Absinthe, A Vampire Tale: Chapter Six

“Good Evening Lady Absinthe. It has been a while since we have last spoken.” Elders were seated around a long oval table, and the man at the head addressed her directly. 1

“As you know, vampires and werewolves were and are not meant to be speaking together as equals, but the situation has changed. It has been two hundred years since we have last spoken, and you are still one of the few vampire allies we have left.” The head spoke calmly to her, which seemed to disconcert some of the younger werewolves seated at the table. 2

“Thank-you for inviting me to this meeting. It is a great honor to be here. You, also, know why I am here, but not all elders may know. Do you wish for me to explain the… situation?”3

“It would be a pleasure for you to inform us, Lady Absinthe. I now call for silence as she speaks, ” He looked towards a younger lupine who was whispering in his neighbor’s ear. “If there is anything on your mind, state it before she begins.”4

The younger one stood up, bowed to the head of the table, and began. “I, Marcus, wish to speak before interrupting.” He paused and looked towards the Elder, who nodded, before continuing. “Vampires are vile creatures who inhabit this earth, who have been our enemy as has the humans,” Absinthe stared at him with cold eyes, having heard this many times before “And yet, here is one standing here asking to be heard in court! This is proof that this court has been corrupted! And she, in particular, got Benjamin slaughtered 200 hundred years ago! He was our king! She does not deserve to even be ali-” 5

“THAT is enough. Be seated Marcus, lest you be thrown out of this room. I am truly sorry Lady Absinthe, We know that you share our pain with his death.” The elder on the left of the head sat back down, and all sat in silence. Both Marcus and Absinthe knew exactly who he was – Benjamin’s elder brother, the current king, Jayden. 6

Absinthe remembered all to well, how Jayden had risked his life after Benjamin died to get her out of the; she shuddered, that place. She once again stood before the court, although she was not as confident as before. 7

“I have had a human contact me; and Death himself has asked me, to help care for a lupine child, Benjamin. I chose to stay out of this a century ago, and I do not know why I was even considered. Marcus clearly stated I am unfit for the duty, as is a human. Tonight I come here seeking an answer.”8

The elders who did not know stared at her incredulously. Her?9

“I ask for silence at this court. His Majesty, Jayden wishes to speak.” Everyone settled down, and bowed their head to Jayden as he stood to speak. 10

“Absinthe, Benjamin is not any child, as you might have guessed, and for his safety I have had him removed to the human world to keep him safe. Death found a suitable candidate and we had hoped you would agree – you already know him, in a way. It is very important that they, and others in league with them, do not discover his existence. He is the living reincarnation of Benjamin, who died two centuries ago.”11

She stood up, tears welling up in her eyes. “I was considering it but now I refuse entirely. He can’t be back, child or not! Its not possible to do that! I was there! I saw his soul…” she stopped and swallowed, bile coming up her throat. “No…” She fell to her knees, blood pouring from her eyes and mouth. “No…” 12

The flashbacks pressed into her consciousness. She could not escape them; she had been avoiding them for so long, and now they would take over. Jayden stood up and half ran to her side, and lifted her back into her seat, his hands and shirt soaked in her blood. “The court is dismissed.” He threw open the doors and ushered everyone out. It wasn’t supposed to happen. They told him beforehand she wouldn’t. But she did. He smiled briefly, noting her disregard for others opinions. 13