E.V.I.E.: 13 Slayers, 13 Missions

by Lexi C. Foss

  My body itches with an overwhelming need to find out.

  I’m out in the sun. I can’t be a vampire.

  It hits me. This is most definitely before I was turned.

  “Come in here, boy. I need to show you something,” the voice demands, and I realize it’s coming from inside a cave. I look around the scenery. It’s the same one Mishka and I are in currently. This is India, but it’s not possible.

  “Coming, sir,” the younger version of me, in years not age, calls out and makes his way inside.

  I lower myself to the ground and follow him.

  “Sir?” the boy calls out, “where are you?”

  “Back here,” the voice responds and a chill runs down my spine.

  This feels familiar. As I follow my human self, I notice a book on the ground. It’s a journal, a tale of an expedition to a foreign land. It’s dated 15th July, 1590. That’s sixteen years before I remember anything. I glance quickly over the pages and see reference to a group of travelers in a hot land the locals call India. No one can know they are there, though. It has to be kept a secret because what they seek could change the world or end up changing them forever.

  I gulp and jump a little when the voice comes again from the back of the cave, “How old are you, Howie?” it asks, and my younger self freezes on the spot.

  “Twenty-three years, sir.”

  I have an age. The cave wall stands behind me, and I rest against it for a moment needing to catch my breath. I know how old I am. If I was twenty-three in 1590, then I would have been born in 1567. Which makes me four hundred and fifty-three years old? So old, so many years on this earth!

  “Halfway through your life. How would you like to live forever?” The deep voice breaks into my joy of discovering my age, and I focus again on the conversation between the unseen man and my younger self.

  “That’s not possible, sir.”

  “What if I told you it was?” The voice grows menacing, and I watch in horror as a face from my nightmares emerges into the light of the embers of the fire…Adiman. His features are those of a vampire, and he bares his fangs at my human self, who doesn’t move at first. He just stands frozen to the spot as I silently urge him to run.

  “Where are the others?” my younger self questions, and for the first time, I realize there are bodies everywhere in the cave. I can smell the fresh blood.

  “Dead, gone, I’ve not changed them. It’s only you I want.”

  My younger self takes a step back. “Why? What’s special about me?”

  “I don’t know, but destiny will tell us.”

  Adiman growls deeply and launches himself through the air and onto my younger self. I had no chance of escaping as I watch Adiman pin me to the ground and plunge his fangs into my neck. I instantly reach up to where I still have the mark of the wound. It aches.

  “Join me.”

  Adiman pulls back and using a sharp, taloned nail rips opens the skin of one arm to allow his blood to flow. My younger self’s eyes roll in his head as he prepares for death, but it doesn’t come as Adiman thrusts his self-inflicted, open wound against the young man’s mouth. I sense the powerful magical taste on my lips. I remember not wanting it but having no choice. I remember being changed and becoming the monster I am now. Adiman, the man I seek to kill with Mishka, he’s the one who changed me.

  “Howie.” Mishka’s voice penetrates my dream as she shakes me. “Howie wake up.”

  I sit bolt upright, gasping for air even though I don’t need it. My lungs no longer function. My head spins and bile forms at the base of my throat.

  Mishka takes a step back from me when she sees my agitation.

  “Are you all right? You were screaming ‘no’.”

  I look around the cave, recognizing it as the place in my dream for the first time. The place I was changed. I pull away from Mishka, needing to get as much distance between us as possible with my volatile mind working overtime.

  “No.” She grabs me. “Talk to me. What did you see?”

  My mouth moves, but no words come out until Mishka reaches up and slaps me hard across the face. I instantly change into my vampire self, fangs lowering in my mouth and bumps appearing on my forehead. Mishka steps back into a fighting stance with a stake in her hand.

  “Don’t even think about it. Tell me what you saw?”

  I drop to the floor, defeated with the knowledge of who I am and how I came to be.

  “I was changed in this cave.”

  “What?” Mishka lowers to her knees in front of me. “Explain.”

  “In 1590, I was on a secret mission. I was changed here.” I feel a chill wash over my skin even though I can’t feel hot or cold. “Mishka, I know who did it.”

  “Who?” she questions, concern glittering in her eyes.

  “It was Adiman.”

  “Adiman?”

  “Yes.”

  Mishka reaches out and strokes her hand over where my skin is still raised on my forehead.

  “I’m sorry.”

  “Don’t be, at least I know. I’ll enjoy helping you kill him even more. I’m guessing this is my destiny. I only wish I could have done it sooner,” I reach up and place my hand on Mishka’s cheek, “because then I might have been able to save your father.”

  We stare at each other for a few moments, a strong intensity between us I can’t explain. Eventually, she shakes her head before pulling away.

  “Nothing could have saved my father. As you say, destiny governs us all, and it was his time. Now it’s Adiman’s.”

  6

  Adiman

  “Bring me a girl,” I growl at my number two, still elated by my victory

  The image of Mishka’s face as I killed her father is still at the forefront of my mind. It was glorious and will only be beaten when I finally kill her, but I think I’ll toy with her for a little while longer. Kill her mother next, and maybe a couple of her slayer friends if I get a chance. Anything to slowly peel away the layers of hope she’s built up around herself. A false optimism she’ll be able to defeat me one day.

  No one can defeat me. I know because many have tried.

  They’ve all ended up the way Mishka will eventually. In a pool of blood at my feet. I wonder if I can change her, and make her the same as me? It would be the ultimate victory.

  I’m still mulling over my plan when my deputy brings me the girl I desire. She’s little more than twenty, and her wide eyes stare around the room in terror, seeking salvation. She’ll get none here, though, just me naked on my king-sized bed, ready to feed. I allow the fangs in my mouth to descend to show her just what sort of monster I am. She struggles against the strong hold of my deputy, but she’ll not escape him.

  “You have two choices, the easy or the hard way,” I tell her, and reaching for my cock, I start to stroke it to hardness. “Submit to me, and I’ll give you endless life. I’ll change you, so you’ll never age. You’ll always look as pretty as you do now.”

  The girl shakes her head. “Never. I’ll never stop trying to fight you, demon. I’m not going to become like you. I’d rather die.” Her desperate screams fill the room as she tries again to escape.

  “Foolish as ever.” I step forward to my second-in-command and pull the girl away from him. Even as she’s fighting for her life, she’s no match for my strength, and I instantly push her onto the bed.

  “One last chance to submit.”

  “Fuck you,” she spits in my face.

  My anger reaches boiling point as I direct my dick into her core and find it unwelcoming to my touch. She really does despise me. I sink inside her simultaneously as my teeth find the sweet spot on her neck and pierce the skin. I suck the blood from her body as she still struggles and screams beneath me. My hips buck wildly to take her innocence while my teeth take her life.

  Eventually, she stills beneath me, and I know she’s gone. I push inside her sex one final time and finish. Such a waste of a tight pussy, but I won’t turn those who don’t want it. I did it o
nce before, and it led to untold trouble.

  Pulling out, I motion for my deputy to take the girl’s body. He and the others can feed on the last of her blood and enjoy the dwindling warmth of her pussy if they wish.

  I relax back down on the bed, licking my lips at the thought of the succulent blood I’ve just savored. But, my peace is shattered when one of the changed men I use as a lookout runs into the room and falls to his knees before me. I rise from my relaxed position and look down at him.

  “I trust there’s a reason for this intrusion. I’ve just fed, and I’m tired.”

  “There is, great leader.” The man still keeps his head bowed.

  “Well, tell me. I don’t have all day.”

  “It’s the slayer Mishka. She’s teamed up with one of our own and is heading to find the eternal flame. She was last spotted in the Himalayan mountains.”

  “What?” I jump from the bed and pull the man to his feet. “Why was I not informed the moment she left the village?”

  “I didn’t want to disturb your victory at her father’s death. She didn’t seem to be looking for trouble as she was traveling to England.”

  “She formed an alliance with another vampire and is seeking the eternal flame. Everything the girl does is a danger to me.” I can’t believe what I’m hearing from the man who now has my hands around his neck. I squeeze harder and harder. “Jatin,” I shout through the door to my deputy. A few seconds later, he appears, licking his lips. He’s obviously been sampling the blood of the girl as well.

  I allow my vampire form to take over. “Prepare the army. We’re heading to the Himalayas, but first, you and I have something to pick up on the way.”

  “What about him?” Jatin asks about the man whose neck is nearly broken between my hands.

  I snort a malicious laugh before handing the man over to Jatin. “Throw it out into the sunlight.”

  7

  Mishka

  “According to the book, the cave should be just around the corner,” Howie informs me as we reach the summit of one of the taller mountains in the Himalayas.

  Howie has fared well with the climb, and he’s been carrying my bag ever since I shifted to my leopard form a few hours ago, enabling me to hold on to the steep cliff edges a bit better. His body is strong and muscular, and he’s got an insane ability to jump high and long when needed. I’m guessing it’s part of his vampire skill set, along with being able to shift into a bat or cat at will. He hasn’t changed at all since we’ve been together, apart from showing me his fangs when I slapped him back there in the other cave. He’s remained in human form the entire time and relied on his enhanced strength.

  The only downside to me being in cat form is we haven’t been able to talk to each other. I’ve missed his conversation. During the long journey, I’ve learned a lot about him and the world he’s lived in. Over the centuries, he’s tried to witness key events he believed would be considered of historical importance in the future. He told me about the death of Guy Fawkes, the trenches during both world wars, the historic visit of Prince Edward to India, the meeting with my great-great-grandmother, and even meeting Marie Antoinette just before she had her head chopped off.

  I thought Howie would have led an existence hidden away in the shadows like most vampires, but he has experienced so much. No wonder when I look at him sometimes, he looks tired of adventure and just wants to settle down into a more normal, peaceful life. Maybe when this is over, he can, although it’s still a life that will never cease unless he chooses to end it himself or another vampire or slayer does it for him.

  When we reach the cave, I shift back into my human form and re-arm myself with my weapons. When I’m ready, I find Howie staring at some inscriptions on a wall at the entrance.

  “Can you read them?” I question, peering around his shoulder to get a better look at the words.

  “No, it looks like it’s in an ancient language. I’m not sure what the symbols mean.” He continues to stare at them.

  “But…” I hesitate next to him.

  “But, I recognize them. I’ve seen them before somewhere. I can’t think where, though.”

  “It’s probably the language of the ancient people of the Himalayas.”

  “Probably…” Howie’s still reluctant to walk away from the markings.

  I pull my phone out of my pocket and take a few pictures before sending them off to our headquarters.

  “Hopefully they’ll be able to identify them and let us know what they mean.” I smile warmly and tuck my phone back in my pocket.

  Howie returns the smile and says, “The modern cell phone is the one invention I’ve never been able to master. I find it intrusive. A box that knows your every movement and allows you to do so many different things.”

  I let out a little chuckle. “It took me a while. I’m not exactly technologically minded. I prefer to do things the old-fashioned way, but it does come in handy sometimes.”

  The phone pings in my hand. I look down at the message on it.

  “They’ll start investigating the inscriptions straight away,” I inform Howie.

  He looks into the cave. “Will it work while we’re in there?”

  “Not normally, but these are special phones. They’ve got a bit of magic built into them to boost the signal and maintain the charge. Basically it will track me anywhere I go, even if that’s the underworld. I found that out when I went to visit a friend there once.”

  “You’ve been to the underworld!” he exclaims in shock.

  “A couple of times.”

  I motion for him to take the lead, and he shakes his head in disbelief at my comment as he enters the cave with a torch in his hand, lighting the way. I follow him with my own torch switched on, and between us, we’re able to get a good look around the cave.

  The symbols continue inside. I take a couple more pictures and send them to the team. The deeper we descend into the cave, the hotter it gets. I would expect it to be the other way around. Most deep caves I’ve been in are damp and smell musty but not this one. I can smell the eternal flame, its smoky scent hanging heavily in the air the closer we get to our destination.

  “Have you thought about how we’re going to take this flame with us?” Howie questions.

  “I’m hoping we can put it in a jar I’ve brought with me. Other than that, I’m at a loss.”

  “This is a well-thought-out plan then,” Howie laughs at me.

  “I thought I’d just wing it.”

  “I’m sure we’ll figure something out.” Howie bumps playfully into my shoulder, and I smirk up at him.

  I hadn’t realized how much taller than me he is. I’m only about five foot five, but he must be well over six feet. I’m enjoying being with him. It’s nice to work with someone for once—the life of a slayer can be lonely sometimes.

  “It should be just ahead,” Howie confirms as he refers back to the book.

  He returns it to his bag before we crouch down to get through a narrower part of the cave. When we’re able to stand at full height again, my mouth drops open at the sight of the flame in front of us.

  “We found it!” I exclaim.

  I accept Howie’s hand as we move down a steep ravine and closer to the flame. I can feel the heat coming from it, and as I stare deep into the flame, I can see it’s not the normal color of fire. It’s outer layers are red and orange as expected, but inside the colors change in the pattern of a rainbow: blues, greens and purples all dance for us.

  “It’s beautiful.” Howie reaches out for it. “I’ve never seen anything like it, and I’ve got a bit of a hard-on for fire.”

  I laugh at his comment, before freezing as a loud, piercing scream fills the cavernous space. We both spin around, searching for the source, and my stomach flips when I see it.

  My mother stands pulled up tightly against Adiman.

  No.

  Not again, I can’t lose her as well.

  “I wouldn’t touch the flame if I were you,” Adiman says as
he jumps from the top of the cavern to where we’re standing.

  He takes the force of the jump, so it doesn’t hurt my mother, from what I can see, but she screams the entire way down, and it echoes off the walls and leaves my heart beating at twice its normal speed.

  When Adiman lands, he stares at Howie, who has now turned to face him,

  “You? I left you for dead,” the evil vampire spits out.

  “For dead?” Howie stumbles over his words behind me. He doesn’t remember what Adiman is talking about. “I thought you created me?”

  “I did, and I believed I’d ended you as well. It seems I’ll need to make sure I finish the job this time.”

  While the two men speak, my eyes flit around the room to see if Adiman is accompanied. I can’t see anyone else, but I know he’ll have support close by. For now, though, it’s just us.

  Adiman and I start to circle around each other with him still holding on tightly to my mother. I know what the man is capable of now, and I won’t let him get away with it a second time, not when I have the eternal flame so close.

  “You won’t get a chance,” Howie shouts, and before I can stop him, he thrusts his hand into the center of the eternal flame. However, the flame seems to reject Howie because it instantly sends him flying backward in the air and into the cave wall. He falls down unmoving.

  “It seems your plan has failed,” Adiman taunts, and I gasp in shock.

  Howie was supposed to be able to touch the flame. Without it, I can’t defeat the monster in front of me, and he has my mother. I won’t be defeated, though. I can't. I have to win this fight. While the flame still burns, I have a chance. I might not be able to touch it as I’m not the one prophesied in the book, but it doesn’t mean I can’t send Adiman flying into it. Taking a deep breath, I pull out a stake and charge.