The Dark Secret of the CEO by Sofia de Orellana

“So meat is going to be fine?” I ask while Cata seems overjoyed to prepare it for me.

“Red meat is usually the easiest,” Cata nods. “Whatever is closest to our actual diet anyway… With time, most vampires learn to eat pretty much anything, we just get used to the taste. It doesn’t kill us, and some are surprisingly good at times. Oh, and alcohol doesn’t affect us!”

I’m not sure if that’s going to be a good or a bad thing… Cata seems absorbed in her cooking again, preparing that wine sauce from scratch, even the shallots. I get mesmerized by her movements, and my eyes go to the batch of cookies she was preparing just before. Why does she bake so much if she can’t really eat it then? Is that just a hobby?

Meanwhile, I just rest quietly, listening to her humming. I glance outside. Looks like wherever this house is located, we’re surrounded by bushes and trees. As Cata said, the sun’s going down behind the windows. Is it alright that I’m awake during the day? Cata looks like she’s been up for hours too. If I didn’t already know, I would never suspect she isn’t human. I’d probably just feel like there’s something off about her. I have so many questions… I sigh. I guess I have eternity to answer them now. I simply rest. I feel a lot better than before, at least. Like… just good. Not hot, nor cold. Not tired, not hungry. A bit thirsty, but I’m learning that’s going to be a lasting sensation. My body still feels a bit strange to me, but I am now starting to get curious about the changes that occurred…. Like my hearing. I realize Cata’s movements are mindful of each noise she makes, and swift. I can hear her spatula on the pan, but also the bird outside the window, and a squirrel running between leaves. If I really close my eyes and focus, I can also hear water running down the plumbing, the wooden floor creaking, and even more street noises from afar. That makes me realize, this house is probably bigger than what I’ve seen. My room was on the ground floor, but from what I heard, there are at least two or three floors, maybe more. And the only noise I can hear from above is Bart taking that shower… I hear nothing of Richard, but I guess vampires don’t snore or even need to breathe while sleeping?

“…Cata, how many people are coming over, exactly?”

“Mh… some of them we haven’t heard from in a few decades, so I’d be surprised if they showed up. Plus, some really don’t get along, so they avoid each other… Well, like any large family, I guess! But, I’d estimate about a dozen of them will come?”

“How many people did Richard, uh… turn?”

“Oh, I wouldn’t know! Probably dozens and dozens over the centuries… But not many survived until today. In fact, many vampires don’t make it past the first years.”

“…Really?” I frown. “Why?”

“Many things,” she sighs. “…You’ll see when you go hunting with Bart tonight. Just be sure to listen to him, alright Darling?”

I nod, but I’m still confused. What the heck should vampires be worried about? Catherina doesn’t seem to want to expand on the matter, and I don’t dare ask; as she said, I guess I’ll have to find out later… She finally puts the plate in front of me. The steak is bloody, covered with a red sauce and, I have to say, smelling and looking appealing.

“There you go!” She smiles.

I smile back, and grab the fork and knife to try it. Oh… That’s much better, actually. Not quite the taste I’d expect it to be, but with the combination of the red wine sauce, it’s more flavorful and palatable.

“Thanks, Cata, it’s delicious,” I nod.

“Glad to hear that,” she smiles. “…You know, I’m thinking we’re going to have to do something about your appearance.”

I grimace. I suppose so… I can’t just go out in the streets. News of my death probably reached this part of the world too, thanks to the new technologies. If someone out there recognizes me, it’s going to be quite a mess…

“I’m open to anything,” I tell her honestly.

In fact, I’m open to completely erasing everything. I’m never going back to being June Starr again… I’m a bit surprised Bart and Cata didn’t ask more about my death, either. Perhaps vampires learn to be respectful of others’ circumstances. I’m so used to people tearing apart every part of my life to speculate, this is actually quite a nice change, I won’t complain. For once, I’m the one with all the questions. I eat my steak slowly, but after a while, I realize I wasn’t hungry to start with; I’m just mechanically feeding my organs, or so it feels like. The thirst in my throat doesn’t disappear, no matter how much of that sauce I get; I’m even starting to reconsider the glass from earlier…

“You probably don’t need to do anything tonight as you and Bart won’t be going out in public, but… I will contact Riki!”

“…Riki?”

before all those new technologies. All we had to do was move overseas, relocate to a new city for a

all of the family lives here. I could barely stand my own family, and I’m just twenty-five.

most of… the

Cata nods.

of the others are scattered

even if Richard summons them… Not everyone

Cata shrugs.

are curious about

isn’t very much news if they’ve all been around for

you, Bart and Richard

doesn’t really come out of her room often. You’ll be lucky if you run into her! I’ll introduce you to her sometime. Claude also comes here often, but he’s been moving around a lot, so there’s no telling when he’ll show up next. Maybe tomorrow, since Richard contacted him… He’s a bit of a loner, otherwise, you’ll see he’s a bit… different. Oh, John and Juliet also live not too far from here, they

I ask,

have been stuck together

thing, which seems to be taking an amazing amount of time. I genuinely have no idea how long it takes to make cookies, that said. I glance around, still a bit curious about this place. It seems like they’ve opted for furniture that would pass in any century. Everything is in tones of white or beige, and wooden furniture. There are plants here and there, but a lot of dried ones that won’t grow over the years. Once again, there is literally no sign of any personal item, not even a hint of color that could pop out. Not a single photo anywhere, not even a clue about the residents’ favorite snacks… In fact, it feels like a furniture magazine’s picture. Or one of those places you can rent for a short stay. Literally anyone could be living

as empty as it sounds…” I mutter for

are occupied though,” smiles Cata. “…Richard bought this

mean the Blitz?

She nods.

chaos. We didn’t have the means we have today to communicate, either. A lot of vampires simply fled the main cities and remained in hiding for years. So,

“…Your home.”

smiles. “It’s a big, empty house, but every Heartgrave has a room here, even if most only sleep a couple

“Vampires celebrate Christmas?”

here, when something happens. Or to make sure the others are alright, for those who aren’t really up to date on technology…and to see Richard, too. He’s the one thing

is the patriarch’s house everybody still has a room at… It’s odd to think that the woman baking cookies in front of me lived through an actual war. It means she and Richard were in London in the 40’s then? I wonder how it was… Suddenly, I hear Bart’s steps coming back to us; he appears, a towel wrapped around his waist and another drying his hair. His upper half is exposed, and on his rather thin torso,

you want to go and hunt you’d

I’m still in some sort of night gown…

“Anything I can borrow?”

“Naturally!”

kitchen, and two floors up. She keeps looking

Susan or Anne’s would definitely be too big

a room, but it’s locked. Cata rolls her

seriously… Nevermind. Let’s try

bedroom with much more personality than I’ve seen in any other room. There are pretty flower paintings on the walls, nothing like those old museum pictures but simple pastels and soft watercolors. The bed sheets seem clean, soft green, and all the furniture is white, with a soft feminine touch to it. The vanity has a pile of romantic books on it, as well as a couple of booknotes, and a