Bloods Gem

by Gloria Conway

  “Samone's family decided to stay with them for protection. They knew if anyone found out about the half-breed child they would be killed. A few months later the shifters came. They assessed the situation by reading Maurice's mind and became enraged. They seen vampires as bottom feeders, scum of the earth. They were enemies and the thought of a half-vampire half-spiritual shape shifter disgusted them. The shifters tried attacking the child and his mother Samone. The vampires fought back but were unable to save Samone. Maurice was so enraged to see his queen torn into pieces, his anger turned into power. His strength increased as Samone died and he killed his family. Looking at the field of bodies he cursed the shifters but hated himself for what he done. He knew he had to protect his son and vowed to only live long enough until his son didn’t need him anymore. He wanted to die too and be with his queen in spirit.

  When Maurice family never returned, the village decided to do a spiritual wake. They dropped their bodies and turned into spirit form to communicate with the others. The dead spirits Maurice had slain were still lingering long enough to tell the others what happened. The shifters quickly vowed to avenge the deaths, by not only hunting Maurice and his son, but the vampires who helped. They also agreed that if any half-breeds were born beside this one, they would exterminate them at once. That’s when the war started. They began hunting vampires and sucked the energy from them to become stronger, more powerful creatures. They were soon able to take down larger covens in the process. The hunters would also use mind control on the vampires to kill their own kind along with Ill-suens.”

  Marshall closed the book. “That’s enough for now. We’ll read more another day my dear,” he said, smiling at me. I smiled and thanked him for sharing with me.

  Daniel and I went back to my room. I was deep in thought. He stared at me for a long time until I cleared my throat. He jumped. I glanced at him holding back a laugh. “What?” I asked.

  “I was trying to read your thoughts, you caught me off guard,” he smiled, embarrassed.

  I laughed. “Can you tell me what your thinking?” He asked.

  “So, you still can’t read me that well?”

  He shook his head. “Today it’s a little more difficult. I don’t understand why.”

  “Oh…” I said, thinking. “Well, I was just curious about the child that Maurice had. The boy?”

  “What do you want to know love?”

  “What happened to them? Him and his father?”

  He sat down next me. “Maurice eventually died when he was four-hundred sixty nine. He lived a long life but the boy is now an elder.”

  “Whats an elder?”

  He chuckled. “An elder is the one who foresees certain events. They keep us posted if we are to be in danger, but it’s only for larger groups of Ill-suens, and doesn’t necessarily impact the vampires.”

  “Danger how?” I asked.

  “Well let’s say if the shifters I dunno Were to get hundreds together to come try to slaughter us all, the elders would see their plan and then notify us.”

  “How do they notify you?”

  “Well there's a few ways. One, they drop in spirit form to communicate with us, or they send word out by newspaper.”

  “Newspaper?”

  “Yes, we have our own newspaper.”

  “Um, Like. For just ill-suens or…?”

  “Yes. We are given one everyday. People subscribe to be on the list.”

  “But I thought there weren't many of you guys left?”

  “Compared to humans and vampires, there's not a lot of us. But. There's enough. And we also want to know whats going on in the world of the other Ill-suens. Just like we advertise things in these newspapers to gain more financial status.”

  “You mean like your fathers blood business?” I asked.

  “Precisely, Love,” he smiled and put his arm around me.

  “Am I asking too many questions?”

  “Nah. I love that your so interested. If you want, I'll get us a subscription to the house.” “Hmm Okay that would be neat. They just throw it on the doorstep?”

  He busted out with a loud laugh. I jumped.

  “Gotcha back,” he said laughing.

  “Ha-ha funny.”

  He shook his head. “Anyways. No they don’t just throw it on the porch Love. That would be in reach of humans, we cant have that. They leave it inside.”

  “How?”

  He laughed at me again. “How do you think, just go right in.”

  “But I thought you guys cant go into where you're not invited?”

  He put his hand over his mouth shooting me a strange look.

  “What? Sorry I'm so ignorant…” I said.

  He rubbed my back. “No. It’s not that. But we Ill-suens can go anywhere. It’s the vampires who cannot go into someones home without being invited, Love but your on the right track.”

  Chapter Thirty

  Faith

  Daniel went out hunting with his friends. I stayed in my room and read a book, passing time. Half way through my book, my phone beeped. I picked it up and noticed Kate text me. She said Chris was missing. I told her he probably needed time alone. That’s when she told me about the strange voice mail he had left her.

  After after he found out I wasn’t going camping, he was upset and took off. The voice mail he left on Kate's phone sounded as if he was yelling. She said she had let his parents listen to it and they immediately called the cops.

  I began to get worried. I hoped he was not in danger. Why would he be screaming in the phone? It gave me chills thinking about it. I tried calling his phone and no answer. I left him a voice message.

  Chris it’s me Faith please please call me everyone's worried about you. You're ass better call or I'm coming to look for you myself.

  I couldn’t read anymore. I was too concerned about the guy I once loved and still cared about. I didn’t want him to be in danger. I hoped he’d call me back and soon. I decided not to tell Daniel about any of this just yet. I didn’t want to mention anything about Chris because of the last situation.

  Laying down on the bed, I cried at the thought of him in any kind of danger. I cried myself to sleep.

  I was at the waterfall. It relaxed me listening to the water flowing against the rocks. I heard a noise approaching from the woods. Standing up, I scanned the darkness to see if I could make out any movement. Chris leaped from the trees, shouting and waving his arms. He ran towards me. I yelling at him to get him to stop but he ran right through me, darting for the water and started swimming. I couldn’t see what he was running from or why he was so scared. Then I heard a loud growl from behind me. This girl flew toward me baring her razor sharp teeth. I covered my face trying to shield myself from her but she too flew around me, as though I was not even there.

  She focused on Chris. His body was flung out of the water. The girl demon hung onto him, all I could see was his legs dangling in the air. There was nothing I could do. I couldn’t scream or try to save him. I fell on my knees wiping my tears away. A flood of tears seeped from my eyes, soaking the ground under me. I felt myself sink into the ground. I tried getting up so I wouldn’t be sucked underneath but it was too late. I fell into the darkness lurking below. Free falling for what seemed like forever, I closed my eyes, waiting for the fall to kill me instantly.

  I woke, standing up on the bed, surrounded by Daniel, Celeste and others. I didn’t know why they were staring at me. Daniel reached his hand out. I glanced at him confused.

  “Why is everyone in here? Why am I standing on the bed like this?”

  He pulled me into him almost instantly.

  “Whats going on!” I yelled.

  Placing his hands on both sides of my face. “Do you remember what you were doing?”

  I shook my head alarmed. He told everyone to leave. They glared at me as they walked out.

  “What did I do that was so bad? Why were they looking at me like I was a freak?” Daniel slowly let go of his tight grip around me. “
What?!” I got impatient.

  His head dropped. “You were flying,” he said. I glanced at him waiting for the smile, to show me he was joking. It never came. I began pacing.

  “Your joking right?”

  He shook his head. I didn’t know what to say. There was no way… I didn’t understand. “How could that be possible? I mean, I'm still human unless you did something to me!” I accused.

  He stared at me. “I did nothing to you and if I knew why, I would tell you. I'm just as confused as you are.”

  I began touching on my neck, making sure that demon bitch didn’t bite me. I ran to the mirror and pulled off my clothes to look for any signs. Daniel followed.

  “What are you doing?”

  “I want to make sure she didn’t bite me,” I mumbled.

  “Who?! What are you talking about? Who was here?!” He was angry. He examined me now.

  “Calm down Daniel. It was just a dream but I wasn’t sure since….”

  “Tell me!” He demanded.

  “This vampire bitch. I was at our waterfall but she was after…” I stopped.

  He lips tightened, brows inward, waiting for me to finish.

  “Who was she after Faith?”

  “Chris…” I whispered.

  “And you think this happened?” He asked, interested.

  I scratched my head wondering the same thing. “I don’t know, maybe”

  “What do you mean maybe? There's something your not telling me. You need to tell me Faith, if there's anyway you would be in danger-- Plus, you know you too have a gift, the things you dream may happen.”

  “I know.” I started pacing again.

  He followed me.

  “Please! Just let me think for a minute!” I shouted.

  “Tell me. Then we will go to Father and ask him about why you're flying around the room.”

  I chuckled. He glanced at me as though I was insane and took a step back.

  “Stop looking at me like I'm a freak.”

  “Its not that Faith. I just, don’t know how to approach this and if you can fly, you never know what else you're capable of.”

  “Well, it's not like I'm going to attack anyone. Especially you. Besides, you're much stronger.” He shook his head.

  “Okay, I'll tell you. Chris went missing. Kate told me he left a strange voice mail and it sounded like he was yelling in the phone. Then the dream. Chris was being chased by a vampire,” I said.

  “So let me get this straight. Chris disappeared and got taken or bit by a vampire?”

  I nodded.

  “Alright, well I know who to kill next, stay here.” He began walking out.

  “Wait!” I yelled. My body drifted in a dash across the room. When I realized what I did unknowingly as I hovered over Daniel, I placed my hands over my eyes, “Get me down, get me down!” I cried.

  I felt tugging on me and pull me into him.

  “Okay Love, it's okay but we seriously need to find Father, now!”

  I nodded, my hands still covering my face. Daniel cradled me in his arms.

  “Just in case you decide to try flying away,” he said, smiling down at me.

  I glanced up at him. “Wait. Please don’t kill Chris just because I had a stupid dream. Even if he did get bit, that doesn’t mean hes dangerous.”

  “Yeah. I suppose your right. I just got ahead of myself, sorry,” he said, disappointed.

  We approached his father's office. He was already speaking to everyone that was in the room with us from when I woke up.

  They left when we entered.

  “Father, I'm sure they already told you everything--” Before he could finish, his father interrupted.

  “Son, the process has begun.”

  Daniel shook his head, clinching his fist. “Can't be. I didn’t do it yet!”

  “You made love to her, Yes?”

  Daniel glanced back at me then at his father. I knew they were speaking through their minds at that point. His father continued. “Even so. It’s the same, in spirit or not. This is my fault son. I've failed to mention something that I didn’t think mattered. When our kind make love, our spirit begins to enter the other, it’s something we don’t realize is happening, but it does happen. She is changing now, you have already unold on her by making love to her spirit.”

  My knees buckled under me. I couldn't believing what I was hearing. I was going to be one of them. I wasn’t going to be human anymore? I would want blood all the time and be a vampire too? How could this happen and why? I thought I would at least have some time to prepare-- What about my mom and my plans for school? It was all gone now, just because we made love?

  Daniel began cursing and breaking things. Marshall made him leave the room since he couldn’t control his anger.

  Marshall picked me up off the floor. “My dear, this is not a horrible thing. It’s a new life for you. Now you are part of us.”

  I shook my head. “This isn’t what I wanted! I just want to be human for awhile longer. No flying, no blood sucking, just a normal person!”

  He sat me down on a chair. “Listen, you must not be afraid, you must embrace this change because there is nothing we can do to undo what has already been done. Daniel is very upset at himself right now but this is my fault for failing to mention this to him. So all the blame is on me. I trained my son well, however, left out a few details because of my own stupidity. He did want to keep you human and as far as I could see and you would have been human unless you wanted him to do the process. Please don’t be upset at my son, if you want anyone to blame child, blame me.”

  I felt my body lifting off my seat, with all the emotions flooding out of me. He pushed me back down on my seat.

  “Daniel will be the one to show you how to use your power wisely. This is not my place. Please go to him now. You both are hurting and need to go through this process together as husband and wife.”

  I nodded trying to get my balance. This was too much for me to handle. Chris is gone and maybe bitten somewhere, hurt and changing into what I might be. And I'm trying to hold myself to the damn ground and keep my emotions in check. Also trying not to be mad at myself and Daniel for making love. I wished this was all a bad dream, I could wake up next to Daniel, staring into his beautiful eyes smiling into mine.

  I walked down the long hallway, trying to find Daniel. My vision became blurry and I was stumbled everywhere. Reaching for the wall to keep balance, I fell. Then darkness came.

  There will be a time A time when you will know who I'm and who you are. The real you. You're not his. I love you Leah and we will be together when the time is just right… I promise.

  Flashing images and muffled voices took over. I didn’t know what was going on. I tried opening my eyes but it felt like they were duck taped. I opened my mouth but nothing came out. Was I dreaming? The voices continued…

  “Had she broke yet?”

  “No nothing but she’s not waking up either”

  “I don’t think the change is coming just yet.”

  “Well then, why?”

  “Her mind is phasing. She might be out for a few days. Just stay close to her son, she needs you.”

  My mind was plagued with strange high pitched sounds, causing my head to throb. Pressure started building up, like someone was trying to pop my head off. It began hurting and was uncomfortable. I tried fighting, hoping whoever was trying to hurt me would stop. But I couldn’t feel my arms or legs.

  “Hold her down!”

  “Don't touch her!” His voice was clear, like an angel sent down to save me. I wanted to ask him what was happening but every time I tried, I couldn’t hear my own voice. “Faith, stop fighting. It's not helping the process. Love, please, for me, stop fighting.”I calmed myself, knowing everything would be okay as long as he was close. The feeling in my hand came back when I felt his grip. His touch alone made me feel safer.

  Chapter Thirty-one

  Daniel

  I didn't want to leave her side no matter how m
uch I needed to hunt. Wanting to wait it out, no matter how long it took for her to open her eyes. I hated myself for what I’ve done to her, hating myself even more for lying to her. It hurt me to watch her in any kind of pain or discomfort. I couldn’t hear her anymore or feel her emotion. It tore me up inside that all of this was out of my control. All I could do was hope that being near her and touching her would help ease her discomfort in some way.

  Celeste tried bringing me some raw meat but I wouldn’t eat.

  “I wont eat until she can!” I yelled.

  “It's been a week. You need something or you’ll starve. It's making you weaker!”

  I didn’t care, not wanting to enjoy anything while she suffered even if it was for my own health. She lost weight by the day and was starving too. We tried feeding her through tubes but her body wouldn't respond to it and it didn’t make much difference. We couldn’t just shove blood down her throat, she could still choke and die. She lingered in a half-way phase. She was changing into a shifter. The other process didn't even start yet, but I was glad. I wasn't strong enough to watch that process unfold. From what father said, this process was longer then the other. Her mind in a rebirth process and her spirit was trying to adjust. At the beginning I thought this process would be four days but it’s been a week. Now I was being told that It could take up to two weeks, if she’s having a harder time adjusting. Her mind and spirit has to accept the change and if they don't Faith wont wake.

  I watched Faith deteriorate by the day. It made me sick. I sang and spoke to her hoping to help the process and ease her mind. I told her to embrace the change so she could come back to me. I sobbed as I held her in my arms, hoping she wouldn’t die. Laying my head on her chest, I listened to her slow beating heart and hoped she would pull through this.

  I couldn’t just sit there anymore. I was driving myself crazy watching her slowly die in front of me. I had to get out and kill something to get out this frustration. Celeste and mother sat in while I went out.