“No, let's get this over with.” Nicias swiped at the pieces of blood and bone on his clothing. “I would like to go back into Hibernation by tonight.”
Now standing in front of Kyra, I grabbed her hand and placed it on the side of my head.
“Yes. Now is the perfect time.” She placed her other hand on the side of my head.
A burning sensation that started at the back of my head spread to the front. I felt my eyelids being forced closed and heat like I'd never felt before in my chest. Whatever she did attacked my mind and the more my body tried to heal itself, the more it hurt. I wanted to push back but knowing that it would prolong the suffering, I opened my mind and let her in.
I didn't know what Kyra searched for. But when she located it, I felt my brain being tugged in different directions. My weakened body collapsed onto the floor and I opened my tired eyes in time to see her grab my arm and make a small incision on my wrist. She lifted my arm to her mouth and sucked gently. She then dropped my hand and stepped back.
“It's done.”
I stared into her eyes, noticing that she now looked at me in a different way. Something disturbed her, so much so that she stumbled back, as if she feared me. Nicias, Silvanus, and Ayden noticed her strange movements and when Nicias questioned them, she raised her hand, refusing to answer.
Kyra turned and walked away from me. Not even a thank you. Just like that, I was no longer important to her. Her behavior didn't stun me but what Ayden did afterwards astonished me. He also didn't say a word as he watched Silvanus and Nicias follow her out of the room.
He stood over me quietly as I raised my body—that had begun to heal—from the floor. “You're free now. This will never come back on you, ever again.”
“She was afraid of me, Ayden.” I stood to my feet to catch my bearings. “You saw it, right? The way she looked at me.”
“What did you expect? All that knowledge is inside her now.” He nodded.
“So, that's it?”
He nodded. “Yes, that's it, Maris.” I watched him walk out of the room.
“Where are you going?” I called out to him, hoping that he would stop and come back.
“You no longer need to be protected.” He looked over his shoulder. “You are on your own.”
“But what if I want you to protect me still?” I then realized that my question sounded absurd.
“I can't be with you. Not at the same time as I am with Kyra.”
“I'm alone. I have no one.”
“I am bonded to her. I go where she goes.” He stopped in the doorway. “Take care of yourself Maris.” He turned the corner and continued to follow them out of the building before they took off into the night in Deamhan speed.
I walked out of the room and made my way to the exit. Dark clouds rolled in and rain drizzle began to glitter my face in comforting thumps. I felt tired...tired of it all. The Dark Curse had consumed the majority of my immortal life, leaving me broken and torn. How long I spent being protected by others that now, all alone, I didn't feel right. I didn't like it one bit.
I didn't know what to do. Before I dreamed of doing so many things with my siblings but those desires felt minuscule since there was no one around to share those joys with. They were all gone: beautiful Jesse who taught me how to enjoy my immortal life, my Finley who catered to my every desire through any means he found worthy. And Ayden. He too had become another part of my life, ripped away by forces I had no control over. All that was left was me. Maris. The Ramanga Deamhan who would either save or damn all Deamhan around the world and now I didn't even have that!
I lowered myself on the moist ground with my head still tilted back at the sky. I thought about staying until sunrise but just then, deep within the dark clouds, I saw Jesse's face. He smiled at me and the thought of the wonderful city of San Francisco crossed my mind. Yes, the image was right. Maybe there I could finally find some peace in my troubled immortal life.
EPILOGUE
Everywhere I looked, I saw Jesse's face. He appeared on the front of tin cans sitting on shelves in the local grocery stores, in the sand on the shore of Lake Michigan, on posters stapled to the side of buildings. One night I actually thought I saw him, strolling down the street with his arm around the shoulders of a beautiful, tall human girl. But it was his appearance in my dreams that had the strongest effect on me. With his help, I changed my outlook on life and I recovered quickly from my depression.
It's funny to think that Deamhan can become depressed. Yes. We creatures who seem to show no love for the weak also have weaknesses of our own. We fool ourselves into believing that we have no feelings or emotions. It took me a few decades to realize that I did love Jesse and Finley. I had desires just like any human. I had passions for certain things and I looked forward to the future and my time trying to figure them out.
Once I arrived in San Francisco, I immediately noticed how serene the night life had finally become. I spent the first few nights standing by the shore, watching boats floating to and from the harbors. When I became comfortable in my new surroundings, I ventured into the downtown area, surrounded by humans. I sat on the park benches, watching them, listening to them. Later, I moved closer to the buildings they settled in, listening as they read their poetry and tried to explain the essence of man. They drank themselves into stupors, stumbled along the sidewalks. I took in as much as I could while still maintaining distance.
Time passed and now, in the decade of the 1960s, they flocked to the city, singing about love, compassion, beauty, and no violence. They protested their war and relied on drugs to expand their mind. While their blood began to taste sour, I did enjoy their taste in music. For hours I sat and listened to the beautiful sounds fluttering into my ears in such a beautiful cadence. I hummed to the beautiful voices of Jim Morrison and Grace Slick. I watched their psychedelic parties from a distance. There were several instances that I expected the vampires or my own kind to be at my door, searching for me, but no one came. I pushed the names associated with my past further back into my mind to forget about them and slowly I began to see less and less of Jesse all around me.
The years continued to pass and I adapted with the times. They flew by so fast that I literally didn't care what the date or the year was. But I should have known that nothing good lasts forever, especially when it came to my life.
So I was taken aback when I smelled a familiar Deamhan scent one cool night in the city. It floated on the breeze in the direction of the harbor when I walked down the street in search for my nighttime meal. I thought my mind had played tricks on me and I paused, staring around at my environment in wait. I hadn't been in the presence of another Deamhan in a very long time. In fact, I did my best to avoid my kind. Even though I couldn't forget a scent. It was like second nature.
“You look well.”
The voice—Ayden's voice—echoed behind me and I quickly turned, staring back at him. I was surprised to see him after all that time. He looked the same, except for the fact that he had grown his hair long and it now rested on his beautiful, slim shoulders.
“How did you find me?”
“I never lost track of you.” He approached me with his eyes scanning me from head to toe. “And you did mention how much Finley wanted to go San Francisco.”
Just by saying his name, all memories of my sibling flew back into my mind, including his death and the fear I felt of being alone. I didn't like those old feelings. “Go away. I want nothing to do with you.”
“I wish it were that easy, Maris.”
“It is, for me,” I replied. “I don't owe you anything.”
“Let's talk a walk.”
I stood firm with clenched fists. “Why are you here? If I remember correctly, it was you who walked away from me so easily.”
“I didn't have a choice. I was bonded to Kyra.” He motioned for us to walk. “If it were up to me, I wouldn't have come here.”
“So you're no longer bonded to her?” I rolled my eyes.
“Maris, please.” He hushed me. “My bond with her has nothing to do with why I'm here.”
I hoped his reason didn't have anything to do with the Dark Curse or any other Deamhan matters that I wanted no part of. He motioned again for me to walk and we moved down the sidewalk. I noticed his eyes scanned our environment, as if we were being followed.
“Are we not alone?” I whispered to him.
“I don't know,” he replied. “So I will make this quick.” He wrapped his arm around my own and when he spoke again, he lowered his voice. “Anastasia and the Dark Curse are only two reasons why I'd come back to you after all this time.”
“I have nothing more to do with that curse and I definitely want nothing to do with my sire.” I broke away from him and took a few moments to process what he'd just told me. Still feeling neutral about what he told me, I continued on my silent walk, hearing his footsteps following from behind.
“Did you hear me?”
“I heard you,” I said.
He caught up to me and with his hand on my shoulder, he forced me to face him. “They're going to come for you and there's a chance that this time, we won't be able to stop them.”
“We? Who is ‘we’?” I scoffed at him. “Kyra? Nicias? Who?”
“Just...just listen to me.”
“Who's after me now? Dorvo vampires? Another Ancient Deamhan? Can't be Ethel. She's long dead.”
“Lucius.”
I thought for a moment, remembering that Silvanus mentioned the name before when it came to The Dictum. But beyond that, I didn't have any idea who Lucius was.
“He is an Ancient Deamhan.”
I shrugged. “I have no knowledge of the spell. Kyra took that information from me a long time ago, remember? All I have is my blood.”
“And that's good enough reason for him to come for you. He was placed in Limbo years ago. Your sire was among the Deamhan who freed him.”
I glared at him, still not seeing how this affected me or placed me in danger.
“Lucius wants to release the Pure Ones from Limbo.”
Still in an uncaring mood, I shrugged again.
“Damn it Maris. Do you even care?”
“No, so I don't understand why you're telling me this.” I spun around and continued to walk.
“I'm telling you this because I care about you,” he replied. “We were wrong about it all. Kyra was wrong. I see that now. I don't understand her methods and it's worrying me.”
“If you don't trust her anymore, then why are you still bonded with her?” I raised my voice. “Why not go to Silvanus and tell him your issues with her?”
“Because Silvanus is dead. Lucius killed him.”
This revelation soured my already-troubled mood. I lowered my head, wanting to mourn for my dear friend but I couldn't find a single care inside my Deamhan body. Just disbelieve that someone as strong as Silvanus could be taken down and by this Lucius person. Now this strong Ancient Deamhan was after me and I couldn't stop him. I could barely stop anyone!
“Lucius wants me dead as well?” Now ready to hear him out, I looked over my shoulder.
“You're lucky that he isn't like Ethel. However he isn't like any Deamhan that you and I know or have run into. He is much more dangerous, now that he has Pure blood in his veins.”
“Pure blood? Is that possible?”
“Yes. He's much stronger than Kyra and any other Ancient,” he said. “Your sire is helping him in destroying Deamhan and releasing the Pure Ones from Limbo.”
“Typical.” I bit my lower lip in thought. Mentioning my sire's name was significant enough to bring me back to my sorrowful mood.
“After Ethel's death, Kyra has never been the same,” he said. “Now, with that's going on, she's distant. She's hiding something from me and with Silvanus gone, I have no idea how to find out what that is. Maris, you're the only other Deamhan I trust. Lucius will come for you and this time, there won't be anyone who can protect you.”
I stepped away from him. “You came here...to protect me?”
Just as I prepared myself to take another jab at his ridiculous reason for returning, he spoke again. “I've always protected you.” He held out his hand. “You must come with me.”
I wanted to slip my own hand into his palm but the idea of throwing myself back into that world made me refuse. “No, not this time.”
“You will be safe. I promise.”
“If what you say is true, this Lucius will find me wherever I go.” I stared at his extended hand then looked into his eyes. “Let him come. I don't care.”
Ayden smiled briefly. It wasn't a warm or comforting smile. I saw fear in his eyes. “You are still headstrong.”
“Can you blame me?”
He sighed. “No. I can't.”
“So go back and tell no one that you found me,” I replied. “Let me live whatever time I have left doing what pleases me.”
“No, I will not leave you so easily like I did before.” He placed his hand gently over my wrist. “I won't make that same mistake again.”
I could have fought back and refused to go with him but part of me yearned for his company. The pleasure of being around him once again and knowing that he would do what he could to protect me, filled my entire body with a warm sensation. That had never happened before. Not even with Finley or Jesse. His cold skin rubbing against my own released a plethora of memories, both good and bad. However, it was the good that I paid close attention to and the belief that I could create more enjoyable ones overshadowed my instinct to go and run the other way. Oh God, how everything came back so suddenly! I started to see images of Jesse all around me again. How much I missed his beautiful, angelic face.
“If I go with you, where will you take me?” I asked him.
“Straight to the source,” he replied. “Minneapolis.”
“Is that a good idea? Lucius is there, right?” I questioned.
“And so is your sire.” He placed his hands on my shoulders. “You don't understand Maris.” He shook me while he spoke. “It's up to us to stop this madness before it begins.”
Ayden. Deamhan Minion
Deamhan Chronicles 2.5
For over a hundred years Ayden, a Metusba Deamhan has waited for the chance to avenge his sire who met a bloody end at the hands of Anastasia, a Ramanga Deamhan.
Being an obedient servant to Kyra, the oldest of their kind, he finally gets his chance to have his revenge. However there’s one small problem. He’s heavily indebted to Anastasia’s offspring, Maris and Kyra wants him to kill her.
He must decide. Be the obedient Deamhan minion to Kyra, who used the darkness inside him to fuel his rage or protect Maris, who saved him from that same darkness for a second chance to feel again.
The choice isn’t going to be easy. Then again, when has anything in his long tortured life been easy?
1
ODIOUS INTENTIONS
The bartender smiled at me, showing worn teeth, stained from years of smoking. Thick indentations covered her cheeks and a streak of gray highlighted her uneven bangs. I didn’t want to look at her, but I couldn’t help myself. My keen sense of smell picked up an odor of oldness seeping from her leathery looking skin.
She placed the bottle of beer on the counter and I felt her eyes examining me. I didn’t know what to think at first. Perhaps she was into me and found my appearance suitable for her taste. After all, I was always told by those around me that I’m interesting to look at, especially my eyes. They are quite large, demanding attention, and they overshadowed my odious intentions. Well, that’s what Kyra always told me.
Whatever it was, I grew extremely uncomfortable and cautious. I wanted to get away—not for my own sake, but there was a high probability that I would do more harm than good. I was a Deamhan after all.
I didn’t know why I agreed to meet Nicias here at this nightclub, full of humans, in the middle of downtown Chicago. It was an odd meeting place, even for someone of his stature. Plus I hadn’t been back to the
city since Kyra demanded that I take Nathan back to Minneapolis. I did what I was told and vowed never to return. I never considered that city my home anyway.
I cupped the bottle of beer, feeling the glass against my cold palm. I decided to block out the music’s roaring blare from the speakers. I tuned in on the bartender’s thoughts.
He’s cute.
I grabbed a ten dollar bill from my pocket and placed it on the counter. “Keep the change.” I hoped that would satisfy whatever curiosity she had of me.
She grabbed and stuffed it into her cleavage. “Thanks sweetie.”
I wanted nothing more than to be far away from the humans gyrating on the dance floor, but I struggled, my body remaining glued to the bar. The smell of sweat permeated the air around me. Clubs and loud music were never my thing and neither was drinking beer, but pretending to like the nasty foamy substance was what I needed to do to fit right in.
As a Deamhan, the last place I wanted to be in was a crowded area with humans just begging to be picked off one by one. Many of us couldn’t handle it and would go into a frenzy within seconds. I learned how to control my hunger, waiting for the right opportunity to strike, and now wasn’t the time.
What bothered me was why Nicias wanted to meet here instead of Minneapolis. I questioned what he wanted with me after all these years that Kyra couldn’t tell me herself? Maybe it was because of what I heard just recently floating around the Deamhan community that sent my nerves on edge. Kyra was on the run and a Pure One wanted her dead.
Being chased by a Pure One would make any of us run for the hills, Ancient Deamhan included, so I couldn’t blame her if that was the case. I just wished she would’ve told me instead of disappearing and leaving me in the dark.
Personally, I never ran from any Deamhan, but Amenirdis wasn’t just a run of the mill Deamhan. She was one of the very first of our kind to ever exist on this Earth. She was old, strong, and insanely powerful. She spent majority of her existence, like the other Pure Ones, in Limbo—a place that none of our kind wanted to go or be trapped in. From what I gathered it was a magical space, void of time, where Deamhan, no matter how old or strong, couldn’t escape.
Deamhan Chronicles, Books 1-5: Deamhan, Kei. Family Matters, Dark Curse, Maris. The Brotherhood Files, Ayden. Deamhan Minion Page 73