by Rocky Grede
It has two large oval eyes, a red slit running through the middle of each, and the eye itself glowing a midnight blue. It pulls its lips back in a silent snarl, sharp teeth jut out from its gums, and a black tongue hisses out from the pits of its mouth.
I gulp, transfixed on the spot, and watch in shock as it stands, and towers to over eight feet on its two hind legs, that are fused with thick muscle and bone. Its thick, fury muscled arms, hang to its sides like slabs of concrete. Its large paws, black and white, have lethal claws sprouting out from the skin.
Elis spins so fast that he is a blur of black and gold. He grabs me by my waist, and before a sound even escapes my throat, he jumps through the window, torpedoing through the glass.
We go hurtling outside into the cold night, my own screams ring in my ears. Glass bites into my face, the jagged ends slicing into my pale skin. The surroundings are a blur; a mish mash of images spun around and around.
We fall with a thud, and my breath is knocked out of me, every ounce wasted and depleted. I open my eyes to see stars twinkle down on me from the night sky above. I realize I have fallen on top of Elis, who has taken the brunt of the impact.
I slide off him, and hit the soft earth and the smell of dirt and grass wafts up my nose. Elis seems unscathed and he smoothly rises to his feet.
Then, I hear a feral growl cut through the night air and I glance back at the library just as the creature explodes from the glass panel window, its blue demented eyes wide with hunger as it spirals through the air.
A growl rumbles through Elis’s throat, the sound low and primal, and before I manage to get a chance to say anything, he leaps into the air, his mouth pulled back to reveal his fangs.
He clashes with the creature in mid-air, and snarls and growls echo through the night, and both of them go tumbling onto the hard earth below, locked in a vicious embrace.
The creature lands atop of Elis, its thick fury muscled arms pinning him to the ground, its snout wide open as a brutal growl resonates from the darkness of its mouth. With a quick flash of his arms, Elis pushes the creature off him, sending it reeling back, and jumps to his feet.
The next moment, Elis is a blur to my eye, as he careens into the creature, striking it from different angles. I catch the flash of a blade followed by a spray of red. The creature falls back, a knife protrudes from its broad shoulder, and it tilts its head back and roars an agonising harsh screech. I cover my ears as the noise threatens to explode my ear drums, and I stagger to my feet just as the creature pounces.
It barrels towards Elis, its jagged teeth gleaming under the moon light. It swipes at Elis with its clawed paws. Elis gracefully steps aside, but a follow through paw knocks him back.
And the creature springs.
It pins Elis to the earth, its forearms and hind legs weighing down on his body. The creature bends down, mouth open, teeth inches away from Elis’s throat.
Elis holds the creature back with both his arms and turns his head in my direction. “Get to the car and Go!” There is strain in his voice as he keeps the creature away from his throat. Despite the situation, Elis’s light blue eyes seem focused and calm.
I hesitate, frozen in place by shock and fear, until Elis screams again. “GO!
My body kicks into action, working on its own accord as my limbs spark back to life. I sprint to the car parked across the road, my legs pumping as my muscles work their gears. I almost slam into the side door as I reach it. I refuse to look back as the growls of the creature cut through the air behind me, followed by Elis’s snarls.
I take the spare key out of my pocket in trembling hands, the key that I always keep as back up. I open the door, get in, and gun the engine.
***
I’m accelerating down the road. Buildings blur by. Lexus taught me how to drive years ago, but right now I struggle to keep the car straight. It must be down to my nerves and the reality of the situation I’m in. I ignore the stabbing guilt of leaving Elis behind. I can only hope he got away, somehow.
I drive with a disturbed frenzy, like a crazy driver who has lost his mind. I almost go careening into a building when I take a sharp turn, just avoiding the structure by a foot or two.
I release my foot on the gas pedal slightly, and glance out the window, and I almost lose my grip on the steering wheel when something thuds on top of the car, its weight almost denting the roof.
I scream and slump into my seat. I stare up at the car’s ceiling with wide eyes. There is the sound of screeching as if something is digging its claws across the roof.
I turn my eyes back on the road, peeping just above the dashboard from my slumped posture, and spin the car sharply to the right. From the rear view mirror I catch the glimpse of something go hurtling from the car, its dark frame disappearing as it hits the concrete road. I take a deep breath, and push my foot on the accelerator.
***
I try not to think about the creature at the library and the dark shape that was thrown off the roof of my car, and instead, I keep my focus on the road with one aim on my mind: Get to the Manor alive.
With only a few blocks away from the safety of the Manor, I turn into a main road, hoping for a short cut, but I realize my mistake a little too late. The road is blocked with crates, tonnes of bricks left for building work. I turn sharply and hit the brake at the same time.
I was going too fast, and the sudden turn and brake, causes the car to veer to one side, and the air bags go off in my face like balloons, making me lose my grip on the steering wheel. The car topples to the right and I hit my head against the window, and a sharp pain bursts through my skull, blinding me as fire engulfs my senses. And everything goes still.
I open my eyes to find the plastic of the airbag pressed up against my face. I push it away, and try to sit up. I realize the car is overturned on its side, but the windows are still intact from the impact. I take a deep breath and wince as a sharp pain flares across the right side of my head.
I stand up on shaky legs, and blink up into the darkness. I stretch and push the door open. I grip the frame and heave myself out, and onto the top of the car. I jump off the car, and walk blindly across the road until I fall to the ground and my knees thud against the concrete. All energy is sapped from my body and the sharp pain in my head is throbbing like crazy.
“My oh my, what do we have here.”
I raise my head, slowly, as tendrils of fear coil around my neck. Standing several feet away from me, half hidden within the shadows of a building, red eyes alight, is a Vampire. He steps out into view and my eyes dart to his top hat, and then to his long coat that flaps around the edges as the wind lightly blows against it, and with a sudden coldness that hits the core of my heart like a glacier, I realize it is the Vampire who had blocked the road the day when my finger was bleeding.
He takes several steps towards me, his movements smooth and graceful, unrushed and steady. I force myself into a standing position, lurching backwards; and the Vampire pauses and flashes an evil smirk.
“It was always better when they ran. Oh the hunt that followed. Nothing like it,” he purrs as his lips curve into a malicious smirk. His eyes take a distant look as if he is remembering something from his past.
“You can’t touch me,” I say instantly, but the words are weak.
“Oh is that so? Think old Lexus will come to save you?” He glances around at the deserted streets, conveying his point quite clearly, before turning his gaze back on me. His long beard bristles as a gust of wind blows against him.
“The aroma that is coming off you right now”- he licks his lips with his tongue - “half the Vampires in the area will be here in no time.” His eyes flicker to my head. I quickly touch the side of my head and my hand comes away with blood, dark red and coppery, and worse, fresh.
The Vampires smirk widens. “Been a long time, it really has.” His eyes flash crimson, his fangs jut out, but before he can pounce at me, he is tackled from behind.
At first I’m not even sure what
has happened, and I stare in numb shock and surprise. But then, I see Elis, his clothes are torn and caked with dry blood. He has the Vampire around the neck. The Vampire snarls, the sound savage and strained as his wind pipe is constricted. He tries to claw at Elis’s hands, but his movements are sluggish as the life is sapped out of him. “Run!” Elis growls, his blue eyes alert, and he yanks the Vampires head backwards with a sickening crack.
I turn tail and sprint for my life.
***
My lungs pump acid, my muscles strain under the exertion, and adrenalin surges through my veins. I run pass several Vampires on the streets who cock their heads curiously in my direction, but to my relief, they do not give chase.
I have my hand pressed against the side of my head, stemming the flow of blood. I’m not sure how bad the wound is, only that I have to get out of here.
I turn into a narrow alley. The map of the town is vaguely etched in my mind. The Manor is not far from here, just a few roads away. I sprint, using every ounce of energy my body can provide. Then, something blocks the pathway, a shadow falling from a roof.
I stop, almost staggering, as I squint in the darkness and my heartbeat quickens. I take a step back as the shadow moves in my direction.
“Come on.”
Relief floods through me, as I recognize Elis’s voice. He comes closer, and under the moon light I see him fully, and a new scar runs down the side of his face. “We need to move, fast,” he whispers. He grabs me with two arms, ignoring my protests and throws me over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. The next instance, we are traveling at break neck speed, the surroundings are a blur as Elis careens through the night.
We stop almost instantly and Elis puts me back on my feet. I sway on the spot, dazed by the experience, my mind swirling around in circles. Elis grabs my arm and pilots me through the Manor’s gates. We walk along the path and up to the entrance. The Artico Guards stiffen when they see me and their eyes flicker to my head.
“Initiate Lockdown,” Elis says, his voice ringing with authority.
The two Artico Guards exchange glances and look at Elis’s torn clothes, but they nod and disappear into the darkness of the Manor’s grounds.
“I’m going to leave you in your room. Do not let anyone in unless it is me,” Elis says as we take the first flight of stairs.
I stop and inhale sharply. “You need to tell me what’s going on.” An image of the creature we had encountered at the library flashes through my mind. “And what the hell was that thing?”
“Get some rest today, tomorrow I will answer you best I can.”
“Where’s Lexus? Has he come back yet?” If Lexus is here I know everything will be fine.
“No,” Elis says and begins to march me up the stairs. I’m exhausted and worn out, so I follow him without argument.
Elis comes to a halt. And I look up to see Gregory standing in the hallway.
Chapter Ten
His eyes move from Elis and then to me, and then, they slowly progress to my head. His gaze stays there until Elis steps in front of me. A pang of sadness rips through my insides, slicing arteries and veins along its path. Regardless of how many times Gregory and I had spent alone, we will never be the same. He will always be a Vampire, and I, the weak prey. The thirst will always be there for him.
Gregory shakes his head as if snapping out of a daze. “What happened?” he says to Elis though his eyes drift over me, his usual self now reflected in the grey arises.
“Long story,” Elis says with a shake of his head. “But I have initiated lockdown.”
Gregory stares at Elis. He cocks his head to one side, and gives Elis a once over. I glance at Elis’s ripped clothes, caked with dried blood, but there is no sign of any fresh wounds apart from the scar on his face, which is fading as his accelerated healing works its wonders.
“It must be serious by the looks of it,” Gregory finally says. He nods his head and moves to one side. “I’ll meet you downstairs,” he says to Elis.
Elis nods, giving him a sidelong glance, and marches me to my room. I notice he stays between me and Gregory like some shield and I try not to think too much of it, but a ball of sadness begins to blossom in my stomach. Even though I don’t look up and keep my eyes to the floor, Gregory’s stare burns into the back of my head, and I know that for the past years I have deluded myself; most of them will always see me as food and nothing will change that fact.
We pause by my door and I take a black key out of my pocket. I glance over my shoulder to find Gregory is gone.
“Keep your door locked at all times. Do not open it in any circumstance unless it is me. I’ll bring something up for you to eat later,” Elis says, he glances over his shoulder as though he has heard something. “And clean the blood up.” He turns back towards me and I suddenly realize he must be craving for my blood. Given all the wounds he must have taken fighting the creature and that wayward Vampire, he must be starving.
I nod my head once and unlock my door. I step into the warmth of my room. I catch one last glimpse of Elis, before closing and locking the door. The reinforced titanium bars slide securely into place, giving me a safety net. Lexus had my whole room built with Titanium, just in case he said. The door is unbreakable. So are the walls, the floor and the ceiling, and the windows are bomb proof. So everything is Vampire proof. My closet is stocked up with food supplies in case a scenario like this ever arose.
I sigh, and wince at the pain on the side of my head. I amble towards the bathroom and turn the taps on. I catch my reflection in the mirror. My face is drawn and shiny with sweat, and my hair is mingled with blood on one side of my head. I turn away from my reflection and wash my face. I ignore the stinging from my wound and put my head under the tap. I close my eyes as cold water bounces off the cut.
I trudge back to my bedroom, take my med kit out from under my bed and clean the slash before applying a bandage around it. I fall back on my bed with exhaustion. My head is pounding, while my muscles ache. My eyelids feel heavy and my breathing slows. I vaguely hear something hammering against my door, but I’m too tired to do anything, and I drift off into a dreamless sleep.
***
My eyes flutter open, and I shield them from the bright rays of sun burning against my face. I must have forgotten to put the blinds up. I prop myself up on my elbows, my muscles feel heavy and spent. In a sudden rush of images, the events from yesterday come flooding back to me; the library, the creature, the attack by the Vampire, Gregory’s stares.
I sigh and force myself off my bed. I linger by the door, wondering if I should open it. Elis’s warning bounces around it my head: Do not open it in any circumstances. So I stand there, like an idiot, staring at the door handle wondering what I should do. My lips feel parched and dry, and I realize I haven’t eaten or drank anything for hours. My stomach rumbles as if giving me a gentle reminder to feed it. I consider eating something from the stockpiles in my closet.
“Open up. It’s me.”
The voice catches me off guard, and my heart falters with the surprise. But it is only Elis. With a deep breath, I gingerly open the door. The first thing I spot is a minor mark in the titanium, on the outside of the door. I frown and look up at Elis who is standing several feet away, arms folded. Then, understanding dawns upon me. Someone must have lost control over the scent of my blood, and must have tried to come after me while I slept. I vaguely remember the sound of something pounding on the door; must have been a Vampire.
“You must be hungry.”
I glance up at Elis, who looks much better than yesterday. He’s wearing a black shirt with the top button undone, along with grey trousers and black boots. The scar on his face is gone, and the skin is smooth and good as new.
“Yeah,” I reply, and then gesture to the mark on the door. “Who did this?”
“One of the Vampires turned feral,” he says, his voice cool and calm.
“So…what happened exactly?”
He ignores me and begins to wa
lk down the hallway, his feet almost gliding along the floor. “Come on,” he calls over his shoulder. I sprint after him, thinking it is probably best if I don’t know what happened.
I follow Elis down the stairs and into the kitchen. I stop in shock as I see Maxwell standing in the shade, away from the sun’s rays that are beating through the uncovered window.
I open my mouth to talk but Elis places a hand on my shoulder. “Eat first, questions later.”
I nod numbly and saunter over to the fridge. Usually the maid leaves some frozen food for me, but today there’s nothing. “What’s up with the maid,” I say, breaking the silence, only for it to engulf the kitchen again.
“Want me to cook you something?” Elis says. I turn the offer down, not wanting to create a fuss.
I pour myself a glass of milk and bowl of cereal, and sit myself at the kitchen table. I glance up at Elis and Maxwell, who are staring at nothing in particular. They don’t have their shades on, and it’s the first time I have seen Maxwell’s eyes. They are yellow. I actually find myself smiling at that. Out of all the colors, yellow?