Pulse of Heroes

by A. Jacob Sweeny

  Michelle saw small children running around an encampment of large rectangular tents. She recognized Elliot’s voice, even though he spoke a different language. He was on horseback, riding down the hill into the settlement followed by a caravan of donkeys carrying baskets and sacks. He dismounted while the children all ran up to him calling ‘Aba, Aba.’ Then a number of women gathered around him and he kissed each one hello. It was suddenly nighttime and Elliot was making love to one of the women she saw earlier. Michelle felt her stomach turn again and her body began trembling, but she couldn’t find her voice. She then saw Elliot exiting the tent and entering another. There were children sleeping in the front room but he stepped over them and passed into a larger room. One of the other strikingly beautiful women that Michelle saw earlier sat on strewn pillows and was examining a piece of jewelry in a wooden box. Elliot sat behind her and clasped the necklace around her neck just as he had done with the pearls he gave Michelle. The woman turned to face him with a smile and he pulled her on top of him kissing her passionately. Michelle heard the sound of lovemaking but it turned to screams of agony.

  Wearing chain mail vests and shirts with different colored crosses and crests on them, Rion, Elliot and Ando walked through a forest of crucified people. Some were impaled on large wooden sticks, writhing in pain as the blood flowed from their mortal wounds. Those who were still alive screamed in horror and pain, reaching their arms out for mercy as the guys walked beneath them without so much as looking up. Michelle noticed that some of the tortured were no more than teenagers. And that was when she felt her body convulse and she began heaving and gagging violently. She held her stomach in pain and panted until her breathing slowed to a running pace. With a loud thud, Haden fell to his knees and gasped for air. Michelle watched the bright white of his eyes slowly return to their normal blue. His muscles convulsed for a few seconds, then he stood up slowly and pulled his hair off his sweaty forehead. All Michelle could do was to look at him in horror, her eyes wild with fear and shock.

  “Now don’t you ever call me a liar. Damn, I haven’t done that in a while. It’s harder than I remembered.” He poured Michelle a glass of water and handed it to her. Still holding her towel, Michelle sat on the bed and gathered her knees to her chest. She rested her chin on them and began rocking herself back and forth. Her eyes were glossy and her skin had lost its luster. “Elliot just wants to keep you in the dark about who he really is,” Haden said, moving close to her. Michelle covered her face with her arms and wept muffled little cries, trying to control herself as best she could. Was she really the fool? Did Elliot want to keep her innocent and dumb so she’d worship the ground he walked on? He had chosen her because she’s gullible. “I’m sorry, Michelle. You see, things are a lot more complicated when you step into our world. But don’t you feel better now that you at least know the truth?” Haden asked, pouring her another glass of water. “I’m never going to lie to you about who I am. That I can assure you.” Haden took two steps backwards, stretching his arms out to either side of him and tilting his head downwards so that he looked like Jesus on the cross with his long hair covering part of his face. “What you see is what you get.”

  Mikoto inserted his key into the lock and turned it two times. The lock clicked and the spring pulled back. He opened the door and Haneul followed him inside the house. Everything looked exactly as it had been left 60 years earlier. The furniture was still covered in white sheets and the rugs were still rolled up, leaning against the walls of each room. It was only by some miracle that the place hadn’t suffered any damage during WWII when the Russian army pushed back against the Romanian Fascist Party on the Eastern Front. And while Romania was behind the Iron Curtain, he had made sure to contact the right names to keep his home from being nationalized. Mikoto had received the land as a gift several centuries earlier from King Bêla IV’s daughter, princess Anna, when he had forged a strong correspondence with her father and given him a lot of logistical information about the Mongols who he had just defeated in Japan. It was also then that he had met Haneul, who was going by the name Im-Yon at the time, and had joined the Japanese ranks to fight against the Mongol invaders since they had already decimated all of Korea. Together, they assembled an amazing army of samurai fighters to fight the common enemy. It was then that the term ‘kamikaze’- the divine wind became the legendary concept that it is these days. While the Mongols amassed most of their ranks onto ships readying for a mighty naval battle against Japan, Mikoto, Haneul, Rion, Devin, and Kahl used their collective power to harvest great storms over the waters. Most of the Mongol ships went belly up; until then the descendants of Genghis Khan had never known such defeat, and they were devastated. Still Haneul was bent on revenge, especially after the carnage that his family had suffered. All in all, the Mongols killed hundreds of thousands of people, including Haneul’s wife and infant son. Returning to an empty home was not an option for him, so he lent his powers to the Hungarians and Mikoto joined him a few months later.

  As Haneul and Mikoto carefully removed the sheets of fabric off the various furnishings, they joked that they felt more like raw silk than heavy canvas or even cotton. Some of them even disintegrated at the slightest touch. Still, the furniture underneath was in good condition; not only had it been made by the finest artisans of the time, but also because Mikoto had insisted that it be constructed entirely out of bamboo, which was almost unheard of back then in Europe. The cushions were all leather and had kept their shape. But after seeing the amount of dust everywhere, Haneul suggested that they hire a cleaning crew because he didn’t have the nerve or patience to play the part of the maid. “Good idea,” Mikoto said, opening every window around the house. The first rays of light were just appearing on the Eastern Horizon. Haneul checked out the bedrooms and was grossed out by the drab condition of the mattresses. He had no idea how long they were going to be staying there, and the thought of sleeping under such conditions didn’t sit well with him at all. “I’ll be back,” he told Mikoto, grabbing the car keys. At least they had rented a large vehicle, he thought, heading towards town. He could put two mattresses on the roof rack and have the others delivered.

  Back inside the house, Mikoto was busy admiring his dearest friend; his Wakizashi, his Samurai short sword. Long ago, it was the Katana that had first won his heart, but when the horse was deemed obsolete in battle, the long sword was put to rest. He methodically shined the blade until his reflection appeared in it as clear as a mirror, and that was when he realized that he was still wearing his baseball cap. He gave a slight chuckle at his own image and removed the cap to let loose a sea of long flowing black hair that settled perfectly around his face and down his back. He ran his finger across the beautifully carved snake that stretched along the length of the sword and the ancient words of honor that were carved below the wrist guard. He never went anywhere without it. Placing the sword back in its sheath, he picked up a small throwing axe, removing it from its sharkskin holder. He gathered a small bunch of his hair and lightly brushed it against the axe’s blade. Thin clumps of hair fell onto the floor and Mikoto was satisfied.

  Haden was brutally honest. He had no qualms about telling Michelle he was involved with other women, why would he lie to her about Elliot? Michelle began to appreciate what he was trying to teach her. What was the point of loving someone she didn’t even know? Still wrapped in the same cold towel, Michelle stood up from the bed and slowly walked over to where Haden was now standing at his desk, checking something on his laptop. She took his hand and led him back to sit with her on the bed. She then took his face in her hands; he looked into her blood shot eyes with sympathy. “I’m sorry,” was all Michelle said straight into his eyes as she wrapped her arms around him. Haden cradled her and lifted her onto his lap, her face still buried in his shirt. Eventually, Haden lowered Michelle down onto the bed and lay on his side next to her. When she looked up at him he kissed her gently on both cheeks and then her mouth. Michelle spread her lips and took him in. She wan
ted him close. She wanted to be held and she wanted to feel wanted.

  Haden rolled his strong body on top of hers and pressed against her while kissing her again, hungrily. He unbuttoned the top buttons of his shirt and pulled it over his head with one arm. At that, Michelle became apprehensive, so Haden just held her against his chest and told her that it was all right. He was so warm, she thought, feeling his thick and perfect skin up against her cheek. But she was still scared; she had no idea what to do, and she searched his eyes hoping he’d understand. Haden smiled at her and placed her hand over his heart. She felt his heartbeat and the sensation of his aliveness and exhilaration was intoxicating. She ran her hands across his chest as he leaned forward for her to kiss him, which she did. The more she kissed him, the more she wanted to do it again and again. She felt her own heart racing, and her muscles tensed with small spasms up and down her legs. With her lips still pressed against his chest he pulled the blanket over the both of them. Haden’s eyes began glowing and changing hues. She felt his hands on her hips and then in one swift move he pulled the towel right off her and laid his bare skin against hers. It was heaven. It was a sensation that felt like it should have been there all along. It felt like home and she was safe with him. Michelle’s head might be have been faint, but she could feel every cell in her body completely alive. And her ears were filled with the sound of her own blood pumping through her veins; she wanted this feeling never to end.

  Someone started pounding on the door, and Vilna’s shrieking voice was heard from outside, “Hadeno! Ucigas! Tu esti Curule! Munca che Dracu! Ha a Gyilkos!” [Murderer, you ass, may the devil swallow you whole, you murderer!] Michelle immediately pushed Haden away and tried to free herself from underneath his weight. But Haden just pressed down harder; he had no intention of acknowledging Vilna at all.

  “Vilna!” Michelle tried to call out, but Haden put his hand over her mouth and muffled her voice.

  “You don’t make one sound. Do you understand? That will only upset her more.” Michelle nodded, and Haden got off the bed and put his shirt back on angrily. He straightened his hair, yelling something to Vilna who was now kicking at the door and pulling on the doorknob. Michelle stood up in fear, wrapping herself in the bed sheet and backing into the far corner of the room. Michelle knew that Adi was dead.

  Before Haden opened the door he turned to Michelle and reminded her to keep quiet. As soon as he cracked the door open Michelle saw Vilna’s hands reaching in to grab at him but he leaned away from her and her hands kept grasping at the air. Vilna stuck her foot in the door to try and pry it open but Haden didn’t even move. Reaching with one hand he grabbed Vilna’s arms and held her in place, then opened the door just wide enough so he could walk out. Vilna was struggling and screaming the same words over and over again. Michelle had a view of everything that was taking place in the large beveled wardrobe mirror. Vilna yelled something else and Michelle heard her name being mentioned. She watched Vilna jerk her hands free and try to shove Haden out of the way in a desperate attempt to get into the room. Haden grabbed her again but this time she managed to scratch his face. Michelle saw the blood across his cheek and was completely horrified.

  “Michelle, I know you’re in there… don’t trust anything he says…” Vilna yelled out frantically, but Haden shouted something back and regained control of her. “Michelle he is a liar! He is a killer! He killed Adi… he’s a murderer and he’s not even…” Michelle couldn’t see what happened next, but from the sound of it Haden must have struck Vilna. There was a thud and the screaming stopped. Michelle couldn’t take it anymore and ran towards the door to help her friend, but when she got there Haden held the door shut with his foot. Still, she caught a glimpse of Vilna’s limp body lying on the floor.

  “Vilna,” Michelle cried out. Haden yelled at Michelle to calm herself down.

  “She’s fine!” Haden let the door open and Michelle bent over her friend. Vilna smelled awful, but she was alive.

  “How dare you hit your sister like that. She’s hurt!” Michelle cried out.

  “She was completely hysterical. You saw it yourself. Look what she did to me. She accused me of killing Adi!” Haden said in anger, pointing to the scratch on his cheek. He bent down to lift Vilna up off the ground, but turned his face away in disgust. “She smells like a damn pub.” Haden picked Vilna up like a rag doll and Michelle followed after him while he carried his sister down the hall. “Michelle, go back to the room,” he said to her with a sigh, but Michelle ignored him. She was about to cross the living room after him when she saw a group of guys staring at her from where they sat on the couch. She recognized Togor and he gave her a quick salute. Another guy was so dark that he almost looked purple; he whistled at her while a third guy with a crew cut yelled something and they all burst out laughing. Michelle had forgotten that she was practically naked, save for the incriminating bed sheet she held loosely against herself. She froze, utterly unable to move either forwards or backwards. Haden, who had already crossed the living room and was about to head down another hallway spun around with Vilna still in his arms and shook his head at her. “I told you to stay in the bedroom, right?” he smiled, raising his eyebrows in mischief before turning back around. His friends laughed again and Michelle ran back into the bedroom, slamming the door shut behind her.

  Michelle sat up in bed, but had no memory of actually falling asleep. She was wearing something but couldn’t tell if it was a dress or a nightgown. It was very dark and the curtains were drawn shut. Haden was asleep next to her, lying on his stomach with his face pressed up against the pillow. She very carefully and quietly uncovered herself, trying her best not to disturb any portions of the sheets that were gathered around him. Slowly, she put one foot on the cold stone floor, then another. She stood up and managed to take one step before Haden grabbed her by the wrist.

  “Where do you think you’re going?” he asked her without moving an inch from his sleeping position.

  “Ouch! You’re twisting my wrist,” she cried.

  “No. It’s you that’s moving away from me, therefore you’re twisting your own wrist.” Michelle told him that she was just going to the bathroom. Haden let go of her and Michelle was glad because the stone floor was freezing and she desperately wanted to step over onto the rug. She asked if it was nighttime. Haden finally rolled over to face her, telling her that it was early morning.

  “What about my ride home?” she asked. Haden yawned. “What about Vilna?”

  “What about her? She’s fine. Most likely sleeping away a wicked hangover,” he answered annoyed. But Michelle didn’t stop. She wanted to know about Adi. Haden sat up against the wooden headboard. “What is this? The let’s ask all the questions in the world before dawn game?” he asked, irritated.

  “Did you kill him?”

  “No!” Haden yelled so loud that Michelle jumped. “I was with you, or maybe you can’t remember that far back? Go the bathroom, then go to sleep already, or I’ll put you down again.” Michelle was angry and told him she wanted to go home.

  “I want to go home!” Haden imitated Michelle’s voice sarcastically. “No one is driving you anywhere before sunrise. You’re acting like a little girl, it’s very unflattering.” When Michelle returned from the bathroom Haden was checking the laptop again. She walked over to the table but he lowered the screen shut. “Do you do this all the time, ask questions after questions? No wonder Elliot couldn’t deal with you anymore. You’re driving me crazy and you haven’t even been here for 24 hours yet.” Michelle was beyond hurt, feeling a large lump building in the back of her throat. Why would he say such mean things to her? She was only asking what anybody else would. She lay back down in bed and curled up in a fetal position as far away as possible from where he had been earlier.

  Haden definitely had a mean streak in him and she didn’t like that at all, although he could also be very kind at times. Was this what it was like to be involved with a grown up? Did she have to deal with the bad to get the g
ood? Elliot was never mean to her like that. He was kind and gentle and she missed him. What the heck was she doing here, and how did she get herself into this mess? Haden climbed back into the bed and wrapped his large body around hers. Michelle tried to curl her body inward even more. He kissed her neck and laughed when she told him not to. “I’m not going to bite and suck your blood just because we’re in Transylvania,” he said. “There’s still no such thing as vampires.” Haden rolled her up on top of him. “What do I see here? He ran his finger along a tear track and tasted it. “Yes, salty little tears. What a pity I don’t suck those either.” Haden lowered Michelle’s face against his bare chest and stroked her hair. “All this is going to be over in a few hours and you can go home, I promise. But that would make me rather sad. I like you.” He told Michelle that once she understood that everything he was doing was for the greater good, she just might think about staying after all. “Wouldn’t you like to live in a place like this? I haven’t even shown you the rest of the house, or the swimming pool, or the horses.” Haden held Michelle’s tiny hand and for a second she curled her fingers around his. Why was she so weak, she wondered? Was it because his scent was filling her nostrils, or was it his heartbeat that was reminding her of the way she felt the night before? Michelle let go of his hand and rolled off him.

  “I don’t know why you keep fighting it?” Haden said in a neutral voice.

  “I’m not fighting anything. You need to stop pretending you know what’s going on in my head,” Michelle said more strongly. Haden laughed and told her she was bluffing. He asked her if Elliot had never discussed how attuned they were to the human body. Michelle didn’t understand. She knew that their type couldn’t read minds. But Haden told her that it’s not her mind that he could read, but rather her body.