Vampire's Crucible

by Yvette Bostic

  She grabbed my spear and pulled, dragging me with it. Her lanky friend rushed to my left side, swiping at my ribs. I sucked in my gut and released my weapon. Shorty fell backward from the lack of resistance, and I blasted Lanky with a gust of air, sending him skidding across the rocky earth.

  “You bitch!” the short woman yelled. “You’re a mage!”

  “No shit!” I yelled back, drawing on the blood in her veins and pulling it towards me.

  She screamed, and her eyes grew wide as streams of blood poured from her skin. How did I not see that last time? Was it my new eyesight or had I done something different? Bile rose in my throat, forcing its way into my mouth. I clutched my stomach and heaved, falling to my knees and hoping Lanky wasn’t getting ready to make me his next meal.

  Shorty’s scream lasted for only a second before her body fell to the ground, along with the streams of blood between us. Lanky boy stood silent off to my left.

  “Holy shit,” someone said from behind me. I assumed it was one of the vampires Niyol was playing with. “That’s just wrong.”

  I pushed myself to my feet and turned around. Logan’s clawed hand wrapped around one of the vampire’s forearms. The other female stared past me at the corpse of her ‘friend,’ for lack of better term. I expected concern or sorrow, but her curled lips and narrowed brow hinted at disgust. Two more bodies lay in the dirt, but I couldn’t tell if they were still alive.

  “You’re the Magister,” the female whispered.

  “No, I’m a mage trying to stop a war,” I said, my voice shaking from adrenaline and fear. “You can either walk away now or die. Those are your only choices.”

  She looked over at the vampire in Logan’s grasp who shrugged to pull his arm away. “I ain’t trying to fight that,” he said. “She could suck us all dry at once and we wouldn’t stand a chance.”

  “I’m with you, man,” Lanky said, making a wide path around me.

  “Yeah.”

  The woman joined the two men, leaving the others behind without a backward glance. Did they really have no compassion for their fallen? I finally looked back to Logan and broke. I hadn’t wanted to kill that woman, vampire or not. We should’ve been able to talk our way out of that, but no. We took on six. I wasn’t prepared to fight the two that attacked me, much less six.

  I jumped to my feet and stomped over to Logan, slapping him as hard as I could across his jaw. “Never do that again,” I commanded.

  I snatched our backpack from the ground and started walking down the tracks. I had no idea where I was going, but I wasn’t staying there. How dare he endanger my life like that for no reason? We could’ve walked away before they’d even approached us. I was certain they’d waited in the background, knowing Logan sensed their presence. Would they have followed us if we just left? I didn’t think so. For some stupid reason, my vampire needed to prove something.

  There was no way I was listening to anything he had to say.

  Chapter 11

  We walked along the tracks for five minutes before Logan cleared his throat. I called it walking, but we were running. The trees rushed by in a blur, along with the railroad ties.

  “The palace is in the opposite direction,” Logan said, not even the slightest bit winded.

  I stopped—sort of—stumbling several steps before coming to a complete halt. I stretched my hands over my head and took deep breaths. What was he thinking? Why would he do something so stupid? I squeezed my eyes shut and took another breath, Logan’s spearmint filling my lungs. My anger flared higher and my hand shot towards him.

  He caught my wrist, forcing me to open my eyes. When he started to speak, I swung with my other hand. He snatched it as well and pulled both down to my sides. I glared at him.

  “The tall female followed our cab from the hotel, then again from the store,” he said. I remained silent, searching for the lie that wasn’t there. He continued. “As a vampire, I can feel their intentions. They would not have let us go.”

  “Why didn’t you say so from the beginning?” I hissed, jerking my hands free from his grasp and backing away.

  “I didn’t realize it mattered,” he replied. “They were going to try to kill us regardless, and I didn’t want you to panic.”

  “That’s stupid, Logan. You should’ve just told me,” I said. “I thought there was some chance they would chat, and we would walk away. Until you showed your ass, then I knew we were fighting.”

  “I wasn’t the first to show my ass,” he growled.

  “Are you growling at me?”

  He pressed his lips together and breathed deeply through his nose.

  “Go ahead, Logan,” I taunted. “I could use a good fight right now. I’m really pissed at you.”

  “You’re pissed at me?”

  He closed the space between us, and I skipped back again. He jumped forward and reached for me, but I rolled to the right and slipped out of his grasp.

  “AJ.”

  “Logan.”

  “Don’t play games with me.”

  “Whatever.”

  I lunged forward and slapped his cheek, then sprinted away. I didn’t hear him following me, but I knew he was. I called the wind to my back and nearly toppled forward as it pushed me faster.

  “Gently, Niyol,” I hissed.

  “You’re still not fast enough, princess,” my elemental said, floating beside me. “Do you want me to slow him down?”

  “No, this is between us.”

  “I assumed as much.”

  He disappeared, taking my helpful gust of wind with him. Logan’s body slammed into mine, but he managed to wrap himself around me as we rolled through a pack of briars and stopped beneath a large pine tree. I moaned, knowing a hundred small cuts covered my exposed skin, despite Logan’s efforts to protect me. He should’ve just let me go. I lost my temper and acted like a child.

  “You are impossible,” he mumbled, his arms still wrapped around me. “I think I broke something.”

  “Damn, I’m sorry,” I said, trying to push away from him and find out what was broken. “Let go. I think Göksu will let me heal you now.”

  He loosened his grip and rolled onto his back. I sat next to him and sighed. His clothes were in tatters, likely from rolling through that briar patch. I ran my hands down his chest and abdomen, pushing a small surge of healing into him. A wave of pain returned my greeting, typical of the healing. I got to feel the hurt too. I wouldn’t complain, though; I was healing my vampire. The one my water elemental refused to acknowledge until now.

  “I don’t feel anything major,” I said. “At least nothing that you can’t heal on your own.”

  He reached up and pulled me on top of him. “I just wanted your hands on me.”

  “You ass,” I hissed, trying to push away.

  “I promise to communicate better,” he whispered. “I’m not used to having anyone else in my space, especially twenty-four hours a day.”

  I relaxed and lay my head on his chest, suddenly exhausted. Probably from all the damn running and fighting. I wouldn’t be worth two cents when we arrived at the palace.

  “I’ll try not to second-guess your judgement, especially when it comes to vampires,” I said. His fingers trailed my spine, giving me goosebumps. “And I’m sorry for turning your world upside down.”

  “You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”

  Did he really mean that? He must believe it, because I felt no deception from him. But, had he felt that way about my mother until she betrayed him? Did he see her when he looked at me? I cringed at the thought. Had he and my mom had sex? I shuddered especially hard at that thought.

  “What is it?” Logan asked, holding me tighter.

  “Did you love my mom?” He laughed, and I looked up at him. “How is that funny?”

  “No, I didn’t love your mother,” he responded, still chuckling. “She was my mage partner, but that was all.”

  “But Marissa said…” I remembered it perfectly – sitting
at the enormous table in Victor’s lodge just before our first battle with the vampires. She said my mother hadn’t returned Logan’s love.

  “Stop. Marissa is a gossip. Her knowledge is based in truth, but she tends to add romance where there is none,” he explained.

  “Then why did you stay with her?” I asked, needing to understand what would make him endure her crazy.

  “I made a pledge as her mage partner,” he replied. “I try very hard not to break my promises.”

  “Oh.” I guessed that made sense, and I really I hoped he meant it. He’d made a lot of promises to me in the last few days.

  I found my comfortable spot just beneath his collar and drew in his scent. Knowing their relationship hadn’t been romantic made me feel a little better. That would be really weird, and I definitely should’ve asked that question a few days ago, before we had sex.

  “Are you okay?” Logan asked after several moments of silence.

  “I’m really tired,” I mumbled. “How close are we to the palace?”

  “About thirty minutes, if I carry you,” he replied.

  I closed my eyes and splayed my fingers across his chest. His muscles twitched beneath my hand. I wished I had his stamina. I knew he was lying here in the dirt for my benefit, not his.

  “What time is it?” I asked.

  “You have time for a quick nap,” he replied. “I’ll wake you up.”

  I smiled. I couldn’t believe I was already over being mad at him. He talked me out of it so easily. Should I be suspicious? Probably. Was I? Not at all. I had to trust that my elementals wouldn’t leave me with him if he wasn’t good for me. Niyol would surely tell me if I were being stupid.

  A soft wind caressed my face and whispered in my ear, a silent answer from my elemental.

  “I love you,” I mumbled.

  “I love you, too, princess,” Logan whispered back.

  I didn’t correct him. I’d been talking to Niyol, but I loved my vampire too. That wasn’t how I wanted to tell him, but I could always blame it on my exhaustion.

  Five minutes later, or at least it felt like five minutes, Logan woke me. I was no longer lying on his chest, but he’d been kind enough to fold his tattered shirt beneath my head.

  “Come on,” he said, “it’s time.”

  “This sucks,” I mumbled, rolling over. A sharp stick poked my ribs and I cursed.

  “Yes, it does. We probably should’ve spent our time sleeping rather than fighting.” He fingers wrapped around my arms and pulled me up. “But we didn’t. When you’re done changing, we’ll make our way to the palace.”

  I rubbed my eyes and yawned, finally noticing the backpack at my feet. Oh yeah, cargo pants, sweat shirts, and boots. “I’m guessing you’re immune to the cold?” I asked, pulling off my ruined t-shirt and yoga pants. “Wow, I really need a shower.”

  Logan chuckled from a few yards away. He’d only half turned his back to give me privacy, but I didn’t care. “Sort of. If it’s really cold, it’ll slow me down, but I won’t suffer from frost bite or hypothermia like you.”

  “Do you think Kellen will have coffee?” I asked, pulling a sweatshirt over the clean t-shirt I just put on.

  “I doubt it,” he replied. “Do you want to keep these clothes or leave them here?”

  He stood next to me as I buttoned the cargo pants now covering my bottom half. “Did you keep yours?”

  “Hell, no. I lost the fight with the briar patch.”

  I giggled and stuffed my feet into my new boots. “I guess there’s no point carrying more than we need to,” I mumbled. “I hope these boots don’t leave blisters. Maybe I should stick with my sneakers.”

  Logan zipped up the backpack and handed it to me. “You carry this, and I’ll carry you both.”

  I took the bag from him and pulled the straps over my shoulders. One day, I’d find out how strong he really was. He lugged me everywhere like I weighed nothing, just like now. He bent to one knee and pulled me up on his back. I immediately wrapped my legs around his waist and arms around his neck. I hadn’t realized it until just now, but he never tried to show off around me. He always acted like a normal person, as normal as he could, anyways. He took off running, and I recognized it was much faster than I was capable of. I never had anything to compare it to before, until now. I was really slow.

  My thoughts wandered to the vampires we fought earlier. Logan said they wouldn’t have let us leave, and I tried not doubt him. It was hard, though. The memory of that woman’s blood hovering in the air as I pulled it from her made me queasy. How did I even do that? It’s not like Göksu ever helped me fight, but maybe it was my water element. Still… he was adamant that he would only help me heal. I frowned.

  Göksu?

  Yes, child.

  Don’t act like you didn’t hear my thoughts, I snapped. How do I pull the blood from a vampire like that?

  Every mage has a small amount of magic they can use without their elemental’s power, he replied. Even Logan can use limited amounts. Though his magic is severely reduced because of his death.

  I thought about his reply. Was that what most mages did without realizing it? Did the elements only truly add their strength when the need arose?

  What does your heart tell you, child? Göksu asked, answering my silent questions.

  It depends on the mage, I responded. Kellen’s elements are dedicated to him, so they make him strong.

  And others will always be weak because their intentions are clouded.

  So, why do you deny me? Is my soul broken like my mother’s?

  The thought hurt, but if everything he said was true, then I needed to know.

  Logan slowed then came to a stop in the middle of the narrow path. I peeked over his shoulder at Göksu’s glowing form blocking our way, his humanoid body larger than I’d ever seen him.

  “What’s wrong?” Logan whispered.

  “We’re either getting ready to hug or fight,” I replied, letting go of him and sliding to the ground.

  My elemental strolled towards us, the silhouettes of the trees behind him visible through his watery form. He stopped a few yards away and sat in the middle of the path.

  “Sit,” he ordered.

  I did, but Logan didn’t.

  “We’re sort of on a tight schedule,” my vampire said. “Do we have to do this now?”

  “Yes, it cannot wait.”

  Logan sighed and sat in the dirt next to me.

  “Alisandra, I do not deny you for the reason you think,” he began. “You carry more power than you’re capable of wielding.”

  A sharp laugh escaped my lips. “You must have me confused with someone else. I let Niyol do whatever he wants because he’s better at it than I am.” I picked up a small pebble and rolled it between my fingers. “When I heal someone, it’s you, not me. I’m merely a vessel for you to control, not the other way around.”

  “Do you not hear yourself, child?”

  “I can’t play this game right now, Göksu! I’m tired and overwhelmed,” I whined. “Tell me what you need me to hear.”

  “You are the vessel for us,” he repeated my words back to me. “Your power is only limited by the amount I choose to give you.” A tiny droplet rose from the hand on his knee and floated towards me. “It is the same for Niyol. He chooses to be actively involved, doing the fighting for you. But he could just as easily give that power to you and let you wield it.” The drop of water hovered in front of me, growing in size the longer it stayed. “I won’t be the active warrior Niyol chooses to be, but you aren’t ready to use the power I will give you, either.”

  “I’ll never be ready if you don’t make the time to train me,” I mumbled. “Niyol at least gave two weeks of knowledge. Two weeks that I begged from you, but you refused.” I swatted at the golf ball sized bubble in front me, my fingers swiping through it. Rather than fall apart, it grew again.

  “I hesitated because of Logan, child. I should not have.”

  The orb of water i
n front me was now the size of a basketball, hovering inches from my chest. I eyed it warily, not really wanting to get my clean clothes wet.

  “How does this help?” I asked. “We need to get to the palace, then confront a pile of vampires half way around the world. We don’t have time for this.”

  “Niyol is your sword, princess, but I am your shield.”

  The orb of water smashed into my chest, throwing me on my back and crushing the backpack against my spine. I moaned with the onslaught of pain, but it didn’t last. My elemental’s warm healing magic coated my body, seeping into my sore muscles, then surging towards the well of power at my core. I rubbed my chest and sat up, shocked that I wasn’t soaking wet. How did he do that?

  “Remember, I’m your protector.” He stood, his flowing form losing shape as it always did. “When you return from Australia, I’ll teach you how to use it.”

  Then, he was gone.

  “I’ll never understand him,” I said, shaking my head and rising to my feet. At least I wasn’t tired and sore anymore, and my elemental promised to train me. Stopping wasn’t a complete waste of our time after all.

  “Do you realize what he meant?” Logan asked, staring down at me. “Your strength is endless.”

  “I heard him, but I don’t think he meant it that way,” I said, holding my hand out to him. “We need to get moving.”

  “I think that’s exactly how he meant it.” He knelt and helped me on his back once again. “I wonder if all the mages have that ability or is it just you?”

  “I’m sure it’s all of us,” I replied. “Göksu confirmed that our element decides how much to give us.”

  Logan took off again but still tried to continue our conversation. “If it were all mages, he wouldn’t have taken the time to point out your differences,” he yelled back to me.