(no subject)
The beach was just I had remembered it from so many years ago. It was more difficult to get back than I had originally thought it would. It took some quick thinking and a slight push of my immortal power to finagle my way onto a transport. I wasn't so surprised though, it had been many years and things had to have undoubtedly changed over that amount of time. What surprised me the most was how lifeless the place seemed to be now. It wasn't from the lack of occupancy; it was bustling as ever with the new ownership. However, there was something missing, and that for undead life of me I couldn't put my finger on to why it felt wrong to be here.
Instead of going to my suite when I arrived, I left my bags with the clerk who assured me that everything would be ready on my return. I smiled at this, carefully concealing my fangs from him as I thanked him. I then took a long, quiet walk along the farthest end of beach away from the compound. When I settled down in the sand, I closed my eyes and sat there just listening to the sounds around me. The wind and the roaring surf were so comforting, that I fell asleep.
When I awoke there were only a couple hours until dawn. I could already begin to feel its pull. Day-sleep was different. It wasn't the relaxed sleep that I had just awaked from, where I could sense my surroundings, as my preternatural body was still functioning and I could jump to action when the desire hits. No, this sleep was a mind-numbing state that takes total control of mind and limbs, and then left utterly vulnerable. I still had time to make it to my room before I fell to the vampire's worst weakness. What I hadn't planned on was that I would find an old secret entrance to the sub-levels; where the immortals that visited would rest.
Suddenly fear gripped me. What if there was an immortal down there, or worse, what if it was someone I didn't know? Would I be killed straight out as an intruder, or would I be welcomed as just another wonderer seeking shelter before continuing on my journeys? I really felt I had no choice. I couldn't take the chance of going to my room and being discovered by an unsuspecting mortal servant. The consequences would be dire on their part, but would get me discovered as well. It wasn't worth the risk. If there was anyone down there, they would just have to move over and let me in.
Opening the door was easy. Walking down the first flight of stairs on wobbly legs was a whole other matter. I crept down quietly, stopping on each step to listen for any movements below. As only the empty air greeted me, I took another timid step until I was finally on the bottom floor. I stood there for several minutes listening, and still there were no sounds. Felling more confident that I was alone, I made my way down a dark corridor.
There was only one door along the wall in the hallway. The suite must be huge to accommodate such space. I quickly closed the gap that separated me from the door, to then peek my head inside. The room was covered in a layer of dust. That's when I knew that no one had been down here for years. I instantly became more comforted in that fact. The pull of dawn was growing stronger now, and the anxiety that I was feeling earlier wasn't much help either. I stepped in the rest of the way and bolted the door closed. I heard myself sigh, as I slid down to the floor. I could've gone to sleep right there where I sat.
I fought the sleep when I saw a writing desk off to one side of the room. On the desk was what looked to be a leather-bound book. Then it hit me; there could be information in there as to whom the form occupant of this decadent room was. I slowly rose up from the floor and stumbled on weak legs over to the desk. I had to clean the cobwebs and dust off before I could sit down and open the book. What was revealed was a darkly rich leather-bound book with the inscription of an 'A' in the center. The design looked familiar, and there was only one other time I had seen this. My eyes clouded over with the memory of Armand giving me a similar carving on a vial of his blood, that hung around my neck for years as his mortal lover, before bringing me over to him for eternity.
The cognition was slow, but it finally hit home. This was Armand's private sanctuary. He had never taken me here befor, and somehow I felt I was violating this place just by being there. I stood up, took a few steps back, ready to bolt out of there, but the sleep was taking its toll too quickly. I only had enough time to make it to the bed before I fall into my daylight coma.
There will be plenty of time to deal with this when I wake. I would go for another solitary walk on the beach and decide what to do about the book. I would also have to consider Armand's anger if he ever found out I read it. But, those worries had to wait. The dawn comes now. . .
Instead of going to my suite when I arrived, I left my bags with the clerk who assured me that everything would be ready on my return. I smiled at this, carefully concealing my fangs from him as I thanked him. I then took a long, quiet walk along the farthest end of beach away from the compound. When I settled down in the sand, I closed my eyes and sat there just listening to the sounds around me. The wind and the roaring surf were so comforting, that I fell asleep.
When I awoke there were only a couple hours until dawn. I could already begin to feel its pull. Day-sleep was different. It wasn't the relaxed sleep that I had just awaked from, where I could sense my surroundings, as my preternatural body was still functioning and I could jump to action when the desire hits. No, this sleep was a mind-numbing state that takes total control of mind and limbs, and then left utterly vulnerable. I still had time to make it to my room before I fell to the vampire's worst weakness. What I hadn't planned on was that I would find an old secret entrance to the sub-levels; where the immortals that visited would rest.
Suddenly fear gripped me. What if there was an immortal down there, or worse, what if it was someone I didn't know? Would I be killed straight out as an intruder, or would I be welcomed as just another wonderer seeking shelter before continuing on my journeys? I really felt I had no choice. I couldn't take the chance of going to my room and being discovered by an unsuspecting mortal servant. The consequences would be dire on their part, but would get me discovered as well. It wasn't worth the risk. If there was anyone down there, they would just have to move over and let me in.
Opening the door was easy. Walking down the first flight of stairs on wobbly legs was a whole other matter. I crept down quietly, stopping on each step to listen for any movements below. As only the empty air greeted me, I took another timid step until I was finally on the bottom floor. I stood there for several minutes listening, and still there were no sounds. Felling more confident that I was alone, I made my way down a dark corridor.
There was only one door along the wall in the hallway. The suite must be huge to accommodate such space. I quickly closed the gap that separated me from the door, to then peek my head inside. The room was covered in a layer of dust. That's when I knew that no one had been down here for years. I instantly became more comforted in that fact. The pull of dawn was growing stronger now, and the anxiety that I was feeling earlier wasn't much help either. I stepped in the rest of the way and bolted the door closed. I heard myself sigh, as I slid down to the floor. I could've gone to sleep right there where I sat.
I fought the sleep when I saw a writing desk off to one side of the room. On the desk was what looked to be a leather-bound book. Then it hit me; there could be information in there as to whom the form occupant of this decadent room was. I slowly rose up from the floor and stumbled on weak legs over to the desk. I had to clean the cobwebs and dust off before I could sit down and open the book. What was revealed was a darkly rich leather-bound book with the inscription of an 'A' in the center. The design looked familiar, and there was only one other time I had seen this. My eyes clouded over with the memory of Armand giving me a similar carving on a vial of his blood, that hung around my neck for years as his mortal lover, before bringing me over to him for eternity.
The cognition was slow, but it finally hit home. This was Armand's private sanctuary. He had never taken me here befor, and somehow I felt I was violating this place just by being there. I stood up, took a few steps back, ready to bolt out of there, but the sleep was taking its toll too quickly. I only had enough time to make it to the bed before I fall into my daylight coma.
There will be plenty of time to deal with this when I wake. I would go for another solitary walk on the beach and decide what to do about the book. I would also have to consider Armand's anger if he ever found out I read it. But, those worries had to wait. The dawn comes now. . .