3: Destiny And Its Mysterious Ways
A familiar name slipped off his tongue, “Macey...”
“Huh?” The girl looked nothing but fully shocked. Calderon has received a stern gaze, and fear grew at him, thinking his eyes must still be red, and the girl has seen it.
His calm came back in a minute, though, when the girl asked, “How... how did you know my name?”
His brows furrowed. Macey could remember her name in the past life she had, or she still has the same name?
“Of course, I—”
“This is my first time in forever to have met you, Sir. How did you know my name?”
It struck him like a bolt of lightning. Same name, they have the same name. Different face and body, same name and soul. That was her destiny.
“You just... look like a Macey,” he gulped, then whispered, “My Macey.”
“Maybe because I am literally a Macey?”
“Your name, it is?”
“Macey Monreal, my birth name. So, yes, I am a Macey. Have you heard of me before? Perhaps you once visited the public library downtown to read books?”
Macey Monreal.
Macey Schmidt, he was certain that Macey is now back with the same name. Macey.
“I haven't heard of Monreal, but I did with Macey. I... love reading books, but haven't been in the city's library…”
The girl nodded enthusiastically, pleased at the answer. He realized that Macey was amused and happy to hear the last sentence, about his love for reading books.
“Macey is quite a good name, I got it from my Mom. So, I'm not that surprised you appreciated it, Mister?”
“I am Calderon. Calderon Schmidt,” he laid out his hand.
When Macey has taken it, a spark was felt. Calderon knew by that time that she is really his Macey, the girl he met one thousand one hundred eight years ago, three years before he was turned into the monster that he is now.
Macey flinched at the touch, Calderon's skin was cold, almost freezing. But she did try her best to keep the reaction to herself.
“By the way... it's nice meeting you today, Calderon. I'm afraid I have to go now. I was in haste, you see. I even bumped into you, wasn't able to look ahead in rush.”
“To where? I can give you a ride,” he flashed a toothy, inviting smile, “take it as my apology for not being careful and dropping you, butt first.”
This might be his chance to get closer to Macey. He couldn't let this opportunity to slip off. A perfect self-control — that he always find himself with, whenever he is with Macey. The feeling of fullness and being complete — the things Macey always make him feel. It was her, and he would never let her go. No, not again.
“The library I work in is near. I have to be there ar ten.” Macey has sighed gladly, relieved that she wouldn't have to run more than five hundred meters to reach her workplace.
Macey's car was left in a nearby lot, broken and needs fixing. She had no choice but to run and chase her time, unable to find a passing taxi or bus that directs to her destination.
“Come with me. We'll reach the place faster by wheels. It's too late for a morning jog,” he lent his right hand to the girl, as if asking permission to dance.
Macey stared at the pale palm, her eyes were sparking questions as to why she was being treated like that.
Calderon shrugged, knowing full well that Macey was confused at his actions, he then gestured the girl to take it. Macey did grab his hand, though, although hesitating at first.
Calderon walked them both into the nearest parking, smiling when he still found his long-left La Voiture Niire that hasn't been used for weeks now.
“Come on, Macey. My car has survived weeks unattended. It wasn't hijacked,” he said, giggling in disbelief to see the Bugatti without even a single bruise and without any missing tires.
“Hello, are you serious?!” Calderon heard Macey gasp in shock right after she points the expensive car, a super luxurious one at that.
“Why?”
“That's your car?! It's a Bugatti!”
“And? What's the matter? You hate Bugattis?”
“How can you be this rich and just walk around that city's corner...”
“I'm not that wealthy. I just have a few billion dollars on the bank, nothing too big.”
Macey's jaw slacked.
~
He stared at the business card above his palm.
Macey Monreal, a librarian in town.
He chuckled in disbelief. Who would have thought that, just like the cliché and repetitive scenes in all the movies he has watched in his thousand years of existence, he will once experience bumping into a person while he walks in a street, feel a sudden connection, electricity against his skin, and recognize that someone as his past lover in only one eye lock?
It was surreal, like a fairy tale, a thing he hasn't believed until it happened to him earlier that day. He felt like dreaming, and he didn't want to wake up from that sleep, not ever again.
Before that night ended, only a few counts until dawn, he has found himself clicking on a phone. Macey's number.
He has already memorized it in mind, afraid he might lose the only card he holds on to.
When he was able to type it in, a lot of contemplation has pushed him to remove it on the dial. One second, he was typing it again, and the other, his fingers were erasing what was written.
He groaned in annoyance, then pulled on his hair.
He has been in this world for over a millennium now, yet he's still getting shy like a freaking teenager, and over JUST a message that should be sent virtually?
The written letters he has received and sent to Macey in the past were even more delicately made, sweet, and contains all that is to be said. And now that it's just a text message, which will arrive in Macey's mail in a lone click, he was thinking twice whether to click it or not?
He was better than that, he knew he was more capable than that.
One courageous stunt.
[ To: Macey
Macey , I enjoyed your company. Thank you for having me today. I think I might visit the town's library very often now that I am friends with its beautiful librarian. Have a great slumber <3<3 ]
He let his body fall down the floor of his dark room after seeing his message marked as sent.
What has he done? That was very awkward.
What if he typed something to turn Macey off? What if Macey freaks out? What if Macey never talks to him when they meet again?
He can't afford to lose this opportunity. He has to befriend her. He has to stay close to her, he needs to. If she was the soul of Macey Schmidt, his past lover, he needs to keep her for as long as possible.
Macey was the only one to tame him and calm him down whenever he loses his grip. Macey was the only person to hold him, even when he becomes a monster.
Macey. Obsessed as it may seem, but everything is about Macey.
Macey is the only reason why he has chosen to live in this curse. If he couldn't have Macey, then what was the point of staying for a millennium? Nothing.
He was brought back to his reverie when the phone he has thrown on the other side of the bed, rang. The last name he expected late in that evening has flashed on his screen, and it made him halt.
Macey, it says.
He squealed, screaming with all his voice. A few things around his room flew over, some even hit the wall and made dents, cracking the thick concrete.
[ “Calderon? Hello, is this you?” ]
“Yes,” he cleared his nearly drying throat. “Hello, Macey.”
[ “Great! I... just called to clarify. You've forgotten to introduce yourself in the message, eh.” ]
“Ah, yes, about that,” he itched his nape. Of course, that's it. What else would be Macey's reason to call? Of course... “I'm sorry.”
[ “It's fine. I have saved your contact now.” ] he heard Macey giggle. [ “Anyway, I also want to thank you. I've enjoyed the day just like you did. I'll look forward to seeing you in the library, then.” ]
After the last word from Macey, the call died down.
But his heartbeat won't shut.
~
When the morning came after that first sleepless and bloodless night in months, he was quick to run after the alarm he has ticked for nine. He speed dialed Jarvy and forced him to get up to once again bring a testing sample from the lab.
“You were excited, Calderon,” Jarvy's frown greeted him in the morning. The man clicked the elevator close, then walked after his widely smiling vampire friend. ”Will you calm your rod down—?”
“I found her. Jarvy! How do I calm down?” Calderon turned around, his orbs were red, his fangs were visible in the smile his lips hold, and Jarvy took it as a sign to halt his steps in a screech. “Jarvy, did you hear me? I found her!”
“Wh... who?”
“My girl, Macey. I've found her!” He was ecstatic, euphoric. If Jarvy would be sure in only one thing at that moment, it would be about the sight of certain delight and happiness in Calderon's bloody eyes. “I am very sure that it's her. It's her, and she's finally here. She's back...”
“Oh... Cal, I'm so happy for you!”
“Tha—” Calderon has been hit by bewilderment and shock. Jarvy has closed the gap between them, hugging him so tight that he couldn't breathe. “Uh... Jarvy... back off.”
“Hmm?”
Calderon, still fighting the urge, has lost it. He let himself sniff on the neck before his nose.
Jarvy squirmed, flinching out of the embrace. “Calderon!”
“I'm sorry... I...” he scolded himself internally, “I just... didn't get to grab a drink last night. J was busily talking to Macey on the phone—”
“Drink some.”
“Huh?”
“A little drink wouldn't hurt. Come. I am your friend, I trust you.”
“No. Just... get me a pack. Jarvy, we couldn't risk you, I'm thirsty—”
“Right, this is why I brought one available freshie from the blood bank before I go here. You sounded hoarse and drained when you called me early in the morning, so I was worried,” Jarvy looked at him with serious concern, finally letting the man's unusual vampire physic sink in.
It was Jarvy's first time to ever see Calderon in the state. The most meetings they had, Calderon hides his eyes under sunglasses, or his eyes were light brown and calm.
But this time, Calderon was thirsty because he didn't get to have his meal the night prior, so he will most probably feel it the whole day, and his appearance would reflect the hunger.
“Here, Cal,” Jarvy chirped, pulling out a bag of thick liquid from inside his pouch. “Have one. Just don't... expect me to look while you do your business.”
