6. Victor

Victor

T he recording studio was empty except for the band. I'd been trying to get the bridge right for hours.

"Man, you've got to stop overthinking this," Riggs said, setting down his bass. "She'll either show up or she won't."

"That's not helpful," Basil cut in. He turned to me. "But he's right about the overthinking. The song is perfect."

I ran my fingers through my hair. "Nothing about this is perfect. I brought a human into our world without preparation, without protection—"

"A human who sees ghosts," Dario pointed out. "She's not exactly normal herself."

"Which is exactly why we need to make this work," Basil said quietly. "When was the last time you met someone who understood both worlds?"

"Never," I admitted. "But what if she can't accept what we are? What I am?"

Riggs snorted. "She accepted you biting her during sex."

"That was different—"

"Was it?" Basil asked. "Or are you just afraid of someone seeing all of you? The vampire and the man?"

I stared at the lyrics I'd written. Every word was about stepping into the light, being seen, being known. Maybe it was time I took my own advice.

"One more time," I said, picking up my guitar. "From the top."

***

I paced at the cemetery gates, watching the sun sink toward the horizon. Basil and the guys waited in the van, despite my insistence that I could handle this alone.

"You're going to wear a trench in the sidewalk," Basil called out.

"What if she doesn't show?" I ran a hand through my hair. "What if—"

"Then you'll write another hit album about her," Riggs said with a grin. "But she'll show."

I checked my phone again. Twenty minutes since twilight. She was late, and the wait was killing me, though technically I was already dead. I touched my jacket pocket, making sure the small box was still there.

"You're sure about this?" Basil asked.

"More sure than I've been about anything," I said. Even becoming a vampire hadn't felt this right. "She sees me, Basil. Not the rock star, not the vampire. Just... me."

Dario leaned out the van window. "Here she comes."

I spun around. Ari walked up the hill, her blonde hair catching the last rays of sunlight. She wore jeans and a sweater, but she might as well have been wearing that angel costume again. My dead heart tried to beat.

"Places everyone," Basil said, climbing out with his guitar.

Ari stopped a few feet away. "You brought the whole band?"

"I wrote you a song in high school," I said, stepping toward her. "Seemed only right to play you a new one now."

Her lips twitched. "Another song about me?"

"Always about you." I nodded to Basil, and he started playing. The other guys joined in, and I took Ari's hands in mine.

"I know I scared you," I said. "I should have explained everything first, should have given you time to adjust. But being a vampire... it heightens everything. Especially how I feel about you."

"Victor—"

I pressed a finger to her lips. "Let me finish. Then I'll sing, then you can decide if you still want to run."

She nodded.

"I've been in love with you since high school," I said. "Back then I was too caught up in what others thought to act on it. Then I got turned, and I thought I'd lost my chance forever. But seeing you at that concert..." I cupped her face. "It was like the universe giving me another shot."

"But the feeding," she whispered.

"Is controlled, consensual, and never fatal," I assured her. "What happened with Kylie was an accident. We have strict rules, protocols. I should have explained it all first."

"I see ghosts," she blurted out. "I help them as much as I can."

I smiled. "I know. You told me at the party. And I think it's amazing."

Her eyes widened. "You do?"

"Of course. You help lost souls find peace. How could I not love that about you?" I stroked her cheek. "Just like you seem to accept that I'm..." I gestured to my fangs.

"A vampire rock star?"

"Your vampire rock star. If you'll have me."

The band shifted into the melody I'd written for her, and I started to sing:

"In the shadows where I hide

You see straight through

No more running, no more fear

Just the truth of what's right here

Between darkness and the light

We'll find our way through the night"

As I sang, her eyes filled with tears. When the last note faded, she threw herself into my arms.

"That was beautiful," she whispered.

"I love you," I said against her hair. "Ghost whisperer and all."

She pulled back to look at me. "I love you too. Fangs and all."

I kissed her then, pouring all my emotion into it. When we broke apart, I pulled the small box from my pocket.

"I know it's fast," I said, "but when you know, you know." I opened it to reveal a silver key. "Move in with me. We'll build a place where we can coexist. Where you can help souls find peace and write your articles, and I can keep making music, and we can figure out this crazy supernatural life together."

"That's... not a ring," she said with a relieved laugh.

"That comes later," I promised. "When we're ready. But for now..."

"Yes," she said, taking the key. "Yes to all of it."

The band whooped and started playing again, this time one of our hits. I pulled Ari close and we swayed together as the stars came out.

"No ghosts right now?" I asked.

She shook her head. "Just us."

"I'll keep them quiet for you," I said. "If you'll keep me human."

"Deal." She stood on tiptoe to kiss me again. "Now take me home, my vampire rock star."

"As my ghost whisperer commands."

We walked hand in hand to the van, leaving the cemetery and its spirits behind. Whatever came next—vampire politics, ghost drama, paparazzi chaos—we'd face it together. Sometimes, the greatest love stories aren't about perfect people, but about two imperfect souls who make each other better.

Even if one of those souls is technically dead.