The Sire

Chapter 13

London

Chris's parents penthouse in London had and entrance directly to a huge rectangular modernly decorated in black and white tones living room. The whole front was glassed with an amazing view over the River Thames and The London Bridge. The ancient tower, the one used in past centuries to hold the vampire's community councils, now the touristic attraction of London Dungeons could be seen from there too. A three meters white leather couch faced the huge windows, so they could profit of the city view. In front of it, a furry black carpet with an acrylic coffee table on it. It was a dead cold night in London and it was even menacing to snow even if winter had not formerly arrived. Benedict had once taught her how to smell rain and the snow and she could smell it coming. The sky was covered by a foggy blanket so usual in the city. Though from that high, she could still hear some traffic on the streets, but it was a fainted sound, very distant. The trees were naked as every leaf had been lost already, and London had turned greyer than ever. Only the city lights twinkled giving it a glamourous touch of color. Her laptop was on the table and Chris on the other side of the screen. He was on the other side of the world and she missed being with him in the same room. The time lapse between them was huge. While in London was 6 pm and night had fallen over the city, in Seattle the day was just beginning for the clocks read 10 am in the Emerald City.

"How are you?" Megan asked him, sitting at the round table they had near the window. Her elbows resting on the table and her incredible blue eyes set on the screen of the computer.

"I am alright." He smiled, but being her son, she could notice so much sadness in his eyes. "Where's dad?" Chris then asked, trying to ignore her piercing eyes even if through a screen.

"He's taking a shower. He woke up not long ago." Megan explained.

Chris stared at the screen and stayed silent. Looking at his mother brought Iris to his mind. It was so incredible how the two of them resembled. Many times, he had stared at Iris and remembered his mother. Even some of her mannerisms reminded him of Megan. He didn't know how to explain it but it was a reality.

"You look so much like Iris, mom." He voiced his thoughts. Megan curled an eyebrow though and leaned back against the chair.

"What do you mean?" She asked him taken by complete surprise.

"Your hair..." He paused staring at the screen. "...your eyes..." Then, he shrugged. "I don't know how to explain it but you two have some similarities."

"I was not going to talk about her today." Megan told him. "I've been noticing how you have been hurting, sweetheart. I wish there was something I could do for you." Chris shrugged.

"There's nothing you can do, mom." He told her. "She's in love with another person."

Megan didn't understand. If Iris was his mate, by then she should have given signs of recognizing him as being so. And yet, what Chris had been reporting sounded nothing like a mate, or at least his.

"She didn't approach you? Nothing?" Megan asked though, trying to find a hint to pick up a bit of understanding. Chris shook his head.

"Well... not in that way." He explained better. "Iris is very nice to me. We had coffee the other day and we talked a little. It was even her suggestion but she ended up telling me that she sees me like a brother." Chris told her and then he shook his head. "She's nice, but she sees me as another friend, someone she met... maybe the brother she talked about. I didn't ask her to explain more because I was shocked when she told me so. I am confused, mom..."

"A brother?" That confused Megan even more too. She turned her face to look outside a little and saw a lightning bolt crossing the dark sky. "Why did she tell you that?" She asked, looking back at the screen. "Was it out of the blue?" Chris nodded.