22: 22 A Favorite? (AVOT)

22 A Favorite? (AVOT)

Rhain stood in the shadows outside Philip's home. He really didn't want to listen to Daisy but he would have to be strategic. Punishing wasn't his priority anyway. Getting Daisy was.  1

After compelling Philip to leave the family alone, he strolled back home, contemplating whether to satiate his hunger or wait a little longer. If he was going to drink, then he needed a nice female in his embrace. A delicate neck to sink his fangs into. 

His throat burned with a familiar thirst, a hunger that echoed through the centuries. Tonight, he decided, he wouldn't hunt. Instead, he would find his nourishment somewhere else. 

Rhain was a master at navigating the labyrinthine enigma that was Umbra Aeternum. The air was thick with the scents of perfume, blood, and something darker, a heady cocktail that made his senses sing. His eyes, colder than the chill outside, scanned the room, observing the interplay of predator and prey. Humans and supernatural beings coexisted here, in a dance of seduction and surrender. 

His eyes finally fell on a young woman with auburn hair cascading down her shoulders. There was a captivating innocence in her eyes, a curiosity that sparked interest in Rhain. His supernatural allure began to weave its seductive web as he moved closer, his movements as graceful and precise as a predator closing in on its prey.

Her heart fluttered, and her breath hitched as he took her wrist gently in his, an unspoken promise passing between them. Without a word, he led her through the dimly lit room, away from the watchful eyes, into a secluded chamber. The room held an intoxicating mix of darkness and sensuality, perfectly resonating with Rhain's own aura.

Once inside, he closed the distance between them, his cool hands moving to cradle her face. Her heart pounded beneath her chest, her breaths uneven as he leaned in closer, his lips barely brushing against the tender skin of her neck. 

His gums ached, and then his fangs extended. As he sank his fangs into her neck, a sharp gasp escaped her lips, quickly replaced by a moan of pleasure. Rhain drank from her, the warm, rich blood quenching his burning thirst. But as he fed, his mind drifted, his thoughts unbiddenly going to another. Daisy.

Her image flashed before his eyes. The soft waves of her brown hair, the warmth of her brown eyes, her innocent charm. His grip on the woman tightened unconsciously as he imagined Daisy in his arms, her blood flowing into him, her skin warm against his, her heartbeat racing in time with his. He thought about the taste of her blood, warm and sweet, carrying the essence of her life, her fears, her desires. The anticipation stirred a strange hunger within him, one beyond the primal thirst for blood.

The thought of her, stoked a fire that spread through his body, focusing into a raw, insistent ache that eventually turned into a hardness. 

The woman, lost in the euphoria of his bite, leaned into his touch, rubbing gently against him as if he wasn't already in a torment of his own. He pulled his fangs from her neck with a low growl but held her still in his arms, contemplating satisfying his other desires as well.

But then he wondered, when did he ever give in so easily to his desires? 

Changing his mind, he let her go. The woman looked disappointed that they had only shared a kiss, which was what he made her believe happened. She tried to persuade him with touches and glances, and he quietly made her leave with a simple suggestion he placed in her mind.

The woman would be relieved if she knew the truth. As a vampire of considerable age, Rhain possessed the ability to restrain his hunger, a skill the younger vampires lacked. This often resulted in unnecessary deaths among their human prey. The more experienced of his kind, however, preferred to keep favored humans around for a continuous supply, aside from the hunt. Some favorites were even well-known, gaining influence and power in their world because of their masters. Lady Makatza was such example. 

Did Daisy perhaps qualify as a favorite? Rhain had never had a particular favorite, though historically, many vampires were initially favored humans before their masters, unable to bear parting with them, granted them the dark gift and the curse of darkness.

His own master was a figure of ancient origins, known simply as Lysander. The day Rhain had been turned remained vivid in his memories. As a human, he had believed in the whispered tales of the Vampyr; nocturnal creatures who reveled in eternal darkness, feasting on the lifeblood of the innocent. They were powerful and immortal. They never got sick or grew old. 

Unlike his parents, who died after the plague had them, leaving him alone in the world with his ailing older brother. He was but nineteen when his path first crossed with Lysander's while in search of his kind. Rhain had sought them out to save his brother from the illness that was slowly taking him away. 

The desperate venture nearly cost Rhain his life, with a lesser vampire draining him to the brink of death. But as fate would have it, Lysander arrived like an angel of death, taking the life of the vampire and saving his. Lysander offered eternal life for his brother, but the price was Rhain himself, to serve as his thrall.

Rhain had agreed, and the ensuing change was profound. His brother was turned, transforming into a blood-thirsty creature in the throes of a hunger he could not control. The first years were dangerous, with Lysander acting as Rhain's shield against his own brother's uncontrollable thirst.

From a life steeped in poverty, Rhain ascended to an existence of abundant luxury. Lysander was a master who catered to his needs without fostering entitlement, ensuring Rhain received a well-rounded education and the strength to face the cruel world, including his brother's resentful wrath.

"You should have let me die!" his brother would constantly complain, hatred clear in his eyes. 

Lysander would console Rhain, promising that the first years were the hardest and assuring him that his brother would adapt, in time. His master's prophecy came to pass as Rhain's brother eventually embraced his existence as a creature of the night.

"You may believe you choose the darkness," Lysander once imparted, "but it is the darkness that chooses you." And so, Rhain found himself chosen by the darkness, turned into a Vampyr by a master who saw in him a fit for their eternal, nocturnal world.

The torment of transformation remained fresh in Rhain's mind. The relentless thirst, the amplified senses, the predatory instincts - all were overwhelming. Yet, the loss of the sun's warmth was perhaps the most profound change, since young vampires could only emerge during the night. Rhain spent many long years yearning for the daylight and even if he could walk in the sun today for a longer period, it was never the same. 

Perhaps that was why vampires were so drawn to light and life. They craved what they had lost.

Making his way to Tiberius's quarters, Rhain was unimpeded by the guards. They recognized him, and knew he was always welcome. The journey led him to a concealed location where his brother's coffin lay hidden. The space was draped in shadows, a gloomy and somber reflection of the life it guarded. The coffin itself, made of ancient oak was carved and adorned with silver filigree. He gently opened the lid, revealing the figure of his brother within. Roy was a haunting image of eternal sleep, his features calm in the darkness. 

"I will bring you back soon, Roy."

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