Dark Pain
Meryl watched the tile’s on some old buildings. After months of wishing she could see Caleb again, he was finally there but his arrival wouldn’t be the reunion that they had both hoped for. They were carrying back the body of his best friend. Meryl was sure that his eyes would show deep pain. Once again he would suffer unfairly. It wasn’t right.
“We should hurry. it will be night soon.”
“Yes.”
Meryl didn’t want to go. She didn’t want Caleb to see the dead body of his friend but escape wasn’t an option.
At the entrance to the place, there were guards posted. At another time it would have caught Meryl’s attention that they were all Asian and of course they were dressed so strangely. They looked like warriors out of a movie.
Just entering the village they began to see some familiar faces, but only one caught their attention.
“Johana!”
“Legrant?” Moving away from Meryl Johana ran to embrace him, feeling an indescribable relief.
“You’re safe! Meryl?” Legrant asked when he saw her face. “What’s wrong?”
When she looked back, Legrant saw Jeoff with a covered body resting in his arms and saw that he was accompanied by a stranger. Legrant deduced what had happened instantaneously.
“Don’t tell me that…”
“Yes.” Johana shook her head with great regret.
“Caleb is a little bit further on ... he’s not going to like …”
In silence, they followed Legrant to the central location. There they found a large group of people in a circle that soon let them pass. Those moments were long and horrible for Meryl who stood at the front of their group. When Meryl emerged from out of the tide of people surrounding Caleb. He was listening to one of one of the men speak. Meryl saw the surprise in his eyes when he saw her.
“Meryl?”
Silence took over. Meryl stood there unsure about what to do or say. The moment that she had dreamed about was now shattered.
“Meryl?” Caleb said again, surprised by her facial expression.
Caleb walked half a meter in front of her. He held out a hand that Meryl accepted. The crying came suddenly and without warning. Her legs faltered. Caleb had to help hold her up. He was surprised by her reaction.
“What the hell happened?”
“I’m sorry,” Meryl gasped.
The people again gave way, creating a corridor of whispers. A couple of meters later Caleb saw Jeoff. He didn’t need to ask or see what was underneath the covering. Both Meryl’s reaction and Jeoff’s face said everything, absolutely everything. More than Caleb had ever wanted to know.
“Leave,” he whispered. “Get out!”
Caleb’s shout was dry and hoarse. There was such anger, pain, and frustration in him. No one had ever heard him speak in that tone of voice. Caleb had always been unshakable and strong.
Legrant, along with André and Johana, dispersed the crowd moving it aside so that no one remained. Jeoff placed Alexander’s body on the floor as carefully as if it were the most valuable crystal on the planet. Caleb dropped to his knees in front of the body and removed the coat that covered it with a strong tug. Caleb watched Alexander’s face and despite the blood was able to glimpse that he died peacefully. Which automatically made him think that Alexander had not died alone.
“What happened?” Caleb whispered, clenching his fists on the dry ground. Meryl could not see his face, but she imagined it perfectly.
“Axel …”
“The fucking kid that you woke up?” he asked through clenched teeth.
That sentence stung Meryl. Suddenly, guilt grew within her. If she hadn’t been selfish in wanting to know what happened, wanting to find out why she was still alive, Axel would never have been awakened. Alexander would still be alive.
“Jeoff, find a good place. We’ll bury him when Pein arrives,” Caleb ordered. He stood and turning around entered what looked like the most important building in town.
Meryl stood there, mentally exhausted. She had selfishly hoped for a little more of a welcome, but in such a situation it was simply impossible. She looked at the closed door, wondering a thousand and one things.
“Go with him,” Jeoff said as he lifted Alexander’s body again. “He is not angry with us, Meryl.” He continued to rise and stared at her. “It’s worse than that. He’s angry with himself.”
Meryl nodded and emboldened she entered the room. After all, if he blamed her she would accept it.
Inside she saw that there were several doors and it was dark. From one of them she could see a soft light emanating from underneath, surely it was a fire. Meryl stood in front of the wood door, sighed, and rested her forehead on it before opening it. She wanted to think about her words before speaking, but she was certain that the effort would ultimately be useless. Determined, she opened the door a little. Just enough to see the fire and Caleb. He stood facing the flames with his arms outstretched on the shining stone. His head was bent forward. He looked completely dejected.
Meryl closed her eyes for a second mentally preparing herself. He wasn’t in a good mood, and he never hid how he felt. He would surely let her know.
If he blames me. I’ll accept it. Meryl thought decisively.
“Caleb,” Meryl called, not yet fully inside the room. She clung to the door as if her life depended on it.
Caleb didn’t move a single millimeter. He didn’t speak. He just stood there like a statue.
With a mixture of fear in causing negative feelings and a nervousness of the unknown Meryl armed herself with courage. She walked inside and softly closed the door. From one moment to the other determination possessed her like a demon. She was close to him, too close. She hadn’t been prepared for what she saw. If anyone had told her she would certainly have thought how crazy it would seem.
He’s crying. The thought whispered through Meryl’s s mind.
The firelight glowed on his face making his tears shine. Despite the fact his eyes were closed and that Meryl only had a view of his profile. The pain she saw reflected on his face had no description, and she felt her chest swell with emotion. It was almost as if that vision had just opened Meryl’s eyes showing her with a certainty that what had happened was not a nightmare.
He seems so human.
Meryl remembered the monster. The vampire who bought her. He’d been cold and distant and seemed to blame her for the simple act of breathing. Despite the fact that over time her feelings for him grew until they overflowed. Caleb had never seemed so human until that moment. When Meryl saw him crying it caused everything that she felt for Caleb to crush her emotionally in a horrible and painful manner.
“I’m so sorry, Caleb,” Meryl suddenly said in a small voice. “Forgive me, please forgive me. If I ... if I don’t,” Her voice broke with those words.
Meryl reached out with one hand and grabbed Caleb’s jacket. She squeezed the cloth until her hands shook. Then she rested her head on him and begged his forgiveness because if she hadn’t stirred up the past Axel would still be asleep and Alexander would still be alive.
“Do you really blame yourself? Or do you think I blame you or Jeoff?” Caleb listened, surprised. When he raised his head his eyes continued to stare at the flames in the fireplace.
There were no tears now only a soft glimmer in the red of his eyes.
“I woke him up.”
“He would have woken up anyway, Meryl,” he said dryly. “I’m going to kill him slowly and painfully.”
“Caleb.” Meryl was concerned after hearing his intentions. “He told me something.”
Moving his head slightly Caleb glanced at her sideways. His gaze was chilling.
“Axel said that Alexander’s sacrifice was necessary,” Meryl repeated. “That hell would only be unleashed with his blood. That he dreamed it and it had to happen l
ike that. I know it was to provoke you,” she continued, worried. She was sure it was important not to let Caleb unleash his fury. “Don’t let him win, for Alexander …”
“Do you think I’m going to let him get away with not paying for this?” Anger was reflected in his gaze.
“I’m not saying that, but try to calm down. Don’t act without thinking, please.”
“You seem to care little about Alexander’s death,” The whisper was as powerful as a direct scream in her ear.
Caleb stood in front of Meryl, looking at her almost accusingly.
“Don’t ever say that again!” Meryl yelled furiously, slapping Caleb on the chest. He didn’t flinch.
Meryl looked at the floor for a second. Her breathing quickened. Overflowing with feelings, Meryl released her fury on Caleb. She landed one blow after another. He didn’t move an inch. Meryl’s attack felt like nothing more than the wind hitting him.
“He was also my best friend, Caleb. Don’t you ever doubt my pain at his loss. I saw him die in my arms. I saw his pain,” Meryl’s voice trailed off as she remembered his last words. “I heard his last words. Damn it. You’re an Idiot! Do you know how much he loved you? His last words were about you. You’re going to let them kill you for revenge. Alexander would never forgive you and neither will I.”
Exhausted, her blows softened and she ended up dropping her head on the chest that she strove to strike as if it were a boxing bag. Though angry at what Caleb had said she didn’t blame him at all. Meryl knew he didn’t mean it, but it had hurt so much.
“I’m sorry, Meryl.”
Meryl heard him after half a minute of silence. Her back tightened under the pressure of Caleb’s arms.
“I didn’t mean it.”
“I can imagine, you idiot,” Meryl whispered. “Alexander was in love with you,” she said, needing him to know.
“I know. I always knew.”
Meryl lifted her head to look at him. At that moment her expression was full of tenderness, pain, and grief. Meryl would never have imagined that Alexander’s devotion to Caleb was love, true love, but she also wouldn’t have imagined that Caleb was aware of Alexander’s feelings. He always acted toward Alexander in formal and correct manner. Without rejecting him in any way Caleb had accepted and respected that impossible love. Caleb tried to cause him the least possible harm.
How far did that kindness that he so jealously hid extend? Despite having suffered so much in life Caleb continued to cling to kindness without even being aware of it himself. He was just someone impressive.
“I didn’t ask if you were okay. Did they hurt you?”
“N-no.” For a millisecond she was about to say no. That everything had been worse than hell itself, but Caleb was not in a position to know the truth.
“Don’t lie to me, Meryl.”
“I’m not, really. The Omega rebels rescued us before what you are imagining happened.”
“I’m not talking about that and you know it. I can see it.”
Meryl pursed her lips as if placing an imaginary padlock on them. Being quiet was the wisest thing to do and at that moment she didn’t care that he knew she was lying.
“If you’re not ready to talk. I’ll have to see it.”
With no time to react, Meryl felt the pain in her jugular. She struggled in confusion at that first moment and gasped as she felt the frantic suction of his hunger.
“That’s not fair,” Meryl complained, causing him to increase the pressure of his bite.
Meryl had forgotten the wonderful sensation that came from the pain when his teeth pierced her flesh. What vampires expelled left their victims completely immersed in their senses and many humans got addicted to it as if it were the most powerful drug on the planet.
The bond that had been created months ago between them soon strengthened again. They had drunk each other’s blood, the melodies of the past began to be drawn into Caleb’s mind. At first, they were blurry but then they became sharper and clearer. The words united into phrases with terrifying echoes.
“He won’t touch you,” Caleb said, pulling away from her. Tired, she stayed standing with his help. “It’s not something you should think about. He’ll die before he tries anything, both him and Akad.” Caleb continued to lick the blood from his lips.
Caleb’s words seemed to have an immediate effect on Meryl. They eliminated the fear and nausea that Epsilon had provoked in her and that hadn’t managed to leave her in peace. With each memory of that conversation, she had felt worse, but not anymore. She suddenly felt relieved.
She watched him. Caleb transmitted his decisiveness and confidence.
Meryl used all her strength to stand up. She stood up on tiptoe and kissed him. All the desire of the last months came to fruition. Caleb deepened the kiss and Meryl tasted her own blood mingling with their saliva, but far from disgust, she liked the warmth of his mouth.
The sound of the door opening forced them apart. Jeoff walked inside.
“Pein’s here,” he said, pulling off his sunglasses. “No one has said anything yet, but he suspects that something has happened.”
“Come on.”
“Wait, Caleb,” Meryl said. “Let me talk to him.”
“Are you sure?” Meryl nodded. “All right. Jeoff, bring him here.”
When he left, Caleb placed a soft chair next to the fire so Meryl could rest. Although her body was getting used to the loss of blood, the fatigue was inevitable, and she was grateful that she hadn’t fainted.
“It’s going to be very difficult,” she whispered, squeezing her hands together and looking at Caleb. “Pein is like a child.”
“In the end, he’ll get over it. We all will.”
A moment later the door swung open, Pein stood there, watching the room with a frown on his face. “Where is Alexander?”
“Pein,” Meryl said.
“Yes, I’m glad you’re okay. I’ve been told. But I want to know where my brother is. I have been thinking about it. People look at me weird, more than usual, and Jeoff doesn’t say anything.
“Something happened, Pein.”
“Tell me where he is, now. Alexander! Alexander!” Pein started shouting for him.
Meryl could see in his expression that he knew deep down that Alexander would not respond to his little brother’s shouting. It was painful to see how Pein was trying to lie to himself. He was unable to bear the thought that Alexander was gone.
“Dammit!”
Pein stepped inside on the red carpet with gold motifs that rested on the marble floor. Then he staggered slightly as the silence spread throughout the room.
“It can’t be.”
He fell to his knees and plunged his fists into the long, soft hairs of the carpet.
“It’s impossible.”
Meryl stood up and walked over to him. Sitting next to Pein she stroked his hair. Meryl could feel the trembling of Pein’s body and the sobs trying to escape his throat.
“I’m sorry, Pein,” she whispered, hugging him with all her strength.
In the back of his mind, Pein had suspected that something had happened. He had known since he’d arrived. Everyone’s faces were somber and they avoided any eye contact with him. And finding Jeoff alone was strange. When he asked for his brother the people didn’t give any answer. There were simply not many options other than that something terrible had happened. But how could he face his suspicions getting cleared up now that they had reunited?
Pein cried at the reality that he wanted to deny. He sank into Meryl’s arms as if he were a little boy who had lost the most precious thing. Caleb watched them carefully. He felt the same pain they felt, but soon revenge would appease the hideous feelings that brought back memories of the past. The ghosts and losses of those past years returned to Caleb’s mind to torment him once again.
Only blood woul
d cleanse the darkness.
Melody N⁰ 9
Renewal
Pein rested after the hard journey and the horrible news of his brother’s death, under the watchful eye of Johana and Legrant, in one of the upper rooms. Meryl stayed in the same room as before. The light from the fireplace illuminated the people. A woman in a white coat and with a red gaze stood in front of Meryl. They looked at each other, studying each other.
“If I had known you were alive,” Amanda said at last, “things would not have reached the point where we are today.
“I need ...” Meryl whispered but changed the phrase instantly. “I want you to explain things to me. You’re the one who knows the most about them,” Meryl pointed at Caleb and Jeoff, “and about me.”
“I don’t have all the data,” Amanda said, sitting idly. “Let’s see. It all began with Akad. He’s Caleb’s father and your ancestor. The little that we have discovered about him was that he was born like that. I suspect that by some genetic mutation. He was born, he grew up, and it didn’t take him long to know that he was different. He probably realized it when human food didn’t satisfy his hunger and water didn’t satisfy his thirst. We found the ruins of his village. There were some images engraved on the rock. It was quite impressive. He killed them all.”
“How old is he?” Meryl asked.
“Thousands of years old,” the answer came from one of the scientist’s assistants, who nodded in agreement.
“When he reached the adult age of twenty-eight he stopped growing old,” Amanda continued, “and began to search. He walked mile after mile and visited city after city. Surely he longed to have a companion, a son, anyone like him. Desperate, he began to procreate with every woman he felt was different, but none of the children were special. Human after human was born into the world. At that time the despair and loneliness consumed him. He destroyed entire cities, razing them to the ground wherever he went. Nothing changed until hundreds of years later. In France, he found something different ... vampires. They were not like him, but they were the most similar. Agatha, whom they had condemned for witchcraft, healed her wounds in the same manner as he did. This demonstrated to him that the girl was the closest kind of being to himself on earth. When the alchemists of that time learned of this they experimented on her. Anxious to discover all of her secrets they tortured Agatha. We believe that they used her blood in a transfusion to her brother. It activated his genetics and made him capable of creating vampires. That’s why we call him Zero.”
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