For Centuries - Season 1 [Completed]

Episode 31

"Running To The Sea", Röyksopp

"You are a threat to our community. You know everything about us, about our identities, our weaknesses, and our rules. This knowledge cannot be in the hands of vampires," Titus said.

We could not hear any sound from the street outside and the heavy curtains did not let much light in.

"Vampires are not one single collective entity," I replied calmly, "and neither are we. I am not communicating any dangerous pieces of information to people that we cannot trust. I do not want to hurt anyone. The two vampires in my life are good people. I trust them."

"How can you trust any vampire after Rome?" The woman I did not know asked in a low voice.

"May I know who I am speaking to?"

"Forgive me for my rudeness. My name is Jimena Sanchez. I joined the Council a century ago."

She looked like a young woman but she had a severity in her eyes which betrayed her age. Her long dark hair was falling on her shoulders and on her white blouse.

Then the man I could not identify spoke: "And I do not think we had the opportunity to meet before either, so let me introduce myself too. I am Achraf ben Khalid."

He had died older than the four others, maybe at 45, and he had a calm charisma that intrigued me. I nodded. "To reply to your question, Mrs Sanchez, the incident in Rome was ages ago. Most of the vampires of this era are dead. And may I remind you of the reckless attitude of the Council at the time?"

"How dare you accuse us?" Titus said.

"I do not even know why I am trying to argue with you. I do not have to justify myself to you."

"You once were one of us. We respect you as we should, but you are once again threatening our values. Vampires cannot be our allies."

Abosede, who had stayed silent until then, raised her right hand to stop Titus and spoke. "If you contest our demands, there is only one solution, the article 23 of the code."

I laughed. "You must be joking. It is not the 12th century anymore," I said in a cold anger. "Those rules are archaic. They do not mean anything. Maël invented them in a time when we thought Earth was at the center of the universe."

They all stayed quiet but I knew that pronouncing Maël's name had quite an effect on them all.

"We do not have a choice. Rules must be followed," Abosede finally said.

I knew that it was useless to continue to argue with them. Perhaps actions could make them change their mind in the end. "Alright, let's follow your rules. I will fight you, Titus, if this is what you wish."

"We are among the oldest. We should protect our ways. At least, respect them. The duel is unavoidable," he said.

All the immortals put their right hand on the symbol in front of them on the table as a sign of agreement, as they had done for centuries. "Here we go again," I thought.