The Art of Darkness (Part 16)
"The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why." -Mark Twain
Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7 Part 8 Part 9 Part 10 Part 11 Part 12 Part 13 Part 14 Part 15
Previously on The Art of Darkness:
Amber suffers a dangerous injury so severe her very life is on the line, forcing Morvinus to take drastic action. After a tense few days, she awakens renewed, her wounds healed. But there's an unexpected side effect and she fears that her vampire traits are starting to make themselves known.
Part 16
I took a deep breath as I came into the library, my nerves on an anxious prattle. I knew what needed to be said, but I couldn’t bring myself to find the right words. There was anger, sure. But for the moment, it took a backseat to the anxiety of my ever growing concern.
“Lord Cawston?”
It was brighter than usual, almost bright enough for me to squint. And a strange smell hung in the air, a dampness I hadn't noticed before. It was the faint thumping sound that gave him away. For indeed there was someone seated there, though it was not at all who I expected.
“Hi Amber,” he waved half-heartedly.
“Freddy? What- How-“
“Why?” He said, giggling nervously. When no one else laughed, he swallowed what little gumption must have remained before straightening his face and clearing his throat.
He looked frazzled, more so than usual, and his clothes were nearly in tatters. He held a tension in his limbs, as though he were afraid to move or even breathe. He feverishly wiped his hands on his trousers.
“What are you doing here?”
“I asked him to come,” Lord Cawston’s heavy voice echoed from across the room.
“Asked me? I’m pretty sure it’s called kidnapping.”
Lord Cawston stepped out of the shadows, his hair disheveled, eyes sunken much like Morvinus. There was an edge to his tone, and I could sense there stood a fire behind all that fatigue. An anger he didn't speak of. “I do not surmise that applies if one is already trespassing on private land.”
“Freddy, you didn't.”
His expression skewed.
“How did you even know I was here?”
“I was at my part time gig, you know, at the hospital. I found out your father had been brought in and I wanted to ask him if he had any contact with you. I passed him in the hallway and he said I had just missed you. I tried rushing after you but when I got to the lobby, you and Mr. Andonov were already in the parking lot. I saw the fight, which was awesome, by the way. I mean, the way Mr Andonov-“
“Freddy,” I interrupted.
He glanced at me, “Sorry. Anyway, I called 9-1-1, but by the time I looked up again, your car was peeling out, so I took down the plate and traced it here. The guard at the gate was no help so I thought I might try my luck at jumping the fence. I didn't realize there was electrified wire at the top. Singed my fingertips and everything before I fell.”
“You are very lucky the power has been fluctuating of late. Otherwise you might be dead,” Lord Cawston scolded.
“Oh Freddy, are you all right?”
He pressed his darkened fingertips together, squeezing his fist in and out. “I think so.”
I came closer, seating myself next to him on the small sofa, reaching my hand for him. He retreated, squishing against the tufted corner, almost as if he were afraid of me. I felt my stomach sink.
“Freddy?”
He looked at me, his face growing even more grim, a sadness about his expression I had never seen before.
“What's going on?”
“Um, I had more time to analyze those blood samples you gave me.”
“Oh? To be honest, I completely forgot about that. What did you find out?”
“Well, going through the genomes, I noticed something interesting. I mean it was all fascinating. But Mr. Andonov's sample had far more in common with human DNA than I ever would have expected. It really is incredible. Like, the coolest I've ever seen. Do you realize-”
“Freddy, you're rambling again.”
He chuckled, “Oh, sorry. What I mean to say is, if my theory is correct, vampires aren't some supernatural being or even alien to this planet.”
“Then what are they?”
“They're human. Or at least, they were.”
It was then I remembered something. A line from one of Dr. Bachmann's journals. “‘vampires and humans were one once.’ He knew.” I didn't realize I had said it out loud until I looked again at Freddy's confused expression. “It's a long story. So, what does that make them? A mutation?”
“I don't think so. Mutations have a certain tell about them, a marker that looks to be malfunctioning. No, this seems to be intentional. If I didn’t know any better I would say it looks more like evolution.
Look, every animal on Earth has a predator, save for one: humans. Aside from us killing each other, we’ve been sitting pretty at the top of the food chain for a long time. But what if vampires are meant to be our natural predator? Now, obviously there are evolutionary differences, the need for our blood, the longer lifespans, the toughened skin, the heightened eyesight and hearing, and the fangs, of course. It all makes sense when you think about it.
But it does come with downsides. Though their skin is thicker, it's less resistant to ultraviolet light, making them more vulnerable to sun sickness. And procreation, for example, may be a sticking point, at least across species lines, though I haven't quite worked all that out yet.”
“But then how do you explain me? My mother was a vampire, my father a human. And yet, here I am. According to you, a hybrid of both.”
“No, I don't think so.” He turned to me, more fully this time, letting out a heavy breath. “You aren't merely a hybrid. It appeared that way at first, but when I looked further into your sample, there were differences I couldn't account for.”
“What do you mean? What am I if I'm not a hybrid?” The word itself made my stomach lurch. Just the thought of calling myself something other than vampire or human felt unnatural.
“You have traits that don't show up in either. Completely new. I can't say whether this means you are another evolution or if it's merely a mutation, It's too early to tell. The fact remains, you are something none of us have ever seen before.”
“So what you're saying is…I'm alone.” And there it was. Like a stab to the heart. If dealing with the fact that I was a hybrid wasn't enough, now I was stuck, not knowing where I belonged or if there was anywhere for me to belong. I didn't know what to make of it. “I think I like the idea of an alien better,” I blurted, sinking further into my seat.
His anxiety hung, as though there was something else he wasn't saying. “Is that really what you came to tell me?”
“Not everything, no. It's about Dr. Isaacs.”
I tensed. “What? What about Dr. Isaacs? Is he all right?”
“Amber, I'm sorry to have to tell you this. Dr. Isaacs is dead.”
“What? When?”
“About a week ago.”
I could feel the tears beginning to well up in my eyes, and I froze. “How?”
“Murdered, at home.”
“Oh God. Irene and the kids?”
“They're okay. Thankfully, they were staying with some relatives when it happened. Amber, the police won't say anything but there are rumors that he had mixed himself up with a bad crowd.”
“Dr. Isaacs? That's nonsense.”
“I know. That's what I said. Still, some things don't make sense. His family hardly ever travels anywhere except during the holidays. And yet, they just happened to be out of town staying with relatives at the time? Without Dr. Isaacs? And, you know he took the last few days off work. I don't know, it's all so unsettling.”
“Yeah, you're telling me. Thank you, Freddy, for letting me know.”
“I know you and he were close, so.”
“Yeah.”
“Look, regardless of any of this, whatever you are, you're still Amber. Remember that. And you still have a friend.” He reached his hand out, grasping mine briefly before snapping it back in shock. “Oh.”
“What is it?”
“You're so…cold.”
He extended his hand again, a mark of curiosity now spreading across his face as he touched my fingers, turning my palm over in his. Despite his statement, on the contrary, to me he felt warm, unseasonably warm, layered with fresh sweat.
Looking to his face, I was hit with a number of waves all at once, each screaming louder than the last. Suddenly, I could sense his nerves. His heart beat rose and fell with each breath, every note a deafening sound in my ears. The vein in his neck throbbed and pulsed, a beacon in my sight. And then, there was the smell. A sweet scent that had left its taste lingering on my tongue. Another rise began and I yanked my hand away, backing off of the sofa.
“I think you should go, Freddy.”
“Amber, did I-”
“No. But, I don't think it's safe for you here anymore.”
“Analise, are you all right?” Lord Cawston's expression turned worrisome.
I brushed past him, sprinting back down the corridor towards my room. Slamming the door behind me, I threw my back against it, shutting my eyes, trying desperately to calm this monster. I trembled. My breath came in too fast for me to catch it. My stomach lurched again, and I ran to the bathroom, heaving everything that was left in my stomach into the toilet bowl in front of me.
It wasn't long before a knock came, “Amber, are you all right? Lord Cawston said you ran off in a hurry.” Morvinus edged his way through the door carefully, coming to his knees beside me on the bathroom floor. “Amber?”
Once the violent overthrow had ceased, I pulled my head away from the toilet seat, leaning against the cool tile wall.
“I can't do this, Morvinus. I can't stomach this.”
“Amber, everything is all right. We do not even know if this is permanent.”
“And what if it is?” The outflow of tears couldn't be stopped. Not this time.
Morvinus pulled me into his embrace, and I curled up, trying to make myself as small as possible. Being here next to him felt soothing, a lull of warm skin and calm breathing. It was then I realized something. Warm. He was warm. Not tepid like Freddy, but the usual frost that I had become accustomed to nuzzling up against, was gone.
Peeling myself back a bit to look at him, he stretched a meek, tilted smile, his hand gracing my damp cheekbone.
“Would it help to say you are still beautiful?”
I grinned, feeling the familiar rush to my face.
He sighed, kissing my lips. Long and slow, we savored it. Funny enough I felt more out of sorts here than I ever had with him. Even more so than our first meeting. He was my comfort, my stable force in all the chaos, but I had changed so much, discovered so much, it was difficult to see how to bring it all back together. Like too many holes in the hull of a boat, with every one I plugged, another came about.
I clung to him, my hands grasping at his shirt, pulling him close to me. He didn't fuss, just sat with me cradled in his lap until the tears had stopped. Even then, I was hesitant to let him go.
“Amber,” hesitation seeped in through his tone, “there is something I need to discuss with you.”
“Hmm?”
“We have had word from the council.”
“Oh.”
“Lady Umbria has procured us a private audience with the emperor and the high council members of the Curiae. A chance for a more formal demonstration.”
“When?”
“In one week.”
“And what if my problem doesn't go away by then? How can I-”
He gripped my face between his hands, “Look at me. We can and we will achieve our goal. I have faith in you, in us. In the meantime we will approach your condition with the utmost caution. If need be, I can teach you more of our practices. I would also say it might be wise to keep this between us for now.”
I nodded.
He leaned down to kiss me again. And this time, we held.
Another thumping came to the door, along with Lord Cawston's timid voice, barely audible. “Analise, are you all right? Oh.” There was an awkward moment as Lord Cawston eased open the door and found Morvinus in the room with me.
“I had best be going,” Morvinus said, slinking away.
I tugged on his hand, “No. Stay. Please?”
“Look, Lord Cawston, I'm not angry for what you did to me.”
“Amber, you almost died,” Morinus interjected.
I held up my hand and he scoffed, turning his back.
“Oh Analise, my precious child, I- I do not deserve forgiveness.”
“Yet it's mine to give.”
“I have no words to express my regrets. I fear I can not take back what I have done.” He came to me, taking my hands in his, kissing them lightly.
“I can forgive you, I have. But there's something you must understand. The Analise you knew is gone. I can not get her back. To me, I am still Amber Hollings, whoever, whatever that means. Regardless, I am grown. Which means I get to make my own choices in where I go, whom I see, and whom I love. Morvinus has been by my side since the beginning, protecting me when he couldn't even explain why. He would never hurt me intentionally and I trust him with my life. Which he's saved more than once.”
Morvinus looked at me, his face going soft. Reaching out, he put a hand on my waist. Lord Cawston released my hands as I sidestepped into Morvinus’ arms. “So, while I would love to have your blessing on our relationship, I am not waiting for your permission to love this man. It's too late for that.”
He sighed, glancing at Morvinus and myself enveloped together. “You are right. I can not stop you. And yes, I see the love in your eyes, as I did your mother when she told me of her affection for your father. I will admit I was hesitant then as well. I simply do not wish for you to suffer the way she did. Persecuted for her love, thrown from her home and her family, into hiding and exile like me. It is not a life I would wish on my worst enemy.
But I also realized if their love had not come to fruition, you also would not exist. So, if this is the road you have chosen, I suppose all I can do is accept, and offer my blessing. I must insist, however, that you refrain from sordid business, at least inside these walls. However modern this era may be, I am a gentleman of old, and a lady's honor must be protected.” He chuckled a little. “Oh Analise, how I wish your mother could see you. What a proud beacon you have become.”
“Oh, how's Freddy? I didn't mean to upset him.”
“He is fine. I had my driver give him a ride home and offered a phone number in case he needs to reach you again.”
“Thank you.”
He straightened up, his darkened eyes re-energizing a bit. “Now, I assume Morvinus has already told you of our meeting with the emperor.”
I nodded.
“Good. Well then, you both will need more practice I think. We must not disappoint. The entire body will be there.”
Morvinus grabbed his arm, “Wait, the entire Curiae? I thought you said this was a private audience.”
“Well, Emperor Cesare decided it may be good for the whole governing body to bear witness. It is a historic event after all.”
My nerves were beginning to rattle again. “Just how many people- vampires are we talking about?”
Lord Cawston looked to me, his lips straightening, “One hundred and twenty-eight souls.”
Continued in Part 17
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