“Okay,” he panted. “I’m sorry. Erik is... the best of us I suppose. He has always fought the hardest against the thirst. He has never killed a human intentionally-”
“He murdered hundreds of slayers,” I spat, not wanting to hear any lies.
“Slayers aren’t normal mortals,” Fabian replied. “Your kind hunted us for hundreds of years. Of course we fought back. Of course we defended ourselves. But Erik never even did that willingly. He starved himself of blood for two hundred years to try and break our curse.”
“Why would he think that would break it?” I asked in confusion.
“A debt paid rights wrongs of old; its a line from the prophecy. He thought he could pay the debt in suffering. The gods clearly didn’t agree.” Fabian shrugged like he wasn’t sure what else he could say on the subject.
My mind spun. If what he was saying was true then Erik really had tried to fight against his nature. And he truly intended to break the curse. But if that was the case then shouldn’t we have been helping him instead of trying to kill him? Our vow was taken to end the reign of the vampires but that could be achieved by solving the prophecy just as easily as it could be by ridding the world of each individual vampire.
My head swam with the implications of what he was saying and I started to back away. It was too much. I didn’t know what to think or what to do with the information he’d given me.
“Callie, wait. Please don’t leave me again!” Fabian called. “I can’t bear being away from you. It’s carving me in two!”
“I’m not meant to be with you,” I replied and the truth of my words drove out the false feelings for him as my heart pounded for Magnar.
“You are!” Fabian cried but he was already fading away as I pulled out of his dream.
I slipped back into my own body and I could still feel my heart thrumming with longing for Magnar. I needed him like a drowning woman needed oxygen. I wanted to throw myself into his arms and beg him to take me despite my broken pieces because with him, somehow I knew I could hold them together.
I shouldn’t have been driving him away from me so that I could deal with this. I should have been drawing him closer. And as I fell into my own dreams, they were all filled with him.
The sun was unrelenting today. The gods were against us. I'd tried to contact Andvari with the Shaman's mirror, but he hadn't responded. Did he want us dead? Was this our fucking fate? To cross an entire ocean only to be caught in daylight when the slayers reached us?
We didn't have much time. I stood under the sun in the centre of the village, shaded by nothing but a wooden awning. The stone houses stretched up the hill before us and the people had gathered at its base, anxious as they gazed at our weakened forms. Every time we set foot in the sun, black veins encircled our eyes and our energy rapidly depleted.
The leader, Takoda, stepped toward us: a slim man with a shaven head and red stripes painted across his bare chest. “We will fight with you to the end, dear gods.”
I glanced at the others; Fabian looked willing to fight, but Miles and Clarice seemed unsure. I was torn apart inside, unsure what to do. I didn't want the villagers getting caught up in this. They'd be cut down by the slayers' immense power. And after all they'd done for us, it wouldn't be right to lead them to their deaths.
“We could turn them?” Fabian suggested in a low tone, so only the four of us could hear.
“No,” I snarled. “We cannot do that to them.”
“But we need an army, Erik,” Fabian urged and Miles nodded, warming to the idea.
I caught my sister's eye. She wore a dress of blue silk and her golden hair was braided with flowers. “No, Erik's right. We should leave, get as far away as possible to protect them.”
“Curse those slayers, I don't want to give up this place,” Fabian snarled.
“Me neither,” Miles agreed. “This is our home now.”
A pit of despair grew in me. I didn't want to leave either, but what choice did we have? We'd sworn to protect these people and guiding the slayers away from them was the only way we could do that.
“Your enemies are our enemies!” Takoda called, lifting the stone club in his hand. “We will protect you as you have protected us!”
A cry of assent went up from the villagers. I spied children watching us from the doorways of their homes, seeming excited by the spectacle.
I sighed, my body riddled with concern. We couldn't do this.
I eyed the forest beyond the village, expecting the slayers to descend upon us at any moment. Their blades would guide them here. They were coming, it was just a matter of time. And I wanted a decision made before that happened.
“We could head into the forest to meet them and fight under the cover of the canopy.” I turned to my siblings. “We can fight on our own terms. And the villagers will not be involved.”
Fabian looked ready to disagree, but Clarice stepped in first. “Yes, we'll take weapons and hide in the trees. We could win with the element of surprise on our side.”
“How will we surprise them? They will sense our presence,” Miles said, running his hand into his hair. It was getting long, curling around the nape of his neck.
“Draugr,” Andvari's voice rolled through the air and power rippled across the land.
The villagers looked around in alarm and my heart shuddered as he appeared amongst them. The god walked toward us in his brown robes, his grisly hair floating about him.
The villagers raised their weapons but I lifted a palm, warning them off. “Leave him,” I commanded and they slowly parted, letting him move through the crowd toward us, muttering their fear.
Andvari surveyed us beneath the awning, coming to a halt just before us where the shade met the sun. “You need my help,” he purred, seeming to revel in our predicament.
“Yes...what can you do?” I asked.
Andvari stooped low, picking up four black rocks from the dusty ground. He cast his hand over them and they smoothed out, rounding into shiny spheres. A rune appeared upon them, glittering silver in the light. “These will stop their blades from detecting you. Carry them always. They will help you evade the slayers.” He stepped into the shadow of the awning, passing us one each.
I took the final glossy stone, running my thumb over it, sensing power emanating from the viking rune of protection etched into it. It was a three-pronged symbol similar to a Y.
“A thank you would be polite,” Andvari growled and the others bowed their heads, offering their thanks.
Andvari's eyes slid to me when I remained quiet. “Shall I pull it from your ungrateful mouth, Erik Larsen?”
“Thank you,” I bit out.
“A gift will suffice.” He turned toward the villagers, lifting a finger and pointing at a child hugging her mother's legs. “A gift in blood.” He beckoned the child closer and she was forced to move toward him. Her mother ran forward to catch her but Andvari knocked her to the ground, making my heart stumble with fear.
The villagers were forced aside, allowing the young child to reach Andvari.
“No,” I snarled as Andvari approached her, taking a glinting silver knife from within his robes.
“A fine sacrifice,” the god growled and the villagers started wailing, calling out her name. Lisi.
I steeled myself and stormed out into the sun, its burning rays cutting a path through my chest and weakening my muscles. I groaned as I moved in front of the girl, stopping Andvari from approaching.
“No blood will be spilled here,” I demanded. “These are good people. They will not be hurt for the sake of us.”
“I must have a gift,” Andvari chuckled, not seeming bothered by the stand I was making.
A man ran forward from the crowd, raising a bone blade to his throat. “I offer myself as sacrifice!”
“No!” I bellowed, but I was too late as the man slashed his own knife across his jugular and blood poured down his naked chest. He hit the ground and a woman ran to him, falling to her knees and crying out as he
gargled, choking to death.
I bared my fangs, taking hold of the girl's shoulders and pushing her back toward the crowd.
“That will do, I suppose.” Andvari grinned then twisted sharply away from me, vanishing into the air.
“Forgive us!” Clarice called to the people and the leader bowed his head, signalling that he did.
“We will leave to intercept the slayers!” Fabian shouted to them. “Bring us your weapons!”
The villagers hurried forward, laying hatchets, clubs, bows and spears at our feet. I had my own obsidian blade at my hip, but I picked up a hatchet, weighing it in my palm. I tucked Andvari's rock into my pocket, wishing someone hadn't had to die for it.
“To the trees,” I ordered my family as they armed themselves and we took off through the village, a cheer going up as we headed toward the forest.
As I slipped into the darkness between the boughs, my strength returned. I glanced back at the village, praying we would come back. That we would finish the slayers at last and be able to continue our lives here. I made a silent promise to myself that if we won, I'd try to enjoy the world once more. I'd spend time with the people, attend their feasts and celebrations. I'd be more than just a predator, I'd attempt to be a man again.
We moved further into the dark forest, the sounds of birds and small mammals chirruping around us.
We soon arrived in a clearing not too far from the sea and spread out around it. If the slayers were coming, they'd surely take the easiest route. And this was it.
I scaled a nearby tree, crawling onto a thick branch which hung above the clearing. I spied Clarice slipping into the covering of the leaves on a large beech tree across from me. When she fell still, she was invisible, the foliage concealing her entirely.
Fabian and Miles were soon hidden too and we fell deathly quiet, waiting. I remained as rigid as the branch I clung to, molding myself to its shape, my gaze pinned on the ground below.
The first sign of movement was a group of monkeys swinging through the branches. I was so still that one perched on my back for several moments before heading on to join its companions.
I strained my ears, then tensed as something large shifted through the undergrowth below. A huge boar appeared, grunting as it trotted across the clearing.
“Oh hello, Magnar,” Clarice whispered on the breeze and a chuckle escaped my throat.
The minutes merged into an hour and I started to wonder if we'd made a wrong assumption. Perhaps the slayers wouldn't come this way. Perhaps they'd forged a path through the swamp to the south. Or they might have headed that way first before circling back. But this area was a straight shot to the village. If they'd sensed our presence before, they'd certainly be heading in this direction.
Doubts pricked my gut as I wondered how many might be moving toward us. We'd had to run from them before. But I wasn't prepared to flee again. I was no coward. And at least this time we'd have an advantage. Death would descend on them before they knew what was happening.
I stilled as Magnar's dark head appeared between the shrubs, cutting a silent path toward the clearing. Anger rose in my blood and a lust for his death consumed me.
I am tired of being hunted. You shouldn't have followed us, slayer.
He moved silently into the clearing, hovering on the edge of it as he raised one of his golden blades as if trying to sense our presence. He frowned, sweeping the sword through the air before lowering it, evidently assuming he was safe.
I waited with a ripple of excitement spreading through me. I let my instincts take over. I was a predator, born to kill. And though spilling more blood didn't appeal to me, I knew we had to end the slayers or they'd never stop hunting us. They were a threat to our new way of life. Our home. And I refused to allow anyone take that from me again.
Magnar strode further into the clearing and I rose silently onto my knees, taking the hatchet from my hip. As he stepped beneath the branch where I was hiding, I gritted my teeth and launched my attack.
Energy surged through me as I fell from the tree, raising the hatchet above my head. Magnar looked up at the last second and I collided with him, bringing us both to the forest floor. I rose above him with a yell of fury, readying my weapon to kill him.
“How?” he gasped.
I brought my arm down to cleave him apart, but he grabbed my wrist, turning his head at the last second so the hatchet grazed his ear and sliced deep into the earth.
His fist connected with my jaw and my head whipped backwards as I was thrown off of him into the dirt. Clarice dove from the trees as Magnar regained his feet, drawing his second sword with a feral growl.
Fabian sped at him from behind, throwing a kick into his back.
Magnar stumbled forward, slashing his swords through the air to keep Clarice away as she tried to grab him.
I bared my fangs, stalking around him as he swung his blades to keep us at bay. “Devils! How have you hidden your presence from me?”
Miles darted into view beside Fabian, aiming a bow at Magnar's head. He loosed the arrow and Magnar whipped his sword sideways to knock it from the air. I dove on him, taking the advantage as I grabbed hold of his head and yanked sideways, ready to break his neck.
Magnar bellowed, reaching behind his head and launching me over his shoulder. I gained my feet with grace, turning back to him with a snarl, but he came at me with rage scorching in his eyes.
“Magnar!” someone shouted beyond the trees and in moments, the slayers descended on us. Fabian, Miles and Clarice darted into the undergrowth to intercept them, leaving me alone with Magnar.
He slashed his blades at me in two heavy strikes but I avoided the blows, dancing between their deadly edges so he never landed a hit.
With a rush of agility, I got between them, ramming my fist into his ribs. He growled as something cracked, slashing his swords at me again. I leapt over his head, turning fast and throwing my weight into his back so he stumbled forward. He swept around just as quickly, keeping upright as he brought a golden blade towards my heart. I darted around him and snatched his wrist, twisting hard and he gasped in pain as the bone broke, dropping the sword to the ground. I kicked it away, but the moment cost me too much as he rammed his other sword into my stomach. I groaned in horror as the searing pain ricocheted through my body. He ripped it out and I hit the ground, clutching the gaping wound.
“How did you evade our swords?” he demanded, standing over me and holding his blade above my heart.
“The gods help you as they help us,” I hissed.
He considered that, lifting the sword higher, readying to finish me. Clarice crashed into him so hard, they slammed against a tree and broke the trunk in two. I got to my feet, wincing as I moved, cursing myself for this failure.
Miles ran to my side, throwing my arm over his shoulder as he helped me. “There's too many of them. We have to run.”
“No,” I growled, determined to end this today.
“Don't be a fool, Brother,” Miles begged and I noticed a huge wound on his arm, dripping blood.
Clarice shrieked as Magnar sliced deeply into her leg. She sprang away from him, running to our side.
“Go!” Fabian roared, tearing through the trees with a slayer's head in his hand. He tossed it at Magnar's feet, stalling him in his tracks. “Run!” he yelled and he and Miles dragged me into their arms before speeding off into the trees.
Magnar's voice followed us, his yell full of pain and rage. “Your deaths are mine! Run and hide but I will find you and cut out your monstrous hearts if it's the last thing I ever do!”
I needed to talk to Erik. I had to quieten this pain inside me, this yearning for him. I wanted to speak with the only person in the world who knew how difficult this was for me. Even he had warned me against loving him. But he accepted it too. His own heart beat in time with mine. Though we were parted, I still felt closer to him than ever. And no amount of distance would ever change that.
When I was sure Callie was asleep, I crept to t
he phone Julius had left on the floor, taking it in my palm. Right then, it was more than a piece of technology, it was a direct line to the man I loved. And I'd be damned if I was going to feel bad about reaching out to him. I needed to hear his voice.
I had no idea if he'd even found Valentina's phone after I'd hidden it under the bed in his home. But maybe he was close enough to hear it right now...
I moved through the museum, putting some space between me and Callie in case I woke her. I found a rusted door left ajar, leading into a storage room. I slipped inside, using the light on the phone to illuminate the space. Shelves were packed with boxes filled with dusty hats and small models of the statue.
I padded to the back of the room and slid down to the floor, pressing my back to the wall. With a shaky breath and my heart crashing against my chest, I found my way to Valentina's number on the phone.
My mouth was overly dry as I pressed dial and lifted the cellphone to my ear.
Please be there.
Please pick up.
Please let me hear your voice.
A ringing noise resounded in my ears, over and over until I was certain he wasn't going to answer. My heart sank deeper and deeper into my body as disappointment caved in my chest.
“Hello?” Erik's voice.
My heart stopped. My mouth opened but no words came out. Perhaps it was only a few seconds, but it felt like an eternity before I could make any noise at all. “Hi,” I breathed.
“Rebel?” Erik gasped. “Tell me it's you.”
“It is,” I sighed, shutting my eyes as I drank in his rumbling tone, letting it seep through every inch of my body.
“Are you alright?” he demanded.
“Yes, I'm fine,” I said. “Well, not exactly fine.”
“What's wrong? Do you need help? I'll come for you-”
“No,” I cut him off, my heart rate skyrocketing again. “I just miss you.” Emotion swallowed me up and tears seared the backs of my eyes.
Silence fell on the end of the line, but finally, he answered. “I miss you too,” he sighed heavily and I could feel the weight of this burden hanging between us. “Fuck...you have no idea.”
Age of Vampires- The Complete Series Page 93
