Our Destiny Is Blood

by Clare Daly

  He stared into his eyes, electrified by the fight and beyond them, using his gift to explore his mind, to find his master’s location. His powers strengthened and the wolf twitched his fingers, easing his grip a little.

  ‘Stop it,’ he said, trying to pull a veil over his thoughts, but he couldn’t and he released his hold on Gabriel, backing away as Velle crushed the skull of another under her boot.

  ‘Fall back,’ he shouted to his two remaining assassins and with that they disappeared at speed back up the tunnels.

  Gabriel fell to the ground, his back on fire with pain as he thought about what he’d seen, the image floating in his mind as his visions slowly restored.

  ‘Oh no…no, no,’ he said. ‘We need to get to Sasha and Evelyn now.’

  50

  ‘Do you always feel this amazing?’ Michael said. He stood up, stretching his arms above his head, every muscle taught. ‘Indestructible.’

  ‘You’re only indestructible, until you’re not. You know only too well with Lincoln, that we have our vulnerabilities,’ she said.

  ‘Yes, but I will never be sick another day in my life and I’ll never grow older than I am now. That is an amazing gift.’

  ‘You’ve taken to it well,’ she said.

  ‘I would be a fool not to. The alternative was…well, not an option. So, I welcome it just as you have.’

  ‘It took me a little longer.’

  ‘That’s ‘cos you’re a better person than I am,’ he said.

  She smiled. ‘I doubt it.’

  Evelyn had seen something in his eyes as the transformation had taken place, something she hadn’t possessed. He had shed his grief and was welcoming every stage, re-born and revelling in the pain, knowing he was one step closer to his new powers.

  ‘You and Sasha would do best to give each other a little space, until things settle down,’ she said. ‘You’ve both lost someone.’

  ‘Aren’t you angry with him?’ he asked.

  ‘Aren’t you? I’m not ashamed to admit that I’m glad that we’re together again. I missed you. It will be Sasha who will not be pleased with me about your turning. So best to keep out of his way for now.’

  ‘He’ll have to get used to it,’ Michael said. ‘I won’t be leaving your side again.’

  She took his hand as they rose into the air and for most of the journey north, Michael whooped and hollered, the wind running its cool embrace over him, as they disappeared into the thick clouds, finally coming into New York. He marvelled at its scope from the air and as they swooped down over the waves, he dipped his fingers into his bright reflection, his sister’s nothing but a silvery shadow.

  ‘Who would have thought when we came here on the Eleanora, that we would see those very ships from the air,’ he said.

  ‘We have to keep this city out of Woltact’s hands,’ she said as they landed in Washington Square. She had explained the situation to Michael as they flew, but she wasn’t sure how much attention he’d been paying.

  ‘You still have the stone?’ she asked.

  ‘It has me,’ he said. ‘It seems intent on staying in my possession.’

  ‘Good, it gives you an advantage. Use it if you need to.’

  He took it out of his pocket, its surface a constant low glow in honour of its host, when it started to grow brighter, the colours throbbing.

  Sasha landed at Evelyn’s feet, his eyes immediately diverted to her companion.

  ‘You turned him!’

  ‘You left me no choice.’

  ‘You should have let him die,’ he said, walking around him, inspecting him like an inferior insect.

  ‘We’re not all capable of killing our brothers,’ Michael said, confident that he could match Sasha blow for blow this time.

  ‘That’s not helping,’ Evelyn said to him. ‘Where are the others?’

  ‘With Gabriel. They’ll join us at home. We must go quickly…’

  He didn’t seem himself and she could tell he was worried. He lurched forward, holding his stomach. Was he ill? How was that possible? He fell to the ground.

  ‘What is it?’ she said.

  ‘He’s here. He must be,’ he said panting. ‘I can feel him.’ For the first time since they’d met, Sasha looked afraid. Evelyn had no wish to meet his maker on the street.

  ‘Let’s get him home,’ she said putting her arm around him. Michael reluctantly took his other one, lifting him to his feet.

  51

  The mansion on Fifth Avenue was eerily quiet. There was but one hour left before daybreak and the rooms lay in darkness, their thick velvet curtains cloaking them from the outside world. Sasha felt a little better, the crushing pain in his stomach subsided.

  ‘Gather any weapons you can, anything of use.’

  ‘The study,’ Michael said, delighted at last to have free reign on its treasure. He disappeared and called out to them straight away. When they came to the door, he was standing in the centre of the room. The glass in every one of the cabinets was smashed, shields and old paintings knocked from the walls and the floor was strewn with books pulled from the shelves.

  ‘A break-in?’ Michael ventured.

  ‘Do you sense anyone Sasha, your maker?’ Evelyn asked him.

  ‘No,’ he said quietly, his eyes roaming the damage. ‘I sense another but it’s not possible.’

  The door slammed behind them suddenly, making them jump. The sound of footsteps came on the spiral staircase, the familiar clunking of silver on iron as the walking stick hit the metal. Instead this time its owner did not limp but strode confidently down each step, swinging the cane out until it landed on the required stair.

  ‘Alexander, how I’ve missed you.’

  Vladimir reached the bottom step and stood there, smiling at their shocked faces.

  ‘I killed you,’ said Sasha, his eyes clouded in confusion.

  ‘On the contrary, you brought me to the attention of the master and I thank you for it. It took him a while but he came to realise that I was of more use to him, than you could ever be. You were weak and ungrateful of his gift.’

  ‘The master is dead.’

  ‘Come now, you don’t believe that. You might have once but not now. And look at our friends,’ he said. ‘Why, we’re all vampires now. I knew there was something about you Evelyn.’

  Michael instinctively stepped in front of her and she gripped his arm in warning, ready to fight.

  ‘So, we are quite the party. Though your friends are sadly not here. My new comrades paid them a visit. I expect they are dead by now. Grom was out for blood. Not happy that you and Gabriel slayed his beloved dogs and I expect he made them pay dearly. Bethezba too. And the master, he is angry with you Evelyn, for destroying his growing family. Such promise, gone now. How did you do it? That’s what he wants to know. So, you will explain yourself to him, maybe even join him and in doing so, I will spare your brother.’

  ‘I killed you once, I can do it again,’ Sasha said.

  ‘I was hoping you’d say that,’ he said, sliding the blade from his walking stick. ‘I think you’ll find the odds more balanced this time round.’

  He let out a snarl as his teeth shot down, sharp and deadly. Sasha snatched the samurai sword from the mantle. As they came together, their blades met in a fizz of blue sparks, each pushing forward.

  ‘Can you feel him close?’ Vladimir said. ‘He’s almost here.’

  Sasha pulled back and swung his blade around to catch his side. It swiped cleanly through his flesh, as Vladimir pulled back.

  ‘Perhaps he will let you live,’ he said. ‘Forgive you for your insubordination.’

  Sasha brought the blade up again, aiming for his heart as a pain twisted inside him. He backed away from his brother, his sword falling as he felt the imaginary cloak of his maker draped over him, the smell of the old cloth filling his
senses. Michael and Evelyn could smell it too. Vladimir gave a long low bow in the direction of the window.

  It had opened, a sea of moving cloth drawing back the curtain as it streamed inside. It flew out over them, the hood at first appearing monstrous. Its tip grazed the ceiling before it settled into Woltact’s form, the fabric resting in folds at his feet. He raised his arm and from under the cloth his jaundiced fingers moved towards Sasha.

  ‘My son,’ he said. ‘You have done well.’

  Sasha looked at him in disbelief, his maker’s face hidden deep in his hood. He curled his fingers, beckoning him closer.

  ‘It is time for you to return to me.’

  ‘I don’t serve you any more,’ Sasha said.

  ‘You serve me even as you speak. You brought her to me.’

  Evelyn readied herself, flexing her palms, allowing the energies to move about her body, to bring the fire when she commanded it. She couldn’t repeat her performance from Olivia without also killing Sasha and Michael and she eyed the folds of the cloak, calculating how quickly she might reach to touch it and how prepared he might be.

  ‘Bring the girl to me, Sasha,’ he said.

  ‘You can’t have her.’

  ‘Sasha, we can take her with us. If you care for her, bring her to me. Imagine what we could do here. It is limitless. From here we can spread our kind all over America. This is just the beginning.’ Sasha didn’t move.

  ‘Bring her to me,’ he bellowed.

  Michael ran at him, his teeth bursting through, tearing his gums as the blood streamed from his lips. He met the full force of Woltacht’s hand as he swatted him away, but it was enough to give Evelyn the chance she needed to slide across the floor. She touched his cloak and it ignited immediately, a yellow flame spreading up the wall of fabric. The fire consumed him and Vladimir drew back into the corner, the flames reflecting brightly in his eyes as he looked on in horror.

  The hooded figure bent double, curling his arms in before throwing them open and backwards, the cloak slipping from his body. Woltacht laughed hoarsely as the flames died around him, buried beneath the heavy folds on the floor. He stepped forward, his dirty feet bare, dressed in a simple druid’s robe, centuries old. Sliding his hands into the opposing sleeves, he rested them there as he perused the girl.

  ‘That’s a nice trick,’ he said. ‘I could use you.’

  The echo of the human he once was hung loose on his hairless body, his face decimated by his slashed mouth, his eyes rheumy as he squinted at her, destroyed by the evil he pursued and the darkness in his heart.

  ‘No, thank you,’ said Evelyn circling him.

  ‘As you wish.’

  ‘Come to me,’ she said. ‘Let me touch you. That’s all it will take.’

  Woltacht gave her an impatient look. ‘Vladimir, destroy her.’

  52

  Vladimir hesitated, sure that she would burn him if he got close. He hadn’t come this far for it to be cut so short. Instead he grabbed his brother by the neck, squeezing him tightly as Sasha still fought the pain inside him.

  ‘You care for Alexander, don’t you?’ he said to her. ‘You move on me and I will kill him and then I’ll kill him,’ he said pointing at Michael.

  Woltacht ran his crimson tongue over his broad lips, smiling.

  ‘Now offer yourself to our wonderful guest, just like you offered yourself to my brother. Let him drink from you and give him the immunity he seeks from your wrath.’

  Michael gripped her hand as she considered Vladimir’s threat. Slowly she released her fingers, taking a step towards Woltacht, his arms outstretched.

  ‘No, Evelyn,’ Michael screamed. ‘You can’t.’

  ‘Close your eyes,’ she said. ‘Now.’

  She released her contained heat, blasting it around the room, the light bouncing off the surface of the precious metals that adorned the walls and mantle. Vladimir pushed Sasha forward, taking shelter behind an iron shield – the heat ferocious, unlike anything it had ever endured in the crusades. Woltacht tried to fight it, his will pushing it back, the blood of thousands coursing through his veins, but to no avail. He could not withstand it and her might won out as he began to burn. Years of living in darkness could not have prepared him for this, as if the sun itself had journeyed from the sky. His body burst into ash and when it had settled, Evelyn looked to Michael and Sasha. Both of them cowered, their heads in their hands, awaiting their own annihilation. When it didn’t come, they opened their eyes.

  ‘We’re still alive,’ Michael said scrambling to her. ‘How?’

  ‘Because of him,’ she said, looking to the shield and the vampire concealed behind it.

  ***

  As Woltacht burned, Vladimir had closed his eyes, muttering the words he had memorized over and over, not missing a single one. Even when Sasha finally pulled the shield from him, he was still saying them.

  ‘It’s a little late for prayer, brother,’ Sasha said as the door burst open. Gabriel was first through it, Mafdet at his heels, followed by Wade and Velle.

  ‘We saw the light and thought it best to wait outside,’ said Wade relieved to see that they were unharmed.

  Gabriel stood in awe at Woltacht’s demise.

  ‘You did it. Oh, my Evelyn, you did it,’ he said with delight, picking her up and twirling her around. Vladimir eyed him from the corner where he remained curled up, his brother standing over him.

  ‘And you, you cretin,’ Gabriel said. ‘You will pay dearly for your treason.’

  ‘Wait,’ said Evelyn. ‘Without him I wouldn’t have risked the others with my power. Only he knew they would be safe. Bring him to me.’

  Sasha threw him down before her.

  ‘How did you know that would work?’ she asked.

  ‘I am a learned man,’ he said. ‘I read. You know that. If you know how to decipher these books, then all the answers lie within them.’

  ‘Why did you help me?’

  ‘Because I prayed you might spare me. I witnessed your great power and I knew that Woltacht would succumb. That I was on the wrong side. You were searching for answers yourself in this room, weren’t you? I can help you find them. Please Evelyn I beg you. Let me join you. Please, Sasha.’

  Sasha’s fist pounded into the side of his face.

  ‘I say we kill him,’ Sasha said. ‘He’s dangerous.’

  ‘I agree,’ said Gabriel. ‘Evelyn?’

  Evelyn looked at him, his shoulders slumped forward in defeat.

  ‘Give me the stone, Michael,’ she said as he dug deep into his pocket. She took it running her thumb over its smooth surface before handing it to Sasha.

  ‘No,’ said Vladimir. ‘You can’t. I saved you. I saved all of you.’

  Sasha examined the weapon, the very one that had killed his dear friend.

  ‘Hold him,’ he said.

  ‘What will it do to me? No, no please,’ he cried.

  There were no more words after that, only the stone being forced into his mouth. Vladimir clutched his throat as it lodged there, panic-stricken. His face began to blister, the first wisps of smoke starting to curl around him. They let go of him and he stumbled backwards, turning to the window in terror, as flames engulfed him. With flailing arms, he escaped through the opening, leaving a fury of smoke behind him.

  ‘We have to go after him,’ Sasha said.

  ‘He has nowhere to go. The stone will finish him or the rising sun,’ said Evelyn, the first light beginning to break in the sky. ‘Either one will see to his end. You need to take shelter.’

  ‘Perhaps not any more,’ Sasha said. ‘Has your blood made me immune to the natural sun, like you?’

  Michael looked at her expectantly.

  ‘There is but one way to find out but perhaps this is not the morning for it.’

  ‘Well,’ said Wade, taking Velle’s hand
and kissing it, ‘I need my beauty sleep. You folk can debate the matter all you like. I need a rest. You comin’ beautiful?’

  ‘Yes Sir,’ said Velle, biting her lip. They disappeared upstairs as first Michael and then Sasha, stepped slowly out into the dawn. The street was deserted, the city not yet awoken and Sasha felt the first beam of natural light on his face in decades. He looked back to Evelyn and Gabriel as they stood on the doorstep with Mafdet at their feet. His smile was as broad and hopeful as any she had ever seen. There was no sign of Vladimir and she imagined him ash, carried by the wind, spread across this city she had come to call home.

  ‘You have done miraculous things here,’ Gabriel said. ‘I’m so glad you came.’

  ‘So am I,’ she said.

  ‘I hate to admit it but I don’t think we’ve seen the last of Vladimir,’ he said, letting out a sigh. ‘I can still feel a glimmer of him. But no matter. Let him go and lick his wounds for a few centuries. He is not equipped to be any sort of threat. Will you stay for a while in New York?’

  ‘That depends I suppose on the two of them,’ she said looking at Michael and Sasha. They revelled in the morning sun and though Michael had never lost its magic, it renewed him in a way it had never done before. Sasha stood like a child just allowing it to bathe him, its heat beautiful to him, warming his bones.

  ‘I think a trip to Ireland might be in order. See how it’s been doing without us,’ she said.

  ‘A sound plan indeed. You have the world at your feet Evelyn. Can I call on you should I need you?’

  ‘I wouldn’t have it any other way,’ she said. She left him, running down the steps to join the others as Sasha caught one hand, Michael the other and they danced in the birth of a new day.