Impressions of Three Men in Black

Impressions of Three Men in Black Part 5

Celeste had the entire morning to herself. Aro was not taking her to supper until 5:00 pm, then they'd be attending the opera following. For now, she stretched in bed feeling utterly content. How long this contentment lasted would be determined by her vampire mates. For the moment, she enjoyed feeling secure and taken care of.

A knock on the door told her breakfast was here. She jumped out of bed, went to the bathroom to wash her face and brush her hair into some semblance of neatness, then threw on her robe and ran to the door. She opened it to find Felix standing there with a tray of food.

"Enter, oh son of Ceres, goddess of the harvest, who bringeth sustenance to starving mortals." Celeste bowed as she held the door open.

Felix laughed. "I accept your gratitude, little mortal. I'm sure the chef will have fulfilled your wishes this fine morning." He removed the covering to show Celeste an order of Eggs Florentine with a side of five sausage links. The coffee was rich and aromatic, and the orange juice chilled just right.

"This looks marvelous, Felix. Thank him for me." She sat at the desk, then as Felix was about to leave, she asked him if he could stay and talk a bit. He seemed reluctant, but decided there would be no harm for a few minutes. He easily pulled the sofa closer to the desk and took a seat.

"I didn't hurt you, Celeste? When I brought you in from the garden?"

"Not at all. If anything was bruised, I don't even notice it. It was just a strange situation. I'm fine though." She smiled at the tall guard. "I have all morning. Aro is busy right now, and won't be picking me up for supper until 5:00 pm, then the opera after."

"The opera."

Celeste wondered if Felix would understand Aro's actions better than she did. "He insisted. Supper and the opera. And look at this." She stood and went to her dresser, opening the top drawer. She reached in for one of the velvet boxes and handed it to the tall vampire. "He gave me these, with a matching necklace."

Felix opened the smaller box to see the diamond earrings. "You don't like them?" he asked.

"They're beautiful, but he doesn't need to do this. I'd rather spend a day just talking with him about his life, his history." She took the box when Felix handed it back to her. She put it back into the drawer, shutting it. "Marcus gave me flowers from his own garden. Caius danced with me. Aro showers me with jewels. It just makes me feel funny."

"Master Aro always expresses things more grandly. You'll figure him out, Celeste."

"So you said you're from Rome. Do you like being in the guard?" Celeste asked while eating a large bite of sauced egg and English muffin.

"Being a gladiator had its rewards. But as a guard, I have more freedom, and serving the masters has its own rewards as well. I have no abilities, but I am stronger than most vampires."

I have been with the Guard ever since, serving the masters. I have no abilities, but I am stronger than most vampires."

"What do you mean by abilities," she asked while still eating.

"Some humans possess gifts, if you will. Powers that can be enhanced by the transformation from mortal to immortal. Master Aro is always keen on those humans possibly becoming vampires that can be brought into the coven. Have you any gifts, Celeste?"

She put down her fork and replied quietly, "None that I know of." Would Aro think less of her for the lacking? She picked up her coffee cup and blew on the hot liquid before drinking it. "Then you are very old. And the masters?"

"Over three thousand years old, Celeste."

"Wow, I had no idea. None of them looks a day over one thousand."