Of Gods and Monsters

Exodus

"Life is to be lived, not controlled; and humanity is won by continuing to play in face of certain defeat."

-Ralph Ellison

"I said just go."

Elek's voice was forced and booming as the half-naked woman in front of him, confused and alarmed, scampered away. He pinched the bridge of his nose in anger as he heard the door creak shut behind her. He cursed audibly as soon as she left, one hand to his face still, and the other slamming against the table to his right shaking the whole room. He was pathetic. He couldn't kill her, he'd discovered, having flashbacks of Emilia. So instead, he'd tried to bed her, and that just filled his head with thoughts of Ambrus.

It didn't matter what he did, apparently, all of Budapest was one big reminder of how shit his life had become. He felt tears threatening to spill and stopped them, opting to attempt to force some sort of "sleep". He knew there was a type of catatonic state that Vampír could go into, he hoped it would work. He sat down and closed his eyes, willing all the thoughts out of his head.

What felt like a second later, he heard a knock on his door. Through the door he heard the red-faced man's voice.

"Lord Elek, sorry to disturb, but it's nightfall once again. I also have a package for you."

Elek threw the door open, about to yell at him about how he didn't want any more whores thank you very much, but all that stood before him was the man. Confused, he just stood there, mute. The red-faced man cleared his throat.

"Lord Ambrus dropped by and told me to give you this. He didn't say what it was or why."

Elek, at a total loss for words, nodded and took the envelope from his hands and pushed past him to leave the brothel. He didn't want to be there a second longer than he had to. He also wanted to open the envelope away from prying eyes.

Once onto the relatively empty street, he opened it. His anger returned with a vengeance as soon as he realized what he'd been given. It was a bank note, with an enormous amount of money written in, signed in Ambrus's elegant scrawl on the dotted line. A letter flittered out and Elek caught it. It simply read "A promise, is a promise. - A" Elek felt like punching a hole in the moon. The audacity. Here Elek was heartbroken, realizing his entire relationship and first love, had been a lie. Only to receive a letter full of money so that Ambrus didn't have to feel guilty? It was horribly embarrassing and maddening.

However, mad as Elek was, he also realized he needed it. He needed this money, absolutely. He needed it because in that moment, he'd decided what he was going to do.

He was going to Vienna.

--

Elek gripped his ticket tightly in his pocket as the human's around him chatted, drank tea, and ate biscuits. He didn't spare himself any expense for his train ride to Vienna. First class, is what he'd gotten. However short the ride, he'd spend Ambrus's guilt money however he wanted. Maybe lavishly. Who knows? He didn't care. He thought bitterly. Traveling like this was what he was used to, anyways.

He stared at his own tea, red like blood, of which he hadn't had in a few days. He imagined he probably looked quite sickly. He pushed that out of his mind, feeling his fangs prick his closed lips. He picked the tea up and sipped it, knowing full well it wouldn't quench his actual thirst.

He sighed long and heavy, letting the cup gently fall back onto the small table in front of him, and peered out the window. It was fully night now, dark save for the occasional town they passed, if it was even grand enough to have streetlamps. Other than that, there was only the stars and moon to admire. Of which, he was growing steadily tired of. He wished he could see the sky lit up again, he lamented inwardly, putting the dry biscuit to his mouth.

He learned quickly that eating wasn't very much fun as a Vampír. He realized that without hunger, eating just felt gross. He never craved anything as it wasn't necessary to his new body. It was akin to eating while you were full, uncomfortable and mostly unenjoyable. But Elek had a habit of wanting to at least seem normal. To ride a train for three plus hours and not drink or eat would've been odd, especially here, in first class. So here he was, playing human.

Suddenly, the train gave a lurch. He felt a bag from the upper compartment come loose, hitting him on the shoulder and toppling over onto the ground. Its contents spilled out. The man at the booth adjacent to him jumped forward, grabbing the violin case and latching it shut. He suddenly turned to Elek, flustered.

"I'm so sorry, sir. I thought I'd secured it but I hadn't, it seems. If there's anything I can do to make up for this, please let me know."

He said. Elek appraised him. He was tall and lanky, much like Elek, with blonde hair that curled in loose ringlets at his shoulders. His eyes were a striking green, and his skin almost as pale as his own, albeit not as sickly looking. He was young, probably the same age as himself. However, the most peculiar feature of this particular human, was that Elek couldn't read his mind at all.

"It's quite alright. My name is Elek. Please, why don't you take a seat and keep me company, then?"

The man nodded in his anxiety, placed the violin next to him in the train booth, and sat down opposite Elek. He cleared his throat, face still red.

"My name is Lukas. Very pleased to meet you, sir."

As Lukas reached for Elek's outstretched hand, Elek noticed the cross dangling from his neck pitch forward in between their bodies. On pure instinct, he reached forward with his other hand, fingering it a bit. Much to his surprise, it burned. He drew his hand away instantly, but played it off.

"What a nice necklace you have."

Lukas froze at the intrusion, then came back to himself.

"Oh yes, it's pure silver."

He must be religious then, Elek thought, to have invested in such an expensive cross. He turned the conversation elsewhere.

"I see. Are you traveling alone or with company? I'm alone myself. First time to Vienna, you see."

He said, taking the tea again and drinking. Lukas seemed to perk up a bit.

"First time is it? You've got to visit Burgtheater then. Oh and yes, I'm alone. I actually play at the theater and was just visiting in Budapest."

So, rich and religious. Elek was learning more and more, but still couldn't hear his thoughts. It infuriated him and also made him want to know more. He perked up at the mention of the theater.

"Yes, I would quite love to see the theater. Actually, I play violin myself."

Lukas beamed from ear to ear.

"Then it's decided. When we get there, I'll give you a tour."