Erich’s lips tugged into a grin, his cheek muscles aching from the unfamiliar workout. “Of course I am. My memories lie in pieces. Small, dark places set up a scream, right in here.” He pressed his hands against his stomach. “It swells up, squeezing my lungs, blocking my throat, until I’m dying, over and over again.”
“You’ve endured a lot and you’re suffering still—”
“I don’t want your pity! I want my life back—the one you stole from me. If I can’t have that, I’ll settle for ending it and yours.”
“You have the courage to survive, but not to actually live?” Tera’s wings folded around her shoulders. “You survived two hundred and fifty years outside of the only habitable place on Earth. You mapped the winding labyrinths; you followed trickles of water flowing from rock into vast underground seas. You found a way into Haven, even in the middle of its summer. But when the ground collapsed around Haven, you chose to die instead of live. You’re safe now in Aeternae Noctis—which, according to you, is the key to restoring the Earth—but all you can think of is dying.” Her eyes narrowed into cool gray slits. “You are a coward, Erich, a blight on the blood that made you.”
He snarled, his fangs gleaming in the dim light of the cell. “Blight? You are the blight! Your blood took me, consumed me, twisted me beyond recognition, and spit me out. I attacked my cousin—I almost killed her—because I no longer remembered her or anything of my life. How many more vampires did I injure and kill? Did I know them? Were they my friends, my family? Did I slaughter them? Did you turn me into a murderer?” He hurled questions—his pleas—like stones at a stalking wolf, trying to keep the creature at bay. “This…thing…inside of me blinds and deafens me with fear when the dark shrouds me. Enclosed darkness suffocates…entombs me, and yet the caves have been my only sanctuary for two hundred years.” His eyes met hers. “My mind is my enemy. Fear has been my constant companion; the voices in my head the only sound; my broken memories the only stimulation. If that is not insanity, then nothing is.
“You made me, Tera.” He closed the distance, startled as always by how small she seemed when he was close to her. The top of her head barely touched his chin, yet there was nothing fragile or weak about the icrathari warlord. “I’m alive because of you,” he breathed out the words like a lover’s caress. “Hate kept me alive. Anger gave me strength. Do you know how long I’ve waited to do this?” He folded his fingers around her slender throat. Her pulse tapped against the palm of his hand. “I could squeeze out all the broken pieces inside of me. They cut like glass but at least it’s coming out, no longer stuck inside me. The pain is going back where it belongs.”
His muscles tightened along his shoulders; his biceps were taut and his fingers stiffened.
Two hundred and fifty years—he had spent almost ten thousand days in hell. Finally, he stood in front of the icrathari who had damned him. In his tormented mind, he had killed her ten thousand times…a hundred thousand times…in every possible way. None were as intimate as strangling her, face-to-face, his hands against the pulse of her breath.
The Tera who lived in his mind had fought and struggled. Her large wings flapped helplessly as he lifted her off the ground. Her legs kicked at the air as he pressed against her throat. Her pale skin mottled, turning red, and then purple. He held on until her hands fell by her sides, her body limp.
His imagination had nothing on reality.
The crude cavern walls of his mind’s eye straightened and smoothed into cold steel.
The Tera of the real world could have slashed through his throat with as little effort as a knife cutting through paper. She could have dug her talons into his stomach and eviscerated him as easily as a butcher slaughtered a squealing hog.
But Tera did neither and nothing.
Her eyes were cool. She did not even look worried.
His grasp around her neck remained as gentle as a mother’s embrace of her newborn child.
Tera had damned him to hell—but hell was not the overheated Earth or the suffocating underground.
Hell was a world, a life, without her.
The tightness around his chest eased; he expelled his breath in a low sigh. Erich ran his calloused thumb over the sensitive juncture where her blood flowed closest to the surface. He had never imagined that he would be allowed to hold her in such a way.
Tera’s narrowed eyes widened, a sliver of vulnerability cracking her cool equilibrium. She drew a breath; the deep, shuddering heave of air shattered the quiet space between them.
Erich lifted his hands from her and stepped away, retreating until his back hit the wall.
He was no more than four steps from her, but he might as well have been beyond the curve of the dome. He waited, because it was all he could do.
Tera did the one thing Erich had never seen the icrathari warlord do.
She retreated, her wings wrapped around her—a layer of impenetrable armor.
The cell door slid close behind her, entombing him yet again. Erich leaned back against the wall and slid into a slump. He stared at his hands. With his talons retracted and the pearlescent sheen of his fingernails scarcely visible in the dim light, his hands looked human, his crooked fingers notwithstanding.
Almost human. He chuckled as he relaxed against the wall and closed his eyes. A furrow lined his brow before his mind seized on the difference. His prison was no less tiny, but Tera’s lingering fragrance held the oppressive suffocation at bay.
A muscle twitched in his cheek. His life was hell with her and without her, but it did not change the facts of the matter. He was still an infatuated idiot, and Tera was still the warrior princess, punishing those who dared get too close.
“I paid the price,” he whispered into the silence of his cell. And I am still paying the price.
Chapter 11
The steady throb of the city engines subsided into a low hum. Erich sat up, slowly stretching his muscles. Vampires did not need sleep, but in the cell, there was little else to do. Technically, vampires did not feel cold either but his bones and muscles ached, as much from inactivity as from the frigid temperature.
What now? Escape was not an option; the cell had been designed to stand up to the supernatural strength of an elder vampire. Even if he did break out of his cell, he would have to get out of Malum Turris, and then out of Aeternae Noctis. He would have to fight his way past humans, vampires, elder vampires, and icrathari.
Or I could just ask politely.
He laughed and dragged his hands over his eyes. The time for politeness had long passed. I should have just killed Tera when I had the chance.
His stomach tightened. His hands curled into fists, his nails elongating into talons. Would his head and his heart never agree—his thoughts and emotions never align—on the topic of Tera?
The door slid open, and the fragrance of night blossoms, which had almost softened into a memory, leaped into sharp relief. He drew a deep breath. The corner of his mouth quirked up into a half smile. “If I were human, I would have died of thirst and starvation.”
“The journey took longer than we expected.” Tera strode into the cell. Her wings flared slightly; the steel-plated bone tips glinted in the dim light in the cell. “We’ve arrived. Come with me.”
He did not move. “Where and why?”
Her eyes met his—cool gray against vivid blue—before she turned her back on him and walked away. Erich swallowed a chuckle, uncertain if he should be amused or offended.
The cell door remained open.
Gritting his teeth and tasting blood as his elongated fangs scraped against his tongue, he followed her from the cell. “How are the people?”
“Preparing to relocate.”
“I’ve seen the cities in the valley.” Erich smiled faintly. “There are caves in the nearby mountains. I’ve sat on the clifftops at night and watched the lights within the domes. Will the people of Haven join those in the domes?”
“Yes, and that’s why the journey took longer. Siri had
to be certain neither population would kill each other.”
“The people of Haven are not violent, and I imagine a thousand years of slavery have crushed the will of the former residents of Aeternae Noctis.”
Tera’s shoulders rose and fell in a graceful shrug. “Not judging by the number of rebellions we put out. They were almost as regular as the rising of the sun. Actually, we weren’t concerned about fights. We have a vampire army keeping peace, after all. Siri was concerned about disease. Populations raised in isolation, as in Haven and in Aeternae Noctis, develop a unique set of biological resistance to certain types of germs and viruses abundant in their environment. Exposure to pathogens from another environment, against which they have no immunity, could wipe out entire communities.”
Erich frowned slightly. “I never thought of that.”
Tera cast him a sideways glance and a smile. “I didn’t either. Vampires and icrathari do not have such concerns, but that’s why we have Siri. Issues like that occur to her.”
“And she is certain it is safe?”
“Nothing is ever perfectly safe, but her research suggests that the encounter will not result in extinction for either group.” Tera paused for a beat. “There was another reason for the delay. Daeva attacks have been relentless and we did not want to lead them to the valley.”
Erich shrugged. “The daevas know about the four cities.”
“We did not want to subject the humans to the risk of an attack during the transfer.”
“Did you see Canya?”
“Yes. She did not come close enough to talk.”
“Talk?” He huffed out his breath. “The icrathari have no interest in talk. You’re winning now, aren’t you? Of the four who entered Aeternae Noctis, you have lost only one—Elsker, who would have negotiated with the daevas.”
“Negotiated?” Wings flaring, Tera spun on Erich. “Elsker betrayed his queen, the icrathari, the vampires, and all the humans in Aeternae Noctis.”
“He and Megun wanted only the technology within the city for the sake of the Earth.”
“There is no technology in the city.” Tera flung the words out through gritted teeth. “The pride of the great human civilization consists of glass canisters of chemicals and metal scraps stacked in Siri’s workshop. Technology is nothing without the knowledge of how to build it and what to do with it. That knowledge isn’t anywhere in our central computers. All of it is in Siri’s head, and Elsker, the fool, almost killed her.”
Erich’s mind reeled. No technology—then all the battles were for…nothing? “It was not his intent.”
“His intent was to dispose of Ashra and take over the city. Anything less would not have propelled him into a position of power. He craved it like humans crave sunlight.” She snarled, fangs bared. “He was a traitor. There is no redemption, no future for a traitor, not in Aeternae Noctis.”
“No forgiveness?” Erich challenged.
“He led daevas into Aeternae Noctis. Scores of vampires died. Hundreds of humans. Siri almost died. Jaden did.”
Erich’s eyes narrowed. “And was reborn an elder vampire.”
“Not without significant risks. The hours-long shattering of mind and body drives almost all humans insane. Jaden survived, in part because he had been previously exposed to tiny volumes of Ashra’s blood and because he possessed the soul of an icrathari. Rafael survived because Siri’s blood had been tainted with aconite, which accelerated his transformation from hours into minutes.”
“And Talon?”
Tera chuckled unexpectedly. “Talon was transformed before the apocalypse. Humans were a little different then, and of course, Talon is the embodiment of bullheadedness.”
And me…? Erich did not speak, but Tera stiffened as if her thoughts had led her in the same direction. She looked at him but said nothing.
Erich broke the stiff silence. “Why didn’t you come back?”
“To your cell?”
He shrugged. Why didn’t you come back at all?
Tera’s gaze flicked away. “I had nothing to say to you.”
“We never did,” Erich murmured. “We spent hours by the fountain in the town square, saying nothing to each other.”
“You remember...”
“In fragments. Will my memories ever return?”
Tera shook her head. “I don’t know. You are the first—” She broke off, at a loss for words.
“Immortali to hold a coherent conversation?” His lips tugged into an ironic half-smile.
“Or any conversation at all. You are the only person who can communicate with the daevas, the people of Haven, and us.”
Tightness clenched around his heart. His terse, defensive tone hurled out a pre-emptive attack. “What do you want from me?”
“I want you to see the cities.” Tera tapped a glowing console, and the floor panels yawned apart.
Erich stepped up to the edge and peered down. It was night, but the darkness glowed with ambient light. He threw her a narrow-eyed glance before leaping from Aeternae Noctis.
He was scarcely halfway down when Tera’s slim arm wrapped around his waist. Her powerful wings drove the wind past his face as she stopped his fall in midair. “What—” He started to say but the words cut off.
His vantage point offered a stunning aerial view of the Colorado Valley basin. The lights within the four cities glittered and glistened, spearing through their domes like beacons of hope amid the ruins of the Earth. Aeternae Noctis, no larger than the four domed cities, and dimly lit in comparison, hovered over them like a dark angel.
“That’s Ganymede, farthest in the east, then Callisto, Io, and finally, Europa,” Tera said quietly, her voice against his ear. Her cheek was breathtakingly close to his, but they did not touch. “The people of Haven have relocated to Callisto.” She carried him through the air and circled the dome.
Gleaming towers clustered around the center of the dome. Squat buildings sprawled along networks of roads occupied by fast-moving metal vehicles. Green patches of grass, splashed with colorful flowers, provided a relaxing contrast to the city that shone with silver light.
Erich blinked. “What…I’ve never…is this what Earth looked like before the war?”
Tera nodded. “A close approximation of Earth’s megacities. Each of the domed cities is a little different; they were designed by the citizens, with Siri’s guidance. The cities have already taken on unique characteristics. Callisto is more urban jungle than the others—a marvel of fiberglass and steel. We thought it might provide a smoother transition from Haven. Of course, once the people have their bearings, they may choose to relocate to another city.”
Erich’s gaze flicked across the miles of harsh, arid land between the four domes. “How do the people move between cities?”
“Escorted by vampires during the night of the full moon, with Aeternae Noctis overhead. We did not devote a thousand years to the protection of humans, only to expose them to daeva attacks.” Her voice took on an edge. “The humans are our responsibility—the duty entrusted to Ashra, Siri, and me. I will do what I must to protect them.”
She spiraled down to the steel double doors at the base of the dome. Several vampire guards stood inside the dome; they straightened as Tera approached. Tera pressed the palm of her hand to the gleaming console outside the door. The vampire within likewise touched his matching console.
The door slid open. Tera entered the dome before turning around to face Erich. “Welcome to Callisto.”
His eyes narrowed, flicking over each of the vampires in turn. Their shoulders were taut and stiff, their nails elongated to razor-sharp points. A wiry-framed vampire asked. “Who’s he?”
“His name is Erich,” Tera replied.
“But…he’s an elder vampire.”
Naturally, a vampire would sense the difference. Their predator’s instincts recognized greater predators, and the elder vampires—the firstborn of an icrathari’s pure blood—were superior to vampires and equal to the icrathari in al
l but flight.
The vampire’s eyes narrowed. “But where did he—?” His jaw dropped. “Immortali!”
Tera’s wings flared to their full length. The single, powerful gust of air as they unfurled drove the vampires back.
The startled vampires stared at Erich over the wall of Tera’s wings. “But all immortali are insane. We can’t let him into Callisto.”
“Erich!” a child’s voice screeched with delight.
A little boy ducked beneath Tera’s wings and threw himself into Erich’s arms.
“Hello, Anders,” Erich spoke in the language of Haven. “You look fine.” He glanced beyond the cluster of vampires and inclined his head at Jorgen and his wife, Marta, who stood, arms linked, smiling faintly. Furrows of concern, however, lined their brows.
“I didn’t see you for so long,” the child jabbered in lilting tones. He glanced at Tera. “The angel said you would come, and here you are. Have you come to see my new home? It’s beautiful. I have my own room, and my own bed, and it’s full of toys. And you can walk outside in the sun. It doesn’t burn anymore. Not in here.”
The vampires stared slack-mouthed at Erich. The child’s tone and actions needed no interpretation.
Erich glanced at Tera. “He wants me to see his home.”
The vampires stepped aside at Tera’s fractional nod. Their silent gazes followed him as he walked away, accompanied by Jorgen, Marta, and Anders. To his surprise, Tera stayed behind.
Did she trust him or was she merely indifferent?
Anders led Erich through a large park that seemed as much a thoroughfare as a place to gather. The former occupants of Aeternae Noctis outnumbered the people of Haven at least ten to one, but conversation between both groups progressed in spite of rotten pronunciation and equally terrible grammar.
Erich caught snippets of conversation as he passed.
“It’s amazing how you survived for so long with so little,” a woman said. “Of course, we lived in fear of the icrathari and vampires, but we never worried about food or our homes falling on our heads.”
Another man grunted. “You’re glossing over the worst of the Night Terror rule. We called them the Night Terrors because they terrorized us. Their reasons aren’t important. The fact is we’re still in their prison, and the vampires are guarding the entrance. They still control us.” His lips lifted in a sneer. “How do we know the world outside is inhospitable? Just because they say so?”
Eternal Day Page 10
