night life of Copacabana waltzing by. Colourful and under dressed and way too intoxicated. It was just one big party atmosphere and I loved it. The humans seemed so alive. Despite them having an uncontrolled infestation of creatures of the night prowling their streets, they all seemed high on life. I envied them, of course. How could I not? So carefree and happy, not a worry in the world.
I purposely pushed those thoughts aside and took a deep drink of my coffee.
“How do you sense vampires, Ms. Monk?” Avery asked, sipping on his espresso.
“Do you mean my Sanguis Vitam Cupitor powers or natural Nosferatin talent?”
“Let's start with the natural Nosferatin talent and see where that takes us,” he replied.
“OK. It's the Sanguis Vitam . It hums in our heads. We can feel it in the air too, but mainly it's the internal noise.”
“So,” he said, contemplatively, “you sense their power and know instinctively that it is Nosferatu?”
“Yes.”
“Then what?” he prompted.
“Then I guess I use my Blood Life Seeking powers, the Sanguis Vitam Cupitor ones. I let my mind sink into a blank nothingness and then seek out their Dark. That way I can tell how bad they are and also where exactly they are too.”
“Out of curiosity, how do you see me?” He'd asked it with the utmost casual ease, but I could tell there was an undercurrent of tension there. Was he nervous of what it was I saw when I looked at him?
I let myself sink into that black void and sought his signature out. I'd got used to how Dark Avery was, so it wasn't a surprise. I doubted he'd be surprised either.
“You're Dark,” I said with a shrug of my shoulders. “It's a wonder you don't go around draining every single throat you suck on. You have way more Dark than Light.”
“You don't sound alarmed?”
“I saw your Dark the moment I first laid eyes on you. I've got used to it. And as yet, I haven't caught you in the act of draining a human dry, so my stake has remained out of your chest.”
“But, you wanted to stake me tonight. For the girl.” His eyes flashed a little amber and ochre in amongst the hazel. I couldn't tell if he wanted me to rise to the bait, to actually threaten to stake him again. Why was he pushing this?
“Yes.” I settled on simplicity.
“Why didn't you?”
“She seemed unharmed. She was at least alive. And you said the rest was consensual.” The rest , of course, being everything other than the feeding. Vampires don't normally seek consent when feeding from strangers.
He studied me for a moment, then said quietly, “I think your boundaries have shifted, little Hunter. They are no longer so black and white.”
My boundaries had shifted a long time ago. They had nothing to do with Avery Rousseau.
I didn't say anything though, just waited for him to proceed. When he realised I wasn't going to play the game he took a sip of his coffee again and then said, “To sense fey magic it will be a similar experience as your current Sanguis Vitam detection powers allow. A combination of both natural instinct and concerted effort.”
“I can tell they aren't human. That they have power, but I can't get a handle on what it is. Whether they are shifter or just a human Mage who has become less human and more magical.”
“That is a start,” he said, “but you will need to tell whether they are Ljósálfar or Dökkálfa .”
Telling the difference would be handy. I assumed both would want to get in my pants, once they realised I was a mœðr , and from what I have been told the Dökkálfa would not make it nice. I had a feeling, that despite the Ljósálfar using magic to influence, they would at least make sure I enjoyed it.
“So, how do I do that?” I asked, finishing up with my coffee and feeling much better for it.
“We need to confront some fey. It is only through experimentation that you will hone your skills.”
I wasn't sure if any fey had made it to South America yet, but Avery seemed to think it
I purposely pushed those thoughts aside and took a deep drink of my coffee.
“How do you sense vampires, Ms. Monk?” Avery asked, sipping on his espresso.
“Do you mean my Sanguis Vitam Cupitor powers or natural Nosferatin talent?”
“Let's start with the natural Nosferatin talent and see where that takes us,” he replied.
“OK. It's the Sanguis Vitam . It hums in our heads. We can feel it in the air too, but mainly it's the internal noise.”
“So,” he said, contemplatively, “you sense their power and know instinctively that it is Nosferatu?”
“Yes.”
“Then what?” he prompted.
“Then I guess I use my Blood Life Seeking powers, the Sanguis Vitam Cupitor ones. I let my mind sink into a blank nothingness and then seek out their Dark. That way I can tell how bad they are and also where exactly they are too.”
“Out of curiosity, how do you see me?” He'd asked it with the utmost casual ease, but I could tell there was an undercurrent of tension there. Was he nervous of what it was I saw when I looked at him?
I let myself sink into that black void and sought his signature out. I'd got used to how Dark Avery was, so it wasn't a surprise. I doubted he'd be surprised either.
“You're Dark,” I said with a shrug of my shoulders. “It's a wonder you don't go around draining every single throat you suck on. You have way more Dark than Light.”
“You don't sound alarmed?”
“I saw your Dark the moment I first laid eyes on you. I've got used to it. And as yet, I haven't caught you in the act of draining a human dry, so my stake has remained out of your chest.”
“But, you wanted to stake me tonight. For the girl.” His eyes flashed a little amber and ochre in amongst the hazel. I couldn't tell if he wanted me to rise to the bait, to actually threaten to stake him again. Why was he pushing this?
“Yes.” I settled on simplicity.
“Why didn't you?”
“She seemed unharmed. She was at least alive. And you said the rest was consensual.” The rest , of course, being everything other than the feeding. Vampires don't normally seek consent when feeding from strangers.
He studied me for a moment, then said quietly, “I think your boundaries have shifted, little Hunter. They are no longer so black and white.”
My boundaries had shifted a long time ago. They had nothing to do with Avery Rousseau.
I didn't say anything though, just waited for him to proceed. When he realised I wasn't going to play the game he took a sip of his coffee again and then said, “To sense fey magic it will be a similar experience as your current Sanguis Vitam detection powers allow. A combination of both natural instinct and concerted effort.”
“I can tell they aren't human. That they have power, but I can't get a handle on what it is. Whether they are shifter or just a human Mage who has become less human and more magical.”
“That is a start,” he said, “but you will need to tell whether they are Ljósálfar or Dökkálfa .”
Telling the difference would be handy. I assumed both would want to get in my pants, once they realised I was a mœðr , and from what I have been told the Dökkálfa would not make it nice. I had a feeling, that despite the Ljósálfar using magic to influence, they would at least make sure I enjoyed it.
“So, how do I do that?” I asked, finishing up with my coffee and feeling much better for it.
“We need to confront some fey. It is only through experimentation that you will hone your skills.”
I wasn't sure if any fey had made it to South America yet, but Avery seemed to think it
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