Welcome to a new installment of A Vampire’s Vengeance! Edgar and Isabelle have learned some things in their travel with Ceres, and much of it has Edgar vexed. You can catch up with Part XXVI here. We learn now how this information vexes him, but what he does with it remains to be seen. Let’s get into it →
"I have much to think on," said Edgar. "And, it seems, so do you, Isabelle."
Isabelle shrugged. She didn't know what to say.
"Let's go back. We will have much time to contemplate while we wait for sunset."
The vampires donned their helmets and returned to the floor where the humans were hidden away. Many of them were already fast asleep, intent on getting what rest they could, before the evening sprint to the next safe house. Ceres checked with her thralls who reported all was well. She then sent two to gather rations from a stash on another floor, and the three vampires retired to a conference room away from prying eyes, bringing the third thrall with them. They entered the room and removed their helmets, and Ceres closed the door behind them.
The human stood in one corner, looking expectantly at Ceres. Ceres shook her head and diverted his attention to Isabelle, then said to her,
"Do I assume correctly you haven't fed since you left the manor?"
Isabelle looked wide-eyed at the human who returned her stare without expression. "No, I haven't," she said. Though she felt famished, she had learned well to keep her hunger in check.
"He's robust enough," said Ceres. "If you think you can manage it, he'll willingly provide a good snack. I think you're too young yet to go very long without feeding."
"Too young and just out of hibernation," said Edgar.
Isabelle licked her lips.
"Calmate, Isabelle." Be still. Edgar said this without any strength behind it, and yet the collar went to work, subduing Isabelle's desire to feed. Ceres looked at him after watching the urge drain from Isabelle's face. "Just a reminder that if she starts to let go, she needn't worry about going too far. And a little demonstration for the comfort of our friend here. I doubt I need to remind either of you how terrible the collar can be when activated during a feeding."
Isabelle nodded. She felt the suppressive effects of the collar lift and her hunger return in full force. She took a deep breath and gestured to the human to come to her. He walked to Isabelle and lowered his head to one side, presenting his neck to her. Isabelle gathered him in an embrace, bared her fangs and sank them into him. There was visible effort in restraint on her part: she fought the urge to press him tightly to her, to drive her teeth far into him, to take long and deep draughts of his blood. Her hunger did not rage within her, but the bloodlust was strong, and it took a good amount of willpower to keep herself in control. She knew all too well how the collar felt when being activated during a feeding. It was painful and demoralizing.
Despite her desire to sate her hunger, she took a few sips of blood and withdrew, easing herself away from the human. The human looked to Ceres who gestured to him to take a seat. Ceres then took a position behind him and began rubbing his shoulders.
"Fernando here knows he's getting double rations for this."
Fernando smiled as she said this and let his head fall forward; it was clear he was enjoying the shoulder rub.
Isabelle felt far from satisfied, but her bloodlust fell away and her hunger was no longer as intense. Having been moving for almost a full day, she was feeling drowsy. She pulled out a chair and took a seat, folding her arms over the table and laying her head on them. She was fast asleep in a matter of breaths.
Continued after the break
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The gift of time is, for many, an incredible gift indeed. Unless, of course, it is not a gift at all and arrives with a cost in excess of what one may be willing to pay …A tale from the Odds ‘n’ Endings Boutique.
Edgar pulled a chair away from the table and sat down. He leaned against the support, throwing his head back to stare at the ceiling. He contemplated what he learned from their conversation above.
Three hundred years he slumbered. Three hundred years! Much could happen during that time, and much had, though if he understood well what he learned, this invasion of the beings happened recently. Perhaps within the past few decades. However, he was supposed to be awakened long before these beings arrived. Why had he remained in slumber long after his appointed time to rise?
This was someone's decision. To leave him to sleep for another two centuries beyond his expected awakening could be laid at the feet of necessity, such as war with another coven or invasion of the beings. But neither had occurred at the time he was set to awake. Even if something of detriment occurred, forcing an extension of his slumber, it would not have lasted for two hundred years. Something was wrong on this point. Very wrong.
What about the beings? He recalled their movements when watching them from above. They appeared human in form, yet their limbs were a little too long. The way they moved also indicated they were not human. Their movements were smooth, lithe, and in sync. They walked and turned as if all of one programming. Ceres mentioned where one was endangered, the others responded from far and wide, coming to the aid of their comrade. How might they be appraised when their weaponry made it difficult to approach them? How had they managed to gain such a sure foothold on this planet? Had not nations and their governments sought to turn these invaders away by any means necessary?
He had more questions than answers, and the amount of questions continued to grow the longer he thought about it. However, there was nothing to do for what had already transpired. The beings were here, hunting, destroying. The coven had fallen, torn apart by the cowardice of his own family and the machinations of another. These things he could do nothing to prevent. But what was he to do to move forward? The Manor could be repaired, if he sought to raise a new coven. This, however, was predicated on the elimination of the beings, or at least their expulsion from this region, and would not be accomplished with ease, as the beings were in the process of eliminating both human and vampire.
Much of what he desired to know would have to wait. He needed a way to investigate these beings without putting Isabelle, Ceres, the humans, or himself in danger. He needed to explore the remainder of the Column to see what remained to them in working order, and how it might be leveraged against the beings. None of this was viable at the moment. Right now, he was on an impromptu journey across a hollowed out city with a youngling and a Pelican and the group of humans they escorted.
He could uncover the answer to at least one question. He shifted in the chair, coming to sit in an upright position. Isabelle was fast asleep. So was Fernando. Ceres appeared to be lost in thought, reclining in a chair with her legs up on the table. She turned to look at him as he swiveled in his chair to face her.
"Why wasn't I awoken two hundred years ago?"
How interesting! Edgar was asleep too long by two hundred years or so! Well, that cannot bode well for Ceres, who will have to account for it, I’m sure. And how will she account for it? There’s only way to find out! Come back next week!
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