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Guillermo sighs contentedly as he settles into the plastic chair. He wiggles his toes further into the warm sand, smiling at the antics of the vampires. It had taken quite a bit of bargaining and persuasion to get the vampires to agree to a trip to the beach, but Guillermo was glad it all worked out in the end. It looked like everyone was having fun.
Nadja and Laszlo were waist-deep in the water, cackling as they watched Nandor attempt to remain upright on a boogie-board that was much too small for him. Guillermo had lost count somewhere after the 30th attempt, but he still gave a cheery, “You’ve got this, Master!“ even as the vampire toppled backwards into the water.
When Nandor resurfaces, wet hair hanging limply across his face and bare shoulders, Guillermo can’t help but laugh.
“What a pretty picture you make,” Nadja says, her voice carrying easily over the waves. “You look like a beautiful rack of seaweed.”
“They’re kinda incredible, aren’t they?” Colin Robinson says suddenly, reminding Guillermo of the energy vampire’s presence at his side.
The older man was similarly slouched in a plastic chair, sporting a white tank top and a boring pair of beige swim trunks. He had gotten Laszlo of all people to help rub sunscreen all over himself and the sticky white residue glistened in the moonlight. His beach tote (the red Jansport backpack he “borrowed” from Nandor) was half-buried in the sand and from the quick glimpse Guillermo got, seemed to be full of old shopping catalogs for stores that no longer existed.
“Yeah. They’ve lived far longer than I can possibly imagine, but they still find joy in trivial, everyday things.”
The energy vampire gives him a look. “I was actually going to say it’s incredible they’ve managed to live as long as they have. What, with there barely being a single brain between them. But you do you, Gizmo.”
“Guillermo.”
Colin waves a hand. “Close enough.”
“I would also like to partake in the frolicking,” the Baron says, startling Guillermo somewhat. He had carried the Baron onto the beach, but up until this point, the vampire had been as quiet as… well, a burned corpse.
“Do you think it would be alright for you to go in the water given your… condition?” Guillermo asks, eyeing the necrotic web of flesh that encircled the vampire’s abdomen. Surely getting saltwater in that wouldn’t be a good thing.
The Baron blinks, cocking his head to the side in amusement. “Why wouldn’t it be? It is not like I can drown.”
That was true, Guillermo supposed. With a shrug, he went over to where the Baron sat on a beach towel. Before he could grab him, however, the vampire held up a hand.
“I would like to put on those floatation devices. The ones that go around the arms. Just in case,” he explains.
Once the Baron was suitably ready for the ocean, the yellow arm floaties covered in a cute rubber duck pattern now snugly in place, Guillermo carried him towards the other vampires.
“Ah, you’ve finally come to join us, Baron… and Gizmo,” Laszlo says, grinning.
Once immersed in the water, Guillermo carefully relaxed his hold on the Baron. Sure enough, the floaties kept him above the waves.
The Baron clapped excitedly. “I cannot recall the last time I was in the ocean. I, of course, traveled across the sea to reach Staten Island, but I did not do any swimming. Looking back at it now, perhaps I should have made time to do so. I am learning it is important to relax and enjoy the present moment. It has certainly helped with my occasional bouts of rage and bloodlust.”
“That’s great to hear, Baron,” Nandor replies, still attempting to push tendrils of hair out of his eyes. “It is a shame that the Sire couldn’t make it. Surely some frolicking and relaxation would do them some good as well, no?”
The Baron sighs. “Yes it would. But unfortunately they are afraid of water. You know how it is with the older ones. Bodies of running water give them anxiety.”
Guillermo, assuming his duties were done, turned back towards the shore. He had stashed a cherry popsicle in the cooler and he wanted to get to it before Colin Robinson tried to ruin it for him. He could imagine the energy vampire ‘accidentally’ dropping it in the sand… or the ocean.
“Guillermo?” Nandor questions, grabbing his shoulder. “Are you going back to the shore already? Who will keep the Baron from floating away?”
For a moment, Guillermo had thought that Nandor was stopping him from leaving because he wanted him to stay. That he wanted to enjoy his company. As soon as he heard Nandor speak the Baron’s name, Guillermo sighed. He should have expected as much. The vampires only cared about what he could do for them, nothing more.
“I’m sure you three strong, powerful vampires can figure it out,” Guillermo snaps, turning away again before he could see Nandor’s confused expression.
Trudging back to his chair, Guillermo scowls at himself. He was wearing turquoise swim shorts and a grey button-up shirt. He had undone the top few buttons, unable to resist the touch of the cold sea breeze in the humid summer night, but he hadn’t meant to actually get the shirt wet. Looking down, he saw that his shirt was, for all intents and purposes, soaked.
With a muttered curse, Guillermo unbuttons the shirt entirely, letting it drape open to reveal the warm, tan skin underneath. He carefully hangs it over the back of his chair before looking over at Colin. The other man hadn’t said anything, but he could feel Colin staring pointedly at him.
“What?”
The energy vampire is quiet for a moment. Guillermo can practically hear the cogs in his head turning as he watches Colin’s eyes glow an electric blue.
“That’s a lot of skin there, bucko. Are you trying to impress someone?” He wiggles an eyebrow in a manner that is, disturbingly, reminiscent of Laszlo. Their blossoming friendship was truly a curse for the rest of the household. “Sorry pal, but you’re a bit too young for me.”
“Eughh, no. Just… no,” Guillermo replies, wrinkling his nose. “My shirt got soaked. That’s all.”
“If you say so,” Colin replies in a sing-song voice. “But don’t think I don’t sense whatever’s going on between you and Nandor.”
At the comment, Guillermo’s face reddened. “W-what are you talking about? There’s nothing going on between us.”
In the ensuing awkward silence, Guillermo reaches into the cooler beside the plastic chair to pull out the cherry popsicle.
Just as he pops it into his mouth, Colin’s grin widens. “Is that so? Well, either way, look who’s on their way to see you.”
“Guillermo…” Nandor says, openly staring at him, fangs exposed.
Not that Guillermo was faring much better. Before, the water had covered most of Nandor’s form. Now, Guillermo was privy to seeing all of the vampire’s skin, from the array of scars that marked his chest, abdomen, and arms, to the thick, dark trail of hair that disappeared beneath the man’s swim shorts (which were, of course, horse themed). Despite having seen Nandor in various states of undress as well as completely naked countless times, Guillermo felt his cheeks heat up yet again.
“...Was there something you needed, Master?” Guillermo asks, taking a slow lick of the popsicle. Red, sticky juice dripped from his lips to his chin as he tried in vain to keep the sweet treat from dripping onto himself.
Perhaps it was just his imagination, but Guillermo swore he saw Nandor’s eyes flash gold for a brief moment. It probably should have scared him. But it didn’t. It never had.
Clearing his throat dramatically, Nandor nods. “Yes. I request your assistance in a most important endeavor. We are having a contest to see who can build the greatest sandcastle. Nadja, Laszlo, and the Baron will be one team. You and I will be the other team. Colin Robinson will act as the judge because he is the only one in the house who I trust to be an impartial judge.”
“That’s true. I do hate all of you equally.” Colin chuckles. “I’m just kidding. I don’t hate any of you guys… that much.”
Sure enough, Laszlo and Nadja came trudging along a moment later, the Baron being bridal-carried by Laszlo.
“Well, shouldn’t we start soon?” Nadja asks. “There is only so much time left before sunrise.”
Guillermo pauses to wipe sweat from his brow but it doesn’t deter him from his mission at hand.
“Guillermo,” Nandor stage whispers. “Guillermo. Pretend you are accidentally tossing sand into the mote Laszlo and Nadja are making as you dig.”
“We can hear you, you twit,” Laszlo mutters.
“You are lucky we aren’t throwing sand in your eyes you stupid bloody turkey,” Nadja hisses, bringing the bucket of seashells closer to her chest.
“Thirty minute warning,” Colin Robinson warns, holding up one finger. “If I might interject. I recently learned about the origins of seafaring and I thought it would make a fun little Ted-Talk. You guys know what a Ted-Talk is, right?”
Nandor pauses from his painstaking attempt at creating chains out of seaweed for the gate to the castle. “Why is it called a Ted-Talk? Is Ted talking? You are not a Ted. So shouldn’t it be called a Colin Robinson-Talk?”
“I don’t give a flying fuck who this Ted fellow is. Just tell me about the ships, Colin Robinson.”
Nadja groans. “Laszlo! Why would you say that?”
“Let the man speak about his ships.” In a lower tone, Laszlo mutters, “It’s one of the only topics I actually give a shit about.”
“Did you guys know that the first ever boat created was actually a canoe? The Pesse canoe was found during the construction of the Dutch A28 motorway back in 1955. It was thought to be a tree trunk at first, but nope, that bad boy was actually a canoe! Anyway, using carbon dating, researchers found out that the little wooden fella was built during the early mesolithic period, approximately between 8040 BC and 7510 BC. Now if you’re itching to see this beautiful specimen of early human workmanship, you can visit it at the Drents Museum in Assen, Netherlands.”
“Why would I be itching?” Nandor asks. “Is the canoe full of itchy bugs?
“…It’s a figure of speech, Master,” Guillermo whispers, not wanting to potentially embarrass the vampire.
Before Nandor can reply, clearly still confused, Colin smoothly interrupts. “Anyway, by golly you’ve only got 15 minutes left. Better start on the finishing touches soon. I’m looking at you three: Nadja, Laszlo, and the Baron.”
Guillermo stares in the direction of where he’d imagine there would be a camera if the documentary crew was with them. It was a bad habit, but what else was he supposed to do? The other three vampires had abandoned the original assignment to make a sandcastle, and had instead started to make a sarcophagus, the Baron resting snugly inside. The only remnants of their supposed “castle” was the mote that surrounded the sarcophagus.
If that was an issue, the energy vampire made no obvious note of it. The time soon whittled down to seconds as Nandor and Guillermo stood back to admire their work.
It was impressive, all things considered. The castle itself was horrendously lopsided, to the point that it was a miracle it was still standing, but it was bigger and more detailed than any sandcastle Guillermo had made before. From the surrounding mote to the seaweed chains to the carefully arranged shells, it looked like something that could potentially be in a real sandcastle building competition. Guillermo was proud of it. Proud of himself and Nandor for making it.
“High-five!” Guillermo grins, raising a hand.
Nandor looks at him quizzically for a moment before awkwardly lifting his own hand in return. Guillermo meets him half-way, letting their palms slap together.
The vampire smiles the same kind of smile he always made when he looked towards Guillermo after making a joke. It’s a rare, soft look. As if Nandor was letting his usual facade of haughtiness and disinterest crumble for a brief moment to reveal his true self. Reveal his true feelings when it came to his ex-familiar. It was an expression that still brought on a flurry of butterflies in Guillermo’s stomach.
So lost in his own thoughts, Guillermo doesn’t realize that Colin has picked a winner until Nandor lets out a frustrated hiss at his side.
“But that is not even a castle!” Nandor sputters, gesturing towards the sand sarcophagus.
Nadja stuck out her tongue in a mocking manner before continuing to add seashells to the outside of the sarcophagus. Laszlo merely flicked him off.
Colin Robinson shrugs. “What can I say? They got extra points for creativity.”
It was almost time to go.
Guillermo took one last look at the ocean, watching the dark waves collide with the shore. White sea foam gleamed in the moonlight, giving the shoreline an ethereal glow as the tide receded. The full moon hung above the horizon, shining brightly in the cloudless sky.
He was hit with a strong and sudden sense of melancholy. Who knew when they would be back? For all he knew, this could be the last time they ever came to the beach.
“It is peaceful here,” Nandor says, appearing at Guillermo’s side. He hadn’t even heard the vampire approaching.
For all his slayer instincts, Guillermo found that Nandor was the only vampire who could ever catch him off-guard. Nandor knew how to move quietly when he needed to, his warrior instincts having not waned despite the ravages of time, but it was more than that. Guillermo was well aware of his own soft spot for the vampire. No matter what was writ in his DNA, he never could see Nandor as an enemy. A monster to be killed.
Maybe Nandor was annoying at times. A nuisance. Loud, brash, and unyielding. But he was also a friend. Perhaps the only real friend Guillermo had now. The only person Guillermo could confide in.
“You know what this reminds me of?”
Guillermo shakes his head.
“It reminds me of the battlefield once the battle is over. For a brief moment, the world is quiet. All you can hear is your own heart beating like a war drum in your ears. No more screams. No more cries. Just you and the sound of survival.” Nandor pauses, turning towards Guillermo. “I am glad you took us here.”
Guillermo didn’t know how to respond. How could he? He had never fought in a war. He remembered the silence after the incident in the theatre, the way his heart hammered in his chest long after the last vampire was dead. But it hadn’t felt peaceful back then. It had felt lonely. He spent over a decade trying to be a vampire, sacrificing slivers of his humanity in vain, only to realize he was destined to be a monster to monsters. To kill the very creatures he had admired since he was a child.
Eventually, Guillermo settles on a sigh. “We should get going soon. Everyone’s already in the car waiting on us.”
“You’re right…” Nandor trails, returning his gaze to the sea. “But a few more minutes should be okay-A, yes? I am feeling contemplative…”
Guillermo nods with a chuckle. “Yes. It should be fine.”
A comfortable silence passes between them, the sea air tickling the nape of Guillermo’s neck.
“Guillermo… you are a good familiar. A good bodyguard. And a good friend. I do not tell you this enough.”
“W-what?” Guillermo responds, startling. Where was this coming from?
“Actually, I have something I wish to remove from my chest.”
“Get off my chest,” Guillermo corrects.
“…I am not on your chest. Please, Guillermo, I am trying to be serious.”
After a momentary pause, Nandor continues. “I have never told anyone this, but tonight, despite all the fun I was having, I was being reminded of a dark time in my life. I was turned on a full moon. On a night much like this. I did not know what was happening until it was too late.
“I act as if being turned was a good thing. That I am happy with my immortality and power. But it came at the cost of everything I loved and held dear. There are, truthfully, some nights where I wish I never became a vampire. But if I told Nadja or Laszlo this they would laugh at me. They could never understand why I feel this way.”
“I’m sorry, Master…” Guillermo says, reaching out to touch the vampire’s arm.
Nandor bristles at first, but doesn’t say anything when Guillermo attempts to hug him. It’s awkward, and Nandor doesn’t return the hug, but he can also feel the vampire slowly relax into the hold. Feels as the vampire sighs, his breath stirring a few tufts of hair at the crown of Guillermo’s head.
Perhaps he was holding onto this all along, Guillermo thinks. A truth he desperately wanted to tell someone but was unable to do so out of fear. A fear of vulnerability. But he trusted Guillermo enough to tell him.
Eventually, they part, and Guillermo feels as if he’s really seeing Nandor for the first time. As if he’s seeing the full portrait of the man, reconciling the human, blood-hungry warlord with the ancient vampire before him.
As if waking from a dream, Nandor shakes his head, looking a tad bit embarrassed as his eyes dart away from Guillermo’s gaze. “Anyway, that is enough of being a sad sack. Let’s go back home.”
Guillermo nods, leading the way to the parking lot. He doesn’t say anything when Nandor rests a hand on his shoulder, thumb rubbing circles gently into the fabric of his shirt. He doesn’t say anything when the hand trails lower, fingers brushing against his own.
It might take some time, but Guillermo was a patient man. He could wait for Nandor. Wait until the vampire was ready to admit his feelings.
But for now, it felt good to walk beside him, their fingers intertwining ever so briefly.