After my 'shower', as Tessa called it, I felt more refreshed than I've felt in a dog's ago. Tessa's mother, whom I found out was named Lena, had raced off after realizing the comment she had said to me and her daughter to lock herself in her bedroom, refusing to come out. She had managed to say that I could sleep on the 'couch' down stairs, through the closed door. Tessa helped me back into the 'bathroom' and into the 'shower', and joined me under the hot spray. She washed me very thoroughly, paying particular attention to little William and I returned the favor when she was done. After the shower it was time for my first haircut and shave in over two hundred years. She practically scalped me, leaving behind spiky black tendrils of hair, and trimmed down my beard so she could shave it. When she started the shaving process she used a pink, razor-like device, at which I arched my eyebrow at her.
"Well, it's the only brand we have in the entire house." Tessa said sheepishly.
After the shave was complete, I washed my face with warm water, feeling refreshed by this simple act. She led me downstairs to the 'couch', and retrieved some bed linen to make the 'couch' appear more comfortable. She had disappeared while I was trying to put a pillowcase on the pillow, which seem hopeless for the first minute or so. She came back with a pair of Grey breeches.
"You can wear these for tonight, they belonged to my dad." Tessa said a little sadly.
"Thank you, dearest Tessa." I said with my own sad smile as I remembered my own father.
Her smiled lit up her face like a sun. She then told where the 'bathroom' was and how to operate everything inside. I thanked her and she went to bed. I sat on the couch and thought about what I was going to do now. Nothing came to mind; I had no clue as to where my life was going. I slipped the 'jogging pants', as Tessa called them, on and went out the front door. I was standing in the darkness starring up at the stars, trying to clear my head. That was when something unexpected happened. I looked to my left and felt a presence, walking slowly down the road. I melt back into the shadows, hidden in the darkness. A small group walked passed the house, but I saw that these 'people' were different. They melt of decay and fresh blood. They looked pale, almost gaunt, in the night and their eyes flickered when light shown off of them, like cats eyes in the dark. I stood there quietly, unsure whether or not I should follow them, but I decided against it for now. As soon as they were out of sight I walked slowly and calmly back into the house.
As soon as my head hit the pillow I was out cold, almost dead to the world. The soothing sounds of crickets on the night breeze lulled me in my slumber, one of the side windows must have been left open. Some time later I was awaken by a hand on my shoulder. My eyes snapped open and were focused in an instance. The shadowy figure of Tessa was before me, a pink robe wrapped around her. I could tell she had been crying, her eyes were red rimmed and slightly irritated by rubbing away the tears.
"William, could I sleep with you please?" Tessa asked very timidly.
I slid back in the couch and beckoned her with open arms. She untied her robe and molded her voluptuous body to mine. I stroked her hair as she shuddered and silently sobbed against my shoulder.
"Tell me, Tessa. I'm here for you and not going anywhere." I said soothingly.
"Oh William. I had a nightmare about the attack, only this time it was worse. You weren't there to save me and those bastards raped me and left me for dead." She broke down again, fresh tears spilling down her cheeks.
"You don't have to worry about that. I'm here and nothing will stop me from protecting you. Nothing. So dry your tears and take comfort in the fact that they are dead or dying and cannot harm anyone else." By the time I finished speaking, I realized she had fell to sleep in my arms. Soon sleep claimed me as I rested my head against hers.
I was awaken again, but this time it was the early morning sunlight shinning through the window. Tessa's face was nestled in the crook of my arm, softy breathing through her nose. Some of her hair spilled over her forehead covering half her face; the half that could be seen was peaceful without a care in the world.
'How'd I end up so lucky?' I thought to myself.
I heard footsteps moving from the second floor and then the sounds of running water. Soon Tessa's mother came downstairs into the kitchen and stopped dead in her tracks as she stared, opened mouthed, at the both of us. I gestured for her to be silent, while I carefully removed myself from the couch. She noticed that I was wearing the jogging pants and went to sit at the table in the kitchen. She was dressed in some kind of suit, a dark red in color with a white dress shirt showing underneath the coat. She gestured me to sit, then got up and started to rummage through cabinets over the counters, getting two cups and tiny packages of something. After five minutes the kettle came to a boil and she poured water into the two, rather large cups, and a strong bitter smell drifted from the cups. She brought both cups over and placed one in front of me and I looked down in the black brew.
"Is this coffee?" I asked.
"Yes, it is. What would you like in it? Cream, sugar, milk?" She asked.
"Just milk and some sugar, if it's not too much trouble." I said politely.
After she brought me the items in question and a spoon, I mixed it to what I thought was a good combination.
"So, how long since you've had coffee William?" She asked.
"Well, I think, it's been around two hundred and forty-one years since my last cup, now that I think about it." I said stirring the contents of my cup.
"Just how old are you?" She asked with a surprised look on her face.
"Oh around two fifty-nine. And you?" I asked with a small smile.
She blushed rather prettily and said she was thirty-five.
"And how old is Tessa?" I asked.
"She's seventeen but she'll be eighteen in a month." She said a soft smile played on lips.
"And, what is your name, milady?" I asked with a little mirth in my voice.
