by D. N. Hoxa
I took deep breaths to calm my racing heart, and Aaron lowered his head.
“That’s exactly why you should stay. They might not like you now, but you’ve brought hope to them. Hope they didn’t have before. You being here means that the better part of the prophecy has a chance of becoming reality, a chance that they will live without fear again.”
He almost sounded like he were speaking to a little girl.
I turned away from him because his words were affecting me more than I wanted them to. I couldn’t live seeing, feeling their hate directed at me all the time. I couldn’t live with that, and I wished he could understand.
After a while, he sighed in disappointment, causing guilt to sting my chest. I closed my eyes and concentrated, feeling the air around me, looking for something to help me calm down. I needed my full, undivided attention for what I was about to do. I couldn’t let guilt get in the way. Or Aaron.
My phone vibrated again. Thank God for small miracles. It was Nick. He’d gotten the instructions clearly. Good. The first step was settled.
“There you are.” Jack’s voice came from behind me. He was approaching us with slow steps and a grin on his face. I was never happier to see him than that second. “I’ve been looking all over for you, bro.”
He was freshly showered and dressed in a black long sleeved shirt and black jeans. His shirt was so tight that I could make out his wide shoulders and every muscle of his body, even in the darkness. Aaron didn’t say anything, didn’t even turn his head to look at his friend. I tried to smile at Jack, but I think I failed. I was feeling low, disappointed…hurt.
I was suddenly terrified that I’d lost my numbness. Without it, I didn’t know who I was in this wild, magical world.
“Am I interrupting something?” Jack asked, eyeing us suspiciously.
“Nope. Not a thing,” Aaron said way too quickly.
“Oh,” Jack breathed, clearly not convinced, but he sat down opposite us on the wet ground.
Feeling awkward, I took out my lighter and lost myself on the dancing flames it produced. I had the urge to take them in my hand, but I couldn’t because apparently my energy could be tracked through other sups if they were close enough to me when I used it.
Instead, I concentrated on the water. The rain had stopped, but I could feel its remains. It was everywhere around us still, but I didn’t have that kind of power to reach for it like that. I probably never would.
“Fire’s cool,” Jack finally said.
I smiled. “I can hold it in my hands.”
And I still couldn’t believe that that was the truth. Witches and warlocks could produce fire through spells, sure. But nothing and no one I knew could produce it out of thin air, like Master Smith said I would be able to do one day. Too bad that was never going to happen.
“Wish vampires could be that cool,” Jack said.
“Vampires are cool. Before I knew about any of this shit, I always wished to be turned into one after every book I read about them.” It was the shameless truth.
“You read?” He sounded surprised, and I rolled my eyes.
“Yeah. You have a problem with that?” I never knew reading would be such a big deal.
“No. I just can’t picture you with a book in your hands, that’s all.” Jack’s brown eyes glowed with mischief. “So, you like a nice book after a long day of taking lives?”
“Yeah, that’s exactly how it goes. Wake up, go kill whoever I can get my hands on, get back, take a shower, and read a book,” I said with a wink.
Aaron snorted. On any other day, with every other being in the world, I would have given him a piece of my mind. Not that day, though. Not with Aaron.
“So you like vampires. You know I can take care of that,” Jack continued, ignoring his friend.
“No, thanks. Still like the sun on my skin.”
Jack laughed. “You have no idea what you’re missing out on.”
I smiled. Vampires were cool, but not that cool.
I told Jack about Nick and about my new plan. Aaron still looked ahead at the darkness, completely motionless. After that, we sat there in silence, the three of us, each wrapped up in our own thoughts. I checked the time on my phone. Forty more minutes before I could leave.
“So, what’s it like being a vampire?” I asked Jack. I’d read everything there was to read about them, but I had forty minutes to kill.
“It’s cool, I guess. Long.” He shrugged.
“How old are you, anyway?”
“Two hundred and fifty.”
“Ten. Two hundred and ten,” Aaron corrected. I was glad to see he was still speaking to us.
“Semantics,” Jack said waving his hand dismissively. I broke into a laugh, and Aaron joined me. Curiouser and curiouser.
“Damn it, man. You’re supposed to be on my side,” Jack complained. “How can you blame a guy for trying to round things up?”
“So, how do you pick your food?” I asked him after the laughter died.
“You got balls, girl! Didn’t anyone ever tell you it’s rude to ask a vampire about his food?”
I grinned. I knew that some of them didn’t like to talk food, especially with non-vampire folks, but I doubted Jack would skip an opportunity to show off. His ego was too big.
“C’mon,” I teased. “I’m sure you’re very good at it.”
It worked like a charm.
“I am, as a matter of fact.” He sat up straighter. “I like my blood fresh and warm, preferably from female donors, age between eighteen and twenty five. My favorite type is A positive but I like the taste of all of them, naturally. I prefer to feed at twilight, right after the sun goes down, and all my victims are guaranteed satisfaction. Not one complained during the last century, and I can prove it.” He looked extremely proud of it, too.
Vampires had venom in their fangs that was released as soon as they sank into human flesh. It made the blood giver high, literally. They say there’s no better drug and no higher feeling. I couldn’t help but wonder how Jack could prove the guaranteed satisfaction. The way he said it, I believed he meant it.
“Such specific tastes,” I said in wonder.
“I am a very specific man.” He nodded, raising his chin.
“How many times a week?”
“One, maybe two. Depends on my activities, if you know what I mean.” He grinned and wiggled his eyebrows.
Vampires were sex maniacs, too. They were said to be the best in bed. They never got tired and never needed to stop and catch their breath. Kai said it was amazing, that you didn’t even need to use condoms or birth control. Vampire semen wasn’t very productive since their body was technically dead. As intriguing as it sounded, I couldn't bring myself to want to try it because giving your blood up during the process was apparently a must.
“But generally speaking, it’s pretty awesome. You’re hot, scary, super fast, super strong, you have super senses and you’re…super,” he concluded, shrugging.
“Except for the sun.”
“Except for the sun. And the silver.” Jack flinched.
I turned to Aaron. “What about you?”
“What is this? Let’s share our stories hour?” he said, half mocking, half serious.
“Come on, big boy. Or would you prefer I told the story?” Jack said.
Aaron shook his head. “No way, man. But lucky for me, the time has come. We have to leave.”
I checked my phone again and was surprised to see that he was right. I jumped to my feet immediately, excitement already spiking the blood in my veins.
“Thank you,” I said to them before all the mess began. “To both of you for talking to me.”
I offered them my most sincere smile. Aaron nodded, looking at me for only a second.
“Of course we’d talk to you. You’re hot,” Jack said matter-of-factly. I knew he knew what I meant, and I appreciated his trying to change the mood.
“Why, thank you very much, good sir. Much appreciated.”
“Y
ou are very welcome. And if you really want to, I can think of a way or two you can properly show your appreciation.”
His huge grin couldn’t be missed, even in the darkness of the tunnel.
“Thanks, but no thanks. I don’t particularly like chocolate.”
His mouth opened wide into a perfect O as he pretended to be shocked. “That is outrageous! You must allow me to change your mind. Chocolate is…well, chocolate.”
I laughed louder. “I don’t think you can. I never liked it.”
“Oh, but please. Let me prove it. I can.”
“You could, could you?” My whole body shook as I tried to stifle my laugh.
“Oh, and I would.” Jack didn’t look like he wanted to let go any time soon.
“You would if you could, I’m sure.” I was unable to keep a straight face.
“If you two are done being annoying, it’s really time to go.” Aaron said angrily. He didn’t approve of the way I spoke to Jack. Good thing that wasn’t a problem I needed to deal with.
“Spoilsport.” Jack grunted.
I shrugged innocently and followed them, eager to get to Lyndor as fast as possible.
11
The plane we flew in to Syria was massive and the seats were very comfortable. I took the seat next to the window while Aaron and Jack fought for the aisle seat. Aaron did wonders to my ego and planted disappointment in me like nothing ever before. I understood he hated me, but he didn’t have to show it so openly.
Apparently, he did.
Finally, Jack won. He was a vampire after all, and his argument was more solid. He needed the third seat because he needed to be as far away from the window and the sun as possible. Aaron’s lame excuse was that he ‘didn’t like sitting in the middle.’ I rolled my eyes, pretending that I wasn’t affected, but I was. I knew he wanted to move as far away from me as possible. It stung.
Trying to follow my original plan, I ignored both of them and concentrated on the landscape below me. After a while I drifted into a deep, restless sleep. When the dream began, I wished I’d stayed awake.
* * *
I was looking for Ella and Dad. Instead, I heard my name being called in barely a whisper. My heart sunk with realization. I knew that voice. I’d been called like that almost every night through the worst three months of my life. I opened my eyes. It was dark outside. I looked at the light blue walls and the small carton with hearts glued to it on one side, while pictures of each and every one of my family members were glued to the other. Before I knew it, I was crying. I even felt like I’d felt that night.
“Star...” another whisper. I threw the blanket aside and tiptoed my way out of the room, trying not to wake Ella. She was sleeping so peacefully in her bed. She had her blanket tucked in between her legs, just like she did even when she was just a baby. I smiled, and then my smile froze, because I heard my name again. I heard it and I didn't want to face what I knew was next. I wanted to run. I wanted to turn back time. I wanted to drop dead right then and there. But I didn't.
I opened the door next to mine, very slowly. Sure enough, there she was.
Mom was lying on her back, covered up to her waist with a thick blanket. Her perfect hand hung limply off the bed, and it looked so lifeless. For a second I wanted to scream at whoever was up there for doing this, for bringing her in that condition. But my voice didn’t work.
Dad was sitting next to her and had his face covered with his hands. I approached them, my face already wet with warm tears.
“Yes, Mom?” I whispered and sat on the floor in front of her. Her face, barely starting to wrinkle, looked lost. She gasped and then inhaled deeply. My heartbeat tripled with realization, and my breathing quickened. I wanted to cover my ears and shut my eyes and just disappear. But I couldn’t. I wanted to grab her in my arms and run, take her away, far away from the pain. Away from her white room that smelled just like her. I wanted to die for her.
But I just stood there instead.
Then she started to scream.
It was like every single cell in my body felt the pain she was going through. I held her hand as her grip grew tighter and tighter around my fingers, and I was frozen in place. The only thing moving were my tears. The doctors told us this was going to happen. It was a miracle it only started a week ago. It was even a bigger miracle that she didn’t drop unconscious every time it started. They said the pain was unbearable. But she was awake and she screamed, stopping only to draw air in her lungs. She screamed and it shattered me into a million pieces over and over again, and I started rocking on my knees, forward and back, forward and back, again and again.
We cried together, Mom and Dad and me. He never moved his hands from his face. It was too much. This was too much. All of it. Her face, her mouth wide open, the piercing sound coming from her, her eyes looking at the sky through the window. She didn’t deserve all this pain. She didn’t deserve it...
”Stop it!” I screamed with everything I had. I couldn’t be there anymore. I couldn’t take it. “Stop, stop, stop!”
And then I fell.
* * *
“Star! Wake up!” Someone shook me by my shoulders violently.
My eyes opened, and I jerked forward, trying to reach her. It took me a few seconds to realize that Mom was no longer there and that the seatbelt had cut into my skin when I’d tried to jump forward. I looked around, dumbfounded. Aaron was next to me, his hands on my shoulders.
“Are you okay?” he whispered, his brows narrowed, his blue eyes troubled.
“I’m fine,” I said dryly and turned to the small window.
My whole body was still shaking. The stupid dream had been so real. I felt everything like I had traveled back in time. I relived every single moment and I remembered every single detail, even my mother’s face.
I wanted—needed to stand up, walk, do something, go somewhere and disappear. Her screams were still ringing in my ears like I was there. I felt sick and desperate, and at some point I wished I could take my family to safety and then never make it out of Lyndor alive.
“You’re crying,” Aaron whispered, the sound of his voice strange like he had no idea what to do with that information. I was going to send him to hell but when I met his eyes, I couldn’t.
“I don’t cry,” I said instead, right before I felt them. I felt the tears on my cheeks, and I raised my hands to touch them. Sure enough, my whole face was wet. I’d been crying in my sleep.
Aaron barely even blinked as I got myself together and wiped the tears with the sleeves of my shirt. He even looked like he was hurting for me. I shook my head. Now I was seeing things.
“Just a stupid dream,” I whispered, more to myself than to him. A dream I needed to forget. So I focused on something else instead. “Where’s Jack?” I asked when I spotted the empty seat.
“Toilet,” Aaron mumbled. He never took his eyes off me, eyes of blue filled with pity. I hated pity, and I would have broken his nose if he were anyone else. But it wasn’t. It was Aaron, and I didn’t want to break his nose. I wanted to rest my head on his shoulder and hug him instead.
I undid my seatbelt and stood up.
“Where are you—”
“Toilet.”
His eyes stayed with me until I reached the end of the plane and slipped into the small restroom. I closed the door and sat on the toilet, my hands on my face as I tried to control the tears that wouldn’t stop falling. I didn’t understand any of it.
For so long, I never remembered the details. The bigger picture, sure, but every single detail like in that dream? Never. It was what kept me sane.
And now I remembered them. I felt her, touched her, and breathed her scent. I even saw Ella, and she looked exactly like she had when she was barely eleven years old.
I broke down as every image, every scream came crashing down on me. I cried in silence as tears tried to wash away the emptiness in my chest and stomach. I cried for a good half an hour before I had the strength to get up in front of the mirror and was
h my face with cold water.
Everything looked and felt different. I didn’t know how, but it just did. I remembered. My mind went to Ella and Dad next. I wondered what they were doing and where they were. And then it hit me.
My surroundings became a blur once again, and I held on tightly to the metal sink to keep from falling. Of course! How could I have not thought of it before?! They were in Lyndor. With McGraw.
And they were human.
Blood red rage fired in my veins at the thought of what they could be doing to my family. I could hear the cracking of my teeth as I forced my jaw shut before I would start screaming. I squeezed my eyes shut and tried to calm down.
You don’t know for sure, I said to myself. I didn’t know for sure, but it was a very big possibility. I couldn’t wait to get to that place and to McGraw. The old fuck would pay with his life.
They are okay. They are okay. They have to be.
All of this was my fault. If I’d just killed Aaron like the rest of the Rebels that night, none of this would have happened.
But my mature self knew better. The Council had purposely kept Dad and Ella in the US, close to them. Just in case I’d try something funny. The bastards were going to pay.
* * *
Aaron and I were in the woods. It was still light outside. We’d been walking up the mountain for at least three hours before I stopped and sat on a tree trunk, unable to drag my feet for even one more step. Aaron followed me, sitting nearby. We’d left Jack at the airport. He was going to meet us in the castle after dark. He could be there in an hour or less with his super speed. Yeah, vampires were definitely cool.
I drank some water from the bottle and handed it to Aaron. His dark green shirt blended perfectly with the forest around him. His eyes looked more green than blue in the environment, and they suited him perfectly.
“How much more?” he asked, breathing heavily.
“Another hour, tops,” I said, looking up the mountain.
So far, we’d been lucky. No guards had crossed our way. They were waiting for me in Lyndor. I hoped they were keeping watch only on the front of the castle.