Hassan himself thought Elijah probably did deserve death for what he had done, but not at the hands of the Khan. Three large vampires were guarding the wagon, which was opportunely stationed at the edge of the camp. Still, Hassan needed a distraction.
As night fell, Hassan descended from his concealment in the trees, down the mountain to the valley floor. He circled the camp and crept through the main force at the rear of the army encampment. The mortals would be asleep, so this should be the easiest way in. His steps were quick and light; he stayed in the shadows, away from the torches.
His plan was simple, but he wasn’t sure it would be as effective as he hoped. Grabbing two oil-filled vases, Hassan slipped between the tents and campfires until he came to the front edge of the vampire camp. From there he could see the two wagons stacked with barrels of blood at the opposite edge of the camp.
The vampires were celebrating Elijah’s downfall and the renewal of their food supply with barrels of wine the Khan had provided, so it was easier than he had expected to get past them. Hassan walked to the edge of the camp and merged with the darkness.
Cloaked in the night, Hassan made his way to the outermost wagon at the front of the camp. He walked quietly around the wagon as he emptied the vases of oil over the barrels, saving only a small amount. The nearest torch was at the edge of camp and there was a vampire walking directly beside it. Hassan immediately saw his opportunity to act as he watched the tall, bald vampire slink past the torch, clearly on his way to get more blood. When he was almost at the first wagon, Hassan raced over. Grabbing the torch, he ran back to the wagon, doused the vampire with the remaining fluid, and set him ablaze.
As his screams pierced the darkness, Hassan torched the wagons and vanished back into the night. He circled the camp towards Elijah and waited for the commotion to draw a crowd. His plan worked; within seconds the fire had drawn all but one vampire away from the wagon. Hassan rushed down the mountainside and plunged his dagger through the side of the remaining vampire’s head.
“Elijah, are you in there?” Hassan whispered.
“Hassan. What are you doing? You need to get out of here!”
“I’m going to free you first.” Hassan quickly unrolled a small cloth parcel and retrieved two small metal tools. Kneeling down, he went to work on the lock. He was finished in a matter of moments and began unraveling the chains around the box. As he dropped the chains to the side of the wagon, the door swung open and Elijah pulled himself out.
“Let’s go.” Hassan grabbed Elijah by the arm and helped him down from the wagon.
“Not yet. I need to find that mask-wearing ghoul.” Elijah turned around and looked towards the Khan’s tent.
“This isn’t the time Elijah, but I’m sure you’ll be glad to see this.” Hassan pulled the Great Khan’s sword from his back and tossed it to Elijah.
“How did you get this?” Elijah asked, his smile warming Hassan’s soul. He loved Elijah the way he imagined a man cared for his son. They were nearly the same age, but Hassan’s experience, wisdom, and maturity, combined with Elijah’s youthful appearance, had left Hassan as the voice of reason, the anchor that held them in place as much as possible.
“How do you think? I am an Assassin.” Hassan was pleased to remind him of where they both had gained their mastery. He longed for those days; he now knew he hadn’t appreciated his life the way he should have. He reached to embrace Elijah and the world disappeared before him.
Chapter 54
“No!” Elijah shouted as the tip of a sword tore through the front of Hassan’s neck. As the sword was retracted, Hassan fell to the ground gurgling, his neck nearly severed.
As Hassan fell, Elijah looked up to see the mask and the glowing blue eyes that had haunted him for weeks now. A deep surging pain struck Elijah’s heart; pressure twisted against the inside of his chest, like something trying to break free. He grabbed his chest and fell to his knees at Hassan’s side.
“Here, drink this.” Elijah bit through the veins in his wrist and pressed it to Hassan’s mouth. He realized now how much he needed Hassan, and he was truly afraid. Hassan was all he had left, and he didn’t know if he could survive losing everything again.
“No; please, let me go.” Hassan turned his head to avoid the blood.
“This is my fault; let me fix it,” Elijah begged.
“Please, I have compromised as much as I am able. My God would not allow this.” Hassan struggled once more to avoid the blood. Elijah closed his eyes for a moment and then looked up at the mask. The blue stare seemed tangible; Elijah’s eyes were now dry. A hard thud crashed against his chest and he quickly looked down to see Hassan’s hand.
“No, Elijah, what I couldn’t accomplish in life, allow me to accomplish in death. I have tried to make you feel; please, feel this. This pain is your humanity, your salvation. You will never get what you want without it… what you really want… peace.”
Elijah watched as Hassan’s palm slid from his chest. “God,” he scoffed, “how can the damned believe in such things?” He felt tears burn his eyes, but allowed a hint of a smile as he looked back into Hassan’s eyes.
“Elijah, there is good in you. Your damn stubbornness and your vengeful spirit cause you to do wicked things, but as long as you can feel there is still hope. Don’t ignore all the evil things you have done, all the harm you have caused.
“Feel it. No matter how much it hurts, feel it, but don’t let it control you. If you numb yourself to the pain, you will lose yourself completely. It’s not how you feel, Elijah, but what you do that matters. I will vouch for you on the Day of Judgment, my friend, my brother, and one day a cool breeze will blow though the depths of hell.” Hassan’s grip loosened from around Elijah’s cuirass and his eyes glazed over. He was gone.
“I hope you are right, my friend, but either way, you will live forever in the thoughts and memories of every life I touch and every life I take.” Elijah closed Hassan’s eyes and kissed him on the forehead before rising to his feet. He closed his eyes for a moment and tried to choke back his emotion. Hassan’s words echoed in his mind, but he couldn’t do as his friend had wished. All of his pain and anger stormed out from his heart to his fingers.
“Now we finally will have our moment alone,” the deep voice resonated from behind the mask, the giant wearing it now standing directly in front of Elijah. Elijah looked up and watched as the big man removed his mask. His face and his glowing blue eyes brought back memories of Sara’s death.
“You have made a fatal mistake,” Elijah growled. The rage within him could not be described as he gazed into the glowing eyes of a man who had robbed him of so much. “You are nothing more than my father’s dog.”
“My name is Roman, and I am no one’s dog. I am here because I choose to be. I like getting my hands dirty.” Roman smiled and laughed; without warning, he punched Elijah hard on the chin and knocked him backwards. Sheathing his sword, the giant stepped forward and cracked his neck to each side. His eyes burned brighter as sharp bone claws burst through the tips of his fingers.
Elijah had never received such a blow; devastating pain mingled with sorrow to confound him as he stumbled backwards and fell against the wagon. A fist full of claws raked across his face and then ripped at his chest again and again. Hassan’s words were fresh in his mind as he struggled to gather his wits.
“Or don’t you remember?” Roman jeered as he unsheathed his sword.
Elijah had all but given up until images of Sara’s bloodied body flashed in his mind. He remembered the funeral pyre he had built for her, the bracelet which still hung from his wrist, and then the two coins he had placed in her mouth so she could make it back into his arms.
Elijah opened his eyes and drew in a deep breath; he was slumped over, only the wagon behind him keeping him on his feet.
I’m sorry Hassan, he thought, as Roman thrust forward his sword. I do not have the power to control my pain. All I can do is what’s most natural to me; unleash it.
“I remember,” he whispered as he stopped the sword at his chest with both hands.
“What?” Roman asked as he placed both hands on the sword and pushed even harder. Elijah held the blade firmly in place.
“I remember!” He growled as he looked up at Roman. Elijah could feel the burning sensation which meant his eyes were beginning to glow. He gritted his teeth as the heat moved through his muscles and made his bones ache. His eyes burned hotter and hotter as he slowly pushed the sword away from his chest.
Roman pulled his right hand from the sword and swung his claws at Elijah’s face. Elijah jerked the sword away from Roman with his right hand and caught his swinging wrist with the other
“This is not possible. I am a vampire lord; you cannot do this.” His glowing blue eyes began to dim after Elijah dropped the sword and lifted him up by his neck. “What are you?” he asked, the words barely able to find their way to his lips after Elijah threw him back nearly ten feet.
“Here.” Elijah unsheathed his ancient sword and threw it to Roman. “That is a Spartan sword. It once belonged to the greatest Khan of them all, Genghis Khan. Before that, it belonged to the great Spartan king Leonidas the Brave.” Elijah stepped around the big man, who quickly took the sword and pushed himself up.
“It is said that thousands of men have lost their lives on the edge of that sword. I think that is probably a great exaggeration. Still, many believe there is much power in that sword,” Elijah spoke calmly while Roman examined it. Elijah drew his other sword; he held it up for a moment and then dropped it at his feet.
“I am a vampire lord. You dare face me without a weapon?” The big man hid his fear behind a broad smile. Elijah remained silent. “Your father was right about you. You are an arrogant little shit,” Roman bellowed.
“You have no name,” Elijah said. “You are no one. You have no recourse; you will die here today and time will erase you. You will be one of the countless devils who died trying to reach beyond their grasp, trying to kill what can’t be killed, trying to fight against the abiding strength of my immortal will.” Elijah spoke in a calm, even tone, and then quickly leaned to the right to dodge the sharp edge of Roman’s sword.
“Tell me what you are. How can you still live after we killed you? Why are your eyes that color?” Roman demanded, his expression grim as he lunged forward. Elijah quickly maneuvered to escape the blow and grabbed the outside of Roman’s sword hand. Spinning around Roman’s outstretched arm towards his back, Elijah yanked the small kopis from beneath his arm and plunged it upwards into the base of Roman’s skull.
“We all have many faces; we each are different things to different people. In this moment we are the same, you and I,” Elijah whispered as he removed the dagger. Roman fell to the ground, moaning. “We are the two faces of Janus, the god I worshiped as a child, the god of transitions, beginnings and endings. Today I offer you an ending to your miserable existence and you offer me a new beginning, where I walk beyond the reach of pain and anger.”
Elijah reached down and retrieved the Spartan sword. He stood above Roman, who was crawling and calling out for help. He kicked him to his back and stood with one foot on his chest.
“I give you death as you give me life.” Elijah smiled as he brought the blade down and separated Roman’s head from his body. He watched Roman’s eyes as they glowed bright again for only a second and then dimmed as his head rolled away from his body.
Elijah walked slowly back to Hassan’s body He closed his eyes and heard Hassan’s words one last time. Taking a deep breath, he let it all in. He tasted guilt, anger, and pain one last time before he swallowed it down. Then he turned it all off, and was once again left with the bittersweet taste of emptiness.
By this time a huge crowd had gathered. Elijah picked up his other sword and sheathed it as he calmly observed the horde of vampires and humans alike gathered between Elijah and the Khan.
Elijah began walking toward the Khan, Spartan sword in one hand and Roman’s head in the other. As he reached the edge of the horde they began to part, leaving no obstacles between him and the Khan.
“I don’t know what you are planning to do, but without me you will never get to William.” The Khan stammered and took a couple steps back.
“I will lead your army. I will collect your blood from wherever I can find it. I will take Baghdad for you, and then you will take me to my father,” Elijah commanded. The Khan’s eyes were wide; he couldn’t speak. “If you betray me, you will end up like this!” Elijah threw Roman’s head at the Khan. He sheathed the Spartan sword in the leather scabbard on the back of his cuirass and walked back to his tent.
“That’s a nice sword. It looks familiar,” the Khan yelled after him.
Elijah paused for a moment before turning back with a smile. “Yes, it’s funny how such things find their way to deserving hands.” Elijah smiled again and continued towards his tent.
Chapter 55
“Are you okay?” Elijah heard a familiar voice and lifted his head to see Ayda walking into his tent.
“Why are you here?”
“I heard about Hassan.” Ayda came closer and stroked her fingers through Elijah’s thick, curly hair.
“I’m fine.” Elijah whispered as he looked back down at the floor.
“Look at me, Elijah.” Ayda cradled Elijah’s chin and forced his head up. “I know you’re not fine.”
“You don’t even know me.” Elijah slapped her hand away and stood up. “Just get out!” He pointed to the exit.
“I will leave for now.” Ayda looked towards the exit and then back at Elijah. “I just wanted you to know that you can call on me if you need a friendly ear.”
“Call on you?” Elijah laughed. “I haven’t even seen you in months. I thought you were my friend, or something near to it. I had questions, and you just disappeared,” he yelled.
“I do care for you, Elijah.” Ayda stepped forward and again reached for Elijah’s face. “I just didn’t know what to do. I was confused; I still am.”
“If you care about me, then tell me what I am.” Elijah grabbed her arms and forced them down to her sides.
“You think I know what you are?” Ayda responded, shaking her head.
“You know.” Elijah clutched at his head, making a frustrated noise, and turned away, then whirled back and pointed at her. “Your eyes were glowing bright red, and then my eyes started to glow as well.”
Ayda wouldn’t look at him. She stared into space while her fingers played nervously with a seam on her gown.
“Elijah, you are not like me.” Ayda looked back up at him when she finally spoke.
“How do you know? What are you?” Elijah asked, his eyes wide.
“It doesn’t matter, Elijah, but you are not like me. I know that much.” She stood up and walked towards the exit.
“Wait!” Elijah shouted and she stopped. He stood up and walked towards her. “How do you know that?” Taking her by the arm, he gently spun her around and looked into her eyes. “How do you know?” he asked again.
Ayda remained silent for a moment. She broke Elijah’s stare and looked at the floor. “Because your eyes glow yellow, like the light of dawn; they remind me of the yellow amber gemstones formed by fossilized tree resin. I have never seen eyes like that before,” she looked back up at him as she spoke.
Elijah was stunned. He had been almost certain they were the same. He stumbled backwards and caught himself on the table before sitting. Ayda rushed forward and sat in the chair next to him.
“Elijah, what is wrong?”
“I’m fine,” he said. Actually, he was somewhat disappointed. While he had believed he was like Ayda, he thought he had finally found a hint of belonging. That now vanished.
“Elijah…” Ayda began to speak, but was quickly cut off.
“I’m fine, I said. At least my eyes aren’t blue. Just go.” Elijah raised his head and looked at her. She reached to touch his face, but he caught her hand. “Go,” he growled.
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br /> Ayda stood up. “I’m sorry.” She bent down and kissed his cheek before leaving.
Elijah sat alone, staring at the table. He was more confused than ever, as he recalled the lonely emptiness of being truly alone. Without Hassan he was truly lost; there was no hope of finding his way out from beneath the weight of the void, nor did he want to. With the darkness as his home he would be able to make the decisions and bear the horrors he would have to unleash if he was to find his father. He needed his hateful emptiness now more than ever; he needed to revel in it, lest all he had done be for nothing.
Chapter 56
“Don’t hold. How many times have I told you not to hold?” Hulagu Khan shouted at Elijah as he was about to loose an arrow.
“How do you expect me to aim if I don’t hold?” Elijah shouted back.
“You don’t aim, Elijah. I have tried to teach you this for months now. Remember, your…”
Elijah cut him off. “I know, I know. Trust my body; my eyes and my body know where the arrow needs to go. It’s all nonsense. It just doesn’t work!” Elijah loosed an arrow and missed an ear hanging from the city gate. Behind the gate Elijah could see countless men, women, and children hanging headless, drained of their blood.
“You always have too much going on in here.” The Khan stepped closer and thumped Elijah on his forehead with his right index finger. “It is good you have rid yourself of your guilt and anger, at least for now; the true test will be when you see your father.”
Elijah nodded.
“Emotion is weakness, and it clouds your mind. Now you just think too much, you try too hard.” The Khan took a horse by the reins and pulled it over to Elijah. “You have a problem with control. You always try to control things, but you can’t, not always. Sometimes you have to let go. Now get on the horse.” The Khan handed the reins to Elijah, stepped to the rear of the horse, and smacked its back.
Apotheosis of the Immortal Page 22
