by Karen Glista
He laughed, though it was weak at best, nervously combing his thick mane with his fingers. “I don’t know if it’s good, but it’s a start.”
“Why do you say that?”
“Because doing so has consequences,” he snapped with foreseeing eyes upon her. “Consequences for us both.”
“I don’t understand,” she said, holding Maestro tightly to her chest.
“Allowing me to get near you,” he paused, “will forever change your life.” He exhaled, shifting his weight. “Not that it won’t change anyway, at this point, I’m afraid for you, change is inevitable.”
“And will it be for the better?”
“Yes, it may save you misery.”
“Then I can live with those consequences, but what of yours?”
He glanced to the sky, winds whipping his hair. Finally, he lowered his head and met her gaze. “Let me just say that I’ve made mistakes in the past, drastic mistakes with consequences that even now, haunt me. I can’t live like that again, I won’t and furthermore, I won’t push myself upon any woman who doesn’t accept me unconditionally, for who and what I am.”
“Fair enough,” she whispered meekly, unable to break the tether growing between them.
He raised his head, sniffing.
“Is something wrong?” she asked, suddenly fearful.
“No, I was just caught a scent, but it’s okay, it’s one of my men.”
“Am I going to die like Becky?” she asked.
Torin took a step forward. “You won’t die if I can help it. I’ll save you.”
“Save me? Are you sure that’s even possible?”
“Yes, there is a fix, one that would ensure your safety, but again, there are consequences.”
Donja exhaled dramatically, tears welling in her eyes. “Then what are you waiting on? Do you not realize that I’m falling apart, terrified, not only for myself, but my family?”
“Please don’t cry,” he grimaced, “I do know your fear, I can feel it pulsing your veins, smell it on your skin which is exactly why I have fifty men scattered in this forest, watching as we speak.”
“Donja cocked her head, winds whipping her ponytail. “But they’re not the fix you speak of…are they?”
He dropped his head. “No.”
“So, tell me what it is,” she blurted, her frustration growing.
He checked the time on his Rolex, then smoothed his mustache. He glanced to the overhead dome as if contemplating, then took his sunglasses from his shirt pocket. Their eyes met. “Be ready at seven.”
“Seven? Ready for what?”
He licked his lips and donned his sunglasses.
“Answer me,” Donja whispered, searching his face, hating that she couldn’t see his eyes.
He turned to leave, then glanced back over his shoulder. “Our first date.”
Iridescent-101
Donja and Makayla stood in the drive and watched as Torin and Gage drove away from Hampton Manor. Donja, who was still holding Maestro tight in her arms, shifted her gaze to Makayla. “How did the interrogation go?”
Makayla dropped her head fidgeting with her fingers. “Torin was relentless and though I understand that he’s just doing his job, this whole thing has me on edge.” She lifted her troubled eyes, “I’m really worried, Donja.”
“Yeah, I’m worried too,” Donja sighed, “but at least Torin has men watching over us.”
Maestro wiggled in Donja’s arms. He pricked his ears and barked.
Donja and Makayla turned their faces, scanning the meadow.
“It must be the men…Torin’s men,” Donja whispered, “Maestro must smell them.”
Suddenly, Maestro barked again and without a word, Donja and Makayla both spun and made a mad dash to the house.
When the door slammed tight, Donja released Maestro and headed straight for the stairs. Makayla followed behind and then, side by side, they climbed the winding staircase to the second story. In the shadowed hallway, beneath the silver glow of oil lamps, they marched in total silence. Inside their bedroom, Donja closed the door and spun to face Makayla. “I feel like you’ve been putting me off since that scar-faced demon tried to kill us, abduct us, whatever and now Torin,” she whimpered, “talks to me in riddles. My head’s spinning. I need the truth, right down to the last detail.”
“Okay. Where to start.”
“Start with the Iridescents. I want to know everything.”
Makayla tucked her hair behind her ears and finding the bed, sat down. “Well, I’m no authority on Iridescents, but from what Gage has told me, centuries ago when this was Indian territory, before the French arrived, seven spirits came to the people and they blessed them with knowledge.”
“Spirits?”
“Yeah, I know it’s wild but just listen,” Makayla said. “Gage said one of the seven spirits broke from the group and for whatever reason turned evil. He began to prey upon Chippewa females who were of a certain blood line and he grew stronger. He also fed on some of the men, and turned them from human to Iridescents. According to Gage, he then grew bored of this world, took to the river and swam all the way to the ocean. He was never heard from again. One of the males he had transformed to Iridescent, took a Chippewa bride. She bore him a child and from that child’s blood, the Iridescent became an elite which is called a Sirun.”
“This Sirun killed his own child?”
“No, he just took of the newborn’s blood, which gave him great power.”
“That’s disgusting!”
“From a human standpoint yes, but Iridescents see it as evolution. The Sirun’s powers not only enables him to better protect the baby, but to change his wife to an immortal so that they can be together for eternity.”
“You make it sound so romantic and noble but I’m sorry,” Donja grumbled, “it’s gross.”
“Think what you may, but is it any different than mortals circumcising baby boys? In some countries even females meet the same fate. Blood and pain of newborns is just that, blood and pain.”
Donja curled her lips. “This is making me sick.”
“Sorry, but you wanted the facts.”
“Right. So, what happened after this Iridescent abused his child and became a Sirun?”
“Gage said he traveled the world and quickly realized that he was not alone. The spirit had changed two others who had also become Siruns. The three Siruns, fearing each other began changing men from mortals to Iridescents. They built armies. Now there are thousands of them worldwide. There’s the Old World Council in Russia, the French Allied Council, the German Legion and the U.S. which is called the New World Council.”
“Sounds like vampires…just like in the movies.”
“Well, they are definitely the basis of the vampire myths and legends, but the legends are really inaccurate, nonsense for the most part. I mean a lump of garlic or some holy water isn’t going to do shit to an Iridescent, and they certainly don’t fear the sun. They can eat regular food though it won’t sustain them, they must have blood, oh and their skin is warm, very, very warm.
“Well I could care less what they’re called, it’s the blood part that has me creeped out. Do you think Torin wants to bite me, really and truly bite me and drink my blood?” Donja asked with rumpled brows. “Is that what he meant by consequences?”
“Mmm hum.”
“Sheech!” You know, you almost had me there for a minute, but this can’t be true, come on sister. This all sounds like a bunch of make-believe, fantasy.”
“Okay, so tell me, Donja, was that scar-faced freak leaping off a two-story building a make-believe fantasy?”
Donja cocked her head unnaturally.
Makayla’s lips tightened. “You saw it happen, didn’t you?”
“Well yes,” Donja said, but—”
“And what about the bridge, Makayla interrupted. “How do you think he and Torin, without the benefit of a vehicle, magically appeared ahead of us when you were driving like a bat out of hell?”
“Well, I—”
“And didn’t you say Torin had fangs? Didn’t you see them?” Makayla pressured her.
Donja raised a hand to her brow, her eyes darting about. “My God,” she said, plowing her hair with her fingers. “Here I go again, just like my dad’s death, denying what I cannot face. I am so mental.” She met Makayla’s gaze. “It’s real…isn’t it?”
“Yes, but don’t freak, it’s not bad.”
“Yeah I’m sure that’s what Becky thought before that devil killed her.”
“No, it’s not like that. There are good and bad in all kinds. Take Gage for instance. I love him and I don’t mind if he bites me, it’s part of the attraction, it’s who he is.” She slid from the bed and stood up. She pulled down her shorts then lifted the edge of her bikini bottom exposing her groin.
Donja’s eyes widened. “Are those bite marks?”
“Yes, Gage bites me and I allow it. I love him.”
Donja shook her head in disbelief. “Well I’m mentally damaged, you too, that’s a given, but I don’t know that I’m so far gone that I want someone to bite me, I mean come on. It’s sexy in the movies and all, but in real life…I mean, biting? It must hurt like hell!”
“You know, I felt the same, at first, but you might find that you change your mind after spending time with Torin. Don’t you feel different when you gaze into his eyes? They have powers.”
“Maybe, I don’t know, he is incredibly handsome, and I won’t lie, part of me is attracted to him, yet another part is terrified. Vampires,” she rolled her eyes. “Unbelievable.”
“Not vampires, Iridescents. This is real, Donja, and they’re alive, as much as you and me.”
“Well, call it what you want, but you’re right about one thing, I did see his fangs. No more denial. Looks like a vampire to me.”
“Okay I can agree with the fang part, but they don’t fry in the sun or sleep during daylight. They don’t fly like bats or flee from crosses and for the record, Gage loves eating garlic, so forget all that made up garbage.”
“And what about his eyes?”
Makayla’s demeanor softened. “They’re beautiful, aren’t they? I think their eyes are why they are called Iridescents, green when they are angry, gold when they are in need.”
“In need of?” Donja spiked a brow.
“Your body…your blood.”
“And they can control the changes?”
“No, they don’t turn it off and on, it’s natural, just like we cry when we’re sad, or laugh, or frown. It’s primal.”
“And this Council,” Donja asked as she tucked her hair behind her ears and folded her legs underneath her. “What’s that all about?”
“They are the ruling party. The elites. They’re powerful, rich and they don’t allow anyone to get in their way. I have no idea how many of them there are, I’ve seen hundreds of different ones in the V.I.P. at the club but to be honest, I don’t know that they are all Siruns. They don’t mingle with the crowd, they are just observers.”
Donja rolled her eyes. “Just as the name of the club implies. I get it now, all the female eyes, the stamp, red eye or blue. We’re just eye candy for a group of elites.”
“You got it, a red stamp indicates your blood type is rare and blue, the universal, O positive.”
“So, you lied to me when I asked about your blue stamp.”
“Sorry, I didn’t want to involve you and I certainly never expected this to happen. Heather’s been going with me forever and we never had a problem. Lots of people go there, they just have no idea who’s watching them.”
Donja heard her phone ding. She got up and got it out of her purse, her fingers flying over the screen. “It’s our website and you won’t believe it, but we have six new responses to the pictures.”
“No way.”
“What the hell?” Donja smirked. “One guy says it’s his wife and she is away at Disneyland with their kids. He wants us to meet him at midnight for a party.”
“Phft! That’s just some dirty old man looking for action.”
“Here’s another that says the Indian pics are evil. He warns us to go see a Midewiwin.”
“A what?” Makayla asked.
“That’s a medicine man. I heard my Grandma talking about it once.” She turned back to the phone. “This guy goes on to tell us that the spirits are angry because we have violated the sacred Anishinaabe,” she stumbled over the word.
“What’s that?”
“I have no idea, but I am intrigued. Grandma was talking to my grandpa once and I overheard the conversation. She said that the medicine men were capable of casting spells to ward off evil. I didn’t believe it at the time, but then, I didn’t believe in glowing vampires either.”
“Not vampires, Iridescents.” Makayla corrected her.
“Whatever, but I want to check into this medicine man thing, I mean let’s face it. I must protect you all in any way possible. The only problem is, I have no idea where to start.”
“We could go to the library,” Makayla suggested. “There’s a Chippewa author who does book signings once a month. He also teaches classes on Native American history at the university.”
Donja bit at her lip. “That’s a start. Let’s pay him a visit tomorrow,” but for now, I got bigger problems. Torin’s going to arrive at seven for our first date and that only leaves me a few hours to convince my mom to let me go out with an older guy.”
“A date, are you kidding?”
Makayla’s phone beeped. She grabbed it. “It’s a text from Gage.” Suddenly she raised her head and her eyes were wide.
“You’re not gonna believe this.”
“What?”
“Gage said for me to be ready at seven because we’re doubling with you and Torin.”
“What!”
“He said Torin’s worried about your parents and thinks if it’s a double date, they’ll be less resistant of you dating a strange, older man.”
“He doesn’t look that much older,” Donja smirked, “maybe early to mid-twenties?”
Makayla’s demeanor turned serious. “Donja, this could be a trap and neither of us may ever come back from this date.”
Donja’s brows furrowed. “You think they’re going to kill us? I thought you said Gage loved you.”
“He does but he has no power and serves his Sirun without question. Maybe they have been ordered to just end this, get rid of both of us, no more problems.”
“I can’t believe that. Torin promised me a fix and I must take him at his word. Anyway, if they are going to kill us, better just us and not the entire family. Right?”
“Yeah…right.”
Donja flipped her hair to her back as she headed for the door.
“Where you are going?” Makayla asked.
“To butter up my mom and convince her that I have fallen head over heels in love and believe me, that won’t be easy, she can read me like a book. Wanta come with?”
“Sure,” Makayla said, “but then we gotta get ready, it’s getting late.”
~~~
Hours must have passed with Donja and Makayla, who were both terrified of the haunted bathroom, chatting while Makayla got her bath. Donja then had to wait nigh on a half hour for hot water. “This really sucks,” she complained.
“For real. I hate this bathroom,” Makayla complained, “and this tub…it’s gross.”
“Yeah, I can’t wait to have a new bathroom with a standup shower.” Donja said
“And a new water heater,” Makayla nodded.
After Donja finally got her bath, they retreated to the bedroom for makeup and hair, then spent a full hour trying on clothes. Finally, choosing what to wear, Donja ambled the hallway in a one-piece, low cut burgundy mini. The fabric which clung like second skin shimmered like diamonds and as she marched, her spiked pumps tapped a steady cadence. Just beyond Frankie’s bedroom she leaned into the hall window overlooking the cobblestone drive. A hard knot settled in her gut.
Ho
w can this be real? Vampires called Iridescents.
Frankie flashed into her mind.
My God, this Scarface monster kills for sport. He’d kill Frankie in a heartbeat, even my mom.
She exhaled despair. “Torin,” she mumbled under her breath, “I don’t know what your fix is, but I must protect myself as well as my family. Bring it on, Iridescent.” She turned to leave, then paused, and raised a hand to brush back her tresses.
How the hell could the Iridescents and this Council go unnoticed by the public eye? It’s 2017 for Pete’s sake, there’s drones, surveillance, social media, it makes no sense.
She closed her eyes.
Torin must be right. It’s woven so tightly into the fabric of our lives that we don’t see and if we do, we don’t believe, heck, I didn’t believe when it was right in front of me.
A refracted light from the window snared her attention and expecting to see a black Charger, she cast her eyes to the drive. Her heart leapt into her throat as a blue and white police car, caught in the glowing rays of the setting sun, eased up the drive.
“Oh, my God, what now?”
She turned and though her once piece, low cut mini was skin tight, she ran lickety-split to find Makayla. Just shy of their bedroom Makayla opened the door and stepped out into the hallway. She was dressed in a slinky red silk blouse with a black skirt and stiletto heels. Seeing Donja’s distress, she froze.
“The police are here,” Donja blurted.
“Oh shit,” Makayla hissed, her eyes like saucers. “Someone must have filed a complaint about the fight outside Observers.” She seized Donja by the arm, dragging her toward the stairs. “Listen closely,” she whispered. “We have to stick to the same story.”
“Which is?” Donja asked, clutching the bannister, fearful of a fall in heels so tall they defied gravity.
“That we got to the club, we were hassled by some guy and left. We ran because of a fight outside, but we know nothing! You hear me, nothing!”
“Makayla, they wouldn’t know our names.”
“Our names are in the computer system at the club. It scans your license and the waitress’ know me. I go there a lot.”
“Shouldn’t we feign ignorance and say we had left already and didn’t see a thing?”