Ela: Forever (Waking Forever)

by Heather McVea

  Coleen silently landed a few yards from Ela. Her incisors fully extended. “With your overdeveloped ego, you may be tempted to retaliate, but consider the damage I just inflicted on you with minimal effort.”

  Ela looked at her hands, which still tingled from the severed nerves mending themselves. “What do you want, Coleen?”

  Coleen smiled. “Again, remarkable restraint.” She walked toward Ela. “This is a chance encounter, I assure you. I was hunting game and came across your scent about ten miles back. I thought – what the hell, I may as well see how you’re doing.”

  Ela took several steps back. “I should have known you hadn’t come looking for me.”

  Coleen shook her head. “That was your decision, not mine.”

  Ela looked past Coleen and up at the tops of the trees they had just descended from. “Are you alone?”

  “She’s not with me.” Coleen leaned against a tree and crossed her arms over her chest.

  Ela began to pace. “Where is she?”

  “Far away from here,” Coleen said matter-of-factly.

  Ela grinned, the tips of her incisors visible past the bottom of her top lip. “How far away?”

  Coleen stood up and sighed. “Your hate of Rachel verges on pathological. Do you really mean to spend eternity consumed by it?”

  Ela laughed. “Not at all. I’ll end her, and the hate along with her.”

  Coleen walked tentatively toward Ela. “Ending Rachel won’t temper your rage and hate.” She slowly put her hand on Ela’s cheek and spoke softly. “It’s sewn into the very fabric of who and what you are.”

  Coleen stepped back. “The irony is you think it has anything to do with Rachel. She is just the focus for now. But you’ll always be angry for any number of perceived slights.”

  Ela grabbed Coleen’s wrist and flung her hand away. “You can’t even do this one thing for me! You’re my maker, and yet you protect her.” She wanted so badly for her forced affections toward Coleen to die a death worthy of Coleen’s blindness to her.

  “You must know Rachel wanted to die for what she had done to you,” Coleen said, attempting to sooth Ela.

  “Then she should have died!” Ela screamed, her eyes flashing electric sparks of blue and lavender. “She should have died instead of betraying me!”

  Coleen furrowed her brow and stepped away from Ela. Turning her back, she began walking away. “Don’t turn your back on me, Coleen!” Ela’s voice was a seething roar that echoed through the forest. “You owe me this – this one thing!” Her voice faltered as her chest was wrenched with a sob.

  Coleen stopped and turned to face Ela. She looked down and after several seconds, locked eyes with Ela. “I do wish I could give you freedom from the hate that consumes you. I am your maker after all, and not altogether heartless.”

  Coleen sighed and looked up at the tree covered sky. “But that would involve some awareness and actual discipline on your part.”

  Ela closed the space between her and Coleen in a single step, her voice broken by sobs as blood ran down her face. “Where is she? Please.”

  Coleen squinted, considering Ela for several seconds before she turned and walked away. Ela collapsed to her knees, the blood flowing down her face and onto the forest floor.

  “She’s gone to America.” Coleen spoke so softly that even Ela strained to hear her.

  Ela gasped and leaned back on her haunches. Her face was covered in blood and her eyes glowed in the forest. Night was falling, but four simple words had brought an end to her darkness.

  She took a deep breath as her heart turned to an even harder stone. Given Coleen’s penchant for teaching lessons, Ela assumed she never told Rachel she had turned Ela. This would benefit Ela in the end and add to the misery she would inflict on Rachel.

  Over the years, Ela had come to believe even vampires took comfort in knowing what was most likely waiting for them. It was the illusion of control over one’s fate that would ultimately be Rachel’s undoing – and the total surprise her death would inflict on her would be Ela’s completion.

  ***

  The freedom to come and go as she pleased was one of many benefits the transient nature of Mateo’s compound afforded Ela. Mateo himself was frequently not present, and this is why he had not discovered her decade long affair with Kesora. Although, Ela wondered if it constituted an affair since they didn’t have sex. Ela fed from Kesora and, in return, opened her veins for Kesora. Ela was pondering this as Mateo entered the drawing room she and Nuria occupied.

  “Ela, Nuria, this is Albert.” Mateo stepped aside as a young, tall, brown haired man stepped forward. He was beautiful. His eyes were light brown with hints of amber and red, his lips full in proportion to his square jaw.

  “Nice to meet y’all.” Albert smiled broadly. His speech was slow and deliberate as he extended his hand.

  Ela shook the man’s hand. “Y’all?”

  Albert chuckled. “Yes ma’am. I’m originally from Texas.”

  Ela nodded. “I don’t get the connection, but okay.”

  Nuria nudged Ela’s shoulders. “That’s how they talk in the Southern half of the United States.” Nuria smiled at Albert. “They still ride horses, everyone carries a gun, and –” She frowned as she looked at the top of Albert’s head. “Albert, where’s your cowboy hat?”

  Albert laughed. “Oh, no, ma’am. You’re getting me confused with North Texas. I’m from San Antonio.”

  Nuria bit her lower lip and looked Albert up and down hungrily. “A sombrero, then?”

  Mateo cleared his throat. “Enough. I made Albert during the waning days of the war. He had been shot and left for dead behind German lines.” Mateo shook his head. “He has been travelling on my behalf and now has come home.” Mateo took Albert’s hand between his and brought it to his lips.

  Albert smiled. “I’m glad to finally meet everyone.” He put his arm around Mateo’s waist. “I was beginning to think you were ashamed of me.”

  Mateo tisked. “Never.” He turned his attentions to Ela. “Please take him hunting tonight and show him the best grounds.”

  Ela nodded. She knew Nuria was just as capable of showing Albert the ropes, but given Mateo’s body language around the young man and his displays of affection, Ela sensed he was not to be shared. Nuria was obviously interested in more than just hunting with Albert.

  Ela smiled at Albert, excused herself, and walked toward the back of the compound where the pool was. She walked down tile steps and could hear the splashing of water.

  “You’re late.” Kesora backstroked across the pool naked as she reprimanded Ela.

  Ela walked next to the pool and crouched down, resting her elbows on her knees. “The love of Mateo’s life has returned.”

  Kesora paused mid stroke. “Albert?”

  Ela stood up and took the towel draped over a nearby chair. “Yes.” She walked to the stairs leading out of the pool. “He’s beautiful, just like you said, and obviously Mateo agrees.”

  Kesora ascended the stairs out of the pool. Running her hands over her hair, she removed the excess water. “Mateo has always had eclectic tastes.”

  Ela wrapped the towel around Kesora’s shoulders. “It should be fun to see Nuria try to acquire Albert as a taste.”

  Kesora laughed, walked over, and sat at a nearby metal chair and table. She opened a small rectangular wooden box on the table and removed a cigarette and match. Striking the match, she lit the cigarette, shook the match, and discarded it on the table. “I’ve known Nuria for a century, and she doesn’t know what else to do with eternity except make trouble.” Kesora took a drag off the cigarette.

  Ela sat in an adjacent metal chair and crossed her legs. “Do you have to do that? It smells like burnt, rancid meat.”

  “Descriptive.” Kesora smiled and studied the cigarette she held between her middle and index fingers. “I have no vices save this one.”

  Ela sighed. “That’s debatable.” She waved at a plume of smoke with her hand.
>
  Kesora leaned back in the chair. “Did Mateo ask you or Gahiji to show Albert the ways of Spain?”

  “Me. Why?” Ela was irritated by the stench of the smoke.

  “It won’t be long now.” Kesora took another drag as she stared off into the distance.

  “Before what?” Ela got up and moved several feet away to minimize her disgust with the smoke.

  Kesora looked at Ela, who rolled her eyes. Sighing, she mashed the half smoked cigarette into a stone ashtray on the table. “Mateo is ready to branch out. He’s been all over this continent. Even into parts of Africa, but the Americas is where he considers the future of his clan to be.”

  Ela turned to face Kesora. “Albert?”

  Kesora nodded. “Albert understands the culture and will ease the transition of your kind into the modern world. A vampire for the twentieth century and beyond.”

  “I know there are vampires in America.” Ela’s tone was incredulous.

  Kesora nodded. “Of course, but they don’t believe in the sanctity of the bloodlines. They’re unorganized, untethered, and uncivilized. Children that need to be led.”

  Ela sat back down, her mind racing. “Witnessing.”

  “In a manner of speaking, yes – he wants vampires to bear witness.” Kesora shrugged. “The Americas have a history of being colonized by missionaries spreading the good word, so it makes sense Mateo would set his sights on that continent.”

  Over the decade Ela had been with Mateo, she had willingly and eagerly accepted her superior lot in the world. She was vampire. A fourth descendent from God himself, and a god in her own right. What Kesora was saying made sense. “Who will he send with Albert?” She asked hopefully.

  Kesora turned her head to the side. “I imagine you, Ela. Though there is a chance he would send Gahiji. The man’s not bright, but he’s unquestionable in his loyalty to Mateo and his vision.”

  She reached for another cigarette, but, catching the look of dissatisfaction on Ela’s face, put it back in the wooden box. “Then again, you’re every bit as vicious as Mateo. Maybe even more so, as you seem to have completely freed yourself of any trace of guilt or conscience.”

  Ela smirked. “I just don’t see the point.”

  Kesora shook her head. “Anyway – he wants vampires as close to his own image as possible, and that’s you.” She paused, tapping her chin with her long tapered finger. “Besides, the fact you have no desire to fuck Albert is a huge plus in your column.”

  Ela laughed. “Not even a little.”

  Kesora got up, wrapped the towel around her naked body, and walked toward the hall leading to her room. “Are you coming?”

  Ela was still sitting on the chair, staring intently at the shifting hues and shades of blue rippling through the pool water. “In a minute.”

  Kesora shook her head. “Don’t take too long. Mateo and I are having dinner in an hour, and I can’t be late.”

  Ela absently waved Kesora off, her mind working through the endless possibilities this newest opportunity would afford her. There was value to be gained in spreading the truth about the vampire lineage, but what consumed Ela was personal glory. Not from the conquering of territory, or ambition, but revenge for the countless cruelties inflicted upon her by the woman who she had trusted and loved above all else.

  ***

  It was a new moon and the rolling hills of Western France were cloaked in darkness. Ela and Gahiji crouched near a short wooden fence, the only lights for miles coming from a small stone cottage nearly a quarter of a mile away.

  “They’re still awake,” Gahiji whispered in his signature soprano voice.

  “So?” Ela rose and began walking toward the cottage.

  Gahiji quickly stood and walked next to her. “We should wait until they’re sleeping.”

  Ela stopped and looked at Gahiji. Forcing a smile, she put her hand on his broad shoulder. “Friend, why bother. They’re dead either way.”

  Gahiji looked at Ela and then at the cottage as he chewed nervously at the inside of his cheek. “Ah, okay. Let’s go.”

  A few seconds later they stood outside the front door of the cottage. Ela nodded at Gahiji, who promptly kicked in the thin wooden door. It flew off its hinges, followed by several gasps and screams from the occupants. Ela rushed in, grabbing a young blonde haired girl who cowered in the corner near the hearth. She sank her teeth into the supple flesh of her neck. Ripping the artery open, Ela licked and sucked as the blood flowed.

  On the opposite side of the small room, Gahiji was finishing a portly man in his late fifties. His heartbeat was barely noticeable anymore. Gahiji dropped the limp corpse to the dirt floor and wiped the blood from his mouth.

  Before he could turn around, his feet were pulled out from under him and his legs bound. Using his arms to push up off the floor, Gahiji was back on his feet. But before he could pivot to confront his attacker, his arms were bound by a thick silver cord lassoed around his barrel chest.

  Gahiji was pulled to the floor with such force his ribs broke. Rolling onto his back, he looked up to see Ela standing over him with the other end of the silver cord in hand. “Ela, I don’t understand.”

  Ela tightened her grip on the cord. “No, you wouldn’t, you fool.” She quickly wrapped the cord around the large man’s neck. “This will most certainly hurt you more than it hurts me.”

  Gahiji growled and thrashed about. “You’re not strong enough to end me! When I get out of this cord I’m go–”

  Before Gahiji could complete his threat, Ela pulled the cord even tighter around his throat, crushing his vocal chords. “You’re right. Under normal circumstances you would have already pulled this cord out of my hands and ended me with it.”

  Ela pulled the man up by his throat, careful to keep some distance between them. “But it’s amazing how strong Kesora’s blood makes me.”

  Ela pounced on Gahiji’s chest. Firmly planting a foot on either shoulder, she pulled up on the cord with all her strength. A wet, ripping sound filled the small cottage as the cord tore through Gahiji’s throat, and his head rolled across the floor. Ela quickly dropped the cord, grabbed the decapitated head, and threw it in the hearth.

  Turning toward the headless corpse, she bent down and easily picked the body up. She threw it over her shoulder and began her return to Mateo’s compound.

  ***

  “How is this possible?” Mateo was crying, and the blood was dripping onto Gahiji’s lifeless body.

  Ela had her arm around Mateo’s shoulder. “It was Coleen’s clan. Our hunting parties crossed and they took offense to our choice of prey.” Ela closed her eyes, and when she opened them, blood had begun to pool in the corners. “It took three of her clan to end Gahiji.”

  Ela shook her head mournfully. “I was restrained and left alive to bear witness to you of his death.”

  Mateo began unwrapping the silver cord from around Gahiji’s legs. “Heretics. Animals.” He gently lifted the body up and removed the cord from around the man’s broad shoulders.

  Nuria was kneeling on the other side of the body, her gaze going back and forth between Mateo and Ela. “How many were there, Ela?”

  Ela was motionless as she considered Nuria. “Four. One holding me and three who ended Gahiji.”

  Nuria nodded. “Four. Right. Odd they would be carrying a silver cord with them on a routine hunting trip.”

  Ela shook her head. “I know. I know.” She wiped at her eyes, not looking at Nuria.

  Mateo sat in a trance, not aware of what was being said. He finally got up, walked toward his chambers, muttering over his shoulder. “You two take care of him, please.”

  Ela wrapped the discarded silver cord around her hand and placed it on a small wooden table. Nuria stood and stared intently at Ela. “I don’t believe you.”

  Ela turned and looked at Nuria. “What do you mean?”

  Nuria nodded toward Gahiji’s corpse. “This. He was a very strong vampire. As stupid as he was, I don’t think he would h
ave let four vampires get the jump on you both.”

  Ela shrugged. “We all have off days.”

  Nuria grabbed Ela’s forearm. “That’s just it. We don’t have off days, Ela.”

  Ela jerked her arm away. “What exactly are you suggesting, Nuria?”

  Nuria tilted her head back. “We have all heard the rumors that Mateo was sending Albert and Gahiji to America.”

  Ela looked Nuria up and down. “Your point?”

  Nuria’s eyes flared. “Let me make it simple. You want to go, and now with Gahiji out of the way –”

  Ela gasped theatrically. “Nuria, I can’t believe you’re suggesting that –”

  Nuria chuckled. “Please, Ela. You’d kill your mother if you thought it would help you on your way.”

  Ela’s eyebrow shot up. “Again – your point?”

  “What do you think your chances are of going to America with Mateo’s blessing if he knew you ended one of his lineages?” Nuria glared at Ela.

  Ela sighed and stepped over Gahiji’s body as she made her way to the sofa on the other side of the sitting room. She sat down, crossed her legs, and picked absently at her nails. “I’m sure I don’t know what you mean, but if I did, I can only imagine that a vampire strong enough to end Gahiji on their own would have no problem ending you.”

  Ela locked eyes with Nuria. “You are, after all, younger and weaker than Gahiji.” Ela looked at the corpse and shook her head. “And he was ended so badly.”

  Nuria cocked her head to the left. “You’re not threatening me, are you?”

  Ela shook her head. “Oh no, no. Please don’t misunderstand me, sister. I’m just thinking out loud. Hypothetically.”

  Nuria stood perfectly still for several seconds, clenching her jaw. Finally, she spoke. “Clean up your own mess then.” She turned and in a blink of an eye, she was gone.

  Ela stretched and, had she still a need to, would have yawned. She got up and hoisted Gahiji’s body over her shoulder. As she exited the room she began to whistle.

  ***

  “I’ve never had much of a taste for being a maker, Mateo.” Ela sat in a high back, overstuffed chair in the small study adjacent to Mateo’s chambers.