Incarno

chapter 1

There they were again. Those long black coats, dark boots and hats. I could tell they were waiting for me. I could feel it. The shiver down my neck told me that, every time I left the window, told me that they were somehow still looking at me even behind the walls. That same unease that you feel while passing a dark corridor. With time you learn not to ignore it, your body knows more than you think. And today it told me something was different. Their presence was stronger, their animosity so heavy the street lights dimmed.

"I have to prepare" I whispered to my self. But there came a nock and the idea died. Those two hadn't moved from across the street. Were there more? Nock Nock Nock. No, this felt normal. Trusting my instincts I head for the door and open it, leaving the person on the other end with their hand raised for another nock. Old Sue stood there, a pleasant smile on her face as she quickly put her hand down.

"Hi Drinny dear" she says "thought I'd stop by and check on you since you haven't been out in a while. Oh don't look at me like that I asked around." She rolls her eyes. "Here I brought you something nice to eat." I sighed as I took the basket. I did appreciate Sue but she could get nosy.

"Thank you Sue. It's nice to see a friendly face once in a while." When it was obvious I wasn't going to continue anymore she finally said "Well it was nice seeing you too dear. I'm guessing that won't happen again in a while." Shiver. "Anyway dear I will be going now. Good luck today." Shiver. Her eyes knew too much. They flickered for a moment in the direction of the men so fast I wouldn't have noticed if I wasn't on edge. Before I could speak again she was already on her way, not looking at the black coats she turned for her alleyway. They seemed to notice her too, something they hadn't done for anyone else.

However the moment had passed and I had to act. The feelings had never been this strong before. "God did the guild have to blame me for everything" sigh "and all these damn sheep who follow them." I say while walking to the bathroom. Walking to the medicine cabinet my reflection looks back at me, those icy blue eyes that give me away everywhere. Of course normal people wouldn't notice anything special, but those sheep, the Lacunae, could see the infinity behind them. The timeless power they held.

Inside the cabinet I take the last of my moonstone powder. It had lasted me centuries, a parting gift from an old friend. Heading for the garage, all the while keeping Sue's basket on my hand I feel a spike of regret. Chuckle. Hundreds of years later and it still hurts to think about. We had been so close to success after all.

Inside the garage, entering the blue cobra Shelby in it, not looking a day older than the day it was bought almost 55 years ago now, I turn the house contingency measures on. That would slow them down for a while in tracking me down from here. While the garage gate opened light from the sunset spilled into the room. The late afternoon sun made the sky look a beautiful mix of orange and pink and the empty street as peaceful as if everything in the world was going to be alright. It was one of those rare sights that make you feel sweet nostalgia.

But that moment too was over. The engine started and before the gate was fully raised I was driving on the street. From the rare view mirror I could see one of the two black coated lacunae run towards my car with a wild grace as he dropped on all fours. He was picking up speed faster than me. His body seeming to lean foreword more and more. His breath trailing mist despite the heat he should have felt.Thump. Now on top the back of my car he started crawling towards me. His dark eyes staring at mine through the mirror. A breath later he was on the hot asphalt twitching. His coat less elegant than before, his body that of a normal man. At least that's what it seemed like.

A satisfied smile crossed my lips, no one had ever been able to touch my car for long.
However this lacuna was dangerous, and the other one was nowhere to be seen.
Taking the turn that lead me out of the neighbourhood i followed the road out of Richmond. I had grown to like it these last few years but it wasn't safe anymore.
Near the boundaries of the area I heard fire truck sirens going in the direction opposite me.

Things started to feel normal again. The air wasn't as heave anymore. My body lost some of its tension. The fire truck meant that the second lacuna had tripped the security measures in the house. No evidence would survive a fire like that.

The world seemed suddenly brighter. The sun was almost down and the moon was palely visible in the sky but I was happy enough for it to seem like midday. The lacunae hadn't been this bold in decades, not since the communist regimes in Eastern Europe fell. This meant they are planning something big. And it means I have to meet some old friends.

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