Only moments before he had caught up a rat that had scurried past, only to drain it of its life force. He felt sickened, as he always did after feeding. He hated taking any life, even from rats.
The darkness was like an oppressive blanket that hung above him, stitched with stars that shined like sequins and a crescent moon. He could scarcely see the small gravestones that arose from the ground in front of him like broken teeth.
He was quite a distance away from the old dilapidated church when he reached the end of the line of gravestones. From this point he would have thought the building was completely uninhabited, no lights shone from the single stained glass window as the vampires preferred to use only a few candles for their light.
Brooke would be in there, close to Lok no doubt. It is better that way, he allowed himself to think.
He had not failed to notice his fellow Arch-Realmers advances on her but neither did he wish to stop it. Brooke could never be his and this he had already accepted.
True he felt quite a strong attachment to her, stronger than the others who had been infatuated with him, but he knew he must let these feelings pass.
Suddenly, he felt another’s presence nearby.
“You are sad, Elfpire?”
His head snapped round to find Nalia beside him, she had exited the church so silently he hadn’t heard a thing.
White as a ghost, and with hair so platinum it glistened in the moonlight, as if she was surrounded by a nimbus of light in the darkness.
“I’m fine,” he replied quietly.
“You look morbid my dear,” she continued as if she had not heard him, “has enough blood passed between your lips lately?”
Arantay only nodded. He could feel her eyes on him, lingering on his flesh hungrily; but not a vampiric hunger.
“You are strange,” she cocked her head to the side as she assessed him, “but delightful to gaze upon.” Nalia revealed her needle-sharp fangs. “What’s it like to be half elf, half vampire?”
Arantay leaned his head against the church’s wall and sighed. “A curse,” he muttered.
“And a blessing,” she said. “At least you can still feel the sun’s kiss. I have not seen the sunset for over a hundred years,” a note of sadness invaded her tone.
“I would gladly never set foot in sunlight again if it meant I didn’t have to feed off the blood of others.”
“Ah,” was all she said, yet Arantay felt that she understood perfectly.
Out of the corner of his eye he saw her edge closer to him.
“But you do not have to brood, you can still be happy as a blood hunter, you may be above humans now, and in your case elves, but you can still find comfort in those of your own kind.”
He looked her full in face then, it was only inches from his own, her lips glistening and her eyes swimming with desire.
He stood abruptly, moving away from the church’s wall, she stood also, staring at him curiously.
“Do you not want me, Elfpire?”
Arantay’s delicate brows furrowed.
“Or is it the Venator girl you crave?”
“Perhaps,” Arantay spoke slowly. “If I was human like her, not an elf, nor a vampire. Only then, maybe I could be with her.” It was a subject he avoided thinking about, he saw no reason in causing any unnecessary pain for himself.
“Because she will die before you.” Nalia surmised. “And I suppose turning her into a child of the night is out of the question?”
“Of course.” His anger boiled to the surface again. “Even if she wanted to be a vampire, I’d never subject her to our hellish existence.”
“Can you even turn another into one of us?” Nalia said. “You aren’t a full vampire after all.”
“I don’t know,” he admitted. “I’ve never tried to infect another. And I don’t plan to. Vampirism is a curse, one that
“It is not so bad,” Nalia whispered faintly. “We get to live forever.”
“At the price of preying on humans and other animals,” Arantay replied. “And seeing all your loved ones die, whilst you remain, alone.”
“Then why not love another vampire?” Nalia said, smiling shyly. “You don’t have to worry about me dying long before you.”
“You can’t force love,” Arantay mused. “You and I don’t even know each other.”
“No.” She smiled, showing off her fangs. “But I do want you for my own. An Elfpire is a rare thing, and I am fond of all things extraordinary and precious, to add to my collection.”
“I am no one’s property, fiend.” He pulled his jacket around his chin, even though he could not feel the cold, and walked away. When he looked behind him again, Nalia had vanished.
Shaking his head angrily at the games vampires played, he set off for the small graveyard round the back of the church, desiring to be on his own once again; hoping that no other night children lurked in the shadows.
*
When Brooke next awoke it was the middle of the night, but curiously the main hall was empty except for her. A shiver went through her. Not just because of how cold it was now, but that she was alone. The flames in their torches had died out and she could barely make out the furniture around her.
Moments later, she remembered that the majority of Hallia’s coven had gone out hunting tonight. She recalled Cazantian and several others planning their trip to the nearby Epping Forest. Cazantian had even offered to bring Arantay back a rabbit. Whilst Malian and Jack had gone to Seelie Square to pick up more weapons enchanted with silver and wolfsbane. Cazantian had boasted about the guns and silver bullets they kept stored in the crypts, but Malian thought they’d need more for the upcoming war.
The hall was so cold her breath steamed out in front of her, and her breathing was the only thing she could hear. It was always cold in the church, the vampires had no need for heating, but the cold felt stronger now, as if it had been caused by a supernatural force.
Brooke tried not to panic as she thought back to the vampire who’d appeared behind her in the vestry. But no, she’d told her companions and now Arantay and Malian stood guard either side of the church. On the lookout for Dark-Venators mainly, but also any wolves or rival vampires who tried to intrude, no one would get in without them knowing.
Brooke had offered to stand guard too, but she could barely keep her eyes open, so Tyrell had told her he’d take first watch and wake her up when it was time. Lok and Lyella were sleeping too, they hadn’t offered to stand guard at all.
If it wasn’t time for her to stand watch, Brooke wondered what had woke her, then she jumped as she saw the face leering at her through the stained glass windows. It was him, Eskal. She bolted upright, but he vanished in the blink of an eye.
Eskal’s face burned into her brain. The smile slashed across his features was so much scarier than any of the vampires in Hallia’s coven.
She jumped off the sofa and headed down the stairs to the crypt to warn the others. Moments after she entered the undercroft, she tripped over a pair of feet and landed on top of someone.
“Rueda,” he murmured sleepily. “If you wanted to make out with me, you could’ve just asked. No need to ambush me whilst I’m sleeping.” Lok grinned.
“Crap, sorry,” she said, her face inches from his own.
“What the glarq are you doing?” Lyella hissed, who’d been roused from her own sleep on the bedroll next to Lok.
“I told you to-“
“Shut up,” Brooke shouted, hastily crawling off of Lok. “He’s come back, that vampire Eskal.”
Lok got to his feet rapidly then, ripping out his sword.
“Where?”
“I saw him looking in through the window.”
“Oh, she’s just lying to get attention,” Lyella tittered.
“Pipe down, Lyella, come with me,” said Lok, running up the stairs to the main hall.
She and Lyella raced after him, knocking shoulders as they both took the steps.
“Get, out, of, the, way,” Lyella
snapped each word with every step.
Brooke longed to shove Lyella down the stairs, but restrained herself.
As they both hurried outside after Lok Brooke readied her sorcery, mostly to fight Eskal or any other vampires, but also to throw a spell or two at Lyella if she kept getting on her last nerve.
They emerged into the cold London night. Lok had already reached Tyrell, who’d been keeping guard on this side of the church. Both boys had their swords raised and were looking around for signs of trouble.
After several moments, Brooke realised the only thing accompanying them were bones of the long dead, lying in the cemetery around them.
“Are you sure you saw this Eskal again?” Tyrell asked, poking his head behind a headstone.
“There’s no one here,” said Lyella impatiently. “The little girl was probably just imagining things.
“It is possible,” said Tyrell. “Seeing Eskal earlier could’ve spooked you, and you might’ve been half asleep and you’re mind was playing tricks.”
“I- maybe,” she faltered.
“Maybe you just need more rest,” Tyrell suggested. “You’ve been through a hell of a lot for a first mission.”
“Don’t worry,” said Lok, his eyes dancing with amusement. “I’ll watch over you this time, make sure none of these fiends sneak a bite.”
“I didn’t know babysitting inexperienced Venators was part of your mission,” said Lyella snidely.
Lok chuckled under his breath, “Jealousy is unbecoming on you.”
“I could never be jealous of something so insignificant.” Lyella glared down at her.
“Take a chill pill, babe,” Lok replied.
“Why would you even speak to someone as ugly as her?” Lyella ignored him. “and that top makes her look immensely overweight.”
Brooke shot toward the other girl, but Tyrell stepped between, them placing a hand on her shoulder. “Hey, let’s all just calm down. Why don’t you try and get some more slee-”
“I’m fine,” she interrupted Tyrell. “You go and get some rest, I’ll take watch now.” She refused to look at Lyella’s smug face as she spoke, trying to keep her fury at bay.
Brooke wanted dearly to slap her for what she’d said, but knew getting in a fight would do her more harm than good. She wouldn’t put it past the girl to use magic on her.
As Lyella headed back inside, she giggled maliciously, whilst Lok telling her off.
“You can go too, I’ll be fine, honest,” she told Tyrell.
He still looked unsure, but was also clearly exhausted. “Okay, but circle round the church and find Arantay, just in case.”
“Alright,” she sighed. She hated how they all treated her, just because it was her first mission. She supposed it was their job as veteran Venators, but she still didn’t like being coddled.
Brooke walked blindly around the church’s grounds, filled with anger over Lyella. She didn’t feel like running to find Arantay like Tyrell had said. She reached the stone wall which encircled the cemetery and lifted herself up to perch on the cold stone. The night was silent as she stared out at the empty road beyond. She sat there for five minutes without seeing a single car go by. She could barely hear a sound either as she sat there, staring into space and thinking about too much at once.
Brooke relished the peacefulness. There were no vampires who gazed ravenously at her here, no belligerent werewolves, and no stuck up blondes to take jabs at her.
It was actually warmer out here than in the church, the unnatural coldness that radiated from the moroi was a constant icy breath on her skin in there.
She saw three small bats take to the sky, causing the first sounds she’d heard in a while as their wings flapped.
“Evening, miss.”
Brooke jumped out of her skin at the voice. She hurriedly leaped off the stone wall and to land on the road just outside, coming face to face with him.
His crimson eyes bored into her and his maniacal smile revealed fangs stained with blood.
It was her stalker, Eskal. She hadn’t imagined seeing him at all.
Brooke was terrified, but she had been scared so often recently she was starting to learn how to master her fear, she bit it back now. She believed in herself, she could deal with this vampire if he attacked.
“Why have you been following me?” she asked, summoning her sorcery to the surface.
“Excuse me miss, but it would be rude of me not to introduce myself first,” he bowed extravagantly, stretching out a hand toward her. “I am named Eskal.”
She stared at his hand but didn’t move to shake it.
“I know who you are, Malian told me.”
Eskal rose out of his bow, dropping his hand with a gracious smile.
“Fear not my sweet Brooke, I shall not harm you.”
“How do you know my name?” she demanded.
“I have been watching you,” said Eskal, pacing back and forth in the middle of the deserted road. “You have piqued my interest, dear.”
His speech was odd, old fashioned, but mixed with hints of modern, like he was from a different time. She didn’t recognise his accent either, but thought it might be from medieval Britain. Eskal had likely been a vampire for a very long time, and she knew that would make him exceptionally powerful.
The stench of blood and death clung to his body as much as the leather jacket he wore. His eyes were a brighter shade of red than the vampires of Hallia’s Coven, and they shone with an insane iniquity.
“I have rarely chanced upon your kind. Magic simply enthrals me, I only desire to speak with you.”
If he wanted to talk, Brooke thought might as well steer the conversation in a way to benefit herself and the mission. “I hear you’re part of a rival coven. Have you allied yourselves with the Dark-Venators?”
His responding laughter was like a dozen spiders creeping across her skin. “That is neither here nor there, I am more of a loner, a porcelain prince that strolls through the shadows. I am an ivory god, a lord of blood, a…”
“A killer is what you are,” she interrupted his disturbing deluge.
“But that is the nature of the vampire. We are designed to kill, much like your kind is designed to use your magic.”
She saw the fresh blood on his teeth drip down to his bottom lip as he spoke.
“You don’t have to kill humans,” Brooke snarled.
“Do I really emanate such evil? You seem to have evolved quite a snap judgement of me. What gave it away?”
“Maybe the fact that you seem to enjoy stalking me.”
“You saw me because I wanted you to see me, little miss. Part of my game. I like to think I feed off of fear as well as blood.” Eskal’s crimson eyes flicked to her neck excitedly. “But yes, vampires do have to kill, my girl. We were meant to be filled with the life-force of others.”
“Why are you telling me this, is this part of your sick game?” Her right hand twitched as she spoke, ready to hit him with a volt of electricity.
“Do you want to know how this game ends?” Eskal countered her question with another.
She remained silent, trying to slow the beating of her heart and force down the fear.
“It ends with me…drinking your vessel dry.”
Instantly Brooke threw her hand out. Electricity smashed and Eskal flew through the air, twirling before landing on his feet. Then, so fast it was like he’d teleported, he seized her throat and forced her against the wall, his marble face inches from her own.
“Play our game nicely, sweet. I said I will not hurt you. I shall give you the greatest gift of all.”
He saw Brooke raise her other hand and growled, “I will crush your throat before you use your magic again, miss.”
She froze, breathing hard.
“That is how the game ends. I want to change you, turn you into an Immortal, a goddess.”
“Why?” she tried not to scream the word.
“An experiment,” he uttered softly. “Like I said, I’ve not e
ncountered many of the magical kind. I wish to see what would happen if you turned. If your powers increased, you would be of much help to me. And also,” he sighed wearily. “I grow bored, there’s only so many ways to kill a human and I’ve exhausted all of them. Dabbling in magic will be my new adventure, a most exciting new game.”
“You’re a monster!”
“Hush, hush.” He pressed his body against hers. “Don’t you want immortality? I’ve been spying on you; I know what your heart desires.” His gaze swivelled to the old church that right now seemed so far away.
“You want the Elfpire, but he rejects you. He is no fun at all. He lets his conscience rule him, which is no way to live. We are killers Brooke, and he knows that. He desires you too, I see it. He should feel nothing for you, you are a human, beneath us.”
Eskal studied her astutely. “The only attraction I feel for humans is being the one to end their life. I envy them, and so I end them.”
“If you envy humans, then why would you want to turn me?” She snarled, becoming more and more infuriated with his hand around her throat.
“Because I know it’s what you want. You will wither and decay before the Elfpire’s eyes, but with my gift, you can be together forever.”
For a split-second she imagined what it would be like becoming a vampire, able to be with Arantay, for him to accept her. But then she realised what she would be giving up, and she had absolutely no desire to live off blood.
“You’re wrong; I would never willingly become a vampire. You’re right to envy us, we are so much more than you are.” She met his crimson gaze full on, without flinching. “Gaining pleasure from murdering innocents doesn’t make you a god, it makes you a monster.”
Eskal’s smirk slipped. “Perhaps you are right, my dear, but some of us just love being monstrous.”
His smile returned, and with it came his bloodstained fangs, streaking for her throat.
Abruptly, Arantay was there, seizing Eskal and throwing him hard.
Moonlight War- Act II (The Realmers Book 3) Page 22