A Stranger in My Window

by J Benito, C; Renzi, Federico;

  - It's a risk I'm willing to take. Replied Irynae.

  Láyonel grabbed her by the neck.

  - Stupid! He is a human, are you going to put his wellbeing to ours?

  - Yes. - Irynae replied.

  Láyonel suddenly felt a lot of pressure on the neck, Logan was behind him.

  - Drop it or I'll rip your head!

  Láyonel let go Irynae that ran alongside Logan.

  - Yourselves. Your love will be your death sentence.

  - Better to die to have someone to love, to be a fucking idiot without feeling like you. - Logan said.

  Láyonel left the hallway of this subterranean prison, opened a heavy rusted metal door and disappeared upstairs.

  Irina - kissed Logan and caressed his cheek. He was still not used to seeing her with that loving attitude, he had the feeling that at any moment to break to him an arm or would release an offense. But that not happen.

  - Do not pay attention, it's a stretch but deep down are good people. - Irynae said.

  - Maybe, but again puts a hand on him, I will turn him into ashes.

  - You're back to stay again nonsense. Every time you pass out it takes longer to wake up. I am very concerned.

  - Quiet, I'm going to see my doctor. He'll know what to do.

  Together they left that filthy place, climbed the stairs to what looked like a parade ground. They were in the interior of a medieval castle, not very well preserved. Everything was covered with vines and shrubs. Hundreds of vampires trained there with swordplay and ax. Karsacry seemed to be his instructor. Seeing them ran toward them, carrying a huge ax, even for him.

  - Iryna, within an hour Strauss will meet the bastions in the throne room, he wants us all to be present. - Karsacry reported.

  - It's okay. I will be there. Irynae said.

  - That includes you. - Karsacry said pointing to Logan, as he turned and ran toward the vampires who were training.

  Logan and Irynae climbed a ruinous staircase running along the wall of the city wall to get to one of the watchtowers. There a vampire scanned the horizon, alert to any signs that presaged the arrival of the dark.

  - Where we are? - Asked Logan.

  - On the strength of death. One of the possessions of our clan. - Irynae said.

  - Well, it would not hurt to make some arrangement and you would die to clean a little. - Logan replied.

  Irynae laughed at that idea, he took her hand and together they walked along the city wall until it was time to meet with Straush.

  Karsacry was the last to enter the throne room, grabbed his ax hard and sat next to Julius and Jud. Irynae sat beside Logan a few meters away. Láyonel stood near Straush.

  The room was huge, with a large window there was a table V-shaped. All bastions were sitting there. Straush occupied the central part. The majority of the bastions appeared to different ages, more or less young but one that seemed oldest. They were wearing blue robes, except Strauss carrying a black robe.

  The rest of the room was filled with banks such as churches. All vampires who were not on duty sat on them and patiently waited for the beginning of the meeting.

  For several hours, the bastions reported the situation, which had suffered attacks gives of the dark and the actions to be undertaken in order to eliminate them. A Logan will not appear very credible; they were rather an attempt to give a picture of serenity and control to the rest of the vampire community.

  Half an hour later the meeting was declared closed and all vampires left the room.

  Logan looked Strauss and cocked his head negatively, as he prepared to leave the room.

  - You do not seem very convinced Logan? - Said Strauss.

  - These are things of vampires and not want to get. Logan replied.

  Straush ordered Irynae her to go outside and asked Logan to stay.

  The bastions looked curiously to human that seemed to doubt his words.

  - Speak without fear. - Asked Straush.

  - The situation is under control? Will it soon will begin to exterminate them? In the club, on the street, in the mansion were the ones who dominated the situation at all times. I could see like massacred her vampire friends without difficulty and increasing their number.

  - Follow a plan. Attack clear objectives.

  - That's impossible! The darks not think like us, they have a much more primitive brain. They are beasts!- Shouted one of the bastions.

  - Beasts or not follow a strategy. If they can not make plans, someone guide them. - Logan said.

  - Only a dark stronghold can guide them and the only one who be exists has been beheaded. - Said another bastion of long hair and dark eyes.

  - It is true Logan the darks obey only someone who has the same nature. The dark stronghold was the one who had the ability to reason to a level similar to ours. I cut his head. I saw him be converted in ashes. Straush reported.

  - But? If someone was carried a piece of his body, a finger, a hand? Could you use to make dark obey him? - Asked Logan.

  The bastions looked at each other, neither had contemplated the possibility.

  - Would it be possible. However, the ashes of their stronghold would not suffice to overpower the darks. - Replied the oldest bastion appearance.

  - If I cut a finger, would do you grow? Logan asked to Straush.

  - So is. - Straush said.

  - But the finger that I cut you would in my power; I mean it would not become ashes.

  Straush felt a cold sweat ran through his forehead. What Logan said could be a possibility very real and feasible. If during the fight someone had cut a hand to the dark stronghold, he could have kept it and then use it to dominate the dark that survived the war.

  - Thanks Logan. We will consider your theory now leave us alone please.

  - Logan bowed down to Straush and left the room.

  The old bastion looked at Straush he rose and slapped the table.

  - How could we have been so blind? A human has seen what we had not even considered. The years have made us proud, we have lost control of reason, and we have been carried away by pride.

  - Dalariel! - Shouted - Straush. Calm down! We will consider all options and act accordingly. Now leave me alone, I have to think. Ordered Straush.

  The bastions were lifted, they passed near to Strauss and one by one they bowed in front him. Straush ignored them his mind was elsewhere. Trying to remember the final battle with the dark stronghold, but it was useless memory failed him.

  When he heard close the enormous oak door of the room, he pulled out his knife and made a cut on his palm. One of the reasons that Straush imposed to use clinical blood donation was because at the bite a human the vampire absorbed her memories and emotions. This created a huge pain in the most sensitive vampire, while the wildest nature they produced fits of anger fruit of ecstasy that infused them human blood. He drank his blood in a desperate attempt to remember.

  Memories flooded his mind overflowing. He focused on the day died the dark stronghold. He could see how he cut the hand that held the sword and immediately two vampires nailed their swords on the shoulders of the dark to keep him trapped against the wall. Straush took the opportunity and beheaded him. His body ashes and the dark hordes, without the _ control of his stronghold left to fight in an organized manner was, prompting that were easy to tithe. In that vision could leave itself to observe the scene carefully. The vampires who fought at his side was a young vampire Gricarius of the house Rome and Laramel bastion of home Asmantia _ . He could see how all left the room. and Laramel was the first out, then himself. Gricarius stood there, waiting for them to stay away. He bent down, picked up the severed hand of the dark stronghold and put it in a handkerchief. Then he kept under his cloak.

  - Gricarius! Straush cried while her gray eyes took the color of blood.

  Chapter 16

  Logan asked permission to Straush to leave the castle, he needed Tony did an overhaul. He took longer to reach the city, he would have enjoyed use his porche he did not feel
in very good form lately. Two hours later, he was in the store. Tony opened the door.

  -Man the Lord deigned to show his faces!

  Shut up and let me pass cocoon! - Logan mumbled grumpy.

  - What's going on, you are more unpleasant than usual? Complained Tony.

  - I am suffering a series of fainting. I stay with blank eyes for hours and I keep having weird dreams.

  - Well, I will perform a series of physical tests and take some blood samples.

  - Logan took off his clothes, remaining only with underwear. At the suggestion of Tony entered a room that was not there before, he did not waste time when spending his money. That room had a small medical facility and several fitness equipment, all monitored from Tony's laptop. He went to the treadmill and started running. Later he used a weight equipment. With enough effort, Tony extracted a blood sample, poured a few drops on a glass plate and placed under the microscope. - Logan was riding a stationary bike humming Highway To Hell of Acdc.

  Tony could not believe his eyes, pushes his desk chair with wheels to where his laptop was. He reviewed the results of physical tests the diagnosis was confirmed.

  — - Logan stops pedaling and come here.

  -What's up? - - Logan asked.

  Tony scratches his head nervously.

  - The suit is failing.

  -What?

  - Your blood cells are continually deteriorate and regenerate, your neural system is switched on and off like a Christmas bulbs, so you lose consciousness. I guess that should also be the cause of these strange dreams.

  - Resume. What the hell is wrong with me?

  - You die. - Tony said looking down sadly. He grabbed the laptop and hit the wall I do not understand what happens, everything was correct and now I can not do anything, the suit can not be removed. On the other hand your body is too damaged.

  - How long can I live?

  - I do not know, maybe a few months. But if you make an effort that requires the maximal activation of the costume, you will die within hours. Sorry Logan. - Tony lamented.

  - Logan had never seen his friend mourn; he found it awkward and endearing at a time. He put his hand on Tony's shoulder.

  - You did what you could. Shame on me, I insisted on using the suit. I want you to talk to the law firm and to prepare my will.

  Tony looked at him; cost him assimilated that his only friend soon die.

  - I wish that you'll take care of my business.

  - I can not do that! I'm just a scientist!

  - I know, you'll be a millionaire scientist. - Logan said smiling.

  He gave her a hug and left the store, he needed fresh air, even if an industrial estate. What a joke.

  Carefully he approached to the club to see if he found out something or had dark activity. The street was quiet, people walking and cars circulating normally.

  - Bastard! - Logan said.

  Láyonel at the blow the club had shattered his porche, which was now crushed under a layer of rubble.

  - That fucking vampire will hear me!

  In the castle, Strauss sent and called the bastions, informed them of his discovery and ordered them to contact with the other houses. He needed to know the whereabouts of Gricarius.

  Logan appears nearly eleven of the night needed eat something. When he arrived, he looked for Julius. He spent an hour touring the castle stairs up and down, following the directions of all vampires that thought they had seen, until he finally found a small room filled with old books. He was sitting on a couch, flipping through a book. A tall, lush vampire was sitting next to him in a clearly sexual attitude. The old Julius also had his needs, thought Logan.

  - I need to speak with you. - Logan said with quite serious voice.

  Julius waved his hand to the vampire she left, causing she looked to Logan with disgust when he passed him.

  - What happens Logan? I see you very upset.

  Logan sat beside him on the old couch.

  - Nothing I tell you can out of here. It is clear!

  Julius nodded.

  - I'm dying. The next time I use my power to maximum, it was all over.

  - Are you sure? - Asked Julius could not believe his ears.

  - Totally. There's nothing to do. I do not want Irynae know and more now with the mess that there with the dark. I also wanted to ask you something else...

  - I do not see what you can worry about more?

  - I do not know if it's the suit or not, but I have very strange dreams. It's like being possessed and seeing what else with my own body and my bloody face makes, and believe are things despicable. Every time I stay in shock appear what I think are memories of other lives. I do not know if this is possible or is it just my imagination.

  - I could hypnotize you and try to find out. Often these memories are kept in mind.

  - Hypnotize?

  - I know that sounds like a cheap magic, but serious scientists used in their experiments with good results.

  - Do whatever you want when not get me out a bouquet of flowers or a white rabbit from the ass it gives the same. I do not have anything to lose.

  Julius got up and closed the door of the room with a key, would not voyeurs or interruptions.

  Out Jud, was leaning against the wall. She could not hold back tears; she had heard the whole conversation.

  - Well now, are you going to take a pendulum or a junk of those who have some lines that move in circles?

  - Nothing of that!

  Julius looked into his eyes and Logan could see how her eyes changed color. Now they had a soft red color, but the strangest thing is that it seemed to pulse as though it were a heart. He soon be meaningless.

  - Now, I want you to back even your birth, you to contemplate your life.

  - Julius ordered quietly and somewhat monotonous.

  Logan saw himself as a child, revived his childhood, but suddenly experienced a jump in time. He returned to the image of the German trench, the Viking long ship, Rome, Greece, Africa, the memories were becoming more vivid. Julius could not understand anything that Logan told him under hypnosis, just did not make sense. He decided to awaken, it seemed more and more upset and in his state that was not advisable.

  He woke up sweating and with a mind full of experiences that could not be of him.

  Irynae entered in the throne room, Straush had summoned, which intrigued her.

  Straush stood by the window, with his right arm resting on the stonewall.

  - Are you sure about you and Logan?

  Irynae was speechless. Her brother had betrayed.

  - It's just my servant, nothing more.

  Strauss turned abruptly; his eyes were red as blood.

  — You know I can not stand being lied to me!

  yna looked down, not knowing what to say.

  - You love him?

  - I do not know. He reminds me so much that vampire who saved me; I can not help but be attracted to him.

  - The vampire savior! That he had to the eyes of fire. I think it's time for you to forget that. In any case, I hope that your thing with Logan does not affect your performance. I need you to all to one hundred percent. It is clear!

  - Yes bastion.

  - Gather the clan; I want patrollers the old subway station.

  - That place is half collapsed. - Irynae complained.

  - Do not whine, other clans have to register worse places.

  Chapter 17

  Jud climbed atop one of the towers, did not want anyone of the Clan to see her crying . She could not fail to remember the time she met Logan, how he risked his life to rescue his sense of humor and now had to assume that he would soon die.

  For her Logan was like an older brother, even though she far exceeded age. She leaned on one of the battlements, did not know what to do, should tell to Irynae?

  Of course, she would have liked to know that his loved was dying to share with him as long as possible. She decided that had to tell. She walked to the opposite side of the tower overlooking the para
de ground and jumped on top of the turret for afterwards be dropped immediately at the vacuum. That was one of the things more liked to Jud, who always hate the stairs.

  Láyonel entered in the throne room with firm and decisive step.

  - My bastion. - He said kneeling before Straush.

  - Talk Láyonel.

  - I have spoken with the stronghold of the house Rome. Gricarius disappeared about twenty years ago.

  - That confirms what I thought. - Straush said.

  - He is the new dark bastion to demolish. Leads our clan during the search of his hive in the former course of the meter. By the way Láyonel. I am grateful to be informed of the relationship between Irynae and Logan. I know everything that affects my clan, but I forbid you get between them.

  - But bastion is a human! - A man that has risked his life for us. Straush eyes were becoming a more intense color. I hope not having this conversation again. - No bastion. - Láyonel replied looking down with total submission. Jud walked down to the west wing of the castle, which was one of the best preserved. The gray stone walls and marble floor, gave him a look of funeral gallery that never liked to her. Next to the only window of the big hall was room of Irynae. Always chose the farthest room, never realized that huge desire to remain in solitude. She knocked on the door and from inside, heard Irynae give her permission to enter.

  Iryna was facing a mirror, combing hair. Jud came into the room and sat on the bed.

  - What do you want Jud?

  - I heard something and not sure, if I should be tell you.

  - It is important?

  - Yes.

  - Seriously, affects someone else?

  - I think so? But...

  - If is something important Tell to that person and decide what she wants to do.

  - Are you in love with Logan? - Jud wondered.

  - Do not be silly, it's just a human. He entertains me that is all.

  - Sure you do not feel anything for him?

  - Absolutely. - Irynae replied sharply.

  - Wow! It is a relief, which changes everything.

  - What concerns Logan in all this?