"Hmph. Realized you need my help have you, hunter?" Larten added coyly as he leaned back in his chair. Crossing his legs and his arms. Eyes twinkling in amusement.
Slowly but surely beginning to relax in each others company.
"Well I'm not going to turn away a vampire as an ally if I can help it." I replied.
He raised an eyebrow at me, mocking "And who says I require your help?"
I scrunched my eyebrows together "well maybe you don't. But this forest...that village, this is my home. I'm done waiting around for the blood to stop flowing. I want to do something about it."
He sat there staring at me for a while, the amusement in his eyes replaced with a silent seriousness. He was thinking.
"Perhaps...perhaps there is something you can do." He pondered for a moment...his chin in his hand...too long.
"Well? I'll do anything, just tell me." I leaned against the table. Maybe if I brought my face closer to his he'd see the sincerity in my eyes.
"I do not know if it would be correct to..." He looked away from me. "...on one hand the people in town will be more tense now that they caught sight of me...one of their own could freely question...not to mention operate during the day."
'Uhhh...I believe he's talking to himself now.'
"...you are out of sight...as well as out of mind. Neither the residents in town nor the vampaneze care much for your presence." He continued.
"Well I...wouldn't put it quite that harshly..." I butted in.
"But I do not know if it would be wise to..." He finally remembered to acknowledge me and looked my way "...trust you."
What!? Seriously! After everything? He tells me he doesn't know if he can trust me!?
"You're joking right? I gave you blood! My blood! Willingly!" I drummed my chest with flat palms for emphasis.
He stared into me with a sullen, severe look "and I am grateful to you. But bringing a human into the world of vampires is another matter entirely."
I was quiet. He was right. I guess. I mean what the hell do I know. Besides the information I had to rely on Larten for. Maybe letting him drink from me wasn't a reason to completely trust me and tell me everything about ancient vampire life and society or whatever.
If they even have a society...it seems like they might? Wow. They really are good at keeping themselves hidden. The world knows basically nothing about these creatures. They obviously have a reason for keeping the world in the dark. Maybe I shouldn't expect him to speak freely so quickly.
Still. He's my only connection to that world. He's the end in sight to all this madness. And i'm already in too deep. There's no going back and just forgetting. I'm not going to let him just tell me 'sorry puny human, but you're too dense to understand and I can't let you interfere bye~'
He stood and began picking up the bowls on the table. Stacking them on top of one another.
I stood from my chair rather violently "No, no, no, I can do this. My kitchen, my bowls, my house." And started snatching bowls and utensils from him.
He sighed "sit down...you are still very weak an-"
"I'm fine. I can wash my own dishes."
Maybe if I'm passive aggressive and obviously insulted, he'll change his mind.
He growled. And relinquished the last bowl he had to me. Frustrated with my attitude. "Listen. It was never my intent to come crashing down into your world this way."
I scoffed "yeah literally. Damn near knocked me out."
He winced. Remembering that night and pinching the bridge of his nose. Maybe just a little embarrassed.
"...what little I have told you I only told you because in the end I could not hide my existence from you. Had things gone to plan, you would not have remembered a thing from last night. In the end I needed to say something to keep you from killing me on the spot." He explained. Ignoring my jab at him.
What. What does that even mean?
"Do you understand why I can not simply tell you everything? I said what was necessary at that moment. And what I promised I would. I know you do not wish me harm but as for the rest. I do not know yet whether that is information you truly need."
I clutched the bowls in my hands and shook my head. I didn't say a word to him and started walking towards a large wooden bucket I had near the back door for washing dishes. I simply threw them in. And looked out the window in front of me.
Day is just starting to break.
Damn him. He's intelligent. I'll give him that. I want to argue. To tell him he's wrong and I have the right to know everything. And that he needs my help. But everything he's said so far makes sense. Maybe it's just the way he words things. It tricks one into thinking he's in the right all the time. And what did he mean by 'had it been up to him, I wouldn't remember a thing'. Was he planning on bashing me over the head? Maybe I should be having the same level of reservations about him as he has about me. Maybe I shouldn't interfere.
Wait. Don't vampires sleep during the day?
I turned around to see Larten back in his chair across the table. He was staring at me intently. Watching for my reactions.
I made my way back to the table. My brows still rigid.
"I do understand." I said. And his face softened. "...but I need you to understand that I'm determined to stop those monsters. So many have died while I've simply spectated. I feel almost...selfish..." He inclined his head toward me. Showing that he was listening. "...and it's too late now. I know what I know, so you might as well finish what you started. It's too late to whack me over the head now. Though I also doubt you'd be rude enough to do so."
He looked taken aback by that last part. "Whack you over the...ah I see..." He laughed "no you misunderstood. Hmm I guess once again I've said something that merits more explaining." He rubbed his face with his hands.
He sure is digging a deep hole for himself. Not a lot is going to be left secret if he keeps on like this.
"I can understand how you feel. And suppose you are right, for the most part. Might as well explain the last thing I said as well. I did not mean to insinuate knocking you over the head. Vampires can breath out a kind of knockout gas that renders their victims unconscious. This also serves to make them forget the encounter."
"Ahh...well...that's disgusting." I teased. I'm learning so much already. Not sure how much more vampire biology I want to learn though. Blegh.
"I could leave right now if I wanted to."
"Oh come now, I'm only joking." I laughed, oh my I didn't mean to upset him. "So why didn't you do that in the first place?" I continued.
"Well if I remember correctly, I was too weak and on the floor being stomped on by you before I could do much of anything." Larten shot right back.
He's got me there.
You gave him a weak smile "that's right, I remember that. Sorry about that by the way. But you were the one that started it by crashing into me. Rather violently if I might say."
He stood up from his seat at my table. Straightening his cloak and vest.
"Yes well. What is done is done. We are both alive and well. And now you want to join me on my investigation. I will have to think about it."
You groaned. What's it gonna take with this guy?
"Now, now. The sun is rising and I must sleep. Our time to talk has been cut short anyway. I will rest and then return to you tonight with my decision."
"Fine...I'm sure you'll see there's no harm in letting me in anyway. Ah...where will you be staying? If you don't mind me asking."
"I made a small camp deeper into the woods a bit east of here. Though...I am not sure if it will still be there now that I think on it. Those villagers must have scoured the forest looking for me."
He could...stay here with me I suppose...it would serve to prove that we similarly have only the best intentions for each other. Despite everything. People in town know i'm no one to worry about. It would probably be the safest place for him right now anyway.
"Why don't you stay here?" I asked.
"Not possible." He answered shaking his head firmly.
Well he rejected my offer quickly.
"Why not? My house is probably the safest place for you to stay right now. People are likely to continue searching during the day."
He looked conflicted. "I could not possibly ask this of you. And I cannot just sleep in a bed as humans can. I need darkness."
"But you're not asking. I'm offering. And as for complete darkness. You can stay in the hut where I keep the pelts I gather. There are no windows on it and there are plenty of furs to keep you from sleeping directly on the ground."
Once again his chin was resting on his knuckles, thinking.
I interrupted "Come on. Think of it as a step towards our friendship. Maybe I'll stop by and we can swap secrets and tell ghost stories."
I thought some banter might break the ice. He stared at me like I had just made the worst pun.
"Very clever." He said sarcastically "But I suppose you are right. One close call was enough. If I have any hope of continuing my investigation I must remain hidden."
"Come on then. I'll show you to the hut."
Birds were beginning to sing as we made our way around the back of my home to my pelt shack. I unlocked the door and let him inside.
"Pretty homey right?" I quipped.
Larten surveyed his surroundings, making sure no light leaked through the ceiling or walls, absent mindedly feeling the texture of some pelts as he paced.
"It is perfect. Thank you." He said.
I nodded and closed the door as I turned to walk away.
'Good night, Larten. Or would it be good morning?'
(Hey long time no see, finally got another chapter up. This one is a bit longer than usual. Hopefully I can keep it up without it sounding too droney.)