Vampyre Blue (Alternative Women)

by Davena Slade Nicolaou

  They set out for the Temple of Isis, Pierre was at the steering wheel for a change. But, then for once, Cleo was no-longer the one in charge of the mission.

  'So where are we going?' Blue enquired.

  'You'll see when we get there.' Pierre mocked.

  'Seriously.' Moaned Cleo.

  'Yeah, well it's all desert and sand, what do you want me to say? It's the second dune on the left and carry on till morning?'

  Blue smiled to herself and Pierre caught her in the mirror, he missed his reflection.

  *

  Daen had returned to the Tibetan retreat to fetch all of Isis's books, if she were alive she would want her possessions back. That bitch the Oracle hadn't taken any of the books with her. But she would probably be going back to Tibet herself to get them before he would even thought of it. When he landed on the run way there was already a plane there. He internally scolded himself for not taking the books with him in the first place.

  'The Bitch!' He thought. He practically ran all the way back up to the palace.

  'I wondered where you'd gone.' She said as Daen walked in.

  'You wondered where I'd gone!?!' He said repeating her.

  'Yes,' She said, cutting him short, 'I told you I'd gone to fetch everything and bring it back here.'

  'Yes, you did say that didn't you.' Daen sighed a breath of relief. He should have known he could trust the Oracle.

  'Oh Mistress,' He walked up to her and hugged her – took her in his arms.

  'Isis is alive.' He said joylessly to her.

  'Yes.' She replied in a calm, yet cold tone.

  'What do you mean “yes”?'

  'I was simply replying to your statement.'

  'Did you know?'

  'Know what?' That same infuriating calm tone was starting to infuriate Daen.

  'That Isis was still alive?'

  He grabbed her at arms length and stared into her eyes,

  'Well did you?' He shook her ever so slightly. She looked up into his eyes and smiled. Evil glinted there. He knew straight away that she had known all along.

  'YOU FUCKING BITCH!' He struck her face and she fell to the floor. She looked up, betrayal in her eyes. The Oracle started incanting something and Daen's head started to hurt. She smiled as she recited the words over and over.

  'Agghhh. What are you doing to me?' He cried.

  'What I should have done a long time ago!'

  'Agghhh!' Daen was holding his head.

  'My blood is leaving yours! You'll no longer have a hold over me you vile bastard! You can have your Isis, your beloved fucking Isis, in almost two thousand years, after all that I've done you treat me like this! I curse you Daen and all that you are!'

  Daen passed out. The Oracle left quickly taking nothing from the Tibetan Palace. She ran for her life, she knew Daen would kill her if he ever caught up with her and she didn't know how strong he was, if he'd fed recently. He could be running down the mountainside straight after her right now, she couldn't take that chance. She would have to get the book another time. She would have to remain a shadow in the night.

  Daen, however, hadn't fed for a few weeks and was particularly weak. He'd just been thrown into a wall by a mere girl, really hard and had just been completely betrayed by another one of his creations, it had been a bad twenty four hours so far. The Oracle walking out on him had hurt almost as much as when Pierre walked out just weeks before, but he never did like the Oracle as much as Pierre. Pierre would never believe that though, even if Daen told him to his face, the past and his recent behaviour would never let Pierre believe that. Daen had been too selfish over the years for anyone to believe that Daen could think about anyone but himself. Daen started to dream as he lay unconscious on the floor in Tibet, he dreamt of Isis and their time together in Egypt. All the memories came flooding back to him. He was with his troops in Babylon and marching through the vast plains of Persia. He dreamt of his mother back in Italy and the peaceful childhood he had. Growing up, playing in trees, running through meadows of wheat in Tuscany, the beautiful sunburst orange red sunsets. A pair of bright green eyes span into focus, the dark chocolate skin, her full mouth, so seductive, so undeniably attractive down to every last molecule.

  'Isis.' He called out as he regained consciousness. 'I'm coming.'

  *

  There was a knock at the door and the door bell rang throughout the mansion. Colin looked a little worse for wear. It had been a couple of days since he'd spoken to Cleo. He'd just let himself sink into the depths of depression, he hadn't showered or cleaned his teeth, he'd eaten nothing but cereal, unwashed bowls littered the house. Empty Jack Daniels bottles were stacked up on the coffee table and empty plastic coke bottles littered the floor, the place was an abomination. He was in desperate need of an intervention. The door bell rang again. Colin slumped forward off the sofa in his cereal stained clothing, gathered himself up and swayed to the door in his half inebriated state.

  'You must be Colin!' Said the stranger at the door in his strange accent.

  'An' chu mus' bee...' Colin slurred.

  'Valentino! Cleo's husband. Ciao!'

  Colin slumped into the entrance hall and slid half way down the wall.

  'Scuse me for askink, but I really woulda preciate some ID. I 'ave been through a lot recently.'

  'Sure! Sure! Here, Cleo said you'd be on your guard, I don't think she thought you would have been this drunk, but needs must dear Colin.'

  He showed Colin his driving licence, Colin grabbed it out of his hand and examined the photo ID closely, so closely in fact that he couldn't actually see it himself.

  'It's cold out here Colin, can I come in?'

  'Course, Course.' Colin slouched over and moved out of the way of Valentino and let him in. Valentino stepped over him and shut the door behind himself. He couldn't believe the state poor Colin was in.

  'I'll make you some coffee!' Announced Valentino.

  'I'd rather make the coffee, if you don't mind.' Colin said lucidly.

  'I'm sorry Colin, I forget that you've been poisoned. I think I would be so worried about anyone else making me anything too.'

  Colin smiled. He breathed deeply, he could relax now. Valentino was here to secure the house and make sure everything was perfect for the girls return.

  'Thank you for coming. I'm afraid I look terrible. And I think I'm rather drunk. Maybe you should make the coffee, I'm 'aving trouble standing up.'

  Colin struggled trying to stand, using the furniture around him to pull himself up, he felt terrible.

  'Colin don't worry about it all. You could do with a shower and a shave and sobering up, but let's just start with that coffee, yes?'

  *

  The moon shone over the Nile as it had done the month before when Pierre had stood there then. He smoked another cigarette and stared into the rippling reflection. Blue walked up behind him, put her arms around his waist and lent her head on his back.

  'Hey you.' She said.

  'Hey.'

  'What are you thinking about?' Blue asked him.

  'I was thinking it was just last full moon when I was here before, questioning if I should come and fight for your love.' He breathed in more smoke, 'And now I'm back here with you, and we've got your friend to try to change back into a human and you say Isis has two of your friends captive in her temple. I find that hard to believe. It's like an epic adventure unravelling beneath us, I'm not used to all this and I'm not sure I like all this excitement.' Pierre had a worried look on his face, like he was thinking too much about the world and the consequences of every action taken.

  'Wow, my hero.' Blue said sarcastically. Pierre frowned at her and they shared a smile. He loved how she could make him see the lighter side of life, even if he couldn't really, she'd give him that spark, that glimmer, that's what he lived for. What he went on living each day for, those moments when he felt alive. They embraced and he kissed her forehead. She never would understand him. They didn't go into the Temple until it had sta
rted to get light.

  'Just a few more turns.' Pierre mumbled as he carried the coffin backwards through the labyrinth with Blue.

  'This should be ridiculously heavy shouldn't it? Almost impossible? We should need lifting equipment and pulleys and animals for this kind of work shouldn't we?' Blue kept on.

  'For the love of God woman, Yes!' Pierre scowled.

  He gave her a warning stare, like carry on and we're going to get physical but then he would look at her the very next second as if she were a fluffy kitten or a summers morning. Blue didn't know which annoyed her the most, she was a monster and yet he still thought she was as cute as pie.

  'Just round here.' He said again giving her an annoying wink.

  Cleo following them always on her guard, her Walther P99 tightly in her grip, ready for the worse, stepping sideways checking for enemies everywhere. Pierre told Blue to place the coffin gently on the ground just before all three of them stepped into the most beautiful temple they could have ever imagined, it was dawn and somehow the daylight illuminated the great expanse without being fatal for Pierre. Silks hung from the sandstone walls in similar colours, candles were placed everywhere, luxurious pillows and cushions were fashioned into beds, books and trinkets laid in piles, lanterns hung from the vast ceiling, great expansive stone pillars with carving all over them were at strategic points in the vast space, there were carved freezes in the walls, and a multitude of decorations and paintings. It was perfection, a dream-scape.

  Pierre walked over to a tall Nubian woman with perfect chocolate skin and bright green eyes. She was happy to see him and they embraced, Blue had a pang of jealousy stir in her soul.

  'Oh my child do not be jealous.' Isis looked over to Blue and beckoned her over, 'Come here my ivory princess.'

  Pierre coaxed Blue over to the two of them.

  'Blue, this is Isis, Goddess of all the known world.' Pierre said, 'And Isis this is Blue, the love of my life.'

  'Let me look at you child.' She said to Blue holding up her hands in hers. 'She is a fine woman Pierre, you will do well to treat her right and she might think about doing the same with you.' She gave Blue a wink and Blue blushed a little. 'And I believe you have something of mine?' Isis questioned.

  'Yes yes.' Blue remembered, Pierre gave her a puzzled look, as she pulled out an ancient book from her backpack. 'I saw this in Daen's Tibetan palace and I thought this looked Egyptian, and we were heading to Egypt, and it probably belonged here, and I thought we might need it and so I thought I should bring it with me.' She gave them a did I do okay look.

  'Excellent,' Isis purred, 'We don't need it today, but it is back where it belongs.'

  Eliza and Brett walked into the main temple room, completely unaware of Cleo and Blue's sudden arrival.

  'Oh my God! Oh my God!' Eliza shrilled and then ran straight to Blue. She jumped at Blue giving her the biggest hug, practically squeezing her in half.

  'Wow it's good to see you too honey.' Blue gasped between squeezes.

  Cleo fastened her gun away and put down her equipment, Eliza gave Cleo a massive hug as well.

  'Have you met Brett before?' She asked both Blue and Cleo.

  'Well, if not it's a pleasure to meet you.' Blue stuck out her hand to shake Brett's, Cleo shook his hand too.

  'Hi I'm Pierre.' He shook Brett's hand, Eliza stared at him unsure, she turned to Blue questioning why he was here.

  'Oh yeah, there's loads we need to catch up on.' Blue told Eliza.

  'Enough!' Commanded Isis, 'We need to get you all to safety. Daen is on his way here right now. He is a key piece to this ritual, as are you all. It is vital that he remains unaware of your presence. He needs not be aware of anyone or anything other than me. This ritual will begin as soon as he steps within the runes where I shall be waiting.'

  'Then let's get to our places and we'll all catch up after.' Said Pierre.

  'If there is an after.' Whispered Eliza.

  They exchanged uncertain glances as they skittered off into their hiding places, everyone of them apprehensive about what exactly was about to happen next.

  Chapter Nineteen.

  Daen arrived at the archaeological dig site in Egypt as the Sun was climbing in the sky arching to noon, he walked through the dig site, to the temple entrance. The archaeologists, it would seem, couldn't see an ancient temple when it hit them in the face. He walked with purpose and authority, he knew exactly how to get through the labyrinth. When the books started to appear, he knew he was close, he was in the library.

  He entered the temple, lit only by the light of the hundreds, if not thousands, of softly flickering candles. The dancing light reflecting on the walls, illuminating the silks that gently moved with the air.

  'Daen.' Isis drifted through to where he had walked in. His skin prickled and his body hair stood on end a shudder ran the entire length of his body. He looked up at her where she stood, her raiment rippling around her perfect body as if caught in a gentle breeze. He was numb. It had been over two millennia since he had seen her, he'd never been back, he had thought her long dead. Two millennia wasted looking for Isis, when she had been here all along. He felt defeated, he felt like a stupid child. Isis approached him and held him in her arms. He sank into her arms, he felt rapture to be there in that very moment. Every moment for the last two thousand years was geared towards recreating this very moment and he couldn't understand why he had never stepped foot in this temple in search of his precious Isis.

  'Oh Daen, what have you done?' Isis asked his as she held him to her chest.

  'Isis.' Her name was all he could managed to say, he was so overwhelmed with emotion.

  'Daen, why did you do all this? Why were you so evil?'

  He broke away from her, meeting her gaze and looking deep into her emerald eyes, his jaw hardened.

  'No need for that Daen. The choices you have made have been your own, you have done exactly as you've pleased for the last two thousand years. Have you not?'

  The words hit him like poison darts, his beloved had seen everything he had done, everything, the last two thousand years screamed through his head, shame burned through him.

  'I thought you were dead.' His voice almost a whisper, 'I waited for you, for your re-incarnation.' His voice almost breaking.

  'I'm alive Daen, even your precious Oracle knew that from the first time you asked her where my soul was. You need to make amends for the wrong you have done. For the people's lives you have ruined. For the people you killed, for fun, not for me.'

  Daen looked uncomfortable, as if Isis telling him this made him realise that what he had done wasn't acceptable.

  'How is it, after all this time, I can reduce you to a quivering child?' She asked him.

  Daen stood before Isis and everything else melted away, it was just the two of them. Infinity sweeping around them, the both of them lost in the moment. Time had literally stood still for the pair, they were stood over the runes now, the ritual had begun.

  Daen was aware only of where he was and who he was with, Isis, his Isis, for whom he had longed for for so long, but he was unaware of the ritual she was performing and the part he played within it. The runes and markings beneath them held infinite power, they held them both and he was completely unaware.

  The very second the ritual began, Eliza dressed in the robes suited for the rite, led Pierre and Blue, carrying Star over to the sacrificial tables near to Isis and Daen. Star was placed on one side, Pierre on the other and Blue in the middle. Eliza made sure they were all in the correct places according to the scriptures and then positioned the temple mirrors to align the high noon sun into the area where Isis stood suspended in time with Daen.

  The air around Isis and Daen had started to transform into a translucent bubble of vibrating throbbing energy. The pair held inside were completely unaware of this, to them nothing in their immediate surroundings had changed at all.

  'Blimey.' Gasped Eliza as she glanced up at Isis and Daen.

  Blue looked u
p at her from where she lay on her sacrificial altar.

  'Eliza, aren't you supposed to start chanting something with Pierre and I joining in?' She anxiously reminded her.

  'What, Oh, yes, yes! It's just so impressive, I just wasn't expecting such a magnificent sight!' She gathered herself together and started the incantations she'd been rehearsing with Isis.

  Eliza started chanting the ancient Egyptian passages and Blue and Pierre joined in once she had been through it twice, they didn't know what it meant, they couldn't even repeat it now. The three of them were chanting ancient Egyptian hoping it was working, not knowing what was going to happen. Isis and Daen in an ever growing ball of light and energy just in front of them. Blue was worried, it had been millennia since anyone had attempted a ritual or anything like this, or so she was led to believe. Star was strapped down next to Blue, Blue kept having a look at her every couple of minutes or so, worrying that she would jump up at any minute and unleash all hell. She was thinking to herself that Pierre rubbed off on her a little too much sometimes with all his worrying. She carried on with the chanting and tried clearing her mind of the worry, just concentrating on the words. Blue's mind skipped back to the days just before her birthday and her life before she was a Vampyre. She carried on saying the words aloud as she thought 'I'm a bar tender that can sew and draw, how the hell did I end up on an altar in Ancient Egypt?'

  Isis stared deeply into Daen's eyes.

  'What do you want from all this? This life?' She asked him.