Asia after 1600
I do not know how it happened or why it happened, but I do remember the first time my eyes landed upon the dark creature that had entered into my sanctuary. He was both powerful and weak, a proud but starving being - hunted by the humans that he, at a causal glance, appeared to be. But my acute senses knew better. He was ancient, far older than any human I'd ever seen. His scent was of something beyond the grave and time itself. He moved slowly and carefully, attempting to not awaken what he'd overheard existed here, clearly unwilling to act a challenger, but desperate for some place of safety and knowing that the legends would provide him with some measure of it. I alternatively followed and led, guiding him to shelter. I know not how long he remained in my valley, it may have been a season or several, beyond the count of a handful of days at least. After that amount of time I really lose track. The human concept of time somewhat fails me.
Slowly I came to the realization that I had seen his kind before, in a bit more of a twisted form. He was the same sort of creature that started me on this path – that had killed the kind woodsman who I'd sprung forth to act as family to. I was taken aback by the extreme difference in reaction between this new being and the one I'd first met. The last like him I'd encountered I'd been driven to destroy, but this one – my entire being was suddenly focused on protecting him. How strange a thing that was, I would later reflect, that I set out away from his hiding spot that early morn, unaware of what my deeds would lead me to.
At first all I intended was to get him strong enough to leave. I'd been alone for so long, and did not even think that perhaps I might want to stay with someone. So I hunted, but not for myself. He fed on what small animals I could exhaust and bring to him without his seeing me. I drove away the humans trying to seek him out, pestering them with bad dreams and mysterious fires until they learned to leave my valley alone. And the entire time I thought I was hidden. That was my delusion. This dark soulless being sensed me as clearly as I sensed him. Both of us chose to ignore that fact until I was forced to reveal myself in order to protect him on the fateful final night that led to my leaving that valley.
You see -- his kind usually remains alone, but he was old and wise, even among them. It was only natural that younger beings like him would seek him out for that wisdom. Some of these younger ones twinged at my sympathies, and I allowed them to pass into my realm as they followed whatever pull it was that lead them to him. Unfortunately, they also brought hunters in their wake.
On that night it was I that spotted the humans and realized that these were not the locals I'd dealt with before. Having become used to this dark creature, I could not conceive my world without him, even though he'd not seen me yet. In a fit of desperation as he prepared to fight for his very existence, I revealed myself and bid him to follow me into my sacred grotto, unaware that by doing so I would sever my connections with the land. Even if I had known - my actions would have been exactly the same. He'd become valuable to me on a level I was as of yet unaware of.
And we sat there -- he communicating to me wonders of the world his eyes had seen. Nearly timeless as I, he was, yet more aware of the passage of mortal life than I'd ever been... aching for something that he could not accept. His feet had taken him from one foreign world and culture to another, his mind sharp and eager to absorb the knowledge around it. I was awed by his brilliance, dark though it was, and saddened by the longing in his eyes.
None of those others had given him the missing thing in his existence, and I, a Bakeneko, was compelled to at least attempt it. If it was family he needed, my being was perfectly tailored to such a task. But would he accept me?
His tales mesmerized me – I think his power of suggestion came into play. Perhaps my eagerness was too much for him. Perhaps he had no idea what to do with the open heart I offered. Whatever reason, I became lost in visions of his wanderings, feeling only one intense wash of release and blackness before I knew of nothing for a time.
When my eyes started to see again I was alone in the grotto. And the place was no longer mine. Indeed, it was as if my heart and soul were already elsewhere. My feeling of unease grew through the night, for I had been unaware for nearly an entire day, before I set off on foot, knowing nothing about where I was going. My feet led me through my homelands beyond the valley into human culture and society. My mind, remembering how his was, seemed compelled to attempt understanding as he had. My Heart never thought it was enough, and so I kept moving -- following the pull of something myself that I had no name for.
From the islands of Japan, to the shores of China, across the mountains of Tibet, and the cities of India... Through vast deserts and dense jungles, bleak plains and packed areas with humanity, through both times that faded into nothing and those that would become important points in history --it was this way that I saw the world... following this never ending tug that led me again and again to that dark creature, again and again both saving and being saved. For many an adventure, neither of us knew the other by anything but feel. And that was enough. We both simply knew when we were needed.
After one particularly dangerous situation he turned to me as we marched across the sands of the Arabian desert and said, "You -- you are like holy salt... fit for danger, always causing trouble or pulling me out of it... I don't know if I should curse you or hug you half the time! 'Jisper' -- that's what these people call such a thing as you... I think I'll call you that from now on." And although the name was given in a fit of anger, perhaps even desperation, it did indeed suit me, and I have worn it as my own ever since.
During our wanderings I met many souls, some of which stayed with me, others traveled beside me only for a while before parting. One would become a minion of mine for a time, her name is Robin, a minor mixed Elven noble, partly Neko, my Childe, even when I was mortal, and now Queen of her own rather unique clan. But I get ahead of myself, I suppose... Robin and I did not take paths side by side as much as meet one another over and over. (Read about her history here)
In the depth of the night, eventually My sire and I would realize, jointly, that we were forever bound to one another. He asked me then, would I be one to stay with him until his final death, even if that never came? I told him a honestly as I could that I could see no other possibility for me, as we were destined to return to one another time and time again. Although he scoffed at the time, the centuries have proven me correct.
And sitting by a fire made of driftwood on some unnamed beach, he would tell me more of his story, for he already knew mine. He said to me then, "Little Brother, I have taken the name Alonzo Ozsvar, This is not my mortal name, for the place of my birth had no need for such things. To me you are a creature of darkness, Folded from the night, Forged from fire. I shall call you Brother Darkfold. And Little Brother, tonight I ask that you take my curse, share my destiny. I want you to meet someone who can tell us the nature of our connection, I suspect something." I agreed to the meeting, and when we went to seek shelter, he led me to a cave.
Inside this cave was a very unusual man, dusky skinned like ashes at midnight, intense eyes with otherworldly depth, unusually long pointed ears... This slight spry being motioned us both deeper into the dark, summoning gentle light upon his fingers, although I suspect none of us needed it. He Indicated seats formed of native stone and smiled before greeting the older of us, "We meet once more, sir Ozsvar, I had hoped you would find me again. Perhaps this time we can aid one another."
Alonzo gave a slight bow before sitting, "Sir Ocello, I believe perhaps we can, you asked before to find you someone with power to rescue souls. Perhaps if you could tell me now where mine is-- I can tell you if I've been successful?"
The rather --elven-- fellow laughed, and countered, "If I were to tell you where your soul was, my dear man, I'd know myself if you had succeeded. Like the last time, I would need a single drop of your blood, taken with this silver needle." With a frown, the older man carefully took the silver needle and drew out one drop of thick red liquid from his finger. "Here, here, place it here," the black eyed little gent said with some urgency.
Trembling slightly as the tiny prick of a wound closed, Alonzo touched the silver needle to the dish and jerked away from it as though it were filled with acid. I caught his slightly smoking fingers and without thinking licked them until they healed, unaware that the vampire was staring at my actions.
The elf nearly cackled with excitement, "Oh, it's here-- it's here very close." He placed the shallow bowl down as the needle spun. I looked down just in time to see it swing to a stop and reverse, moving past me, pausing and coming back. It did this several times before simply stopping. The Elf clapped his hands in jubilation, and then his face fell. "You are sure this one did not curse you?"
With a growl, Alonzo pulled his hand away, "Has he yet a beating heart? Of course I am sure!"
"Ah well then, we have our answer. I require of you then assistance -- my own soul is lost to the Abyss. It needs saving." I blinked, totally lost as to what was being said. "Stay here, rest awhile, I have a potion brewing... but you are both safe here."
"Wait -- just where is my Soul?" Alonzo demanded.
The Elf blinked, "Why, he has it, of course... and you his. But surely you knew this?"
Alonzo turned to look at me again and I met his eyes, neither of us were truly aware of the third man as he moved deeper into the cave. 'So it is true, and you hear my call when I need you.' came the familiar whisper into my mind, along with the wave of warmth that I knew to be unique to my brother. All I could do was nod. 'Then, my soul has pulled you to me, and me to you, all this time. When I bit you that night in your grotto, I sealed our fate. And yet, I was compelled to do it. Given the choice I'd do it again.'
I tilted my head, offering my throat, unspoken, but there was no need to speak... my blood was his to take, and it always had been. I gave freely. Somehow that night I took his curse, yet remained much the same, even when my heart ceased to beat, his soul remained with me, stubbornly refusing to detach. The elven male returned to us with a bowl of purple glowing brew, He looked from one to the other of us and said, "Because we know your young companion has the power to pull a soul from the Abyss, it is to him I offer mine, but if you will have me, I pledge to you both my undying loyalty." This offered and accepted, he drank his own brew and offered his throat to me.. and with my Brother's prompting I bit the exotic fellow, his already undead essence flowing into me, and into Alonzo, joining the three of us with a thin ethereal thread. (Read Lemar's History Here)
After this, Alonzo and I set out together, knowing that the elf, Lemar, would surface again. Our path took us through Africa, and back into Europe, where we slowly began to realize that another society existed below the human one, a society of Vampire clans and Lycan packs and mixed hoards. One of these groups pulled us in for a while, and although we learned much, there was much more about it we did not like-- and eventually we left to wander again on our own, leaving behind some who would prove staunch allies in the future.
The mortal world began to change rapidly now, and both myself and my brother were hard pressed to not be mesmerized by it. Because of this we were not totally aware of the dangers that the speedy progress brought with it. One of these changes would prove life altering, while I could control fire -- I nearly was not able to save my brother from destruction on that night in late 1887. Between the happenstance of Lemar's sudden reappearance and the unusual emergence of a living Clockwork Doll, Lyre, I was able to save my Liege and sire from Doom, but at the cost of most of his flesh. This too changed me, touching me with a bit of madness from Lyre, and forging a connection between us that never faded. (Read about Lyre's History Here)
While it would be Lemar's hearing my plea for help and his energy, power, magic even, that gave me time to craft what was needed, it was Lyre who guided me, even though she warned me of the risks -- I was consumed by need -- surely there was more to see, more to do-- and I could not, would not, do it alone. We labored to a fantastic degree, finally coaxing Alonzo back to awareness, his existence once more changed, and although hidden by elven trickery, his new nature would prove our saving grace many a time-- his clockworks inside making him more mechanical then flesh.
Just shy over two decades later, past the turn of the century, we braved again human society. It was late summer, this I remember. It was a ball we chose, masks to hide us just a bit more, cloaks to guard us, as much of a glamoure over us as we dared. We both were nervous that night, for different reasons. He because if his power failed there would be a riot, me because I knew I would give up everything to save him. As we stood off to the side in intense debate, SHE swept into the room. I did not need to look to know her destiny. Nor did my brother. The debate switched gears almost instantly, as to if we should tempt fate or leave. In our discourse we did not realize that the deceptively angelic creature draped in dramatic blood- red had swept up to us.
One look and I was -- captivated. Alonzo released his hold on my elbow with a mental wave of reassurance as I kissed the young woman's hand. She did something few others had dared to do, she asked me to dance. My impulse was to tell her no, This was over ridden by the mental command to tell her yes. I looked back at my Sire, and got a light squeeze on my arm for my trouble, The young lady seemed entranced already, aware of little else around her.
We moved to the ballroom floor, falling into the dance with timeless ease. Little was said. Little needed to be. Only when Alonzo stepped in, concerned and needing to know more about this creature did I release her. I watched over them from afar, keeping an eye on the approaching dawn, only sending a mental warning at the latest possible moment.
Alonzo put the mental suggestion on her to stay here, wanting to ward her off from following us-- from the danger that would bring to her, but she shook it off. We were moving swiftly, avoiding the rising sun, and I could hear her running behind us, the wind pushing her onward and driving her scent to me. We reached our carriage, and my my brother took his seat inside the darkened interior. The sun was threatening me, creeping up, whittling away the shadows, and I paused-- impossibly, risking my own existence to allow her one final moment.
She all but crashed into me, like a feather landing on pavement. I could see this was not her time, she had a life to live yet. I caught her to keep her from falling, barely risking touching her more than her elbows. I knew I had to leave her, even before Alonzo commanded me to get in the carriage. But I could not step away from her without something -- so I said to her, "We will meet again, my Childe, rest assured. Your place is here now." She blinked at me, flustered and breathless, beautiful, perhaps to much - enough that I should have been warned of the danger.
Oh, how my heart ached to ignore the fate in store for her and just pull her into our carriage and be done with it-- But Alonzo's mind pressed against mine again. I braved the sun for an instant, brushing my lips against her flushed cheek, keeping a memory of her taste to tide me by, leaving her there as I swirled into the shadows, rushed and carelessly. Slightly smoldering from my brush with the sun, I met my brother's eyes and we both knew that this would not be the last we saw of that seemingly angelic creature.
There would be others come into our lives, and this woman, Vivian Bunjie, would meet with us again several times. Indeed over time we watched her, as fate played it's hand, and the century passed. We would meet up again in the late 1980's in South America just in the nick of time to pull her out of the fire, but not in enough time to save her sire and lover. Perhaps that failure doomed her to forever seek what she had lost, and nothing Alonzo or I could give her would ever be enough to replace him.
(To be Continued...)
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