Chapter 20Fast Forward 2 - Sinister Meeting

Back to the earth, the sleep.

I was surrounded by the earth. It was a strange but pleasant comfort that held me. The cold earth held me safe from sunlight and the others. I knew dawn was not far and I gladly let myself slip away. It seemed I was safe. I thought I heard footsteps just as my mind really started to drift away. It was too late now, if someone found me we'd both burn.

So I slept.

I never expected the ground to be so soothing in my sleep. Even when I woke up I did not flinch once in panic. I was underground, I was alright.

Moving my hands I dug my way upwards. My clothes were probably ruined, something to fall over later. At least I was safe again. I was glad this wasn't the first night I stayed away without warning. Khuna hopefully wasn't too worried about me but that was something I could deal with later. I reached the surface and brushed the sand and grass from my clothes as best I could.

"Hello again Amy."

I turned around, as I knew this voice. I knew it very well yet I hadn't heard it in quite some time. There he was.

"I told you we would meet again. Let me present myself. My name is Afentis."

He made a polite bow and smiled kindly as if he was in court and bowing for the queen. This was the first time I'd heard his name. So carefully removed from any other trail we found we had an idea that it was all the same man, but never a name.

He smiled. "Come, this is not the proper place to speak, but speak we must."

"I..." I took a deep breath and made a choice. "Alright, talk we will then."

It might seem strange to anyone else, but with all I'd gone through to find try and understand who turned me, no matter how much I detested him, I could not let this slide. Also, he felt incredibly strong and old. And on numerous occasions he displayed speed too quick even for my new reflexes. So I chose for curiosity and safety... For now.

He led the way but walked slowly, giving me all the more time to both follow at my own pace and clean myself up a little. It still surprised me how little dirt would cling to my cheek or hair, keeping me clean fairly easily. But my clothes were a different matter. Time was all it took, and the simple clean black earth of the park didn't hesitate to fall back to the ground after a bit of patting.

"Now, a choice must be made." Spoke Afentis. "Do we speak in the comfort of a tavern or the quiet of a roof. I will let you choose."

It was a good question. In a way a pub or cafe sounded nice. Among the people... Yet I wasn't sure I wished to share any such time with him. And on the roof I wasn't sure we'd be left alone. A cafe it is then. Quiet nice. I just hoped I'd fit in.

"I'm sure you will." He spoke. "I know a cafe nearby."

Again he seemed to be able to pick up some of my thoughts. I still wondered how precise he would be able to. I hoped all would be explained in due time. We headed for a cafe on the edge of the city center. It was a corner cafe with simple wooden tables and chairs. It wasn't quiet but not really busy either. They probably had good hot chocolate.

I know. I didn't drink it anymore, but just sitting there, smelling the sweet chocolate with whipped cream and feeling the warmth in my hands was almost as good as drinking it.

We entered it and chose a lone table close to the window. We wouldn't be interrupted here. Even the waiters looked gentle and cautious. I wondered if he had been here more often, but could not tell, no one seemed to recognize him as we came in.

He took the seat with the back towards the entrance, giving me the seat in the corner, with my back against the wall and view of the whole cafe. I guess it was a show of respect. He nodded kindly as I took a seat. In a way he was very much a gentleman in the best way of the word.

"What do you want to tell me?" I asked.

"Let us begin at the beginning. Before I turned you." His calm voice was nice even though his words did cause a flash of pain in my memory.

"Vampires are both the best and worst of humans. Everything humanity can do is enhanced. Strength, speed, dexterity, the power of the mind. Some of us can fly or read thoughts. Though reading thoughts is not as simple as you might think." He smiled warmly. "It also brings out the worst, blood lust, malice, the urge to kill and take life. And every one of us gets stronger over time."

He looked straight in my eyes. "I chose you because you are very much alive and intense even before you were turned. And I had no doubt you would choose not to kill. I'm proud of you for that. Khuna, Valerie and Dikaios also have this intensity and sensitivity. Even though Dikaios seems to lose himself into the virtual worlds, he surprises many when his intensity shows."

I nodded as Kai had surprised me in the past.

"I have always kept away from them until you came. You seemed to be the most clear of them all and I felt I could talk to you directly, show myself to them after all these years. But I still held back."

I smiled grimly as I recalled the 'appearances' he made to us.

"I was very surprised to hear you found that book. I didn't realize it was so close to your past." He smiled and shrugged. "No harm done I suppose." He looked around. "Come, we'll go to the roof nearby, there is something I still wish to give and to show you."

The chocolate milk was not cold yet but my curiosity overcame my reluctance. I followed him outside after he left some money on the table for the waiters. I noticed it was way too much but let it pass.

We walked outside and around the corner. There were a few office buildings around this area that had nice high and flat roofs. I usually enjoyed sitting there, their height and shape very useful for hiding from the hustle of the streets.

Standing in front of a large office building in a nearby empty street he asked me to stand still. He looked up and picked me up by my waist. I didn't even have time to look around as I felt the rush of air and saw the building blurring in front of my vision. In less then a second or so, hard to tell with so much adrenaline, we stood on the roof.

It had felt as if he just made a really large jump, but it was much to precise for that. Did he fly? Or perhaps a combination? I had little time to think on it as he bit in his arm and shoved the wound in my face.

"Drink." He ordered. His voice so strong I wanted to resist but couldn't. I bit. I drank.

His blood was like fire! It burned my throat and my mind. Flashes of ages echoed in my head and fragments of sounds I could not place flew past. After a few gulps my stomach felt as if it could take no more. I let go, but I was still on fire!

My whole being felt like liquid light, shining through the night. I even remembered flashes of looking around and seeing everything lit up... By me?

The feeling subsided and gradually faded away. I managed to open my eyes properly now and look around.

Afentis was still standing here, standing as silent and controlled as always. But something else was there behind him on the next roof. Someones.

I could see him, surrounded by his party, grinning at me as he finally caught me.

I screamed.

"Afentis!"