Barnabas kept Frank’s hand and measured his genial smile. He stepped a little closer to Frank and covertly sniffed the air. He stepped back and dropped Frank’s hand. “You don’t smell like a vampire or a Wechselbalg. Yet, you really mean that you have been interested in me for decades?”
Frank nodded in agreement. His eyes alight. “Yes, for at least six.”
Barnabas cocked his head, “You don’t look over mid-thirties to me. Have humans created a way to slow their own aging process?”
Frank shook his head, “No, but the Kurtherians have and I’ve had an infusion of their best.” He bowed his head slightly in Bethany Anne’s direction.
Barnabas turned to her, “Your blood did this to him?”
She raised an eyebrow, “Yes.” She turned to sit down at the head of the table. Barnabas’s way of talking, almost always with questions, still tried her patience.
Barnabas took in a lung full of air and started releasing it slowly. He had been warned by both Stephen and Gabrielle that Bethany Anne could be impatient. That she had zero tolerance of ‘dicking around’ when something needed to be accomplished. Barnabas was naturally inquisitive and the centuries had afforded him the opportunity to satiate his questioning personality to the hilt. Usually, anyone he spoke with outside of Michael and his brothers would be as patient with him as necessary.
He was unaccustomed to dealing with someone who had information he wanted, yet he had no leverage for getting the information. It was…annoying.
Frank took his cue from Bethany Anne and sat back down. Barnabas was left standing for a second before taking a chair as well.
Bethany Anne started, “Ok Barnabas, we confirmed back in the U.S. that you can tell there are two others walking the Etheric, besides me. Frank is our number one person for all knowledge related to the UnknownWorld. He’s made it a habit of indulging his own curiosity, you two should get along famously.
Barnabas turned to face Frank again, “Truly?”
Frank nodded, “Don’t think you’re getting off this boat without me peppering you with questions.”
Barnabas darted his eyes in Bethany Anne’s direction before lifting his right eyebrow in a question.
Frank nodded slightly, “Perhaps we can educate each other?”