“You are Kevak,” said Emanui.
“And the fact you are here means that Chaluxi found you,” said Tariq.
“Yes,” answered Kevak.
“Where is he now?” asked Jasper.
“He should have completed the hemo-treatment and, Iam willing, now awaits our return in Bazna,” answered Kevak.
“Will we respond to the treatment as well?” asked Emanui.
“All indications are that it works for J’Vor, and he is now a vampire as you,” answered Kevak.
He removed the three tubes of hemo-syrup from his utility belt.
“Take and drink,” he said solemnly to them. “This was the life-blood of a faraway planet and will give you peace.”
Each of them took a tube and consumed its contents.
Emanui closed her eyes as she felt its nourishing effects. Her heartbeat quickened and her face flushed. “We will be free of this cursed existence,” she said.
Jasper saw Tariq standing within inches of the cloaked entrance.
“Tariq, you need to get back,” he warned. “The sun will be up soon. Stay here with us in the protection of the shade.”
“That is not necessary,” said Kevak, walking over to stand beside Tariq. “The cloak contains solar shielding. The rays will not penetrate it.”
They stood together and watched the sun rise through the blue hue of the cloaked shield.
“It’s beautiful,” whispered Emanui.
*******
Mazja opened her eyes.
I’m alive.
Her relief turned to panic when she detected shadows forming behind the boulders.
The sun is rising!
As daylight crept over the cliffs, Mazja watched as the remains of the fallen Vambir were vaporized. With the rays quickly approaching her, she caught sight of a crawlspace and frantically used her arms to drag her half-body toward it. Within a few feet of shade, she felt an intense heat enveloping her body.
“No! No! No!”
Her enraged cries came to a sudden, final halt.
FAMILY
Outskirts of Bazna
“Bravo!” yelled Tariq as J’Vor hit a bullseye made from a strip of red cloth nailed to a tree.
“Father! Father!” cried J’Vor. “Did you see?”
“Indeed I did!” acknowledged Kevak. “It is a fine bow that Tariq has made for you!”
“One day your skills will surpass mine,” said Tariq with a chuckle. “What else would one expect from a pupil of Mehmed’s champion?”
Kevak was filled with happiness. The vampires and J’Vor had successfully made the transition to hemoplant ingestion. J’Vor was overjoyed with his new companions, and their long journey back to Bazna had been uneventful and was nearly at an end.
As the cliff row outside Bazna came into view, Kevak continuously checked the bio-scanner for any human signals. All indications were negative.
“Wait here,” he said to the others. “I’ll call through on the palmcom if it is safe to enter.”
When Kevak reached the ledge outside the cave, he saw an oily layer of ash—a bad sign. Tentatively stepping inside, he saw the burned-out remains of the few belongings he had left behind. The wall that had held J’Vor’s paintings had been scorched, but he could still see that the paintings had been wiped away.
His palmcom buzzed with an incoming message. As he read it, his heart was filled with sorrow.
Kevak,
My life is at an end. Thank you for giving me the means to restore myself to my original form. I leave this world with a happy heart, free of the bloodlust. I have seen the best and the worst of two worlds, and you, dear friend, are the best. The villagers have surrounded the cliff, and Nosferatu will meet his end at daybreak. It is my gift to you and your human J’Vor, the biological son of General Iroto and Lady Soueti, who I was honored to have known. Your existence is now a secret. I commend Emanui, Tariq, and Jasper to your good care. May your Iam continue to bless and keep you. Farewell.
Chaluxi
Kevak touched his fingertips to the palmcom’s screen and closed his eyes. All of the moments he had shared on Vambiri and Earth with Chaluxi flashed through his mind.
“That’s twice now that you have saved me, Helmsman” he said aloud. “May Iam grant you peace.”
The signal from Chaluxi’s palmcom was strong. Using his scanner, he traced it to one of the ventilation shafts. Reaching into the shaft, he felt the rough burlap bag make contact with his fingertips. After removing it, he inspected the contents.
“J’Vor, stay where you are with the others,” ordered Kevak through the palmcom. “I will return soon.”
“Yes, Father,” he answered.
Climbing down the cliff, Kevak made his way back to the others without incident.
“Chaluxi?” asked Emanui.
Kevak sadly shook his head. “Somehow the villagers detected him and surrounded the cliff. He pretended to be Nosferatu and sacrificed his life so that we would be able to live on in secret.”
There was a long silence as they contemplated the enormity of what Chaluxi had done for them.
“He will always travel here,” said Tariq, pointing to his heart.
“The ultimate sacrifice,” said Kevak. “J’Vor’s parents gave up their lives for him, and Chaluxi did the same for us. They followed the example of Iam’s sacrifice of His only beloved son for all of us. It is a rare quality indeed.”
“Where to now, Kevak?” asked Jasper.
“Home,” he answered with a smile.
When they arrived at the lifeboat coordinates, Kevak unrolled the radiation suit he had kept in one of the pod’s panels and entered the code from the armpad to terminate the lockout program. Once inside, the vampires looked unbelievingly at their surroundings.
“It’s as big as a village, Father!” exclaimed J’Vor.
“This was part of the ship that brought the Vambir to Earth?” asked Tariq.
“Yes,” answered Kevak. “As you saw, it is invisible when cloaked. Humans will never detect us here. The rooms down that corridor are off-limits for now. There are blood supplies in storage that must be incinerated, and it is not safe to enter without a hazmat suit.”
“A what?” asked Jasper.
“Special clothing that will prevent the scent from affecting us,” explained Kevak.
“Is this craft capable of flight?” asked Jasper.
“We have all the time in the world to attempt it,” answered Kevak. “Your DNA, that is, your genetic make-up, is becoming more Vambir with each hemoplant you ingest. The stasis pods and your new DNA will extend your lifespan beyond anything you could have imagined.”
“Longer than Methuselah?” asked J’Vor.
Kevak laughed. “Longer than Methuselah, my son. Do you remember his story?”
“Yes, Father,” answered J’Vor. “He was the grandfather of Noah and lived to be a thousand years old.”
Emanui, Tariq, and Jasper exchanged curious looks.
“We will live that long?” asked Jasper.
“If Iam wills it,” answered Kevak. “I pray it will be sufficient. Humanity was nearly destroyed by the Great Flood, but the assimilated Vambir pose a bigger threat. We no longer have to worry about them returning in great numbers to the lifeboat, but a few may have escaped Mehmed’s attack on the monastery.”
“How can we help you?” asked Tariq.
Kevak indicated all of the technology at their disposal. “Every machine here has a function,” he said, “and I shall teach you how to operate each one. We will use this technology to locate any feral Vambir or vampire who poses a threat to humans.”
“And we will eliminate them,” said Jasper.
“Only if we must,” insisted Kevak. “Each lost soul we encounter must be given the chance to overcome the bloodlust. Surely there must be others like yourselves.”
He put his hand on Jasper’s shoulder. “You have lived for years surrounded by unspeakable evil, but in that time I have come to know
the Word of Iam. We will forgive and help those who repent.”
“Very well,” conceded Jasper, “we will save who we can, but we must never let down our guard. Chaluxi was the only Vambir who ever voiced regret for what he had become. I know they are your kinsmen, Kevak, but the bloodlust is strongest in them. We will have better luck saving vampires, especially those like ourselves who were transformed against their wills.”
“You’re right, Jasper,” agreed Kevak. “It is going to be extremely difficult to spare the Vambir, but they are not just my kin. Look around you. We are all different, but we each possess the same form. Iam created all of His children in His image. Each is precious to Him, and each is worthy of His forgiveness and love, if they truly desire it.”
“We all part of Iam’s family!” J’Vor happily exclaimed.
Emanui bent down to hug the boy. When she released him, he ran into Tariq’s arms. Jasper watched as Tariq lifted and spun him around.
“Higher, Tariq, higher!” yelled J’Vor between giggles.
“Alas, little brother, it is not possible,” said Tariq. “I have not the stature.”
In one fluid motion, Jasper hoisted J’Vor onto his shoulders.
“Come, boyo. You get first pick of the pods!”
Kevak looked on lovingly as Jasper and J’Vor disappeared around the corner with Emanui and Tariq following close behind. Their laughter echoed down the hall.
The years ahead would be filled with great danger, but for now, Kevak would enjoy this respite with his new family. Touching the crucifix that hung from his neck, he offered up a silent prayer of thanks to Iam for his many blessings.
END
The trilogy continues…
The Nosferatu Chronicles: The Aztec God
Kevak and his network of transformed humans have protected humanity from the Vambir for over five hundred years, but just when it looks like the threat has been eliminated, historical clues point to a Vambir presence among the Aztecs that is linked to a present-day cult.
The Nosferatu Chronicles: Return to Vambiri (coming soon)
Kevak and the Newlunders return to their home planet and are overjoyed to discover survivors who escaped the cosmic disaster that ravaged Vambiri. But not all is as it seems—the survivors are hiding something linked to Earth that will shake the foundation of Kevak’s faith.
Dear Reader,
Thank you for your interest in my alien/alternate history take on the vampire legend! If you enjoyed getting to know Kevak and the other characters, please take the time to leave a review. I am self-published, and your voice really does make a difference! Feel free to connect on Twitter (Soozyham) or follow me on my Amazon author page.
Susan xoxo
The Nosferatu Chronicles: Origins Page 25
