When I heard him say that, I was thrilled: He and Markus are best friends? That's great! I knew that Grayson and Brother Cedric had a friendship, but I didn't know it was so great! But I had to hide the fact that I knew Markus, because he would probably do the same thing if Grayson called him to warn him about Cedric's connection to me. So I didn't look at Grayson, but listened intently to every word he said.
From what he said, it was clear that he was determined to torture me for a month. A whole month of torture and suffering before he would deign to kill me!
The vampire talked on the phone for another ten minutes, about all sorts of things, and then he switched the phone off, put it in his pocket, and we could finally enjoy complete silence.
We drove for a long time, each in our own thoughts, but suddenly the car stopped.
– Here we are, sir," the vampire driver said.
– All right! From now on, you and Mitchell are on paid holiday. I'll let you know when I need you," Grayson said, putting on his gloves.
I thought about how uncomfortable it must be for them to wear gloves all the time in the summer, though… Cedric had told me that vampires didn't leave their houses until sunset in the summer, but Grayson didn't seem to care about the sun at all-he wasn't afraid of compromising himself.
Eric opened the door, opened his wide umbrella, and stepped out of the car.
– Get in the front," my tormentor ordered me. His tone was calm, but I knew it was an order.
He and I moved into the front seats, and the car sped along the smooth, wide tarmac at a high rate of speed that made me squirm in my seat.
– What are you thinking?
The vampire's voice made me shudder in surprise.
– That's a strange question," I grinned.
– What a funny name you have.
– Whatever it is.
– Do you want to know mine?
– Not at all.
– We're friends. My name is Brandon, and I give you permission to call me that.
– Jack's name suits you better," I blurted out, because it was the English serial killer I associated with this vampire.
Brandon… That beautiful name couldn't be the name of such a bastard.
– I like your sense of humour," he grinned.
– I'm not joking," I said grimly. – How do you know Czech?
– Do you think that, having lived in the world for over three hundred years, I haven't had time to learn it? You know, I have seen so much in my life that you have neither imagination nor fantasy to imagine it all.