”Oh I couldn’t…” she started. But there was a hesitation of curiosity in her vocals, and it hung in the night air like dew on the morning grass. A hand went to her chin, fingertips lightly brushing her skin before quietly walking closer to the table and sitting across from the man. Surely, no matter her questions, he would be kind. After all, she had opened her home to him. He should have no ill will against her. It wasn’t normal for her curiosity to be this peaked, but between her incident at the graveyard earlier and how she could already see his skin attempting to scab without any sort of treatment, she could not resist her tongue.
”You said you were a criminal… what crime did you commit?” she asked gently, a questioning look naturally occurring, although he couldn’t see it.
Reclining blindfolded in a chair, the beast that he was appeared much less threatening. His chest rose and fell slowly with each breath. His facial expression did not change in response to her question, but his breath stopped for a moment. "You want to know the truth." It was a statement, not a question. "I do not want to scare you, but I will tell you. I am a thief, and yes, a murderer. I cannot say I do not have regrets." After a moment, he interrupted her thoughts. "Ah this blackness. It is infinite." He nearly laughed in an ironic fashion. "I truly am impaired."
Evelyn tried not to let her eyes dart down to the man’s pale chest that moved in the stillness between pauses of their conversation. Even though he couldn’t see her it still felt rude. It wasn’t like she could see his eyes to speak to him though so she felt unsure where to look. She simply nodded once when he said she wanted to know the truth. After he spoke it though, it hung in the air, awaiting a response that she was hesitant with before he lamented his condition in a rather playful manner that actually caused a slight smirk of her lips, though she felt ashamed for it. ”I am not afraid,” she said quietly. It was half true. His thievery and murder actually proved unsurprising to her. But what he possibly was, was indeed frightening. ”You said you will heal… I don’t know a man who would heal from such wounds so easily,” she said, each word quieter than the last. It was certainly a question, just not framed as one. And she paused to wait for a response to her observation.
She knew. There was no hiding it. Mithias hadn't been able to pass for a human in centuries. He only wishes he had the mind-altering abilities of his predecessor, then he could simply trick his way wherever he wanted. Alas.
Should he kill her? The thought crossed his mind, but was immediately followed by the recognition of what a deplorable dishonor it would be. It was not an option.
"My lady, what are you asking me?"
Evelyn moved her lips side to side, hands fidgeting in her lap and finger nails tapping each other now and again as she chose her words carefully. ”I suppose I want to ask… what you are. But I fear such directness would be my downfall, despite helping you,” she said in complete honesty, peering at him across the table, her eyes glancing now and again to the blades he could so easily throw at her.
"Very well then. I am a vampire." Mithias could easily imagine how much difficulty the woman must have had at that moment, mentally wrestling with truth and disbelief. "Now, even though I told you, I'm not going to kill you, so please keep calm. I would also appreciate it if you wouldn't try to cut off my head or stab my heart or some such. I still cannot see, and it would not be fair." The vampire waited a moment, giving her time to think. "If you are satisfied with my answer, I would really like to discuss other things..."
Evelyn’s first mental reaction was to scoff, even though her very own mind had been thinking the very thing he had spoken aloud. She was still trying to come to terms with such weighty statement when his voice interrupted her thoughts once more to tell her she was in no danger, and not to harm him. She was alarmed and in a way offended he would think her capable of any such things, and if he could see her face it might have almost been amusing how flabbergasted she really was. ”I would never do such things,” she finally said with a frown and a slight pout of her lips. ”Barbaric…” she whispered to herself in disgust at the very thought of stabbing someone, much less cutting off a head! She exhaled deeply through her nose when he asked to change topics, and since she had her answer, as unbelievable as it may be, she mentally agreed to do so. ”Fine. Perhaps I really can take your mind off any pain you might be feeling,” she said, clearing her throat, mind still reeling but trying to keep her calm composure. ”What do you do with so much time?” she asked. Vampires did live quite a long time didn’t they? What would one do with all that extra time? He must have several hobbies. Probably fascinating ones at that. Probably quite a traveler to. Oh to be a vampire now sounded quite a marvelous thing and she was becoming increasingly interested in this pale, acid burned ‘man’.
The vampire seemed relieved. "Ah that is the question isn't it? To be honest, I kept expecting to die for a long, long time. I dreampt of taking revenge for my turning and killing the ridiculously powerful vampire that made me, ending his ageless killing spree, then I would turn my blades on myself. Wasted many years refusing to accept that I couldn't achieve my goals. I tried, believe me. Eventually, defeat sank in. I tried to kill myself at one point, but you can imagine how difficult that was. Afterward, I went on a mad rampage, killing humans and vampires alike, trying to expose the existence of the supernatural to the world of humans. Then, my creator came to me and almost granted my deathwish. A century of darkness and silence, pinned to a cave wall, quieted my soul. I will not repeat my past, but their isn't a night that goes by that I don't ask myself the question of why I am still here and what to do with myself. Recently, I have found enjoyment observing the lives of others. I love the complexity of another person. Unfortunately, I don't look human enough any longer to pretend to be one. Friendship with your kind is problematic, and as far as other vampires go, I have yet to meet one that isn't completely out of their mind." Mithias leaned his head back against the chair and sighed. "At this point, I would like to find my father and see what keeps him going. Until then, I am little more than an observer.
I do want to live, Evelyn. I am not a coward who is afraid to face life. I'm only looking for my place.
So, would you be opposed to telling me about yourself? I too have many questions."
Evelyn listened intently as Mithias spoke. If his features dared not reveal his age, then surely his voice would if he spoke to anyone. He spoke like an author reading his poetry out loud. An old soul with much more knowledge and experiences than most others could barely hope to get a fraction of. He believed the words too truly that left his lips for them to ring false in Evelyn’s ears, and that only made him more terrifying and yet amazing. She was sitting across her table speaking to a vampire. How positively mad it all was. And how tragic yet inspiring was his story.
“Me?” she asked, surprised he had questions for her. She was rather boring even compared to the next human, at least in her perception. “Um, well, yes you may ask me anything,” she said, now curious to know what could possibly interest him about her.
"Tell me. Who are you? Why did you stop to help me? What do you know of Kingsley manor? Tell me anything and everything you will."
Evelyn had a slightly confused expression, but had no issue answering his questions. "Evelyn de Winter. I stopped to help you because you were hurt and needed help. I just moved to Ipswich within the last month or so, so I don't know much of Kingsley Manor, just the rumors that vampires live in its basement," she said, her answers simple and direct.
Mithias scoffed. "Heh. That's not true."
Evelyn looked confused. "Which part... about the basement of the manor?" she asked, curious to know more of what he knew for sure.
It seemed the woman wanted to keep the details of her past and her life to herself, as she answered his questions curtly. Mithias wouldn't press.
"I have been in the Kingsley manor's lowest level, and I know for a fact there are no vampires there. It is actually the home of a family of vampire hunters. They seem to be host of a gathering of their lot. I can only assume whoever caused the explosion tonight was either a vampire or working for one... Unless there was some other, entirely unrelated reason for attacking them. Humans seem to fight so much over money and beliefs." Mithias' skin was looking extremely improved. "The man I saw on that rooftop, the one that splashed me with acid, was human. He is still out there, and that is all I know.
Once I can see again, I will go back to chasing him. I am not sure what i will do with him once I get to him, but I can imagine what the Kingsley's would do. I wonder what you must make of all this."
