Empty Memories of a home Long Forgotten

The Truth about Larten

In front of me was a coffin. An honest-to-gods, dead man's coffin. The lid was on, but no nails penetrated it's wooden surface. Whoever used this did not use it in death, but rather in sleep. I rapped hard on the lid, hoping to get the attention of Larten, and the boy he was talking to (a dark haired pre-teen that I didn't initially recognise).

He turned slowly, in a scene that could have been straight out of an old horror movie.
"Gavner? You're early," he commented.
"I don't know who Gavner is," I spoke through gritted teeth. "But your pet's venom is destroying my friend Echo. She's a tough cookie. Been through a lot, not the easiest to get rid of, so you are going to bring. Her. Back."
To say my voice filled with displeasure was an understatement. I put so much force into my words, hoping to stun the vampire into submission. Though I knew his spider was the real monster here, I couldn't help but hate him for what had happened to my best friend.
"I have a cure for her venom, if that's what you're asking," I knew from his tone that I shouldn't celebrate yet, but I couldn't help that small still voice inside me from crying out with joy. "But IF I give it to you, what will you give me in return? Healing someone this close to death, well... let's just say it always comes with a price."

I thought on it for a bit. While I was mulling over the possibilities in my head, the dark-haired boy started to speak. At first, I didn't clock that he was talking to me, but in a few moments, I realised exactly what was happening.
"Well, if he still wants an assistant, perhaps you can do that! Rather you than me," he said, and as he spoke, I realised that it was Darren, the boy from the theatre.

"We do not take on children as our assistants. You are the third child who has asked me this week," he muttered.

"Believe me, Larten. I am so much more than a child. I may look young, but I have been through a lot. The Data wars, the volatile darkness, heck, I even served in a hospital when I was seventeen. Though my body is young, my souls grows old and weary. I could do with something new, to learn from something different. And, I need my friend restored to full health. Immediately," I was determined to win him over. I knew that he wasn't human, so he may as well know that I'm not either.
I know you've reconsidered since Steve visited you. You want an assistant, someone to guard you while you sleep, to collect food, to take care of your spider, to move around in the daytime. You want my help."
I put such power, such emotion into that last sentence that Larten could not help but listen and take notice. Even the strength of a vampire must bow to the wisdom of a healer sometimes. An old teacher taught me that.
"Fine, I will take you on. But you cannot bring your friend with you, Raeln. I do not trust her. An enemy of Madam Octa is an enemy of mine. She does not usually jump at stranger. You must fake your death to leave her forever."

"I understand," I nodded solemnly, thinking more of the fact that Echo could be cured than any of the long term consequences. I didn't stop to consider what I was doing. I made a mistake. It would come back to bite me. That is the worry of real life. That is how you know this is a true story. I messed up - and messing up had consequences.

"Ok. Here is the cure. Heal him, then we shall proceed," he handed me a vial, similar to a test tube but with thicker and darker glass. Inside was a bluish liquid that seemed to glow. It reminded me of Feymera, of how the street-lamps used to burn with a sapphire flame, and how the buildings were carved from baby-blue glass. It brought back memories I had suppressed for a long time. Memories of the coven, and the resistance. Memories of a wedding, and of a funeral. Empty memories, of a home long forgotten.