Vampires and Slaves (Enter This Realm To Die)

Allan

Fidelis leaves and I hesitate a few moments before turning off the wheel and washing my hands. Once I'm sure they're acceptable, I step out of the room and lay next to Fidelis without waking him, slipping in his arms. I close my eyes as well in an attempt to get used to sleeping during the day with him instead of at night when he's awake.

Fidelis

I held him in my arms and covered him to keep him warm. I could hear his heart beat slow and steady as he slept in my arms. Being careful not to squeeze him, I held him close to me. I felt so at peace, so happy to be with Allan. It was better than five thousand and one years all alone. Almost five months with Allan made me enjoy his company more and more.

Allan

I fall asleep in his arms and feel his grip around me tighten. A light smile spreads across my lips and I bury my face in his chest. All thoughts cease and I drift back into dreams of he and I. Everything is so perfect, in my mind. I don't understand how anything could have ever happened...

Fidelis

Once the sun had set, I rose from my sleep and fed from Allan's neck. I took three mouthfuls from him, then bandaged his neck to let the marks heal. "Go feed yourself while I take a bath. It's been ages since I last cleansed myself. Once I'm through cleaning myself off, you and I are going to see my older pottery in the exhibit. I want to show you the beginnings of both my immortality and pottery talent." I climbed out of bed and went to my bathroom. Once I shut the door, I disposed my clothes and sank in the bath, letting the water warm my skin. I sank to my neck in the bathwater and relaxed as I sat there, relieving myself of the stress I was put through with Allan. I only hoped it didn't happen again.

Allan

I watch him disappear through the bathroom door before heading off to do as he asks. Making myself breakfast, I anticipate seeing his work. I eat and wait on the couch for him, wondering how marvelous his pottery on display could be.

Fidelis

After a while, I left the bath and dressed myself in black. I checked to see if my clothes would fit Allan, but I wasn't sure. I put a set of my clothes in front of Allan. "Try them on. Just because we're considered dead by the local law, doesn't mean we can't be recognizable. Think of it as a disguise, since most night mortals seem to know your face and not your name. After that incident with the local law, we might have to take cautious measures."

Allan

Fidelis puts a set of clothes in front of me and asks me to try them on. Nodding, I take them to the bathroom and slip them on, walking back out for his approval.

Fidelis

I circled him a little, seeing if the clothes fit him. Much to my surprise, they do. I smiled and took his hand. "Let's go." I led him to where my oldest works were kept. The place was open until midnight, so we had plenty of time. I led him to the Egyptian exhibit, where I showed him the sarcophagai of five people. My heart almost ached at the larger sarcophagai. "That's my family when I was mortal. My parents and three sisters. My father was Pharaoh of Egypt and my mother was a pottery merchant, hence my talent for pottery. My sisters were more like Father- kind to the lower class and firm against the enemy. I was never like that. Kind to the lower class, yes, but I was too much of a coward to stand up against an enemy when we're at war. That disappointed my parents. Because I was the eldest child and their only son, I was expected to take after my father when I take the throne." I sighed. "My parents expected me to be a perfect prince, not some gentle-natured potter with a signet ring. I had so much pressure on me, it was like I would never be the potter I secretly wanted to be."

Allan

I listen to Fidelis, looking at everything in awe. Sympathetic, I give his hand a squeeze and flash a smile.
"I lived in a shadow at home too," I whisper. "My father wanted someone besides me."

Fidelis

I looked at Allan in the eye. "What else did your father want besides you? All my parents wanted was for me to be a proper and perfect prince, never knowing that I secretly wanted to be a potter. Could you tell me what your father wanted besides you?"

Allan

I glance down, swallowing and blushing. "They wanted someone to take over the family business. I wasn't exactly up for that or had the brains to do so.... I screwed my life up pretty bad. You remember... When you found me... I'd done worse than that."

Fidelis

I patted his shoulder. "Guess we have something in common. Our parents wanted us to be someone we don't want to be." I led him to a piece of broken pottery next to the sacophagai. "This was the very first piece I ever made. It was two months before I was turned when I made the vase that piece belonged to. That inspired me to pursue life as a potter. Back then, I had very nimble fingers and plenty of spare time to try my hand at pottery. It was after five tries when I made the vase. It was so beautiful after I painted it the second it was done fyring, I snuck it into my parents' room and left it there ever since."

Allan

I flash a smile at him and subconsciously lean into him, gazing at the piece as he speaks. It's broken, but beautiful as he says. I can imagine it whole and smile.

Fidelis

I put my arm over his shoulders. "Believe it or not, some of the pottery here also mark the years I've spent alone as a vampire." I led him to another piece of pottery- a small pot with a piece missing. "I was twelve years as a vampire when I made this one. My parents still had the guards on my hide at the time, but I was disguised as another pottery merchant to hide in plain sight. I made small amounts of money to keep myself busy by selling my pottery, my parents buying the most of them and paying me to make more at the palace. Five years after my parents employed me as the royal potter, they became ill. It was two years before that when I faked my death. My parents, while at their sickbed, told me they regretted disowning their only son and wished he could forgive them for sending the guards after him. That was when I had to confess my identity to them. They were shocked to know I was still alive and still apologized for everything, especially for the pressure they put me under." I tried not to cry. "They died the night after I told them the truth. Even though they died happy that I was still alive, it felt like it was my fault for causing them so much pain in the first place. After my parents were mummified, I left Egypt with a broken heart. I've been alone since then."

Allan

I watch him as he speaks, his arm around my shoulders. Empathetic, I wrap an arm around his waist to show him I'm here and hearing him. I listen as he finishes, watching the emotion in his eyes.