Intrigue: Constantine and Ana
"What a beautiful name." He smiled, it was true. "So Anastasia, why are you wandering the streets alone?"
"I like to explore sometimes," She replied.
"Isn't your father worried about you? Your mother?"
"My father died last year," She said bluntly.
"I'm sorry to hear that," He said softly, "What about your mother?"
"Mama is always worried," She said quietly, "But I don't like staying inside all the time."
"Don't you have friends that you play with?"
"No, I'm not allowed," Quite the tyrant. Constantine mused. "But I have John, he plays with me when he's not going on trips."
"Yes, and John is?"
"He used to work with Papa and he brought Mama and me here," She held her hands out to the fire, the rubbed them together.
"You don't have any other family?" It was a peculiar situation and for some reason, the immortal wanted to know more about the little girl who he'd stumbled across.
"I had a brother, his name was Carlisle," She smiled, "Papa said he was really nice!"
"This Carlisle, did he leave home?"
"No, he died too," She chimed, "Papa and Mama said it was before I was born," She mused. Constantine slowly began to understand something, that there was more to this girl's story than what he originally assumed. He also knew that there was something that her family seemed to be running from.
"Where are you from?"
"England. You ask a lot of questions, Constantine," She giggled. "Mother says that curiosity killed the cat," He smiled.
"Do I seem like a cat to you?"
"Not at all, but she says that that's just how people say it," He chuckled.
"Well, curiosity won't get me killed there's no need to worry about that," She beamed at him, seemingly glad at his comfort interacting with her. "Alright how about we play a game to even the playing field," She nodded excitedly. Constantine felt a warmth in his cold heart, one that he hadn't felt before. "I'll ask a question and you ask one after."
"Okay!" He was once again surprised at how at ease Anastasia Cullen was with him, it made him even more intrigued and eager to know more about the child. "I'll go first since you asked me questions already," It was a simple game but Ana had never had much interaction with others outside of John her mother and father. She knew that the vampire wasn't going to hurt her and she was excited because he finally started to smile at her. She didn't want to regard him as a friend but deep down she did.
"Can other vampires do what you did with the ice?"
"No, different vampires have different abilities," She stared at him in awe.
"Why doesn't your mother let you play with other children?"
"Because people don't like those who are different," She said in a manner that indicated she was repeating what she had been told.
"What are your abilities?"
"Someone once described that I was winter embodied," He chuckled, "I can turn things into ice and make things out of ice, and blow some fairly cold winds," She leaned closer waiting for a demonstration. He flicked his wrist and the blue dust came out again and an ice bunny manifested before them and hopped around the girl.
"It moves!" He smiled again, realizing that it was very hard not to around Ana. She looks at everything I do with such wonder. Juxtaposed with those who had run away from him in fear or saw him as a weapon, she was a breath of fresh air.
"Yes, anything I can imagine can be brought to life," He flicked his wrist again and the bunny blew away like dust. Ana frowned sad that it had to disappear so quickly but tried to cover it up with a smile. Constantine got up an ruffled her hair again, "Don't worry there will be plenty more time to see more." She tried to hide her joy at the thought.
"Let's go for a walk, your body is no longer at risk of illness, and your clothes are dry" She nodded getting up to follow him.
She moved to reach for his hand but caught herself staring at the ground while following behind. You musn't get attached to others Miss Ana. John had said once, People outside of our small triangle tend to leave.
When Constantine turned around he saw the girl staring at the floor, the once cheerful spirit had gone. He felt worried, and oddly protective. He wanted to eliminate anything that made her look like this.
"I told you I was fine with your scent," He said, crouching down to meet her eyes.
She shook her head, "It's not that...It's nothing."
"It doesn't seem like nothing," He said tilting her head up so that her blue eyes would meet his. "C'mon what makes you look so gloomy?" He asked softly.
"Are you going to leave?" He was taken aback, she sounded almost lonely at the thought. He didn't know how to respond, she had gotten attached and he never experienced that before. All his immortal life, he wandered, worked for a group of vampires from time to time. Constantine had never once thought about leaving things behind or people for that matter. When he wandered he observed and fed when he needed to, there was never any contemplation in regards to human life. He walked everywhere with no purpose or drive other than surviving. He even tried to kill himself sometimes, end his immortal suffering. He later found that his immortal body was near indestructible. I suppose I've gone on for so long because at the core of us all is the will to survive, the need to survive. Yet, this young girl has made me want to survive for her. To live, for her.
He was taken aback by his own words. He never felt like this. It wasn't romantic it was more like that of a protector. Constantine knew that his whole view of this world had drastically changed the moment the two met and he welcomed it. Thinking about Ana's question and staring into her uniquely blue eyes, he realized that despite what he wanted part of protecting her would me that he did have to leave so as not to draw others to his hidden jewel.
"Listen, Ana," He said softly, "Eventually...I might have to leave but if I do, I promise it will not be for long," He looked at her hoping that he hadn't upset her.
Ana felt hurt, but she understood that if he stayed with her he might get hurt like her father did and she didn't want to endanger her new friend any further by forcing him to stay. "Okay," She said, smiling. He smiled back at her softly and stood up. He turned around and began walking when she didn't follow he turned reaching his hand out behind him.
"Well? Come on then?"
She couldn't hide her joy as she grabbed his big hand and walked by his side.
They spoke for a while, Ana talked about her life in France and explained that she thought it was pretty and that the people could be very nice. Constantine mostly asked the questions and made more bunnies for her to play with.
"Ana, why did you leave England?" It was a curious thing to him, every human family he'd observed seemed very attached to one place.
"Because bad men were coming to get me and mother," She kicked snow giggling at the bunny as it followed her.
"Why is that?"
"Because mother and I are bad," She said it so casually as if she had said it so often enough that it no longer hurt her.
"What makes you say that?" He asked softly watching her expression for even a glimmer of emotion in her blue eyes.
"Because I can do things people shouldn't do," She laid on the snow the bunny sitting next to her. "I heard Mama and John talking one night and they told me it's put us in danger."
What could this child do that was so horrific?
"What is it?" She sat up staring at him with a question in her eyes. "What can you do?"
She continued to stare at him. Ana knew trusting people was a mistake and before she showed him, she had to make sure that it was safe. He stared back at her curious about what she was doing.
"Okay," She said after a few moments of silence, "Promise you won't tell no matter what?"
"I promise," He said.
"Even if bad men come after you too?" It was the first time she sounded worried, afraid even. Once again a mere child was worried about Constantine's well being. He smiled at her and ran his hand through her hair.
"If the bad men ever come after me Anastasia," He began, "I'll make sure you never have to worry about them again." He shocked himself. Constantine had always heard stories about members of his kind falling in love with humans. But, they'd turn them to spend eternity together. He watched Ana slowly smile her white teeth shining brightly and her golden hair falling around her shoulders, he listened to her heart pumping sweet blood through her veins. He tried to picture her without it, with red eyes, sharp teeth. An immortal child, unable to mature any further, forever frozen like a glass doll.
They will expose our kind Constantine, you understand correct? The voices of those in power said to him.
"Okay," She smiled, "Go get a real animal but don't kill it!"
He nodded listening for one, he dashed off after what sounded like a raven. He saw it and grabbed it carrying it gently, it protested for a short time but quickly calmed down. He showed it to her and she nodded.
"Okay break its wing," She winced.
"What?" He looked at her, shocked. He didn't think of this child as one who enjoys torturing animals. He paused, wondering if it was another test. She stared at him waiting. He moved his arm toward its wing slowly, waiting for her to yell, protest, something. She didn't do any of those things, she just stared. He gripped the wing and snapped it. The beast cried out in pain, it was a horrible sound.
Ana sighed, as though she had been holding her breath the entire time. "Now let it down," He nodded and set the poor thing down. It tried to fly away but fell. Ana walked toward it "I'm sorry that had to be done little one. It looked angry. "I promise, you'll fly again!" She grabbed it and it protested attempting to peck at her hand. Constantine quickly moved and grabbed it from her before and it pecked his hand. She huffed, frustrated. "Hold it down." He obeyed only because he had no idea what she was planning. She grabbed it's wing and her hand began to glow just a little, he let go of the raven in shock. She removed her hand and the bird flew away, both wings were functional.
Ana stared at him, "That's why," She answered his previous question, "That's why we had to go away."
"I see." He hadn't seen a gifted human up close, not since his associate developed an interest in a particular set of twins. Constantine had been around long enough to know that witches roamed the earth just as vampires did. He also knew that witches are the very beings that had a hand in creating them. "I presume that your mother told you not to show anyone this?"
"Her and John said so," She nodded and began to walk ahead of him in the snow.
"Well, I don't have any interest in talents like your own Ana," He took a few steps ahead and began walking next to her.
"Is it really a bad thing?" She asked quietly. Constantine was hit with a sudden awareness of Ana's age. She was just a child, despite acting so maturely, that was her true form. He had viewed her as older but he now understood that despite her facade she was still so innocent, and so ignorant of certain views that society had. He stopped and moved behind her, lifting her onto his shoulders, causing her to gasp.
"Listen, Ana, there are people in this world who don't understand those who are different. Even if you do good things, even if you try to change and hide your differences, they will still see you as different. Because they don't understand, they want to get rid of it. Uniformity––"
"Unifrumaty?"
"Uniformity. It means sameness," He clarified, he never had to put things in simpler terms before and he decided to be mindful of words he used around her, "Everyone likes everyone to be the same. When people aren't the same they feel like they'll become the different ones. So, difference, the things that we can't understand, scare us an––"
"Like vampires?"
"Yes, well, everyone except you of course," he bounced her on his shoulders chuckling.
"But you're not scary!"
"To you," he sighed. "Other people don't warm up to those who slaughter their loved ones just to survive."
"But you killed a bad man earlier," she pointed out.
"Yes well, I've killed good people too," he explained.
"Accidentally?"
"Some, others were intentional," Ana grew silent. Constantine panicked for a brief moment, he was afraid of her looking at him the ways others had. Afraid that he'd lose the little light he found in a world full of darkness.
"There are some things…" she started, "Some things that you can't help. You're my friend so I'm not going to hate you because you're different," she declared. He chuckled. "Are you going to hate me?"
She peered down at him and he stared up at her. "I would never hate you Anastasia, eat you maybe, but hate you? Never." She giggled at his comment about eating her and smiled down at him. He flicked his wrist and manifested a slide made of ice in front of him and placed Ana on it. She laughed when she hit the bottom and dusted the snow off of her. He looked up and noticed that the sun was setting. "It's getting quite late," He observed.
"I want to stay out longer and play!" She turned and kept walking ahead of the vampire. He watched her walk ahead of him and chuckled to himself as she jumped into a large heap of snow causing a flurry to erupt around her.
Ana continued to jump into the snow. She pondered the events that she'd witnessed today. She'd never met a vampire before. Her father had said they were evil and that they killed her big brother. She remembered Constantine with the bad man's neck in his mouth, the crimson that coated the white snow. Despite this, she knew he wasn't bad, that he wouldn't hurt her. For a moment, the young girl felt guilty. She knew that her father would be angry or at least hurt that she'd call one of these villains "friend". Everyone is different. She reminded herself. Constantine is kind. She decided that she'd keep being his friend because he was nice to her and her father in heaven would have to understand. Maybe my big brother wouldn't be mad at me. Papa said Carlisle was always nice. She thought about Carlisle a lot. This strange man she never knew but shared a bond with by blood. She wondered if maybe he would have felt differently about her because of her unique qualities. She feared that maybe he would. She'd seen a painting of him once, he had blonde hair, much lighter than hers. He looked a lot like her father. She only resembled him a little.
She stole another glance at Constantine. In her six years of life, she had never had a friend and she didn't want to lose the one she had made now.
She jumped into another pile of snow and noticed a bunny in front of her. She glanced back at Constantine briefly wondering if he had somehow known about her distress. She smiled skipping next to the bunny that hopped alongside her.
Constantine watched the golden-haired girl skip ahead of him. He smiled because he caught a glimpse of distress in her eyes and made a bunny to cheer her up. Did his comment about going home really make her so sad?
He paused, and for a moment he did something out of character. Something he knew was wrong. He thought, Why don't I just keep her? As if this child was some object he could take! He knew that in time, no one would worry about her whereabouts. He had an eternity, and when she came of age he would just…
Just what? Turn her into a blood thirsty beast?
He looked up at her, the smiling golden-haired girl jumping in the snow her ice bunny in tow. He pictured her with red eyes, imagining the pain that the thirst would bring her or worse, the change that would occur when the venom ran through her veins. Suddenly he saw a flash of hatred. I'm not going to hate you because you're different. But would she hate him because she became different because he made her that way?
It was unbearable to him, the thought of this precious light looking at him with loathing and disdain.
Humans are prey. He froze at the voice that echoed in his mind. Of course, how could he not have even considered them?
He barely had his freedom as it was. Keeping secrets from the kings of the immortal realm is unheard of. If he turned Ana, if he kept Ana, they'd come after her. She was still so young that they'd probably slaughter her since immortal children were forbidden. He imagined their laughter, how easily they'd work to take away his happiness without any hesitation.
If you're up to anything suspicious, remember I'll know. The voice said gleefully into his ear. Constantine growled, startling Ana and causing the bunny to disappear. She stopped jumping into snow and stared at him, waiting for an explanation.
"Are you alright?" She asked, walking over to him. He snapped out of his trance chasing away the trio that had come into his mind, he nodded smiling at her.
Of course, Ana knew he was lying so she just crossed her arms and waiting for him to actually explain.
"I'm alright Ana, I was just remembering things I shouldn't have," He ruffled her hair and lifted her onto his shoulders again, "I am feeling sad because you have to go back to your home."
"Can't we play just a little longer?" She pleaded tugging at his hair. He chuckled.
"When night falls I'm sure your mother will be worried," He said it but secretly, he had a negative view of her mother. What kind of woman, in her situation would let such a young child endure it. He was angry that he had to be her only friend, that she was kept locked away, that her mother didn't try to find some sort of protection from the evil's that befell her. "Come on now," He smirked, "I'll walk slow."
"Vampire or human slow?" She asked.
"Human slow Anastasia," he chuckled.
"Okay!"
He walked forward trying to be mindful of walking at a human pace.
"Constantine?"
"Yes?"
"Does the sunlight burn you to ashes?"
"No, but it does make my skin glisten like diamonds," Her eyes widened.
"Diamonds!" She said in amazement. "Can I see?"
"When the sun is out perhaps," He said.
"Do you hate garlic?"
"I prefer blood," He replied.
"Hm. Does silver hurt you?"
"Nothing really hurts me except fire."
"Fire?"
"Don't ask me why, little one, but fire is what ends our immortal lives."
"Okay don't go near any fires okay?"
He smiled, "I'll do my best not to."
"Hey, Constantine?"
"Anastasia."
"Will you come visit me tomorrow?"
"Would you like me to?"
She placed her head on top of his and stayed silent for a moment. "I'd like that," For the first time, Ana was afraid to hear Constantine's reply.
He noticed her unusual silence and how her heartbeat sped up. She was nervous.
"I'll visit you tomorrow," He said, "And even the day after."
"Really?"
"I'm actually thinking of staying in town for a short time," He surprised himself with this information. He never stayed in one place for longer than a day. But when he thought of leaving he couldn't imagine it. It pained him.
"You promise?"
"I promise I'll stay for as long as I can," He bounced her on his shoulders.
"Okay!" He couldn't see her but he could tell she was beaming. She wrapped her small arms around his head and knocked her feet against his chest. He smiled softly. "Hey, wait. How did you know what direction my house is?"
"I'm following your scent," He said.
"Isn't that difficult?"
"Not with a singer like you," He sighed.
"I'm not a singer?"
"That's what we call someone who smells especially delicious," He explained.
"Sorry," she said.
"Oh it's not your fault Ana, and I've told you a mere child can't hurt me," He bounced her on his shoulders again. "Anyway, that scent makes it easy to get to your home."
"I don't smell anything," she said sniffing the air in an attempt to pick up even a whiff of what he could. "Well except snow," She wrinkled her nose.
"That's because you're not a vampire, my dear."
"Oh?"
"Only vampires have the ability to smell things this intensely," He said turning to the left, he noted that Ana lived away from town.
"What else can you do?"
"I can hear everything," He said, "The birds in the trees, the whispers of the town the breeze blowing in the distance, even water dripping from an icicle on a tree," He paused, "You're heart beating," Ana gasped, amazed.
"Really?"
"Mhm," He smiled. Children are so easy to excite.
"Can you do anything else?" Ah, and so eager to know everything.
"I can see everything," He went on explaining, "Every strand of hair, every snowflake, all the things your eyes would strain to see," Ana bounced up and down eagerly.
"You're so brilliant Constantine!"
"No I'm just cursed," He sighed.
"No," Ana protested, "You help people, you're incredibly fast, you jump high, you can see everything that no one appreciates, find things," She sighed and hugged him tighter resting her cheek on his head, her golden hair cascading over his shoulder. "You're very very special." He noticed a cottage in the distance, there was a single lantern in the doorway and someone pacing inside.
"We're close to your home now," It was dark already, the sun had set on his unexpected day with the human child. He wished that the sun never set. For him it didn't, his days were endless, but for the small girl who sat on his shoulders humming and hugging his neck, the sun always set. Her days were set, she'd eventually get hurt, sick, or killed. Such was the life of a human. In that moment, he realized that more than anything, he wished the sun would never set for Ana. He wanted to protect her for as long as he could. Ana yawned and he could feel her body getting more relaxed. He stopped walking.
"Alright little one, this is our stop. I'm sure your mother won't be too pleased with a stranger bringing you home," He set her down gently.
"Okay," She rubbed her eyes, "Can we play tomorrow?"
"Of course," He smiled ruffling her hair.
She smiled back and walked to her home. Constantine remained, curious about the mother that the girl spoke of. How could a woman let this loneliness befall a child? Ana reached the door which flew open. He prepared himself for an attack in case the woman was as malicious as he dreamed up and tried to harm Anastasia.
What hadn't prepared for and could never expect, was what would happen when he saw Sarafina for the first time...