78 Returned

[Carlisle POV]

April 5th, 1641

Years as a vampire - 1

The scratchy pain in my throat was no longer as bad as it had first been.

Aspeshaly now that I have had some practice with Julius and Jane.

Today was a cloudy day, with a scattering of rain.

Allowing me to walk the crowded streets of London by myself.

I didn't have a destination in mind or a need to buy anything. I just decided to put myself to the test some more around all of these people while I slowly drifted into my thoughts.

The conversation between me, Julius, and Jane had reemerged in my thoughts and replayed themselves.

Which still amazed me.

Before I had been turned, I was smarter than most. Which to my folly, is what allowed me to actually track down a real vampire with some others of my deceased father's parish, who convinced me to lead their little group of monster hunters in my fathers place.

But now, my mind was on a whole new aspect of reality.

Any memory I have had after awakening in the sewers is crystal clear in my mind's eye.

From the most infinitesimal detail. I seemed to be able to recall it at a simple thought.

Breaking from my thoughts, I looked up at the loud "bong!" That echoed from a church.

The church was large and made of large gray stone blocks in a Gothic design.

With its pointed arches, ribbed vaults, and large stained glass windows.

The sight of something that had once given me such comfort now only gave me dread for myself.

I forced myself to turn away from it.

Even with Julius's words replaying in my head again, I couldn't help but still feel as if I was a damned creature.

The stinging pain in my throat that was always there only seemed to drive that thought home in my mind.

'I need to get back. It's time.' I thought, as I waved a rumbling carriage that was passing by to me.

The ride back almost seemed an eternity, as I thought of ways to tell Julius and Jane of my decision.

'Would they be angry…no, they would most likely be disappointed.' I thought, as my imagination took hold of my worries and intensified them.

The ride was bumpy, and if I wasn't so deep in thought, It would have been miserable, where I would have just decided to walk or run all the way back.

Finally, the rocking and shaking of the carriage came to an end as the carriage moved from the uneven and bumpy dirt road to the even cobbled road.

Stopping in front of the castle's drawbridge, I got out of the carriage and waved a hand at the driver, who was already pulling away.

Walking past the two stationary guards on the entrance, I passed under the gatehouse, where Captain Evergreen and two of his men normally stood.

But today, they seemed to be on patrol.

Because they were nowhere to be seen.

Not spending a second to think about it, I continued into the castle.

The inside was mostly quiet.

Except for the distant sound of voices and shuffling of the castle servants.

But as I headed towards where I knew Julius would be at this time of day, I saw Captain Evergreen and two of his men coming down the hallway.

"Good evening, Captain Evergreen." I said as he passed.

"Good evening, Lord Cullen." The Captain said, with a head bow. His men followed his lead.

"On patrol?" I asked, with a small smile.

"No Lord." The Captain said with a wide smile.

Then, reaching up, the captain touched a necklace he always had around his neck.

I had seen it once before, when he and his men were training on the training grounds.

It was a simple gold loop with a steel chain.

I had seen a few others wearing similar gold ring necklaces as well, but only those in high places that are owned by Julius…or rather Adam.

"ah, well, I should be on my way, Lord." Captain Evergreen said, with a quick salute before he and his men started to walk by.

I watched him go, in confusion.

Turning back, I continued down the long hall until I reached the large wooden doors of Julius's office.

Stopping in front of the large doors for a moment. I readied myself for the conversation I was about to have.

Julius and Jane were very nice to me and guided me through this new reality of mine. I felt no pleasure in separating from them.

But at the same time, I felt that I needed to leave…to learn more of what I am and who I am now.

Taking a step forward, I pushed the doors open.

"Julius, may I have a word?" I asked before the door was fully open.

"Ah Carlisle, just the man I was about to send for." Julius said, as I finally took a step inside his large office.

As I stepped in, I saw that Julius was not alone.

A man was seated in one of Julius's chairs, with a relaxed posture.

The man was clearly very tall, with slightly pink skin and hair almost as white as snow, that reached down past his shoulders, with a braid on his left temple that went to his chest.

In an instant, I realized who this man was.

And if I still had a beating heart, it might have stopped.

Stepping up beside me, Julius clapped my shoulder.

"I would like to finally introduce you to the man I have been telling you about." Julius said, in a happy tone.

"Although I'm sure you have more than likely figured it out by now. I would like to introduce you to Adam." Julius said while gesturing to him.

The man…or Adam stood to his feet, towering nearly a head taller than me.

Taking a step forward, Adam put his hand out to shake.

"It is good to meet you, Carlisle." Adam said, in a smooth voice, which was neither too deep nor soft.

Mindlessly, I raised my own hand for a shake.

His solid grip squeezed my own hand as we shook.

Showcasing Adam's strength, as his hands felt like pure steel.

My mind was a twirl with turmoil.

'Do I bow or go to my knees?' I thought, as our handshake broke.

Through the journals of this man, I had lived for thousands of years.

Which was the main reason I wanted to travel.

The places he wrote of seemed so magical and wondrous.

Adam stepped back as Julius spoke again.

"Carlisle is barely a year old and has already built up enough endurance that he can merge perfectly with society." Julius said as he walked to his desk and leaned on it.

"Oh really?" Adam said as he turned to look at me.

"Indeed. We believe it has something to do with his power." Julius said.

"In what way?" Adam asked, making his way back to his own chair.

"When Carlisle first came to the surface from the sewers where he was changed, he ran into a drunk, who cut his hand, drawing blood in front of a newborn." Julius said with a smile.

"He managed to run away before losing control to the thirst." Julius finished.

Adam turned to look at me, then motioned for me to sit in the open chair.

I didn't think, as I moved to the chair.

Once seated, Adam looked me in the eyes for a few seconds.

"I don't believe that is a part of his power." Adam said, with a smirk.

"Really?" Julius asked.

"Yes." Adam said, leaning back in his chair again.

"How can you tell?" I asked, finally joining the conversation for the first time.

A smile spread across Adam's face, showing his perfect teeth.

"What was your profession before you were turned into a vampire?" He asked me.

"I was in practice to become a doctor." I said, confused as to why that was important or had anything to do with my possible power.

"A doctor, huh?" He said, his smile never leaving his face.

"And what made you want to become a doctor?" Adam asked me.

"I wanted to help people." I said strongly.

My want for that exact thing, clear in my voice.

Adam nodded his head.

"Do you know what most doctors have in common?" He asked me.

But before I could answer with my idea of what I believe all doctors have in common, he interrupted me by answering his own question.

"It's their personalities. They all have dedication, commitment, resilience, and above all…compassion." Adam said

I agreed, nodding my head.

"And your response to my question tells me exactly which one you have most of." Adam said, leaning forward in his chair.

"It's compassion, Carlisle. Some would have said, "to heal people" or "to find a cure for an ailment."

"And without even needing to think. You said "to help people.". That tells me you are a very compassionate person, with the ability to understand and empathize with the suffering of others and to show kindness and care towards them." Adam said, seeming to finally come to his point.

"What exactly does any of that have to do with his power?" Julius asked while raising a brow.

Adam let a chuckle slip from his lips.

"When a person is turned, their emotions intensify. Becoming more vivid and intense. This means that his already strong feeling of compassion for human life has tripled."

Then, he turned his head. Adam looked at Julius.

"Just like you, Julius. When you first turned, you were able to fight the urge for blood with your own intensified emotions." Adam said, with a laugh.

[Later that night]

I was currently seated on the stone parapet of my room's balcony.

Soaking in the late night rays of the moon.

From where I sat, I could also see right over the walls that were around the castle and into the still bustling town.

As I sat watching a drunkard stumble his way down the main road of town, I slipped into my thoughts of earlier.

Adam's appearance threw off the plans I had originally intended to enact today.

Which was to tell Julius and Jane of my soon to be departure.

But after the conversation about my intensified emotions.

Adam and Julius seemed to be more focused on reconnecting with each other while I sat there and listened.

I wasn't sure if he was the true Adam from the Bible.

He matched perfectly with the description of Adam from the Bible.

But in his journals, Adam not once wrote of it.

Which I felt wasn't right.

I would expect the first man to exist would at least bring it up at least once in his journals.

But as I had that thought, I felt a gust of wind brush by me, with a scent.

"Beautiful night, is it not?" The voice of Adam said, from beside me.

I reacted on instinct.

In a blur, I was on my feet and ready to run.

But what I saw was Adam leaning on the parapet smiling at me.

'I didn't even hear him.' I thought in astonishment.

Since my transformation, It had been impossible for anything to get within a few hundred feet of me, without me hearing it.

Be it bugs, humans, or vampires.

"Relax Carlisle, I just came to talk." Adam said, as he waved a hand at me to relax.

"My apologies, Adam." I said as I stepped down.

"It's alright, Carlisle." Adam said as he looked up at the full moon.

We stood in silence for a solid minute before Adam spoke again.

"Julius tells me you have the idea that vampires don't have souls?" He said, looking away from the moon and at me.

___________________

I had to re-write with twice. That's why I didn't post yesterday.

I'm still not sure about it, so please let me know what you think about it.

-BEAN-

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