See no evil - The awakening

The Keys

We jumped on Idris's car and I locked Clary's address on Google Maps. We drove in silence as I contemplated the scenery. On our left, we could see the lakes as we passed by them. On my window on the right, the steep mountains that were altered so a road could now allow us to move through nature.

The sun came through the left and generated these beautiful flares that drew his profile in the air. His eyes were fixed on the road and the direction and it was the first time I had time to contemplate him. His hair was longish, enough that it sometimes fell over his eyes and he had to pull it back which generated a wave over his head. It was deep black even with the sun shining directly over it.

His lips were thick and red, almost as if he had been biting on them and blood had been drawn to his mouth. As the sun shone on his eyes, the honey color I was used to turned yellow with some sparks of green. He looked young, and he dressed younger. He was wearing a pair of blue jeans with a white t-shirt and a leather jacket. He didn't look as how you would imagine these beings to look. He looked like a person, someone you could see on the streets. The image I had from him from when I was 5 did not match the man I had besides me that day. I guess there was a part of me that made him look scarier in my memories, older, darker, colder. He was just a man.

—So, the sun thing is a lie, what else is it? –I asked, resting my head on the car seat and looking at him.

He smiled and didn't take his eyes off the road. —What do you wanna know?

—Do you age?

—No.

—Do you kill animals?

—Well, I eat meat. –He smiled again.

—That's not what I'm asking.

—Do I look like a dog, Casiopea? I have a human body, I need human's blood.

—So you kill humans...

—Sometimes. –He did not smile here.

—How does your body work?

—Like yours, but enhanced. My body can't generate enough blood to keep me alive.

—So it's not enhanced, it...malfunctions.

He glimpsed at me confused and smiled again.

—You need to eat protein to survive and keep your basic human functions. I have all those functions and new ones, and for those, I need more blood.

—What would happen if you don't get blood?

—I would starve, stop "working".

—Would you die?

—I would suffer, but no, my body enters a state of hibernation until I feed once again.

—How long can you hibernate for?

He looked at me. —Centuries?

—How do you know?

—I just do.

—How much blood do you need?

—It depends.

We kept silent the rest of the drive, I repeated the questions in my head and thought about the possible scenarios. Could he go without feeding for 14 hours? Could he get on a long flight or would he have to feed on the plane? Does he carry blood bags with him? How will he pass them through customs? In my head they were all valid questions but I've asked enough already, I was sure there was going to be more time.

Your destination is on the right. We arrived at the little road that took us directly into Clary's house. We drove the narrow road in between the tallest trees your mind can imagine. It seemed as if night time had arrived earlier as the sun could not make its way amongst the trees.

At the end of the road, we got to the small wooden cottage. It seemed precarious to have such a modest house in such a huge land. We parked the car next to other cars that were already there and walked to the front door. I asked Idris to wait in the car, as I didn't want to explain to Clary who he was, but he said he could easily make her forget him.

When she opened the door she wasn't as cheerful and happy as she normally was. She looked gloomy. She hugged me and asked us to get in. The weather was taking a turn and you could feel the storm coming.

—Get in, it seems like it'll be raining soon.

We did and when we got to the living room some of Clara's friends were there.

—Hey ladies. –I said

Helena, Lydia and Zoe greeted me.

—This is my friend... –as I was about to introduce him, he interrupted me.

—Hi, I'm Juan. –He extended his hand to each one of them as they gave their names back to him.

The air was tense. I thought they might be thinking about Luc, and why I was with another man that was not him.

—Soooo, Clary, here're my keys, you know the drill. I'll be out for a couple of weeks, maybe a month. There is not much to take care of in the house, but if you could drop in now and then to check that would be amazing.

—Sure Cas, got it. –Clary took the keys and stood there.

—Well I guess that's it! We'll be on our way now. –I looked at Idris.

—Yes, don't mind me, I was never here. –He said, looking at them.

The ladies' faces changed instantly into a more cheerful one, as if they had instantly forgotten about Idris. All except for Clary, she still looked worried and puzzled. She walked me to the door. Idris had already left by himself as soon as he finished talking and was waiting for me in the car.

—Where did you say you were going? –She asked

—Los Angeles.

She smiled. —Are you going alone?

—Yes, Luc can not come this time.

—Be careful Cas.

—I always am. –I smiled and hugged her. —I'll be missing you.

She smiled and looked at the car. It didn't feel as if she had really forgotten him but there was no real way of knowing.

I sat down next to him once more, and asked him what it would mean if someone didn't forget about him when he told them to. He said —They'd had to be something really powerful.