Fire Nectar 2 (12 page)

“
I
trust
you have not told him our creed?”

Ludovico shook his head. “No, save for ‘we do not kill the good.’ I did tell him that.”

“Don’t look so guilty! You can only be expected to have accomplished what you could manage, in so short a time.”

“True. You are too kind,” said Ludovico, sitting a bit more relaxed in his chair.

“Creed?” Joshua asked.

“Our Vampire Creed is this: We do not kill good people. Keep our numbers low. Treat each other with respect. Vet carefully who you wish to give the gift. Keep our secret
–
to keep us safe.”

Joshua nodded, taking in every word. William waited, for he knew a question was imminent. His patience was gratified when Joshua hesitated and asked, “In keeping our numbers low, we preserve our secret?”

“Yes. For control. We wouldn’t want thousands or even hundreds of immortals drinking life, to survive. That could spell doom for all of us. If the numbers grew too large, we could make humankind extinct,” William explained.

“I shudder at the thought. Only animals to dine on. And no warm women to touch!” Ludovico shuddered dramatically and looked toward the fire, thinking how he would want to throw himself in it, if that were his life.

“Indeed. And as the numbers grew, so would the desire to dominate. We want no government among us, for with it would come war and desire for power.” William froze. His expression caused alarm in his companion’s hearts and they became tense and alert. He was listening. They could see it. Who was he listening to, for they were alone. Ludovico trained his ears to the sound, and while Joshua tried as well, he was too young.

Ludovico quickly asked, “What is it? I don’t hear it yet.”

“Horses approaching, pulling a carriage. A hired hackney, from the sound of the dirt as it spreads to make room for the wheels. It’s stopped. There are footsteps.”

“I hear it now!” Ludovico exclaimed.

“It’s a woman. I cannot tell if she is human. Or one of us.”

“Are there any we know, in Paris?”

“Not that I am aware of, no.”

Joshua waited, impatient with his own weakness. He wished to hear what they heard, too!

“This is most unexpected, William. I do not like it.”

“And the sun is near upon us,” William added.

Ludovico and William stood a second before all heard a small knock. Joshua jumped up.

“Does anyone know you’re here?” William asked. Ludovico shook his head no, and turned to Joshua who did the same. “Well, she comes alone, save for the hackney and pair, which means there must be at least one driver. Her heartbeat is beating fast. Let us greet our guest.”

All flashed downstairs, quickly and at varying speeds. At the door, William held his hand out to signal to the others to wait. They stood behind him. William opened the door and found a wide-eyed and beautiful young woman looking up at him, clutching her hands nervously together.

“Marion!” Joshua exclaimed.

“Marion!” Ludovico echoed, aghast.

William turned to him, one eyebrow raised. He stood back to allow space for Joshua to greet his brave little guest. Joshua threw a backwards glance guiltily at Ludovico, “Marion, dearest, what are you doing here?”

“So now we know where he was,” William whispered to the liar’s maker.

Ludovico shook his head and whispered back, “and on nights last, as well, I suppose!” All the puzzle pieces fell together quickly, and he bit his lips and set his jaw tight, thinking what to do. Females! There was no predicting them.

Marion, ever the innocent of face and demeanor, blushed deeply as she peeked in at her male audience. She turned her big doe-eyes to her lover and confessed shyly, “Pardonnez moi, Joshua. Sil vous plait, do not be cross! I followed you here last night! And when you left so suddenly tonight, I thought that perhaps you had a woman here and had come back to her! I could not bear it!”

Joshua coughed and looked back to his elders for guidance. Both stood still and tried not to laugh. Joshua has an admirer, William thought, how quaint. He shot a look to Ludovico, who stepped forward to take the matter firmly in hand.

“Marion, you are looking as lovely as ever, my dear,” he said to her, sweeping past Joshua. To the hired driver he waved, motioning clearly that he was not to leave. Yet.

“You’re too kind, monsieur. It is a pleasure to receive a compliment from one as fine as you,” she smiled sweetly.

“Yes, well, you can see that there are no women present tonight. We are up to manly business, so I must request that you and our dear Joshua, angel that he is, bid adieu to one another. Now, now. Don’t object. We don’t want to deform such a lovely face with a frown. No, we do not.” Ludovico took her arm to lead her to the hackney and pair.

She knew better than to fight him, so she did the only thing that was in her power. She looked beseechingly over her shoulder at Joshua, confused and distressed. Her enormous eyes begged silently to know what she had done, to be treated so! It did the trick and inspired in her gullible lover, a desire to save her at once. When he made move to rescue her, William reached out and stopped him, shaking his head. Children.

“Stay put, Joshua,” William commanded in a voice so low only he could hear it. She with her human hearing, and distance, could not.

Joshua reluctantly obeyed and called out from where he stood to his beauty, “I’ll come tomorrow night, my love! Ludovico will pay the man for your inconvenience!”

Ludovico hesitated at this announcement and threw an eye-roll to Joshua. Back to Marion he said, “Yes, let me get this for you.”

Both Joshua and William glanced at each other, and Joshua knew from his expression that he was about to be roasted. What a laugh they would have over this at his expense! Ludovico passed the reluctant mademoiselle up into the carriage. As she sat and adjusted her pelisse, he shut the door with a wan smile. Then he dipped into his pocket to pull out enough money for both rides, to and from. Handing this to the driver, he instructed him not to return, in case the lady’s reason was overcome, again. The message was heard and off they went.

As the horse turned round, Marion leaned out of the carriage and blew a kiss. “A’ bientot, mon Joshua!” Joshua waved very hard and blew her a kiss in return. She waved until they could not see her anymore.

As soon as they were inside William and Ludovico nearly split their sides, they were laughing so hard. They both danced around and acted out the scene while he flushed hotly. What could he do? He was caught. He watched them, trying his best not to smile, and failing miserably.

“I love you Joshua! You are so wonderful, Joshua!” Ludovico chided him, egged on by William’s loud kiss noises and laughter. “So this is what has been distracting you! She appears to be a dove, does she not?”

“She is quite beautiful, young one. I can see why you have fallen for her,” William agreed.

“It’s nothing. Just a mere crush,” Joshua lied.

William could see it, but he let it slide. He slapped him on the shoulder as he walked past, up the stairs. “No matter. Back to the lesson. I want to finish this tonight.”

“Yes, let us get back to it. The night is drawing to a close,” Lud said, as he threw an arm around Joshua, and poked him in the rib.

When they returned to the sitting room and relaxed into their respective chairs once more, the air felt much lighter than it had. Joshua listened to everything William told him. “You see, we do not have a leader, nor government amongst us. We wish to live freely. To go where we want. Be whoever we wish to be. It is a common desire found in all of us. We do not wish to be prisoners, and basic structure affords us freedom. Do you see?”

“Respecting each other makes sense to me. If one lives forever, and wants to live free from restrictions – other than the creed – then one does not want to spark the wrath of another immortal. It would quell any ability to feel safe. Impossible to be truly free knowing someone wants your head!” Joshua raised his eyebrows at the end of his speech, looking for approval.

He found it. William was more than a bit appreciative of the fledgling’s mind and powers of deduction. He was no slouch, this one. William waited in silence to gain the full attention of audience, before he announced in his deepest, most authoritative voice, “Alright. I am in full agreement.”

“With what?” Joshua asked.

“Ludovico chose you well,” he allowed.

Both the Italian and the composer grinned widely. He smiled at them, and went to put out the fire for the night. There may be no government, nor leader, but William’s presence was that of a father and there is no greater influence. Joshua crossed an ankle over knee, mirroring his sire’s stance (unwittingly) and threw out, “I almost forgot to ask! How is that we get our money? You both seem to have endless resources.”

Ludovico took the reigns as William poured a bucket of water onto the dying embers. “We take from the people we kill. They don’t need it anymore, do they?” he laughed.

William smiled and turned round to return to them, to add, “One more way to turn evil on its end.”

Joshua was quite shocked by this. William could see it. He stood facing the young one. “What is it? Do you find our means appalling? Is it not so, that we help the world by being in it, and need the funds to do so? Is it not so that we only take the lives of evil men, and by removing them from the Earth, we atone for all the hate, death, thievery, betrayal… that they would commit?”

“No… I,” Joshua started, but was reticent to continue. William had seen that look before. Intimidation. Trepidation. Fear. He had no patience for it. Had he not shown himself to be just and fair? Why must he always see that expression upon the faces of those who looked upon him?

He spat out, “What is it? Speak up!”

Ludovico looked to Joshua with eyebrows raised, waiting. Joshua shot a glance for help, but Lud shook his head no. Wise choice, William thought as he crossed his arms, his feet spread wide.

Joshua looked up at William and blinked several times. “Well…I…it’s just that…What happens to their families? What if the money was needed? What if they were free of blame, ill deed and thought, and could benefit from the inheritance?”

This revelation slapped William hard across the face. Ludovico, too, was horrified. So much so, that his constantly propped ankle fell from his knee and he planted both his feet on the floor. William’s eyes narrowed to slits. He uncrossed his arms and began to pace in front of the fireplace, flabbergasted.

“Why had I thought naught of this, before?” William whispered. Joshua was so stunned by the question that he made no movement, gave no answer. William sank into his chair and looked into the distance of his mind. “Ludovico, why had this never occurred to me?”

Ludovico shook his head slowly, searching inwardly for memories, and answers. “I cannot answer nor reason why, but this had never occurred to me either!”

Joshua looked from one to the other, and bit his lips.

William looked at the floor and frowned. When he looked back at Joshua it was to announce, “It will be so! When we take a life, we will do due diligence to discover if the family needs our help, financial or otherwise. What better way to spend one’s time?”

“My lord. It’s as though we’ve become vigilantes!” said Ludovico.

William frowned again. “I do not know what it is we are. The burden has often weighed heavy on my mind. I feel we defy reason and definition. So we must choose how we define ourselves. If we must kill to live…”

“Agreed,” Ludovico interrupted. “And it will be interesting to research and learn. Good lord – we may even find more evil-doers and have a feast on our hands!” Ludovico exclaimed, joking.

This brought release from all round. William saw Joshua lean back in his chair, very grateful the moment had passed in his favor.

“Yes, Lud. You chose well,” William said, with feeling.

“
L
ord
, if you can hear me, please tell me what to do. She is dying. Is it wrong that I wish desperately to make her into the abomination I have become? I will not be able live without her and yet immortality will make it so that I do not have a choice. Lord, am I evil? I live off the blood of others. I do not age. I do not grow sick. Yet, I know I am not a god. I still feel the torturous mind, the pull of sin - of anger and of petty human failings in my very character. Am I damned?”

William kneeled on the floor at the head of the great church at l'Abbaye aux Dames, and wept. He had left Matilda lying in her bed, staring into a world he could not see, unblinking for hours at a time, with a look of wonder and fear mingled upon her beautiful face. It tore at his insides to see her like that, so he had fled to try his last resort. To pray.

Alone, he let himself be wracked with sobs, as he never had, nor would ever again. Broken, beaten down by the sorrow, his large back bent forward with the burden as he prayed through his tears, “She is… my everything. Everything I have ever done has been to make her eyes shine. These long times away from her since I changed, have been only assuaged knowing she is alive. I cannot live in a world without her in it.”

He looked up then, his eyes windows to a deep and burning shame. “Am I evil, Lord? Give me a sign to tell me if I am damned, I beg of you. If I am not, I would make Matilda into what I am. I would love her throughout eternity. I cannot do so if I think it would sacrifice her very soul, and rip your love away from her. I cannot steal her from you, for I know that she is an angel living among us. She will wish to go home one day, I fear. Lord. What am I? Dare I make her this unknown thing that I’ve become?”

The pain stopped then, turning off as though it knew his body could take no more. Numbness replaced it. His eyes glazed over as he stared forward. Minutes passed, maybe hours - he did not know. It didn’t matter. Nothing mattered, anymore. His heart quickened. “Go to her while you can,” whispered a voice inside his head. He looked round for its origin. Was it God’s voice? Was it his own?

Slowly he uncoiled himself and rose to stand. He listened and heard only the scurrying of rats throughout the church. So many rats, he thought. Always with their little feet and tails dragging along stone, slinking where no one will go and yet never leaving one alone! He saw one cross in front of him and for no reason other than his anger needed cleansing, he flashed and intercepted its route, and stomped it to death with one heavy application of his weight and power. The blood, guts and fur spread out grotesquely from beneath his foot, and he did not care. He looked down at it, curiously.

The act of violence alleviated his pain. He could not deny it.

He turned to the silent statue on the pulpit once more and from where he stood, whispered, “You see? I am no god. I shall give you back your child, Lord. I cannot claim her. She is not mine to keep.” He turned and moaned, “I was lucky to have had her for as long as I did.”

When he returned to Matilda’s room he did not knock. There he found her, still staring into unknown places lying on the lush bed amid all the comforts their station could allow. She was not alone. Surrounding her stood a priest, a doctor, an alchemist, all flanked by her ladies in waiting, who wept quietly. He took no notice of them as he walked to be with her. He gazed down at her fragile countenance in silence. No one said a word, not even when he shocked them all by climbing into bed with her. Making haste to leave, they respectfully looked away from husband and wife, king and queen…life and death.

He saw only her, and barely heard the door close tightly as they were left alone. He took her gently into his arms. While she stared off, one foot already in heaven, he stroked her hair and kissed her cheeks.

“My love,” he whispered, knowing she could not hear him. “I promise you that I will hold you in my soul for all eternity. I vow it.”

Her breathing changed at his voice and her eyes lost their glazed look as the room came into focus. He gasped! In the smallest voice she said hoarsely, “William?”

“It is I, my love. It is I. Do not be afraid. Your husband is with you.” He took her head in his hands and cupped it lovingly, gazing at her.

“Where have you been, William? I’ve…missed you.”

“I will never forgive myself for being away so long. I cannot explain only to tell you that I was ill. With a plague that kept me from sunshine itself. I stayed away to protect you from it, for I knew not what it was.” She struggled to understand the inconceivable. He wanted her to be in peace and would not burden her heart with the truth. That he was a monster now. “My heart was always here with you. Did you not feel it?”

She said weakly, “No, I did not know, William. Why did you not take me with you? And Robert, he was so tedious, so difficult for me to…”

“Blast Robert,” he spat out, impatiently. His eldest son was such a disappointment to him. He was so opposite to himself.

“I told him to go, William. He is self-serving. Thinks not of the people, only of his own ends. After I made him leave, I served as regent in his absence.” The look in his eyes gave her the strength to smile.

“You are a force to be reckoned with, Matilda. I have always known it.” He kissed her lips again, holding her up when she could not. They looked at each other, their faces only inches away.

“Remember when you pulled me down by my braids, William?” she whispered.

“Yes, my dear. I’ve never made a better decision in my life,” he said heavily, tears catching in his throat.

“I’m so cold.” She shivered. He pulled the blankets round her body, for his own could no longer offer her warmth. “Promise me you’ll be good to them.”

“Of course, my love. To whom, our children?”

“To the world, William. They look up to you. This is not a…”

“Responsibility to take lightly. I know my dearest. You have said it so often that I have memorized it,” he laughed, tears falling.

She smiled weakly, “You are a good man. Do you see it?”

“Do I see what, my love? That I am good?” William asked.

“Purple, William. Purple everywhere. Do you not see it? The purple light?” She closed her eyes. “I’m so tired…”

“Then sleep, my love, my very heart. Sleep and be warm again. I promise, you will be proud of me. I promise you.” He squeezed her close against him and buried his face into her beautiful long black hair.

He heard her exhale for the last time, and he wept.