Most humans can’t see the supernatural world, their minds just refuse to acknowledge it. Ever thought there was an out of place or season bird? Yeah, that’s actually a fairy. That creepy guy on the bus staring at your kid? Okay bad example, that’s usually just a creep, but sometimes it could be a man-eating beast craving some veal. The reason humans can’t acknowledge the world of the supernatural, barring certain cases, is we are creatures of logic and rules. Allegedly.
Now I started with most for a reason, because there are some humans out there, myself included, that naturally pierce this veil of reason. We’re not crazy, we do get called it a lot. There’s also not many of us, only one I’ve ever met was my grandmother and she hated the fact she could see monsters. I have other things to hate about myself.
There are extenuating circumstances for the average human, of course, otherwise sightings of the paranormal and supernatural would never happen. There are few of them that there are 100 percent accurate, and less so the more modern the story is.Those who actively do believe, yes even ghost hunters, will likely have at least one true experience in their adult life, and children from time to time can see spirits, lack of conditioning to the way the world is “supposed to be” whether or not the kid realizes it is another story. But unfortunately for the most part, to get through the modern mind’s barriers the event usually has to be pretty traumatic, particularly brutal werewolf attacks are a good example, and even the victim will start to believe that was just their fear tricking them.
Shall we get to the meat of it then? A little ‘Day In The Life’ for you normal types? Alright then, my name is Maria Cabell, and I have to go see a two thousand-something year old vampire about a job.
This day starts as most of my days due, waking up at about 4 in the afternoon, though this time it wasn’t from me oversleeping for 10 hours. However the sudden spinning feeling the moment I sit up was a new one for me, at least that intensely. Chalking that moment up to nerves and finally getting myself out of bed, then I open my window get the intense reminder it’s winter as soon as I do.
I’ll spare you the details of the rest of my ‘morning’ routine, just know I look like shit. May have forgotten to actually do laundry yet again. Clad in an old stained hoodie and the sweatpants I wear to paint, I gather my things and head out.
I live near the docks, it’s not a terrible part of the city but some days the smell is absolutely rancid. Today was thankfully not one of those days. It was a long walk from my apartment to the upscale building I was to meet with this vampire. She was supposedly pretty infamous among supernatural circles, not that she was particularly evil or dangerous, it was because of how old she actually was. Usually another vampire takes you out before you can make a millennia. Also her chosen line of work is black market art and artifact dealing, which seems like a risky business.
After an hour and a half, a lot of staring at me for presumably looking homeless, and a slight change in route to avoid a crowd of the most dangerous creatures out there, bored teenagers, I finally reached my destination after sunset. On the outside the building was all glass, real great design in an earthquake zone, and it towered over the swanky but more historical buildings to each side of it. Walking inside the lobby, I find myself immediately stopped by the pretentious looking doorman. “Excuse me, ma’am, you must have the wrong building.”
“Man, I’ve got a job interview-“
“Not here you don’t, I assure you.” When he cut me off I nearly flew into a rage, I wasn’t even mad about being told I wasn’t meant to be here, I looked terrible, just mad about being cut off like that. Sometimes I look for reasons to be mad if I’m being honest.
Before I could fly off the handle, the elevator opened, and frankly I nearly shit my pants. The guy that stepped out was human, but he was huge, and wearing light body armor that somehow made him even larger. “What are you doing, Archie?”
You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.
“Escorting this young woman out of the building so she may get to the proper place for her interview.” The words were polite but the tone this Archie used could not have been more condescending, the giant of a man stepped forward, his eyes narrowing at the doorman.
“Meritites called her here.”
Archie there turned white and just stepped back from me. “I’m sorry ma’am, this was a misunderstanding.”
After that I got in the elevator with the large man, neither of us said anything as it ascended, I was super nervous and he didn’t look like much of a conversationalist. When the elevator doors mercifully open I can finally breathe, until I remember I have to meet with a vampire.
I walked into the penthouse apartment followed by the large man, illegal business and probably most of her clients thinking she was just an eccentric, it was no surprise that her home was her office. I’m instructed to sit in a chair across from another, the place was gorgeous and immaculate, most of the furniture and art were all shiny new and pristine, though there was a handful of Egyptian artifacts on display, and it only got more amazing as the blackout shutters rose and revealed the view of the city.
The large man stood off to the side, and a large door slides open, a woman emerges from it. Meritites, ancient vampire, and she was perfection. Her dark skin was flawless, her eyes were brilliant, and her lips were...I guess soft was the best way to describe them.
Her shaved head also hit a personal appeal point for me.
“So you must-“ There’s a pause from the vampire, she looks herself over, very well-dressed. The leather jacket was nice. At first I thought she was judging me, but then her gaze moved to her large enforcer “James, look at her, she weighs around 110,” Okay, I’m underweight but not that underweight. “How is any of the armor necessary?”
“Can never be too careful, boss.”
“Just step outside, you’re making this more intimidating then I wanted.” He nods and complies to her order, Meritites then turns back to me with a warm welcoming smile. “You must be Maria, I am Meritites, a pleasure to finally meet you.”
She steps over and shakes my hand, then sits in the chair across from mine, I swallow hard and avoid looking her in the eyes. Vampires eyes are risky things for me, thanks to my powers I’m immune to mesmerizing from them but I see it, the beast inside them, the hunger and bloodlust. “Y-yeah, that’s me, didn’t expect uh… Didn’t really know what to expect honestly.”
“Understandable, dear, I assume my reputation precedes me.” I won’t lie, shivered at just the tone of her voice, I might not be able to be mesmerized but that didn’t change that vampires were still instinctive masters of seduction “I promise you though, I am no harm to you.”
“And when you mean no harm, that means you’re not going to bite me...Make me like you, right?” I didn’t really know the term vampires actually used for biting and turning others.
“Oh!” Meritites blinked in surprise. “My dear, you are quite beautiful, but I must apologize, that is not the relationship I’m looking for currently.”
“That’s really not what I meant.” And now my face was burning, I really didn’t think she’d take it like that.
“Do not feel bad, I just prefer a more submissively-minded partner at the moment.” She chuckles a bit, I figure I was redder than I originally thought. Though I do worry how she got a detail like that about me. “Perhaps my tastes will shift again down the line and we may engage in an embrace then.”
I cough just to distract myself, then change the topic. “So that guy is human, and not like me, but completely normal,” I was rushing through the words “That surprised me…”
“Ah yes, all my employees are human. Non-humans tend to distrust each other, which historically is fair. Now humans, humans are simple, if you pay them enough so their as-of-yet unborn child can get into an Ivy League school then they don't ask questions. Just do what they’re told, no matter how ‘eccentric’ their employer is.” The vampire’s smile became slightly arrogant looking, less warm, and it made me mad that she was definitely right about that.
I was glad she just went with the change in topic though, I guess you get used to it after a while. “Uh, so you know about my abilities…”
“That is why I sought you out, yes.”
“Right, uh, why though? Like I don’t know how I can be of any use to you. No offense, but you aren’t cut off like humans.” I felt like I was running the risk of incurring some sort of wrath by pointing out the obvious, but it was my genuine confusion about all of this.
“That is a very good question,” Meritites gave a slight chuckle, “I am quite high profile among my kind, and most importantly, the council doesn’t like vampires in this region associating with outside kinds. Plain old humans are fine, they can’t tell and we need to feed. But they hate us working with other supernatural creatures, as that threatens their influence.”
“So what I need,” Meritites stood up, walked over to me and placed a hand on my shoulder, “Is someone capable at my side to make sure I am an active threat to their influence.”