The Monster Inside: The First Vampire Chapter 11

*The Eldovian Era, Year 1702*

"So, the elves have marks like mine?" asked Rassa .

"They're called life lines, they're the manifestation of the power a soul is capable of wielding," Phillip replied, "Every mark is unique, it tells the history of that individual, and traces their acheivements and downfalls . The Elves and the Dwarves both possess them from birth . Magicians gain them when they develop an attunment to a certain magic . But, to be honest with you my son, I've never seen a mark like yours . First of all, its black" .

Rassa looked away .

"Rassa, please . I promise I will be there for you no matter what it is," Phillip stated .

Rassa felt tears well in his eyes, "I didn't awaken to a power, I am no magician" .

Phillip frowned, "What do you mean?"

Rassa turned to his father, "I was trapped in there, so they, it, gave me a choice . Enter into a pact, or be trapped there for eternity . I didn't want to be trapped, father!"

Rassa burst into tears and Phillip pulled his son into his arms, "It's okay, Rassa, it's okay . No one would . Can you tell me who they are?"

Rassa shook his head, "They only said they were from the time of Chaos" .

Phillip frowned . He had never heard of such a thing, and he had been given access to the best educators in the Empire .

"Alright Rassa, it's okay," Phillip comforted, patting his son's back softly .

Regardless of what entity Rassa had encountered, Phillip was certainly furious that they had forced his son into such a position .

Phillip spent the rest of the day comforting his son . Anna returned only a few times, choosing to leave them be, she knew that Rassa needed this, needed somebody to lean on . It pained her to know it was not her, but from the look in Phillip's eyes, it was a good thing it had not been . She dropped off some food to them around dinner time, then said she had some errands to run .

Phillip roused Rassa, who had cried himself to sleep, then offered him some food . Rassa shook his head, pushing the bowl back .

"You need to eat, Rassa," Phillip stated .

Rassa sighed, "It does nothing . That's why I feel worse today . Nothing I eat makes me feel full" .

Phillip paused, surprised, then remember the look on his son's face after finishing three bowls of soup the night before . He'd been confused by that look, but now he understood . His son was smart, likely he'd wanted to keep eating to see if the hunger could be satisfied, but decided it would scare his parents to keep doing so .

"Well what do you want to eat?" asked Phillip .

Rassa looked to his dad . Phillip knew from that look that Rassa knew the answer, but was terrified of it .

"Just tell me Rassa, remember, new is scary, but what do you need to do to face it?" asked Phillip .

Rassa looked at his father for a long time, he was so still that Phillip had to question whether his son had heard him, then Rassa spoke in a quiet voice .

"Okay . . . I'll have courage," Rassa replied, then he turned away and stared at the curtain, the light fading behind it . He said nothing more, and Phillip knew that it was unlikely that he'd coax another answer from his son .

Phillip turned to the side and spotted one of the books on the shelves . It was a medical book, but any book at this stage would do . Phillip stood and reached for it, then walked back and handed it to his son .

"Come and read to me, I want to hear how you've improved from last time," Phillip said . Rassa seemed surprised, but after a moment he opened the book and began to read .

"The Anthology of Medicinal Plants in the Western Region," Rassa read the title, "Their properties and uses" .

Phillip listened as his son listed the plants and their uses, effectively distracting the both of them . Just like the sponge he'd always known, Phillip watched as his son eagerly soaked in the knowledge . When the Doctor came to check on him not long after Anna returned, Rassa even began to ask questions .

"Do you use all of these plants, Doctor? They cure so many things" .

"Some of them are hard to come by, but I do the best I can . If you are really interested in medicinal plants, you should endeavour to meet an elf one day, using the forest wisely is their core culture" .

"Can the elves cure anything then?"

"Some think so, but the elves are a myterious bunch, they only let you in on what they want you to know," the Doctor smiled . It was rare he came across such an inquisitive child . They talked for some time, Anna and Phillip watching on in amusement . For those few hour as the sun surrendered the sky to the moon and stars, they looked to all the world like a family without worries .

Eventually though, the doctor left, the book was put down, and they all turned to sleep .

Yet again, Rassa waited until he knew his parents were asleep before he stood and put on his boots and jacket . He struggled at times, his limbs aching worse than the day before . When Rassa finally managed to leave the Doctor's house, he looked towards the forest in fear .

He took a deep breath, then shook his head before looking up with determination .

"New is scary, but we must have the courage to learn" .

Rassa stepped forward, and didn't look back .

From the shadows of the house, Phillip watched his son march towards the woods, a feeling of foreboding coming over him . Just what had happened to his only child?

Chapter end