Thorns of Fate

by Hayley Todd

  “Classy,” Carson growled, scowling at Anton.

  They both grew tense. I could feel the air crackling between them.

  “Who are you?” I asked. Once again my mind beat me to the punch. They stared at each other, the air heated, before slowly relaxing into their seats. Carson conceded first, his eyes returning to my face.

  “My name is Carson Carder. I had the joy of smashing in that beast’s face.” His eyes were locked onto mine as he spoke, but the moment he mentioned Raoul, his gaze drifted away, lingering on the wall across from him.

  “We’ve met,” was all Anton said, his eyes running me up and down.

  “Yes,” I hesitated. “I’m not altogether sure I understand that either,” I replied darkly. My vision lingered on his face for a moment. He was avoiding my eyes. He tensed the moment I glanced at him and was making a point not to acknowledge me.

  Slowly, I allowed my gaze to move back to Carson. He was staring at me again. I felt scrutinized beneath his lingering eyes, but it was comfortable. I could feel him there and wasn’t certain I wanted him to look away. “How did you find me?” I finally asked.

  Carson took a deep breath, letting it out slowly before starting. “I...had been looking for Raoul. He’s a criminal. He had been locked up for the past few years and had recently broken out. I’d been following his trail of bodies and crimes for months. When I finally caught up to him, he was...on top of you. I couldn’t watch him do that to you. So I took him out.” The mention of what had nearly happened had his eyes drifting away again. It seemed they both had difficulties acknowledging me when I was conscious.

  Anton cleared his throat. “I found you after he’d removed Raoul. You were damned near dead. I found Tyler too,” he met my eyes meaningfully and I opened my mouth to beg for more information but he continued, cutting me off. “He’s fine. His injuries were minor but the crack to the head pretty much ruined your outside door. And knocked him out. You on the other hand...you were pretty messed up.”

  “When I finished dealing with Raoul,” Carson picked up before Anton could continue. “And when I rejoined you, Anton here was still assisting Tyler. I covered you with my jacket, and carried you to my car, rushing you to medical attention. You’ve been here in recovery ever since.”

  “Yeah, yeah. You whooped the bad guy, you saved the girl. We all know,” Anton scoffed.

  “What happened to Raoul?” I inquired, looking to Carson. His eyes were glued to the ground. He froze at my words.

  “I killed him,” he responded bluntly, not looking up.

  I paused. He killed a man. For me? Well, no. He said he’d been committing crimes and leaving bodies for a while. He probably deserved it more for that than what he did to me.

  What all had he done to me? My mind replayed the night's events, assessing the damage but my memories were fuzzy. The wallop to the chest was probably what had broken my ribs and collapsed my lung. I couldn’t help but recall the struggle to breathe. The marionette towel crack had likely broken my arm. The slam to the ground...that was the last time I remembered feeling my limbs. That must’ve broken my spine and cracked my skull. Then...teeth...fangs...biting. My free hand went weakly to my neck. Of course any tiny bite marks had faded.

  “He...I think he...bit me,” I mumbled, not meeting eyes with either of them. I knew the line sounded crazy. Maybe they would laugh at me. Maybe they would think I had truly lost it. Maybe they’d lock me up and throw away the key. But someone needed to know. They needed to know while I still remembered. Who knew what could happen after what had already occurred.

  Anton hissed a breath and leapt forward, looking meaningfully at Carson. “You’re sure he’s dead?” He asked.

  “He...uh...lost his head. I’m certain.” Carson responded quietly.

  The head. The eyes. That lump on the other side of the wall…

  I pushed the memory down, not ready to tie that to this man beside me yet.

  “Would that change things?” Anton questioned. He began to pace again, his footsteps hard and loud. He walked faster than he should have, struggling to remain calm.

  “I don’t know. I intend to find out.”

  “You didn't realize she’d been bitten?” Anton pressed. I was pretty sure I could expect him to say anything to antagonize Carson.

  “I don’t know. My first response was to eliminate the threat. There were no marks by the time I had arrived if he did.”

  “You didn't smell the blood?!” Anton snarled.

  “The entire alley smelled like blood, you imbecile. I...obviously smelled her blood. How could I not?” His voice dragged as he continued, like they weren't words he wanted to say.

  I reviewed them both. They were completely serious. Blood and injury and rape and bite seemed to be easy words in this room right now. That sent chills down my spine. Kellic and Will had been involved with these people because of me. Who were they?

  “I think I need an explanation,” I interrupted. Their angry eyes swiveled back to me.

  “That's not really our place to explain,” Anton said. He went straight for the door, opening it and ducking out. He leaned to the side at the last second, diving past someone.

  “That would be my responsibility,” came Voice B from the door. Damien stood there, Kellic hovering behind his shoulder. I could see her peering at me under his arm. He strode across the room, taking up residency in his signature chair again.

  “Hello, Kyra. My name is Damien.”

  “I know,” I said before realizing what that meant.

  He and Carson exchanged a look, both of them returning their gazes to me.

  “Ask me your questions,” he commanded, nodding subtly at Carson while he did.

  Chapter Five

  Damien sat with me for hours, Carson chiming in where he felt necessary and Kellic sitting behind Damien in absolute silence. I periodically lingered my gaze on her, wondering how she could possibly be sitting there in silence through it all. When she finally swiveled her eyes to mine, they seemed brighter than ever before, tinged on the edges by a golden ring. She and I had both always sported an unusually blue eye color, but now they seemed to almost glow. Her pale skin seemed a shade paler. She sat stone still and barely even seemed to breathe.

  His story seemed like something on the fantasy bestsellers list. It was fanciful and would have been entirely unbelievable if it didn't add up with some of the things I'd already experienced.

  “To explain to you what is happening, I have to open your eyes to a world you'd never imagine could've existed. I hope you'll be open-minded,” Damien began, leaning toward the edge of my bed. Kellic inched forward, holding her hands over my body, palms down. She closed her eyes and began mumbling something completely incomprehensible. A red fog appeared below her fingers, traveling from her hands to my body. It then flattened over my skin, appearing to sink into me. Where the fog touched me, I felt tingly.

  “To put it simply, your monsters that go bump in the night really do go bump in the night. There is an entire supernatural world that stays separated from humans.”

  I stared at him, like a deer in the headlights, my mind spinning. I again saw that big brute towering over me, treating me like his own personal doll to play with as he wished. I saw that deep, angry red in his eyes and the flash of white fangs from his lips. I felt the pain from his blows, so strong I couldn't possibly fight back.

  Damien continued, not hesitating long before his frightful story resumed, “Vampires, werewolves, witches, and a thousand more unimaginable creatures exist around you.

  Raoul was one of these. Now, mind you, not all of your “monsters” are bad, and not all of your “heroes” are good. Raoul was one of the worst. He had let his humanity fall so far from himself that he was nothing but a murderer and a beast. Unfortunately, there was no redeeming him. He was too far gone. He had made a point since his escape to absorb every bit of pleasure he possibly could. I believe that he knew his end was approaching.

  Raoul was a Vampyre
. He was stronger than your strongest bodybuilder, faster than your fastest man. He took advantage of his strengths when you tried to fight him. There was no way you would win.” He glanced over at me apologetically.

  “What are you?” I asked, gazing at Carson, reluctantly returning my eyes to Damien.

  Damien reminded me of someone. He was a touch shorter than Carson, sported dark auburn hair and had brilliantly green eyes. They were a different shade than Carson’s own, a vivid emerald with flecks of a darker forest color. He had one of those chiseled square jaws that made male actors envious and drew the attraction of every adult woman.

  He looked at me, hard for a moment, as though deciding whether or not he would actually utter the words. “I am a vampire as well, though of a different breed.”

  “A different breed? I asked, replaying my vampire repertoire in my mind.

  Damien nodded. “There are five clans of vampires, each stemming a different breed. Each have their strengths and weaknesses, but together, make up the Council of Five. Vampyres, Magicks, Aeronyx, Succubus/Incubus, and Nosferatu.”

  My head spun with each of the words, tossing possibilities around.

  “I am a Magick.”

  Carson chuckled. “A Magick. More like the Magick.”

  They traded a look.

  Damien sighed like he’d had the one hidden part of his story exposed. “Yes, I lead the Magick clan, and therefore also hold a seat on the Council.”

  “What are Magicks?” I asked.

  Damien looked at me, a small smile lighting up his face. He looked like a kid at show and tell. He held one palm upraised. A glowing green ball of illumination hovered into existence over his hand. “Magicks are a breed of vampires that were created through a witch’s spell. It’s the only breed of vampire who maintain some control of witch abilities.”

  My eyes darted to Kellic, still avoiding my gaze, with red still dancing along my skin. I looked closely at what she was doing. The skin she affected turned a pinker color over time, seeming to become healthier. I lifted my leg and actually managed to pull it up into a 90-degree angle.

  “Kellic, why are you doing that? How are you doing that?!” I shrieked, bricks of logic falling into place.

  She finally lifted her eyes to mine. They were definitely glowing, faintly, but it was definitely there. “I had to, Ky. If the choice were becoming one of them or losing you, it was an obvious decision.”

  I thought back to the hushed, angry conversation between Kellic, Will, and Carson. I glanced at Carson. He looked thoughtful but remained outside of the conversation.

  “Will didn't take up the offer,” I assumed, returning my gaze to Kellic.

  Her eyes went wide for a moment, obviously curious about how I knew it. Then she shrugged and nodded.

  I straightened my leg back out and she shifted across to the other one.

  “What did you have to do?” I asked her.

  Surprisingly enough, Carson was the one to respond.

  “Magicks are born, they aren’t made. Someone is born with the inherent ability to turn into one. It is a rare gene, but Kellic and Will have it. If you are one of these individuals with this gene, once you feed, you begin the change. Unlike most other breeds of vampire, it doesn't matter whose blood you ingest, the change will begin. Some have initiated the change by accident.”

  “Is that why this is all secret? So a million people don't suddenly decide to change?” I asked.

  “Not entirely,” he continued. He looked tense every time he spoke to me. As soon as he would address someone else, or stop talking, his shoulders drooped with relief. Did he have some sort of aversion to me? No. If that were the case he wouldn't have spent all this time near me if it wasn't required.

  “The general populous shouldn't know about this because fewer than half of those individuals survive the change.” He said it as though it were a common understanding, not as though he had just implied my best friend had risked her life to help me.

  That was why Will hadn't made the change. He didn't want to put his life on the line only to become a vampire as a reward. I didn't know entirely if I blamed him.

  “Oh, Kellic,” I murmured, touching the back of her hand with mine. She touched mine with her free hand, pausing her process.

  “You would've done it for me,” she said, then removed her hand and began releasing the fog again.

  “Wait...if Kellic and Will carry the gene, do I?” I asked, glancing at Damien, then at Carson, my eyes lingering a moment too long.

  His emerald eyes widened for a moment and he tensed up.

  “Yes, you do,” Damien responded bluntly.

  I paused, my world reeling. I had some mythical gene contained within me that could be triggered by blood into, what? Some sort of super strong and fast murderer? Or could I be something refined and dignified? Would I even be strong? Or fast? Would I do magic? Would I be invincible? Well...Raoul had been killed right? Could I live forever?

  Carson grabbed my hand suddenly; his warm palms a comfort to me. “It's a choice you could make. You don't have to.” He met gazes pointedly with Damien.

  “Are you immortal?” I asked. I directed my questions to Carson. He seemed the most straightforward.

  He fought against a small smile. “I’m different than Damien. But theoretically, he could be. Magicks can be killed but without outside intervention, they would live forever.”

  “Are you...dead?”

  He actually laughed this time. It was a joyous jingle. “I am not. Neither are Kellic or Damien. Raoul, however, and his ilk, are technically reanimated dead.”

  Despite him reassuring me that this was a decision that was only mine to make, my head ran through my future down this path. I’d be alive, but death would almost never come. Then I placed my potential futures side by side and making the change opened up empty spots, devoid of a spouse or lover or children. I didn't know if I wanted to make that sacrifice.

  “So, I’d be giving up my human life if I chose to change?”

  Carson squeezed my hand in his. “Not entirely. Most of us can continue life as usual, just with it never ending.”

  I bit my lip, forcing my concerns to be voiced, “What about marriage and children and happiness?” I asked. It sounded lame even as I said it.

  Carson smiled again. If not for the attractive way it lit up his face, I'd start to get offended at his joy at my confusion. “What's stopping us?”

  I felt that my own hopeful mind might've added emphasis on the word “us”.

  “Uh, infertility? How do you not bite each other? Or do you?” My head spun with possibilities. I would be ashamed to say that some of my mental imagery included Carson.

  “We’re not infertile. Well, as a general rule anyway. I wouldn't completely eliminate the possibility but usually, vampire healing takes care of that kind of issue. We actually might be more fertile.” He laughed at the awkward silence forming in the room. I stayed quiet, my own mind filling with thoughts. “And some couples may bite each other, there's no harm in doing so as long as they're careful.”

  Damien’s head suddenly shot up, glaring at Carson. Carson went immediately quiet and sat back, releasing my hand. I nearly reached back out for him but remembered I didn't really know the guy and dropped it back onto my bed.

  Carson cleared his throat. “Okay, it might be kind’ve taboo. It's a hickey sort of thing. Some people like that, some people don't.” He crossed his arms over his chest, supporting himself but putting some sort of physical barrier between himself and the scrutinizing eyes Damien had turned onto him. He took a deep breath before he continued. “It’s a very private thing. To be obvious about it would be like having sex in public. It’s just not done.”

  Damien’s eyes gazed at him for several moments longer before he looked aside.

  Carson looked back over to me. “We're not all that different. If you cut me I bleed. I can have children. I can be killed. I just may be a bit stronger, faster, and hardier.” He seemed to be r
eferencing himself.

  My body shivered.

  “Try to sit up, Ky.” Kellic interrupted us, holding her arm before me. I grimaced, wrapped my arms around hers and allowed her to lift me forward. She didn't budge or show any indication that the effort had affected her.

  Pain rippled through my chest and my right arm but otherwise, I was able to lift forward into an upright position.

  Carson leaned forward and held a lever while the bed lifted behind me, adjusting to my new position. My breathing came a bit easier, my chest able to open more easily for each breath.

  Carson smiled as he released the lever and sat back, contented.

  “Who are the ones to die?” I asked. The room went still.

  Damien was the one to finally deliver the blow. “We don't know. It's random. No one has ever managed to reason out what makes the difference.”

  “What about my injuries?”

  Carson and Damien exchanged a confused look. “You would've healed these blows within a few days to a week. He could've still killed you though. Like I said, you weren't far off.”

  “And if I agreed to change?”

  Carson huffed a sigh and leaned his head back, staring at the ceiling. Damien responded, “I would recommend you wait until you're fully healed. The change is a...violent process. You can feel every cell in your body changing. And it kills everyone. In order to change your heart from beating as a human to functioning as a Magick, it will stop, meaning you technically die. Those who can survive the change will have a heart that kick-starts itself. If it can't do that, it won't beat again.”

  A shiver rippled down my spine, having nothing to do with my attraction to Carson this time.

  “How much longer would that be?” I asked. If I could change now, wouldn't I be better anyway?

  Damien shot a look at Kellic. “Maybe a week?” She responded without further prompting.

  A week. I had a week’s worth of protection before I could make this decision. I figure I could put it off, but would I want to? Would there be division between Kellic, Will, and myself? Was there already? Why wasn't he here?