Making Tobia

by Sherri Jordan-Asble

  Part 2

  Many years passed and Tobia stayed with his master, Runihura. They traveled throughout the vast Roman Empire. Runihura told Tobia of a time when Rome did not even exist. The Greek and Egyptian cultures had been the most advanced, but they had been conquered when Rome reared its ugly head. The Roman Empire meant war and bloodshed. Runihura’s strategy was to travel always further away from the Empire and its conquests and to avoid the battles at all costs. Tobia had come to learn that his master, Runihura, had wealth and means to keep them safe and secret from the mortals.

  One evening Runihura had left Tobia to hunt alone. That was not an unusual thing, and Tobia thought nothing of it. He had fed on several young men earlier in the evening and then retired to read. Several new and interesting authors had emerged. Tobia enjoyed the poetry and plays coming from the Empire. The new material held a fascination for him. He had read many classic Egyptian and Akkadian works, but the newer material felt more relevant to Tobia. The Aesopica was his current favorite. These tales meant something. They were illustrative of how to live, but told in a different way. This night, he read several new scrolls from a Greek woman, Sappho. Her poems made Tobia think about things besides blood and feeding. Her melodic words made him think about love and his relationship with Master Runihura.

  Hours later Runihura returned. "Tobia, come here," he called from the courtyard.

  Tobia obeyed immediately. "Yes, my lord."

  "Look what I have for you." He plopped a large brown puppy into Tobia's arms. "My lonely eyes, I bring a friend for you."

  Tobia laughed as the dog licked at his face. "He's beautiful. Thank you, Father."

  "Nonsense. Don't thank me. We need this dog."

  "What for?"

  "Protection, Tobia. These are strange times we are in. War is everywhere and the humans act erratically. Train this mongrel correctly, and it will protect us during the day as we sleep."

  "Brilliant Father."

  The master slipped his arm around Tobia and led him back into the house to feed the puppy. It was the best time of his life. Never before had he felt so close to his master and so loved by him.

  "Tobia, what will you name this fellow?" The master actually laughed at the pups antics. It licked Tobia's nose and eyes and cheeks.

  "How about Licker? He certainly is that."

  "Yes, he is. Strange name for a dog, though. How about Angel instead, since he will watch over us?"

  "Yes, my lord. Angel it is." Tobia laughed and stroked the light brown fur. He felt like a young boy again. "What kind of dog is this?"

  "I do not know, but it will get pretty big."

  "Umm, look at his feet." Tobia held up a massive paw that was comically too big for the rest of the dog. "You hear that, Angel. Master Runihura says you are going to be a big dog." He nuzzled up against the soft fur, and it tingled against his face. This was the beginning of a long and wonderful relationship. The dog took Tobia's nose out of his scrolls and distracted him from his thoughts of killing. He had to feed his dog now as well as himself. Then, there was the business of training the dog. It would never be good enough just to learn a few basic tricks. Angel had to learn total obedience, and learn how to attack.

  The hours of training were long and hard, but Tobia found that he had more control over Angel when he thought his commands rather than speaking them. Once the trick of it was discovered, the training was much easier. Angel accompanied Tobia on his hunting trips at night and lay beside their casket during the long hours of the day.

  It had been five or six hundred years, but Tobia still insisted on sleeping with his master. He could not stand sleeping alone in the box. The dog slept outside for protection. It wouldn't do any good if he slept inside with Tobia. Runihura did not object. Tobia thought his master allowed the practice partially out of guilt. It had been his own torture that terrified Tobia. But, he long suspected that Runihura had planned it that way from the beginning. His master locked him up knowing what would come of it, and he enjoyed having Tobia cling to him every night. Tobia felt a little resentment for it, but he enjoyed his master's protection as well and would not have it any other way.

  Since Angel had joined them, Tobia had been hunting alone more and more. Angel made it easier for Tobia to find his targets. As they pet the dog, he fed off them. They pet Angel, and he bit them in the neck, shoulder, or wrist. Afterwards, they only remembered the dog.

  "Tobia, I've watched you. I see how you use your pet to feed without killing. I'm proud of you for your control, boy."

  These were the first words of praise Tobia could remember hearing from his Master. He had pleased his Lord. Tobia smiled from ear to ear. "My Lord?" he whispered and bowed his head down in a sign of humility. He had learned early what actions and words pleased Runihura the most.

  "Come here boy."

  Tobia stepped closer to the master, head still bowed.

  Runihura pulled him into his arms. "You have grown into a man, Tobia." His Master put his finger beneath Tobia's chin and raised his head to look him in the eyes. "Your gray eyes are still so lonely, my love. Angel does not fulfill all your desires."

  Tobia looked into the blackness of his Master's eyes. He could not speak. He felt as if his breath had been sucked from his lungs, and his head felt dizzy as if he had not eaten just a few hours ago.

  "Tobia, gray eyes, my lonely eyes," the Master whispered. Then, he kissed Tobia softly on the lips. "Come to bed, my lonely eyes."

  Tobia followed his Master into the coffin. He could not control his limbs or his thoughts. Blackness covered him and he felt Runihura’s cool, wet lips on his again. He did not pull back but held Tobia to him in the darkness. Tobia slept.

  The next morning Tobia awoke in darkness. The Master was gone, and he was alone inside the crypt. He screamed.

  Outside, Angel whined and howled at his master's screaming. Tobia pushed open the coffin lid. Angel barked and jumped up, his giant paws resting on the edge of the box. He scratched the dog’s head and sighed. For a moment, he could only think of his great relief that he had not been locked inside the coffin. Then, he wondered where Master Runihura had gone so early, and he thought only a brief second of his master's kiss.

  His stomach made an odd noise, and Angel barked at the interruption. "Silly dog," he laughed. "Let's go boy." They went out into the night to find food.

  It was cold out, and the wind that whistled through the empty streets was being pushed on by winter’s threat. Angel was not bothered by it. He had grown into a fine, strong dog and his winter coat was beginning to thicken. He had turned a tawny brown with streaks of black on his back and a black mask on his face. Tobia smiled to himself as he watched his huge pet bound down the street before him. This was the happiest time he could ever remember. His Master had been so nice to him last night before they slept. He had the best dog that ever lived who obeyed his thoughts even before he had a chance to think them. He had finally learned to control his feeding, and Master Runihura was proud of him. His own birth father had never said such a thing to him. Maybe now he really was a man. An immortal man.

  Angel stopped in the street a few feet in front of him. He began sniffing the air and made a strange half whining and half growling sound in his throat. He turned in a circle. What is it, boy? Tobia asked the dog. The response was more of the same, only the growl became louder.

  Tobia looked up above to the roofs of the houses that lined the street. They were steep peaked roofs, too steep for a mortal, but not too steep for one of his own. Was his master up there? No. Angel knew better than to growl at Master Runihura.

  Tobia saw a shadow move quickly, almost imperceptibly, to his left. He heard soft footsteps along shingles, so soft it could have been a mouse, but it wasn't.

  "Come out. Show yourself," he called into the night sky.

  At first there was complete silence. An unnatural stillness hung in the air. Then, he heard a soft whisper, "Leave us alone. Leave us. Go away." Then she spoke in
a languate Tobia did not recognize. He had learned several languages over the years, but he had no idea what she was saying.

  "Who are you?" Tobia asked in Greek.

  She responded in more of her own language and then more understandably she returned in Greek, "You are death. Leave us, go."

  "What is your name?" Tobia asked.

  "Leave us alone." He thought he could hear several voices whispering together.

  "I have done nothing to you. Who are you?"

  He felt a presence behind him and spun around. A small women stood in the shadows. A mortal may not have even seen her, but Tobia's keen immortal eyes did. Angel barked. "Who are you?"

  "We have done to you all, nothing," she spoke in a clear pristine voice, pronouncing each syllable carefully.

  "I have done nothing to you, as well, my friend."

  She shook her head and the long blond strands of hair cascaded gently over her delicate shoulders.

  Tobia thought she was beautiful like a flower.

  "I thank you for the compliment. Hurt me not, please." He could barely see her thin lips move as she spoke, though her words were as clear.

  Angel sat down on his haunches and cocked his head as if he were studying her. "Why would I hurt you?" Tobia asked taking a daring step towards her.

  "Your friend."

  "My dog won't hurt you." Tobia chuckled softly. She was afraid of Angel?

  "No, not the dog."

  Tobia stopped. She had taken a step away from him as she spoke, but