Love is Always Write Anthology Volume 7

fast, with Jeremy cradled in his arms; then ravish him senseless in the undergrowth, claiming him with teeth … Jeremy leaned against Jacob's side to disperse the urgency that gripped Jacob, releasing the tension that had built up in his fists.
    When did "teeth" become a rational option? The beast within him was closer than Jacob thought. Focusing Jacob enough to listen as Jeremy began an explanation. "This is where I work: the National Archive. Prohibited to humans. I call it the library."
    Jacob ignored the intricacies of ivy strangling any protruding masonry. "'Humans'?" Jacob questioned, with a flustered inflection. Silence met his unease as they continued to walk closer to the dark stone building.
    Jeremy finally answered in a matter-of-fact tone that challenged any argument, "You and I are both immortal. I know this, and now you know the full truth of it. In short, we are the descendants of the 'creatures of nightmares', as humans often generalise us."
    Jacob was shocked. He could not tell if Jeremy would grab a pitchfork or dance with Jacob in hand – no emotion remained in his voice. No one knows the truth! Jacob thought in confusion, how does Jeremy know ? Jacob could not express the fear that he may have just walked into his own execution. Regardless, he continued to walk along with Jeremy.
    Jeremy saw the panic claw at Jacob's throat as he swallowed compulsively – the only sign betraying Jacob's thoughts. Jeremy knew if he were in such throes of emotion, the possibilities for escape in the open would provide an unnecessary risk of Jacob running away with his heart. He pushed and pulled Jacob into the library, against the legs reluctantly carrying Jacob, into the depths of the ground floor to a section he seldom visited, but was certain had seats.
    He pushed Jacob into an ivy-wrapped chair standing against a wall of bookcases. Neither the squelch of squashed plant life nor the beauty around them, displayed in a natural light, held their interest. Jeremy stood staring seriously into Jacob's eyes, parallel to his own, glazed over with fear. He was only held in check by the stoic expression of Jeremy's crossed arms, and enclosed surroundings, daring him to move. He stayed sitting. The intervention began.
    "You have fur – no humans do – and there are records of non-humans having such characteristics." Jeremy reasoned in a steely voice. "The fact you are immortal comes from my assumption that, although you have the human hair anyone would expect, you naturally have fine hair – abundant everywhere else – all over, which is not like a normal human, even the hairy ones you get in novels. In fact, they blend seamlessly, like… fur – with normal hair?" No change in Jacob. Evidently, this "proof" of Jeremy's would not cure Jacob's fear. He continued with barely a flourish.
    "Immortality is a misnomer, as I'm sure you are aware. All it really means is that we – those burdened by the stigma and label – cannot die of old age and are particularly resistant to many traditional weaknesses because of the occasional quirks of our unique ancestry." Jeremy's lecture fell upon deaf ears as he realised Jacob may have already discovered this, possibly causing this trauma , Jeremy thought. Perhaps going into details, to show that I'm one like him, will help him . Jeremy deliberated. He sighed and collected his thoughts, only a shuffle responded to his deepening frown.
    "Do you know of our origins?" Jeremy asked rhetorically, planning to continue regardless of any answer, a slight hitch in his voice betraying his own personal demons. Jacob remained rigid as if manacled to the old wooden chair.
    "Of the old world and this world we now live in?" A slight shake of Jacob's head responded, a pleading look in his eye shone as curiosity began to take over the turmoil in Jacob's mind.
    "Well it seems you know the basics if you understood what I was talking about, so I'll tell you." Jeremy's intuitive statement started a rebellious tick in both Jacob's cheeks, the robe shifted as painful tensing began to take place. At least it is better than the resignation I saw earlier ¸ Jeremy reasoned with relief.
    "It starts – as always – with an ideal: obviously, humans are always right, doing as they wish, and taking over. Like the ivy here – enough to be everywhere, but with a precarious balance that maintains what it has taken over. Then 'everything else' fought back. To cut a long story short, the mythological creatures