I gasped.
Oh, you must explain. Lister smiled and said how this respect was shown. I’d like to know if I really owe you a favor, I’d like to say thank you.
Sterling of St. Elizabeth’s Church said that his tone became much warmer. You were lying on the floor of the chapel and sleeping for many years. We never tried to go in there or try to find out what happened inside, but you said that we were good at bribing the guards. Your chronicle made you sleep and became known to everyone. We knew that we could reveal the secret of the church during the day. At that time, you were lying on the stone floor defenseless. How did that tempt a sleeping vampire who no longer needed a coffin? It seemed to be fatal. King Arthur fell asleep and waited for England to need him again, but we never sneaked into your huge house. As I said, I think we respect you more than you deserve.
When I heard this, my eyes closed immediately, which was too bad.
Lister is low chuckle.
However, it’s nonsense. He said that you are just afraid that you have never been near St. Elizabeth’s Church. No matter during the day or at night, because you are afraid of the ancient vampires among us, they can easily destroy you just like putting out a match. You are also afraid of those wandering vampires. The name Telamaska is not enough to keep them away from the daytime. What are you going to face? It is feasible to hire thugs with high salaries to kill you and bury you in a concrete foundation.
Sterling squinted at us and really had to be careful, he admitted, despite all this.
Stupid Lister said, obviously, my infamous slumber was over before you declared war, and even if I did sit in the world cafe very boldly, what if you dare to use the word bold? You are implying that I don’t have the benefit.
You hunt your fellow human, Sterling, and calmly say, Did you really forget?
I was so anxious that Lister smiled and told me that Sterling was not dead.
No, I’ll never forget what I did, Lister said calmly, but of course you can’t do it when I was alive, and you have to remember that I’m not human, and every adventure dies, and every year I’m less and less human. I’ve been to heaven and hell. Let me wake you up.
Lister paused as if he were thinking back, but Sterling wanted to answer, but he was obviously speechless. Lister considered going on.
I once entered a human body and then came back to this body in front of you. I used to be a companion who was called a goddess by others, and you hunted my fellow human beings for me, because that was my nature and you know how careful I was when I hunted. My prey was criminal villains who were good for mankind. I want to say that you declared war without consideration.
I agree that it’s a stupid hostile declaration and it shouldn’t be published.
Hostile declaration? Is that what you call it? Lister asked
I think that’s the official wording. Sterling said that we have always been a dictatorship. In fact, we know very little about democracy. When I talk about voting, I don’t mean a symbolic statement. Yes, it’s quite naive to say that.
Ah, misguided, naive Lister replied, I say this. Everyone in Telamaska may learn a lot from this. You are just a bunch of nosy guys, and your elders are not much better than you.
Sterling seems to have relaxed a little, and he was fascinated by it, but I was relaxed and I was afraid that something would happen at any time.
I have one opinion about this hostile declaration, Sterling said
That’s what Lister asked.
I think the old heads of the elders are thinking, God knows I don’t really know their old heads. This hostile declaration will definitely make our members change their minds when they fall to your camp.
Oh, that’s funny. Lister laughed. Why are you beating around the bush? Is this kid here?
Yes, maybe so, Sterling replied, but to be honest, that’s the language we Telamaska members think in.
Oh, according to your records, Lister said that we don’t have a camp. I would say that we are a race. We are used to holding different personalities and living together in friendship. These things are our peculiar flexibility. We get together and then violently separate. We live together for a long time. We don’t call it a camp.
This aroused my interest, and Sterling gradually returned to his previous polite tone, which made me feel a little relieved.
I can understand him, but back to our question, why do the elders want to declare war like this? I think they really believe that vampires who used to be our members may come to talk to us so that we can get in touch with real vampires, and our understanding of you may reach a higher level.
You mean it’s all a technical study, Lister said
Yes, and of course you have to know what it means for us for the three of us to transform your kind, no matter what the cause is or how it is accomplished. Every time we defect, we are shocked, and we are confused about what happened before the transformation. We want to know about you. We want to know.
Oh, but it doesn’t work, does it? Lister said it was still calm and the chronicle didn’t satisfy you, did it? They already told you what happened, but you, your elders, wanted to meet face to face.
It doesn’t work. Sterling said that now he seems to have regained his majestic power. His gray eyes are clear, on the contrary. You are more brazen because of our incitement. How dare you, another chronicle, the name Merrick Mayfair? You don’t care at all that the Pangda Mayfair family still lives in this city.
I felt a sharp pain in my heart. For a moment, I seemed to see my beloved Mayfair, but now Sterling has turned his back on it.
The cheeky Lister stared at Sterling and laughed, which deepened your accusation that I was bold and cheeky. You are still alive and breathing because I allowed you to.
There is no doubt about it, but you are bold and brazen, Sterling said.
I’m going to faint.
Bold, cheeky and proud, Lister retorted, but let’s be clear about one thing. I’m not the only one in the chronicle. I have to add that the chronicle is to blame on your versatile David Talbot. That’s his story. Merrick wanted dark gifts. Merrick was a witch before she became a vampire. Who knows better than you? Her name is David and the name Telamaska is also mine. What does all this have to do with me?
He wouldn’t have done it without you, Sterling said with certainty
Do you think so? Lister asked. Then why should I worry about a family of human wizards? What are Mayfair to me? What is a big family asking a rich family? Vampires hate witches. Whether they are rich or not, everyone knows what Merrick Mayfair’s story is. It’s not because Merrick is now our blood clan. Besides, our enthusiastic readers will think that it is just a novel. Besides, how do you know what is true and what is not?
I sobbed at the thought of my red-haired Mayfair in my heart, and they went on talking.