"Am I not writing for them?" My eyes trot off hers, staring blankly as I think about the things this woman's telling me.
"No." She says, "You're writing for us all, yourself included."
"I don't get it." I admit. I hold my palm over her face, blinding her vision playfully, "Are you trying to seduce my petty little human mind to your will, Halona?"
She's off giggling again. I move my hand away, greeting her with a playful smile.
"Was that your plan all along?" I continue teasing.
"Yes!" She plays along, "I want to bend you to my will. You will go out and make pedestals of me. You will make me your icon. Your night and day."
"Sounds obsessive." Coy comment slips my tongue.
"Oh?" She turns to me with puppy dog eyes. "Is my magic not working?"
I shake my head.
"Looks like it ain't."
"For shame. I always thought it'd be so easy to bend you." That deviant grin shows that hint of past darkness she carries with her. I know she's teasing but damn, that's still hot.
"You are bad." My eyebrows shoot up and a faint smile erupts on my lips, "You are really bad, you know that?"
"Maybe... " Her coy giggling continues while I find myself smiling. I think now's a good time to continue the journal. We could read it together. I look around a couple times, wondering where I put the damn thing. It's over on the other couch. I really don't want to get up.
"Little help?" I look at her then point my eyes to the book, mentally asking her for some assistance. She catches my drift. Her hand extends to the journal as if she were calling it forward with her mind and, what do you know - the book comes flying into her hand. She opens the journal, flipping through some pages and asking me - "Where did you leave off?"
"Sergio was taking you into the cave."
"Ah, yes... Sergio." She grins as the pages of the journal rapidly flutter by, as if she's browsing it with her mind, towards the part that I mentioned. "What do you think of him?"
"He's a bit of a dick. Also, is he a lycan? I had no idea those things existed."
"They probably do."
That's a weird response. I kind of expected her to tell me if he is or not - "So, is he?"
"Of course not. Sergio is a Cognatus of another bloodline. I descended from the Halonic lineage. He descended from the Hunter lineage. Their line always consisted of shapeshifters."
"That is... really cool."
She smiles and looks at me, ready to read her own journal out loud - "Are you ready to continue?"
I smile right back at her and nod.
I'm ready, let's head into the next chapter.
Chapter Five
Ouroboros
Alexia's Journal,
June 17th 1932
Dark, misty, wet and cold - that's how I remember that old cavern. I was uncomfortable and deep inside, I felt whiny. Still, I knew I had to be there. Sergio never seemed afflicted by anything. He kept his sight fixed on his destination; a destination that I hadn't a clue about at that point. The darkness unveiled itself once my eyes adapted to its shade - a common trait of my kind: night vision. I thought to myself, 'just how deep does this cavern run?' It was unbelievable how long we walked through it. I wondered if it'd ever end.
The deeper we ventured into what I thought was nothing more than nature's work, the more I eventually realized I was bested by my ignorance. For the deeper we went, I recognized that this was no mere formation of mother earth. This cavern was the entrance to an ancient crypt.
"What is this place?" I asked my guide, feeling the walls with my fingers, looking around the jagged rock formations being replaced by artificial ones the further we ventured in. Structures clearly built by the hands of man.
"Ouroboros: The Ancient's Burial." Sergio dipped his hand in the puddles of water that seeped from the cracks of the rocks around us. Light came to the water; a light cyan bioluminescence replaced the need for night vision. There was a large chamber built in the stone and through it, connected rooms filled with individual tombs. The walls were covered with ancient carvings - glyphs of some kind. I did not understand it.
"What do these say?" I trailed my fingers on the glyphs as if I could read them myself, concentrating tirelessly to figure them out.
"History. History of our people." Sergio came to my side, studying the glyphs as well
"Do you understand it?" I looked at him
"Some of it." He kept his eyes on the wall. There were inscriptions of all sorts, expertly crafted and well painted. You could tell whoever designed the place, did it with great reverence and great respect. It was meticulous and refined. There were depictions of that which I thought to be my kindred, marked from the 'blood down their lips'. They came to this place long ago and from what I could make out, they ended their lives here in some sort of ritual sacrifice to seemingly end the madness of their curse.
But why? I wondered. What would drive them to take their own lives? As terrible as the dark gift is, I cannot confess it is worth suicide. I might have had my own suicidal tendencies, but they weren't completely structured on my curse.
"Many years after the death of Halona, our kindred became restless, tormented and depraved." Sergio moved deeper into the chamber, expecting me to perhaps follow along and so I did, leaving behind my previous mediocrities.
"The leadership could not be maintained. Halona had done far more than we understood at the time." He brushed away some dust from another depiction. It was there I saw another piece of the puzzle. The astounding devotion to the woman on the wall was none other than Halona herself, painted in pure white - like light. Around her stood five creatures, few of them looked pure humanoid and then there were others, like a four-legged animal and a winged creature that the ignorant would easily classify as demons. It started coming to me, even before Sergio had the time to explain it - these were undoubtedly the fabled 'bloodlines'. Each one descended from their maker.
"Halona's gift changed upon the original ancients. Some were turned into more... vile creatures, so to speak. Others kept their physical beauty and some of their beauty was even improved by the gift though I cannot say their insides matched their outside's allure. The gift of Halona became separated and the bloodlines mutated into their own cause; adapting to their own paths. This was the great separation of our kindred."
What was I to think of this? Now the pieces began connecting and suddenly I, the once unable, ignorant, royal child began realizing my piece on the chessboard. At least, what they wanted me to be in those troubled times. Halona was once a figure of balance to the Cognati, and as she slipped away, the order seemingly lost themselves in madness - and now, they see a shade of her. A possible chip to toss on board once more.
Me.
Was I to become some great messiah for the blood drinkers? The thought sickened me. All messiahs were marked by martyrdom and sacrifices. I was not a sacrificial type. I had care only for myself, especially after Aristide - I felt some sick need to become cold. Still, it didn't resonate in me that I'd have to suffer the same fate as Halona did before - but what was I really missing from this great picture?
Yes, fragments of ancient history can easily become lost and distorted and by now, the Cognati order grew far more... shall we say, political. As time passed, it would only grow in its stupidity and I was to become the center of it all? Some puppet for a charade? What was it that I was really missing?
I needed to know more...
"Are there other clans? Other societies?" I asked.
"Other families, yes." Sergio waltzed over to me with a sly smile, "Kindred. Our lines are connected - yours the Halonic, mine the Hunter and of course, there are more."
I turned to Sergio with a newfound confidence, "Tell me more. I want to know of The Hunters. I want to know more! Tell me of the others."
His eyes shot into mine with a deep appreciation for the scholarly need. He turned to the wall, slightly caressing it with his fingertips; trailing downwards as if he were replaying h
is own ancient memory - "The Hunters were once considered the guardians to our kind. The dark gift passed onto us manifested itself in the form of shapeshifting."
"Shapeshifting?" I wasn't familiar with the term back then, being used for a humanoid creature.
"By means of our power, we can manifest our forms into something more. That appearance you saw me in before - the Wolf, is just one to the many forms I can inhabit for my survival." Sergio moved to my side and I must confess, I was looking at him with new eyes. I felt no apprehension for him, only a newfound curiosity of his capabilities.
"The Hunters have long been forgotten. Cast out of a failing order - deemed unnecessary for the Halonic Society which has undoubtedly become the most powerful of the clans. The other clans, Ibis, Strigoy and the Agnates have all drifted far from ancient Halonic ideals. They've replaced the image of her with their own idols and their own purposes. Our once capable kind has diminished into political idiocy."
Sergio slowly walked away from the inscriptions, leading me to another part of the crypt. This time he showed me a crack in the ceiling, leading to, perhaps, another tomb waiting.
"My, how the Cognati have fallen." He solemnly added with a bitter taste in his mouth.
As I moved to his side like a modest student, I could not help but wonder what my role in this whole theatric was to be - "What am I?" I asked from the deepest chains in my heart. The subtle influence of my tone caught the rugged shapeshifter's attention, enough to provide me with a casual glance, that of an olden teacher.
"What does any of this... have to do with me?" I rephrased the question carefully.
"You're the new Halona. I could smell you for long before you even wandered into the woods." He flatly stated as if he'd already known all along
"I can't be." I quickly retorted. Truth be told, I wanted nothing to do with the lineage. I was determined to prove it to be a mistake.
"Still you run, even after you learn?"
"I don't want to be some sort of dark, blood drinker savior. The very thought of it disgusts me. It's no different than the icons ignorant humans paint to flaunt holy reverence. I want nothing to do with anything of that sort. I am not holy. I am nothing."
"Whatever you wish to classify yourself as in this lifetime is entirely based upon your will and your will alone. But do not be fooled. You and I both know you are of this lineage, Misty White. And those men after you will stop at nothing till you belong to them."
"They'd chain their goddess?" I had to wonder if I were to be some kind of sacrifice
"Maybe." Sergio looked back to the ceiling, "You are not as powerful as Halona and since her time, many of our kindred have risen to unspeakable capabilities. I would imagine they would use you as a holy icon to further their own agenda."
"What is their agenda?"
"Who even knows by now?"
Sergio gently extended his arm to me and as he did, I noticed what appeared to be bat-like wings forming on his back. He was shapeshifting yet again, right in front of my eyes. He was now a winged creature.
"Are you ready to move on?" He asked.
I placed my hand in his and he carefully pulled me closer. He looked to the ceiling once more and that was indeed, our next destination. I felt the wind rush around me as he extended his wings in a grim yet beautiful manner. Then Sergio flapped his wings and we soared into the air.
Interlude VI
Samuel Speaks, 2017
It's the eve of Alexia's last day. I woke up early because I wanted to make the day special, so I decided to order some groceries the previous day to make some homemade breakfast. Alexia is an excellent cook, but I was determined to outdo her and really and truly, this is just part of the special day I've planned out.
What's going through my mind? I'll keep it real simple - How do I stop the unstoppable?
Alexia constantly kept reminding me not to try anything. Don't try to protect her, don't try to be a hero, just enjoy the time with her. Right, sure. Why not? No, actually, not - 'why not'! Can you imagine what it is like to know your lover, your friend, your other half is going to die and you cannot do a thing about it?
It just didn't make sense to me. Alexia is dangerously smart. I'm not the type to sit around and let whatever happen, whenever it wants to happen. I like to push my own influence. If I can't change something, at least I can try and try my hardest and if it still fails then? I can say I tried. Me not having any chance of trying is what is driving me fucking insane.
Yeah, it caused a fight. The other night I couldn't take it. I let her know just how much bullshit this whole thing is and I accused her of trying to find the easy way to slip out. It's a legit thought to carry over. I didn't know if she was saying that she'd die just because she got sick of me but when I look into her eyes, when I feel her skin and listen to the coos of her soft voice, I realize how insecure I'm being.
Tell you the truth, I'd rather her be sick of me than dying tomorrow.
Tell you the truth, I'd rather her live a peaceful life. If that means cutting me out of the picture, then it is what it is.
That journal told me the story of not a vampire but a woman who had to confront her destiny. No matter how far she tried to run, it always came back to confront her. Alexia had only shown me bits and pieces of her journal. Lots of pages were missing. There could be more I don't know of. What I do know is that there is a vampiric society in the shadows, governing and controlling most of society as we know it and Alexia over here, was and still is, the key to somehow stopping it.
And stopping it will cost her, well... her own life.
At this point I've already seen enough. I saw Alexia's specialized extracts for blood drinking. They were like small, dense, cylindrical capsules that she'd pour into a drink. I've seen her fangs, and as sexy as they are, they are real. She can read my mind any time she wants to and she can move objects with just a thought. No doubt, she has some kind of power going on and I still feel like she's been suppressing most of it.
There must be a way to help her. If she can't find it, I will.
"Morning love." Alexia calls out from the shadows.
I turn around immediately to see her, giving a warm smile.
"Hey." The breakfast is barely prepared. I only have the basic ingredients out - some sweet peppers, some mushrooms, eggs, bread, cheese. Nothing complete.
"How'd you sleep?" I try to keep my attention on the service I'm offering.
"Good, good... " Alexia seems off. It looks like she is trying to keep a smile on, over just letting it happen. I know better than to bring up the subject again. At least not directly, it won't do me any good at this point. We'll just argue about it and she'll end up telling me to 'stay out of it'. I give her a smile and go back to the cooking.
"I think I'm just about done reading through that journal." I say while juggling the cheese and eggs, swashing them together in a bowl.
"Are you?" She wondered.
"Yeah?" I give her a quick glance wondering if I've been missing something, "Unless I'm missing something? It'll make a good story."
"I'm sure it will and yes, you are missing something."
This is a good time to set the cooking aside just for a second. Another surprise may be on the way. I sit next to her cocking my eyebrow, telling her to spit it out. There are these few crumpled pages she slips on the table. I'd never seen them before. She must have kept them hidden.
"These the missing pieces?" I ask
"Sure." She tells me.
I start looking through them, sorting them out - what not, then I have to ask, "What happened after Sergio took you to that crypt?"
These new pages aren't in chronological order and some of the events look like they happened well after Sergio. I'm still curious to know of his fate. Aristide didn't have the luxury of making it out alive and Sergio, well, did he too find such shitty luck being around her? I think it's important to think on this kind of stuff. Then again, I could be overthinking it.
"He took me to some o
ther ruins in the nearby forest. Showed me more of my kind's history. I stayed with him for months. He became something along the lines of a father to me."
"Did he teach you how to shapeshift?"
"No... " I finally got her to smile, "It wasn't in my intent to master all his gifts although he did teach me some things. I wanted to know more about my kind and the role I had to play in the charade. After some time, Sergio and I parted ways. I left him in the forest and he wanted me to go back. He wanted me to confront what I was running from."
"Did you?"
"Not immediately. I had to go out searching for more of my kin. I needed to know more about them from firsthand experience. That was when I decided it'd be best to carry on what Aristide promised me - travel the world and so, I did."
I fold my arms locked in thought wondering where she'd go next. Alexia sighs briefly then goes on to flutter her eyes and give me another smile, although I can tell it's faint. She's nervous. I've never seen her so uneasy before.
"What you're about to read changed me... forever." Her hands cup mine, asking me for my trust. "Remember, whatever happened - happened. It's not who I am now."
Why is she telling me this now?
I reach for the letters and take a deep breath. These look older, as if she wrote them down first, then went back to complete her journal in the 30s. The way the ink looks on the paper, I'd say significantly older.
Whatever I'm about to read, I'm not sure if I am ready.
Chapter Six
Glyphs and Families
Memoir of a Blood Drinker,
by Alexia Phokaina
Writing about your life's story seems like a simple task until you start unveiling the cruddy skeletons in the closet. The night's darkness, and the shadows it casts upon the alleyways would be the easiest place to flee to. To run to. To hide and cast away all your pains, all your worries and most importantly... all your shame. I need to get this out. If it's the last bit the world is to know me by, if by chance, someone actually finds this - then know that none of it was a lie and in the end, I have no regrets for giving my heart to the ones I loved.
Cognata: A Vampire Romance Page 9