DarknessOnThePlains_TheBeginning

by Jayme Malvagio

  “You are too kind, old friend.” Niccolo slipped down from his perch. “Shall we see what the night has in store for us then?”

  “Oh, I have a special treat in mind. I pray you won’t be disappointed.”

  “Do tell?” Niccolo smiled as he followed him to the mouth of the cave.

  “Why tell when it would be so much more entertaining to show you,” he said with a wink. “This way if you will, kind sir.”

  They leapt into the night, gliding along on the warm summer air. Niccolo watched their surroundings blur by with increasing speed. Just as he began to wonder where they might be going, he recognized Guthrie looming on the horizon. Pavlo brazenly led them over the center of town before landing in a darkened alley off Main Street. Striding to the end of the row, he motioned for Niccolo to follow.

  “I remembered you to be a gentleman who could always appreciate the arts,” he said as they crossed the street. “I heard of a wonderful play being performed here tonight and thought you might enjoy it.”

  Pavlo purchased tickets at the door and led them to their seats in the theater. Niccolo studied the playbill for The Virgin Widow and smiled in appreciation. A romantic comedy…how novel, he mused.

  Soon the curtains opened and the players took the stage.

  “The wants that sent him to me, hoping still that as he grew to ripeness, what was soft would harden in him, what was hard would soften; for he was of a sweet and liberal nature. But lending this to lose it, robs my child, my poor Lisana, of that little store I gathered for her dowry,” Gerbetto professed.

  “For what end? Not for his good, be wiser than to think it. Give thou to no man, if thou wish him well, what he may not in honor’s interest take. Else shalt thou but befriend his faults, allied against his better with his baser self,” Mrs. Martino countered.

  And so Niccolo soon found himself lost in the plights and follies of Sicilian nobility. When the curtains finally closed, he turned to ask his friend what he thought of the show, but stopped short. He could tell without even needing to tap into his thoughts, Pavlo was on the prowl.

  “You can’t be serious,” he whispered.

  “What?” Pavlo turned to him with a bewildered look.

  “We just fed last night. You can’t possibly need to feed again so soon.”

  “What is need when weighed against desire?” He shrugged.

  “It’s dangerous to feed so often,” Niccolo admonished gently. “You’ve been around long enough to know that better than anyone.”

  “In the old world, I’d agree, but look around you. Word travels slow when the populace is so spread out and thin even in its so-called cities.”

  “And yet, the danger is still there. It only takes one mistake to get the rumors flowing, and you know what happens then.”

  “The hunters?” Pavlo laughed. “Let them come. With you and I side by side, we could defeat an army of them.”

  “You speak like a fledgling. Would you really tempt the wrath of The Council by exposing our existence like that?” Niccolo was flabbergasted.

  “Oh, please.” He smirked. “I’m just livening up a potentially dreary conversation. I’d never actually do anything so brash.”

  “Dreary?” His jaw clenched involuntarily. “Am I boring you?”

  “Not at all, but as you so eloquently put it, I’ve been around long enough to know the rules and the dangers. There is no need to belabor the point.”

  Niccolo forced himself to calm. “Very well, do as you wish.”

  “Oh, don’t be like that,” he said through a lopsided smile. “I avow, after tonight, I’ll not feed again until you feel the urge.”

  “Why after tonight?”

  “Because I’ve already located two prime candidates for us and they’re close.”

  “Ghosts?” he asked dubiously.

  “The walking dead,” he confirmed with a nod.

  “And after, we’ll take a lengthy break from hunting?”

  Pavlo winked as he gave him a sharp nod.

  “Then I say let’s dine,” he said, rising from his seat.

  Chapter Nine

  Kanati sprawled face-first among the leaves, so lost in his musings he barely had enough time to get his hands beneath him.

  “What is wrong with you?” Her brow creased as she helped him to his feet. “You seem to spend as much time picking yourself from the ground as you do walking beside me.”

  “It’s hard to watch where I’m going when all I can see is you.” He kicked at the stump that tripped him.

  “Oh, Kanati—” She blushed. “You’re too much. Now that you’ve finally found your voice, you never cease to amaze me with your choice of words.”

  “The sun is nearly set.” He peered up through the branches.

  “So?”

  “So, we should probably start heading back.”

  “Kanati, you’re not afraid of the dark are you?”

  Kanati tried to squash the memory of the night he left the boarding school, but failed. The panicked screams of his friends and the sons-of-bitches that had held him captive grew in the distance until they threatened to deafen him.

  “Hey, where’d you go?” Selu touched his arm.

  Kanati recoiled, but laughed to conceal his shame when he realized what happened.

  “I was just—” He took her hand. “It doesn’t matter.”

  “If the night really bothers you so much, we can go back.”

  “It’s not the darkness; it’s what’s in it that worries me.”

  “Don’t worry, Kanati… I’ll protect you.” She kissed his hand.

  Kanati pulled her closer, caressed her face and leaned in to taste her lips. Branches groaned in the trees to his left. His head jerked, eyes squinted to penetrate the dark canopy—shapes, shadows, blurred lines, nothing he could identify.

  “What was that?”

  “We are in the woods, branches move all the time.” Selu arched her brow, studying his face.

  “There is no wind.” Kanati pulled her to a crouch.

  “It’s probably just a squirrel then,” she whispered.

  “It would have to be an awfully big squirrel.”

  His gaze roamed over the trees, waiting. Movement to the right—then nothing. Unseen eyes bore into him. His breath came in quick gulps. Movement to the left, closer—silence.

  “Kanati, you’re scaring me.”

  “You should be afraid.” The sound of his own warning made his skin crawl.

  “What’s out there?”

  “His guardian angel.” The voice sounded so close behind them, Kanati swore he could feel the breath from it on his neck.

  They whirled in unison. A shadow separated itself from the trees, slid toward them.

  Is that a man?

  “Run!” Kanati sprang to his feet.

  Niccolo watched them disappear among the trees. He listened to the snapping twigs as they raced for their Talwa. A grin broke through the shadows of his face.

  “Was it something I said?”

  The urge to follow him was nearly overwhelming. He wanted to be near him, hear his voice, read his thoughts, marvel at the potential he radiated.

  Pavlo moved silently between the trees until he stood at his side. His gaze shifted from Niccolo’s face to the sound of the fleeing couple. “Neither were ghosts and you couldn’t possibly be under the grip of the thirst, especially after the speech you gave me last night.”

  “Your point?”

  “It begs the question: Why have they garnered such an intense interest?”

  “You followed me.” It wasn’t a question.

  “When you left the cave in such haste, my curiosity bested my manners.”

  “And your common sense.” Niccolo snorted, feeling pressure build along his gum line. “Have you never heard the adage about curiosity and the cat?” He smiled, revealing his extended canines and Pavlo paled, taking a quick step back.

  “Relax, old friend,” he said with a wink. “You’ve not crossed me
.”

  “Then the threat was in jest?” He still wore a doubtful expression.

  Niccolo couldn’t help but laugh. “It wasn’t a threat.”

  “Yes, you have never been one to waste energy on words when actions would send a more tangible message.” He turned once more in the direction Kanati and Selu had fled. “Would I be out of line to ask the nature of your interest in the young couple?”

  “It’s the boy. There’s just something about him. I get the distinct impression he will grow to be a great man.”

  “If he is to be a great man, perhaps he would make an even greater vampire.”

  He cast a sideways glance at his old friend and smiled. “Perhaps someday, but he still has much to learn about himself before he can learn about us.”

  Pavlo’s head snapped in his direction in a blur of speed, eyes narrowed.

  Niccolo shifted uncomfortably under the intense scrutiny. “You haven’t near the power to read my mind, unless I let you,” he finally said, forcing a smile.

  “I have no need for that ability to understand the implications of what you are planning.”

  “I’m not planning anything.” He shrugged. “The boy just fascinates me.”

  “And are there others like him?” His head cocked to one side.

  “What’re you implying, Pavlo?”

  “Simply that you plot your grand return even as we speak. If you hand pick a powerful clan and—”

  “Wait, there’s no need to continue that train of thought. I’m afraid you’re way off base here.” Niccolo shook his head.

  “Am I? The timing is perfect. Many of our kind have already arrived on these shores. If you can establish your dominance early, you will be the irrefutable leader of the New World.”

  Niccolo threw his head back and bellowed at the sky. “It’s a rich idea, but you’re overlooking several key elements in your theory.”

  “Which is?” His brow pursed in confusion.

  “First and foremost, I’ve no desire to hold such an office, and if I did, I wouldn’t march on the vampire nation with a clan of yearlings. It would be suicide.”

  “Not for the Butcher of—”

  “That is no longer my name,” he cut in tersely. “I’ve had my fill of war and petty politics. If it were power I sought, I’d return to Europe and claim it.”

  “Then why?” He gestured in the direction the couple had taken.

  Niccolo rubbed his chin in thought. “I suppose I saw in him something even more alluring than the power he exudes. Something I hadn’t even realized I yearned for until our paths crossed.” He brought his gaze up to meet his that of his friend. “Loyal companionship.”

  Pavlo nodded, the light of realization washing over his features. “Alas, now you have me to fill your void.”

  “That I do.” He gripped him by the shoulder, delivering a reassuring squeeze. “That I do indeed.”

  * * * *

  Kanati cleared the edge of the woods, still clutching Selu’s hand. He pushed ahead, running as fast as his legs would carry him, and she matched him stride for stride. At last, he could make out the shapes of buildings as they neared the edge of the Talwa and he nearly cried out in relief. Once they’d put several homes between them and the tree line, he dropped to his knees, gasping for air. Selu tumbled down beside him, lying on her back.

  When she finally caught her breath, she turned wide eyes to face him. “Who was that?”

  Staring at the ground before him, he didn’t answer immediately. He wasn’t sure where to begin.

  “We have to tell the elders. They can gather a party and—”

  “No.” He shook head emphatically. “We mustn’t tell anyone what we saw tonight”

  “What?” She pushed herself to her elbows. “Do you really want a stranger staying in the woods, waiting for one of us to stray too far from home?”

  “I think I might know who he is.”

  “Then why did we have to run?”

  “Because he scares me to death,” he replied.

  “I’m afraid I don’t understand.” She frowned at him. “If he scares you, then we should tell the elders.”

  “I have to tell you something, something I haven’t told anyone since I came home.” He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “The night I left the school, that…thing in the woods helped me escape.”

  “Again, why did we run from him?”

  “Because he killed everyone at the school.”

  “Oh no!” she covered her mouth. “Did he try to kill you too?”

  “No, he told me I’d be safe, that he wouldn’t harm me.”

  He watched her eyes dart back and forth as she tried to process the information. She was clearly at a loss for words.

  “I’m just not sure for how long that vow holds true.”

  “Then we have to hunt him down and make sure he doesn’t harm anyone else.”

  She tried to rise to her feet, but he pulled her back down and into his embrace.

  “Don’t you understand?” he asked in a rushed whisper. “He killed all of those people by himself. He’s not human…he can’t be, and if we send people we care about after him, we’ll never see them again.”

  “Okay, we will keep this to ourselves.” Crumpling against him, she trembled beneath his touch. “How do you know he won’t come for you here?”

  “If he meant us harm, we wouldn’t have made it out of those woods alive.” He wasn’t sure if he was trying harder to convince her or himself. “No, I think he was just checking up on me.”

  “Do you think he’ll return?” She lifted her face and met his gaze.

  “No, he could see that I clearly made it home and I’m doing quite well here.” He kissed her tenderly. “He shouldn’t bother us again.”

  Chapter Ten

  Taima toppled a bowl on the counter and Selu leapt from her chair with a gasp.

  “What’s gotten into you, child? You’ve been jumpy all day,” she said, her face scrunched up in concern.

  “Nothing, Auntie,” she giggled nervously. “I was just lost in my thoughts and the noise startled me.”

  “Seems to me, you need different thoughts if the ones you’re keeping now have you on such a narrow edge.”

  “I know. I’ll try.”

  Selu wasn’t sure how she could possibly think about anything else. Kanati said the stranger wouldn’t return, but what on earth made him so sure?

  “So, how are things going with the mental giant?” Taima asked.

  “Oh, Auntie. You know as well as I do…he’s not slow-witted.” She laughed despite herself. “I wish I hadn’t told you that.”

  “You’ve really taken a liking to him, haven’t you?” she asked with a knowing smile that reached her eyes.

  “Yes. Once he found his voice, he proved to be quite a remarkable young man.”

  “I’m glad to hear it.” She moved to sit across from her at the table.

  “I’m really not sure why he acted so queerly when we met, but I’m sure glad he overcame it.”

  “Perhaps this evening, instead of you two running off, he might be interested in sitting down for dinner.”

  “I’m sure he would be delighted. I’ll ask him when he finishes with the elders.”

  * * * *

  Kanati entered the house, hoping the butterflies in his stomach wouldn’t fight for space with the food he was about to consume, the aroma of which was intoxicating and filled the entire room. Looking at Taima as she stood over the stove and stirred a large pot, he took a deep breath, savoring the scent of the stew.

  Selu smiled at him. “It smells wonderful, doesn’t it?”

  “It certainly does,” he agreed with a vigorous nod.

  “Her stew is one of my favorite dishes.”

  “If it tastes half as good as it smells, I’m sure it will be one of mine as well.”

  Taima looked at him over her shoulder, face scrunched up in a look of disapproval. “What do you mean if?”

  “I…uh
m… I,” Kanati stammered.

  Relief flooded over him as her face broke into a wide grin. “Go ahead and have a seat. It’s almost ready.”

  “Thank you, Grandmother,” he replied, moving to the table. “I’m glad to see you are feeling much better than the last time we met.”

  She stiffened and Selu shot a nervous glance between them. “Auntie, did I mention that Kanati is helping Acabo down at the store now?”

  “No, but I’m glad to hear it,” she said, then paused as she was overcome by a coughing fit. She turned away from the food, covering her mouth until she regained control of her lungs.

  She moved back to the stove with determination and ladled generous helpings of her concoction into three wooden bowls. “He’s not exactly a spring chicken anymore and has no business doing all that lifting by himself.”

  Selu rose quickly and helped her carry the stew and a plate of fry bread to the table. Kanati waited patiently as the women took their seats. His mouth watered as he looked at the large chunks of deer meat, sliced corncobs, and various other vegetables floating in a thick brown sauce.

  “Well, go ahead and help yourself,” Taima gestured toward the bread.

  They ate in relative silence, only interrupted by Taima’s coughing.

  “That was even better than it smelled,” he said, sliding his empty bowl away from him with his thumbs.

  “Did you get enough to eat?” Taima asked, one eyebrow arched.

  “Yes, Grandmother,” he said, rubbing his belly. “If I ate another bite, I’d burst.”

  Selu rose to fetch a bucket of water to clean the dishes.

  “You remind me a lot of your father,” Taima said as she cleared the table.

  His jaw dropped and the air left his lungs, refusing to return.

  She stared at him, head cocked to one side. “Surely, I’m not the first person to tell you that.”

  He nodded slowly.

  “You were so young when Acoma passed,” she paused, watching Selu as she set the bucket beside the counter. “I’m surprised he could’ve had such an impact on you.”

  “How so?”

  “I mention him and you suddenly looked like you were kicked in the gut by a mule.”