Coffee

Is it possible to feel elated and terrified at the same time?

COFFEE

Jack picked absently at his toast, his mom was at the kitchen fixing his eggs, Paul and Sara had already gone to school by the time he had got up and his dad had gone on an overnight trip to visit Markus. Markus was Town's Mediator. A Mediator's job was to act kind of like a broker between humans and vampires usually for activities such as the exchange of goods or loans. Each human city or settlement had a Mediator who was a lampyre, cross between human and vampire. Lampyre's usually acted as Mediators, in fact were the only race that was allowed to do so. But it was a mystery as to what they actually were or what they ate. In Town some said they consumed both normal food and blood and that they were not affected by sunlight. But no one really knew for sure, since Markus was the only lampyre they knew and he always visited at night and never accepted any offers of hospitality. Markus usually got his father his business orders, for which his father had gone again to meet him. So he was alone at the table and was at no hurry to finish his breakfast.

His mom brought him his eggs.

"Would you like some juice or should I bring some coffee?" She asked placing them on the table.

"Juice would be fine mom, watermelon, with lots of ice" he said absently, it was summer and the sun was blazing hot. Still he supposed it was better than living with no sun at all.

"Okay" his mom said opening the refrigerator.

"So when's dad coming back?" he asked applying some honey on his toast.

"Well, he said he'd be back by early morning today. I expect he'll be back any moment now."

"I see…" he said frowning. He wondered what his father had gotten into. Lately his father had been travelling a lot, mostly to the "Cities of Night" a name given to the cities inhabited by the vampires. Had not been very interactive with the family either, and more than once he had caught him staring off into nothing for minutes on end with a vacant look on his face, not even hearing when he had called out to him. And whenever he had asked him about it, he had always seemed remote and the answer had always been the same. Regarding the business. He was beginning to get worried.

"So what's it about mom?" He asked his mother. If his father wasn't willing to share anything with him then at least his mother ought to know something.

"What's what about?" his mother asked pouring the blood red liquid in a glass and popping some ice cubes into it.

"Dad! He's been awfully busy lately. And almost always seems immersed in some thought."

"It's about the busi-"his mother began.

"I know mom, it's about the business" Jack cut her off exasperated. "It's always about the business isn't it? But what's the problem? He's been travelling a lot lately. And he's been so distant when I ask him about it. So what's wrong?" he finished impatiently. If there was any chance to get some answers it was now. Since his father wasn't here and he was alone with her, his mother might actually tell him something.

His mother stared awkwardly, a slightly confused look on her face, at being cornered.

"Well…"she said regaining her composure in a slightly stern voice that told him to know his place…"your father has a lot of things on his mind, the least of which concerns you. If he has problems, he has problems. But none of them you can do anything to help with. So I suggest you keep your nose where it belongs" she finished crisply.

Jack blinked surprised and a little hurt. His mother had never answered him so bluntly, it was as though he was treading on a very dangerous area.

Seeing a tinge of hurt appear on his face, she added in softer tones...

"Jack, your father and I will take care of any problems that might arise for our family. So you just concentrate on enjoying these last golden days you'll spend in Town before leaving for TUSAR and leave the rest to us" she said gently running her fingers through his hair, but he could detect an undercurrent of uncertainty (or was it fear) in her voice which made him uncomfortable no matter how reassuring she tried to sound.

"Okay mom…sorry" he said uncertainly.

She nodded back smiling.

"So what are your plans for today?" she asked briskly putting the juice can back in the refrigerator.

But before he could answer the door opened and his father entered. He and his mom looked at each other before turning to look at his father. One look at his tired face, the dark circles under his eyes, the painted smile on his face and the desperate look in his eyes was enough. Enough for Jack to immediately tell something was wrong, no terribly wrong in fact.

---

The clocked ticked slowly on the wall, the hypnotic tick of each second bringing him a bit closer to the most dreaded day of his life, the day his father would be drained to pay the loan. He stared at it transfixed trying to forget his surroundings, forget what was happening to him, to his family. But it was impossible, the lights still burning in his parent's room was proof, the occasional sob he heard from his mother was proof, the fact that he was still awake and sitting like a statue was also proof.

It had happened at last, though it took so much time to sink in. The new model car "Elox" for which his father had brought in a huge supply of parts had been cancelled the cost overhead estimated high. The b*****d Markus had been so sure about it, had assured him the contract.

Of course it had been too good to be true, a new model of car having been announced just at the nick of time and a big order coming to his father just when he needed it. Something had to go wrong.

Now not just the order but the model itself had been cancelled!

And his father could not even sue the company because the contract was not yet signed.

He wondered how it would be for someone to have their greatest dreams and worst fears come true at the same time. Was it possible for something to taste both sweet and bitter at the same time? He wondered trying to list out such foods, even if it was to take his mind off reality for some time. No such foods came into his mind for a while; he had almost given up when suddenly something popped up in his mind. Coffee. It was such a common everyday food that he wondered how he had missed it.

And thinking of coffee, he wondered if he should make some, it wasn't like he was gonna sleep anytime soon anyway. And doing such mundane tasks always helped in times of stress.

And so he poured water in pot, waiting for it to boil. Idly looking at his reflection in it, he couldn't help but wonder how similar he looked to his father, the eyes and hair aside everything was the same, from the sharp angles of his face to the high cheekbones, they even had the same blood group.

The same blood group? His eyes widened in sudden realization as his entire frame froze with the weight of it. It took a few moments for him to actually register the thought but when he did, his eyes narrowed in conviction. He took a deep breath his mind already made.

The water had started boiling, he looked at it; his once clear reflection was now hazy and distorted by the bubbles. He smiled a small, dark smile. If this was how it was going to be then so be it.

---

He made his way to his parent's room, a cup of hot coffee in hand, he could hear some sort of argument behind the door and his mother's sobbing. He knocked softly.

For a moment there was a complete silence behind the door as his parents realized someone had been listening to them.

"Dad" he said softly…"It's me, can I come in?"

There was a pause.

"Okay Jack, come in" his father said after a few seconds.

He entered closing the door behind him. His mom was sitting on the bed, the sheets a mess around her, her eyes puffy and red from crying. His dad sat beside her on a chair and looked up at him, his face expressionless like a zombie.

"Dad…"he said tentatively…"I know what happened…And I have a suggestion…"

His father smiled, not a real one, but an amused and vexed smile, like that of a man who had nothing more to lose.

"What is it Jack?" he asked quietly.

"You see dad" he said quietly…"You and I…we have the same blood…so why not I take your place…"

"Take my place? What do you mean?" his father asked warily.

"You see…I've been thinking I can become a blood slave…"

His father's eyes widened incredulously.

"What?" his father cried leaping out of his chair…"Are you out of your mind?"

"But dad what other solution do we have?"

"No"…his father cried again…" Don't even joke about it. You're too young."

"That's exactly the point dad; I'll fetch a higher price than you."

"No. Don't be stupid, it's not something you can help with. You have TUSAR…you've a wonderful life ahead of you …"

"But dad it all means nothing to me if you die and mom has to suffer…I'll never be able to live my life guilt free…"

"But this is my fault….you don't have to pay for it…"

"But mom has to, and Sara and Paul too. How will they survive dad?" His mom did not have a technical degree like his father who was a Mechanical Engineer, so it would be extremely difficult for her to find a decent job.

"We've been discussing about that. Your mom can become a Donor."

Jacks eyes widened in disbelief. Donors worked in factories and were different from blood slaves in that they were paid wages monthly for their blood and could quit anytime they want, whereas blood slaves are bound to the family that purchases them for life and usually had much shorter lives. Still it wasn't exactly a model way to live.

"No, that isn't fair. You know mom only has A+ve blood and it won't even fetch enough to sustain herself. How will she take care of Paul and Sara?"

"They have to go to a Government Home." a Government Homes were run for orphaned or homeless human children.

"But they are run by vampires and if they go there their exemption will be cancelled and they would have to pay blood tax once they grow up. You can't be serious about that."

"Well every kid outside of Town has to pay Blood Tax. I don't see what's so horrible about that. What other choice do I have?"

"You do have the choice dad. You have me. If only yo-"

"THAT'S ENOUGH!" his father shouted so angrily that he staggered back taken aback, too shocked to even notice the scalding hot coffee spilling over his hand.

"Do you know what sort of life a blood slave leads? Have you ever felt the bite of a vampire? You will be drained continuously every day, and if you struggle you'll be punished extremely harshly. The average length of a vampire's fang is 4 inches; imagine being pierced by two of them every single day, every hour. Can you bear the pain? The maximum life of a Blood Slave is six months and that too if they drain you carefully. It's an extremely slow and painful way to die. In fact death is the only solace for a blood slave." He finished breathlessly…

Jack stared at his father stupefied. He did not know all that and now that his father mentioned it, it sounded a very fearful prospect. Maybe Government Homes weren't so bad after all. And TUSAR had been his childhood dream. But then, what about his father? Could he let him die just to save his own skin?

But before he could reply or even make up his mind he heard his mother.

"Then do you propose we all die David? She asked his father in a tone that said she was at the limit of her endurance. They both looked at her startled. She had been so quiet the entire time that they had forgotten she was even there.

"Though I despise myself for saying so, Jack is right. All your "plans" for our survival are bullshit and you know that. It may sound heartless coming from a mother, but from a practical standpoint I think Jack's suggestion might be the only way to save our family" she finished firmly, but averting her eyes from her son.

His dad started shouting something at her, but Jack could only stare at his mother stupefied, a short plump woman in her mid-thirties, with a round good natured face, unable to believe his ears. Did it really come from her? His mother who had always been patient and kind, who had never once forgotten to bring him coffees and teas at night when he had been preparing for TUSAR, who had always argued with his father on his behalf. Did his mother just say that? That must only mean how desperate she was, how serious this situation is.

"Mom" he said slowly, trying not to let the hurt he felt seep into his voice…"You're right…I will do as you say…after all it was my idea…"

His father looked at him incredulously and opened his mouth to say something, but he cut him off.

"I know what you're going to say dad. " he said forcing the words out with difficulty, trying to keep his voice study…."I'm not looking to live like a king when I become a blood slave, if I'm gonna die then so be it, it's better than watching you die and knowing I could have prevented it…

"But TUSAR…"his father began…

"It's Okay dad, I'll think that I never took that exam…"

"Jack…"his mother said slowly her voice cracking…"I'm a monster for asking you to do this…just when you got your dream…but I have no choice…I'm a mother and a wife…" she said her voice shaking…"I don't want to see my husband die, nor watch two of my children suffer…" she burst into tears unable to go on…

Jack sat beside her and gently took her hand.

"Mom..." he said softly…"I understand…do you think I want dad to die? Or watch Paul and Sara being orphaned? I would be a coward to run away to TUSAR abandoning you guys…so it's not your fault…" he said gently squeezing her hand.

Both of them looked at his father, expecting his answer.

David looked at his wife Sterla, her face streaked with tears but with a definitive look on her face, she did not want him to die and deep inside a small unbiased part of him knew he did not as well. Though he was ashamed to admit it, deep inside he knew he had been longing for something like this, for a saviour. So when Jack offered what he might have been praying for (even unknown to himself) he had tried to oppose the idea, tried to deny it, not just to his son but to himself. He had acted all noble and hypocritical, but his wife had not. She had been extremely honest, no matter how selfish her words might sound and for that he respected her.

He then looked at his son, at his stubborn face, at his hands holding the half spilled coffee cup, still growing, still young, how young he was, too young to bear burdens, too young to pay for his father's sins, he felt a small lump rising at his throat, how young he was. He swallowed with difficulty and blinked back his tears and slowly, very slowly as if in a dream nodded his accession.

Author's Note

So people, that’s the second chapter, now you know what Lampyres are.

Reviews

[Jhansi Ki Rani]

An interesting chapter, I really liked it. A lot of emotional impact, I almost cried. I can't wait to read more, please update soon!