Chapter Three - 003 - Venus

Time slows down when you're a vampire. The lagging movements of every single living thing, the never-ending days… Frankly, I was surprised that Michal managed to keep up with a vampire's thoughts. I suspect she wasn't entirely human.

One would think that I would be ecstatic for possessing the much-coveted immortality so many humans vie for. Unfortunately, I was not suited for this so-called godsend blessing. Waiting for anything had never agreed with me and immortality along with a vampire's perception of time was torture on my non-existing patience.

"Are we there yet?" I asked for the seventeenth time.

"No."

"You know, about the prophec-"

"No."

"Oh come on! It's been two years-"

"No."

"- and you haven't said a single thing about this 'Wheel of Fate' or Guardian thing!"

"Can you not talk about those out loud?" Michal hissed under her breath.

I sighed and gave up asking those questions for the day.

"… Are we there yet?"

"NOOO!"

Birds flew off from trees.

-TW-

When she said 'prestigious area', I really didn't think she would mean a mere four blocks away from the Emperor's Palace. As we pulled to a stop outside a bustling mansion, several servants hastily abandoned their tasks to help Michal down and take over the reins. I waved away the servant who reached out a helping hand. Servitude was common in this era, but I was from a free country and valued independence.

I suppose I have to get used to it though. Humans love subjugating living things on a whole too much to completely eradicate slavery.

"How cynical," a familiar voice spoke in my head.

I turned towards Michal and whispered, "It's true." She took my arm and gently led me into the mansion. A young man guided Michal and I while several other servants followed behind us. My companion carried on speaking to me.

"This mansion is considered a grand work of architecture yet you do not seem impressed." Michal murmured quietly. My ears easily picked up her words.

Describing how a modern house looks like with words was tedious, so I concentrated and provided a few mental images instead. Let's see… the Disney Castle, a couple of crazy ones from Zaha Hadid, and multiple skyscrapers.

Michal actually stopped breathing for a moment.

I gave her a little grin and a small push on her back to move her along.

Her mouth opened and closed.

Then she finally stammered out, "W-wow, those- wow." Michal took a deep breath.

"They are beautiful," she managed, too amazed to even glare at my smug smirk.

"What's beautiful?" someone asked out of the blue. A stout man of middle age stepped out from an adjoining room. Michal's eyes lit up and she ran eagerly towards the person who spoke. The portly man raised his arms to receive a very enthusiastic hug from the girl while laughing heartily. "Why, you've grown so much! And such excitement! It's been almost eleven seasons!"

I watched on, interested in their interactions.

Michal never spoke about her tribe, family or friends, let alone dropped in on them; so this was a side of her that I had never seen before.

Since she did help me through the transition and guided me in this unknown world, I felt that not prying was the least I could do.

Asking questions about the prophecy was another matter though.

"And this is Caris Wyght, my dear partner!"

Michal darted back to me and dragged me towards her friend. I let her pull me along without a fuss. "Caris," the girl addressed me, "This is Cassius, an acquaintance of my parents."

My smile was visible despite the bandages. "Ave," I greeted Cassius politely. "It is nice to finally meet one of Michal's friends. Cassius let out a deep booming laugh and smacked my back. "Ave, friend Caris! I am honoured to meet another of dear Michal's interesting friends!" The man raised a brow when I failed to stumble after his 'pat'. "And what a constitution too… Any interest in gladiatorial battles?"

Michal pushed us apart gently. "Oh, stop, Cassius," she giggled, "I actually need Caris alive." I scoffed at that. As if I could die fighting humans.

A couple of years watching the very sluggish movements of humans had really gone into my head.

My partner sniggered. "I can't wait for you to find out," she squealed in my head. I scowled at her as we followed Cassius, "Stop being so cryptic!" Michal was deeply vague and that was wise trait for someone with her gift, but it was aggravating at times. Our host unintentionally disrupted exchange when he spoke up. "Now that we are in a more private setting, let's get comfortable." Michal and I took the hint and shared a settee while Cassius poured us wine.

I noticed that the servants had left us alone in the room and, judging from the sound of their footsteps, were now giving the entire area a very respectful berth. Michal looked pleased as she sipped on the wine. "Your household is as impressively trained as ever, Cassius." Said man grinned at the compliment, "Well, I do try my best to instil loyalty and discreteness. Monetary incentives and certain favours certainly go a long way." His movements were surprisingly graceful as he sat and swept his legs up onto a longue. "So," he started as he stared at me, unblinking, "what are you?"

Taking a sip of the exquisite wine, I glanced at Michal for some sort of intimation. After a short pause with no answers, Cassius spoke again, "I have not seen a race who insist on covering their face to this extent. And your name sounds rather... exotic. Michal only brings the most unusual ones." That explains how he marked me off as a human so easily.

Eventually, Michal shrugged and answered, "Caris is a leech." I winced at the callous term she used. Isn't there a more… refined term? Cassius chuckled while I scrutinised his face, a little puzzled. I expected his reaction to be a little more adverse… Then again, he is Michal's friend.

"A Nosferatu you mean."

Michal gave him a little grin, "I wasn't sure if you know the exact term. Spreading a specie's preferred name is really… not safe." That doesn't explain why you didn't give me my own kind's name. The girl shot me an apologetic look. "I told you that you were unique. That trait will be more apparent among your kind. From now on, things will start to change."

Cassius continued, "Still, a Nosferatu! One of the best supernatural breed for one previously human to become!" Then a thought visibly struck him. "You are drinking wine! I apologise for my inhospitality, I shall get a servant to open a vein for you immediately!" Michal shook her head, "No, no. Caris gift is to be able to consume human food as well as blood to obtain energy." Our host thought over her words eagerly. "How fascinating!" he exclaimed, his eyes shining with marvel.

Well, I never thought of my human-like traits as a gift, but I do like eating.

My partner looked on amusedly at Cassius as he ranted animatedly about the all intriguing and mysterious Nosferatu. "I lied to him though," she thought to me while still looking at the jovial man. What. Michal sent me another telepathic message, "Your 'human-like traits' is a blessing from the gods. They want you to think of your newfound existence a boon, not a curse." I frowned under the hood.

"Do I have a gift?"

"Yes."

"You keep a lot from me, don't you?"

"Yes."

Cassius finally broke out of his one-sided rant and focussed on me. "Back to the topic, are you interested in the glory of combat between the supernatural?"

I nearly choked on my wine.

"Since Michal prefers your absolute safety, I shall offer you the opportunity to watch instead. No offense meant to your skills in battle, of course."

That annoying girl was sniggering beside me. So this is what she wanted me to 'find out'.

Hmph, if you entered me in a human gladiatorial match, I could've made a killing, you know.

Michal smiled menacingly, "Witches are considered human too. They are only one of the several other breeds that are considered both human and supernatural." I cringed at the subtle message behind those words. My arrogance wasn't so great that I believe that I could win in a fight against other supernaturals.

The seer was a touch angry.

"Sorry… I will try to not look upon my… previous… species with condescension again." Michal nodded, forgiving me easily. "Just… remember that you were one of them. Humans are the prominent race for a reason after all."

Turning back to Cassius, I said, "I shall take you up on your offer. It is my honour to learn more about the art of combat."

-TW-

Michal's friend, Cassius, owned a sundial. I spent the rest of the morning examining it; thoroughly fascinated by it after two years of vampirism ruined my sense of time. Cassius looked pleased when he heard that I observed the device for an entire hour.

"Really!" he laughed over the welcoming feast, "Laelia told me that you just stood there watching the shadow move! You must have utmost patience."

Michal snorted quietly at the last sentence. I glared at her briefly before turning towards our host. "Who is Laelia?" I asked him, shaking my head to decline as a young female servant tried to hand-feed me a grape. No, just no. People of this time do not take washing their hands (or themselves) seriously enough. To avoid insulting the host, I plucked up an empty bowl and walked towards a boiling vat of vegetable soup; all the while dodging servants who persist on attending to me.

Cassius gestured towards the girl who had tried to pop a grape into my mouth, "The maiden beside you." I stepped around another servant smoothly while studying the girl on my right. "So you have been assigned to me?" It wasn't obvious- an entourage of servants that started following me the moment I left the 'private room'. She must have been hidden within the platoon of servants.

Michal laughed out of the sudden.

"Cassius thinks you are a man and has given you a body servant!"

I had a sinking feeling that the term 'body servant' meant something more intimate than 'personal maid'. Cassius proved me right when he winked at me, "Be careful with her! She is... new to such things."

This era is disgusting. I clenched my hands, my nails digging into my palms so hard that cracks form on my skin. No wonder the poor girl smell so worried and nervous. Girl. How young is she? Sixteen? Thirteen? Are the people of this time into child brides? Michal's laughter died as she heard my angry thoughts. She reached out to clasp my wrist gently. "It is not like that. She volunteered."

I was still seething. Talk.

Michal hurriedly elaborated, "Most women do not have the right to choose their husbands. Laelia, as a lowly female servant, will probably be denied any chance to marry. Her… purity would most likely be taken, not given. So, she took this chance as a little piece of freedom."

This is still wrong!

"I know!" Michal cried in my mind. "You came from a more enlightened age, but this is how it is now! I am only allowed freedom because of my gift!" Her 'voice' was shaky and tears sprang to her eyes. I calmed immediately and took her hand gently. We were both completely ignoring Cassius now.

Michal once confided in me that she wished her gift begone before she met Amnon because more people were frightened than fascinated by it. To think she craved interaction so much that she was willing to give up her freedom made me sick.

At that moment, I had a sudden epiphany.

Dum spiro spero.

I can change history.

I want to change history.

-TW-

Several feet away, Cassius and Laelia looked between us searchingly.

28th February 2015

How long has it been? Five months?