IT\u2019S NOT YOU, IT\u2019S US<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u00a9 2021 Leigh Grissom<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Harvest Moon reached its zenith, and the Crow landed on his windowsill, just like he knew it would.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He extended his bloodied hand, the moonlight illuminating the pentacle he\u2019d carved into his palm. The bird squawked as if it understood the gesture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cTell her.\u201d he said. \u201cTell her I\u2019ve renounced the Bargain. Tell her my memory is clouded. Tell her I\u2019m aging. Fast. If she still wants a shot at me, she\u2019d better take it soon. I\u2019m done. Go.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Crow fled, leaving him alone with the aching pain in his palm. He thought about bandaging the wound, even icing it to slow the bleeding, but was it necessary?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nah<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n No one held a grudge quite like her. When she got his message, she\u2019d come, and it would end. Until then, the pain would keep him sharp.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He glanced in the mirror as he paced. Wrinkles, \u201claugh lines\u201d that no one really found funny, were already forming around his eyes. Streaks of silver crawled through his once dark brown hair, and he wondered if the ladies at the high school would find him \u201cdistinguished\u201d now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He thought crazily about calling the school and leaving a message for the nurse. \u201cHey, sorry, need a permanent substitute to cover my classes. I\u2019m aging at the rate of a decade an hour and don\u2019t think I\u2019ll be up to teaching again ever. Don\u2019t pick Mr. Leslie. He\u2019s a douchebag. Bye.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n He barked a laugh and looked out the window. She had to have heard the Crow\u2019s message by now. If she picked his last night alive to ignore him\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cCome on, you bitch.\u201d he muttered. \u201cI\u2019m tired. Enough is enough.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n KNOCK-KNOCK<\/em><\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He opened the door. \u201cThat was quick.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n She regarded him, her copper eyes showing little emotion. Her blood-red dress matched her lipstick, and he remembered the last time they\u2019d danced\u2014<\/p>\n\n\n\n No. Not now<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n She smirked. \u201cYou summoned me. Aren\u2019t you going to invite me in?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n He moved away from the door. \u201cYou and I both know that\u2019s a myth.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cVery true, but it makes the mortals feel safer.\u201d She stepped inside. \u201cIt\u2019s been much too long, eternal thorn in my side. I thought Crow was kidding when he said you wanted to see me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt\u2019s true. How have you been?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n She snorted. \u201cOh, save it. You were never good at small talk. What\u2019s your name now?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cJohn Gardner.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNice. It sounds very noble.\u201d She fluttered her eyelashes at him. \u201cBut I won\u2019t call you that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n He chuckled. \u201cI know.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n She walked around his living room, taking in what little he had for furniture, and even less for decoration. \u201cStill roughing it, I see. Any hidden weapons I should know about?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI was never one for feng shui. And no. I told you in my message I\u2019m done.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n She picked up one of his books and absently leafed through it. \u201cI thought it couldn\u2019t be true, you know. The mighty vampire hunter revoked his Bargain. Relinquished his eternal youth.\u201d She returned the book to the shelf and walked back to him. \u201cChose to die after all this time.\u201d She touched his face, tracing the lines forming at the corners of his lips. \u201cMortality doesn\u2019t suit you. Why would you do such a thing?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n He caught her hand in his. \u201cI can\u2019t do this anymore. This needs to end.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Her ruby lips parted, and the tip of her tongue danced across her fangs. \u201cOh, it won\u2019t end, my dear. But you really should have called for me sooner. Now you\u2019ll be old forever.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n He breathed in her scent. Sandalwood, with a hint of copper just underneath. Sensual and menacing, just as she was the day they met.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He grinned. Time to argue<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou couldn\u2019t live with me when we were both mortal. You think I\u2019ll be any less a pain in your ass if you turn me? You sure there\u2019s no other way to punish me for doing what I was told?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Her laughter echoed in the room. Outside, a wolf howled as if in response.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI don\u2019t believe it! You called me here to kill you!\u201d She placed a hand on his chest and lightly pushed him away. \u201cAnd you thought I\u2019d do it! You really think I\u2019m that noble?\u201d She whirled away from him and sat down on his couch, wrinkling her nose at the puff of dust that rose to greet her. \u201cWhy, after all the blood you\u2019ve shed, did you think I would help you shuffle off this pathetic mortal coil?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n He shrugged. \u201cWishful thinking.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cGods, you are exasperating! At least you still have that ass.\u201d She patted the cushion next to her. \u201cCome, sit. Talk to me. There\u2019s no escape, so we may as well catch up before I make you my slave.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAs you wish.\u201d He joined her on the couch. \u201cWhat do you want to know?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cTell me about you. What are you in this lifetime?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou\u2019ll laugh.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI won\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019m a high school physics teacher.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n She lied. She laughed until tears welled in her eyes. \u201cA teacher. You. And children, no less! Does teaching young ones make up for losing your \u2014\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDon\u2019t.\u201d he snapped. \u201cHe<\/em> called it a Bargain, but it was really a job offer I couldn\u2019t refuse.\u201d He winced, remembering that day. \u201cThe alternative was a lot worse. I had to say yes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cRegardless, I didn\u2019t think it could be broken. But here you are, mortal once more. What did it take to cancel it?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n He lifted his bloodied hand. He\u2019d been so focused on her that he\u2019d forgotten it hurt. \u201cThis.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Her pupils dilated, and her expression shifted from amused to hungry. \u201cMay I?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019m in no position to deny you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n She lifted his hand to her lips, and lightly ran the tip of her tongue across the blood pooling in his palm. She shivered, and hungrily licked his hand clean. He closed his eyes, holding back the moan he refused to give her the pleasure of hearing. Maybe being a slave to her bidding might not be so \u2013<\/p>\n\n\n\n No, dammit! Focus!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n She sat back and leisurely wiped a drop of his blood from the corner of her mouth. \u201cI always dreamed you\u2019d taste like fine wine. I was right.\u201d She lightly kissed his cheek. \u201cI have missed you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cLiar.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n She laughed. \u201cOkay, maybe I am still a little mad at you. What happened to \u2026 her?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n He scowled. \u201cCan we just talk about us?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou\u2019re so touchy in your old age.\u201d She patted his leg, and lazily draped one of her own across his lap. \u201cWithdrawn again. Maybe I should just take you now, so we can leave here and start your eternal damnation early.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n He gave her the little-boy grin he knew drove her mad. \u201cMay I have until just before sunrise?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n A sly smile played across her lips. \u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI haven\u2019t been mortal for a very long time. Give me just a few hours. Please.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n She gazed into his eyes. \u201cBastard. I never could refuse you. Fine.\u201d She stood. \u201cHow long have you lived here?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAbout ten years.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n She walked over to look at some photographs he kept on the mantel. They were all pictures with his students, some at academic events, some of his patented photobombs in the physics lab. He glanced at his palm while she perused his memories. Her saliva had sealed the wound. The scar would remain, but at least the pain had stopped.<\/p>\n\n\n\n She picked up a framed photo of him and the physics team he\u2019d coached the year before. They\u2019d won first place, the first time in the school\u2019s history. The school board had been so grateful that there was talk of naming the lab after him when he retired. He wondered if they would still consider it after he didn\u2019t show up for work on Monday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt\u2019s easy to tell how much the students enjoy you. You always were good with children.\u201d She glared at him. \u201cHow many of mine have you killed?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n That caught him off guard. \u201cWhy ask that now?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI need to know.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHundreds of thousands, give or take. I kept telling you to stop turning them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n She placed the picture back on the mantel. \u201cNone of them deserved what you did to them.\u201d She looked over her shoulder at him. \u201cBack in 1775, I heard a legend I didn\u2019t believe for a second. Did you really pretend to be Paul Revere?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n He laughed, remembering the real Paul Revere bound and gagged in his barn. It didn\u2019t take much convincing after he let him go to take the credit and his place in history, especially after showing him the severed head of a vampire. He\u2019d even shared drinks with Revere shortly before he died. Nice guy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYes. Yes I did. Staked fifty that night, including your mate. What was his name? Lionel?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n She stiffened. \u201cSo \u2026 that was you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWho else would it have been?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt\u2019s a shame. I did love him, a little.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Damn<\/em>. He\u2019d hoped that would be enough to push her to end him, but it didn\u2019t work. Her expression was still serene, with no hint of the beast waiting just below the surface.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You\u2019re not going to give me a way out\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n She turned to him, and her smile chilled and warmed him at the same time. \u201cAnd yet, you never came for me. Why?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou know why.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSurely he tried to send you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n He nodded. \u201cHe tried. Many times.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat did you tell him?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n He shook his head in mock frustration. \u201cI told him I would. But you were \u2018just too difficult to find.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n She laughed and sat down beside him again. \u201cYou\u2019re the only one who could ever lie to him and get away with it.\u201d She traced her fingers along his upper arm. \u201cYou\u2019ve been working out. Maybe I\u2019ll wait until you\u2019re the right level of \u2018silver fox\u2019 to turn you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n He took her hand and kissed her palm. \u201cMaybe I can do more than just age in front of you.\u201d He wiggled his eyebrows, remembering how it always made her laugh.<\/p>\n\n\n\n She gasped. \u201cAm I hearing things? Flirting? You?\u201d She giggled happily. \u201cWhat is it you\u2019re proposing, \u2018John Gardner?\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n He rolled his eyes. The bitch even made finger quotes sexy. He slid off the couch and knelt in front of her. His knees ached when he did it. Damn, arthritis so soon?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n He took her hands in his. \u201cYou\u2019re still just as beautiful as I remember.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n She regarded him with a softness he hadn\u2019t seen in a thousand years. \u201cKeep that up, and I might let you remember your real name.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n He took one of her hands and kissed each fingertip. \u201cI did all I could to please you, once. I didn\u2019t know enough. I wasn\u2019t man enough. Will you let me try one last time?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Her eyes darkened, and she licked her lips. \u201cI can\u2019t refuse a dying man\u2019s request. And it\u2019s true \u2026 I never could stay mad at you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMy Queen.\u201d He stood, ignoring the pain in his hip that echoed his knees, and pulled her to her feet. \u201cI\u2019ve had a lot of time to learn new things.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cProve it, Hunter.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n He gently placed a finger under her chin and tilted her head up. \u201cI will, your Highness.\u201d He leaned down and captured her lips with his. She moaned into his kiss, and snaked her arms around his neck as his tongue tangled with hers. He lifted her up and she wrapped her legs around his waist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIs that a yes?\u201d he whispered in her ear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cGods \u2026 yes. Show me what you\u2019ve learned.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n He carried her down the hall to his bed and laid her across it. He stood back, admiring her body. \u201cMy beautiful queen\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n She raised herself onto her elbows and smiled up at him. \u201cMmmm \u2026 flattery will get you everywhere. Undress for me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n He obeyed, pulling his T-shirt over his head, and took the time to trace his fingers down his chest. Even his few chest hairs were already gray.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSkin for skin \u2026 your turn.\u201d he told her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n She stood up and turned her back to him. \u201cSome help, vampire killer?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAs you command.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n He moved her hair and slowly pulled the zipper down. He slipped the crimson dress off her shoulders and kissed his way down the side of her neck. She sighed softly, and let the dress fall to the floor. He reached around and gripped her firm breasts, running his thumbs over her nipples.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOur time is short, lover.\u201d she said, her voice hoarse with arousal. \u201cTake me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n He bit down on her ivory shoulder and she moaned with pleasure. He guided her back to the bed and quickly shrugged out of his jeans. \u201cLie back.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n She pushed herself back on the bed and he gently pushed her legs apart. One touch stole a whimper of need from her. Without thinking, he offered her his wrist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNot yet … I want this time to last.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n He smiled. \u201cI have hours, my Queen. I intend to use them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n She smirked. \u201cHours? Can you hold out that long?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ouch<\/em>. \u201cLet\u2019s find out.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n She giggled. \u201cI love this new you, \u2018John Gardner.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n He almost forgot himself and took her quickly, the way he did when they were together, before immortality claimed them both. Several deep breaths calmed him, and he willed himself to wait as she writhed under his touch. Moving too quickly, not paying attention to her needs, was the reason she ultimately left him so long ago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That wouldn\u2019t happen tonight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He climbed onto the bed and lay next to her, lazily running his tongue over her nipples. His fingers explored her, stroking, touching, lightly scratching, until she whimpered again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat went wrong?\u201d she whispered. \u201cHow could you have picked her<\/em> over me?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n He tickled her ribs until she pushed his hand away. \u201cI didn\u2019t pick her, remember? It was arranged. Assembled. And you<\/em> left me<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n She huffed and rolled her eyes playfully. \u201cOh, I suppose that\u2019s true. You were a self-absorbed man-beast.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n He kissed her softly. \u201cYou\u2019re right. I should have worshipped you like the goddess you are.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOoooh \u2026 you called me a goddess! Saying that will make your boss angry.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n He held up his scarred palm. \u201cHe isn\u2019t listening now.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSometimes I still miss you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n He wavered, tempted, but…<\/p>\n\n\n\n No. Time\u2019s up<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Finally, he managed to say, \u201cIt\u2019s my fault. I should never have taken the Bargain. I would have died and been out of your hair thousands of years ago.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n She smiled. \u201cDid you just say, \u2018It\u2019s not you, it\u2019s me?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n He grinned. \u201cOh, part of this is your fault, too, your Highness.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI guess I was kind of a bitch.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI won\u2019t argue that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n She playfully slapped at his chest. \u201cJerk. Take me before I take you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAs you command.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n He rolled on top of her. Her body tensed with pleasure as he slid inside her slowly, and he knew it had to be now. It didn\u2019t matter that she\u2019d given him until sunrise. He had to do it now, while her guard was down, while his love for her was greater than it had ever been.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We would have made it. We would have lived, grown old, died together \u2026 if I\u2019d been a better man.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Now his time was almost over.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He leaned down to kiss her, thrusting deep as he did, pushing her to the edge. She gave in to him, her eyes closed, her hands gripping the headboard of his bed so hard the wood splintered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He slid his right hand under one of the pillows, almost hoping it wouldn\u2019t be there. But it was.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I\u2019m so sorry\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI love you!\u201d she cried.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI love you, too.\u201d He pushed himself up to his knees to get the leverage he needed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n She opened her eyes and saw the stake in his hand. \u201cWhat \u2013 no!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n He drove the stake into her heart, using his weight to drive it all the way through her body. She screamed and fought to pull it free, but it was too late. She looked up at him, her eyes clouded with pain and surrender.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAdam \u2026 how could you?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n He pushed himself off her with rapidly-fading strength. He could feel his body breaking down, crumbling to ash as she lay dying beside him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI had to, Lilith. We\u2019ve gone on too long.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe could have gone on forever.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNo we couldn\u2019t, and you know it. The world has to heal from us both.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou’ve killed me. You\u2019ve \u2026 killed all my children.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n He could feel her blood seeping into the sheets underneath them. No matter. There\u2019d be no sign of either one of them soon. \u201cHe put you up to this, didn\u2019t he?\u201d She felt for his hand. Her grip was weak. \u201cAdam\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNope. This was all me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Her laugh was cut off by a gasp of pain. \u201cBastard \u2026 I did love you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019ll love you always.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n She fell silent. He lay there, watching the ceiling fan spin, and wondered how long his death would take. As his heart slowed, he knew it didn\u2019t matter. He\u2019d done what he had to do. He\u2019d freed her from her darkness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He\u2019d freed himself from his own.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As the pain finally left him, he hoped, if the whole Heaven thing was real, they would find each other again. Maybe she wouldn\u2019t hate him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But then again, after the whole apple incident \u2026 Adam wasn\u2019t sure he\u2019d be allowed in. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" IT\u2019S NOT YOU, IT\u2019S US \u00a9 2021 Leigh Grissom The Harvest Moon reached its zenith, and the Crow landed on his windowsill, just like he knew it would. He extended his bloodied hand, the moonlight illuminating the pentacle he\u2019d carved into his palm. The bird…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":8143,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[45],"tags":[136,135],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/leighgrissom.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8140"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/leighgrissom.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/leighgrissom.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/leighgrissom.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/leighgrissom.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8140"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/leighgrissom.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8140\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8160,"href":"https:\/\/leighgrissom.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8140\/revisions\/8160"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/leighgrissom.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8143"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/leighgrissom.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8140"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/leighgrissom.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8140"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/leighgrissom.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8140"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
She bit her lip. \u201cOooh, that nerve is still raw. I suppose I can understand. Withdrawn.\u201d She ran her hand along his thigh. \u201cTell me about the Bargain.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI know.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n