The Elder Origins

by Bre Faucheux

  “Lyndon tried to stop you,” she said.

  “No, Lyndon felt responsible for what we did. He found means to turn people as a way to avoid them dying. Trust me, it would not have happened had he divulging the small detail that our stream had been poisoned continuously for months, or that that you and Jayden had fed us blood while we were ill. I being too weak at the time to recall, did not know of this. In that lay the reason why those I tried to create kept dying.”

  “I don’t understand,” she said.

  “Months of exposure to our blood through the waters, then taking of blood from humans during the period of illness, completes the process, child. This is what happened to us, don’t you know? The natives poisoned our waters with their witchery, then you and your companion, Jayden was it? Yes, you two fed Lyndon and me blood from the natives during the illness. Others from our voyage died because they did not feed on blood as we did. Now if Lyndon had told me of this, perhaps all could have been avoided. For I have no memory of it. I do however remember you biting me.”

  “How many have you changed?” she said harshly.

  “I truly find it fascinating that you are more concerned with what I have done than what is to become of you. No ‘why am I here?’, or ‘what is to be done with me, Caspar?’”

  Madison hardly bothered listening to his banter as he went on. “The rayen,” she said softly, laying her head down on the stone under her.

  “Yes, the rayen,” he said rather irritated.

  “Lyndon left a trail of it for me to find, did he not? In order to lead me to you, was it?”

  “Yes, indeed he did. He sensed you and Jayden as you crossed over to France.”

  “He meant for me to find you, and now what? You intend to poison more waters with my blood?”

  “You think yourself that important, do you? No, Lyndon and I wanted you and that ogre companion of yours gone from this earth. I imagine Lyndon has done away with Jayden by now. The mere intention was to separate the two of you. Lyndon seemed to think it best that he and I were the only ones. I thought for a while that he may have felt guilt for the two of us causing this plague. It started with only trying to change a few, I assure you. But the illness spread so rapidly through the waters. We could not stop it.”

  “Could you not remember how quickly it made our people sick? Were you that dense?” she said.

  He looked away from her, shaking his head. “I only sought to be rid of you both, but Lyndon saw some better purpose in it. He assumed that you and Jayden had spread the illness in the north, but I knew better. He thought he was helping by killing you and Jayden.”

  “Then why turn more?”

  “Why not?” He looked at her as if it were so evident.

  “You truly have no other reasons than you did it because you could,” she said. She refused to believe that anyone could be that psychotic.

  “Well, I think that you can agree that they make excellent guards, do they not?”

  “Now that I do believe,” she said.

  “They were able to catch you quick enough.” He placed his hand behind her head and stroked her hair. Madison welcomed the gesture. She wanted to know his true emotions. She doubted that he realized this made it easier for her to do so. But then again, Lyndon had grown to know things about their change that she hadn’t.

  “Why did you change your name,” she asked. In truth, she couldn’t care less. But it might occupy his mind long enough for her to search for his true intentions.

  He shrugged and caressed the back of her head. She knew that it was a gesture of defeat all over again. He was letting her know that she was in his hands for him to do as he pleased.

  “Some pitiful man named Ascot in the north has been capturing Jews and burning them for having brought the plague about. I assumed his name and did the same, as I’m sure you can hear above us. The people here are frightened of the illness coming to them, which it certainly will. They needed a savior of sorts to find the guilty who caused the illness,” he said sarcastically.

  “The irony,” she said dryly. Madison’s face contorted in such a way that almost made Caspar smile. Her disgust radiated from her body.

  “All those people upstairs, then?” she said. “I could hear them from the streets.”

  “Oh, don’t be that way. Someone had to take the blame. Don’t you know that someone must always be at fault?”

  Madison shook his hand away from her head, causing the spikes around her wrists to tighten. She let out a small cry unable to stop it from leaving her mouth.

  “It’s actually perfect that you arrived early this morning. You can be placed with the others. You will not have long to wait.”

  Madison looked up at him, still grunting from the pain now coursing through her arms.

  “It might be best in fact if you are to go first,” he said before standing up to leave. “It seems only right that we started this entire mess. One of our kind should be sacrificed. These people deserve to see one of our own burned for their pain.”

  “I will be sure that they are granted that satisfaction before you get the chance,” said Madison, her voice full of anger. She knew that Caspar could feel her rage radiating from her emotions. He merely laughed as the chained door was pulled and he left the cell, his newly formed ‘guards’ following him. One stayed behind just to stare at her as she writhed in pain.

  She wasn’t at all certain whether or not she could take on all these changed men to escape. They had easily overtaken her. She wouldn’t let that happen again.

  The cries above Madison died down after a few minutes. She could only think as she heard footsteps from the dungeon being led up the stone steps that the people were being led to their death. She was relieved to not hear their pain, but even more distressed to know the screams that would soon follow. Trying to lengthen her hearing to the outskirts of the city, she was surprised to find no one crying out in joy for the people being tortured to death. Nor were there continuous cries from those being tormented. Caspar had said that she would be first. But she couldn’t imagine why the others had been led out before her. Perhaps so they could be set aside to witness what was soon to happen to her.

  The more Madison tried to loosen her constraints, the tighter they pulled. She wanted to kill Caspar for having put her in this contraption. She looked up to see the guard, expecting him to react to her trying to break loose. But he was no longer there. With all the commotion going on upstairs and trying to hear what was happening outside the cathedral’s dungeon, she hadn’t even noticed that he had left. Her loss of knowing what was right in front of her was almost as upsetting as what was coming.

  It was then that she heard three sets of feet coming down the narrow stone staircase she had been carried down. The chain began to move and the needled dungeon doorway lifted upwards. The cloaked men stepped inside. One said something to other in their language. They were all Caspar’s creations, but they were not as in tune with their abilities as she was. She easily seeped into their auras. They were seemingly nervous about something, but she couldn’t decipher what it was.

  She lay on the cold stone floor. Blood from her mouth stained her matted hair and porcelain skin. They released her from the spiked chain around her wrist and tied to her ankles. She fully intended to try to run as soon as she was released from it, and yet she knew this wouldn’t be possible. If any memory from the past hour served her well, it was the feeling of her skin being ripped apart when the contraption was removed from her mouth and jawline. She couldn’t focus on anything but her hands and ankles as the device was removed. The removal of it was considerably worse than having it placed on. Her skin had tried to heal over the spikes, leaving little to her imagination as to what had happened when they tore it from her body.

  She was brought to her feet from under her shoulders. The force used to pick her up made her feel like a doll as she swayed from side to side. Her ankles were still pushing the spikes and splinters from her skin when they expected her to stand. Rat
her than giving her a moment to recover they lead her out of the cell. Her feet scrambled to find stability. One hand gripped her firmly from under her shoulder and balanced her weight out. Although, she was less than grateful for the gesture, as his grip was far too firm for comfort.

  She finally got a look at her surroundings. She hadn’t been allowed that before when she was carried over this man’s shoulder. The dungeon was dark and the scent of spilled blood was in each cell. She knew that these men were having a difficult time of it. Unlike her, their cravings were still far from being under control. They got her through the dark stoned cell as quickly as they could manage, only slowing down to a human like pace once they reached the cathedral above. She was taken to the altar at the front where Caspar stood awaiting them. Madison looked up and around as he stood before her. She marveled at the height of the building. If God truly did reside in houses of such magnitude, he was undoubtedly richer than biblical portrayals had ever painted him.

  They held her in front of him, as if she were being presented for a feast. One man behind her ripped the cloak from her back and left her in nothing but her white tunic and dress. It was still stained from the mud and dirt of Roman streets. She felt her hair cascade loosely down her back and cover her blood stained waist. The fabric touched nearly every inch of her skin, and yet she still felt completely exposed.

  Madison was greeted with the sense of desperation. It was coming from Caspar. He was nervous. Something had gone wrong. His thirst was so strong that it nearly overpowered any other emotions coming from his aura.

  The guards spoke to Caspar. Madison could tell that it was some kind of excuse that they were giving. As if it was not their fault. But she had yet to learn what it was.

  “My men here say that you were still bound by chains when they found you,” he said coarsely, “so you had nothing to do with this.” Caspar examined his hand as he spoke. He gestured as though he were some sort of nobleman. He would only look at her with the reverence of a common criminal. When he finally glanced in her direction, he stared just below her eyes.

  “With what? Am I to know what you are speaking of without being told of my offense?” she said brazenly.

  “I know you heard the commotion, so you can perhaps enlighten us as to what took place?”

  “I heard nothing but the sound of footsteps,” she said.

  “Was this not designed by yourself?”

  “I know not of what you speak.”

  “That man of yours led them to escape! He followed you here!” he screamed at her.

  “If indeed Jayden has, he would have rescued me first,” she said, refusing to raise her tone.

  “Are you so sure?”

  Madison was silent. Jayden hadn’t always been her savior in the worst of situations. He knew loyalty only to himself in the end. But regardless of his personal prejudices, he had always done the right thing by her after exhausting every other option.

  “I have assured the people of this city that they will have their satisfaction. And your beloved will be found,” he said.

  “Then why do you not have these men out there searching for him?”

  “I did not see it necessary. I am sure he will come running back once he hears your screams,” he said.

  “I shall not make a sound. I have withstood greater pain than you can inflict upon me,” she said, her eyes glaring him down. He finally looked her in the eyes. If but for a second, she knew he believed her.

  He spoke to the men holding her. She was then towed away outside. A loud cracking reached her ears from the door being kicked open. Cheers arouse from the people outside at the sight of their first victim. Someone would be sacrificed for their fear of oncoming illness, and they were elated by it.

  Madison hadn’t seen such vicious eyes strike her since the Vam-pyr-ei-ak had watched as she and her companions lay dying, watching them through the line of trees. These people took her downfall as a sort of reassurance that they would be alright. They greeted oncoming death with cries of joy. For a brief moment, she knew why the Vam-pyr-ei-ak had taken the measures they had to kill everyone she loved. If this was a reflection of how the majority of white people took their victories upon watching others die, the Vam-pyr-ei-ak had every right to fear their future oncoming to their lands.

  The men escorting her to the outer stone wall of the city had to break through the crowds of people. Women reached for her dress and her hair, ripping away in fury what they could and clawing at her with their nails. She was feet from them before they could see her skin healing again. Others spit at her. She closed her eyes to avoid anything unpleasant making contact with her. She didn’t want to see their faces anymore. Not until she was through the stoned gate did she open them again.

  None of the other stakes were occupied. There was only one in the center of them that she was being dragged to. The other pillars lay bare with no souls tied to them. All these people were awaiting her death and hers alone.

  When she looked up again, she saw their faces, unsympathetic and hungry. It was a true likeness of the creature she had been turned into, and what Caspar and Lyndon were now. Killers without remorse, and starved for blood. This new entity she had become was practically a condensed version of what these people were at heart, and what the Vam-pyr-ei-ak had feared.

  The men gripped her arms as she struggled. Her limbs were all healed and she tried with every muscle within her to get away from their consuming strength. But she was vastly outnumbered.

  Her back hit the stake hard and her arms were yanked behind her. The same spiked chain was wrapped around her arms, chest and ankles, making it impossible for her to escape. She tried to pull away and felt the linked device tighten once more. She had no choice but to stare out and hear the voices cheering and faces jubilantly crying out for her death. Some threw extra shards of sticks and hay onto the timber surrounding her.

  Madison looked to the woods before her. She only hoped that Jayden hadn’t followed her. But she took reassurance in the knowledge that he had gone forth to find Caspar, and hoped that the trail had led him away from this place. And she knew he was stronger than her. Even in their games he had always held back slightly to appease her. He could defend himself against Lyndon.

  If the Jews within the cathedral’s dungeons had escaped, they had their own or a sympathizer to rescue them. No one had come for her.

  Caspar came through the throngs of people with a torch in each hand. He handed one to the creature had created. Together they went to each side of the piled wood and logs, and lit the pyre. He took a spot in front of all the people and crossed his arms before her, intending to watch every second. The other men leapt onto horses at the edge of the outside crowd, waiting for any movement from the woods. Madison felt one final sense of satisfaction from knowing that Jayden wouldn’t suddenly appear. They wouldn’t catch him, because she refused to make a single noise. Even as the sharpened spikes penetrated deeper into her skin and she felt the flames start to reach her feet, she would not make a sound. But it wasn’t without effort. She had never placed so much exertion into one action in her life. She refused to give Caspar the pleasure of hearing her cry out in agony. Her mouth contorted and she looked as though she could scream, but no noise left her throat. Each limb began to twitch and move as the scorching heat touched her skin. The hem of her dress caught fire and traveled up her back. By that time the people could hardly see her face anymore. The furnace of flames reached too high. The tips of her hair began to catch fire and touch high on the lengths of her dress.

  The burning abruptly reached the back of her hands, her chest, and tremendously across her thighs. Along with the ripping her skin, she felt herself giving way to the reaction Caspar so desired. She let out an ear piercing scream that even startled the crowd of onlookers. Her voice carried the sound farther than she was previously able. But when she looked at Caspar through the fire, he wasn’t there. None of the guards were there. The people had stepped back and weren’t even watching her anymo
re, but something behind her.

  Madison felt the earth move from under her and she fell forward, not yet having control of her burned and ripped skin. Strong arms caught her just before her body touched the pyre. She was lifted up towards the sky and carried in someone’s arms. She couldn’t make sense of what was happening. The movement around her was faster than she could see, and her eyes were completely blinded by the smoke.

  She was lifted upon something heavy. It held her weight with little effort. The arm that had gripped her still held her close so she wouldn’t fall to either side. A heavy breath stirred from the animal beneath her and began to move. It was the horse she had taken from Rome to these regions. She recognized it first as her vision returned to her.

  The pain from her limbs slowly stalled and she felt the spikes pushing out from her skin. The burning lingered for minutes after, longer than any other wound she had received.

  The woods from around the city became recognizable to her as the sun pierced through the towers of trees. The arm around her was tight, making sure she couldn’t waiver. Madison reached into her rescuer’s mind but felt nothing. She wondered how a man could have the ability to block her from being able to observe his emotions. But this man’s aura was closed off. She couldn’t penetrate the air around him. Rather, he sent vibrations through her. They were soothing. She felt calm. Almost too calm. It was the same sensation she had when around the healer. She allowed him to keep her tight to his chest as he led the horse quickly through the woods. They were miles into the wilderness before he brought the horse down to a trot. He stopped it once they reached a clearing and brought it to a stream. The horse bent forward to take the water, clearly exerted from his run.

  The man let go of her gently and dismounted the horse. She finally had the chance to look at him. He wore the same cloak that Caspar’s men had worn. She couldn’t see his face, but she allowed him to take her into his arms. He brought her down to the ground before him and steadied her. She didn’t feel the need to speak right away. She only felt at ease. It was a feeling she hadn’t known for many months, and she didn’t expect to have ever again.