Restless Dark Heart ch. 1

I am not of this world though I was once of human form. But what I have become and what I am is dark and mysterious. For within my shadowy heart lies an evil that would bring fear in the hearts of many men, for I am a creature of the night.

I was not always in this form drinking the blood of men and women to sustain my own existence. But I was once a man of aristocratic upbringing. Tall and handsome, I once had eyes of the deepest blue that were often said to be one of my greatest attractions. My hair, long black and wavy, was often tied back with a ribbon at the base of my head. It coursed down my back and over the years grew to the length of my torso.

Even though I was not forced to do menial labor, I would often work in fields, harvesting grapes for neighboring farmers in order that my physical body would gain the musculature that I desire. It was often that my father would come looking for me in the great vineyards and perplexing for him that I would lower myself to that of a meager servant.

But, I would not hear his continual railing to me of how my duty was to learn the businesses that he so strived to maintain. It was his hope for me that I would continue his work and become as he was, dull, and lacking compassion for another. I was a stubborn lad that enjoyed making him writhe with disdain for the work that I so loved more than his vestures of patrician, substances that most never see, acting as if I were a common servant. He despised that of me, yet I cared nothing for what he loved and desired for me. I was incorrigible, to say the least.

One evening when the sun was beginning to sink low in the horizon, and I had worked longer than I normally do, but a handsome gentleman came to me. His eyes were so full of allure seducing me with such a gaze that I had never before seen in a man. With great wonder I looked into them drawn to his presence, their colorless centers like gazing into mirrors of fine glass. I was more than drawn to this man. I was entranced by the visage of his wicked and feral gaze, not ever been looked upon in such sensuality.

I shivered as I felt his stare bore through me and felt the gentle brush of warmth along my cheek, though he stood a good distance away. I recall how I had thought I had felt it, but was so unsure. It was wicked, unseemly, this man’s stare, his invisible touch and I was gripped with trepidation, hearing my heart pounding in my ears.

Yet, when he reached his hand to me, I all but ran into his arms that enveloped me protectively, the scent of hard work drifting around us and from my body. His gentle hand cupped my cheek guiding my head to one side and slowly he leaned down his head nuzzling against my neck. I gasped when I felt it, what I wasn’t sure at the time. He moaned softly, pulled me closer until I felt the constraint of his embrace.

It could have only been a matter of seconds when my body began to swoon, I gasped for my breath and he finally lifted his head. The feral appearance of his eyes was frightening to me. I tried to scream, but there was no strength left in me to affect it, for he had drained me to the point of death.

“I must give you back to the world a gift far greater than you could presume,” his voice soothed my fears, yet his meaning was far from me.

Placing his arm to his mouth, he soon offered to me of himself. I resisted his render, fighting him, even as he forced it upon me until he had pressed his wrist to my lips and compelled me to drink. I was repulsed, gagging, retching as he used his dark gift to force me to swallow. 

Once it was done, I struggled no more, for within me was a stirring of such magnitude I could never begin to express. The more I partook of his blood the more I desired, craved, longing for it with my entire being. I drank of him until I had before drained him dry and he released me slowly and gently to the cold dampness of the ground.

I stared up at the stars that appeared alive, animate objects so close to me I believe I actually attempted to reach out and touch them with my fingertips. The beating of my heart that I heard still in my ears, slowed gradually to a dull almost nonexistent thump in my chest. Warmth diffused through my body into my limbs leaving my fingers and toes to tingle. Gradually, it intensified, the heat of its spreading was far greater than I felt I could stand, painfully hot I became. With erratic gasps I rent my clothes writhing on the ground mindless of the world that surrounded me.

A great howl filled the night, lifting on the currents of breeze that caressed gently over the earth, finally soothing my pain and the searing of my flesh. And I was suddenly given to know that it had been I that had screamed and my body had perished – my natural body was dead. Yet I lived. I pondered this long after my maker lifted my exhausted and lifeless body from the ground taking me to his lair where again, he introduced me to what his true intentions were for me. I was petrified with fear as he took my innocence and made me his lover.

Through the years, I watched my father mourn for me, having not ever found the evidence of my death; he yet searched for me night after night. His business faltered and I knew I must pay him a friendly visit one evening. Though I did not accost him as had been done to me, I sat with him, drank wine with him and explained to him that I had to make my own way. He was satisfied with my answers and for the first time in my meager life I saw pride in his son.

After than night, his businesses expanded. Wealth poured into his household and I knew I had done well by him. When he finally passed away, he left everything to me, all his wealth and his earnings, his businesses, his mansion, all of this and more now belonged to me. I took full advantage of my inheritance, moved into my mansion, further expanding my businesses to sustain me for the centuries to come. I was happy again.

It has been many years; over three hundred years had I walked this earth. My old dark heart pining for companionship, my maker long had disappeared from my existence. And I, Armel, searched the hearts of men and women alike to sooth the void of my immortal existence. Yet, none struck me with the heart or fortitude to capture this benighted heart and hold it prisoner. My longing transcended the depths of the universe until I had finally given up my search.

I soon found myself dredging the night clubs and alleyways of cities, hoping I would still find just one. Many I took to my bed who I released the very next morning, knowing their heart and soul could not yield to me all that I desired. And it was soon that I found myself in a state of dejection. Saddened that not one human could be found to sate my need, to sooth my yearning, or to give to me his all.

With a deep sigh, I sat one night with others such as myself drinking wine with them and listening to them chatter about their human counterparts and companions so selfishly until I could stand no more.

“Have you naught else to speak about!” my groan was startling even to my own ears.

“Why, Armel, haven’t you found your own companion? It can’t be true that you still live alone!” my dearest and closest friend stared at me with solemn eyes, yet the words he spoke seemed to mock me.

“Daniil, I have nothing to warm my bed, or my black heart, save you,” my voice waned even as I spoke it; the bitterness of those words caused him to coil.

I looked to him, my tall handsome friend with such imploring that even I knew its depth as I saw it mirrored in his dark brilliant eyes.

“What have I to do with you, Armel,” he tried to grin and the faintness of it was a small consolation to my stirring emotions. “You must sleep with me tonight. I cannot allow you to go uncomforted, my friend.”

“And what of the poor fool at your feet, Daniil?” I queried as I hauled my gaze to his young pet who sat at his feet on the floor as if it was all he had ever wanted to do. His head resting on his Master’s thigh, Daniil’s fingers raking through the strands of his yellow blonde hair. As they continued to comb through the hair, lifting it toward the light, it appeared almost white in color, dazzling continuity of brilliancy, I was awestruck as I gazed upon his human’s face.

“David will not mind. As a matter of fact, I might give him to you for the night to please you and sate your need, what would you say of that my friend?” Daniil's smile was ever warming to the chilling depths of my heart.

“Only if you join us, Daniil,” I proposed with my own desire to touch my friend and hold him in my embrace.

“As you wish, my friend,” his eyes then lifted to me with such depth of love that I had not ever known existed.

With a sigh, I looked back to my wine and the flagon that held it, recalling a time past when that was a common site. And this establishment we took wine in was one of few that even served their wine in such a way these days. Oh, how the modern world had turned from all that seemed sweet and simple in the days when knights ruled the earth with kings and queens of distant lands that are hardly spoken of any longer. Champions reigned with fair maidens to clean their bedchambers. Heroes walked the earth and rescued fair ladies from distresses and discourse. What had become of this world? Where are all the good men gone?

“You think too much, Armel,” Daniil teased in an almost bitter tone. And laughter filled the air from the table we sat. 

I could not refuse the smile that twitched upon my lips. And I looked to the faces of my friends, to Conley, to Flynn, to Raphael and again to Daniil. Their smiles were all bright and filled with such desire for me to be at peace and have my wish. How I did so agreed with their earnest longing for me. 

I raised my flagon sitting straight to make a toast to my friends. “To love for all,” I spoke in earnest.

“To love for all,” they agreed and we drank our wine, we laughed and enjoyed the company that we rarely had those days. It was uncommon to meet them on the streets. But for only one night, we were together again, happy with that, I might add.