Behind The Mirror

Day 3 at the Safe. While T slept, I did some rounds of the place, checking on things, seeing what needed to be done to get it back in shape in case things turn for the worst and amazingly, it looks good. Fresh stores will be needed but beyond that, everything is fine. When I came back, she was up and awaiting me in the hall, with a smile that was the beginning of that warm and happy smile I am so used to. We settled in to talk if she wanted to but mainly just to be together again, touch, know he is not still out there waiting.

She is relieved but seems to be having some trouble, understandably, with the idea that he truly is gone when it was not by her hand and she did not see his end. Modern theory calls it closure, but I believe there is still some unsated need for revenge, again, understandably. What she shared with me next only serves to uphold my thoughts there. She puts on a brave face but I know her far too well to be fooled.

After some hesitation, she told me that this was not a unique occurrence, that he had done the same many years ago when she was but newly embraced. She had hoped that the many decades since, with no sign of him, meant he had finally given up on her, forgotten. Foolish hope. Kindred have long memories and the thought of him out there watching her, plotting and planning and biding his time stirs something in me that is dark, angry and forbidding. She was in my arms them, but as she spoke of his previous atrocities, the warmth she usually gives me was replaced by rage…and by the desire to reclaim her as my own, cleanse her of every shred of the taint left in her by his touch and his blood. Both my ego and the Beast demand it and for once, I shall not fight it. Again the words fade, replaced by the vision of this night…

Do you trust me, T? Will you place your unlife in my hands so that I may remove the last of him from you? So that I will not look at you and see you as he left you, so broken and despoiled?

The Beast is howling in my ears now as I drink, draining the vitae that sustains her, the vitae that ran from his veins to hers, leaving nothing but shame. She is so still beneath me now, the sleep stealing over her. So careful, I must be so careful…the illusions begin to spin wildly as the blood burns away from me, colors blinding and chaotic, mind numbing, but even they cease as now, I am empty of her vitae as well. The blood courses down my throat, my own thirst eased and once again she is in my arms. Drink my darling, take what is rightfully yours, so that I may reclaim what is rightfully mine.

Mine….mine…the words escape me in a hiss, echoing in the room and in my mind and deep inside the Beast purrs as it, too, reclaims her jealously. Mine…

We are quiet now, together and pure once again. Even as I murmur words of comfort and assurance, I think of Jago. I have no illusions that deep inside, in that part of me where the darkness lives, that I enjoyed his last few minutes on this earth, enjoyed his suffering. I also know, with absolute certainty, that
should I ever give in to the darkness, I would be like him. I am so very grateful that we saved you T, my salvation. Had we not, I would be lost and what Jago did would be child’s play…