Red Cloak (Part Four)

Emrys stared across the table as Josiah continued to speak. For the first time he actually took the time to note his physical features.  He had a strong face with high cheekbones framed by long brown hair, which was quite honestly, of the best kept that Emrys had ever seen.  Other than that, his complexion was fairly average for a white man.  His body was of medium build, at about six feet tall, he was rather large, all things considered.  His brown eyes seemed deep though. Deeper than dark wells and pools. This was the third week in which every night they came together and spoke like this, and honestly, he could not help but listen to everything that he had said up till now, and even now. But his curiosity was driving him to questions more about Josiah than life.  Who was this that was so ell versed in the lessons of life in so few of years?  He held insight that young men lacked, old men wished for, and men his own age disdained due to jealousy. "Josiah... how do you know all this?  You speak of life s if you had lived it a dozen times.  Seen it through a hundred sets of eyes, and tasted death more than once.  Men twice your age struggle with ideas like this.  What brought all this about?"1

There was a bit of silence before he answered, and in a humble, quiet manner. "Emrys.  I don't pretend to be an ancient sage.  But I have been blessed with the ability to see all of the ways in which life and events are interconnected with one another.  That infinitely complex web that ties us all together.  In life.  In death.  In love, and in hate.  I have, and do see the ties that bind.  It is this knowledge that reveals the framework of life itself.  I... it can be hard sometimes... to know some of the things that I know.  Some things men aren't meant to know... aren't meant to see.  You know what I mean?"2

Emrys simply sat there in awe for a few long moments, listening to Josiah's breath and heartbeat, making sure that he was indeed talking to a living breathing man.  Surely as he was sitting there, it was so.  He was just a man.  Inspired, enlightened, but a man.  Just a man. "I have seen many things... Josiah.  I have seen many things.  I..."  He stopped.  He could not tell him this.  He couldn't.  It broke the code that he held to.  But if anyone would ever understand, it would be Josiah.  He would know.  He would understand.  He could help with this.  He could explain it.  Josiah explained everything.  He wrestled in his mind for what seemed like ages, but really was only a few silent seconds in the conversation. "I am not normal, Josiah.  I am not a normal man."3

Josiah raised a brow, then he smirked a bit and let out a chuckle.  "You don't breathe except when you speak.  You never eat the food, or drink the wine, and I've never once seen you during the day, anywhere in the city.  I'd say you're a bit different.  Most men need to breathe and eat."  Emrys looked completely shocked, and Josiah just let out another little chuckle.  "Don't think I didn't notice the first night we talked up here.  I just didn't care.  I thought that you would tell me in time, when you were ready.  Honestly I'm just glad that someone was willing to listen to me."4

Emrys' face did not move for several seconds, then he shook his head and simply smiled.  "I knew you wouldn't care Josiah. I just knew it.  I was only afraid to tell you because it goes against the code to do so.  I am... I am a traveler in the night.  Kindred.  I am a 'vampire'.  One of the immortal damned.  Forever walking the night road.  I'm over a hundred years old and don't know the things you know.  I'm learning from you as if I were a child again.  It's glorious and disturbing all at once.  I think of the two of us, you would be far more suited to immortal life than I."5

Josiah just laughed.  "Damned, you say?  I don't think so.  You're blessed.  You, unlike others, have complete control over when you meet your end.  Not only when, but how.  This leaves you in complete freedom!  If you grasp each day to the fullest, life would be your playground."  He chuckled lightly again and seems to think in a far off way for a few moments before continuing.  "But as many lives of joy you live, you'll live that many lives of pain.  And I can tell you that if you're not grasping every joy... your life is probably miserable.  The pain of loss... stings you.  Doesn't it?  You must not let the negative aspects of life overtake you.  I can't imagine what it would do to a persons soul to deal with that on an eternal scale.  You MUST take hold of your life.  More so even than mortals."6

Emrys again was simply awestruck, but he took everything Josiah said to heart, and remembered it well.  "Josiah... would you come with me?  You too, could live forever.  I could make you like this.  I could" He was stopped short as Josiah slowly lifted his hand.7

"No Emrys.  This is my place.  My position.  One day I will grow old and die, and life will continue.  It's not my place to live forever.  You understand?"  A long silence followed, but Emrys nodded his head slowly, understanding, but painfully so.  "You haven't lost me yet Emrys.  Don't worry about it until the time comes.  And then, when it does, I'll remind you not to worry, as it doesn't really help anything."  He smiled and patted Emrys on the shoulder as he got up to leave.  "I think that's enough for tonight Emrys.  I'll see you tomorrow."  There was very little sound as he left out of the room, and into the street, disappearing into the night.8

Emrys began to work, swiftly speaking to the right people about land, a building, and again pulling into the well to do circles that he used to be so integral a part of.  He let Josiah know that he was working on a project, and that he would see him on the weekends only for a few weeks.  This worked out well, and one day, on the fourth week of this, on Saturday evening, he met with Josiah with a smile on his face.  "Josiah.  You have always wanted to teach.  Just to have someone to listen and learn from you.  What if I told you that you could do that?  I have set it all up.  Your own personal school, where young men and women will be sent to learn about life.  From you.  All you have to do is accept it."9

Josiah's eyes grew very large and he just stared for a few long seconds before speaking.  "How??  I mean, YES!"  He laughed happily. "Yes of course I would love to!  But how did you do this Emrys?  And why?  I mean, I know we're friends but..."10

Emrys just smiled in reply and handed him an envelope.  "All the information you need is right there.  You can start it whenever you're ready.  And as far as how, well, that's my secret.  As to why.  Well... you've shown me more than I've come to know in a hundred years.  Knowledge is priceless, and timeless.  Now go on.  I'll drop in on you from time to time and keep in touch.  I'm not leaving this city for a long while."  A smile, a nod, and finally a hug.  They embraced strongly, and Josiah shed a few tears, and Emrys left.  He had done something good.  Something worth while.  He had done something wonderful, and it felt magnificent.11

Life went on like that for a couple of years.  Josiah taught at his school, and Emrys would visit him from time to time.  They would talk, and Emrys would learn, or they would simply sit together and share the company of a good friend.  In that time, Emrys took up music, and learned to play several instruments, the favorite of his being of course, the devils instrument.  The violin.  His music changed and revolved, basically around the school, which eventually started being held at night so that Emrys could sit in, and Josiah himself, who was slowly growing older.  It didn't really disturb Josiah at all, but Emrys' music spoke in and of itself about his unease.12