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Gohen: Redemption

Beta: Ilye, Fimbrethiel

chapter fourteen

Titanic, April 14, 1912

Erestor forced his mouth from the throat of the woman. He had waited too long to feed, and he struggled not to drain her dry. He looked down at the woman. The slight wound had already begun to heal. By morning, it would be no more than a bruise. He turned the head toward his and stared into her eyes, just about to alter her memory of the event, when he felt the shuddering impact of the ship with something in the water. Something large.

Finishing his work quickly, the well-dressed vampire then made his way along the dim, dank halls where the Third Class passengers huddled together, fighting the cold in the bowels of the ship. His eyes darted around, seeking his companion. He soon found Maglor bent over the body of a young boy.

"Maglor," he called.

The elder vampire released the limp body, allowing the boy to sprawl across the bed. "Do I interrupt you when you feed?" Maglor demanded, wiping his lips with a handkerchief.

Erestor grabbed Maglor's arm, leaning close. "The ship has struck something. Did you not feel the tremor?"

Maglor chuckled. "This is an unsinkable ship, Erestor. Isn't that what you told me?"

"It wouldn't be the first time I was wrong," Erestor grumbled.

"Indeed not. However, in this case, I think your panic is premature. This ship was designed to survive collision, after all. I am certain that if there is a problem, someone will notify us presently. Now, if you don't mind, I am extraordinarily busy with something and would like to get back to it. And, judging by your pallor, you could do with a little more yourself."

Seattle, 2004

"I didn't go back to feeding, though," Erestor continued. "Something was definitely wrong; I could feel it. I made my way to the first class elevator and up onto the deck. By the time I got there, I could see that many of the first class passengers were beginning to assemble on the deck with their lifejackets. I found the nearest crewman and asked him what the trouble was. He assured me that it was just a precaution, which is exactly what I would expect him to say in the event of a serious catastrophe. So, I rushed back down to find Maglor."

The elder vampire nodded. "By the time Erestor found me, barely half an hour after the collision, the water was already starting to seep across the floor of the third class berths."

"I wanted to wake the passengers; I wanted to have them go up to the deck so that they could also be placed on the lifeboats. But, Maglor pointed out that there weren't enough lifeboats; most of those in steerage were doomed to a cold death." Erestor shifted on the bed, caught up in the memory. "I continued to insist we wake them, give them the opportunity to save themselves, but Maglor told me that the best thing we could do was spend what time we could feeding on those in third class."

Maglor nodded. "Rescue would be a long time in coming, and I figured we would be in that icy water for a while. Erestor didn't like the idea, but in the end, he gorged just as I did. He could not argue with me; we needed the warmth and strength the blood offered us. We moved systematically from the lower to the upper deck of the berths before the water rose high enough to wake anyone. We fed until we were bloated and aching with blood."

"We made it up to the deck around one in the morning. The ship had been taking on water for over an hour and was listing." Erestor sighed. "By that time, though, the lower third class berths were completely flooded, and the upper deck was almost under as well. Over five hundred men, women and children drowned in the icy waters that flooded steerage," Erestor said sadly.

"I would like to say," Erestor began with a shaky voice, "that we fought to have women and children loaded onto those lifeboats, or that we convinced the crew members to fill those precious lifeboats to capacity. The truth is, we didn't. We stayed out of everyone's way, and watched as men took seats that should have gone to screaming children; we saw crewmembers board lifeboats while passengers were left behind. Most of those we saw we knew would die that night."

Maglor spoke up then, grasping Erestor's hand in his own. "Do not mistake inaction for immunity to the suffering we saw that night, David," he said softly. "Our hearts still bleed for those we saw, their fear palpable, knowing that their deaths were imminent. But, had we done anything, we risked revealing ourselves for what we are. The last thing the crew needed was something to incite more panic."

Erestor cleared is throat. "We will spare you the details of those final moments on the RMS Titanic. There is enough history written on that time; picking up a text on the topic can fill in the blanks.

"Once the stern had disappeared under the surface of the water, we were among a throng of passengers that escaped the suction the stern made as it sank. We did our best to save those around us; we helped people onto floating debris and onto damaged lifeboats. Anything to keep them afloat and out of that water."

Maglor moved closer to David, noting the wide, hazel eyes were slightly glazed as he listened to their story. "We remained in the water for over two hours before the Carpathia arrived and began to retrieve the lifeboats. In those two very long hours, David, we listened as the screams of men and women, of children, grew hoarse, and then became silent." Maglor glanced up to Erestor's eyes, which were brimming with unshed tears. "The memories are vivid in our minds, and that silence was deafening."

"We stowed away in the hold of the Carpathia, slowly defrosting in the bowels of the ship, and we allowed our identities to be counted among those who perished in the Atlantic waters that night," Erestor said, thinking back to that dank, but warm, hold.

Carpathia, April 15, 1912

"Unsinkable?" Maglor asked.

"That was what the brochure said!" Erestor shot back.

Maglor stripped out of the wet, cold clothing he wore and tore into a nearby steamer trunk, pulling out warmer clothes. "I swear, Erestor, you are determined to have us drown."

Erestor glared at Maglor, pulling dry clothes over his clammy flesh. "Maglor, we're dead. We can't drown."

"Ha. I am sure Ulmo would find some way to see us meet our end," Maglor grumbled, falling heavily to the floor of the hold.

"You could have stayed in Liverpool, Maglor," Erestor said tiredly, sitting next to his lover on the floor.

Maglor shook his head. "No, I couldn't. You emptied the bank account and sold the house."

Erestor grinned up at Maglor. "Aye, I suppose you had no choice but to come with me." Erestor lay back, closing his eyes. "I don't think we should cross west anymore."

"You know we can't help it. The pull is still there, even if the Valar will not admit us." Maglor stretched out next to Erestor. "I heard the crew talking above; the Carpathia is headed for New York."

"At least we will still arrive in New York," Erestor said, cuddling closer to Maglor's body. "The trip wasn't a complete disaster."

"Erestor, the ship sank! It is a complete disaster!" Maglor said, his voice colored with disbelief.

"Well, we still have our health." Erestor chuckled, but there was a hysterical edge to it. He could not allow himself to focus on what he had just witnessed. So much death; he would go mad.

Maglor pinched the bridge of his nose. "No, we don't! We're dead!"

"And there is an upside to that, too," Erestor said, forcing a cheerful tone.

The elder vampire sighed. "What is that, Erestor?"

Erestor snorted. "We do have those very lucrative life insurance policies..."

Seattle, 2004

The room was quiet as Erestor finished the tale. Maglor continued to watch David, who hadn't moved in all that time. "David?" he asked softly.

"Yes?" the Man asked, blinking several times. "I'm sorry. My God, that was... so vivid!" David shook his head. "Such tragedy."

Erestor nodded. "One thousand five hundred and sixteen people died that night, and our names are counted among them."

"Is that what happened also on the Antonia Doria?" David asked. "The ship left Italy bearing you both west, but never arrived. It simply disappeared."

"What happened to the Antonia Doria was Maglor's fault," Erestor said quickly.

Maglor smacked Erestor's head. "I can hardly be blamed for that!"

"If you can blame me for the sinking of the Titanic, I can blame you for the loss of the Antonia Doria!" Erestor shouted, rubbing the side of his head.

"But, what happened?" David pressed impatiently.

Erestor grimaced. "The story behind the Antonia Doria is not one we like to recall often. It was a mess, and one best left to the ghosts of the sea."


	Navigation multi-story arcs previous next		Gohen: Redemption Beta: Ilye, Fimbrethiel chapter fourteen Titanic, April 14, 1912 Erestor forced his mouth from the throat of the woman. He had waited too long to feed, and he struggled not to drain her dry. He looked down at the woman. The slight wound had already begun to heal. By morning, it would be no more than a bruise. He turned the head toward his and stared into her eyes, just about to alter her memory of the event, when he felt the shuddering impact of the ship with something in the water. Something large. Finishing his work quickly, the well-dressed vampire then made his way along the dim, dank halls where the Third Class passengers huddled together, fighting the cold in the bowels of the ship. His eyes darted around, seeking his companion. He soon found Maglor bent over the body of a young boy. "Maglor," he called. The elder vampire released the limp body, allowing the boy to sprawl across the bed. "Do I interrupt you when you feed?" Maglor demanded, wiping his lips with a handkerchief. Erestor grabbed Maglor's arm, leaning close. "The ship has struck something. Did you not feel the tremor?" Maglor chuckled. "This is an unsinkable ship, Erestor. Isn't that what you told me?" "It wouldn't be the first time I was wrong," Erestor grumbled. "Indeed not. However, in this case, I think your panic is premature. This ship was designed to survive collision, after all. I am certain that if there is a problem, someone will notify us presently. Now, if you don't mind, I am extraordinarily busy with something and would like to get back to it. And, judging by your pallor, you could do with a little more yourself." Seattle, 2004 "I didn't go back to feeding, though," Erestor continued. "Something was definitely wrong; I could feel it. I made my way to the first class elevator and up onto the deck. By the time I got there, I could see that many of the first class passengers were beginning to assemble on the deck with their lifejackets. I found the nearest crewman and asked him what the trouble was. He assured me that it was just a precaution, which is exactly what I would expect him to say in the event of a serious catastrophe. So, I rushed back down to find Maglor." The elder vampire nodded. "By the time Erestor found me, barely half an hour after the collision, the water was already starting to seep across the floor of the third class berths." "I wanted to wake the passengers; I wanted to have them go up to the deck so that they could also be placed on the lifeboats. But, Maglor pointed out that there weren't enough lifeboats; most of those in steerage were doomed to a cold death." Erestor shifted on the bed, caught up in the memory. "I continued to insist we wake them, give them the opportunity to save themselves, but Maglor told me that the best thing we could do was spend what time we could feeding on those in third class." Maglor nodded. "Rescue would be a long time in coming, and I figured we would be in that icy water for a while. Erestor didn't like the idea, but in the end, he gorged just as I did. He could not argue with me; we needed the warmth and strength the blood offered us. We moved systematically from the lower to the upper deck of the berths before the water rose high enough to wake anyone. We fed until we were bloated and aching with blood." "We made it up to the deck around one in the morning. The ship had been taking on water for over an hour and was listing." Erestor sighed. "By that time, though, the lower third class berths were completely flooded, and the upper deck was almost under as well. Over five hundred men, women and children drowned in the icy waters that flooded steerage," Erestor said sadly. "I would like to say," Erestor began with a shaky voice, "that we fought to have women and children loaded onto those lifeboats, or that we convinced the crew members to fill those precious lifeboats to capacity. The truth is, we didn't. We stayed out of everyone's way, and watched as men took seats that should have gone to screaming children; we saw crewmembers board lifeboats while passengers were left behind. Most of those we saw we knew would die that night." Maglor spoke up then, grasping Erestor's hand in his own. "Do not mistake inaction for immunity to the suffering we saw that night, David," he said softly. "Our hearts still bleed for those we saw, their fear palpable, knowing that their deaths were imminent. But, had we done anything, we risked revealing ourselves for what we are. The last thing the crew needed was something to incite more panic." Erestor cleared is throat. "We will spare you the details of those final moments on the RMS Titanic. There is enough history written on that time; picking up a text on the topic can fill in the blanks. "Once the stern had disappeared under the surface of the water, we were among a throng of passengers that escaped the suction the stern made as it sank. We did our best to save those around us; we helped people onto floating debris and onto damaged lifeboats. Anything to keep them afloat and out of that water." Maglor moved closer to David, noting the wide, hazel eyes were slightly glazed as he listened to their story. "We remained in the water for over two hours before the Carpathia arrived and began to retrieve the lifeboats. In those two very long hours, David, we listened as the screams of men and women, of children, grew hoarse, and then became silent." Maglor glanced up to Erestor's eyes, which were brimming with unshed tears. "The memories are vivid in our minds, and that silence was deafening." "We stowed away in the hold of the Carpathia, slowly defrosting in the bowels of the ship, and we allowed our identities to be counted among those who perished in the Atlantic waters that night," Erestor said, thinking back to that dank, but warm, hold. Carpathia, April 15, 1912 "Unsinkable?" Maglor asked. "That was what the brochure said!" Erestor shot back. Maglor stripped out of the wet, cold clothing he wore and tore into a nearby steamer trunk, pulling out warmer clothes. "I swear, Erestor, you are determined to have us drown." Erestor glared at Maglor, pulling dry clothes over his clammy flesh. "Maglor, we're dead. We can't drown." "Ha. I am sure Ulmo would find some way to see us meet our end," Maglor grumbled, falling heavily to the floor of the hold. "You could have stayed in Liverpool, Maglor," Erestor said tiredly, sitting next to his lover on the floor. Maglor shook his head. "No, I couldn't. You emptied the bank account and sold the house." Erestor grinned up at Maglor. "Aye, I suppose you had no choice but to come with me." Erestor lay back, closing his eyes. "I don't think we should cross west anymore." "You know we can't help it. The pull is still there, even if the Valar will not admit us." Maglor stretched out next to Erestor. "I heard the crew talking above; the Carpathia is headed for New York." "At least we will still arrive in New York," Erestor said, cuddling closer to Maglor's body. "The trip wasn't a complete disaster." "Erestor, the ship sank! It is a complete disaster!" Maglor said, his voice colored with disbelief. "Well, we still have our health." Erestor chuckled, but there was a hysterical edge to it. He could not allow himself to focus on what he had just witnessed. So much death; he would go mad. Maglor pinched the bridge of his nose. "No, we don't! We're dead!" "And there is an upside to that, too," Erestor said, forcing a cheerful tone. The elder vampire sighed. "What is that, Erestor?" Erestor snorted. "We do have those very lucrative life insurance policies..." Seattle, 2004 The room was quiet as Erestor finished the tale. Maglor continued to watch David, who hadn't moved in all that time. "David?" he asked softly. "Yes?" the Man asked, blinking several times. "I'm sorry. My God, that was... so vivid!" David shook his head. "Such tragedy." Erestor nodded. "One thousand five hundred and sixteen people died that night, and our names are counted among them." "Is that what happened also on the Antonia Doria?" David asked. "The ship left Italy bearing you both west, but never arrived. It simply disappeared." "What happened to the Antonia Doria was Maglor's fault," Erestor said quickly. Maglor smacked Erestor's head. "I can hardly be blamed for that!" "If you can blame me for the sinking of the Titanic, I can blame you for the loss of the Antonia Doria!" Erestor shouted, rubbing the side of his head. "But, what happened?" David pressed impatiently. Erestor grimaced. "The story behind the Antonia Doria is not one we like to recall often. It was a mess, and one best left to the ghosts of the sea."