When Blindfolds Fall

21: Interlude

Black.

It's where life comes from and where it ends. There is no such thing as a light at the end of the tunnel for vampires, only endless darkness.

In vampire folklore, it is believed babies cry upon being born because of the sudden breach to their serene, warm darkness. The senses are violently overloaded with scent, with touch, sound, and with sight.

Doctor Bloodfern groaned quietly as a gentle caress of his hair breached his darkness. Coffee was boiling in a corner, he could tell by the sound of steam coming off a far away pot and the familiar scent in the air.

He liked this type of coffee. It was the one the love of his life brewed for him every evening with coffee beans picked fresh from its green origin.

Humming, beautiful and angelic humming ringed in his ears and finally fluttered his eyes open.

"Artemis?" Viktor whispered as he looked up, seemingly, from his wife's lap covered by her long, white nightgown.

"Sleep well, sweetheart?" Artemis smiled warmly from above as she continued petting his hair.

Viktor didn't answer, only looked confused at her and then his surroundings. Everything except her was blurry, but judging by the faint coloration, this was their old apartment. He looked back into his wife's lap again and noticed this time, her undeniable, pregnant stomach.

The doctor broke, shattered into bits and cried as he held her stomach.

"Aw, baby. Sweetie, what's wrong?" Artemis asked concerned as she watched her husband cry his soul out.

"I m-miss you!" Viktor sobbed uncontrollably. "I miss you so much Artemis. Why couldn't I save you? Why--Why did I--"

He couldn't say it. Even if this wasn't real, even if she was but a memory, and even if it had happened four hundred years ago. Viktor never admitted it to anyone, and least of all himself. The reason why his life fell apart.

"Sh, don't cry Viktor." Artemis shushed. "I'm okay where I am. I think living more at peace than when I was with you."

"It's all my fault. Everything is my fault, I ruined everything! I should have listened to you, I'm sorry. I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I can't ever--tell you how sorry I am. I wish you were here. I miss you Artemis. I can't keep doing this alone."

"But sweetheart, you're not alone. You have Josiah."

Viktor's teary eyes squinted in sorrow and he buried his face further into her dress.

"I don't deserve him." Viktor whimpered. "I don't deserve him or you. I deserve nothing but to die."

"Well, seems you've still got a ways to go baby, I'm sorry. But I don't think it was ever a matter of whether you deserve us or not with us. We both chose you, willingly. Josiah even more than me. As funny as it sounds, I didn't have much of a choice in mating you Viktor. We were destined lovers. Josiah though, he chose you with no form of obligation."

"Because he's wrong, Artemis he's blind! He doesn't know what I've done! I feel so guilty because I dragged him into my mess and I can't get him out anymore and he has no idea! I don't know what to do!"

"Well, what do you want Viktor? What do you want for him?"

Viktor inhaled sharply and shook his head as he wept. Through his blurry vision, he focused on the ring at his hand and said quietly:

"I want him to be happy. I want him to be so h-happy because I can't be. He's so much like you, he's such a good person that sees goodness in everyone and I'm such a horrible atrocity. He believed me Artemis, he believed every lie I told him. Why couldn't he have doubted me? It would have been so much easier if he had. I hate and love how kind he is."