“You’re not a vampire,” Caleb said, narrowing his eyes, scrutinizing Meryl’s father with great interest. “And Meryl’s transformation was not normal.”
“It wouldn’t be. We are the most direct descendants of that monster. From what I understand you already know part of the story, of Agatha. Who is Akad’s daughter.” Caleb nodded again. “She was my mother.”
Surprise filled Caleb’s face. He turned his gaze back to the bed and felt strange. His father was Meryl’s great grandfather.
“It’s very confusing,” Caleb admitted sincerely.
“I’m not a bloodsucker,” Meryl’s father said with some discomfort, “but I’ve killed hundreds. My mother could heal herself like one. She was almost as pure as Akad, but she did not need to feed on blood. My uncle created all this chaos after they experimented with him. It led him to a strange madness. Does that tell you anything?”
The man looked directly into Caleb’s eyes, waiting for his reaction. Caleb paused for a moment, analyzing the phrase he had just heard and noticed a fact. If Agatha did not need to feed ...
“In the end, Agatha was superior to Akad. She evolved.”
“That’s right.”.
“Then you and Meryl,” Caleb tried to find the right words, but he wasn’t sure what they would be.
“I’m like my mother but I don’t know exactly how long I will live,” he admitted. “Akad has bitten Meryl and I don’t know what’s going to happen. You know how my son is. I will not let her become the same.”
“I assure you I won’t either,” Caleb said.
Meryl’s father raised his eyebrows slightly, pinning blue eyes on Caleb. He had been watching them from a distance for a long time and had heard many rumors. He had not been able to get close to Meryl because he was concerned about her reaction. He didn’t want his daughter to experience negative feelings. However, the latest events and the information that had reached his ears caused him to get closer than he wanted. It was thanks to his nearness that he had been able to save her. Or at least, he hoped so.
“I think Amanda wanted to talk to you,” Caleb said, remembering the woman.
“The scientist?”
“Yes, she is developing a virus from Meryl’s blood. The virus will create a chain reaction that will kill many vampires.”
“That puts everyone in danger. Is there a cure? Something that makes you immune?”
“We have a prototype for what could happen. After all, it is a virus. It can always mutate. But it’s not ready yet.”
“Well, I’ll go talk to her now. Maybe I can give her what she needs. It will take time for Meryl to wake up, but I want to be here when she does. I must talk to her. She deserves to know the truth of why she did not have a father.”
“I agree.”
Caleb gestured for the man to follow him. When they passed through the door, Legrant, Johana, and Jeoff were waiting there for them. Caleb asked for one of them to stay with Meryl and they continued on his way to the building where Amanda had a small laboratory. Yong was there.
“Is the hero of the hour visiting us?” Yong asked smiling.
“He’s Meryl’s father.”
Yong was surprised as well as confused. At that moment, the man began to analyze things. Meanwhile, Amanda stood up suddenly. The chair where she had been sitting fell to the floor.
“You are Agatha’s descendant?” Amanda asked. “How are you still alive?”
“Agatha was my mother.”
“It’s not possible. You’re not like her. You’re not a vampire.” Amanda shook her head in denial.
“My name is Jacob. I’m the son of Agatha and grandson of Akad. My mother evolved and I am her descendant.” He was weary of giving explanations. It was best to get to the point. “I have all of your attributes, improved of course,” he added scornfully, “but I feed myself as a human. Rather, with as little as possible. With a slow metabolism, an apple can sustain me for almost a week. Now my only concern is what will happen to Meryl. My blood and Akad’s are now within her body.”
“And mine,” Caleb whispered, remembering the day he marked her. That brought a dark stare from Jacob.
“Explain yourself.”
With a couple of sentences, just as Jacob had done, Caleb recounted that moment.
“Okay, this is all fucking chaos,” Amanda sighed, sitting down again. “Honestly, I don’t care about evolution. The only thing that matters is how everything will affect Meryl and the virus.”
“That’s why I came. Tell me the plan.”
“I have developed a substance that we will inject the humans. We already have a group that has been injected and will enter the city in a day.”
“And the protection for you? Or is there any hope that you will sacrifice yourselves for humanity?” his lofty question received glances of disbelief.
“I don’t care if you’re Meryl’s father,” Amanda said almost instantly. “Don’t you dare compare us to those bastards. I’ve never killed anyone.”
“I suppose you’re right,” he said with some disgust.
“We have a serum that will protect us from future infections.”
“Tested?” Amanda nodded. “Then you have the power over life and death in your hands. Do you realize that when they begin to die and know that you are not affected, you’ll suffer a wave of attacks?”
“We have everything planned,” Caleb said. “You don’t know a small piece of information. If we already have the virus and the vaccine. Do you think we are waiting for our pleasure?”
“No, of course not,” Jacob said, folding his arms. “You have a good army, but it is not enough. I imagine you have an ace.”
“Yes,” Caleb said, making it clear he would not talk about it. “Let’s go back to Meryl.”
As they walked back through the streets of the small town. There were some wounded men complaining for no real reason. Jacob stopped Caleb with a grip on his arm. There was something he needed to talk to him about, as a father.
“I know you have a special relationship with my daughter. I’ve been watching for a long time. I also know that you’ve saved her on more than one occasion.”
Caleb raised his eyebrows. “Your paternal concern will keep me from putting a finger on her?”
“I’d like to say yes,” Jacob mumbled. “That I’d rip off every limb every with pleasure if you dare, but I also know that I lost that right.”
“Even if you had not lost it. It would not do you any good.” Caleb jerked away from Jacob’s grasp and continued walking. “I don’t usually talk about these things,” he added suddenly in a whisper, “but I love Meryl, and nothing and no one will separate me from her. “Her place is by my side, and mine by her side. Neither you, nor George, nor Akad will prevent it.”
“That’s good to know,” Jacob said with a smile that Caleb didn’t see.
♫♫♫
They entered the building in silence and headed to the room where Meryl was accompanied by Johana and Legrant. Before they opened the door they heard a murmur. They hurried in. Meryl was lying down, but she looked at her hand. She moved it in the air while whispering something unintelligible to those present.
“Meryl.” With two strides, Caleb leaned in beside her, taking the hand she was waving about.
“Caleb, I thought I would never see you again.” Meryl smiled sincerely.
“You almost didn’t.”
“Meryl, are you okay?”
“Dad, why are you here?” Meryl asked, remembering her strange dream.
“Can you let us talk alone?” Jacob asked, bowing his head.
Respecting the family moment, they all headed for the door. Caleb also tried, but Meryl clung to his hand.
“Please stay.”
Jacob sat down. He was silent for a few seconds and sighed. He had much to say, to explain and
beg for forgiveness.
“I’m sorry, Meryl. I told your mother to tell you all those bad things. Although the debt was real, I had to quit my job when I learned that Akad was getting close. It’s very complicated, but Agatha was your grandmother.
With clear words, Jacob tried to tell her who he was. The years he had lived and the skills with which he was born. Meryl was weak and confused but understood what he had done.
“You left to protect us?” Meryl asked, looking at her father.
“Yes, you and George should have remained a secret, but I didn’t accomplish it. Akad allied with several governments. He coaxed them and helped them get to you. The rest you already know.”
“So my great-grandfather is Akad. He is Caleb’s father,” Meryl asked with a grimace.
“That doesn’t change anything,” Caleb said confidently. “On my part.”
“Not mine, either.”
“But what matters now is you, Meryl. How are you?” Jacob grabbed Meryl’s face, looked into eyes that seemed to be the same. They weren’t red. That was undoubtedly a very good sign.
“I feel a little strange, not bad,” Meryl explained, “only slightly different. I had a dream,” she said. “I saw my mom ... she told me things.”
“The melodies of blood?” Caleb suspected.
“Yes. Maybe the person in the vision was not your mom,” Jacob said aloud, confusing Caleb and Meryl. “It could be Agatha’s memory. Her genes trying to tell you something, but they took the shape of your mother to get your attention.”
“It doesn’t matter. It’s done. It’s over. I know I’m not human anymore, not even a vampire. But I’m still myself. I didn’t come back like George. Mom ... or whoever it was. She said I had something to do and that the sun would come back very soon.”
“That’s a good sign, crops will grow quickly, and the few remaining animals will procreate,” Jacob stood up. “I know we’ve wasted a lot of time Meryl, and if you can’t forgive me I will not blame you. But I’m not going anywhere anymore. Now more than ever you need protection.”
“Calm down dad,” Meryl smiled and held out her hand. “For a long time, I hated you. I thought that you didn’t love us. However, that wasn’t true. I think in the end the one that suffered the most by leaving us behind was you.”
After giving Meryl a shy kiss on the forehead Jacob left. Caleb took a seat next to Meryl. The same seat that her father had occupied earlier. Meryl heard Caleb let out a long deep sigh.
“Were you worried?” Meryl smiled unabashedly, getting a sharp look from Caleb.
“Does it amuse you? It’s been a few hours and I’m exhausted. You know?” Caleb avoided eye contact. He looked at the floor and clasped his hands. “I thought you were going to die. Or that you were going to become just like your brother. The thought of having to destroy you was killing me. In that moment I realized just how much I needed Alexander.”
“That’s normal. He was your best friend, Caleb.” Meryl reached out to hold his face forcing him to look at her. “I’m here and I’m fine. I’ve never been better despite not knowing what I am. I’m better just because you’re here. Alexander is no longer with us, but I am going to hold your hand when you stumble. Just like you hold mine. I will not be as effective as he was, but I will do it with the same affection and strength.”
Her voice trailed off as Caleb lunged forward, kissing her almost desperately. Meryl had evolved. He knew that the time she had spent with George had changed her and surely what she saw of his past had also influenced her a lot.
“Do not try to look so strong,” Caleb said without detaching himself from her. “I like to protect you.”
“Oh, the lady and the gentleman?” she teased.
“No, the beauty and the beast.” Caleb smiled mischievously at her.
“I guess I’ll take the role of the beast,” Meryl said earnestly, pursing her lips. Then she pulled back to stare at him. “I know I’ve been through a lot of things and we’re at war. That I’m selfish, but when I was locked up I thought about what could happen because of George. I needed you as much as I needed to breathe.”
“I needed you too, Meryl.” Caleb was surprised. He still found it difficult to open up about his feelings. “You know some things about my past. I don’t usually trust people. Or need them, but …”
“You say that,” she said thoughtfully, “but you do not realize that deep down you worry about everyone. You hide it because you think that it makes you weak, but all that you accomplish is that everyone looks at you with hope Caleb. You insist on covering your heart with darkness, but the light it gives off is too powerful.”
“Stop talking about such nonsense,” he whispered, and Meryl saw the pink in his cheeks.
“You’re blushing ... I would’ve liked to have a camera.”
“That camera would disappear with the first picture,” he said earnestly. “Sleep, you still have to rest.”
“Caleb, will you stay with me? I know you have a lot to do, just for a while, until I fall asleep.”
“Of course.”
As Meryl’s breathing grew calmer with sleep, Caleb watched her. He was calm because everything seemed normal, she was fine ... but he felt a trace of fear that would change and it terrified him. And while he was thinking through a thousand situations without arriving at any reliable possibility, Meryl had plunged into an obscure dream in which there was nothing. In which she could not see herself, and where she heard only dark whispers that seemed to want to tell her something but she couldn’t quite hear what they said.
Melody N°12
Visions and Sentiments
Meryl hadn’t felt that different the day before but this morning the tips of her fingers were tingling and touching the soft fabric of the sheets felt different. Tactile sensations felt stronger. Meryl stood up and stretched out her arms and then opened the window. Suddenly a flood of different scents made her feel nauseous.
“What was that?” Meryl asked in the solitude of the room.
The striking of knuckles against the wood erased her confusion. With a softly whispered come in Jacob entered.
“How are you?” Jacob was curious when he saw Meryl standing.
“Well, that’s what I was thinking about.” When Jacob looked at her inquisitively Meryl tried to explain, “When I woke up I noticed that tactile sensations felt differently and when I opened the window I almost fainted from all the strong odors. It was like a slap in the face.”
“That is a good sign.” Jacob’s sighed and hugged her. “Your grandmother was the same as you. She was able to locate a distinct scent from kilometers away, but she had to concentrate and suffered many headaches. What’s important now is that your grandmother’s blood is dominant within you,” he continued, confusing Meryl. “Let’s see. I’m not very knowledgeable about science but I think that what happened to George was that they mixed several types of blood and Akad’s blood became dominant. Or perhaps it was my uncle’s blood. The one thing that I am sure of is that with all the different blood mixing together he was completely corrupted.”
“Is there no way to save him?”
Jacob answered by shaking his head in denial.
“That’s what I thought. The woman in my dream told me that George has to die and Akad as well in order for the world to move forward.”
“I’m sorry that everything turned out like this Meryl,” Jacob apologized with a somber expression. “If I had done things differently...”
“It wouldn’t have mattered Dad. In the end, they would have reached their goal. but I think I have an idea,” Meryl said sadly. Jacob encouraged her to continue. “I think we can pit George against Akad.”
Jacob didn’t understand how they were working together. How could it be possible? Seeing his confusion, Meryl gathered her courage then started to tell Jacob what happened several weeks ago. It wasn’t
difficult to tell him everything. It wasn’t the same. He was their father and what he heard in regards to Meryl made him sick.
“I didn’t think…” Jacob said with difficulty. “I didn’t think that George would cross that line. It’s abhorrent.”
“Don’t think of it like that, Dad. I did at first and only wanted to take my life,” Meryl was sincere. “Him, that thing, it’s no longer George. Little George died centuries ago. He was very clear about his opinions regarding Akad and that is something that I think we should use.” Meryl’s father nodded. A dark expression of horror was etched on his face. “From what he told me George thinks we are superior to Akad. Perhaps at first, he respected him, but not anymore.”
“I’ll talk to Caleb about this. Maybe with those two monsters, we can use a different type of poison. One that is more sophisticated and personal. Sleep a bit more.”
Meryl watched the door close. After a few minutes she lay down in bed, but she wasn’t tired. She wasn’t sleepy and wanted to stretch her legs. She needed to take in some air, walk around, and see her friends.
“Meryl!” someone yelled as soon as she walked out the front door. Meryl smiled when she saw Johana and Legrant. “Do you feel well? Don’t strain yourself.”
“I feel wonderful. I really want to take a walk.”
“Then I’ll leave you,” Legrant said affectionately. “You two have a girls talk. Johana has been surrounded only by men for days. I think she is starting to behave like one.”
“How dare you!” With that Johana raised a fist that he dodged without any problem and ran until he disappeared from their sight.
“Well ... you look very ... well,” Meryl murmured, pushing her gently, and saw her friend blush. There was clearly something between them. “I’m glad for the both of you.”
“Thank you,” Johana said, a little embarrassed, but with a smile of happiness. “Well, tell me. How do you feel? Do you have superpowers or something?”
“I really don’t feel very different,” Meryl began thoughtfully. “Yes, I can smell the strongest aromas. We each have one. Now ...” She closed her eyes and a smile suddenly appeared. “ Caleb is with Jeoff.”
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