"Your house is huge. I could easily get lost in here," I say as I look around, unable to believe that such a gorgeous house could be located here, in this old small town of Carlisle. I didn’t think there were many houses that weren’t about to fall down.
"I like space," he says, and I smirk. This house is so big it could easily fit five families and twenty-five dogs in it, and it still wouldn't be fully occupied.
"Are you expecting someone?" I ask when I see that a table is set for two people.
"You," he says with a smile as if it was evident for him that I'd come.
I could've asked him why he was so sure but decide not to. It's Raphael; it feels like he knows everything.
He moves a chair for me to take a seat. It's the first time in my life someone has done that. I shouldn't be so surprised; Raphael is a real gentleman. It feels like he came here from another century. Maybe he did.
"So you live alone?" I ask carefully. It's not like I believe he has a wife and kids. He's a loner by nature.
"I live with my sister," he explains, still not taking a seat. He opens the bottle of wine and pours a glass for me and then one for himself, placing the bottle on the coffee table next to the main table.
"How old is she?" I ask, getting excited. I could've bet he lives alone. I saw no signs of a woman in this house.
"She's twenty-five." He takes a plate covered with a metallic lid and places it in front of me. When he takes the lid off, the smell of freshly baked meat reaches my nose, and my stomach growls again. "She's out of town for a couple of weeks, so don't expect her to come in any moment."
"And how old are you?" I ask, and he looks at me with a smile.
"I'm twenty-nine." He places the lid on the coffee table and takes a plate with food for himself.
"For real?" I ask after a long pause, and he looks at me again. I was afraid to ask this question, to be honest. If I imagined everything I saw in the forest at night, he would be offended.
"Three hundred eighty-five," he says thoughtfully, and I stop breathing.
Is this really happening? Am I imagining it? What if tomorrow I wake up and it has all just been a dream?
"You can ask anything you want, Katie," he says when he notices the shock on my face. "I promised not to lie to you, and I'm going to keep my word. Don't be afraid."
"Who are you?" I ask right away, ignoring my body's need to eat. I'm starving, but the idea of knowing about Raphael is more exciting than any food.
"I think you know the answer," he responds after a pause, and our gazes meet.
My heart is trying to jump out of my chest from all the emotions I feel inside.
"Are you..." I begin but stop. I simply can't ask that. But Raphael says nothing, just staring at me. I swallow. "Are you a vampire?"
"I am," he says right away, and I exhale, realizing that I haven’t really been breathing for awhile, waiting for his answer.
Chapter Sixteen
Raphael
"I've never seen anyone as relieved when I’ve said it as you are now," I say, and Katie smiles in response.
I smile back, noticing that her body is more relaxed now than...ever. I've never seen her this calm.
"Eat," I command, pointing to her plate. "The lamb will become rubbery when it gets cold, and the mashed potato cools down pretty quickly, too. And don't forget about the salad."
There are two salads in the center of the table, actually, one with arugula and cherry tomatoes, and one with cucumbers and romaine lettuce. I didn't know if she ate arugula, and that's why I decided that we needed one more. When Katie reaches for the arugula and moans after tasting it, I smile with satisfaction.
When I start eating, I feel her curiosity in her gaze at the way I cut the meat on my plate.
"Is there something wrong with the food?" I ask because I can see that she’s stopped eating.
"No, it's perfect, it's just..." She pauses, and I look up at her.