At last she reached the ledge and began to climb over it to safety. The light from the room showed her Meilin’s pretty face, though now dirty and scraped. She was close to the ledge as well, though she now seemed to have slowed dramatically as she searched frantically for some handhold to progress. She could hear the Elder vampire curse as he slid further down the wall, the sounds of dislodged stone tumbling away into the abyss.
She was pulling herself up when she heard him roar. The power of it startled her so much that she actually lost her grip and nearly fell back down. Out of the black depths of the night the Elder soared up as if he had sprouted wings to grab the lip of the cliff right beside her. She tried to scramble up and over but an almost casual tug of his arm sent her falling back down. She barely grabbed the lip of the cliff, her face and the entire front of her body crashing hard against the stone. She knew that she would never beat him up now. And that was her only shot, to beat him up and be ready as he tried to pull himself over.
Feeling nothing but despair she looked up, her eyes watery from all the dust and saw the most beautiful thing she had ever seen in her life. Anastacia leaned over the ledge to peer down at her with those big sad looking eyes. With her help, she was up and over in an instant. Just before the Elder could steady himself after climbing up, she shoved him off the ledge again, this time hard enough that he would be sure to clear the walls entirely. As if in slow motion, he reached out with his powerful arm and grabbed Anastacia. Desiree tried to catch her friend but the tiny woman seemed to pass right through her fingers. Her friend and her enemy fell away into the black void of night. Anastacia's scream was swallowed by the night almost as fast as they were. Desiree fell to her knees, her own scream piercing the night before she fainted.
“Stasha, no!”
Chapter 25
She awoke in her own bed and the first thing she saw was her friend falling away to her death because of her. She closed her eyes, but it was no use. With her eyes closed the memory was even more vivid.
“I am so sorry that we lost Anastacia.” Meilin said out of the blue.
She had been sitting right at her bedside and she had not even noticed. Desiree did not flinch or jump or even move an eyelid at the unexpected words. She was too heartbroken to care.
“Is he at least dead?” She asked hopefully. “He could not have survived such a fall could he?
Meilin pursed her lips. “A vampire could, if they were very lucky.” She admitted.
“If he lived, I am going to kill him myself.” She promised. The thought of killing him did not make her feel any better though. If she felt anything, it was that the Elder vampire had pulled her off that ledge as well. She felt no life in herself any longer. The joy was gone. Only pain and guilt and sorrow remained. Meilin touched her arm and she looked up. The vampire had tears in her eyes.
“Can you even truly feel any more, you heartless Monster?” She thought to herself angrily. She immediately felt embarrassed for such thoughts. It just hurts so much!
“I was unsure before but I am sure now.” Meilin stated as she wiped away tears. “It seems that we share strong emotions now. When either of us is very happy or sad… or,” She cleared her throat, “Aroused, the other will be so as well.”
Desiree nodded, some of what they had been experiencing finally making sense. Looking at the vampire cry, she suddenly felt embarrassed that the thought of someone sharing in her sorrow was making her feel a little better.
“I have a present for you.” The vampire stated cheerfully, drawing her attention back to her. She reached to the ground and pulled up a large book, handing it to her reverently. Desiree took it, sitting up with interest despite herself. The unadorned book was heavy in her lap. She ran a hand over the smooth, dark cover and gasped as gold scroll work began to appear on its edges, glowing metallic-like. Then an elaborate picture of a face, it's lower features covered by cloth or mask to just below the eyes seemed to grow out of the middle of the cover. Then she jumped back as the eyes opened, seeming to stare right at her.
“What is this thing?” She asked, ready to heave the book off the bed and nearly did just that when she saw that Meilin appeared just as startled as she. It was the book itself that answered.
“You have come of age Hunter. Your training now begins.”
Havardr Olavi-Brant Von Rothe grunted with the effort of dragging his useless left leg behind him. His arm on that side was in no better condition but he was unconcerned. Already his body was healing. He would be whole again soon enough.
“I thirst!” Came a truly heartfelt sentiment from behind him.
He turned, marveling once again at the large violet eyes that stared back at him from under that halo of fat blonde curls. He had never seen such in all his years. Perhaps it was a blend, the curse of the red, somehow mixing with her own sky blue, he was not sure but whatever it was, the results were nothing short of absolutely stunning. He could feel the power in her. She would be his strongest sire yet he believed.
“Hush young one.” He cooed. “Soon you shall feast. Hush.”
“Yes, my master.” Anastacia replied obediently.
Sanctuary: Book One of Bloodlines Page 38