Medford, Texas – The Hall – 2nd Floor Room B
Wednesday March 12th 2059 – 2:15 PM
"You see this isn't bad is it? And Antionio's delivers here, I bet you haven't had a good meal in a long time. You would have eaten there every day if I had let you when you were young."
Elsa smirked and put down the small piece of luggage down on the bed. That comment from mother was so stupid. No, Boston was not totally devoid of good food. But she didn't say that to her. Elsa was feeling bad enough with what she had just lost. And what it was going to do to her mother when she left again.
"I want to go see Hope, make sure she is ok."
Kate was very different from her adopted mother Nancy. Kate was blonde and trim, far more the body type of Hope than of Nancy. Yet inside, Elsa always felt more akin to Nancy, rather than Kate. Mom was pretty and could be sweet, but a lion when she didn't get her way. At saying she wanted to see Hope, she knew how her mother would reply. It would be a big fat no, and if there was any hope Elsa could stop things, she wouldn't even bother being here. But Elsa knew Hope was lost. Going there would just be traumatic; Hope wouldn't even know who she is by now.
"You will see her tomorrow; someone has to drive her back to Omaha remember. Besides dear, she doesn't know you anymore. It's best to let it alone. Nancy can show you how to wake her, you should keep her out for the whole drive. That way you only have to explain why you are in her apartment. Not why you are driving her across the country. As for what memory Nancy is using to implant I am going to go over and talk about it tonight. Nancy I am sure could use the help. You will see dear, it's going to be ok."
Elsa looked away, hurt that again her people were going to take away something precious to her. The first time it was trying to stand in the way of her dreams. Kate and Nancy both had been very firm on her staying. Both had said her fate was to be here, to be the mother to another generation and to help keep the clan going. But that wasn't what Elsa wanted. They had picked out a young man for her to marry. He wasn't a bad person, just not whom she wanted, and not when. She dare not think more about it, otherwise her call would pull at her until she gave in. That was the fate of any aqua woman. They would allow themselves to find someone to love, and the next thing they knew, they would be with child. Completely absorbed in building another generation of vampires. Raising them, comforting them, teaching them. The thought was like a drug, one that made her mind soften and grow slow. She had to shake her head clear of it, less it control her. Elsa had to do this any time her mind locked on her call. If she let herself go down this path there was no telling where she would be, although she had a good idea.
The room she was in was on the 2nd floor of the same building where Hope had her interview. It was known as the "Hall" by the aqua. At one time it had been something else, but in all her life it had always belonged to their family. The 2nd floor had once been offices but they had been converted to a sort of "no cost" hotel for aqua. There was another aqua settlement in Idaho and at times they would get visitors in Medford from there. These rooms were set aside for the Idaho Aqua when they visited.
"I want to talk if you let me…. Elsa there are things I really need to tell you. Things you should know."
Elsa closed her eyes and didn't have the heart to hear them. She had no strength to argue, and she didn't want mom pushing her to return. Just seeing the town, talking to family, and breathing in this space was enough to overwhelm her willpower to resist. She looked at her mother, Kate was emotional and clearly needed to talk. But it was probably because she sensed Elsa's weakness. Kate wanted to seize the moment and get her way.
"No mom, I am not in the mood to argue. Please just let me be, we can talk before I leave in the morning."
Elsa put a lot of hardness in her voice which hurt her mother. She didn't want to hurt her, but there was no other way to prevent Kate from going all in. Once Kate had something between the teeth she wouldn't stop. Elsa pictured in her mind Kate badgering her for hours and how that would feel. There was no way she was going through that tonight. As she expected, that hit her mom like a truck. Kate mumbled something which Elsa didn't really hear that well, and closed the door. Elsa fell back on the bed and cried, not just for the loss of a friend but because here she was hurting someone else she cared about. It felt like that was all she was good at.
Elsa laid there a long time and wallowed in the silence. It suited her mood and allowed her to cry and get out how she felt. After that she found something far more comfortable to wear. An old shirt and a pair of sweats. No one lived on this floor so she would be alone tonight. She had no appetite after that, even though she had skipped lunch and barely ate breakfast. She just opened a bottle of water from the small fridge and tried to open her laptop and do some work. That lasted for a few hours but she quickly got what she needed to do done. After that she just sat there on the bed with her legs tucked up into herself. She was thinking about her best friend and how she would never again talk to her the same way. Even if by some miracle she was allowed to stay, and accepted life as one of them. Hope would never look at her the same again. It wasn't fair, and it was so like her people. Hope was gone, that seemed clear to Elsa. She hugged her knees as another tear started to form. It was good she would only spend the night in this place. In the morning, she wanted to be far away from Kate, and all the rest.
There was a loud sound as the ancient elevator came to a stop. It wasn't a passenger one, but rather a freight elevator that had no doors. It seemed to pause on her floor and a moment later the thin gate was pulled to, someone had got off on her floor. It had to be Kate, coming to finish the conversation. To slowly talk her into submission. Elsa was angry, why didn't mom understand? Why could she not just respect her beliefs, and allow her to choose something in her life? Could she not, just for once, accept her wishes? Elsa jumped off the bed and had the door open in a flash. She was already starting her diatribe when the astonished image of Zeke pulled back in terror at someone jumping out at him.
"Good God! ELSA? Holy crap, you scared me."
Elsa put her hand over her mouth in surprise. Zeke put a hand on the wall to steady himself.
"I am so sorry Zeke! I thought… I thought you were Kate coming to argue with me more…sorry. I didn't mean to scare you that bad, are you ok?"
Zeke was another aqua vampire; one she had known growing up. He smiled at her and said he was fine. When he moved closer however what he said caused her to want to retreat back into her room.
"I am sure glad you are home. I got to ask though, why are you back? I figured with how you left you would be gone a long time. What gives?
Elsa stopped her retreat and leaned against the doorframe. She didn't think to be open and honest; she just was, especially around her kind. Instantly her demeanor went from surprise and worry for Zeke, to one of depression.
"I brought Gerold's finance here for her interview, it didn't go very well. Ashley said no."
Zeke didn't apologize which surprised her. Most aqua would have been disappointed and gave her sympathy. But for Zeke he just crossed his arms and looked amused.
"I take it she didn't like our "welcome to the club" introduction party. I can't blame her, Ashley and Allison are crazy if they think that does anything other than scare anyone."
Elsa was surprised he knew the details but then remembered he had been on the group that had come up with it in the first place. She was surprised enough at his reaction she asked about it.
"I mean they listened to my input sort of, but not really. Allison thinks anyone in their right mind will want to be like us, and Ashley thinks our powers are going to destroy us all. Makes for a nice mix of crazy if you ask me. I thought we should just tell humans normally and slowly over a couple days. Not toss them into the link and scare the shit out of them."
That answered some questions that Elsa had. Why couldn't they just take it easy on poor Hope. Then her mind stopped. Why was Zeke here? She looked at him questioningly and he just laughed at that.
"Oh, I am staying in room C, I rolled into town a few nights ago and they are letting me crash here until I figure out what I am doing next."
Confused Elsa thought back to what she remembered of Zeke. He was older than her, when she was growing up he was already an adult. Not that vampire's considered anyone who had not lived for at least a century an adult. He was in his late 20's when she was a little girl. So, he had to be at least 15-20 years older. Pretty much the same age in vampire eyes. She innocently replied back the part of his sentence "doing next" to let him know she wasn't following what he meant.
"I left town a year or so after you did. Nothing here for me anyway. I ended up working for a nonprofit that helped to rebuild war damage in the Pacific. They disbanded a few months ago, ran out of funding. So, I sort of just kicked around until I couldn't think of anything else to do and came home. Not going to stay, but you know how it is. We can't really leave permanent like, we have to come back fill up on decent cooking and see loved ones. Get that aqua fix in to last another decade or so. Hey speaking of which, have you grabbed dinner yet? I am totally starving. I was going to call in something from Antionio's but if you haven't eaten we could just walk there. I would like to catch up on what you have been doing."
Hope refused but with a smile. It felt so good to just see those eyes again, all aqua had unique eyes. That was always true for a vampire of any clan. Vampires could see the signet or color reflected back to them. Ivy another vampire she found funny, once described it as having flashlights for eyes. Yet she still had to tell Zeke no, she needed to play it safe. Yet there was something about seeing someone like her AND who didn't expect her to move home, that was enticing. Zeke took her refusal in stride.
"Too bad, well take care of yourself ok. Oh, and sorry about your friend."
He started back down the hallway without another word, humming the whole way. She heard him open the door and enter while she stood unmoved in her doorway. She was lonely, and emotional and having a good meal sounded like the perfect thing right now. But she was afraid of so many things, but Zeke wasn't someone to be frightened of. He wasn't family per say, he was the son of Henri who led the Idaho portion of the aqua. And he was always considered somewhat of a disappointment by the clan. Just why she didn't know, she had to suspect it might be because he dared to leave town like she did. That alone made him interesting, and someone with a sympathetic ear. Someone who wouldn't brow beat her into returning home. One thing was for sure, Elsa was now hungry, and there wasn't anything in that room that would help her forget it.
She walked down to his door and knocked. She smiled at him using her talents. Nothing too strong, just trying to be friendly.
"Hey, I know I said I wasn't hungry, but I am. Honestly company doesn't sound bad either. Do you mind?"
That made him grin and he grabbed his wallet off the dresser and closed the door behind him. They talked about small stuff the two blocks to the restaurant. People from Medford they knew and wondered about. From the sounds of it, Zeke wasn't getting updates like she did. Elsa didn't have to work to stay in touch with people in Medford. Her phone and email box were full of contacts who never let her go more than a month without some word. As they walked it wasn't hard to find things to talk about. Vampires in Medford had many shared memories, unique from those around them, things that bonded them, usually it was tragedy. Medford had far too many moments like that for Elsa to count. Most of them had happened before she was born or when she was young. The town had largely been a quiet place most of her life. Not since the "night of the fangs" had things last been really out of control.
Elsa smiled it was yet another one of those moments where bad things had come for them and their kind. Back then that kind of trouble seemed to come for them every few years. Thank God that had come to an end. The event had folks talking about it ever since. It was one of those shared moments that folks used to measure others. Over the years Elsa had heard many vampires describe where they were that night. She had heard many of the older vampires get really animated when they spoke about it. Zeke was quick to share that he had taken shelter in the hospital, and had seen the worst of it, at least from his prospective. Elsa's answer was well practiced from experience. Young or old, all vampires in Medford spoke of that moment.
"I wasn't here that night, mom gathered all of us kids up and we went on a road trip to Victoria and spent the night. I will never forget what I saw when we came back. There were still bodies in the streets. I remember mom not letting us outside for two days. Hey remember that huntress who shadowed Jay back then? She really gave me the creeps."
Zeke made a sound of agreement and asked her for how she felt afterwards. Elsa had been young at the time and had been easily distracted by games and her brothers. But the adults, they were terrified. That Elsa remembered clearly. Next he asked if she remembered Ite and the "tears." For an aqua there was no greater moment of despair than what outsiders called "Tears of the Aqua." That name always made Elsa frown; it sounded so dramatic for something not in any way dramatic. That moment was burned into the elder Aqua's memories. But for young Aqua it wasn't anything that bothered them. The night of the Tears, was the night someone killed Ite. Elsa did of course remember Ite. Ite was a sweet grandmother to them and all the aqua young. Most of those days were hazy to Elsa as she was a little girl, but the memories were always pleasant. She never really understood why people made such a fuss. No one ever talked about Ite, especially if they were the older Aqua. Zeke was in his 20's then, which made Elsa curious. Elsa decided to share the one great thing that had happened to her on that day.
"Oh yeah, that was the same day I got my eyes. I don't remember a lot, we were all so young. But I remember being scared about something and Gerold protecting me. I really don't understand why everyone is so weird about her. I only remember her being sweet and nice to us kids. I think a lot of the old Aqua are just being dramatic about it. I know everyone is all hush, hush about it. But how is that silly night worse than the night of fangs? I mean like how many people died during the night of the fangs? What was it like 400 or so? Don't get me wrong Ite was sweet and I hate someone killed her, but it doesn't exactly compare you know?"
Zeke just nodded along and seemed a bit uncomfortable. So even Zeke was weirded out by Ite and that time. He seemed to catch his breath before he responded.
"I was just curious; you had to be really little when she died? I wasn't sure if you were old enough to remember. Do you remember anything else about her?"
Elsa quickly said no, when it came to Ite her memory was really fuzzy. Probably because she died so early in her life. She wanted to know what he remembered but something told her not to ask. Lately everything had gone so wrong. The last thing she wanted to do was upset someone she was trying to spend a few moments with. She wanted to have some fun, and get a nice meal for once. Mom wasn't wrong, Boston may have good food but nothing like home. Once they had a table she spent all the time waiting on the food by talking about her work. Zeke asked questions and was especially curious how she delt with the call, and how she stayed sane.
"You know there are days I think about coming here and ordering an entire 16 inch pizza and a pitcher of Mt. Dew and it's all I can do not to get on a plane."
Zeke laughed and likewise said that airfare generally prevented him from scratching that itch. Then he asked about Alex and his marriage to Agatha, specifically how that was going.
"She is pregnant, it's a boy apparently. I think she is due in July or August. They seem really happy, she was at the desk when me and Hope arrived."
Zeke smiled and teased saying he thought Agatha was going to choose Leon, another of Nancy's sons. They had dated a lot in school and then right before graduation, Agatha dumped Leon and took up with Alex. Elsa knew where this was going, the aqua family tree was murky, and funny if you didn't know just how strange it could be. Being a vampire also made for very odd questions. Like the one she knew was coming. Zeke smiled big and then putting his hand on his beer bottle traced the edge of the top.
"And Agatha's mom ended up with Frank right? Are they still together? Man, I remember that wedding was so full of drama. Allison wanted to kill her. Can you imagine what it must be like if she has kids? When your daughter-in-law is like 900 years older than you?"
Elsa smiling gave a sour frown but one that revealed she wasn't offended.
"Uh-huh, well Frank and Alice had them. I think they are up to three now I believe. Allison got over it, but it is funny I have to admit that. You know Alex took Alice out on a date once? Now that would have been strange! Mom and daughter married to two brothers. I mean it's not bad or anything but your right it is funny."
Zeke asked her if she thought that was strange having someone as a spouse who was hundreds of years older than you. He made it clear he wasn't interested in that for himself.
"I mean I guess no…. eventually if we live long enough we might be doing it ourselves. But right now, ick no way. Alex loves her though, and he is happy. But for me no way. At the time I didn't see anything wrong with it. Alice and Agatha went to our school and were what 13 when they showed up? So that made them like a year above all of us in class. But now looking back on it, yeah it's weird. But it makes sense if you think about it. Both of them spent nine centuries in that convent, they were so out of touch with society they had to start over in some way. Going back to school and being kids again just made sense."
Zeke smiled and asked if they had been messing around with them in school. That made Elsa shiver, again at the time she didn't know.
"Alex said they didn't, apparently Frank and all the boys knew the whole time. But they didn't start to really date until they were all like 17 or 18. I still think it's going too far, you?"
Zeke shook his head yes and then asked if she would go back to high school one day. Zeke was dead set against it.
"Hell no! I hated high school, Alex, Frank, and Leon loved it, why I have no idea. I suppose one day it makes sense to do it when we have to start over. That's one thing I hate about being us, we can't keep our education, our names, nothing. We just have to die around 50-60 in the eyes of the world and start over. I worked hard for my education; I really don't want to start over one day."
Zeke commented about the other clans who had it WAY worse. The ruby clan didn't age at all, and the emerald were always in a single season of life. What he meant by that was always in the child raising season of life.
"I am not sure who has it worse us or them, this call to come home just doesn't ever let up."
They talked about life outside of Medford and what they found so wonderful about living out there. Talking to Zeke she didn't feel like she had a scarlet letter on her chest. He understood, why was it so hard for everyone else? She said in a pouty way how she hated how much pressure everyone put on them for leaving.
"Yeah it sucks, but thankfully most of my direct family is back in Idaho so it's not that bad for me. Nancy gives me trouble every now and then wanting to know when her great-grandson is coming home. But I think they are getting used to the idea that I am not meant for a place like this. I tried that whole family thing, and Persephone left. So, it's not like I didn't try right?"
She had forgotten about that, he had been married to a cobalt vampire, Ed's daughter Persephone. Ed was the leader of that clan and Persephone was the child of two very powerful vampires. Persephone's mother was over 2000 years old. She had once gone by the name of Briseis a character right out of Greek mythology, literally. None of that mattered to Elsa, what she remembered about Persephone's mom was that she was pretty handy at making cookies. Something Elsa always enjoyed when she would play over at their house. Elsa found it a bit sad at his comment. He had to have been divorced now a long time. Persephone had died a few years back and she wondered if he knew. She didn't think it smart to bring it up so she let the conversation die right there. Elsa pivoted to asking about the Idaho branch of the clan.
"How is your dad, the last thing mom told me was he was expanding again."
Zeke shook his head and described some things he was doing that Elsa really didn't care about. She just wanted him off the subject of his ex-wife. Mostly so the mood wouldn't die again. She was having fun, enjoying being in her favorite restaurant in the world and seeing SO MANY vampires all around. The food arrived and then they were laughing about this memory and that one. Elsa told stories about her hell raising brothers, and the trouble they had gotten into. One story especially she loved.
"I don't remember why but our junior year Gerold talks me into this prank they were pulling on old Mr. Granderson, you remember him?"
Zeke shook his head and laughed, the old man in question had been a human who was principal of the school they went to. He had probably heard this story because he was grinning ear to ear.
"Well, I go and they have me dress up like I was hit by a car. They had fake blood, ketchup I think for me to smear on my clothes. Ruined that shirt I had. And then they have me lay out in front of his car. The boys are all shouting and raising a fuss. And you remember old Granderson, he was always in the bag before noon so he was totally hammered since it was Friday night. He loses it when he sees me and he picks me up and is crying and losing it."
Zeke was openly laughing at this point and shaking his head in fake disapproval at the same time.
"He nearly peed himself when I came alive and ran away."
Zeke asked what the outcome was later, which in her case was about a week of detention.
"He tried to expel Alex and Gerold over it. I don't know what dad said to him but we did our detentions and that was that. Did you go to Medford High or did you go to school out in Idaho?"
Zeke explained that he came out to Medford with his dad in 2035. Elsa found herself curious about him, why did he come here and why not stay out there. Idaho was beautiful, she had been there once with her brothers when Nancy visited Henri. Instead of asking a million questions she just asked why he left.
"Its different out there, it's a totally different way of life on that mountain. Its hard work, long days and it's not a place for the man….well the man I used to be. So, I came out here and the moment I arrived I met Persephone, which is why I stayed as long as I did. Ok so now I got to know….why didn't you marry that Johnson boy they picked out for you? I seem to remember them listing out all the things you two had in common. Frankly I thought it sounded like they had hand crafted him for you. What was the problem, forked tongue, bad breath, oh I know…. Severe aversion to decent food, he's a vegan isn't he?"
Elsa giggled and smiled, the first real one she had while here. The moment she did she felt a weight lift from her. Zeke was funny, and his smile was electric. It was safe to have fun tonight and enjoy a night with a friend. That was something she didn't expect to find tonight. A fellow aqua that she could be normal with, real with. Zeke understood what it was to be them. What it was to hurt, to desire and to deny it. Elsa looked at him and locked eyes losing herself in the glow of her clan in his eyes. From that point on in the evening she was going to enjoy herself, and not feel bad for it.
"He wasn't anything like that, although he was really shy. It wasn't him really, it was me. Everyone told me what they thought I should be. I wanted to go out there and discover myself. I wanted to find all of that out for myself, not have mom or Nancy plan it. And I wanted to choose my own mate for goodness sakes. But you know Zeke they aren't wrong, I feel our call. God I do, I know one day I will probably give in and do all those things. But I want to choose when and with whom, you know? I had to find me, the real one."
Zeke shook his head and then asked if she was going to eat that last little slice of pizza they had shared. Instead of waiting on her decision he started to reach for it. She beat him to the punch and taunted him enjoying every last bite of it. His mouth fell open in mock shock. That just drove her to tease him harder.
"Well, I can see you would never make it as my wife. I would pull you over my knee in an instant for that."
Something came over Elsa just then, perhaps it was the beers she had, perhaps it was how much fun it was to tease him, and to talk to him. But she told him she would like very much like to see him try. There was a sparkle in his eye at that. One that caused a brief pause, but the smiles quickly returned and they quickly found another topic to talk about. While they waited on more food.