The Embrace

by Jessica Callaghan

  I closed my eyes and tried to calm myself, although it was difficult. I let my mind focus entirely on the fireplace and the potential weapon standing next to it. I visualised every inch of it as well as I could. I had no idea what I was doing, but my instincts had proven to be strong when it came to my abilities.

  I tried to push the image towards Robert, blocking Gabriel out at the same time. I imagined a car travelling along a road with an important package to deliver; the road was the passage between our minds and the package was the information I wanted to communicate.

  I tried this for a few seconds and then something lifted. I had been focusing so much that my head had started to throb and then in just one moment everything became lighter. I realised that Robert must have received my message, the package had been delivered.

  I opened my eyes and smiled, just a little, at my triumph. A vampire at my young age shouldn’t be able to do something as complex as that but I suppose drastic situations bring out extraordinary abilities in even the youngest creature.

  Robert dodged from side to side as Gabriel waved the dagger around, sweating and shaking as he did. He moved as if to go to his right and then at the last second he dodged to the left and rapidly moved towards the fireplace. The move was something I had learnt in my human days, before Gabriel, when I had played netball. I wanted to cheer Robert on like a proud spectator but I had to keep quiet and let him focus.

  He grabbed the poker and turned around just as Gabriel caught up with him. He brandished it like a baseball bat and used all his strength to strike my sire in the head. I saw Gabriel fall to the floor and Robert lifted the poker above his head, ready to bring it down and pin his foe to the ground.

  “This is for Diego.” He said.

  I swelled with pride at the thought that Robert could be so selfless. He was risking his life for me, and for Diego. Gabriel had never met him but the lives of so many of Robert’s companions had become intertwined with this maniac. This was Robert’s chance to air his feelings face to face with the man who had plagued his mind for so long.

  It wasn’t over yet. Robert fell to the floor, and it looked as if Gabriel had used his feet to knock him over. I tried to pull my hands free even more urgently than I had before, but once again I gave up and had to accept that I was trapped. The restraints seemed looser but it would take me hours to get free, and so there was nothing I could do to help.

  Gabriel jumped over the edge of the couch and slid across the floor towards me. He grabbed me by the hair and pulled my head back, exposing my neck. I saw him lift the dagger before making a series of tiny cuts along my neck. Each little nick held the stinging pain of a paper cut. It was more of a discomfort than anything, but I knew it could lead to more agony.

  I remembered that Robert had cut my legs free just a few moments before. Gabriel didn’t know that I had partially escaped, and so as he leaned back to admire his work I kicked upwards, my foot colliding with his chin. The pointed heel of my shoe went through the skin and upwards, piercing through his tongue. It was disgusting yet delicious, the kind of thing you only see in the graphic torture scenes in horror movies.

  Gabriel gave a wild shriek of pain, an animal caught in a trap, as I saw Robert rise from the floor out of the corner of my eye. I pulled my foot from Gabriel’s chin. My heel was covered in his dark red blood and pieces of his skin. He raised his hands and clutched frantically at the gaping wound. I knew the damage would heal soon but the bloody hole was still the thing of nightmares.

  Robert dived over the back of the couch and wrestled his bleeding enemy to the ground. He had the valuable upper position and he used it to his advantage, punching Gabriel’s wounded face repeatedly with renewed force.

  The tiny papercut sized wounds on my neck were almost completely healed now, and the droplets of blood on the neck of my dress were the only signs of any injury. I saw the wound on Gabriel’s face begin to heal too and I knew that it wouldn’t be long until he was back to full strength.

  Robert picked up the dagger which Gabriel had dropped after my sudden attack. He moved backwards a little to gain momentum before thrusting the weapon downwards, straight through Gabriel’s hand. He screamed out in pain again, that horrible sound of torment and desperation. It hurt my head to hear it, even though I hated my abusive sire. My lingering blood bond to Gabriel still made it difficult to hear.

  “Please, let me go, I can help you.” I said to Robert. He nodded towards me and withdrew the poker from Gabriel’s hand. He picked his rival up as if he was as light as a feather and threw him across the room again. Gabriel’s body collided with the wall and fell to the ground in a heap.

  Robert moved towards me and tried to quickly work out how Gabriel had tied me up so effectively.

  “How did you find me?” I asked.

  Robert smiled. He was sweating and there was blood trickling down his face, but I still found his smile remarkably beautiful. “You’ve had my blood. We’ll be linked for the rest of eternity.”

  “Better than sat-nav.” I laughed. Everything between us always felt so easy, not like the intense games Gabriel had used to weaken my self esteem. Even in a situation like this, it felt as if we were having a comfortable conversation.

  As Robert started to untie me I saw Gabriel stirring across the room.

  “He’s up.” I warned, and Robert turned quickly. He looked back to me and I saw flashes of panic in his eyes, although he tried to hide them for my sake.

  “The knots are weaker now, you should be able to get out of them on your own.” He said. He was about to run to Gabriel but at the last second he turned to face me. “I love you, I hope you know that.”

  The way Robert said that worried me. It sounded as if he was making his goodbyes, but I didn’t want to dwell on the possibility that he could lose the fight. “I love you too.” I replied.

  I realised then, and I think Robert did too, that even if we both died that night it would all be worth it. We were prepared to end our second lives for one another, and that was a feeling I might never experience again, even if I lived through this.

  Robert strode across the room with complete confidence and determination. The dagger was still in his hand, with Gabriel’s blood dripping from the tip. My former mate was on his knees in front of his replacement, a vampire waiting for his execution.

  Robert stood in front of him, pointing the dagger towards Gabriel’s face. He still had that wild, uncontrollable madness about him. He cackled, the laugh of a true maniac, and the sound chilled me even more than his shrieks of pain.

  “So are you going to kill me now, knight in shining armour? You kill me and you get the girl and the glory.” He smirked at Robert, as if he knew something the rest of us didn’t.

  I was fixated on this interaction, but I had to try and work my way out of the ropes tying me to the railings. As I got to work, I realised it would only take me a few moments before I would be free of my restrictions, finally able to run to Robert’s aid.

  “I’m not going to kill you right now.” Robert said. I was just as shocked as Gabriel was. I expected him to plunge the wooden hilt of the dagger right in to his waiting victim’s heart and end our problems right there.

  “Right now I want to make sure that Louisa is safe. That’s my only priority. You once meant something to her, even though you don’t anymore. The issue of who will be her sire is between you and I. She shouldn’t have to watch me kill you.” I felt a flush of pride. He was so civilised and his moral code was unlike anything I had imagined. Gabriel would have killed Robert without a moment’s hesitation.

  “I love her more than anything, and I want to protect her. We are going to play this the way our ancestors would have done. We are going to be true vampires, I know that’s what you want too. You are going to surrender to me, and then I’m going to free Louisa and let her go. Then I’m going to end your life once and for all. Now what do you have to say?”

  I admired Robert so much. Everything he did, he did with me in
mind. He wanted to protect me and make sure nothing could hurt me again. That was just another reason I knew my feelings for him were genuine.

  I finally understood Robert’s unorthodox decision. I would leave the flat and then Gabriel would be killed. I wouldn’t have to see it, but I would finally have peace of mind.

  The gaping wound in Gabriel’s chin had almost entirely healed, and that devious look was firmly back on his face. Without any warning Robert thrust the dagger’s point in to Gabriel’s stomach, giving one last sign of his power. He punched his rival in the face until he slumped to the ground.

  Robert exhaled deeply, finally allowing me to see his vulnerability. He wouldn’t have let Gabriel see it, but I could tell he had been truly scared for his life.

  I beamed my biggest smile at him as he walked towards me, his body relaxing as if a weight had been lifted from his shoulders. He smiled back and leaned over to finish untying my restraints.

  “You don’t know how happy I am that this is all over. I almost wish you killed him right there.” I laughed.

  Robert smiled again. “I know you want it all to be over, but you would have ended up regretting your choice eventually. I know you too well.”

  The restraints finally fell to the floor and I pulled my hands away. The muscles in my arms ached from being in the same position for so long, and the skin around my wrists was raw and red. I rubbed at the tender marks to soothe myself. It would probably take a few days until I was back to full strength, although I was sure that Robert’s blood would help me heal much faster.

  I should have felt relaxed and happy but something didn’t feel right. It might have been because Gabriel was still alive rather than dead and gone, but I couldn’t be sure. I stood up and wrapped my arms around Robert, trying to push the feeling away.

  I kissed him as passionately as I could. All I wanted to do was hunt, to boost my strength, and then return to my brand new nest and wait for my new sire to return. I could finally have peace of mind, with someone by my side who truly loved me.

  I cast my eyes over to the floor in front of the couch. I expected to see Gabriel’s unconscious body slumped on the floor, but he wasn’t there. Now I knew why I had been so uncomfortable: Gabriel was nowhere to be seen.

  “Oh my god, he’s gone.” I shook Robert until he turned around and saw it for himself. He tried to hide his anxiety, but the look of worry was clear on his face.

  I dashed towards the bedroom door, trying to sense where Gabriel was. Robert stayed where he was as I searched the rooms, but I couldn’t see him anywhere.

  “Louisa.” Robert called to me. His voice sounded shakey and unsure. Something was wrong.

  I left the bedroom and returned to the living room, hoping Gabriel would be long gone by now. Robert was standing right in front of me, only a few feet away. There was a terrified look in his eyes and right then I knew my worry had been justified.

  My defeated lover was standing right behind him. His arm was round Robert’s throat and the dagger was placed at his jugular. I could see blood soaking through Gabriel’s shirt from the wound on his stomach. He had to be suffering, but I imagined he was running on adrenalin and madness.

  “Haven’t you learned anything from television?” Gabriel asked, laughing his crazed giggle. “I know you’ve been alive for a long time so surely you’ve seen those superhero shows. The good guy always lets the bad guy go and then the bad guy comes back and finishes the job the hero was too scared to do. That’s the way it goes. Vampires are no different.”

  I was hoping that Robert would free himself, although the chances were looking slimmer by the second. I was frozen to the spot, but I didn’t have the power to defeat Gabriel anyway. A look of acceptance passed over Robert. He had accepted that he was going to die.

  “Please don’t. I’ll...I’ll do whatever you want.” I knew it was useless, but bargaining was the only thing I could think of. I felt the tears start to fall but I couldn’t even move my hand to wipe them away.

  “No can do, I’m afraid.” Gabriel said, taunting me one final time.

  The world seemed to move in slow motion. I saw every movement but I couldn’t do a thing to stop it. I watched Gabriel flip the dagger round so that the wooden stake at the hilt pointed forward and then he lifted his hand. In painfully slow motion I saw him bring the hilt down.

  I was stuck to the spot as I watched my sire stab my true love right in the heart with a stake. That’s the money shot. That one connection between the vital organ and the wooden point is all it takes. Robert was going to die and all I could do was watch as it happened.

  I screamed but the sound barely even registered. I felt as if I was submerged underwater, my vision and hearing becoming cloudy and impaired. I was drowning and there was no-one left to help me now that Robert was dead.

  Chapter 35Gabriel let Robert’s body fall to the floor and I fell with him. I crawled forwards and cradled his head on my lap. I hadn’t stayed to watch Dahlia die so I didn’t know the whole process, but I knew it took longer than you would expect. There was no vanishing act or neat little trick to make it all disappear. I would have to stay and watch the life drain out of him.

  I looked up at Gabriel through my tears. I hadn’t hated anyone as much as I hated him at that moment.

  “You know, I’ve never been one for spoiled goods, and you’ve been with another man. I was planning on killing you but I think this is much sweeter. As your sire, I am now freeing you. You may belong to any vampire you choose.” Gabriel gave that cold, crazed laugh.

  I knew that I had to kill him. I had lost him as my sire and so there was no reason for me to keep him around. He turned and ran out of the room before I could go after him. He knew that the grief pumping through my body would have given me enough power to rip him to pieces with my bare hands. He didn’t want to take the chance.

  I wanted to follow, but I couldn’t leave Robert to die alone. Killing Gabriel would have to wait. I had to focus on what was right in front of me before I let my sorrow over power me.

  I looked down at Robert’s face. He still looked just the same. I had expected him to look like a dying human, but he had a composure that people normally lack when they die. As a human I had seen my family just moments after death, but Robert looked different. He seemed just as powerful as he had been during his life. The only difference was in his eyes. The little spark, the glint behind his expression, was fading more each second.

  “You can’t leave me.” I whispered in the vain hope that I had been mistaken, that Gabriel had missed the heart by just an inch.

  I thought of all the plans I had held for our future together, all of the wonderful things I had wanted to do with him. In my image of the future we would have travelled the world together, spending the rest of eternity as a happy unit. I would finally have had the true partnership I had always lacked with Gabriel. Now it had all been snatched away from me.

  I felt lost. I had planned out my entire future and now it had all been erased. When I looked out in to the world I saw a daunting blank canvas in front of me. In other situations I would have welcomed the freedom, but not now. All I wanted was a stable future.

  Robert had been pale to begin with but now I could see his colouring start to change until his face had taken on a disturbing shade of grey. I didn’t want to remember him that way but I wasn’t ready to leave yet.

  “I love you.” He said. His voice wasn’t croaky or hoarse as I had expected. He still spoke with a soothing tone, as if he was telling a child a lullaby. It sent shivers through me when I thought that I would never hear that voice again.

  I felt tears gathering in my eyes but I didn’t feel weak as I normally did when I cried. I had never expected to experience loss after I was made immortal, but it had come for me just as it had during my human years. I had to face death just like every weak human being. I wasn’t safe anymore, not even from my own kind.

  I nodded, my response catching in my throat. I had so much I wanted to say but
nothing came out. There were no words which could really convey what was going through my head. In one moment I wanted to tear Gabriel limb from limb; in the next I imagined going up to the roof, waiting for the sun to rise and set me alight. I just wanted peace, the peace which had been ripped away from me by my former sire.

  “Don’t be defeated.” His voice still soothed me but it was growing weaker, and now he was taking pauses between his words. It seemed as if he was growing in to an old man before my eyes, becoming forgetful and fatigued. “I want you to have the life you deserve, even without me. Promise me.”

  It was the last thing I wanted at that moment. My only wish was to join him in whatever came after the final death. Obviously he could read me well. He knew I was willing to die to be with him again, but he didn’t want me to do it. I owed him that at the very least.

  “I promise you. I’ll make sure that Gabriel dies for what he has done.” I didn’t know whether Robert agreed with my vendetta, but he didn’t say a word in protest. The sense of purpose I felt made it impossible to reason with me either way.

  I noticed that his body seemed lighter. It was a strange feeling, as if he was slowly disintegrating in front of me. I reached out to touch his cheek and the skin flaked off like bad sunburn. I wondered how long it would be before large bits of his body started to fall off, before his internal organs crumbled in to ash. Vampires may possess power beyond imagination but at our final death we are weaker than a child.

  I pushed his hair from his face and a few strands came away in my hand. It was almost as if he had developed a terminal illness whose symptoms accelerated in the space of just a few minutes. I wanted to be there for him but I was scared that at some point there would be nothing left, that his body would fall apart and be carried away by the wind.

  “You have to go.” He whispered. I pictured his voice box crumbling in his throat, knowing that in just a few moments he might be unable to say even a single word to me.