The Art of Darkness (Part 10)

"Victory is reserved for those who are willing to pay its price." -Sun Tzu

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7 Part 8 Part 9

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Previously on The Art of Darkness:

Powerful revelations have shaken Amber's world down to her very core. Part vampire, part human, she barely has time to wrestle with this new information before she and Morvinus are attacked and separated. His fate unknown, Amber is thrown into the back of a vehicle, the last sight of the vampire she loves in dire straights.

Part 10

“Hmm, she smells nice.”

My breath hung in my face, the dense fabric trapping the heat, making my already scrambling lungs struggle that much harder for air. Sandwiched in the middle seat, my screaming silenced by a swift blow to my stomach, I could almost hear the hungry drooling around me.

“Not one drop, those are the conditions,” another voice chided.

“Come on, not even a tiny taste? But she's so…juicy.”

A cold and heavy hand came down on my thigh, squeezing tightly.

“You do that again and the next thing you’ll be eatin’ is your own shite. Do you understand?”

With that, the hand released, bringing a silence to the car.

No matter how much I wrestled, there was no fighting the binds on my wrists, their strength holding true, the sharp edges cutting into my skin.

Take a breath. They haven’t killed you yet. They want you for something. As strange as it was, this thought was comforting. As though Morvinus’ himself had spoken it to me, his voice of reason whispering in my ear. Keep it together. Tears were beginning to brim my eyes. What if he’s dead? You’re not.

With a hurried jolt, the vehicle came to a sudden stop and I heard the door creak open.

“Come on.” A yank at my elbow pulled me out of the seat, my feet touching down on an uneven gravel surface. The heavy rain began to coat my shirt, the chilled water trailing down my back, my arms, seeping into my socks and shoes.

I waited for a moment, anything. Then, I felt it. The tug on my arm lightened ever so slightly. I didn't wait for another opportunity, taking my advantage, however brief it may be. With enough of a nudge I jerked my arm free…and ran.

“You little bitch.”

Even with the adrenaline shooting through my body, the thick gravel was like running through sand, each step, every footfall harder than the last. I knew I would probably be caught, that my meager speed would be useless against that of a vampire, but I didn’t care. I had to try.

Springing forward blindly, I had no idea where I was headed, but with each step my hope grew. Maybe I can get away.

I shouldn’t have breathed life into that thought, for the moment I did, was the moment it all ended. My foot caught on a piece of gravel and it slipped, bringing me down hard onto the rocky surface below. An audible pop resounded from my shoulder, and with it, an angry fire surged through my veins.

I cried out, no longer able to hold back the tears. I heard the crunch of the gravel grow louder as they approached. My breath labored, and I panicked. Frantically, I shuffled my feet, praying for their purchase on something, anything, my whole body inching forward with each desperate shove.

It was no use. Regaining his hold like a vice, he wrenched me back to a stand, my shoulder screaming. He pulled me into him, winding an arm through mine, his icy hand around my throat. “Ooh hoo, a bit of a fighter are we? I like that. Now, as much pleasure as it would bring me to tear into every bit of bloody flesh you have on ya, if I do, I don't get paid. So here's what you're going to do. You're going to be a good little girl and do as I say, ay? You fight me again, and your boyfriend is as good as dead. Do I make myself clear?”

I nodded. He turned his nose into my throat, taking a deep breath in. “Hmm, I do envy him. I can almost taste it myself. Pity. Come on.”

Jerking my elbow, he limped me forward, eventually hopping up a few stairs to a firmer surface. When the cold breeze had eased I knew we had gone inside. A few turns later, he let go, shoving me down onto the hard floor.

“What do you think you are doing?” A stranger scolded.

“We've brought you what you asked for.”

“I asked for her to be brought here unharmed. What have you done to her?”

“She's alive, ain't she? Now, you pay me what I'm owed, and I'll be on my way. Ay?”

The silence was tense, broken only by a few undistinguishable sounds, feet scuffling, metal clinking.

“There now, you have your payment. Remove her bonds and be done.”

“You sure you want to be doin’ that? She's feisty, that one.”

“Not a word of this to anyone. Do you understand?”

“What makes her so special anyway?”

“That is none of your concern. Release her.”

A couple of cold hands tousled my arms as he cut the binds. “She's all yours, my lord.” With a boisterous laugh, he retreated, and I heard the echo of a heavy door closing behind him.

Shuffling back, my wrists finally freed, I tugged the hood from my face. The room was dim, still, what little light there was seemed almost blinding. Without thinking, I threw my injured arm up as a shield, instantly regretting it.

Squinting through my water welled eyes, slowly, the man in front of me came into view. Tall and imposing, he looked like a man out of time. He wore a grey button down vest layered over a light blue collared shirt, his sleeves rolled to mid forearm, a small golden chain hung between the pockets. On the bridge of his nose rested a thinly framed pair of glasses. Behind those, a familiar face. A vampire I had not seen in years, yet he haunted my every move, had me chasing his ghost, questioning everything I had come to know.

“You.” It was all I could manage.

He smiled softly, his blue eyes gleaming, holding out his hand and lifting me from the floor. “Do you know who I am, child?”

It was then, amidst the chaos and confusion, the pieces finally began to fall into place.

“Lord Cawston.” It came out before I even knew what I was saying.

He nodded. “I must apologize for the way in which you were brought here. There are few in the vampire world I can trust. I had hoped we could meet under better circumstances when you were ready, but it appears our time is running out. You are in grave danger, my dear. Come with me.”

“Wait, please. Where is Morvinus? Is he all right?”

“He is well. I have set him on a task of sorts. Come, you and I have much to discuss. He will join us shortly.”

As he walked away, expecting me to follow, I took a step and winced, the pain in my throbbing shoulder increasing with every outgoing breath. When he noticed, he stopped, his expression concerned.

“You are hurt.”

“My shoulder.”

Taking his hand gently across my collarbone, he laid it out, spreading his fingers around my shoulder joint, and I felt a rush of searing heat flowing through his touch down deep into my bones, easing the pain.

His eyes danced around, as though he were looking for something, rummaging in his mind. After a moment, he removed his hand. “It does not appear the bones are broken, however, it does seem to have dislocated. We must find you a place to sit.”

With his helpful hand at my back, I limped across the hallway to a bench and he slowly lowered me down until I came to rest, taking a seat beside me.

“For a human, I am afraid there is only one way of healing I know. From what I understand, it is not without pain, but it will help. If you were a vampire-“ He paused.

“What?”

“I wonder…”

“What is it?”

“There may be another alternative.” He sighed, enveloping my hand in his frigid grasp, warming it gradually. “Manipulating blood cells is far more than simply warming or cooling at will. We can also heal, if we are conscious enough to do so. Since you are not a pureblood vampire, I can not speak to your distinct abilities. However, if you would like to try-”

“What? You think I could-”

“In theory, it is possible.”

“Does it hurt?” All this time with Morvinus I had never thought to ask him. Never questioned whether it bothered him or drained him. Just how much was I asking of him every time?

“It can be…unsettling at first. However, it will not always be so. With enough practice, it can become second nature to you.”

“If it works at all.” Only one way to find out. I sighed. “Okay.”

“Very well. Close your eyes. This will take a great deal of concentration so do not be disheartened if it does not work your first time. Are you ready?”

I gulped in another deep breath trying to steady myself, and closed my eyes.

“Imagine, if you will, the individual cells in your blood as soldiers in a vast army. At the moment, they are wandering, performing the duties your subconscious has dictated. In order to harness them, you need to disrupt this process. Taking conscious command first requires connecting with each singular cell. Let your mind travel from one to the next. Visualize every soldier in your path, bonded together. Chained to one another by your thoughts.”

An odd tingling began to spread throughout the four corners of my body, trailing a warmth behind it. It was as though my body had grown. Suddenly I could feel every fingertip, every nerve.

“Very good. Now, give it the command you desire. You need not say it, merely keep it strong in your thoughts. Concentrate on your injury and will your army to fight it.”

Everything else around me began to fade. Soon, the thumping of my heart was all I could hear. Doing as instructed, I imagined my blood swirling together, collecting in a ball at the center of my chest. Each individual cell a small fish in a larger swarm. The warmth grew and I felt it travel up through the top of my rib cage, encasing my throbbing shoulder.

At first, the pain intensified, sharp and turbulent. The heat flowed through, a molten fire burning everything in its path.

“Keep your concentration. Do not let it stray,” he encouraged.

Then, as I raised my arm in an attempt to quell the horrid flame, it slid back and with a resounding click, my shoulder came together again. I gasped with relief, opening my eyes, stunned by what had just happened.

He was beaming. “Excellent! That was quite remarkable, I must say. How does it feel now?”

I brought my other hand up, rubbing my shoulder blade. I couldn't believe it. The throbbing had ceased, the fire gone. It was…”incredible.”

“Well done. It seems you have a better handle on your natural talents than I expected. Your mother taught you well.”

“My mother?”

“Amber?” A voice down the hallway got my attention and I nearly fainted at the sight of Morvinus practically running in my direction. When he reached me, he brought me into his embrace, lifting my feet from the floor, kissing me hard and furious.

Bringing me back down, he was breathless, and so was I. “Are you all right?”

“Surprisingly, yes. Lord Cawston here was just…helping me with a problem.”

“My Lord.” Morvinus dipped his head in respect.

“Morvinus. It has been too long, my friend. I owe you a great debt for keeping our girl safe.”

Morvinus turned toward me, hand on my face. “I would travel to hell itself for her, sir.”

“How are you coming along with the task I have assigned?”

He let out a heavy breath. “Very well, sir.”

“Marvelous.”

“Lord Cawston, you said my mother taught me well. What do you mean?”

“Like I said, we have much to discuss. Come.”

Morvinus took my hand, grasping it tightly as we followed Lord Cawston through the house.

Traveling through room after room, it didn't feel like the usual house. Each wall, floor and ceiling was lined with a reddish brown stone, giving it a cold and dim atmosphere, almost cave-like. Though some rooms were grand and spacious, there were no windows to speak of in any of them. The strange thought occurred to me that perhaps this was a house designed specifically for a vampire.

Lord Cawston stopped when we came to the library. A library that would rival any that I had found at the university. Nothing but bookshelves spanning the entire two floors I could see. The sheer magnitude had me so distracted, Morvinus had to tug on my hand more than once.

“I thought you may feel at home here,” Lord Cawston teased as we found our way to a small seating area toward the middle of the room. “Now, my child, let me have a look at you.” Lord Cawston took my hand, twirling me about. “Beautiful. You have so much of your mother in you.” The glint in his eye had faded some, unable to mask the sadness within.

“Lord Cawston, I don't understand. You said she taught me well. My mother died when I was two. My memory-”

“Is faded, yes?”

I nodded.

“The sacrifices your mother made to protect you included a most painful and difficult task. It is not a skill many of us use often as it can be most dangerous and unpredictable.”

“What skill?”

“If one so desires, we do have the capability of modifying our own memory. If done well, you can change or even erase many different events within your mind. The longer the timespan, the more difficult it is to alter. Tell me, what about your childhood do you remember? Schools you attended? Friends?”

“You're saying she used this on me?”

“No. It is not something we can wield against others. She taught you how to perform it yourself. To protect you.”

“From what?”

“When your father sent you and your mother away, things in our world had grown chaotic. For many years our species had been dwindling in number, with few of our covens producing offspring. Your father’s discovery changed everything. He found it was possible to bring our species together. And, my dear, here you are. A miracle beyond anything we could have imagined.

But there are those who would wish your destruction. So your mother did the only thing she could. She taught you how to alter your memory. And when the situation grew more dire, she brought you to the Hollings home and waited with you as you performed your task.”

“How old was I?”

“Twelve, in our years.”

“Then she's-" I couldn't even finish the sentence.

“Yes.”

My stomach churned, my head spinning. It was too much. Too overwhelming. Though part of me accepted it, knew it was the truth, like a pill stuck sideways, I found it hard to rectify with the rest.

A flourish of emotions suddenly made themselves known. Anger, sadness, confusion, all thrown at me faster than I could catch. Morvinus glanced at me, a look of alarm coming over his face.

“Amber, are you all right?”

“That's not my real name is it? Is it?!”

“Amber-”

“Stop. Just stop. I can't-” I stumbled to the nearest bookshelf, out of breath, the tears relinquished down my cheeks.

“You can not run from it, my child. You are what you are, whether you wish it to be or not.”

“And what am I? I've spent my life believing I’m human, chasing down vampires, wanting to be one. And now, I find I'm neither. So what am I? A hybrid? A halfbreed?”

Lord Cawston came to me, framing my face gently with his cold hands. “You are my granddaughter, Analise. That is who you are.”

Continued in Part 11

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