He Joined Midnight Rockers, Then Their Vampire Lord Claimed Him novel · Chapter 9 of 24

Chapter 9: Noah's Hands

Noah woke at dusk to the sound of a pen scratching paper.

He lay still and listened.

Lucas was at the little desk by the black window with the lamp turned low, writing on a legal pad.

His hair stuck up at the back, and he wore one of Noah's old shirts.

He was making a list.

He made a list for everything, and Noah had begun to love the lists.

"You're awake," Lucas said without turning around. "I can hear it when you stop pretending."

"How?"

"You breathe. When you're asleep you don't."

Noah smiled into the pillow.

Then he remembered what day it was, and the smile went.

"You said you'd ask in daylight," he said.

"It's dusk. That's close." Lucas put the pen down and turned the chair around. "What is the night called, Noah?"

The whole truth sat in his mouth, heavy and plain.

He had been carrying it since the night in the kitchen.

He knew how it would sound.

He knew what Lucas would hear: that he had been chosen for a use.

"It's called a keeping," Noah said instead. "Among us. The one who stays the night is the keeper. It's old and it's formal, and there's more to it than I told you, and I will tell you all of it. Not tonight. Please."

"Why not tonight?"

"Because I'm afraid you'll go."

It was out before he could stop it.

Lucas was quiet.

"Okay," he said at last.

"Okay?"

"You'll tell me before Saturday. I'm putting it on the list." He tapped the pad. "Item four."

Noah laughed, a breath of it, helpless.

Then he looked at the list again, and at the man writing it, and his fear came back sideways.

"Can I ask you something?" Noah said.

"Anything."

"The first night. At the merch table. You knew every word of the song."

"I told you, I'm a fan."

"I know." Noah sat up. "That's the thing. I can't tell if you want me, or if you want the guy on the poster. The one who sings. I don't know if there's a difference. I don't know if I'm even the one you..."

"Noah."

Lucas stood and crossed the room.

He took Noah's chin in his hand and tilted his face up.

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