Old Souls

[Evelyn Cato]

Travel to America had been interesting to say the least. It had been many years since she was last on a seagoing vessel, and Evelyn Cato flatly refused to utilize the world's newer form of getting about by air. As it was, she'd opted to book passage on an unassuming freighter bound from Rome to New York. She had no taste for the more luxurious cruise-type ships, instead finding it easier to be left on her own when aboard a ship that only had working crew on it. That meant no passengers to disturb her.

And thus, her trip had been a quiet one, spent in a small rented cabin on the lower decks. Her time went by without complaint, and she read, occasionally looking through the small collection of old photographs that she had brought with her. They depicted happy times from many years past.

Before her she had sent a letter. It was not a long letter; there was no need for length or explanation yet. It was simply a short page written in elegant handwriting. The recipient would recognize it, without doubt.

She did have to wonder if he would be present to greet her when the freighter had docked. But that was a thought that she brushed to the side without much more consideration. He either would or he wouldn't. No matter what happened she would find her way to this Cullen's Institute.

She did find it strange that something such as this institute would bring her back into the company of one that she had spent much of her time with in the past. In all of her years she had chosen to leave and never return; it was easier than having to explain why the men she chose to be with grew old, and she did not. But now. It seemed that this Cullen's Institute had piqued her interest enough to step back into the life of one of those men.


The freighter came into port early on a Sunday morning, without fanfare. The single small bag that she had packed was gathered easily, and Evelyn wove her way through the working crew as they went about their duties. She paused momentarily at the top of the boarding ramp, her eyes roving across the early morning activities of those littering the work area and helping to begin the unloading process.

Another few moments of silent observation passed, and she began the trip down the ramp.

[Veritas]

Henri had excused his courses for the day for a trip downstate. As he waited in his car across from the dock, he had to wonder what he was thinking. After all, the letter had come from Evelyn. Evelyn who had so enthralled him when he was young, and Evelyn who had snatched the floor from beneath his feet when she left. He wondered what she wanted, and why she'd written him after these nearly thirty years? She mentioned coming to the Institute, which was the only reason he even decided to meet her.

He scanned the departing people on the ramp, wondering how the nearly thirty years had treated her. He imagined that she aged well enough, and likely had salt & pepper hair, and retained her regal smile.

He was totally unprepared to see that she had virtually unchanged since the day she left.

[Evelyn Cato]

Evelyn made her way through the sea of workers, nodding to those that acknowledged her presence. She had given her thanks to the captain of the small freighter, concluding her business with the man before leaving the ship, and unencumbered by any followers, she spied the car sitting across from the docks.

It brought a smile to her lips, but only for a moment. Her eyes tried to discern the man who sat within, but the glare from the morning sun on the car's windows did well to obscure any sight of the man sitting inside.

She stopped at the curb, allowing a large truck to pass by before stepping into the street and closing the distance between herself and the car.

[Veritas]

Henri stepped out of the car, favoring his good knee as he reached to the passenger's side for his cane. He looked at her as she approached, and said nothing.

[Evelyn Cato]

She had somewhat expected such a manner of silent greeting, and she took him in with soft eyes. There were lines in his face that had not been there thirty years before, and his hair had greyed. She saw his cane, and averted her gaze to the asphalt. Had it truly been so long?

For the first time in a very long while, Evelyn Cato felt remorse. She had left many lovers throughout the centuries, and only a handful of times did she feel any sort of guilt over her actions.

She stopped before him, blinking slowly as she locked her eyes with his, and in the same lilting accent that he would remember from so many years previous, she spoke.

"Henri."

[Veritas]

"Now I see why you wrote me."

She was gorgeous. Absolutely unchanged. He felt like he was reliving his past in her eyes. He now wondered how old she truly was. She could be ageless.

He looked her in the eyes, feeling a wave of mixed emotion that he kept firmly lidded.

[Evelyn Cato]

She nodded vaguely in what was only a partial affirmation. Yes, she had written to him in regards to the institute after discovering that it existed; as well, that he was a professor there. She had no inner doubts of her own nature and mutation, after all, she'd had a very long time to spend discovering herself and those around her. Century after century.

"I suppose that you do." It was said with a lightness that belied her study of him as he stood before her.

"My letter I kept short for obvious reasons."

[Veritas]

Henri hobbled to the rear-right seat, opening the door as he escorted her to it.

"There was plenty of space left for an apology on it, but that seems not your style."

[Evelyn Cato]

She quirked a delicate eyebrow at him, but said nothing as he opened the door. Her traveling bag was set in the backseat, after which she stepped back, taking the doorframe from his grip and closing it herself.

"You are correct, it is not my style."

She skirted around the rear of the car to come up to the front passenger door. Evelyn looked at him over the top of the hood.

"In fact, it is not my style to ever see the ones that I love again. It seems then, that I'm in a bit of an odd situation."

[Veritas]

"Odd situations are why I am here. I'm not the younger man you once left. He wouldn't be waiting for you with this car."

Henri gestured for her to get in, since she wanted to do it her way. He likewise did the same, stowing his cane in the back seat this time as he removed a Dunhill cigarette from his case.

[Evelyn Cato]

She gave him an odd look, but waited until he shifted the car into gear.

"Would the younger man I left rather that I stayed with him until he died, wondering why the woman he was with looked the same as the day he met her?"

[Veritas]

Henri exhaled slowly, and drove off.

"He would not understand. How could he? And you knew what you were doing. It was love, I still remember. But there was inevitable cruelty. Only the very old understand as we both do now."

[Evelyn Cato]

"Of course I knew what I was doing."

Old habits came back, and she reached over to carefully pluck his cigarette from his hand, bringing it to her own lips. She inhaled deeply; she'd not had one since... well, since those many years ago in France. She supposed it was because the scent of them reminded her of him, but now that did not matter. She returned the cigarette, blowing the smoke through her nose.

"I have been in this world for a very long time, Henri. But even I fall in love; it is something that is natural to even our kind no matter what sort of different gifts we are given."

[Veritas]

"Equal cruelty for you never to love. This is true. As it was, only the old understand such contradiction."

And yet, Henri still felt himself drawn to her. Her small quirks. The sound of her voice. Even the smell of her hair took him back. He had no regrets for how he felt of her, even if they were removed by so many years.

Henri continued to drive, taking the shortest route around the city and pressing on towards upstate.

"Why did you write to me?"

[Evelyn Cato]

She was quiet for a few moments, staring out through the window at the passing scenery. America was far different than she remembered. Had she really been gone that long? It seemed that as each year passed, her concept of time became somewhat more muddled, but no matter.

"I've spent the last ten years in Italy, and before that Russia. Most of my time was spent wandering about and collecting stories and folklore. It has become a way to pass the time, and it provides a rather interesting look on how human society has evolved in its' views of those who are gifted.

"This Cullen's Institute is the first I have seen that promotes a peaceful coexistance between the two groups, in that it nurtures its' students in ways that their predecessors have not. I wish to see it."

There was more of course, and he knew that there was, but for now she would wait. Evelyn angled her head to give him a sidelong look.

"I was not expecting to see your name on the list of staff."

[Veritas]

"Nor was I. Before, I might have attributed fortune if I believed in it. Now, it is just a matter of genetics and the absurdity of life."

The signs of urban and even suburban life seemed to grow fewer and far between as the journey progressed. They were nearly out to the sleepy country beyond the metropolitan area.

"I was a police man, after. An inspector with the Gendarmerie. That too came and went."

[Evelyn Cato]

This made the edges of her lips curl back into an odd smile.

"A police man," she repeated absently, allowing the thought of it to settle in her mind.

"And the cane... ?" this time her voice took on a gentle tone, allowing her odd, misplaced accent to become more pronounced.

[Veritas]

"A retirement gift from the Gendarmerie."

The oak trees were beginning to put out fresh leaves, catching the sun's rays and appearing a yellowy green.

"I took a bullet in Marseille that gave me a limp. At around that time, I discovered my gift."

[Evelyn Cato]

"Ah."

Turning to once more settle her gaze on the outside world, Evelyn was quiet for a short while. It was a shame in its' own sense, but in her eyes she saw such a tragedy as a rebirth, from one form to another.

"I am sorry that such an unfortunate turn of events would be the harbinger of something so wonderful and unique within yourself."

She reached over for the cigarette once more.

[Veritas]

"Wonderful? It is what it is. I am still a man who wakes, eats, and sleeps. Life is still life."

Henri lit a new cigarette, allowing Evelyn to keep the one she had.

"I would think that the concept of immortality would make you question the wonderment of it all."