Chapter 6: New life

After the mysterious vampire dismissed him, Ethan was sent back to the surface, where another car was waiting for him. This time, the driver, a young man with a buzzcut and dull eyes, did not feel like a vampire or a human, which greatly puzzled Ethan.

Still, he did not talk to the man, as his mind was occupied with what had just happened. He survived. All four elders were stronger than him, but he lived. Falina was strange, though he didn't sense any ill-will from her. Damien was apprehensive but not openly hostile, and Marius did not like him at all.

Ethan wasn't sure why. Today had been the first day he met the man- or vampire, for that matter. His hand slowly reached out and covered his eyes, 'could it be because of my eyes?' he wondered.

'Nobody explained what it means to be a grey, though,' Ethan sighed and massaged his temple.

The car continued across downtown, the traffic was heavy despite the late hour. It was a sight Ethan was unused to. With work occupying all his time, he barely had any to go out. His life was a dull routine of work, food, sleep, and repeat.

Was it even right to call it life? He didn't know. It had only been yesterday when he was worried about his rent, yet now such worries seemed so far, so distant. His apartment was trashed, and although he couldn't remember everything, he still had faint recollections of what had transpired.

His mind briefly entertained the image of his landlord coming to collect rent, only to find the apartment in ruins. The thought brought a small smile to his face.

Soon, the car came to a stop. This time, they were in a residential area full of townhouses. The driver said nothing as he parked by the curb.

Ethan frowned and looked out of the window. The house, tall, and narrow, was adorned with intricate wrought-iron balconies. The brickwork, aged and weathered, bore the marks of time, each crack and crevice telling a story of its own.

"Have we arrived?" Ethan asked, but the man remained silent. His dull eyes stared back at Ethan from the rearview mirror, filled with an unsettling anticipation. Ethan’s frown deepened as he cast another glance at the house. With a sigh, he opened the door and stepped out.

The second he was out, the car drove away. 'Is he mute or something?' He wondered as he watched it depart.

Shaking his head, Ethan scanned the neighborhood as he ascended the stairs. Despite its proximity to downtown, the area was surprisingly quiet. Then again, it had the unmistakable air of a wealthy neighborhood.

Ethan's gaze moved to the front door, a heavy oak portal with ornate carvings. Two lanterns flanked the entrance, casting a warm, inviting glow that contrasted sharply with the cool, shadowy corners of the building.

Just as he was about to knock, the door slowly opened with a creak.

"Well, fuck me." A familiar face greeted him.

Ethan raised his brow at the dark-skinned vampire before him, his mind struggling to recall his name.

As if sensing his struggles, the vampire sighed and spoke, "It's Terrell."

"Right," Ethan nodded.

"Are we good? You won't suddenly jump on me or anything?" Terrell asked.

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Before Ethan could respond, a hand reached out from behind and pulled Terrell back. “Don’t mind the idiot. Please, come in,” Clara said with a smile, stepping aside and gesturing for him to enter.

He nodded and stepped inside. The grand foyer was bathed in the flickering light of crystal chandeliers. Ethan’s eyes took in the polished marble floors and the walls adorned with rich, velvet drapes. The air was thick with the scent of aged wood, mingled with a hint of something more mysterious.

His eyes moved to the left, where a sweeping staircase with an intricately carved banister led to the upper floors. Shadows seemed to dance in the corners, but Ethan found himself strangely at home.

"Isn’t this a bit too cliché?" Ethan couldn’t help but ask.

Terrell rolled his eyes. "And he has jokes. Wonderful."

Clara chuckled. "The house belongs to the Council," she explained.

"They have an image to maintain," Terrell added, standing beside her.

Clara nodded, "So, welcome to your new home."

"At least until you get settled in," Terrell chimed in.

"I'm supposed to stay here?" Ethan absent-mindedly asked. His eyes were already wandering around.

"Yes, until we teach you about the rules and get you settled in, you'll have to stay with us."

Terrell scratched his head, "That, and your house is pretty much trashed so you can't go back."

Ethan turned to the vampire with a frown, causing Terrell to hastily raise his hands, "Hey, don't look at me like that man. You're a vampire now. You couldn't go back even if you wanted to."

"Terrell is right. Your old life, old friends, family, you have to leave all of that behind. That is rule number one." Her tone was solemn as she stared into Ethan's eyes.

Perhaps for someone else, the notion of leaving everything behind might seem dreadful, but not to Ethan. He had nothing in the first place.

"I understand," he calmly replied.

"Yeah, Yeah, it's shit but we don't make the ru-" Terrell paused, "Huh? What did you just say?"

"I said, I understand. It's not like I had anything to go back to in the first place."

Terrell glanced at Clara and awkwardly scratched his head before he hesitantly tapped Ethan's shoulder.

"You've had it rough as well, huh?"

Ethan shrugged. "Same with everyone, I suppose."

"Heh, you're not too bad after all," Terrell smiled.

"Your previous identity as Ethan Oaks will die in an explosion caused by a gas leak inside of your house," Clara spoke as she led him further in, with Terrel following next to him.

The dining room was a scene from a gothic painting, with a long, mahogany table set for a feast, though the plates remain untouched. Candles in silver candelabras cast a haunting glow, reflecting off the dark, polished surfaces.

Clara motioned for him to take a seat, which he did. She then sat facing him with Terrell to her right. Their golden eyes seemed to glow ominously.

"Do you have anything you want to ask?"

"You said an explosion?"

"Yes, there were too many traces left in the house. An explosion was the best option to cover everything."

Ethan nodded, "I see."

"There will be a small funeral held for you, but that won't concern you any longer."

"A funeral? What will you put in the casket?" Puzzled, he asked.

"Nothing, it's a closed-casket ceremony."

Ethan felt strange hearing that. No matter how indifferent he felt to everything at the moment, it was still weird.

"I know it might be too much to take in right now, but you have an eternity to get used to it," Clara reassured him with a smile.

Ethan nodded, though his mind was still preoccupied by the thoughts of his funeral. Who would attend? How many people would even bother to come? Two? Maybe three? How many would even notice he has gone missing?

His bosses, that's for sure. The liquor store cashier downstairs. How pathetic. He sighed and lowered his head.

"You okay?" Clara asked.

Taking a deep breath, Ethan tried to steady his emotions and nodded.

"Yes."

"As I was saying, it might feel overwhelming, but you'll get used to it."

"Time is all we have," Terrell chuckled by her side.

"The Council will provide you with your new papers and documents, so you don't need to worry about that," Clara continued.

"Don't worry you'll get to keep your first name, at least," Terrell added.

"Yes, but now on a more serious subject," Clara leaned in closer, her gaze serious as she spoke, "You haven't heard It yet, have you?"

"It?"

"The Thirst."

"No, it's... quiet."

Clara and Terrell took a heavy sigh of relief. "Well, it seems like the worst has passed," she said.

"It won't always be quiet, so don't be surprised when it comes back," Terrell added.

"He's right, which brings us to our second topic; feeding."

Ethan slowly nodded. Vampires fed on blood. That was something everyone knew.

"Yes, we feed on blood, but there are rules."

Clara raised her finger, "One, you only hunt in Council-authorized ground." She raised a second finger, "Two, you do not kill your prey. The last thing we need is another hunter inquisition on our asses. And three, you must never break the Veil. Simple, right?"

"Hunters? Really?" Ethan couldn't help but ask.

Terrell chuckled, "There's Vampires, why can't there be Hunters."

Clara slowly nodded, "The world is bigger than you once knew."

"I see, and what is this, Veil?"

"The Veil is where the mundane and the supernatural coexist. It’s how we maintain the delicate balance between our world and that of the unsuspecting humans."

"What she means is, don't go around telling everyone you are a vampire. The Council doesn't take kindly to that and neither do the other forces," Terrell explained.