The High Road
He wanted to burn. Feel the flames lick along his skin. Tempting and caressing like the lover he has denied himself for decades or centuries. He really can't remember. He dreams about it. Every waking moment is hovers around the back of his eyelids; it even haunts him in his minimal taunting death during the lighted hours he can never dwell in again. He could if he wanted to, he could feel her when she walked into that parody of church. Into the den of idiots, playing to the gullibility of those slightly less intelligent than themselves. They make a mockery of what he wants to succeed. To make humanity better. And she stood before him, burning in her golden glory, not knowing what she was, is or could be. The sunlight glinted in her hair and the sea reflected in her eyes. If his heart still beat it more than surely would have stopped. Slowed down into a painful pattern and rendered him breathless.
Now in his time of repent the world gives him this creature. Her blood mingled with the greatest temptation of the beast within him, but her soul so at peace with part of the world and in such turmoil with the rest. He wishes he could stay with her. Guide her but again the beast insides sits coiled, waiting to overtake. It's time to put it to rest. Maybe if she had come a few months sooner she would have been enough. But he realizes she is there to guide the son, father and brother he is leaving behind. How he wants the stoic man to remain unchanged by his choice. But death knows when it's time to finish.
The moniker he walked by for over a thousand years. He doesn't regret that time. He was made into death and death does value life. Everything must end, as much as vampire claim to be immortal its only a lie they're breed tells themselves to make it seem more glorious. He remembers in brief flashes the feel of his child under him. Nights fueled by blood and sacrifice. They were kings and gods. Lovers and equals reveling in each other. Hopefully she would be up to par, and help heal him in the endless nights to come, offer her day and letting them both bask in twilight together.
He would like to taste her; he is distracted during this meeting with the abrasive television persona vampire. Up close she is one of those that never wanted to evolve. Her caked on makeup doing nothing to enhance her bland features. Her rage and indignation is grating on him. Following her up to finish up these meaningless tasks he only wishes to hurry. He would like to touch his lips to the tears threatening to fall from the sunlight girl's eyes. He knows she would tremble and be disarmed by him. But he would hold her in his arms, his wiry frame molded against her soft one. Long ago women flocked to have this opportunity. But he didn't think she would be ones of those. She'd resist at first then offer to take what he was freely given. He understood why his child was so taken.
Lazily he signed away his holding and left a will with his day man. He has had it written for a long time. Isobel and Eric would be taken care of. He knows he can't protect them from the laws that old world formality binds them to. Again this is one more pressing reason to be done. He goes to wait in his brother-son's room. A few last hours in the comfortable embrace, breathing in scent and touch. Letting him map out parts along his spine, tongue tracing ink and not need breathe ruffling hair. He does wonder if she would do this. He smiles into golden hair and presses in further losing himself completely in the feel of love. His child does understand those words. Into the depth and of his soul and heart he understands. That's was why he made him, he was life. Too many years have buried that light. She would bring it forth again.
He felt the pull of the sun, it was time to take that detour in his life, and tell his friends goodbye. The smoke encased his body. To many hands where in his hair and it was time to shake them off. He ordered Eric of the roof, he knows he would end himself with him. But it's not his time; he wasn't searching for that peace quite yet. She did stand at the corner, looking regal with her passive gaze. She already accepted his choice. He watched as she laid a comforting hand on Eric's arm. Murmuring that she would keep him company. His child nodded, his posture showing the slightest bit of comfort in this offering. He could see the fighting emotions in her eyes as Eric left. She was unsure of her feeling for the man from the north. He smiled gently knowing soon they would be clarified. Though knowing Eric it might take a roundabout way. He never did do tasks that were simple; even if they were he managed to complicate them.
She wept for him then, openly and unabashedly. He was shocked; maybe they could have been lovers. She did love as much as he did. He let her know of his respect for her and she promised to care for his child. He did see God in her, she didn't know of his past full of slaughter and mercilessness. She forgave him, and he dared to hope her savior would also be his.
So he disrobed and walked, greeting the burning disk with open arms like the lover he wished haunted his dreams. The blue flames licked his skin in an almost sensual fashion and he let himself revel in the feeling. He breathed one last breathe, it was too late to change his mind, his on laws were his guide.