by K.N. Lee
My hands busied themselves with undressing him, while my legs tightened around his waist pulling him closer to me. Every part of my body worked in a separate but unified effort to feed the dying flame my dream had left behind.
He was just as captivated, pulling me closer, running his hands through my hair. He kissed me like he would never be able to again; ciphering off as much of me as he could. I arched my body up, offering myself to him, wanting to give him all of myself. Then he stopped. Damn it, I couldn’t believe it, but he stopped.
“Wait,” he pulled away from me, pressing his back to the other end of the couch.
“What? Did I do something wrong?” I started to move toward him, but, he put his hand up to me telling me to stop.
“No,” he laughed roughly. “Trust me, you did nothing wrong, but all of this is a bit confusing Alexa.”
“I’m sorry; I didn’t realize how late it was when I asked you to come.” I sat back against my side of the couch and began straightening out my clothes. My cheeks were turning red with embarrassment.
“Its fine,” he moved closer to me and took another deep breath. “So why did you want me to come? Or did I just foolishly interrupt the reason you wanted me to come?” He tried to make a joke to get rid of the tension, but only succeeded in making me feel more self-conscious.
“No, I just wanted to let you know my decision and I thought it would be better if I did it in person and not over the phone.” I looked down at my fidgeting fingers.
“Your decision, what decision?” He held his breath, he already knew what I had chosen to do he just needed to hear the words.
“Yes, I’m going.”
“Going where?” Still, he needed me to say it.
“With you, to your village,” I rolled my eyes at him. Where else could I possibly be talking about going that would require me to tell him about in person?
“What made you change your mind?” He grabbed my hands to take my attention away from my fingers, and bring me to him.
“I don’t know. In a way it was you, I guess. There aren’t that many good things going on in my life and, as irrational as all of this is, you make me happy. There is no explanation for it, but, we are connected in some way that’s deeper than my wanting to rip your clothes off every time I am near you. Whatever that connection is, I can’t risk losing that.”
“I hoped that you would change your mind, but you have to know that you wouldn’t have lost me, Alexa. I am bound to you. I can’t simply walk away, that is not an option for me, not unless the bond is severed.” He grabbed my hand again and looked at me. He was happy, proud and it made me want him more. That he could look at me and see someone so worth leaving everything behind for. He believed in me even though he knew so little about me.
24
Lacal took his time with walking me through a step-by-step guide of what to expect after we left. He warned me that it would be a lot to take in. On top of the culture shock, we had a long trip to his village and the events that would occur after we arrived would be overwhelming. He explained the process we would have to go through to solidify our bond. At least he explained as best as he could be considering no one had ever seen it done, it was just speculation passed along by word of mouth. We would have to offer ourselves to Rasmiyah together; this is how she would seal our bond and help me unlock whatever abilities I possessed.
We had only a few days before we needed to leave. Now that I had chosen to accept my new life, the tree would send off a signal to notify the people and they would expect us. If we didn’t show up, they would send out a search party. Even though he could sense the panic building inside of me, I still tried my best to hide it from him. As terrified as I was of everything I was walking into, I didn’t want him to know it. He assured me that everything would be fine and that there was nothing to worry about.
After I reigned in my nerves enough to stop my thoughts from spiraling away from me, we started preparing to leave. I called Jazz and told her about my decision and that we would have to make a quick departure. She of course, was sad that I would be leaving, we had only just reunited and now I was taking off, but she also seemed happy about my decision to choose a new life. She promised to look after my house and to revamp (yes, she used that ridiculous pun) my wardrobe, even though I begged her not to. She asked how long I would be away. I looked to Lacal who had no real answer for her. He dodged it skillfully. He told her that I would be able to keep in contact and eventually come back to visit.
I packed my warmest clothes, because he said I would need them, but he was very vague about the exact destination as if he feared someone was listening in. After he looked at my inadequate selection, he shook his head, and went to the store to buy more. I told him it was unnecessary, but he insisted, vowing that I would thank him for it later. I couldn’t help but notice that even though he didn’t ask for my size, everything he bought fit me perfectly.
The following two days consisted of random shopping trips. Apparently, I needed a lot more than new coats and sweaters. He laughed as the list grew longer, repeatedly poked fun at me, and asked how I survived before he arrived. We packed my things, cleaned, and secured the house. Jazz came over to say goodbye multiple times, and to threaten Lacal’s life. She said she would hunt him down and kill him if anything bad happened to me. Considering what I knew about Lacal, that was close to impossible, but I appreciated her effort.
Lacal cooked for me; it seemed, he had missed his chance to do so because of my storming out of his house. I doubted that he was really planning to cook for me; it seemed more like an excuse to get out of helping me clean. I appreciated a good meal, so I let him off the hook. He made chicken with corn and rice. A simple meal, something I would have made for myself, but he did it well. He used a honey-lemon glaze with a seasoning he told me was a chef’s secret. It was his mother’s recipe, and he had promised not to tell anyone. I thought about my mother’s pancakes and hated that I would never be able to say the same.
“What do you know about these carvings?” He ran his finger along the table, tracing the design engraved in the wood.
“The carvings? They were a hobby of my dad’s. He spent years creating them all over the house.”
“Interesting,” He popped another piece of chicken into his mouth.
“Interesting? Why is that?” I took over tracing the pattern with my finger. I thought of my father and smiled.
“These are cloaking spells. I didn’t recognize them at first but I have seen them before. It’s something often used to hide something or in this case, someone.” He sat back in his chair and stared at me.
“What do you mean?” I stopped tracing them and thought about his words.
“Well, you were hidden from me Alexa. That’s why I couldn’t find you. This house is a fortress.”
I chose not to respond. If what he said was true, it meant my father was in on the deception as well. My life had just been flipped upside down, just when I was beginning to feel normal again. I couldn’t bear adding one more thing to my list of heartaches, especially not my father’s name. We spent the night together. Well, I should say he slept over, me in my room and him in the guest room. This was my last night at home for what would be an undetermined length of time. I would miss my house, but I found comfort in knowing that it would still be there for me whenever I needed it.
On the second night, the night before we would leave, we slept downstairs on the couch and talked more about the trip, my nerves, and what was going to happen. I fell asleep with my head on his shoulder and woke up lying on the couch with him behind me, his arms wrapped around me; making waking up in my own home that last morning, one that I would never forget.
The sun pierced through the curtains announcing that it was nearly time for us to go. I took the chance to walk around one last time taking mental pictures in my mind, memories of home. Lacal took my bags to the car, and checked for the hundredth time, to make sure that we hadn’t forgotten anything.
; “Are we going to get your stuff?” I noticed he wasn’t loading anything for himself.
“No need to, I already have my stuff.” He smiled and opened the car door for me to get in.
“When did u get it? You didn’t leave for that long yesterday.” I sat in the passenger seat and looked back at him before he closed the door.
“I told you, I knew you were going to change your mind.” He closed the door and walked around the front of the car with the most satisfied look I’d ever seen on his face.
~A~
The trip to Lacal’s village was bewildering. I tried to focus so I’d remember the way, but I couldn’t. The most I could decipher was a confusing series of random twists and turns. The ride seemed to take forever, we had already been in the car for 12 hours, and I was ready for it to be over. I drifted in and out of sleep even though I wasn’t tired. I made no complaints though, sleeping helped to pass the time.
My questions were endless; about where we were going, and what I had missed during my naps, but all he would say was that it would be easier to explain once I was trained to know what to look for. His village had no name only a number, 719; my birthday. He said it was prophesied that it would be the day I was born, though the year was unknown. Apparently, the prophet was correct. All the villages were named the same, different dates for different Arcs, I was apparently the first to accept the position, but many had been born before me. Great! That doesn’t make a girl second guess herself!
All the Vampire questions had been asked before we left. You know the ones that dispute the standard vampire image on television and in movies. Why he didn’t burst into flames in the sun, I also hadn’t seen him drink any blood, but I figured that was because we really hadn’t spent that much time together. He laughed at me, which basically made me want to punch him, but I got over it. He said he would tell me more about it later.
Sunlight didn’t affect all vampires. There were two types of vampires, two opposite sides. His side was the side of Light. The sun did no harm to them and actually decreased their need to drink blood but it was still a necessity. They fed off the energy of the sun. He did drink blood, but only about once a week and that would only change if he exerted too much energy. He said when he used to play sports, before he found out he was meant to be my Serve, he needed about three a feeds week. While he was in training, to learn to protect me, it was so strenuous and intense that he needed to feed daily.
The other side of the coin was Darkness. This side consisted of the vampires who chose to go against the rules set by the High Arc. Once it became clear that she was essentially gone for good, they began to feed from the humans more than was allowed. This eventually led to infusions which of course changed their souls like the people of their home planet. Darkness took them over and the sun, like light to dark, became their enemy.
Only the vampires who chose Darkness had fangs. This was because they fed directly from the humans and their bodies evolved to fit their new lifestyle. They were horrible, wicked looking things. Not the classic long, pointy canines in the movies; there were ten of them, six on top and four below. They were designed to kill, not to please. The vampires on the side of Light used taps, which were basically needles with tubes attached, or blood banks, but in a pinch, they could use their nails to puncture the humans before feeding. This was a riskier method, if not done carefully there was a chance of the blood mixing with the pheromones in the skin which was exactly what caused a vampire to go dark.
The problem with the dark vampires had been kept under control only because the people knew what to look for and how to deal with it. They were contained early in their change. Most of the ones who chose to rebel were banished. The more substantial offenders, the ones who had attempted to harm the order of things, were killed.
After my Awakening, a process that all vampires who are born and not created had to go through; I would need, want, and crave blood. I cringed at the idea of drinking another person's’ blood, but it was something I had assumed would come into play at some point.
The Awakening was a ceremony that crossed a person over into their new life as a full vampire. Vampire newborns were given a serum that would subdue their true nature. That side of them remained dormant until this ritual was performed to awaken it. This was something that only happened on earth. It was implemented through the powers of the spirit of Rasmiyah in the High Arc temple to allow them to blend in better. Before they came here a vampire was a vampire by all accounts from the moment they were born. On Earth there were rules and standards, such as children going to school, that needed to be kept intact.
Full vampire children in school with human children would only bring unwanted attention and would ensure the extinction of either the humans or the vamps. I was behind on my Awakening, by nearly eight years, so the process would have a stronger effect on me. That was the last thing he said before I slipped off into another nap.
When the car finally stopped we were no longer in Chicago. That much was obvious, between the amount of time that had passed and the frozen land that spread out around us. When we left Chicago it was 75 degrees, now the digital thermometer on his dashboard read only 5!
As to where we were, I had absolutely no clue and didn’t really care. I embraced the chance to be out of the car and able to stretch my legs. I stepped out of the car onto the snow-covered ground and wanted to hop right back in. Stretching could wait! My bones chattered from the arctic air that slammed against my body. He was right about me wanting to thank him for getting me warmer clothes.
“Where are we?” I rubbed my arms with my hands, and my teeth chattered.
“Antarctica.” He slammed the door and checked to make sure it was locked. As if there would be anyone showing up to steal it in the middle of Antarctica!
“What? That is impossible. There is no way to drive from Chicago to Antarctica! We were in the car the entire time, and as far as I can tell, your car didn’t grow wings.” I followed him to the back of the car.
“No, my car did not grow wings,” he laughed and shook his head at me.
“So how do you explain this?” I waved my arms around me at the emptiness surrounding us.
“Portals,” he opened the trunk and handed me a large blue coat.
“What?” I pulled the coat on and quickly zipped it up as far as it would go. The thick insulation helped to warm me up quickly.
“We use portals for travel. It’s faster and it helps to keep us more separate from humans.” He pulled out a smaller jacket for himself and pulled it on.
“I didn’t see any portals,” I scanned the area around us searching for them, but I wasn’t exactly sure what I was supposed to be looking for.
“How would you know?” He laughed at me again, clearly enjoying himself. “Have you ever seen a portal? Do you know what one looks like?” He vocalized my own thoughts.
“Well, no. I don’t, but…” I scratched my head, and the disorientation settled in.
“Exactly, so how would know you if we had used them?” He put on a light jacket, apparently not as affected by the cold as I was.
“I guess I wouldn’t.” I conceded, but still scanned the area.
“It’s not like Star Trek or any of the other Hollywood versions you may be looking for.” He laughed at my continued attempt to find them. “There are no beams or anything. Besides, you fell asleep whenever we passed through one.”
“I did?” That explained my constant dips into unconsciousness.
“Yes, when a person isn’t accustomed to it, repeated passes take a lot of energy from them. It’s a pain in the ass, but it comes in handy when dealing with the occasional human that stumbles across one that is carelessly left open. Most of the time they can’t remember what happened, and those who do require very little persuasion to change their minds.”
He grabbed our bags from the trunk and transferred them to a different vehicle; a large truck that he said would be able to handle the terrain better. I tried to help, but he didn
’t allow me to do much. I stopped trying to figure out where we were going or how we were getting there. After the whole portal discussion, it felt useless to even try. One day I would understand it all, I hoped.
We drove through the dark empty land faster than I thought we should have. It felt like we would never see light again outside of the two beams that highlighted the road ahead. The blackness that wrapped around the truck made me sick; it felt like more than darkness. More than once, I could have sworn the damn stuff was moving, reminding me of my dream, and I recoiled from it, tucking myself as far away from the door as I could.
The best thing I could do was look away from the window, so I decided to use Lacal’s face as a calming agent. It would have worked, but he seemed too tense; the longer we drove, the worse it got. I couldn’t tell if it was because of me, or if he was bothered by something else entirely. Yes, I was still insecure. I had no idea why. After all that he had told me, I should have been sure of his feelings, but I wondered; did he like me because he really liked me or did he like me because he was bonded to me?
We drove for hours before I saw any light. I refused to look at the clock knowing it would only make it worse. Off in the distance, the glow was dim at first, barely visible. As we continued, it grew wider and brighter. Eventually, the source of light was revealed, and it was 719, a small town alive with festivities. We could hear the music as we approached. He stopped the car outside the edge of town, just before we reached the ring of light.
25
“What’s the matter? Why did you stop?” I wanted him to continue driving so that we would finally be out of the darkness.
“To warn you one last time,” he put the car in park and ran his hands through his hair.