Of Prophets (Closed)

[Elizabeth]

Alaric had come to settle besides Elizabeth without hesitation. She was surprised, given they did not really know the other and his lack of hesitation on sharing a close proximity with her. When the other elder claimed her to be an optimist, her brows raised and Elizabeth laughed. “Some evenings.” The blonde haired woman admitted, knowing how easy it was for her to be the complete opposite of optimistic.

“I have only done this one other time, and so, I hope that I do not disappoint thee.” Elizabeth admitted as she moved closer to Alaric, so close that a knee bumped against his outer thigh. She made no move to apologize, it hadn't been intentional, but the proximity, she believed was needed. “It is not painful, at least the other had never claimed such a thing...” Elizabeth stated with a tone that was free from worry.

Elizabeth extended both hands outwards, then hesitated briefly, in order to explain what she was going to do. “I am going to have to touch thee.” She warned, as her arms continued towards Alaric's temples, both sets of hands finding the upper half of his face. The angle of her body to his was awkward at best, the woman not certain the temple furthest from where she was knelt was actually being touched. “I am going to approach thee more closely.”

Very slowly, her right leg lifted and brought it around both his legs. She did not move to sit in his lap, but both knees remained on each side of his legs as Elizabeth remained fixed in the knelt position above the other elder. Tips of her fingers pressed firmly to both of his temples, but no pressure was applied to either temple. Just the certainty that her fingers would not slip from where Elizabeth had placed them. “I am going to try and share with thee, my thoughts. Or, more so...the encounter with Louvel.”

Her blue eyes looked at Alaric's own set briefly, before they moved off his face, as to not make either of them uncomfortable about the experience or the proximity. While Alaric had found his way besides her with ease, it did not mean that the other elder desired to be this close to another. Still, having only known that Elizabeth shared the one experience with another, potentially due to the brief contact made by her, this was the only way she believed to be able to share past events with another, as if they were there besides her, seeing the scene unfold.

If he were watching her facial expressions at all, the warmth that had once been there while they walked and talked, slowly disappeared from her eyes and smile. The smile was replaced with a firm tight line, as her brows furrowed in concentration. The brightness of her blue eyes seemed to almost dull as they glazed over, Elizabeth focusing on the night Louvel delivered her a shipment of berries. As her focus sharpened, so did attention to details. Alaric would see the shiny metal of various surfaces surrounding him, then the checkered floor, and a swinging door. The scene almost 'blipped' to Louvel standing in front of that once swinging door with a wooden crate in his hands. Then another 'blip' and the crate was free falling from his hold. Another 'blip' and green vines wrapped around crates and almost seemed to bring them back into Louvel's possession. The broken scenes didn't last more than two minutes at most, but it was enough for Alaric to 'see' what it was Elizabeth had experienced. “I do not believe he is aware of his own potential yet. The look on his face, after implied as much.”

With the experience shared, Elizabeth did not hesitate to drop her fingers from the sides of Alaric's temple, or bring both her legs back to where they had once began. “It was an accident, that much I can be certain of. A lucky accident, in truth.” Had his powers not manifested, the berries would have been lost, and she would not have been able to make a quarter of the tarts she had made that night because of it.

[Alaric von der Marck]

Proximity was never really much of a problem for Alaric; to be close to a woman was okay, it was physical touch which should be kept to a minimum, if the two were not known to each other. Alaric felt that he was beginning to know Elizabeth, and was comfortable in her presence. To sit beside her did not cause his sensibilities any ire.

When Elizabeth told him what she intended, he nodded his acquiescence, though the closer she got the more the frown deepened upon his brow. He wanted to ask her what she was doing, but she revealed the answer before he had a chance. His palms pressed against the metal beneath him, his hands kept well and truly to himself even as his upper body stiffened and threatened to lean backwards and away. Elizabeth did her best not to lean against him, though he wondered whether it might not have been easier if she had simply asked him to turn and face her.

Her fingertips were cold against his temples and he found, shamefully, that he could not object. He could claim three centuries since a woman had touched him without needing to. The frown slackened as the elder relaxed just a little, curiosity trumping any objection to lack of propriety.

The images flashed through his mind and Alaric’s eyes closed so as to better focus upon them. A small, shocked involuntary half-garbled-word was flung from Alaric’s tongue as he watched the scene as if he were there, witnessing it for himself. Louvel’s command of nature was, indeed, impressive. If he were to practice, if he were to test his limits, what more could he be capable of? And then the images were gone, and he was no longer at the shop with Elizabeth, but back at the observatory, the dim night sky the only thing to illuminate their features. But it was more than enough for the two elders.

”…Tolle…” he started, the word a grunted gurgle as his wonder and awe – at both Louvel’s power and Elizabeth’s, too – before he regained something of his senses. He shook his head.

”That was… you are true, ja. His power is impressive. But…” he stopped, cleared his throat. Both he and Elizabeth were of the same ilk. Telepaths, just like their sire. If sharing images, as well as words – memories – was something that Elizabeth was capable of, could it not be something that Alaric was capable of, too? He shifted, one knee crooked as he turned to fully face Elizabeth. He held up his hands, fingers lingering near Elizabeth’s temples but not yet touching.

”May I try…?” he asked. He was not as forward as Elizabeth. He would not touch her without her full and unmistakable permission.

[Elizabeth]

The foreign language had been lost upon Elizabeth as Alaric said the singular word, but since there was no indication that he was upset, she assumed the word was positive to some degree. Otherwise wouldn't his facial expressions and the way he had said the word been different? Perhaps she crossed a barrier, uncertain of his thoughts on the old code and if he lived by them. While there had been nothing in the touch other than the keen desire to share her ability, some, especially those of the old ways may not be accepting to being touched in fear of the potential unthinkable. Not that Elizabeth could state such a thing to be true, for she had never seen a fadebeast born from the union of vampires.

Elizabeth blinked, then laughed when Alaric said she was 'true.' “Thank you, I think?” She leaned her head back against the metal behind them and looked up at the open dome, most specifically the stars above their heads. “Perhaps one evening I will be good enough as to not have to make a physical connection with someone.” It was her hope, but most kindred were not appreciative of the workings of a telepath.

“Some, believe that we can just...oh, I do not know...simply look into their eyes and know all their little secrets. As if we can grab them from thin air.” She laughed and shook her head. “I do not know if we should be flattered or offended. To think we have nothing better to do than to worry about what others are or are not doing.” Elizabeth finished that thought, then returned her gaze to Alaric, thinking upon his question.

Sapphire orbs glanced at both his hands, more specifically Alaric's fingertips, before Elizabeth nodded her head slowly. “You may, so long as one does not attempt to steal my dirty secrets in the process.” The blonde haired telepath teased slightly, her lips quirked into a small smirk, amused. With her vocal confirmation, Elizabeth sat forward, almost leaning into the other elder's fingertips, welcoming the attempt that may or may not be possible.

[Alaric von der Marck]

Alaric chuckled.

”It is, I think that I have mentioned, a game that I like to play. With the von der Marcks. Perhaps, it is in part my fault that they think telepaths are able to ready everything in their minds,” he said. He had hinted that he could not, in fact, pluck all their secrets and innermost thoughts from their minds, but he still liked to tease them every now and again with things that he knew that he should not. Sometimes, he was drawn into their dreams or vice versa – he did not like to interrupt. But from them he could glean certain things, could presume others. From their memories he tried to remain free. Sometimes it was hard to do so, especially if he was concerned for their wellbeing. But he had to give them some semblance of privacy, didn’t he?

”Sometimes I do not have anything better to do with my time than to find out what others are doing, or have been doing. But, I am making changes,” he said. He was doing so quite well, he thought. He was here with Elizabeth.

And now he was preparing to press his fingers to her temples, to attempt to share a memory of his own. But which one? He hesitated a few moments as he considered. Perhaps, the first time that he encountered Louvel. That was in the dungeon under the estate, in the ritual room – where he had taken the blood of family so that he might be revived properly, fully. After one of his own had sacrificed himself so that Alaric could live.

No, perhaps too dark a memory for this enlightened moment.

Eventually, he decided – he pressed his fingers to Elizabeth’s soft skin, his own eyes losing focus as he tried to emulate what she herself had done, pushing his own memory from his own mind. It was the same kind of focus he used when speaking telepathically and yet there were no words. His eyes fluttered closed.

The earth was still warm beneath his feet from the sun’s bathing rays. The grass was fresh and green, and when his fingers curled into it, broke it apart, there was the scent of freshness, of new growth. It was the scent of life. There was colour. The shadows were natural rather than malicious, and the colours were vibrant.

The elder sobbed when he looked up and he saw the moon, clouds limned with silver, and the stars twinkling bright and numerous. When he returned his grateful gaze to the land there were flowers, Jasmine, wild and white – there were roses, too. Red, pink, and yellow. The breeze was warm, not cold. It welcomed him.

To the left, nearby, was Louvel – a man who held sunlight in his skin, his hair, his eyes. Blood, family blood, an awe-inspired smile upon his lips, curiosity in his bright eyes. The first one to release Alaric to the world outside of the stone walls of the estate. His first night of freedom, having escaped the cold and perpetual clutches of death.

It wasn’t a grand memory, but it was a better one of Louvel than of the elder biting into an offered wrist. And when the memory was done, Alaric’s fingers released their touch, still hanging in mid-air as his eyes opened, peering at Elizabeth curiously. Had it worked?

[Elizabeth]

Elizabeth could relate to Alaric's statement. It was easy to get bored and restless as a telepath. There had to be a balance, because if the mind was stressed or overworked, there was the potential to be absorbed within the confines of Vathia. If a telepath was bored, then the mind could wander and occasionally pick things up. Something she had done a lot upon her escape from the realms. All to often did she find herself going through the memories of those she cared a great deal about. Occasionally, she checked upon some of them, but not as she once had. All of her childre and those she cared about were capable vampires. There was no need for the woman to check in on them.

There was a delay when Alaric's fingers found the side of her head; specifically Elizabeth's temples. She wondered if he knew what he was doing, or if she had missed the brief memory. Were either of those things possible? She did not know and since there were so few telepath's around anymore, there was no way to confer her findings with anyone else. Or to confer anything with, in reality.

And then it came without warning from the other elder. Elizabeth could feel the warmth of the ground as Alaric dug into it with his own hands, or perhaps, she could remember what warm earth felt like after it was kissed by the sun all day. The smell of new life engulfed her as she stood within the memory, side by side with Alaric, though not seen by the the other elder. It was, after all, just a memory of a time that had passed. A time and place she had never been.

Her reaction to the moon and stars were not as profound as Alaric's was, but it did draw upon Elizabeth's curiosity. Why was he sad...upset at seeing something that they were all too familiar with? Perhaps, Elizabeth would ask another time; if and when she got to know Alaric better. Elizabeth reached out to touch the jasmine flowers, disregarding the Roses; never having liked the flower and it's mediocrity much. She reached out, but felt nothing of the flower; not the softness, nor the texture or the arrangement of petals that was unique to the flower. It was as if she were touching air and nothing more.

Someone was coming and it caused her attention to wane. Louvel; a face Elizabeth was familiar with given their business arrangement and more. She noticed his skin tone first, then the rest of him. Yes, the appeal to the other Von Der Marck was not his facial features or actual physique, but the way his skin captured the sun and held it within. It was confirmed for the woman when her eyes remained on the hue of his arm coloring and the feeling of envy that churned within Elizabeth.

She was brought back to the current time, with Alaric in front of her, hands in the air as he looked at Elizabeth. The blonde haired telepath smiled and then parted her lips to speak. "It is amazing. Your family. How they live among you, and you them, without any hardships." Elizabeth commented, almost complimenting Alaric. In her return, her self control had been little to none, which would explain why she had sired so many, wrapped in with the curse Elizabeth was unaware of to this night. "If only half the world would be able to live as you and yours." She leaned back, Elizabeth's back finding the metal wall, before the woman broke the gaze she shared with Alaric by looking up at the night sky. "Which is your favourite?" She asked, changing the subject from his family and the way they lived, in case it made him uncomfortable. "The constellations. If you have one, that is."

[Alaric von der Marck]

The other elder’s response could only mean that she had seen, that she understood. The vision had been about family, and her comment was upon his family. He chuckled, not only because her comment was ironic, but because it had worked. It had actually worked! Not only could he project his voice into the minds of others, he could also project his memories. This was new to the Germanic elder, and already he was thinking of ways it might help with this family of his – the one that Elizabeth claimed to be so harmonious.

Granted, when compared to other families it wasn’t bad. It wasn’t bad at all. But it wasn’t without its hiccups, either – and he couldn’t lie and say they were all perfect.

To begin with, Alaric thought that Elizabeth was asking which of his family members was his favourite; his mouth opened, frown set over his eyes, as he prepared to tell her that he had no favourite. But then he realised she was referring to the stars. Alaric’s eyes swivelled skyward and he considered the flickering, blinking, winking masses. Still, he frowned.

Eventually he shook his head.

”I do not think that I have one. I have never thought about it,” he said. Although he could pick them out, he could name a large number of them (not all, but some) none of them had any particular meaning to him. ”It is Orion that I see most often but that does not make him my favourite,” he said. His hands had returned to his lap.

”And you are mistaken, if you think we do not have our hardships,” he said. He took in a breath, as if preparing to say something else but hesitating. It would be nice, to have someone to talk to about those hardships, about the things that bothered Alaric. It would be nice to have another voice, someone either to confirm his woes or call him out for being over-cautious or over-dramatic.

”May I be honest with you, Elizabeth? I can trust you, ja?” he asked. He fully understood, now, Judah’s need to have someone outside of the family to speak with about said family – even if he still did not agree with the way Judah’s friend was introduced. He would have to ask after Hannah, one of these nights – he had not seen her for some time.

[Elizabeth]

Elizabeth was uncertain if she had a favourite, but she did recognize some, over others. When Alaric admitted to seeing 'Orion,' the most, she wondered if that was because of his familiar tall tale sign; such as his belt, or if he deep down related to the Greek Hunter. Her sapphire hues flicked over the male's physique next to her, pondering if Alaric was, or had been a hunter at some point. "The Hunter," Elizabeth acknowledged vocally, before continuing her thoughts. "Did you know he can be seen everywhere?" She looked to Alaric and then laughed, certain he must have given where he originated from. "They say he was not very graceful, or stealthy, which I find amusing, given his passion." Elizabeth confessed, knowing how important it was to be sneaky when hunting; no matter what the prey was.

The conversation shifted to Alaric's family, and Elizabeth stilled her thoughts and words. She tipped her head in Alaric's direction as he confessed to his family having hardships, only to nod. It was not unusual, even if the family was as close knit as it seemed to Elizabeth. No one was exactly the same, with the same thoughts or beliefs, but she suspected his family had less hardships than most. If any of them were as laid back as Louvel appeared to be. "Of course. All families, human or otherwise, have difficulties at times." She agreed with the idea of hardships; they came and they went. Hopefully whatever Alaric was dealing with came and left sooner than later.

Two questions were presented to Elizabeth and she smiled warmly. Once upon a time had someone asked her if they could trust her, she would have agreed and taken the information and sorted through it. if it was a danger to kindred society, then she would do with that information that seemed best. Now, however, Elizabeth had come to realize that most of her species were far from dangerous. Not as the old nights. Most had grown soft and tame, a shells of even their human self. Gifted with immortality, but too afraid to push their limits. Most were hardly motivated as well. While she may not be the strongest vampire within Harper Rock, Elizabeth felt as if she could do a fair job at staying alive and outwitting most of them. Very slowly, Elizabeth nodded her head. "Of course, Alaric. Nothing one shall say will ever leave my lips."

[Alaric von der Marck]

Alaric laughed. It was ironic, really, the constellation that he had picked out juxtaposed against the story he wanted now to tell Elizabeth. Not that it as a story about hunting, per se, but his anxiety concerning one that might eventually wish to hunt his family. To hunt him. His gaze dropped from the sky and instead surveyed the land in front of them, his thoughts now back down to earth and all the entanglements it presented.

”Not too long ago, Juda – he came to me for help, ja? He was being… haunted, by the Wendigo. With him he brought company. I do not mind them having company to the house. It is their house. They will do with it as they wish. I only ask that they keep my secret,” he said, his elbows now on his knees as his fingers pressed together in front of him. ”He is dating a man. A man who recognised what I was as soon as he saw me. His reaction was… though he did not immediately threaten me, it was enough for me to look. Ja? Into his mind,” he said, releasing his hands to press idly at his temple. ”I discovered that he is Paladin. As you imagine, I was not happy. I still am not happy. I wished him dead. I wished him off the property, away from my family. He is gone from one, now, but not from the other. And he knows where it is that I live, though he does not know where I sleep. It would not take him long to find out…” he said. He took a breath. He did not need it, but he took it anyway, schooling his words. Slowing down.

”I have spoken with him since. I have told him my fears – that he will be divided between myself and his other half. That it is unlikely that myself and the Paladin will ever see eye to eye. I … do not know what to do about it. I do not wish to banish Juda from the estate. He trusts the Paladin, he says no harm will come to me because of the Paladin. But I was betrayed by family once. I was killed by a hunter. I have so little faith…” he said, shaking his head. Perhaps that is what Judah could feel, emanating form the elder. It wasn’t judgment or condescension but a lack of trust, a fear for the worst case scenario.

Alaric turned his attention to Elizabeth properly; there was no real question in his story. But he had told it – now, he would hear if she had any insight to add.

[Elizabeth]

When his eyes shifted in their direction, Elizabeth mirrored their direction as she listened. Juda was a name she was not familiar with, but Elizabeth did not interrupt, nor ask questions. She would wait to see if any of her questions were answered while Alaric indulged her in some of his confidential thoughts and circumstances. More questions arose; as in why the Wendigo were hunted this Juda, but it seemed as if the problem had been alleviated and so, Elizabeth decided it probably did not matter.

As the scenario came to light, Elizabeth slowly nodded. She could understand his fears, for she too, had them once upon a time after her return. "Well, what I will tell you is that I understand your fears, all things considered. And in truth, I find the humans to be more of a potential difficulty than that of our own kind....dangerous, so to speak." Elizabeth turned to look at Alaric finally, then gave her honest opinion. "Love....is a complex and interesting thing. He cannot help who he loves, and while I do not advise banning him from the estate, I think your answer may be to keep another some place else within the city. Perhaps this paladin is harmless, but I think only time and interactions with others in your family, will tell that."

She frowned, thinking of her own childre and their own mishaps with love. "Pushing him away will not help either of you, regardless of your feelings. And if one tries to meddle too much with whatever it is they may, or may not have...it will not end well for any of you three. I would advise against speaking any true thoughts on the matter. Wish them best, it may not last forever, and then prepare for the worst. Just keep the latter thoughts to yourself." Elizabeth laughed, supplying Alaric with the middle ground, instead of the other possibilities. "Between you and I...you should not be asking me any advice in regards to relationships of any nature." Elizabeth openly professed, before the woman tugged at the hem of her dress and slid down on her back. "My family is cursed in that area...though I am hopeful that one of my childre will find happiness. I have a fair few and he is wonderful. I believe if anyone could find happiness with another, it would be him." She tipped her head back with a smile still upon her face as she pointed up to the various stars. "That one is one of my favorites, if I had one...though they all can serve a purpose in terms of tracking and reference of season. Aquila. It is an eagle, though one may have to use their imagination a little." Elizabeth professed as she made the outline of the 'eagle' in the sky.

[Alaric von der Marck]

Alaric nodded. He agreed. Humans were tricky, though perhaps less so in this day and age than when he and Elizabeth were at the pique of their game. Back then, vampires were demons and witches, they were monsters that had to be killed. Alaric had been shown the current popular culture, whether it be books or movies. Vampires had become romanticised. They were no longer something that the masses feared, but something that instead drew their curiosity, like animals in a zoo.

But, like animals in a zoo vampires could be unpredictable. They were not to be tamed and even the most cordial of vampires could lose control; or, they may appear all roses and joviality on the surface but beneath, they were home to violence and lust.

He laughed, and chased an itch at the back of his head that didn’t exist. She’d advised him to leave the latter thoughts to himself, but he hadn’t. And it hadn’t ended well. Where was Elizabeth a week ago? If only he’d asked for her advice before he’s spoken to Judah, it might have ended on better terms.

”It is too late for that. We… had a discussion. He thinks that I am judgmental and condescending. He wishes us to be equals, and that I do not treat him like I am his father. On the other hand, I feel that I am a project to him, a … child, ja? Like I am fragile and easily broken. He is strong, and independent. I am certain he is accustomed to leading, and will not accept a patriarch,” he mused. Again, he laughed and shook his head. ”I am … the word is ‘perplexed’, ja? I am perplexed why he brought me back,” he said. It was Judah’s plan, or so Alaric had been told. Judah was the one who had discovered the means, who had informed the others. Without Judah, it was likely that Alaric would not be here.

”It was… a ritual. A blood sacrifice was required. Their cousin, Gregor, he died. Before he crossed over, he told me I must fix, like the family is broken. But it does not appear to be broken. It is thriving. I am not sure that I have a purpose any longer. Do you think that purpose is required, to survive immortality…?” he asked. Suddenly, the conversation had got heavy. But Alaric realised these were questions he’d long wanted to get off his chest. These were things he did not know he could, or should say to anyone else.

And yet, he smiled. Love. She had spoken of love, and Alaric’s smile was nostalgic, sad. He’d not loved since he was human; a love that he had lost, a broken heart that had not yet been fully mended. Centuries could not fathom the love he had felt for Anja, and it would always be there, never lost.

“True love, it is hard to find, and it is worse when lost. Give time, and they will find their hearts,” he said, glancing up at the constellation Elizabeth had picked out as her favourite. This, too, broadened Alaric’s smile. ”The eagle. It is a wonder that was not my favourite. The von der Marck crest – it is an eagle,” he informed her.