Echoes of Blood and Glory

by Ripley Proserpina

  A change came over him as he began to reveal what he’d been trying to hide. His shoulders rounded, slumping, and he let out a long breath.

  He was tired. It was his secret, and he was showing it to her, waiting…

  For what? For her to say, fuck this, I only want you if you’re strong and fast?

  “Horus, I love you.” She went to him and wrapped her arms around his waist. She squeezed him as hard as she could, and he squeezed her back. “I love you.” This part was harder to say though, “I’m sorry my blood did this to you.”

  “It is not the best time for my brother to become mortal,” Ra said, voice low, “but mortal does not mean weak. You are never weak, Horus.”

  He chuckled but squeezed her harder. This wasn’t an easy admittance for him to make. “Everything has changed now,” he said. “Not only must you be careful, but I must be as well, doubly, so my brothers are safe while protecting us both.”

  “A mortal life,” Seti whispered. “I never imagined it. A beginning, middle, and end.”

  “I’ve had two beginnings and two endings,” she mused. “I would like a middle.”

  “As would I,” Ra answered. “The middle would be where all the life was lived.”

  “It feels like all I’ve had is endings.” Horus shared his memories with her. The smell of death. The sight of a small boy, growing up before his eyes until he was an old man, breath rattling in mucus-filled lungs.

  “You aren’t mad?” He could have gone on forever if she hadn’t given him her blood. Shouldn’t he be upset that he was changing?

  “No,” Horus replied. “You’re getting older, and now, I will get older with you.”

  A sudden thought popped into her head. “If Dr. Stone doesn’t kill me.”

  “I will not let that happen,” Horus growled. “None of us will. I have enough strength left in me to kill whatever might attack us. It may take me longer to heal, but I will heal.”

  Just like her.

  “We have to be extra careful,” she said, repeating what he had said.

  “We will be,” Seti replied. “But now, it is getting dark and it’s time to rest. There is food in the backpack for you mortals. You need to keep up your strength.”

  Horus growled. “I am still stronger than you.”

  Seti waved his hands, as if warding him off. “No one is saying you aren’t.” But he smiled, clearly poking at his brother. He bent and unzipped the bag at his feet. Withdrawing two packs of food, he studied them. “Dried fruit and nuts. Here.” He flung them toward Rose and Horus. “Eat up.”

  Dried cranberries and cashews. She was thirsty just thinking about it. Luckily, they had more than enough ice-cold water to wash this down.

  Rose ripped into the bag and shook some into her hand. She tossed the entire handful into her mouth, chewing thoughtfully. It wasn’t too bad, sweet and salty mixed. Until she started chewing, she didn’t realize how hungry she was. This diet of donuts, coffee, and whatever they could stuff into a bag was old. What she wouldn’t give for the days in her old apartment, when she could make a meal out of spaghetti and a jar of sauce.

  Or Horus could. It would be nice to have roots somewhere, a place she didn’t have to run from. Room enough for all of them.

  Horus chewed, grimacing. “I might be a little less than vampire, but I am not a squirrel.” He tossed the bag on the floor, but Rose noticed it was already empty.

  There was no way he was full from that. “Maybe you need to go hunting?” She glanced at his two brothers. “When was the last time any of you had—you know.” She bared her teeth.

  “It has been a while,” Ra noted. “You’re right. That might help. Horus. We’ll go together.” He stood, but Horus shook his head.

  “No.” Was it her imagination, or was his face paler? “The thought of blood holds no appeal for me right now.”

  The brothers were quiet, and then, in what had to be silent agreement, moved on. “We’ll need more food,” Seti said, “if we’re going to keep this giant of a man full. You get mean when you get hungry.”

  All Horus did was grunt, leading Rose to believe that the comment was based in truth, even if it had been meant to tease.

  The rest of the evening was spent wrapped in a sleeping bag. The modest heat of the fireplace wasn’t enough to keep the drafty room warm. She and Horus zipped two bags together, sharing body heat. Soon, the drafts were forgotten and she was warm and sleepy.

  Ra and Seti stood guard, and when she said stood, she meant stood. They didn’t sit, not once, and Ra stared out the window without blinking.

  It got harder to keep her eyes open, and with Horus holding her tight, she fell asleep.

  Every part of her body hurt. Rose sipped cold water and stared out at the frozen scenery. She’d been warm last night, but the floor was hard. Her hip, where she rested on her side, was bruised, and her neck ached. She reached a hand up and rubbed at it.

  “We’ll raid some nearby homes.” Ra put his hands over hers. His fingers dug into her tense muscles, easing them much more effectively than she had.

  “It won’t last too long,” she said. Her body would eventually smooth out whatever kinks she had. Already, from the time she woke up to when she filled her glass, the pain in her hip had lessened from unable to be ignored to manageable.

  But Ra’s hands were magic, so she wasn’t tempted to ask him to stop.

  Horus was in the bathroom. They’d heated up water on the stove, and he sat now, in the steaming tub. He hadn’t been himself this morning, bleary eyed and slow-moving. Seti had gone out to find them more food—better food. Something that would give his brother some energy, since it appeared he no longer drank blood.

  Rose placed the glass on the windowsill and let out a breath, imagining the door between her mind and the others sliding closed. No matter what Horus or his brothers said, she’d taken his immortality from him, and she’d never forgive herself for it.

  Distracted, she reached for her glass. Her fingers slipped on the surface, and she dropped it, catching it right as it hit the ground. The old cup shattered, slicing the palm of her hand.

  Blood welled up in the cut, but it was followed with the pinching heat of healing. “Shit,” she muttered, walking over to the sink. She let the water run over it, sluicing away the blood before wiping it over her jeans.

  Ra stood frozen by the window. He held in his hands the glass stained red by her blood.

  “Ra?”

  “Your blood…” He was talking to her, but he didn’t look at her. When his voice trailed off, she had the sense he’d forgotten all about her. Was he thinking about what her blood had done to his brother? What it had done to the world?

  Her blood was the cause of a lot of pain and suffering right now. And that wasn’t her just being dramatic—even if she had that tendency, like her mother had always said.

  “Perhaps he’ll be immortal if he has your blood running through his veins?” Was that a possibility?

  He glanced at her sharply before walking toward the sink. He rinsed the glass off and dropped it in a plastic bag that was making-do as trash.

  “Marcus, Hudson, and Briar will know,” she kept going, hoping to wipe the shadows and sadness off his face. “We’ll get through this, and then we’ll help him. I’ll do anything to figure it out.”

  “That wasn’t what I was thinking at all,” he replied shortly.

  Oh. Well, he’d certainly put her in her place, hadn’t he? Perhaps next time she went about speaking for him, she should open the door between their minds first. It would save her a lot of embarrassment.

  His hand blurred as he lifted it to her face. “I was wondering,” he whispered, “if it was possible if the same thing could happen to me. If I could live a mortal life after drinking your blood.”

  “Horus was near death,” she replied in a soft voice. “He barely had any blood left in his body when I gave him mine. I wouldn’t risk something like that.”

  His lips turned white as he pre
ssed them together. “Why? Is a lifetime with me less appealing than one with my brothers?”

  What? “Of course that’s what I want!” Wait. “You want a lifetime with me?” Had he really said that?

  Tapping the spot between her eyebrows, he smiled and used her words back. “Of course that’s what I want.”

  She stood speechless.

  “If only we didn’t have the world to save,” he continued. “We could begin with that lifetime right now.”

  “How bothersome,” she said, a little lightheaded. “Saving the world, I mean.”

  “Quite.” He leaned down to take her mouth in a quick, soft kiss before his smile disappeared. “But do you really? Want to stay with me after all this?”

  “Very much so.” These guys were her family.

  In the bathroom, water splashed, and she sighed. Her worry for Horus overwhelmed her and made her stomach clench. They were going to go into battle, and he would be at risk. More so even than she would be, because she would heal from her wounds. Granted, she wouldn’t grow another head if a vampire happened to rip it off, but from most wounds, she’d recover.

  The door opened, and Horus came out. He shivered a little, crossing his arms over his chest. “I don’t think I ever appreciated warm water so much.” He gave a little chuckle, like he was trying to lighten the mood, but Ra frowned deeper.

  “How do you feel?” he asked.

  “If my mortal life is going to be spent with you asking me how I feel and worrying whether I am cold, the next sixty years are going to be very boring.”

  25

  Horus

  Horus had had a lot of time to think over the many years of his existence. And sixty good years, truly living, was okay with him.

  But from the look on Ra’s face, it wasn’t okay with him.

  “What did you do?” Seti’s voice in his head startled him. “Even from Lexington, I can feel our brother’s fear.”

  “I may have said something insensitive.”

  “That’s my job,” his twin replied. “I’m on my way back with real food. Don’t bite anyone’s head off.”

  Horus’s stomach growled at the thought of whatever Seti identified as “real” food. He was starving. He’d never been a slave to his body’s needs before—his blood lust had been fueled by revenge, not hunger. Unlike other vampires.

  Then again, he’d never really been a vampire.

  Rose hugged him, warmth seeping into him. “How did you sleep?” she asked.

  He’d slept like the dead, but one quick glance at Ra’s stony face said that sentiment should be kept quiet. “Well,” he replied. “Though the floor is not at all comfortable.”

  “You can say that again,” Rose replied. “I woke up with all kinds of knots and bruises.”

  “Did you?” he asked. “Show me.” He wondered if her body looked like his when he’d taken his clothes off and crawled into the hot water. One particular place on his hip had a fist-sized bruise from sleeping on his side.

  “They’re—” She cleared her throat and gave a little shiver, like a draft had swirled past her. “They’re gone now.”

  Right. Most minor injuries on her body would heal.

  Ra stared at him, and Horus waited for him to say something, but he turned his head toward the pond. “Something’s coming.”

  “Seti is,” he said. “He’s returning from Lexington.”

  “No.” He straightened. “Stay here.”

  In a flash, Ra went to the door. Horus tried to follow. His body should have responded as quickly as he made the decision to run, but he tripped over the sleeping bag he’d forgotten about.

  “Stay. Here.” Ra used all the power of his voice, which was wasted on Horus, and in the blink of an eye, was gone.

  “What is it?” Rose asked, hurrying to the window to look outside.

  Just like his reflexes though, his hearing was more human, and Ra hadn’t given him one indication of what made him rush from the cabin. “I don’t know.”

  26

  Rose

  Rose began pulling open drawers in the tiny kitchen, but each one was empty, except for mouse poop.

  They had no way to defend themselves if something was coming toward them.

  “I won’t wait here.” Horus grabbed his boots and shoved his feet into them. “I’m going out.”

  That’s not a good idea. She stopped herself before she said it aloud. How many times did she want to help with something, do something, only to be told she couldn’t?

  Well, she wasn’t going to stop Horus. She would help him. Searching the cabin for her own boots, she tripped over the same stupid sleeping bag Horus had. “I’m coming with you.”

  He opened his mouth but shut it. Apparently, they both had opinions they decided to keep to themselves. Good.

  They rushed outside. Even slower, Horus was contained strength. He breathed in deeply, head swiveling to find the threat.

  Swearing under his breath, he squinted toward the pond. “I don’t know what it is. Breathe in. Do you?”

  The last time she’d smelled a crawler, it was on her, so she didn’t have a lot of hope, but she did as he asked. She could smell the pines and wood smoke. That was it. “Nothing.”

  In the distance, there was a huge splash. “The pond,” Horus muttered. “They’re coming across the pond.” He spun to face her, gripping her arms. “Rose. Go back to the cabin and hide.”

  “No way,” she replied.

  “They’re in the pond.” Ra’s voice came through their connection. “They’re over the barriers. Run.”

  “I have to help him.” Horus jogged backward. “Please, Rose. Please hide.”

  “I can’t,” she replied.

  Glancing over his shoulder, he shook his head. “I can’t wait.” He grabbed her arms, and hefted her over his shoulder. Panting, he hurried up the steps and shoved her through the door. “I’m sorry,” he told her. “Seti, she’s in the cabin.”

  Rose landed hard on her butt and scrambled to her hands and knees.

  He took off, leaping down the steps before she could get to her feet. At the doorway, she caught sight of his form disappearing into the forest. Rose ran after him. But in seconds, she lost sight. He might have been vampire slow, but he was human Olympic sprinter fast. And there was no way she could keep up.

  A cramp formed in her side, so she squeezed it hard with her hand. Pissed she couldn’t put on a burst of super-speed, she turned back to the cabin. If Ra fell in the pond, or worse, if Horus did, she’d need to warm them up. Maybe playing nurse wasn’t what she had in mind, but she’d figure out a way to be useful.

  As she walked back to the cabin, catching her breath, she listened hard. She’d come out here with only her wits, and she needed to keep them in case something decided to take her down.

  Easy pickings. That’s what she’d made herself. The least she could do was be prepared to issue commands should those crawlers or soldiers who happened out of the forest be hers. And if they were vampires—well—Rose would jump off that bridge when she got to it.

  The trees thinned, and she made out the back of the car in the driveway. The door to the cabin was still open. She approached it when from the corner of her eye, there was a bright splash of color and movement.

  Her brain had a hard time catching up with her eyes.

  “Seti?”

  He opened his mouth to speak to her, but no words came out. It was the horror of his brother’s injury all over again. “Ra! Horus!”

  In the distance came an answering roar. “I’m trying!” Ra’s voice was desperate.

  Seti collapsed at the same time she reached him. Bite marks covered his hands and face. His neck.

  His legs were mangled, the jeans shredded. Through the rips, she made out bone, and his foot—Rose forced herself not to heave. How did he heal from this?

  A rush of blood poured from a wound. She had to move. Not freeze. “Seti. You’re bleeding, I need to stop it so you’ll heal.”

 
He wore a belt, so she ripped that off to wrap around the upper part of his leg, way up high, almost to his groin. But as tight as she pulled it, the blood continued to gush.

  “So many.” Horus’s voice came through for an instant before it disappeared.

  It was a shot in the dark, but she had to try. Taking a deep breath, she screamed at the top of her lungs, “Leave them!”

  It frightened the birds, but that was all it did, because she knew, if it had worked, Ra and Horus would have been beside her the next second.

  There was a stick next to Seti’s head, and she grabbed it as he grasped at her hands. “No, Seti. I have to tighten it. Let me.”

  She managed to get it around the belt and twist. One booted heel slammed into the ground as Seti let out a god-awful roar. It was matched with an answering roar in her mind as his brothers responded.

  They were breaking.

  Hands slippery with blood, she twisted again, and Seti let out another pained cry, this one much quieter than the first. “I have to. It’s too much.”

  Too much blood.

  It soaked the ground, soaked the legs of her pants, and made her hands useless.

  Steam rose around him, like fog drifting off a lake on a fall morning. But this lake was Seti’s blood.

  He reached down, stopping her, and she met his beautiful gaze. His lips trembled and his voice was gone, but he managed to mouth the word, “Blood.”

  It all became so clear then.

  Her blood would save him. And her blood would change him.

  “Okay,” she whispered, leaning over him to expose her neck. “Okay.”

  27

  Seti

  Seti’s teeth sliced cleanly through her skin. For one brief, blissful second, he tasted Rose. Rich. Bright. Sweet.

  Then bitterness and fire filled his mouth. It burned the way the bites of the crawlers burned, but he forced himself to swallow.