Armand - Eternally Misunderstood Immortal -

I took him entirely by surprise scooping him in my arms. He'd been lost in thought possibly wondering if a swim considering my late sea legs was a good idea. "Perhaps I could juggle you," jiggling him slightly for enthusis. "Failing that anything else I can do to entertain?"

“i’ll take all of you,” I told him honestly. “All the bad, the warts, not that you have any. Do you have any birthmarks at all, actually? Now that I’m sober I can’t really remember.” I giggled, trying to turn him this way and that as if to inspect him in the water. He kissed me forgivingly and I took it like a blessing, closing my eyes.

“Won’t you show me any aquatic tricks? I can be your performing seal,” I said wildly, still laughing, dizzy with giddiness. All the mortals inside those tiny lights in the distance and they had no idea that true happiness was out here, in the ocean, with the most amazing love of your miserable little life. “Daniel the Amazing Drunk!” I spread my arms out with a laugh, falling backwards onto my back in the water.

Daniels giggle was infectious as he tried to ascertain any birthmarks. "Not one, Darling." Kissing his eye lids. "One secret for you only then. I never really liked the water, a hindrance in Venice. It's only when I made this castle for us that I started to enjoy it. I learnt a few tricks yes." Using the noise of his splash backwards to mask my dive down beneath him. Making it almost sound less. Coming up behind him.

Daniels face went through many emotions. We ran rings around eachother, and sometimes confused and boggled at what the other thought. Somewhere in what I had said I had lost his thread of understanding. Too many words not enough meaning for him. “Do you think I’m not proud of you. Ofcourse I am. I should have said this instead of coolly saying you did admirably well. For someone with a clever way with words, I trip over my tongue when it comes to you. I’m trying to make up for this Daniel. One gesture at a time. You’ve always sought out nuggets of my past. I can’t promise to recount it all. But I can give you…what I can manage to now?“ This possibly came out more cryptic than he’d intended. But his desire to shield his past was a powerful one. A layer at a time would have to be peeled. I caressed his waist in circular gestures that betrayed my nerves, as the rest of my body was so still. Floating together in this dark blue, black writhing sea. It felt like we were alone in this tranquil space. Daniel held be as close as he could. It was a relief when he laughed. I had been so tense. “Its the affect you have on me. I’m an immortal idiot especially for you!” Leaning into his nose after he bopped me with his one. “My form is a constant, and so is some of the insecurities I carried over from life. Attraction and devotion are a rare combination. But I think I hot the jackpot with you, Beloved. Somethings I emotional never grew out of, we are all fools for love, non? I’ve had longer to cultivate mystique. But the heart remembers.” Stroking fingers through his hair and bestowing a kiss on his forehead. “Shall be move to shore and beach or the boat?”

Both of us were oscillating on varying pivots. Twisting this way and that in indecision. He was my fledgling, a bond as close as any vampire could produce. But he was my lover, my partner foremost. There was no rule book for this relationship. I had only what had go elsewhere before to go by. Nothing more nothing less. We needed to a key our own rules if this works to stand the test of eternity. His near death had rushed and decided the issue for me. So many mixed emotions flitted across his face. I needed to reassure him, make him no that nothing and everything had changed now. He’d started to say something then broke off halfway through his sentence. Wrapping his arms about me tighter. We wouldn’t be adrift if we keep up this talking, damned the silence between us the blood imposed. “No. We need to talk, Daniel. To increase this bond we have verbally, now we can’t rely on mental communication. We both survived. You did admirably well thrown into the melee of our vampire family. Faced with my maker and his….failings. You said you wanted to know more about me. I’ll give you something to hold onto that’s new. Then we can blow off steam once the angst has fallen, yes?” Returning soft caresses onto Daniels side, so soft and supple still. The perks of being so new to the blood. Barely dead before the first century. He’d always been concerned with feeling too dead to Daniels then warm, tender hands. But Daniel had loved him wholly and with all his flaws. Now they could feel a kinship in each touch. The same. Kindred. “Do I feel pleasing still to you now? I worried I’d feel too different. Harder. I had an advantage of dying young…..” Brow crinkling slightly at those words. “So I am eternally young, malleable compared to most my age. But still….you mightnt have found it…pleasant anymore.” How do you ask someone who you’d die for, cut your heart out for if he still wanted you like he did not so long ago. But he had to show himself as vulnerable once in a while, fallible or his walls would keep Daniel at bay all too easily.

I yelped in delight, surprised at his boldness. I had thought we would want to talk about almost dying at the world’s worst barbecue ever, but my familiar caress at his chest must have given him other ideas. Was he trying to pick up where we left off when he made me, before the concert? Had he meant to thrust me crudely at my first victim or was it the stress of protecting us both? He was still a mystery to me in so many ways, even after years of living and traveling together. 

“Hey baby,” I venture shyly, feeling tongue-tied like it’s my wedding night. 

I wasn’t entirely acting with my usual coolness, but the mistaken texts intended for Marius and what had happened in the space of a few weeks made me bolder. Daniel had been dying, our kind had been under attack from our own mother goddess and I had broken my vow by making him like me. But the sacrafice had been worth it as how could I have let him die. Better he hate me eventually that his soul leave this plain poorer. It had seemed academic as I had expected to die in the infernos that claimed so many. Now peace reigned in wondered how long it would be till Daniel realised he didn’t want me afterall and left, as is the manner of maker and fledglings. Grabbing him as such when he had desired to talk, was slightly declassé. Though he had started such friskiness with tweaking his nipples. “Hello Beloved.” Charmed by Daniels apparent shyness. “You wanted to talk?” Treading water with him in so many more ways than one.

I had not been a fan of water as a mortal. Coming from a cold frozen land. Swimming had not been a necessity. I had learned somewhat in Venice under Riccardos patient instruction. Becoming a vampire had simplified it further. He could nolonger drown, so confidence had grown. I had been stealthier than I thought. He jumped at my touch, but the chase between us as always is on. He was remarkably swift my fledgling. Endowed with all the strength my untapped blood could provide. I could be swifter but where was the fun if I couldn’t be caught. Daniel grabbed me and hoisted me up and out of the water. Fingers pinching my nipples and gladly kissed him. My hand travelling under water to grip Daniels chilled body. Settling on the crotch area.

[text: my lover] Come find me if you can, lover.

I toed off my boat shoes and shrugged out of my thin tee shirt and khakis. I tucked my underwear in between the two in a tidy pile out of the tide line, with my phone lying on top. With a small whoop of joy I ran naked into the ocean, diving in and resurfacing to lie on my back and gaze at the stars. Every so often I would look up to see the twinkling lights of distant Miami and Night Island. My lover was coming to meet me and I didn’t want to miss any one of those lights that might be his.

[Text: Beloved] One my way ready or not then Heading out to the speedboat. Making sure I’d take a short cut him rather than walking along the beach to him. Not bothering to take anything other than a towel. My fledgling preferred wearing nothing when swimming. He did so relish getting me to do the same with wild abandon. Switching the head lights on full so he could watch me approach. Ah there he was, dropping anchorage distance away. Peeling off my clothes and laying them on the deck next to my phone and towel. Maybe one day they’d make mobiles more portable, staring at the aerialed brick. Now there was an investment plan… diving smoothly into the water. “Tag your it,” I remarked dryly. Tugging on his foot.

[Text: Beloved] Have what in common, Daniel? Someone who was rescued like myself. I was mortal. You don’t need to know about him… [Text: Beloved] That isn’t what I meant at all. Ofcourse I don’t want you to throw us away. Do you think I should go? He’s succeeded already hasn’t he. Made a wedge.

[text: my love] A misunderstanding isn’t a freakin wedge, boss! Go if you think it’ll give you some closure. Otherwise, come for a swim with me. [text: my love] I don’t need to know about the guy but I’d like to learn more about you.

[Text: Beloved] No. I guess it isn't a wedge. No, he knows where I am. He can come here if he wants me so much? [Text: Beloved] He...he was my first friend. [Text: Beloved] A swim it is then. I haven't told my story to anyone. ..but I'll try. See you in ten I'll bring towels.

[Text: Beloved] Have what in common, Daniel? Someone who was rescued like myself. I was mortal. You don't need to know about him... [Text: Beloved] That isn't what I meant at all. Ofcourse I don't want you to throw us away. Do you think I should go? He's succeeded already hasn't he. Made a wedge.

I’m on the beach when I get the text. I stare at it for a while, letting my toes sink deeper in the sand as the waves lap at the hem of my linen pants. I feel timeless for a moment, the events of the past few days beginning to catch up with me.

[text: my love] I’ll still be here. Go to him if you need to. Who knows when you’ll get another chance at closure?

His dodgy maker had a lot to answer for, and if I weren’t a literal “baby vamp” I’d probably sock him a few in the jaw for what he did to the boss. But that’s really not up to me. I hope Armand doesn’t take my text the wrong way, but knowing my foot-in-mouth and his insecurities, he just might.

[text: my love] I’ll always be here for you. We have all of eternity now.

Hopefully that clears anything up. Hopefully. I look out at the twinkling lights of Miami’s distant shore and smile. Nice going for once, Molloy. This is ours, his place of power and mine, and I’m not about to let ancient history take it away.

I stare at Daniels replies with the cold realisation I texted him and not Marius’ phone. The reply was cool, reasonable. Supportive. So why did I read this as a bad omen, see it as Daniel being tired of me already…Because Marius’ actions twisted your senses and you’ve never gotten over it. [Text: Beloved] That was a text for Marius. Not for your eyes. He can wait….after all I did. [Text: Beloved] Closure will remain elusive. He will never admit his part, cowardice or pride. [Text: Beloved] You speak as if eternity makes waiting easier…it does not. I don’t want you to wait because he is still trying to play Master.

[text: my love] Someone has to make the first move. Show him his hold on you isn’t everything.

[text: my love] You made me wait plenty.

[Text: Beloved] He does not like being second best. His timing as always terrible [Text: Beloved] Did I make you wait 500 years while thinking me dead….no. Do you want me to go, Daniel?

[text: my love] Wait who was first best? No, really.

[text: my love] Can you for once not take everything the wrong way? You’re your own man and I’ve never been able to force you to do anything.

[Text: Beloved] Second best to you clearly my better heart. He was my first love...Though in truth there was someone else too... [Text: Beloved] How you underestimate your effect on me. My maker brings out the worst in me I suppose. But that didn't really answer my query?