Page 82 of Endlessly Raphael
“It’s not separate, no. Eros explains it best. I am always a vampire. It is my truest essence, but with time, I’ve learned to let the man surface and keep my true self hidden away. It’s how we’re able to blend in with society around us.”
I nod, trying to deal with the questions crowding my head. “Your job? Is vampire a profession?”
Rapha chuckles. “Not exactly, no. As time went on and society became more industrialized, more civilized in some ways, we needed an outlet. We require blood to thrive, so Yves created Veil Protection Services over forty years ago.”
“And what does Veil Protection Services do?”
“We’re assassins.”
I’m sure my face just went blank. “No shit. You kill people?”
“Necessary killing, yes. We’re hired by clients who need obstacles removed for various reasons.”
“Whoa. That’s why you said you work in the area where the pizza shop is.”
“We’re usually in the worst parts of town, but we’ve definitely visited a mansion or two in our day.”
“Have you killed anyone famous?”
“Yes.”
“And it doesn’t bother you?”
“No.” Rapha shakes his head. “We’re not like mortals anymore. Right and wrong in our world is completely different. We live by our own code of ethics.”
“Like not killing my uncle?”
“Oh, I would’ve killed him if you’d said yes. I would have delighted in his death. That wasn’t about ethics. That was about you.”
My stomach flutters. This conversation should not be hot, but tell that to my dick. “What are some examples of things you wouldn’t do?”
“We try very hard not to harm the innocent. We typically won’t take a job that includes children or women or anyone whose absence would be too high profile.”
“Like the president?”
“Exactly. Any world leader, most politicians.”
“Too bad. I can think of a few we’d be better off without.”
He grins. “Me too.”
I brush my fingers across his cheek. “What does it do for you? When you kill?”
“It’s an outlet and a source of food. We can feed and the beast inside us craves violence. We are apex predators and the human race is our prey.”
There’s that damn tingle again. “Do you ever get scared?”
Raphael grins. “No. I have nothing to fear.”
“But… Okay, I saw a movie once where daylight killed vampires, but you’ve been outside in the daytime. You don’t sleep in a coffin. What else is wrong?”
“Almost everything. My brothers and I descend from the original vampire, making us elite and much harder to kill. A stake through the heart won’t do it. We can heal from that, whereas other vampires cannot.”
“Garlic? Crucifixes?”
“No effect. The only thing that can kill me is decapitation.”
I shudder at the thought. Now for the big question. “How did you become a vampire? You weren’t born that way, right?”