Giver of Light

by Nicola Claire

  I recognised his eyes. They were a beautiful grey, with flecks of silver and platinum, surrounded by a bright multicoloured mark, that when I looked at it, made me want to go to him. Made me want to throw myself directly into his arms.

  I wrapped my own arms around my waist and bit my lip.

  “Who are you?” I managed to say quietly.

  He looked utterly shocked for a moment, then infinitely sad.

  “What have they done to you, my little Hunter?” he whispered.

  I shook my head and took a step backward. He ran a hand through his hair and turned to sit in an armchair behind him. He clearly wasn't going to rush at me then. I relaxed my stance marginally.

  “Do you know who you are?” he asked not looking at me, maybe he thought I would scare more easily if he looked me in the eye. I appreciated the sentiment, I didn't trust it though.

  So, I didn't trust him, but I also felt he wouldn't harm me and more to the point, I needed some help. I was lost, alone, no doubt being hunted and without means or memory to help me. Could I take the risk?

  I looked around the room for inspiration and spotted a mirror over a bookcase on one wall. It was directly opposite me, but I wasn't reflected in it at all. I spun around behind me, taking in the lamp and chair at my back, then returned to look at the mirror. The lamp and chair sat proudly front and centre in the mirror, but no me.

  What the fuck?

  The vampires eyes flicked up to me and he sighed. “You're wondering why you have no reflection?” I flicked my own glance at him, but didn't say anything. “You are Dream Walking, I called you to me in your sleep. Where are you sleeping, Lucinda? Is it safe?”

  “Who are you?” So many questions coursing through my mind and all I could come up with was who are you? Go figure.

  “My name is Gregor. I am a friend. We know each other, quite well actually, but we are what I consider to be very good friends. You trust me, well to a certain extent, but I unflinchingly trust you. I am in Wellington, New Zealand and we have no idea where you are, or where you have been for the past month. We have been desperately trying to find you, but you have been cut off to us. This is the first time I have managed to call you to me in a Dream Walk and believe me, I have been trying daily to do so. Michel is in no fit state to reach you, we all hoped that I could. Where are you, Lucinda? Let us come and bring you home. Please.”

  So, the moment of truth. He knew me, he seemed familiar, if not remembered, but I'd been fooled before in the past. Still, I'm asleep in a toilet stall in a train station in Denver, Colorado and I have no money, no memories and absolutely no strength to go on anymore. Sooner or later Jonathan and his vampires would catch up with me. I needed help of the divine kind, maybe this was it.

  “What train station?” he asked.

  I sat straight down in the chair behind me in complete surprise.

  “You can read my mind.”

  “We share a connection, I can read your thoughts when they are strong, or you are weak. I am guessing it is the latter right now.”

  I just nodded, what else could I do?

  “What train station in Denver, Lucinda? We can have someone there within the hour.”

  Within the hour. Holy shit. Who were these people? Vampires? Whatever.

  “We are your family. Or at least, Michel is and it would be one of his vampires, his acquaintance who would come for you. Enrique is in New Mexico, he could be with you in an instant. His speed is unparalleled.”

  “Who is Enrique?”

  “A vampire aligned with your kindred. He can be trusted.”

  There was that word again, kindred. Michel. I knew it was right, but I couldn't put all the pieces together, none of it fitted. No memories to back up the feelings, just hunches and a gut feeling that seemed so very right. What if this was a trap though? What if this vampire was one of Jonathan's, he was prone to elaborate plans wasn't he? Pretending I was his wife to exact revenge was one hell of an elaborate plan.

  Gregor was on his feet as soon as those thoughts crossed my mind. His fangs down and a low growl emitting from deep within his throat.

  “Did he... did he harm you?” His voice was rough, uneven and low. I knew what he was asking, but I couldn't answer him. Jonathan had certainly hurt me, but I had no voice to say those words. He had also drugged me, lied to me and held me captive for over a month.

  Gregor let another long breath out and yet another hand went through his hair. I was picking he was having trouble not coming to me. I got the impression he wanted very much to make sure I was OK and not harmed. If he was a friend, we must have been close.

  “We were. Once.” His voice cracked slightly and he had to clear it.

  “Where are you, Lucinda, let us help you. I swear to your goddess Nut, that I mean you no harm.” He fisted his hand over his heart and bowed low. Whether it was to me or my supposed goddess, I'm not sure, but I got the real sense he was being truthful.

  “In a toilet stall at Union Station, LoDo.” I said it in a rush.

  “Enrique will find you. Stay where you are, he will come to you.” He smiled a small smile. “Go back to your body, it's unsafe to Dream Walk for long. Try to rest. I'll see you soon, ma petite chasseuse.”

  I wasn't sure how to go back to my body, but it didn't matter, because just then there was a loud bang on my toilet stall door that woke me up with a start and sent my Dream Walking self hurtling back to my body in a mad rush.

  I woke to a persistent angry thumping against the metal stall door, making it shake and rattle and almost come off its hinges from the abuse.

  My heart in my throat I prepared for battle again.

  Chapter 8

  The Rocky Road To Escape

  “We know you're in there! Come on out! You can't stay here any longer.”

  It was a human male, not vampire and from the shoes I could see at the bottom of the toilet stall door, he looked like military, police or security. I heard the crackle of a radio, a walkie-talkie, I think.

  “We saw you come in here on the security cameras. It's been an hour, get your ass outta here. This is not a hostel.” Another loud bang on the door.

  I sighed in relief. Security then. I opened the door to the stall and looked up at the brown eyes of the guard. He blinked slowly at me, probably picking up on how fragile, battered and sick I looked.

  “Sorry,” I mumbled as I moved past him. “I didn't realise I'd been in here that long. I'll go.”

  “Are you all right? Do you need the paramedics, ma'am?”

  I shook my head and walked out of the toilets. I knew he was following. I knew he wouldn't just let me walk off and hide somewhere else. Union Station was no longer an option for cover. I was going to have to brave the night outside and hope that this Enrique, that Gregor had talked of, would be able to find me just the same. But also know that I would have to hide myself well, if I didn't want any other vampires to find me either.

  Crap. The night was still young. At least well past midnight, but I could tell we still had maybe three, possibly four hours until dawn. How the hell would I stay invisible until then? I rubbed at my face and moved awkwardly and stiffly to the exit.

  “You got somewhere to go?” The guard was still with me, I had stopped paying attention to my surroundings. I cursed myself silently and took a quick look around. The station was just as busy as before, people milling around waiting for their trains. Denver was pretty busy after dark it would seem, but if it had a strong vampire holding, then that didn't surprise me. Vampires tended to spice up the night life and make it more desirable to humans. It was an unfortunate side effect to their inhabiting a location, one that played into their hands, not the humans.

  “Yeah. I'll be fine.”

  He just looked at me, still rigidly militant, but also a hint of compassion there too. I was continually being bowled over by the humanity of people in this area. First Gus, now this guy. They all seemed to really care about their fellow man. Even in a vampire stronghold such as this
, humans instinctively knew to band together. Maybe this was how we had survived the vampires for centuries. Maybe it was evolution, survival of the fittest, those willing to help each other making it through the night.

  I smiled at up at him, willing him to believe. He didn't need any complications and helping me would only place him in immediate danger. I knew without a doubt that Jonathan's vampires would have made the assumption I had made it to Denver and would be trawling the streets right this second. I wasn't going to drag an innocent into my misery.

  “You know, there's a crop of trees across the courtyard. It's a warmish night, maybe with the cover you'll be all right.” He didn't smile when he said it, just opened the front door to the station and held it ajar for me. I nodded and walked through heading towards the trees he had recommended, then when I heard the station doors close behind me, took off in an entirely different direction. It wasn't easy to find somewhere safe to hide. Out in the open, it was even colder than I had thought possible. I wrapped my arms around my body trying to keep the warmth in.

  I knew I needed cover, but I also needed somewhere I could watch the front door to the Station from. Somewhere with a wall at my back, but also possibilities for escape. I no longer had a weapon, but I did have my wits. The short sleep I'd had - and for some reason visiting with Gregor in his apartment - had revitalised me a bit. As cold as I was, I was also on full alert again, able to take in my surroundings in a glance, know where potential traps were hidden and actually sense where danger may be lurking. Even the frigid air was waking me up more so than I had been for a while. I warned myself that it would only last so long before the cold seeped in to my bones and stole what fortitude I had again.

  How long I would have to wait for this speedy vampire to rescue me, I didn't know, but I could only guess it was going to take longer than what will power I had left. I straightened my back, determined to fight to the end, even if that only meant staying alert and focused and hidden.

  I chose some buildings across from Union Station's entrance. Elaborate brickwork, Romanesque arches and sandstone trim made the behemoths stand out even in the dark. This really was a lovely district and under differing circumstances, I might have enjoyed the architecture. Now though, I was more interested in the deep wide entranceway, dark stoops and perfect vantage point, that the potential hiding spots provided.

  I quickly snuck into one, pushing myself well back out of the lights of the streets, using the shadows to cover me as best as I could. I crouched down and folded my body in on itself for warmth and an illusion of protection and waited, alert and focussed on my surroundings, both immediate and across the courtyard, back towards the still bustling station.

  At least there was a lot to keep me busy. Many more people out on the streets at this early hour than I had expected. I let myself sink into a semi trance, still keeping my eyes open and still making sure I was prepared. I shifted my legs and arms frequently, just enough to keep the circulation going and trust that my body would instantly respond to a threat without seizing should it be needed.

  It was a long time before I realised I was sending my senses further and further out, that I was sending my senses out at all. I hadn't done anything like that since I had been with Jonathan, once again a reminder that I hadn't had my latest lot of injections for over 24 hours. I had actually missed two by now and that was having an effect on me. I knew instinctively that was why Gregor had reached me, I also knew it was why I could send my senses out right now. It made me feel more confident in my ability to look after myself, but I wasn't naïve, I was still unarmed and although I couldn't sense any vampires nearby, I knew my luck wouldn't hold forever.

  Sure enough, some forty minutes after leaving the station, I felt them. A group of four, approaching from the west. I shifted again, checking the use of my limbs, they were stiffer than when I had first crouched down here, sluggish and achy all over, I was also more tired than when I started this vigilant game. The cold was making my teeth chatter, the breath in front of my face condensing the air in little puffs of steam. I lowered my breathing, only letting a small amount of air to circulate through me, trying to diminish any signs that I was even here.

  The vampires would sense me, they could either smell my fear, my blood, although dried, or hear my heartbeat, which was unfortunately climbing. But I willed every fibre in my body to relax, hoping I could convince them I was simply a homeless person hunkered down for the night. The fact that I was a homeless person was just a coincidence.

  The vampires kept to the shadows moving in formation. One in the lead, two on either side of him a step back, the fourth coming up the rear, but keeping a healthy lookout over his shoulder for approaching threats from behind. I recognised none of them, but they were definitely on the hunt. Was it a hunt for me or for dinner? Any old human would do. I couldn't tell, but I knew my body was trying to determine the answer to that question anyway, it just wasn't able to do it. I had the sense that it certainly felt like it should be able to, just couldn't yet make everything function the way it was meant to. Those damn drugs were still in my system.

  I knew this, not only because of my body's fervent desires to ascertain what threat these vampires were, but also because none of my memories had resurfaced yet. A pure bolt of terror ran through me at the thought that perhaps they never would. That Jonathan had done permanent damage and I would be alone and lost in this world forever.

  That jolt of fear must have done it, because one of the vampires paused mid-stride and glanced towards where I was hidden. I knew he couldn't see me in the shadows, their eyesight is keen, but not that keen, they did need some form of ambient light to discern shapes. But he could sense me, smell me, feel me. I held my breath and willed the fear to recede. It didn't.

  He said something to his companions and they all looked my way. The rest of the courtyard vanished, my world shrunk to just me and them. My heart rate climbed, not just out of fear, but because it knew I needed the boost in oxygen to choose to either fight or run. Adrenaline shot through me, making my limbs dance alive, my brain clearly focus and my body ready for action.

  This was it. They may not have been Jonathan's vampires, I couldn't be sure, but I doubted they wouldn't know who I was and once they had me in their hands, they'd soon put two and two together and get Jonathan involved. Either way, Jonathan's or not, this was it.

  I couldn't stay where I was hidden, I was just dinner waiting to be served. I knew I couldn't outrun them and part of me reluctantly acknowledged that, unarmed and so weak, I couldn't fight them either. There were four of them and only one of me. But, I could hope to keep them in the open and maybe, just maybe, one of the many humans still walking around the station courtyard would come to my aid or frighten them off. It was the only course of action left available to me. I was both out of luck and out of time.

  I stood up, a little unsteadily and walked down the steps towards them. My whole body wanted to run, my mind kept repeating over and over and over again, run! But, my heart knew it was futile. To run would be to offer a chase to the hunters who faced me and that would lead to where? Somewhere dark and unlit, somewhere away from humans, somewhere fatal. I chose to face my death head on with the smallest of hopes that the venue I had chosen would save me.

  Never show fear. Never give an inch. Always stay on guard.

  I stopped right in the centre of the courtyard, bathed in light from lamps around the edge of the clearing, conscious of the human lives that surrounded me and the undead ones that faced off with me some six feet in front of where I stood. And I waited.

  They weren't sure what to do. I could see them quickly assess the situation, taking in the light level, the humans and the fact that I obviously knew what they were. They seemed unsure, but hungry. Their eyes taking on hints of red, a glow that only softly gave their heritage away. No one walking past recognised them for the danger that they were, no one even glanced at the red they now sported in their eyes. Whether they were expending a little power t
o cloak us, I didn't know, but they were weighing up their options as if they had a choice.

  They didn't, as far as I could see, too many humans, too many people to glaze if they gave themselves away, their only choice would be to move on and leave me. I was certain they would, I'd called their bluff and other than cause a major disclosure of their kind, they had no choice.

  So, that's why I wasn't fully prepared. One of them sprang towards me, while another began to circle to my rear and the two remaining began to gather humans, capturing them in their glaze and misting the whole area from sight. It all happened so quickly, but not fast enough for me not to realise they knew who I was and I was worth the effort and risk of exposure to capture.

  My body reacted intuitively, without thought or reason, I danced out of the way, spinning in the air and landing some few feet out of the approaching vampire's grasp. I didn't pause for breath, conscious of the vampire behind me readying for assault, I danced again and sprang through the air like a gazelle, landing gracefully apart from both. I took a breath in and braced for the next move.

  I knew I had about two more dancing steps in me, before I'd falter and make a mistake. I knew this, as surely as I knew how to breathe. It was natural, a part of who I was, it was me. I didn't question that knowledge, I just went with it, hoping it would be enough for them to give up the chase, for the effort to not be worth it and for the mist that covered us to disperse and the human police to arrive. It was all wishful thinking, but I didn't allow myself a moment to out guess it. I just danced as soon as one vampire sprang, fangs down, red glow now obvious in the low misty light filtering through to us where we danced.

  I made it past him with ease and just managed a dance step out of the reach of the second vampire, only to land in front of the one creating the mist. He simply struck a hand out and punched me in the face. I went sprawling backwards and landed in a heap on the concrete pavers, blood pouring down my face, my head thumping, my body aching from excruciating, mind numbing pain.