“It’s unfair. They are heroes.”
“Yes, Meryl, and for that very reason when this is all over we won’t allow their acts to be forgotten.”
The last sentence brought some ideas into Meryl’s mind, which perhaps she could carry out. He was right about things, but she was thinking farther than that. Meryl couldn’t forget anything, not the slightest detail of what had happened in the last two hundred years. Many humans still didn’t know the true story. They still believed what the vampires told them. The story that Meryl had first heard when she woke up. No, there would be no more lies. While Meryl was deep in her thoughts Amanda finished her speech and the volunteers prepared to leave for the city. Their only goal was to spread the virus and for that, they had to bite people. Some of Yong’s soldiers would escort them to a safe area, anything expected should be prevented.
When the square began to clear of people Caleb said goodbye to Meryl. There was much to prepare and little time in which to do it. Meryl went looking for Johana to hang out. There wasn’t much to do for them. So they tried to help the humans of the base camp or to teach something useful to the children who accompanied them.
“Hey, Meryl. Do you think they’ll be okay? I mean the resistance. Now I feel bad about having escaped.”
“I’m worried, too. I didn’t like their methods, but they aren’t bad people. They were just desperate,” Meryl added decisively.
“Man, the truth is that freeing us to kidnap us again with the intention of forcing Caleb to help wasn’t very intelligent. If they had asked for help we would have given it to them.”
“Yes, but knowing how they have lived. I can understand their actions,” Meryl went on with a sigh and looked away from the pan in which they were cooking. “And I hope those two come back safe and sound.”
“It takes a lot to kill the silent Luxt and the serious Jeoff,” Johana teased. “Do you think those two …”
“Those two what?”
“You know.” Johana gestured with her hands, joining her fingers together.
“Hey!” Meryl suddenly realized what Johana meant.
“They’re always together. Talking in grunts that only they understand. It’s very funny to think they’re together. Who is the male? If I tell you the truth, when I think about them, I find it very erotic.”
“Johana!” Meryl’s reprimand turned into a laugh. “I don’t know. Anything is possible. Remember Alexander ...” Hearing Alexander’s name destroyed Meryl’s happy mood.
“We’ll find out,” Johana said, winking and trying to get Meryl back to her happy mood. “Maybe they need a little push. They’re so quiet.”
Meryl rolled her eyes while Johana kept talking and whispering her plans. It was clear that the woman was not going to leave things alone. She was willing to discover what was between them and to bring them together if necessary.
That same afternoon, two freighters arrived on the coast of the small town. They were full of human sympathizers and vampires. They had brought any weapons they had found. With them arrived a vampire who long ago when he had been human had worked for a company of military armaments. Thanks to him they had been making bullets without stopping and although they were not going to be of much use against either of their two types of enemies. It could give a human enough time to flee, saving their life.
Within a couple of hours, the small town was surrounded by makeshift tents. There was no longer a single free bed, much less a house, where they began to cluster in worrying quantities. Finally, to leave a couple of empty houses Caleb decided that Jacob, Pein, Johana, Legrant, Jeoff, and Luxt would occupy his house. He had some empty rooms. They needed to rest. As soon as the two envoys arrived, they would leave to find Epsilon.
A few days after reorganizing the place a little Meryl was reunited with her father, Legrant, and Johana. They had gathered to talk about the mission that they soon would carry out.
“Remember that you’re not like Caleb or me. For the time being, you must stay on the sidelines. Don’t do anything foolish.” Jacob put his hands on Meryl’s shoulders.
“For the moment?” Legrant asked, sitting down next to Johana in the small living room. “Are you suggesting that she could change over time?”
“It’s a possibility. Her body has to assimilate many things. She is part of me but also part of her mother. However, after Akad and Caleb, I wouldn’t be surprised if something more than an enviable sense of smell occurred.”
“For the moment I’m still me,” Meryl said quietly, “and as long as that doesn’t change, it’s all the same to me.”
“The right words are, as long as I can be with Caleb, I don’t care about anything else,” Johana said with a laugh.
“Oh!” Meryl was somewhat embarrassed and offended. “Shall we talk about you?”
“No!”
Just then Pein walked into the living room. He watched the three of them laugh as Jacob shook his head.
“No one would say we’re at war, eh?” Pein joked with a bit of annoyance. “One of the soldiers has given notice that two people are approaching. It could be Jeoff and Luxt. Are you coming?”
They stood up immediately to leave. Meryl stayed back before following everyone. She grabbed Pein’s arm to look at him for a moment. “Are you better?”
“I suppose. Knowing that Axel is dead helps. Although, I would have liked to kill him myself. I miss Alexander. I suppose like everyone else.”
“You know we’re here for you. Jeoff, Caleb, and me.” Meryl tightened her grip on her feelings. “We are also your family Pein. Don’t forget that.”
“Don’t act so maternal. It makes me sick. I prefer you to be like a sister that I like to play pranks on.”
“Come on, silly brother!” She pushed him.
Once again, and as was customary in recent days, the square was overflowing. This time, however, the number of people was much greater with the new arrivals. Pein and Meryl had to be careful to cross the tide of people to get to the center. When they managed to get out from the crowd Meryl gasped at the sight of their wounds, blood, and dirt. They heard Caleb ask them if they had been bitten or infected. As soon as they denied it, the tremor that had just overtaken Meryl went away.
“We almost didn’t get here to tell you,” Jeoff said. “They have decimated the rebels. There remains a group of only thirty. They are still in the caves but they have gone deeper. We decided to go out into the city to see what was happening and we have never seen anything like it. Spawns roam the streets and the few who dare to walk out do so in fear that the spawn will throw themselves on their necks. Humans and vampires are now in the same situation.”
“I thought your mission was only to find the rebels,” Caleb snarled angrily.
“It was a great opportunity to know what we’re up against,” Luxt replied with his eternal countenance full of serenity and seriousness.
“Yes, and a magnificent opportunity to be killed.”
“Well, calm down,” Yong said. “It’s done and they have survived. Now their information can help us achieve victory.”
In a room of the house where they made their plans and in which there was only one table with a large map resting on it. The people present listened to Jeoff and Luxt explain what had happened during their mission. When they were able to find the rebels, Luxt warned the survivors that in the following days they would attack the city with all the force they had. He told them not to leave the caves, and if they could, hide everyone they could. Things were definitely going to get ugly. Then they went out through one of the trap doors and observed the outside. where the spawn patrolled. The people who were forced out into the street walked in terror, looking sideways, waiting for an attack that would kill them. Epsilon seemed to have completely lost his mind. He no longer needed excuses to execute anyone. If someone looked at him wrong Epsilon ordered him killed. It didn’t matter if they
were human or vampire. And as good news, they could not only know but see, the ravages that the virus was causing. It was the reason that Epsilon had all his spawn patrolling the streets because they were immune.
“He’s lost his mind,” Legrant said worriedly.
“I’ve already organized my men,” Yong said. “Thanks to Jacob and Ajax’s keen wits. We can enter part of the city and give you time to get to Epsilon. It’s important that we have the spawns busy and focused on us. The more unprotected Epsilon is the better.”
“We’ll leave tomorrow,” Caleb said, his eyes on the map. “We know where Epsilon is, but we need him out of his hole. The building is a trap. We will be killed there. Outside we have more options.”
“I’ll take care of that,” Meryl said, frowning. “Don’t make that face Caleb. If he knows that I am near he will come to me without thinking of anything else.”
“You’re right,” Yong said quietly. “Right now he is very unstable mentally. He won’t think about his actions and Meryl will be his undoing.”
“That puts her in danger. You know what happens in my vision. She dies.”
“Caleb,” Meryl smiled. “I swear to you that I won’t die or put myself in danger. You will always be close. I know you will protect me.”
“We’ll be in the group, too,” Jeoff said. “All of us here will go with you. We are the ones who started this and we will be the ones who’ll finish it.”
Caleb nodded. It was a subject on which he was alone. Yes, it was true that Meryl was the only one who would lure Epsilon out of his hole, but Caleb couldn’t help being selfish. Thinking about what could happen made him sick. Losing Meryl was not an option, but Caleb had no choice but to let her participate.
“It doesn’t matter what I say in the end you’re always going to do what you want,” Caleb murmured childishly, his attention on the map. “Yong, your men should enter here and they should get to the city center. We will go in a southern direction a bit later. The area should be clear by then. The spawns appear to be quite incompetent yet strong. They don’t think. They just act. Amanda, you stay here, all the wounded must return to the base. You’ll take care of them along with your assistants.”
“That’s perfect. If I try to fight I will die,” Amanda admitted.
“I suspect,” Ajax began in a whisper, “that you’re going to force me to stay here, too. I understand that Elizabeth must stay, but I have been a general in hundreds of wars. And I have the pride and the misfortune to have won almost all of them.”
“You’re more important than that, Ajax. We’re going to need the both of you if we win because the world is going to be in complete chaos. However, I will need you to advise me about strategy and tactics. You and I will talk more calmly later.”
“I don’t agree with that, but I accept your orders.”
“And Akad?” Jacob asked suddenly.
“He’s a different subject. We don’t know where he is,” Caleb said. “We don’t even know what he wants or what he’s going to do when we attack. At the moment our top priority is Epsilon. Without him, the spawn will be more vulnerable. But I suspect he won’t be far away.”
“It’s going to cost us dearly to finish off the both of them,” Jacob continued. “Akad is very strong. I can face him, but I’ll need you by my side, Caleb.”
“So be it. With the information we have, we don’t have much more to prepare. The humans already have the basic idea regarding how the weapons work thanks to Legrant and his rebels. They have trained the new fighters. Yong’s soldiers already have their instructions. The virus has already made some dent in the city. That means we have fewer enemies. Let us focus all of the attacks on the spawn, and above all, that no one attacks by themselves. The spawn surpasses us in their numbers and with a single bite they will finish us off.”
Melody N⁰ 14
War
Already mired in the solitude of his thoughts, Caleb was sitting in front of the fire, his eyes were fixed on the flames. He usually did this when thoughts were pounding in his head. It was clear that fighting in the city would give them a chance to change their fate, but he suspected with great regret that not everyone would be alive at the end, that was too much to ask. But if it was in his hands he would do what was necessary to save them, because as long as there was an opportunity to dodge this future Caleb would take advantage of it. After all, group one, whose mission was to kill Epsilon and Akad if the opportunity presented itself would be comprised of the closest people, not only to him but to Meryl. Now, on that day of reflection before leaving and while the majority of people prepared themselves to die outside of the house. Caleb remembered all his life again, experience by experience and pain after pain. He remembered how some things ended and what he had acquired. Losing her would definitely kill him.
“I know what you’re thinking.” the soft voice made him look away from the fire in surprise. He hadn’t noticed her arrival.
“Meryl,” Caleb said. “I was just remembering things.”
“I know, bad things you shouldn’t think about,” Meryl chastised him with a serious expression. It made Caleb smile.
“Come here. Only you can make me stop thinking,” Caleb said holding out a hand and he helped her sit on his lap a few seconds later. “I told you. If all the bad things that I have lived through have brought me to you. Then it was worth it and I would go through it again and again. My only concern is losing everything. Losing you.”
“And mine. I told you that if everything bad has brought me to you then the rest doesn’t matter.”
“Really? Even with how scared you were of me at the beginning?”
“Don’t look so offended,” Meryl said. “Imagine how I felt, vampires ... And you with that face of hate that wouldn’t disappear.”
“I think deep down I was scared when you arrived,” Caleb admitted, looking back at the flames and remembering those early days. She urged him to say the reason. “When I saw you it was like seeing me and I felt the need to protect you. I knew how things would end up.”
“And that is bad?” Meryl worried
“Not at all, the bad thing would be to lose you.”
“Well, we are at an impasse. I have to go. Johana is waiting for me,” Meryl stood up. “Stop thinking about those things and rest. Tomorrow at sunset we will be in the city ... You have to be focused.
“Yes, ma’am. At your service.”
“I’m not used to your jokes.” Meryl walked toward the door. “Although very rare it’s also very tender to hear. See you at dinner.”
With renewed energy from that small and for many insignificant moment Meryl went to find her friend. Johana had urged Meryl to join her at a certain hour for something that seemed important. Meryl walked around the building where they stored the food and saw Johana there. She was clearly annoyed by her delay. After grunting like a wild animal, Johana grabbed Meryl by the wrist and pulled her into the woods. Which automatically made Meryl go on alert.
“We shouldn’t go in here, Akad could...”
“Calm down. After the attack, there are soldiers patrolling everywhere. Come on, come on, and don’t talk.
Distracted by unusual nerves that seemed to mix with a strange emotion, Meryl heard the murmur of a river a few meters away from them. When they left the thicket she saw Jeoff sitting there, watching the water flow.
“What happened?” Meryl whispered. “Is he all right?”
“Go talk to him. I’ll stay here. I wasn’t spying ... well, a little, yes,” Johana admitted, embarrassed.
“What have you done, Johana?”
“I’ve followed Luxt before and I’ve seen ... I didn’t intend to see anything. I swear,” Johana said, astonished by Meryl’s expression of annoyance. “Luxt tried to kiss Jeoff, but he hesitated and left.”
Thinking about Luxt, who seemed to be someone without feelings, try to kiss a
nyone was simply impossible. Meryl was shocked. “And what do you want me to do?”
“Talk to him. He trusts you. Meryl, I saw his face. There was confusion and something I couldn’t understand. Tomorrow we could die. I don’t know ... it’s not fair. If they like each other they should spend as much time together as they can.”
“Good God, Johana ... Okay, I’ll talk to him. Go to the village and wait for me there. And stop being so obsessed with them, please. You have enough to deal with Legrant.”
Johana began to walk the path that had brought them there. She thanked Meryl with a smile and a gesture. When Meryl was alone she looked at Jeoff again. He was clearly worried. What could she do? Meryl didn’t like to interfere with other people’s personal problems ... because if it turned out that he didn’t like Luxt. What if he’d just rejected him? Meryl let out a long sigh trying to get her nerves under control and started walking towards him. After all, if something worried him she had to fix it before the fight because it could be a deadly distraction.
“She told you?” he asked without moving.
“What?” He’d caught her by surprise. Meryl didn’t understand what he was talking about.
“Johana. I know she saw us.”
“I’m sorry, Jeoff, I didn’t want to get into your private life, but you seem very worried and tomorrow ...”
“My doubts could lead to my death. I know.”
Meryl shortened the distance between them. He didn’t seem annoyed so sat as close as she could, trying to make him feel comfortable.
“You know? You’re like an older brother, Jeoff,” Meryl said, surprising him for the first time. “We haven’t talked much, but your eyes say more than most people. Are you afraid to refuse Luxt?”
“I suppose I’m like Caleb,” he said without pausing. “I’m scared to lose someone I love again.”
Meryl looked at Jeoff sideways, she knew for a fact that what she had just heard had a deeper meaning, but she didn’t know what. At that moment, Jeoff looked at her expression. He knew what Meryl was thinking and the guilt she was beginning to feel.
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