Chapter 364 - The Moonshadow Trading Company Short Stories: 8 - The Coven City of Lyserna (III) (2/2)

”I'm only human, Francesca, I'm supposed to grow old and die”.

Layton felt it when he passed with her at his bedside, and the heartbreak that ensued.

He gasped, coming out of the memory as Rassa withdrew the blades from him.

Layton collapsed to his knees, and Rassa squatted down before him as the younger vampire drew in deep breaths, his skin, muscles and bones tingling as they knitted back together.

”Our body heals quickly even if the wounds are grievous,” Rassa said, ”Our power keeps us young and stronger than any mortal can ever claim to be. Our instinct draws us to blood like a moth to flame. But none of those will carry us through eternity sane. For that we need something more, and when you find it, you would be foolish to let it slip through your fingers”.

”How are you so sure that she is it for me?” asked Layton.

”I can't be,” Rassa said, ”I'm just saying that you would be foolish not to find out for yourself”.

Layton stayed on that island, deep in thought, for many more hours. When the sun finally set, he moved back to Rouke Island, and found himself on the building opposite that little tea shop rather than at the pier where Rassa waited.

He watched as she baked, mixing pig's blood into the cakes. And when he watched Rassa's line rapidly begin to fade as it moved south, he pocketed the tracking charm and found himself knocking on the door of her little shop.

”Layton,” Allyra said, then she gave a warm smile, ”Come in”.

Layton's eyes were drawn to that smile. The way it lit up her face. The way her eyes were so genuine in joining it. No one looked at him like that. He was too good at evoking fear. It was all he had ever been good for after all. But here…

Layton stepped inside, ”You baked again…with blood”.

The little cold red cakes on the tray next to the window were too obvious to miss. Besides the fact that he'd watched her bake them.

”Yes, well, you know how last time I baked them in an oven, this time I decided to try a cold desert so that the blood was more…raw,” said Allyra, she glanced between the cakes and Layton, ”Do they…ah…smell okay?”

Layton tilted his head to the side as he slumped into the seat beside the tray, ”Better than last time, I can still smell a lot of…other things though”.

Allyra frowned, ”Bugger. I was afraid of that”.

Allyra sighed, slumping into the seat opposite him as she glanced out the window, ”So…how was Rassa?”

Layton sighed, ”Full of new plans”.

”By this stage, I shouldn't even be surprised,” said Allyra.

There was silence between them before Layton spoke again.

”How old are you, Allyra?”

Allyra frowned, ”Is that really a question you have to ask. It's quite rude-”

”Please,” Layton said, ”Just answer”.

Allyra raised an eyebrow before she replied, ”24. Why?”

Layton sighed, ”I met you when you were 18”.

”Yes, you did,” Allyra replied, ”Are you okay?”

”Did you know I should have turned 27 this year,” said Layton.

Allyra raised an eyebrow, ”You look…younger”.

Layton nodded, ”I look 20. And I'll look 20 for decades, perhaps centuries to come if I don't lose my head first”.

Allyra was silent for a long moment before she sighed, ”What's brought all this sentimentality on, Layton? It doesn't suit you”.

”Neither does Companionship, but here we are,” said Layton, ”The truth is that I didn't ever think I needed somebody else in my life. I had brothers, perhaps a couple of sisters, all of them chosen rather than born. But nobody who could look at me and see me as something beyond a mad and blood-crazed child”.

Layton said nothing more, and it was silent for a long moment before Allyra spoke again.

”What do you want, Layton?”

Layton huffed, his gaze turning from the night outside to the cakes on the tray.

”Right now? I really want you to keep trying to make me these stupid blood deserts forever,” said Layton.

Allyra didn't move for a long moment before she leaned forward and placed her hand on the table with a soft knock. Layton's eyes went to the sound as she removed her hand, revealing a truth charm.

”You can ask me the same question, if you want to,” said Allyra, ”Though I've been told it works a lot better if you want to know the answer”.

Layton rolled his eyes, ”Rassa spoke with you”.

”He asked me what I wanted,” said Allyra.

Layton turned to Allyra, ”And what did you tell him?”

Allyra tilted her head in confusion, ”You aren't going to pick up the charm to make sure I'm telling the truth?”

Layton, ”Your eyes are so clear you can't possibly lie to me”.

Allyra sighed, huffing a laugh, ”I suppose they are”.

She turned away a moment before she looked back at him, ”I told him that I wanted someone by my side who would challenge me to be more than the meek and docile lady I was raised to be”.

Layton stared back a long moment before he spoke, ”Truth, I think I'd really hate losing you, Allyra Cavahall”.

Allyra smiled, ”Truth, I think I'd really hate losing you too, Layton Wolfsbane”.