04-16-2016, 01:32 AM
Armande wanted to roll his eyes at the banality of their conversation. Children. That had never appealed to him. The desire for a family made sense intellectually. Biologically. But it was alien to him. He had known love and happiness twice in his life. Both times it had been taken from him. The face of Gregorio flashed in his mind and he winced, the memory of finding his body hanging in his dormitory still powerful after more than 40 years. For weeks after that he had tried to think back, searched his memory for the signs that Gregorio was unhappy, For indications that he wanted to suicide. Had it been him? Had he failed Gregorio somehow? The monastery on Mt. Athos had given him clarity. It had revealed to him a fundamental truth. People you love do not last in this life. That point was driven home more sharpley when Jova left after 15 years of working, hunting and living together. She simply disappeared one day.
No. Love did not last. At least not now 'in the dream' as the Atharii saying went. And for now, he had more important things to do. He did not begrudge his younger self those experiences or consider them weakness. They were simply part of the crucible in which he had been made.
Still, the mass of fiery hair reminded him of Tova, now that he had thought of her. For the barest moment a wistful longing for her emanated from deep within. Only for a moment though, before the cool calculating realities of life washed over him and took control and he returned to studying the woman. She turned around to wave over a waitress. Carefully, Armande used his wallet to feign taking a picture of his scones as if posting to the clog. Such a ridiculous thing. But narcisism was the norm. Her picture was now safely on his wallet. He set the facial recognition software to work. He doubted she was in their database but he was nothing if not thorough.
He set down the wallet and continued to watch the couple. Almost immediately it vibrated and he looked. What he saw there drew his eyebrows down. His mouth tightened. He looked again at them. His icy blue eyes seemed afire, as if to bore into the girl's back. He knew what she was now. He looked at Connor too, feeling contempt and disgust, lip slightly curled. This man was talking about having children with her. Any child they had almost certainly would almost certainly be an abomination. Moreoever, the man knew about the Atharim. The coincidences of his converstation in the bookstore and this were too much.
So, why was she still alive? The Atharim who was assigned to her was still alive., one Nox Durante, though he seemed to be out of the country. He would have to speak to the young man. He had to be vigilant to keep the Atharim clean. In the meantime, a new threat had presented herself. He thought about sending the case to Barovsky. But no. He wanted to do this himself. It had been a while since he had hunted.
Edited by Regus, Apr 16 2016, 07:31 AM.
No. Love did not last. At least not now 'in the dream' as the Atharii saying went. And for now, he had more important things to do. He did not begrudge his younger self those experiences or consider them weakness. They were simply part of the crucible in which he had been made.
Still, the mass of fiery hair reminded him of Tova, now that he had thought of her. For the barest moment a wistful longing for her emanated from deep within. Only for a moment though, before the cool calculating realities of life washed over him and took control and he returned to studying the woman. She turned around to wave over a waitress. Carefully, Armande used his wallet to feign taking a picture of his scones as if posting to the clog. Such a ridiculous thing. But narcisism was the norm. Her picture was now safely on his wallet. He set the facial recognition software to work. He doubted she was in their database but he was nothing if not thorough.
He set down the wallet and continued to watch the couple. Almost immediately it vibrated and he looked. What he saw there drew his eyebrows down. His mouth tightened. He looked again at them. His icy blue eyes seemed afire, as if to bore into the girl's back. He knew what she was now. He looked at Connor too, feeling contempt and disgust, lip slightly curled. This man was talking about having children with her. Any child they had almost certainly would almost certainly be an abomination. Moreoever, the man knew about the Atharim. The coincidences of his converstation in the bookstore and this were too much.
So, why was she still alive? The Atharim who was assigned to her was still alive., one Nox Durante, though he seemed to be out of the country. He would have to speak to the young man. He had to be vigilant to keep the Atharim clean. In the meantime, a new threat had presented herself. He thought about sending the case to Barovsky. But no. He wanted to do this himself. It had been a while since he had hunted.
Edited by Regus, Apr 16 2016, 07:31 AM.