Sight

by Chrystal Blue

  Arel’s eyes remained firm on them, lighting up at each excruciating sound escaped from their assaulted bodies. Belbog, Inna, Kiel, Adan, and Geni left their battle with Aeron and broke for the door. The stench of fear mingled with the smell of wet blood. Releasing the wound on her neck, she stretched her hand out as if pulling them back with an imaginary cord. Their misshapen, lifeless bodies landing at Dmitri’s feet. Arel smiled.

  “Join your brothers,” whispered Arel’s hoarse voice, breaking the silence. Tossing the bodies of the Faddei, Hadeon, and Kosma, at Dmitri’s feet. Raising her hand, she tossed the masses up to the ceiling again, leaving them suspended above the Vampire's head.

  “When you should band together, you plot and betray. There is a common enemy that needs to be destroyed. How can we defeat Zorin? How can we be free of his reign, if you do not see beyond your own greed? You destroy,” she yelled.

  Closing her eyes, she inhaled deeply. Once the pained, muffled sounds stopped, she released the lifeless bodies. With a loud thud, they fell to the floor at Dmitri’s feet.

  Exhausted, her body ached, but she remained focused. Sebastian reached out for her arm as she pulled away, walking towards Dmitri who remained suspended in the center of the room. Slowly his body lowered, letting his feet brace the stone floor where he had held Sebastian pinned moments ago.

  Alexander stood wounded and bleeding by Aeron’s side. Arel focused in on his thoughts. Seeing no threat, she left Alexander, keeping her eyes on his brother.

  “Dmitri,” she said, raising her hand to his cheek.

  “Arel,” Sebastian cried.

  Ignoring Sebastian, Arel rested her hand on Dmitri’s chest. The energy leaving, she could feel the exhaustion rising up.

  “Dmitri, what did Jolon tell you,” demanded Arel.

  Dmitri stood silent waiting for his death.

  “If you tell me, I will let the rest of the Emil line live. If I have to use any more energy on taking it from you, they will die to pay for your crimes,” said Arel.

  Dmitri let out a stifled laugh of defiance.

  Alexander stepped towards Arel, falling to his knees. “Please, let my family live. I do not know what Jolon told Dmitri,” said Alexander.

  “You cannot destroy an entire line,” yelled Marcus.

  “Anything to say, Dmitri,” asked Arel.

  “Arel, you’re not like this,” said Sebastian.

  Extending his arm, Sebastian placed his hand gently on Arel’s extended arm. Looking over at her, he softly shook his head, encouraging her to stop. Murdering his people, was not the way of the woman he loved; this was the path of their enemy. It was the Darken way; they had already destroyed two lines of the Vampire tree.

  “Sebastian, do not interfere. Why fight what I am? Am I not Manea’s daughter, a Darken? Who here will stop me,” cried Arel as she shook his hand off of her arm.

  Searching the room, many avoided her eyes as Arel’s glances met theirs. Finally, Arel’s eyes rested on Aeron, his stare unbreaking.

  “Dmitri, please,” pleaded Alexander.

  Rolling his eyes, Dmitri exhaled. “He said now was the time to attack, you would be too weak to defend yourself,” laughed Dmitri. “I should have known not to trust a Darken.”

  “Arel, let him go,” said Sebastian.

  Placing her hand on Dmitri’s chest, she absorbed his life. She could feel the power surging through her veins as it left his body.

  “Your men lay dead at your father’s feet. He would have killed you both, taken our child and given it to them. You ask for mercy for him,” demanded Arel.

  Continuing to absorb the energy from Dmitri, Arel closed her eyes. The power was surging into her tired limbs; she could feel her strength recovering. Unexpectantly Arel felt Dmitri’s life force cease. His eyes lifeless peered back at her as his head fell forward. Arel released him, allowing his body to fall to the floor. Behind him stood Alexander, the dagger still in his hands.

  They had witnessed firsthand what she was capable of, the secret of her power she had kept hidden. Jolon knew it was coming, Arel saw it on his face as he laughed at her futile attempts to deny who she was. There in the room surrounded by Sebastian’s people she knew if she was to win the upcoming battle, she could no longer deny her true self.

  Sebastian by her side, reached his hand up to her open wound. The blood seeping through her fingers trailed down her wounded neck. Instinctively she pulled away from his touch, fearful that her blood would end his life.

  “No!”

  Panicked, she grasped her hand to her neck. With her clean hand, she pushed Sebastian away. “You can’t touch it. It can kill you. I can kill you,” she whispered.

  Grabbing her hand, Sebastian pulled her closer, turning her body, so the open wound faced him. Grimacing, Arel unsuccessfully protested Sebastian's aid. Reliving the pained groans of Borysko as her fatal blood burned its way down his throat. Gently Sebastian pried her fingers away from her neck, revealing the trickling fresh blood.

  “NO! I can’t lose you,” she pleaded, her eyes full of tears. “Sebastian please.”

  “Sebastian!” His father demanded. “Stay away from her.”

  Ignoring his father, he again pulled her hand away, revealing the still bleeding wound. Placing a clean cloth to the injury, he applied pressure on the wound to stop the blood.

  “If your blood could kill me, I think I would have been dead already. You shouldn’t be afraid,” whispered Sebastian. His voice calmed her racing heart, he smiled down at her, wiping the tears from her cheek.

  Arel looked up at Sebastian’s bruised face, the blood dried from the scratches on his face. Sebastian’s wounds, superficial, had started to heal.

  “But Borysko died from my blood,” she cried. Tears falling down her cheeks as she tried not to think of Sebastian dying.

  “He died drinking your blood. I’m not drinking it, we have nothing to worry about.”

  Sebastian tended her wound, removing the cloth, checking to see if she still bled. The blood had clotted, leaving signs of healing. He continued to dry the tears on her puffy face. Arel rested her head on his chest as he caressed her back. The pain she had ignored increased in her abdomen. Cautiously she raised her hand, rubbing her belly as she leaned her weight fully into Sebastian’s arms.

  Marcus’s men dragged Alexander, forcing him to his knees in front of Aeron. A trail of blood down his waist and leg formed a pool at his foot. His wound still bleeding as he held his hand to the hole. Submissively, his eyes stared at the Aeron’s feet on the floor. The Emil line had lost, though he had no part in the uprising, he was an Emil and would pay for the crimes of his brothers. The Vampire law demanded his death, but as long as the rest of his family could live, he would not fight it.

  Alexander remained silent, their voices rising within the room, demanding his death. An air of contentment settled over Alexander as he waited for his fate. Catrin now freed walked over to her Aeron. Arel saw Alexander’s eyes glance towards Catrin as she stood by her father’s side. Gently, she examined the wound inflicted by Dmitri’s men.

  Arel stepped over Alexander’s trail of blood on the stone floor. With Sebastian supporting her weight, they walked towards the crowd. A silence swept over the Vampires, their demands for more blood quieted. Quickly, they parted the way, allowing the pair to pass by, before again congregating towards the corners of the room. Sighing, Arel stepped in front of Aeron. Reaching her hand towards Aeron, Catrin stepped in front of Arel, blocking her father from her view.

  “Do you still not trust me,” Arel cried. Sadly, her eyes looked at her sister-in-law who peered back at her distrusting. She did not have to read Catrin’s mind to know trust would not be something she could give.

  “Catrin, step aside,” Aeron demanded.

  “You saw what she can do,” Catrin pleaded.

  “Arel, no. You need your strength,” Sebastian demanded. Jerking her hand slightly away from Sebastian, Arel proceeded, determined to heal Aeron. Although it
would take a tremendous amount of energy healing Aeron, she was determined to do it.

  “Catrin,” repeated Aeron.

  Obediently Catrin moved to the side of her father no longer blocking Arel’s view.

  Arel’s hand extended, resting just above the open injury. Closing her eyes, she poured her energy into him, closing the wound. The elders moved in observing as the blood stopped dripping from the puncture, and it closed up, leaving no trace of trauma. Aeron’s hand fell to his side as he stood fully erect, letting Catrin examine him.

  Murmurs from the crowd reached her ears as she looked down at Alexander still kneeling. He struggled to hold his head up, the exhaustion weighed down on his tired limbs. Arel watched Alexander, watching Catrin through partially closed eyes.

  “How is this possible,” cried Catrin. Hugging her father, she observed her brother’s wife, suspiciously.

  Leaning her weight onto Sebastian’s arm, Arel stepped in front of Alexander. Extending her hand toward him, she paused, the thoughts from his mind fleeting. Arel struggled with reading his intentions as she fought to retain the energy stolen from Dmitri’s life. Moving closer, her hand resting in front of Alexander’s face, she waited.

  “Where do you stand,” she asked.

  He remained silent, unmoving. Pretending to watch the blood pooling at Aeron’s feet, Arel could see his eyes watching Catrin.

  “I’ll not harm you unless you give me a reason,” said Arel.

  Alexander remained motionless, silent, still looking down. Wearily Arel concentrated her vision to his life, satisfied she placed her hand over his gash. Closing her eyes, she poured the energy into him, healing the bleeding stab wound.

  Healing him was not for his benefit, as he would have recovered on his own, but for the elders who still did not trust her. Alexander and Arel exchanged unspoken words an agreement she could not let the others know of. His life belonged to her, and she trusted him with her plans.

  “He should die with the rest of his line,” demanded Marcus. The voice of the elders, Marcus readily offered opinions on every subject. Promptly he reminded the Vampires of the laws they must abide by, demanding justice and retribution without question.

  “Why,” inquired Arel wearily facing Marcus. Her eyes paced from one elder to the other, looking at each head of the family lines. Most avoided her gaze, fearful of the Darken before them.

  “He alone came to Sebastian’s aid when the rest of you stood by.” Arel continued. “Even you, Marcus, kept Catrin from assisting her brother and father. Alexander has shown his allegiance, gravely injuring himself coming to our aid. Marcus, the second in line who had battled alongside Aeron, his blood brother, had turned a blind eye.”

  Sebastian held her hand, squeezing it tighter as he pulled her closer to himself. Alexander looked at his healed wound, shocked. Arel continued to walk towards Marcus, angered that he had not come to their defense.

  “Arel let it be,” coxed Sebastian.

  “If you are to gain the strength to secure your freedom, you will need to do it together. The old ways have kept you weak, divided. Alexander did not aid in his brother’s betrayal, so why should he pay for their crimes? Should the rest of the Emil line also give their lives for Dmitri? Didn’t you Marcus beg that I couldn’t wipe out an entire line? The old ways would have their lives forfeited without question. The ways of the Darken would demand that the Emil line be exterminated. Can we not cast aside the sins of our fathers? Have we not had enough,” she questioned them.

  Turning away from the gathering, she again looked down at Alexander. The vision of his life had shown he had a pure heart, trustworthy. At their wedding, he had promised his loyalty to Sebastian, and today, he had fulfilled his pledge. Stretching her hand towards him, she smiled.

  “Alexander, true to your pledge. The old ways would have commanded your future; for your family’s betrayal, all of you would have paid with your lives. Even the Darken would have set an example of you all. It is your choice. Will you end the line of Emil? Or will you help me to usher in a new era where we are all held accountable for our own actions? Can you begin a future of change?”

  Slowly he raised his eyes, locking into her gaze. Lifting his hand, he rested it in her now clean palm.

  “You have my allegiance. I swear to you,” Alexander answered.

  “Then you are my brother,” she said. Alexander looked up, kissed her hand before rising to his feet. “Bury the dead and leave the past behind you. Alexander, I recognize you as the head of the line of Emil.”

  “The Darken can not choose the head of our lines. You have no authority to do so,” cried Marcus.

  “Alexander, you will head the Emil line. Does anyone challenge my authority,” demanded Aeron.

  “Aeron, it is something we should consider carefully,” pleaded Marcus.

  “My father has given an order, Marcus, do you question it,” asked Sebastian.

  “Of course not! I only,” said Marcus.

  “You only wish to find fault with me. Clearly, Alexander is the best to lead, he is next in line, and has proven himself worthy of the blood of Emi and Iona,” interrupted Arel.

  “Arel, do not upset yourself,” pleaded Sebastian.

  A soft groan escaped her, as she squeezed Sebastian’s hand from the pain radiating from her abdomen. Her eyebrow furrowed as she tried to hide the discomfort she experienced.

  “You need to be strong, to unite,” she whispered.

  Arel knew she would have the support of the Cadell and Emil lines. The rest of the elders would not be so easily convinced. They already hated her, and despite what they witnessed, she was still a Darken in their eyes. Allowing Arel, a Darken to choose the head of their family lines would give their enemy more authority. None of the elders would agree to provide the Darken any more power over the Vampire affairs. She needed Aeron’s approval of Alexander for her plan to work.

  All of the Vampires would need to unite. For Arel, trust was vitally important. She would have to find a way to garner the Vampire’s confidence in her. Arel saw trust as the key to free them all from the prison of Zorin’s rule. Gaining the faith of the Vampires was the first step in the plan she was formulating.

  Alexander slid past the others stopping a few inches from Aeron, looking into his eyes. His stare remained fixed on the elder as he slowly lowered. Arel knew that Alexander would be her brother in battle and blood. Resting on his knees, Alexander waited for the rest to follow suit.

  “The house of Emil pledges their allegiance to the house of Cadell. I pledge my fealty,” he said as he bowed his head low.

  The rest of the room followed suit, turning they faced Aeron, resting on their knees. With bent heads, the Vampires renewed their oaths of devotion to Aeron and the house of Cadell.

  “We pledge our allegiance to the house of Cadell,” their voices filled the room in unison.

  Marcus voiced rose from the crowd looking over to Arel and Sebastian still standing “if we are to unite, shouldn’t we all.”

  “United we will be,” Aeron’s thick voice replied to the crowd.

  The group watched, anticipating Arel to kneel in submission to the Cadell head. As her knowledge of her people grew, her rebellious spirit returned. The Darken would never bow in submission to anyone other than Zorin. Arel would not succumb to the Vampire lines or anyone, her defiant spirit strong and determined.

  To the astonishment of everyone in the room, Aeron turned to face Arel. Eyes locked, he lowered to his knees. Catrin took her place next to her father facing Arel on

  “You have our allegiance,” spoke Aeron.

  “We pledge our allegiance,” the room replied.

  She felt Sebastian release her hand as he walked towards the spot where his father rested. Stopping, he turned facing Arel he making his obeisance.

  “No,” she replied. “You stand by my side. We kneel before no one.”

  “Arel, I,” he replied, still bowing next to his father.

  “Your place is by
my side, not kneeling before me.”

  With her outstretched hand, she waited for him to rise, but he remained glued among the members of his family.

  “I am not,” began Sebastian.

  “My journey will bring to Zarnaiah, there we will be surrounded by Zorin’s armies. To acquiesce is death, they bow to no one but Zorin. If it is a journey that you,” interrupted Arel.

  Rising to his feet, Sebastian walked to Arel. He held her face in his hands, staring into her eyes. Looking up at him afraid to finish her sentence, her eyes questioned him. Undeniably for Arel, Sebastian’s place was by her side. Even when she knew she would find herself in the confines of Zarnaiah facing Zorin, she could do it with Sebastian. Everything within her power she would use to keep them together.

  Smiling down, he kissed her lips gently, touching her ripe belly. Quietly, he brushed the hair behind her ear, as he had done countless times before. It wasn’t in a vain attempt to control her rebellious locks of hair but to see the beauty of her face. As he looked down at her, unsure of what the future would bring, he knew he would not leave her side. Even though he would die by her hand, he could not help but love her.

  “Do you think you can get rid of me so easy. This is not a journey you will take alone,’ interrupted Sebastian.

  “After,” whispered Arel, her voice breaking off.

  “Arel, how can I fear my Anam?”

  Standing quietly, she could not focus on the thoughts of the others, the discomfort in her belly increased unbearably. Her face winced in agony, her hand clenching Sebastian’s as she bent in pain. Knees buckling over she fell towards the ground as Sebastian swept her up into his arms.

  Blood flowed steadily from her, pooling onto the ground. Tears flowed from her eyes as her head rested on his shoulder. Her body contorting in pain, hands grasping her stomach, she sobbed in his arms. Sebastian held her tight sprinting past the crouching Vampires. Darting away from the dripping blood, they watched as Arel cried in pain in Sebastian’s arms.