Sorry for the looooong wait for an update. I've just had so much going on.
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"Why are you still here? What do you want?"
"Just to help you celebrate is all. Like I said before... it's not everyday a being turns 3 centuries of age Daniel." he replies with a cocky grin.
"I've set up some rather.... appetizing entertainment for this most joyous occasion. I hope you will enjoy it."
"Martin," I sigh. "Anything you have set up, you can cancel...."
"In this case brother, that would be most rude on our part. These ladies are already expecting us. And.... I took the liberty of paying them in advance."
His interjection is no concern of mine. I have no desire for the activities he has surely set in motion.
A deep grumble permeates my thoughts. And I can feel the tell-tale prick on my lower lip that signifies my hunger.
"Your mind seems to be in disagreement with your body brother. How long has it been this time since you've taken a bite?" he asks mockingly.
"From the looks of you I can guess approximately a month or a little more."
"What I consume is no concern of yours dear brother. You will be wise to learn this." I reply in a deep growl.
"Now, now." Tisking he moves to stand in front of the mahogany desk I'm slouched behind in observance of the walls.
"No need to get testy. I'm actually very concerned for your well being. What would the council say if they saw you starving yourself?" he questioned, placing his hands on the desk to lean closer.
"They will render you weak and make an example out of you. Our entire coven will be brought into question for your lack of dominance over your district, leaving us all vulnerable to them."
Breathing a deep sigh, he takes a seat in the empty chair in front of my desk.
"Believe me when I say that I can sympathize with you. Living in constant shadows, lurking in the dark, having yourself portrayed as a sparkling, broody individual or an unattractive, blood thirsty creations of an angry God is a lot to deal with. But we are what we are. Denying yourself nourishment is only going to render you as the latter of our portrayals. Which you do not want."
"The humanity you want is unreachable and unattainable Daniel. But, it can be synthesized."
He moves to exit my office, seeing that his words are again ignored.
"You have as of yet to tell me our destination Martin." I say to his retreating form, halting him a few feet from the door.
"That, dear brother is a surprise."
He proceeds to the door and opens it to depart.
"We leave in fifteen minutes." he calls over his shoulder as he closes it with a soft thud behind him.
I'm left to my thoughts. It's not as though his words were falling on deaf ears. He was, begrudgingly thou, right.
The humanity I want was long gone, had been for three centuries, and was out of reach. I hate the dark and having to live in constant shadows. But we are not what the current public rendered us to be. I absolutely did not "sparkle" as that infernal theater production has their youth fantasizing about. We merely stay out of the sun because if our sensitivity. Our heightened senses are an extraordinary advantage but also a disadvantage. An untrained or new member of our world are unable to withstand the pain that comes with the heightened sense of sight. It takes years of practice to train ones senses to take on even an overcast, cloudy day in the smoggiest cities. Which also renders our noses a disadvantage. The atrocious smells that one comes across in the most scarce communities will render an untrained damned to want to rip their noses off.
No.... We are not what we are portrayed. But that is the least of my concerns.
With a heavy sigh, I dejectedly gather my wits to join Martin for whatever he has concocted for this "joyous" occasion.
Whatever deity is listening up there.... Please give me strength.
