“What about speed? Aren’t vampires supposed to be really, really fast?” Zack raised his eyebrows with doubt.
Kyli quickly blitzed and pinned him into the couch. The actions unfolded as Zack was taking in a single breath. Before he was able to exhale, she had overtaken him. It was slower than the feats Orhn had performed in the warehouse. There was a trace, a hint of motion with Kyli. It was fast, far faster than he could easily follow. He was able to make out a slight blur as Kyli moved, but it didn’t help him react to it any quicker. Kyli held Zack's wrists behind his head. Her body pressing on his. Her warmth affecting him.
“What about speed?” Kyli’s hair dangled down in Zack face, whipping across his eyes and nose. Acting like a tunnel directly to Kyli’s face. It was captivating. There was stillness in the moment.
“I still want them back.” Zack said sternly to Kyli.
“When I'm done with them.” Kyli responded. Not letting him budge an inch.
“Do vampires have gifts, supernatural abilities?” Zack softened his voice, pacified by Kyli’s face. He didn't care that she was holding him down. He was starting to enjoy it.
“Yes. There are three very different types. Focus is a gift that enhances some aspect of the vampire. Either physical or mental it hones that part of the person.” Kyli tucked her hair behind her left ear. Letting go of Zack's right hand.
“You mean it’s not a focus ability if it does something to anyone else?”
“Yes, we call those alteration gifts. Or in some cases, psychic gifts. An ability activated at will by the mind that affects an individual other than the user. That covers most of it.” Kyli sounded like she was reading from a vampire text book on the subject. “And then there is the demon gift.” Kyli broke eye contact. It sombered the mood. “A gift like that has real power.”
“Real power? Like picking up a car?” Zack asked.
“Zack, I can pick up a car.” Kyli sighed. She let his other arm go. Kyli crawled back onto the couch. She pulled Zack over to her with one arm. Leaning into his shoulder. “Think bigger.”
“A gift that can stop bullets?” Zack threw it out.
“No, that’s an alteration gift.” Kyli was quick to correct Zack.
“The ability to control the elements? Weather and fire, something like that maybe?” Zack tried a little harder.
Kyli put her head down for a second. She was losing faith in Zack.
“What did I do this time?” Zack wanted to know.
“If you have to ask, it doesn't matter.” Kyli buried her head back into Zack's arm. “I'm talking about the power to control the minds of a thousand people at once, or the ability to lift land masses on command.”
“You mean demon gifts can lift islands?” Astonished, Zack gawked.
“No, I said land masses, not islands. They have the potency to overturn continents if they choose to do so.” Kyli informed Zack.
“That’s impossible, right? That kind of power doesn’t exist and even if it did, why wouldn’t they have used it already?” Zack asked fervently.
“Blood, they need oceans of it to use those brands of gifts.” Zack was speechless. A chill ran through Zack's body. He knew what an ocean of blood looked like. It seemed too eerie that Kyli would mention such a gruesome thing.
“Are you alright Zack?” Kyli felt the change in Zack's skin.
“No, it's okay. I was just thinking of what that would take.” Zack became pale.
“Hundreds of thousands of people would have to die to let them evolve that far. To let them accrue that much power.” Kyli let go of Zack's arm. Turning him to face her, she pushed Zack back down on the couch.
“That sounds terrible.” Zack responded as he tried to not star at Kyli's body.
“There's a catch too. The demon gift’s ability isn’t the worst part. They absolve their hosts in time.” Kyli eased her grasp of Zack’s shoulders. Resting her head on his chest.
“They? These are abilities we’re talking about right? Not actual demons?” Zack was worried. Kyli's head was so close to his heart it was soothing, but her words were terrifying.
“Demon gifts are abilities, Zack. Not people. They have grown with each incarnation, with each vampire they appear in. Taking on new attributes as they evolve. The longer a vampire lives and drinks blood, the more powerful the gift becomes until it asserts dominance. It forces the vampire’s mind out and controls the body directly. In essence it kills the vampire host. That is why they are called demon gifts, they embody true power, but are considered curses by everyone. Since they come with the ultimate cost.”
Zack's mind was blown. He didn't want to accept it. He had to. There were too many things that Kyli had said that made sense to him. Zack gave in. “I give up, I believe you. I don’t want to talk about that any more, it’s too depressing to think about.” Kyli let him up. “But considering, what does that make me?”
Kyli sighed slightly. “I know you believe me. You just have a bad memory. So I'll give you some slack. You’re a vampeal Zack, just like me.”
“But I can’t do what you just did.” Zack argued.
“Eventually you will. Look at your leg, arm, finger, and eyes for instance. You’ve completely healed Zack. That's not because of me. It's all you.” Kyli was slowly driving home her point. She was right and Zack had to cope with that.
Zack surveyed his body. There were no scars, no tenderness, nothing to suggest that yesterday he needed to be hospitalized. He was in a surprisingly great condition. Kyli was still wearing Zack's glasses. She pointed to them, tapping on the edge of the frames. Reminding him about his vision. Which was fine now, perfect even. He had been nearly blind since the end of 4th grade. Now his eyes were better than they were when he was wearing the prescription itself. Not only did his body recover, Zack was revitalized to a better state of being. He had energy, boundless energy. Zack felt as if he could run a marathon. There was a sensation of strength that Zack had never had before. So he decided to test it a little and have some fun while doing it.
“Kyli.” Zack said in a devilish manner. He leaned into Kyli for once.
“Yes?” Kyli inquired. She was receptive to Zack's forward advance.
Kyli was distracted for a second. She was locking into Zack's eyes. Thinking about how attractive he was in the shadow of the couch, pressed against her left shoulder. In a quick motion, Zack used all his might to lift her up. Trying to throw her across the room to display his newfound strength. Kyli saw it coming, but was still flung into the air about a foot above Zack. Kyli spun with a twist into another handstand on the couch this time. Her knee knocked the nearly empty cup out of Zack’s left hand, spilling it on the hardwood floor. The other leg kicked him flat on his back. Kyli never fell, she merely pivoted and gymnastically took advantage of the situation. To Kyli, it was effortless.
“Is that all you wanted to ask me? That’s so disappointing.” Kyli dismounted from the couch and sat onto the edge of the coffee table. Her legs crossed as a further sign of her exacting abilities.
Zack was ashamed by his own actions. “Are you upset I attacked you?” He wanted to flex this surge of power, but he didn’t think Kyli would be able to react like that. Zack was unsure of why he did it. Thinking possibly because Zack needed to test what he could do.
“No. But you’re about to make it even between us.” Kyli was hiding something. She was smiling too big not to.
“How?” Zack faintly tilted his head and raised one eyebrow.
“Look at the cup.” Kyli pointed with one outstretched finger.
Zack examined the splash from the spilled cup that had spread across the floor and next to the rear leg of the table. It was dark and red, thick and slightly congealed. He thought it matched the theme of the room well.
Kyli smiled as she placed both hands under her chin. Her eyes grinning with glee and satisfaction. “It wasn’t cranberry juice.”
Zack instantly vomited. Hurling a small amount of liquid next to the previous accident.
/> Kyli burst out laughing, falling back onto the table. She rolled side to side. To Kyli, this was hilarious.
Zack wiped his mouth, coughed a few times to clear his throat. “Was that blood? Did you make me drink blood?” Zack eschewed blood.
“Bingo.” Kyli rested on her back. Caching her breath from the heavy laughing fit she had just finished. She coughed and sat back up. Kyli had laughed hard enough to turn her cheeks red. Zack wasn’t sure if she was getting a kick out of it, or actually was enjoying how he chose to convey his revulsion to blood.
“What? Is this what you consider fun? You tricked me into drinking animal blood.” Zack spit into the pile on the floor. “That's really sick you know.” Zack didn’t like being made fun of, let alone being pranked.
“I find it humorous that you loved the taste of blood, but threw it up when I told you what it was.” Kyli made a solid point.
Zack thought about it for a second. Kyli was right. He did like it. He had nearly finished the entire cup before their conversation. Zack saw that Kyli was still smiling. “There’s more isn’t there?” Zack took a deep breath.
Kyli nodded.
Zack didn't like where this was going.
Kyli eye balled the blood on the floor. “It wasn't from an animal.”
Zack threw up again. Small bits landed by Kyli's right foot.
“That's attractive. And you were showing so much promise too.” Kyli frowned adding a facial pout as a joke. Tilting her head to the side as she looked at Zack. “But enough with the jokes.”
Kyli got up and removed the lid from last night’s room service. She stood by it with one hand gesturing to the remaining meat. Kyli did not appear to be pleased. “There’s about a hundred dollars of top-choice steak here that went to rot because of your cute little aversion.” The cold steak was sitting in the same place as Zack left it. “Look at your leg again.”
Zack put a hand on his leg, rolling the pant to see the newly healed skin. There was no puncture site, no scar, no blood.
“The raw meat mended the bone, the blood healed the flesh.” Kyli slammed the silver tray cover on the steaks.
“Does that mean I'm invincible?” Zack dared to ask with fear of how Kyli might demonstrate her point.
"I can always defenestrate you if you'd like to find out." Kyli stood strong, waiting for Zack. "We are seven floors up."
"Could I really live through that?" Zack was astounded.
“Is that all you can think about? You wasted the meal I was gracious enough to give you. Is that all you have to say?” Kyli was demanding an answer.
“Um, no.” Zack couldn't think of what to say.
“What's the matter? Can't think of a reason why you did it?” Kyli tapped her foot. “Then can you tell me what you're thinking about right now at least?”
Zack thought about it. He spoke honestly. “I'm afraid of what you might do to me.”
Kyli's expression didn't change. She wasn't amused.
“Should I just leave?” Zack was prepared for the worst.
Kyli stepped closer to Zack. With a straight face, she leaned into him. “Nope. I'm just fucking with you.”
Zack nearly collapsed. “Good. I hate to see you get truly angry at me.”
“Want to try?” Kyli flashed her eyes to the nearest katana. “You're pretty close to pushing it.”
Afraid of what Kyli might do, Zack backed off. “Not really.”
“Good to know you can be subservient when I need you to be.” Kyli sat down on the couch. “No, you’re far from it compared to an actual vampire. However, as a vampeal, you can take a lot more punishment than a normal person. You can die. It only takes more to kill you.” Kyli got up and handed Zack the phone.
“What’s this for?” Zack was too busy thinking over how he survived to fathom why he would need to use a phone. Orhn could have easily killed her if he really wanted to. Especially from what Kyli had said. Zack wondered if there was more to their fight than she was letting on. “Kyli, are you sure Orhn attacked you?”
Kyli's face froze. She wasn't in the mood to play around with him over a fact. Kyli walked into her bedroom. She quickly came out with the pink heart leather choker she had been wearing the night they first met. Kyli tossed it onto Zack's lap. It had been shredded. The metal had bite marks in it. It was covered in Kyli's dried blood.
Kyli's eyes said it all, but she said it anyway. “Is there anything else I need to prove to you?”
Zack shut up, completely as Kyli continued.
“Back to the phone.” Kyli pointed to the phone beside the choker. “Call your father and let him know you won’t be home for a few days.”
“And what am I supposed to say?” Zack began dialing.
“Tell him you met a girl, and will be staying over at her place.” Kyli instructed Zack.
“And when he starts to raise his voice? What then?” Zack held the phone to his ear.
“Make sure you tell him my dad is next door. Tell your dad he'll keep a good watch on us all the time.” Kyli reached for the destroyed choker in Zack's lap. Her right hand graced his leg.
Zack smiled.
“Are you sure you have time to be thinking about that right now?” Kyli scolded Zack.
The phone rang once and immediately picked up. Zack froze as he thought of his dad worrying where he was. He had never done anything like this before. He dreaded what his dad was going to say.
The answering machine played the recorded message Zack and his father had made a while ago. It meant that John was on the line with someone else. Zack's father had set it up that way.
Zack clicked the off button to the phone. “He's already on the line talking to someone else.”
“That's good. It means that he isn't as worried as you thought.” Kyli was optimistic.
“Or he's calling the cops and speaking with the missing person's detective right now.” Zack was beginning to sulk.
Kyli didn’t want to wait for Zack to break his comatose expression. She planted the phone back in his hand and walked off to make them some breakfast at the cook-top in the kitchen island.
“So what now? I just call him? And tell him what exactly? That I’m a freak?” Zack was hesitating again.
“Hit redial until you get through. This is not as bad as you think it is, Zack. Tell him you're okay and we'll go from there.” Kyli set a skillet on the stove.
“I say I'm fine and that I'm a freak?” Zack reiterated.
“We are not freaks, Zack. You are not a freak. You are different and as long as you control your diet, no one will ever find out. Think of it as diabetes.” Kyli set some eggs out on the counter with milk, orange juice, and bacon.
“So you’re telling me that I have diabetes? As far as I can remember diabetics don't bite people when their blood sugar is off.” Zack had a panicked pitch to his voice.
“It's like any other blood imbalance. You have to control it to remain normal.” Kyli smiled.
“This is not anything like another blood imbalance.” Zack argued.
“Are you sure? How many blood imbalances do you know about?” Kyli affirmed his opinion by gesturing with the spatula. “Now you’re starting to regain your old self. You're thinking more about being right than about the actual condition you're in.” Kyli smiled again.
“My old self? You just met me. How do you know how I was like?” Zack was holding off redialing his dad. He was still scared of what he might say. Zack kept talking.
Kyli turned up the heat and got back to cooking. “I’m not telling you.” Kyli refused to make eye contact with Zack. “Are you going to make that call?”
“What? Why?” Zack got up and sat at the bar side of the kitchen island.
“How do you like your egg? Sunny, over easy, or runny?” Kyli was completely ignoring his question.
“Don’t ignore me, I’m being serious. How do you seem to know everything about me?” Zack had become paranoid from all that was happening.
“It’s part of my gift
.” Kyli cracked an egg into the pan. “Now call your dad back.”
“What gift?” Zack pressed the redial button and held the phone to his ear again.
“My vampire gift.” Kyli cracked another egg.
The phone rang once and went directly to the machine. Zack hung up and placed it on the counter. “I thought you expressively said that we weren’t vampires, that we were vampeals?”
“We are vampeals, but vampires aren’t the only ones to receive dark gifts from the virus that affects us. Or at least that’s what my dad has told me over the years.” Kyli added a splash of milk to the eggs in the pan.
“What can you do exactly?” Zack calmly asked. He wasn't worried about talking to his father anymore.
“I can cook damn good eggs.” Kyli smirked and kept cooking.
“You know what I mean. What can some of these gifts do? What kind of things can you really do?” Zack was curious to find out what Kyli was capable of.
With a straight face Kyli replied. “Stop the world from turning.”
“Really?” Zack thought she was kidding. He laughed.
“No, really. Or at least a few of the gifts have the potential to. There are some very powerful gifts that can do everything from kill people to take over their minds. It’s a very different world we live in Zack. As a vampire or vampeal, alteration gifts are the most powerful. They are the types that are physically dangerous to nearly everyone.” Kyli sighed.
“What is it?” Zack saw Kyli was losing her cheerful spirit. “You don't have one of those gifts do you?”
“It would have been much easier if I did. Sadly, I have a psychic type gift.” Kyli seemed depressed about the nature of her gift.
“But you still make do, right? I'm sure your gift is amazing. It's how come some random vampire hasn’t attacked you already. Isn't it?” Zack wondered.
Kyli perked back up. “Who's to say they haven’t?” Kyli tasted a piece of egg, and added a little orange juice to them. “It’s all about remaining hidden. Not what you can do. If no one knows you’re a vampeal, no one can kill you.”
“Who would want to kill us exactly? Besides Orhn of course.” Zack needed to know what else was coming for him.
Demon Vampire (The Redgold Series) Page 11
