[STARTER] “You are not welcome here.”
“You are not welcome here.” Marcus said, closing the book he had been reading before looking up. It didn’t matter who was present – no one should be there without invitation. When he did look up, it only served to annoy him further. Standing in front of him was a female figure, no more than five feet (give or taken an inch or two), her dark hair hanging straight, though the green streaks had long since faded to near nothing. She was wearing dark green, and perched on top of her head was a green, bowler style hat.
“You especially are not welcome.” he said, getting up from his seat to show her the door.
“I came to make sure you were behaving yourself.” she said as she examined her nails, then looked at him and smiled. Most people would see it as sweet. Knowing what she truly was, he found it a touch unsettling.
“I generally keep my word.”
“But there is that word. So as I said – I’m making sure.”
“I’ve not acted against your pets in any way.”
“Not even Jett?”
“No. I haven’t contacted him.”
She walked toward him, and picked up her foot to step up onto his coffee table, in order to pat him on the head.
“Good boy.” she said, that same smile on her face. “And did you find the surprise at the tree I told you about?”
“Indeed. Quite interesting, thank you. Now can you please get off the table?”
“Oops.” she said, putting her hand to her mouth. “My bad. Maybe you should have stayed seated?” she said coyly, and very carefully turned heel, leaving a deliberate scuff on the surface of the otherwise immaculate wood surface before stepping down.
Marcus sighed and leaned over, running a thumb over it to see how bad it was, as well as trying to decide if it was worth bothering to have fixed.
“Whoopsie.” she said, that smile still playing on her face as he straightened up.
“How long do you intend to stay?” he asked her.
“As long as I feel necessary.” she responded, then tilted her head, her expression getting darker, more serious. “I sincerely hope you behave yourself. I truly don’t relish the idea of unmaking you.”
“To unmake me…now that is some interesting wording. Not kill me, but unmake me. Could you kill me? I’m certain you could – you are, after all, a holy being. But unmake me? Now that would be a feat, would it not?” he walked the room as he spoke, eyes always on her.
For her part, she watched as he walked the room, remaining still except for the motion of her head. She attempted to keep a blank expression, but occasional amusement or interest would seep through as he spoke.
“By unmaking me, I feel I can safely assume that you do not mean to erase my existence – that would, after all, damage a significant part of history.” he smiled as he spoke, feeling in his element.
“So by unmaking me, I must assume then that you mean to strip me of that which makes me Kindred. That which cursed unto Caine, son of Adam, creation of Yahweh. Oh…but the question in that regard is…could you? Do you have the scope of power necessary to unmake what other, higher ranking individuals of your kind cast upon him?”
His smile broadened a little, when he saw what he thought was uncertainty cross her face. Before she could mount a defense, he continued.
“Can you overrule Michael? You General of Heaven, he who wielded the holy Flame, who cursed unto Caine when he would not repent ‘Then, for as long as you walk this earth, you and your children will fear my living flame, and it will vite deep and savor your flesh’. Or what about your brother Raphael, who when Caine again refused to repent, cursed him by saying ‘Then, for as long as you walk this earth, you and your children will fear the dawn, and the sun’s rays will seek to burn you like fire wherever you hide, always’.“ he stopped, studying her a moment before continuing, the tone of his voice changing from confrontation, to one that had a hint of sadness.
“What about Uriel’s curse? ‘For as long as you walk this earth, you and your children will cling to Darkness. You will drink only blood, you will eat only ashes. You will be always as you were at death, never dying, living on. You will walk forever in Darkness, and all you touch will crumble into nothing, until the last days.” he paused for effect, still observing her. Her poker face was very good, but he felt it still betrayed emotion, though which one he could not be certain of. He started moving again, but stopped just in front of her.
“Can you remove those?” he asked, waiting a few moments before speaking again. “Can you remove even one of those?” he continued. “Would you truly, if you could? Would you strip me of what has made me who I am? Would you truly strip me of my capabilities?” he shook his head slightly. “I’m not so sure. I may not know how things work with your kind, but I feel as though it’s not something you’re capable of.” with a sigh, Marcus continues. This time, his voice sounded tired, as he spoke of a belief he did not have.
“Can you offer me that which your brother Gabriel said? According to Caine’s words, Gabriel said Yahweh’s mercy was greater than he could ever care to know – that there was a path opened to Caine’s children to once again be able to dwell in the Light – ‘a road of Mercy, and you shall call this road Golconda’. Can you give me that?”
He stood quite still then, watching her watch him, neither of them speaking for a long time. “I thought not.” he said quietly. “Now kindly leave – daylight comes soon, and with it Raphael’s curse.” he looked toward the window and its closed blinds. “I grow tired.” he said, then looked back, only to find her gone. Feeling sapped of energy, he went about his haven, ensuring all possible entrances were secure, before sealing himself in his secure room to bed down for the day.
“So much, and so much left unspoken.” he muttered, before morning’s death overcame him.