Immortal Consequences

by Steven Sterup

  Bree peeked out the window and noticed that the snow had stopped but the scene outside was both blinding and worrisome. The hillside out the window was covered in snow. It must have snowed at least a foot. Running wasn’t an option. She’d freeze to death before she got anywhere. Not that anywhere was safe. The only place safe from the lunatic sleeping in that chair was by Kal’s side and she had no idea where he was.

  A phone. That was it. She could call Kal. Then she pushed the idea aside. What good would it do to call him? She had no idea where she was. Elyssa was clearly unstable. It would only aggravate her and scare Kal. A phone call without knowing where she was would solve nothing.

  Bree continued to scour the room for anything that might help then she heard the chair creek.

  “Good morning sunshine,” Elyssa said. She was standing at the side of the bed and Bree hadn’t even heard her cross the room. “That’s what humans say to someone who’s important to them isn’t it?”

  “I’m important?” Bree asked.

  “You have no idea. You are the most important person in the entire world. Well…” Elyssa said and turned around to survey the aftermath of the blizzard outside. “You and that brat you’re carrying.”

  “What are you going to do to us?” Bree asked frightfully. She continued to scour the room while Elyssa’s back was turned. There had to be something here that could either tell her where she was or help her escape.

  Elyssa turned around and Bree fixated on her gaze.

  “You’re too slow to be sneaky. Quit that,” Elyssa warned. “And as to what I’m going to do to you…” Elyssa leaned in and grinned, her fangs descended and Bree was terrified. “I’m going to treat you like a queen.” Elyssa laughed then stood up straight and walked to the foot of the bed. “That is until Kal is dead. Then I’ll kill you. Can’t have that little brat trying to avenge its father’s death.”

  “Why? I still don’t understand what you get out of all this,” Bree said. “You’re upset with Kal but how does this help you?”

  Elyssa leaned on the foot of the bed and smiled. Her fangs were gone but she looked no less menacing.

  “I get to be a princess again.” She pushed herself off the bed and started searching through the dresser. She tossed out several pieces of clothing then turned back to Elyssa. “Ok. Fine. I won’t be a princess. I’ll be a queen. Close enough.”

  “What about the other gargoyles? Kal said there were about ten.” Bree tried to get Elyssa to see reason but Elyssa’s evil smile told her it wasn’t working.

  “Those pathetic wannabe Kals?” Elyssa forced a laugh then looked at Bree seriously. “I’ll snap their necks like….well…like a human. There is no one like Kal. The other gargoyles will cower at my feet.”

  Bree could see the pride Elyssa had for her brother. It was distorted by her insanity and desire for power, but it was there. Also, there was something off about Elyssa’s story and her supposed motivations. Bree couldn’t put her finger on it but somehow Elyssa’s story sounded…too convenient, too easy.

  “I know what you’re thinking,” Elyssa said then tossed a long sleeved sweatshirt and pants on the bed. Next she pulled out some long underwear and tossed those on the bed as well.

  “What am I thinking?” Bree asked when it was clear Elyssa wasn’t going to speak until she did.

  “Eww, men’s clothes.” Elyssa made a childishly disgusted face and held her hands up like she was throwing a fit then swiftly returned to her anger. “This isn’t a beauty contest, sweetheart. These will make sure you don’t almost die on me again.”

  “That’s not what I was thinking,” Bree said as she grabbed the long underwear bottoms, stood and pulled them on, then did the same with the top that matched them. She stood wearing just the long underwear and glared at Elyssa. It was her turn to force a question.

  “Oh what were you thinking then?” Elyssa asked.

  “I was wondering how Kal is going to kill you. Will it be slow and painful…” she started but before she could finish Elyssa had her hands around her throat.

  Bree could feel Elyssa’s sharp nails digging into her skin. Bree tried to show bravery but she was terrified.

  “Cute. You think that because I need you alive I can’t hurt you. That’s where you’re wrong. Treating you like a queen was one option…there is another.” Elyssa released Bree’s neck grabbed her left wrist then pulled back her pinky finger until she heard it snap.

  Bree screamed in pain and fell to the floor.

  “Shit! Shit! Shit!” Bree shouted as she tried to pull her finger straight once more but she couldn’t manage to overcome the pain.

  “Quit whining!” Elyssa shouted then grabbed her finger and straightened it.

  “FUCK!” Bree screamed and cradled her hand.

  “Now that we have an understanding I expect you to be much more courteous to me in the future,” Elyssa said.

  Bree looked up from her position on the floor with malice.

  “Don’t count on it,” Bree replied.

  “Don’t do anything stupid,” Elyssa warned.

  Bree screamed and lunged at Elyssa who stopped her easily then laughed.

  “Damn! You are a feisty one.” Elyssa tossed her on the bed and when Bree tried to get back up Elyssa flashed her fangs and growled. “Stay down.”

  “I’m going to enjoy every minute of watching my husband tear you to pieces,” Bree said.

  “You just don’t quit do you?” Elyssa asked with amusement.

  “Nope. If you’re expecting me to bend over and kiss your ass you’re sorely mistaken,” Bree said with hatred. She hadn’t tried to get off the bed again. She knew she was no match for Elyssa but Bree enjoyed the glimmer of fear in Elyssa’s eyes every time she mentioned Kal. “You can break all my fingers and I’ll still flip you off.”

  “You’re kind of amusing. Just get dressed. I’ll bind and gag you if I have to but we’re going to Salvon,” Elyssa said and walked out the door.

  Now was Bree’s chance. Elyssa was down stairs rummaging through the kitchen for some reason. Bree grabbed the rest of the clothes from the bed and scoured the room once more. She even stared out the window but there was nothing to tell her where she was. There was also no phone in sight. Then Bree saw it. A small pocket knife on the nightstand beside the bed. She wouldn’t be able to do much to Elyssa with this but it might help her escape if her captor was serious about tying her up. Bree shoved the knife into one of the overly large pockets of the enormous pair of pants she was wearing then headed downstairs.

  “Do you have a belt or a rope?” Bree asked.

  “A little large?” Elyssa asked with a laugh.

  “I won’t be moving very quickly if my pants fall down,” Bree replied. She made her way down the stairs. She could be polite, if only to keep Elyssa off-guard. But when she found a way out, Bree would certainly take it. She sneered at Elyssa when her back was turned. She hadn’t been kidding upstairs. She would enjoy every second of Kal tearing Elyssa apart.

  “I saw a rope in the drawer over there,” Elyssa said and motioned toward a cabinet with drawers going to the floor.

  The style of the kitchen, as well as the rest of the house, reminded Bree of a picture she had seen of a country home in the nineteen sixties. Everything was wood and stained with dark colors. Even the refrigerator looked like it belonged in a sixties catalog. The stove was dirty and white, just like the rest of the appliances.

  When Bree opened the drawer Elyssa had directed her to she saw her salvation. Inside the drawer was a small revolver. She pulled on the rope while she tilted the revolver then her hope sank.

  “It’s not loaded,” Elyssa said with a laugh.

  “Damn, was hoping I could save Kal the trouble of killing you,” Bree shot back.

  “See? Isn’t this fun? Two sisters bantering back and forth? I wish I’d had a sister when I was younger,” Elyssa said. Bree looked and Elyssa hadn’t even turned around. She was not scared of Bree in the slightest.
/>   “It wasn’t that great,” Bree said. She continued to search through the drawers for anything else she might use. Hopefully something Elyssa hadn’t seen or hadn’t considered useful to her.

  “Did big sister pick on you?” Elyssa asked and, although Bree didn’t turn around, she was certain Elyssa was faking a pout.

  “Not for long but she did make sure I never got to do anything fun. No sneaking out. No boys after ten. I was a virgin until I was eighteen,” Bree said. She moved to the next set of drawers but still nothing. Not unless she was going to somehow use an oversized fork to facilitate her escape.

  “Boohoo,” Elyssa taunted. “You had it so rough. My father barely knew I existed. My mother hated me. My big brother ignored me. And then there was Kal.”

  “What exactly are you looking for? Maybe I’ve seen it in these drawers? I found the rope by the way,” Bree said. Maybe being friendly was a better option. Antagonizing Elyssa wasn’t getting her to let her guard down at all, no matter how much fun it was.

  “I’m looking for the keys to that pickup out there. I really hope it has a heater. I do not want a repeat of last night,” Elyssa explained.

  “Maybe we should wait until the roads are clear.” Bree looked out the kitchen window and saw the truck she assumed Elyssa was referring to. It was old and rusted. It had chains on the tires but it didn’t look like it would make it anywhere. “I’m not so sure I trust that truck.”

  “This guy lived here. His truck will be a lot better suited for driving in this than the stupid car I got from the tourists,” Elyssa replied.

  Bree stared out beyond the truck and saw the car Elyssa had been driving. It was smashed against another car and it didn’t look like it was going anywhere.

  “I’m going to find a coat or something. Maybe some boots and socks,” Bree said.

  “You’re attitude sure did change. Trying to butter me up?” Elyssa asked skeptically.

  At the bottom of the stairs Bree turned and looked at Elyssa with hatred.

  “No. I just want to stay alive until Kal rescues me. Pissing you off is counterproductive right now,” Bree said then headed up the stairs.

  “Right now? So pissing me off will become useful later?” Elyssa asked with a laugh. “See. That’s why I like you. It’s too bad you’re pregnant with my brother’s brat. I think we could have been friends.”

  Bree ignored Elyssa’s taunts and continued upstairs. While Bree found socks, boots and a coat, Elyssa finally found the keys.

  “Got em!” she yelled up the stairs. “You got five minutes then we’re leaving!”

  After a few minutes Bree came down dressed in layer after layer of clothing and Elyssa laughed.

  “Well. At least no one will recognize you,” Elyssa said with amusement.

  “I told you. I just want to live until Kal rescues me. That’s all. I’m not going to freeze to death because you can’t tell when it’s cold out,” Bree snapped back at her.

  “Works for me,” Elyssa replied then opened the door for Bree. “After you.”

  In minutes Bree and Elyssa were on the highway and on their way back to Salvon. The lack of heat was no longer a problem for Bree but she still hoped Kal would find her soon.

  Chapter 16

  Ra and Kal traveled along the same highway as Bree and Elyssa. Had they left five minute sooner they would have been right behind them, though neither of them would have recognized Bree nor the truck Elyssa was driving. Had they kept driving on this same highway they would have followed the two women all the way to Salvon. Instead, thirty miles down the road, Kal and Ra turned off then headed to an airport.

  Ra had been right though. They reached Salvon long before Bree and Elyssa did. Although they had beat the two women home, Kal’s apartment provided him with little comfort. Kal pushed the button on the answering machine and listened to the droning messages from prospective companies wanting his money. Then, the third message renewed his anger for his sister.

  “Kal? Little brother? I hope you are the one who finds this. By now I have your precious Bree and the brat she carries. Don’t try to find me. You never will. I’m a million times smarter than you are. When I’m ready I’ll let you know where to meet. If you haven’t killed Ra yet, bring him along. We’ll have a family reunion.” Elyssa didn’t even bother to disguise her voice.

  Kal threw the machine across the apartment and it shattered on the front door.

  Ra just waited with his arms crossed, looking as disapproving as he usually did. Kal remembered all the times as a little boy when Ra had this very same look. Kal never seemed to be able to please his big brother.

  “What’s the look for Ra? I’m not living up to the standards set by Ra the Immortal, The Sun God, whatever else they used to call you?” Kal asked with distain.

  “No. You are not living up to the standards of Kal,” Ra said matter-of-factly.

  “What’s that supposed to mean?” Kal asked angrily.

  “You were always better than me. You don’t get tempted by the smell of blood. You’ve never killed a human because you couldn’t control yourself. You’ve never woken up covered in the blood of a village and had no idea how you got there. You were better than me the day you were born and you still are.” Ra was serious and Kal was a little awestruck.

  “But…” Kal started but Ra wasn’t finished.

  “I’m not saying you don’t have your faults,” Ra said with a laugh. “I mean you have a serious temper. And your naïve devotion to our sister. I was never envious of that.”

  “I’m done with that now,” Kal replied. Ra could see the anger boiling just below the surface.

  “But you still have that temper and it might get Bree killed.” Ra walked over and picked up the broken pieces of the answering machine then deposited them in the garbage. He noticed the strange look on his brother’s face. “What? Bree is my sister-in-law. I’m not going to leave her house a mess. When she gets home I don’t want her yelling at me. I’ve met her remember?”

  Kal looked at his brother and smiled. Ra still had hope. Kal was losing his quickly but his brother wasn’t.

  “What do we do now?” Kal asked.

  “I know a guy,” Ra joked.

  “Seriously?” Kal asked.

  “Actually I do know a guy that might be helpful. But first you’re going to help me clean up the mess you made. I’m not going to let you screw this up, brother.” Ra stared at Kal until he laughed then Kal proceeded to help clean up the broken pieces of the answering machine.

  When Kal and Ra arrived at a seedy looking bar hidden in a back alley, Kal looked skeptical.

  “I know what you’re thinking but he’s here. Been here for a few hundred years,” Ra explained.

  “How come I’ve never noticed him?” Kal asked. He pushed his way through the rough looking crowd of drunks and not one of them would look him in the eye. As he looked around the bar he realized something. They were all vampires and they weren’t drunk. This was a feeding bar.

  “Perhaps you weren’t really looking, Kal,” Ra said and made his way to a door in the back marked private.

  “Have you been here before?” Kal asked.

  “I come here once in a while,” Ra admitted. “Check up on you. Watch Bree for a while. This last time I was satisfied so I left and didn’t intend to return.”

  “Satisfied?” Kal asked.

  “You seemed happy with her and you weren’t looking for me, so yes, I was satisfied,” Ra stated then opened the door and held it for Kal. Kal walked in and the man sitting in the chair was sucking blood from the wrist of a half-naked woman. She was sitting on a table facing the man and when he recognized Kal he nearly had a heart attack.

  “Kal! This isn’t what it looks like. She’s consensual and she’s an adult,” the man said. He had a full beard and a balding head. Kal always found it strange that even vampires were susceptible to baldness. One of the mysteries of nature. Perhaps it was an adaptation to help the predator fit in with its prey.
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br />   The woman looked at Kal. She looked like she was on something. The half-naked woman stumbled and grabbed Kal’s face.

  “You’re cute,” she said with a slur. To human’s a vampire’s bite was similar to being drunk but without the hangover. Something in the saliva produced a feeling of euphoria and the light headedness that accompanied blood loss added to the effect. The woman held out her wrist and Kal watched as the balding vampire’s eyes grew huge. “Want a taste?” she asked seductively.

  Kal transformed. His grey, boney face, with its red eyes, stared back at the woman. She screamed then ran out of the room.

  “Do you know how many laws you’re breaking?” Kal asked. He still hadn’t changed back and this only intensified the balding vampires fear.

  “Kal. This is the guy,” Ra said as he patted his brother on the shoulder.

  “This is the guy who is going to help us find Bree?” Kal asked and returned to human form.

  “Wait a minute. Ra. I never signed up for this,” the man said.

  “Shut up Hodge. Or would you like me to leave so you and Kal could discuss your violation of the law?” Ra asked with a smirk.

  “Shutting up,” Hodge replied.

  “This weasel knows where to find Bree?” Kal asked. He motioned to the cowering man full of skepticism.

  “No. But. He will help us find El. He’s been living under your nose for ten years. He knows where vampires hide from you and how they do it.” Ra looked confident so Kal took him at his word.

  Kal leaned over the table and stared at Hodge. Hodge twitched and his eyes kept darting to Ra for help.

  “What do you want?” Hodge asked.

  “My sister,” Kal said angrily.

  “Elyssa? That sister?” Hodge asked, trying to be helpful.