3: Waiting Game

Jarvy was a great acquaintance.

The man knew the truth about Calderon, but he never freaked out and instead was so cool about it. He was amused instead, and has promised to keep it.

If Jarvy betrays Calderon, it would only mean one thing; the death of his whole clan, even the innocent ones.

Jarvy knew what Calderon was capable of. In less than an hour, the slaughter could be done by him, and no trace of the killer would be found. He also knew that he should be scared for his life because Calderon can lose it anytime with him. But Jarvy trusts the vampire enough.

When the morning came, he has found himself standing in front of Jarvy while the latter smiles sweetly. He nervously gulped, and then took the small bottle against his lips. In one hard swallow, he has drunken all the cold liquid.

His light-brown eyes has darted into Jarvy, who waits for his boss' reaction.

“How about it?” Calderon asked nervously. “Will I be fine?”

Jarvy giggled, thinking he has looked like a terrified child just then, and it was funny because Calderon was literally more than a thousand-year-old man.

“Quit that. I'm seriously asking.”

“Yes, you should be all right,” Jarvy nodded at Calderon with a tight grin. “Try to lay your palms out, come on.”

Calderon, although hesitating, has laid his bare hands on the sun still. His excitement skyrocketed. Was this factual and for real? He didn't burn a single spot!

The sun sure felt hot enough to irritate his skin, but he didn't turn into ashes.

Finally, one miracle has manifested into life! It was finally happening!

Calderon has held his breath and pulled Jarvy into an air knocking hug, whispering a silent thank you for all his help in the past few years.

“Sir, you are very welcome. If one should be grateful, if was me,” Jarvy tapped the vampire's back. “Now, try stepping out. It would be okay.”

When Calderon did walk out of the shade, his happiness soared up high. “This is so cool!” He teared up in bliss. But it only lasted for a while because when he looked up to the sky, his eyes felt like being caught in fire.

He heard Jarvy click his tongue in dismay, from meters away. “Don't look directly, Sir. You still have to take measures, the dose wasn't enough to totally protect you. It will surely hurt your eyes if you stare straight in the sun. Even normal human beings experience that. We have only worked for your skin, the other application wasn't certain. Protect your eyes, or you'll be blind.”

“Alright, alright. Sorry. What a waste, I couldn't see the morning star. Even during its rise and set.”

“That's why you still need to have head wears and caps to cover your sight and face. Don't be so complacent, Sir.”

“I know, Jarvy,” Calderon winced and stomped his feet, “you're like my mom back in the ages.”

“I'm just concern, Sir.”

“You are concerned for a monster? You must be joking. Jarvy. Let's be real here. You should hate my kind, I might have killed one of your ancestors and stopped their blood and flesh from expanding the reach.”

“The formalities aside. Calderon, you are a great friend of mine. I'm not concerned with who you are, if you are a monster and a literal vampire. I don't have any reasons to resent you, and having killed a few people in the past, I know you won't do that without enough reasons.”

“Regarding your need to suck human blood, it should be done, that was inevitable. It was like the instinct of snakes to bite for survival whenever they feel danger, or the hunger of lions to attack a deer to feed on. You can't control that, and it's acceptable.”

“You are valid. And for as long as you don't kill and feed on humans like a hungry wolf, it's okay, I trust you. I will be your ally.”

Calderon has felt his heart swarm at Jarvy's statement. He never knew that the boy thinks of him like that. He was deeply grateful to have met Jarvy in the man's lifetime.

“Yeah, I thought you forgot that we are friends. You keep on calling me Sir instead of Cal or Calderon.”

“Weren't you supposed to be the one to easily forget, though?” Jarvy smirked. “You are a thousand years old, more than one thousand one hundred even.”

“My memory is still better than yours despite this age, Jarvy. I can still remotely remember my life as a human, even if it's been thousands.”

“That's so cool of you. I can't even remember my childhood,” Jarvy smiled sadly, “I wish I have lived in the same era as you, whereas vampires aren't distinct.”

“You won't like having yourself bitten while you have a peaceful walk with your date, yeah?”

Jarvy grinned, “but if my date is the gorgeous vampire to give me a bite, then why not? I might even be glad to offer this neck.”

He shook his head, laughing, finding it hilarious how Jarvy thinks it's all light, fun, and games.

“I can turn you into one, if you ask me. And then, bite anyone you want, let's have the curse spread again. What do you think?”

“That would be the start of another dark age, Calderon. That's evil,” Jarvy frowned. “And I never want to be immortal. For some reasons, I wouldn't wish to be immortal and live forever to see everyone come and go, while I'm stuck.”

“Right, this kind of life sucks. Can't even die in cuts and normal bullets, very unfortunate.”

“You were the only one left, right?”

Calderon nodded in response to the question.

“I guess this world is still lucky enough that it was you who survived. If any other else did, I'm pretty sure there were still many vampires lurking around each part of the globe.”

“You're making me so full.”

“Not really,” Jarvy swallowed a chuckle. “I... have a question, if you don't mind.”

“Go on.”

“If you… hate living that life, why don't you just…”

“Kill myself, step on the sun, strike my chest with a silver blade, blow my head off, or burn my flammable body?”

“That's overdramatic,” Jarvy winced, “but great suggestions on how to kill you soon. So, yes, that's it.”

He shrugged, “I'm waiting for someone, eh. I have to fulfill my promise, I should wait for her. She must come back anytime soon.”