Amaranthine Special Edition Vol II

by Naylor, Joleene

  O:*glares*

  K: *shoves Jorick through the door.* Unfortunately Jorick must leave and we’re out of time, anyway. Thanks to Oren for bothering to show up. Join us next week when he interviews Malick!

  O: *mutters* What? You can’t do that one, either? Insipid human!

  .**********

  Malick

  Today I am filling in for Katelina because we are interviewing Malick, and she didn’t feel up to the task. If you don’t know, Malick, is the head of the North American Guild.

  Malick: And also your master. It is interesting that you neglected to mention this.

  J: It didn’t seem important. These things drag on long enough without superfluous conversation.

  M: You do not enjoy your moments in the lime light? Your chance to speak, unrestrained, and give out your version of all events? Ah! But I suppose the novels already carry your version, don’t they? So perhaps it is unnecessary.

  J: There are questions for you. I suggest we get started. From Juli, “Rumor has it that you’re ‘the oldest vampire in North America.’ I’m curious, what century were you turned in?”

  M: Ahh! The curiosity of the young! So refreshing. You have asked for a century, my child, but I can give you better. It was in the sixth year of Nabonidus. Though perhaps by your modern dating conventions that does not tell so much. I imagine that you would say that it was between 600 and 500 BC. The exact date in your calendar eludes me.

  J: From Bonnie, “Are the vampires in Munich older or stronger than you are?”

  M: Munich and the True Council. Such an interesting question, as I do not believe the esteemed author has shown it to you yet. I understand that she plans to in the next volume. Are they older than I? Perhaps. As for strength, who can say? The contest would be a worthy one, assuming any of the ancient masters would stir from their slumber of indifference long enough to give one.

  J: *clears throat* Yes. Moving on, another question from Juli, “Would you please tell us about the circumstances in which you were turned and a little about your sire. Is your sire still alive?”

  M: An inquisitive mind, this Juli. How interesting. I have not spoken of my “sire” in many centuries. His appearance was of a beautiful youth, you would perhaps go so far as to call him a child by the standards of this time, but his age exceeded my own by nearly two hundred years. He had wearied of the company of those whose outward appearance matched his own, and so looked upon me as a nearer equal. When necessary, we passed ourselves as an old slave and young master, but as time progressed we turned to the more practical charade of father and son. As to his current existence, I could not say. If the rumors were true, then he is dead and has been for over a thousand years.

  J: A final question from Juli, “It must be difficult to form friendships/relationships, when everyone around you is SOOOO much younger than yourself. You must feel as though you’re surrounded by “children” by comparison! Do you have anyone in your life that you can turn to, someone that you would consider a confidant or a friend?”

  M: How very astute! Ah, but to have friends, child, one must have equals, and those are harder to find.

  J: This question comes from Roger. “Don’t you ever get tired of blood? How about nice well done steak with chili sauce?”

  M: *laughs* A sense of humor, I see. How delightful. I can tell that he has never enjoyed the subtle bouquets of a well lived life. Can there be nothing better? For each person’s blood is as unique as they; teaming with their experiences, their turmoil, their fears, desires, the flavor of their environment. If one were tired of such a meal, it could only be because they have forgotten how to enjoy it.

  J: As you say. Next is-

  M: You seem to be in a rush, my son. Have you no comments to make? No witty banter to fit the spaces between the questions?

  J: Not particularly, no.

  M: Then why, I wonder, have you been sent to conduct this interview at all? Could I not have read the questions myself?

  J: I suppose our… author wanted to make sure you didn’t skip any.

  M: Did she? How interesting. I wonder which topics she felt I might shy away from? The question Bonnie asked about Kateesha, perhaps? Yes, let us have that one next.

  J: *makes sound of annoyance* from Bonnie, “Did you and Kateesha have a thing going?”

  M: “a thing”. What an interesting choice of words, Bonnie! Though you have not been specific, I can see clearly what you mean. No, we did not have the kind of romantic relationship you are imagining. I had hoped that Jorick would supply that for her.

  J: You knew how I felt about her! A relationship of any kind with her would have been impossible!

  M: *laughs lightly* How you like to pretend now! But you did not always spurn her advances so hotly. You have many virtues, my son, but chastity is not one of those. I believe this will lead nicely into the next question?

  J: *growls low in throat* Also from Bonnie, “Why did you choose to turn Jorick?”

  M: Even at an interview for another, it is Jorick who is the topic of interest! But I digress. The decision to give him immortality was not made lightly, for it should not be. Only the best and most interesting should be handed such a prize. Look at him. Is he not beautiful? It was this that first caught my attention, but so many have been beautiful before and found wanting in other aspects. When I first clapped eyes on him, he was, of course, ignorant after the fashion of his people. Peasant stock, you might call him, but his lack of formal education did not diminish the intelligence that shone through his eyes. The potential was there. He lacked only the hand to guide his mind to the paths of knowledge that he so craved. But it was not just knowledge that he wanted, for it is not the virtues that makes one an intriguing companion, but the faults. My son is greedy. He wants it all - everything. He wants knowledge, and power, and strength, and what he has is never enough. Though he spouts the wisdom of old ones and claims to have cooled through his misery, he has not. The passion still burns in him, the hunger for more - more of everything. It is not enough to have loved, he must love more - longer, more fiercely, more completely. It is not enough to be strong, he must be the strongest, he must be feared-

  J: If I want to be feared it’s only so others will leave me in peace!

  M: Even in that you are greedy, for you want both peace and life at the same time. The thrill, the excitement, and yet you wish to have it at no personal cost, with no sacrifice on your part. You, my son, are a mass of greedy contradictions and THAT is why, when you came to me, demanding in your fury that I give you my strength, I honored your request.

  J: Enough! There is another question from Bonnie-

  M: But you have skipped dear Donna’s question, have you not? I believe that it follows this stream of thought. Since you will not ask it, I shall do so myself. Donna has asked of me, “Will you ever truly let Jorick go? You still seem to have some hold on him.” My answer must be this, does any parent let go of their child completely? Is there not always a pull, caused by the common blood, even among those parent/child sets who would claim to hate one another? His original biology is thanks to another, but was it not I who raised him from peasant to something greater? In all but the most biological, I am his father, and so he will always remain tied to me in that inexplicable way that a son can never be free of his parents.

  J:*through clenched teeth* I am not tied.

  M: Our dearest Donna has another question, it seems. Perhaps you would care to read it to me? Or shall I finish the interview on my own while you storm away in a fit of anger?

  J: *growls* She wants to know what you think of the idiot.

  M: I don’t believe that those were her exact words. “What do you think of Verchiel?” is her precise question, and an interesting one at that. Verchiel! What can one think of him? Just as I enjoy Jorick’s contradiction, so do I enjoy Verchiel’s seeming unpredictability. It is as if even he does not know what he will do from one moment to another, though there is more of a pattern than he thinks. I know whic
h orders he will obey and which he will disobey, the interesting part is watching HOW he will do these things; how will he get from point a, to point b, as it were. Perhaps because of his mixed cultures, his mind is most intriguing.

  J: He’s easy to predict. Just imagine the stupidest, most annoying, haphazard, imbecilic way of doing something, and that’s the path he’ll take.

  M: You are unfair to him! But we all know why. Will you ask the next question?

  J: I fail to see the obsession with the idiot, but Bonnie asks, “Why did you make Verchiel an Executioner when he is so unpredictable?”

  M: For precisely that reason, my child. A little chaos is necessary if one wishes to maintain order, for just as you cannot have light without dark, neither can there be discipline without its opposite. We are drawing to a close now, I see.

  J: Yes. I think that’s enough. Thank you to our readers. Next week we’ll interview Jamie-

  M: An odd choice. But, I believe he was a write in candidate, wasn’t he?

  J: Yes. If you’re not sure who he is, he’s one of the Executioners. And with that we’re finished here. Hopefully I will NOT see you next week, and Katelina will return to her interviewing duties, or I’m going to demand a raise!

  **********

  Jamie

  Katelina: I’m back. Today we are interviewing Jamie, one of the Executioners. He was a write in vote, but he got voted for none the less, so here he is. Hello, Jamie, thank you for stopping in.

  Jamie: Hello.

  K: Though we only had a couple of people ask questions, we got a LOT of questions, so we’d better get started. Bonnie and Donna both asked “Why are you an Executioner?”

  J: Someone must be one. Originally Malick recruited only those whose skillset was similar to his own, and as I am also a whisperer, he recruited me. It never occurred to me to say no.

  K: Of course it didn’t. *under breath* Perfect Executioner material. *louder* Bonnie asks, “You don’t seem to be as nasty to humans as some of the others, why is that?”

  J: I see no need to apply extraneous force. There are those who need to prove themselves and their own worth, basically to prove that they are strong enough to be in the position they’re in. I don’t need to prove anything.

  K: I can think of someone who uses extraneous force. Speaking of your fellow Executioners, Bonnie also asks, “Who is your favorite Executioner to work with? Your least favorite?”

  J: Of all time? There have been changes to the “line up”, if you will. For instance Bren was never a favorite of mine, and neither is Greneth. They remind me of one another. Kateesha was also very troublesome to work with. As for my favorite… If I could choose a partner for an assignment I suppose it would be Ark. However, of all the Executioners, Bryn was the one I was fondest of.

  K: What happened to him - or her?

  J: He died. Senya replaced him.

  K: Ah. I can tell you, she is my least favorite of them. Bonnie also asks, “What did you think of Malick?”

  J: What does anyone think of Malick? He simply is.

  K: Simply is a sadistic lunatic, you mean!

  J: He’s very old. With age comes…

  K: Insanity?

  J: A certain attitude. The longer you live, the more superior you feel to everyone and everything.

  K: That’s putting it mildly. All right, from Donna, “Do you ever hate the way everyone seems to favor or center on Jorick?”

  J: No. Malick favors him, obviously, because he is like his son, and he has a certain “legend” quality because he was the first Executioner in the New World, he and Kateesha, that is, and of all of us he is the oldest. He was older even than she was. A vampire who lives a long time is one thing, perhaps they have spent their life, as Malick does, sitting in the background and allowing others to face danger. But a vampire who fights and has lived a long time is something else. It means that they have beaten all of their opponents. Not to mention that Jorick has a certain grim attitude, which lends itself to the job.

  K: I thought you were as old as Jorick? As Bonnie asks, “How old are you?”

  J: No, there is nearly a century between us. I was turned in 1650 and he was the late 1500’s, if I remember correctly.

  K: Um, yes, something like that. Bonnie is full of questions, it seems. “Who turned you? Was your master kind or cruel?”

  J: Yes, she is full of questions. It was my sister Caitrin. She was turned by her husband, whose name I’ve forgotten. We all fell under the “ownership” of a vampire who called himself Eagan. He was neither particularly cruel nor kind, like many, he simply was. It was to him we paid our blood debt. When mine was finished, I left for America, though my sister stayed behind.

  K: And, as Bonnie asks, “When did you come to America?”

  J: 1668, if I recall. Or somewhere very near to that.

  K: So you were here awhile before you became a… before you joined Malick?

  J: Yes. It was… 1715, when I joined them? Yes, I think that’s correct, it was the year Carolina went to war with some group of Indians or another - sorry, I believe it is Native Americans, now, isn’t it?

  K: Yeah, that’s the PC term.

  J: PC?

  K: Politically correct.

  J: How interesting that it’s so used it needs to be abbreviated.

  K: Um… right. Anyway, the last several questions kind of go together. Donna asks, “Is there someone you love?”

  J: If you mean am I in a romantic relationship, then no.

  K: I don’t think that was exactly what the question was. But all right. Bonnie asks, “Have you ever been married? If so, how many times?”

  J: Yes. Once.

  K: I don’t suppose there’s more coming? *waits, but nothing happens* All right. Then here’s the last question from Bonnie, “Have you ever considered having a human as a lover?”

  J: *clears throat* Why are you asking?

  K: No! It’s not me! I already said it’s Bonnie!

  J: Of course it is. *clears throat again* Where is Jorick, again?

  K: No! You have the wrong idea! I swear! It’s - oh just forget it! Never mind. Next week I’ll interview Torina. That should be something to look forward to!

  .**********

  Torina

  Katelina, here: Today we are interviewing Torina, Oren’s slutty - erm, I mean… no, that’s what I mean. Oren’s slutty sister. Hello Torina, how nice of you to come.

  Torina: I’m only here because our illustrious author promised me shoes. Lots of shoes.

  K: Right. Well let’s get on with it then, shall we? Unbelievably, people actually want to know things about you. Let’s start with Sue, “You’re such a slut. Were you one when you were alive too?”

  T: Aww, is that jealousy you’re both oozing? I can’t help that I was born with certain God-given charms, now can I? And I prefer the phrase “woman of adventure” to “slut”, thank you very much.

  K: I’m guessing that’s a yes. And while we’re on that topic, Amy asks, “I have only one question, and a burning question at that…Micah or Loren? (Loren, please! Make a man out of that poor boy!)” Oh brothers…

  T: *laughs* Now that would be telling, wouldn’t it. *winks* In all truth, either one might be fun for a moment, but Loren would be the type to cling afterwards. His kind always do; the nice-guy, momma’s boys. They get their first taste of real sex and can’t let go because it’s all wrapped up in romantic idealism. Micah on the other hand… well, he’s just an animal. *smirks*

  K: *rolls eyes* I can’t believe I’m listening to this!

  T: You could have let Jorick do this interview, you know. You’ve flaked on some of the others.

  K: *mutters* Over my dead body. *ahem* Next question comes from… I think we’ll skip that.

  T: *grabs paper* Oh! I see! *delighted laugh* From Sue, “What did happen between you and Jorick?” Let’s just say I’ve been there and done that. *smirks at Katelina’s outrage* Oh, come on, ice queen, you can’t really imagine he was a v
irgin when you got him? He wasn’t even one when I did. *waves hand haughtily* It was brief, though. It was after I’d been turned. He was nice enough, but he’s so grim and serious. Who can stand that for long? Present company excepted, of course.

  K: *grabs paper back* You better watch it-

  T: Or what? I’d be interested to see what you’d do without Jorick here to bail you out. *snickers*

  K: I’ll show you - you, you, slutty, trampy-

  *Verchiel saunters in*

  Verchiel: Well hello, ladies. Do I smell a cat fight? I wouldn’t want to miss that!

  K: Go away! I’m trying to do an interview.

  V: Then perhaps you should ask some questions. *snatches the paper* From Donna - awww! Hello there, Donna, dear! *waves*. Anyway, she says, “Have you ever been in love and wanted to devote yourself to just one person?”

  T: Pffffpt. Once. Long ago.

  V: That wasn’t a very good answer, you know. She really deserves more details.

  T: *rolls eyes* His name was Armus… He… I turned him myself, my only fledgling. Yes, sad, I know. We were… happy for ten years and then Kateesha… She claimed she caught my Armus with Shawnine, a cheap, lowly, hussy that Kateesha had taken up with. I never believed it but Kateesha… She pushed the issue and eventually exacted her ‘revenge’. She had him burned, if you can believe it. So cliché.

  K: I’m surprised you didn’t just join in with him and Shawnine.

  T: That would have been impossible since, as I said, Kateesha fabricated the entire thing. I imagine she made advances that he rejected. She was always such a vain bitch that she couldn’t handle rejection. But enough of that. Next question, Verchiel, dear.

  K: *jerks paper back* I’m doing this interview! From Juli, “Do you ever think about striking out on your own? I know you care about your brother and you owe him a great deal, (plus you probably still have a blood debt to fulfill)…but do you ever think about creating your own coven? What fears are perhaps holding you back?”