nightstand.

Was this his wife and children?

“That was the last photo taken of us,” Joseph explained, following my gaze to the photo. “The virus was already in our system and the doctors said there was nothing we could do besides wait. I wanted to do something nice for my family to keep their minds off dying so we dressed up fancy and got our pictures done.”

I wanted to wrap my arms around him and cry for him. I couldn’t imagine how much pain he must have felt when he lost them. They must have been so frightened just waiting for the virus to kill them.

“I’m so sorry,” I managed to whisper, blinking away the tears as I looked over at him.

“It was a long time ago,” he said in return. “A couple of lifetimes.”

I nodded, understanding, but still. Time doesn’t always heal wounds as some could linger in your soul for eternity. This was a wound that I knew wouldn’t go away fully. How could it?

“So, is this your bedroom?” I asked, changing the subject.

“Yes. I figured while we are in our dating trial, it’s pointless staying in separate rooms,” he said, a hint of a smile on his lips.

I smiled in return, liking that very much.

“Are you hungry? I can grab you some food while you unpack,” Joseph said, stepping toward the door.

“I’m okay,” I told him with a faint smile. “We had already eaten dinner, remember?”

“That was a few hours ago,” Joseph reminded me, narrowing his eyes at me. “Are you sure you don’t want anything now?”

“I’m not very hungry. I think I’m just tired. It was a long drive and I think I’m a little jet-lagged from this time switch.”

It was weird staying up all night and then going to bed when it was daylight. The sun would be rising shortly, and I knew I’d have to try to sleep. But it was strange to me, and I wasn’t sure if my body would adapt to it.

Before he could say anything more, there was a knock on the door downstairs. It was loud enough for us to hear it right away.

Joseph tensed.

“I’ll be back,” he murmured, walking toward the doorway.

“I’ll come with you.”

“Better if you didn’t. I’m not sure who it is,” he said without even looking at me.

I frowned, but I said nothing as he left the room. I stood there, staring at the closed door with dismay all over my face. I didn’t like being left alone like this. I didn’t like being shut out. I was going to be here for the next couple of weeks. I needed to get used to things.

As did Joseph.

I put down the clothes I was unpacking and left his room. I went downstairs and I heard some talking in the living room.

It sounded like a female voice, mixed with Joseph’s.

“I’m sorry, Joseph. You know how Bernard is. I wanted to meet her for myself and offer my apologies.”

“Probably not the best idea, Anna. At least not right now,” Joseph said to the woman.

I stood near the staircase, out of sight.

“Well, at least take this pie I baked,” she said, and her voice sounded smooth and velvety. I got a warm sense washing over me when she spoke. “I’m having a cookout tomorrow. I hope you both can make it.”

“I’ll let you know,” he said, he said, and I knew he was ushering her toward the door.

“Goodnight, Joseph,” she said softly.

“Good night,” he said, and then I heard the door opening and shutting.

I sat frozen on the stairs and just as I was standing up to go upstairs, Joseph was walking into the kitchen and frozen when he saw me.