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Guillermo sits for his talking head, no longer in his usual interview spot in the closet-bedroom but instead seated in the blue room. The room itself is dark, with all the windows painstakingly covered in newsprint and thick, layered fabric. A dim light fills the room, illuminated from the many half-melted candles lining the wall.
He’s wearing his slayer outfit, but his traditional black vest has been replaced with red silk- delicate floral designs in slightly darker hue covering the surface of the fabric, visible only when the light hits them as he moves.
He’s seated next to a coffin.
Guillermo sits up a little straighter and smiles at the camera, tiny fangs where his canines used to be glinting in the candlelight.
“I did it.”
He laughs excitedly and continues, “I finally did it!”
Guillermo gestures to the camera crew. “I mean you all saw what happened. Everything with the club, and baby Colin, and Nandor’s marriage, and - and Freddie…” He shakes his head. “We just needed a change. A real one. I needed it. And it seemed pretty clear my original plan wasn’t going to be happening any time soon, so….” He trails off, lost in thought, then returns. “But I’m really happy now! I mean look!” He pulls back his upper lip to give the camera a better shot of his new fangs.
“Actually, turning me into a vampire had a positive effect on Derek, too. Becoming a sire gave him a bit of a confidence boost. He and the Guide are currently working on restoring the former Vampiric Council offices from the wreckage of Nadja’s club. He’s looking to assume a position on the council, forming an organization that places new vampires in a sort of “vampire education” program. You know - teaching them how to find humans, figure out their powers, the works.”
The producer raises an eyebrow and motions him to continue.
“Oh, my powers? Yeah, I kind of had that down. You don't spend 13 years working with vampires without teaching yourself the ropes. Derek was there for my first hunt which was…helpful. Though spending an evening with Derek wasn't what I had pictured for my first, um…kill, as a vampire."
He had pictured it being Nandor by his side, guiding him through the steps of taking his first vampiric victim. Supporting him, cheering him on. Guillermo decides not to tell the cameras that.
Besides, they already know.
"So, yeah!" He begins again, almost too brightly. "Derek turned me, took the money along with his newfound confidence to the council, and I came back home. It's been about two weeks now."
He crosses his hands in his lap and continues, "It was surprisingly not a big adjustment coming back here as a vampire. Colin Robinson seemed very excited to have another vampire's energy around the house. He actually congratulated me on turning, too, which was...really nice. Nadja seemed more worried about whether or not I would continue keeping up with the housework…which of course, I do." He chuckles, "Laszlo thought I was already a vampire. He actually said, 'Well, why else would you still be here?'" Guillermo relays with his best attempt at a Laszlo impression. He looks up in earnest. "I don't think he meant that."
Guillermo looks past the camera as a member of the crew quietly asks a question.
“Oh.” He fidgets with his gloves, shifting awkwardly in his seat. “Nandor actually hasn’t spoken to me very much since I’ve come back. He took one look at me and basically stormed off.” He looks away. “I mean, it makes sense, you know? Why he would be upset. I was his familiar and his bodyguard and it was supposed to be him that turned me into a vampire but…” He pauses, a brief flicker of sadness washing over his face. He shakes it away just as quickly. “But whatever! I was done waiting around for him so I made a plan. And it worked!” He smiles again, running his tongue carefully over the new teeth like a kid that just got their braces taken off. He pauses. “...Nandor made his choice.”
*************************
Guillermo brings in the mail from the front porch later that evening, practicing his hypnosis on the delivery person by having them sweep the leaves from the steps before they leave. He told Nadja he’d continue with the household chores, he just didn’t say how. He also felt a swell of pride every time his hypnosis stuck. He was getting the hang of being a vampire even quicker than he had hoped.
Sorting through the usual batch of junk mail and magazines, Guillermo’s eyes land on an ornate gold envelope at the very back, a bright red wax seal brandished on the flap. There’s no name on the front of the envelope, but he remembers getting mail like this before. There’s only one sender that comes to his mind. He decides to bring the letter to the rest of the house members for them all to see.
Guillermo still didn't spend a lot of time with the other vampires as a group. He knew he was now their equal, and that he needed to be the one to initiate bonding time. He lived with four very stubborn vampires, after all. He had gotten better at it, cautiously sitting with the others in comfortable silence when he could. But years of "vampires only, Guillermo!" was hard to just shake off. Tonight was no exception. He had been milling around on his own while the others were spending their evening together.
Everyone is seated in the fancy room - Colin Robinson reading a newspaper on the couch while Laszlo and Nadja sit side-by-side opposite him. Laszlo is idly flipping through a magazine while Nadja polishes the base of her latest animal sculpture. Nandor sits in his chair, staring out the window in thought.
“We got mail!” Guillermo announces as he enters, holding up the gold envelope. This gets everyone’s attention, eager eyes falling on him. Even Nandor looks up, making eye contact with Guillermo for the first time in days.
“Oh, is it my Uline subscription? I enjoy scouring those catalogs each week to see what’s new in the world of boxes, folding chairs, lightbulbs, tarps, extension cords, rubber gloves, trash liners -”
“No, Colin Robinson. No.” Guillermo interrupts before he can go even further. “I think it’s a letter from the Vampiric Council.”
“Well go on, then, Gizmo!” Laszlo bellows, “What’s it say?”
Guillermo reads aloud from the card, “‘The Worldwide Vampiric Council cordially invites the members of the Staten Island Vampire Household to the Unholy Masquerade’." He pauses, skimming the words. "It’s one week from today.”
Nadja and Laszlo have risen from their chairs, cheering and clapping in excitement.
Colin Robinson grins from his spot on the couch. “Ooh, party time!”
“That’s a little short notice, isn’t it?” Nandor asks.
Guillermo doesn’t even hear them. He’s still reading the rest of the invitation. Dress code, times - all the pertinent party information that he should be paying attention to. But his eyes instead drift to the bottom of the invitation. He slowly reads the names:
Nandor the Relentless, Nadja of Antipaxos, Laszlo Cravensworth, Colin Robinson,
Then right at the end, in beautiful, tiny letters:
and Guillermo de la Cruz.
Reading over his shoulder, Nadja and Laszlo both begin making joyful “ooh” and “ahh” sounds. Nadja, still clinging to her husband’s arm, speaks up for the both of them, “Well, it looks like big, bad, vampire Guillermo will get to join in on the fun this time!”
Colin Robinson gives Guillermo a playful poke on the arm. “Welcome to the club G-man!” Guillermo smiles back to him.
The housemates all look towards Nandor, expectantly, knowing it was his turn to chime in. His mouth hangs open as he looks between them.
"...Oh. Yes, congratulations Guillermo. Excuse me." Nandor ducks his head and hurries out the doorway to his room, shutting the door behind him.
Guillermo pretends not to notice the way the other vampires are looking at him right now.
He also pretends that Nandor’s dismissal doesn’t hurt.
The housemates begin to disperse, chattering about the outfits they’re going to wear, who they think might also be attending the Masquerade, and if Laszlo thinks Simon will be there wearing his hat. Guillermo is left in the room alone, the abrupt silence echoing in his ears.
He slinks over to the now-empty couch and collapses into it, head in his hands. What was Nandor’s problem? He knows that Nandor was upset that Guillermo had become a vampire without his permission, but hadn’t he been the one to string Guillermo along for all these years? Hadn’t he been the one to never make good on his promise? Guillermo had more than earned his place as a permanent member of this house - first as a familiar, then bodyguard, then parental figure and friend. Did it really bother Nandor that much that he was now his equal?
He thought they had become friends - Nandor had even said so himself at his wedding, his eyes betraying the words his mouth couldn’t say. But Guillermo had heard it. He knows Nandor cares about him, in his own way. And no amount of fighting or frustrations could ever stop Guillermo from caring about him, too.
He’d learned that the hard way over the years.
Guillermo scrubs his face with his hands and looks around the empty room. He’s done wallowing in pity. He chose to become a vampire on his own, and he’s happy now! He didn’t regret his decision at all! The only snag so far had been his former Master’s attitude about the situation - and that wasn’t about to become his problem.
He no longer needed Nandor's permission to be a part of this family.
He stands, blowing out the candles in the room before making his way back to his bedchamber, invitation still in hand. If Nandor wanted to pretend that he didn’t care about Guillermo anymore, then fine. But he isn’t about to let him ruin his excitement about his new life, about his new status in the household.
Guillermo has a Vampire Masquerade to get ready for, after all.
*************************
The rest of the week passes quickly and unceremoniously, everyone in the house being too busy making their Masquerade plans to allow for any other responsibilities to take up their precious time. They’re all currently in the middle of getting dressed for the event, everyone tucked away in their rooms.
Guillermo stands in front of his closet and pushes aside his old sweaters and vests, pulling out the outfit he planned for the evening. He spent all week agonizing over it, wanting to look elegant and sophisticated - without it being obvious that he was definitely trying too hard. He just wanted to look like he belonged. Like he had every right to bear these new fangs.
He wanted to look like a proper vampire.
He pulls out the winning look - a burgundy crushed velvet suit jacket with black lapels, black suit pants, and a pair of bright red dress shoes. He had found a simple, black mask to match - lace trim framing his face in a subtle elegance.
He felt vampiric in this outfit. Classy and chic- even if a bit on the nose with the color scheme. He looks good, and he knows it. He can’t wait to present himself to a room full of expectant elder vampires.
He carefully puts in his rarely-worn contacts, knowing his glasses would feel awkward pushing against a mask all night. The vampiric strength and fast healing was a great perk of his transformation, but was it too much to ask that it fixed his eyes, too?
Whatever. A small part of him was secretly glad he still required his glasses. It made him feel like he would never fully abandon his humanity, a constant reminder literally sitting in front of his eyes at all times.
He pulls down on the ends of the jacket, smoothing the fabric, and leaves to meet up with the others. Guillermo walks by Nadja’s room just as she’s leaving it, the two of them nearly crashing into each other in a comedic stumble.
Nadja grumbles at Guillermo’s clumsiness, and begins fluffing out her hair to fix it. She wears an extravagant gothic dress in deep blues and black, a tight lacy corset sitting atop layers of flowing fabric. Lace sleeves extend down to her wrists. Little silver accents in the corset itself match the shining extensions in her hair, pulling the whole look together.
Guillermo helps her straighten her sleeves and remarks, “You look very nice, Nadja. The dress is gorgeous.”
“Yes of course it is, Gizmo. I only wear the best.”
Guillermo looks at the camera with a roll of his eyes. “Of course.” He begins to leave when Nadja’s voice calls from behind.
“Hold it!” she holds out a polished fingernail, gesturing up and down Guillermo's frame.“Is that really what you are wearing to the Masquerade?”
Guillermo drops his shoulders, his earlier confidence disappearing in a blink. He had felt so good about his outfit, so much like the strong, powerful vampire he always hoped to be. Now, under Nadja's judgemental glare, he's starting to feel wrong. “It…was? Why, is it not good?”
“Absolutely not. You will not be showing up to your first vampiric outing wearing dime store dregs.” She moves behind Guillermo and begins pushing him down the hall. “Come. We will see what we can find.”
He resists the urge to tell her that his outfit cost far more than what she was implying, and allows himself to be escorted to her and Laszlo’s bedchambers.
Nadja nearly shoves Guillermo into the room as she makes her way purposefully to the many closets lining the wall. Simon the Devious was a bastard, but even Guillermo could appreciate all the new clothing space the room had. She pulls out a garment bag, holding it out to Guillermo.
“Now close your eyes and let mama work her magic.”
He scoffs, but knows better than to argue with Nadja when she’s in the middle of a project, and obeys. Her hands are surprisingly gentle as she works. She must help Laszlo get ready each evening, guiding him with each intricate piece. Guillermo blushes. He used to do that for Nandor, too. He wonders how Nandor chooses his outfits now.
Nadja’s voice pulls him out of his thoughts. “Done! You are a new man, Guillermo. Ready to take on the vampire world.”
He cautiously makes his way over to the mirror, when Nadja stops him.
“Gizmo, what on earth are you doing? Now, give me your telephone device so I can show you the full look.”
Right. Guillermo was still getting used to his lack of a reflection. Sometimes he'd pass by the mirror in his new room and be scared that there wasn't someone looking back at him. He hands her the phone and she takes several pictures, her finger making it into frame for the first few before she finally gets a good shot. She proudly holds the screen out to Guillermo’s face with a triumphant hum.
He closes his eyes, nervous to see exactly what Nadja had done to him.
Guillermo opens his eyes to look at the phone and gasps. “Wow.”
Nadja had dressed him in an elegant purple and gold tapestry-patterned cavalier vest, sitting on top of a black button-up with silver accents around the buttons. Sleeves of the dress shirt puff out just enough to give the ensemble a vintage feel - while still celebrating Guillermo’s modern style. She found him a black pair of dress pants with gold shoes to match the vest. She even gave him a few of her purple-jeweled rings to borrow for the evening to complete the look. He can barely believe how he looks, mouth still hanging open as he takes the phone back.
—
Later, Nadja explains to the cameras. “When he walks into that ballroom he will be representing the Staten Island branch of vampires. I simply couldn’t allow him to arrive looking like skatá .” She grins, leaning forward conspiratorially to the camera, “But doesn’t he just look absolutely delicious, now? I did a pretty good job - if I do say so myself.” She sits up proudly, straightening her dress as she does so, and looks past the camera. “Perhaps I could dress some of you sometime, too, yeah?”
—
Guillermo is still admiring his new outfit, hands running down the extravagant fabric. “This looks…amazing Nadja.”
“Not too shabby, yeah? Now for one final touch!” Nadja pulls out a masquerade mask, the quality nicer than anything Guillermo had found during the week. The colors and designs of this new mask match his new outfit perfectly - gold and purple patterns nearly identical to his vest - making Guillermo wonder if this makeover had been her plan all along.
He turns the mask over carefully in his hands, willing away the tears threatening to form behind his eyes. “Thank you so much, Nadja.”
Guillermo reaches out to hug her and she shoos him away. “Yes, yes, do not mention it.”
He begins to lower his hands, trying and failing to hide his disappointment, when she quickly grabs his wrist and pulls him in. Quietly, she murmurs, “I am proud of you, Gizmo. You look wonderful.”
He squeezes her back, basking in the first real praise he’s received as a vampire and appreciating the support. For the first time since turning, Guillermo feels actual warmth.
*************************
Nadja and Guillermo make their way to the foyer, where Colin Robinson and Laszlo are already waiting. Laszlo is wearing a blue vest, the lace overlay an exact match of Nadja’s dress. A long, black coat covers him, nearly dusting his matching blue pointed boots. His hair has little flecks of silver in it as well, just like Nadja’s. Guillermo can’t help but smile. They’ve always matched outfits, but something about the two of them arriving to such a formal event in partnered clothing feels even more special. Like the two of them are announcing to everyone at the Masquerade that they were, indeed, each other’s.
Colin Robinson is in a smart, fitted tux in his usual colors. His mask - a cheap, white, full-face Halloween mask - has been painted beige to match the ensemble, and currently sits on top of his bald head, the mask’s eyes pointed up to the ceiling. The color is slightly off, however, like Colin had intentionally painted the mask the wrong shade just to make the partygoers have to look at him twice.
Colin Robinson truly had returned in all his glory.
“Well, well! The little slayer-turned-vampire cleans up quite nicely!” Laszlo remarks to Guillermo with a smile, then looks past him and immediately whistles upon the sight of his wife. “And you, my darling, you have never looked more exquisite. The other vampires will pale even further in comparison to you tonight.” He grabs her hand and brings it up to his lips for a kiss.
She blushes, feigning modesty while absolutely drinking in the praise. "Oh, why thank you, my love. Alright then, boys!” She says with a clap, “Let's get a move on!! Nandor! Get down here!"
Nandor yells an expletive from the top of the stairs, then makes his way to the foyer still grumbling under his breath. As he makes his way down the stairs, Guillermo gasps, taking in his appearance.
Nandor is wearing an extravagant gold coat, fur trim trailing from his shoulders to the end of the fabric, past his knees. A solid purple tunic sits underneath, delicate gold embroidery creating patterns across the fabric’s surface. A black belt crosses his waist, along with an intricate black sash. A purple and gold headdress rests on top of his head, freshly polished black boots on his feet. He holds a delicate purple and gold mask in his hands. Nandor looks every bit the grandiose warlord - resplendent and imposing. Equally gorgeous as he is dangerous.
His outfit matches mine , Guillermo thinks, then looks away in embarrassment, remembering his earlier thoughts on Laszlo and Nadja’s outfits.
Nandor stops in his tracks right before the last step, eyes landing on Guillermo.
Nadja notices his gaze and squeals, placing a hand on Guillermo's shoulder. "Didn't I do a wonderful job with our dear Guillermo, Nandor?"
He sucks a breath in as though to say something, then closes his mouth again. Guillermo can’t help but feel a small sense of satisfaction - at least he knows he has that effect on Nandor, too.
They lock eyes, both not knowing a single thing to say.
Nadja breaks the spell. “Well don’t just stand there with your mouths hanging open! We have a Vampire Masquerade to get to! Let’s go!” She wears a self-indulgent smile, giving Nandor and Guillermo’s outfits the once-over before turning to push everyone out the door.
Yeah. The makeover had definitely been her plan all along.
*************************
The group arrives at the venue just before 9 pm. The Masquerade is taking place in a local art museum, priceless pieces being moved from the galleries to fill the walls of the ballroom space. The room is huge, plenty of space for the anticipated dancing with wide double doors that lead to the museum’s gardens lining the opposite wall.
The vampires gasp in excitement at the look of the room, nearly rushing through the doorway.
—
“Oh yes, I love the Unholy Masquerade,” Laszlo later explains to the camera. “Any excuse to enjoy the absolute best of vampire cult-iure. ”
Nadja chimes in. “This is the event for meeting the best of the best of the vampire community! Vampires from all over the country are encouraged to attend. We haven’t been to one in quite some time. And our last vampiric council event nearly ended with us losing our heads, so -” She raises her arms in a “so what can you do?” gesture.
“So we are ready to party!” says Laszlo.
—
"You seem excited, Colin Robinson," Laszlo remarks cautiously after they’ve all made it inside, knowing his previous closeness to the energy vampire had long been forgotten by him.
“What can I say? I am ready to boogie.” he does an awkward little dance, nearly elbowing a passing guest.
"Big fan of dancing, are you?"
"Oh, I was born to dance,” Colin Robinson responds, almost childishly.
Laszlo looks down, eyebrows raised, and lets out a small, sad chuckle. "Indeed."
"In fact, did you know that energy vampires actually wrote most of the world’s most popular line-dance songs? The Macarena, the Hustle, the Cha-Cha Slide, the Electric Slide, The Cupid Shuffle, Cotton Eyed Joe, Soldier Boy, the Wobble, the…”
Colin Robinson follows Laszlo into the crowd, voice disappearing along with him as they get lost in the sea of gorgeous, mingling vampires.
Guillermo still stands in the doorway, frozen, as he takes in the sight of the ball. Black and red fills his vision, nearly every surface covered in lush fabrics and sparkling accents. Roses in both colors adorn each table as lush centerpieces. He sees several hundred vampires all dressed in elegant gothic attire gliding gracefully around the room as they greet one another. More stand casually at the bistro tables that line the walls, lifting ornately carved glass goblets of blood to already-stained lips.
Guillermo’s throat runs dry. Sure, he’d been in a room full of vampires before, but he had been fighting then. Protecting his masters. Proving his worth. Now he was standing in the room as an equal. Not assessing the crowd for a threat, or enviously admiring them from afar, but actually being a part of it. For the second time tonight, he feels completely out of place.
“Guillermo,” Nandor says quietly, bending down to his ear level in order to be heard. Guillermo nearly jumps at the sound. It’s the first thing Nandor has said to him all night. “Our table is over there.”
Guillermo forces his feet to move and shuffles his way to the table where Nadja has already taken a seat. He looks down at the name cards in front of each place setting, and spots his instantly.
Guillermo de la Cruz
t.2022
He picks up the card with a shaking hand to look at it closer. Physical, tangible proof that he was meant to be there. That despite whatever he’s been feeling all night (and maybe even a little before tonight), he belongs here. Nadja gives him a brief, reassuring look before busying herself with her makeup. Guillermo sets the card back down, and out of habit, moves to pull Nandor’s chair out for him.
Nandor’s eyebrows shoot up, surprised. “Thank you, Guillermo,” he says awkwardly.
“Oh. Um, of course.” He looks down, afraid to make eye contact with the man he had at one time been so comfortable with. He takes his seat.
Soft music plays over speakers as glassy-eyed human servers begin passing out drinks. Each tray has several different types of glasses - each one attributed to a different blood type and quality. Nadja excitedly tells the server to place the whole tray on the table for them to enjoy.
It had occurred to Guillermo that blood would have different tastes - he didn't spend years picking out Staten Island's finest virgins for no good reason. But he's amazed at the incredible flavors that fill each of his glasses. Notes of cinnamon, pomegranate, rose, and bergamot dance on his tongue. Flavors he had already accepted would no longer be accessible to him. He feels like he's at a lavish wine tasting - the most extravagant one he's ever been to.
Certainly the only one with a body count attached to it.
Guillermo is so caught up in the excitement of the experience, he doesn't notice Nandor watching his every move, eyes crinkling against his will in amusement. Guillermo begins to feel Nandor’s eyes on him and looks up worried, afraid that he’s done something wrong. But when their eyes meet he softens, and Nandor does the same, allowing a private smile reserved just for Guillermo. He holds up his current glass.
“Cheers, Guillermo.”
He raises his in return, hiding his surprise. “Cheers, Nandor.”
They clink glasses just as the music over the speaker begins to fade. The actual band begins tuning up for the evening, a haunting and discordant cacophony melting into one big, harmonious sound. Nadja stands up quickly.
“Well you two, I’m off to find my husband for a dance!” She does a little shimmy with her shoulders. “So long as Colin Robinson hasn’t completely drained him of his energy yet.”
Nandor and Guillermo stay at the table, an awkward silence stretching between them. Nandor actually coughs . Guillermo is about to say something to ease the tension when Nandor abruptly stands. He moves across the table to face Guillermo and holds out his hand.
“Well, Guillermo?”
“Well…what?” he asks, confusion setting on his face.
“I thought perhaps I should offer you your first official dance as a vampire. I was your Master for years. Allow me to lead you one final time.”
He pushes up from the table in shock. "Oh! I…um…"
Nandor pulls his hand back, his childish stubbornness seeping into his voice. "Well if you don't want to dance, then we won't, yeesh !"
Guillermo lunges forward, grasping Nandor’s hand in both of his own before it had fully returned to his side.
"No, no! I- I want to."
They stand frozen for a moment, hands held. “Okay.”
“Okay.”
Holding Guillermo’s hand, Nandor carefully leads him to the dance floor. He places his hands on Guillermo’s hip and shoulder, allowing Guillermo’s to rest into place after him.They begin moving, falling into an easy rhythm quickly.
After thirteen years by each other’s sides, how could they not?
They drift around the dance floor quietly, Nandor leading with ease. 750 years of practice has served him well. Guillermo knows how to dance (thanks for all those lessons, mami) , he’s just grateful that he’s not struggling to keep up. He breaks the silence first.
“I’m sorry… for hesitating about the dance. But I… I thought you wanted nothing to do with me anymore.”
Nandor looks down harshly. “What?”
“You know… Like at the house. You don’t talk to me anymore, you avoid me.”
“That’s not true,” he scoffs.
“Yes it is! Ever since I became a vampire you’ve barely said more than a few words to me.”
“Well maybe I just don’t have anything to say, did you ever think of that?”
Guillermo pulls Nandor’s hand, the two of them narrowly avoiding bumping into another pair of dancers. “Oh, please, Nandor. You always have something to say.”
Nandor leans in, challenging.“Why don’t you just go talk to some of your other vampire friends, then, hmm? You obviously must be very close to them, to allow them to hang onto your neck like a leech and steal your humanity from you.”
Guillermo leans in as well, their faces mere inches away from each other. “Well maybe I just got tired of waiting around for you to do it! You think after thirteen years of pathetically trailing at your heels I’d want anyone other than you hanging on my neck?” Both their eyes widen as Guillermo clamps his mouth shut, the blood he just drank rushing to his face in a flush.
They pull apart quickly, back to their original positions. They spin in awkward silence once again, when Nandor says, softly, “I am sorry. That I could not be the one to do this for you. That I was not the one who turned you.”
Guillermo shrugs, looking away. “I mean, you could have…”
“No,” he responds with a squeeze of Guillermo’s hand, commanding the attention back. “I couldn’t have.”
They continue gliding around the dance floor in silence, Guillermo chewing on Nandor’s remark. He assumed there was a selfish reason for Nandor’s refusal to turn him. The desire to keep such a willing and submissive (well…maybe not submissive… ) assistant by his side as long as possible to avoid any actual responsibility and chores seemed well within Nandor’s nature. But maybe there was something a little deeper going on. Nandor wasn’t one to share his emotions freely. After a decade of studying his Master, Guillermo felt like an expert on his hidden thoughts and feelings. But maybe there was just something about this refusal that even he couldn’t understand.
But after everything they had been through together, hadn’t he earned it? Hadn’t he proved himself worthy of being by his side as a vampire over and over and over again?
“I just… I’ve wanted this for so long. I never took becoming a vampire lightly. I showed you how ready I was. Every. Single. Day. Was it really that hard to imagine me as a vampire?”
“That’s just it, Guillermo.” He pauses. “It wasn’t that hard to imagine at all.” Guillermo looks up at him, surprised, and holds his gaze.
The song ends, the other vampires breaking into polite applause, but both of them are still looking at each other, finding it difficult to pull away. They had said so much and yet still not enough, years of unspoken words still hanging heavy between them. Nandor finally backs away first, keeping a hold of Guillermo’s hand as he bends down in a bow. He places a quick kiss on Guillermo's knuckles. “Thank you for the dance, Guillermo.”
“Th-Thank you , Nandor.” Nandor walks away quickly, disappearing into the crowd. Guillermo stands unmoving from his spot in a daze. Suddenly remembering the cameras he flicks his gaze to them, eyes wide.
—
A few moments later, the producers have pulled Guillermo away from the rest of the ball for a talking head. They try to ask him how he’s feeling, but Guillermo just stares at the camera, the dance he shared with Nandor still swirling around in his head on a loop.
“I can’t…I don’t… I’m - I’m sorry, but I can’t do this right now.”
Guillermo pulls out his microphone, dumping it on a nearby bistro table. He crosses the ballroom, exiting out the wide double doors and running down the steps that lead to the gardens below.
*************************
Guillermo takes in a large lungful of air the second he reaches the bottom of the steps. He didn’t need to breathe anymore, but the crisp night air feels good in his chest. Grounding, even.
He definitely needed to come back down to earth.
Weeks of being ignored and then Nandor says that!? And after years of him acting like Guillermo could never be a worthy vampire! What the hell was that? And that dance - that kiss !? Nandor still barely let Guillermo touch him on a normal day, yet he can go ahead and do that? Just grab Guillermo’s hand and instantly make him forget everything else going on between them?
Yes. Of course he could.
He always could.
Just as he’s about to continue his spiral, Guillermo spots Nandor across the garden, sitting on the edge of a fountain and looking up at the moon. He looks statuesque, nearly blending into the garden sculptures if not for his large coat reflecting the moonlight. The sight of Nandor, alone and regal, makes all of his frustrations melt away. He still had that effect on him after all these years. Guillermo doesn’t even think about it, he just begins making his way down the landscaped path to where Nandor sits.
In a moment, he reaches Nandor’s side. Nandor doesn’t even need to look up to know that Guillermo had joined him. He takes a shaky breath and begins, “I am old, Guillermo. I’ve been on this earth a very long time... But you already know that.”
Guillermo doesn’t respond, instead allowing him to continue. “For centuries I have roamed this planet in this cursed body. No longer able to live amongst the people, a monster in nearly everyone’s eyes. Because I am. I am a monster.” He fidgets with his rings. “Everything I have done since being turned has been done solely to keep myself alive. Even coming to live with Laszlo and Nadja was originally more of a strategy at first. Safety in numbers, plus a home for us all to live in. It worked for us. But it was a lonely existence. You know of my many failed romances. You know how difficult it is for me to… open up to anyone, especially after years of being alone.” He sighs, letting go of the rings. “And then… I did find someone whom I finally could trust, could rely on. Someone who cared for me, who knew me as a person, sometimes knowing me better than myself. Someone I eventually came to grow quite…fond of.” Guillermo sucks in a breath, but Nandor ignores it.
“You were alive , Guillermo. So young, so strong. Still so much…to live for.” He finally looks at him, noticing the tears forming behind Guillermo’s mask. “I didn’t want to be the one to take that life…That is what I meant before. I couldn’t do it because I couldn’t kill you. I couldn’t curse you to a life like mine.” A pause. Then, quietly, “I couldn’t.” Guillermo is shaking, trying to wrap his mind around everything Nandor is telling him. He sits next to him on the fountain to steady himself.
Nandor exhales a bitter laugh. “And I knew. I knew you would make a good vampire. You have the heart of a warrior. You have that hunger . I knew that there would be no stopping you once you were turned. But then where…” He pauses, lowering his head. “Where would that leave me? When I finally gave you the one thing you had always stuck around for? What reason would you have to stay?”
Guillermo opens his mouth to respond, but Nandor continues. “But then you returned to the house with fangs. A freshly turned vampire… And I just… It should have been me. You shouldn’t have needed to go to someone else for that. I should have been there to guide you, to help you become the vampire you wanted to be… It should have been me.”
“I wanted it to be you.”
“I know you did.”
Guillermo puts his hand on Nandor’s arm, thumb brushing over the fabric as he speaks. “Listen, Nandor…Maybe at one point very early on in my familiarhood did I think about being turned into a vampire so I could leave and venture out on my own. But as the years went on I… I couldn’t imagine myself being anywhere else. I didn’t want to be turned just so that I could leave. I wanted to be turned into a vampire so I could stay. You, Nadja, Laszlo, Colin Robinson - you’re all so important to me. You’re all my family. I wanted to stay for all of you. To be a more concrete part of this family. An equal. But mostly… I wanted to stay for you.” He looks away, embarrassed. Did Nandor really not understand his feelings by now?
A small, sad smile makes it to his face, eyes turning to the ground. “Thank you, Guillermo. For saying all that. You deserved better from me.” Guillermo smiles as well, removing his hand from Nandor’s arm.
"I am also…sorry. That I didn't say so before. But you do look very nice this evening." He looks up from the ground and into Guillermo's eyes, making devastating eye contact once again. "You look…like a proper vampire."
Guillermo lets out a breath he didn't realize he had been holding, an incredulous chuckle escaping his lips. The tears he had been fighting spill onto his cheeks in earnest. Before he can stop himself, he opens his arms and crashes into Nandor's chest, desperate for the comfort and security he’s been chasing since making his transformation.
This time, Nandor doesn't push him away.
His hands grasp against Guillermo’s back, one hand snaking into his curls. He pulls him closer as his face drops down to the top of his head and breathes him in. He shifts so that they don’t accidentally tip into the water, then relaxes into Guillermo’s arms even more. Perhaps Nandor needed this hug just as much as Guillermo did.
Perhaps he, too, needed the reassurance that everything was going to be okay.
Face still buried in Nandor’s chest, Guillermo mumbles, “Thank you, Nandor.”
Nandor lets out an anxious breath, and carefully pushes himself away from Guillermo’s embrace. He reaches his hands out, softly cupping both of his cheeks. His thumb brushes away one of the few remaining tears as he slowly leans down. “Guillermo -”
“ There you boys are!” Nadja’s voice booms from the double doors. Nandor drops his hands as if being burned and pulls away, both vampires still looking at each other with wide eyes.
Nadja makes her way down the cement steps, followed closely by Colin Robinson, who probably hoped to stumble into an awkward moment. He looked positively delighted, eyes glowing bright blue. Nandor and Guillermo stand as Nadja arrives at their feet. “My Laszlo and I saw Guillermo run away from the cameras like a sad, pathetic kitten and wanted to be sure it wasn’t because of some vampire trying to eat him.” She turns to him. “You do still have the lingering smell of human on you.”
“Gee, thanks Nadja.”
“What are you two doing out here, anyways?” Nandor opens his mouth but then she interrupts him, “The Unholy Masquerade only happens once every few years, do not waste your evening mooning over each other when you can do that at home. The party is inside. Come on Colin Robinson, let’s go see what trouble my husband has gotten into in our brief absence.” She winks at Guillermo and turns to head back inside.
Colin gives them both a thumbs-up from over Nadja’s shoulder then turns to join her up the stairs.
The two vampires watch them both as they leave, and are still standing in silence as the door to the ballroom closes again.
Guillermo looks up at Nandor, nervous to ruin the progress they made tonight. “She’s right, you know.” Nandor raises his eyebrows, wondering which part of Nadja’s remark he was referring to. Guillermo chuckles, looking away. “We should probably go back inside.”
“Yes, we probably should.” Nandor holds out his hand. “Come, my little vampire friend. Perhaps I could interest you in another dance?”
“I would like that.” He doesn’t even try to hide his grin as he grabs Nandor’s hand, allowing himself to be led inside.
*************************
Guillermo sits for his interview the day after the ball. He’s wearing one of his old familiar sweaters, a welcome comfort after being so dressed up the night before.
He straightens in his seat and begins, “I’m sorry…for running away last night. I just needed some air. I needed to - well that doesn’t matter anymore. The rest of the Masquerade went really well. Nandor and I talked, and while things aren't perfect yet, I do think that things will get… even better." He blushes, quickly changing the subject. "Colin drained some of the band members at the end of the night and brought home their cello as a souvenir. Nadja and Laszlo even got into some mischief of their own. In fact, when Nandor and I came back inside, we found them -"
There's a knock on the door, as Nandor pokes his head into Guillermo's bed chamber, interrupting the interview.
He looks at the crew, sheepishly. "I'm…sorry. I did not realize you were speaking with the camera." He looks back over at Guillermo then continues. "I wanted to know if you wished to join me in the fancy room. I have a new book to read and would appreciate the company."
"Wait. Really?" His eyes flit between Nandor and the camera. "You want me to hang out with you?"
"Vampires only, Guillermo," he responds with a warm smile.
Guillermo smiles back, fangs glinting in the camera's lights. Nandor exits quietly, closing the door behind him.
"Sorry, but um. I have to go." He stands, starting to remove his microphone. "I'd say you could come but…" he chuckles, smiling good naturedly to the crew. "Vampires only."