The Ideal City

ㅤ "That's it," Jude said with a smile, finishing bandaging the shoulder of the restless boy, who was extremely afraid of needles. "See, you didn't even need a shot." The little patient, pursing his lips, took a deep breath through his nose, drawing back all his pride and courage. "It's all because I'm brave!" he said loudly, fighting back the fear that hadn't yet fully subsided, his nose raised high. "Exactly," Jude agreed, watching the boy go. And as he disappeared, he added, either to himself or to Prinn: "It would be nice if you could prove it when it's time for the scheduled vaccination." The scent of fresh blood, elusive to humans, still hung in the air. Even though Jude wasn't hungry, the smell still teased him. Jude considered such sacrifices an exercise in endurance; fortunately, even when hungry, he never attacked people. That's why no one had yet recognized him as a vampire. 'Tomorrow there's another write-off of blood. I'll have to remember to stop by the warehouse after the paperwork is completed.' Although Jude was only a student, he was well-regarded by the professor and was predicted to have a promising future, so he was given more freedom than the other students. For example, he could see patients without the supervision of a professor-supervisor. He was entrusted with important, minor assignments, which allowed him to meet useful people and better understand the locations of important objects. But he didn't strive for prestige or education. However, he also found learning new things interesting: it brightened his long, lonely life. The main reason: he no longer had to hunt, frighten people, and hurt them with violent acts, which he so disliked. Jude just wanted to live… Like everyone else. And Fennmont gave him that chance. He could lead a normal human life, unafraid of the sun: it never rose here. Eternal night—a vampire's paradise. The clinic was a big, welcome bonus. Jude hadn't known how willing people were to part with their blood for good causes. Or for a modest fee and a small chocolate bar. What was terrifying, however, was the fact that a lot of blood had to be discarded due to its supposed expiration date. Jude saved this blood, because such trifles didn't matter to him: the main thing was that the blood was taken from a living person and hadn't gone bad. And the storage conditions were strict, so the concern wasn't about safety or taste, but rather about intercepting the packages before disposal. The shift ended—Jude stepped outside. A cool, ever-night breeze gently ruffled his hair, as if encouraging a good student. The stars shone steadily in the sky, visible even through the warm glow of the lantern-trees. Jude closed his eyes, savoring the sensation. "If only it could last forever," he wished. Eternal peace could be found not only in death. It was enough to find one's place in life. Neither Maxwell nor the world's boundaries interested Jude. Only the here and now existed. But even spirits weren't eternal beings… An unchanging vampire couldn't remain in one place. Being turned at the ideal age was a great stroke of luck. During his studies, he could say he was older than his age, and during his work—younger. Until a certain point… And then he would have to leave his beloved abode for a hundred years, only to return again when there were no more who could remember him. And start the circle anew, finding a fleeting peace for the eternal. The consolation of a mortal world, so fragile, yet enduring. But spirits are not eternal… Not even Maxwell himself, who created eternal night over the city… ㅤ