Vampire: Stories of days past 2

Auteurs note: I’ve done some editing fixing the “big wall of text”
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Jake tried to sit up using his good arm, kind of struggling to do so. “Here let me help you” Marius reached out to him, but stopped as Jake flinched. “I promise I won’t hurt you…” A small playful grin came on his lips “…unless of course you want to.” Jake tried to decide if it the joke actually had any truth behind it. He nodded an agreement and was sat up against the bedpost. “So…” Marius pulsing the atmosphere “… how are you feeling?” a day past since Jake woke up in the room. He noticed that beside the bed was the only light, a small table lamp. All windows where either covered up with curtains or just boarded up, letting none too little light in from the outside. “I’m feeling alright.” Marius nodded pleased “Good. I know it’s not the best place to recover, but I hope at least you won’t mind me as company.” He brushed the hair from his eyes, giving view to an eyepatch. The first time Jake saw it he felt kind of disappointed, though not sure why. The events at the party still puzzled him, though he knew for sure Marius was at the center of it all. Michael, Barry… they acted strange, not totally out of character, but as a more enhanced version of their everyday selves. “How did that happen?” Jake just tried to break the silence with conversation, but imminently heard his mom in his head “… don’t be asking people about things they might not be willing to talk about.” He was 3 when she first told him and many more times after. Marius touched the spot where his eye used to be, seemingly lost in thought for a moment. “Funny story actually…”


Marius sat in a corner watching his dad at the desk do his daily routine, reading manifests, taking notes and calculations. Slave trade was a boring job, but there was good money in it. Marius was promised his dad would take him in to the harbor, taking stock of the new shipment coming in from Gaul. “Father? Are you almost done? You promised me to see the new slaves come in.” Claudio just raised his hand to silence his son, making the last few notes. “Alright then, help me store these papers and hand me that box on the self.” Marius exited to help out, like every child would at that age. As fast as he could he did what was asked of him, losing some notes in the process. “Be care full it, I don’t want to lose money just because you are in a hurry to see some ships and slaves.” Marius picked up the notes and placed them on the others, he figured he would sort out the order after they returned. Half way back to his father he remembered he should bring the box, his excitement had him running circles. “Are you done yet goofing around?” Claudius tried to look stern, but had difficulty keeping a straight face. He loved having his youngest child with him. “Now come on I thought you were in a hurry?”

Trying to make a path through the masses in the streets, Claudio led his son towards the docks. Merchants held up their wares hoping to sell them. “Fresh fish, clams and other treasures from the sea.” Marius almost got bumped over as the merchant held his fish up to his father. Claudio pushed the man aside. “Hey, I’m just trying to sell my fresh fish!” Claudio took one look at the fish, a greenish glow shone over the scales and from his gills a clear slime dripped out. “Even if your fish was as fresh as you claim, there is no need to trample over my son.” Marius felt his heart razing as he looked up to the man, expecting he would start a fight over the insult. Tension deflated as soon it came up “3 fish for 2 sickle, special onetime offer” The Merchant seemed to prize gold over honor. “Make it 4… of your freshest and you have a deal.” Marius took the fish while his father paid for them, wondering if it would be even worth the money.

A short while later both Marius and his father where standing on the deck of a ship, bargaining again over a prize. “You say they are in good condition, but most of them are underfed and this one looks like she might collapse anytime.” The girl Claudius pointed at looked to be not much younger than his eldest son. “If she’s sick and infects any other of the wares, we will not be able to sell any of them for weeks.” Marius looked at the girl, taking a few steps closer. Under the filth she seemed to be having some handsome features, they had to paint her blond hair red if they wanted to increase the profit even more. Personally Marius didn’t see the reason why the whole city favored red hair, as the color looked unnatural with the darkened skin most had. “For those five I’ll pay the normal prize.” Claudio pointed at a few more slaves “those I’ll pay one third, the rest half.” The captain rubbed his chin, thinking of what was said. “two-third and half.” Marius knew his father lived for the bargain and in the end would get the right prize. His attention was caught by the blond haired girl once again. She twisted the chains on her wrists, trying to ease the strain. Her white skin show signs of a beating, a few whiplashes on her back, a bruise here and there. “What did she earn a beating for?” His child voice was not heard over the noisy atmosphere of both harbor and ship.