Read Apotheosis of the Immortal Online
Authors: Joshua A. Chaudry
Apotheosis of the Immortal (51 page)
Epilogue
Emira sat alone
on a stool next to Elijah’s corpse; Khalid had just gone into the house, and Adol’s words played continuously on a reel in her mind. She couldn’t imagine striking a deal with the devil of gods, but she also couldn’t imagine living without Elijah. She stood up and leaned over the concrete slab.
“I’m sorry Elijah,” she said as she kissed his forehead. “Adol, if you can hear me, I… I want your help.” Emira stuttered getting the dangerous words out of her mouth.
Immediately, a snake slithered out from under the concrete table and transformed into a giant man with ivory skin and intricate carvings covering his entire body.
Emira’s mouth dropped wide open. He was not at all what she had imagined; he was like a giant work of art.
“If I do this for you, you will owe me a favor.” Adol’s gray eyes narrowed as he stepped forward and gripped Emira’s hand. “Are you sure this is what you want? You will have to do whatever I ask; the deal will be binding. You will have no way out.” Adol stroked her hand as he warned of the consequences of her decision.
“What is it you want?” Emira asked, her mind racing.
She is The Key, the only one who can read the rite.
Elijah’s words swirled round and round in her mind.
That has to be what he wants,
she thought. She paused to considered the dire consequences of her actions, if she truly was
The Key
, and if Adol could force her to read the ritual.
However, in this moment, nothing mattered as much as having Elijah back. A world without him in it would be a travesty. Besides, she believed Elijah deserved to live, regardless of what Odam had said. Her hate burned deep for the god of her uncle as she recalled how quickly and how harshly he had judged the man she loved.
If bringing Elijah back causes a reordering of the heavenly powers, then so be it,
she decided.
“What I want from you, my girl, is for another day.” Adol smiled, hinting at emotion for the first time, although his gray eyes were impossible to read.
“I’m not an idiot. I know you want me to read that stupid ritual,” Emira snatched her hand away from the giant god. “So you can inherit the power Odam locked away and use it to rule the heavens.”
Adol smiled once more.
“You are definitely on the right track.” Even Adol’s whispers gently shook the ground beneath her feet. His power was obvious and immense.
Emira walked to the table and looked down at Elijah’s shriveled corpse. “Where is he right now?”
“Don’t worry about him. He is at peace, far away from the worries of this world,” Adol admitted.
“I know Elijah, and he doesn’t want peace, not until he has had his revenge, delivered his justice.” Emira ran her fingers through his hair. She thought about their last kiss, and how he had given up his quest, the passion that had driven him for nearly a millennium, just to make sure she was safe. If she could, she knew she must give him back the opportunity she had taken away.
“Can you bring him back just as he was?” she asked again, as tears streaked down her face and onto Elijah’s corpse.
“He will be the same person; he will have the same memories and emotions, but he won’t be the same. He will be vampire. His strength and will come from within him, and from his age; those will not be affected. He will have a nearly unquenchable thirst for human blood; that will be the difference.” Adol walked to the other side of the table and looked down at Elijah’s corpse, then he looked up and wiped a tear from Emira’s face.
“I can fix this,” he said. “I just need your sworn promise.”
Emira looked at Adol and then at Elijah. She thought he might well hate her for forcing him to become that which he despised.
“You will empower him fully, and, no matter what, you will never withdraw it. You will never betray him,” Emira demanded.
“I will, and you will not be harmed either, as long as you keep your word. You have my word. I will empower him to his own end, no matter what that might be. He will be just like his father, except he will have no master. He will be free to follow his own will,” Adol agreed.
“Then do it,” Emira commanded.
“He will be an immortal like no other; he will be free.” Adol’s eyes widened as if he were in awe. “Here.” Adol pulled an ancient-looking blade out of nowhere and handed it to Emira.
“What do you want me to do with this?” She asked.
“To make it binding, the agreement must be sealed in blood. If this is your wish, then make a deep cut in your hand, and it will be done.”
Without hesitation, Emira wrapped her hand around the blade of the knife and squeezed hard as she pulled back on the handle. Blood quickly began to flow between her fingers and drip to the ground.
“It is done.” Adol rumbled.
“What about Elijah? You haven’t brought him back.”
“I will, but you would be advised to leave first.” Adol said. “He is going to be very, very hungry, and if his feelings for you are strong, it will be even harder for him to resist ripping open your throat.”
“Just do it!” Emira shouted.
“As you wish.” Adol spoke slowly and then vanished. A moment later he was back with a young girl in his arms.
“What are you doing?” Emira asked, her voice rising with tension.
“I can’t create life, but once it’s inside him, I will be able to manipulate it.” Adol explained as he opened Elijah’s mouth and slit the girl’s throat with his fingernail. He held her over him, allowing the blood to flow into Elijah’s mouth. After the draining blood had slowed to a drip, Adol tossed the body aside. “You better stand back,” he said.
Emira took a few steps back.
Adol leaned over Elijah’s corpse, placing one hand on his head and one on his chest. In just moments the decayed flesh began to come to life. Elijah’s bones and muscles grew thick and strong.
“He will wake soon, and you need to be gone,” Adol warned.
“I stay,” she demanded.
“I need you alive, so go—now!” Adol’s voice thundered.
“That will make us even, then. My departure must be considered my favor to you, and our agreement will be complete,” Emira smirked.
Adol stood motionless. Emira could see his frustration as he disappeared once again.
“Huuuuu.” Elijah took a deep breath and sat up. He turned toward Emira and looked at her in disbelief. As the shock slowly melted from his face, a warm smile took its place and he pushed himself from the concrete slab and gathered her in his arms. “What happened?” he asked.
“I don’t know,” she whispered, feeling the tears of joy streak her face.
Elijah kissed her lips and then nestled her close. For a moment he knew nothing but warmth and beauty.
Then he noticed her pulsing jugular and something snapped. A burning hunger burst inside him, an uncontrollable thirst for blood. He pushed her back.
“Something is wrong,” he said, breathing heavily. “You need to get out of here,” he gritted as he closed his eyes and turned his head aside.
“No, Elijah. It will be okay,” Emira cried as she stepped forward.
“
NOW
!” he roared as his head shot up, revealing searing blue eyes and razor-sharp fangs.
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