Sunshine

Chapter 2

Chapter 2:

Felix went home that night with a brighter smile than usual. The nineteen-year-old boy had the most curious of conversations with Chris yet it was still very fun.
Felix was a shy boy since childhood. He found it a bit hard to initiate conversations but was polite and friendly enough to maintain them. Just like tonight with this stranger who presented himself to him as Chan. He like pretty European for a man with a Korean name but then again Felix was Australian yet He had a Korean heritage. Well, that was a common point they spoke about. Chris was one of the warmest and kindest people He spoke with in a good while.
Felix felt a strange familiarity with this stranger. They spoke of a lot of things like his to-do list. The boy always made sure to prepare one at the start of each day especially with college and his part time job. He was a music student. He had this dream of becoming a successful song writer and going international. Well it looked like a wild dream in his eyes even though his teachers and friends always encouraged him he still lacked the self-confidence to believe in himself. The freckled boy was an excellent student yet he was full of doubt.
The boy was well-off and in good terms with his family but he wanted to learn independence for a change. The first step was moving out but for now that was a far fetched idea.
All that aside He was an extremely organized individual… because otherwise he’d freak out and start crying hence why moving out was far fetched. Maybe this was also the reason why his parents always wanted him near and definitely wouldn’t let him move out. He Was a sensitive kid, he needed his family around him and the fact that he was an only child made that need stronger.
As he walked the darkening streets that lead him home, Felix stopped mid-way And crouched by a little black stray cat. He pet the little animal and gave it some of the leftovers of his lunch. ‘’ here eat up kitty’’ he said then giggled as it licked his fingers ‘’you’re so cute, I would bring you home if only mom didn’t have an allergy. I’m sorry cutie’’ he added as he stood up
‘’stay safe’’ he continued on his way home despite the urge to make sure the kitty was safe and sound.
The cat meowed a couple of times then came back into the alley it was staying in, Shifting into the figure of a man in a black cape with red eyes. The vampire licked his lips ‘’ interesting Lee Felix turns out to be here out of all places’’
***
In his bat form, Chris was flying over the city and above the clouds, enjoying the breeze. He was trying to think elsewhere than humans, the coffee shop…. Blood and specifically Felix’s. He couldn’t yet wrap his head around the fact that he found… he didn’t even know what to call It! a copy, a doppelganger?.
‘did uncle Drac do something back then? Did the Elders do this? What Is the meaning of this nonsense?!’
It has been almost half a century that Chris didn’t get in contact with the resident vampire communities in each continent of the world. Due to their differences in ideologies, they didn’t like him much even if he was the only relative to Count Dracula who was practically a legend in vampire history. He was the greatest vampire to exist that’s what they said. Of course Chris couldn’t agree more with that… probably the only thing they ever agreed on but after this… after tonight! He needed answers.
He flew away from the city and into the Blue Gum High Forests surrounding Sydney. Deep within its trees there was a nearly undetectable hatch… well undetectable If you don’t know where you’re looking. An underground hideout was built beneath millions of years ago. Chris flew into the forest and levitated the hatch some Inches so he’d be able to get inside. He shifted back into human form only when he was inside the Council of Elders’ chamber…to which  access was  normally forbidden without the permission of the council.
‘’ Why did I just cross Felix Lee in the city right now? “he asked, not caring that he interrupted a meeting.
‘’ Christopher?
‘’ you!
‘’how dare you come into this room?!’’
The reactions he received were quite different across the circular room.
‘’I came here for answers I’ll go away after I get them, did you have anything to do with this? Did uncle Dracula do something I’m not aware of? Why did I cross my dead brother just now?! ‘’ Chris was never one to yell or get angry. He was always calm, polite and sweet so hearing as his voice cracked out of emotion and frustration was new.
Silence settled in the room for some seconds, until one of the Elders sighed. She was the head of this council and one of the oldest vampires to ever walk this Earth.
‘’ Christopher, my boy take a seat ‘’ she said calmly.
The younger vampire felt like this was going to be a long talk so he complied.
‘’ you know of the Count’s peculiar interests in Dark Magic ‘’
‘’I do… he wanted to find a solution to vampire fertility ‘’
‘’ and do you know why? “
‘’ I don’t know… it probably has something to do with increasing our numbers without exposing our secret by turning humans into one of us…I guess ‘’
‘’that’s an awfully precise guess Christopher ‘’ said one of the councilmen.
‘’ I have his journals… well only one and it’s incomplete. It contains nothing of the experimental process ‘’
‘’ well Christopher, you’re right He wanted our numbers to grow in secret during our fight against humans and werewolves alike… ‘’ the head of the council continued saying.
‘’ but he exposed himself to some humans and made friends with one! Fighting isn’t a solution ‘’ he exclaimed, interrupting her.
‘’Christopher we’re not here to discuss that
‘’ y-yes sorry, carry on
‘’ count Dracula’s first and only successful experiment resulted in your  birth…
‘’ I’m not an experiment!
“Christopher
‘’ pardon me, continue
‘’ but as I’m sure you know he was murdered and his castle burned and so did his research. In order to protect you, you were put in a state of hibernation after the incident for centuries, you woke up nine hundred and ninety-nine years ago ‘’
‘’eum… I know I was there I lived it ma’am ‘’he said with a bit of discomfort at the mention of that dreadful night in Transylvania.
‘’ Christopher would you stop interrupting her!”
‘’I’m sorry I don’t see how this is relevant to my little brother’s ‘survival’ .. I don’t even know what to call it. He looks exactly like back then… well he’s a bit older and sounds mature but it’s him I swear ! ‘’
The Elder lady smiled ‘’I know Christopher, I believe you the young man you saw… isn’t exactly your brother. He’s a reincarnation ‘’
Chris was taken back for some second. ‘’a… a what ? But… how? Uncle Drac was a vampire not a warlock?!! Hold on do witches even exist? “
“how do you think vampires exist then?”
“ okay that was a stupid question I know witches and warlocks exist but they hate us they wouldn’t ever help one of us ‘’
At this point of the conversation the Elder lady was slightly exasperated by the younger vampire and his incessant questioning.
‘’you younger generation and your love for debates, Christopher Please stop talking I will answer all your questions be patient ‘’
Chris blushed of embarrassment. This Elder was probably the only one he liked and the only one patient with him despite their differences so it was natural he felt embarrassed at his own impatience.
‘’okay I’ll keep it shut ma’am’’ he said with a little nod of his head.
‘’ thank you, back when you were but a child, the Count was unable to reproduce the same formula for a second time, limited resources and such. You were lonely and adventurous enough to make friends with a human boy . The count was unable to stop your friendship nor was your mother able to give you a sibling. Five days before the incident, the boy fell ill of pneumonia. So the count made sure that… after all these years you’d still have someone near you. ‘’
‘’w-what… what are you talking about?... That’s why he stayed? ‘’ he said with a growing sense of sadness. Chris has always suspected that Dracula’s death wasn’t some lucky strike of the humans. It was obvious that the ancient vampire knew, after All he would’ve heard them coming a mile away. He knew that Dracula stayed for some reason but no one told him why.
‘’ he sought the help of a nearby witch coven to perform the spell he elaborated himself for your brother ‘’
‘’he stayed behind… because of me? ‘’
‘’Christopher, life Is all about choices, the count made his.. I’m sure he had no regrets ‘’
Chris nodded as he chewed the inside of his lip to try and push back any grief and guilt ‘’ o-okay I get it now… Lix is a reincarnation he doesn’t remember his past life ‘’
‘’ well there are multiple ways for you to help him ‘’
‘’no no he’s peaceful the way he Is I don’t have the right to flip his life upside down like that’’
Some of the Elders found his answer illogical and confusing. For them, this human’s existence had the only and one purpose of being the brother that was lost with time so why complicate things? But some other understood Chris’ reasoning.
Chris stood up from his seat and tried getting a hold of his emotions and thoughts. This was a lot to take in at the same time .
‘’thank you for taking your time and explaining this matter to me ‘’
‘’ well you didn’t give us much choice by barging in
‘’whatever….I’ll leave now
‘’Christopher, you could always…
‘’no, I’m not… I’m not some test subject either. We already discussed this before. I came here out of necessity, goodbye ‘’ he said before shape-shifting into a raven and flying out the same way he came, only this time there was a sense of emergency in his movements. He wanted to fly away from the council, run away from this truth as fast as he could but he knew he wouldn’t.
Chris was never one for dilemmas. He was always decisive and knew exactly what to do and what not to. He always stuck to his moral code that he has been going by ever since he started a life on his own. He never felt this…. This crushing guilt. He never felt torn apart like this before. He didn’t know what the right choices were anymore! On one side, his beloved uncle had sacrificed himself to ensure that loneliness was never a companion of his. On the other side…. Felix Lee was an innocent life. He had his family, he had his friends, he had his plans for the future… he had his own will. He deserved to make his own choices and to lead the life he choses…
Yet… yet with this discovery, forever didn’t seem so lonely anymore… it would only take a few steps to get his brother back. He’d have someone to turn to when he’s sad and things got too much. He wouldn’t have to be alone, ever! Maybe he could even turn him.
But at what cost? This boy’s chance to a normal and ordinary life? He’d force a curse of feeding off blood on him, he’d force a forever without settling or growing old on him, he’d force an eternity without peace… he’d force the current conflict on him…. It wasn’t fair. At least Chris was born this way... He was destined for this. For Felix it would be like condemning him.
Chris sighed as he flew past Felix’s family home. He was happier this way. Chris loved his little brother but he wouldn’t sacrifice the future of an innocent boy for his selfish desire…
He’d have to love him enough to let him go