Thread: Love Is War { Kveria | EverUndine }

Jolyon didn't miss the barely audible exhalation as Alistair hung his head at the news that his weapon could not be saved. Obviously it was more than just a weapon to the young man and he made sure to set the bag away and see just what else he could do with the pieces. He knew what it was to experience loss and, he hated to admit it, he had actually started to care just the tiniest bit about the young human's well-being. Before Alistair had found him he had virtually no contact with any living being besides the cats he loved so dearly and the people he snacked on. He had grown reclusive in this smoke-covered city, and he often reminisced about the days before industry took over the world. The way the smoke settled heavily in the city reminded him of the mornings in Ireland, when the mist was thick enough to slice through and it went on for miles and miles. He remembered his childhood in the hills of Ireland, in the year 848 AD he had been ten years old. Just ten when the Vikings invaded his village and killed his father and raped his mother before cutting off her head. The only reason he survived was because his father had hidden him in the damp cave nearby. He wandered the countryside looking for work, food and rest where he could find it. It was 867 AD when he had met the man who would make him who he was. Thorstein the Red. It was obvious, in hindsight, how he had earned such a colorful moniker. Thorstein had been the one to find him eating lichen in Sutherland, starving and almost dead and trying to avoid the battlefields. He had been the one to take Jolyon into his arms and give him the gift of immortality, and it had been the same man to train him in the ways of war and of bloodshed. Only twenty years later Thorstein taught Jolyon one of the most important lessons a vampire could learn how to survive. When the humans he surrounded himself with found that Thorstein was a vampire they conspired against him, killing him before he had an inkling of what they dared to do. That was what taught Jolyon to keep moving, staying in one place for too long drew attention. He spent most of his time in libraries, teaching himself everything there was to know. Science and mathematics helped him to start creating his inventions, he studied art so that he could draw schematics and painting so that he could paint his memories. Economics and politics helped him gain favor with those in high places and he earned his fortunes with his knowledge of business. He slowly lost the Irish lilt in his speech as he learned to read, write and speak several other languages. Eventually he came here, to this place. He was tired of having to relocate every time the people he associated with began to notice the strangeness of his ever-youthful face. It was nice having someone who knew, someone he didn't have to pretend with, he supposed that is why he had agreed to the business arrangement he had with Alistair. He was pulled out of his mind with the loud beat of the human heart only feet away from him. The steady rhythm had sped up ever so slightly and the raven-haired vampire brought his focus on the hunter. The capillaries blossomed across his face and gave off the most perfect aroma, it had Jolyon practically salivating. His enlarged canines started to throb painfully as he groaned. He wished this reckless hunter would start letting him know when he would stop by, then at least he could get someone to eat beforehand. He was simply starving and Alistair was making it hard to concentrate. Silence, boy , the words escaped from his throat with a low and rumbling growl, his jaw was clenched tightly as he tried to think about anything but that heavenly smell and the throbbing fangs in his mouth. I know more of killing than I care to admit, but if you rush me again I will have to show you how hungry I really am. The hunger was already mind-numbing and Alistair's petty demands and incessant complaining was wearing thin on him. He had never before lost the slightest bit of control over himself around Alistair, but he was hoping that he would leave him alone and he could get his work done without Alistair hovering like he did. Jolyon fought the urge to simply take what he wanted from the hunter, Alistair had only a knife with him now and Jolyon was sure he was fast enough to surprise him. But he couldn't do that, the young man was tenacious and the last thing he wanted was to have this angry bloke chasing him across continents to settle a personal vendetta. As he finally finished the tracking device and closed the machine back up, he stood but stayed at his bench, forcing Alistair to come to him for the device. The human's hand gripped it and went to pull it away, Jolyon did not let go just yet. I know that my inventions are worth more to you than you'd care to say. I know that without them you would be making far less money. Consider this a gift . From now on I want more than just the promise of my life. Come back tomorrow for the flintlock. And be ready to pay me for it. He saw the suspicion and annoyance in the man's eyes and he opened his mouth to say something before Jolyon cut him off, Not money. I have more of that than I know what to do with, so think outside the box, He smirked, What does a vampire value?