Moonlight Lovers

Sixteen

THE Octavius family was a prominent member of society during the 18th century. The head of the household, Benedict Octavius, was a wealthy merchant, traveling the country for months and always bringing home presents to his lovely wife, Giovanna and their two sons; the eldest, Boris, and the youngest and his favorite, Godric. They had a handful of staff responsible for the upkeep of their sprawling estate, each one treated as a member of the family. The Octavius are kind and generous to the people they met, and everyone in Clairhill looks up to them. Especially to how they raise their two children.

Boris and Godric were born only a few years apart. And they grew up being very close to each other. Boris was a very thoughtful brother to Godric. And Godric trusts his older brother so much that he can confidently tell him anything.

One day, however, it was Boris that started telling Godric the thing he was recently fascinated with.

Their mother was in the piano room that day, playing a soft lullaby that could be heard across the whole house.

Godric looked up at his brother from the book he was reading and he found him still playing chess alone in the corner of their father’s study hall. “Blood beings?” He asked, mimicking what Boris just said. “What are you talking about?”

Boris shrugged, not taking his eyes off the chessboard. “Have you not heard of it?” He asked back.

Godric uneasily returned to the book he was reading. “Don’t speak of that again. If the servants hear you, they’d think you’re up to something.”

Finally, Boris looked at him. He smirked. “What’s wrong, Godric? Are you scared?”

“I’m not!” He responded resolutely. “I just don’t want mother and father to be getting in trouble for the things you are saying.”

Boris snickered. “You’re just saying that as an excuse.”

Godric closed the book he was reading and walked to the bookshelf to return it. “We’re twelve and fifteen now, we can’t keep talking about things like that like we’re still young children.”

“But be honest with me, Godric, aren’t you fascinated with it?” Boris suddenly asked. “Think about it, Godric. You’ll become more powerful than any living being that walked the Earth. You’ll be immortal; anything and everything that you want will be laid down at your feet before you even ask for it. Don’t you want something like that?”

Godric looked at his brother and saw a face full of curiosity. He must be asking just a hypothetical question, he thought. There’s no way his brother would want to become a creature that kills people and feeds on their blood. Their parents raised both of them lovingly, and he knew how academically inclined Boris is. This was probably something new that he was very attracted to know more about and, just like the rest of the things he has studied before, would get a little less interested in eventually.

He thought about what Boris said. The idea of living forever, and being powerful, who doesn’t want that? Godric nodded slowly and smiled. “I think that’s not such a bad way to live.”

Godric believed that Boris really forgot about it because he never spoke of it again. When he turned twenty-three, he moved to Europe to continue his education. He keeps sending them letters but the letters that are dedicated to him are always longer than those for their parents. Godric was happy to read about his brother’s well-being abroad and about the many unique individuals that Boris would tell him about in his letters.

Godric was left in Clairhill and became his father’s apprentice. But his communication with his brother never stopped, even when the subjects of his letters had slowly become confusing for him, he was just glad that his brother was still keeping in touch.

A few more years had passed and Boris finally returned from Europe. Despite being thirty-one, he looked almost the same as he did when he moved to Europe eight years ago. Godric was twenty-eight now, and even he can tell that he looks a little older than his brother. His skin was much paler, too. What has he been up to in Europe all these years?

Ah, the questions can wait, he thought. He hugged his brother and greeted him wholeheartedly for his return. “I thought you had forgotten that you still have a house to return to here in Clairhill.”

“Well, I only have one brother. So, I want to return to give you something you told me before that you wanted to have.”

Godric’s forehead creased. But before he could even ask, his parents appeared from one of the many rooms upstairs to greet their son who had finally returned.

The family held a small banquet in the grand dining hall of the Octavius manor that evening and invited some guests; prominent people in the society who were great friends with their parents.

During the dinner, Godric noticed that Boris wasn’t eating anything at all. This has reached their mother’s observation, too, because she finally turned her attention to Boris who was just listening to the conversation around the table, looking at each of the guests with a glint of a smile on his lips.

“You don’t like the food, dearest?” Their mother asked.

“I’m alright, mother. It’s just that I’ve developed a liking for a different kind of food while away abroad, so I don’t eat these kinds of food anymore.”

“Oh, no!” Giovanna Octavius put a hand over her chest. “You should have told me, Boris. Well, don’t worry, then, I’ll have the cook prepare whatever you like.”

“I’m not really hungry, mother. It’s okay.”

Godric stared at the food on the dining table. He could not think of any other kind of food that wasn’t prepared at the banquet. What kind of food was he possibly referring to?

Shortly, their father raised his glass and looked at his sons proudly. “A toast for my two wonderful boys who have never failed me and whom I feel very lucky to have sired.” He looked at Boris. “Boris, you always make me and your mother proud with your never-ending quest for answers to the things that are most curious to you. My son, you are a doctor now. And I could not be happier that you returned to Clairhill to practice your profession.”

Afterward, Benedict Octavius looked at Godric. “Godric, my dear boy. You will be my successor and I am glad that you decided to be so. I am grateful for the years you have dedicated to improving our family’s standing and I can rest knowing that our family’s legacy will be taken care of.” He looked at each of their guests. “To my children.”

“To Boris and Godric!” They said in unison.

The feast resumed but was shortly interrupted when Boris stood up from his chair holding a glass of wine and looking at the guests. “I’d like to make a toast, too.”

The guests smiled and raised their glasses waiting for Boris’s speech.

“As every one of you here knows, I’ve stayed for eight years in Europe, and the days when I would return here in Clairhill couldn’t have come sooner. My days abroad are filled with a lot of adventures that I have sparingly informed my brother about, not wanting to ruin the surprise for when I return. And now, Godric, you will no longer be confused about the things I’ve mentioned in my letters. Because you will be right in front of it to witness my feast.”