Chapter X
00:29 Oct 15 2007
Times Read: 1,079
Semesteray
A lone oasis of rock floating amongst clouds, rose quartz structure crowns its surface. Tailored gardens of wild herbs and flowers, crystal clear water fills the ponds and stone gargoyles stand guard on the belt of granite. Flat grey slate scales lace the lush green, small fruit trees dotted the landscape. All of this reminiscent of centuries passed of architecture and of lands I once held dear to me. This place has been home, sanctuary, and on occasion my prison of solitude. Peace is here, quiet peace, the kind all yearn for from the chaos of their lives. This I have created. Strewn about on slabs of rock tables are the collections of legends, lore, and recorded accounts of the breaches into this world by the vile beings we Guardians defend against.
My scarred, wondering mind returned to the flesh that contains it. Light scratching upon my right calf brought the sought attention to a masked furred face with a body as long as my forearm, a sable of walnut and heather color, and bright black eyes begged for sweets. Crouched, delving deep in its obsidian orbs, I spoke. "Is it time for sweet meats, Mischa?"
His searching nose bobbed and weaved, sniffing in search of his object of desire. Cupping one hand as the other placed the handsome beast across my shoulders. With a thought I summoned dried grapes. I stood, calmly stroking soft fur. Placing the treat on the stone table, Mischa scampered down my arm to his reward. Mischa was oblivious to a pair of gold avian orbs watching him hungrily, as he tore in to the cluster of juicy grapes.
"No, Horus, you may not eat him," as a broad grin crosses my face. From the tall wheat, a tan blur crosses the grain stalks. Leaping from his perch, the desert hawk springs for the hunt. "That will keep you busy for awhile," I said with a chuckle, as I followed Horus' flight.
"Master, here are the scrolls you asked for, wine for your thirst, and the latest messages from your brethren," spoke a gravelly voice from behind me. I turned to face an alabaster figure dressed in a plain robe, presenting me with a wooden platter of food and drink and a papyrus roll under his arm.
"Thank you, Myth. That will be all, I replied with a smile for the never tiring servant of mine as he placed the offering on the table next to me.
Myth nodded, then spoke again. "If I may, Master, your scars are in need of attention," he spoke while producing an ornate leather pouch. He opened it and applied the clear salve on pink tissue that crossed my back. As he worked the wondrous salve onto my skin, he again spoke in that low but melodious voice of his. "Master, I am being bold, but I am asking what is to be done with the undead warrior maidens?"
The dull pain of the flesh only whispered the agony of the heart. "They will soon need to learn how to use their gifts, and work together against their sire. I have done what I can for the time being. Thank you, Myth, I will attend to the rest. I wish to be alone with my thoughts."
"As you wish, Master." With a slight bow, the stone servant blinked from view.
As I ate from the platter, washing the food down with the fruity wine, I contemplated the three undead warrior maidens, especially one in particular. 'Yes, what is to be done about one of the oldest and strongest vampires in league with a company of demons? Are the three truly ready for the battle that awaits them? Can I and my brethren block their infernal internal infested demons so they can, in fact, wage their battle?'
Pushing the platter away from me, I poured myself more wine and again, glanced at the grounds around me. I should have destroyed all three of them, like others had been destroyed by the other Guardians, once they had been infested with the demons. It was my love that stayed my hand. This weakness has caused more imbalance in my world than should have been tolerated….. Ahhhhh I sense my beloved is awake now…..
I wave my hand and see her before me, unaware of my presence. Again, I take in her ageless beauty, seeing how this incarnation of my lost wife is as she was when we were married so many centuries ago. Visions, memories, loss and now, the glimmer of new found hope.
She has the scarab and is gazing upon it, trying to recall the memories of her lives. I feel her pain, her frustration, her confusion. Of this, I cannot bear any longer. Her sisters have left her alone. Time is ripe for the unlocking of memories and lives, time to be with my lost love. I shall deal with the Guardians anon.
With a wave of my hand, the vision of her disappears from my sight. As I stand up, I spot mischievous Mischa tumbling across the garden to his favorite hiding place to slumber. "Rest well, my furred one," I say with a slight smile.
Back in my private chambers, I relinquish my velvet robe for the mundane of slacks and a sweater. Far too rarely do I walk amongst human kind and tonight I feel the need of such along with my beloved at my side. Now she will remember the time we walked together in the land of the Pharaohs, our lives content and blissful. My heart, my love, after all these centuries we shall once again walk hand in hand as eternal lovers in the land of our forefathers.
With a thought, I am once again in their abode. I step out of the shadows of the hallway to find her gazing out winder, with such an expression of sorrow, that it takes my breath away. She senses me, and turns to face me, and I am lost within her emerald eyes.
Syren
Walking towards me, she holds up her hand with the scarab and asks, "Help me to remember who I once was."
My answer was to embrace her, take her into my arms. From there I transported us to the ancient city of Thebes, making sure we were deep in the shade of temple ruins. Memories flowed around us from deep inside the temple. Syren walked over to the remains of a great altar and reached out and ran her hand along the painted hieroglyphics on the stone's surface.
I walked up to her as she turned to face me, bloody tears glistening like rubies upon her cheeks. "Are you ready to remember?" I asked softly.
"Yes", she whispered, as she looked up to me with quivering chin, looking so human so frail, and not the undead drinker of blood as she had become.
Taking the scarab from her, I raised my left hand upward, palm up, and then placed my right hand upon her head. The invocation was spoken, energies swirling around us, whispers of time and spirits, glimpses of time past vibrant with color for mere moments before Syren began to sway, her hands to her head, look of shock, pain, loss, love on her beautiful face.
Once again I gathered her in my arms, giving her my strength. "Remember . . . . Remember our life together…my beloved Anankah."
Chapter IX
00:20 Oct 15 2007
Times Read: 1,080
RAVEN
I actually didn't know what to say . . . Being speechless is not a familiar feeling. All I could do is stare at the other two after Semesteray pulled his disappearing act.
My head hurt from all he had to say to us. Why didn't we know of these so-called Guardians before now? You would think that being a vampire immediately gets you into the "all that is supernatural club."
There goes Syren again lost in thought and Sundown getting all pious warrior with her attitude again. My gorgeous cop popped into my mind. I had to find him, I needed to taste him, fuck him, lose myself in him. With the shit storm brewing, I may never see him again.
I walk over to my sisters, realizing I how much I really do care about them and the need to have all of us pull together. Now would be better than later.
"Listen," I said as I sat down facing the two of them. "As much as I would have us pack up and run to another city, I think we need to make our stand."
Gees, look at how the two of them are giving me the look like I've completely lost my fucking mind! Well, maybe I have. After all, I've always been the one to run at any hint of trouble.
"Hey, maybe this guardian can help us. One way or the other, we fight and win, or we three go outside and meet the dawn and end this."
I couldn’t believe it, those two actually stood up and we embraced. All for one and one for all time.
Pulling back from them, I just had to go be with my cop. Damn, I must really be getting soft . . . To actually have the desire to be held and loved by a human! To not want to drain his blood dry like I've always done…what is wrong with me? I just know I have to go to him, and go to him now.
Before they could protest, I was out the window and using our fabulous vampiric skill of being in plain view of humans, if simply being a shadow passing by. It was crazy to leave them alone, but I could not help myself. It was an all out craving, consuming need to be with my cop.
Taking the chance, I flew to his house and landed in the alley a few houses down. I walked down the sidewalk and stood at his walkway. Whew, his lights were on and I could sense him inside. Tossing my hair back, I walked up to the front door and knocked. Moments later, the door opened and there he was that gorgeous hunk of flesh with a very surprised look on his face.
"Well, going to let me in or what?" I said as I walked past him and into his foyer. Oh yeah, that old wives tale of vampires not being able to enter any home without being invited is pure bullshit.
The door shut behind me and I glanced about as I turned around to face him. Looking up into his eyes, I could tell something was wrong.
Not moving towards me, but standing just out of arm's length, a strange look on his face. "Raven, I'm glad to see you. You are not the easiest person to get hold of, even with the resources available as a cop. You've had me worried and wondering if I would ever see you again."
Taking the few steps towards him, we embraced, taking in his scent and body heat, the beat of his heart. But, I smelled something else. I stepped back, and looked closer. Something was wrong with him.
He saw the concern on my face. He gave me that lopsided grin I found so endearing.
"I'm ok. There was a drug bust that had a slight hitch and well, I got shot in the thigh. I'll be fine, just need to stay home a few days to rest. Then I'll be sent to a desk job for a few weeks until I'm good to go back into the field."
We embraced and kissed, my senses on overload, how I wanted him! How afraid I was for him, his human and mortal fragileness. I could have lost him! Minutes later we were in his bedroom, clothes flying everywhere, our need for each other intense. For one brief moment, I realized the potential for disaster this frantic coupling could come to, but I did not care.
SUNDOWN
I feel we three finally are as one now. Raven's distrust and anger towards our guardian has now melted away. I know my mind still reels at all he told us - but I think I knew all along there were others, unseen but always observing.
Now I understand those feelings, we had Semesteray protecting us as best as he could. I am sure the reason we are getting special treatment from such a guardian as he was because of Syren. Timeless love and devotion, mixed with a dash of guilt is a potent thing.
Cannot help but look at Syren in a different light. Now, I can understand her haunted looks and nightmares, being an old soul cannot be easy, and for what her soul has endured all these centuries.
Syren and I sit here facing each other after Raven left to be with the cop she had told us about. For Raven to actually care about someone other than herself or us, well these were truly strange days. She always relished in the prey of a handsome mortal, to thrill in the chase and kill, his warm blood rushing through her veins. This love, this caring….it is of a Raven I have never known.
We both started to speak at the same time, and I nodded to Syren to continue.
She smiled at me. "It seems we both are thinking that Raven has mellowed out and has let someone into her heart. What will happen with a human is anyone's guess, but it gladdens me to see her different than the lustful killing machine she has always been." Syren looked thoughtful for a moment and then continued. "The timing with what is happening is cause for concern. Now is not the time for loss of focus, and to have him in harm's way for being attached to one of us."
Syren looked so sad; all of this was so much to take in. I just smiled and nodded back. Feeling restless and a little out of place with my sisters having others to love and be with and I being all alone. Somehow, the thought of the ocean seemed to pull at me, with the tangy smell of the salt air, the sound of the crashing waves that always seemed to soothe me, to help me to focus and think.
Standing up, I spoke to Syren. "It's my turn to go out," as I reached out to grab my favorite coat hanging from the rack near the foyer.
Syren looked up to me and smiled. "You're going to the ocean, aren't you?"
"Yes, sister, you know me too well. I'll see you at sunrise." We hugged and then I was out the window, flying to the beach, eager to sit on the rocks and become one with my thoughts.
As I flew, enjoying the sensation of the cold night area and looking down on the city, I decided to head to the century old lighthouse on the Point Loma cliffs. I passed over the rows of white military headstones until finally I landed on the walkway that surrounded the lighthouse tower.
Leaning on the railing, wind blowing through my hair, I listened for the crashing of the waves on the rocks below me….feeling myself relax and tension eases out of me. This was better than the beach, having privacy and be alone with just my thoughts. Time passed, lost in my memories of when I was one of the warrior maidens for the church. Images of crosses, the glint of highly polished steel of my blade, sound of flesh being rent by my blades, evil minions meeting their doom for crimes against the innocent.
Perhaps that is what I've been lacking, the part of me missing all these centuries, a sense of purpose, to substantiate my existence. Far too long we used and took from the masses, never to protect, to save from harm from the evil around. But then, we three were the evil. It was all so wrong, so against my very existence…..
heh, which was exactly why our sire chose me to become one of the undead.
An idea was coming to me, an idea I should have acted on years ago. This time, Raven would not bully me. Syren would approve, and I know how careful to be. Ah, if I laugh, for who knows the outcome of our impending battle for humankinds' very existence. Placing my hands over my abdomen, I laughed again at the irony of it all….. Suddenly, the image of our sire floated before me, sobering me up quickly. He did such injustice to the three of us. Makes me wonder who before us he destroyed, makes me wonder who had the inner strength to end her undead existence to escape and to get back at our sire. If only we three had such fortitude.
SYREN
My head reeled at all the thoughts and lost memories bubbling to the surface of my mind. How could either of us be equipped to deal with all of this?
I walked to the large window overlooking the city, and gazed outward, my mind a whirl of thoughts. Clutching the scarab, I continued to stare at the lights below, wondering how much time we had until we could not control the demons we carried and how the battle would wage against the one who made us. I squeezed the scarab, afraid of us standing face to face with him. He was so powerful, how would we be able to destroy him? What would happen to us once he was destroyed?
Feeling his presence, I turned, and there he was, the one who has loved me for these past centuries. Now answers would be mine, history will be given back to me.
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