Chapter 16 | Chapter 18
Days passed as young Andric continued to be a nuisance (but a cute one) at night, and slowly began to grow into the man he would hopefully become. I continued my painting, trying to build my savings back up, and my lovely Mari continued studying Vampire Lore, Parenting, and practicing her Knitting. I had bought her a box of needlepoint supplies, as well, but it seemed that would wait until Andric was a bit bigger.
Sonia visited nearly every day, and we started a long-term Chess game. She was much better than I, however, so I had to try other ... methods ... to attempt to beat her.
I'm sure she knew what I was doing, however, no matter how innocent I proclaimed myself.
I had been spending more time away from home lately due to ... well ... not using the maid for breakfast. I had to find other victims, and sometimes finding one where people wouldn't see us ... was harder than it sounded, so I might be gone for a few hours. Mari, apparently, had started to worry that I might have found someone else.
I assured her that I hadn't, and apologized profusely, trying to explain exactly why I was gone so long. It took a bit of convincing, but I did finally manage to get her to believe I wasn't starting an affair. I couldn't imagine ever loving someone else as much as I loved Mari... even after my infatuation with Alex. That had clearly been something other than love. I tried to assure Mari that I had no desire to ever have another partner, but I think she may have still been a bit worried, because I could see it in her eyes.
When I wasn't painting, I had started learning to mix drinks, because through Mari's Vampire Lore studies, we had found some recipes that might help me - including a recipe for a cocktail that would boost my sun resistance. (Which would certainly help me with my gardening!)
My skills around the house were also improving, because the used dryer we had bought loved to break every other day, it seemed. In fact, I was fixing it when I heard some familiar meowing in the living room, and I put down my tools to go investigate.
To my joy, I found the cat with the hat playing in Mari's knitting bag. He had pulled out an unused ball of yarn, and was batting it around the floor.
He perked up as soon as he saw me, and struck a pose that was so cute I had to take a picture. With a laugh, I finally got around to asking his name. Apparently he's "Mayor Whiskers" - but I neglected to ask what he was Mayor of, because I had noticed something else.
He was definitely looking scruffier than he had looked the last time I saw him, and - with concern - I asked where he lived. Upon finding out he was virtually homeless, I had to immediately ask him to live with us. He tried to decline, but I could tell he was beyond tempted. I assured him that I would immediately buy food dishes, brushes, toys, and anything else he could come up with needing, and I offered to even get a cat door installed, that way he could come and go as he pleased.
Finally, he accepted, and, impulsively, I scooped him up with a hug. Mari was sleeping, so I would have to tell her later that we now had a new tenant... and I wondered how she would take to the talking cat. Which only made me wonder - did he talk to other people? Or would it just be me??
As soon as I returned from the closest store with any pet items, I put out some food and water, and watched happily as he ate what might have been his first meal in a while, because he was wolfing it down quite greedily. I then brushed some dirt from his fur, and fixed his almost-crooked bowtie, much to his delight.
Of course, by this time, the sun was definitely up. And I still needed to tend the garden. I could hear Andric fussing upstairs and Mari stirring from her bed to go calm him down. Sighing, I headed to the bar to make myself this purported "Sunlight Cocktail." I supposed there was no reason I couldn't actually try it out.
Amazingly, it didn't make my shriveled stomach upset, and I turned to go put the glass in the dishwasher, glancing at the almost-empty food bowl and the cat purring happily beside it.
The cocktail was starting to make me feel a bit weird, however, and I glanced down at my hand to see it glowing a little bit. Bemusedly, I put the glass away, and tentatively went outside to tend the garden.
Meanwhile, inside, Mari had calmed Andric down, and had gone to the bathroom to relieve herself - and to take a stealthy pregnancy test. She, apparently, had a suspicious feeling that she might be expecting again.
Very quickly, the test showed positive, and ... just to be sure, Mari took the second test. It still showed positive, and hearing me come in from outside and sit down to practice some chess, Mari headed downstairs to tell me the news.
At first, I questioned the timing. Andric was still tiny, and we hadn't been trying for another baby so soon. Mari, however, pointed out that I still didn't have my little girl for an heir, and that she was feeling very much like she wanted to be turned sooner rather than later, and I relented.
"Alright, love. You're right." I replied, and then heard something I'd never heard from the Mayor. A meow. Curiously, I turned to give him a questioning look, and decided if he wanted to keep his secret, I was more than willing to do so.
Leaning down, I petted him, and looked back to Mari. "By the way, I decided the kids might like a cat. Oh, and Mister Whiskers here would be good company for when I'm out hunting for food." I looked towards Mari, wondering what her reaction would be.
She stood up, leaned down, and let the cat sniff her hand. She then turned to me, and giggled. "A hat, Dušan? Really? You're so silly!"
I shrugged, deciding to leave that part a mystery, and gave the cat a pointed look as if to say, "That's up to YOU to explain." Mayor Whiskers gave me an enigmatic kitty grin, and purred loudly while he rubbed against Mari's hand blissfully. Rolling my eyes at him, I sat down on the couch, and reached for a book. It was going to be a long.. and interesting.. afternoon.
Chapter 16 | Chapter 18
