The everyday monsters in our lives

Even if she was a monster, she was a monster that looked exactly like the sister he had lost. And therefore he could never leave her. Even if she wanted him to. He wouldnt. She began crying and he looked rather sad as she began to whimper and cry. Was he doing this to her? He felt awful. The last person he expected right now appeared out of nowhere, as if it was some odd coincidence but it was convenient for what was going on. Joe looked confused to say the least. He was sure he hadnt hurt his head or anything. When he was spoken to he frowned. He felt quite put on the spot, but he looked at Sadie. "You need to control yourself if you'll ever kill dad." he just said, even if that wasnt what the vampyre had been looking for. It was true, wasnt it?

Sadie grit her teeth, shaking her head as she felt more of a monster being reminded of her want to kill their father. Cesare sighed, wrapping his arms around her, pulling her into his embrace. He leaned down, whispering something in her ear that made her whimper. They spoke rather quietly, at least not loud enough for the human to hear. Sadie looked towards her brother, read tears down her face before she looked away again. "I'll do anything," she whispered and in turn that made the elder vampyre sigh softly, pressing a kiss against her forehead.
"My sire has promised you to help you .. however as it stands she cannot, and I will have to take her place," he said to the human, turning his face, his face looked so stoic. Almost as a statue. He was so far from the carefree vampyre he had been when they had met. "If you will have me, I will go with you to face your father," he spoke calmly, but it was very clear that Sadie was in no position to do anything about how she was right now. If she went with him, got a whiff of anyone's blood, it could go terribly wrong.

"Sadie can find her way home just fine," he said, clearly this took president over the promise he had made, but it didn't make him feel good about it. It went against everything he stood for, and yet for his sires he felt bound to help them. He had brought them into this new world, and he would be more damned if he didn't do as they requested of him. Sadie rarely asked for anything. He could do this for her. "I'm afraid I won't take no for an answer .. I am deeply sorry," he said, letting go of Sadie before he walked to the car. He got in, sitting in the passenger's seat, not moving even if they human started kicking up a fuss about it. This was final.
"Get in the car and drive .. The sooner this is over with, the sooner you will be rid of me," he said in a monotone voice. His face was hiding the pain that he felt looking at the human. He was rather fond of him still. And that was not something that could ever be reciprocated.

"I have been keeping my promise," he said calmly, or as much of his promise as he could. Benjamin had still managed to meet a few of his sires when out and about, and Cesare had seen them punished for it. "I showed up because Sadie called for me," he simply replied. Sire bonds could be tricky to navigate, but for a strong vampyre like Cesare he could draw on a few perks. One of them being the strong link he had with most of his sires. Sadie had disappeared into the night, and they were left alone in the car that was still off the road.
The anger from the human didn't surprise him. He supposed he deserved a scolding for even showing his face, but how could he not answer Sadie when she had been calling out to him? "The way I see it, it is actually quite simply," he pondered out loud, not putting on a seatbelt as it would do him nothing if they were to crash. And with the human's track record, he wasn't counting on a relaxed ride. "If I die, I can keep my promise to you better than ever .. but if I manage to make it out alive, I suppose we go our separate ways once more." He thought that was a fair assessment in all of this mess. He at least didn't want the human to think that he would bend to his own desires. He was already fighting the urge to reach out and touch him. But the reminder of how little he liked his cold skin kept him from it. "Would you prefer a drive in silence or with small talk?" He sounded almost robotic.

Silence it would be, but then Benjamin said something that made him chuckle, even smile. It felt weird to smile. Especially after everything. "You ask for silence yet engage in conversation," he said calmly, looking at the interior of the car, seeing the little details that had been fixed up. "I guess you don't have to trust me," he said, humming to himself a bit, "I know you do not belong in my world .. I've been with enough mortals to know to know that this will only end with more heartbreak." Was he outing himself? A little perhaps. But he also felt compelled to just speak the truth.
"I'll give you permission to kill me if you see me again after this," he said after a bit of silence, "it would be a mercy killing." Putting him out of his misery if he truly failed to keep away. They moved down along the road, and he just looked out of the window. His face having returned to its stoic expression.

"Just because my heart cannot beat, it doesn't mean it cannot break," he just said, and frankly that was what he had to say on that topic. He had been genuine about his permission given, though it seemed that the human brushed it off without a true answer. Was he really so despicable that the human wouldn't even reply to such a promise? Or perhaps he was starting to see that some monsters could be different from the other. Regardless the car kept moving.
As they were stopped, Cesare did as he was asked, just sitting rather relaxed in his seat. And while he did notice Benjamin going for his gun, he wouldn't out him in thiss situation. The guy, Eddy, seemed reluctant, but Cesare flashed him a smile with his lips pressed together as to not risk showing any fangs. No that would be a dead give away. He just nodded along to Benjamin's story, before they were let off. It felt a little risky still, but risks wasn't something Cesare considered right now.
"Why didn't you say what I was?" He asked in a calm tone. He looked out the windshield, seeing the night as clear as day. "You could've told him and I bet he would've gladly helped you get rid of me," he pondered, not that they had a real chance, but mortals could sometimes act on their own hubris without considering the consequences. "In fact you might've been invited into your town a hero for that, getting close to your father and ending him peacefully without anyone suspecting you; you could've told them of my creations and the whole town would rather believe a monster killed him than his own son." It was simply a made up scenario.

"I gave her my word," he spoke calmly. No, he had promised Sadie that this wouldn't go wrong. He had promised this was only about her father and no-one else, and breaking such a promise wouldn't be him. Though he suspected that Benjamin didn't think his promise was good enough anymore. "I disagree with this decision, but I hold no power over you," he said. He had tagged along because Sadie couldn't bear her brother to be alone in this, but now he had at least stated his stance on this whole ordeal. "Despite what you might think, I am not just a mindless killer - though I bet that is the role I'll always have in your mind." He felt that sentence stung a little, but he had to keep reminding himself.
He chuckled softly, "you are so different," he smiled. "You say you hate me, you call me a monster; and yet you engage in conversation with me as if you're trying to understand me." It was a conundrum he couldn't quite figure out, and it made him so intrigued. He reached over, turning the heat up, "You have a fire inside of you that I haven't seen before .. how strange for a vampyre to be drawn to heat."

"Ah yes, the pretty Alex, well I suppose I lost my temper," he hummed, not thinking much of the life he had snuffed out. He clearly held no remorse. "I could've killed you too that night .. it would've spared me a lot of pain," that was the truth of the matter. The more he had gotten to know Benjamin, the more he was hungering to know more. However the human had been released, and he hadn't even wanted to stay. It had made Cesare question a lot about himself, his way of life, and while he couldn't change over night, he was certainly thinking differently.
As they pulled up, he listened to the human chant over and over, as if he was gathering reason or courage to go in. He stayed back for now, watching the bright blue light with a soft smile. UV lights. How clever. Bright enough to emulate sunlight and weaken those who tried to come near. He wondered when that had been installed, but perhaps after Sadie's visit those years ago. What Cesare did do was get out of the car, leaning against it as he watched Benjamin. He was curious, trying to understand the situation from the human's point of view.
He could hear life within the small worn down farm house, metal clinking which he supposed was a gun being cocked. How silly. Guns were too distant for him to understand. Holding something in your hand, shooting them from afar instead of facing ones enemy up close; well he wasn't a fan of cowardice. He saw a figure appear on the porch, a man who from the looks of it had greying hair and a stern face. Behind him he saw the figure of a female, at least she had long hair and a worn down night dress. She was standing behind the male, and Cesare knew that it was Benjamin's parents.
"Benny, oh how kind of you to visit," his mother spoke in a tone that surely made her sound like she was smiling. She stepped down from the porch, walking towards her son and pulling him in for a loving and greeting hug. Cesare watched from afar, though he did notice eyes on him. "Cletus, sweet husband, turn off the lights, we're going to wake the neighbors," she smiled, though it was more so to not show them all how beaten her face was.

Cesare smiled politely, following them inside as the lights were turned off. He remained quiet, keeping to himself as he looked around the rather modest family home. Sadie had told him stories of this house of horrors. And he saw now just how harsh Mr. Harris could truly be. The way he spoke to his child, his own flesh and blood, and then the warning he gave his wife. Benjamin's mother hesitated before Cesare walked to her, offering her his arm, "I would be delighted to see your garden, Mrs. Harris," his voice warm and soothing, clearly having his manners in check. He followed her outside, but with his enhanced hearing he would be able to hear everything going on inside the little house. Or perhaps everyone could hear it with the rough voice of Mr. Harris cutting through the air like a knife.
Benjamin's mother was another deal. She was gentle and kind, showing him around the small garden she had made, telling him of how well her flowers were blooming and what vegetable she was planning on planting and harvesting to the spring of next year. Of course if the seeds survived the winter. Cesare just let her hold his arm, as she seemed to be relaxed in his presence. But he supposed that was because she was so used to danger being a part of her every day life, that a vampyre seemed almost friendly compared to it. "I must say, I haven't seen such a plentiful garden in a long time," he smiled politely, "do you plant yourself?" - "Sadly I haven't found the time for it," the conversation going nicely. But he did wonder what was truly going on inside of the house. "I'm terribly sorry to bother you, but do you perhaps have a latrine I could use?" he had to play the role of a mortal after all, right? Benjamin's mother hesitated but nodded, showing him to the back of the house. Inside was a small entryway and on his left was a toilet. "Thank you so much," keeping his manners as the mother went outside to wait for him.

Cesare waited until the mother headed outside once more. It was clear she had been broken and beaten into submission, and he wasn't going to risk her getting hurt. He could hear the conversation much clearer now. But as the father disclosed his knowledge about the gun, he knew this was going to end badly. He snuck out from the toilet, silently drawing near the kitchen. From the shadows he could see the father's stern face, but he couldn't see him. Pretty nifty. However as the father spoke of Benjamin not having courage he had to scoff, stepping out from the shadows.
"I'm awfully sorry to intrude," he spoke almost refined and friendly, though looking at the man that Sadie had talked about for so long had made him want to disclose himself. "Benjamin, I think it is time we head out on the road again," he spoke to the human he had arrived with. He needed to make this situation calm down. The father had a gun too, and he had his promise to Sadie to keep. "Thank you for your hospitality, Mr. Harris," he smiled with his mouth closed. Reaching down he placed a hand on Benjamin's shoulder before leaning down to his ear, whispering gently almost caringly, "come with me, little dove, I promised your sister to keep you safe." He wouldn't talk loud enough for the father to ever hear it.

Cesare just wanted to have Benjamin out of here. Nothing mattered more. But as the father dismissed them and the human refused to move he stepped forward. "You told me not to be polite with you," Cesare spoke, still rather eloquent and well put together, "so perhaps I should tell you in honesty how wrong you are about the children you helped bring into this world, yet didn't have the balls to be a father to." Yeah, he wasn't holding back anymore. A twisted smile crept up on his face, drawing nearer the father. "Your daughter is the most wonderful woman; she take to her new life, and she knows now that she is protected," he said. While he could be crude to Sadie, he had only ever done as what was needed. He wasn't like the father in this room. "I've picked up your messes for far too long now," he spoke calmly, but not yet touching the old man. His blood reaked of decay.
"And your son is an admirable young man," he said, though his eyes showed no softness. "He is a conflicted and torn person because of your lacking parenting skills, but he is a man of his own right." He wasn't even thinking about the fact that Benjamin was in the same room as them. "Your son has face more danger within this house than he ever will outside of it, and it is all because of his own survival skills and set of morals," he finally made contact with the father, easily pulling the shotgun out of his hands, bending it with ease and throwing it over the floor.
"I do not take lightly to someone threatening those I care for," he spoke, his eyes turning darker when he finally wrapped his hands around the old man's neck, pushing him back against the wall, holding him in place, but not pressing the life out of him yet. He looked back at Benjamin, a sad expression in his eyes that said it all. He was the monster that everyone expected him to be, and he would gladly carry that burden so that the human could have someone to pin the blame on. "Your son is nothing like you," he said, but it was clear he was trying to reach somewhere deep inside of the human, wanting him to know that he was not where he came from.

"Ah yes, filthy to the brim with blames of crimes I never committed," he spoke calmly, he didn't care for a man as low as Cletus Harris. He was a scorn old man whom, by the looks of it, didn't have many days left either way. The way that the old man was almost in disbelief of Cesare's feelings towards the human made him chuckle, "I find it quite ironic, seeing as your son cares not for me in the same regard." That was perhaps the curse of this town. He pondered setting it all ablaze, perhaps going from house to house and killed those who had killed his kind.
But then he felt Benjamin cling to his arm. Cesare didn't release his father, but looked at the pleading human, lifting his free hand to wipe away some tears from his face, "shh .. it is quite alright, little mouse," he spoke ever so gently to him. He cared for the human in a way he hadn't experienced before, and he didn't even know why. Maybe it was because Benjamin wasn't afraid to speak freely to him. He couldn't be sure. "Take your gun out," he instructed him, still holding his face. He would be there for him. Just like he had been for Sadie, for all of his sires, and yet this was so much different because he wasn't obligated to do so.
If Joe did as he said, he would pull him in front of the vampyre, his arms long enough to hold the old man still and for the young one to face his father. Joe's back was pressed against his, and as Cesare leaned down to his ear, he didn't speak vile things, but rather sweetly. "Would you like my help, dear one?" If they were to do this, it had to be done right, reaching down to guide Benjamin's hand holding the gun, up to the father's heart. "Right there, one pull and his heart stops forever."

Cesare watched as Benjamin decided to spare his father's life. This just proved to the vampyre that the human would never be like his father, and that he had been honest back in the hotel room. The young man wasn't a killer. And as he whimpered, Cesare wrapped his arm around him protectively, holding him close as his heart was aching. Aching because the young human had to go through all of this. He kissed the top of his head as the old man decided to speak with his vile tongue.
Scoffing softly as he saw the knife he shook his head, gripping harder around the old man's throat, knowing that the more he pressed, the less consciousness the man would start to have. Perhaps he would be so lucky as to him just passing out. "No, but he had a vile father who was incapable of love," he said, just holding the human protectively. He wasn't going to let him go before he was asked to. He couldn't. "And he deserves to not be haunted by him anymore," he said, looking into Cletus' eyes, doing something that he rarely did for anyone. "You will forget yourself, Cletus Harris, you will forget your cruel ways; You will forget the hatred in your heart and the way you speak; You will be an empty husk of the man you once were; And you will live the remainder of your life, hidden away in your own mind, trapped forever and unable to get out." He spoke. It wasn't just a strong compelling, it was like taking away everything about the old man that made him him. Releasing the old man, it was clear that the effects of Cesare's words were already taking effect.
"Benjamin go get your mother .. we will take her somewhere safe," he said, cupping the human's face in his palms. He couldn't help himself, leaning down to kiss his forehead, "you need to be strong for just a little while longer." Cesare went to the car, getting in the driver's seat and turning it around as he waited for Benjamin to come and get in.