Like a Kite String and Tail

PART 1

It was another lively evening at the villa- well, as lively as estate inhabited by vampires could be. A small shadow made its way through the marble-lined halls to a particular room. The door creaked as a tiny figure slipped through and approach the lone figure occupying the opulent room. Gladys was quickly whisked off her feet and held aloft like a bride in the small yet sturdy arms of a familiar, ancient vampire. “Would you be mine,” Eydis asked playfully. There was a twinkle in her eye that hinted tonight would be filled with more lucidity than most.

“Hmmm? What do you mean,” asked the younger vampire.

“A queen needs a princess,” Eydis quickly responded as she nuzzled Gladys' cheek.

"You want me to be your princess?” Gladys asked definitely not understanding the full ramifications of the question.

“Next in line.”

Gladys: frowned a little. "You make it sound like... like you're going to die..."

“We all will.”

Gladys didn’t like being confronted with facts, "I suppose..." She nuzzles closer, not wanting to think about it but now definitely thinking about it. She tried to distract herself, "What is your kingdom then? What would I be princess of?"

The older vampire pet Gladys' head with one hand while maintaining a steady hold of her lower half. "Whatever your heart desires."

Gladys thought for a moment, then sighed, "I'm not sure what that is..."

"Well, that's why I you may need me.”

Glady hugged Eydis to the point of clinging, "I want you to never die. Stay with me."

"Good, that's a start." Eydis nuzzled into her once more. "And I would want the same."

Gladys sighed happily, "Thank you."

"But you must want more?"

"Of course, but I want things that I can't have."

"Like what?"

"Like leaving this forest with you, seeing the world."

"What if it was possible?"

"I... I'd want to leave, but... but I still wouldn't want to leave Claud behind..."

"When will you make him yours?"

"As soon as I know I'm making the right decision."

"If it's what you want, why would it be wrong?"

Gladys smiled a bit at Oma's very Vampire Logic. "I don't want him to hate me for eternity, you see."

"Nobody hates for all eternity. That's the very nature of it."

"You think so?"

Eydis giggled at Gladys' very human logic and placed a small kiss upon her cheek, "Hate is human. I grew out of it long ago."

Gladys smiled, then thought aloud, "What about my master? He certainly doesn't seem to love anyone."

Eydis chuckled, "The absence of love is not hate."

"Really though, do you think he loves anyone? Besides himself?"

"Some creatures cannot love. That is just their nature," she leaned in and nipped at Gladys' ear. "The secret is that doesn't make them stronger."

Gladys instinctively ducked her head in a show of submission, pressing her cheek to Oma's breast.

Eydis held her there protectively, "I'll ask you again. What is it you desire most? Beyond this life and the next. But the thing you run to?"

Gladys clung to her, feeling ashamed and pained even as she admitted, "I want to be happy, I want someone to care about me, I want to be loved..."

"Will you feel that way in 100 years, in 1000?"

"Yyyes?" Gladys said, but now wondering what Oma's own experience had been.

"I will ask you again in 100 years,” Eydis said with a soft laugh, “For now you have that, so be content"

Gladys smiled and closed her eyes, "Yes, Oma."

Eydis chuckled and pet Gladys some more, "When would you like to leave?"

Gladys asked, "Could we come back? In a few years maybe?"

"Well, leaving here would take some work," she smiled, "Leaving him wouldn't take much time at all."

Gladys has misunderstood something here, "Him?"

"I'll free you if you free yourself."

"What do you mean?"

"Rule the roost"

"But how can I?"

"Good question," she poked Gladys' nose playfully. "If you were me, how would you do it?"

Gladys thought a moment, then quietly mumbled, "Kill Asher..."

Eydis raised an eyebrow, "How?"

"Yes, exactly, that's where it gets tricky."

"I provide inspiration, not the means,” Eydis said with a laugh, "You are more capable than you know"

Gladys smiled a bit, not fully believing her assessment. But after a moment she says, "An arrow, I think, to start. An arrow through the heart."

Eydis laughed boisterously, "you dream big."

Gladys looked a little confused, a little hurt, but she kept smiling, "Oh? Would that not work?"

"Aye, it'd work on most things,” she said. "But how do you get it there?"

"From behind, when he's unsuspecting. I've caught arrows before, though they were shot by a human."

Eydis nodded almost approvingly. "How do you know he's unsuspecting?"

"Perhaps after a night of drinking. Or he's distracted by something or someone..."

“What is his greatest strength?"

Gladys huffed out a frustrated breath, "Cruelty. I don't... I don't know..."

“A hunter knows what they are hunting inside and out. Knows the animal's habits, nature, instinct."

"Perhaps that is why I avoid even thinking about how I would do it, he is challenging and unsavory prey."

Eydis chuckled again. "Why not? It is such a fun game! And the challenge is what makes it fun."

"It is a deadly game; failure for me means an excruciating death."

"You were already playing a deadly game and you lost. Fear holds you back."

Gladys looked at Eydis, legitimately curious. "When did I lose?"

"You've died once"

Gladys laughs a bit bitterly, "Yes, how many times can I perform that trick?"

"Depends," she says quietly while staring off.

Gladys now look intrigued, "Oh?"

"Don't let me distract you"

"You're not distracting me if you're helping me."

"Am I helping," Eydis asked with a sly smile.

“A little, yes~"

"Are you sure?"

Gladys paused, considering, then asked, "Well, are you?"

Eydis finally set Gladys down in a gentle and reverent manner. "That is not my question to answer."

"That's fair. But I would appreciate more help and instruction if you wouldn't mind sharing."

"About what?" Eydis pat her on the head

"About...” killing my master... no… “About not letting fear hold me back."

Eydis flashed a rare, crocodile smile, "What do you think are your fears?"

Gladys was somewhat frustrated by the way Oma made her come up with every single answer, but she supposed it was for the best that she be made to think for herself. "Dying, losing Claud, losing you... Doing something foolish that will only make me more unhappy."

Eydis held back a soft chuckle, knowing she's going to prod further, "How do these thoughts hold you back?"

Gladys squirmed a bit, "I... I don't want these things to happen, so I try to be very careful, but in doing so I fall to inaction."

Eydis threw her arm over Gladys casually, "What if this would all come to pass?"

Gladys looks crestfallen, "I don't know... I don't know what I would do then..."

Eydis curled around and took Gladys by the shoulders, "What if it happens over and over again?" her eyes glazed over lightly as she recounts the few before losing count. "Our very nature is take what we can never keep."

Gladys looks alarmed and like she's about to cry. Wordlessly she just presses against Eydis, instinctively, if not consciously aware that she has endured countless hardships.

Eydis wrapped her arms around Gladys both protectively and supportively, "Now, now, one builds up a tolerance," her fingers ran through Gladys' hair. "You are still highly allergic. Let's see how long it takes."

Gladys sighs and shudders, curling towards Eydis for comfort that wasn't abundantly found. "Whatever path it is, it will take a long time," she murmured softly.

Eydis lifted Gladys' head up gently, "All you have is time now. One day all this will be a dream." She offered Gladys a gentle kiss upon the forehead. "Fear is holding tight onto something you will lose, strength is living each moment being ready to let go."

Gladys blinked and thought over her words again and again. Her head was spinning. It almost hurt to think.

Eydis let out a long sigh. "Why don't.... you ask me a question?"

Gladys was shaking ever so slightly now: worried, scared, indecisive. "A-alright, um." Her mind was blanked out from the fear, the anxiety, she couldn't think. "I don't know, I don't know what I should do, I don't know what I want," she mewled, covering her face with her hand.

Eydis brushed Gladys' hair back with her hand, "Well now, this won't do." She picked her up once more as if she weighed nothing, "Let's go kill something. I think better when I'm full."

"O-okay," Gladys agreed softly, draping her arms around Oma's neck. It had been a while since she'd killed to eat... then a thought occurred to her. "Oma, can you teach me better control? So I can eat without killing if I so choose?"

She moved them out into the woods at an inhuman pace. "Possibly," she murmured as her head swiveled from right to left. "Easy or Difficult," she asked as her gaze finally dropped to Gladys. There was a playful twinkle in her eyes.

Gladys bit her lower lip as she considered, and then decided, what the hell--"Difficult?" she said with a little bit of worry in her expression.

A bright, cheerful twitter erupted from Eydis, which ended only with a little peck upon Gladys' forehead. "Well chosen," she said and with that she carried Gladys through the woods and closer to the lights of the town. "What do you smell, little one?"

Gladys smiled back, still having her doubts and worries, but mostly pleased. First taking a deep breath she answered, "Cook fires, food, garbage, animals, plants, humans..."

Eydis considered the younger vampire as she responded. She sniffed the air after she finished for good measure. "We'll work on that too," she said while setting Gladys down. "This pot is boiling. I smell two carrots, 3 potatoes, 4 parsnips, at least two chickens, and one... maybe two demons. They are tough to work out."

Gladys gasped, "You can smell all that, from here?"

Eydis grinned and ruffled Gladys' hair playfully. "Maybe." With that, she sauntered out of the woods towards the wall between them and the city. "Shall we?"

Gladys followed after, again wondering how much was Oma telling the truth and how much was fabrication. "Yes."

Eydis bowed deeply and held out a hand, "A fine trip. Have you been to market recently?" Her hand made an impatient grabbing motion. "Lead the way"

Gladys checked their surroundings to make absolutely sure there was no one about, before turning into a bat and easily flying over the wall.

Gladys would miss a slight frown on Eydis' face, which would soon dissipate as her form did, sliding through the beams as an ominous, dark fog. It collected below the little bat, giving way to a shadow, which would eventually step out from the fog as Eydis once more. She chirped like a bird at the tiny bat and help out her hand like perch.

Gladys landed on her hand, trembling and chittering excitedly. She wanted to learn how to do that!

Eydis looked down at the little bat and shook her head. First things first. She placed Gladys along her collar like a furry Victorian nosegay. "How long can my little one stay like this," she said as she began to saunter towards the town. "Little bodies have little appetites."

Gladys chirped inquiringly, but of course could not speak in this form. Did she do something wrong? Instead of changing back she decided to wait and see, nestled safe on Oma's shoulder.

Eydis entered the town with little caution for the humans out and about in the evening. Her gaze shifted from figure to figure, not finding one yet to settle on. "Sing to me," she hummed to Gladys, "when we've found a tune you like."

Gladys vigilantly scanned the crowd, looking for the strong who preyed on the weak. The loud voice, the cruel hand. After some time she saw a man berating another, their difference in station apparent from their clothing. An onlooker indirectly complained about the abuser's volume and he yelled at her too. Gladys gave a deft squeak. Yes, that was a worthy target.

Eydis saw many a good meal. Worthy was not a word she used to describe food. Her eyes leveled upon the middle-aged man Gladys had selected. Without a proper introduction, she walked directly up to the man in front of the others. There was a look of general confusion and ire upon the man's face, which melted with a single word. "Come," she insisted while offering a hand. A warm, human hand found its ways to her in a mechanical fashion, and without another word they walked together towards an alleyway between two rather nondescript buildings. The other two humans blinked once Eydis was out of sight and carried on slightly confused, as if they had forgotten something frivolous. Meanwhile, once in the alley, Eydis plucked the little bat out of her bosom. "The clock strikes in our favor," she said with a smile, "ample time for a good diddy."

Gladys watched as Oma plucked their target from among other humans who seemed to not notice or care. Once they were out of sight Gladys changed back, no longer able to contain the questions she had. "How did you do that? How come no one is chasing after?" she asked, squeezing Oma's hands excitedly in hers. "He's as vacant as a thrall, what did you do?"

Eydis looked over at Gladys without a glimmer of her enthusiasm. Her childe had asked for something difficult and this is what she would get. Gladys would feel Eydis' one hand tighten around hers, in a grip that felt immovable. "It begins," a monotonous chime came from her as her other hand grazed the soft flesh of the man's neck. Generous amounts of blood oozed forth from the wound she created. In spite of the development, the human did nothing but stand there, like a statue- a statue bleeding all over itself.

Gladys barely had time to gasp before she was straining towards the man, wanting desperately to clamp her mouth over the wound, not just from hunger, but from a sense of not wanting to waste a single precious drop. Especially if they were going to kill him in the process of feeding.

PART 3

The initial sensation was new and different, though vaguely she recalled feeling something similar when dreaming about flying. All too soon it was over--as much as she tried to pay attention to what was happening and where they were going. Once they had reformed, Gladys was giddy with the novelty of the new experience, and she had to circle around in order to orient herself. "Oma you must teach me how to do that...!" she quieted as she realized where they were. "Oma?" she asked softly, fear once again growing in her breast.

There was a gentle smile on Eydis' face as she formed on the edge of the church grounds. Gladys had dealt with so much already and here was rebounding in joy of her blossoming power. These moments would ebb and flow like the tides. Her gaze skipped from Gladys to the shack. "You selected difficult," she said before taking off towards the shack in deliberate, slow strides.

Gladys stood frozen by shock and dread for a split second. No, surely not... She wouldn't, couldn't...! Gladys sprung forwards and grasped Oma's hand in hers. "Oma please, what do you intend?"

Eydis paused and considered the hand on hers. "A test," she offered the young vampire. "Come along." Like a slippery fish, her hand leapt out of Gladys' as she turned to continue her trek. There was a small light on in the cabin. But she didn't need it on to know it was occupied.

Gladys wasn't sure what she had hoped to accomplish by holding Oma's hand. Did she really think she could stop her? Foolishness... Obediently she followed after, but worrying all the while.

Eydis had expected Gladys to put up a bit more of a fight, but after the display earlier, there was a good reason not to do so. And she had every right to worry. Eydis' tiny fist rapped upon the cottage door, as if she were a neighbor here to ask for a favor.

Claud had been working at his letters by the light of the fire. He had thought he had heard voices outside earlier but had ignored them. Now there was surely someone there. Laying his quill aside he stood and checked at the window, not foolish enough to open the door to anyone at night. But foolish enough to only take a cursory glance. Once he saw it was Gladys and Oma he opened the door, smiling nervously. "Guten Abend..." only then, too late, did he catch sight of Gladys' tense expression.

Eydis smiled up at Claud. "Well met, young one," she said with a smile, "thank you for the other day." She placed an arm around Gladys' waist, pulling the young vampire to her.

Claud nodded and smiled back, confused, on edge a bit. "Of course. What can I help you with?" He made no move to invite them in, not until he knew what was going on.

Gladys didn't resist Oma, but still she said nothing and turned her gaze towards the ground.

"My little one is in need," Eydis said squeezing Gladys' side but offering little else.

Claud nodded, "In need of what?" he asked, fairly certain he could guess, but still unsure of why they had arrived at his door.

Eydis smiled at him gently and turned to Gladys. "Well?"

Gladys looked up at Claud, then to Oma, and back to Claud. "Claud I don't know why we're here, we were working on control and, and now..." she looked back at Oma, pleading with her eyes.

Eydis leaned over and pet Gladys' head. "Difficult," she said softly, "not cruel." Her little one had done so well up until now. But then, she never said anything about making Gladys face all her fears this evening. "Ask him."

"For what?" Gladys asked, as perplexed as she was frightened.

Claud's eyes flicked back and forth between the two women, not knowing what to expect.

"To help you finish the lesson," she said with a bit of exasperation. "He's had some practice too, you know."

"What?" Gladys asked in surprise. And then in a slightly flatter tone, "What?" she asked Claud.

"What are we talking about?" Claud asked generally.

"Yes, what are we talking about?" Gladys asked with a hint of annoyance mostly directed towards her brother.

Eydis chuckled. These two amused her enough to almost make her forget the task at hand. She slipped her hand away from Gladys and gave the two space.

Gladys panicked inwardly as Oma stepped away from her side, but also relaxed as it seemed they weren't going to force their way into Claud's cabin and tackle him to the ground, or whatever other horrific scenario she had imagined. With the mercurial Oma involved who knew what to expect? Finally she looked up at Claud again and explained in as vague terms as she could, "Oma was helping me with developing control, I think she wants me to, um, ask you if I could..." Her hands fidgeted and she looked away again.

Claud nodded, "Alright, I think I understand." He didn't want to know the details. He didn't even really want to be involved. But there was no avoiding this now. He rubbed at his face. "For this night you may come in," he said, hoping this wasn't a mistake. He turned away from the door and beaconed Gladys inside with a wave of his hand. "Will Oma be joining us?" he asked, neatening up the cabin a bit and pulling a chair over for Gladys to sit in.

Gladys looked towards Oma to see if she would be.

Eydis put her hands up in the air as if to shield herself from the twin stares. "Up to you."

Gladys smiled a bit and then walked inside closing the door after her. She paused a moment, just inside the threshold and huffed a small sigh of relief. She wasn't imploding or bleeding at every orifice so Claud's invitation must have worked. She had questions, of course, and wanted to know what Oma was hinting at, but she was immediately taken by the charming little home Claud had made for himself here. She walked about, inspecting the various ongoing projects that lay here and there. "You've been busy," Gladys observed.

"I have been," Claud confirmed, terse but not cold. He gestured to a chair, even as he stood behind his. "Won't you sit?" Gladys nodded and did so, falling silent. Claud sat opposite her, considering his words before speaking, "I asked Oma to show me how to drink without killing and she did. If I can help you to live without killing then I want to help." He looked at her to gauge her reaction.

Gladys stiffened and looked at the floor. Her initial reaction was one of jealousy, anger, even betrayal. Claud was hers, how could Oma do this behind her back! But after a moment these feelings cooled and she tried to appreciate what Claud was willing to do for her. Still though, the image of Oma feeding from Claud's neck persisted in her mind and it made her blush--which she could do since she had so recently eaten. "This has been my goal as well. I have learned much, but still I do not trust myself to leave you unharmed."

The door creaked open as Eydis' head popped into the quaint cabin space. While the night had been full of her terrifying smiles, this time she offered the siblings an innocent, encouraging grin. "Good, good," she mused at the proceedings. "Help her out some, little fawn," she whispered at Claud as if Gladys couldn't hear her.

Gladys and Claud both shuffled uncomfortably at the arrival of their erratic chaperone; embarrassed, unsure. Claud smiled a sympathetic sort of gently pleading smile. Gladys kept her hands clasped tightly on her lap, her eyes down.

"I don't... want to hurt you..." Gladys finally managed to say at last. "I don't know how to do any of the things that will make this a comfortable or even bearable experience for you."