Jackson unlocked the door and stepped into the room. Connor rushed him to get through the doorway before he could close it. Jackson brushed him aside as if he were a house cat trying to get out. Without speaking, he went to the bar, poured two drinks, set one down on the Rococo table in front of the sofa and sat in one of the wing chairs. He took a sip of his, and motioned with his hand for Connor to sit on the sofa. Connor spoke first, "Are you here to kill me?"
The vampire shook his head. "If I wanted to kill you, you would be dead by now. I'm here to try to talk some sense into you."
"I promise I won't tell anyone, just let me go, please, I promise."
"Jesus! Man-up and stop groveling. I told you I'm not going to kill you!"
"Is Sarah going to kill me?"
Jackson rolled his eyes. "Sarah loves you, why would she kill you?"
"I don't understand any of this. I feel like I'm in a nightmare. Why am I here?"
"You're here because Sarah wants to give you some time to calm down and accept things."
"Accept things! I'll never accept that monster bitch!"
Before Connor had spat out the itch in bitch, Jackson was across the room and had picked him up by the throat. He glared at him with his face barely an inch away and hissed, "Let's get one thing straight, Skippy, Sarah is the best woman you and I will ever know. I am here to help you understand her, because, for some unfathomable reason, she cares about you. I will answer your questions and give you the information you need to get through this, but if you dare say one more disparaging word about my best friend, this will not end well for you. Got it?"
Although he was close to passing out from lack of air, Connor rasped, "Got it."
Dropping him on the sofa, Jackson sat back in his chair and crossed one long leg over the other knee at the ankle. He held his glass up. "What say we start over again?"
The human righted himself and held his head in both hands, shaking.
Jackson inhaled. "Dude, I really think it would help if you drank that scotch." He loved using the vernacular, although it never sounded quite right coming from him. He tried to hide it, however, if one really listened, they could ascertain that he came from a different time and place. His voice, in a word, sounded 'haughty'.
Connor finally made eye contact, and in a thin whisper said, "I'm really scared."