Many of the vampire had begun to waltz to the slow melody Lasatt was playing for Jeremy. It was one of the strangest things I had ever seen. For the most part, it was no different than a human waltz and then there would be a blurred movement and then their movements would go back to being slow and graceful. One couple seemed to dance so gracefully that all eyes were soon drawn to them as they moved around the floor. Everyone stopped their conversations and turned; the only sound was that of the music of Lasatt’s piano. Lasatt then changed the tone of the music from a slow sweet melody to a dramatic torrent of sound. The male had his hood off, but the female’s face was covered in darkness. As their movements shifted with Lasatt’s playing, they seemed to be engrossed in the music. Just as the sounds reached its peak, they suddenly stopped their dancing, and with them, Lasatt stopped playing. The air in the room became icy and Jeremy woke up, staring at the couple that just stood in the center of the floor looking at each other. The male looked down at his dance partner, his eyes widened in fear; he tried to back away, but she kept with him as if they were still dancing. He then attacked her and she gracefully moved around his attack with out having ever moved still facing him. He seemed ready to run, but was frozen with fear as the female raised her hand. He began to choke on a thin black smoke that was slowly leaking from his eyes, nose, and mouth.
Alik appeared at my side, placing a protective hand on my shoulder, ready to get me out of the room if need be. The vampire fell to his knees, and as the last of the smoke came out of his body, he fell
to the ground and didn’t move, his eyes still wide open and unblinking. The black cloud that now hovered over the dance floor began to swirl and a ghostly moan filled the space as the smoke spiraled downwards until it formed a tiny black ball that was no larger than a marble in the palm of the female. She raised it up to the light; she seemed to be examining it. She then lowered her hand and it was left hovering in mid-air before it began to circle her head so fast that it formed a black halo. The Elders acted and surrounded her; Lilith had a blade at her throat while Ayara and Ario were both in position to break her arms and legs.
“Lilith,” spoke the female vampire in a rich and beautifully accented English with a chilling yet musical voice. “Do you intend to kill your mother?” asked the female vampire as she slowly reached up and removed her hood. Immediately, the Elders backed away. Ario and Ayara fell to their knees, heads touching the floor. Lilith bent into the deepest bow possible before her. This new vampire was beyond beauty, she had copper skin and green eyes shaded in golden brown hair that seemed to radiate light. Two thin streaks of red steamed from her eyes, marring her angelic face. She wiped away tracks of blood with a long slender finger, licking the blood from her fingertips. “I forgot that could happen,” she said, more to herself. Then she looked at the Elders. “What is the matter, my children? Does the sight of your mother scare you after all these millennia?”
“Empress,” sighed Lilith, trying to convey a deep apology.
“That title no longer suits me; I shed that the day Lucifer locked me in that godforsaken box.”
“Aaliyah,” sighed everyone, and they all bowed in unison. The only ones left standing were Alison, June, Alik, and me, who were frozen in awe.
“Stand straight you three; you do not bow before me.” Lilith straightened up, looking Aaliyah in the eyes, while Ayara and Ario seemed to keep their gazes averted. “Aaliyah will suffice. Your speech was truly special, Lilith. It touched me. That..." she looked to the still vampire on the ground, "useless corpse on the ground there didn’t seem to be able to take your message to heart.” She began to slowly revolve, taking in those that bowed before her. “I must admit, I would have never thought that with your natural food source being the
humans, you could coexist so well. You have created a world that I don’t think I would have been able to do myself.”
“High praise coming from you,” said Lilith.
“Praise that you deserve,” Aaliyah stated, her eyes falling on Alik and me. “You, girl. Come here,” she called. It wasn’t a command, but rather a request, but Alik moved in front of me. “You are her mate? I honor bravery in vampire, but it is not needed here. I will not harm the girl; I have a question for her.”
“It’s okay, Alik,” I said, not sure where my bravery came from. I stepped around him and walked over to Aaliyah slowly.
“I thought that you would be able to understand me,” she smiled.
“Why wouldn’t I be able to understand you?”
“Because I’m not speaking English anymore; it is your vampire blood that is allowing you and the rest in black to understand me. The other humans have not a clue what is going on, they are simply following their vampire master’s lead.”
“What are you speaking?”
"The language of the heavens. I guess you might know it as speaking in tongues. That is however, besides the point. I just wanted to ask you why are you here?” she changed the subject quickly.
“What do you mean?” I was confused.
“Why did you come to this place surrounded by those that would rather enjoy your blood?” she asked, placing a finger on my neck. “Or sooner want to see you dead to take your place?” Her eyes fell on a number of female vampire. “The other human are like I said, just following their masters like pets, but I sense something else from you. I’m not sure what, so, what is the reason?”
“I’m here for Alik.”
“For him? As a pet to feed on?
“No, I’m nobody’s pet. I came with him because I love him and he asked me to come,” I said, noticing some defiance in my voice.
“Is this why you allowed his egregious crime in your books, Lilith? The love that is between this human and vampire?”
“No, it is more her strength of character that saved her life. She can offer us much,” answered Lilith.
“Good. You and Ayara always were the sentimental type, glad to see that has not clouded your judgement. Ario, you seemed to have wanted young Alik killed on the spot for sharing our blood with a human in such a way.”
“It is a law that has kept us secret for centuries and that was the punishment,” he said, his eyes on the floor.
“As diligent as always, Ario, but I’m glad you failed in your attempt. This girl is intriguing,” she smiled at me. Her smiled scared me more than anything ever had, but I mastered my impulse to run or cry out.
“Umm, excuse me,” I said, not knowing how it would be received.
“Yes, girl? Actually, what is your name? I have been rude,” Aaliyah apologized, taking a seat in Lilith’s throne.
“Vanessa.”
“Vanessa, what would you like to know?” She asked me taking her black cloak off to reveal her thin slender body, Aaliyah was close to naked, only having thin strips of cloth over the breast and waist.
“If the little I know about you is true, God and the Devil sealed you away... Just how… did you get out?” I asked as she slid her rightful red cloak over her sholders.
Vanessa Stanton
Chapter 32.0
Aaliyah sat in Lilith’s throne, looking at me as if she was still trying to understand something that was new and fascinating. After a few moments, a smile crossed her face. She appeared next to me, taking my hand in hers. Her hands were soft and cool like Alik’s, but where his touch was soothing, Aaliyah’s burned.
“Walk with me”, she said. There was the strangest sensation of a light breeze on my face and I was outside in the rock garden. I gasped for air like I had been holding my breath for hours and my heart raced in my chest as if it wanted to tear through my ribcage. Aaliyah released my hand and Alik took it at my side. “You were able to keep up with me?” she questioned, looking at Alik even more intently. “Your friend over there as well,” she said, looking to June.
“Vanessa, are you okay,” Alik asked me, taking no notice that Aaliyah had spoken.
“Yes,” I panted. She moved me like Lilith had the day before, but this felt more
wild and rough.
Aaliyah revolved on the spot, taking in the scenery around her.
She seemed to be amazingly interested in everything, although her actions were strange. She was more like a child than anything else, and she was looking at a new toy that was just slightly out of her grasp.
“I suppose you would like to hear my story as well?” she spoke without addressing anyone in particular.
“To be honest, it doesn’t really matter to me how you got out of wherever you were,” said Alik.
“I wasn’t talking to you; you’re just here for her, I take it?” she asked, looking at me again. “Such loyalty,” she said questioningly. She began to move around the rock garden and it was like a graceful dance. She made an entire circuit before resting on a rock in front of Alik and me. There was no evidence she had ever moved; there wasn’t a single footprint in the sand. “You, with the sword, what is your name?”
“June.”
“I take it that you’re another one of Lilith’s creations?”
“Yes, I am.”
“Yet you move somewhat like Ayara.”
“She has been mentoring me in the art of the sword.” June's response was respectful, but guarded.
“Shame, but anyway, those three never get with the times. You know, they should be here as well.” She snapped her fingers three times and without a sound, the Elders were in front of Aaliyah. “You answer my call as if it was yesterday,” smiled Aaliyah.
“Always,” they chimed.
“Lilith, I’m disappointed. She could be much greater; I asked for a strong army, not just an army,” said Aaliyah. “Do not get attached, understood?”
“Yes Aaliyah, I will fix my mistake immediately.”
“Good, you two on the roof, would you please come down? I would rather see you." Her voice then grew sickly sweet. "I don’t bite.”
Alison and Alisa gracefully leapt from the roof and joined the rest of us in the garden. Aaliyah seemed to be pleased with her audience and stage now. “Could I know your names as well?”
“I’m Alison.”
“You are extremely new and another one of Lilith’s creation?”
“Yes.”
“And you?”
“Alisa.”
“You are much older, aren’t you?”
“Yes.”
“I do not know your creator, interesting. Do you yourself know?”
“No.” Alisa didn’t meet Aaliyah's eyes.
“A shame. Well, you are the only ones willing to follow, I’m guessing,” Aaliyah said, surveying us all. “I’m sorry, Vanessa, I still haven’t answered your question,” she pointed out as her hand rose to the black ball still circling her head and caught it.
“Can I ask another question?”
“Of course.”
“What is that?” My eyes were fixed on the ball.
She closed her palm, her head at a slight tilt and a scream echoed in the dark. “It was what you would call a soul. This filth did not deserve to exist in any capacity, and now he doesn’t. So now, your original question: how did I come to be here? I hope you don’t mind, I will have to start a little before my actual awakening so you fully
understand.”
“No, not at all.”
“Well, it’s a long story, so you might wish to sit down.” We all took seats on various rocks and she smiled at us and seemed to enjoy herself. Then she started.
Aaliyah of Dawn
Chapter 33.0
“Before Eden ever created the human race, the world was a very different place. There was no night and day, just light and dark. In this time the Earth unique in that it was the one planet in solar system that did not rotate on its axis as it does now. In the light existed the Solarians; they developed massive oases based cities in the deserts due to their unique ability to control the life force around other living creatures and plants. In the dark dwelled the Lunarian’s, who amassed great prosperity due to their unique ability to control the darkness around them in their luminescent cities high in the trees of the dark forest. For centuries neither knew the other existed. Both people being content to focus on tapping the full potential of their respective gifts and talents, that is until both wished to expand their territories. With a better grasp on who and what they were both peoples felt safe to ventured out into the strange and unknown. First contact between the two people blossomed into a period of enlightenment and for a time, they coexisted peacefully. However as they studied and learned about each other, diving deeper into each others core existence hate began to spwan. Soon after this conflicts broke out over their differences in looks, beliefs, and desires. Wars raged on and death roamed both sides untamed. Millions died in horrific battles that scared the earths surface.”
While both the Solarians and the Lunarians had their own special gifts over their home lands. During their brief co-existence they learned that some shared a similar power, and while each got the same result through a different method, this commonality was the weak link that held them together for as long as it did. The gift, the ability to control the souls of their ancestors that still roamed the surface of the planet.
Despite the differences between each race, Lunarian and Solarian social structures were very similar as well. Each had a high priest or priestess that acted as leader till death or defeat in single combat by a challenger. The Solarians had their God, who at the time of war between was an ancient Solarian named Eden Old. He was white-haired, very wise, and powerful in all Solarian gifts. The Lunarians had a new, young, and powerful Devil who reigned over them by the name of Lucifer Star; he was dark-haired and handsome, as well as cunning.
The fighting between the two peoples grew so fearsome that it threatened the stability of the planet. In a hostile meeting both decided to meet in single combat to settle the age long war between their people. The fight lasted days and the planet began to burn and die under their power and might. Eden won out, casting Lucifer and the last Lunarians inside a dimension created within the planet itself to act as support for the damaged planet keeping the cracked rock together. Now unhindered by the Lunarians, Eden began to reshape the planet and heal the damages the battle had caused. Victory quickly went to the Solarians’ heads and soon Eden’s people were calling for the total eradication of the Lunarians and punishments to be carried out on their strongest for all the Solarians hurt in the age long wars. This went against their God's wishes so to keep the balance, he fought so hard for. Eden came to the decision that neither the Solarians or the Lunarians deserved the planet and Eden banished the Solarians as he had the Lunarians, within a dimension he created among the stars, leaving himself in a chosen self-exile on the earth.
His work kept him going as he reworked and reshaped the earth. While rewarding, finishing his work on the planet was draining him. His grasp on the Lunarian prison weakened without his knowledge. However, he kept up his work tirelessly on a newer and purer form of life, managing to craft the first human male, Adam, Eve, or myself, came next. We were to inherit the Earth from the last
Lunarian and populate it with humans. Around Eden plant life and animals flourished, feeding off of Eden’s power, and thus the creation of the Garden of Eden, Adam and my home sprang into being. Adam and I lived within the Garden of Eden for a time happily. Eden would keep us entertained with story’s and displays of awesome power from another time.
You know what happened next,” I looked out at Vanessa who stood confused, Alik who was at the ready should I try to hurt his presious human, then I looked to my right and saw no one but at the same time I saw Alik there. It is where he should have been.
“You joined Lucifer after Eden cast you out of the garden. You were then made immortal as a vampire when Lucifer gave you his blood to keep you from dying. When Lucifer grew cold feet about another war you cast him out of Hell. Lucifer came back with a story about how he was wrong, then he betrayed you having asked Eden to help seal you away,” said Alison, who had been eagerly awaiting the end of my
short story.
“Very close. I’m not a vampire as all of you are. I am actually closer to Vanessa, stuck between two species. When I created my three children here, I believed the effect of the transformation was weakened slightly to create what you call vampire.”
“What do you mean?” asked Vanessa puzzled. “I am human.”
I laughed at her ignorance. “No, you aren’t, but nor are you vampire. You have gotten so used to your new power over a long period of time that you control it naturally. Even if your lover stopped giving you the small amounts of blood he has, your new senses at this point would no longer fade. You have grown used to the taste of blood as well, its why you have been fingering that vile of Lilith blood around your neck the whole night. You itch to drink it, not because it is the blood of someone powerful but because it is blood. Take one of the idiots in the white back in the ballroom for your own, see what happens. I would love to know.” The news clearly shocked her, I could hear Alik’s hand ball into a fist. I craved for him to care about me in such a way. “It will be a lot of fun to see what you’re capable of as a true vampire.”
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