Thicker Than Blood

by Shalini Boland

  He travelled straight towards the village of Akarsuli. That was where she’d been when she contacted the others by phone. Back at the hotel, he had studied the route online. She had to be somewhere between the hotel and that village, unless … unless the Cappadocians had reached her first. But he couldn’t think like that. Perhaps her bike had broken down and she was coming to the hotel on foot. That would explain why she was taking so long. He had to get to her before anyone else did, or before the cold and snow made it impossible for her to continue. Clearing his mind of all other thoughts but Madison, Alexandre channelled his energy outwards.

  As he moved, it was as though he was blending with the air, travelling inside the icy breeze. Everything around him became part of his consciousness. He moved so fast he blurred into the landscape. He was the air, he was the earth and he was the sky. He was the creatures which lived and breathed and hunted and died. He knew he would find her. He knew it. It wasn’t just her life at stake. It was his too, for how could he live an eternity without her? He couldn’t.

  Alexandre felt himself getting closer. He scented fire and came to a place which puzzled and scared him. He stood and contemplated the scene. Madison had been here, but there had been some kind of encounter. He smelled vampires. An awful lot of vampires. A lump of charred metal lay on an icy rock – the remains of a motorcycle. Please God, don’t let it be her bike. But he knew it must be. There was no trace of a body. No smell of burning human flesh. No blood. Next to the bike remains, he saw a circle of thin ice which surrounded a rock. He could not make any sense of it.

  Jacques and the others were still some way behind him, but he knew they had him in their sights. Perhaps they smelled the fire too. Moving away from the scene, he closed his eyes and breathed in the night air. A faint aroma of heat and fire took him back towards the hotel, but via a different route than the one he had just travelled. She had walked this way and she had the scent of fire on her. She would be easy to track now. It was a palpable thing, this burning trail. He could only hope it didn’t mean she was injured. What had happened back there?

  His mind conjured up terrible images of the vampires taunting her with fire, like a wild animal for sport. Had they harmed her? Was she burned? In pain? He wanted to stop this train of thought. It was useless to think this way. He just had to find her.

  Soon another scent mingled with Madison’s, but Alexandre couldn’t tell if it was human or vampire. The smell of fire smothered everything, making it hard to distinguish one scent from another. The trail now changed course, away from the hotel and away from Akarsuli, instead leading out into the open countryside. Into the wilderness, away from civilisation. Alexandre didn’t allow himself to think what he might find at the end of the trail. He had the scent strong in his nostrils and he followed it.

  The clean snow made it easy to pick out the trail. He was getting close now, he could feel it. The moon shone bright, almost as bright as day and he felt a surge of hope. He caught a tang of citrus fruit, a cooking aroma, warmth and … and Madison. She was here.

  A snow-covered cliff reared up ahead of him and she was standing in front of it, staring across the plain at his approach. A lone figure in the snow. Alexandre caught her fear, saw her sink to her knees. She didn’t know it was him. She thought she was in danger. He slowed down and called out her name. Then he finally came to a stop in front of her, crouched down in the snow and cupped her face in his hands.

  ‘Alex,’ she sobbed.

  ‘Maddy, I can’t believe it’s really you,’ he said. ‘Are you alright? Are you hurt? Don’t cry. It’s okay now. Everything’s okay.’

  ‘Alex,’ she whispered, her voice like warm honey, her arms reaching up to embrace him. He held her close, breathing in the scent of her skin and kissing her hair. She was here. She was real and he realised what he’d almost lost. Gently, he took her arms from around his neck and brought them down by her side so he could look at her beautiful perfect familiar face. Then, he reached out and she tilted her face toward his hand. He stroked her cheek and drew his thumb across her bottom lip, leant forward and kissed her salty tears. Lifting her up, Alexandre felt her legs wrap around his body. She was here. He had found her. Safe.

  She was saying his name, saying how much she’d missed him and how she loved him, and he wanted to lose himself in this moment and never have to think of anything else ever again. But Isobel and the others were coming. He could feel their approach. If he kissed Madison now, he wouldn’t be able to stop. He sighed and relaxed his hold, lowering her to the ground. She stood in front of him, still gripping his arms.

  ‘Alex,’ she said. Was that hurt in her voice? Was she upset he had ended their embrace?

  ‘Alex!’

  No. It was alarm in her voice. And he suddenly knew why.

  Chapter Forty One

  Cappadocia, 575 AD

  *

  Aelia left Mislav in the chamber and resumed her favourite occupation of roaming the narrow twisting passageways of the underground city. It was mainly peaceful. She steered away from the pits and the more populated areas, staying to the outer edges on the upper levels, where there was darkness and silence. She could see perfectly clearly in the dark and barely had to think about where she was going. It was as though all she had to do was will herself forward and she could glide along the rock floor with little or no effort.

  There was so much to think about. Aelia was happy that the plague was doing its job, but she also worried it would wipe out the human population as well as the demons. The main thing on her mind at the moment was to locate her family and keep them safe. She’d had no luck finding them on her own, so she would have to speak to Lysus. On realising this, her demon heart beat fast and she felt breathless with nerves. How ridiculous. He was just an idiot boy who had treated her badly. She was over him … wasn’t she? Truthfully, the thought of seeing him again unnerved her. She hated him for what he’d done, but she could so clearly remember his warm kisses and the feel of his hands on her skin. If she’d still been human, she would have blushed at the thought. She knew he would remember it too, and this was partly what made her uncomfortable about meeting him again.

  Aelia couldn’t put it off any longer. It seemed time was running out for everyone. She didn’t know how long she herself might have. The plague was in her system and, although as a demon she hadn’t felt any symptoms yet, surely it was only a matter of time. She would go to Lysus now, before she changed her mind.

  Moving down several sets of staircases, she eventually reached the ninth floor. This was where most of the demons’ quarters lay. Although the creatures needed no light to see by, this level was ablaze with lanterns. The corridors were wide and smooth, the walls adorned with silk hangings and the floors polished to a gleaming honey glaze. There were no filthy human pits down here. The only humans were the demons’ personal slaves who were not used for feeding, but for the practical tasks of tidying, dressing, washing and arranging. They were also charged with disposing of the used human bodies.

  Lysus and his family lived on this level, but Aelia wanted to avoid running into either his parents or his demon master or mistress. She would have to wait until he was alone. As Aelia waited and watched, she saw that Lysus’ mistress was a powerful demon with a whole suite of chambers. As well as human slaves, she had other demons to do her bidding. She was also blatantly ignoring the Emperor’s command to refrain from feeding until the infection was under control. Aelia was pleased. If she was still feeding, that probably meant most of the others were too.

  Aelia didn’t have long to wait. The disease was taking hold and the demons were weak and sleepy. After a day of watching, she was able to walk unchecked into Lysus’ tiny chamber. She stood in the open doorway. He was lying on his back, staring up at the ceiling, his arms behind his head. After a few beats, he glanced towards the door and hastily rose to his feet, bowing his head.

  ‘Forgive me,’ he said. ‘I only lay down for a few moments to rest. It will not happen again. I
will continue with my work now if it pleases your lady.’

  He looked scared and Aelia felt a moment’s pity for him.

  ‘Lysus,’ she said.

  ‘Yes, my lady.’ He kept his eyes on the floor.

  ‘Lysus, it’s me.’

  ‘My lady?’ He tentatively raised his eyes to meet Aelia’s, his body still cowering.

  Aelia, the demon, wore rich robes of deep blue and her loose golden hair fell in tresses over her shoulders. She knew she probably looked nothing like the simple young girl she had been three and a half years earlier.

  ‘Do I … Do I know you?’ Lysus asked. ‘You remind me of …’

  ‘It is I, Aelia Laskarina of Selmea.’

  Lysus drew in his breath and relaxed his stance a little.

  ‘What?’ he said, as realisation slowly dawned. ‘But you were … and now you are …’

  ‘Yes. And yes,’ she drawled, beginning to enjoy herself a little. After the build-up to seeing him again, this was not as terrifying as she had anticipated. She enjoyed seeing the various emotions skitter across his face – fear, shock, recognition and now something else – lust?’

  ‘You are a demon,’ he said. ‘And you’re still so beautiful.’

  ‘And you are still trying to manipulate me with your charming words.’

  ‘No, no, I just meant …’

  ‘I’m no longer interested in you, Lysus. I do not care what happened in the past. I’m not here for revenge or to forgive you. All I want is my family.’

  He flushed with embarrassment and defensiveness.

  ‘It wasn’t my fault. I wanted to marry you, but my father said …’

  ‘Did you not understand me when I said I wasn’t interested in your explanations?’ Aelia felt anger quicken in her chest. She moved to stand in front of him, bringing her face up close to his and curling her lip into a snarl. He took a step backwards and she leant towards him. Her previous words forgotten as she remembered the hurt and humiliation, the separation from her friends and family, her fear and loneliness, the wasted years. It would be so easy to take her revenge now. No one would hold her accountable. She had the freedom to do it.

  His heart beat loud in her head and she smelt his rich blood, thick with the bitterness of terror. It would still have tasted sweet to her and she bent, meaning to pierce his flesh and take her fill.

  ‘I’m sorry,’ he gasped, breaking her train of thought for a second.

  Aelia hesitated. She still hadn’t found out about her family. She would finish him after he told her what he knew. She moved her mouth from his throat to his ear.

  ‘Where are my family?’ she hissed.

  ‘I’m sorry,’ he stuttered.

  ‘So you said. But what of my mother and father? Where are they?’

  ‘That’s what I’m trying to tell you - I’m afraid they are dead.’

  ‘No!’ She let go of him and stood swaying for a moment before sinking to her knees. ‘Are you saying this to hurt me? To distract me?’

  ‘I would never purposely hurt you, Aelia,’ he replied. ‘I swear. I may have done some awful things in the past, but I am not cruel. Not on purpose. I’m so sorry, Aelia, for everything.’

  Warm blood tears dripped onto her cheeks.

  Lysus still trembled, but he crouched down, put his arm around her shoulders and smoothed her hair.

  ‘They were one of the first families to be taken,’ he said. ‘It would have been quick. I’m so sorry.’

  ‘All of them?’ she whispered. ‘My sisters too?’

  ‘I’m sorry.’

  ‘But how can you be sure they are really dead? Perhaps they …’

  ‘I saw them … afterwards. There can be no mistake about it.’

  ‘Then there is nothing left for me in this life. There is nothing I want.’ She felt empty, drained, nothing mattered anymore. ‘I think I already guessed the truth, but I needed to hear it from someone who knew.’ She sniffed and wiped her face, smudging crimson tears across her cheeks.

  ‘How is it you are like this?’ Lysus asked.

  ‘This was not the plan,’ she replied, drawing away from his embrace. She stood and tried to compose herself. ‘I did not wish to become a monster, but it was beyond my control.’

  ‘Maybe you could help us?’ Lysus asked, standing.

  ‘I have already done all I can,’ she replied. She felt bone-weary all of a sudden. Sick of everything. Her anger had vanished and she didn’t have the energy to summon it up again. ‘I will tell you what I’ve done and you can pass the knowledge to the other humans. Perhaps you will yet escape from this, even though it is too late for me and my family.’

  ‘Tell me,’ Lysus said.

  Aelia gestured to him to sit on the bed. She sat too, cross-legged like a child. There she told him of Widow Maleina and the blood plague. She told him how she had infected herself and how this had now passed over to the demons, that they were finally succumbing to a sleeping sickness from which, she hoped, they would never wake up. That fairly soon, the humans who survived would be free to leave their underground prison.

  ‘But what of the plague?’ Lysus asked. ‘Surely we will all be infected, living in such close-quarters as we do.’

  ‘The widow created it so it is only transferred through the blood. As long as they do not feed on you, you should be safe.’

  ‘They never use me for that,’ Lysus said. ‘Not so far anyway.’ He looked across at her and she felt something stir as his gaze connected with hers. ‘I’m really sorry for everything,’ he said. ‘And not just because you’re a demon who could finish me off with one bite.’

  Aelia gave him a half-smile. She remembered why she had fallen for him in the first place, with his easy charm and sense-of-humour. He had little respect for the rules and that was still attractive to her.

  He grinned back.

  Suddenly she felt a shadow behind them. Lysus broke eye contact and looked up, the smile vanishing from his face. Aelia sensed Mislav in the doorway. For a moment, she worried he might have overheard her talking about the plague and she turned to look at him.

  ‘This is the human?’ Mislav asked. ‘The one who upset you?’

  ‘We have resolved our issues,’ Aelia said. This wasn’t quite the truth. She didn’t think she would ever really forgive Lysus, but she found it didn’t matter to her so much now. He wouldn’t change. He was a silly arrogant boy with too much charisma and good bone structure for his own good. He could still make her swoon and it would be better if she kept out of his way and never saw him again.

  ‘Your family?’ Mislav asked. ‘Does he know where they are?’

  She shook her head. ‘They are gone.’

  ‘I’m sorry for your loss,’ he said. ‘But you will find it is better this way, in the long run.’

  No compassion, Aelia thought. Is this how I will become?

  ‘And so your dealings with this mortal are complete?’ Mislav asked.

  ‘I suppose so,’ she replied and looked across at Lysus with a twinge of longing at what might have been. She stood and went to join Mislav.

  ‘Good,’ the demon replied before turning to face Lysus. ‘Boy, we do not need you anymore,’ he said. And before she could stop him, Mislav crossed the room and snapped his neck. ‘I will not allow a mortal to upset you,’ he said to Aelia. ‘If you are upset, I am upset.’

  Aelia’s mouth hung open as she stared at Lysus’ broken body in Mislav’s arms.

  ‘What have you done?’ she hissed. Aelia crossed the room and looked down at Lysus, his eyes staring emptily up at the dusty ceiling, where moments before they had danced with fear, then humour, then compassion.

  ‘You’ve been crying,’ Mislav said, tracing his finger down her cheek.

  ‘Get off me, you monster!’ she shrieked, all control gone. Her family was dead, Lysus was dead and here she was - an immortal, destined to live in dark misery for an eternity with these evil, unfeeling devils. A few moments ago, she had almost given in to her demo
n nature. She was no better than they were. She deserved to die, but even the plague was no guarantee of death, just a long sleep during which she would probably have to endure centuries of nightmares. No. She couldn’t take another second of this unnatural existence. She didn’t want to think about consequences anymore, about wrongs and rights and destinies or duties.

  Aelia backed away from Mislav who still held Lysus’ limp body. She left the chamber and retreated along the corridor. In a haze of grief and anger, she raced up the staircase to the floor above. She knew where she was headed, and now she had made the decision, she welcomed it. She couldn’t wait. Up she went to the next floor, through the Emperor’s empty hall, past the pits of suffering humans, up and up to the next floor, past demons and chambers, stables and food stores. All these things passed her in a blur of irrelevance. Until she reached the top where the man stood next to the millstone. The rolling stone which led to the outside world. She couldn’t wait to breathe in the air, to get away from this stinking place of death and unnaturalness.

  ‘Open it,’ she ordered.

  The man looked surprised. ‘But …’

  ‘Open it or I’ll do it myself.’

  The man shrugged and wheeled the stone aside

  She stepped through the opening and walked slowly down the steps into the gloomy cavern, whispers of fresh air swirling around her. She moved across the cavern towards the narrow passageway which led to the white cave on the outside. How long had she been down here? she briefly wondered. It didn’t matter. She was leaving now and she would never return to this godforsaken place. Through the passage she walked, calmer now, humming a tune which she remembered her mother singing to her when she was a child.