East

The east side of the city is the very heart of Sacrosanct - it's unique skyline is a clash between modern sky rises and small Victorian-inspired storefronts. In the heart of downtown, the sleek colored glass buildings reign supreme though their old-world roots can be seen in the most peculiar places from the lamp post styled electric street light to the stone sidewalks. The old world architecture slowly returns the further from downtown you travel, however. It's here that magic thrives, it hums in every stone and can be felt in every breath. Often, newcomers to the city may become overwhelmed by such sensations but, eventually, it becomes an ever-present feeling that's hardly noticed.

What You'll Find Here

City Creek Center
Dark Hunter Department
Inner Sanctum
Red on the Water
Starlight Tower

Where you invest your love, you invest your life;


Posted on February 23, 2018 by DAREIOS
East




It's not the long walk home that will change this heart, but the welcome I receive after the restart.



Dareios knew he walked a thin line. He'd already caved once, having fed on a former human business associate for weeks until he withered away in his brownstone's basement shortly before being elected. It was a dirty secret he'd shared with no one, and the first time he'd lost control in many, many years. There was no way for Anna-Marie to know that, but the way the vampire girl spoke to him, and the way her blue eyes seared into his own, Dareios felt like he was squirming under her gaze. He could feel his anger bubbling up inside of him, and turned his head away from her, staring out against the dark, damp street as she continued to speak.

He balled and unballed his fists his in coat pockets, until finally, he felt himself snap. His fangs locked into place and his eyes turned a deep shade of amber. The bones around his eye sockets and forehead became more pronounced. And when he looked back at Anna-Marie, there was no hiding who he was: a predator. A vampire.

Dareios didn't understand why this powerful, but little vampire girl got under his skin in such a way. She made him more irritated and agitated than anyone else he could think of in his current life. Even the ignorant humans he debated with on daily basis didn't infuriate him as much as this one girl. Perhaps it was because deep down, he knew she was right. She had a way of weaseling her way in through Dareios' most deeply-rooted insecurities. His whole idea of this fantastic utopia where everyone could get along and eat in humane and respectful ways was merely that -- a fantasy. Wasn't it? She was right, someone would snap eventually. Even he had. Sometimes when he thought too long about how it felt to slowly drain the life from Ian, his former employee, over those weeks made him feel, well, nearly alive. But no, it was merely a temptation. He was stronger than that. He had to be.

Dareios wasn't out to be some kind of martyr. But he did believe beings from all walks of life, no matter their supernatural status, could be better. Why can't they get past the killing and feasting as if one day their life source would run out?

He looked Anna-Marie squarely in the eyes now, not trying to find what he truly was. His chest rose and fell dramatically as he tried to get a handle on his feelings. Slowly, his more pronounced animalistic features began to fade. His eyes returned to a dark shade of brown, nearly black. His skin was smooth and even. His fangs covered. "Vampires have an image problem. From folklore to now, we've always been viewed as monsters, the ultimate predators to others. This is not untrue, but what year is it? We have the means to live and work together, to contribute to a society that works for every kind. That is what I believe. And that is why I do this." He said coolly, but he knew his rebuttal sounded rehearsed, like a line from one of his campaign speeches. He could argue with Anna-Marie, and tell her that he was personally funding research at the university to create a synthetic source of nutrients sans blood for their kind, but he knew she'd just scoff in his face.

Her offer weighs heavily on him now. And in a rare moment of weakness, it seems tempting. "I can't do this." He says quietly, shaking his head. "Someone would know." And there was too much at stake to risk it.


Dareios Auerbach | Vampire | Vinyl

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