A/N: I'm sure somebody has been waiting for this. I'm posting this because I have to do research before I can continue. I figured I'd made you wait long enough. There's no telling how long the research will take. Pretty much it'll be when I think I'm ready to continue. lol. Anyway, I hope you like it. In my opinion, my writing just keeps getting better and better. But this is my opinion. I want to hear what all of you reading this have to say about it. So, please read and review! All right. I could babble on and on about something trivial, but I'm sure none of you want to read that, so I'm shutting up before I get started again. Have fun with it! (P.S. This is probably the shortest chapter yet. Hopefully, the won't keep getting shorter. lol)
Questions
I liked a good mystery every once in a while. You know, something to challenge my brain was a good thing.... but when everyone around you had some secret or was capable of doing some bizarre thing or things. It tended to get on one's nerves! Thus we have the first week or so of my life in Boston. Let me recap. I had a waiter, Estus, who read minds, a co-worker, Magus, who was insanely curious about me (his curiosity bordered on stalker), and an insanely gorgeous guy, Mason, whom I couldn't avoid no matter what I did until the day he walked out on me. It had been a week since that confusing day where my life got semi-interesting.
I hadn't seen hide nor hair of Mason for a week. He just vanished. Magus continued his inquisition of me while I was at work, and I had been avoiding the café, The Faded Curtain, on account of Estus. With the exception of Mason fearing for his life, Estus was probably the weirdest of the three.
Could you literally die of curiosity? Was it possible?
I tried as best I could to continue with my life unchanged, but when you'd been through the things I had it was pretty hard to continue your life without wondering what could have been. You know?
Even if you didn't. I was telling you now. It was very hard.
Work continued as usual. I started stocking up on books. As many as I could get my hands on. I might have had to buy a bookshelf soon. I hoped I would have to anyway. It meant I had a lot of books. I smiled internally at that thought as Magus ran around, organizing and putting books on the shelves. I always wanted my own book collection.
Magus was unusually fast at his job. No matter how hard I tried I could not keep up with him. He always managed to restock and organize more than I did. I didn't know how he did it. Just another abnormality to chalk up to my new found acquaintances. I should probably have started a list, but I didn't.
A thought just occurred to me: these people might get along really well with each other. They were all slightly odd. You might even go so far as to say, Estus at least, was insane. I glanced over at Magus. His lips were twitching almost like he was fighting a smirk, as he turned away from me to continue his work. My eyes flew open as I fought to control myself.
What the hell?! Magus, too! This situation officially passed annoying and frustrating. This was officially completely unfair!! Why couldn't they just let me in on the secret?! IF there even was one. If there wasn't, then what the hell was going on?! Ugh.... I silently fumed behind the cash register, as Magus innocently went about his business.
Did you think he would press charges if I punched him? Did you think it would be worth the trouble and pain that would inevitably follow? Would the satisfaction be greater than the lawsuit he would inevitably pursue? That was a nice word... inevitably. Danica, stay on topic. Would I end up doing more damage to him than I'm thinking? I mean he looked frail and weak. Like he hadn't seen the light of day or done any manual labor since... well, today. This past week of work hadn't done him much good either. He still looked translucent and... like a stick.
Wait a second! How did he get so much work done? It's like he never stopped. Where did he get the energy? For that matter, where did he get the muscle? I could feel a headache beginning. I resisted the urge to clutch my head between my hands. It wouldn't be that difficult, Danica. Just walk up behind him, tap him on the shoulder, and sock him as he turned around.
No... that would never work. He'd hear you coming. Magus paused for a moment in an aisle; as if listening to something.
Danica, what if he heard you? Now what was I saying? Mason, Magus, and Estus weren't the insane ones, I was! I wonder if he would ever catch me glaring at him like I wanted to hit him. I chuckled mentally at that thought. I caught barely a glimpse of one side of his mouth twitch again as he went back to work. Danica, remain calm. There was no point in getting worked up about something that may not even be true.
I changed train of thoughts to avoid actually doing anything harmful to Magus.
Now that I thought about it... I rather missed Mason. He was a mystery. Something to focus my thoughts and some spare time on. That couldn't be all of it... could it? What else did I miss? His confidence. He was always so sure of what was going to happen. Even though there was no possible way he could know for sure.
He seemed incredibly closed off from the world. Could he have been serious? Somebody would really kill him for not following some kind of rule? I let out a sudden rush of breath, that was probably inaudible to everyone but me, as an epiphany rolled into my mind. I was seconds away from a panic attack as I contemplated this absolutely terrifying possibility. Could it have already happened? Could he have already broken some rule and been killed?
I fought my own emotions for control. Magus was staring at me with a puzzled and confused expression. I only got to see it for a second, because he quickly went back to work putting up a carefully manufactured façade. I couldn't glean anything more off his face.
I had a more pressing internal problem. Why did I feel this way? I could understand a twinge or pang of worry.... but why this overwhelming, deafening wave of sadness... despair... loneliness... Where was it coming from? Did I really miss him so much? I blinked back tears and hoped my shift would be over soon. I did not want to break down at work. That... wouldn't look good.
Magus seemed even more focused and drawn inward than he usually did. I glanced at the clock. I only had to be here for a few more minutes. The clock slowly ticked on and on. Slowly... endlessly.
It finally rolled around, and I instantly headed straight for the door.
"Have a nice day!" Magus called after me in a cheery tone.
I didn't give him a response. I didn't look back. I didn't even give it a second thought.
The sun heated my face and the nape of my neck. It was the first sunny day in over a week. I ran straight home. I shut the door to my apartment and sank to ground, my back against the portal. My hands were shaking, because of the exhilaration from the run combined with the borderline depression and panic I was already in. I laughed nervously at nothing in particular. Was I becoming hysterical? Why was this happening? I'd only really talked with the guy once! I buried my face in my hands; unsuccessfully blinking back tears yet again. The nervous laughter started to subside.
Was I really losing it? Was I going to go off the deep end as it were? What was happening to me?! I beat the back of my head against the door once out of frustration and because it was a distraction. I got up and weakly stumbled down the hall to my bedroom; fighting tears and sobs I knew were unavoidable. The bed rushed up to meet me since I couldn't stand anymore. I curled around my pillow breaking down into tears and sobs as all the sadness, despair and loneliness engulfed everything else. I broke down into tears and sobs for a guy I barely knew, because there was a slight possibility he might be dead.
All of it intensified further at the thought of his death until I drifted off to a comforting slumber.
******
I slowly roused feeling more exhausted than when I fell asleep. My eyes felt dry and itchy. Disoriented, I looked around trying to figure out where I was. I threw my legs over the side of the bed and rubbed my eyes. Wearily standing up, I wasn't sure if my legs would support me. I walked out to the meager kitchen still feeling like my legs could fail at any moment.
I opened the fridge and pulled out something I didn't have to cook; not caring what it was. I ate it because I knew I needed to. I wandered my way into the living room and collapsed on the couch. It was pitch black outside. And almost the same inside. I closed my eyes fighting back tears and falling inside myself.
That same despair and loneliness persisted. It was festering and yet I couldn't shake it. I couldn't cast it out. I don't know Mason. I don't truly know him. How can someone I don't know do this to me? Why should I feel despair and sadness over someone I don't know? Why should I feel despair and sadness over someone that might not even be... I couldn't even bring myself to think about it. A tear fell out of the corner of my eye. If I need him to live this badly... what else do I need from him? What else do I want from him? Does he even want me? A second tear fell from my other eye.
******
Very loud, very rude, and very urgent knocks sounded at my front door. Six pounds on the door then five seconds before six more pounds. I bolted upright to a sitting position on the couch and ended up destabilizing myself and falling over onto the floor. The pounding at the door continued relentlessly. I scrambled to my feet and ran to the door, trying not to trip over anything on the way there.
I ripped the door open prepared to scream 'What?!' in the face of whoever was there.
The person who was was more or less the last person I expected. Or more accurately there were two of them. Magus and Estus. Magus was up front obviously the one pounding on my door while Estus stood back against the wall of the hall outside on my 3rd floor apartment doorstep. What the....?
"Danica listen to me and listen to me carefully. It is absolutely imperative that you heed everything I have to say and that you do so now... before it's too late and you're lost." There was a hint of franticness in Magus' voice as he spoke that most bizarre statement.
"Wha... what are you talking about? What are you even doing here? For that matter... what the hell time is it?!"
"It's seven o'clock." Estus said stepping forward; away from the wall.
I blinked several times in surprise. "In the morning?!"
Estus busted out laughing. Obviously at my expression as well as what I said.
"That's not the point. Ignore him." Magus spoke up still holding that hint of franticness in his voice. "We must speak with you. Now."
"I-I-I... why are you here? No. Don't answer that. What do you need to say?" I fumbled with myself still half asleep.
"No. You need to wake up first. You must be fully awake and uninhibited, so I know you fully comprehend what I'm about tell you and so I know whatever decision you make was made of sound mind and body."
I blinked and held my head. "You know it's still early, right?"
A fresh round of laughter began from Estus.
"You don't grasp the seriousness of this situation, Danica." Magus insisted.
"I don't think anybody does but you, buddy." Estus replied, snickering.
Magus rolled his eyes and returned his attention to me. "Please. Will you hear me out?"
I groaned. Why was I actually going agree to this?
"Because you must. Your life depends on it."
That woke me up. My eyes flew open and I stared/glared at him. He was staring back just as hard.
"What are you talking about? No. Get in here. I'm not going to stand out in the cold. I have a feeling this is going to take a while." I moved out of the way as I spoke and let them in.
I closed the door after Estus got through and they both stood in the middle of the living room. I stood in front of them, placing myself firmly in their path.
"Now talk. What is this about? And no more of this ' you must be awake' stuff. I'm awake so explain yourselves."
"Mason. You must, at all costs, keep your distance from him. You must stay away from him. Your life depends on your ability to resist him." Magus began.
"Whoa! Slow down. My ability to resist him? My life depends on it? What are you going on about?"
"Surely you must know, Danica. You must have seen the signs." Magus continued.
"What signs? What am I supposed to know? You're not making any sense!"
"The pale skin. The good looks. The smell. The eyes. No... he was wearing contacts every time." Magus trailed off to himself.
"You know every time you open your mouth I get more confused, right?" I replied mockingly.
Estus spoke for the first time. "Wait.... Mason hasn't told you, has he?"
Magus paused and closed his eyes. Just a couple seconds later, Estus spoke again. To Magus this time.
"Hey! Don't go off on me. You just told me to watch them when they were at the café."
Magus didn't move. He stood stock still with his eyes still closed.
Estus paused as if waiting for a response. "No no no. You never said anything about trailing them."
Magus still didn't move even as Estus was practically yelling at him.
"No! Don't blame this on me. Maybe you should be a little more specific in your orders."
Magus' eyes flew open and he spun on Estus. "Would it kill you to be discreet and respond in kind?!"
Estus glanced at me. His eyes flickered back and forth between Magus and me for a few seconds before he relaxed. "Oh..... I forgot about that."
Magus took a deep breath and turned back to me. "That bastard.... I can't believe he hasn't told you. No wonder he ran. He'll be back though. They always come back."
I couldn't stand back anymore and listen to him bash Mason. Anger and rage boiled up inside me. Both Magus and Estus looked straight at me just a second before I blew up.
"How dare you stand there and bash Mason behind his back! You haven't even met the guy! You don' t know him, you don't know what he's like! You barely even know his name!" I stopped momentarily to take a breath and Magus took the chance to speak.
"You are truly ignorant and you refuse to accept it."
"Will one of you please tell me what the hell is going on before I deck one of you?!"
Estus broke down laughing again. Harder this time. At some obviously private joke. What kind of a sense of humor did he have? Estus collapsed on the floor having trouble breathing and Magus smiled slightly to me.
"One most humans shudder away from and have nightmares about."
"I'm sure there is a mental health clinic close by. Should I make an appointment for the two of you."
Magus chuckled. "I'm sure you just have his best interests in mind," He jerked a thumb down at Estus' debilitated form, "but shall we not accelerate the demise of your small, if not interesting, species?"
Estus was suddenly back on his feet and half-heartedly glaring at Magus. "Killjoy....."
Magus reached back and patted him on the shoulder.
I looked around my living room. "There has got to be a phone book around here somewhere."
"There's always-" Estus was cut short by Magus' elbow in his stomach.
"Enough. We've gotten off topic."
Estus took a step and fell over on my couch, very apparently not happy. Magus rolled his eyes but otherwise completely ignored him.
"I'm sorry... what were we talking about again? I was never told!" Yeah. I was mad.
"And you have every right to be, but your anger needs not be directed at us. We are trying to save your life. Why can't you understand that?"
"Because I don't know what is endangering my life, nor do I believe I am in any danger whatsoever!" I began fuming again.
"You have two choices that I see.... You can either 1. take our word for it and avoid Mason for your own safety."
My heart fell at even just the consideration of doing that. It was out of the question then and there.
Magus sighed. "Or 2. I can tell you why you should be afraid for your life and why you should be avoiding Mason."
"Option 2."
"I was afraid of that... Are you sure you want to hear this?"
"Yes. I'm sure."
"Very well… How old do you think Mason is?" Magus inquired.
How was I supposed to know?
"Just give me a guess." He instructed.
"He can't be more than 20. Maybe 21."
"That's a pretty good guess. You're right. Physically, he is only 21."
"What do you mean 'physically'?"
Magus smiled slightly at me. "I must admit… you are most surprising for a human. You are far more perceptive than most others of you species."
Estus was on his feet again looking around frantically. "Please tell me you have a tape recorder! Or whatever it is you people use for audio recording now!"
"What? Why? Why do you need a tape recorder?" I asked, bewildered.
"Because he's giving out praise! This is the event of the century! No… longer than that… His life!" Estus wandered off into the depths of my apartment still rambling to himself.
Magus seemed to be paying no attention to Estus whatsoever.
"Did he just say what I think he said?" I was curious now.
"That depends on what you think he said." Magus was now smiling like he was genuinely amused and slightly amazed. Smiling like a mentor to a pupil who just understood a simple concept he had been teaching for weeks.
"Enough about how old Mason is… I want to know how old you are."
"You and the whole of the U.S. Military by now." I jumped at the sudden sound of Estus' voice in my ear.
He stood back, away from me as I resisted the urge to smack, punch or otherwise hurt him.
He seemed to be more talking to himself when he continued. "Although they're probably more interested in me after…"
Magus whirled on him once again, raising his fist as if to hit him.
"I told you not to do that! I said it was a bad idea! Maybe I should hand you over to them! Why don't you ever listen to my directions?! It is easier to operate when that incompetent human general does not know where we are! I don't care how easy it is to escape containment or avoid capture! I have told you repeatedly! Do not provoke the military!"
It was strange… Magus made that entire speech in one breath and showed no signs of slowing.
"I know it's fun to torture and harass the humans! I can agree. However! When we are contending with untrained members of this species, it's better if the military is not hounding us! In a couple years after this whole ordeal blows over, you can blow the entire U.S. Military into oblivion if you want! I'll even let you do it by yourself! But, for now, I ask that you control yourself and do as I wish you to."
"Do I even want to know?" I asked warily.
Magus turned around to address my question. "I find your species to have a fascinating and astounding capability for the murder and mutilation of each other. However, compared to Raytor or the Fey Elves, you are naïve and unimaginative. Besides, unless an intervention is done at an early age, the said capability cannot be cultivated and is, in most cases, lost permanently. Now… as much as I admire and would normally encourage the curiosity you seem to share with many others of your species, it has an annoying aptitude to get in the way. Please pay attention or I will be forced to employ more drastic methods of conveying this most urgent and important information. Are we clear?"
"Are… are you threatening me?"
"Threats are only for those who are afraid to go through with them. Besides, I let hot head," A smile quirked his lips and Estus chuckled lowly, "take care of the dirty work. He enjoys it more. Are we clear?"
"Yes. Now start explaining before we get side tracked again."
"How familiar are you with vampires?" He said the term with borderline disgust.
"Just tell me everything."
"I'm not going to waste my time and what little you have explaining something you already know."
"I'm going to let that go for obvious reasons. Lets see... they are demons of sorts. They require blood to live although no one is sure why. They can be killed through a variety of methods including, but probably not limited to: wooden stake through the heart, silver bullet, holy cross, exposure to sun light. Some variations on the sunlight theory suggest it is the UV light that is so deadly. They are deterred by garlic mainly, but personally, I think that one has pretty much fallen out of existence. But why am I even doing this? When it comes down to it, there are near infinite possibilities and variations." I stopped and waited for a response.
There was a pause while Magus seemed to be absorbing what I had said. Then without warning he broke out in laughter. The first true sound of amusement I had heard from him in the entirety of the time I knew him.
"I keep forgetting how far human lore is from the truth and that they have worked very diligently to keep it that way."
I didn't like being laughed at. "Then what exactly is the truth?"
"In reality, it varies from vampire to vampire. In general, they are strong enough to lift a car. Fast enough to run without being seen. Which, yes, does explain how he got to the bus before you. Although if nobody saw him, he must be a particularly fast one. Anyway, you know about the physical appearance. Then there's the smell: sweet and irresistible to most humans. The eyes: perks the curiosity of most humans, especially since it changes every couple weeks.... depending on their diet. Their teeth: razor sharp; perfect for cutting through the flesh of anything living. Enhanced senses: so far beyond anything you humans can comprehend. Basically, they were designed to hunt you. Flawless in their creation and in their execution.... or so most of their race believes."
Estus stood up and began stretching. "Magus, I do believe we have overstayed our welcome."
Magus paused for a moment and stared off into space. "Ah yes. You're right. Danica, your friend will be here shortly since he didn't see you or myself at the book shop. I believe he means to take you to breakfast. I suggest you get ready for your date or whatever it is your species calls it now. It changes so fast and so much, honestly, it's hard to keep track."
Estus began snickering again.
"You may tell him what I have told you if you wish. The information is yours to do with what you wish. If you must tell him where you got it from you may give him our names. We are fairly well known within their world. If he has not heard of us, he most likely soon will. Probably by his superiors.... if they even have that sophisticated a communication network."
He stepped towards me and looked me in the eyes. "I warn you. You are now so deep into this, there is no backing out. There is no turning away. You know information no human is supposed to know and no human will ever likely know again. You cannot get out of the mess you are now in alive. Resent me for telling you if you feel you must, but you have a right to know." He stepped away. "We will protect you if we can, but we are not this God so many of you choose to believe in. Nor do we want to be. You would be well advised to steer clear of anymore of his kind." He stopped for a moment and appeared pensive. "Ah. Yes. Goodbye, I believe is a popular farewell on this planet." I had the strange and overwhelming compulsion to find Estus. I spun to look all around. When I came full circle Magus was gone, Estus with him, and the compulsion quickly followed.
Well... they managed to burn an hour.
Not even 10 seconds later, the doorbell rang. I walked over to the door, totally confused and looked through the eye glass thing. Magus and Estus officially passed beyond a mental health clinic. They needed to be heavily medicated, stuck in straight jackets and roughly shoved in padded white rooms.
My thoughts were so pleasantly interrupted and my heart leapt with joy as I looked at Mason's radiant and beautiful face. I threw the door open, but had to hold onto the door frame and anchor my feet in place as it was the only way I could stop myself from flinging my body out the door and into him. Yes! He was still alive! Unbound happiness and joy ran through my body, invigorating my limbs and waking me up.
"Danica...." He smiled warmly at me and the same smile, unbidden, spread across my face. "Have you eaten breakfast yet?"
I was all too happy to answer. "No. Did you have something planned?"
"I was hoping you would have breakfast with me this morning."
I bit my tongue in order to avoid screaming out 'Yes!!'.
"That would be nice. Let me get dressed first though. Please come in, make yourself at home."
I bounded off to my room, literally skipping. Too happy to contain my excitement. I desperately resisted the urge to wear something fancy. It's only breakfast, Danica. I came back wearing new jeans and the cutest blouse I could find. I spent almost five minutes trying to decide whether to put my hair up or leave it down before saying screw it and leaving it down.
He was standing in the living room with the door closed. He was standing completely still. It was like somebody sculpted a perfect statue of him out of marble and placed it in my entrance. His eyes were closed and it scarcely looked like he was breathing. The sight only lasted for a moment before he opened his eyes and began moving again.
"Are you ready?" He said taking a deep breath.
More than you could ever know...
"Yep!" I chirped. "You?"
He gave a short nod and turned for the door.
