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Chapter Eight
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Am I sick? Do I even care?
Last night I was cut by a fellow Elder, though he was not himself. Like other vampires before him he had mutated into some kind of monster with claw-like nails and empty white eyes with blood seeping from them.
Half an hour ago I faced that very same Elder again. I killed him. Not only did I do that – I drank his blood. Not because I wanted to, but because I had to. Had I not done so I would not be alive to question myself now. His blood is flowing in my veins, making me feel more powerful than I ever have, but I wonder to what cost. Have I not only inherited his powers, but also his curse – will I too grow claws and bleed from my eyes?
That Elder was my only chance to find the answers to my questions. Ironically, I had to kill him in order to survive. It pains me to know that I have doomed myself to a life without answers, but I suppose it beats dooming myself to death, where answers will do me no good.
There is still a remote chance to find answers though. Just before I slayed the Elder he sired someone. I do not know who or what this was. I do know that it is out there somewhere. Perhaps it is a normal vampire, like I still appear to be, but it could also very well be a monster, just like its Sire. I promise myself to find this Reborn, for it may be the only key to the answers I seek. I also pray that I do not start crying blood before I have learned of a cure.
Finding the Reborn is not my only chance to find answers however. I think of Sarthimia, the sister at the monastery. She was the one who first told me that what happened to my Brethren were not the result of a Succubus, which I had suspected at first, but a ‘scourge plaguing my people’. She also spoke of something called ‘the Ancients’ that are supposed to be the cure to this plague. Of those I have not heard before and yet I have chosen to place my full trust in this woman when it comes to this whole thing being a disease. It seems unlikely that a vampire could cause a Brethren to turn into something as hideous as those vampires. However, I do believe that whatever disease this might be, someone, or something has triggered it. I shall have to find the source.
Before doing anything I know what I must do. I have to return to the Asylaum and face the consequences of my actions. If I am lucky the Council will forgive me for standing them up. If not – I can only hope that I am not punished by the only means they see fit. This is worrying. The Council is not known for being forgiving; one could easily state the opposite without being close to lying. Since I have already pushed their buttons in the past I gather that I am not one of their favourites right now. The only thing I have going for me is that I have cooperated with their pet Ariane, despite my feelings for her.
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As I return to the Asylaum word has clearly been getting around. Every Brethren aware of my presence is turning around, pointing at me and whispering. I am amazed at what the new blood has done to my system – I can actually hear what they are whispering on the other end of the Great Hall.
“It’s him,” a woman with long black hair whispers. “The one who defied the Council – he’s back!”
Her friends are staring eagerly at me, like vultures waiting for the predator to finish me off. In another part of the Great Hall another group is staring at me with wide eyes. They are newly reborn, all of them. To think that the Council would allow so many Rebirths during these dangerous times – there is no telling who might get infected.
“Look, it’s that Elder,” I hear them whisper, “I hear he opposed the Council.”
Even the younglings have heard of me – flattering. It must be that underling, who informed me of my appointment with the Council, who has a big mouth. I doubt that the Council will approve of that. Council business is Council business. The Lords have never been much for sharing, even with the Elders. They live by the Guidance and make sure that every Brethren in the Asylaum lives by it too, and the Brethren do not mind this. They know that the Lords are more powerful than them and are well aware of what fate awaits them if they disobey – as am I. But it is not a system based on the Lords misusing their power, quite the opposite in fact. The Lords simply exist to watch over the Asylaum and lead it with the wisdom from the Guidance.
Where the Guidance came from is unknown to the Brethren and I doubt even the Lords are aware of its origin. No one knows and no one cares. It is there to guide us and to give us laws to obey – without it there would only be chaos. Vampires attacking vampires, vampires attacking humans, humans trying the defend themselves and ultimately resulting in the end of the world as we know it. Survival of the fittest is no way to play things with vampires. Everyone knows who would emerge victorious from such battle anyway – the Lords. Only they possess the power to defend themselves against the Brethren, due to their many centuries of existence. Since everyone is aware of their power they are also most suited as Guardians of the Guidance. Too bad for me that defiance against the Council also means defiance against the Guidance, and defiance against the Guidance is punished only through execution.
I have defied the Council before and gotten away with it. But this time I know is different. Not only did I ignore their request for my presence for my personal vengeance, but my vengeance meant death of a fellow Elder.
The last time I met with the Council they had considered to execute me for having dusted a newly reborn. I got off the hook because the Reborn had not been allowed Rebirth and thusly it had not been a Brethren. But this Elder I dusted was a Brethren, and more importantly – the Council knows he was a Brethren. Perhaps they are unaware of his death, I can only hope. In my heart I feel that they know. They even know about him crying blood when I slew him. Most importantly – they know that I killed him not for being a monster, but to avenge my own pride.
Despite knowing all this I cannot help grinning pleased as I walk through the Great Hall. I still feel tremendously well with the new blood in me. I cannot possibly understand how the Council would refuse us this euphoric sensation. Of course, if they did not, there would be few Brethren left. Everyone would be slaying each other for a rush. But there is more to this than a rush. I feel that my body has permanently changed – his powers will always be one with me. It is not like he has any use of them anymore, anyway.
When I approach the door to the Council chamber I try to wipe my self-loving grin off my face. I have some luck doing so but I still cannot hide how much I love the blood flowing inside my veins – it is like a drug.
“I’m ready for my appointment now,” I tell the underling pouting by his desk.
I take it that the Council was indeed displeased to hear of my disobedience. The underling studies me from top to toe. He does not appear to like what he is seeing.
“I can tell,” he sneers.
I am curious as to what he means. He is obviously upset at me for having put him in a situation where he had to disappoint the Council earlier, but I do not understand why he looks at me with such disgust.
It is not until I see my reflection in a mirror that I understand. I am still wearing my torn coat which is by now is far dirtier than when Mina gave it to me after having washed it. She is a good girl. I regret having left her in such a rude manner. By looking into the mirror I see that my already poor-looking coat is made worse by being smudged in blood. I see now what my grumpy acquaintance means. I have not only stood the Council up, but when I finally arrive I am foolish enough to do so wearing the blood of a Brethren. At this I burst into laughter. How could I be so careless? Do I wish to see myself die? Now the Council will definitely know of the fate of that Elder.
The underling does not share my amusement. He is staring at me grouchily with his arms crossed. I must truly have made his life miserable. Good – he had it coming.
As I enter the Council chamber I think of Mina. That young woman is doing everything she can to provide a good life for herself and her brother. She should not have a father who is constantly away on business trips. He should be home, taking care of his children instead. If I survive this meeting I promise myself that I will go see her before I search for a cure. She is worth it. After all, she took a big risk by taking a stranger in only because he was passed out. She has a warm heart.
Before me I notice that the entire Council is already gathered. This surprises me greatly. On no occasion ever before have the Lords been waiting for me, I have always been waiting for them – as it should be. I am also a bit disappointed by their presence. I had hoped to prepare my story a bit longer before attempting to bend the truth in front of them.
I feel the seven Lords glare at me. Their eyes are cold and disliking; it is like standing alone in a freezing blizzard. Lord Amaddeuas looks at me with judging eyes. Next to him I hear Lord Dunstan sigh in grief. They are disappointed. Somehow I am not surprised about this.
As I attempt to explain myself to the seven most powerful vampires in the world, Lord Amaddeuas rises from his throne and cuts me off. He looks at me harshly.
“Forty-eight hours.”
“Forty-eight hours?” I repeat, perplexed.
I feel his dislike towards me ruin the invulnerable sensation my new blood has given me.
“That it the amount of time you have to redeem yourself,” the Lord says. “Return to us with the source to this abnormality and perhaps we shall look favourable upon you.”
I nod respectfully. Forty-eight hours is not a long time, but it is enough for me to get out of town. I know that there is no point in running. There is nowhere on this planet the Council would not find me. I shall have to spend every waking minute searching for an answer – not only to please the Council and possibly redeem myself, but also to find the cure. If I fail to perform this task it matters not if I am ill or not – the Council will have me executed without even blinking an eye.
All of the seven Lords arise at once. They walk towards the hidden entrance through which they always depart. Before leaving, Lord Amaddeuas turns to me with a grave look.
“You have disgraced your people, Elder Pike. Know this, no matter what becomes of you.”
His words are like a knife stabbed deeply into my heart. What pains me the most is that I know they are true. I have indeed brought shame to my race by disobeying the Guidance. I am a hypocrite. Many times have I cursed the names of other vampires for minor disrespectful acts against the Guidance. This is far worse than that. I have broken the most sacred law in the Scroll of Guidance – never bring harm upon a fellow Brethren.
I leave the chamber with my head bowed in shame. I do not even notice the curious look on the underling’s face as I pass by him. In the Great Hall I am greeted by Jackston who appears glad to see me still alive, but he has a worried look on his face when he notices that I am burdened.
“What happened?” he asks worriedly.
I look at him with shame.
“They gave me forty eight hours,” I say.
“To do what?” Jackston wonders.
Good questions. What do I really intend to do with my forty eight hours? Do I intend to go on a wild goose chase after my victim’s creation – or do I intend to see Sarthimia and question her about ‘the Ancients’ that she spoke so highly of? I know that I will not have time for both. Forty eight hours is not a lot of time, especially not when I have to spend half of it indoors unless I wish to turn into a one-man light-show. So which will it be? Hunt down the Reborn that is most likely to be clueless as to what it is and how it became what it is – or place my faith in religion and pray that these ‘Ancients’ of Sarthimia’s will m iraculously bring me both answers and cure? I have never been much for religion.
“To find an answer,” I reply.
“An answer to what?” Jackston asks, clearly not following.
“What’s causing our Brethren to go all clawy and blood crying,” I say.
I can tell by his expression that he is now back on track. Also, I see that he swiftly realises the problems which I am facing.
“But that’s impossible,” he ejaculates. “There is no way that you’ll manage that in forty eight hours.”
“No,” I sigh. “But I have to try, right?”
He stares at me for a moment. He does not believe what I am saying, hoping that it is all a twisted joke and that we will all wake up seconds from now and have a good laugh at all this. We do not. I am certainly not laughing. After a while Jackston speaks again.
“There is something else, isn’t there? I can tell by your look on your face.”
I do not wish to tell him about the cut I received the other night, nor of my suspicions that I might be ill.
“No,” I reply. “There’s not.”
I can see what he is planning and I will not allow it. I may have let him off during less serious situations – but this is not one of them.
“Don’t you dare,” I warn him.
He knows what I am talking about and does not even make an attempt. Good boy. Just because he is a Reader does not mean I will allow him to read my mind every time I choose not to tell him something. I do not wish to worry him about my possible illness – I worry enough for me. But Jackston is my friend – my only friend – and I feel I owe him something. So I tell him about my dream about Emily.
Vampires does not usually talk about there life before their Rebirth. This is either because we do not care or because it is a sensitive subject. Mine is the latter, but after having known Jackston for almost two centuries I deem him worthy of knowing. He nods at every word in my story and appears grateful that I shared it with him once I have finished. I leave the part of what triggered the dream out.
“Do you think it means something?” he asks when I am finished.
“Not a thing,” I reply honestly.
I can tell that he is pondering over my story.
“However,” I continue. “I did meet this girl, a beautiful girl that looked almost exactly like Emily, although, she was a bit older than her.”
He stares at me with widened eyes, surprised at what I just told him.
“And you don’t think that means something?” he says excitedly.
“Why would it?” I shrug.
“You have a dream about your daughter who died as a fifteen year old and when you wake up, you meet a girl that looks just like her,” he asks, obviously trying to make a point. “You don’t think that’s a sign?”
“No,” I state plainly and then go silent.
I feel Jackston observing me as I stand before him, wasting valuable time.
“You care for this girl, don’t you?” he asks gently.
I sigh and look into his eyes.
“She’s a human. She’s young and she should not be anywhere near my life,” I reply.
“So you do,” he states with a pleased smile.
“I do not have time for caring.”
He looks sceptically at me.
“She has nothing to do with anything,” I say. “Just leave her out of this, okay?”
Jackston nods at me and smiles.
“Very well, old friend. The choice is yours.”
I leave Jackston to his dream reading and speculations about my interests in Mina. I have wasted enough time on him already. If the answer is out there it sure as hell is not sitting around waiting for me to find it. I must quickly choose where to search and then stick to that decision. Right or wrong – I only have time for one.
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Chapters
Prologue | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10
11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | Epilogue
