The Vampire in the Bookstore

by Elle M. Drew

With the changing of seasons, the darkness of night was arriving earlier, a fortunate thing, but it was still not early enough, leaving him to not be able to peruse the shelves as he often preferred, but instead forcing him to... rush. He couldn’t savor the soft fragrance of the books, the feeling of worn leather binding in his hands, nor could he take his time to decide. Should he leave a book on the shelf, there was always the chance a collector would call during the day to snatch it out of his grasp. What if, in his rush, he missed a true prize?

Giving a nod to the old woman, Declan turned to walk along the rows of shelves, making his way away from the front. Most books were typically organized by genre or focus, but books which were newly arrived were kept separate, waiting to be sorted, but also so that collectors such as himself could easily focus on things they had not yet seen. It was an area which most ignored, given that the resale of books did not seem too popular anymore, with so many using the electronic devices to read. It meant he was often alone, which suited him fine. He preferred the companionship of books above all others. A good trait for a vampire.

She was thoroughly wrapped up in whatever book she was holding, and he found that, for the first time in a very long time, he was more interested in the person holding the book than the book itself. A true testament to the power of his nostrils, given how her scent alone had him mesmerized.

“As you said, a passion,” Rosamund agreed as she looked up from where their hands were still touching, holding. He wasn’t letting go, and now, his thumb was brushing the back of her knuckles. It sent a shiver down her spine, and she felt her heart, already rapidly beating in her chest, pick up speed. “But if you mean if I work with them professionally, then yes. I’m an archivist, specializing in older books, particularly the preservation of manuscripts that are falling apart. I always note the stitches along the binding.”

“I’m Declan, and I have a love for older books and manuscripts. I enjoy finding old and worn treasures which haven’t been touched in years and restoring them to life. And, I happen to enjoy reading the pages within, although I will admit I have not read every book within my collection, because, as you mentioned, collecting books and reading books are two separate hobbies. And, while I will admit that I first entered this shop in search of treasures from a recent estate sale, I find the company in front of me much more interesting than anything on these shelves.”