Ancient Blood: The Fallen

by Renea Taylor

  Fifteen minutes later though, I was hurtling out of the house, completely giving up on the effort of denying the events of the night before, as it had been thoroughly squelched upon seeing the black smudges on the hallway walls. The slam of the door echoed behind me with a thunderous boom as I leaped from the porch and ran to my pickup.

  I took the rutted drive at a fast pace, paying for my carelessness by having my insides jarred to bits and a slight case of whiplash, however, as I pulled out onto the street I began to breath just a tiny bit better.

  Some of the tenseness that held me in its grip was easing, and I tried to sort out what I knew to be fact, and what remained questionable within my mind. However, eventually I gave up and found myself doing my best to enjoy the drive.

  The wind was blowing in through the rolled down window, cooling the perspiration that had sprung up within the heat of the morning, as well as teasing my hair, causing it to lift and whip around me as it caressed my cheeks and bare arms, flirting playfully with my neck and shoulders.

  After a while of non-purposeful driving, I found myself at the entrance of the park, and making a quick decision, I cranked the steering wheel turning in through the gates.

  Slowly I drove around, obeying the five mile an hour speed limit until I grew tired of going around in an endless circle, and pulling into an empty parking space, I shut down the engine.

  Climbing out I glanced around at the busy area, noting the screaming and laughing children that were in the midst of a variety of activities. Some played on swings and teeter-totters, while others played in the sand boxes dotted about the park grounds.

  While still yet others ran about, chasing each other in a game of tag, or kicking a soccer ball around, while their parents sat on benches or in lawn chairs, discussing whatever it was parents talked about among themselves while lovingly observing their young at play beneath their protective gazes.

  I tried on a grin at the antics of the children, but found it just didn’t fit with what I'd been through, so I let it drop as I walked over to a deserted bench and sat down.

  I was listening to the sounds around me and absently gazing at the children on the playground when something out of the corner of my eye caught my attention, lifting my head I peered closer, noting movement within the trees bordering the park.

  Rising off the bench I stared, “what the hell” I softly breathed to myself, for whatever was in the trees appeared to be moving stealthily within the shadows, as though wanting to remain anonymous.

  I felt apprehension slither through me, an uneasy sensation settling within the pit of my stomach, and abruptly a cry of alarm escaped from between my lips as whatever it was, for I couldn't distinguish that it actually took on any form at all, dispatched itself from the trees and launched straight towards me.

  Suddenly, and before I could react, I found myself roughly shoved to the ground from behind as words began to issue in a snarl above my head.

  Laid flat out, as a leaden weight bore me down into the grass and dirt, I tried to struggle.

  However, I found the task nearly impossible as the person who sat perched atop me seemed to weigh as much as the empire state building, and with a renewed sense of fear assaulting every fiber of my being, I fought to draw a breath so I could utter a scream, but the only sounds I could make, came out as a muffled squeak.

  From slightly above my ear a voice hissed, “fucking Christ Kira, why in the name of all that’s holy did you just stand there!”

  A superfluity of emotions shimmered throughout my system all at once at the voice. A voice I hadn't heard in half a year, a voice that curled around me and bathed me in heat all the way to my vagina.

  I was so entrenched within the emotion, that I was barely aware of being jerked from the ground, lifted off my feet and hauled bodily into the parking area.

  Or, of the fact that the whole time, the owner of that voice was muttering words quietly to himself before shoving me into the passenger seat of his pickup.

  Stunned and shamed at the same time, I sat frozen in place as I watched Dante run around the front of the truck where I continued to watch as he climbed in the drivers seat, and fired the truck to life, then with engine roaring, he shot out onto the road, fishtailing for several seconds and suddenly I came alive with a different feeling than that of desire.

  My stomach crawled into my throat, and a bout of nausea overtook me even as Dante regained control of the truck, and though the rear-end was no longer swinging side to side, it was now gathering speed, and the increase in momentum was making everything pass in a dizzying myriad of colors and blurs.

  Then my stomach offered its last warning before it revolted against what my eyes were witnessing, and I found myself screeching in a voice filled with distress, “I'm gonna to be sick…”

  Swallowing convulsively to keep most of the bile at bay, I shouted, “pull over...!”

  However, pulling over was not on Dante’s agenda, and as the landmarks of town continued to rapidly fly by, changing into rougher, more rural territory, terrain that was scarcely populated with anything other than an abundance of trees that became thicker and denser the further we went, I finally managed to choke out “stop the damn truck!”

  Eyebrows pulling taught over his eyes, Dante finally looked over at me, his face darkening even further at seeing the greenish cast that encompassed my own and spat, “don't you dare!”

  Covering my mouth in an attempt to keep anything from coming up, I groaned, “then stop…the…goddamn…truck!”

  Fighting with the steering wheel as we careened around a corner on what felt like two wheels, Dante hissed, “not a good idea right now Kira” before a vulgar curse ripped from his mouth as my head whipped backwards, slamming into the rear window of the pickup as a vehicle hit us from behind, sending the pickup into a slide.

  Uttering a sharp cry of pain and fear as bright lights flashed before my eyes, I unthinkingly began trying to scramble out of my seat.

  Another scream of fright erupted as the pickup, now skidding nearly sideways in the center of the road, took a second blow on the back fender from the vehicle pursuing us as I heard Dante snarl a curse, fighting to get the pickup back under control.

  However, it hit a patch of loose gravel and suddenly we were airborne, the only sounds the roar of the engine, Dante’s cursing, and my own hysterical screams.

  Then, in what was only a matter of seconds, but to my fear gripped mind, seemed to take hours, the truck flipped, slamming into the grass and dirt beneath it, before again we became airborne as it started the process all over again.

  As the truck tumbled, I found the momentum jerking me forward and propelling me towards the windshield where my head smashed against glass before darkness descended around me.

  Chapter 8

  Dry! God I was dry! My tongue felt as if glued to the roof of my mouth, and though I'd been trying for the last several moments, I couldn’t even summon up a trace of spit. Then there was my throat, my poor miserable little throat, felt as if someone had dumped a pile of sand in it. I was in little doubt that if I'd been able to croak out a word, it would have emerged on a puff of dust.

  To add to my misery, my head hurt as well, throbbing with a sort of floating, unreal sensation! I began groaning softly to myself about my woes when suddenly the episode at the park, Dante, and the resulting crash slammed into me, wiping any remaining lethargy clean and causing my eyes to pop open wide as fear shot throughout my system.

  Jerking into a sitting position, I found it necessary to steady myself by laying my hands against the mattress. The room shifted and swayed around me for several minutes before the merry go round slowed, though it never completely ceased.

  However, it did sufficiently alter to the point I felt comfortable enough in releasing my hands from their task of holding me upright.

  Instead, they took on the job of searching out any further injuries upon my person. I came out utterly amazed after my examination, for though I'd been tossed ar
ound inside the cab of Dante's rotating pickup like a human Ping-Pong ball, the extent of my suffering seemed to be nothing more than stiff and sore muscles, as well of course, the headache and strange dizziness that plagued me.

  Satisfied that I would live, I then did my best to focus my eyes. Though everything was somewhat imprecise as my eyes refused to focus completely, I had no problem seeing the sheet that lay crumpled around my legs.

  With brows pulled tightly into a puzzled frown, as I didn't recall owning a sheet that color, I found my gaze jerking away from the pale lilac colored cloth to stare about the room again in utter disbelief as I whispered, “where the hell am I?”

  The room, I found, was well furnished, containing all the accessories one would assume it should have.

  A large dark dresser, a chair that looked plush and comfortable as it took up residence against a wall that was an off white in color, a small nut colored table sitting proudly nearby, but, nonetheless, all of it was totally, utterly foreign to me.

  Pushing aside the sheet, I climbed off the mattress, then after only the slightest amount of hesitation, as the room swayed uncomfortably around me again, I stepped away from the bed.

  Making my way unsteadily to the door, I again paused, reviewing the decor of the room. Then, with a shrug I reached for the knob and, after several failed attempts, as my wavering vision caused it to jump sporadically about each time I grabbed for it, I managed to grasp the knob within my hand and twist, only to find the blasted thing wouldn’t turn.

  I gaped, my mouth working in a caricature of disbelief as I mouthed, “you have got to be kidding” totally floored that something as simple as the maintenance of a doorknob could have gone unattended in what was obviously a wealthy residence. Muttering softly, I placed a foot against the door-frame, then gripping the knob with both hands, I jerked, quickly finding myself flying backwards through the air as my hands slipped off the knob.

  Landing in a heap on the floor several feet away, I immediately slumped forward gripping my head within my hands, moaning out several vulgar expletives. Several moments passed before I was capable of doing anything other than sit frozen in place, afraid to move for fear that with the slightest of provocations my head would shatter into a thousand pieces, and tumble all about me like the pieces of a puzzle.

  However, the pain eventually subsided to a dull roar, enough thankfully, that I was able to push off the floor, only to find the room swaying and tilting before it finally settled back in order, forcing me to suspect I was suffering the effects of a mild concussion. Allowing several more minutes to pass I drew in a breath, then made my way back over to the door. Though I dreaded the misery I was about to enforce upon myself, I began pounding on its hard surface, wincing with each blow of my fists, and praying the whole while that the torture I was enduring would be enough to catch someone’s attention.

  Pausing when I'd tormented myself for as long as I possibly could, I listened to see if I'd aroused anyone's attention, only to feel frustration thrum through me at the fact that on the other side of the door, it remained still and silent.

  Rubbing at the now tender outer edges of my hands, as well as closing my eyes at the moisture that sprung forth from the piercing throbs that shot through my head, I grimaced.

  Finally reopening my eyes, I blinked away the tears and began my efforts all over again, however, for a much shorter duration, as the pounding in my head allowed for nothing else.

  Placing my forehead against the smooth surface of the door, I slowly rolled the hot flesh against the coolness of the wood, pausing when I thought I picked up the soft fall of footsteps.

  Turning my head so I could press my ear against the door, I listened as the quiet thud of the footfalls became more distinct, the steps growing closer to where I stood on the other side of the door.

  Lifting my head, I renewed my efforts, calling out to the person, only to feel a sense of confusion as the steps wavered slightly in front of the door, then continued without stopping.

  Hope slamming around my feet and feeling helpless, as I could do nothing to stop the onward moving figure, I screamed, “no!” “Oh God no, don’t go, please, please get me out of here, I can’t get the door to open from this side!”

  I could hear the person falter and felt a renewal of my hopes as their steps slowed, before gradually returning, where they came to a stop near the door.

  Scrambling on to my knees, I flopped down on my stomach in an effort to peer through the small opening beneath the door.

  “Hello…are you there” I cried, unable to see anything as my eyes were bouncing all over the place, after a few seconds I found myself pleading, “please, can you get me out, it seems there’s something wrong with the door knob, and it won't turn.”

  Silence greeted me from the other side, placing doubt within my mind that I'd heard anyone at all. However, not giving up on my first belief completely, I turned on my side and shoved my face as close to the opening as I possibly could.

  Then closing one eye, I peered out with the other, in hopes it would help me to see clearer.

  I scoped the area before me as best I could, then, just when I was about ready to give up and admit I'd been wrong, that there wasn't anyone there after all, I spotted them.

  Though my focus was off, I knew without a doubt I was seeing a pair of pale pink tennis shoes.

  With a sigh of relief I cried, “oh thank God!”

  The owner of the shoes took a small step back at my vocalization, as if realizing she'd been seen, and then turning took several more, giving me the impression she was preparing to flee.

  “Wait! Oh please don’t go, I need your help,” I cried in alarm.

  However, I’d no more uttered the words than I gasp in dismay for suddenly the woman's shoes disappeared as she fled back the way she'd come.

  Laying my head against the wood of the door while I allowed my rotating world to slow, I found myself gazing at the doorknob.

  Shaking my head in confusion I peered at the knob with my brows drawn, then blinking rapidly in hopes it would help them to focus a little more clearly, I stared nonplussed.

  There wasn’t a lock on this side, which meant one thing, it was on the other side.

  The truth hit me squarely in the face as to why I couldn't get the door open, and why the woman on the opposite side from which I stood had tried so hard to avoid me seeing her.

  It was because she'd had no intention of helping me, in fact, no one was going to, for the knob wasn’t faulty as I'd believed, but rather, was intentionally locked from the other side to keep me within.

  Sinking to my knees, I rolled into a tight ball, great gulping sobs escaping from between my lips as panic began to lay its siege upon me.

  After a while though, the tears slowly dried and the questions set in, what could anyone possibly want of me?

  I didn’t come from money, so it couldn’t be that they were holding me for ransom, so what…what else could possibly be gained by holding me here?

  Why, I wondered? Why was this happening! I felt as if I’d fallen down Alice’s rabbit hole, nothing made sense, and as I lay there, my thoughts wondering, the thumping of my heart began to grate at my already distraught nerves as it increased the volume of the persistent headache that clung to my brain.

  Finally, the sound of my own breathing became so harsh and loud in the absence of any other sound within the room, that I felt as though I were going insane.

  Pushing from the floor, I began to pace, trudging around in my head for ideas, and though time passed, it did so tortuously slow while I paced, ranted, raved, begged, and pleaded.

  Then I began to wonder how much time actually had passed, and if Arreon had realized I was missing yet, then when I thought for sure I was about to break from the solitude and uncertainty of the unknown, I heard the unmistakable sound of a key turning in the lock before the door swung open to reveal the figure of a woman.

  Suddenly self preservation was my only thought, and raising my h
ands, prepared to claw my way to freedom if necessary, I flew at the woman, intent on running over, under, or through her if I had to, but one way or the other I was not being held captive within this room any longer!

  In the next instant, I found myself lying on the carpet, staring up at the other woman. Bafflement clearly written across my features, and in shock at how fast she'd placed me there.

  Confusedly I shook my head and tried to clear it of the persistent dizziness, then jerking unsteadily to my feet, I tucked in a shoulder and dove at the woman again.

  However, before I was able to make contact, I found myself being grabbed by the hair and twisted around to where my back was against the woman, as grabbing my arm, she jerked it up behind me and muttered, “please stop that, I’m not going to hurt you!”

  Hearing, but not trusting her words, I found myself summoning the only weapon at my disposal, only to be totally dismayed when it reared its unpredictable side as it sputtered and fizzed, unable to fully materialize, and I groaned, “aw hell, not now!”

  The woman began to push me from the room, and into a dimly lit hallway, where she continued to silently move me ahead of her through the narrow passageway. Eventually we came to stand before another door, where I balked, and refused to take another a step, for some reason hesitant now to go any further, but the woman silently urged me onward with a nudge.

  I found myself taken through a large room that contained several people, and gazing around me, I felt my hopes soar. Surely here at least, there was one person that would be willing to help me!

  However, as my eyes connected with one after the other of theirs, I felt my hopes plummet around my feet, for within their depths I read curiosity but no help.

  Dropping my head, I reluctantly continued ahead of the woman as she pushed me across the room and through another doorway that led into yet, another room.

  The new room however was vacant, and as we came to a stop before yet another door, the woman loosened her hold and came up beside me. Pushing the door in front of us open, she revealed a set of stairs that led downward.