Several hours since the sun had set, many people left for home, but Henry sat at his computer, typing up his report. He was hunched over his computer in the dark.

Angela knocked, "Earl would like to see you, Henry." She opened the door which let the dim, flickering light of the office space to shine in.

Henry, with a pen in his mouth, mumbled between his lips, "Tell him I'm in my offi—th." He didn't look up, still keeping his head millimeters from the screen.

Angela nodded, leaving and running straight into Edward. "He's in his office, sir." She quietly said. She caught the door before it closed.

Edward's voice was low and solemn, "Thank you, Angela." Edward entered, propping the door with his foot.

"What can I do you for, Edwa—I mean Earl." Henry pinched himself. He dropped his pen from his mouth, letting it clatter to his desk and swiveled to face him.

Edward stood against the light, casting a shadow that crawled across the thin carpeted floor and stretched to the bottom of the window.

"Everyone has gone home, Henry." His voice was smooth and soft. "Why are you still here?"

"I . . . I was working on that report." Henry's words chained together. No spaces. No gaps. Just one smooth train of thought. His mind was racing on other thoughts—the silhouette of Edward at his door—the feeling of his boss standing over him, glowering, crushing him. . .

Edward took two full steps to Henry's desk, teetering forward. Henry stiffened and leaned backwards in his chair. He felt his head hit the wall.

Jesus! Henry reached for his chest, feeling his cavity collapse in a heartache that couldn't be well described as his heart turning inside out.

Edward reached for Henry's neck, but he was slow and fluid with his motions which gave enough time for Henry to move, yet he didn't. Edward readjusted Henry's thin collar, rubbing the edge between his thumb and index.

The computer let out a raucous bing.

"Oh! That's your report, sir, I best be seeing myself home now. I hope it's up to your likings." Henry babbled on as he stuffed his papers into his bag and slung it over his shoulder. "I saw that they have a promising turn out the day they go ipo, so I suggest investing a good sum of around $50,000." Henry popped up, coming face to face with Edward who still casually leaned against the desk.

"You know," Edward began very recollected. He let his palm rest on the edge of the table. "You look familiar. Feel familiar. Do I know you from some place?"

Henry froze. K-know me? Does he really remember? Does he remember me assaulting him? Good heavens, there goes my promotion! Wait—does he remember what I did to Lucy? Does he even know? He can't! He can't possibly!

"N-no? I don't think so?" Henry's voice lifted, and Edward could hear his nervousness. He was blatantly lying.

Edward clicked his tongue, "Well, maybe I dreamt of meeting you previously. It's a weird memory now that I think of it." His gaze traveled to the floor as he continued on, standing up and walking closer to Henry to the point of pressing his shoulder against his colleague's arm. "We were at some. . .party. . ." His breathing became heavy with thought, "And I had bit my tongue." His hand came to his lips as he rubbed his face with intense force.

Heavens, Henry trembled, the way he touches his lips! Oh no! Why is that so—so! Ahhhhh! His heart hammered against his sternum, threatening to escape, crawling out right between his ribs and suffocate Edward with its love. Bothered by how close Edward was to remembering his past life, Henry tried excusing himself, pushing against Edward's shoulder.

"No, no, stay." Edward caught him by the arm and pulled him back. He didn't let go. Henry tried to pull away. "What?" Edward teased. "Needing to go somewhere?" He tilted his head up and glared down at Henry. Edward's voice was wavering with a hint of playfulness Henry wasn't accustomed too. But he could soon learn to become accustomed. Or so a little voice inside him presumed.

"Do you remember that party?" Edward raised his eyebrows, catching Henry off guard from the sudden change in conversation. His voice drifted easily from a bouncy flirt to a troubled accusation. And Henry felt Edward cornering him.

"Party? Um. . ." Henry tried to deny any allegations. "What party?"

"What time do you usually go to bed?"

Henry hadn't slept since Athens was built. "Bed? Um. . .F—Four?"

"Humph. Now I see why you were late this morning. What are you doing staying up so late? Clubbing? Drinking—Do you do cocaine, Mr. Dogwood?" Henry's last name, although not specifically tailored to him throughout his life, made him feel uneasy and giddy at the same time.

"Reading." Henry quietly interjected. He tried to hide his suspicions.

Edward nodded approvingly. "You don't sleep, do you?" He held his nose up so he could glare into Henry's eyes.

"No...I. . .I have insomnia?" He shrugged. Henry ran around with his words, dancing prettily rom bush to bush with his bat as Edward, a huntsman in nature, smiled devilishly with his rifle. It's open season, my dear Henry.

"Is that a question? Do you want me to answer that question?" Edward's voice lowered to a deep growl, not aggressive, but just forceful. It was a voice that caged Henry, stripping his lies away that protected him.

A shot rang across the clearing: Henry had then a bullet straight through his head. He was left bare by the time Edward was through with him.

"I don't think you have insomnia. I think you should have been dead by now." Henry's eyes widened as he looked into Edward's. "I know who you are, Henry, and I know what you've tried to do." Edward pressed his nose to Henry's temple and whispered into his ear: "But maybe we can arrange a place and time to continue this little charade." He mimicked a snarl, nipping Henry's neck and leaving a welt.

At what he revealed, Henry pushed Edward away and stared at him. The moonlight shadowed his face.

"You know of my condition!" Henry gasped. He threw himself against the windowsill in attempt to escape Edward's grasp, yet he only managed to corner himself. Right into Edward's trap.

"It's hardly a condition, Henry." Edward took a small step forward. "You've managed to figure out a way to not be burned by the sun!" Edward, meaning to back Henry into the wall, rushed to him, putting his hands against the window. "You'll live forever!"

Henry, all of a sudden disgusted by what Edward was insinuating, spat, "You'd want to live forever? I've been cursed! Cursed to watch all the people I love and care about die before me. I've witnessed pain and suffering over the centuries like you've never thought could exist! And you're asking to become like me?"

"I'm asking to get to know you, then." Edward pressed his lips into a thin line. "Maybe you could enlighten me about your experiences?" He stood up, giving Henry a little space. Henry shrunk from embarrassment. Oh. He's just curious, for now that is. He knew of Edward's type: they only say they're intrigued just to get the chance to ask again for immortality later.

"Okay, will do. I." Henry pushed passed Edward. "I'm going home now." He squinted his eyes, glaring at Edward.

"Yes," Edward moved back, "See that you wear something nice tomorrow, okay?"

Henry looked himself down, "What's wrong with this?"

"It's not tight enough to be," He motioned with adjusting his own suit, "Well fitted." Edward nodded once and left to his office.

Chapter 10

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