Chapter 4
Chapter Four
SEBASTIAN
The quiet I instill tonight in the big city feels like a balm.
A light breeze tickles my skin, moving strands of my hair like a lover’s fingers.
Gazing over the balcony, my mind travels to memories best forgotten.
Some might say I have lost my mind after so many centuries.
I cannot say they are wrong. If what I am trying to awaken turns out to be what the Council says, nothing will save our pathetic, endless lives.
Alongside the humans, we will perish or grovel, begging for death to claim us.
But! If my research is correct, contrary to popular belief, I will end the monstrous way of the Council’s rule.
My left fist clenches on the hand rest of my chair, the only show of emotion I’m willing to express.
The rest of my body is relaxed, my right hand moving gently, swirling the ice cubes in the glass of whiskey I’m holding.
Lifting it under my nose, I sniff, inhaling the smoky scent.
I will not drink it; it tastes like nothing to me.
It doesn’t mean I don’t enjoy its smell.
The last few centuries, my life has been all about the little pleasures.
Those are the ones making the endless days bearable.
“Sire, I have news.”
Anyone else would’ve been surprised by the voice behind them, not hearing the soundless feet approach.
I heard Marcus from the moment he entered the hotel.
Felt his boots on the stairway he used since he was too impatient to wait for the elevator.
The stairs got him here faster, all eleven floors of them, which told me he had either good news or we were going to war.
One side of my mouth lifts slightly at that thought.
War might help cure the boredom of immortality, that is a fact.
Enjoying the view of the city, I don’t acknowledge his presence.
The shuffling of his feet, as slight as it is, freezes my hand with the glass halfway towards my face.
“Sarà meglio che tu abbia grandiose notizie, amico. Stai disturbando il mio drink, e questo potrebbe costarti la vita.” “You better have some great news, buddy. You're disturbing my drink, and it could cost you your life.”
“I apologize for disturbing your drink, Sire. As you said, I did so with the knowledge that it could cost me my life. The news is, indeed, monumental.” Ever the loyalist to formalities, Marcus doesn’t let the excitement that can be heard in his voice betray his etiquette.
He also remembers to speak the language of the Americans.
That in itself sends a jolt through me. It’s such a foreign sensation that it takes me a moment to see it for what it is.
Excitement.
“Go on, then.” Murmuring quietly in English, I bring the glass the rest of the way up.
The Council was very clear that we are to use that language while on their soil.
Moving the whiskey gently under my nose, I hope it’ll stop any further emotions perking up when they have been gone for so long. “Let us hear this grandiose notizie.”
“You were correct, Sire. We have indeed found the girl.”
“A bold statement.” Placing the whiskey gently on top of the table, I stand up, facing him. “Hope should never cloud your judgment, Marcus. It has lured many great men into eternal sleep. She is a seductive siren, but a cruel mistress if you allow her too much freedom.”
“It is as you suspected, Sire. When close enough, it’s impossible not to feel the call of her blood if you know what you are looking for.
” The twitch of his fingers betrays his nervousness.
When I make no further comment, he shifts slightly, realizing that I have noticed it.
“She has an animal with her. It saved her life tonight, and there was no need for me to interfere when she was almost seen by two of our kind. I think it’s a dog, but they are both so dirty.
I don’t think anyone can tell what they are.
” A little smile plays on Marcus’s lips.
“The stench will hide her. She is a smart little thing.”
“We cannot leave anything to chance.” Making sure he understands the gravity of the situation; I watch him until he finally meets my gaze.
“If anyone even breathes the same air within her vicinity, they will be removed immediately. I will need you to stay close to her until we are certain.” Turning away from him, I look over the city.
Somewhere between all that concrete and filth, our only salvation lives.
Alone, frightened, maybe even hurt, not realizing how powerful she is.
My fist clenches again, and the slight disturbance of air tells me Marcus has seen the slip-up.
“Do we have a human to watch over her during the daylight hours?”
“I found one…” His words trail off, making me glance over my shoulder at him. “He is too eager to please. My guess is he is hoping to be turned if he gets your notice.”
“Ah, yes.” Scanning the horizon again, my thoughts try to pull me back into a past best left untouched.
Pushing the melancholy trying to grab me in its clutches, I focus on Marcus.
“The promise of immortality makes humans do horrible things, does it not? It turns a saint into a sinner and a sinner into a saint. We can work with that. Are we done with the formalities now?”
“It was all I had to inform you, Sire.” Humor creeps up in his voice a moment before Marcus stops shoulder to shoulder with me.
“It’s clear.” Andrei walks out through the glass sliding doors of the balcony. “There were seven bugs around the room. Little paranoid if you ask me.”
“Can you blame them?” Marcus snickers, walking away and throwing himself on one of the lounge chairs.
“I still don’t think it’s smart poking them.
” Andrei does the same, snatching the whiskey bottle in the process.
“I understand your reasoning. If we make the girl desperate enough to accept our help, she will come willingly. But this is the Council we are talking about. We better have her within our sight both day and night. If anyone else gets to her before we do, she’ll be dead before we blink. ”
“The old fools think they are gods. When I mentioned the prophecy, they almost laughed in my face. The Council thinks they are invincible. Their arrogance and cruelty has helped greatly in our cause, has it not?” Joining them, I loosen up my tie, unbuttoning a few buttons of my shirt.
“Let us just remember to keep up the charade. They’ll bite.
I feel it in my bones. At the moment, I’m assuming they think we are bluffing.
They are confident that all O negatives have been killed.
They were quite thorough in the extermination. She is almost like a unicorn.”
“I still think we gave them too much tonight.” Ever the protector, Andrei watches me with worry. “If they work together, it’ll all be for nothing. We might end up dead before someone else can take up the reins.”
“Non significa niente per me, in un modo o nell’altro.
It doesn’t matter to me either way.” Correcting myself to get used to speaking English, I wave my hand to indicate the insignificance of his concerns.
“That is a worry for another day.” Reaching up, I snatch the bottle from his hand.
“I miss the taste.” Filling up two more glasses, I hand one to each of them.
Picking up mine, we clink them together, and I finally take a sip.
It still tastes like nothing. “Maybe I won’t miss it for much longer if the girl is who we think she is. ”
“If she is not, we will figure out another way to put them back where they came from. It’ll take more time, but we have an abundance of that.
” Marcus, always the pessimist, looks more confident than I’ve ever seen him before.
We may have indeed found the girl if she affects him like that while still being human.
“That we do.” Turning from one to the other, I see the determination written all over their faces. “Rest up during the day. Tomorrow night we have a human to keep safe.” Andrei snorts at my words. “Yeah, I’m surprised at my own words as well, amico.”