Once again it seemed as if everyone was moving in slow motion. His mind was clear. With just a few swings of his sword and a number of rips and jabs with his dagger, the surrounding vampires fell with ease.
The only dangers left were William and Solomon. Solomon backed up and threw his hands in the air as William clumsily pulled his sword. They were both staring with confusion at the fire in his eyes.
“What are you doing? What’s wrong with your eyes?” William babbled as Elijah dropped both of his blades and continued forward.
“I’m coming for my sword,” Elijah said. William’s eyes widened as he looked down at the sword he was holding. Indeed, it was the sword of the Great Khan, the sword he had taken from Elijah, the sword Hassan had given to him. William smiled and slashed down at Elijah’s neck. Elijah maneuvered out of the way with ease.
“Elijah, remember our brother, please,” Solomon begged as William thrust his sword. Elijah quickly turned to the side to escape his blow, then grabbed William’s extended arm with one hand and curled the other around the back of his neck, flipping him over his shoulder and onto the ground.
“Get up!” Elijah bellowed, and William quickly jumped to his feet, lunging forward with his sword extended, but Elijah spun out of the way and backhanded him hard across the jaw. William stumbled backwards but didn’t fall.
Regaining his composure, William slashed at Elijah’s neck. He jerked backward, barely avoiding the blow. Having anticipated Elijah’s move, William immediately swung his sword back. Elijah quickly stepped forward and, with his right hand, he grabbed the back of William’s sword hand. Holding it tight, Elijah hammered his left hand forward into William’s elbow and watched the bones burst through the skin as the sword fell from William’s grasp.
Elijah slowly reached down and picked up the Spartan sword. “I told you, Father, these things always seem to find their way into deserving hands.” Elijah smiled as his father moaned and snapped his elbow back into place.
Elijah looked around for Solomon, but he was gone. “You’re all alone, Father.” William had crawled over to the old oak and propped himself up.
“Just get it over with,” William groaned as Elijah approached. As he pressed the sword to his father’s neck he began to feel awkward and uneasy. He felt something run from his eyes and nose, and when he touched it, his hand came away bloody. The blade in his hand began to feel like a lead weight. He couldn’t hold it any longer; he was dying and he knew it.
“Run!” He turned and shouted to Emira as he fell to his knees. The smug grin returned to William’s face as he picked up the sword and pressed it against Elijah’s temple.
“They really do, don’t they?” William’s smile grew broad as he looked down at the sword in his hand. “Elijah, haven’t you realized yet, you will never be better than me? The universe itself will not allow it,” he boasted.
Elijah wasn’t paying any attention; his focus was on Emira. “Run!” he tried to shout, but blood spewed from his mouth instead.
She wasn’t running; their eyes locked while William raised the sword above his head.
“Don’t worry, I will make it quick for both of you.”
Chapter 104
Khalid saw the multitude of bodies scattered across the field. He was relieved when he saw Emira still alive and Elijah holding a sword to William’s chest. He had actually done it.
Suddenly, the situation changed radically. He saw Elijah fall to his knees and William take his sword.
There was no time left. Khalid hoped his brothers would make it in time to help, but either way he had to act now or watch his friends die. He didn’t hesitate. Stalking forward, he released a deep and vicious growl.
Chapter 105
“Grrrr!” Out of the blackness behind him, Elijah heard and felt a deep, forbidding rumble, as if hell itself had burst open and was spilling out into the night. William froze. The hairs on the back of Elijah’s neck stood on end as the stentorian, almost subsonic vibration behind him grew louder and closer. Glancing back, all he could see were two gleaming black specks sunk in the vast darkness.
Under the faint light of the moon a massive beast stepped forward. Elijah couldn’t believe his eyes. It was the largest, most vicious-looking beast he could ever remember seeing, and it was growling thunder. The beast reminded him of the dogs he had seen on the Canary Islands off the coast of Africa, but this thing was much bigger.
It was the size of a small horse, and its muscles bulged in every direction. It was solid black and its jaws looked like they could tear even an immortal in half with one bite. Fearing the beast’s intentions, Elijah rolled over onto his stomach, trying to crawl to Emira’s side.
Elijah could feel William’s sword in his back as the beast walked to Elijah’s side and remained there. It looked at Elijah for a moment before raising its huge head and looking William directly in the eye. The beast was ferocious, but there was something very familiar about its eyes.
Elijah had heard of lycans, or werewolves, as they were called in the west, but he had never seen one. They were creatures of myth, said to be the rarest and most ancient of creatures, created by the spirit of the earth to protect mankind.
They were rumored to be vicious, and easily more powerful than the average immortal. The creature lowered its ears and growled fiercely at William; its teeth glimmered in the moonlight as its eyes began to glow bright red.
Heartened by the beast’s presence. Elijah drew a deep breath. Surely William would not risk an attack now that he was faced by a beast clearly determined to protect him and Emira. Still, he knew better than to underestimate his father’s stubbornness.
“One wolf, you think this changes anything?” William was trying to act strong, but Elijah could feel the blade twitching against his back; William was afraid.
Fearlessly, the beast took a huge stride towards William, who stood his ground. As if to settle this uneasy stalemate once and for all, the lycan threw his huge head to the sky and belted out a bone-shaking howl. One by one, deep, chilling howls came rolling down from the hills around them.
He’s not alone! Elijah was elated when he heard at least three more. Now, William surely would know he was outmatched. Having attained what he came for, William turned and ran, disappearing back into the night from whence he came. Elijah wanted to give chase, but he couldn’t even sit up.
Elijah suddenly heard thunder behind him. He turned his head to see a throng of beasts race past him, the big black one in the lead. They were going after William! Elijah hoped they would tear him to shreds.
Chapter 106
Emira ran to Elijah’s side as the beasts disappeared into the night. She rolled him over and cradled his head in her lap. Knowing what he had given up for her, she could think of no words that could convey what she wanted to say, so she just sat quietly, holding him.
Elijah was more than thankful to the lycan horde, but he would not trust Emira with anyone but Khalid. Elijah knew his fate; he could feel it sinking in as Mikal’s dire warning kept ringing in his mind.
Thoughts of Khalid crossed his mind. He hoped the giant man was all right. He needed him to be here for Emira. Elijah’s body ached from the inside out; he knew he had only minutes left.
He thought about William getting away with the rite and wondered what would become of the world. Would Emira be safe, with all that might happen after he was gone?
Emira studied Elijah’s face and desperation gripped her. She could see his life diminishing. His strong, muscular features seemed to be shriveling into sharp edges. There was no color left in his face, and she could tell he wasn’t breathing. He already looked more like a corpse than a man.
“Please, no! Don’t leave me.” Her voice rose with her fear. She clutched his hand again. Feeling it go limp, her heart sank as if to the bottom of a thousand oceans. With tears streaming down her face, she curled up next to his lifeless body and pulled his heavy arm across her chest.
She had been in that same position jus
t last night. His strong arms pressing her tightly to his chest had given her such strength and an abiding sense of safety. But now, lying beneath the rain, there was no strength left in his lifeless body. She could no longer feel the comforting resonance of his strong heart beating against her back.
It was like a dream, a nightmare, and all she could do was cry. She was helpless. She looked on, unable to change the fate of the one she loved. She would watch him wither away to nothing, as would the love they had just discovered.
Elijah felt her soothing touch on his skin and was thankful for it.
She’s safe. The knowledge warmed his soul as he drifted off into the afterlife, finally at peace.
Chapter 107
As Emira lay there clutching Elijah’s corpse, she blamed herself for everything that had happened.
He had sacrificed his life for her; she had to find a way to fix it. Tears continued to pour until Emira heard someone speak her name. Joy filled her heart as she looked down, expecting to see life flooding back into Elijah’s body.
“I’m sorry for the way everything turned out.” The voice was nearly a whisper.
Emira looked around to see where it was coming from, but saw nothing, only a serpent slithering its way up Elijah’s leg. Emira pulled back and tried to pull Elijah’s body away from it.
“There is no need to fear me, my dear. I am here to help. I can give him back to you, just as strong and willful as ever,” the serpent hissed.
“Who are you? And what are you talking about?” Emira demanded.
“My name is Adol. Have you heard of me?”
“Yes, I have. You are evil and untrustworthy. You create the blood-letters,” Emira accused.
“That I do, but only as pawns in this game of chess I have played with my brothers for millennia now. We use different methods to inspire and motivate our game pieces, but in the end, is there really any difference? Your god uses you, just as I use my pieces on this game board of life. There are only two rules; we must keep our word, and we cannot directly use our powers against each other’s pawns,” the god continued.
“You are telling me this is all a game? That might be true for you and Mikal, but I know Odam is different. He seeks to help mankind. He even made that spell to give us a chance,” Emira retorted with vigor and confidence.
“My girl, Odam is the one who started this game.” Adol snorted with laughter. “He created the first immortals, the first pawns, the lycans, and from there it spiraled into this elaborate game of power and strategy.”
“Let’s say I believe you, and I let you bring him back, will he be the same as he was?”
“His body is old; he will have the same power and the same personality,” Adol said.
“You will make him into a vampire!” Emira spat. “No, never! He would hate that.”
“Elijah will be himself, inside and out. Whether there is goodness or evil in him, that will not change, I promise you. I can’t force you, though, I just wanted to offer my help.” Adol seemed to pause and think for a moment. “I will watch you until midnight tonight. If you change your mind, just find a place where we can be alone, and call on me.
“What would you demand in return?” Emira asked.
“Just a favor, a favor for a favor.” Adol hissed and then slithered away just as Khalid approached.
Khalid could see Emira lying next to Elijah’s lifeless body. He could hear her desperate cries and it broke his heart.
“Emira,” he whispered as he ran his fingers through her hair. She was too upset to notice. “Emira.” He spoke a little louder as he grabbed her under her arms and pulled her from beneath Elijah’s dead arm.
“He’s gone.” She spoke quietly as Khalid held her up.
“I know. I’m sorry, but maybe now he has found peace.” Khalid tried to comfort her. Emira pulled away and held her own weight. She looked up at Khalid sharply.
“Where were you?” Her tone and stare were accusations. “If you had been here, maybe things would have turned out differently.” She had never spoken to Khalid that way before, but now she believed he deserved it.
“I’m sorry. I tried, but it wouldn’t have made a difference. We would still have had to give up the ME to get you back. Elijah knew the consequences, and he was happy with his choice. He loved you Emira. No one could have kept him from doing what he did. Just try to remember it was a gift, freely given because of how much he loved you. He was a great man. I misjudged him.” Khalid was speaking softly, trying to comfort himself as well as Emira. He was deeply regretful about how he had judged Elijah and hoped they could both learn to find some good in what had happened.
“I’m sorry. I know it’s not your fault.” Emira fell limp in Khalid’s arms, weeping once again. Khalid himself was almost overcome with grief.
“It’s okay. Come on. Let me take you back to the house so we can clean Elijah’s body and bury him.” Emira didn’t say a word as Khalid lifted her off the ground and cradled her like a child. She saw a small group of men and women assembling behind Khalid.
“Khalid, we have to take you back now.” Arhan’s voice was soft and apologetic.
“I will come with you, but I must take her home and bury Elijah first.” Khalid spoke with anger as he turned and looked at them all threateningly. They each stepped to the side as Khalid pushed past, carrying Emira home.
“Arhan, bring Elijah’s body,” Khalid commanded. Arhan slid his muscular arms beneath Elijah and lifted him effortlessly. He carried him to the large stone picnic table near the back door and gently laid him on his back. His body had withered completely; he looked like a thousand-year-old corpse. Khalid sat Emira down in a small chair beside the table. She just stared at the ground, expressionless.
“It just doesn’t seem possible. I don’t understand. He was so strong.” Her voice was broken and her tears welled again.
“I know, I know. He was the strongest man I ever met.” Khalid hugged her tightly. “You sit here next to Arhan.” Khalid pulled a chair over and motioned Arhan to sit. “I’m going to get some towels and water so we can clean the body.”
The council of immortals stood outside waiting while Khalid went into the house, filled a bucket with warm water, and collected a few towels. Walking back outside, he laid the bucket and the towels beside the stone table. Emira’s expression was grim; she looked almost catatonic.
He wondered if she would ever recover. He thought about the judgment that was to come. He had never feared death until this moment, but he couldn’t imagine leaving her alone now, when she needed him most.
Suddenly, the ground beneath Khalid’s feet began to vibrate. He looked over at Emira and Arhan for confirmation, and saw they were also confused and concerned. A second later, the ground shook vigorously, as if a great earthquake had begun right beneath their feet. The earth roared like wicked laughter; it seemed the very ground beneath them might explode at any moment.
The sky above them turned dark and began to rumble savagely. Khalid could see Emira duck her head and cover her ears. Even the other council members seemed startled and nervous. Emira ran over to the table and braced Elijah’s body so it wouldn’t roll off the table.
As if out of nowhere, a huge man appeared before them. His skin was solid black. Emira stepped back towards Khalid.
Odam? Khalid couldn’t believe his eyes. He hadn’t seen Odam in hundreds of years. What was he doing here now?
“What are you doing here, old friend? Where have you been for so long?” Khalid’s tone was harsh.
“I have been away for too long; you are correct. I am here now to give you my final instructions, and then I am going to try to convince my brothers to leave this place, and to leave you humans to yourselves. Our powers, of course, will still keep the balance, so the earth will remain as it is, as will your power and immortality.” Odam’s voice was loud but monotone.
“I don’t understand.” Khalid frowned.
“It is finally time for you to fulfill your true destiny, Kha
lid. With the ME in the hands of a blood-letter, there will be a war over all of creation, unless you keep her safe.” Odam looked over at Emira and then back to Khalid. “If I can convince my brothers to leave this place, then you only have to deal with the immortals left behind. The earth needs its soldiers to protect her. Now is the time to rise up and kill every immortal blood-letter you can find!” Odam proclaimed.
“Khalid has betrayed you, Odam, and the council!” Ubaram interrupted in protest.
“I am Odam. Khalid is your leader; this is my decree!” Odam’s voice thundered and Ubaram quickly bowed his head in submission.
“I am the breath of man. I carry him through his toils and struggles, his victories and defeats. I carry him from one brother’s life to another brother’s death. My power is neither life nor death, but will.” Everything around them shook as his voice thundered down. “I need you now, Khalid. I need you to be strong if this world is to survive. You will now be my will upon this earth,” Odam proclaimed.
“I don’t understand, strong enough for what purpose?” Khalid could barely hear his own voice.
“To end it; to end it all.” Odam bellowed. “The war of the immortals has just begun, and you can’t let the vampires get their hands on The Key! Otherwise, there will be no stopping them,” he said. “The blood-letter William could gain godlike power.”
Odam paused for a moment and looked around at the immortals arrayed before him. “That is what is at stake. If you let them get this girl, William will become absolute ruler of this world in our absence.” Odam’s words were full of certainty.
“We will protect her; you have my word.” Khalid spoke boldly.
“Now I bid you farewell; one day we will meet again. I will do my best to deal with the gods. I believe I can convince my brothers. You just make sure no others are created.” Odam warned.
Apotheosis of the Immortal Page 41
