Shining Light of the Volstir (The Light of the Volstir Book 1)

by Brian Carmen

Olivia and Nia spent much of the next three days packing clothes into a bag while looking over an old map. Olivia pointed out that Nia and Victor would have to visit one of the lost cities. It was required of Victor to register with the Volstir Council; if they didn’t and were discovered then they could all be killed. Nia and Victor would have to go to one of the two lost cities that were the home of an active ruling council member. The other lost cities would have Governors however Victor couldn’t register with them.

  Nia agreed with Olivia and began looking for one that close to California. They decided on going to one that she had originally planned on visiting. It was the only city in western America that had an active ruling council member living there. The other ruling council member for America was located on the east coast. Nia looked over the map and began reading the details for the western lost city.

  It was called Loc Moines and had been around for over two hundred and eighty seven years. Like all the lost cities it was located about a mile underneath the ground. This was so that the Volstir wouldn’t have to worry about human discovery or the sun. Oddly enough it was located in Nevada right beneath the large casino city known as Las Vegas. Nia remembered the last time she was in Loc Moines many years before. It housed over two thousand Volstir and was considered one of the Sacred Thirteen. Around the world thirteen lost cities were built specifically for a ruling member of the Volstir Council.

  The fourteenth member would be the oldest living Volstir. They would have a vote that counted as two. He lived somewhere in Europe and only visited the other thirteen once every four or five years. They gathered to discuss recent changes to the world and whether or not new policies should be made. For the most part the Volstir Council stayed out of their lives unless someone broke a law.

  These laws were designed to protect the Volstir from human discovery. They also ensured that every Volstir had the chance to be taken care of. One of the laws that came about five hundred years ago was the Law of Accountability. All new Volstir would have to register and if they did not then they were punished. The Volstir, their maker, and the turning witness would be executed.

  “Loc Moines is a good choice. Ebony and Venus are there and can help replenish your supplies if needed” Olivia commented while adding that Victor and her should have fun at one of the casino’s.

  “We’re not going for a vacation Olivia; we’ll stay until Victor is registered and then we‘re gone” Nia replied without much thought.

  Nia began reviewing the important laws that she would be required to teach Victor before they arrived at Loc Moines. She did enjoy the thought of seeing her sisters again. Nia was more surprised when Olivia mentioned that Lauren would be going to Loc Moines as well. Lauren was another one of her sisters however she rarely showed herself. Nia couldn’t even remember the last time Lauren had dropped by for a visit.

  “Why would she want to go there?” Nia asked Olivia while remembering that her younger sister did not enjoy America. Lauren had always preferred to stay in Germany.

  Olivia replied that she didn’t know what reason Lauren would have to visit Loc Moines. She suspected that it had something to do with her light. It seemed like a strange coincidence that both Nia and Lauren would have a reason to visit Loc Moines. Nia had assumed Lauren was happy with her newest boy toy. She never got along with the rest of Olivia’s children and rarely spoke to them.

  “You should come with us. We could have a family reunion” Nia joked causing Olivia to bop her in the head. She began scolding Nia that she wasn’t going for a vacation.

  Nia rubbed her head while quickly mentioning that it had only been a joke. Olivia probably would have enjoyed seeing all of them together. There had never been a time in Nia’s life when the entire family was together. It had always been a bit strange that they considered themselves a real family when they didn’t act like one. Other Volstir merely referred to their siblings as being from the same convent. Olivia had never used that description; she thought it sounded too informal.

  “As much as I would enjoy coming along I have a meeting with Halberd in Koi” Olivia said scathingly to her progeny.

  Luther Halberd was one of the thirteen ruling council members and had a great influence amongst Volstir. He was very shrewd and extremely old even amongst their kind. Many suspected that he would become the next high ruler. This would only happen if the current high ruler died or stepped down. He lived in the Sacred City of Koi that was located underneath Washington D.C.

  Halberd was the higher of the two council members that lived in America. He was originally living overseas but moved to the United States around sixty years ago. There was a rumor that he didn’t get along with the high ruler and was actually exiled. Human’s considered America as a great nation however the Volstir enjoyed the older nations more. Most of the older Volstir felt that the human nation would eventually fall from power. Nia believed that eventually the older Volstir would have to accept the newer country. There were many things that were giving the American Volstir more power amongst the other nations.

  “Why does he want to speak with you?” Nia asked as Olivia responded with a simple shrug.

  “We go back a long time. It could be about many different things that are on his mind. He always enjoyed flexing his power to make me squirm. I think the jackass might have a crush on me” Olivia explained while sounding annoyed about it.

  Nia brushed the comment away without much thought. Olivia would always talked crap about others even if she really cared about them. Nia had known Olivia for a very long time and had never known that she was friends with Halberd. Olivia probably had a ton of friends from all over the world. It wasn’t too surprising that Nia wouldn’t know about all of them.

  Olivia was over six hundred years old. She was a part of the one percent of Volstir’s in the world. Out of a hundred and fifty thousand Volstir worldwide; only about nine hundred of them were over five hundred. Nia herself was part of the seventy percent that were younger than three hundred. The high ruler was suggested to be around sixteen hundred years old. The second oldest was only around twelve hundred.

  The thirteen ruling council members had their age’s variant. Nia knew that there were two members that were younger than she was. They worked hard to try and show that age did not really matter. Nia heard a rumor that the two Volstir had many assassins attack them every year. Somehow they were always able to fight back the assassins and hold on to their positions. Nia wondered if Halberd would use Olivia in order to gain more influence and power.

  Olivia went out to hunt with En that night since she realized that Victor was going to be very hungry when he woke. Nia stayed in the basement reading a magazine while checking on him every few minutes. She looked at a picture for a movie and the man that was on the cover. He was an actor named Henry Cavil; Nia looked at the picture of him.

  She couldn’t help but notice the striking resemblance between him and Andrew. If she didn’t know better she would have assumed that the two were brothers. Both were extremely handsome and had kind eyes. Nia couldn’t help but wonder how it would feel to touch him. She wanted to feel his hands touch her as the two of them kissed. Nia felt warmth inside while she looked at Henry Cavil and thought about Andrew.

  “Just a little longer” Nia whispered to the picture while hoping Andrew could hear.

  She looked up as Victor began to stir and she could see that he was going to waken. Nia could feel that his heart and blood had greatly slowed down. Still; he looked just as he did when he first began the turning six days ago. She watched as his eyes opened and he began sitting up. He started looking around before his eyes rested on his maker.

  “Welcome back to the land of the living Victor” Nia said with a smile as she walked up to him.

  Nia looked at him while she began helping him to his feet. Victor was somewhat wobbly but managed to stay up. She could see that he was stable but confused. It was a common feeling whenever a human was first turned. They weren’t able to notice the changes
that were happening beneath their skin.

  “Did I turn?” he asked. Nia nodded and told him that he’d been turned into a Volstir. The answer seemed only to confuse him even more.

  “I feel the same as I did before” Victor confessed while Nia suppressed an urge to laugh.

  She had already explained it to him however human ideas had taken the place of truth. It was extremely rare for someone to awaken as a full Volstir. The moment after they turned would only be the start. They would still have to go through an adjustment phase. Victor wouldn’t be a complete Volstir for about another ten years.

  They heard Olivia walking down the stairs with a large tea jug filled with blood. She looked at Victor and began laughing. Both Nia and Victor were confused by this display while they waited for her to finish. Olivia stopped laughing but a cheesy look remained on her face. She had obviously heard Victor and Nia when they were talking.

  “Of course you feel the same, you’re just a baby!” Olivia said in a sweet voice that was obviously meant to be mocking. “You need mummy Helaina to help teach you how to be a real boy again” Olivia explained before laughing again.

  Victor seemed to feel a bit annoyed by her comment though his eyes turned towards the blood. His body was no longer purely human. The Volstir growing inside would require blood in order to survive. Soon human food would no longer be able to keep him alive. Nia hoped that Victor wouldn’t be upset when he could no longer enjoy eating human food.

  “You want some blood? You can have the whole thing if you say please” Olivia said as she held out the jug of blood. She even wiggled the jug around so he could see the blood swish around.

  Victor seemed even more confused however as he turned towards Nia. “I’m not craving blood” he said as if it were more of a question than a statement.

  “Your body can survive on both human and Volstir nourishment for about a year. In a few days however you will start to feel the urge” Nia explained while Olivia began pouring him a glass.

  “It’s good to drink some now however it will curb the initial thirst and help you get used to drinking the blood of animals” Olivia explained while she held the glass towards him. Just like the jug she gave the glass a slight shake as if trying to tempt an alcoholic into relapsing.

  “Thanks grandma” Victor answered as he took the drink and began swallowing the whole thing in one gulp.

  The smile on Olivia’s face quickly vanished when the word ‘grandma’ was heard. Nia was even shocked by what Victor had called her. Both Nia and Victor looked at Olivia before they began laughing loudly. Nia had never heard anyone call Olivia a ‘grandma’ since they were all smart enough not to. It was the funniest thing she’d heard in a very long time. Olivia however was not so amused with Victor.

  “That one was a freebie because you’re still a baby but for the record you may call me Olivia. Call me grandma again and I’ll kick your ass around town so hard the human’s will start to notice” Olivia said while both Nia and Victor began laughing harder.

  Victor was almost unable to keep from spilling the blood that he was drinking. Nia wished that she could have more time to properly train Victor. He needed to know the fundamentals of his new life. Nia was able to admit that he seemed pretty well adjusted at the moment. Once he finished drinking the blood; Victor began stretching his arm and legs. Nia could feel that his muscles were still aching and would require more time to heal.

  They all went up to the kitchen and spent about thirty minutes talking. It seemed that they all could relate to the incredible pain of dying. The three of them had gone through it in their own time and in their own way. Olivia was soon yelling loudly about how much worse her pain had been. It was a festive rebirth for Victor; Olivia ensured that his glass was always filled with more blood. Nia thought that he might explode after he had finished drinking his eight glass of blood.

  Olivia welcomed Victor to the family and gave him a big hug. She reminded him that he was lucky to be in their family. With those words; Olivia started a sing along while forcing the other two to join. This would go on for several hours until the middle of the night. Finally Olivia seemed ready to the two go free.

  “I want some Hugs before I go. I have a long trip before dawn” Olivia shouted while she began hugging Nia and Victor four times each.

  The three walked with Olivia towards the door. Before leaving Olivia turned towards Victor and said “Be good and listen to Nia; or else she’s going to have to kill you”. Victor started to laugh before quickly catching himself.

  He realized that Olivia was not joking with him so instead he nodded. Olivia then turned towards Nia and handed her a silver chain with two small vials of blood attached. Victor didn’t know what Olivia had given her progeny however Nia did. She looked at the vials before thanking Olivia. She didn’t need to ask where the blood had come from once Olivia opened her mouth again.

  “A gift from Ebony; I assumed you were out? That should last you easily until you get to Loc Moines. Make sure you see Ebony and Venus when you arrive. Have them give you some more so it will last you the rest of your trip” Olivia explained before she began giving Nia a few more hugs.

  They both stood in the doorway silently watching Olivia. She walked off the porch and onto the lawn. Without a word she began walking away from the house as the two waved goodbye to her. They could feel the wind blow and within seconds; Olivia was nowhere to be seen. Everything looked the same as though she had never arrived.

  “I forgot all about what was next. We’re going to one of the lost cities” Victor said with excitement.

  Nia nodded but quickly began to explain the full details of the plan. They were no longer going to spend two years underground. She continued to explain that they were going to head to California. Victor was excited when Nia finished explaining her reasons for the change. She was surprised that he was actually happy that she was going to find her true love. Nia wondered if turning into a Volstir might have changed his feelings for her.

  They continued to talk; Victor didn’t seem too worried about not following the original plan. His only concern was about being around other humans. He worried if he would be able to fit in among them now that he different. It wasn’t completely odd for a newborn to be worried about fitting in. It would be difficult during the adjustment phase because they weren’t full Volstir.

  Victor would spend the next ten years in a type of limbo. It would say that he was neither human or Volstir. Nia tried to comfort him with the idea that she would be with him. She told him that she had full faith in his ability to control his thirst. The truth was much more selfish.

  Nia knew that there was a high chance of Victor losing control. She just couldn’t afford to spend two years underground when Andrew was close. This was something Victor would have to understand when she eventually had the courage to tell him. if it was a choice between him and finally having her light; then she would choose her light. Nia cared about Victor but she had also waited for this moment for over a century.

  Victor looked at the two small vials with curiosity for a moment. The vials were very important because they contained the blood from two Volstir. The blood was gathered recently and then brought to Acresville. Olivia had probably acquired them within the last couple days. Nia looked at Victor and the way he was eyeing the vials before finally opening his mouth.

  “How does it work?” he asked while continuing to look at them with great interest.

  He’d seen Nia use similar vials of blood in the past. Nia felt that it would be alright to tell him some of the secrets. There were many things that Victor was ignorant about; one of them was something call Blood Transfusion. When he was human he’d always known not to ask questions about the things Nia did. Things were different now and she was glad that he had asked about it. This was considered one of the important secrets because it greatly increased a Volstir’s standard of living.

  “This vial is from Ebony and the other one is from a Volstir known as Gabriel. Both have
rare and very useful abilities. When consumed by others of our kind they allow solutions to some of our past problems. Ebony’s blood will allow me to walk in the sun without dying; while Gabriel’s blood will help reduce the need to feed.” Nia explained while pulling out a bottle of sugar pills.

  Nia produced a dropper from the kitchen. She then began adding a drop of blood to each sugar pill. The pure white pills immediately became blood red. She now had twenty five pills that were infused with Ebony’s blood. Once she was finished using up the first vial she than started work with the second one. With Gabriel’s blood they could survive off a small amount of blood without feeling weakened.

  In the early days the Volstir were unable to walk in the sun and would have to feed about three times a week. Time past and Volstir with rare abilities appeared. They were able to walk in the sun and survive off small amounts of blood. It was only common sense that the Council would want these Volstir were studied. Eventually a method for transferring these abilities to other Volstir had been created. Any Volstir that had an internal ability could temporarily have someone have the same ability.

  There were many conditions that came with using the blood and the ability of another Volstir. Most of them had been figured out through experimentation. Thanks to the Blood Transfusion; Volstir could hide amongst humans easier. Most Volstir whose blood could be used for Blood Transfusion would normally sell it. Nia was able to get some of the unique blood for free because Ebony was her sister.

  “These will help the two of us travel. We’ll be able to blend in so we won’t leave a trail or stand out” Nia explained to Victor whom seemed to understand.

  She only had a few months’ supply and would have to be careful not to use too much. It could be easy to overdose or grow immune to the Transfusion. This was a fate that had claimed many Volstir’s lives in the past. They believed they could walk outside in the day only to end up a pile of ash. That was the reason why Nia didn’t often use the blood of others.