Before this life was thrust upon him, Janos had been far from alone. Surrounded by friends and a huge family. There had been many many times he’d wished for solitude. But far more times in the decades since, that he wished for companionship, for a home filled with laughter, talking, even yelling… the sounds of family. The sounds of life. Yes, he was one of those occasionally forlorn vampires, stealing glances into the windows of other’s lives, seeking out bittersweet memories of days gone, days never to return. Perhaps that was why he found himself returning to this great house from time to time. Here there was a sense of belonging, of kinship.
It occurred to him now that he could have that with a childe. Why had he not done this before? Ah, nevermind, if he had found the right one, then wouldn’t he have?
… Rose. Her memory hit him like a ton of bricks, washing over him, leaving her scent on the air. Rose was gone.
Dahlia was no consolation prize. She was a precious flower all her own. His flower. Now neither of them ever have reason to be alone.
His precious flower. Yes. He watched her face, her shoulders, the pale flesh, the blue veins just beneath the delicate skin. He watched her as the thoughts turned around in her head, allowing her the quiet moments to make some sense of it all. The confusion was to be expected. Of course, he could not guess what she would think, or do, or what she would say next. Always so full of surprises. Sister?. He held on to that, a conversation for another moment.
Then her eyes had returned to his, and she was no less confused. And now neither was he. “Your sister was there?” No, there was no other. How would have not have known. She had spoke of spirits, and those, well… they could be there, or not, for all he know. But they were alone in that most intimate of moments. He was certain of it.