“… and that’s essentially what I wanted to discuss in my thesis,” Jonathan finished. He looked around and blinked, realizing that he must have been talking this poor man’s ear off. The library loomed over them now. He blushed, embarrassed. “I’m so sorry. I really just got going, didn’t I?”

Bernard laughed; a sound Jonathan found himself quite used to. “No, of course. I tend to have that effect on people. A good thing, too, because I like to listen to people talk about subjects they’re passionate about.”

They had stopped walking, and were just standing, facing one another in the shadow of the library.

Jonathan’s face grew redder, and he looked away. “Well, I’m glad you liked it. Unfortunately, not everyone sees it the same way.”

He thought of the professor he had asked to be his thesis advisor, the dull, numb sting of rejection. For a brief second, he could almost imagine this alone was why he was leaving San Luis.

“You know… you shouldn’t give up so easily.” Bernard continued. “I really have to say, I was… impressed when you told me you took it upon yourself to continue your studies, independently. That shows real dedication, and combined with your intuition, not to mention your chosen subject, there’s obvious potential for you to produce something truly insightful.”

Jonathan blinked and looked up at the man again. His skin had grown slightly pink in the sun. Thick, silvered hair spilled out from under his broad hat, which cast a shadow over much of his face. But Jonathan could clearly see the sympathy written across his features, with his soft smile, the slight tilt of his head, and the angle of his shoulders.

This near stranger who’d listened to him babble about his half-baked ideas about fairy tales, had somehow decided to continue to entertain the idea, noting that he wasn’t wasting his time.

But he was. Every day in San Luis was a day his life was in danger.

It was as if a shadow passed over the moment of encouragement. Jonathan felt his left wrist ache again and a chill took hold inside his stomach.

“Thanks. I appreciate it, but I can’t. I guess I wasn’t cut out for it,” Jonathan stated, but he couldn’t keep the disappointment out of his voice.

There was something about Bernard that made him feel quite as if he couldn’t hide his true emotions from him. Like he was someone he could easily open up to about anything.

Bernard was staring directly into Jonathan’s eyes now, and with just a subtle change, his expression became deadly serious. “What if you had help?”

Jonathan’s eyes widened. Did he just request what Jonathan thought he did? But then reality hit him, and he shook his head. “I can’t.”

“No, really consider it. You’ve been working full-time and trying to research for a thesis on a subject often left on the roadside by academics. Of course, it’s been a struggle.” Bernard took a step forward and shifted the books so they were under one arm. “What if you had someone who could point you in exactly the right direction? What if you found the perfect source every time?”

Jonathan shuffled his feet awkwardly. What was he getting at?

Bernard extended his free hand in a gesture of offering. “What if I took a chance on you?”

Jonathan’s heart leapt into his mouth. He felt warm all over, the shadow of doubt from a moment before gone. He was gobsmacked for a second, his lips parting in a shocked “o”.

The “what-if” scenario stretched in front of him, the path to his studies opening up to him and extending a second chance out to him he had never hoped for.

He shook his head slightly to clear his mind and refocus. “What, um, what do you have in mind?”

Bernard smiled. “I happen to be quite familiar with what you’re studying. In fact, one of my first classes next semester is going to be on the folklore origins of many common threads in storytelling. Pretty basic stuff, maybe get a freshman or two to switch majors from Comp-Sci to English.”

Jonathan’s eyes widened despite thinking they were already as open as they could get. “You’re teaching?”

Bernard grinned wildly, white teeth flashing brilliantly. “Yes. At Van Gannison. This will be my first semester. A shame I missed out on being your professor, I have a feeling we would have gotten along very well.”

Jonathan simply stared at the man in front of him, not understanding what was happening. “But, even with your help, my thesis is nowhere near done. I would take time away from your students, wouldn’t I?”

Bernard waved his open hand dismissively. “I’ll only be lecturing for two classes this semester, and I think with my help, I could put you on an… accelerated course. From what you’ve told me you want to discuss in your thesis, I can pinpoint about a half-dozen sources that would be perfect for you, off the bat.”

Jonathan swallowed nervously. The offer was getting harder to turn down, at least for the reasons he could tell Dr. Page. “W-well… even then, where would it go? If I write this, it’s not like I’ll be able to get a degree for it or anything.”

“Well, that’s true. I can’t give you a degree, but I have some connections with a few academic publications. If we publish your thesis with them, you’ll at least get some recognition for your ideas. And that’s really what you want, isn’t it?” Dr. Page’s glasses slipped down his nose slightly, and Jonathan caught a gleam in his eye.

Jonathan wanted so badly to say yes. To just agree and start studying with Dr. Page right away. Deep in his brain, some small voice was whispering that this was crazy, that he didn’t know anything about who this guy was. But what stopped him from lifting his hand and taking Bernard’s was the thought of Alphonse, bent over his arm, with his mouth over his wrist.

He shivered, and a choking noise was all he could manage at first. “I-I’m sorry, this is all so much…” he said finally and turned away from Dr. Page.

‘Why couldn’t this have happened even just yesterday, G*d d*amn it? Why didn’t I meet you yesterday?’ Jonathan thought to himself as he started to walk away. Shameful tears were building up behind his eyes, and he felt like he could barely breathe. What was he doing?

“Just think about it, that’s all I ask, Jonathan,” he heard Dr. Page say. “Just in our little chat here, I’ve seen… so much potential in you, and it shouldn’t go to waste.” Jonathan stared at his feet, shuffling slightly so he could face the man once again.

“Here.” Dr. Page reached into his pocket and pulled out a card. “Take this. Think about it tonight and call me tomorrow morning,” he offered. Jonathan stared at it for a moment before reaching out and taking it.

He put on a smile and looked Bernard in the eye. “Thanks, Dr. Page. I can’t guarantee what I’ll say, but… I’ll think about it.”

Looking into Page’s eyes, Jonathan felt his walls crumbling. This was his chance! He had spent so much time working on this, and by just saying yes, he could bring his work to fruition.

And this time, with Page in front of him, for just a moment, he wasn’t afraid of Alphonse. He wasn’t going to let him win.

Bernard smiled at him again, a flash of his white teeth. “Well, aren’t you going to check that book in?”

Jonathan thought about it but shook his head. “I think I’ll hold onto it for now. If I’m considering your offer, I might want to give this one another look. I’ll let you go, though.”

Bernard shrugged, then smiled once more. “I look forward to your call. I do hope you’ll make the right decision.”

And with that, he turned, walking into the library. Jonathan watched him through the door for a second and set out on foot back home.

It couldn’t have been a long walk, no more than half an hour, but every step of the way, Jonathan’s mind was at war with itself.

Only two days ago, he was working a long shift at the café, only to encounter a creature out of a horror story. The whole night, he was terrified, and the following day, his suspicions were confirmed when the creature attacked him.

Except, how much of it was an attack? He had walked into the office of his own will. Setting aside the strange effect the vampire had on him, Jonathan had to admit Alphonse was charismatic. Words and curiosity alone had brought him into that building.

And Jonathan lived to tell the tale. He was scared too, convinced no one would believe him, but he was alive. What about the glass of water, though? And… what was it he had heard in his mind while Alphonse bit him? “Not blood alone will please me?”

What the h*ll did that mean?

Jonathan shivered. Okay, so the horrific vampire that bit my wrist doesn’t want to kill me. He wants something else from me, something I must be alive for. The thought didn’t make Jonathan any more comfortable.

But on the other hand… Dr. Page. A chance encounter with a professor, who happened to be an expert in his thesis’s subject. That, and he thought Jonathan’s idea was good. Not to mention, he was funny, and handsome. Jonathan blinked as the word ‘handsome’ entered his stream of consciousness, but he let it pass. It was true, after all.

After a summer of grinding and struggling with his thesis studies entirely alone, someone was willing to give him a chance. He would have done anything for that opportunity before, but now that it was in front of him, there was so much to consider.

It was nearing dark when Jonathan reached his apartment. He stared up the wooden steps at his door, and thought, long and hard. He took the first step, and a decision started forming in his mind.

He took another, and another, each step shaping his decision. In his mind, Dr. Page and Alphonse loomed in front of him, looking down on his progress up the staircase.

About halfway up, he was pretty sure he knew what he was going to do, but the final steps dispelled any lingering doubts. He was smiling sadly to himself, and he felt the choking feeling of being on the verge of tears standing in front of his own door.

Jonathan sighed and opened his door. He stepped inside, leaving his bag near the entrance, and stepped into the living room.

In the gloom of the setting sun, Alphonse stood in the center of the space, staring at Jonathan as he entered the room.

Jonathan’s breath caught in his throat, and he froze, staring back into Alphonse’s dark, dark eyes. They loomed on him with deep intent. Jonathan swore he could see Alphonse’s fangs glint in the light as he opened his mouth to speak.

“Jonathan… I think we have much to talk about."