by Lexi C. Foss
8
Howie
I’m flying again, above my younger self, watching in disgust and sadness as he embraces the monster he’s become and attacks the humans all around. He’s the killer Adiman made him, but wait, all isn’t as it seems. He isn’t actually sinking his teeth into the humans. He’s scaring them but not killing them. He’s allowing them to flee. Only Adiman is feeding from them. Could it be, even when I first changed, I didn’t drink human blood? Is it even possible?
I look closer at what’s happening. The people being attacked aren’t normal. There are tell-tale signs of powerful magic—they’re witches. I recognize the symbols on the walls around us. We’re in the cave of the eternal flame. Are we attacking them so Adiman can use their power to protect himself, making sure he can’t be destroyed?
“Come on, boy, enjoy yourself,” Adiman shouts at my younger self.
“I am. This is so much fun.”
I watch as the innocent faced man I once was pretends to bite down on one of the witches and feigns killing her. I’m the same age there as I am now, but that was before years of living in a forever changing world. I might have stopped aging when I was turned, but I know I look wearier, and I’m more worldly now. The child I was then still has a lot to learn. This is all a different world away, so why am I being shown it now?
While Adiman continues to enjoy his killing spree, I stare at the inscriptions on the walls. I wonder what they mean. I’d like to read each one. They’re a mixture of symbols and letters, but I can’t understand them. They mean nothing. It’s frustrating.
I don’t know why I’m having these visions now. It’s been over four hundred years, and Mishka needs me. She’s fighting the man who turned me. I thump myself a few times in the head in the hopes I wake up, but nothing happens.
The chaos of the past is still happening before my very eyes, and I say a silent prayer for everyone who is dying, even though they’d have become dust in the wind a long time ago. It feels really raw like I’m seeing it for the first time.
A piercing scream of pain emerges from among the sea of bodies and from under them an eerie blue glow is emitted. Adiman and my younger self both stop what they’re doing and step back from the witches they’re currently killing or pretending to kill.
The glow expands and from beneath the bodies emerges an older woman. She’s dressed in the finest silk sari, her hands covered in Mehndi patterns, and gold adorns most of her body in the form of bracelets and trinkets. I can tell instantly this woman is important. She’s the person with the most power in the room, and she sends out bolts of energy that freeze Adiman and my younger self to the spot.
I lower myself to the ground and perch behind a rock, so I can see what’s happening. I don’t remember any of this from before. This woman is magical. Doesn’t she have the power to end this by killing Adiman and my younger self? The blue glow fades to nothing, and I can see the woman is weakened. She’s been bitten, and her blood taken from her body by Adiman.
She hobbles toward the evil vampire, a look of disgust on her face.
“You’re the demon we’re all supposed to fear, a man in the wrong time and place, but I’m not scared of you. I know you’ve mortally wounded me, and I’ll die soon but not before I curse you for coming to our secret place and ruining its sanctity with your blood-lust. You don’t even know what you’ve stumbled upon.”
“Go to hell, old woman,” Adiman spits out and tries his hardest to move. “You’re dying, and when you’re dead, your spell will break, and I’ll finish the job I started. This cave is nothing but a means to an end, a feast for our stomachs, giving us the strength to move on to the next attack. I’ll rule India with just the fear of my name one day, and you’ll be dead and rotting.”
The old woman looks at him and cocks her head. “You really don’t have a soul in there, do you? I always thought maybe the undead could be saved. You’re the first one who’s stumbled on our sanctuary, and I see now I was wrong.”
The old lady hobbles over to my younger self, leaving a cursing Adiman vowing to rip her head from her body when her magic fades. The lady looks at my newly turned vampire self. It’s obvious I’ve not long been in the body of the undead as my movements aren’t natural. My younger self is still in the process of learning about what he’s become.
“You, however, are different,” she says, staring at the younger version of me. “You don’t belong in this body. I feel your hunger and your inner struggle at the blood flowing around you, but I know you didn’t kill anyone. Why not?”
“I killed them all,” my younger self protests, but I know he’s lying.
His eyes flick to Adiman, whose face purses into a shocked expression before he laughs it off.
“The old crone is dying, boy. She doesn’t know what she’s talking about. I saw you kill. I can smell the blood on you. Ignore her and fight against her hold on you.”
I want to shout at Adiman to be quiet and stop confusing my younger self. I can see the conflict on my face. I know the witch is telling the truth. She knows I’m undead, but it doesn’t define who I am. Does she recognize my ability to touch the flame?
“Hush,” the old lady looks at Adiman, and a magical band of energy wraps itself around his mouth to bind his speech. “I haven’t asked you to talk. You’re a fool and don’t know what’s happening. If I could destroy you, I would, but it’s not in my nature even though you’ve killed my people. I made a vow not to kill or destroy, and I won’t break it even for a monster like you. But I will tell you about this cave.”
Adiman tries to speak, to move, but he can’t. I take a step nearer to what’s happening. I wonder if I could trap Adiman while he’s constrained by magic and kill him here. Rid the world of his magic and undo all the death that has occurred throughout the years at his hands. I can’t move any closer, though. A magical barrier appears around me and holds me in place. The old lady turns around and looks straight at me,
“It’s not your time yet. Listen, that’s all you're here to do, to learn the truths you’ve had hidden from you. Now is the time to discover who you really are.”
I open my mouth to question how she can see me, but I think better of it when a strand of blue energy emerges from her hand and heads toward me, similar to the gag she placed over Adiman’s mouth. I lower my head to her, letting her know I’ll remain quiet and in the shadows.
“Who are you talking to?” my younger self questions. “There isn’t anyone else here.”
“You’ll learn in many years to come, boy, but for now, I want to tell you what this cave is.”
The old lady falls to the ground before she can say anything more, and I can see Adiman test the boundaries of his captivity. Her magic is holding, though. I’m still captured on the spot as well. Eventually, she recovers enough to continue her story.
“This cave is the home of our ancestors—a special place of magic ever since the world began. It’s been blessed with a flame so strong it will forever burn, no matter how many times you try to put it out. The eternal flame, the most powerful fire on Earth.”
The old lady closes her eyes. I can tell she’s fading fast now, her magic dwindling, especially when I feel the barrier holding me weaken. Adiman must sense the same because he starts to fight against his constraints again.
My younger self stares intently at the witch, a look of fear on his face. “The power of the flame shall link you both together for eternity,” she continues. “However, you’ll walk the earth apart, and one will have the power to destroy the other, but only when the time is right. I don’t know when that will be. Fate will decide.”
The witch then turns her head to Adiman before saying, “You are the monster, the evil behind what is happening here today, and one day you’ll die subservient to the flame. You wield great power as a vampire, and I can’t take it away from you. It was given to you when you were changed.” The old lady leans her head back against a rock and shuts her eyes. “You were changed by an original vampir
e many thousands of years ago. You’re already an ancient demon, and you’re destined to exist for much longer, but your companion, a newly created undead, he’s different. He wasn’t meant for the body you gave him, and he chooses not to take the blood of humans, preferring to feed on animals. His soul still resides within him. I feel it, and it warms me because I know one day, he’ll be the one to wield the power of the eternal flame and defeat you. The world will rejoice, and my people’s sacrifice will not be in vain. Until then, we’ll protect the flame. We’ll protect this young man’s memories and strip them from him. He’ll know he’s special but will remember none of these events until the time is right.”
My mind whirls as I take in everything the witch is saying. My soul is still within me. She’s the one who gave me the power to control the flame. I’m the way I am because she decreed it all those years ago. Now is my time.
The old lady’s breathing is becoming labored. She’s reaching the end of her life. “There’s one thing I can’t change, though. By ending one, the other will also die. It’s the power of the magic and punishment for the crimes against our people.” Both Adiman and I look around the cave as more symbols start to appear. “The drawings foretell the future.”
The witch surrounds my younger self with one last push of energy and he vanishes.
9
Mishka
Howie hasn’t moved since he was thrown from the flame and into the wall. I can’t help but think there’s more to it, though. There’s a heavy magical presence in this cave. I can feel it all through my body as I get closer and closer to Adiman, ready to attack him. He looks disturbed, like he’s seen a ghost. I guess he has if he was the vampire who changed Howie hundreds of years ago.
“Let my mother go,” I demand as I step closer to him.
I’m not going to let him kill her the same way he did my father. I’m closer this time, and in one jump, I could change into a leopard and attack. I’d be hard pressed to destroy him in leopard form, but I could separate him from my mother, which is my main concern. She can’t shift and defend herself until she is free of him. We’ve not found out why, but whenever Adiman holds us we’re unable to change into our natural form. It’s like he has control over the magic of our animal. It’s another thing headquarters has been researching, but Adiman, as always, is a mystery to one and all.
“And why would I do that, Mishka, when you’re trying to kill me? I thought I sent you a warning to leave me alone by murdering your father, but it doesn’t seem to have worked. I better send another-”
Before Adiman finishes his words, I’ve shifted into a leopard and leaped through the air at him. My sharp claws sink into his flesh as he reluctantly pushes my mother away to protect himself. Out of the corner of my eye, I see her change into her leopard form and prepare to attack.
“No, Mama, check on Howie,” I tell her through the telepathic link between us.
“Mishka,” she tries to protest as I continue to attack Adiman.
“Go,” I order again, and this time, she does as I’ve requested.
My talons slice and cut at Adiman, but nothing brings him down. His strength is unmatchable. Only the fire can kill him, but Howie wasn’t able to control it. I’m not sure why, but I need to learn the reason and fast. My mother needs to wake him so he can help.
Wait?
Maybe Howie doesn’t need to control the fire. Maybe I can just push Adiman into it. Jumping back from Adiman, I prowl around him, one large spotted paw in front of the other, trying to figure out how I can herd him toward the flame. He’s not stupid and senses my plan. He looks behind him to where the flame is burning and instantly jumps to a higher platform protruding from the wall of the cave.
“It’s not going to happen, little kitty. I’m not going anywhere near that flame so get the idea out of your head.”
I let out a loud growl of annoyance, but it’s silenced when a flash of blue light cascades through the cave. Eerie sounds bounce off the walls.
“It’s the power of the magic and punishment for the crimes against our people.”
Adiman freezes on the spot like he recognizes the feminine voice.
“You’ve failed this far, old lady, and you’ll fail again.” Adiman jumps farther up to the top of the cavern and disappears before I have a chance to figure out where he’s going or why.
“The drawings foretell the future.”
The voice disappears just like an echo in time traveling through the cave. The symbols on the walls glow blue before they too return to normal.
“What was that?” My mother projects her voice into my head.
“I’m not sure, but I’ve never seen Adiman scared before.” I jump over a small ridge to where my mother is with Howie. He’s still unmoving. “How is he?” I question, and my mother laughs in my head.
“I think it’s a silly question, Mishka. I’m not entirely sure how you check whether a vampire is all right after an accident. They pretty much appear dead to the touch all the time.”
I return her laugh with my own. “We need to get him out of here and back to headquarters.
“I’m not dragging him all the way to Delhi. You have magic at your disposal, girl, use it,” my mother protests, knowing I like to do things the old-fashioned way.
“All right, Mama, but not in this cave. We have to drag him out first. There’s already enough magic in here, and until I can figure out what it is, I’m not bringing any more inside.”
I lean down, and sinking my teeth into the fabric of Howie’s t-shirt, I start to drag him. My mother sighs in her head and then reluctantly helps.
“You’d think, given he’s dead and doesn’t eat anything, he wouldn’t weigh this much,” she complains, but it doesn’t take us long to get him outside where I call for help.
“How is he?” my mother questions as I sit beside Howie’s bedside in the Indian headquarters.
It took a bit of reassurance on my part to get the residents to accept that it was fine to bring him into one of the master bedrooms, rather than lock him in the dungeons again. Eventually, I received their approval, even if the staff did insist on increasing the garlic in all the food—in fact, so much the premises reeks of it now.
“Still unconscious, although I don’t think he’s in a coma. He’s been twitching. It’s like he’s dreaming in a deep sleep. I wish I could see into his head and learn what his dreams are about.” I stroke Howie’s forehead. His skin is cold to the touch as I expected. I wonder what it felt like when it was warm over four hundred years ago. Why didn’t the eternal flame work for him?
I get up and allow my mother to sit on the chair. She also places her hand on Howie’s forehead.
“This isn’t unconsciousness, like you say, it’s dreaming. He’s learning about his past while in a deep sleep,” my mother confirms.
She gets to her feet and goes over to where a box of herbs is placed on a sideboard in the room. The doctor came in with it earlier, but he took one look at Howie and realized he didn’t know how to treat the undead so left. I couldn’t blame him. Conventional medicines and practices don’t exactly work on someone like Howie.
“We need to wake him so we can find out what he’s learned. It will allow us to prepare for the future. There’ll be time enough for him to go back under later,” my mother says, and I watch as she starts to mix some of the herbs.
“Make sure you don’t put anything in it that could hurt him, Mama.”
She turns and winks at me. “Don’t worry. I learned this from your grandmother. There’s nothing to cause him any issues. It’s just a remedy to wake someone from a stupor.”
My mother finishes mixing the herbs, using a small pestle and mortar, and hands the concoction to me.
“Draw it in a circle on his forehead and then stand back. I’ve only seen this done once, and the person woke instantly. I’m not sure how it’ll work on a vampire. He could wake with his fangs out, and I don’t fancy either of us getting bitten.”
“Mama, se
riously,” I exclaim, now worried about using the disgusting smelling mixture.
“Come on, hurry up. I want to know what he’s been dreaming about.”
I shake my head. “You’ve had enough excitement for one day, I think. I’m not putting this stuff anywhere near him until you’re safely in your bedroom. Go and rest. I’ll come and see you once I know whether it works or not.”
My mother huffs, “Spoilsport.”
“Go,” I order, and she shuffles off out of the room, moaning at me.
“Ok, Howie, it’s time to wake up and tell me all your secrets.”
I place a small dot of the mixture of herbs on his forehead and step back. Mama was right, the mix works immediately. Howie’s eyes open wide, and he sits bolt upright but with no fangs.
“Where am I? What time is it?” His eyes dart around the room, trying to take everything in. When they fall on me, he relaxes and lies back on the bed. “It’s modern day.”
“Yes,” I reply, and perching on the end of the bed, I reach for his hand and wrap my fingers around his to offer him comfort.
“What did you learn this time?” I question, and Howie shuts his eyes for a moment.
“The horrendous truth,”
“What?” I shake my head not understanding him.
“Adiman and I are linked. I’m the only one who can kill him, but it’ll mean me dying as well.”
“Hi, Miranda.” I pick up the call from the vice president of E.V.I.E., having left Howie alone in his room with his thoughts. We’re both in shock at what he saw in his vision.
Miranda is Jude’s assistant and takes charge when he’s indisposed. I’m guessing he’s out on a quest, hence the reason she’s calling me.
“Hi, Mishka, how are you?” the pretty blonde with vibrant blue eyes and a New York accent, who’s often used as vampire bait, asks.
“I’m good. We escaped without Adiman attacking. It was like he was scared.”