Kuro: He has lost it, and loves it ٩(`·ω·´)و
OliviaInkWell: Thank you so much for reading, and I appreciate the offer, I'll definitely keep you in mind.
Guest: You're very welcome, it was a pleasure to write!
Beau meets a human friend... and a vampire one.
2 Years, 1 Month
It was nine o'clock at night in Florence, and I was thoroughly enjoying myself, reveling in the chance to show off to my newest friend. Something that I didn't get to do often, because making friends with humans was stupidly hard, and even more so to let them see me let loose a little.
I took another, seemingly careful step, and listened happily as my companion gasped, watching in awe as I moved with my unnatural grace.
"Oh come on! How do you do that?" Sophia laughed, watching as I walked along the thin railing sitting on the side of the street. I think it was meant for bikes or something, but I couldn't really tell. This was my first time outside the States, and everything looked just a little bit stranger than it did back home.
"Lots, and lots of practice," I lied, pretending to almost fall over, making my arms flail as she watched me. "That, and a ton of patience."
Giggling like mad, she quickly walked over holding a hand out to me, waving for me to get down. "Come on, before you hurt yourself," She said, her eyes lighting up with joy as I casually stood up straight, not a single ounce of effort showing in my posture.
"I doubt I could, even if I tried," I said, casually hopping off, landing next to her as her hand gripped my jacket to make sure I didn't end up face-planting. "But as you wish."
Unlike my supernatural ability to move; a miracle with how clumsy I'd been as a human, keeping my friends happy and safe had become a bit of a struggle. But I was getting better at it with each passing day, and with each new person I met. So when I come into physical contact with humans, I don't have to worry very much anymore about hurting them.
She shook her head with a smile, looping her arm through mine as we continued down the vibrant streets of Florence's nightlife.
Well, it was honestly deserted; everyone was probably just getting home from work, but it didn't make the warm, glowing streets any less mesmerizing.
And it was made even better with Sophia.
For the past week, we had spent every evening together, talking and visiting the most marvelous places. She's truly made my first trip to Europe a special one.
I stumbled upon her on one of her late walks home from college, burdened with a heavy stack of papers and books. When she inevitably dropped them, I just happened to be there to help her pick them up.
From that moment on, she had cheerfully taken on the role of my tour guide for the duration of my visit, saying that 'it would be cruel to leave me hanging.'
I dramatically sighed, looking up at the stars and taking small, but exaggerated strides, making her laugh again.
"What's the sigh for mister? I thought we were having fun." She teased, nudging my shoulder with her own, her smile ever present.
I looked down at her with a lopsided grin. "I am having an absolute blast, Sophia Lambardi! but I am a little sad that I have so little time left to explore this amazing place, and so little time left to hang out with you." I slid my hands in my pockets.
I honestly wish I could stay longer, but I had a train to catch. I was going to be visiting some old friends of mine, and they have been bugging me for months about visiting. My email's inbox has been spammed so much, I'd thought they'd gotten into some trouble or something.
"Right, your friends…" She said, her voice softening as she looked at me with a hint of desperation. Her eyes took on a pleading, almost puppy-dog quality, and her lower lip protruded just slightly in a pout. "Are you sure they can't wait just a couple more days?"
I was amazed at how quickly this girl, whom I'd known for only a week, had managed to evoke such a reaction in me. Her expression was so convincing that it nearly swayed me. I turned my head, wagging a finger in a playful but firm manner.
"No. No. I'm sorry, but if I don't go, then they will come and hunt me down, and the last time that happened, I was barely able to escape the endless parties, and celebrations of their 'favorite friend' being home." I said, giving an air quote over the title, and smiling a bit wider, remembering the whole thing.
Making friends was hard for me, but when I did, they were friends for life, and I was so happy that I've had the chance to make them, especially these ones. I knew it wouldn't fix any of the holes in me, but they were a pretty good distraction.
"Seriously, the amount of glitter that got stuck in my hair was a nightmare."
"And we can't have that can we," Sophia said, snorting softly, then laying her head on my shoulder, and closing her eyes. "Well, if I can't keep you, then we've gotta make the most of the time we've got left. When does your train leave?"
"Six o'clock sharp."
"Well, if you're gonna get at least seven hours of sleep, then that leaves us with just one last hour tonight." She said, pushing her glasses further along the curve of her nose. "What else do you wanna see?" She asked, squeezing my arm in a hug as she looked back up at me expectantly.
I had to think about it for a minute there. We walked in comfortable silence as I contemplated the conundrum. On the plane ride over, I'd read this giant brochure full of all the most touristy things that Italy had to offer, and it had a whole section for Florence.
She'd already taken me to the most amazing places on that list, and then some. The Boboli Gardens, the Statue of David, and a ton of museums… It felt like I'd explored everything Florence had to offer. Which was weird, because I've never felt really satisfied when I visited new places. I guess it was because I've never had a proper tour guide before.
Suddenly it came to me.
"I'd love to see your favorite spots," I said with newfound certainty, realizing how obvious the choice was. "Where do you like to go the most, when you're not stressed about exams?"
Her demeanor shifted to one of vibrant excitement as she bounced on her feet. "Good pick," She said, elated.
And just like that, I let her drag me off, showing me what was really great about this city. Our first stop on my goodbye tour was an absolutely enormous library that was apparently Sophia's favorite place to go when she wanted to avoid all of her college classmates.
After that, it was the bridge she took to get to work, which had an absolutely gorgeous view of the countryside. It was especially amazing with my eyes. I could see how the light of the stars danced along the rolling hills in the distance and the way the small creeks and rivers ran along the earth.
It was breathtaking.
Then we ran to a late-night Gelato place, where I bought her a scoop of salted caramel. Along with my heightened vision came the smell… and while I would appreciate most scents, the food I used to be able to eat, didn't smell so good anymore. I thoroughly enjoyed the look of happiness on her face as she enjoyed her treat though.
And then, last but not least was a small sunglasses stand in the center of downtown, that was literally minutes from closing.
"Come on! This is my favorite place to splurge, and I've wanted to show you all week!" She said gesturing to the line of shops on the street - all of which were closed. Except of course for the stand she was currently perusing, looking for something specific it seemed. I gave the guy working his tiny register an apologetic look, but I honestly didn't mind bothering the poor man if it meant making my friend happy.
"Ok, here we go." She grabbed a stylish-looking pair from the rack, twisting it with her hand to get a good look at it. Quickly, she reached into her pocket for her card, but I was already handing the worker the cash for it. "Hey! I thought it was my turn to pay!" She said, holding her card with a frown, as he rang me up.
"It's a gift," I said, taking my change with a smile. "And it's one for me because I get to treat you… to…uh…" I said, fading off, with that smile on my lips slowly falling.
I couldn't speak for a moment, so both Sophia and the cash register guy gave me looks. Absentmindedly, I took the change he was holding out to me and shoved it in my pocket.
"Are you okay Beau?" Sophia asked with concern. I didn't answer immediately - this time on purpose, because I was focusing. I listened hard, and I took a deep inhale through my nose.
Someone was watching us… from a couple of rooftops away.
A very distinct smell of sweetness began to waft toward me, mingling with the cool night air. It was an aroma so delicate yet pervasive like blooming jasmine mixed with hints of honey, that I knew it could only belong to… another vampire.
Another vampire was on a rooftop, watching me, and my very fragile, human friend.
It was hard to breathe. But I didn't let myself freeze as I always did when I was scared.
I shook my head for show, forcing my smile to come back. "Sorry! Spaced out there for a second."
The look of concern didn't go away, but she quickly teased lightly. "Is that an American phrase? Spaced out how Beau…? Are you sure you're ok?"
"Completely one hundred percent fine! Promise. Now, as I was saying, thank you for letting me treat you to a couple of gifts. It makes me feel useful." I said, squeezing her hand, and guiding her away from the stand, heading back down the street, and away from the predator that could hurt her.
"Well, it is a gift, but it's meant for you." She said with a blush - wish was barely anything in comparison to the lilac scent trailing us.
She held the glasses out to me. "My mom always says that you can't go on an adventure without the proper gear, and if what you've been telling me is true, then you need to stock up."
I gently accepted the pair, and under normal circumstances, I would have been more appreciative of the gesture. But as I took them, my senses were sharply focused on the vampire shadowing us, its presence unmistakable as it prowled along the rooftops, matching our pace with a haunting silence.
"Thanks, Soph," I muttered, trying my best to lace the words with the gratitude I knew I'd feel later.
She nudged my shoulder. "Try them on." She giggled. I flicked them out to open, and then easily slid them into place, covering my honey-colored eyes.
"They look great on you, Beau," she said with approval, her eyes lighting up. "Seriously, you could be a model if you wanted to." She seemed to be trying to lift my spirits, mistakenly assuming I was simply feeling down. I wish it were that simple. The real fear gnawed at me—what if she got hurt? What if this monster following us tried to end her?
It wasn't something I could allow. Which meant I'd be getting into yet another fight. This is what, the fifth time since I left home?
"Ooh, a sunglasses model, now that's a career I could get into," I laughed, but the sound was hollow as I glanced at the shop windows. In the reflections, I caught sight of our shadow darting between rooftops, following us with what was honestly amazing stealth.
I could barely see them, barely hear them. It was a miracle I'd caught their scent in the first place. I'd have to thank the lord for sending me that breeze later as well. For now, I'd have to keep my absolute attention on our pursuer trying to stay stealthy.
And it was good that they were still trying. It meant they thought they were still hidden. Which would give me a one-up if they did come at me.
"Why do you look so sad all of a sudden?" Sophia asked, her voice full of concern as she tightened her grip on my arm, drawing my attention away from the shadow. She gave me those pleading puppy dog eyes that made it hard to keep up my cheerful facade.
"I'm not sad," I said, feigning confusion. "What are you talking about?"
She pouted and patted my shoulder, shaking her head. "You'd make an amazing sunglasses model, Beau, but your acting skills need work."
I gasped in mock outrage, placing a hand over my heart. "You wound me. I'm wounded." Honestly, it did hit a little close to home. It reminded me of conversations I had in the early days with my angel.
"Well, there goes my ten-year plan," I continued with my forced grin, echoing my old words, as I guided her along the sidewalk toward her home. It was the safest place for her right now, surrounded by family. Most vampires I'd encountered avoided breaking and entering; I could only hope this one wasn't targeting Sophia after all. It could just be me there after. Maybe they were just curious why I was 'playing with my food.'
Speaking of, she was giving me a look that clearly showed how unimpressed she was with my acting skills. I sighed dramatically and shrugged. "It's just… I'm about to say goodbye is all, and I really don't want to."
For a moment, silence settled between us as I tried to keep my gaze subtly on our shadow through the shop windows, staying alert, while at the same time, trying not to bring the mood down.
"Well," she said eventually, her voice faintly cheerful, "we still have the rest of our walk. My place is just around the corner - and it's gonna take us forever to get there." She nudged me playfully, as glanced at the distance. Her little townhome that she shared with her parents was only a couple of minutes away… but with our tail, it did honestly feel like an eternity.
"And besides, this isn't goodbye forever, is it?" She asked, breaking me out of my cautious thoughts.
I nudged her back, tipping my glasses down so she could see the sincerity in my eyes. "Absolutely not goodbye forever, Soph. I'm a nomad, but that doesn't mean I won't be back to revisit my old haunts." Of which, were all in America, but that's beside the point. I'd swim back to Europe if I couldn't get a ticket.
"And besides," I continued. "I've only been here a week. I'm going to need a tour guide for the rest of Italy."
She laughed, a light, musical sound as I pushed my glasses back up. "I haven't traveled outside the city before, not since I was little."
"No worries at all," I said with a grin. "That just means we'll have to explore the old-fashioned way."
"Oh? And how does that work?"
"With spontaneous decisions and endless fun," I said, walking along the sidewalk. I could see her house now, and the lights were on, so that meant her parents were waiting up for her. Good, if they were all awake and aware, then it was less likely that our shadow would try to go after her. I walked her up to her front door, watching as she went up the two steps to it. Her hand slid down to grasp mine, not letting me go yet as her free hand reached into her pocket grabbing her house key.
I nervously eyed the closest window, which luckily had its curtain closed. I could see them down the block, almost completely hidden in the dark; so much so that I wouldn't have noticed them if I didn't already know they were there. I kept a smile on my face as I looked up and down the street.
Florence, as I'd already noticed, was dead, which was good, because now that it was even later in the evening, it was practically deserted. Which means it'll be incredibly easy to find a place to confront my would-be spy.
There was an alley actually that would be perfect for this, it was long and had a dead end. Which meant that there definitely wouldn't be any humans.
I'd found it as I was exploring the city after Sophia had gone home to bed. Speaking of which, her lock clicked open, and the door swung into her warm-looking home.
"Okay, wait right here, seriously, don't move." She said with a stern look, letting go of my hand, and taking a step inside.
"Promise," I said simply, holding my right hand up. Her stern look changed into a hurried smile as she rushed inside, calling out that she was home to her mother; who was in the kitchen cleaning… I could hear her enjoying the music on her radio.
I listened as Sophia sprinted up the stairs and into what I could only assume was her room… she was rifling through things on her desk, frantically opening drawers.
As she was doing that, I also made sure to listen for my friend on the roof, my eyes never leaving their reflection as I waited. Which wasn't very long. Sophia came sprinting down the stairs, and jumping off the last two, almost making her glasses fly off.
"Ok," She huffed, holding out a ripped-out bit of notebook paper. "Here"
I gently took it, and in shaky handwriting was her phone number at the top.
"Oh, uh… I don't actually have a phone." I said sheepishly, rubbing the back of my head. Her face instantly fell. "But hey! I have an email! I can't use a cell all the time because I don't really have money, or a signal most of the time, but I can send anyone I want an email every time I visit the library." I explained. I actually did go to the library every single time I visited somewhere new; to, as I said, check my email, but also to grab a dictionary for the local dialect. I had the first one in my pocket - the Italian one, and I was intending on collecting them from all over the world.
"Do you have a pen?" I asked her, holding my hand out for the one she still had in hand. She quickly tossed it to me, grinning. With a bit of practiced elegance, I wrote my email down on the bottom of the page and tore it off for her.
"And just in case I do end up getting a phone someday," I said, waving the piece of paper with her number in the air before carefully folding it and slipping it into my pocket.
"This is perfect, thanks, Beau," she murmured, biting her lip. I could hear her heartbeat quicken just a bit.
"It's my absolute pleasure," I replied cheerfully, slipping my hands back into my pockets.
For a moment, silence settled between us. Then, Sophia suddenly jumped off the top step, throwing her arms around me in a tight hug. I caught her effortlessly and embraced her as gently as I could.
"I'm really going to miss you," she whispered, pulling back slightly. "Please write a lot, okay?"
"I promise," I said, looking at her with mock seriousness. "Every time I go somewhere new, I'll write. And if you need anything, just let me know. I want to hear about your adventures, how college is going, and all the new hobbies you pick up. Don't leave me hanging."
"I promise," she echoed, her voice earnest. "Come visit soon."
As she pulled out of my grasp, I whispered, "I will."
"Bye, Beau," she said, turning to head back to her door, slipping inside and finally into safety.
"Goodbye, Soph."
I really would miss my newest friend. The door clicked softly shut, leaving me standing alone in the warm glow of the street.
I took a steadying breath, then turned and started down the street, walking with a purposeful yet quick pace. I kept my eyes sharp and my ears attuned, knowing that if I lost track of them, I wouldn't be able to tell if they were following me or preparing to bust into Sophia's house.
The rush of relief was almost palpable when I spotted them—still hidden, but clearly pursuing me as they leaped swiftly across the rooftops.
This isn't the first time a vampire's hunted you Beau… be smart… be safe. I heard my angel whisper in my head, as I turned a corner, taking a back alley and cutting into the next street over. I'd try to obey my beauty, but she knew how reckless I could be, especially when it got her talking.
I lost sight of my pursuer as soon as I got a couple blocks away, but that didn't mean I couldn't hear wind-like footfalls still hitting the roofs. They were really freaking fast - I was moving at a human pace, but they just cleared almost a hundred feet in less than a second. If my ears were right about where they were hiding now. About seven houses back.
It would seem that running wasn't gonna be an option, not unless I gave it an all-out sprint to the edge of the city, and lightly risked a human catching sight of me. And that was if I wasn't just faster than them. I'd have to stick to my original plan. The alley I had in mind was only a block away now.
As I went, I couldn't help the annoying gnawing of my memories. This was hitting really close to home.
In the same way, I'd felt running from vampires, especially from Victor when I was human, it was like being exposed in the most vulnerable way. Like I was willingly keeping my back to my potential murderer. It was an unsettling reminder of all the crap I've had to deal with. So, I hoped that whoever this was, would be polite enough to just talk to me, instead of playing creeper in the shadows.
I'd prefer to keep that feeling at bay, so I sped up minutely, hoping it would ease the rush of memories by making me feel like I was doing something more. Which it did partially. It also came with the added benefit of getting to my destination quicker.
The entrance was on the other side of the street, a smaller offshoot of downtown that the locals didn't like very much, according to Sophia. It was a wide alley, with a large wooden double door, meant obviously for trucks to come in and out of.
I sped over, and looked towards both ends of the street… no one was out and about. Which was good. No one would notice the little bit of illegality I was about to commit.
I hoped the owners of this place didn't mind a broken lock too badly.
I crushed it in my hand, getting it untangled from the chain, and into my pocket. As quietly as I could, I opened the door and slid inside, walking about twenty feet, near the back of the place. There was a single lamp hung on the wall above a door, barely illuminating the entirety of the area.
It was perfect.
I casually leaned back against the orange brick wall, and I put my hands in my pockets again, hoping to seem unthreatening to the hopefully, merely curious soul.
I wouldn't consider this safe Beau… you should be ready for a fight. My angel whispered, running her hand down my arm.
I'd much rather it didn't come to that. If this person just wanted to talk, then there was no way I was gonna try and act scary… every time I did, someone always got hurt. Usually the other guy. And then I'd feel horrible.
You should practice pulling your punches more often than love. She laughed. I gave a shrug.
I listened intently for the vampire's footfalls, the ones I knew would come. They had stopped across the street, still perched on the roof, and I figured they were likely waiting for me to leave, move on, or perhaps see if I had any other encounters planned for the night before making their move. The thought that they might be lingering for a while was frustrating—it meant I'd be waiting too.
Waiting was never easy. It left too much room for my mind to wander and conjure the worst possible scenarios, or even worse, to remember all the ones I'd been in. It was especially hard when I lacked distractions to occupy my thoughts.
I briefly considered calling out to them, maybe inviting them to talk or something. They could honestly be after anything. Maybe they were curious - maybe they were lost and needed directions. Heck, they could even be looking to make a friend. It wouldn't be the weirdest way a vampire tried to socialize with me before.
It might have been a bit naive, but I was hopeful. Most of the vampires I'd met so far were major introverts—something I understood since I used to be pretty into solitude myself. Still, it would be nice to come across a few who weren't so quick to be guarded and distant.
Please don't do anything idiotic Beau. My angel whispered. I snorted. When was I not doing something dumb?
As much as I wanted to end the waiting, or get the chance to meet someone new - calling them out might spook them if they were skittish. Though it was still a tempting thought.
Fortunately, I didn't have to make that decision. Because a distraction claimed my attention.
It began as a faint tingling sensation, creeping along my feet and slowly making its way up my body. I looked down, but there was nothing visibly amiss. The sensation intensified, coiling around my head like a fog. It slid over my eyes, my nose, and then my ears, wrapping me in an unsettling, almost ethereal feeling.
But that's all it was… I wasn't sure what it was meant to be, but it didn't have any negative effects beyond making my skin crawl.
I straightened up, pushing off the wall and taking a few careful steps forward, testing my mobility. I glanced down at my hands, flexing my fingers to make sure everything was functioning as it should. Nothing seemed out of place.
I was so absorbed in studying the odd sensation that I didn't realize I'd made a critical mistake. The vampire had vanished from my senses; I had lost track of them entirely. I was an idiot.
And that was when I heard the subtle whoosh of air above me, and felt the lithe body that was suddenly dropping onto my shoulders, sending me crashing to the ground.
I hit the concrete face-first, my arms sprawling out as my attacker pressed a knee into my back.
"Pity. I thought this would be more fun," she murmured, her voice laced with disappointment as her hands closed around my throat. She began pulling, making my whole body arch against her knee.
She was trying to rip me in half!
Thoroughly freaked out, I quickly got my hands underneath me, and shoved, sending us both flying into the wall behind us. Thank god I was a newborn; I don't think I'd have the strength to do that otherwise. The wall cracked on impact, and I heard her let out a hard breath, but her grip on my throat remained unyielding.
Desperately, I grasped her wrists and yanked her hands away from my neck. With a powerful heave, I threw her over my shoulder, sending her hurtling down the alley with a fierce growl.
"You know, it's polite to introduce yourself before trying to kill someone," I said, breathing hard, as unnecessary as it was. And it was true, the majority of my potential killers have all introduced themselves in some fashion before they tried to end me. Joss did, in a way, and Victor made sure I knew who it was trying to put me in the ground. That s.o.b spelled his name out with fire.
And that's not to mention a dozen others that I've tried. The least this one could do was tell me her name.
She hit the ground for barely a second after I threw her, rolling smoothly and springing back to her feet. She regarded me with wary eyes, and I met her gaze with equal suspicion.
She was as pale as I was, but her red eyes and full lips made her stand out. She was shorter than me, about five foot four, and dressed in a dark gray cloak that bordered on black, and lined with red. Beneath the cloak, she wore a simple black dress that gave her an almost Renaissance fair appearance.
She had the faintest look of pleasure gracing her beautiful features like she was enjoying the sudden resistance from her prey. I saw her body tense, and I knew she was gonna be coming at me again. But she paused. I saw her eyes flicking up and down my body, before stopping on my eyes.
Her head tilted slightly as her expression shifted from cautious to one of reluctant realization. "You're not who I'm after. You're one of those… 'vegetarians,'" she said, her tone tinged with distaste. I blinked and reached for the bridge of my nose, only to find my glasses were missing—shattered on the ground.
"Does that mean you're not going to kill me?" I asked, gradually relaxing my stance - if only slightly, as I regretted the broken gift. I mirrored her calm demeanor as she adjusted her cloak, frowning at the unexpected turn of events.
She didn't say anything for a moment, clearly thinking. It looked like she was trying to find a reason to say yes. Her eyes lit up again though, having come to some conclusion.
"Have you broken any laws?" Her voice took a hopeful tinge.
"No," I muttered, confused.
It quickly switched back to disappointment. "Then no."
With that, she turned around and walked out of the alley with her cloak billowing behind her. What the hell?
I quickly trotted after her, "Hey, hold on a sec." She easily ignored me, slipping out of the gate, and back into the night.
"Wait! Are you a cop?" I asked fast, a measure of excitement filling me at the prospect of having some kind of authority figure for my world. She said there were laws, so did that mean we had a government? And police to enforce it?
Not a single one of the other vampires I've met has told me about this! I'd be having some words with my friends when I inevitably got back to them.
She moved with a swift, confident stride across the street, her grace more pronounced than any vampire I'd ever seen before. Which was strange to take in; I'd seen some incredibly graceful vampires, even with my limited experience in our world.
I followed after her as she went into a much smaller alleyway than the one we just left. Within seconds, she was scaling the wall, jumping from one building to the other in a way that didn't look possible.
How could this stranger's movements look so mesmerizing to another vampire? It was like they had an effortless grace that even someone with a similar perspective couldn't ignore.
"Wait! I just have a couple of questions." I said, trying my best to imitate her. I ran, planted my foot on the wall, and used it as a springboard to catch a windowsill. I had to grunt though, as I planted my foot again, and pushed off once more.
My eyes widened as I realized I hadn't quite calculated my second jump correctly. I barely managed to grab onto the next window, letting out a surprised yelp as I struggled to hold on. I shook my head with disbelief at myself now.
I don't think I'd ever not be clumsy, even with my supernatural advantages.
I heard a soft laugh from above.
Looking up, she was watching from the opposite roof. I felt a smidge of embarrassment. This felt like when I was human and horribly uncoordinated. And it only affirmed my suspicions that I was a graceless idiot.
Was I uncoordinated still? Like just on a vampire level? With my luck that was probably true.
I quickly jumped the last bit, pulling myself onto the roof where I thought she'd been waiting. Instead, I saw her darting away, effortlessly hopping from building to building.
"Come on," I muttered, pursuing her as her laughter floated back to me, light and taunting.
For the next half hour, I dashed across rooftops and alleyways, the rhythm of our chase punctuated by her echoing, playful laugh. It quickly became clear that she was merely toying with me, enjoying our game.
To my surprise, I found myself enjoying it as well. Normally, I approached pursuits with careful stealth, but this—this was exhilarating. The freedom of leaping and bounding, the thrill of the hunt, and the sheer joy of playing tag with someone so effortlessly graceful—it was an unexpected delight. Which was strange, considering that she'd wanted to kill me, not even an hour ago.
But on the other hand, it was a bit irritating, because I was usually faster than most. Being a newborn meant I would have the advantage in most physical confrontations, but she was just so… tricky. I'd think I'd have her, and then she'd suddenly be a block away, taunting me with her laughter.
But this time, as I sprinted through yet another narrow alley with her darting above me, expertly weaving through the rooftops and evading the scattered debris, I spotted a junction where she'd have to either descend or turn back. I really hoped she wouldn't choose the latter.
I kept my eyes locked on the intersection, my heart pounding with anticipation.
And then it happened—she made her choice. With a fluid motion, she leaped effortlessly from the rooftop, landing gracefully just yards ahead of me.
In the single moment that she'd taken to push off the ground again to keep the chase going, I'd managed to get my hand around her arm, stopping her in place.
We both stood frozen. She seemed surprised that I'd managed to actually grab her, but it didn't make that excited smile fall off of her lips. I mirrored her expression, but I was at a loss for words. What do you say to someone who just tried to murder you, and then proceeded to play a game with you?
Fortunately, she broke the silence.
"It seems you've caught me," she said with a laugh, glancing at the hand still holding her and then meeting my gaze. "I wasn't expecting that."
"Sorry," I said with an awkward smile.
"Hhm? What for?" she asked, her tone genuinely curious.
"I uh… don't know," I admitted with a sheepish laugh, trying to calm down after the chase. A quick moment's thought later, I shook my head and added, "Actually, I do. I'm sorry - I was rude back there when you were trying to take my head off. I never got to introduce myself."
I paused, while she softly laughed. She looked at me with an expectant expression, so I continued, "My name's Beau."
She gave a hum, "It's nice to meet you, Beau. My name is Alexandra, but please, call me Alex. And I believe I owe you an apology as well. I'm sorry for 'almost taking your head off.'" She said with a touch of amused sarcasm.
"No harm done… sorry for throwing you."
Her eyes, still glowing with an unsettling excitement, surveyed me with a touch of curiosity, as if trying to decide if I was worth her time. The subtle grace of her movements was interrupted only by a slight, almost imperceptible twitch of her lips—a hint of a smirk or perhaps a grimace.
"I think I'm done with accepting apologies tonight - two seems to be my limit… but if you'd be so kind as to release me."
In a flash, I took my hand off of her.
"Thank you." She said politely, running her hand along her top, getting rid of a few wrinkles.
"Now, I believe you said you had some questions for me," she began, her voice holding a tone of reluctant concession. "Seeing as I did almost cause harm to an innocent… and considering you managed to win our little game,"—she gave a small, almost imperceptible nod of acknowledgment—"I'll deign to answer a few. But let's not waste time." She gestured toward a quieter part of the city, where the ambient noise of the nightlife seemed to fade into a more subdued murmur.
"Right-" I barely got out before she held a hand up.
"I do expect that you will answer some of my questions as well, yes?"
We walked out of the alley, and around the corner, going down the deserted sidewalk together. I quickly nodded. "Yeah, ask whatever you want. I'm an open book."
"Does that mean I can ask you a question first?" She teased, clasping her hands behind her back.
"Sure," I said simply, eager to hear what she'd want to know about me.
"Thank you." She said, pleasantly surprised that I agreed. I guess I'd looked a bit desperate for answers, chasing after her as I did. "How were you able to block me?"
I must have looked confused because she quickly elaborated. "Back in the alley, when I'd first made your acquaintance… I tried using my ability on you, but you were somehow able to stop me. How?"
It took me a second before it clicked."Oh! That weird sensation—like something cold wrapping around me. That was you?"
She gave a nod. "I'm able to block the senses of anyone I wish. I could make you blind, or deaf, or take your sense of smell, touch, or taste."
She held up her hand, and moved her fingers in a graceful arch, materializing a stream of black smoke between them.
"I didn't see that on me in the alley?" I questioned quietly.
She moved her fingers a little faster, and slowly, the smoke began to vanish… but her hand kept moving. "I've practiced in many ways to control my ability. The black smoke that it used to produce is no longer required."
My face lit up. "Can you turn it into different colors?" I asked like a kid.
She huffed a laugh but shook her head. "I think it's your turn to answer a question."
"Ah, well, I have a talent of my own," I said with a slight chuckle, nudging a pebble off the sidewalk and watching it skitter down the street. "It's not nearly as glamorous as yours, though. I can essentially block other people's abilities."
"It may not sound glamorous, but that's incredibly useful."
"Oh, it's definitely come in handy. Saved me from more than a few tight spots," I said with a modest shrug. "It's not flashy, but it gets the job done."
"I imagine so." She whispered appreciatively.
I tilted my head in acknowledgment and moved on to the more pressing question I had. "So, you said you were only gonna kill me if I broke the law…"
She smiled teasingly. "I didn't say that."
"True," I said with a smile, my tone light but edged with curiosity. There was a lingering possibility she might decide to come after me again, but I doubted it. She seemed more like someone who stayed in the shadows, and hopefully, I was coming across as intriguing rather than bothersome with my questions.
"Well, you mentioned laws and hinted that there might be consequences if they were broken," I continued, watching her carefully. "So, does that mean you're the one who enforces them? Are you some kind of vampire cop?"
She tried to not let her smile grow too big with that particular title. I could see her shoulders shaking lightly.
"Yes. I am a… vampire cop." She answered.
"Sorry." I laughed.
"Oh no, no worries," she echoed me. "My brother would love that title." She said with mirth.
"You have a brother?" I asked rhetorically. "Is he a vampire cop too?" I lightly teased.
"Mmhmm. We are both members of the Volturi Guard."
"The Volturi?" I asked slowly like I was trying out the word.
Alex didn't answer right away. Instead, she gave me a contemplative look, her red eyes narrowing slightly. "How old are you, Beau?" she asked, her tone surprisingly curious, as if she were genuinely interested.
"Nineteen."
"And how long have you been a vampire?" She continued.
"About a year now," I answered with a sigh, smiling with my own mirth. The beginning of last month had been my first anniversary since I'd died in fact.
"You're a newborn?" She asked with shock, her lips parting with surprise. "But I saw you with your human pet." She accused.
I pressed my lips together with a smile, and I tapped my head with a finger. "Another perk of my ability - at least in theory. I don't lose my mind when I'm thirsty. I mean, I still feel the burn of course, but, it's like I don't need to quench it. Not unless it's really bad."
Her full lips remained parted, but now the expression was one of envy. "Now that would be quite the useful gift," she murmured, her voice tinged with a wistful want.
She quickly shook herself out of her reverie though, and continued on. "So, no one's explained to you about our world then? Your creator didn't tell you the rules?"
I let out a single, bitter laugh. "No, my creator didn't tell me anything."
She raised an eyebrow, clearly taken aback. "What do you mean?"
I sighed, feeling the weight of the past pressing down on me. "I was abandoned... I guess you could say."
Her eyes narrowed with what I could only guess was irritation. "Your creator abandoned you? That's a death sentence. Newborns are supposed to be under their creator's guidance. It's not just a responsibility; it's a necessity."
"Well, good, because they got 'sentenced' pretty quick because of it… among other things." Give or take a few months on the definition of quick.
She took a moment to absorb this, her expression shifting to something more complex. "You do mean they're dead?" she asked finally.
I nodded.
"Good," she said, a touch of satisfaction in her voice.
"Very, very good," I said with equal satisfaction, making her laugh again.
"I suppose I should explain then, what they refused to. The Volturi are our world's royalty - the ruling class."
For some reason that seemed vaguely familiar to me. I couldn't place where, but it was as if I'd heard those exact words before. It didn't matter though, so I tried to pay attention.
"We enforce the laws among our kind," she explained, her tone steady. "We ensure that no one gets too out of control and that our existence remains concealed from humans. It's a matter of maintaining balance and secrecy."
"And that's what you're doing in Italy right? You said you were hunting someone?"
"Indeed. I'm hunting a maverick who's been feeding with too much mess. They've left countless bodies all over Venice, and Milan. A few of our trackers informed me that he would be visiting Florence soon." She explained proudly.
I felt a small stirring of eagerness suddenly pushing up into my chest. This sounded exactly like what I used to do, back when I was a cop.
"You wouldn't… you wouldn't possibly need any help with that search would you?" I asked with the slightest trepidation, trying to keep my excitement out of my voice, but utterly failing.
When I was a human, when my angel left me, I'd been nothing but a walking corpse. But I grew to have hobbies that distracted me easily enough. Being a cop was a really good one.
An intern at the station, my sweet boy, I heard my angel laugh softly in my ear. Intern, detective, same thing really, and Charlie never minded the late nights I'd stay up, trying to solve the various crimes around Washington. Though of course, he never let me leave Forks, he was always willing to lend me case files to browse for fun.
Alex perked up at the offer, "You'd be willing to help me? Why?"
"Firstly, you're good company," I said, giving a slight smile. "And secondly, I've got this feeling you don't get to socialize much outside the Volturi." She gave a small, reluctant shrug in response.
"And lastly," I said, trying to steady my voice, "back when I was still human—and even in those early days after I turned—I was a… well I worked as a police officer, so I know a thing or two about finding suspects." The minor cop lingo I'd picked up from the few shows I watched came back easily. Actual police officers - at least the ones from Forks, didn't usually talk in very formal ways.
I watched as she contemplated silently, her face set in stone as she thought of what I could only imagine being the pros and cons of keeping a klutz like me around.
"Well… I enjoy your company as well," She said, tucking a stray hair behind her ear. "And I do think it would be beneficial if I was able to retain it for a little while longer. Florence is a massive city after all, and patrolling it is going to be boring without someone to talk to."
"Is that a yes?"
"Yes." She said happily. We had a pair of matching grins as we continued walking the streets.
I think I'd officially just made a new friend. As creepy as she could be sometimes, and as strangely distant at moments, I was very glad to have met someone new.
We talked about everything, for hours, as we walked up and down the city. It started with an explanation of what the plan was to find our rogue, and she gave a simple explanation.
"My target… our target, rather, is a particularly savage individual. But other than that - and knowing that they are somewhere in the city. We don't have anything to go on. I'm not much of a tracker myself, so the plan is going to be simply patrolling, and waiting for the fool to make a mistake. As is what they did, in the other four instances in the other cities. It's how I stumbled upon you, mistaking you for them. I thought instead of a savage idiot, you were a savage psychotic, luring that poor human into a friendship; intending on ending her in a much too cruel way."
She explained it in the same way someone would talk about the weather. Like it was a casual fact on how she thought I was murdering psycho. Frankly, I wasn't offended at all.
I asked her questions about her life, about her brother, her hobbies, and everything in between. And though, as she says, she's hundreds of years old, she couldn't really tell me anything beyond her coven, and the responsibilities that she was bound to.
She and her brother had apparently been coveted by the leaders of the Volturi. Saying that they were chosen as kids, and favored by them. When they became old enough, they were changed, and taken in.
It seemed like she was kinda stuck with only doing her job for the past couple of centuries, doing good work, and keeping people safe… but leaving very little room for exploration, and fun.
What I found ironic to realize, is that I felt bad for her. Me, the king of wallowing and sulking, when I was alone felt as though someone else should try and have more of a life.
To be fair Beau, you did go out on your own, exploring the world… traveling… you found a life for yourself, my angel had whispered to me when I had the thought. I wouldn't necessarily disagree with that as a fact, but it didn't dissuade me from being a mopy loser most of the time. A day didn't go by where I didn't reminisce on the beauty of my angel.
We eventually got to talking about our origins. On how we came to be. And it was a lot of fun to hear how my new friend came about.
Alex told me more about how she had a mother in Sulpicia, the head of their coven. She and her brother are loyal to her above all else. That she was the one that taught them how to be the best possible immortals that they could be.
She sounded like an amazing mother, hearing about the many lessons she'd taught them… some of which I would remember in particular for when I needed some vampiric guidance.
It made me jealous. And she picked up on that eventually as we walked. She asked about my life.
And I told her what I could, without incriminating the family that left me behind. It probably wouldn't be a good idea to tell a cop how they'd exposed the vampires to some stupid human boy. So, I instead focused on my whole painful journey after they left. Of the dangers I went through, and the constant barrage of enemies.
She seemed just as fascinated by my story, as I was with hers. But eventually, we ran out of topics about ourselves that we'd like to share. It would seem we'd have to become closer friends before we could trust each other more.
Luckily, she was a much better conversationalist than I was, and seamlessly moved on, deciding to ask me why I was a vegetarian and why even with that, would I willingly hang out with humans, with people like Sophia?
"I like making friends, and Sophia is a good one," I said, shoving my hands into my pockets. "As for why I'm a vegetarian… I believe that all life is precious." I spoke simply, mirroring the beliefs of a very good woman.
"Is a vampire's life not worth more than their food though?" She asked, trying not to be offensive, I could tell. "Do humans respect their food in the same manner you do?"
"Humans are sentient beings," I replied. "And any one of them could become one of us. It's not about valuing one life over another - which I don't, but recognizing that every life has the potential for something more is important."
It took a couple more hours of going back and forth, debating the morals and philosophy of existence, which was amazing fun. None of the other vampires I knew would really get this deep into a conversation with me about it. But I did, eventually, get her to see my side of things a little more.
I don't even know how I did it. She just agreed that I was right on some points, and then let the conversation fall into a new topic, exploring more aspects of each other.
It was in the early hours of the morning when we finally got our break. A scent, oddly pleasant yet tinged with something foul, drifted through the cool air. Without hesitation, Alex sprang into action, darting off with the precision of a predator. I was right on her heels, praying that I could keep up with her.
It was about three miles away, and as we got closer, the scent grew stronger. Leading us to the very edge of the city. She led me up to the rooftops and made sure I stayed in the shadows with her, giving me a silent crash course on stealth when hunting vampires.
"There," I said softly, barely above a whisper. I pointed discreetly to the sewer grate in the middle of the street. The heavy black lid was slowly being lifted, revealing the shadowy figure emerging from below.
"Good catch," she whispered back, her grin wide with excitement. A new game had begun for her, and I was eager to join in. "Come on," she beckoned, her voice a low purr as she slipped onto the rooftops. She moved with fluid grace, tracking our quarry through the maze of back alleys below.
I was incredibly careful to follow her lead, staying behind her as we observed him. He was a raggedy-looking thing, with a ripped-up hoodie that was absolutely covered in blood and grime - he had the hood of it covering his head. The gross smell that we used to track him, must have been the sewer as well, thinking about it.
It made me feel bad for the guy.
My partner though, didn't seem to care, because as soon as we were above him, she dropped down, in the exact same way she'd done to me, she landed on his shoulder and knocked him to the ground. Keeping her knee firmly on his back.
I quickly dropped down the building as well, landing on the stone brick below with barely a sound.
"P-please! I'm sorry! Please!" A young panicked voice begged, thrashing beneath Alex, trying to find some kind of grip to escape. It seemed my partner learned from her mistake though when she'd tried this on me, and refused to let him do so.
Alex's fingers flashed out and gripped their neck. "No! No! Please!" The poor thing sobbed.
That was when I walked over, and gently placed a hand on her shoulder. Alex froze, not moving from her position, but continuing with her execution.
"Did you need something, Beau?" She asked politely, not taking her eyes off of her prey. It unnerved me just a smidge seeing the look that was in her eyes. The eager anticipation of ending a life.
It went against everything I believed in, particularly in this case, because I noticed a couple of things about our suspect. He was small, only about five foot, and that voice he was using to beg for his life was, as I said, young.
"Are you sure this is the guy?" I asked softly.
I knew it was a dumb question, the blood covering him had all come from different people. And no vampire would keep themselves in this much of a mess.
"Positive. You were a fluke when I'd mistaken this one for you, I am very sure," she said cheerfully before she started pulling again, making him scream. I squeezed her shoulder once, and she stopped, letting out a frustrated huff.
"Beau, I'm trying to work." She said, making sure her thrashing victim wasn't going anywhere.
"I know, but… I just noticed a little something." I said, smiling at her softly, hoping she'd be patient with me. She grimaced but nodded, assented to whatever I wanted to point out.
"Thank you," I whispered. As a side note, I did notice that saying that made her eyes light up. I guess she didn't get many notes of thanks.
Alex took her hands off his neck, and instead grabbed him by the arms, forcing him to be still. I took a step and kneeled down next to him, gently, I pulled back his hood.
"Oh Alex," I sighed, shaking my head. "It's just a kid."
It was. This boy couldn't be more than fourteen, or fifteen years old. He was looking at me with wide, scared eyes, and I instantly felt the pity from before, compounding into unending sympathy.
And I knew that must have been his actual age because I have seen many, many scared kids in my short lifetime. And as a vampire, I could remember each and every one of them. The boy here was looking at me with the exact same eyes they had.
"Hello," I said softly to him. "I'm Beau… what's your name?"
He was still whimpering, and shaking like a leaf from fear, but bravely, he whispered, "R-Riccardo."
"Hi, Riccardo," I said, patting his shoulder in as friendly a manner as possible. It still made him flinch though. "Tell me… where you the one that uh… that ended those people in Milan… and in Turin, and Rome?"
He let out another pathetic whimper. "I… I swear, I didn't want to! I was just! I just…" He tried to get out.
"And who created you?" I asked softly, interrupting him, though I quickly amended, just in case he didn't realize what I was talking about. "Who bit you?"
"I don't know." He sobbed, "I was just with… I was with my friends, and… and something attacked me -"
So there was a vampire out there who went out to hunt, stumbled upon this boy, and bit him. Whether it was due to cruelty, or some unknown factor, this boy was abandoned by his creator. And as I've recently learned, that's not meant to happen.
"It's okay," I whispered back to him. "Give me one sec," I muttered, turning to my partner.
Who was giving me the most deadpanned look I'd ever seen.
"So…" I got out.
"He broke the law." She said mutely.
"He did. But just like me, he didn't know there was such a thing." I gave her a pleading look with my smile ever present.
"It doesn't matter. The Volturi do not give second chances."
I raised my hands peacefully, shooting out quickly. "But isn't there a difference between throwing your one chance away, and having no chance to begin with?"
Her eyes narrowed.
"I mean, you…" I was about to say kill but thought better of it. The kid was somehow shaking even worse than he had been a second ago. "You end anyone who breaks the law so that they don't reveal themselves to the humans?" I asked rhetorically.
"Yes." She said without patience. The bloodlust in her eyes was growing worse.
"So, if the main concern is ensuring that he doesn't go around showing off how he's a vampire or make a mess of things as he has been by accident, would the Volturi be open to considering an alternative solution that could achieve the same result?" I tried really hard to sound smart right then, praying that this works. I wouldn't be able to stop her if she decided to kill him.
She didn't say anything, but there was a low hiss coming from her as she looked at me.
"What kind of solution?" She finally asked.
"I'll take him," I said quickly, striking while the iron is hot, and she's actually considering my ideas. "I'll make sure he doesn't do anything dumb."
But she shook her head, her shoulders relaxing slightly as if a burden had been lifted. "I'm afraid not, Beau. While your self-control is impressive, you're still a newborn. I can't allow you to handle him under those conditions. And Sulpicia would agree."
Her hands started inching towards the boy's neck again.
"Perfectly reasonable!" I said fast, with a strained laugh, "I of course couldn't do it permanently… but what if I was just taking him somewhere, to someone that could? That wasn't a newborn?"
She had said I had an impressive amount of control, but with the way, she forced her hands away from the teen… that must have been hard with the begging homicide in her eyes.
"What do you mean?" She asked with strain.
"I have a couple of friends back in America, and they would gladly take him in. All I would need to do is get him there… please."
She let out a growl. "Justice is blind Beau… it only cares about making sure the guilty party is punished."
"Justice is blind, not heartless." I countered, kneeling back down next to them, to look her in the eye.
"Besides, it's not like he'll exactly be opposed to this arrangement," I said, gesturing toward the kid. "It's a win-win situation. He gets to join a coven that will help him navigate his new life, and you get to ensure justice is served in the best way possible. You can save a life."
She scoffed… but I could see my words were working on her. "And what would you get in this win-win situation?" She asked mockingly.
I grinned. "Tonight, I get to make two friends, instead of just one."
She rolled her eyes. "You still can't handle him, even if it is only for a couple of days… it would take you only a couple of days to get him to these friends of yours right?" She asked, her eyes suddenly narrowing.
"Yup. They are in America, but I have a ticket back… in just a couple of hours actually." I said checking my little digital watch. "It'll take me two days, tops to get there."
"You still won't be able to handle him." She muttered. It made me feel nice hearing a smidge of concern in her voice now. I could pretend it was a concern for me. I hoped it was.
"I was able to take you on pretty well."
And that was the end of her resistance. We both knelt there, our gazes locked in a silent, intense exchange as she weighed her options - trying to find a good reason to kill him.
Finally, with a growl of resignation, she pushed the boy down and stood up, conceding to the compromise.
"Thank you," I breathed, as the kid scrambled up, and scooted back to the alley's wall, staring at the both of us like a frightened animal.
"He is your responsibility Beau… if he continues as he has been, then it will be on your head." She warned me, putting her hands behind her back and giving me a grim look. "It will be you that I will have to hunt next."
"Don't worry, I have some experience with this kind of thing… it'll be okay," I said with a grin, seeing that behind that ominous warning was genuine concern for me. I was sure of it now.
She turned to the teenager, her eyes narrowing with steely resolve. "You," she snapped, grabbing his attention immediately. "My friend is taking quite a significant risk on your behalf." My unbeaten heart warmed at her referring to me as such. "If you take this for granted, you'll have far more to worry about than just death. I assure you."
He quickly nodded, his eyes wide.
Slowly, she turned her gaze back to me. "Well," she whispered, her voice carrying a hint of finality, "it seems my time here is done."'
After a brief pause, she looked back at me, her gaze steady but tinged with melancholy. "You can join me if you like," she said softly, nodding toward Riccardo. "Once you've finished here. With your ability, you'd be a remarkable addition to the guard. You'd be welcomed with open arms." Despite her attempt to maintain composure, the hint of sorrow in her voice betrayed her true feelings.
I knew, just like me, that she didn't often get the chance to make many friends. I understood what it was like to leave them behind. And while I'd love to join her and dive into that world of law enforcement again, there was still so much of the world I wanted to explore. So many places left to see, and distractions to chase.
"Well, I appreciate the offer, but I'm not looking for a job right now," I said, watching as her face fell. "But if you think it'd be okay, I'd love to visit you."
Her expression immediately brightened, and a genuine smile spread across her face. "That would be lovely," she said, her voice warming with a hint of relief. "The Volturi are based in Volterra. It's just a few miles southwest from here," she said, gesturing vaguely in the direction of her home. "I'll be eagerly awaiting your visit, Beau. Please, don't keep me waiting too long." Her eyes sparkled with a mix of hope and gratitude, betraying the vulnerability she tried to hide.
"Absolutely not! I'll be there within the month," I said firmly, reaching into my pocket. I pulled out the paper with Sophia's number and tore off a piece. Scribbling my email on it, I handed it to her with a grin. "If you get bored, or if you just want to talk—or if you think I'm taking too long to visit—just shoot me a message."
She took it smoothly, slipping it into her own pocket.
"Then I shall see you soon, Beau," she said, her smile warm yet tinged with a subtle sadness that she tried to mask.
"You will," I promised, my own smile firm and hopeful.
With that, she turned and moved with effortless grace, scaling the walls and disappearing onto the rooftops, heading back to her home.
I turned to my newest responsibility and held out a hand. "Come on, I got a promise to keep… a couple of them actually, so we need to hurry."
The boy watched me with a wary expression, but after a moment of hesitation, he tentatively reached out and took my hand. I helped him up, the gesture gentle and reassuring.
"W-why are you helping me?" he asked, his voice tinged with both confusion and curiosity.
"Because I can," I replied with a shrug, offering a reassuring smile. "Now, how do you feel about Denali?" I continued, guiding him out of the alley and heading toward the train station.
Hello, again gang,
Writing this was... an enlightening experience. In multiple ways. All of which were good.
For this chapter - possibly, only this chapter, I wrote in a lot more flowery of a way. I wanted to see how it would look if I tried my hand at imitating Stephanie Myer. I think it turned out all right, writing-wise.
But after I finished, I did feel like it was a wee bit rushed. Like if I hadn't given myself the deadline of three days, or if I consolidated my plot a little more, it would have flown better.
But it was really, really great getting to write Beau when he's having a bit more fun with life and just trying to live it.
And getting to write some new characters, like Alex - who was the equivalent of Alec in the original series. And Sophia, who was an approximation of looking at Beau through human eyes while he is in a more stable place in his life.
It was all a lot of fun! And it was great getting to push my limits as a writer, and figuring out what I could really do!
Please let me know what you think about it. I'm going to take a nap, and then get to work on the Norway chapter!
Please do check out my profile for more Distractions!