by Stina
Adirah shook her head. “You don’t even sound like the same person. If I didn’t know any better, I’d think someone snatched your mind . . . not your soul.”
* * *
As promised, the Sigma Rho party was packed, inside and outside. The way students were lined up trying to get in, Adirah thought they might be giving away free money inside. It also didn’t feel too exclusive with the amount of people attending. Lina held on to Adirah’s arm and pulled her along as they pushed their way through the crowd of students outside who were trying to get in without a personal invitation. It looked like a New York City nightclub on a Saturday night, with the masses waiting outside for the doorman to deem them worthy of entering, while the select beautiful people waltzed through the velvet rope. Adirah couldn’t lie to herself. She felt a bit superior by being able to bypass the peons in line, go right up to the door, and be welcomed inside like a VIP.
“Whoa,” Lina gasped when they walked in.
Adirah’s eyebrows shot up into arches. She felt like she was looking at a scene from a movie. The Sigma Rho frat party was everything she’d seen on television and read about in corny college kid novels. There were endless kegs of beer lined up on a tall counter that extended from the kitchen, straight through the living room, and into the adjoining room. One keg had a shirtless guy crouched under it, with his head back and his mouth open, while people took turns flipping the keg spout to control the amount of beer that flowed into his mouth. I thought only white people did that? Adirah thought.
Her eyes darted over to three half-dressed blondes dancing off beat in the middle of the floor to Lil Wayne and Drake, while dudes dressed in their fraternity T-shirts groped them and threw dollars at them. Adirah shook her head. Men could be so disrespectful. There were two groups in a seating area off the foyer, both a mix of guys and girls, and they were huddled around big, colorful bongs and were taking turns sucking in the smoke that swirled around inside the glass belly. A haze of smoke hovered above their heads. Now that Adirah was aware of the smoke, she began smelling the weed. It was something that she was not interested in trying. No need for her to get to know anyone in either of those groups. As Adirah made her way farther into the party, she saw couples making out in corners. Adirah thought they should get a room. Not that she was jealous; she just wasn’t big on public displays of affection. When it came to getting physical, her motto was, “Keep it to yourself.”
Adirah tried to relax and let the sound of Drake ease the edginess in her nerves. She would never admit it to Lina, but Adirah was glad she’d decided to loosen up a bit and come enjoy the party. Maybe a change of scenery from her dorm room and classes was what she needed.
“This is where it is at!” Lina shouted in Adirah’s ear. “And we look hotter than any of these corny, overdressed, doing-too-much girls up in here.”
Adirah laughed but agreed with Lina. She’d chosen a distressed jean skirt, a royal blue Jimi Hendrix T-shirt tied at the stomach, a black motorcycle jacket that Lina had loaned her, and her burgundy Doc Martens boots. Adirah felt comfortable but chic and didn’t come across as trying too hard, like all the girls wearing freakum dresses and heels so high, they could barely walk, much less dance in them. It was a house party, for goodness’ sake, not a fancy gala at the Four Seasons Hotel. Of course, Lina had on her usual head-to-toe black, but the one-piece T-shirt dress and over-the-knee boots she wore, and the way she’d twisted her natural hair up into a top bun, gave her a sophisticated appearance.
Adirah scanned the room and sucked in her breath when she spotted the sexy stranger from class. Her pulse quickened as she watched him. He had his dreads gathered into a black band and pulled back from his face. Adirah had a clear view of his chiseled chin and defined bone structure. She remembered thinking before that he was handsome, but she hadn’t fully realized how perfect his bone structure was. Adirah had the urge to squeeze his square shoulders and sculpted biceps, which were visible through his black fraternity T-shirt. He reminded Adirah of an African warrior she’d seen in a painting at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. She would spend hours walking through the halls of that museum, soaking in the inspiration from artists of the past. There had been days when Adirah wished she could sleep at the museum, instead of having to go back to the foster home she was living in.
Adirah squinted as she looked at two girls hanging all over him. One had her hands planted on his chest and was giggling in his face, and the other had her eyes closed and was whispering in his ear. Adirah felt a flash of heat flit through her belly. Jealousy? She folded her bottom lip between her teeth and shook her head in disgust. She would never compete for a man’s attention like that, no matter how gorgeous he was.
“He’s like all the rest,” she mumbled.
“What’d you say?” Lina yelled over the music, moving her body to the beat.
“Nothing,” Adirah replied.
“Oh, I see Vila! Let’s go!” Lina grabbed Adirah’s arm and pulled her. Just as she moved, Adirah locked eyes with the stranger. He had finally looked up from his harem long enough to see her. Adirah stared at him long enough to see a mixture of shock and angst flicker over his facial features. She pursed her lips and shook her head at him before turning away.
Lina stopped tugging Adirah and grabbed her by the shoulders. “Okay, Adirah. Be cool,” Lina warned right before they approached Vila. “We want them to like us.”
Adirah sucked her teeth and looked over at Vila. She was surrounded by guys and girls who, from Adirah’s standpoint, should’ve been walking a runway or been featured as centerfolds in some popular fashion magazine. They all looked perfect. All were tall, and all had perfect bodies and perfect bone structure. Vila looked hot too. Adirah was starting to think that being exceptionally gorgeous, with perfect features, flawless skin, and beautiful hair, was a requirement for membership in Sigma Gamma Phi and Sigma Rho. Adirah suddenly felt self-conscious about her amateur makeup job and the small pimple that had popped up on her forehead hours before the party.
“Ah, Lina,” Vila greeted, flashing her picture-worthy smile. “I was starting to think you ladies had stood me up.”
“No way. We are so excited to be here. This party is so lit,” Lina gushed. “Right, Adirah? Aren’t we having a ball?” Lina nudged Adirah with her elbow.
Adirah gave a fake smile and shook her head. She was still distracted by her thoughts of the sexy stranger.
“Let me introduce you ladies to my friends,” Vila said. She turned to the group. “Hey, everyone, these are my friends Lina and Adirah,” Vila announced, putting a weird emphasis on Adirah’s name.
Adirah lifted her left eyebrow but didn’t say anything. The emphasis on her name made her a bit uncomfortable. What was that supposed to mean?
“Hello, everyone,” Lina said, cheerfully waving like she was meeting her favorite celebrity for the first time.
“Adirah, it’s nice to meet you—” a tall, slim guy said, his hand moving slowly toward her, but he was interrupted.
“So, we meet again,” said the sexy stranger from class, stepping between Adirah and the tall guy before they could shake hands.
Adirah dropped her hand and twisted her lips at him. “Broke away from your fans, I see.”
Kesh chuckled. “Do you care, Adirah?”
She shivered when she heard him say her name. “Not really,” she grumbled.
“So, I finally know your name,” Kesh said and chuckled.
Adirah rolled her eyes. “Well, I . . .”
“I know.” Kesh put up his hand. “You didn’t give it to me, and I didn”t give you mine. I’m Kesh.”
Adirah’s cheeks got red. Kesh. What an interesting name, thought Adirah. Is it short for something, a nickname? Adirah wanted to know everything about this man.
“I’m glad you came out. We love to entertain, as you can see.”
“Oh, I can see that you love to entertain, for sure,” Adirah replied sarcastically.
Kesh laughed. “It’s all in
good fun. Harmless.” He winked at her. “Can I get you a drink?” he asked.
“I don’t—”
Before Adirah could finish, screams resounded through the room and sent the rest of Adirah’s words tumbling back down her throat. Loud bangs and more screams sent the party into a frenzy. Adirah whirled around, but not before a fleeing partygoer plowed into her, sending her crashing to the floor.
“Ow!” she exclaimed and winced, grabbing for her ankle. From where she’d landed, Adirah heard the rapid footfalls of the crowd rushing toward her. She looked up in time to see Vila and the group rushing to Kesh’s side.
“Kesh! They’ve come! We have to get you out of here now!” Adirah heard one of the guys announce. The others flanked Kesh on either side and whisked him away.
Adirah smelled the fire before she actually saw the raging flames and the hood of thick black smoke moving across the floor like the Grim Reaper. This was definitely not the same weed smoke Adirah had seen before. This smoke had death running through it.
“Oh, my God,” she gasped, barely able to breathe. It had happened so fast. Adirah knew if she stayed there, she’d burn up or die of smoke inhalation. “Ah,” she cried from the pain radiating through her ankle. It shot all the way up her leg. It was like a hot poker had been administered to her ankle. Or maybe it was the heat from the fire. She couldn’t know for sure, but what she did know was that her ankle had to be broken. She also knew she had to get up fast.
The entire house was in chaos—girls screaming, feet thundering all around, loud banging, glass shattering, furniture cracking, fire crackling, and doors slamming. Adirah didn’t see Lina anywhere. With her eyes, she desperately searched the last place she had seen Lina, but it was too difficult to make any sense out of the commotion. The smoke was getting thicker, and Adirah was having more difficulty breathing. She had to save herself.
Adirah coughed uncontrollably, her lungs quickly filling with smoke. Still, she planted the palms of her hands on the floor and tried to force herself up. As soon as she got her left leg under her, she was knocked back down.
“Agh!” Adirah hollered after falling flat on her stomach. The pain in her ankle was unbearable. A stampede of people rushed toward her. She curled up into a ball to protect herself from being crushed. Within seconds, Adirah was completely underfoot. She threw her arms over her head to protect it from kicks, stomps, and the merciless thumps of trampling feet on her body. When the sounds stopped, Adirah lifted her head and opened her mouth to scream for help, but she never got the words out. Something slammed into the side of her head with so much force, her world went black.
* * *
“Let me go,” Kesh growled, wrestling his arm away from Tiev. “I have to go back. I have to know she’s all right . . . that she got out with the crowd. What if she’s still inside?”
“You can’t!” Vila yelled at him. “The Malum are here. It’s too risky, Kesh. Did you see how fast they destroyed the house? They’ve come for you, but they won’t reveal themselves yet. They want to launch a sneak attack on us again, like before.”
“I don’t care what you all say. I can’t know Adirah’s in danger and just leave her. I’ve already told you . . . there is something about her,” Kesh barked.
“You will risk everyone’s safety for one mortal girl?” Tiev asked, holding on to Kesh’s arm. “There will be more just like her. The Malum will have their spies following you. It’s too risky, Kesh!”
“She’s not just a mortal girl. She is my future queen,” Kesh proclaimed. “We will stand and fight if we have to, but right now, I have to go save Adirah. She is the one.” With that, Kesh took off, using his gift of speed to return to the frat house. He was a blur as he ran across campus, his feet barely touching the ground, almost like he was suspended just above the earth. He knew his entire clan would follow, but he’d get there first.
“Whoa! Whoa! Where do you think you’re going?” a uniformed first responder asked, stepping up and blocking Kesh’s path to the frat house door. Red, white, and blue lights lit up the night, and sirens screeched. There were over twenty vehicles parked haphazardly on the frat house lawn and the path leading to it. The fire was a full inferno at this point. Kesh could feel the heat emanating from the flames. The crackling of the burning wood was at a roar. Embers of burnt wood were falling all around, singeing the frat house lawn.
“My friend, sh-she’s . . . in there, I think,” Kesh stammered, moving to the left to try to get around the uniformed officer.
“It’s too dangerous. Firefighters can’t even get this blaze under control all the way. If your friend wasn’t pulled out already, then . . . I’m sorry. I don’t think anyone can survive that.”
Kesh bit down on his lip. “I have to get inside. Please. I have to know if she’s been saved. I have a feeling she’s still in there,” he pleaded, attempting to sidestep the officer again.
“Listen, guy. I already told you it’s—”
Kesh grabbed the officer by the throat and forced him to stare into his eyes. “You’re going to let me inside. You will move aside, and I’m going to walk right in,” Kesh said, his voice stern. “I have to save my queen.”
The officer shook his head up and down vigorously, unable to break eye contact with Kesh.
Kesh let him go and rushed up the steps and through the doors. He shrank back at first, the heat from the flames taking him aback. The firefighters had managed some of the blaze, but flames billowed out of the kitchen and ripped through some of the back rooms of the house with fury. Fire wasn’t exactly his kind’s favorite thing, but Kesh was on a mission. He covered his mouth and kicked through fallen debris and smoldering furniture. He whirled around and finally spotted tangles of bodies in different places on the floor. He ran over to the first person he saw. It was a guy. He was definitely dead. Kesh ran around him.
“Ay! What’re you doing in here?” a firefighter in full gear yelled at Kesh through his mask.
Kesh ignored him and continued his search for Adirah.
“I found a live one here!” another firefighter called out. He was kneeling, with his hand on her jugular. “I got a faint pulse. I need aid stat!”
Kesh ran over to this firefighter, who was in the same spot that Kesh had last seen Adirah. His heart started jamming against his chest when he realized the man was tending to Adirah.
“Adirah!” Kesh shouted, rushing to her side.
“Hey! Get out of here! It’s too dangerous for you in here!” the firefighter scolded.
Kesh forced Adirah out of the man’s hands.
“Hey! Help! I need help over here!” the firefighter screamed.
Kesh hoisted Adirah over his left shoulder and used his right hand to push the firefighter so hard, he flew clear across the room. Kesh pulled Adirah into his arms until her head hung over his right arm and her legs hung over his left arm. He stared down at her, his heart breaking. The were burns on her face, neck, and hands. The flesh was charred, and Kesh could see parts of the subcutaneous fat. The fire had burned her down to the last layer of skin in places. His body trembled as he lifted her up so that her head was close to his face. Kesh heard faint breaths escaping her lips. He knew he didn’t have much time. Fire raged to his left and his right now. He was distracted by the loud voices invading his sensitive ears and the heat of hell from the blaze. He couldn’t let that distract him.
“I have to save her,” Kesh wheezed. His lungs were filling with smoke. He needed to get out of there, or they both would perish. He lifted his right wrist and bit down on it until he drew blood. He shifted Adirah’s body over so that he could put the blood from his leaking wrist to Adirah’s lips. He rubbed it across her mouth, hoping.
“Drink,” Kesh whispered. “Please.”
The blood from his wrist dripped over Adirah’s partially open mouth and painted her lips and teeth red. Kesh hoped that enough got into her system to save her. Just then, he heard the ceiling beams creak and knew what that meant. Kesh held on to her and r
an toward the door. Just before the entire ceiling collapsed into the middle of the floor, Kesh leapt through the front door and onto the lawn.
“Hey. Put her here. She needs attention,” an EMT screamed at Kesh.
Confused, Kesh looked down at Adirah’s badly burned body, back over at the waving EMT, and then up at the sky.
“Ay! I said bring her over here! We can probably save her,” the EMT yelled again.
Kesh stared into the night sky and didn’t see one sparkling star. The smoke hung over the house like a black cloud of death. He could feel his enemies circling. He sniffed out their evil intentions. Kesh knew what they wanted, just like the first time they’d attacked. He’d long since defected from the rules of their vampire council. He wanted a different life for himself, his clan too.
Kesh looked down at Adirah one last time. If he didn’t let her go, he knew he’d be risking too much. The enemy was close, too close. He needed to take cover, regroup, and live to fight another day. At least he had gotten her out in time. He had no choice but to go stand with his clan and fight. He walked over and gently placed Adirah down on the gurney. The EMTs sprang into action. Kesh went to walk away, but not before he heard Adirah cough and suck in her breath. He smiled. In her condition, Kesh knew that it could only be the sip of his blood that had saved her.
Kesh returned to his clan, covered in black soot and sweat. They were huddled together on the sacred grounds next to the Freeman building. When he approached, they instinctively moved apart, opening up a path for him to pass.
“How bad was it?” Kesh asked, noticing the solemn looks on their faces.
“Zane and Torg didn’t make it out,” Tiev answered, his voice cracking. “They were stabbed in the heart, and they burned while we were getting you out of there. This was what they were waiting for . . . our guards to be down.”
“It was a direct attack. According to the Council, we can attack right back,” Vila said angrily. “We have to attack them back. We look weak every time they do this and we don’t do it back to them. I’m tired of looking weak, Kesh.” Tears ran a race down Vila’s face, and her hands were curled so tight into fists, veins popped up on their tops.