The Pariah Child & the Ever-Giving Stone

by Natasha D Lane

Jacob eyed the two sets of shackles. “Okay, I can do that. They’ll look about the same if we cover them with some dirt.”

  “Serwa, what was your plan?” Alexander asked.

  Charles approached the witch and placed a shiny key in the five holes of the chains. Her shackles fell to the floor. The witch sighed and massaged her wrists. She then pulled at a bundle of her hair and with one swipe of her hand cut it from her head. She ripped a strand of cloth from her dress. The strand was tied around the bundle and placed aside.

  She turned to Charles. “The brawl earlier, were all the vampires staked?”

  He shook his head.

  “Good, that means they’ll still be of use to us.”

  Serwa rubbed her hands in the spilled blood and proceeded to draw a circular design on the cell floor. She dabbed the hair in the blood, placed it in the center of the circle and positioned herself on one side of the design. She then held out her hands to Sarah.

  “Come, child. I want your help in this.”

  Sarah’s didn’t move.

  Serwa looked at her. “We discussed this. You can’t be afraid forever. Come on, I need you to complete this spell.”

  Sarah hesitated, turning her face into Jacob’s neck before looking at Serwa.

  “All right.” She positioned herself across from the witch and took her offered hands.

  “Repeat after you?” Sarah asked.

  Serwa nodded. She took a deep breath and focused. The witch spoke fast in low mumbles, Sarah barley keeping up. Neither Alexander, Charles nor Jake could hear anything either of them was saying. Charles stepped a little closer to them but Alexander held up his hand and shook his head.

  Lines of blood stretched from the circle to the bundle of hair, coating the hair in the red liquid and forming a smaller inner circle around it. Their chant grew faster and soon the blood design glowed a heavenly white.

  Sarah and Serwa’s hair blew around them wildly; they held onto one another for support as their magic strengthened.

  Charles grew scared. What Sarah and Serwa were doing... it was so strong, so much power. He stumbled a few steps backward. This was something he had never experienced before and the longer the spell went on, the more his fear increased. Just when he was about to run from the cell, Serwa and Sarah said in unison, “Stop!”

  The heavenly light died down, and the cell’s atmosphere returned to normal. The spell was over.

  Serwa smiled brightly. “Good job, Sarah. You were of great help. This isn’t my usual type of magic.” She then handed the now bloodless bundle of hair to Charles. “Put some of this in the mouth of any corpses you stumble over. Oh, and put some in any blood you serve. The more the better. Try to get some to the guards especially if you can.”

  Charles nodded and took the bundle.

  He turned to Alexander. “Due to today’s events, I doubt the Queen will wait any longer to put you all on trial. Be prepared. The rebels will be wearing black cloths around the wrist. It’s our symbol.”

  Alexander nodded. “Thank you. Make sure to tell the others.” Charles returned the favor and left the cell.

  Everyone was silent, waiting for the dungeon door to close behind the servant boy. When it did the four friends sighed in relief.

  “Now, what?” Sarah asked.

  Serwa shrugged. “Now, nothing. We return to our cells and wait to be summoned by the Queen.”

  “I hope it’s not a long wait. I want to see something besides this dungeon, “Jacob said.

  “I trust Serwa. Her plan will work.” Alexander relaxed against the stonewall.

  “It’s our only hope.” The witch looked at the circles of blood on the floor. “I-I’m feeling tired from the spell. I think I –”

  “But Serwa, this is the first time we haven’t been locked up,” Sarah said.

  Alexander watched as Serwa turned away from the child. She stood and held her arms. “Do you think we could talk for a minute?” he asked, stepping toward her.

  She spun around and walked back to her cell. “Rest up for tomorrow. Good night, Alexander.”

  With a move of her hand, the lantern went out. Once again the dungeon was covered in both darkness and silence.

  Chapter 19

  Sarah’s heart was beating faster than the broken drier in her family’s basement. Her mouth was dry, and she was struggling to catch her breath. This was it. Serwa had told her what to do, gone over the plan several times. Still, she couldn’t stop her stomach from turning into knots.

  Jacob squeezed her shoulder in an offer of comfort. She turned and smiled to thank him, but the small gesture had done nothing to make her feel better. She wouldn’t feel better until this whole ordeal was over.

  Two men pulled the prisoners by their chains into King William’s and Queen Isabella’s presence. Isabella sat on her throne, back straight and head high; William, like before, was very stoic.

  “Well, Alexander,” the Queen began, “I wish I could say you we’re looking well; however, as your mother I can’t lie to you.” She laughed, sheer joy rippling through her. “I thought you’d have killed the girl, but it seems like you have better control than believed. Even now... do you want her blood?”

  Alexander smirked. “I’d rather rip into your throat.”

  The King flinched, his brows pushed together.

  Alexander winked at him. “Did that touch a soft spot?”

  King William crossed his legs and remained silent.

  “Your father,” the Queen spoke, “has decided, out of the kindness of his heart, to give you one more chance. Join us now or die with the rest of your companions.” She gestured to them with a limp hand.

  “I’d rather die with them than live with you or father.” He eyed the surrounding crowd.“Or any of you animals! I will never live with you nor will I ever fight with you again. Just drive a stake through my heart now, please, so I can be on my way.”

  Alexander’s words filled the room. Vampires from the balconies glanced at one another, but none responded.

  William growled and sat forward in his throne. “My son, do not forget where you came from or what you have done. These monsters you call us, you were once one of them and still are. Just because you didn’t kill the redheaded human doesn’t mean I can’t see that bloody desire in your eyes.” He smiled and smoothed his hair back.

  Alexander looked at his chains. “Father, Mother,” he said in a calm tone. “May you burn in the underworld.”

  His parents laughed.

  “Kill him then?” William asked his wife.

  She nodded. “I guess that’s our only decision. Oh, well.”

  Several men, one holding a thick wooden stake, approached Alexander. They grabbed him by his hair and brought him down to his knees. One short guard kicked Alex in his back, forcing his chest forward.

  “At your command, my Queen,” said the guard.

  She grinned. “Kill –”

  “No,” Sarah shouted.

  Isabella scowled and looked at the child. “Don’t worry, you’ll be next...” The words fell from her thin lips as her eyes drifted to Serwa.

  The witch had remained silent during the entire exchange, but her mouth had never stopped moving. Only now did the Queen notice the witch’s muttering.

  “Stop it,” she ordered. “Stop! Where are her diamond chains?” The Queen’s black eyes grew darker.She jumped to her feet.

  The King took his wife’s hand. “My darling, what’s wrong?”

  “The witch is casting a spell,” she hissed. “Kill her! Kill her now!”

  The men dropped Alexander to the floor and took hold of Serwa. They raised the stake in the air and aimed at the witch’s neck. She continued to move her lips with a bowed head.

  “Now,” Isabella ordered. They thrust the stake down.

  “Arise!” Serwa cried, throwing her head up and meeting the gazes of the two royals. Everyone froze. They waited a moment for something, anything, to happen. All was silent, until the Queen sputtered a few chuc
kles.

  “Looks like your spell has failed, wench. And to think I was –”

  A vampire fell from the balconies, her skull cracking on the hard rock. A rotting creature looming over her bared its fangs and hissed at King William and Queen Isabella.

  Isabella stared wide-eyed as the whole room was engulfed in bitter screams. The rotting creatures filled the space, attacking all the civilian vampires. Everything had turned to chaos.

  The Queen looked at Serwa who was smiling wickedly right at her, one eyebrow arched. She began to thrust herself at the captive when she was stopped in her tracks by four dead vampires. William reached out, but he was overtaken, as well. A corpse with torn flesh had him by the scalp, his claws digging into the smooth skin by the King’s hairline.

  Isabella turned to her husband. There was a slight tick in his jaw just before the creature ripped his throat out, spraying blood all over his wife. She opened her mouth to scream, but her wails were drowned out by a cry from above.

  “Rebels!” a man shouted from the top balcony.

  “Attack!” was the response. The rebel vampires turned on their kin. They dropped to the floor and began fighting alongside their dead comrades. More vampires fell from the balconies breaking their necks and spines on the way down. Madness and anger filled the room, splattered blood and fresh bodies were the new decor. Throats were torn, eyes gauged, and intestines pulled from still breathing bodies.

  Serwa could only laugh, still held captive by her metal chains. Her golden eyes were illuminated.

  “I want to kill,” she said.

  “My King.” Charles appeared from amongst the madness, keys jangling in hand. He ran beside Alexander, released him from his chains and proceeded to free the others. The heavy metal ropes fell to the ground with a clank.

  “I told the rebels to be ready to fight. Remember you can spot us by the black cloth on our wrists. We’re going to aid you in any way we can.”

  Charles poked out his chest and saluted Alex.

  Alexander nodded. “Good. I hate to tell you this because of how devoted you are, but you need to go hide with the children, Charles.”

  He turned to Jacob. “You, as well.”

  “What? No, I want to fight,” Charles said.

  “Me, too,” replied Jacob.

  “Listen to me.” Alexander squatted down and squeezed both the boys’ shoulders. “You’re still too young, and you were never taught to fight. Jacob, this is not place for a human. If you two stay out here, you’re going to die. Do you understand that?”

  Jacob crossed his arms.

  Alexander sighed. “My direction is not without purpose. I’ll need someone to guard Charles and the other children.” He raised a brow at Jacob. “Can you handle that?”

  The boy huffed but uncrossed his arms and nodded. “Fine.”

  Alexander turned back to Charles whose lips were quivering.

  “Please, I need to kill him,” Charles said. “At least him. Let me kill him at least, please.”

  Alexander took a long breath. “You mean your father?”

  “Yes. That’s the only way she’ll forgive me,” the boy said.

  He shook his head and rubbed his eyes. “Damnit. Fine, I’ll bring him to you. What does he look like?”

  “He has four long scars on his left cheek from where my mother scratched him.”

  “Okay, then. Now, go hide.”

  The two boys sped off away from the battle and Alexander moved beside Sarah, examining the brawl in front of him.

  “Sarah, you should go hide with –”

  “No,” she retorted, “I’m controlling the dead vampires while Serwa fights. Go join the battle. Your people aren’t taking this lying down even with some of the guards under our control.”

  “But... are you sure you can handle this?”

  A corpse flew past Alexander. He saw it from the corner of his eye and turned around ready to defend, but to his surprise the corpse was already tearing into the neck of one of the guards. He turned back to Sarah.

  She smiled. “Like I said. I can handle it.” That was all the answer he needed. He ran into the crowd, fangs at the ready.

  It was a blur. A blur of weapons, bodies, limbs and blood. The air was thick with anger, hate and disgust. The loyal vampires were trying to overpower their enemies, but they were simply outnumbered and undertrained. They had no strategy, no plan. This was the perfect ambush. Some tried to run, but they could never find their way from the crowd fast enough before their body was ripped through. Some even begged for their lives, only to find the mercy they received to be the end of a sword. The floor became slippery with blood, the dark alluring red staining everywhere it spread.

  The rebels consisted of mostly young vampires with a few elders here and there. They were strong and fast, though not the best trained either. At least they had some sort of plan of attack.

  Alexander ran through the mob of people searching for Charles’s father, leaving a few dead bodies behind him. There was a hissing figure to his right, and Alexander swung around, eyes dead and monotonous, and took the woman’s jaw off with one hard swing. She fell to the ground, blood streaming from her now disfigured mouth. Two vampires cornered a young girl on the floor. He looked for the black cloth. The girl’s right wrist was decorated with the flag.

  Alexander launched himself in her direction. From behind, he stole one of their swords. The man turned around, and Alexander swung the sword and sliced him in two. The fallen man’s companion threw a punch that had no chance to land before he was decapitated. He bowed his head to the girl before returning to his search. And then like the needle in a haystack, there he was: Charles’s father.

  He was stout and thick with age. The man was drinking from a corpse that had been ripped apart, oblivious to the battle around him. He withdrew his fangs from the dead vampire’s neck. They were dripping with a dark purple liquid. Alexander twisted his face in revulsion. The man looked at him and beamed, but Alexander did not return the favor. He had found his target.

  Serwa was nearly exploding with pleasure as she disconnected the man’s arm from his body. He wailed in pain. She silenced him quickly with a swift move of her hand that ripped out his tongue. He fell to the floor, eyes spacious and his remaining hand searching his empty mouth. Serwa’s magic swam through her left arm and transformed into a sword. Three moves and the man had lost both his legs and his last arm. She watched as the life drained from his eyes, taking in a shuddering breath as the last drop vanished.

  She moved her arm behind her, killing an oncoming enemy. They were so dumb, easy prey for her.

  I want more. A shiver of anticipation ran through her. Her eyes darkened some.

  Then, she saw Queen Isabella, destroying the beautiful creatures she had raised from the dead and she suddenly realized that similar to a game of chess, the Queen was key. Kill her and have ecstasy.

  “I will ki –” A rebel slit the vampire’s throat. His sentence became gurgling nonsense.

  The young girl shrugged. “Maybe, next time, I’ll behead him. Less noise.” There was a bellow of rowdy laughter and applause as the last enemy died.

  Alex, who had used his own chains to capture Charles’s father, joined in on the applause.

  “What to do with her, my King?” A vampire stood behind Isabella with a knife at her throat. Alex narrowed his eyes and nodded toward the vampire.

  “Don’t touch her,” Serwa ordered. The man froze mid-motion. “Don’t you dare touch her. She’s mine.”

  The man who was decorated in old scars from past conflicts stared at the witch. He watched her then stepped away.

  Alexander turned to her. “Serwa, what are you doing?”

  She looked at him. Her beautiful eyes had turned an ordinary brown. She offered him no smile. He grabbed for her, and she pulled away.

  “Get away from me, Alexander.”

  “Why do you want to fight her? You are –”

  “Alexander,” Jacob spoke up, “let he
r fight.”

  He stared at him, bewildered. “No,” he refused, looking hard into Serwa’s face.

  “You can’t stop her,” Jacob said. “Some things ya have to settle on your own.”

  Alexander shook his head. “I don’t care.”

  “Now,” Serwa whispered. All of a sudden Alexander went flying back against the wall, held down by four rotting vampires. He fought under them.

  “Sarah.” The anger was evident in his voice. “Let me go. She’s going to die!”

  The redheaded child shook her head. “Not until she has done what she has had to do. You don’t understand, Alex. Serwa and I talked while you were knocked out.”

  “No.” He continued to struggle. “You don’t understand, Sarah.”

  The rebels raised their weapons.

  “Don’t hurt them,” Alexander ordered.

  Serwa inclined her head toward Sarah and walked toward Isabella while Alexander screamed in protest. When they were a few feet from one another, the two stopped. For a while, neither said anything. Then, finally, Isabella spoke, spitting her words. “Why couldn’t Abel kill you that night? You were only a meal.”

  Serwa smirked. “No. I wasn’t.”

  “Yes,” she retorted, “you were.”

  The witch took a step forward. She jutted her chin out and gazed into Isabella’s eyes. “He couldn’t kill me because Abel wasn’t like you. He loved me.”

  Isabella swung a long decrypted hand at Serwa’s face. The witch took a step back, dodging the oncoming attack. The old vampire growled at her. Serwa continued to grin.

  The vampire exposed her fangs. “He was my son! And you, with your craft cursed him. You killed him.”

  “I did not.” She pulled her arm back and jabbed Isabella in the face; the feeling of bone crushing under the blow started an internal spark. A black flame sprung to life.

  Isabella staggered backward. Blood flowed from her nose. She let it pour into her mouth and grinned.

  “You’re insane,” Serwa spat.

  She moved forward. “You killed my youngest son then made my second into a cowardly exile.”