Only Human (24 page)

It’s exciting really
Amica, at least it will be, if we manage to find a new home now, escape our enemies, then convince every living Vampire to un-learn every single thing they have been taught about ‘Humans’ to date; first and most important truth being , they are not on the menu!

Oh
..Oh, Amica, we’ve stopped! So abruptly that my body kept going and I almost fell off the stretcher! Bill’s laughing at my startled face; always a good sign, so I want to say we’re here, wherever that may be. I can smell salt, what’s that all about, and a gentle rumbling swishing sound.

The air is filled with the incessant humming noise of the
Watchers chattering to each other at 100 miles an hour. How do they do that and still understand each other? They use some cute little clicks, grunts and odd sounds as well as some of our language, to communicate. What the hell? I’ve just been dumped and they’ve all shot off like a bullet from a gun to do whatever it is they haven’t told me.

‘Bill!’
It’s no use, he’s off Amica. Just need to catch my breath and see if I can walk to the person in the next stretcher. Maybe he or she will know the plan. It’s getting dark now and I’m more than a little worried about being out here during the Vamp’s playtime.

‘Hey!’
The person in the stretcher isn’t moving or responding to my voice.

‘Do you know what’s going on? Have you seen
Uncle, I mean Doctor Rauul?’

My back is so sore it’s difficult to get over to him. I’m crawling on my tummy as I don’t have the strength to walk. Oh no Amica! It’s the Sanguis that was working for Anne in the forest. I thought he was dead! Why would they save him?

‘AECIA!’

‘Garok.’
‘What the hell is going on Garok? Where is Uncle and where the hell are we? What are the Watchers doing just running off like that? Is Disembodied voice okay and Orianna, Lupe and Sebastian? And you still haven’t told me how come that thing over there didn’t kill you in the tunnels!

‘Ha
ha, there’s only you that could make me laugh when are in a life and death situation Aecia!’

‘For god’s sake Garok, tell me what’s happening please! Why is that red devil part of our group
now? I could kill it right now, if I could move at all. He was with Anne you know. Okay he was fighting her but he still could have been having me for dinner if he had won. I’m so confused; I don’t know who is friend or who is foe.’

He just kissed me! Oh M
y God I’m in agony, have no answers to my questions, and he just kissed me! Oh for god’s sake friend I’m only in love with the jerk again! As if I didn’t have enough problems. The ground is vibrating beneath us and I can see the Clones behind Garok. The Watchers have disappeared altogether.

‘Garok, the ground, is it an earth quake?’
He’s smiling at me now with that glowing look. You know, that warm gaze you have when you see a baby or a kitten. He is handsome really, I…What the hell, snap out of it Aecia!

‘The
Watchers are digging tunnels beneath us Aecia, don’t worry, we’ll be safe underground tonight and your Uncle’s friends are sending help in the morning. We are at Lands End. The furthest point from the Vampire colonies. They don’t come here often, it’s desolate, no food for them and no shade. To answer your question about our friend on the stretcher I will only say things aren’t always as they seem. We will be underground shortly and we can talk properly then okay? I love you Aecia.’ He’s going, ‘Wait!’ I’ve kissed him now; his lips are warm next to mine.

‘I love you too.’

‘GAROK, COME ON!!’

That’s my
Uncle’s voice; the Clones are moving like a herd towards him and disappearing one by one. The Watchers are amazing, like little moles excavating a temporary refuge for us. The ground’s still trembling with their efforts.

Here is Bill back now! He looks like a toddler who’s been up a chimney. He’s patting my head like I’m a child. Of all the cheek! I can’t stand this friend, not being able to do something to help. Lying here
like a whale on the beach! It’s frustrating! Oh, there are more with him and they are picking me up. We’re off again but only as far as Uncle, who is directing them to the entrance of a different tunnel. That makes sense, we couldn’t all go in one thin tunnel, it would have to stretch for miles. There must be over a thousand of us, including the rescued Clones, the Watchers, and my own group. Nobody is speaking much now; it is quite menacingly dark and that brings the ever growing danger of marauding Vampires, sharper in our minds. The smell of the damp earth fills my nostrils as I am lowered down into my little pouch of the tunnels. They’re actually more like rabbit holes or badger dens. It’s not one big cylindrical tunnel with each of us filed in line; it’s a tunnel with little roundish dugouts either side, a niche for two people, or four Watchers at a time. Quite cosy, except for the fact there is very little air, it is chokingly dusty and it is pitch black. I’m not complaining Amica, I’d still rather be here than ‘dish of the day’ for the natives up above.

I can hear the muffled sound of, what sounds like, wolves up above, and the fluttering of disturbed bats or birds. Something is coming. I hope to God
Uncle got everyone down below quickly, and I’ll be having words with Garok, who said the Vamps rarely come here! I’m straining my ears to see if I can hear anything else but the restrained breathing of my den-mates is all that fills the silence. No, I heard something; I felt something, directly above my head; steps, light sneaky steps padding along.

The
Watchers plugged the entrance holes when the last of us came down here but will that be camouflage enough? Even through the dark I can see the whites of widened eyes around me, stark with fear.  I’m scared myself but I’m also angry! I’m sick of being scared. I’d love to go up there and fight, batter them into submission and make them see that Humans, Watchers, Clones, all of us are people! We have feelings, we’re clever and we’re equal, if not better than them! It must be showing in my face because Bill is squeezing my arm and I think I can make out he’s shaking his head. I know it’s not the right time, but someday! Someday soon!

It’s been quiet for a long time now friend, I think the immediate danger has passed. Bill has nodded off and so have a couple of the others. I’ll close my eyes for a minute, I am tired, so tired.

‘Aecia, they’re here! They’re here for us!’

‘
Wha,what? Who is that? It’s Orianna. She’s staring down into my face and I can feel sunlight, we’re outside! I don’t even remember being lifted out of the tunnel. My eyes are sticky with sleep and it’s difficult to see, but there’s that salty smell again and the curious rumbling of water. It’s the sea friend! We’re at the seaside. Well of course, if we’re at Lands End, we’re going to be near the sea. What an absolute chump I am; the smell of salt and the sound of waves! Duuuh, we’re beside the sea.

Everyone is running around like chickens, they’re all excited about something. If they’d just move out of the way so I can get a look. Some of us are nearer to the ground than we’d like to be, no offence Bill and crew.
‘Can you stand Aecia?’

‘With help.’
Oh they’re all here now, Sebastian is coming over. There’s Lupe and Garok! Their eyes are shining like they’ve seen something wonderful!  It is, it is wonderful, and I see it now! It’s only an absolutely beautiful, incredibly massive, cruise ship! How did they get that? Who got it and how have they not been spotted.

It’s white with tiers going up the side. There are numerous round
windows above shelves of smaller wooden boats tied down. They must be the life boats. The last tier is the open deck, with black steel bars around an enormous wheel. There is also, behind that, a propeller the size of a windmill, spotted with sea drops and gleaming in the morning sunshine. It’s the most incredible sight I’ve ever seen Amica, truly, it’s like going back in time. The enormous ramp is slowly descending and there’s no polite filing or queuing to get on. Almost everyone is racing up it as fast as they can, except for my party, who are hobbling along with me. There are three or four more groups like us, with their own invalids, but we’ll get there.

Uncle
is waiting for us at the entrance friend; he looks so tired, and old, even. To think I was scared of him that time when we rescued ‘Disembodied Voice’. He was only trying to scare off the enemy. I’ve never been so happy to see him as I am at this moment.

‘My dear.’

‘Oh Uncle, I’ve been so worried about you, about everyone! But you’re here, you’re all here and we’re safe. Who are these people and where are we going?’

‘Oh Aecia, ha
ha, always with the questions. Isn’t it enough to know that we are amongst friends, the
rebellious
type, if you get my meaning, and we’re going to their home on their island, to make our own.’

‘But
Uncle, the boat, who owns a boat like this, only the High Council or The Royals. Won’t we be spotted?’

‘I own it Aecia
, it is mine. Now Sshh, I must meet with the others. Ben and Imogen will show you to your rooms, where your wounds will be tended to before breakfast. Our journey is not over yet.’

As big as it is, this massive boat could fit in my
mouth; it’s so wide open at the moment friend. Did he just say ‘It is mine?’ There’s a damn sight more to my Uncle than meets the eye. None of the others even look surprised or bothered. They’re just following Ben and Imogen (two very happy looking young Clones, I presume) to wherever there rooms may be. Okay, I’ll be quiet for now, but I’ll get to the bottom of all this after breakfast, you see if I don’t!

My back is much better friend, I’m all patched up, sewn up and pumped full of antibiotics, courtesy of young Bill (I say young, he could be 100, I’m not sure) who has taken it upon himself to be my male nurse. I’m in a cabin on the lowest level of the ship, as we all are, and it is plain
, but clean and comfortable. The gang are in rooms opposite and to the right of me, Garok is next door I’m told, though he’s disappeared somewhere with Uncle again. He’s becoming his right-hand man, deputy or something.; seems to have my Uncle’s confidence, even more than I do. I’m glad really, because now I know that I love them both, in very different ways; I feel that we are all sturdier, more connected and safer somehow.

I feel exhausted
, but I’m determined to join everyone for something to eat because I must have some answers to my questions. I will corner Uncle as soon as I can and use every angle of being his beloved niece, who is so confused etc. etc. and I will guilt the information out of him. Devious I know, but needs must! He still thinks I’m a baby and I’m practically an adult!

‘Aecia.’

‘Yes Garok, you’re back from your secret meeting with Uncle then.’

‘My secret…What?
What are you on about now?’

‘I’m sorry Garok but I’m totally confused, I don’t know what the hell is going on and it’s not fair. I have a right to know as much as you and, come to think of it, so do Orianna, Sebastian and Lupe.’

‘Kiss me.’

‘What?’

‘I said kiss me, right now.’

‘I’ll punch you on the nose, that’s what I’ll do …!’

He’s done it again Amica! I’m lost in the sweetness of his lips. I love the git, I really do. ‘Come on, we’ll go on the lower deck and I’ll tell you what I know.’

The salted wind is cold and fresh on my face, and the rippling waves break into bubbling, frothing milkshake against the side of the ship. It’s glorious on the deck friend; such strength in the sea, it makes you feel
anything’s possible.

‘Is it safe out here Garok?
Imogen and Ben said to stay in the lower levels of the ship.’

‘We won’t stray too far Aecia. We are right out at sea now and will be for a couple of hours. Not
many ships out this far, if any; it is not like the Vamps import and export food or anything do they? And the class system prevents most of us from travel. Only first class, High Council and the Elders can afford to visit anywhere.’

‘Exactly Garok! How on earth can my
Uncle afford this ship? How has he been allowed to travel freely? He’s a Doctor that’s all, I don’t get it.’

‘Did you ever notice your
Uncle disappearing for a few weeks at a time when you were younger? Did you ask why?’

‘Well yes, but I just thought he was wrapped up in work, or scientific experiments or whatever. He’s always been really smart and that meant really busy.’

‘He has two lives your Uncle. The one he calls his real life; the rebellion, the campaign for unity and you, and another life within the Elders circle, I don’t know what position, he will only tell you that. The other life is a mask for the Vampires to see. He works for them in the research department, has valuable contacts within their circle, and feeds them lies about his work while monitoring their activities.’

‘Oh My God, who is he? Who is he really?’

‘When we arrive on the island he will tell you. He told me that much, he will tell you everything.’

‘Okay, I’ll have to wait then won’t I? Now you, tell me about you. What happened after the Sanguis in the tunnels tried to eat you?’

‘You don’t know? That seems a lifetime ago, but here goes. After the critter (the Vampire type Watchers) bit me at the well, I started to change into something.’