Venturing Out (OPEN)

[erickbirch]

The weak body of a woman had become limp in Erick’s arms, as he sunk his fangs into her neck. It smelled, tasted so good – the blood of an unknowing victim. Silly of her, he thought, to have followed him into a dark street. Now, she had to bid goodbye to her life, just like the many thousand others he never let slip through his fingers. Finally satisfied, he let her body down on the ground, looking so weak and helpless. Erick hurriedly left her, not wanting to feel once again the pain and haunting of guilt. True, he loved blood, human blood. But to see them dead, helpless, mercilessly killed, it made him feel like…a monster.

London was always a good place to be, this he always knew. Aside from its abundance of innocent victims, it had in its heart certain things that would make him want to go out at night, for reasons other than hunting. The lights, the night life, the bars, the stores – they all give him a chance to mingle with those he used to be one of – humans. True, the taste of their blood on his tongue is undeniably delectable, but there are a thousand reasons for him to socialize with them, other than having them for a snack. Studying them was one. Watching how they move, the language they use, the kind of things they find most interesting – it all was amazing to him to find how many things have changed in less than two centuries.

Calmly running his hand through his black hair, he felt he was in a sudden, unusual, happy mood. How unexpected from a creature of the night. But he felt it. His heart was beating slowly as he carefully straddled along London. “Where am I heading tonight?” he asked himself in a soft of cheery way. Looking around, he found stores and fancy restaurants. “There’s got to be a better place to go,” he said. But he thought he’d stay in the streets. He loved it there, always a lot of persons to study and perhaps have a short conversation with. There was enough hunting for tonight. But something in him wanted a more. He wanted company, someone to really talk to. Maybe even someone who understands. Human, werewolf, vampire – he didn’t care who he’d meet. Just as long as he does, to satisfy his craving to fill in the feeling of emptiness inside. He knew it wouldn’t be easy, but with his mood tonight, nothing was going to get in his way.

The wind was soft and cool, brushing his face as he continued walking. Although the night was deepening, humans were still up and about. Good, he thought, a lot of people o study, and possibly talk to. The stores weren’t empty, and the streets looked so vibrant and alive. It seemed as if people were just starting to come, pouring into stores and restaurants and bars. He felt a sudden exciting feeling– he was going to have fun tonight. “Looks like it’s going to be an interesting night,” he said as if all-knowing of what the night would give him.

[R. Bellatrix Gregorie]

Every night was a morning.

A new chance.

At life?

Not life, perhaps, but a chance to go somewhere, do something, knowing that you were going to life forever. Forever and ever and ever, until the end of the world and maybe later...how long was forever? You'll know when you live it.

That was hard for Roxanne Bellatrix Gregory to comprehend at first, knowing that everyone she knew would soon die, a long way before the end of forever. Yet forever had no end.
She sighed every time she thought about this, yet somehow always was filled with a thrill she could not understand.

Forever!

Forever she would walk and run. Forever she would fight and win. Forever she would watch and replay in her memory how the mans body lay pale and...and dead.

Not that she really, really cared for him. Godssake, she didn't even know his name! But she had wanted someone to talk to. A friend in whom to trust everything. And he- He came up to her, asking for directions. Of all people!

Of all people's blood it had to be his that smelled so sweet and wonderful. Directions, who cared about them? It was dark and no one would see...

They never did see. No one ever, ever saw how Roxanne Bellatrix Gregory took down her victims with a manner that no one else could...it was like a show to watch it really, if you had were a horror film critic. Horror. She didn't think it was. To survive, that was it. Horendously Horrible, she thought not.

The night was beautiful in London as she pondered her thoughts. Scents came to her nose, and she knew the name of every single one. Every scent that touched her nose was carefully interpreted and lay there until another came along. She smelled paper shops and clothes shops...and meat shops. Uugh. Somehow the smell of animals never satisfied her. Humans were much, much better.
She yearned to smell the only smell she wanted to tonight...one of her kind, a vampire, one she could share everything with.

Everything. She had been looking for a friend for...ever.

Forever was her life, and forever had no end.

There must be someone out there who I can share forever with.

[erickbirch]

What was there for an immortal to have for the rest of eternity? Nothing, nothing but himself, nothing but that hunger for blood, nothing but, hopefully, the friends he meets along his journey. Yet there is a price to pay, when these friends aren’t of the same kind, when these are humans. What will be left of the friendship when these people die? Nothing but loneliness, and the quest for friends. What was the best thing to do for an immortal was to befriend someone of the same kind, someone who, like him, could live forever. And this is what a figure in the vibrant streets of London was looking for, Erick Birch.

People came rushing about, bumping his shoulder, yet not even minding to say a polite “Excuse me,” or a soft “Sorry.” They just looked at him, as if he was worthless as he was only a stranger to them. He smiled, though, kind gestures were never bad. It didn’t matter what they thought of him, what was important was what he thought about himself. He’d existed for more than a century, had undergone a lot of sufferings, more than these mortals could imagine, and through the years had learned to trust and lean on himself. Why, in a thousand years, would he let their opinions and actions get the best of him? Worrying was the least of his problems right now. On top of the list was to find a friend, not tomorrow, not the next day, neither next week nor next month. But today. He needed, he wanted a friend tonight. Someone to talk to, someone to welcome him with open arms when he feels breaking down. It was as crucial as air is to humans.

His eyes scanned the busy streets: who was here tonight? The smell of humans reached his nose. They were having fun – he could tell. But as he was about to approach a group of humans outside a restaurant – an energetic crowd, laughing loud, telling jokes, stories about their day. They looked like good company, he thought. As he took his first steps towards them, wearing a smile on his face, making sure he looked fine, friendly and approachable. He neared them, yet something happened that caused him to stop. The smell of an immortal – a vampire – reached his sense of smell. The company of one of his kind was even better than that provided by a couple of humans. Closing his eyes for a split of a second, he took a deep breath before turning back to the other direction, his eyes now carefully searching for that certain vampire.

Finally, his eyes caught the unfamiliar façade of a vampire, it was a lady vampire. She was there, looking like she was searching for something, or someone. He could tell she was alone, seeing how she was striding the streets by herself. He looked up at the night sky, which was still as jet black when he looked up at it earlier, before locking his eyes on the vampire, a potential friend, and started to walk to her direction. On his lips was again another smile, his happiness showing for finally finding another friend. He stopped right behind her, tapping her lightly on the shoulder, “A nice evening, isn’t it?”

[R. Bellatrix Gregorie]

Her first instinct was : Attack.

After all, she was a vampire. A vampire, as Roxanne Bellatrix Gregory always told herself, was an invincible immortal that could do anything if they wanted to. So who cared if she whipped her perfect head around to stare with her shocking, dark purple eyes? What would be the difference if, instead of staring, she just attacked, with nobody noticing? Why couldn't she? Why didn't she?

Well, first of all, the one who tapped her on the back was a vampire. So, her great common sense told her, attacking would be probably a very bad idea.
Second of all, this was the chance she'd wanted tonight, wasn't it? A vampire to tap her on the back and tell her it was a nice evening? Of course it was the best thing that had happened to her tonight.

So...What was she waiting for?

Roxanne Bellatrix Gregory did whip her head around, and saw him, with an almost expectant smile on his face. She almost had the urge to smile herself, something she hadn't done in a long time. The way she smiled was like an evil smile, mostly. A smile that made you want to run away. But the smile she gave him in a second was a pure, genuine, happy smile, the kind that vampires like Roxanne Bellatrix Gregory didn't give someone every day.

"Yes. It is."

[erickbirch]

"Yes. It is."

The words of the vampiress had reached his ears. Of course it was a lovely night, who could disagree? He watched her as her lips slowly curved into a smile. But it seemed...unnatural for her to smile. It seemed as if at first she was hesitant to return his friendly gesture. What was wrong? He reassured he wasn't scary, not even for a single bit at all. He wanted friends, he needed company, so why on earth would he make himself appear to be scary? But as he looked at her, his new acquaintance, he was rest assured that he didn't offend her at all. After all, she was as immortal as he was.

He looked around for a moment, seeing how humans continuously flooded the streets. What were they still doing at such an hour? He saw them there, full of life, vibrancy, their hearts pumping blood all throughout their bodies. They were lucky he wasn't anymore hunting tonight. His eyes then drifted to her, eager to know her name. Who was she? What was her story? He could tell this was going to be the beginning of an entirely new friendship.

Stretching out his hand, he gave another warm smile as he spoke, "Erick Birch. And you are?" His arm remained outstretched as he waited in anticipation for her to shake his hand and tell him her name. As they say, from strangers come new friends. He just hoped she would be his friend, for friends are what lacks from his life right now. It was inevitable that he was alone, so alone when it comes to friendship bonds and closeness. No one really came up and talked to him about a lot of stuff. Most of the time, he felt so left out, so rejected.

Of course, humans were everywhere. But he was always in hesitation to talk to them, to have them as his friends, because he knew that any time, he could give in to his insticts, to his hunger and thrist for theri blood. He knew that any time, he could attack them, and sink his fangs into their necks and drain them of their blood. He didn't want to hurt his friends. He didn't want to hurt them, not even for a single time. He may be a vampire, a blood-drinker, but he was still Erick Birch, and he still had a few morals left in him.

[R. Bellatrix Gregorie]

Well, she agreed that it was a nice evening. She'd seen nicer in her many, many years, and she was sure that he'd seen more than her. There was something about him that said that he was more than a century old. Her once-in-a-long-time smile turned into a thoughtful one as she looked at him. She longed to know who he was, his story, everything about him. She realized that she was staring too much at him and she lowered her eyes to the gravel on the ground.

"Erick Birch. And you are?"

His friendly gesture, reaching his hand out so she could shake it, indicated that he was reassured that she was not going to be unfriendly to him. But she didn't know that yet. He seemed nice, so she looked at his hand, then at him, with her recently downcast eyes. Considering, she thought about it. Every time she went out, she wished for something like this. Why was she considering?

"Roxanne Bellatrix Gregory," She said, shaking his hand. She quickly put her hand down to straighten the folds of her blood-red dress. She wondered whether he thought this was mean or unfriendly. Frankly, she thought, why should I care?

Oh yeah.
Maybe because he's probably the only vampire that's shaken hands with me in a century.

[/center]

[erickbirch]

His hands still outstretched, he waited in anticipation for her to take his hand and tell him her name. He knew she was thinking; it was obvious in her eyes. Who wouldn’t think about everything nowadays? Everyone had to be careful with who they’re with, who they label as their friends, and who they shouldn’t even get close to. The world has turned into a cruel place, and Erick was well aware he added to its darkness. He couldn’t resist it; the smell of blood. When the sweet aroma of blood played under his nose, he knew he could not hold himself back. It’s what they do; they are vampires after all.

Finally, he felt her hand take his in a short handshake. "Roxanne Bellatrix Gregory," he heard him say. Smiling, he answered, “Nice to meet you, Roxanne.” He noticed how he pulled her hand right away, and watched her straightening her crimson dress. She was thinking again; this he knew. Erick Birch looked at her, wondering what she was thinking. It almost seemed as if he was the first one she had talked to in a couple of years. It was like the handshake was not normal to her as it was to him; that meeting new people was not ordinary to her. His mind was filled with a million thoughts about where she came from, what her story was. He knew very well that behind the strong façade of the seemingly invincible vampires, there was always a story. A story of hurt, of happiness, of trials, of smiles, of tears, of failures; all of those that mad them what they are today.

He himself has undergone so many obstacles that he’s lost count. He could still remember them; his life as a human, how he was turned, how he struggled to adjust to his new lifestyle, all those lives he took. They were like timeless photographs that remained imprinted in his mind throughout the years. He knew he could never escape them – the pains of his past. But the only things he was sure of was that he was not going to live in the past; but rather, he must exist in his today, in the here and now. When he thought of this, it was as if he returned to reality. He remembered he was with someone, a new friend in the making.

Erick smiled at her lightly, “I’m sorry, my mind drifted off.” With this statement, he let out a low laugh, wondering how stupid he must have looked like while he was thinking about the many things he’s been through. He stepped to her side, his hand gesturing forward. “Let’s take a walk, shall we?” With this question, he intended to ask it to be able to create a much more casual and friendly environment for them to talk. Hopefully, though, she would accept the offer.

[R. Bellatrix Gregorie]

“Nice to meet you, Roxanne.”

But was it really? He looked so nice, she thought, as she looked up from her dress. I must of looked so stupid, she thought. A mean vampire she may be, but sometimes she believed in having manners. Always. When she had grown up - the hazy mortal memories suddenly flitted through her mind - she had always been taught etequitte by her many nurses and tutors. Her rich mother had rarely been seen and her father, when he made books for her, always made them appropriate, pretty, and girly. She resisted the temptation to roll her eyes with supreme difficulty.

It pained her a bit to think of her father. She had died, she heard, and she had sneaked in on the funeral that cold day so long ago...Everyone in her home town thought she was dead. Poor girl, they had all thought, dead so young, and with only one parent left, must have depressed her, poor thing... Well, now she did only have one parent: her mother, the vampire who she rarely saw. She had run away from her long ago, when they had gotten at loggerheads about everything. She only saw her once in a while...she could look after herself. Vampire tendancies probably took all of the motherly love out of her, Roxanne Bellatrix Gregory thought.

Oh, how she hated when her mother had introduced her to people! "My daughter, Roxanne...Who perfers to go by her middle name only." Roxanne Bellatrix would shoot her a meaningful look then wander away. She was very independant. Perhaps that was what her mother had hated about her.
Then why am I here, if I'm so independant? She thought, staring at the vampire who called himself Erick Birch. Why in the world am I looking for a friend?

Maybe, just like vampire took the mother out of my mother, vampire took the independant out of me.

He declared that his mind had drifted off and then laughed. She grinned again. She told him that hers had too, and then, still smiling, accepted his offer to walk. She cleared her head of her sad history as she faced the end of the street, where the sky of London was black and star-scattered.

[erickbirch]

He smiled at the fact that she declared her mind drifted off as well; vampires and their thoughts. He didn’t know even a single vampire whose head was not filled with a million thoughts in each second that passes by. There will always be those speculations, those endless thoughts that would keep bothering them. But most of all, he knew that it was the past, the mere memories, that haunted the present. Even he himself could not run from it; it always remained constant; visiting his mind during the empty hours of the day. It was as inevitable as the existence of bloodthirsty creatures, those like them. But however one looks at it, they were still mere humans on the inside, disturbed by emotions and memories, craving for company and friendship. They might have changed their lifestyles, but in one way or another, each vampire is still the same as he or she was when they were still humans.

He took the first steps; the friendly smile on his lips unfading as he looked back at her, seeing to it she would walk with him. He then let out a quiet, contented sigh as he started striding along the streets of London. His eyes met the beautiful sight of the night sky, the stars scattered nicely, like little diamonds spread across the dark clouds. The darkness seemed infinite, he thought, much like his life. Ah, immortality. It sounded sweet, but it could be empty, one thing he feared the most. But he knew he would continually make friends, those that hopefully will stay despite the ups and downs of the raging seas of life. All around people were busy, lots of them rushing around, catching up with some schedule or something. Unlike them, the pace of his walk was slow, calm. He was in no hurry whatsoever. He had time. Lots of it.

Slightly turning his head towards her, he smiled, trying to establish a conversation. “So, Roxanne,” he started, the warm smile still there, “how are you today?” He asked, wanting to make sure he didn’t catch her at a bad time or so. He would take any answer, whether she was feeling good or something was bothering her. Erick was always a good listener, and his mind was open for any new thoughts. His lips were always ready to speak of any advice that was needed, or to just answer questions. He had made a new friend, and he wanted her to feel he was always there.

[R. Bellatrix Gregorie]

"So, Roxanne..."


Something inside her flared up, the instinctive feeling that she got whenever someone called her by her first name. But she had never told him that she preferred Bellatrix, after all...


"...how are you today?" He finished, and she looked up. His smile was still on his face, never changing and unfading, and it didn't really make her feel better, though she calmed down at the Roxanne adress.


"Bellatrix," She told him firmly, looking ahead. Call me Bellatrix." She wished he understood that she didn't want to be called Roxanne, like her filthy mortal of a grandmother. She loved infruiating her mother by having the same name as her, both of them the same, vampires, like they all were...


"I'm fine, really," She started, in a forced friendly tone. "And you?" She looked down at her shoes. Why was this conversation so boring? It was like normal human conversations. She wanted to talk about how they were alike, the perils that faced them both, as immortal, never changing vampires...but what could she say to undo the happy, normal talk?


Did he feel the same as her?

[erickbirch]

Erick smiled as she corrected him, "Bellatrix," he heard her speak, "Call me Bellatrix." Had he made a mistake by calling her Roxanne? He knew that most of the time, they vampires try to stay away from something of the past, something that brings a lot of memory, something that causes pain. Was her name one of it? He, in his part, had always stayed away from remembering his father. How could he ever forgive him? His father killed his mother, mercilessly, greedily. And his father was the one who made him into what he was.

A vampire. An immortal.

His thoughts were broken as she spoke, "I'm fine, really. And you?" Her tone was different, as if she wanted more out of the conversation. He was the same way. He couldn't wait to take about everything that they were, their stories, the past that made them what they were today. Because finally, here was someone like him. Here was someone who understood what he was going through. Here was someone who, like him, was a vampire.

But how would he start the conversation?

"I'm good."

He answered. Erick's eyes shifted to the road in front of him, his steps were slow and easy. He can't quite know how to begin; there was so much more to talk about. His lips parted to speak, his eyes still focused on the path they were heading to, "Bellatrix," he finally stated, "what do you think live would have been like if we...we," he forced himself to finish his statement, "If we weren't who we are?" His gaze shifted to her, his eyes deep and soulful. Sometimes, he wanted to think of what could have been, what he could have experienced. Eternity was there, always there. But what could he have been if he remained mortal?

[R. Bellatrix Gregorie]

"I'm good,"
Wow, Bellatrix thought, What a great conversation. She immediatly scolded herself. What was he supposed to talk about, they had just met eachother. He stared ahead, but she stared at him, curiously. He seemed like his thoughts were just like hers: Come on, we're both vampires here. He wanted to talk about it as much as her. She stared ahaead again, smoothing out her dress yet again as she inhaled, deciding she would have to say something.

"Bellatrix,"

Oh, well. Maybe he wanted to talk first. She sighed, looking at him as he parted his lips to speak once more.

"What do you think life would be like if we...we..." He spluttered, but looked like he was forcing himself to finish. She patiently waited, but she knew what he was going to ask her, the same thing she thought every night... "...If we weren't who we are?"He looked inquiringly at Bellatrix, and she bit her lip. If she wasn't immortal. If she could live, feel, love, and die like a normal person.

I wouldn't have met you, She was tempted to say, but she didn't. Instead, she kept walking for a while, seeing him waiting in her peripheral vision. She was thinking, trying not to show that a war was raging inside her, thinking and bringing back all her vague mortal memories...there were very few that she could remember. Her father. Her house. Her birthday. Her last birthday...

I would be dead, She was tempted to say, but she didn't.
I wouldn't have known the world like it is.
I would have married, I would've had children, I would be happy or sad or god knows what...
I wouldn't share this night with another vampire, with vague memoried like me, who was asking me the same question that I wonder the answer to every day of my immortality...

"I don't know..." She told him finally. I wish I did.

[erickbirch]

He smiled; looking at her curiously. "Who does?" It was such a mystery; to think about what is, what could have been, and what should have been. He continued walking at a slow pace, making sure she caught up with him. What would they have been if they weren't immortals? They were dead; that's for sure. But there's something about eternity that draws him to it. It's not the power, it's not the knowledge. But rather, it's the ability to be able to live, to exist, to be a witness to the mystery of change. It was such a funny thing; the game of destiny. One day you're here, the next day you're not. But they, the vampires, were here today, until perhaps the end of forever. Ah, forever. What a magnificent word; wrapped in such mystifications and false identities. And he was there; he had the ability to witness the course of forever.

Erick looked at her once more, parting his lips to speak, "Wouldn't it be nice to know? I mean, it's hard living a meaningless life. But then again, we're not living, aren't we?" His lips pressed and curved into a smirk, trying to make the conversation a bit more lively, adding little bits of humor so as not to make the serious subject even harder for them to grasp. He slid one of his hands inside his pocket, and allowed himself to take in a deep breath. The night was beginning to be silent. He glanced around them; the number of passers-by was lessening each minute. It was late for them humans, but for vampires like Bellatrix and himself, the night has only begun. He looked up the sky, wondering where Audrina was, what she was doing at the moment. Erick closed his eyes for a split of a second, before gazing once more at Bellatrix.

"So, what's your story?" He asked with a friendly smile. "I'm a good listener," he said, the smile remaining on his lips. It was always good to know the backgrounds of people he knew. This gave him the ability to see way beyond their smiles, their actions, their words. He wanted to know people by soul. And if this vampire would let him know her, then he would gladly listen. He'd willingly tell his story if she pleased. Erick kept smiling, his eyes eager for her to speak, and he anticipated for an answer.