by Kailin Gow
“How dare you defy me!” he growled. “Stupid boy...”
“Kalina!” Aaron was shouting – gasping - “Don’t be mad at me. I wanted to get stronger to fight Mal for you. I'll always, I'll always love...”
But Mal had already twisted his head, and with a loud crunch the bones broke, just as Mal thrust a stake into Aaron's heart.
Kalina’s mouth opened in shock. It happened so quickly, she could not believe it. She had seen a staking before, but none seemed as gruesome as Aaron's, as he aged rapidly – into the middle-aged, the old, the aged man he had never had a chance to be, until at last he was a desiccated corpse before them, a corpse that split apart almost instantly into ashes.
He was dead.
The room echoed with silence.
“No!” Stuart cried at last, rushing into the ashes, picking them up and letting them run through his fingers. “No!”
Kalina felt the pain as well – rocking through her, coursing over her. She tried to tell herself that Aaron was already gone, but it was no use. She felt tears come over her again, even as she blinked them away.
“Well, that makes your choice easier,” said Mal.
“No!” Octavius roared, as he rushed towards Mal. “No!” His fury had boiled over now – and now he was at Mal's throat, forcing him against the wall, towards the stone fireplace. For a moment, it looked as if Mal was cornered, and Kalina held her breath – her eyes squeezed shut, praying.
But in a flash, Mal's hand had inched for the fireplace poker, and no sooner did Octavius begin pressing his stake into Mal's flesh than Mal picked up the poker and ran it straight through Octavius.
For a moment Kalina's heart stopped and her world went black.
But the poker was steel, not wood, and Octavius thrust the poker from his body, his anger only further roused. But the blow had weakened him, and no sooner did he take a step than he collapsed at Mal's feet. Mal laughed, his red eyes narrowing as he prepared to take the final blow!
“No!” Kalina rushed between them, focusing all her strength as she thrust Mal off Octavius, shielding her lover's body with her own.
And then another body was there, guarding her, and as Kalina looked up the sight took her breath away. Jaegar was standing over her, protecting her from Mal's wrath, his stony face once more alive with light and courage, even as the pain of his brother's death was splayed out all over his face.
“What?” Mal looked briefly confused – only for an instant, but it was enough. Stuart had rushed towards him, thrusting his stake deep into Mal's back, piercing his heart.
“That's for my brother, you bastard!” he shouted.
Mal staggered backwards, falling against the fireplace. He pulled the stake out of his heart, letting it fall to the floor. Blood poured from the wound in bilious black barrages, but he did not turn to dust.
“How many times do you think I've been staked, eh?” he said. “I’ve had Life’s Blood in me for centuries. Not like weak Aaron, who only had it for an hour. And you – Jaegar – what are you doing...fool...” Blood dribbled from the corners of his mouth.
Stuart backed away slowly. Octavius had already healed from the poker, and was standing next to him, his body tensed and poised for battle.
Mal leaped at Kalina, grabbing hold of her wrists. She screamed instinctively, trying to summon the strength she had used twice before with Jaegar. But Jaegar had leaped forward, separating the two of them, and thrust Kalina towards Stuart.
“Get her out of here!” he shouted. In his hand was an antique sword – one Kalina had seen hanging upon the wall above the fireplace many times before, but had never seen used. Until now.
“Jaegar...” It was the Jaegar she knew and loved, free of the Life’s Blood. Her joy overpowered her.
“Go!” he shouted, as he brought the sword down upon Mal, slicing him cleanly through the torso until only a few shriveled ligaments held the body together.
“No!” hissed Mal, and before Kalina could scream she saw a stake pointing through Jaegar's back, thrust through his heart.
Jaegar moaned in agony – it must have just missed the heart – and Mal withdrew the stake, ready to strike again.
In an instant Kalina was between them, the stake caught in her hands mid-thrust. The three of them gasped in collective astonishment. Only a vampire could move that fast.
“So, it's true,” muttered Mal. “The Carrier has truly inherited the vampire's strength. At last. What a delicacy you must be...”
Before Kalina knew what had happened, her world was going white and dark at the same time. Mal's teeth were fast in her neck, biting down, until nothing made sense and she saw stars above her vision.
Stuart and Octavius had grabbed Mal, then, and had pushed him across the room, but not before Kalina caught sight of her own blood streaming across the floor, pouring from a severed artery in her neck.
She made a small sound, but collapsed back against Octavius. “Drink!” he shouted, tearing into his own flesh with astounding ferocity. “Drink!”
The blood nourished her, and within moments her strength had returned to her, as Stuart began binding Mal with silver chains.
“Hurry – they won't hold him long...” Stuart was shouting.
Kalina sat up. “Where's Jaegar? Is he okay?” She caught sight of a crumpled mass on the floor. “Jaegar!”
She rushed to him, reopening the wound Mal had just left.
“Kalina, are you sure?” Octavius stared at her.
“I know what I'm doing. He's broken through – it won't hurt him.”
She held him fast to her neck; as if in a haze, Jaegar began lapping at her blood, sucking it at first slowly and then more and more rapidly. Suddenly he stopped and pushed her away, violently.
“What's happening?”
He crawled across the floor, violently gagging. His whole body seemed to be changing. His face gained color; his eyes grew duller. For a moment Kalina was seized with terror. Had she misjudged the whole thing? Had she turned him once again?
But then he looked up.
And Kalina knew instantly that she was looking into the eyes of a human. Gone were his fangs – it was evident from his smile. Gone was his bloodlust. In its place was a look of pure love. She wasn't sure what it was yet – a love so strong it defied categorization. She had believed in him. Trusted him. Cared for him. And whatever it was – it was enough to save him.
Stuart was torn between joy and despair: joy for his brother, rage and envy that his brother was achieving the dream that he, Stuart, had always wanted. He was shaking.
“Kalina!” Jaegar rushed to Kalina, enveloping her in a hug, his eyes full of unshed tears.
“Get out of here!” Stuart was saying. “Those chains won't hold Mal much longer...” Mal was already struggling against the masses of silver. “Hurry!”
“Go!” Octavius too displayed his jealousy clear on his face, but he wasn't about to let it stop him from doing his duty.
“I can't leave you!”
“You can't leave him!” Stuart said. “He's human now – he's in danger here! You must protect him!”
Jaegar was looking about him, his eyes filled with the glorious vision of a world seen anew through human eyes – his expression dazed.
“I won't lose another brother,” Stuart said. “It's time for me to reach my full potential...” his words were fraught with meaning. “As a vampire. I must allow myself to be strong.”
“Don't let him kill you!” Kalina begged. “Flee, first, both of you!”
Stuart pressed her hand briefly to his lips, and then pushed her towards the door. “Leave, quickly.”
“I love you, too!” she protested, and even now she wasn't sure whether she was talking to Stuart or Octavius, or to both of them at the same time.
As Kalina and Jaegar exited the house, they heard the sound of Mal at last breaking free of his chains, and of Octavius and Stuart, fighting on...
They rushed together in the night – their hearts pou
nding, for the first time, together. Kalina could feel his wrist, his heart beating in time with hers – their breath panting together – their pulse alive for the first time with excitement, and joy.
And fear.
Epilogue
Time had glided by with silver wings. In the days that had passed between now and the time they had fled the Greystone Winery, Kalina felt that she were somehow participating in the discovery of a new life – Jaegar's. The transformation that had happened on the Winery floors had changed Jaegar entirely – more than Kalina could ever have imagined. He had not merely lost his fangs and pallor, but somehow his soul had seemed to change as well; it had flown straight back into his body, lighting up his face with a smile so radiant Kalina felt that it would blind her.
There had been some guilt, of course, in the beginning. Jaegar had thought back upon his actions, done during his crazed period under the influence of Life’s Blood, and he had come to her on the first morning with the air of a penitent – trying to explain what had happened, trying to rationalize it even to himself. She knew that even now he could not quite look her straight on in the eye – he had promised he would spend his life making it up to her.
A lifetime, Kalina had thought. A promise that meant eternity for a vampire. Did it mean more or less now, that his life was constrained by human measures?
They caught up with Justin and Maeve outside of Los Angeles. It had taken a not inconsiderable amount of explanation – including assuaging Maeve's very pronounced fears and talking a shocked Justin out of a catatonic state – but Kalina had managed to bring them up to speed, even as she proved to them the full extent of Jaegar's cure. They walked together in the sunlight – Jaegar bathing in the ecstasy of the rays upon his slowly reddening flesh – and Jaegar tore in deliriously into his first pizza – ever.
“Bet these weren't around when you were turned,” said Kalina, laughing.
“I've missed out on so much!” he exclaimed. But he still did not meet her eye.
They spent their days in Los Angeles on the beach, soaking up early summer. It was what Jaegar had most wanted to do – on the one hand, it meant more time in the sun for him, while on the other, he noticed that Maeve and Justin seemed more comfortable around him in the day, when they could be sure he was cured of his vampiric affliction.
But all was not sunny in Kalina's mind. Worry about Stuart and Octavius, who had not turned up since their flight, still clouded her mind. Neither had tried to contact her telepathically – yet she felt sure they could not be dead. She had felt an acute psychic pang when Aaron had been staked in front of her; she knew she would feel something similar, if not worse, were anything to happen to Octavius or Stuart. And yet why hadn't they contacted her?
Romantic issues, too, troubled Kalina's mind. What did it mean, she wondered, to have turned Jaegar human? It was the prophecy, wasn't it? That Jaegar was her true love – only true love could turn a vampire human. And yet she wasn't entirely sure what it was she felt for him. She cared for him, certainly, and was attracted to him – although out of caution they had done nothing more than kiss chastely on the cheek and hold hands since their escape – but no amount of Life’s Blood could make Kalina forget Octavius and the feelings she still had for him – so strong they overwhelmed her even now. If she had turned Jaegar human, why did her heart and mind, her very soul still call out to Octavius? And if she loved Octavius so much – would she be able to turn him, too? Was she really in love with Octavius then? Or did she imagined herself to be? She obviously loved Jaegar, but since becoming human and without his vampire ability to attract, that attraction of wanting to tear his clothes off as soon as he was near her, was not as strong. Was she only in love with him if he was a vampire?”
Her thoughts ran often to Stuart. She thought he loved her only because of her Life’s Blood, but he loved her more for her humanity. They had shared so much together, the fear of evil Jaegar coming after Kalina, the night of the Prom, and how Stuart had finally acted on his passion for her, leaving her wanting to experience more of this side of him...
She sighed and turned to Jaegar. They sat together on the beach, stretched out in the open air. Jaegar relished the sensation of the sun – not the weak and painful blistering of being outside under the influence of the ring – almost as much as he relished eating human food. Maeve and Justin had gone out on the third sandwich run of the day, mostly for Jaegar's benefit.
“I don't have automatic muscle regeneration now,” Jaegar laughed. “I'll get fat!”
But his muscles were as tight as ever – if they had lost their superhuman sheen. He had his shirt off, and she could see his rippling abs against his perfect chest. He was still gorgeous beyond any human she knew. He looked up, seeing Kalina’s gaze on him. He moved closer, enveloped her with his arms, and pulled her to his chest, where he stroked her hair and cheeks, his fingers warm against her skin. He kissed the top of her head. “Turning human hasn’t diminished my love for you at all. In fact, I love you more than ever, Kalina. I see you for the beautiful, strong and…” he growled, “outright sexy woman that you are.” He kissed her on her lips, “How did I get so lucky to have you choose me?”
His fingers entwined with hers as he murmured into her hair sweet words of love and held her tightly. She smiled, so happy the old Jaegar she loved was back. The ocean lapped at the sand and they both gazed out at the horizon. Jaegar leaned in to kiss Kalina…
Suddenly, a dark shadow flitted across the sand – so quickly that a blink of an eye erased the image. Kalina sprang up, immediately – her vampire instinct taking over. She sniffed the air, conscious of the subtle hint of blood – vampire blood.
She felt a hunting instinct rise up from within her – the desire to chase this unknown shadow – and before she knew it she was running at superhuman speed, faster than the human eye could catch, across the beach.
And then she realized that Jaegar was running too.
They both stopped short in surprise.
“What – what was that?” Kalina shuddered.
“I...don't know.” Jaegar looked down. He had turned human – he wasn't supposed to have any vampire abilities. “I thought I lost all my abilities.”
“I don't know either.” Kalina hid her gaze. “I mean – it sort of worked...right? You don't have cravings anymore, do you?”
“No!” cried Jaegar indignantly. “Of course not! Only...”
“Only what?”
“It didn't work. Fully. The Life’s Blood didn't work fully.” Which means you didn’t love me enough, either.
Kalina could still hear his thoughts – or thought she could.
“Look, Jaegar, you know how I feel...I care about...”
“All of us, yes,” said Jaegar, his face torn. “I know. You care about us all.”
“Even Aaron.”
“Right.” Jaegar turned away.
Their conversation was interrupted by that same vampire smell – the return of the shadow. It slowed to a walking pace and then Kalina could make out the face with a leap of her heart: Octavius!
He looked battle-worn, but even in his weariness he was beautiful; his exhaustion had not stopped him from dressing, as ever, with impeccable style. Kalina felt her blood once more calling out to him, turning her cheeks hot with embarrassment. She went to him, embracing him lightly – but didn't dare to do more in front of Jaegar.
“What news?” said Jaegar, a little too curtly.
“Thank God you're alright,” said Kalina. “I was so worried...”
“I'm afraid I have some bad news.” Octavius gave a stiff cough.
“Stuart!” Jaegar and Kalina cried in unison.
“Mal...is stronger that we'd hoped,” said Octavius. “We fought in that house for two days and two nights – every time we thought we'd subdued him, he broke free of his silver. We took turns standing guard over him in the last – but he got to Stuart when he was most weary. He wanted to spite Stuart – to spite me and what I stand for, what S
tuart stood for – the Consortium and peace. He...he force-fed Stuart some of the Life’s Blood.”
“What?” The color had drained from Kalina's face.
“His control over Stuart – it is final.”
Jaegar's earlier anger had vanished, replaced with pain. “I remember turning,” Jaegar said slowly. “It was the most horrible feeling in the world. It twists your mind. Whatever – whomever you love becomes your enemy. You cannot even reason with yourself – reason stops existing.”
“It will be worse for Stuart,” said Octavius. “He has always denied himself – as a vampire – to an unhealthy extent. He has not fed his bloodlust properly in centuries. And all that rage – pent up inside him for so long – like a coiled spring...”
Kalina remembered what Stuart had told her, once. That his goodness only made him ten times as dark as Jaegar – in the innermost chambers of his subconscious. That it made him all the more dangerous. She hadn't understood what he meant then. She was understanding better now.
“You saw what he was like when he saw Jaegar made human,” said Octavius. “He was devastated. All that anger, all that pain – I fear for what will happen now that it will be unleashed.” He turned to Kalina. “You are not safe. You have vampire strength – but without Aaron and Stuart – and with Jaegar weakened, only I can guard you...”
“Jaegar – he still has his powers!” Kalina blurted out.
“What?” Octavius furrowed his brows.
“He's turned – but his powers remain.”
“Are you sure?”
She nodded mutely. “I guess it didn't work all the way – or something.”
A note of hope in Octavius’ eyes vanished quickly as he focused on more pressing matters. He gave a hollow laugh. “How incredible,” he said softly. “You are extraordinary – whatever you are. But even so – we must get you out of the country, immediately.”
Out of the country. To Europe – Europe! With Octavius – to freedom, to safety, to the man she loved.
For a while. Until Mal found them – or Stuart – until things started to go wrong, until Maeve and Justin were once more in danger. Kalina sighed. It was impossible.