Page 21 of Thicker than Blood
CHAPTER 7
Elias
My instincts about the mortal are right on. He’s curious and adventurous enough to stay. I raise a hand and within seconds, Benicio is before me.
“Sir?”
“A house cocktail for our guest, please.”
“And for you?”
“The usual.”
“Right away.”
“Who is he to you? A servant?”
“I wouldn’t call him that, no. He’s quite free to do as he wishes, yet he chooses to spend his time pleasing me.”
Geordi’s brow crinkles as he twists his lips. “Is he a lover?”
“No. Would it bother you if he was?”
“Of course not. I’m just trying to understand your lifestyle.”
Chuckling, I lean closer to him. “That would be quite a feat.”
“I guess I don’t get it.”
“Benicio enjoys servitude. He enjoys making me happy and meeting my needs. It makes him happy. That’s all.”
Benicio returns with two drinks on a silver tray—a highball glass for Geordi and a silver goblet for me. Geordi takes the drink, sniffing it before taking a tiny sip.
“It isn’t poison.”
He smiles. “It’s tasty.”
“I’m glad you like it.”
“What’s in yours?”
“I think you know the answer to that. I like to have a shot of liquor added, sometimes sweet, sometimes bitter. It enhances the natural flavor.”
I literally feel the shudder move through him.
“Was that hard to get used to?” he asks.
“What?”
“Drinking blood?”
“I don’t even remember. It’s been too long.” I take a sip of my drink. “But as I’ve seen through the eyes of the newly turned, it’s an instinct. As natural as drinking water is to you.”
Geordi nods, sipping his drink again as he casts his gaze around to the room. “What’s the right term for supernatural people? ‘People’ is wrong, but some of my volunteers want to be called creature, or monster, or being. I don’t know what’s right.”
“As you’ve learned, it varies, but ‘being’ is always safe. Person, people, man, woman, none of those are exactly correct, but no one would be offended if you used them.”
“Okay. Thank you.”