Odyssey (The Vampire Destiny Series Companion Book 1) (7 page)

Silvio stepped closer and ran his finger across my chest suggestively.  His voice dropped until even I had to struggle to hear him.  “There is no refusal, young one.  The Council, Steafedn, has chosen you.  It is a great honor.”

Repulsed by his very presence, I battled to not pull away from his offending touch.  Looking between Reginald and Silvio, an arrogant smirk pulled at my lips. “How long am I to do this for you?  To be nothing more than an executioner?”

Reginald snorted and folded his arms across his chest.  “How quickly you forget your true nature.  You are a murderer, Steafedn.  And you will serve us until you meet your final death or you are removed by the Board and Council.”

Silvio reluctantly focused on Amir.  He stood in front of my brother and his face hardened to stone.  “You are to leave this place.  You are only alive now because of your gift.  Part of your sentence will be to have no contact with Steafedn Hlífsteinn for the span of six hundred years.  If you attempt communication with him, you will meet your final death.”  He flicked his fingers dismissively at Amir.  “Leave before we change our minds.”

I faced my brother for a final time, sorrow and relief battling for dominance inside of me.  He despised this life; detested what Solveig had turned him into.  Would Amir go against the Council and attempt to make contact with me to force me to kill him?  Or did he hold on to any remaining self-preservation?  His future, as always, was unreadable.

“In six hundred years, my brother.”  Amir nodded once to me and was escorted from the room before either of us could say another word..

A knowing look passed between Silvio and Reginald.  Centuries together had given them the ability to easily communicate with no words.  Moments passed and they simply waited.

And waited.

After some time, the familiar visions and futures began swirling in my mind with renewed vigor.  I was easily able to predict the Council’s decision and how their plans would be carried out.  Without Amir’s interference, I would be at their summons.

“You will know when you are needed.  Your job is to carry out our wishes and you are not to offer any mercy.  Is this understood?”

My shoulders slumped as the realization washed over me.  I was no freer now than I was before.  No longer beholden to my maker, I was tied to the Council until I met my final death.  Solveig had been correct last night prior to her death.  “Yes, I understand.”

Silvio clapped again excitedly and raised a dark eyebrow at me.  “Come now. We must celebrate.  Surely you hunger, Steafedn.”

I had no choice but to follow along. If I resisted now, my only option would be to die alongside my maker.

A rush of resilience filled me with the thought of giving in to this governing board.  I had never backed down and I was not about to start at this juncture.

Life seemed bleak…until I saw the light in 1812.  It was a vision that would alter my very existence forever.

***

1862, Amsterdam

Nearly 500 years had passed.  Alone, I traveled and watched nations rise and leaders fall.  I had seen death and destruction.  Adapting with the changing times, I marveled at the inventions of technology and along the way, I accumulated great wealth.  I had only been in Amsterdam for three years when I met Lukas Meijer.  He was the proprietor of a small bookseller near my home.  We had struck up a strange friendship over numerous discussions of philosophy and world events when I frequented his storefront.  I did not make it a habit to search out and befriend humans, yet this eccentric man had managed to pique my interest.  Perhaps it was his sharp wit.  Or possibly the fact he sensed I was something more than human and accepted me for my differences.  Regardless, I came to enjoy my discussions and time spent with this strange man that also did not seem to fit the mold.

He was nearly a decade older than me in human years and for a mortal being, he was strikingly handsome, almost aristocratic in nature.  His angular face held an intelligence I had not encountered in centuries.  His pale blue eyes were quietly watchful, observing and cataloging.  He also had an acidic tongue and was quite open with his opinions.

He had told me his family had been wealthy and had spared no expense when it came to his education.  They had died when he was a young man and had no siblings.  As open as he was to me, it became clear why he had decided to tell me.  It was clear that Lukas knew I was not human and longed for the same, yet would never ask.

Nothing could have prepared me for this moment as I sat by Lukas' bedside, a battle warring within me.  He was hovering near death; his lungs filling with fluid and his breaths coming in rasping pants.

My head bowed as I inhaled deeply.  When I looked up, I brushed my much shorter hair back from my eyes, and placed my hand on his shoulder. "Lukas, you are dying."

His eyes fluttered closed and his clammy hand grabbed at mine.  "Yes, I am not long for this earth Stefan.  It is time you told me the truth.  You do not have to hide anymore."

His words hit me powerfully.  I made no effort to look away or move.  I simply began to talk.

Years of memories spilled from my lips.  I told him of my homeland, the few things I remembered from my human life.  The recollections were difficult for me to discuss because I remembered so little.  Every detail about my maker, down to my hand in her demise and my witnessing of her murder was told.  I explained my position on the Council, my penalty for Solveig’s misdeeds…they were words I had never spoken aloud to another mortal—or immortal for that matter.

After I finished, I was amazed at his response.  He did not shy away when I told him of what I was or the things in my past.  He simply listened and watched me with his impenetrable stare.  His eyes were soft and filled with empathy as he chose his response.

"I am honored that you told me.  However, I feel as if you are not telling me everything there is to tell.  You are holding something back, Stefan."  Lukas coughed weakly and he gave my hand a squeeze.  "There is something you are looking for or you would have ended this existence years ago."

Leaning back slightly in the chair, I smiled at my dying friend.  He was correct, of course.  There were times I contemplated revealing myself to humans and ending my life.  I had been alone for many years, sent on missions of torture and destruction.  Whenever my spirits flagged, there was something buried deep inside that kept me going.  I delved further into my mind, the vision of the woman that was to be my fate and my destiny easily came to the forefront of my thoughts.  It had been that way since I had envisioned her 50 years ago.  She was impossibly beautiful; with long copper hair that hung in wild waves down her back.  Her vibrant green eyes were large over her prominent, high cheekbones.  She was luminous, absolute perfection.  All other women paled in comparison to her beauty.

My silence had garnered a knowing smile from my dying friend.  “I see I am correct.”

His words pulled me from my vision and I refocused my attentions on him.  Lukas’s time was limited; each moment he inched closer to death.  "We have time to discuss many things, Lukas.  You need to decide if you want me to let you die a normal human death or if you want to choose immortality.  You will never age, frozen in time as you are today.  You will be healthy again."  I leaned forward again and rested my weight on my thighs.  "However, there is a downside.”

  “As opposed to death?  What could be worse?” He was growing weaker and his body shook with each rumbling breath he drew.

My hands tented together under my chin.  “You will thirst for blood.  You will kill for it, in fact.  Your first years as an immortal will be tenuous."

Lukas's thin lips turned up into a smile.  His face was wracked with pain, making him appear much older than he was.  "How could I pass on an opportunity for immortality?  You offer me the opportunity to never look older, to see life change before my eyes?  I would be a fool to not agree.  I have no family left, it is only me."

Nodding, I watched as his trembling hand covered mine.  He inhaled another raspy breath and blinked his red-rimmed eyes.  "You will be my family now.  There can be no secrets between family so you must promise me you will divulge the secret you are keeping."

Chuckling, a smile pulled at my lips.  His scent was changing, fading as death fought to overtake him.  Not wanting to waste another moment, I moved from the chair to sit beside him on the bed.  "I promise to tell you everything you wish to know, my friend.  But the time has come for me to change you before it is too late."

"I have only two questions for you, Stefan.  How long until the change is complete, and will I be as handsome as you?"  Lukas questioned weakly.  He was struggling to stay conscious…death was truly knocking on his door.

Even in death, my friend still made advances on me.  He would never change.

"Two days.  Possibly three."  I turned his head to the side and exposed his jugular, his pulse pounding beneath his pale skin.  "And it is highly unlikely you will be as handsome as myself.  I will drink from you now…when you are near death, I will give you my blood."

Without waiting for his response, my fangs dropped and I blurred to sink them into his feverish flesh as gently as possible.  His hot blood filled my mouth, the taste tainted with his illness.  I drank from him until I felt his heart beat decrease and I withdrew, pausing only long enough to tear at my wrist and place it to his mouth.  As my blood dripped between his lips, I watched as my friend died before my eyes.

Now it was a matter of waiting to see if he would arise as a vampire.

Chapter Three-Lost And Found

2011 - Chicago, Illinois

I stood in yet another empty apartment, fighting my irritation and anger.  By the appearance of the small dwelling she had recently abandoned it; her scent still lingered, hanging in the stagnant air, taunting me.  Moving soundlessly from room to room, I was drawn to the spot where her aroma was the strongest.  This room had been where she slept.  The air here was heavy with her heady perfume, the rich fragrance of her blood almost too difficult to tolerate.

Closing my eyes, I braced my arms in the doorway.  I had expected to find her here, anxious for my long quest to find her to come to a glorious end.  She was a piece of myself that I wished I did not need…but I knew I would not be complete without her.