For Centuries - Season 1 [Completed]

Episode 5

"Teen Rebel", The Haunted Youth

On the day of the opening, I put on a black suit and high heels shoes. My hair was up and I was wearing long earrings. I grabbed a taxi to this gallery in the Marais. One had to cross the courtyard of a mansion to reach the exhibition room. There were many people, some of them were smoking outside. I could hear the music coming from the gallery.

Aidan was talking with some guests but he left them as soon as he saw me. He was wearing an outfit fashionable enough for this kind of occasion but with just the right amount of timeless rock attitude. He looked even younger than the first time I had seen him. I found that ridiculous and touching at the same time.

"I'm glad you came," he said.

"Thank you for the invitation."

"I must say you are dashing. Love the earrings."

I smiled. "So, can you show me your work?"

"Of course."

He led me to a first painting. It was a mountain landscape that reminded me of the spirit of Chinese classical painting. He explained to me with great detail and vivid gestures which specific place in the Rocky Mountains had inspired him this piece as if it were the first time that he could talk about it. His way of speaking about his work could appear almost awkward because of its intensity, but not to me. And I could feel that he knew that.

"I love it very much. You have quite a subtle way of creating a sense of estrangement in something that could be common. It is definitely intriguing," I said.

"Thank you. I'm glad you like it."

I noticed the painting which I had seen that first night. "This is the one I know, the one about loneliness."

"You said that the first time. How do you know?"

"I read it first in the color of the painting but then I had a confirmation in your eyes. I can feel a lot of pain."

"I could say the same thing about you. You were not crying just because of my painting, right?"

"I happen to be a very emotional person. And your work really spoke to me." I paused and continued. "A friend of mine died recently and I was thinking about him that night."

"I am very sorry for your loss."

Someone suddenly laughed very loudly. Everyone looked at him. It was a man with long blond hair in a very elegant deep blue suit. Clearly a vampire. He was laughing at one painting, obviously wanting to disturb the event. Aidan was upset.

"Do you know this man?" I asked.

"Yes."

He walked towards him. Then the man looked at him, said "Aidan" opening his arms, and punched unexpectedly in one of the paintings, destroying it. Aidan made a gesture to grab his arm but I was already there to stop him. "Gentlemen, maybe we can talk this through outside."

In the very narrow street, we couldn't see anything in the darkness of the night, except for one point of light on top of the backdoor. Both vampires were too angry to talk. "What seems to be the problem?" I said.

"Who's your whore?"

I smiled. Aidan looked like he knew it could be interesting to let me handle the situation.

"It is not in your best interest to play this game with me, kid," I said.

"Oh really?" he replied.

He suddenly showed his teeth and jumped at me to bite me. I stopped him with one sharp hand move and pushed him to the wall, my right arm crushing his throat: "What did I just say? Listen, I am sure you are a great guy and it is just a bad day but I would strongly suggest that you leave, nice and quiet. Now."

He tried to push me away and failed. He then cast me a very angry look but nodded and I let him go. Before he left, he said to Aidan: "Does your white knight know what kind of person you are?" As Aidan did not reply, he added: "That's what I thought."

After a moment of silence, I stared at Aidan. I could not help but be annoyed. "You, vampires, are children. You really do everything you can to make it impossible to trust you."

"You don't understand."

"I think I do. You do not owe me an explanation, but I do not owe you to stay either. Let's call it for tonight."

"Please... It was not how I had pictured this evening."

"Good night, Aidan, and congratulations on the opening."

I walked to an avenue to grab a taxi, the sound of my heels resonating on the paved street.