by Karen Glista
Lisa swallowed hard. “That’s why Anna ran,” she mumbled with tears streaking her cheek, “and she never came back.”
Carson sat down and with his elbows on his knees, buried his face in his hands. “I did this,” he moaned. “I brought you here.”
“It’s not your fault, Carson,” Lisa said. She rose to her feet and crossed the room, closing the gap between her and Torin. “I want my daughter back,” she snapped, slamming a hand to his chest, “so tell me, Iridescent. What do we do?”
Torin met her misty eyes with a penetrating stare. “Nothing,” Torin whispered. I will have Iridescents posted around this house night and day, especially on Frankie.”
Lisa moaned. “And these Iridescents you speak of. Are they like you, fanged vampires?”
“Not vampires, Iridescents and yes, they are like me.”
“And that’s supposed to help us?”
“Yes, and they are some of the most ruthless, deadly killers alive.”
“Sleeping with the enemy,” she grumbled. “Are we safe from them?”
“Yes, they are loyal to me and I give you my word, they will die to protect you.”
“And the next step?” Carson asked with imploring eyes.
“I go to the Council that governs my kind, plead my case and gain their support.”
“And then what?” Lisa asked, tears streaking her face.
“Then it may come to war. What these rogue Iridescents have done is a crime under Council law and it won’t be tolerated. If they don’t return her unharmed, all hell will break loose and believe me, there will blood.”
Lisa suddenly hugged Torin, clinging tightly and her sobs resonated. Torin slowly raised his hands to fall gently on her shoulders. Lisa pulled back, wiping at her face. “I’m going to trust you, Torin, because I know Donja loves you and in your eyes,” she whispered, “I can see that you love her as well. We’re with you, right, Carson?” she asked, looking over her shoulder.
Carson nodded avoiding eye contact. “I’ll do what’s best for my family but for the record,” he said snapping his head up, “I don’t like you, Torin, I don’t like your kind, or you, Gage,” he said. “The very thought of you touching my daughter sickens me. What are you, hundreds of years old, two hundred, chasing after a seventeen-year-old girl? I trusted you goddamn it!”
“Dad, please,” Makayla whispered. “He hasn’t done anything I didn’t welcome.”
“He’s just being honest,” Torin said. “And for what it’s worth, Carson, I respect that. In your shoes, if I were mortal I’d feel the same of my daughter.” He took a step forward and they faced off. “I only ask that for the time being, you put your feelings aside and think of your family.”
“Where’s Frankie?” Lisa blurted hysterically.
“Upstairs in his room playing a video game,” Carson said.
“He’s not safe,” Torin snapped. “Gage, Makayla, go watch over him while I call for reinforcements.”
Gage and Makayla took off as Torin flipped his phone from his shirt pocket, his fingers flying over the screen.
Carson dropped his head, with nervous fingers clutching his golden mane. “I feel like a failure. I didn’t protect my family.”
“Don’t,” Lisa said. “You’re a good man and you may yet have to protect us before this is over.”
Torin ended his text. “I have fifty men on the way. I had men on the house for the last week but after I marked Donja, I thought she was safe. I was a fool. I won’t make that mistake again.” He took a breath. “Do you have weapons?”
“I have Colt 45,” Lisa said.
“I have a shot gun and a .357 Magnum that hasn’t been fired in years,” Carson said.
“Get them out, and keep them handy.”
“Will guns protect against…”
“Iridescents,” Torin interrupted.
“Yes,” she whispered.
“They’ll slow them down long enough for one of my men to hopefully get to you and finish the job.”
Lisa exhaled dramatically.
“Just don’t try and be a hero, either of you,” Torin said, as he picked up the wrought iron fire poker from the fireplace. He held it firm in his hands, then bent it like a plastic straw. “Iridescents are strong, more than you can possibly imagine, so shoot, run and call for help. It’s the only way a mortal can survive.”
“One last question,” Lisa said, wiping at her face. “If by chance they got their hands on Frankie and drained his blood, would they need all of it? Could he possibly survive?”
“No,” Torin mumbled. “It’s a death sentence.”
Tears welled in her eyes. “Then we must keep him safe,” she sobbed, her voice breaking. “Please, save my babies.”
Drugs
With the sun dissolving into the western sky, Carson and Torin arrived at Sanderson Field Airport. Torin parked the Land Rover, got out and cast his eyes to the spectacular sunset of orange, red, and purple. He closed his eyes, Donja in his mind. Hearing Carson slam his door, he joined him, avoiding eye contact. They hurried inside amid the hustle-bustle of travelers. Nearing Gate 27 which detailed the arrival times from Grand Rapids, they paused as the first of the passengers appeared, greeted by excited faces.
They waited, side by side in hushed silence.
“Your pulse is bounding,” Torin said without looking.
Carson bit his lip and held his tongue. “I guess I’m nervous,” he said. “I don’t see her.”
“She’s here,” Torin said with a self-assured smile. “Have faith.”
Carson bristled.
“I can smell your hatred,” Torin whispered.
Without thinking, Carson blurted. “I can’t help myself. You’re not human, you’re—”
“Iridescent.”
“Vampire,” Carson groaned.
“We prefer Irides—”
“I don’t give a shit what you prefer. You’re fucking vampires. And you and your kind have infiltrated my family. If every damn last one of you was dead tomorrow, I’d be a happy man.” Carson dropped his head. “I just don’t want to lose my family.”
“And I will die trying to ensure that never happens, Carson, but you must trust me and more importantly, you have to keep silent. If you talk or act in what you feel is self-defense of your family, the elites will step in and there will be no mercy for any of us.”
Carson combed his golden mane with his fingers. “Are you saying that they would kill you as well?”
“I would have to defend your family, Carson, even if it meant my life.”
“Why?”
“Because I made a promise to Donja and I won’t let her down.”
“You really love her, don’t you?”
Torin’s jaw tightened. “Yes,” he whispered, “and this is killing me, the not knowing, the constant worry, the goddamn fear that someone’s touching her.”
“I’m with you,” Carson sighed. “Not saying I accept you, but I’m with you.”
“Thank you,” Torin said, “I won’t let you down.”
Carson listened to the intercom announcing flight arrivals, people exiting the jet bridge. Torin saw a petite female, no more than ninety pounds dressed in a tight black skirt, white blouse, black pumps and a black shoulder bag. He cocked his head taking in air as she walked toward them, dark locks bouncing on her back. He noticed men as young as twenty, some older, watching her. Torin took a breath and caught her scent.
“There she is,” he whispered.
“Where?” Carson frowned.
“Walking up to you,” Torin said with an inscrutable smile, enthralled by her beauty.
“Carson, so good to see you,” Anna said.
“Anna, is that you?” Carson asked, his eyes like saucers.
“In the flesh,” she smiled, with a dark shimmer beneath thick lashes. “And you must be Torin,” she said with a look of intense scrutiny that set Torin on edge. She had an uncanny, mature resemblance to Donja. “Yes, and it’s very nice to meet you
.”
“You as well. Lisa and I were texting the entire flight. She told me what’s happened and all about you.”
Damn, I better have a talk with Lisa. She can’t be discussing this. Torin thought.
“Well, let’s get to baggage and get you home,” Carson said. “Lisa and Frankie can hardly wait to see you.”
~~~
Leaving the airport, Carson took Highway 75, cruising in darkness. Torin, seated upfront stared at oncoming traffic as thoughts of Donja played in his mind.
In the back seat, nestled in shadows, Anna gazed out the window as her tortured soul ebbed her misery.
Thirty-four years since I saw this land. Thirty-four years of hiding.
She turned her gaze to Torin, so handsome, rather like the good-looking devil who robbed her of her family, her heritage and all she held dear.
“I can sense your anxiety,” Torin said, turning to face her.
“Coming back here is not easy,” she sighed. “I thought I had resigned myself to the pain, but now, being here, it’s raining upon me.”
“Just be assured that I’m an Iridescent. I will protect you with my life.”
“Iridescent,” she whispered, meeting his eyes. “You know, I first heard that word as a young child no more than six and I grew up, listening to fireside tales of your kind,” she drew a breath slowly. “Sadly, none of those tales prepared me for the brutality; it’s burned into my soul.” She closed her eyes.
“Did you witness an attack?” Torin asked.
“Just a slaughter.”
“Well, thankfully you survived.”
“Barely. My older sister and I ran. We hid inside a log and watched as demons killed six of my cousins. My sister and I escaped that day, or so I thought. Two days later, she went missing. She was never found. I lived in terror,” she said with a quiver in her voice. “I thought I was safe and I was for a few years. Then an Iridescent visited our fishing camp. I hid beneath my mother’s dress clinging to her legs, but he caught my scent. That night as we all gathered for the evening fire, he approached the elders, one of which was my father. He stated his intentions, which…” her words grew quieter, “was me. I panicked, the terror was just too great. You must realize,” she said, tears welling in her eyes, “I was just a kid, barely twelve and though this fanged demon agreed to wait until I was sixteen to rob me of my mother, he said that he had to mark me with a bite.”
“That must have been hard for you and your family.”
“For me and mother,” she said, “but my father,” she paused, “he just arranged the ritual for the following week, he didn’t even resist.”
“He couldn’t,” Torin sighed. “He would have been killed.”
“I know that now,” Anna said, “but at the time, I hated him. I was so scared, and I pleaded with my mother. She was already suffering the loss of three daughters and now facing a fourth, finally gave in to my pleas. In the dead of night as my father slept, she snuck me by boat across the river to my Aunt’s home in Michigan. That’s when I met Ardrey, my cousin who I had not seen since the age of six. He had lost his wife in a boating accident on Lake Huron and two of his sisters had already been killed by Iridescents. He agreed that if I would marry him, he would take me far away and keep me safe. He said it was the only way to save me.” She shook her head. “I was trapped, a scared skinny child who knew nothing of life, or men. Mother insisted. So, I fled, forsaking my family, this land I held dear, my way of life—my heritage.”
You married your cousin, that explains Donja’s blood. It’s mutated.
“I’m sorry,” Torin said.
“Are you?” she asked with soulful eyes.
“Yes, but if it’s any consolation, the Iridescent who lay claim to you was a good man.”
“Oh?”
“Yes, not at all like the ones who murdered your cousins.”
“You know him.”
“Yes, personally.”
She stiffened. “And is he still here, living in this area?”
“Yes, and for the record, he found you, Anna, when you were fifteen.”
“What?” she whispered, a hand to her brow.
“It’s true. He searched high and low until he found you living in St. Joseph.”
“If that’s true, why didn’t he take me?”
“You were married, pregnant and had a toddler at your side.”
Anna released a pent-up breath. “That’s hard to believe.”
“Well, believe it. I was the one he sent to find you.”
“You.”
“Yes. I spent an entire afternoon with your husband, chatting while we fished Lake Michigan from the South Pier. You were on the beach atop a patchwork quilt, your belly swollen with child. There was a toddler at your side, digging in the sand. I believe at the time you wore your hair in braids.”
“Yes, I did,” she sighed with a faraway look in her eyes.
“I called Antonio and gave him my report. He told me to leave you be, though it all but killed him.”
“Why would he do that?”
“He wanted you happy.” Torin took a deep breath. “Now, all these years later, I find it rather ironic that the little Chippewa toddler I saw digging in the sand, the one who called you ‘Mumsie,’ would grow up and father a daughter I now covet with all my heart.”
Anna shuddered. “And are you going to be able to get her back,” she asked, tears streaking her cheeks.
“I will,” he whispered, his jaw twitching, “or die trying.”
“Maybe that won’t be necessary,” Anna said in a barely audible tone, Torin’s face glowing in the lights from an oncoming car. “Were you able to procure the drugs I requested?”
“Yes, Lisa told me what you wanted but are you sure you want to take this path?”
“I have no choice.”
“But even if this works, you’re just sentencing yourself to the same.”
“I’ve had a decent life and to be honest I’ve spent it looking over my shoulder, fearful he would find me, and though you now say my fear was unfounded, it matters not. I’m tired and my own life or death,” she paused, “is irrelevant.”
“That’s not true,” Torin whispered.
“Oh, but it is. I might have escaped once, but I’ve come to understand that this is my destiny, just like my Chippewa sisters before me.” She dropped her head, dark locks concealing her face.
“Give me time,” Torin pleaded, “let me fix this.”
She raised her head and tossed her hair with a smile that wasn’t a smile at all. “I’m afraid some things in life just can’t be fixed.” She raised her chin defiantly. “Time to pay the piper.”
“Well I don’t like it,” Torin said, “and Donja will feel the same.”
“Donja has her whole life ahead of her, I’ve had a few years. Now…the pills?”
Torin handed her a small white bag over the seat. Anna turned the overhead light on and examined the bottles. She opened them and took six, swallowing without the benefit of water.
Torin spun in the seat. “You do know that once this Iridescent who abducted Donja sees you and gets your scent, you will never escape him. He will keep you under lock and key for the rest of your life.”
“I’m aware, as I said, it’s my destiny.”
“Why would you do this? He’s a demon.”
“You know him?” she asked.
“Well, I’m not certain who has Donja, but I’m pretty convinced that it’s Scarface. If you would just give me time, we can stage an attack. I have allies. We might be able to take him down.”
“No,” she retorted bluntly. “There’s not enough time and every minute that my granddaughter is in his possession, her life, like sands in the hour glass, slips away.”
“But Anna—”
“I’ve seen the damage, Torin. I know what your kind is capable of. Anyway, if you attacked, Donja might be killed in the crossfire or you could be killed and then she would be heartbroken. Lisa told me she loves you,
therefore I can’t risk it. Do you hear me? No war, not unless I fail.”
“Failure’s not in your cards, Anna. You’re not only beautiful, you’re a desirable mate and he will no doubt go crazy when he sees that you’re capable of giving him a child. It is the sacrifice of your life that concerns me. Like I said, he will lock you away forever.”
“It will be worth it if Donja is freed,” she said. “I just wish I was as convinced as you that he will find me desirable enough as a partner to give her up. Let us hope these fertility drugs work,” she mused averting her gaze.
“Look at me,” Torin said.
Anna met his gaze.
“I can smell you,” Torin said firmly with a tight brow. “You’re still fertile even without the pills, with them, he won’t be able to keep his hands off you.”
Anna gushed relief. “I hope you’re right.”
“I am, sadly enough, but keep in mind, it may eventually be your death sentence. Once he has a child,” Torin whispered, “and becomes a Sirun, he may not be able to control his blood lust. He’s a sadist, Anna, not an ordinary Iridescent. Please,” he pleaded, “let me force him into battle. When he sees the odds, he may back down.”
“No, she blurted defiantly, “I know that you hear me, but you’re not listening. I may have slowed the inevitable, but just as the Midewiwin prophesized the day I turned twelve, I will die in the arms of the Seventh Miigis.”
Torin’s gaze hardened. “But Scarface is not the Seventh Miigis, he is just like me, a descendent of the seventh, an Affiliate.”
“It matters not,” she smiled weakly, “it was prophesized. Seven will find me, of that I am certain.”
“Not if I can help it,” he growled.
Anna closed her eyes.
Some things in life, are just meant to be.
Painful Reality
In the back seat of the Mercedes, Donja eventually gave up, the fight within her fading. Hours passed, time a blur and with each beat of her heart she felt herself wither. Her tears ceased, as if emotion as well as her freedom had been ripped away. Devastated and hoarse from begging, screaming and pleading, she suffered in silence.
Oh, Makayla, are you alive?