The Rise of the New Bloods, From Dark Beginnings

by K A HAMBLY

  The conversation quickly turned about me. I wondered how long he would stave off his curiosity for.

  ‘So...have you been here a while then?’

  ‘No, I only arrived this morning.’

  ‘Really? Oh, so you got family here, in New York?’

  ‘No to that either.’

  ‘Right, well I guess I'll have to show you around then. So who was that guy you were speaking to? He seemed like he was in some kind of a hurry?’

  ‘That was Stride, and I think he’s always in a hurry.’

  How could I tell him he was a vampire hunter for real? I do not think it would have gone down very well after what he had seen.

  ‘He was um, travelling with me.’

  I did not think I was a very good liar but he looked as if he believed me.

  ‘Oh right. You know, I can’t help thinking about that dude I saw earlier. The so-called vampire. It was freaky man; I’ve never seen anything so life like. The make-up was awesome, but, what in the hell was he doing down there? It's quite a way from the city, unless…’

  ‘Unless what?’

  ‘Well, unless there was stuff going on down there, y'know, like you said, but there didn’t appear to be any parties going on.’

  ‘Maybe someone from the slaughterhouse saw you in the van and decided to play a practical joke on you.’ I shrugged.

  ‘How do you know about the slaughterhouse when you have never been here before?’

  Shit

  ‘Er, well it’s not hard to avoid the stench, y’know.’

  ‘Hm, yeah I suppose so.’

  ‘So just chill out alright.’

  I turned to look him and I could see his hands were shaking on the steering wheel.

  ‘Yeah, I meant to ask you, why did you think it was me? What did he say...do?’

  ‘He just looked like you. It was weird. Same kinda hair, facial features, apart from the fangs and the yellowish tint he had in his eyes.’

  ‘His eyes were yellow?’

  Oh, for fuck sake this was getting too weird.

  Either it was a very good impersonator, or my mind was playing tricks with me. Perhaps I did shift and did not know.

  I do not know if that was even possible, but who knows...I was in a foreign land. It was best not to say anymore to him until I spoke with Stride.

  ‘Yeah, thinking on it, it could've been really awesome contacts. I think he would've been great in our music video though,’ he roared with nervous laughter. ‘Perhaps I ought to drive back and get his number.’

  CHAPTER TEN

  My head ached so badly, I sat myself up on the black leather sofa, and looked around at the cramped apartment. How did I get here, was all I could think. Desperately I tried to remember the events from last night, which led me here, but my head was still a bit foggy from all the alcohol I was drinking.

  That much I did remember, but it's so quiet here, I wondered. I was feeling quite alarmed as the place was thriving with people from the club last night.

  I got up from the sofa and frantically searched the room for traces of blood. My paranoia was certainly now on overdrive.

  ‘Fuck! I hope I didn't kill anyone,’ I muttered to myself, as I threw the cushions off the sofa.

  ‘Are you alright in there?’

  Startled, I turned around to see Blaze looking half-asleep leaning against the doorframe

  ‘Blaze! You're ok?’

  I have never been so relieved. Part of me was fretting that I had drunkenly sired a few vampires last night.

  ‘Yeah man, are you? You look like you've lost something?’ he said, taking a sip of his coffee.

  I stood amongst the coffee table and the sofa that was perched besides the window. I opened the blind, hoping I could somehow change the subject. ‘That's a big drop,’ I said, looking down at the early morning New York traffic.

  ‘Yeah it is, don't tell me you can't remember anything from last night?’ he grinned.

  I felt so ashamed I could not hold my drink, let alone not being able to remember if I ate anyone or not.

  ‘Er, I guess I drank much more than I should have.’ It was a pitiful excuse, I know.

  ‘Well I say that's a good thing, because we're about to become international rock stars. We’ll be having a drink for breakfast, dinner and fucking supper, I can feel it.’

  ‘What?’

  ‘Yeah, if this trial works out with you, we're gonna hit the big time. Don't tell me you cannot remember agreeing to try out with the band later? Fucking hell man I thought I was a bad drunk,’ he exclaimed as he walked back into the kitchen.

  What have I done?

  I do not remember agreeing to anything, hell I do not even know if I can actually sing a note. I picked up my jacket and walked through the hall into the kitchen where Blaze was standing by the coffee machine.

  ‘Want a coffee?’ he asked quite cheerily for someone this time of morning.

  ‘I don’t drink it.’

  ‘You’re sure? I need about four cups before I can function properly.’

  As he was about to pour another mugful the phone rang.

  ‘Fucking hell, it’s only 8am and already the phone’s hot.’

  I pulled a stool out by the breakfast bar and sat down, trying my hardest not to overhear, which by my standards was impossible. I recognised the voice instantly, it was April, and she sounded as if she was distressed by something. On the bar, placed in a neat pile was a stack of magazines. I pulled the top one off and flicked through it. Images of half-naked women peered up at me. Grinning to myself, I flicked a glance up at Blaze who was pacing about the kitchen in a ripped Slayer t-shirt. I could tell by his face that it was not good news.

  ‘Are you sure sis, do you want us to come down?’

  ‘No, the police are asking questions and stuff, I call back later with any news.’

  ‘Ok, as long as you're sure...’

  Blaze put his mobile down on the worktop and looked at me. His face was pale.

  ‘Jeez man, April's boss was murdered last night.’

  ‘Really?’ I sat upright feeling a little edgy. ‘Do they know how? Who did it, even?’ It did cross my mind for a minute if I did it.

  ‘Nah, they reckon it was someone after some artefact that was shipped over for the exhibit.’

  ‘Exhibit?’

  ‘Yeah, April is the assistant curator at the museum and is also the brains of the family. Wow,’ he sighed, ‘I just can’t believe it.’

  ‘Yeah, neither can I,’ I said rather nervously.

  For Some odd reason I had a sneaky suspicion all this was all connected with the Book of The Dead. Someone was definitely on my trail and it was only a matter of time before I was going to be found out.

  ‘Do you know what they were after?’ I asked Blaze, who was leaning over the kitchen worktop sipping on his coffee.

  ‘Erm, some book, not sure what, but it came from Egypt.’

  Oh hell, Stride was legit. Now I had no reason to dismiss anything he told me last night. My undead life was now in trouble.

  I had to find these people before they find me.

  At least I had one advantage over them, I was a Vampire, but something told me not to underestimate them.

  I stumbled off the stool and picked up my jacket.

  ‘I, um, better go.' I said. I did not have any excuse for him, nothing that would have made sense anyhow. I just could not risk putting Blaze's life in jeopardy too.

  ‘Where are you going?’

  ‘It's a long story. It’s best if I leave.’

  ‘Hey man, what's up with you?’ he said, chasing after me.

  I paused in the hallway clutching onto my jacket. I could feel the anger rising in me. Just nothing could go right for me if I wished.

  ‘You really won’t understand...’ I said, clenching my teeth.

  ‘I might. C'mon, you have to give the band a chance. All I need is one freakin’ break in this life.’

  ‘You and I both, but you don't kno
w me, how can you trust me, huh? I don't even trust in myself most of the time.’

  ‘I'm a good judge of character...besides; wouldn't you have slashed my throat last night if you were so bad?’

  He did have a valid point. Besides, I was drunk anyhow. Moreover, would it not be better to stick around. It seemed to me as if things were happening for a reason. Not that I was a great believer in fate, but the Ankh had more power and knowledge than I ever could imagine, I had to trust in it.

  ‘Ok,’ I hesitated. ‘But don't ask too many questions, I just don't have the answers to give you right now.’

  Blaze shrugged.

  ‘Sure, in your own time ok.’

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  I was feeling so guilty; Blaze had kindly allowed me to stay at his apartment until I sorted something out. It has been a week already and I was feeling rather uncomfortable about staying here under false pretences. Sure, it was all quiet on the ‘Stride’ front and I was thankful I was not walking the streets with Jafar about, but somehow it did not feel quite right, as Blaze had not showed any sign in presuming I was anything different from what I said I was.

  It struck me as odd he did not even show a hint of fear when he was around me.

  For the past week, I have sat idly in the apartment while Blaze went out to work as a car mechanic. I did not want to face things right now. I even had to drag myself to a slaughterhouse for food every night.

  The excuses I had to make were becoming ridiculous.

  I could not exactly say to Blaze I’m going out for a drink, he would’ve only dragged me to the nearest bar, and unless they had blood on tap, it wasn’t going to do anything for my cravings.

  Today, as usual I slumped back on Blaze’s sofa, armed with the TV remote, flicking over the music channels until I could find some decent song to listen to. Music was becoming an escape for me these days, especially with the band and the music lessons with Blaze that would go on until the early hours of the morning.

  After a few hours of peace, the reality of what was happening around me soon plagued my thoughts again. I took a sip on my cup of blood and rested my head against the cushion. The curtains were drawn and a soft rock song was playing quietly in the background.

  I started to reminisce about my mother. She was a human that had been changed by my father. It was probably why I have always been so curious about humans and their nature, and that maybe, despite my urge to suck their blood, I perhaps held some of their traits deep inside me. Staying with Blaze only affirmed my desire to return the Ankh before anyone would steal it. Yet, my meeting with Stride made me re-evaluate the fact it wasn’t going to be an easy task There was something else I had to do, for that I was certain.

  Almost as I entered into a state of calmness, I heard keys rattling in the lock.

  Blaze walked through the door followed by April. Whether it was the human side to me showing, I do not know, but I shot up from the sofa wracked with nerves.

  ‘Are you alright man?’ Blaze asked as he rushed to the kitchen with a box of food.

  That left me with April, standing in an awkward stance gazing at the poor woman who did not know where to look. She smiled at me and put her bag of books down on the chair. A few seconds lingered and then she suddenly spoke.

  ‘Hi, so we meet again. Um, so how has it been, staying with my brother? Is he still a filthy bastard that leaves his clothes all over the floor?’ she laughed.

  Realising that I was now staring at her and making her feel uncomfortable; I averted my gaze from her beautiful dark hair that was tied into a ponytail, and looked down towards my feet. I have never felt so nervous around a woman before and I think my inexperience was beginning to show.

  ‘Of course he’s still a dirty bastard, but then I tell him, I’m not your mother, so don’t expect me to clean up your crap,’ I laughed, ‘that usually works.’

  April laughed.

  ‘Oh jeez, you’re so funny. It’s no wonder you two get on, you’re so alike,’ she said and walked through the kitchen.

  Alike, I thought. Nothing could have been further from the truth.

  I followed her out into the kitchen where Blaze was serving out the food. I wanted to ask April about the exhibit but now did not seem like the right time.

  ‘Do you want any food?’ Blaze asked chewing on a mouthful of chicken.

  ‘Er, I’m not fussed,’ I lied. I did not really want to.

  ‘Do you know what? I’ve just realised something I’ve hardly seen you eat a thing this week… in fact I go as far as saying you haven’t eaten anything at all.’

  I watched him plate up the food as I tried to think of an excuse I could palm him off on. I was certain he had inkling that I was different.

  ‘Are you a veggie Jyrki?’ April asked, looking up at me with a smile.

  ‘Um, no,’ I smirked, ‘just not used to foreign food.’

  ‘Foreign!’ Blaze spluttered, ‘don’t you have chicken and noodles in Finland for fuck sake? Come on, try a bit, I’m not going to fucking charge ya.’

  ‘Ok, ok give it here then,’ I said leaning against the kitchen worktop.

  The plate of noodles and chicken, which was promptly shoved in my face, didn’t look too appetising, I must admit, but reluctantly, to ‘appear human,’ tonight I took the plate and forced a mouthful down. It was not that I could not eat the food. I just was not used to the texture. I took another mouthful as they both watched me curiously.

  ‘Yay, see that wasn’t so difficult now, was it?’ April clapped.

  ‘Now I class you as an honorary American bro. Here’s a beer, get that down ya neck too.’

  ‘Give him a chance to chew the food first Blaze,’ April laughed

  I spluttered, almost choking on a chicken bone.

  ‘Oh jeez man, you are one of a kind.’

  ‘I probably am.’ I said feeling quite embarrassed to be eating in front of April.

  ‘Hey April, have you heard this guy sing yet?’

  ‘No obviously not. I haven’t been here for a week have I? I’ve been busy revising for exams and sorting out stuff from work. We’re still no closer to finding out who killed Dr. Matthews though.’

  ‘Really? I thought they had a lead?’

  ‘No. Nothing solid yet. Anyway enough about work ok.’

  ‘You should take a week off sis.’

  ‘No, I need to revise for my doctorate.’

  ‘You need a life outside work as well, y’know. That’s all I’m saying.’

  ‘Jyrki, I swear sometimes he thinks he’s my father,’ April said, taking another mouthful of food.

  ‘I think he’s right, you do need to take a break. Are you coming to our show next week?’

  ‘Yeah, I wouldn’t miss that for anything.’

  ‘Oh I forgot to say, Jonesy asked us to meet him down the pub later. April, are you coming?’

  ‘Yeah I suppose so, just to shut you up.’

  ‘Jyrki?’

  I could not very well say no, especially since April would be there.

  ‘Sure, but I need a change of clothes first.’

  ‘Well, I’ll have to meet you both there. I must take those library books back first before I get another $20 fine,’ April said.

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  Things were happening in my life quickly since arriving in New York. Almost like a succession of events that were playing out towards a grand finale. Not wanting to dwell on such things right now, I sat on the bed and pressed the CD player to come on. The rock music was drowning out my thoughts, which were becoming very erratic lately. I was drinking twice the amount of blood than I was used to, just so that I did not accidentally attack Blaze in the nights. I had wondered what Blaze must have thought about me though, as I did not actually need any sleep. A few times now, he had caught me sitting on the sofa in a hypnotic trance-like state. It is something us vampires do for time-out. Sometimes I wished I could have had more time out from all that was going on with Stride and the prophecy. Lately, it h
as been all I thought of.

  Blaze popped his head around the door.

  ‘Here's a t shirt you can have,’ he said throwing it on the bed. ‘It’s one of ours, we wear them to promote the band. Do you think you're up to singing tonight? Thought we could do a small show there just for practice? I'll introduce you to the guys then?’

  ‘Err, yeah sure,’ I grinned. I was looking forward to tonight as I knew April would be there. I took another glimpse of myself in the mirror and ruffled up my dark damp hair. I did look slightly paler than the average human, but that along with my dark hair and blue eyes, is probably what attracted the females to me anyway. Their attraction to me is more than likely what makes the temptation to drink their blood even more difficult to resist, especially when they were under the influence of alcohol, and couldn't decide on whether I was a friend or foe. Tonight, I had to be on my best behaviour so there would be no chance of a repeat of what happened in Helsinki.

  I took the black t-shirt from the bed and pulled it over my pale, slightly masculine chest. There was a sense of acceptance and belonging attached to it, which made me feel a little more human tonight.

  ‘Are you ready?’ Blaze hollered from the door.

  ‘Yeah sure, let me just get my jacket.’

  ‘We'll walk, yeah?’

  ‘Sure.’

  I felt like a brisk walk anyway. My nerves needed calming down before I was about to sing in front of a real crowd for the first time. As we stepped out of the door, the noise from the police sirens that went passed and the drunken antics of the people that were around were making it impossible for me to soothe my nerves anyway, in fact it was just adding to my tension.

  ‘It’s just another normal Saturday evening, don’t worry.’

  ‘No, I’m not worried about that,’ I said, pointing to a man being arrested.

  ‘Hey, the show is gonna be great ok, just chill out. I don’t know what the fuck you’re worried about though you have it all, the chicks are going love you!’ he laughed obviously clocking on to my nervousness.