Chapter Two

When I got home, André was still soundly asleep, so much so that he didn’t stir even as I crawled in bed next to him after having disrobed. I lay there next to him for a few hours, thinking about many things, until he woke, rolling over to drape his arm across my waist, kissing my cheek lazily. I turned to look at him and smiled.

“Sleep well?” He hummed a response with a slight smile.

“What did you get up to last night?”

I sighed. “My night was quite eventful.” I said in a sullen tone.

“I take it you did more than washing and weaving?”

I groaned an affirmation.

“You want to tell me about it?”

“There’s really not too much to tell. There was a scuffle on 47th. I was alerted when Romulus arrived.”

“Romulus! What was he doing on 47th? It’s just petty thugs and vagrants.”

“From what it looked like, they were eradicating them. Since humans don’t bother going down that way unless they think they can score drugs, there weren’t many there to start with. The ones who were there either scattered when they saw them begin to fight amongst themselves, or they were quickly finished. Most of the fighting was beast on beast. When Romulus’ group arrived, it became a slaughter.”

“So did you get involved?”

“I had to when the Hunters arrived.”

“Oh, you’re kidding.” André rolled his eyes. I nodded empathetically.

“It was a mess from there. None of them died. They were captured, and I had to save their backsides, but they’re fine. I gave them some StarWater for future use.”

“Sounds like you had a rough night.”

“It would have been worth it to take a crack at Romulus.”

“I’m rather glad you didn’t.” André said, turning back into me and kissing my neck.

“Don’t worry about me love. I’m smart enough to have lasted this long.”
“Still, so is Romulus.”

“I know.”

We said nothing more, but instead made love in the soft light of morning, as we so often did.


During the week days André was a professor at the local university. I no longer worked a mundane job, instead relying on my investments, which after a few centuries were rather impressive.


I had become burned out on humanity. While I still felt a devotion to protecting it, I had spent too much time in it to be able to suffer it for long durations. Especially working any job where some silly, egotistical mortal with a six figure income felt that they had the right to speak to me as a subordinate. I’m generally not overly pretentious about any superiority immortals have due to their position in life, but no one wants to be bossed around by a disrespectful adolescent.

Same feeling.


André, however, was still in love with the freshness of youth. I suppose I could get back into teaching myself, eventually, if it weren’t for my other duties, which were substantial.


This was a weekend, but André always woke up early. He washed and dressed, and I donned clean clothes, then proceeded to make breakfast.


After he finished getting ready, he joined me at the kitchen table. “Well I have some exciting news from work.”

“Oh?” I responded.

“I’ve been offered a gig at St. Louis University for a semester.”

“Get out! How exciting!” I exclaimed, smiling from ear to ear.

“I know St. Louis isn’t your favorite city, but a change of pace is nice, and I figure you can get used to drinking cheap Budwiser beer.”

“Oh. Oh that’s right.” I replied, remembering the implications of relocation.

“You are coming with me, aren’t you?” André asked in a concerned tone. I looked back at him with a creased brow.

“Romulus.” I replied. André sighed, looking frustrated. “He’s so close, and for once, I think I know what he’s after.”

“Is this about Romulus or Anthony?”

I sighed deeply. “He’s just a kid. Even for an immortal. He’s not even old enough to be dead.” André said nothing, still looking frustrated. “But this isn’t about him. It’s about my brothers and sisters, and it’s about the humans. It’s about the war. I’m needed here. And what’s more, if we even have a hope of thwarting Romulus, even a little, we must act upon it. The day he gets the upper-hand on our kind, he gains confidence, and with it, more power.”

“You could come down on the weekends.” André suggested.

I shook my head. “I need to focus on this. We’ll need all the eyes and ears we can get.” I stood up and moved behind him, wrapping my harms around his neck and kissing his cheek.

“I’ll come home every weekend.” He resolved, leaning his head into me.

“It’s too much. Thou’ll be exhausted.”

“Every other weekend, maybe only one weekend a month.”

“We can handle 5 months of that. A little time apart will help relight the fires of passion.” I commented.

“Who said the fires were out?” André replied sheepishly, kissing me deeply.

I pulled away coyly. “Now, now there. Didn’t we just get done with this?”

“Yeah, so? I get to be 27 forever, with all the virility that comes with that, and you have infinite stamina and are practically indestructible. I see no reason we shouldn’t use that to our full advantage.”

“...For the rest of eternity.”

“Yes!”

“Well thou can keep thy principles, and I’ll go get myself another cup of coffee.”

“News is interesting today.”

“Hmm?” I commented noncommittally. He stood up and joined me in refilling.

“Well you’re simply on the edge of your seat aren’t you?” He teased.

I sighed, “I’m so very tired at the moment of the same childish crusading, fear-mongering, and yellow journalism that has been cyclically plaguing this planet since civilization began.”

“Aren’t you just a little ray of pretentious sunshine today.” He playfully pinched me in the side. I smiled and squirmed away. “You used to be hell bent on trying to help humanity find their way. In fact, isn’t that the purpose of elvenkind?”

“I spent centuries, CENTURIES, doing everything in my power to try and guide humanity, and I swear if I have to hear one more petty argument over who is more righteous in killing whom, I shall simply appear before the entire lot of rabble-rousers, reveal my almighty glory and make them worship me as a god for a few generations merely for some peace and quiet.”

André at this point was audibly laughing at me. “Passionate thou art!”


I knew at this point he was mocking me, because in truth he hadn’t used the second person singular nominative case in English for about 200 years. I crossed my arms and glared at him. “Thou art mocking me.” I sarcastically replied. Even I no longer conjugated that way.

“You’re so cute when you’re self righteous.” He wrapped his arms around me in a seductive manner.

“Hey, thou bestows knowledge upon the mortals, I kill vampires. Really, I think our duty is satisfied.” André was still hugging me, now kissing my neck. I sighed, “so what are we to do for the remainder of our sweet time together before thou leaves me for the barley filled air of St. Louis.”

“Mmmm, I’ve got a few ideas.”

I giggled. “300 years and thy thirst is still unquenched.”

“Never!” He exclaimed and swept me up in his arms. “Run Hans!” He exclaimed, whisking me off to the bedroom, while I giggled insanely.