Circle of Death

by Thais Lopes

  “Rest, Kelene.” She said, sounding grim.

  “No. I need to learn how to control Death’s Power.” I reminded her of why she had taken me there and of what I still planned to do. “And I need to try to free the White Hand’s Circle from Seth’s control.”

  “Not if you want to be able to confront Seth and the Nameless soon. You will need all your strength, and the best way to release the Circle is killing Seth. We will have to trust your instincts to help you in keeping the power under control.” Death’s answer was harsh, and again I saw that expression I couldn’t understand. “While you sleep, I’ll see what they have been doing. In the morning I’ll have at least the rudiments of a plan.”

  I nodded, knowing she was right, and went back to the city’s central area.

  14. Death

  I was sure Kelene had noticed when I spoke half-truths, but there was no other way. She had shown me what I needed to do, and I wouldn’t allow myself to make any other mistake. I had already made too many of them. Death needed to stand strong.

  Seth was moving over another city, but with far less victims now. I could feel their spirits leaving, crossing the Veil into the beyond. Apparently, Lucio’s vampires were succeeding, at least partially. Yes, the vampires and the Fae had found a way to make their alliance work, and were quickly doing their part. Consciously, I blocked the images of destruction he sent through the mental bond he didn’t know existed, the one between a Sanctuary’s Keeper and Death. To him, everything was a repetition of the past, of when him and Seth became vampires. But for me, it was all new.

  I didn’t see the days before the Intervention, and had only seen the destruction while the Nameless was acting that last time, not long ago, when he had escaped and been captured by Kelene. Back then he hadn’t shown his power like he did now.

  Also, I didn’t see the birth of the Nameless, when he deceived Death and started to gather power from the old knowledge, as the stories told. I only knew that it was then that humans and the Otherworld had taken different paths and the old ways were lost.

  How do you fight an enemy you don’t know? How to destroy something whose origin is shrouded in mystery?

  My mistake was bigger than anyone who knew what was happening could imagine.

  Hearing Kelene talking to the people who lived in the city, I realized I had fallen in the same trap I swore I would avoid. It was easy to see how the Nameless strength was becoming bigger than mine, and I needed to be ready to do what was necessary.

  I already knew what we all must do.

  In a few moments, I was back to the inhabited area of the city, and went to the building where the humans usually gathered. As I expected, Alice was there and got up before I needed to say anything, following me outside.

  “Are you ready?” I asked.

  “I don’t know.” She was honest. “But each of us will have a role in this fight. I will fulfill mine.

  Satisfied and even more impressed with the strength that young woman showed, I entered death’s pathways. Alice didn’t need help to open the way and enter, and I gave her an approving nod. She was a fast learner.

  Without hesitation, I started walking towards the Sanctuary, and Alice followed me.

  15. Lucio

  I had left that first group of vampires and joined the one that was running ahead of Seth, trying to evacuate as many people as possible in the cities marked as possible targets. Fortunately, both him and the Nameless were keeping to the medium-sized cities so far, probably leaving the big cities for last.

  We were sending another group of humans to one of the refuges when I felt Death, through a mental bond like the one I had with the Masters. How had I never recognized it? I had always used that kind of communication, I should have noticed it before… Unless Death made sure it stayed hidden.

  “I need you at the Sanctuary immediately.” That was all she said.

  With a quick warning to the vampire who would take charge of the group when I left, I took one of death’s pathways, going to the Sanctuary.

  “Welcome, Lucio.” Death herself was waiting, as soon as I crossed the door. “It’s time for the preparations only we can make.”

  With a wide gesture, she indicated one of the Sanctuary’s altars, in an area with more images and tapestries but not many candles. It was one of the consecration altars, made of a marble dais from which rose a large statue, a raw representation of a human body with its arms outstretched. The only candles which lit that altar were on the statue’s hands.

  Alice was tied between the statue’s arms, with no fear in her expression. The ceremonial ropes were around her chest, in an intricate pattern consisting of three sets of knots, one over her stomach, one over her right breast and the last over her left breast.

  For one second, I was transported back to when I was still alive, when I had stood in that same place and waited for my consecration as a Keeper of Death’s Sanctuary.

  “She has chosen to become a Keeper?”

  “Yes. And you are responsible for her initiation.”

  Death handed me a sheathed sword. On first sight, considering the sheath and the handle, it seemed an ordinary sword. But that impression disappeared as soon as I drew it. The dark blade had bluish veins shinning softly, like the flame from the Sanctuary’s candles. That was a Keeper’s sword, part of life and death at the same time, and that only Death could offer to anyone. Hesitating for a single moment, I took the sword and moved towards Alice.

  I stopped in front of the bound young woman, looking into her eyes. The certainty and confidence there surprised me, but I shouldn’t have expected less from a candidate. And then I already had the sword’s point in the center of one of the strange patterns of knots, the one over her stomach. Death walked until she was beside me, and I could feel the ice of her power when she started to speak.

  “Alice, do you swear never to abuse the knowledge trusted to you?” She didn’t use a last name, as they didn’t exist when those vows were first made.

  Decided, Alice stepped forward, the only movement the bonds allowed her. The sword’s tip entered the first pattern of knots, cutting it without touching the girl. The ropes loosened a bit.

  “By my flesh, I do so swear.” She answered.

  I took a step back, positioning the sword between the knots over her right breast.

  “Alice, do you swear to follow the laws of Death’s Sanctuary?”

  She took another step forward and, again, the sword cut the knots without touching her.

  “By my essence, I do so swear.”

  The sword’s tip was now on the knots over her left breast.

  “Alice, do you swear to serve Death’s Sanctuary?”

  She moved forward again, cutting the last group of knots, and the ropes fell at her feet.

  “By my heart, I do so swear.”

  This time I placed the sword in a carefully chosen place, making sure that if she walked, the blade would pass between her ribs, going directly to her heart.

  “Alice, to you swear to guard Death’s Sanctuary with you own life, if it proves necessary, until you are released from service?”

  She didn’t hesitate, taking that last step and moving against the sword.

  “By my life, I do so swear.”

  The sword went through her flesh with almost no resistance, and I pulled it out in the next moment. Alice looked at the sword and the blood that flowed, the shock clear on her face, before falling on the ground

  “Alice, Keeper of Death’s Sanctuary, rise.” Death spoke, ending the ceremony.

  The woman’s wound closed immediately, the blood disappearing as if she had never been through it. Surprised, Alice stared at the blade, running a hand in the place the sword had entered. I knew all she would find there was a seemingly old scar that would never disappear while she honored her vow. I had a scar like that, but Seth’s had disappeared the day he left the Sanctuary behind, and it would have killed him if he wasn’t alre
ady a vampire.

  Death came forward and helped her to her feet.

  “Your vow was accepted. Lucio, I trust you to finish training her as a Keeper.

  I nodded, wondering why she wouldn’t do it, but knowing it would be useless to ask.

  “There is an old enchantment you’ll need when we confront the Nameless. We don’t have much time.” She continued, moving towards the hidden stairs that would take us to the lower levels of the Sanctuary.

  16. Kelene

  When I woke up and went to the terrace, which had become an informal gathering point, the city had become a mess. A few hundred survivors of the slaughter, all of them from the Otherworld, had been sent there, and Ivan was having trouble keeping the order. Trying to go unnoticed, I went to the small fire that the Fae kept lit, and where there was always some food being made.

  Avés found me while I was eating.

  “Good morning, lady.”

  I nodded in answer, while I finished chewing a piece of toast.

  “Do you have any plans for the attack?”

  “How long can a Fae resist a vampire?” I asked, instead, understanding why he had come after me.

  “A long time in fight, depending on the race of the Fae, as long as the vampire is interested in the fight and not in destroying his opponent.”

  “And if that was the case? If the vampire only wanted to destroy?”

  “Then the chances are slim to none.” He replied with a sigh, understanding what I meant. “Lady Kelene, we are no match for the vampires, not in a direct confrontation. But we will be in large numbers. In this case, our chances increase dramatically.”

  I shook my head, not even surprised. It was predictable that he would take that position.

  “Do you remember the stories from before the Intervention, Avés? From the time the first vampires were made?”

  He nodded, and this time he didn’t know where I was going. Of course he knew the stories, after all, he had taught them to me.

  “This is what’s going on. This time, it won’t be like when I helped you. Now it’s destruction and death. I’m not underestimating the Fae, Avés, you know I’m not. I know too well what you are capable of. But, in this case, you can be of more help if you don’t join the fight.”

  “You know what my father will say about it, don’t you?”

  “Yes, and I’ll be glad to talk to him about my decision when all this is over.” I answered, knowing how the Fae king hated when they were seen as something other than the strongest of all.

  “So be it.”

  I smiled, satisfied, before calling Lilian the Seer, who had also come up to the terrace. No one had seen her for some time, and I imagined she had spent many hours in direct contact with the Council.

  “We are keeping the humans’ communication systems offline.” She said, bluntly. “And the refuges are under control.”

  “Or as under control as possible.” I muttered, looking around. “Keeping the communication systems offline would just increase the panic, wouldn’t it?”

  “Yes, but it’s the only way to stop humans from gathering their armies to attack Seth and the Nameless.

  I nodded. That hadn’t even crossed my mind. With a sigh, I remembered that I needed to tell her our plans. Death’s plans, to be honest, even though she still hadn’t returned.

  “We already know the best place to attack. I want the Fae and the witches working together to create an illusion of a large army gathering there, and we need to find a way to make sure Seth and the Nameless hear about it. The intention is to take all the vampires to this target, while Death will act as bait and lead the Nameless somewhere far enough that the collateral damage from the combat doesn’t affect anyone not involved in the fight.”

  The witch closed her eyes for a second, and I felt the power swirling around her, before she opened them again.

  “I can’t see the end of this day. There are too many possibilities. This plan is as good as any other.”

  “Coordinate between yourselves, then. Complete evacuation and illusion.” I said, getting up and walking to the map.

  Both of them followed me, and so did many of the people who were gathered up there. Without paying attention to them, I enlarged the map of the place we would use as a trap for the vampires, giving a better view of the city to Avés and Lilian.

  “It will be easy to spread the news about an army gathering there.” The sidhe said, with a savage smile, looking at the representation of the city.

  I smiled back, knowing I could trust them to take care of everything. I went back to the fire, to finish my breakfast, while Avés and Lilian analyzed what they would need to do. Not long after that, I saw both of them going down the stairs, probably to start their part of the plan.

  Now we just needed to wait until all the pieces were in place.

  Some minutes later, Death, Lucio and Alice arrived. I was almost sure that she had already been consecrated as a Keeper of the Sanctuary. Why else would she have disappeared from the city in the middle of the night, following Death? They sat near me, and Alice started eating too.

  “The Fae and the witches will take care of the illusion.” I told them.

  “My vampires are already gathering, as soon as everything is ready they’ll meet us through death’s pathways.” Lucio said, placing an arm around my waist.

  “Excellent. Alice will go with me. You and Lucio must destroy Seth before joining us.” Death added.

  I nodded. Seth was our priority, his vampires wouldn’t be a problem once he was dead. And it would be night in the city we had chosen, which meant that Lucio’s vampires would be free to attack. Unlike those loyal to Seth, who now could walk under the sun, they were still bound by the Intervention.

  Now we just had to wait until it was time to attack.

  17. Kelene

  Death moved away a few moments later, as she always did. One of my neighbors brought a guitar to where we were sitting, and we spent the hours before the attack just like we used to spend our free time in the complex. Some of the Fae joined us for a while, to say goodbye and wish us luck before they left to fulfill the tasks they had received. At least, Lilian came to say goodbye.

  “I need to join the other witches now. We will be monitoring the city all the time, and we will keep humans away.”

  “Thank you.”

  “You have our gratitude.” Lucio said, in a strangely formal way.

  “Don’t thank us. You are our only chance. All the witches’ blessings go with you.”

  She bowed her head, the usual greeting the witches used for someone they respected, and we answered in the same way. Then, Lilian left.

  I had never felt so stressed in my whole life, not even when I faced Death for the first time, in the Fae village. The fact that we would have only one chance finally hit us. There was no plan B, there was no one else. If we didn’t make it, we would be dead and the Nameless would have won.

  “Alice.” I called, and she moved away from where one of the guys played the guitar, coming to sit beside me. “If anything happens... You have the keys to my apartment. I left an envelope for you in the living room.”

  She stared at me, surprised.

  “What are you planning?”

  “It’s just a warning. Intuition.” I smiled, shrugging. If something went wrong and I didn’t survive, but we still defeated the Nameless, I had left my apartment and all my money for her and the rest of our little group. The details were in that envelope.

  She raised her eyebrows, but she knew asking would be useless. When the time was right, if it was really necessary, she would find out. Without saying anything, Alice joined the rest of my neighbors.

  Not long after that, Death approached and we all got up, in silence.

  “It’s time” That was all she said, making a sign of good luck and moving away.

  Alice ran to me and gave me a quick hug.

  “Good luck, girl.” I used the
same words I always said in our games.

  “For you too.” She replied, releasing me and saying a quick goodbye to everyone else before joining Death. In the next moment, both of them disappeared inside one of death’s pathways.

  I had even less goodbyes to say than Alice, and soon Lucio and I were in another one of death’s pathways, running through the gray world towards the city we had chosen.

  18. Lucio

  The instructions I gave my subjects were simple and clear: attack those loyal to Seth and keep them away from Kelene and me. Now they were waiting, on the edge of death’s pathways, expecting the signal to enter the city. Kelene and I were already there, hidden in a street near the city hall, where I expected Seth would go to, as he had done in the other cities.

  From the corner of my eyes, I could see the illusion above us, hundreds of thousands soldiers spread through the city, slowly retreating downtown as the vampires advanced.

  “It won’t be very different when the true fight begins.” Kelene whispered, beside me, and I realized she could see the illusion too. “The only difference is that it will be vampires against vampires.”

  “If I had any other option, I wouldn’t have you here.” I said.

  She sighed.

  “But this is my place.”

  “You have no idea of what is about to happen here…”

  “You’re right, I have no idea. Has anything like this happened before? Dozens of thousands of vampires – all of the vampires – meeting on a single battlefield?”

  “No. Never.” I sighed, understanding what she meant.

  If it was anyone else there with me, I would have worried about his reactions after the fight started, and would be concerned about his safety, but not with Kelene. Even though I still hesitated for a moment, she was as much a part of that world as I was, and had her own weapons against any vampire who decided to attack her.