The vampire reacted to Az’s words in much the way a scolded youth might have, and that only served to make the Mystic wonder as to what was going on inside of Valentine’s head. He was clearly not entirely there, at least not in the rational human sense, but time would only tell if he was just driven by a lust for blood or if it was a persisting issue. Whatever the case, Azraeth had not intended to come across as ‘lecturing’, though that was often his manner. Asher, one of his childer, had been more than happy in the past to point out just how much he hated that aspect of the Dragomir’s personality. The expression St. Claire wore was one he was used to, at least in that regard.
A dark brow slowly rose at the answer. He was almost certain he’d never heard that one before ‘I didn’t mean to’. Maybe the transition had forced a regression in Valentine. He certainly looked tall enough to come across as adult. Maybe he just assumed that Azraeth expected deference because he was an ‘older’ vampire. Az had never understood that, and while he was a creature that believed in showing respect, age meant very little to him. If an elder took issue with the way he did something, Az was just as likely to be sharp of tone with them as he was anyone else. “You don’t answer to me, Mr. St. Claire, though if you are in need of assistance in the future on the topic of keeping your hunting more secret or things of that nature, you can feel free to either ask me or seek me out.” Though something told him that wouldn’t be the case.
What had Valentine’s sire done after turning him? Az had heard of cases where some people made the transition into vampire with something as little as a single bite – might that have been the case?
“I also understand your anger. I just don’t want you getting yourself into trouble.” He had absolutely no room to judge, and had no intention of doing so. Back when the bounty system had been in place, controlled by the Crow, Az had, had a bounty. That had been a long time before, but he wasn’t a hypocrite. He also knew that being a vampire was inherently not the same as being a human. For one, vampires had a prey drive. Where humans reacted defensively to the world around them, the undead replied almost naturally with violence it seemed. Where a mortal might throw their arms out in front of them when falling, to catch themselves, and avoid damaging vital organs, one of Azraeth’s kind might respond to an attack with immediate counter-attack.
That was just how they were wired.
That wasn’t the issue. The issue was preventing potential leaks in their information network, like Dhara.
When he returned from where he had dumped the corpse, a nod was offered to his sire. Theirs was a complex relationship, and Az’s contemplation on what might have happened with Valentine’s only made him appreciate what he shared with Nikolae even more. Some might have hated the man that chased them half across the city and killed them. Azraeth worshipped him. But that was how he reacted to his own blood. Maybe it was just something in his brain, like wires that had been crossed when he had become a vampire. For example, he could see the potential in a human to be one of his own childer, but until they actually shed their humanity, he was unable to really love them. And once they did, he could not stop himself from it. Maybe he was the only one like that, but he was never himself in times when Nikolae was not there.
“There are many things you will see in the coming months and years that you will lose your sense of awe over.” He said to Valentine. If everything else had pointed to new vampirism in the other man, those words essentially confirmed how new the other guy was. “You will likely develop skills of your own as well.” A smile then, though he left it at that, his attention turning to Dhara fully. She seemed to be the only remaining loose end. With the clustering shadows, seeing the blood before the ice and snow got rid of it wasn’t likely to be a problem. Old him would have snapped her neck immediately and been done with it. There was a phrase about that. Two can keep a secret if one of them is dead.
Seconds ticked away and she talked while Raeth watched her. His lips thinned into an unpleasant line and then he motioned towards the exit of the alleyway. “Yes, a strange meeting indeed, but here we are standing around like a bunch of awkward boys and girls. I’m almost entirely certain this isn’t any sort of party anyone would enjoy.” He murmured, an easy smile tugging at the corners of his mouth a moment later. He knew what Dhara looked like. Who she was. If in the future, she decided to betray Az’s trust, he would visit her as the reaper. Until then, she had that. His trust.
“Nikolae and I were going to a club, but I’m not sure I’m in the mood for that atmosphere right now. Maybe you’d like to get something to eat?” He offered to the human, even as he glanced towards Valentine. He realized almost belatedly that in the darkness, he wasn’t sure how bloody the other man’s clothing was. “Or maybe we should find somewhere more private.” There were some changes of clothes at the Temple, though Az didn’t know his sire’s policy when it came to letting humans into what was essentially the most sacred of places for the Dragomir. Either way, he was out of the alleyway a moment later. Hopefully the moment of tension would pass.
A dark brow slowly rose at the answer. He was almost certain he’d never heard that one before ‘I didn’t mean to’. Maybe the transition had forced a regression in Valentine. He certainly looked tall enough to come across as adult. Maybe he just assumed that Azraeth expected deference because he was an ‘older’ vampire. Az had never understood that, and while he was a creature that believed in showing respect, age meant very little to him. If an elder took issue with the way he did something, Az was just as likely to be sharp of tone with them as he was anyone else. “You don’t answer to me, Mr. St. Claire, though if you are in need of assistance in the future on the topic of keeping your hunting more secret or things of that nature, you can feel free to either ask me or seek me out.” Though something told him that wouldn’t be the case.
What had Valentine’s sire done after turning him? Az had heard of cases where some people made the transition into vampire with something as little as a single bite – might that have been the case?
“I also understand your anger. I just don’t want you getting yourself into trouble.” He had absolutely no room to judge, and had no intention of doing so. Back when the bounty system had been in place, controlled by the Crow, Az had, had a bounty. That had been a long time before, but he wasn’t a hypocrite. He also knew that being a vampire was inherently not the same as being a human. For one, vampires had a prey drive. Where humans reacted defensively to the world around them, the undead replied almost naturally with violence it seemed. Where a mortal might throw their arms out in front of them when falling, to catch themselves, and avoid damaging vital organs, one of Azraeth’s kind might respond to an attack with immediate counter-attack.
That was just how they were wired.
That wasn’t the issue. The issue was preventing potential leaks in their information network, like Dhara.
When he returned from where he had dumped the corpse, a nod was offered to his sire. Theirs was a complex relationship, and Az’s contemplation on what might have happened with Valentine’s only made him appreciate what he shared with Nikolae even more. Some might have hated the man that chased them half across the city and killed them. Azraeth worshipped him. But that was how he reacted to his own blood. Maybe it was just something in his brain, like wires that had been crossed when he had become a vampire. For example, he could see the potential in a human to be one of his own childer, but until they actually shed their humanity, he was unable to really love them. And once they did, he could not stop himself from it. Maybe he was the only one like that, but he was never himself in times when Nikolae was not there.
“There are many things you will see in the coming months and years that you will lose your sense of awe over.” He said to Valentine. If everything else had pointed to new vampirism in the other man, those words essentially confirmed how new the other guy was. “You will likely develop skills of your own as well.” A smile then, though he left it at that, his attention turning to Dhara fully. She seemed to be the only remaining loose end. With the clustering shadows, seeing the blood before the ice and snow got rid of it wasn’t likely to be a problem. Old him would have snapped her neck immediately and been done with it. There was a phrase about that. Two can keep a secret if one of them is dead.
Seconds ticked away and she talked while Raeth watched her. His lips thinned into an unpleasant line and then he motioned towards the exit of the alleyway. “Yes, a strange meeting indeed, but here we are standing around like a bunch of awkward boys and girls. I’m almost entirely certain this isn’t any sort of party anyone would enjoy.” He murmured, an easy smile tugging at the corners of his mouth a moment later. He knew what Dhara looked like. Who she was. If in the future, she decided to betray Az’s trust, he would visit her as the reaper. Until then, she had that. His trust.
“Nikolae and I were going to a club, but I’m not sure I’m in the mood for that atmosphere right now. Maybe you’d like to get something to eat?” He offered to the human, even as he glanced towards Valentine. He realized almost belatedly that in the darkness, he wasn’t sure how bloody the other man’s clothing was. “Or maybe we should find somewhere more private.” There were some changes of clothes at the Temple, though Az didn’t know his sire’s policy when it came to letting humans into what was essentially the most sacred of places for the Dragomir. Either way, he was out of the alleyway a moment later. Hopefully the moment of tension would pass.
