Renata
The breeze felt nice on her skin as she laid on the grass. She looked up at the tree, and the shape of the dark branches littered with the bright red flowers were outlined by an occasional white cloud. The baby blue backdrop of the sky made it all pop.
Her hands lay flat on her belly. Renata felt her organs move around as she inhaled, lifting her warm palms. The next exhale flattened her body. She envisioned the ground swallowing her, enticing her to sink into the plush green. It would be nice to not think anymore, to just be held by the earth and allowed to forget everything else.
But there she laid in emotional turmoil, failing to achieve any kind of meditative state. The back door of the house opened and balanced footsteps ensued. Renata wasn't sure if she was in the mood for company. She'd spent the majority of the day in solitude, but it didn't feel like quite enough.
There he was. A tight black shirt, a thick, silver chain, and one pant leg of his jeans was dark blue while the other was dark blue with painted, baby pink roses on top. That raven black hair was braided back. She realized the soft smile plastered on her lips happened unbeknownst to her. "Mind if I join you, Renata?"
She shrugged. "Knock yourself out."
Tahoma settled beside her, though did not lay all the way down. He rested his weight against his hands and looked down at her. His eyes studied her face before briefly attending to the rest of her. She tried not to fidget, to show that his little moment of scrutiny made her nervous. He made her nervous. Guilt bloomed again.
"I'll start with an easy question," Tahoma addressed her, "how are you?"
Renata snorted. The sound was hideous but it made them both smile. "That's the best you got, huh?" She closed her eyes and took in as much air as possible. "Try again."
"Okay... Ah, I've got it."
"Let's hear it."
The warmth of the sun lessened as she felt the shade cover her. She knew he was close, too close. Renata opened her eyes anyway to see him grinning down at her. Her breath stopped. Her heart didn't. It sped up. "First, you'll have to follow me." He popped to his feet with incredible swiftness. It was a chore to track him.
Rennata groaned and rolled over onto her front. She pushed herself to her hands and knees before standing up. She shifted her weight on her feet. "You know the last time we did this song and dance," she called after him, "I was shot."
She followed Tahoma past the greenery, and they both were strolling on a carved out path to somewhere else farther from the house. She wondered if she would finally see Nirvi's secret laboratory but thought better of mentioning it.
His perfect set of black eyebrows rose in her direction. "Was that supposed to be funny?"
She watched his back as he walked ahead. Tahoma was a big fucking guy. Renata sometimes forgot that, even when in his presence. He wasn't imposing or overwhelming. This was unlike what she had come to expect from anyone who was regarded as physically intimidating. This in no way meant she wasn't aware how powerful and deadly he probably wasâwell, even saying probably felt wrong to use. She wondered if he did this on purpose or if this was his natureâno, he was too intelligent for this to not be a strategic choice.
Yeah, Renata had trust issues.
It wasn't long before she saw the medium-sized sized structure. Her eyes widened as she took in the beauty of it once it came into focus. She was surprised she hadn't seen this from her window and looked back to see that a cluster of trees blocked this view.
Stained glass: red, green, blue, orange, purple, yellow, and different shades of all of them. Every single inch was art, crafted to make this solarium something out of a fantasy. "Wow," she whispered as she got closer and closer, when she was able to make out the intricate details.
He pulled open the door for her. "It's even better inside."
Renata smiled and entered. The inside was insane in the most wondrous way. The light filtered through the glass in a peculiar fashion. Being in here felt unreal, like she'd stepped into a different, better, more beautiful reality. Maybe she had. And as she looked down at her brown skin covered in this intermingling brilliance, these bright colors made her feel at ease.
The space was vast but simple. Plants lined the edges and at the center was a long, deep pool. "Wow," she whispered yet again, and this time the sound echoed like a soft, melancholic song.
Tahoma was watching her in fascination. There was a kindness in his face, and she didn't know if she could believe it. How could such a thing in him be so real so soon? "I'm glad you like it. I meant to show you before, but..." he quietly smacked his lips, "we were rudely interrupted."
Renata couldn't cease her own light-hearted expressions...and it was nice. "That's one way to put it. So, we're here," she looked around because she couldn't not look around, "what's your question?"
Tahoma looked to the pool and back at her. He was getting ready to challenge her. He wanted her to be bold. Brave. To forget her sadness, to forget everything else for just a moment. "Will you take a dip with me?"
Renata inhaled deeply, and a sigh soon followed.
Tahoma didn't wait for an answer. He turned and peeled everything away until all that was left were some black briefs. She didn't have time to admire all that was exposed as he submerged himself in the water.
Renata watched him closely as he moved smoothly in the pool. His limbs were graceful and strong. She expected nothing less.
When his head broke the surface of the water, his eyes were devilish. It made her feel like she was doing something she wasn't supposed to be.
"Well?" He prompted. His hair was slicked back off his forehead and drifting behind him. She had the distinct feeling she was being tempted.
But Renata continued to watch him, focused on Tahoma so he would understand she was not afraid. It was a lie. It didn't matter. She removed her shirtâshe wasn't wearing a braâand then her shorts. He watched her with a barely-contained expression of amazement as she joined him in nothing but a cheeky pair of undies. The water was warm yet still refreshing. She made her way closer to him as he treaded. For once, she had shocked him and it thoroughly satisfied her. "Eyes up here, big boy," she teased him.
But he was looking at her face the entire time. There was something in his gaze. There was more emotion there than she expected. Like she'd said something once again that took him back to another time. Tahoma returned to the present sooner than last time. "I'm beginning to think I should be mad at Rocio. Furious, even."
Renata frowned, not sure what to say to that or where it was coming from. "For what?"
"For keeping you from me all these years." His expression was serious. Tahoma wanted her to know this was not a part of their banter.
She allowed herself to believe him. "It's okay. I still made it."
"Just in time." His face lifted.
"This place is amazing," Renata admitted, "this water feels amazing."
Tahoma was satisfied by her praise. "It's one of my favorite parts of this property. It's a bit more vibrant too. Now...ask me a question."
Renata wasn't quite ready to give in. She didn't like the idea of listening to his commands. "What makes you think I have questions?"
Tahoma began swimming around her, encircling her like a shark in water eyeing its meal. She didn't feel like the prey but she was still jittery whenever she couldn't see him, when she only heard the liquid sloshing in response to his movement. "You're in a pool with a vampire. If you do not have questions, you must be the most unbothered person in existence."
Renata returned the look of his narrowed eyes when he passed in front of her. But he made a very good point. Plus, this was practically permission to interrogate him. "Fine." She looked up and thought about it. "How old are you?"
His eyes lightened with mischief. "I have no idea." He laughed to himself. "That's only partially accurate. Well, my best guess is somewhere around six or five centuries. Time is a weird thing to the undying."
Renata didn't think he would say a small number by any means. But hearing the reality of his existence still left her jarred. How much he must have seenâwould go on to see. It was amazing and terrifying. "Wow," she whispered. "That's a long time."
He was somewhere behind when his voice echoed in the room. "Mm. It is. Although, it feels like nothing at all some days. You were just five yesterday, right?"
Renata sighed and while it sounded ridiculous, Tahoma was right. "Yeah, that's true. Yesterday was forever ago. Sometimes, anyway."
Tahoma returned so they were face to face. He was closer in proximity this time around. "I knew you would understand. Next question." He didn't swim away like Renata thought he would. He stayed right in place, mirroring her movements like earlier.
Her mind was racing with questions and other thoughts. Any additions she worked her damnedest to ignore. "How were you made? How are undying made?"
"That is a good one." Tahoma had this look to his face, almost as though he was perplexed instead of contemplative. "When I first met Nirvi, I didn't understand a thing she said, and vice versa. But she took a liking to my sister and I. Once we were able to get past the language barrier, she offered us immortality. We accepted." He seemed to enjoy and dread this retelling. Nostalgia was a bitch. "Creating another undying is very dangerous. We do not survive on fresh blood but rather the maintenance of the blood already in our systems. Any kind of loss of one's own blood can be very dangerous for an undying."
"But." She felt a but coming along.
"You must eat the heart of the undying. Even just a piece. Once you've consumed that, you die for the last timeâthe least bloodiest way is preferred."
Renata suddenly wasn't warm anymore. She was chilled to the bone. "How can you just take out your heart?"
"Most try not to remove the whole organ to avoid excessive blood loss, but we do have regeneration abilities. Like I said, it's very dangerous."
"So, what happens if you lose a lot of blood?"
"Undying have worked tirelessly over the centuries to develop technology meant to make existing as a vampire less difficult. They discovered preserving and collecting one's human blood during their human years. This way, if you are injured or lose blood, you can replenish your body without the risk."
"Risk of what? What happens if you don't have access to your own blood?"
"If you consume another's blood, you lose humanity. You lose your soul, your essence. Others describe it differently. We call these creatures stragglers these days. They're vile things driven by addictive hunger who kill without discrimination."
Okay, Renata was officially shivering.