Red Cloak (Final Posted Episode)

Emrys opened his eyes slowly hearing whispers from the very room that his coffin laid in.  It was only legend that vampires had to sleep in coffins, but Emrys had always found it fitting.  But as he laid there he came to the sudden realization that there were two young males whispering just outside of his coffin.  Who even knew someone was staying here?  He had done his very best to keep a low profile, yet here were people in the very room he had been staying in for the past few years.  He tried to more around from place to place within the city so as not to draw too much attention.  But he knew that he had to get out of his coffin and make a stand if he was going to stand a chance at surviving, so he burst forth in a flurry to the screams of the two young men in the room.  He snarled, baring his fangs, only to stop and stare at the two young men in his room who were not armed, but rather, had small note pads and pencils.  "Emrys!" 1

He stood upright and hid his fangs, though what for was a mystery, he having already made such a show of them, his face was a mask of confusion and sudden realization as he recognized the two men.  "Steven?  Alexander?  What are you two doing here?  How did you find me?"  The two men were the top students in Josiah's last class, and Alexander had truly been the best of students that Emrys had seen in any of the classes, even bantering back and forth with Josiah himself, adding and expounding on his ideas.  Steven spoke first, his tone a bit wavering.2

"Emrys, we followed you home a few nights ago, so we knew where you lived.  We wanted to know if you knew where we could find Josiah.  We went to look for him in cafe where he usually spends his late afternoons, but he was not there.  When a couple of days passed and he was not found, we wanted to come here and ask."3

Emrys shook his head.  "A couple of days?  That's impossible.  Your last class was only last night, was it not?  And why did you follow me?"4

Alexander spoke this time, but his voice was strong, forward, and sure.  "Our last class was almost a week ago Emrys.  My older brother was in Josiah's class ten years ago.  One night he came to walk home with me after class.  He saw you and commented on how you had not changed at all in ten years.  I didn't realize you'd been with the class so long.  And anyone who had learned from Josiah for ten years I thought was worth investigating.  Why do you sleep in a coffin?"5

Emrys blinked a few times, letting all this register.  A week.  Had he really slept away a week?  He felt the sudden strong pull of the thirst.  Yes, yes he surely had.  "I... I always found it fitting.  It seems I've slept a couple of days away."  Steven was still shaking quite a bit, but Alexander seemed at ease.  Alexander continued.6

"So do you know where we can find Josiah?  I would really like to speak to him if it's at all possible.  I'm sure he's a busy man planning for the next class, but I'm sure he would make time to see a student for a few minutes.  I just don't know where to find him."  Steven was still staring blatantly, looking shaken.  Alexander just wanted answers.  He glanced at Steven and quirked a brow.  "What's wrong with you?"7

Steven burst into speech, yelling fairly loudly in a frightened tone.  "Did you not just see what happened?  Did you not see how quickly he burst from that casket, and with what grace he leapt at us?  Did you not see his fangs and eyes?"  He was shaking quite visibly now, and was plainly ready to run away.  But Alexander seemed unconcerned and spoke again.8

"Of course I saw all that.  But this is Emrys.  We know Emrys, he was in class with us all year."  He rolled his eyes a bit as Steven's state did not improve.  "Go home Steven.  You don't know what is going on.  Just go home and go to sleep."  Steven wasted no time in bolting out the door and down the road before Alexander shook his head and looked back to Emrys.  "So do you know where I could find him?  I really need to speak with him.  I finally answered his question I think, and now I want to talk to him about it."9

Emrys finally snapped out of his daze and shook his head slowly.  "Alexander... Josiah has passed.  He died... the night of your final class, he... went peacefully.  But he's gone."  The words echoed a bit through his mind.  It stung.  It stung to hear those words bouncing back and forth in his brain.  But something there was easing his pain.  The things that Josiah had taught him were not just words, but they were a way of living that was slowly starting to catch up with him, and actually come forth in his own life, and his own way of thinking.  Alexander was basically a younger Josiah.  And he could see the similarities strongly now that he was speaking to him alone, and in this context.10

"I see.  Well... I suppose it was his time.  He certainly did pass at an appropriate point I think.  I..."  He turned, almost as if to go, but then looked back at Emrys.  "I don't suppose you'd like to talk about it?  My answer to his question?  You were, after all, his closest student, and his friend."  Emrys nodded, and motioned for him to continue, which he did.  "How can a man live forever without losing his mind?  That was the question.  And it's not a simple answer, but I think it's an answer that works.  First, love.  Love is imperative.  A love of music, a love of life, a love of art, beauty, and of course, a love of others.  Love is all conquering, after all, and such a foundation would obviously make for an excellent start.  Second, hobbies.  A man who is occupied does not notice so much the passage of time.  A good hobby will keep a man occupied for long periods of time.  Third, goals.  Big goals, since you have forever, after all.  It is amazing what men can do when their will is fully committed to a goal or objective.  And finally, the ability to let go... well... what do you think?"11

Emrys was nearly taking notes at all this, but restrained himself to merely listening and nodding in turn.  When Alexander was finished and asked for his opinion he looked him square in the eye and spoke seriously.  "I think that you have found the answer.  You're right.  It's not overly simple.  But since when is anything eternal simple?  The longer something lasts the more complex it tends to become.  Of course, anything with an ending has a limited complexity before it destroys itself, but something eternal could be infinitely complex.  I think you pegged the answer very well.  I..."  He considered for a moment, then nodded slowly.  "If you would like to speak more, just you and I about life, I have a place we can go to talk."  Alexander nodded in agreement quickly.12

"Of course.  Where to?"  Emrys started out, and down into the street.  Alexander followed, and stayed close, walking and talking about class, and the lectures.  Ideas were bouncing back and forth between them as they entered the all to familiar street and entered the small tavern.  Up into the small little room they went, and settled in.  "So what is this place Emrys?  Just a place?"13

"No.  Twenty years ago, before Josiah started his school, he and I used to sit up here and talk.  We'd talk about the same things that you and I are talking about right now.  It's only after 20 years that I'm able to even keep up with the ideas he threw around back then.  And he had gotten nothing but more observant through time.  You know I only now, after his death understand all of what he taught me.  Its like his passing was a trigger that opened the doors to his lessons.  It was his one last lesson, I think.  His one last gift, to give even me understanding of what it is to live and die."14

Alexander nodded slowly and leaned in to look closely at Emrys.  "Emrys.  If you've known Josiah for twenty years, but looked the same as you do now ten years ago... and those teeth, and those eyes... Emrys... who are you?"15

Emrys slowly brought his hand to stroke his chin and spoke slowly.  "I do not age.  I am immortal.  The fangs and the eyes... are due to the manner in which I sustain that state of immortality.  I am a vampire."  It was the second time that he had given himself away to a mortal in his existence, and it didn't bother him at all.  Alexander's eyes widened a bit, but he nodded, and seemed excited more than anything else.16

"So you're not monsters like they say at all!  You can think and feel and reason just like any other man.  How incredible.  I have so many questions.  What is it like?  How old are you?  Is it true you can't look at crosses?  Does holy water hurt you?  What about garlic?"  Alexander was like a kid in a candy store.  He always looked forward to learning new things, and he seemed extremely interested in this particular bit of information.  His curiosity was more than obvious.17

"No.  I wouldn't call myself a monster... no, I have no problem with crosses or holy water.  I am about one hundred and fifty years old.  I'm fine around garlic, though eating mortal food isn't good for me.  I just throw it back up later.  And no, I don't have to sleep in the coffin.  I just always found it a fitting place.  But now... after Josiah's passing... how could I continue to feign my own death when I have such an amazing opportunity for me to live?"18

Alexander nodded and smiled.  "What a beautiful realization to have come to Emrys."  The sounds of the tavern downstairs were a dull background noise to such a brilliant conversation.  It was simply two men who saw life for what it was, finally being able to speak to it even while still in it, and towards the beginning of it for Alexander, and, as a side thought, even for Emrys, depending on how long he lived.  Such were Emrys' thoughts as the night wound to a close, and Alexander had his own similar thoughts.  "Emrys, when can we talk again?"19

"Tomorrow night Alexander.  Meet me here tomorrow night at sunset."20