"Why," I asked, "Why did it hurt me so?" I rubbed my stomach. Just the memory of the pain made me nauseous.
"They tainted him," Isaiah said, not really paying much attention. He was at his writing desk writing. "You could not smell it, because you hadn't felt it before. The boy was bitten by some animal with the ancient disease." He looked up at me as if I should know of what he said.
"The ancient disease?" I repeated thoughtfully, "You mean the infection that causes the body to change once every month? He was a werewolf?"
He nodded and tossed his pen in the holder. "Coyote, actually," he clarified, "The disease can be spread from any animal, though it is usually carried by canines."
"Am I free of that disease?" I asked, "What about you?"
I think he laughed at the question. "Yes, you are," he said, "I am as well, I bled myself and fed, so I am quite free of it." He stood and turned to his coffin, scowling. He looked around the primitive room. "Why is it that these people keep themselves ignorant of new technologies? I grow weary of this ancient-based lifestyle."
It was my turn to laugh. He had never much approved of Earth. They thought it important to stay "pure," as they call it, of new science and such. They did not allow foreign ships to bring their necessities if they were not as ancient as the planet was. "When will be departing then? Are we going home soon?"
"Yes, actually," he said as he pushed his chair under the desk and sighed, "I've been making the arrangements. We leave in three days. Are you really so eager?"
"Yes, Master," I said, "I very much miss the Martian sunset. It's far the hot here for me."
"I understand," he said, "Our visit is only once every few Earth-years, you can be thankful for that."
I nodded and bowed, to show my respect before leaving. I paused at his door, though. "Master," I began, "…Thank you. I…appreciate your understanding."
"Are you sure?" he asked, without turning to face me, "Is it appreciation? Is it respect? Why do you stay here? Why do any of you stay here? I have given you all the permission to leave me. You don't need permission. Why do you call me master?"
I was shocked. Never had it occurred to me, or any of my siblings, that he disliked his position as leader. "I…" I paused, "because that is what you are. You are the oldest, strongest and most powerful in our family. The others have other reasons for staying, I'm sure, but I stay because I am yours. You are my father, and I your daughter."
I stopped myself before I revealed any unwanted information. I almost had to cover my mouth with my hand to keep myself from saying it. I wanted to tell him that I loved him more than this life of night. I could not. For a second I thought he would laugh at me. He remained serious and quiet.
"Quite to the contrary," he said, "A father is meant to teach his children. You have taught me more than I would have ever hoped to learn. So, you see, it is quite the other way round." He sighed, obviously feeling aggravated. "Go, the night is young. You should go feed. Leave me."
I bowed and left him in his aura of pain. I did not want him to stay like this. There have been other scenarios where he would go into a deep depression and not go out of his room—even to feed—for series of weeks. I began to wonder how long this would last when I passed Daniel in the hall. He was flushed from mortal blood that ran in his veins. It was unlike him to feed this early.
"Daniel," I greeted him, "You're back soon…Might I inquire why?"
"Precautions," he said seriously, "I have seen some rather suspicious characters in the shadows around the mansion. They are hidden so well that they are not human. They couldn't possibly be." His small, boyish voice faded, but as always, it left an ancient ring that proved he was the oldest of us, under Isaiah. "What is that look on your face? Is it him again?"
I nodded, my eyes to the floor. "He is in one of his spells," I said, "He wonders why we stay with him…why I still call him Master. Best be safe and keep the knives away from him. Lest he bleed himself to paralysis."
Daniel smiled cutely. Everyone of his smiles looked like it was his first. He had all of his first teeth, his cheeks were adorned with deep dimples that made him look like a baby. His blond hair along with these traits made him the very likeness of a pale Peter Pan of sorts. "How long do you think it will last this time?"
"Maybe longer than usual. I began to think that it would pass if I left, or if we left together. That would make things worse though, wouldn't it?"
"Yes it would. You must know that he fears loneliness above anything else. But the reason he does not wish you to stay around him is because you are stronger than he is." He paused as he saw shock plainly dancing around my features. "You didn't even realize this?"
I shook my head slowly. "I am not stronger than him," I said, not really believing it, "He is so much stronger than me. I don't have half of the strength he possesses."
"Ah, but you do. You have the stamina he lacks. The reason for his fits is the constant changes in the universe around him. He sees that the things that he once treasured in his life have now gone. You have seen these things and yet you still live on. It is harder for him to continue living, yet you…you won't stop. You are a true immortal."
"I do not understand," I said, though I did understand quite well. I had nothing in mortality. Now I have more than I'll ever need. Time truly does not affect me.
He sighed. "You will, soon enough," he said, in such a way that I could very well see him as my grandfather, "About the immortals hiding around our mansion…please be on your guard as you go out tonight. "
I nodded and watched as he walked past me into the shadowy hall. His very figure disappeared. I went to the library that held Isaiah's collection of books by Earth-dwelling authors. I borrowed one Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice. It always interested me to read about vampires of the past. I took the book and went on my hunt.
It was about three hours of reading on a bench in lamplight before I finished the book. As if on cue, a woman passed me. She smiled to me warm-heartedly, obviously oblivious to my nature. When she had passed, I stalked her, trying to pry her scent away from those of the night. When I found hers I stopped, frozen. Her smell was that of the werewolf that came from the boy last night. This was not good.
I looked around to find if I was being watched. This time, they would not catch me off guard. I sensed no human presence but something was there. It was the small buzz of thoughts that did not belong to me. They were not human, so they must have been an immortal's thoughts. Another being was there. And another, seemingly a group of these folks. I listened, and sniffed the air. Then I heard them, they were closing in on me in the quietest manner possible. I took my chance to run.
