Graatees (short tale)

The surge of life after my coming, seemed as soothing to me as any castle’s hearth...what I used to know could comfort me, as a man and what I was.

Because of this modern weather to my mind, my soul broadened for a new beginning, or a second chance if ever that could be attained.

When I looked around, even where I was, presently limited, as the fashioned cult leader of a new, trendy movement...I knew I would try to squander their miniscule influence over the world, to come to know it in its new guise.

They needed a powerful figure to represent the hope of their survival, and I needed sponsors who would reinvent the world to me...so I would come to know hope, and how to love it once more.

The means to get there seemed frivolous and petty, however necessary. And while I sat there, running a long-fingered hand through my dark mane, I kept my eyes hidden in their silver casts beneath the hood I was given.

The grime of their hidey hole was rather un motivating, but I took care to look on their squabbles with minimal contempt. I was no fool to disdain them so openly, so as to pose a threat with my open insult...which I knew I was wholly capable of. For vampires could not easily take their emotions to the grave, when we had no graves to claim.

I closed my eyes when there was break in their shallow chants, and envisioned the potential of this awakening...how far this age could take me. I also reminded myself of who I was...

You are Graatees, sin eater of your friends and enemies...poison to those without kindness, bane to those engaged in wickedness.

I am the greater good of any age’s God or Gods...and the Devil’s right hand in my judgment.

I give nothing I do not take...born without the humble decree, but earned in my bold legend.

I am Graatees, now 1000.

I smiled in my silence...letting on to nothing of my submission. These mortals knew so little of themselves, but I saw, I knew what they wouldn’t know until they lay on their deathbeds...that life had no end, that their were only questions, since questions answered questions, being that’s from whence they came.

I could not repress the totality of my amusement, of my expansive mind coming to life. And that action gave the spokesmen to silence, and shortly thereafter, the chanting stopped.

I was forced to look up, what I had been wanting to avoid, and still didn‘t feel quite ready for...there they would be dressed in their strange worship, with their short lifelines wrapped around an aura that could never compare to one of my owns’. But the thing I most feared was the lust for them I sired.

And predictably, nothing having changed over the centuries, when I looked upon them with my mirrored eyes, I painfully yearned. And I sighed, for then I could only bear my teeth instinctively, and choose on which one I would feast.

And what alliance I had hoped for, would either be completely denied me or strengthened by my hunger...giving them fear where they would never run or let each other. I knew it was necessary then, so I made my commands subtle for the thoughts I circulated through them. They were my vipers now, death’s hand at my will...again, and at 1000 it would it would begin after first blood.