“There is one way, but I do not recommend it. I don’t want to do it, as I will have no control over the outcome. The power I possess is far too strong to be passed on to just any human.” I stare at her, confused as to what she meant. Her power passed on to me? How could that work? I furrow my eyebrows in confusion. She sighs impatiently.
“Vampires can pass bits and pieces of the power they possess through a bite, but it only works if the person being bitten drinks the blood of the vampire; creating an unbreakable link. Also, this person has to be born with mixed blood. I am an old fool for ending up in this situation, but if we do this it may very well kill you,” I stare at her blankly as her words settle inside me. She would have to bite me, drink my blood and then I would have to drink hers. I would have to drink blood. I bite my lip; if I could pull this off, I would be able to help more.
“What powers do you hold?” I question, not wanting to do this unless I was getting a good end out of the bargain. My stomach flips at the thought of drinking blood.
“I hold many, due to my age. I can predict the time through the sun and the moon, feeling the vibrations the energy gives off. The obvious ones are stamina and strength and the super hearing; you’d be faster and stronger than any of the humans below which could be risky considering your mission. My true power is air manipulation. Each vampire has a strong main power and little ones that follow. If I hadn’t been continuously drugged I would have suffocated all of them by now.” She pauses as she assesses me.
“Your blood would help me stay strong and be able to stay here longer. This must be a quarantine room until we are too weak to fight, then we are taken someplace else. If you give me doses of your blood it will keep me fed enough to fight the injections, and you will also receive a small part of my abilities.” I lean back slightly as I consider this. If I were to survive this I would walk out of this arena a completely different person. A small part of me would be left with Nardia. A huge part of me trusted her, she was wise and had heard me out and was the strongest of them all. I shudder as I come to an answer.
“I’ll do it,” I whisper. She nods in understanding. She lets go of my hand and pulls herself closer to the cage.
“I will have to bite you somewhere they will not see. The bite will heal within a few days, and you will feel your abilities once the wound has healed. It will be scary at first but you must learn to harness the air manipulation, go out and practise on the critters in the forest if you must. Do not get caught, they will kill you without hesitation.” I nod, her voice slowly getting raspier the more she spoke. I look down at my stomach; if she bit me there I would be able to hide it with shirts until it healed. I lift my shirt up, tucking it under the wire of my bra. I step closer and press my exposed belly against the small gap, I point to the flesh on my ribcage.
“Bite me here. I can conceal it until it’s healed there, it’s the only spot I can see working since its summer and I’ll be wearing shorts and singlets for the most part.” She nods as she steadies herself on the bars, lowering her head. Her teeth graze my skin; there was just enough space for her to bite me.
“This will hurt,” she mumbles against my skin. I sink my teeth into my lower lip as her fangs pierce my side. I clamp down on my lips to suppress a sob. A fire spreads out from the bite as she hungrily gulps down my blood, I close my eyes to avoid watching. The fire spreads through my body like a wildfire; my heart feels like its roasting. I gasp as my eyes fly open when she pulls herself away forcefully before ripping open the palm of her hand with her fangs. I lower myself in a daze; she roughly grabs my face as she squeezes her hand over my open mouth. Her thick, red blood flows into my mouth as I gulp it down; I gag slightly as the warmth of it hits the pit of my stomach. It spills over my lips, staining the shirt I was wearing. After a few more gulps she pulls her hand away, cradling it close to her body.
I there and shut my eyes, my body hums with electricity as it digests the blood. Replacing what she’d taken. The bite mark on my side still ebbs slightly. I shakily pull my shirt down and look at her. Her eye seems brighter.
“Don’t worry about the mess here, I’ll clean it up. Thank you, my body is already reacting to being fed.” She sits back down and sits there and sighs contentedly. I nod slowly, feeling a little dizzy. I could at least laugh at Zeke’s blood bank comment.
“Will you teach me more when I visit next? I’ll come back once the wound is healed; you will have to give me tips on how to control whatever the hell I just inherited.” I laugh half-heartedly; I could already feel the bond between us. Like a soft murmur in the back of my mind. She looks up at me before shutting her eye.
“Go, rest for the day. You will need to be well aware of your surroundings once the wound is healed and be fully rested.” I stumble towards the door and open it, I don’t hesitate. I step out quickly and check my surroundings. Everyone seems to be busy with chores and jobs, leaving only a few people milling around the tents.
I jog towards my room, not game to slow down until I’m safe behind my curtain. I quickly strip my shirt off and rub the crusting blood away from my mouth and neck. I need another bath before I can rest. I cram my shirt at the bottom of my backpack; not trusting anyone enough to leave it any place else. I throw on a dark blue long-sleeved shirt and make my way towards the river once again, this time carrying a secret heavier than any other burden.
*
Sleepiness invades each of my senses as I leave the river; my feet dragging sluggishly as I make my way back to the camp. My body aches, each bone feeling fragile enough to break under the smallest pressure. I trudge through the door and stop in horror as the market crew arrive back a moment later. Luke and Xavier are in the lead, carrying bags of supplies. People begin surrounding them, their chatter filtering through the shed and causing my brain to throb. I keep my head down as I make my way towards my room, hoping to go unnoticed. Of course, I’ve never had good luck in my life.
“Hey, Ali! Wait up!” Xavier’s warm voice sends a chill through me. How was I meant to explain why I was so tired? I come to a stop, mere metres away from my safe haven. I turn around slowly and face his big frame as he trots closer. I sweep a strand of hair behind my ear and keep my burning eyes steady on him.
“Hey, what’s up?” He smiles as he comes to a stop in front of me. It had just passed midday and the warmth of the day radiated off him. He had a large bag strapped to his back and a small bag held in his hand.
“I was just heading to bed, actually. I think I’ve come down with a cold or something.” I cough into my hand as he watches me, hoping he’ll believe me. His cool attire helps calm my nerves slightly.
“Oh man, that’s no good. If I’d known I would have brought some remedies back.” He pouts in understanding. I give him a soft smile.
“It’s okay, honestly. I think after a few days of bed rest I’ll be good to go. Do you think Luke will mind if I skip out of training and patrols for another day or two? I just wouldn’t want to slow the team down or push myself and set myself back further.” I sigh, hoping he’d understand.
“Oh no. Of course, that’s fine. I just want you to be at your best and healthiest. I’ll let Luke know about the change. Once you’re better we’ll figure out a job for you and what not.” He smiles down at me brightly, each perfect tooth gleaming white. It is hard not to feel guilty about what I had done. The bite on my side throbs, not letting me forget my betrayal.
“Anyway, I got you this. It’s nothing too great but I thought it would help. I know you’re not a fan of weapons, but I hate the thought of you out there by yourself.” He holds a small brown bag out to me. I grab it gently; it’s weight heavy in my hand.
“What is it?” I query. I slowly open the bag and a small smile tugs at my lips. A small, silver dagger thuds into my hand. It just fits the length of my hand. I flip it over, studying the pattern. The sharp silver blade has a black triangle that runs the length of the blade. There is an elephant carved near the handle and it leaves a trail down to
the tip. The hilt of the dagger is thick and black; a small silver trimming along each side. I look up at Xavier in surprise. It was beautiful.
“I honestly don’t know what to say.” I gawk, not taking my eyes away from the beautiful blade in my hands.
“Once you get better, I’ll teach you some simple self-defence methods with it. It will calm my nerves to know you’ll have it on you when leaving the grounds.” He rubs the back of his neck, as if suddenly realising how much his gift meant.
“Thank you so much.” I tuck the blade back into the brown bag and wrap him in a hug. He pats me awkwardly before hugging me back gently.
“I’ll see you at dinner if I’m awake,” I offer, not really knowing if I would wake at all until the bite healed. He seems to perk up at this.
“I’ll bring it to you; don’t stress about getting up.” He looks over his shoulder, back towards Luke, who’s gesturing him over impatiently.
“Thank you for letting me stay last night.” He whispers into my hair.
“It’s okay. It was nice… having someone hold me.” I whisper back.
“Well, I’ve got to run. I hope you get better soon.” He lets me go and turns and jogs back over to Luke, leaving me alone. I trudge into my room, placing the blade under my pillow. I pull the sheets back and collapse. The darkness consumes me before I have a chance to shut my eyes.
CHAPTER 13
The forest around me flourishes with life, the leaves rustling in the wind to a song my ears can’t hear. The moon sits high in the sky, bringing the creatures of the night to life. I stride along the overgrown path, the tall grass grazing softly around my knees. I take a deep breath, savouring the fresh crisp air. There is a soft tug in my chest, insisting on the direction I follow. The path beneath my feet narrows slightly, the wilderness becoming denser with each passing step. The trees curve towards me as I breeze past, their branches intertwining as they lean towards me; feeling the similar tug I felt.
The forest breaks apart in front of me, revealing a black opening in the base of a towering mountain which now sits before me. The tug in my chest grows stronger, hungrier. I hesitate at the tree line, uneasiness spreading through my bones. Something is inside, the moon has woken it.
A silver snake slithers between my feet, heading towards the black hole. Its tongue darting from its diamond head, ting the air as it draws closer. It could taste something I couldn’t. I want to taste it too.
I step closer, the soft grass coaxing my feet towards the opening. The tug in my chest warms me as I get closer; pushing all sense of fear aside.
The snake is swallowed into the darkness; the mountain seems to moan at its sacrifice. Red eyes open in the darkness, focusing sharply on me. I freeze; the tug in my chest is now so strong that my feet are dragged by the unknown force. A figure reaches out of the darkness, its pale skin glowing in the moonlight. Its sharp claws extending towards me.
I push back against the tug, trying to break the hold it has over me. My limbs are not my own, my voice is not my own. A trickle of sweat runs between my shoulder blades, my body tensing up. I gasp at the sharp pain in my side; I look down to see the white nightgown I was now wearing collecting blood from beneath my right breast. The being in front of me tears at my nightgown, ripping the fabric away to reveal a vampire bite.
I looked back into the deep red eyes, knowing it would be my end once I step into that final darkness. Fangs gleam as the being’s mouth breaks into a vicious smile. I am finally meeting my end.
Its cold hands grasp my shoulders, nails ripping through my soft skin. I open my mouth to scream, not ready to accept my undeniable fate.
“Ali, wake up!” Strong hands shake me awake, pulling me from my nightmare. My eyes shoot open as I wake. A cold sweat has broken out over my body. I register the voice in front of me before my eyes do.
“Xavier?” I gasp. Realising my nails were digging into his arms, I loosen my grip immediately; heaving as I do so. He brushes the loose hair off my slick face, his eyes full of worry.
“Are you okay? I was heading over with dinner, and heard you crying out.” I look towards the bedside table and see a brown bowl sitting there, steam slowly curling off its contents.
“Oh my god, I just had the scariest dream.” I could still feel the cold grip on my shoulders. I was almost certain I had dreamt of Nardia in that cave, I just wasn’t sure were her red eyes had come from. The bite mark throbbed painfully. I lower myself back down, biting my lip as I do so. Xavier feels my forehead, his eyebrows furrowing in concern.
“You’re burning up. Is there anything I can do?” He runs a hand through his hair; my body sagging at the effort of keeping my eyes focused. I didn’t realise how much the bite was really going to do to me. God, I wonder what Zeke would think? Would he even care? I’d done this for him, for his race. I had to save them or no one else would.
“Water, please,” I rasp, my voice cracking in my throat. He runs from my room and is back in a heartbeat, water in tow. I gulp it down, quenching my thirst. I sigh gratefully as my eyelids grow heavy once again, sleep threatening to drown me.
“Sleep,” I murmur softly, the words I want to form lodge in my throat. He understands, nodding slightly. He brushes his hand down my cheek as he looks down at me.
“I will be right here for you. I’ll keep an ear out for you.” He gently holds my face in his hand before leaving my room. Dread fills my mind as I am once again beckoned into the darkness.
*
The sheet is tangled between my legs, my skin damp with fever. My head roars in anger as I try to gather my bearings. A glass of water has been placed beside my bed. I greedily finish it off, the roar in my skull slowly subsiding.
I untangle myself from the sheet and slowly raise myself into a sitting position. I desperately needed a cool bath and some fresh air. I wince as I drag my legs over the side of the bed, lowering my feet to the ground; the bite on my side hissing with disapproval. I pull the drenched shirt up to see how the healing was going.
The area around the two holes is an angry red but a hard black crust has formed over the openings. I really hadn’t thought about what I was getting myself into. Would I have this gift forever now? Would I turn into a vampire as well? How could my bond with Nardia be broken? If I couldn’t break it, was I in some sort of debt to her now? The ground beneath my feet sways and I clench the edge of the bed with both hands. I have to get up.
I bathe quickly, my head clearing more with each passing moment. Maybe I would be able to do something other than sleep today.
I gather my dirty clothes, I was utterly alone. I crouch down beside the river and examine myself, my eyes bulging out of my head as I look closer. The red ring around my pupils has grown and now takes up half of the arctic blue my eyes had once been, both of my eyes are bloodshot like I haven’t slept for days on end. There was no way I could hide this from anyone. There was no way they wouldn’t draw suspicion to me. How could I make up an excuse for this? I had just dug my own grave by going along with this foolish plan.
I storm back to the camp as fast as my body allows me, suddenly furious with myself and what I had done. I keep my eyes glued to the ground in front of me and let my hair sway around my face, concealing my features. It looks like I’d be spending the day in bed yet again.
I curl into an angry ball, my knuckles turning white. If I hadn’t saved Zeke and Zuriel none of this would be happening right now. I sit up abruptly.
“Oh my god, I’m a fool for not thinking of this sooner!” I whisper crazily to myself. Slowly I pull the pendant Zeke had given me out of its hiding place beneath my shirt. I knew if I held it and focused he would see me and see the trouble I’d gotten myself in, and maybe he’d be able to help.
I squeeze the pendant between my hands. It starts to heat up and I assume it’s was working; when it is smouldering hot I know he’d see this.
“Zeke, if you can see me now I need you to listen. I’ve gotten myself into a rather…” I pause and bite my
lip. “Sticky situation. I couldn’t wait over the month to tell you. I went into the cells and met a vampire called Nardia, and…well…she bit me.” I hold my shirt up and expose the bite, quickly pulling it back down.
“That’s not the worst part. I needed her help, so we made a deal. I would let her feed from me in order for her to stay strong enough to remain in those cells and in return she would pass on some of her gift to me, as well as information. Her gift is air manipulation and I was bitten yesterday. My wound should be healed tomorrow, which means I’ll possess the gift then.” The hot rock begins to shake in my unsteady hands. I wonder about how angry he would be right now.
“I know you must be furious, but I’m really close to something huge here. I have a rough plan. Please stay away, don’t come back yet, because if I’m caught this whole thing will be for nothing. You have to trust me.” I take a deep breath, my eyelids beginning to become heavy once again.
“I’m falling asleep, but I will talk to you again soon. Don’t come back for me.” The pendant falls back to my chest, as my chest falls back onto the bed.
I stand in front of the cave mouth, this time the snake is resting around my neck. The tug in my chest burns stronger with desire and I know tonight is the night.
An owl hoots in the distance, calling to those around. The darkness in front of me seems to come alive at my presence; moving and moulding into an all too familiar shape.
“Ali, my dear, don’t be frightened.” A woman’s voice rang out across the clearing, her elegant figure revealing itself in the moonlight. She is stunning, both of her emerald red eyes shine with joy as she examines me. Her dark brown locks spilling around her. She wasn’t Nardia.
Immortal Awakening Page 14