Folk Lore

by Joanne Ellis

  Trepidation filled her as the poison would be, coursing through her as it destroyed her. How long would it take for her to die? Surely long enough for Cornelius to take what he wanted from her. She could feel the blood drying on her neck and shoulder, and the wound stung, exposed to the air. Not trusting Elizabeth to speak the truth, Sera attempted to use her powers. Maybe she could break the bindings; they appeared to be banded light, a spell no doubt. If she was going to die, she didn’t want to do it here.

  Summoning sadness mixed with anger, she waited for the feeling to spread, for her hands to warm but nothing. This hadn’t been a lie. Pulling her hands apart only brought pain as she brushed against the binding, struggling would be a pointless waste of energy.

  Time passed and she dozed on and off, the vampire venom causing her to feel drowsy. When she felt the familiar whoosh of air she expected to see Elizabeth again but his time the vampire was male.

  “Lizzy tells me you are tasty. Cornelius has informed us to feel free to sample the wine while he prepares his spell.” He picked up Sera’s hands and as she fought against his grasp the skin on her wrist struck the bindings again and bit at her, though she knew this would be nothing compared to the bite she was about to receive. “Stop fighting, human, this won’t hurt too much.”

  He bit into her forearm slightly above her wrist and as the pain turned to serenity her limbs went limp. Her eyes closed of the own accord and as she peered through her lashes she met with sinister lust filled eyes. He drank longer, deeper than Elizabeth and Sera thought this time I might pass out, as the darkness engulfed her.

  42

  Darkness

  Keelor watched as he determined the best course of action. Storm the camp and fight off the attacks as they came was one option. Although confident in his ability, Keelor thought being severely outnumbered would not help his cause. Waiting for darkness and using stealth was the best way, the only way.

  By dusk Keelor decided he’d studied the movements of the camp long enough. Most of the vampires using the cloak of night began to drift away to feed and this left a group of hazers languishing by the fire, exchanging careless banter. Keelor had yet to spot any of the warlocks which inhabited the site and knew this was who he should be most wary of.

  He could wait no longer and as the last of the orange sunset dipped into the horizon, Keelor pulled his staff and called forth a sword. He hoped to go in and out undetected but it paid to be cautious. Stepping silently through the trees he started his search at the opposite end to the revellers, hoping he would not have to venture too close. The first two huts although filled with the comforts of home were void of Sera or their owners. As he approached the third he heard a female voice using a mocking tone, listening for a moment he waited.

  “Not so nice when you are on the other end of pain is it human?” He heard the voice again.

  No response followed and when he heard what could only be a vampire laugh he realised the reply must have been hushed. Seraphina. Something flashed through his mind and he couldn’t quite hold it as it faded. It had been of the princess he knew this much. Was he now remembering her? He brushed it aside, there was no time.

  After he stepped into the hut, Keelor stopped and watched mortified as the vampire bit into Sera’s arm near her elbow. She didn’t cry out and only the sharp intake of her breath could be heard before the poisonous calm overcame her and he watched her go limp.

  “Step away from the human, bloodsucker.”

  The vampire turned swiftly her eyes full of appetite and her lips crimson. She licked the trail which spread to her chin and remained where she was

  “Hmm delicious,” was her only response.

  “Keelor?” rasped Sera her eyes slightly parted but heavy lidded.

  “Yes it is me. I will deal with this and then take you back to the lands.”

  The vampire laughed. “Do your worst, elfin.”

  Sera forced her eyes open to ensure she wasn’t dreaming, imagining him here. With a graceful speed she didn’t know he possessed, Keelor captured the vampire from behind and placed a sword at her throat.

  “Remove her bindings,” he told her.

  “I cannot.”

  “Who can?”

  “Any of the warlocks or a princess.”

  “Hmm, this is a dilemma.”

  His eyes met Sera’s briefly but they were still cold, emotionless. No recognition of their love. He was here out of pure duty alone. What did it matter anyway? There weren’t many options left for her now.

  “Keelor,” Sera said her eyes not leaving his.“It’s too late, leave me, go.”

  His reply was a rapid shake of this head. In one brisk motion he killed the vampire and tossed her headless body to the ground. He took a step forward and Sera watched as his eyes roamed her face, then her wounds and finishing with her bindings.

  “I need you to stay perfectly still,” he told her.

  Nodding her understanding, Sera placed her palms together and held her breath. She gasped when he placed a hand through the ring of the laser bindings and held it there even as his skin burned. After several seconds it disappeared and Keelor moved to her feet.

  “Wait,” she said.“I can’t heal you, my powers have been bound.”

  “I have suffered worse, please, do not move.”

  He repeated the process with her feet and waist bindings before fastening his hand with a bandage he removed from his belt. He did the same with the bites on her arm and neck.

  “We have to leave, now,” he said quietly. “Are you able to walk?”

  “I’ll try.” He helped her to her feet. “I’m alright, let’s go.”

  Taking her hand, he led her out the hut into the darkness. They edged with caution towards the forest and once in the cover of the trees, he picked up the pace slightly to distance them. When they’d gone a safe distance, he let go of her hand and eased her down onto a soft mossy log.

  “Your hand?” She asked.

  “Will be fine.”

  “How did you do that?”

  “It was a looping binding, if the loop is severed for a period it dissolves.”

  “Wish I’d know that.”

  “It is quite painful, princess.”

  “Oh and being bitten by a vampire tickles.”

  “No, it does not.”

  “How would you know?”

  “I have been bitten many times by rogue vampires.”

  “The poison?”

  “Only affects humans. Don’t you know these things?”

  “Not that obviously. Oh now I remember, Nermo needed me to heal him after Asmina bit him for a vision. It was so long ago I’d forgotten.”

  In the moonlight she saw his face contort before he spoke, “I bet he did.”

  Was it possible he was jealous? Maybe he was remembering.

  “What are you doing here?”

  “Saving your impetuous hide.”

  “I meant alone.”

  “I volunteered; we thought it best to retrieve you without another casualty.”

  “I don’t know why you bothered.”

  Her despondency returned. Her only chance at survival was to become the very thing which caused her predicament. She would rather die than to have Keelor look at her with such disgust.

  “The poison is killing me, Keelor.”

  “This is why we need to return as soon as possible. Your wounds have not healed. There may be something which can be done. As your powers are disabled, we cannot open a gate so we have a walk ahead of us.”

  “In the dark?”

  “No, first light. We have time.”

  “Thank you.”

  He seemed to ignored her gratitude and peruse their surroundings.

  “We need shelter; we may have to walk a little way. Can you manage it?”

  “Yes,” she replied haughtily.

  She was not going to give him reason to become even more indifferent to her than he already was. Being this close to him again and not being with him
was hard enough.

  His face twitched in what appeared to be amusement which only hurt her more. It seemed he thought even little of her than he did before. At least at their first meeting he didn’t consider her a source of amusement. He held out his hand to aid her from her seat but she brushed it away.

  “I can manage,” she told him. She couldn’t bear the thought of touching him again while he felt nothing for her. His face twitched in a half smile again and she bristled. “What is so amusing?”

  “You are stubborn which I suppose is why you were in this quandary.”

  His cold demeanour was going to kill her faster than any vampire poison ever could. Her already broken heart shattered completely. Would he ever remember her? How he felt about her? Even if she somehow managed to survive or avoid becoming a vampire, what would it matter, the only man she would ever loved felt only amusement and indifference toward her.

  She stood abruptly which sent her head spinning. Her rapid beating heart pumped the venom through her veins which in turn cause her cheeks to flush and her stomach to roll. Keelor caught her as her knees buckled.

  “It would be best to stay immobile,” he told as he scooped her up. Relieved she snuggled into his chest and rested her head in the crook of his neck, drinking in his masculine scent. For a just a bit she wanted to forget that he’d forgotten her.

  43

  Fever

  The warm radiance from the fire cast a glow across her face as she lay sleeping in their makeshift lodgings. Keelor had walked further than he originally planned but once Sera fell asleep he’d decided to go as far possible to shorten the journey in the morning. After locating the cave and building a fire, he’d collected some food. As much as he disliked the taste and smell of meat, he caught her some dinner and prepared his own from the nearby plant life.

  He gazed at her now over the dancing fire, waiting for her to wake. Keelor didn’t want to think about the fact that she’d been bitten and what this would entail. He couldn’t allow thoughts of her beauty and endearing strong will to cloud his judgement. He wouldn’t lose control of his emotions again. She bewitched him with her magic before; he could not permit it to happen again. Even if he were to remember, regardless of the law change, he would not consider a relationship with her again.

  It still seemed wrong to him, he’d obviously lost his head over the past weeks, behaved completely out of character. There was no room in his life for love, it only brought problems. Her powers had obviously seduced him, enticed him and he would not tolerate it again. Yet despite all this he was drawn to her, captivated by her indigo eyes. His fascination of her controlled his every thought.

  As though sensing his gaze her eyes fluttered and those river eyes stared at him. His pulse quickened and a sudden urge to taste her pouting rose coloured lips surged through him. Why did she have to be so beautiful? Pushing his longing and wayward emotions aside, he dragged his eyes from hers.

  “Are you hungry?” he asked.

  “Yes.” She sat up as he handed her a plate made from leaves. “What is this?”

  “Some animal from the forest.”

  “I don’t eat meat.”

  “Really?”

  “Yes.” Could she be any more perfect?

  “I have some berries and other greenery, would you like that?”

  She nodded and he passed her a leafy bowl and she nibbled at its contents daintily. Neither spoke as she finished her dinner. Her soothing eyes watched him as though waiting for him to speak. He relented.

  “Do you need something?”

  “Do you mind if I sit next to you, closer to the fire?” Was he closer?

  “Feel free.” As she sat her arm brushed his which sent electricity shots through his system.

  “Do you think the poison ... am I going to ... I’m scared. I don’t want to be one of them.”

  “They tell me you are very powerful. Perhaps when your powers are restored ... I cannot tell you I do not know, Princess Seraphina. I hope for your sake there is something.”

  “Cornelius is still alive. The vampire, Elizabeth, told me he wants to take my powers.”

  “Did you see him?”

  “No but someone must have bound my powers. I suppose it could have been one of the other warlocks but I see no other reason why they would keep me alive unless it was true.”

  “Vampires enjoy watching humans suffer. Perhaps they were content to let you die slowly.”

  “Maybe. Is there a spell to unbind my powers?”

  “Yes, in the book.”

  “It might not even matter.”

  “There are options.”

  “I don’t want to become one of them.”

  “Isn’t Sampson one now?”

  “Yes but he loves Angelique so this makes it easier for him.”

  “If it means you live, perhaps it will be your only choice.”

  “What about you?”

  He turned to meet her unwavering gaze. “What about me?”

  “Can you get your memory back?”

  The hope in her voice drove a wedge in his heart. Suddenly he wanted to remember which merely confused him more. He shrugged lost in the depths of her eyes.

  “I want you to remember how much I love you,” she whispered.

  She brought a hand to his face and it felt soft and soothing.

  “Seraphina ...”

  His hand came to her face against his will. The skin on her face felt smooth like the silky flower petals in the garden by the river. His eyes melted into hers, hypnotising him.

  “What are you doing to me?”

  “I wish I could.”

  He dropped his hand.

  “What? So you can trick me again.”

  Her eyes filled with hurt and he regretted his words.

  “Do you think that is what I did? That I used my ... this ... curse to win you over?”

  “Your powers are not a curse, you saved many or so I have heard. I am also aware of your ability to project your feelings onto others.”

  “I’m not doing it now.” No, so how was she bewitching him?

  “Seraphina ... the law ...”

  “Has changed.” Colour rose high on her cheeks, even annoyed she was delightful.

  “Not to me. I do not remember. I only know how to be a protector, to follow the law.”

  “What about ...?”

  “You know about her?”

  “Yes, you told me.”

  “Look where it got her.”

  “I forgot how difficult you could be. I know a different Keelor and this isn’t him.” She stood up, obviously far too quickly, for the colour drained from her face and she sank down again. “I don’t feel so good.”

  “I think you should lie down again.”

  He picked her up with gentle ease and laid her on the bed made from large leaves from the surrounding trees.

  “Will you sit with me?”

  Unable to reply, he nodded and sat down beside her, leaning against the wall of the cave. When her breathing became even, he brushed away the hair which fell across her face and wondered whether the overwhelming tightness living in his chest was anxiety for her wellbeing or his heart swelling with love for her, again. He closed his eyes and hoped for the reprieve of sleep.

  Moaning and muttering yanked him from pleasant dreams of her. Keelor opened his eyes to discover her bathed in feverish sweat and panic overcame him. She didn’t have much time and they were half a day at best from home. It would be quicker if he went on foot alone and returned through a gate. For the first time he wished his own abilities went beyond the summoning of weaponry.

  Covering her with fronds which he hoped would conceal her from any passing folk, Keelor took one last look at her and exited the cave. He dreaded leaving her so vulnerable but what other choice did he have? If he took her she wouldn’t make it. Carrying her would only slow him down. With one last worried glance in her direction he left.

  44

  Power

  Sam grew mo
re concerned as each long minute passed. He paced the garden wondering why it was taking so long. He should have gone. Sera needed him and he let her down, again. His contempt for his vampire thirst ripped through him. If he could be around her for longer than five minutes without wanting to sample her sweet bouquet then he could have gone for her. Instead, the memory starved indifferent elfin had been sent to retrieve her.

  A full night and most of the day passed without a sighting. Thinking of his own thirst and her scent sent a frenzy of dread filled images through his mind. Any rogue vampire would not need or want to control their hunger. To imagine her having to suffer this curse was more than he could endure.

  A sound in the far distance caught his attention and pulled him from his dark ruminations. Someone was coming at a fast pace. Sam ran with his swift vampire legs to meet whoever was approaching. His newly acquired skills almost outweighed the revulsion of the thirst, almost. These proficiencies, along with his love for Angelique, sustained him, though it came with a heavy cross to carry.

  Keelor broke through the trees and he was alone. No, not Sera. He was supposed to protect her and had failed miserably at it. To lose her due to his newfound violent tendencies was bad enough but if she was dead, this was another thing altogether.

  “Where is she?”

  “Need. To. Open. A. Gate.” Keelor managed between breaths.

  “You left her behind?”

  “Later, Sampson. Gate, now!”

  Without another word Sam located Keela in the elfin village and they returned to the garden. After obtaining the approximate location from Keelor, she opened a gate.

  “I’m coming with you,” he told Keelor, who shrugged.

  They stepped through and Sam followed Keelor to a cave not far from the gate and Sam was impressed by his accuracy. They entered to find a fever racked Sera, deathly pale and lifeless.

  “What happened?”

  “Vampire bites.” Sam noted Keelor’s voice was full of contempt and his disdain for his own existence rose.

  “Why didn’t you have her open a gate? Why didn’t she heal?”

  “The answer is the same for both questions, her powers are bound. We are wasting time.”