Will. Time. Fate.

by Andrew Yake

  “Fine. I am Allison. My friends call me Ally. I am gifted, according to societal standards.” I shrug my shoulders. I cannot help feeling more comfortable than I probably should talking to an undead creature of the night. “I know about some things, but I thought that Dracula was a thing of myth and legend.”

  “It is, but there is also some truth in it.”

  “Of course, there is,” I sigh. “So, what else is real? Hum? Leprechauns?” I believe that my sarcasm is clear here.

  Eli does not seem pleased by my snarky humor. He pulls against his chains hard and they snap. He stands and is on me before I can move. He is incredibly fast. He grabs hold of my arm and I feel him bite into my neck. I struggle to break free, but his hold is like a vice and I am unable to do anything more than whimper.

  The rush of the bite is more intoxicating than any drug that I have ever used. I stop struggling. I can feel myself becoming light. He pulls back from me and I see through blurry vision that his teeth are sharp and covered in my blood. I see him bite his tongue and I feel his mouth on my neck again. I am so turned on as I feel his tongue brushing against my neck. He pulls away again and then kisses me. I know, in some part of my brain, that this is wrong on so many levels. His tongue touches mine and I taste the coppery taste of blood in my mouth. It is only momentary. He pulls away from me and watches as I slide down the wall, dazed.

  “That, was amazing.” I giggle. I hate myself for freaking giggling. I sound like some crazed school girl meeting a crush from one of those stupid boybands. I fight to regain my composure. The pain from my arm and the bite on my neck are quickly fading. I feel no pain anywhere in my body. I feel the buzz of intoxication, but I am not sure if it is from my pills or the bite. I am willing to bet that both play a part in my current state.

  “Yes, it is one of the things I envy about humanity.” Eli seems pleased. “I would like to go and I think you should come with me. I find your company pleasing and I think that your ability to wield magical forces could be very helpful.” He pauses for a moment. “Are you ready?” He does not wait for an answer as he reaches down with one of his arms and helps me to my feet.

  Something occurs to me. “How did you get taken?” I am able to stand, but I am still shaky on my legs and wish to stall for time.

  “A red-haired witch.” He pushes me to the door. I move out the door and reach for the panel hoping I can touch it before he exits the room. It is like he could sense what I was thinking. He shoves me hard and I fly forward and I am only barely able to put my hands up before I hit the wall. I cannot stand and slide down this wall also.

  I watch him exit the room wagging his right index finger. “Now, now… That is not polite.”

  “Sorry E. I just wanted to survive this.” I manage to say weakly.

  “I told you that I wish to keep your company.”

  “You freaking bit me.”

  “Of course, I haven’t eaten in a very long time.” He crouches down so that he is sitting on his heels and brushes a strand of hair out of my face.

  “Well, that does not exactly build trust when someone actually eats you.”

  “Why are you complaining? You liked it.”

  I laugh. It sounds like a mad woman or someone who is crazed. “I am sure that is what you tell all the girls.” Eli seems confused. “You are a freaking rapist! I told you no and your response is…” I laugh again. I am nervous. I know he could kill me easily, but I am also angry. “I LIKED IT!” The hallway lights burn brighter as my anger grows.

  Eli looks at the lights as they get brighter. I will myself to stand up. I am on my feet with the speed of my thought. I feel the rage burn through me. I push with my mind and scream at him, “BACK!” Eli is thrown from his feet. He is thrown back into the room where he was and he slams into the wall. The sound is like a gunshot. I hear tiles break and I see the impact stun him and there is blood that splatters from behind him when he hits.

  My head hurts, but I do not wait to see what happens next because I hear something else coming down the hall toward me. I run. I had seen other hallways and choose the one to the right of the room so that I do not have to take my eyes off of Eli until I turn the corner. I hear Eli groan for a moment before I have made it down most of the length of the hall. I see another hall to my left and I take it. There is a rush of wind as something passes me. I see Eli before me, teeth bared. I really wish that I had a vamp muzzle for this situation. My emotions run hot as I consider the many awful things that he probably has in store for me at this point. I think back to my dream and try to channel the feeling that I had when I moved things and people by my will, like I did when I tossed Eli.

  I slow to a walk and wave my hand. Eli is tossed into a wall. I will myself to be on the other side of him and I am. I look back at Eli. I know that I am unable to out run him or physically defeat him, but I wonder if I can defeat him with my mind. His look is one of anger and murderous thoughts. However, I believe that I can see that there is something else there in his eyes, understanding.

  My head hurts and I do not know how much more of this mental exercise I can actually do, but I am willing to try. I raise my hand as if I am about to strike out again and he raises his own hands as if to protect himself.

  “Wait!”

  “Why? What could you possibly offer me? You are here because you could not defeat my friend and I am more powerful than her.” I feel like a super hero or possibly villain. The power is intoxicating and I have a strong desire to use it. I think back to my conversation on the roof and consider looking up my possible mentor.

  “We can help each other. Escort me from this place and I will tell you how.” He stands slowly. “I am sure that there are others of my kind looking for me and we may be able to come to some sort of accord that pleases both of us.”

  His words are sincere and his fear of me is real. I do not blame him. I kind of feel afraid of me right now. “And if I am not pleased with what you have to offer, I will flay the skin from your body.” Alright, I know that was way over the top, but with the way I feel right now I am reminded of one of my favorite TV series where a bad guy met the same end. What can I say? I was inspired.

  Eli nods in agreement after wincing at my words. “I am sure we can come to an accord that keeps my skin on my body.”

  We start walking through the labyrinth of hallways and we stay quiet as we continue to hear movement from down the hall. I wonder if I would be able to convince Jane and Alex that we could actually use this guy to help in our situation. He would owe me a favor after all. I decide this might be the most prudent course of action. I start walking down a hallway that we can hear that there is movement at the end of.

  I realize that this hall must be the one that leads to the entrance that I came through. I do not see any opening that leads us out, just as before. The sound that I hear is coming from a hallway that is coming up on our left. I motion for Eli to stop. He does. I walk forward quietly and I am able peek around the corner and see the man who was holding the prostitute at the hospital yesterday.

  ******

  There was a fair amount of confusion from Zack as he neared the empty room. He could smell that the woman he was chasing was in the area, but he did not see her. He looked into the room and smelled another odd scent. It was the smell of something old and powerful.

  It was then that Jane rushed out from the corner that she was hiding behind. Her strides were fast and she was on Zack before he knew what happened. Jane shoved Zack against the wall and held onto the rifle that Zack had been holding. She used one hand with an open palm strike to hit Zack in the throat. Zack let go of the gun and instinctively reached to cover his throat while coughing.

  Zack swung his fist wildly in Janes direction. He missed, but he did manage to get her to back up slightly. He righted himself and put his fists in front of his face. “I don’t want to hurt you lady.”

  Jane chuckled, “Then why are you following me.” She set the rifle against the wall and closed her fists c
ausing her knuckles to pop. “Also, I would be more concerned with your own pain right now instead of mine.” She cocked her head to the side causing her neck to pop.

  Zack seemed to sniff the air for a moment and then he smiled. “You’re hurt. Don’t push this. I just want to talk.”

  Jane did not like his answer. She struck out with elegant precision and made contact with Zack’s nose snapping his head backward. Zack recovered quickly and shook his head. His eyes started to change color to a yellowish green. Jane struck at him again, but this time he shifted slightly so that he could miss her punch and he struck out, his fist connecting with Jane right where she had been shot.

  Jane screamed in agony and was pushed backward from the impact. She grabbed her hip and rage flashed in her eyes. She no longer was willing to fight fair and she reached for her gun. Zack matched her speed and pulled out the .45 that he had used to track her from his belt. Jane’s eyes widened. “That’s mine.” She said through gritted teeth.

  “I will be happy to give it back to you if you stop fighting me.” Zack replied, hoping that the safety was off if he had to fire it.

  Alex came charging down the hall moments later. This caused Zack to look back down the hall. He had expected to see the big guy not the young girl from the hospital. This distraction was all that it took for Jane to move in and disarm Zack as well as knock him to the ground. She now held both guns trained on Zack.

  Alex bounded down the hall toward where Allison and Eli were standing. He wasted no time in raising his shotgun and firing while he ran at Eli. His priorities changed the moment he saw Eli in the hallway. Eli too, had taken note of the fast-moving human wall and had shifted his stance so that he was closer to Allison. As a result of Eli’s shift in position, the shotgun blast struck Allison in the shoulder and Eli in the chest. Both Allison and Eli were moved by the impact of the shotgun blast, but only Allison fell to the ground screaming in pain. Eli only moved slightly and showed minimal discomfort, but the gunshot did get his attention and anger flashed across his face as he showed his fangs. Alex dropped the gun and pulled out his special short sword right before reaching where Eli was standing. Alex reached out with his metal arm and grabbed hold of Eli by the neck lifting him off of his feet and slamming him to the ground. Eli screamed in pain as the metal hand touched his skin. There was a slight sizzle in the air from the skin under Alex’s grasp.

  Alex was bringing the blade down and had full intention of driving it through Eli’s throat and into the floor. Eli moved fast. He grabbed the metal arm and immediately screamed in rage and pain from the caustic touch of the metal of Alex’s arm that he had just grabbed. Eli managed to toss Alex against a wall, but he was unable to break free from the metal hand of the large and very angry man. Eli struck out with the toe of his boot and struck Alex in the chest. There was a cracking sound from the impact and Alex released Eli. Eli sputtered and gasped as he did his best to push away from the metal arm. Eli was weakened and hurt by the effects of the metallic arm.

  By this time, Jane was by Allison’s side. She fired both guns hitting Eli in the face. Eli’s head snapped back striking the floor with a sickening thud. He seemed to go limp and so Jane turned her attention to her friends on the floor. She crouched next to Allison who was holding her shoulder seemingly to stop the bleeding. Blood was flowing freely from her shoulder and Allison’s expression was strange and dark.

  “Are you alright Allison?” Jane asked as she put a hand on her other shoulder in concern.

  ******

  I feel pain like a fire in my shoulder. Jane is looking at me as if she can help me, but I know what can take away the pain and make me whole again. I stand. I see the cute guy from the hospital jogging down the hallway toward us. He is looking at me curiously, but I have no time for him right now. Instead, I turn my attention to Eli. I know Jane shot him, but I doubt that would kill him.

  I hear Jane continuing to speak to me, but I ignore her. I use all of my willpower and strength to move to where I am standing over Alex’s unconscious body and the bloody face of Eli. I can see Eli’s wounds already starting to heal just as before. I reach down and grab the knife from the floor. I grab Eli’s arm and make a long incision with the blade. I place Eli’s arm on my shoulder and feel his blood flow onto the open wound on my shoulder. I can feel a tingle as the vampire’s blood mixes with my own. I can feel my skin knitting itself back together. I feel the pain in my shoulder retreating and my physical strength returning.

  Eli’s face is completely healed at this point and the incision on his arm has already closed. I check to see if Alex is still alive. He has a pulse and I know that my original assumption, that he was simply unconscious, was correct. I am also sure that he has several broken ribs due to the sound that I had heard when they were fighting. Eli’s eyes blink and he runs a hand over his bearded face.

  He looks at me and notices that my bloody shoulder is healed. “Clever girl.”

  “Can it. You are my bitch remember?” I say this with as much sass as I can manage, but it comes out more playful than intimidating. Eli simply smiles at me and sits up.

  I turn my attention back to Jane and the other guy. I need to rest and I have a feeling that is not going to happen just yet. “Well, this is a series of unfortunate events.” I put my hands on my hips for emphasis. The new guy is the only one who seems to get my pop reference. He smiles at me.

  I turn to Eli who is now getting to his feet and looking at Jane. His expression seems to be one of recognition, but beyond that I am not sure if he is happy to see her or he wants to wear her ribcage as a hat. I can tell that Jane is not happy to see that her two bullets to Eli’s brain had little effect, but she does not seem too surprised that he is still alive. Jane then rushes to Alex’s side.

  “Alex!” She attempts to rouse him by shaking his shoulder.

  “He’s alive.” I say to Jane.

  She looks at me and then to Eli. She stands to her feet and addresses me. “Fix him.”

  “Excuse me?” I feel a bit indignant that she would assume that she can order me around.

  “You were shot. Now you are better. I saw what you did. Fix him.” She motions to Alex on the floor.

  “Now hold on a sec. That was very different.” I start to try to explain why it was different to Jane, but she does not seem ready to listen to reason.

  Jane raises her .45 and fires a single round into Eli’s face again. He collapses. Again, he appears dead and does not move from his position on the floor. Jane grabs the knife from my hand. I am not strong enough physically to stop her, and at this point I am dumbstruck that she was unwilling to talk out anything. Impulsive and unhinged. This might be a good time for me to leave. I don’t think I am strong enough to take her out especially if I cannot tell what she will do next. I watch Jane slit Eli’s arm just as I had done before.

  Jane takes a small palm full of the blood and returns to Alex’s side. She turns his head so that she can get to his mouth. She forces Alex’s mouth open and lets the blood trickle into it. Then she stands back and waits. She returns her attention to Eli, who has already healed up again. Eli is standing now. His face is indignant.

  “I would not try that again, witch!” His words have a menacing tone to them. “You may have bested me once, but you are only alive now due to our deal. I do not appreciate being your personal…” I am about to step in before things turn ugly again, but I am too late.

  Jane points her gun at Eli’s leg and fires without looking over at him, as if this is the appropriate response to Eli’s complaint. Eli screams in pain and the blood sprays outward from his kneecap. Jane then walks toward him and looks into his eyes. “I will deal with you later.” She fires a round into Eli’s head once more and Eli goes to the ground. If I was not on the verge of passing out, I would find this whole situation comical. I know things are serious and tense, but I cannot help letting out a slightly unhinged giggle. As it is, I find that my previous expenditure of my will power during my scuffle with
senior British fang followed by being shot has really drained my reserves.

  I watch Jane as she shoots me a glare after my giggling outburst. After she fires her gun this time, she grabs hold of his leg and starts to drag him back down the hall. She motions to Zack and I to help her. I decide that I do not want to be on Eli’s bad side when he heals up again. Fortunately, I do not have to do or say anything. Alex is on his feet and he grabs hold of Eli with his metal arm. I hear the sizzle sound again as the metal touches Eli’s skin. Moments later, Alex has returned from the cell that he has deposited Eli into.

  I want to collapse from the pain in my head and the weakness in my legs. I feel something dripping from my nose. Zack points at me and asks, “Hey, you alright?” I wipe away the drip from my upper lip. I see blood on my hand. Zack is able to make it to my side before I collapse and I am kept on my feet by his strength. I start seeing spots, but I am still conscious as I am led out of the hallway back into the cavernous room with the guns and books. Alex directs us into the more comfortable room and I am seated at the round table in the room. I watch as each of this strange motley crew takes a seat around the table. All of us are silent for a moment. Jane seems to be studying all of our faces. Zack is the only one who seems willing to speak up. He clears his throat and all of our eyes turn to him.

  18

  Revelations

  “So, I guess I will start. My name is Zack and I know that I am not all that welcome here, but I would like to ask you some questions.” I address the young woman with short red hair as we sit at the table in silence. My ears are still ringing from the shots she fired at the other guy, who apparently can’t die.

  “What?” She seems more annoyed than unwilling to talk.

  “Why is some guy named Benny after you.” My mention of the name Benny does not seem to have any effect on her face or the faces of the others at the table. I continue, “I have been going constantly for the last day and the majority of that time has been spent with a hick who is extremely interested in you.” I point my finger. “He took me to some defunct military base and told me to follow your scent.”