Hauntingly Beautiful Girls

"Subtle Nuanced Negotiation"

How long ago was it? Has it been days or weeks in this place?

When the men opened the coffin, I desired my existence to an end.

As I regain consciousness, I feel the creature close. Very close. Still.

I am not ready to let it end here. Not ready to let this creature win.

Yet I have so little strength and even my cursed vampiric senses are dim.

The creature speaks in modest tone:

"I had expected you to succumb to rage and meet your end in the abyss of oblivion.

Or perhaps discover the ability to manipulate the beings here. Creating a battle that would induce the beings here to push you over that precipice.

Learning that the place can create a body with sentience, I thought you would create small spy creatures and giant warriors. Having those seek me out.

You did none of those things.

That is not your fault.

The beings in this place think of someone like you as a demon. Powerful. Serving the intentions of your plane of existence. A plane of existence that rewards generous deeds, helping others, and overcoming those acting oppositely.

This plane is much like my home, but it is not.

It inclined the beings at first to think I ought to be aided.

They now have a more nuanced opinion.

You are a child of a demonic realm in their eyes. One that is still too young and innocent to really be demonic.

They plan to take you in like a child. Raise you to understand right living. Looking out for yourself always, not letting others share in your life's successes. They know someone must teach a child those right ways of living.

They plan to force feed you. Make understand the nature of your form. You must take life to exist. Depending on how quickly you accept their teaching, they would then bury you in soil. Leaching away the physical form to become like them.

I was with humans a very long time. I think the kindness these beings offer would actually make you miserable.

I am obligated to them to spend time here (for the damage you caused in my bringing you here).

You have energies in you that could be explosive if it contacted my energies.

Destroying you, hurting me and hurting these beings.

If you became distraught and miserable, you might want to take that step.

I am going to ask you to consider an uncertain path.

It would involve giving up on revenge.

I will tell you something you will find hurtful.

Then I will tell you something that requires subtle thought.

Your need to punish me for Eurain's fate is unfounded. I did not choose her. The work of the silver wire is to extend life. Humans were being asked to keep bargains with creatures that live thousands of years.

Inside that coffin, you could not hear her thoughts.

She held guilt for your parents, but was much like her relatives. Thinking of you as property.

Did she ever ask you if you wanted to be a vampire? No. Your opinion was of no interest to her.

There was a term she used often in describing you. Why she wanted you so much.

'plunderable'

You considered her affections through your own innocent terms. Kisses laid onto foreheads. Flowers tucked into the hairs on your heads. Poems and prose while resting in the garden together.

For Eurain, those were also her feelings (but only while she was young).

Now I move to matter that is subtle.

My current situation is one I crafted.

It might go badly for me.

If you could empty your mind completely of all revenge; there are beings in the universe that listen.

Listen for innocence in distress and despair.

The beings of this place are motivated to take you in as a child.

If you could accept your plight and no longer fight to be a punisher; others might also hear you.

Let go and state your condition and cause for the universe to hear.

Petition the universe. Not with your goal of revenge, but with your own story.

There are telepaths that listen to all the planes of existence.

You are really very close to dying because you have never eaten. The silver thread no longer sustains you.

Here is the important part. If you are offered a trade for rescue. Working for a length of time in exchange for the rescue and food.

Take the offer.

Most of the planes of existence near here expect more than simple gratitude."