The immortality of Velvet

Revelations before sleep

She followed closely behind after a couple of seconds to gather herself, eager for somewhere to rest or at least to collect her thoughts in peace, not that she had much to think on, she believed anyway. She was going to find a cure and stay under this man's care while she did so but live as a proper vampire to give her the full picture, it wouldn't change her mind, she was adamant.

Taking the key with ever so shaking hands, it was hard for her to tell if it was exhaustion, anticipation or both. She'd never been in a bedroom like this and despite her plans for more in life she was never sure she would be. She took a few steps in, hesitant, as if she felt like she didn't belong in there or she'd break something. Looking around like a child, completely enamored with what she saw. Once she got to the bed she sat at the edge with the movements of a very tired being, almost flumping onto her backside, she placed a hand on the covers and fluttered her eyes at the feeling of the fabric. Running her hands along it with a gentleness combined with a sense of awe, as if a siren song was playing in her head, she crawled further onto the bed until she got to the middle but resisted lying down and went for a crossed leg position.

''This is a very lovely room, I...I...thank you. No one's ever done something comparable to this for me, no one has even tried or wanted to. Is this altruism, curiosity or something else? Also, what it the procedure for if and when my maker comes looking for me? Will I have no choice but to leave and go to him or can I choose? The thought that he could be closing the distance between us as we speak.'' She was finding keeping her eyes open difficult but she had to ask the important question. ''Am I safe with you, from him?''

Benjamin watched her, taking in her awe at the place. Of course, he was used to this level of comfort, if not better. When you lived a long time, if you were smart about things, you could become very wealthy. And vampires did tend to accumulate things, after all. In another hundred years, he thought, if she were to remain a vampire her wealth would quite possibly dwarf this well-appointed room. Though depending on her choices, she might not be around so long as that.

Her crawling on the bed drew his attention back to the here and now, though he turned his gaze from her form before she turned back to him. He walked over to the bed and sat on the edge, half-turning and tucking the closer knee up on the bed. "Of course. For the time being, you are an adopted childer. Should you decide to remain a vampire, I will extend to you the right to become a Harlow, if you wish it. I take care of my wards as well as my children."

He thought about her next question seriously, wanting to give her an honestly-considered answer. "No, it isn't altruism. I would say part of it is curiosity. I'm curious about you and the choices you'll make. I'm also curious about the research and what we might be able to find out. The subject is fascinating, after all, and one of the things I try my hand at is being a scientist." He paused for a moment before he continued. "I will be honest, part of it is that you're a lovely young woman. It does become lonely, being immortal, and having someone as alive as you are, not to mention beautiful, does burn away the monotony. I expect nothing of you in that way, to be clear, in return for anything I do for you. Merely being upfront in that I do have a certain attraction to you."

He looked to the ceiling then, trying to figure out how to keep his answer succinct on this next part before looking back down, into her eyes. "As to your maker, no. If he comes to try and claim you, I will back up my claim. You are safe here, and he will find the fires of hell cooler than my ire if he pushes me. Lay back, rest. I won't let him take you. You are my charge now, my ward, and he will never have you again."

Attraction, huh? Well that's easy. Attraction is a magnet. It's that thought inside your head that says "There's something about this..." You gravitate towards this extraordinary thing that has captured your attention, and the more you're exposed to it, the more you learn about it. It may bloom into something more, or you'll just lose interest and go find something else to be attracted to.' So her brain told her from her practice in being a cold hearted bitch in her attempt to make it in media but it was hard to feel like that.

''Something tells me your ire would be a sight to see but a horror to experience. Thank you for your honesty, it goes a long way and now that I know about yours reasons and your attraction, I can make better informed decisions. I am... attracted to you too and I do wish to talk on it more when I wake. If that's alright with you?'' She pulled back the covers and after shedding her dress and shoes, leaving her in her underwear and thigh high socks, then proceeded to climb in.

As she closes her eyes all the light fades away and smudges into darkness until all there left is black. There is uncanny peace in this dark and she likes it; this silence and composure brings her mind to rest from all the daily chaos. She wishes on drifting away in the world of sweet dreams but instead she is lead to the island of nightmares. This is the place where her past continues to spook her and her insecurities are the one that take control all over the young vampire. She experiences herself being teleported to another dimension. The air around her gets thin and thinner until if becomes almost impossible to breathe, she knew she shouldn't be able to need to breath but her mind was set to torture her. In the back of her mind she swore she could feel eyes on her burning a hole in her psyche, burning with rage.

Her features were much softer in sleep, the lines that usually creased her brow, in a hidden frown at her anger directed at her situation, replaced by the youthful appearance that matched those of others her age. She looked peaceful and as her brain drifted away from the airless place and into the soothingness of nothing, she felt peaceful.

Benjamin shrugged slowly at her comment about his ire. "Few things in this world enjoy being set on fire. That being something I can do, I generally have fewer problems than most. And of course, I wouldn't want to keep you. It's obviously been a trying time for you and from your body language, I'd guess a time since you felt secure enough that you would get actual rest. Your mind can be at ease though, as you're as safe here as you could be anywhere." When she spoke of attraction, it did spark an interest, a hope. Perhaps this would be interesting in other ways as well.

When she pulled back the covers, he stood to leave her. He walked to the door, turning back to tell her goodnight. It was at that time he saw her in her underwear and thigh highs and he couldn't help but admire her. He had an attraction to those sorts of socks, he had no idea why, but after only a brief appreciation he turned half-way around so that he was giving her some privacy as she climbed into her bed and settled in.

"Good night Velvet. Come and find me when you're ready to talk. Most likely you'll find me in my office, as I spend most of my time there. But if not, my room is at the other end of the hall, last door on the right." With that, he pulled the security door closed and locked it with his version of the key. He then went to his own room, closing but not locking his door. He wanted to be able to move quickly if he had to, and he had no real fear for his safety after all.

Walking to his bathroom, he turned on the light and began to strip out of his clothing. It had been a long night, cultivating with their meeting. One thing that he truly enjoyed was showering, his own shower being a luxurious cube of tile with a jet of hot water. He would enjoy this bath and then retire to his study to do some reading. At his age, he rarely actually slept. But the night had been pleasant, overall. He looked forward to tomorrow.