Seeking Eternity

Of Paris and Love

Nothing about his meeting with the Council went well.   

They were, in Minami's opinion,  too old and too set in their ways to consider that their way of existing put them in danger.  Christophe's views on the matter were considerably more graphic in nature given that he had been the first to fall prey to their anger.    In their view hiding in shadows, feeding off the weak or those  they considered useless  had worked for centuries so why bother with anything else?   But how could they continue to exist separate from the ever changing world beyond them?  Especially when these changes threatened to destroy every last one of their kind.  In Yuuri's and a growing number of others views, adaption was the only choice.  

They simply refused to listen, taking the clubs and the lifestyle they provided as clear threats, arguing against the research leading to ways to make adaption easier for their kind.  The medications helping them stay in sunlight for a time, or to simply eat or drink normally were considered almost blasphemous.  There really was no arguing with them since Yuuri didn't tell them what they wished to hear, nor would he swear allegiance to them.  Those under his protection depended on his strength now, even if he didn't feel completely confident in himself at the moment.  

Old anxieties were tough to shake.   The human part of him asserted itself in times like these, when he was exhausted or stressed.  

They followed the catacomb's tunnels beyond where the Council hid, the walls covered in the bones of countless humans  who died long ago and were left  buried here beneath the city, some of them in macabre artistic efforts.  These were tunnels out of bounds to most,  unmapped and only seen by his kind.   It was quite the perfect place for the ancient ones to hide,  a place full of shadows  and death few willingly journeyed  into.  Only his kind could discern the clues left in the walls revealing the correct pathways leading up and out to the world above.  

For those whose bones rested here this was probably the only immortality they would ever reach, existing as nameless monuments to what is their fate.  

Beyond the tunnels and the alley they found themselves in,  a car with blacked out back windows met them.  

Yuuri stumbled into their ride   settling back against the seat and shutting his eyes in an effort to erase the night.   Minami followed,  a hand  unconsciously moving through his hair with that ever present red streak.     Some things absolutely did not change.    Dawn was approaching, Victor would be worried and  Yuuri   just wanted to escape all of this.    

Seeing this city Christophe came to love so much, which he himself had never experienced,  through only these darkened windows   seemed to be his fate.   Victor would certainly be disappointed if they never got the chance to tour Paris with Chris as he'd wanted to.   No matter how much Yuuri tried to tell him they were not here for pleasure he'd spent most of their flight making plans and texting Chris.  

At least Victor hadn't been angry when Yuuri told him what happened, he was only angry knowing that he could not attend the meetings.   Yuuri consoled him saying they would be going to Chris' club together, without Minami.   

Now he was beginning to doubt they'll be able to do even that.  The situation had turned far too unpredictable for his liking.   Yakov might even recall them.   His response had yet to arrive.    

"I don't know how you stayed so calm." Minami said  "For a moment I thought they might move against you back there."

"I think they wanted to." Yuuri said.    

Actually he was convinced they did, their suspicion and malice focused on him since their  arrival in the council chamber.   Minami's attention obviously being focused on other matters.