by Lela Grayce
He chuckled, nodding his head in agreement.
“Magic is complicated at the best of times and just plain unpredictable every other time, but this healing has been perfected over thousands of years. A sacrifice must be made in order to gain strength for both parties. Blood is given and magic is taken. It’s an exchange. There’s always a price. The Varitan’s body has been filtering your blood, fighting the disease for you. When his body’s magic cures him, it will also cure the person. You both are connected. If he dies before his magic cures him, you’ll both die. To save you both, you need to come with me.”
Well, Mother Shifter.
I’m pretty sure my tombstone will read: “Here lies an idiot who had a big heart but not so many brains (sorry zombies).” I choked on a laugh knowing that Lyndee would definitely write that. Hell, she’ll properly be the one to kill me when she finds out that I went with a sketchy shifter to an unknown location to possibly help someone. Is there a stronger word than idiot?
Brutus pulled the sleek, black car out of the parking garage and into traffic. The leather creaked under me as I tried not to fidget in the back seat. I was curious who Brutus worked for because it seemed he was more than just an errand boy… shifter… dude?
“How far are we going? I have to be back in time to give Zazu his treat. He gets really antsy when his treats are late.” That was a rule when you had possibly been kidnapped by a murderer, let them know you had someone who would miss you then send the cavalry. Everyone that I knew who would do that was gone so the only other option I had was my pet.
“I promise I will have you home in time to give Zazu his treat,” he answered. In any other situation Brutus might make a good friend.
We fell silent and I started to fidget again. To distract myself, I withdrew my camera from its bag and scrolled through the pictures of the animals again. They were so beautiful, I felt tears prick my eyes. I wish I could remember seeing them.
When I was at the end, I decided to look through them again but before I could backtrack, I noticed a little number above the trashcan on the camera screen. Had I deleted any of the animal pictures? Curious I tapped the bin and waited while it loaded.
An image popped up and I had no idea what I was looking at. It was grainy like whoever took the picture had been moving. I scrolled through seeing more of the same, but they slowly started to clear up. A man’s shoes entered the frame, then a hand, followed by a textured picture that I couldn’t make sense of. Three pictures later I found the single most hilarious picture that I’d ever seen.
The picture was fuzzy in some parts but what was clear was definitely Brutus’ face, scrunched up in pain as Zazu attacked him. Zazu’s claws dug into the flesh of Brutus’ neck and forehead. The shot had turned Zazu’s eyes red, making him look all the more terrifying. This picture was gold!
“Hey, Brutus, when is your birthday?” I asked, pulling off innocence well.
“It’s coming up in a few weeks actually, why?”
“No reason,” I replied, hitting the save button on the image, then spent the rest of the drive trying to decide what size I should get it printed and what sort of frame I should use.
We pulled up to a ritzy gate that required a code, ID scan, and a chat with a posted guard. I could see security cameras posted on the iron fence posts and it gave me the creeping feeling that I was entering some sort of prison compound. Worry, that I had ignored, reared its head and began poking me while the words ‘stupid, stupid, stupid” reverberated in my skull.
This was bad.
Once Brutus got the go ahead he pulled the car through the gate and drove slowly up a driveway that had to be a mile long. What was this place? I noticed more evidence of surveillance and I had to wonder if whomever I was about to meet was trying to keep others out or in.
The car rounded a bend, then a massive mansion came into view through the front windshield. It was breathtaking with white pillars and vines climbing the front of the house while well-manicured bushes sat below the floor to ceiling windows with white blooms breaking up the overwhelming green.
The car stopped and Brutus rounded the front of the vehicle and opened the door for me. I forgot my manners, too busy gawking. My fingers started to itch so I raised the camera still in my hands and started snapping pictures. The sun was low in the sky giving the cold white a warm glow. It almost looked inviting if you could overlook the cameras and motion sensors.
“It’s beautiful,” I whispered, reverently and it truly was. This house was on the same level as Briggs’ estate. As I snapped more pictures of the hedges, pillars, and vines I couldn’t help but wonder what I had gotten myself into.
“Follow me,” Brutus said gruffly.
He walked to the huge doors and swung one open. The interior was dark so I couldn’t make out anything. Lacking night vision, I stayed close to the hulking shifter as he made his way through the entryway and deeper into the house. We walked down three hallways, passed a lit room with wonderful smells wafting from it, and then an honest to God drawing room. Ornate chairs were positioned just so, while elaborate decorations in shades of white and gold filled the walls and curtains.
There was some fancy shit in this place and here I was dressed in large sweatpants and a tee shirt. My hair was still in the top knot, but I was thankful I had taken the time to put a bra on. I could be dressed in a paper sack, and I wouldn’t feel as embarrassed in it if I was wearing a bra. Funny how the piece of clothing I liked the least made all the difference. Hear that bra, you’re special but I’d still burn you to ash if given the chance.
Everything that I’d seen so far was impressive, and yet I couldn’t help but notice the absence of anything personal that would give the house any warmth. This place was cold, resembling a museum more than a home.
Brutus stopped at a set of unassuming double doors. They were plain and looked like all the other doors in the house so I would have overlooked it. He knocked quietly before turning the knob and pushing the panel open. He entered first, which would irritate me, but I knew that all shifters had this thing about danger. They searched for it to establish dominance by whipping out their junk for a peeing contest that was frankly the most disgusting thing in the history of ever. I couldn’t imagine living like that. Always looking for a fight just to prove you couldn’t boss me around.
I suppressed my eye roll barely, before Brutus turned to me and nodded giving me the go ahead to enter safely. Maybe I should rename him Macho.
Stepping into the room was like being transported away from the iciness of the rest of the house and coming into a place that was warm and inviting. This room with an adjoining sitting room appeared well lived in. Exotic rugs were on the floor, while tapestry like curtains hung from the ceiling in an effort to cover up the white. Books and papers spread across the table in front of the couch and arranged on the back wall was an array of swords and other blade-like weapons.
I gulped when I saw the weapons of torture, but Brutus lead me in the opposite direction. An open door behind us led into a bedroom and there, propped up with a dozen colorful pillows was a man with silvery hair and beard that would put Gandalf’s to shame. His eyes were a delicious, honey brown that put me at ease immediately. I felt the worry and stress about what I was doing here swept away and replaced with calm. It felt like I had stepped inside my own home.
“Hello, my dear,” the man said, giving me a smile that warmed my heart. “Thank you for coming. I hope that Brutus didn’t frighten you.”
I snorted. Brutus had been nothing but an awkward teddy bear really looking back. He did have a difficult task convincing me to come here, but he could have outright taken me. Instead, he took time to explain the best he could.
“My name is Ruvaen, please come sit.” He invited patting the bed beside him.
I didn’t hesitate and nearly ran to it. As soon as he invited me closer, I couldn’t think of anything else I’d rather do. This wasn't attraction, thank God, but it was something close to it. My bl
ood sang within my veins and my heart beat a steady rhythm in my chest.
“I know you must have questions. I’ve been around a long time and understand what you must be feeling right now. It might be best for me to do the talking for a time so you can get acclimated to being in my presence.”
My head nodded and I watched him like I was a child looking at their favorite uncle.
“My people come from a place we call Zevar. It resembled Earth in that there was plenty of water and landmasses. The beings who lived there were not human, however. We live extraordinarily long lives and we do so by the exchanging of blood. There were several different clans, all of which had different ways of using blood to maintain health and youth. We were a peaceful people well versed in energy manipulation that you humans call magic.” He shifted on the bed and I began to notice little things about his appearance. Dark circles under his eyes and his cheeks had sunken in. His skin had an almost grey look to it that shook me. Ruvaen was sick.
“In my clan, we gained strength by drinking the blood of the sick and diseased. We would then manipulate the energy in our bodies and overcome the illness which in turn healed the person. We would travel to the other clans and aid their sick. By doing so we would gain strength to better control the energy within and around us.
“When I saw you on the bus, I could smell the sickness in you. It called to me. I ignored it for a time but ultimately decided to follow you and learn more if I could. I couldn’t have imagined that you would be within the dragon’s estate. I found you sleeping on a bench and I could feel the contentment that you were feeling. Such a lovely young woman with the weight of a disease pressing on her shoulders, her whole life ahead of her. I couldn’t walk away from that, not when I could help.”
“Brutus said that you are Varitan.”
He chuckled softly, his eyes sparking with amusement.
“Varitan is what my clan was called. It means “blessed healer” in Zavarian.”
“We don’t call you that.”
“No, you call us the closest thing that we resemble from your own histories. Elves are the most common, but those who know of the blood exchange call us vampires.”
“I’ve heard rumors that there was another race that came through with the rest.” I had thought it was just a rumor, until now. My ability told me that he was something different.
“There are so few of us left that we have nearly faded into memory.”
“Why are there so few of you? All the races seem to be able to reproduce with humans, except dragons, so why aren’t there more of you?”
“We have been forbidden from reproducing without expressed permission of The Uther.”
“Why!?” That was outrageous. The Uther, king of dragons, couldn’t dictate how people lived their lives. He hardly did anything like a ruler and instead let the dragons rule their territories how they wanted.
“That is a conversation for another time. Dragons and Zavarians have a bloody history that I don’t want to rehash and ruin the mood,” he said, and I let the matter drop a bit easier than I normally would have.
“Will it always be like this?” I asked studying his whole face, wanting to memorize his expressions and features.
“No, once I have defeated your sickness the connection between us will diminish and then disappear altogether.” His smile was warm, but I could see the strain in the corners of his eyes. I knew that pain.
“So, how do we do this?” I was anxious to get this over with. The thought of an elf-that's-really-a-vampire snacking on me again make my stomach queasy.
“It’s rare that this happens, but the amount of blood I took from you last time wasn’t enough for the magic in me to overcome it. I need more so I can defeat this, for both of us.” This amazing person had seen me in my darkest hour, had seen a light inside of me that I couldn’t even feel and he felt it was worth saving.
“Will this hurt you?” He was in pain. I could see it and the ghost of the same thing was a close memory in my mind.
“I’ll be fine, my dear. I may look grizzly now, but I’ve still got spunk left yet.” His eyes twinkled again and I couldn’t help the smile that spread back across my face.
With a silent breath, for luck, I lifted my arm to him and watched fascinated as he pulled my wrist to his mouth. The bite was quick, and it felt like a pinch like a shot at the doctor’s office. The pull on my arm sent warm tingles up my arm that spread to the rest of my body. He was done before I could wrap my head around what he had just done. I expected to feel revolted or disgusted but all I felt was gratitude and surprisingly affection.
“Thank you,” I whispered as Brutus wrapped my wrist in a bandage.
Ruvaen nodded his head accepting my thanks while his eyes glazed and grew heavy. I reached out and grabbed his hand holding it until he fell asleep, then I sat there a bit longer.
I wasn’t sure how much time had passed but by the time my own exhaustion caught up to me, Ruvaen’s color had returned and he looked better every minute that went by.
“What time is it?” I whispered around a yawn. I stretched my arms above my head.
“Nearly midnight,” Brutus answered, having stayed in the room while I sat with the vampire-like-healer.
“I guess I should head home. Zazu will have a fit because I’ve been gone so long.”
Brutus smirked knowing full well that Zazu didn’t give a crap what I did or who I was with, as long as he was fed and given treats, he was happy.
“I’m sure he missed you,” he replied, calling on my bullshit.
“Thank you for bringing me here,” I said as we made our way from of Ruvaen’s rooms and into the rest of the house.
“I’m glad it worked for you and for him. It’s good to see him do this again.”
“How long have you known him?” Brutus led the way through the house all of my focus on him instead of trying to figure out this maze.
“Ever since we came to Earth. Ruvaen and his son saved my life, after a rough patch, I decided I’d rather work for them than for the Briggs.”
“I thought serving the dragons was the highest form of honor for your people.” I had half-shifter friends who kept in touch with their shifter grandparents. Mutts weren’t allowed to guard the dragon, we weren’t good enough to guard his estate. Only the purest and most powerful would do.
“It is. I second guessed my decision to work for Ruvaen and his son many times, but they opened my eyes, there's no going back now.” We reached the foyer of Ruvaen’s house. It was dark but lights were on in this room which was a contrast to the rest of the property.
“You have something really great here, I almost envy you but I couldn’t handle the maze or the cold finery.” I gestured around at the white and gold that seemed to be the only theme throughout the house. Whoever designed this didn’t know the meaning of color.
“I stay busy and it’s never boring.” The last word had barely left his lips when the front door was pushed open with such force it bounced off the wall behind it.
A man stumbled in and I noticed immediately that he was gorgeous. I’d never called a male beautiful before but if it were a title it would be his. Midnight black hair with a blueish gleam was cut short on the sides and longer on top. I couldn’t tell what color his eyes were, though they slanted like the eyes of someone with Asian descent. His skin was smooth and the same shade that I liked my coffee to look after I added creamer. He was a beautifully wrapped package of yumminess and all I wanted to do was unwrap him. Way to perv on a stranger, Nik.
His sharp gaze snapped to Brutus first, then his gaze settled on me and I could literally feel it. He opened his mouth to say something, however instead of words a dribble of blood fell from his lips then he collapsed.
I felt Brutus lunge for the man but even with his shifter speed I knew he wouldn’t make it in time. His large head bounced off the smooth marble floor with a crack and a squelch. I swallowed past my gag reflex as blood started to pool around his ear/forehead (depending
on which direction he landed). How the hell had this gone from seeing my version of a wet dream, then to have it all go to shit?
I stumbled closer for reasons I wasn’t sure of. My ability-radar-thing was going crazy telling me he was exactly like Ruvaen, in that he was full-blooded Zavarian, but there was something deeper. Like they were related.
The young man started to convulse as Brutus began yelling for the staff and I picked a name out of all the yelling. People ran around me bringing first aid supplies, blankets, and pillows and anything else they thought would help. It was all a blur for me as my attention was riveted on the convulsing male on the floor.
More red blood dribbled from his pale mouth and I noticed something I hadn’t before. There was a blue, almost purple, hue to the flesh around his lips. My heart sped as I stepped closer trying to get a better angle to see his hands, his fingers were tipped with the same odd coloring. Like a bruise and it would be mistaken as poor circulation, but it could be something different, something more deadly. I had to know for sure.
Kneeling, I leaned down and was able to catch a whiff of a struggling exhale. It smelled of rotting vegetables in a dumpster that had been in the heat for days. I gagged but held it together.
“Brutus,” I croaked, barely audible over the all the commotion in the small room. “Brutus!” I tried again.
That got his attention and I waved him over. Once he was close enough, I shoved his head down until his nose was right over the man’s mouth. “What do you smell?”
Brutus struggled for a moment then stilled long enough to draw in a breath through his nose on the man’s next labored exhale. “His breath smells rotten.”
“He’s been poisoned from. . .” I announced, trying to recall the name of it.
The Surge hadn’t brought just different species of animals and beings from myths, it also brought new means of killing. New drugs had been developed, not to mention weapons and the favorite of many: poison. This particular poison didn’t have a scientific name that I was aware of but its street name was Burnout. It was almost poetic because the only cure was to literally burn it out.
