Snow fell. Whiteness coated the paved pathways and the weathered walls and the bare branches and the huddled homes; a colorless comforter that covered all creation. In a way, it was oppressive. Roy sipped from his cup. The warm sweetness of hot chocolate slipped through It fell, the snow, and he enjoyed it.
His family estate was in a southern region of Ehroun known for its more temperate climate. Snow was rare and often sparse there. In Solduen, however, it came down in sheets. The frigid temperature left even the most bundled shivering. Dry air cracked skin. Mushy snow and slippery ice impaired travel. Still, Roy found it a welcoming change of pace – better than rain at least.
Naturally, activity was low today. Some braved the frost and came to the café. Most were nowhere to be seen. As much as he missed having a customer or two relax in the café as he had grown accustomed to, there was only one thing he missing right now; when the weather was freezing, nothing sounded better than lounging around a vibrant fireplace. The café didn’t have one, but the extra bare room adjacent to it did. Sprucing up that room into something usable was on his to-do list along with hiring an employee, stocking up on supplies, and figuring out to do with the secret half of his house.
In the quiet, Roy was working on his financials. With the month of December rolling in, he wanted to tally up his sales and expenses for November. It was boring work, but it was needed.
His accounting was interrupted as the bell rang and a mass of cloth wobbled into the store. It was Lord Salazar.
“Lord Salazar! How are you doing today?” Roy asked, putting aside his financials. “Bad weather not keeping you down it seems.”
Lord Salazar scoffed. “Think this is bad?” He tapped the window with his cane. “This is nothing. If you want bad, try the blizzard of 1092. Stacks of snow and ice that would dwarf that wall of yours outside.”
Of course, Roy thought. He had almost forgotten that one blizzard almost 800 years ago. An understandable mistake considering he had never even heard of this blizzard before. Considering the wall outside was around 10 feet tall, it was hard for Roy to believe such a storm even happened. “So what brings you out here today?”
“Well,” he chuckled, “What’s a retired old man like me going to do all day besides bother people?”
Roy chuckled with him. “Get a hobby, maybe?”
“This is my hobby,” he said with a frown, “along with gardening.” Doromun took a seat in front of Roy. “Get me something warm, if you would, please. “
Something warm… Roy decided on a fresh brew of coffee for the man. His eyes drooped as if someone was banging on his front door in the dead of night. “Didn’t get a good night’s sleep?” Roy asked, brewing the drink.
“Worse than you would think,” he sighed. “Mr.-Big-Bones was banging on my door all night, wanting this bag of bones to come out of retirement.
Roy placed the steaming cup of coffee in front of Lord Salazar, “Does it have to do with the murders?”
He nodded his head as he took a sip. “The situation is not growing any better. Mr. Bones is trying to rally everyone he can to tackle this problem – rightfully so. He just needs to stop doing it in the middle of the night.”
“Does he really need to get everyone to help with this?” Roy asked.
“Normally, no,” Doromun plainly said. “Vampires take a go at humans every now and then. A normal occurrence that we can normally take care of. However, this time is anything but normal. The murders are numerous, the victim profiles consistent, the crime scenes clean. A clear premeditated effort reminiscent of a serial killer.” He took another sip of his coffee with a heavy sigh. “We aren’t a police force or detectives or anything of the sort. All we are is a close knit community. Mr. Bones is right; we need to take care of this issue before the humans do lest we face the consequences – a task far easier said than done.” Lord Salazar ran his hand through his beard and looked around. “Anyways, let’s get off this unpleasant topic. Have you anything new to speak of?”
“A few things,” Roy mused, pulling up a chair on his side of the counter. “The biggest development, I would say, is that a secret room was accidently discovered in this place. It led to a whole nother side of the house. Complete with multiple stories, a back entrance, and a basement that led to a tunnel system.”
Lord Salazar cocked an eyebrow, “Wait… a tunnel system?”
“Yeah, Liz mentioned that there was a tunnel system that runs underneath the entire city, and the basement of this place might be part of it. Do you know of it?”
Without hesitation, he stated, “Of course I do, and I know enough to tell you to stay away. There’s nothing for you down there.”
A sharp reply that silenced any questions Roy had. He wanted to ask more about it, but it seemed like that wasn’t happening. “Well, besides that, An has been getting out more. She sits down here from time-to-time instead of up in her room all day.”
Salazar sighed, “Is that it? Again, put her to work. It would be good for her.”
“Well,” Roy fidgeted in his chair, “I don’t want her to do something she doesn’t want to do. And I always ask her if there is something she wants to do. She just doesn’t give a straight answer or any answer…”
“Of course she doesn’t give an answer, boy,” Salazar said with annoyance. “She’s not daft – why do you think that is?” Roy frowned, scratching the back of his neck. He cluelessly shrugged. “Someone like the Anorlynn,” he despondently explained, “Quickly learns the true cost of selfishness. So the mother of all Vampires threw away her humanity for the cost of her actions were always far too great. This is one reason her bond to the Gieryoums and the Eihlverion exist.”
“I’m not sure I completely understand,” Roy said, seeking clarification.
“And I doubt you will,” Lord Salazar snapped back. “After 2,000 years, I can’t even say I do.” It was quiet except for the low hum of the wind. Salazar said, “It’s a pity, and I was never able to do anything about it.” He placed his empty cup down and stood up, “I must go. Unfortunately, there is work for me to do.” Roy watched as he opened the door and disappeared in the whiteness.
He washed the cup. There was an itch on the back of his head telling him he had made a mistake; there was something about An he failed to understand. He couldn’t read her at all, and he felt lost because of it.
Roy cleaned the café. Snow still gently fell. Visibility was limited outside his windows – as if there was anything to be seen, anyways. As he wiped the tables, An glided down the steps.
She stopped at the foot of the stairs and looked at Roy. “It’s snowing,” she said.
“Yes, it is.” Roy leaned on a table, “Do you like the snow?”
The Vampire silently walked towards the windows. She wore a small jacket – an addition to her normal maid-like clothing. Her eyes peered outside, the white reflecting from her irises. Contempt crawled on her face, her eyebrows furrowed, and her mouth frowned. “I hate the snow.” She turned away from the window to face Roy.
A strong opinion. Roy momentarily froze; he wasn’t ready for that. An folded her arms together, nestling her hands under her armpits. What came to his mind was not a girl who was irritated or displeased, but one who was simply cold. “Would you like something hot to eat?” He asked with a smile. “I can make a mean bowl of stew – will keep you nice and warm, for sure.”
“Okay.”
“Take a seat,” Roy motioned to the bar stools. “I’ll have the stew ready soon!”
He made his way into the kitchen and went straight to work. Truthfully, he already had the stew simmering for a while. On a freezing day like this, he wanted a steaming lunch to power him through the frost.
Marbled beef poked out of the broth. Potatoes and carrots bobbed around the meat islands, stewing in the mixture. Roy wafted the stew. The pleasant, earthy aroma entered his nose. A savory smell with hints of citrus. The thyme, black pepper, garlic, and yellow onions all complimenting the scent. A few more minutes and it would be ready.
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He left the kitchen; there was no point in standing around and there when he could keep An company. “Just a few more minutes,” he told her. An sat patiently like a chiseled statue. “So, how are you doing?” Roy asked, taking a seat across from her.
“Well.”
Roy scratched the back of his neck, “That’s good to hear. You seem a little cold though. Weather got you down?”
Her eyes wandered around. An took a glance out the window and replied, “I don’t like the cold.”
A laugh escaped Roy. He had never seen An take such a strong stance. “You know what? Maybe we both need to go shopping. As much as I like the snow, I can’t take the cold either. My flimsy clothes and that light jacket of yours won’t cut it out here.” An looked down at her coat and examined it carefully. Her face seemed to agree – her jacket wouldn’t suffice. As for Roy, his closet was packed with clothes made for the warmer weather down south. None of it thick enough for this ice.
“You don’t need to spend on me,” she said, her voice as dry as the frigid air outside.
“Well, if you are cold, then don’t we have to?”
She frowned and tucked in her hands, “I’ll live.”
Roy frowned back at her and rubbed his chin. “How about this,” he proposed, “I need help around here – business has been going well. Why don’t you lend a hand? Help with seating customers, preparing food, and serving drinks. If you do that, then I can give you a wage or an allowance or buy things like a proper wardrobe for you. You earn the money, you use the money. Give and take, you know?”
Her sapphire blue eyes pierced Roy. There was a long silence as she held her unwavering gaze. She blinked. With an exhale, she consented, “Alright.”
Roy grinned from ear-to-ear, “Great!” He was afraid she was going to say no – or worse, not respond at all. He outstretched his hand, “I know we have been living together, but I look forward to working with you!”
An appraised his hand and slowly clasped it. Her hand was soft like feathers of a goose, but strangely hot, almost a feverish warm. Her stone face was relaxed and her eyes were full as life. As they shook hands, the young Gieryoum felt that this was his first true interaction with the Vampire.
“Now, shall we have a bowl of beef stew?” He asked with a smile. An nodded her head and he retreated into the kitchen. He poured out two steaming bowls and brought them back out. One for An and one for himself.
The Vampire took her spoon and immediately began eating. She had one mouthful of the broth and puckered her lips.
Roy asked, “How is it?” Her eyebrows were heavily furrowed, accompanying her strange mouth movements.
She opened up her mouth and let out pant. “Hot,” was all she said. Roy responded with a chuckle, taking in a piece of beef himself. An ate the stew at an amazing speed, as if her stomach was an endless cavern that swallowed everything in darkness. Roy consumed his stew at a leisurely pace, enjoying the soft potatoes and cooked beef.
To his surprise, the bell rang. Sarah walked in, brushing snow off herself like leaves off a tree. She greeted Roy, “Hello.”
With spoon in hand, Roy waved at her, “Hey, Sarah. An and I were just eating lunch. Would you like to join us?”
Sarah continued to brush the powder off of herself, “Is that stew? Don’t mind if I do.” She strode in and took a seat one over from An.
Roy went and returned with a hot bowl for Sarah. He gave it to her and asked, “So, what brings you here through the bad weather?”
The oldest daughter of Horin laughed. “This weather? Bad?” She pointed at the window with her thumb, slurping a sip from her spoon, “You should have seen the blizzard a couple of years ago. Stacks of snow that went more than halfway up that wall of yours out there.”
A strangely familiar story, Roy pondered. “Down south I never encountered conditions like this. Will take some time to adjust to it.”
“To be expected,” Sarah said with a shrug. “Anyways, I came here to ask you something.”
Roy leaned in, “What could that be?”
“Are you still looking for someone to help you? I kinda still need a job…” She said, her voice meek and her face slightly flushed.
An raised her hand and commented, “I work here.”
The two gawked at her. Roy laughed as Sarah stammered, “W-what do you mean you work here?!” She turned to Roy with a scowl, “Is this true? I needed this job!”
Roy stopped laughing. He rubbed the back of his neck and tensed his throat. He had forgotten that he was the one who offered a job to her in the first place during the Thanksgiving dinner. Now, he had just given it away. “Well…” He struggled to find the words to explain the situation.
Then, Sarah giggled and said, “It’s okay, Roy. I was just messing with you. If you gave her the job, it’s fine.” She happily ate her stew.
“Just because she agreed to work here today doesn’t mean I can’t hire you,” Roy replied. At this point, guilt was eating away at him like a starving dog would chew on a juicy bone. He could not not offer her a job without leaving him in a sour mood. “You can just both work here. Maybe split up the day? We can make it work.”
“I would appreciate it,” Sarah said. “It’s honestly very hard to find a job – let alone a good one. Many stores won’t even serve a Vampire, let alone employ them. If I showed up to apply for a job, the only position I would get is the one on the chopping block.”
Roy peered outside. The snow had let up and the grey sky had cracks of sunlight. “Then it’s settled. Everyone, finish your stew. We are going to go shopping.”
“What for?” Sarah inquired.
“First, An and I need clothes. We won’t survive the winter with these thin cloths. Second, now that there are three employees in the Red Moon Café, we need to get uniforms!”
An chimed in, “I already have a uniform.”
“We’ll get you another. It’s not a problem.”
Sarah raised an eyebrow, “Uniforms? That sounds interesting. When will we go get them?”
Roy went over to the front and checked the conditions outside. A layer of snow sat outside, but with the sun peeking through, conditions were already improving. “Would stores be open right now?” He questioned Sarah.
“Of course. Nothing would close for weather like this.”
A smile spread on his face. “Then how about now?” The two girls looked at each other, wondering what he had in store. Roy popped open the front door and a blast of cool air rolled in. “Come, let us not waste the day while it is young.”
Sarah got up without hesitation and came over. An rose like the moon on a starry night, gently and gracefully. It was hard to forget that she was an all-powerful vampire not because of an imposing pressure that distinguished herself as inhuman or an entity above vampires, but rather her queer personality that made it feel like she was acting in a play and the character she was playing was a statue. Acting as neither human nor Vampire, she methodically followed Sarah.
No words could Roy find that would suit describing his relationship and life with An. For a month, she existed as a piece of scenery on the stage of life. It was a pity, Roy mused, for someone like her to exist only in the background. He was confident that today would be the day that changed that.
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Apologies, I ran woefully out of time. This chapter was supposed to be a little longer, but I had to break it up or else it would run late some time (hence 10.1). Time being a bitch. My aim is to get the second portion out rather soon; I'd estimate only a third was left off of this release so it shouldn't be that bad to complete. Unfortunately, I can't make any promises. I am in the middle of the tax season so my work load has increased considerably along with many exams coming up in my courses in the next few days. I'll try my best, but, for now, please enjoy this little bit.