Vampire Boyfriend: Faryan (special preview)

“This place is full of wolves,” Faryan says with a smirk. “Strolling around with a rabbit seems like tempting fate,” he winks to show he’s teasing. 

“She hasn’t been sleeping,” I answer. I rub Bunny’s back as she curls against my shoulder. “Ever since we moved here, she’s been fighting any sort of sleep.”

Faryan nods his head. “There’s this shop downtown that sells all these really amazing teas. I know a couple of the dads I work with swear by the lady’s nighttime tea for their kids.”

“That would be my sister’s shop,” I chuckle. “And trust me, that tea does well in a pinch, but Bunny is much more stubborn than that.”

“Oh, that’s too bad,” Faryan smiles. “So walking around helps?”

“Gets her calm,” I sigh. “Gets her relaxed. At least out here the world is quiet and safe. I know the wolves around here aren’t into little bunny rabbits like here.”

“Most of the wolves around here have their own bunnies who can’t sleep,” Faryan smirks. His eyes look over me again. “Are you not going to ask what I’m doing out at night like this?”

“Oh uh...I didn’t think it’d be polite,” I chuckle nervously.

Faryan shrugs. “I’m working,” he says. He points down the path. “I work various odd jobs at the lumber mill, and then I do delivery for the paper.”

“Ah, a paperboy,” I tease gently. “They grow them big down here.”

Faryan chuckles. “One way to put it.”

Bunny whines and burbles against my shoulder. “Oh,” Igasp softly. “I better head back home. She’s nearly asleep.”

“Be safe,” Faryan says with a smile. “Maybe I’ll see you again.”

My heart pounds excitedly at the prospect. “Yeah, of course.” I say breathlessly before turning to head home.

The next morning I catch Ariel having breakfast with Ari before she goes to school. I come into the kitchen, fixing myself a cup of tea then join them.

“How did Bunny sleep last night?” Ariel asks.

“You need cereal,” Ari says, pouring the rainbow colored confection into a bowl for me. 

“Thank you, Ari,” I pull the bowl up to me. “She went to sleep fine after our walk.” I then glance to Ariel. “Do you know Faryan?”

Ariel glances up from Ari feeding him a spoonful of only green sugary bits. “Hmm? Oh yeah,” he says between bites. “Cool guy. Does a lot for Mrs. Locklear. Why do you ask?”

“I met him,” I say with a bright smile. “He was uhm...on the scenic path last night.”

Ariel looks me over. “So that’s your type?”

“No!” I yelp quickly. “No, I mean, no-” I gulp down some tea. “That’s not what I meant about it.”

“Faryan is nice,” Ariel replies. “You could do a lot worse trust me. He helps take care of some of the older folks around here, keeps an eye out at night, cuts and delivers firewood. He’s not like everyone else here in Hearthway Hollow, he’s a bit more…” He hesitates for a moment as he thinks.

“He’s a vampire,”Ari tosses out.

“Ari!” Ariel fusses at her and cups his hand around her mouth while she giggles. “But yeah, she is not wrong.”

“My god,” I stare in surprise. “Werewolves, vampires, next you’ll be telling me there are centaur at Beau’s farm!”

“No centaur exactly,” Ariel then shakes his head. “Not the point.”

“Vampire,” I murmur. “Like...suck my blood, turn into a bat-”

Ariel chuckles. “No, god no, Vampire’s aren’t like that at all. At least not the few I have met along the way,” he says with a shrug. “They do drink blood, but he won’t be hurt by crosses or garlic. Although I’m not sure about mirrors,” he murmurs. “But the blood thing isn’t scary. It has to be willfully given or else it turns to soot on their tongue or something.”