The Rise of the New Bloods, From Dark Beginnings (10 page)

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

I came around slowly, not remembering much of what had happened or why I was layi
ng down on the floor at Stride's place. I lifted my head up off the floor and was about to get up when I noticed some scratches on my arm, and an empty sachet of blood beside me.

‘Oh fuck, what did I do?’ I said, feeling drowsy.

I shot a glance towards B
laze.

He was sat on the sofa shaking, and looking at me as if he did not know me. His eyes were on me, and it quickly dawned on me I had almost killed him.

Oh no, he knows.     

  Stride grabbed my arm and helped me up onto a chair.

  ‘Are you ok? You're Jyrki now right?’   

I nodded.               

  ‘Yeah, I think so. How bad was I?’

 
‘Let's say I wouldn't want a repeat of it,’ Stride said exhaustedly, as he undid the chains on my hands.

I was overcome with guilt and remorse.

I sat limp on the chair, full of shame for what I had done to them. I hoped there would be a better way of telling Blaze, but selfishly I felt relieved it was all over.

 
‘Here, let's clean the blood up; we can't let you walk around like that.’

Whilst Stride tended to my wou
nd, there was an awkward silence that quickly followed by a lot of pent up anger and rage from Blaze.

 
‘It's not possible; it's just not fucking possible,’ he stammered.

I lowered my head in shame, unable to look him in the eye.

I do not think sorry would have sufficed.

I felt like I had destroyed his childlike look upon the world.

  ‘I, er, think we all need to talk,’ Stride broke in. ‘Jyrki, listen, you can't help what you are but you can help who you are, don't go beating yourself up ok, just consider it lucky I was around to help.’

 
‘Blaze,’ I paused, ‘I am truly sorry you had to see that, I was going to tell you...’

 
‘When? When you were going to eat me? Fuck sake man, I took you in, you rode in my car, you could've killed me at any time...,but vampires don't exist. You are not real, how could you be real? Explain it to me, c'mon?’

  I looked at Stride who was sitting on the arm of the sofa sipping on a Scotch; he gave me an encouraging nod. I then looked towards Blaze who
looked half the man he did earlier. His eyes were blood shot and his hair just hung over his face, sticking to the blood from the gash on his cheek.

I hoped I would find the right words, but to put it mildly, I had just destroyed the only real friendship
I had. Nothing was going to make him forgive me. I decided I had to tell him the truth.

 
‘You deserve the truth, but please don't hate me for what I am ok?’

 
‘Hate you? You almost fucking killed me man. You know, I always suspected there was something different about you, but it never crossed my mind that you were a sideshow freak!’

Stride got up from the chair and went over to calm Blaze down.

  ‘Blaze, you should have a drink and try and calm down alright. If only you’ll listen to him...’

 
‘Listen to him? Why in the hell couldn't you tell me this before, at least I would've had the sense to stay the hell away from him?’

  There was no let up of his anger towards me, and I had to respect that.

  ‘So, come on then, tell me, how the fuck could you be a vampire, when they only exist in the movies and fucking books…how come nobody knows about this?’

 
‘If you calm down, he'll explain...’

Stride huffed, and shook his head at me.

  ‘Jyrki, where the fuck did you find him?’

 
‘You, you Scottish prick were in on this too, you’re just as bad as he is,’ Blaze yelled, pointing a finger at me.

 
‘I don’t have the authority to say anything. Now will you calm your fucking self-down and listen to the lad,’ Stride said, getting rather impatient with him.

 
‘Lad? Don’t you mean a fucking monster?’

I was not expecting his reaction to be this bad.

I only went to get up from the chair when he flinched.

 
‘I’m not going to hurt you alright. So do you want to know the truth or not?’

He could not look at me.

  ‘Yeah, I may as well,’ he said.

 
‘Vampires,’ I began, ‘were created in Ancient Egypt during the reign of Ramesses, after an ancient spell that went wrong. You see, Ramesses needed an army that was powerful enough to overthrow his enemies. So, he called upon Sekhmet, a powerful warrior goddess for help, but he received the kind of help he wasn’t expecting. Sekhmet drank blood, and infused her ways on to the human form.’ I paused allowing the information to sink in, ‘. My father Amroath, was summoned to keep the Ankh, a powerful symbol of the ancient gods, safe from these creatures who were slowly taking over the whole village...’

 
‘Ankh? What is this fucking thing good for?’

 
‘It was soon discovered that the Ankh which hung in the tombs of Anubis, the protector of the dead, would enable us to walk in daylight. This obviously caused great concern as they started killing the whole village of Deir el-Medina. Most of the vampires were slayed by the Serpent Sword wielded by my father, who was despite his lowly caretaker job at the temple, had once been a great warrior himself. Unfortunately, he got bitten, but his strength and resilience to the demon was recognised by the Ancient Gods, and there was born the prophecy...’

Blaze did not
look too convinced. 

 
‘What you are spouting off is all myth…’

 
‘Yes, but even myths have their roots in facts. Why do you think the modern world knows about the vampire figure? Because of what I have just told you that’s why. Your Hollywood version of the creature is myth. I am not. I am as real as you are to me right now.’

 
‘This is bullcrap! Why doesn’t anybody know anything about this huh? And why now? Why me?’

 
‘Listen laddy, I can back up everything he has told you as the truth....’ Stride piped up.

 
‘What do you know?’ I asked Stride.

It was about time I heard his side of the story. All the mystery surrounding him was beginning to aggravate me.

Blaze got up from the sofa; luckily, he had escaped our encounter with a few minor scratches.

I co
uld not tell what he must have been thinking. Poor guy though, I thought, as I saw him limp over to Stride's file cabinet with blood trickling down his face. If I had seen what I turned into, I probably would have reacted in the same way.

 
‘I need a bottle, is that okay?’ he said nonchalantly.

 
‘Sure, but don't try to leave now...’

 
‘Leave? You must be fucking joking. If there are vampires in here, I dread to think what the fuck is out there?’ he said, pointing towards the door.

Stride sat deep in thoug
ht for a while. I didn't think this would've been too difficult for him but looking at him, there seemed to be a lot more going on with him than I initially thought, but nothing could've shocked me more than what he was about to tell me.

 
‘Jyrki, you know how you think you are the last? Well, that isn't entirely true.’

I gasped.

Blaze thumped the bottle down on the cabinet.

 
‘What?’ We both said simultaneously. ‘Yes, there is, and he has been helping me. You see, I've been looking for you for the past 40 years.’

I was dumbstruck by his revelation.

It was not at all what I was expecting to hear from him. I assumed maybe he was a little crazy, perhaps a mental asylum patient gone AWOL, but he really did take me by surprise. I sat on the edge of my seat, waiting for him to unravel his story.

 
‘So, who is he? I've been feeling like I have been followed, and just earlier I thought I saw someone outside the studios...was that him?’

 
‘For everyone's protection right now, I can't say who he is, and yes I've sent him to keep an eye on you. These Secret Order people, or whatever, only knows you are here, apart from us and one other, we are the only ones who know of his existence, and in fact we are the only ones who know of the existence of Vampires.’

 
‘Another vampire?’ Blaze wiped the sweat from his forehead and took another swig of the bottle.

For the first time since I saw everyone disintegrate into ash before me, I felt a sense of peace within me. Yet, in my mind, I did not know how this could have been pos
sible. There was nobody left, for which I was certain. My clan was the only race of vampires in existence. I could feel the rush of excitement run through my veins, as I waited for Stride to unfold his story.

Stride sat back against the chair and took anot
her sip from the bottle he was holding.

 
‘My father was in the Korean war, when his best friend got shot by a sniper. Up until the day he died when I was seventeen, he was adamant that what he saw on that fateful night was the God’s honest truth. He watched this human-like creature drag the body through a hedge. He called out to him, but he scarpered. My father chased after him and found his friend with two bite marks on his neck; his blood was almost completely drained. Beside his body he found a piece of brown parchment that the creature must've dropped.’

 
‘So, hang on there a moment, this vampire obviously cannot walk in daylight? How has he survived? Where is he now?’

 
‘He survived in the underground. He traced me about a year ago, wanting the parchment back, but I had already done a lot of research and so I offered to help him, not fully realising what he was at the time...’

 
‘What was in the parchment?’

 
‘It was the prophecy, written in an Ancient Egyptian language.’

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

I heard Blaze’s mobile ringing in the distance, just outside of my own thoughts on the news that the ancient prophecy had been found. I heard talk of ‘I'm coming now,’ and ‘murder weapon,’ swim into my own stream of consciousness. I turned to Blaze, who still looked very much on edge, holding the mobile phone a few inches from his ear staring into oblivion.    

  I shot up from the floor, as I could sense the instilled panic and fear that surrounded him. Having forgotten about my own revelation just earlie
r, my move was not very tactful.

Blaze flinched as I approached him.

I stood only inches away from him. He made me feel like a predator after its prey.

I saw the pain in his eyes.

He began to sweat profusely, and his breathing became heavier. He looked as though he wanted to say something to me, but instead he turned to Stride who was stood next to me looking at him inquisitively.     

 
‘What's the matter with him now? Stride asked me.

‘Boy, you may as well accept it now, he is a vampire, and yes, he almost killed you, but, and what I’m gonna say is important, he didn't so get over it and tell us what is going on with you?’

 
‘Do you have to be that harsh?’ I said to Stride. ‘He's obviously had a shock tonight can't you be a little more sympathetic? You've had forty years to get used to this.’

Blaze shook his head.
‘April,’ he sucked in a ragged breath and a look of dread melted across his face.

 
‘What's wrong with April?’

 
‘What has a month of the year gotta do with this?’ Stride asked.

Blaze fle
w into a rage. ‘It's my sister you fucking moron,’ he yelled.  

 
‘Ok Blaze chill, tell us what has happened? Is she okay?’

 
‘What do you care huh?’ he spat. 

I did care, perhaps a little more than I should.

  ‘She's been taken hostage and I bet it’s all your fucking fault,’ he said breaking down into a heap on the floor.

Somehow, I knew where all this was going.

  ‘Has this got anything to do with Dr. Matthews’s murder?’

 
‘She was at the museum earlier, sorting out Dr. Matthews’s office when some Egyptian men took her. She's locked in a hotel in the city somewhere,’ he said. ‘They better not lay a finger on her, she's all the family and I have.’

  He looked at me, begging me to help him whilst still undecided about whether he could trust me.

  ‘Why would they want your sister?’ Stride asked.

 
‘She's the curator of the museum; she was the one who organised that bloody Egyptian exhibition.’

 
‘Oh this is getting interesting,’ Stride nodded.

 
‘Did she say what hotel?’ I asked him.

 
‘No, her mobile cut off.’

 
‘Stride, do you have the prophecy on you?’

 
‘Er, no, the other guy has it.’

I had to take a minute.

So far this evening was in the running for being the worst night I've had since I arrived in New York.

 
‘I’m just going out a minute, I need to think.’

I leaned against the doorframe of the warehouse watching the rain beat down into the puddle by my feet, when I sensed something was standing around the corner of the building. It was the same feeling I had in Finland when I sensed the 'Others
.' I did not want to alarm Blaze and Stride, so I looked back to check that they would not notice me gone. Stride was talking to Blaze on the sofa with their backs turned to me.

 
‘Jyrki?’

 
‘Huh?’ I looked around me not sure of what I was expecting to see; until the voice called me again and I realised it was the same voice I had in my head from Finland.

 
‘What do you want?’ I whispered, as I edged slowly around the building.

 
‘You should go to the museum.’

 
‘What? What are you talking about?’ I whispered back.

 
‘The answers are in the museum.’

 
‘Right, I've had enough, who are you?’ I demanded.

I was not prepared to wait for an answer, after all I have waited too long for this moment. Curiosity was surely gnawing away at me, as I could see its shadow
stretched out on the ground.

Just one more step, one more step, I thought, to finally solving this mystery.

I gripped the edge of the building, and quickly snatched a glimpse behind.

 
‘Oh shit!’

I pulled back instantly unable to believe what I saw.

At the corner of my eye, I could see the shadow moving towards me.

‘Did I just see right?’

 
‘Yes, you saw right.’

I glanced down then back up again, unable to believe what I had just saw. A large black wolf stood peering up at me with its green eyes th
at illuminated in the darkness.

 
‘You're the others, wolves?’ I spluttered. ‘This has to be a fucking joke right?’

The creature did not move its mouth, but preferred to communicate with me telepathically.

  ‘Yes, we're wolves, and we’re also the guardians of the ancient secrets,’ he said, walking around me.  ‘Don’t act so surprised by the mere fact that I am a wolf, we aren't your enemies you know, despite what you may have been led to believe.’

 
‘You're the guardians? So that would mean Jafar is one of you too?’

 
‘Yes. Well, he was until he was lured into the underworld.’

 
‘Underworld? What can you tell me? I need some help as Blaze’s sister has been kidnapped.’

 
‘I shall meet with you later. For now just take my advice and go to the museum. Something awaits you there.’

 
‘Jyrki! Where the fuck are ya?’ Stride yelled.

 
‘Go now, you must go back indoors and not mention us to anyone yet.’

I could not believe it, my mind swam with this new revelation, all this time and they were wolves.

I was expecting a lot worse, or was I underestimating them.

 
‘Maybe we should go to the museum, check things out?’ I said, ‘Do you have any four wheel transportation?’

 
‘Sure, my van is out the back. I'll get my keys. Er, any particular reason?’

 
‘Just trust me on this.’

I looked at Blaze who was sitting on the sofa.

‘You can trust me y'know.’

I didn't expect forgiveness right away, I just wanted him to know he could still trust me and despite the demon, my curse, I was still the same Jyrki he had met at the bar.

  He looked up at me with a little less hatred, and nodded.

 
‘We need to work together ok, these people have something we both need.’

 
‘Sure, just can't quite believe it y'know...’ he said, unable to look me in the eye.

 
‘I know, and I'm still very sorry about this. I never wanted you to see me like that.’

 
‘Yeah,’ he scoffed. ‘You and me both, man. You're fucking scary. Remind me not to get on the wrong side of you!’

  I smirked.
‘It's gonna take a while to get used to, but hopefully when this prophecy has been found, I'll be able to break this curse once and for all.’

 
‘Come on you two,’ Stride yelled from the van, ‘there's an ancient prophecy to be found.’

 
‘Yeah and my sister,’ Blaze muttered as he walked out of the warehouse.