Magestorm: The Embracing (7 page)

21

On the outskirts of town, an old abandoned hospital sat empty for years.  Numerous windows were broken out, and the light blue paint job had peeled badly.  The lawn was overgrown with thick weeds mixed with tall grass.  Nobody came around here anymore, even out of curiosity.  That is, until a few months ago.

A light was on inside one of the rooms on the third floor.  It was the floor with the most intact windows and farthest from prying eyes on the ground.  Inside, two people had made a home there, knowing they wouldn’t be disturbed.

Through the grass and weeds, a stranger walked confidently towards the front door.  He climbed through a broken window and stepped into the hospital lobby.  Signs directed him to the left, where he found the stairs and walked up to the third floor.

The clicking of his shoes alerted the residents of an intruder.  Dawn was just approaching, and that limited the werewolf’s abilities.  He stepped into the hall to confront the man, anyhow.

“This is private property.  You’re not welcome here.”

Sebastian stood tall with his fists clutched.  His dark eyes peered out from behind dark hair.  Wearing anger and determination on his face, he knew he could take down any human or werewolf at this time of morning, and no vampire would dare be out.  The stranger wasn’t impressed.

“Actually, this is public property, though soon that will change.  I have made an offer to the city.  Don’t worry, though, you’re not being evicted.”

“Good thing, for you.”

The stranger laughed as he approached the werewolf, and as he got closer, his pointed teeth could be seen.  Sebastian thought the man to be a fool, who would soon be irrelevant as the sun was barely a moment from emerging.

“If I may take a few minutes of your time, I’ve come with a proposition for you and your mate.  I think you will find it mutually profitable.”

“Sorry buddy, I don’t deal with dead men.”

The sun broke into view and sunshine showered them both through the large hospital windows.  The vampire was unaffected, much to Sebastian’s surprise.  He couldn’t hide the shock on his face, which caused the vampire to laugh loudly.

“Allow me to introduce myself.  I am Victor, prince of the royal vampire family.  And I have a special gift in regards to the sun.”

He reached into his shirt and pulled out the necklace he was wearing.  On the end was a pendant, a blood red ruby adorned in gold.  The ruby seemed to be glowing, and was clearly protecting him.

“That’s amazing.”

“It’s a gift from a great wizard, which I rightfully stole for my own.”

“Ok, so what’s this proposition you were mentioning.”

The vampire stepped up to the doorway and glanced into Sebastian’s private quarters.  He glanced around at the very basic living quarters and had a feeling the werewolf hated the place and thought this was beneath him.  That could be taken advantage of.

“As I said before, I’m with the royal family, and you are a well-respected member of the werewolves.  We have an opportunity to use our influence to our utmost advantage, and join forces to overtake the witches.”

As the vampire spoke, Rachel returned and overheard the conversation.  She hid out of view and listened to them as they continued with their discussion.

“What do you have in mind?”

“I can’t go into all the details right now, but the first part involves your home.  We would like to use this as a base of operations.  Basically, use this as our version of the witches Grand Hotel.  Another important detail involves your woman.”

Sebastian’s eyes narrowed as he wondered where this was going.  If the vampire wasn’t careful, he’d get to see a werewolf’s temper.

“Basically, I’d like her to see if she can replicate this necklace.  It would obviously benefit us greatly to be able to walk during the day in greater numbers.  And, if we are aligned, it would therefore benefit you.”

“What exactly is my gain here?”

“Instead of living like this, you could become something you probably never imagined.  We will declare you werewolf royalty.  As such, you would have a portion of the city to rule, and once we have control and begin to expand, you would have an ever increasing empire of your own, as would we.”

That offer got the wolf’s attention and he began to pace as his mind raced on what he could do as a king.  The endless possibilities made an inevitable smile cross his face.  Victor knew he had a hook in now.

“I’ll have to think it over, and discuss it with Rachel.”

“Of course.
  The witch council is voting soon on whether to allow werewolves and vampires into the council.  If it goes well, we’ll destroy them from the inside out.  If not, we’ll do this the hard way.  I’ll return in a few days for your answer.  If you plan to accept, please start reaching out to your loyal werewolves and prepare them to join the army.”

The vampire bowed and walked away.  His footsteps disappeared down the stairs as Sebastian returned to his room.  He watched the visitor depart the hospital and walk down the street.

“A vampire that can walk in the daytime is a dangerous thing.”

His voice was quiet, but he knew it was loud enough for Rachel to hear as she approached from behind.  She stopped next to him and watched out the window in silence.  Finally she looked over and could hold her tongue no more, with her temper as fiery as her red hair and lips.

“What are you thinking?  Do you want to destroy the council?”

“I could really care less about them.  However, the council possesses Algernon’s spell book, and if they have someone to use it, they will take ultimate power here.  So we have a choice to make.  We can flee now, or we can stay and fight for our home against all comers.  Ultimately, that will mean we must possess the book, join forces with the king, or take out the royal vampire family once and for all.

22

A figure appeared in the distance, crossing the open fields, headed directly for the house containing the mage.  His rescuer spotted the figure and walked to his hallway closet.  Out came a rifle and a box of ammunition.  He crouched near the front window as he loaded the gun and did a routine check of the gun.

The figure continued towards them, a steady and determined demeanor to the footsteps.  It would only be another ten minutes until the figure was good and close for a shot.  The man hoped he wouldn’t have to do it, but he was fully prepared to defend his home and anyone within.

He stood and started towards the door, preparing to step onto the porch to issue his warning.  A creak from behind caused him to spin and raise the gun, prepared to fire.

“Whoa, sorry to startle you, John.
  What’s going on?”

Dhane clung tightly to the banister as he stepped down from the stairs.  Another creak and he was on the ground floor, still holding on.  He hated feeling so weak, but all things considered, he was happy to just be alive.

“There’s a stranger approaching.  Stay down and away from the windows.”

He obeyed, if only because he needed to sit down.  John opened the door and stepped out onto the porch as the stranger reached the edge of his yard.

“That’s close enough.  What do you want here?”

“I seek someone very important to me.  If you are holding him captive, I suggest you flee while you can.”

Dhane heard the female voice and struggled to his feet.  Walking to the doorway, then struggling to hold himself up, he saw the last person he wanted to see in his present condition: weak. 

“You know this woman?”

“Yeah, John, I do.  Everything is fine. 
Hi Amelia.”

“Greetings sire.  I’m glad to see you are feeling better.”

John helped the mage to a chair on the porch and sat him down before excusing himself into the house.  He knew they needed their privacy right now.  Amelia stepped up onto the porch and sat down in a nearby chair.  For nearly ten minutes, the two sat in silence, until she finally spoke up.

“Are you okay, Dhane?”

“I guess so.  I was nearly killed though.”

“I know.  I could sense what you went through.  That’s why I came looking for you.”

He knew that should make him feel good.  She had sought him out to help him.  Somehow, it just made him think of that day in the hospital when he was cold to her.  It really was intended to be for
her own
good. 

“I’m sorry about the things I said to you, and that I left without saying goodbye.  I actually didn’t say goodbye to anyone when I left.  It was a huge mistake on my part, obviously.  Anyway, I’m really sorry.”

“Dhane,” she started after several more minutes of silence, “I’m not going to play games.  I care for you, but I’m not going to be used when it’s convenient, and tossed aside when it’s not.  I’m no longer a greeter, and Xander has taught me to stand up for myself.”

After another extended silence, he was wondering if he could possibly find her more attractive than he did right then.  She was right though.  Either he was in this for real, or he wasn’t and they should part ways.

“You’re right.  Before this conversation moves and further, can I ask you a question?”

“Of course.”

“Have you been with anyone recently?  Like, I don’t know, Tuesday night?”

“No, why that night in particular?”

He cleared his throat and wondered if he should really press this.  It was obvious she was having sex that night, and since she wasn’t a greeter anymore, he had to know if she was remotely serious about whoever she had been with.

“I could sense you having sex that night.  Are you serious at all with him, whoever it is?”

A smile crept across her face as she realized he had a hint of jealousy in his voice.  It was for no reason, though.

“I was with myself.  I have needs of my own that need to be filled.  Since you weren’t around, I had to take care of it personally.”

A laugh shot out of him before he could catch himself.  Her smile remained and the tension was broken at last.

“In that case, yes, I would like to give us a serious try.”

“Good.  However, we must be fully honest with us.  What did you think you were protecting me from when you pushed me away?”

Shit.

This wasn’t a conversation he was mentally prepared for.  There was no getting out of this now.  He was still deciding how much to say when it just started spilling out.  By the time he was done, he was exhausted.  Then again, it could be from the near-death experience he recently had.  Either way, weakness was consuming him.

“I know it was probably immature of me to be having relations with you both at the same time.  By the time I tried to end things, she made a threat towards you, and I decided the best thing was for me to leave.”

Amelia was silent for a few minutes.  Finally it ended as she began to laugh loudly.  It startled him initially, and then he looked at her as though he thought she’d gone crazy.  Gaining control of herself, she smiled at him.

“First and foremost, no vampire is a remote threat to me.  I would remove her limbs one by one while she tried to do any sort of harm.  Trust me on that.”

The look in her eye told him she spoke what she believed.  He just wasn’t sure what kind of connections Heather might have, and what kind of numbers she could attack with.  Instead of making any argument, he wisely stayed silent instead while she continued.

“Secondly, we were not dating before.  Not really, anyway.  I did not expect you to only see me intimately.  That is a different story if we are to date seriously.”

“Of course.
  Just be aware that Heather has shown up again since I’ve returned.”

“If she tries anything, I will deal with her.”

A smile crept across his face uncontrollably.  And he had foolishly thought it was him who would protect her.  His thoughts turned to Charles and the council vote that would be
coming before long.  The evidence he needed must be in that apartment for them to have assaulted him like this.  It was time to head back.

“I need to get back and search for answers on what the vampires are up to, and who had the nerve to attack me like this.”

“You are too weak right now to be alone.  I must insist you come back to my home until you are closer to full strength.”

Dhane agreed and he went back inside to thank John for saving him in the woods.  When he returned, Amelia grabbed him and kissed him deeply, her hands on his neck, holding him close to her.  His heart raced and he wondered just where this might go as they started back to her home.  Either way, he was more than happy to go along for the ride.

23

Four months earlier…

After carefully reading and re-reading the first dozen or so pages of the journal, Dhane was determined there was something more in the house the townspeople had burned down.  If his mother had left him clues, his father had undoubtedly as well.  Tonight, with the help of his friend the vampire, he would seek out those clues.

Midnight came and went, and the two of them had been watching carefully for four hours now.  Nobody came near the house, and only the occasional car drove through the neighborhood.

“Are you ready to do this, Demian?”

“Ready, always ready.”

They crept out of the darkness and hurried to the rubble to begin sorting through.  For two hours they silently moved around the debris, looking for anything that could’ve survived the fire.  About to give up, Demian was suddenly digging excitedly.

“What is it?”

“A door, a door into the ground!”

Dhane hurried over and helped him clear it off.  It appeared to be some sort of bomb shelter instead of a basement beneath the house.  A metal door was the only thing you could see, and the door was thick and solid.  For a brief moment, his heart raced as he wondered if someone could actually be inside.

With a loud creak and moan, the heavy door unlocked and opened.  Inside, there was nothing but darkness.  No sounds, no lights, and no occupants.  At least he hoped there was nobody left inside, rotting away.

Demian insisted on going in first, to make sure it was safe.  It made sense, given his superior eyesight.  Dhane followed once a light was turned on.  The shelter was mostly as he would have expected it, with basic furniture, a couple radios, a kitchen area, and a pantry full of canned goods.

A sense of dread could be felt, but it was faint.  An old spell that was nearly worn off, it told them they were in the right place.  A thin layer of dust covered everything, but otherwise it looked perfectly ready for use.  Dhane imagined this would’ve been a perfect place for his companion to live, secure, alone, but much better than the sewers.

“Look at this, so curious.”

Dhane walked over to where the vampire stood, looking at a painting on the wall.  It was of a baby, sitting up in a blue blanket, smiling.  Blocks were on the ground and a rocking horse in the background.

“Do you think this is my father, I mean Algernon?”

“Perhaps yes, perhaps no.
  It is your bloodline for sure, for sure.  Maybe it is…you?”

“I doubt that.”

Dhane examined the picture for a while longer.  Something seemed odd, like it wasn’t really attached to the frame.  He tried to pick at the corners with his fingernails but couldn’t pull it out.  Instead, a push caused a click and the latch detached.

The picture swung open now, revealing a hidden compartment.  Reaching into the darkness, he pulled out a book.  It was very old, with a dull red leather cover.  Opening it carefully, Dhane was amazed to see it was packed full of spells.

He gently turned page after page, amazed by how much was in there, and how old some of the entries looked.  This book was so much more than the one they had found in the old theater many months earlier.  The other book was just a memo pad, though powerful, it was incomplete.  Now he had found the whole thing, and it was both amazing and terrifying.

Could this be how his father felt, holding this very book?  Was this the source of so much power, the beginning of a rise to glory for one, and a rise to pain for everyone else?  He felt sick and excited all at once.

“Demian, do you think I should take the book?  I mean, after what happened with my father, do you think it’s safe in my possession?”

“The book did not make your father the man he became.  Of that I am sure, very sure.  The book was a knife at the hearts of many, but only because of who wielded it.  You are not your father, not your father, not Algernon.”

All the while he
spoke,
Demian seemed disinterested in the book.  Instead, the canned goods in the pantry had his eye, and he sorted through them one by one.  A number of them got dropped to the floor, but a few he kept and held tightly, garnering Dhane’s curiosity.

“What are those for?”

“I see many without food in the alleys.  Nobody here will use, so they will use.”

With a smile, the mage tucked the book under his arm, put the picture back the way it was, and grabbed several cans himself.  It was interesting to him how the vampire behaved. 
They seemed destined to take life, but this one tried to preserve it.  For one who seemed to be stunted by past tortures, now he appeared a step above all the rest.