Rebirth of the Seer (39 page)

One landed on their back when I flipped them. The other held two swords which I had to work swiftly on deflecting. Some blows were intercepted – some dodged – and a combination of mental prowess and fancy footwork kept me from being harmed. Metal collided with metal in a raucous clamor, but ended when he finally miscalculated and afforded me a clean head shot. Another grouping of immortals flew back when I extended my hand, and five more fell to the ground as ash, just as I truly began to garner some notice from the crowd.

The
horde
around the platform thinned. A dozen or so directed their focus onto me. With a kick of my foot, I sent another sword flying into my free hand. It landed in my palm just in time for another round to commence.

Dual-wielding afforded me the chance to inflict double the damage. One sword sliced sideways while one thrust forward, and as the
teeming mass
grew thicker still, I consoled myself with the observation that only half of them were armed. The sudden influx forced me to react more than think and yet, the abilities I once summoned with so much labor came so effortlessly now. I locked several beings in place and when I was not utilizing my gifts to throw them hither and yon, I slayed the statues I created in a systematic fashion. The rush of the moment seized me. This is what I had been born to do. This was the fiber of my existence, at its core.

Two vampires came at me on either side as though to catch me in the middle. I swung both swords around, however, and decapitated both before either could touch me. Three souls remained of the group who broke from their pursuit of the Council to focus on me. Each met their end quick, three piles of dust descending and affording me a moment to regain my bearings.

The reprieve was to be short-lived.

“The Council, Peter!” Julian called out from several yards away.

My eyes darted to the platform again. While I could see Julian from the corner of my eye struggling with his own opponent, he had since procured a sword and left his crossbow idle, his quiver empty from the look of things. The vampire who fought him bore more proficiency than
he did, though. B
ehind the seer, seven elders held their ground, although the fight was ebbing dangerously close. “I am coming!” I shouted above the chaos, launching into a run for the Council.

Dashing past Julian, I impaled his adversary from behind and continued after only a beat. I leaped onto the platform and saw Julian nod to me while running to collect the bolts scattered around the room. As I turned to face the melee, I saw one vampire run for Kaylee Alexander and acted without thinking. Taking hold of her, I twisted her around and drove my blade into her would-be attacker in one fluid movement. She wriggled from my grip, but I became to distracted to either acknowledge the action or take in her response.

Two familiar faces approached.

William and Patricia – the brother and sister from Ian’s coven – sneered at me and I smirked when our eyes met. “Small world,” I said. “Did we receive the same invitation?”

They hissed at me in response, fangs exposed. Patricia dove for me, but I moved to the side and plunged my sword into her back before she could turn to face me again. William used the distraction, though, to grab me from behind. I felt a dagger press into my neck. Clenching my eyes shut, I used a burst of telekinetic force to knock him from me and charged for him while he took a step back to recover. He drew a sword which met mine twice before I knocked it from his grip and drove mine into his chest. As his ashes descended to the ground, however, a harr
owing sight opened up before me
.

I
ran
for Malcolm Davies. He threw back one vampire and locked another in place, hands poised in front of him and eyes wildly scanning the area. I obliged him by beheading the stationary immortal. Another closed in on him from behind, however, sword raised and ready to deliver a death blow. “Malcolm, to the ground!” I yelled when his gaze found mine.

He
dropped
down while I jumped onto the table and leaped over where Malcolm now laid. Swinging my blade while sailing through the air, I rid the would-be attacker of his head and landed on the platform again. The vampire’s ashes fell to the ground. Malcolm stood,
his expression frantic as he regarded me
.

I merely smirked in response. My eyes left his in search of my next challenge.

By then, the members of the Council had become wise to my presence. Two of the other elders trapped a pair of vampires which I killed with all due swiftness. I threw my extra blade into the chest of
a creature charging
for Kaylee Alexander and met the advance of another pack that crawled their way onto the platform. The work was long and bloody, but as the bodies of more vampires than humans started to fall, the stragglers began an exodus for the back door. I slashed my way through the tiered seating and finally stopped when the cacophony of the meeting room died to a low hum. Julian stood nearby and admired the scene with me.

Several members of the Supernatural Order laid on the ground, many injured and a few dead. The floors were coated with ash and personal effects, however, not the least of which included Ian’s cane which lay in front of the unscathed center circle. I frowned when my eyes caught sight of it, feeling a surge of fatigue, but suppressing it as much as possible. The impulse to fight on had not yet met with the realization that Monica was nowhere near the battle field.

Julian frowned as he followed my gaze. “Your watcher?” he asked.

I swallowed hard and clutched onto the back of the seat in front of me. “Not present, I am afraid to say. Sadly, I knew Ian would not be so foolish as to have her anywhere I could reach her.”

“Does that mean she’s…?” His question was cut off when I wavered on my feet. He dropped the sword he held and furrowed his brow at me. “Peter?”

“I believe the last of my energy is spent. Which is surprising considering I had none
to begin with
.” I looked at Julian with a wan smile. “Let us not discuss the fate of my watcher. I am burning embers just to stay conscious.”

Julian nodded, but his frown deepened. A look of guilt surfaced in his eyes. “I’m sorry for doubting you.”

My hand flew up from the chair to clutch his shoulder. My knees wobbled once as though to warn me. A headache throbbed at my temples and while my fangs remained at bay, I knew the weakness of malnourishment had reared its ugly head again. When the room began to spin, I shut my eyes and indulged a few steadying breaths. A shiver ran the length of my spine. Still, I knew it had all been worth it.

They had been nearly a hundred strong and most of them were dead. Far more humans were alive than would have been if I had not intervened.

“No,” Julian said, reading my thoughts. “We would all be dead. We would’ve fought valiantly and killed as many of them as we could, but we would have died nonetheless.” He paused for a beat. “Thank you.”

“You are welcome,” I murmured.

“You don’t look well, Peter.”

“I do not feel well. Julian, would you oblige me one last favor?”

“What can I do?”

“Catch me.” My eyes rolled back
.

I spoke the words
just as my legs buckled
. My body
went
limp, slackening into as much of a hold as Julian could manage with his reflexes. Black overtook me and I allowed it without argument. The last thing I heard was
my compatriot’s voice
.

“Rest,
seer, and don’t worry.
I will make sure the Council knows
you’re not our enemy any longer
.”

I
did not know how many days
I had been sleeping by the time I waded back into the harsh reality of the world. The headache I remembered slipping under with was now greatly reduced, even if the remainder of the details were dreadfully blurry. I remembered the shackles – and rubbed my wrists before I even opened my eyes – but could only conjure the vague image of a fight and the recollection of succumbing to exhaustion sometime thereafter.

My eyes finally opened. I squinted at the faint amount of moonlight filtering in from a nearby window, but failed to be racked with pain as I normally would have. The acknowledgement caused an immediate start which forced me to sit up. I blinked several times and stared directly into the light, but the sight of it did not inspire more than a slight twinge of discomfort before my eyes adjusted.

Shifting my gaze around, I examined the room in which I laid. The sheets fell away from my bare chest, bringing with it the realization that I had been stripped down to my pants. The bedclothes themselves were luxurious and the room itself painted a dark maroon with a modest, masc
uline theme to its furnishings. A door partially-blocked with plastic garment bags indicated an attached bathroom.

I rubbed my face with both hands and pulled aside the sheets while swinging my legs over the side of the bed. “Where the devil am I?” I asked, regarding a vase filled with fresh-cut flowers.

As no one stood in the shadows to answer my question, I decided getting out of bed would be the first logical step in determining my whereabouts. After r
ising to a stand, I plodded to the bathroom
door
and admire
d
the
clothing hanging from a hook. W
hile I recognized the coat, the
crimson
sh
irt did not merely look cleaned; it looked fresh from the store where it had been purchased.
Glancing down at my pants, I could see why. Whatever transpired, both in the cell and the meeting room, had left my unofficial uniform a filthy, tattered mess.

I sighed and ran my fingers through my hair. The feel of grime caused me to recoil. “Well, wherever this is,” I said, thinking aloud, “I doubt I would be placing myself in
peril to indulge a shower
.” The notion inspired action and the few aches still lingering in my limbs worked themselves out
by the time I swung the door open and entered
. Without any further ceremony, I
flicked on the bathroom light.

The sight of something in my periphery, however, startled me so much that I jumped.
An involuntary yelp passed through my lips as I found myself staring at a gentleman just as confused as I felt. It took mere seconds for me to realize a pane of glass separated us and an additional moment for me to notice he wore only a pair of dirty pants as well. He leaned forward when I leaned forward and I gasped as his eyes widened when mine did. Staring into the mirror, I did not budge. “How the bloody hell is this possible?”

My reflection mouthed the same words at the same moment and I could not help but marvel at the miraculous sight before my eyes. Lifting my hand, I smoothed back my hair again and laughed when the image failed to dissipate. Parting my lips brought with it the sight of my pointed eyeteeth and though my fangs remained retracted, I beheld a vampire where once there had been a human. Ethereal, emerald green eyes replaced the blue I remembered and I had been right when I noted the shagginess of my hair in Chicago. A fair amount of facial hair covered my top lip and my chin, making me look like a scruffy transient-turned-immortal. “My, Peter, you have let yourself go,” I said with a smirk.

Yet there I was, and
far rosier than I should have been, given the circumstances.

I sighed. “Well, whoever has been tending to me must have been feeding me somehow.” Rubbing my chin, I finally let my eyes disengage from my reflection to the accoutrements set out on the bathroom counter. Atop marble laid various soaps and cleaning products, with razors and shaving cream arranged closer to the porcelain sink. I motioned for the faucet and paused, hand hovering over the knob as I noticed its metallic color. Silver or not, though, twisting it brought no burning, and not even a slight amount of weakness. Whatever had happened to me, I was now seemingly cured of all my afflictions.

Yes, somebody had a lot of explaining to do.

After shaving and showering, I dressed in my new clothing and hesitated before sliding my arms through the sleeves of my coat. I recalled first purchasing it and my heart sank as the one thing missing in all of this
manifested in my thoughts
. Monica. I folded the coat and sat slowly on the bed as I drew a shaky breath inward. I had become a new being, but at the expense of my watcher. My lover.

The smile affixed on my face slowly succumbed to a frown. Ian’s words resonated in my thoughts, as did the memory of seeing his cane lying near what remained of my former
adversary
. I had been given a choice
,
and chose the side she would have wanted me to; the side of good instead of evil. What had it cost me in the process, however? Ian was dead, but I remembered several of his underlings fleeing, undoubtedly to whoever held Monica captive. She would have been tortured before she was killed and I was too late. I did not know how much time had passed, but I knew I had no reason to hope for anything less. All the joy I held in my heart washed out like the tide receding back into the ocean.
A
single tear slid down my cheek.

I did not break down the way I expected I might. A profound sense of emptiness filled my soul, though, with the taunt of something which had germinated and
but had not been given the chance to fully
bloom. None of this would have been possible without her – from the faith she held in me to the love she allowed me to experience for the first time in so many years. I knew my mission on this world was not over. But now, I had to accomplish it alone.

“Those bloody bastards shall all pay with their lives,” I said, wiping away the crimson droplets which stained my skin. While I knew she would have wished me to carry onward, I struggled for several moments with the fear that I might lose my way after coming so far. It took a long, pensive silence and a deep breath for me to come to a stand and finally slip on the coat which had become a familiar vestige. My sword remained poised beside the bed as I shut the bedroom door behind me.

The first thing to greet me in the hallway was the warm glow of a lamp. Once again, I marveled at being able to stare at it unabated, the emptiness in my heart momentarily filled with wonder. A bittersweet smile tugged at the corner of my mouth. “That you could see this,” I murmured, waving my fingers in front of the light with a soft chuckle. I felt the hard plastic of my sunglasses in my coat pocket when I slid my hand inside. To think, perhaps after five years of reflexively reaching for them, they might have finally become antiquated.

“Now tell me, my watcher… where the devil am I?”

I walked further down the corridor. The same rich colors which had been present in the bedroom graced the rest of the house, giving it a regal, yet inviting, feel. Maroons and forest greens were adorned with bronze fixtures and dark colored wood, leading the entire length of the house. I spied a circular staircase at the far end, with the same dark wood adorning its banisters. Perking an eyebrow, I paused only once, to peer into a decorative mirror and see the magic had not been restricted to the bathroom. This time, the vampire who looked back at me looked much more presentable.

“I didn’t know you were awake.”

The voice broke me from my trance. I turned as one of the doors shut several feet away. Much to my surprise, I found Malcolm Davies staring back at me, his hands slipping into his pants pockets and a neutral expression on his face. The sudden appearance of the Council elder stunned me silent.

Malcolm glanced at the mirror, then back at me. He freed a hand to point at the wall fixture. “I take it that’s a new revelation?” he asked.

My eyes shot quickly to the mirror before returning to him. “Yes,” I said in a tentative manner, “It is. I do not know how it came to pass, though.” My brow furrowed, hands falling to my sides. “This is your residence?”

“Yes, mine and Kaylee’s.” A reluctant frown fought its way to the surface. “Well, it was Lydia and Monica’s home, too, but…”

“I am sorry.” My lips curled downward in a similar fashion. “I wish I bore the ability to say something more meaningful than that. I am the reason they are not with us.”

Malcolm looked away. “I’ll agree that you’re the reason Lydia isn’t with us, but I think we’re guiltier for what happened to Monica.” His eyes met mine again. “Karma, I suppose.”

I nodded, yet could not wrap my mind around the fact that we were maintaining a conversation with such civility. “You do not wish me dead any longer, Mr. Davies?”

The question took him aback. “Of course not,” he blurted, but then he
stopped
and took a step closer, sizing me up with his gaze. He shook his head as his eyes met mine once more. “You do remember what all happened, don’t you? I know you’ve been asleep for a while, but I assumed, when you woke, you’d be more afraid we’d poke and prod you and try to figure out how the hell you work.”

I stared at him, the crease in my brow becoming more pronounced as I evaluated his question. “I remember the vampires attacking the Council. I recall being responsible for a great many of their demises.”

“You also saved my
and Kaylee’s lives. Quite possibly everyone else’s lives, too.”

“Julian did state as such
, but as my consciousness was wavering.”

“You might need another infusion of blood. Or, at least, a stiff drink and a good explanation.” He knitted his hands behind his back and nodded toward the staircase. “Come downstairs. Believe it or not, in the days you’ve been asleep, we’ve been able to make our peace with a lot of things. Only right we catch you up on that.” He walked ahead of me to lead the way
implying the request for me to follow
. As I looked down at him, I could not help
my
astonishment. Something
prevent
ed me from making any attempt to scan his thoughts
to verify his assurances
. Perhaps, I was too afraid the other shoe might drop.

W
e wound our way down the stairs and to a lighter-colored living area. The dark wood remained a consistent theme, and the rugs which lay beneath a set of plush couches still bore the maroon and green colors the upstairs had boasted. I stole a moment to admire my surroundings. A fireplace poured heat into the immediate area and the glow of the flames cast shadows across walls bearing portraits and paintings. My sight honed on one portrait in particular – an image of my two lost loves. My eyes met a younger Monica’s especially and I frowned.

Movement from the corner of my eye drew my focus away. A woman stood from a high back chair and turned to face me. A quick movie played in my mind,
featuring
the woman who first hurtled condemnation down on me, then scurried off when I took hold of her and moved her out of harm’s way. She folded her hands in front of her waist, her gaze more apprehensive than Malcolm’s had been.

I perked an eyebrow as she drew a deep breath inward. “I didn’t know you were awake,” she said.

I glanced at Malcolm, who walked around to one of the couches, and peered back at Kaylee. “Malcolm greeted me similarly, though not quite as nervously.” Lifting a hand, I shook my head. “I intend you no ill. I never have, truth be told.”

“I know.” She issued the same quick flick of her eyes to Malcolm as I had and sh
ifted in place. “I’m sorry.
I honestly haven’t known when we’d be able to talk to you, Mr. Dawes.”

“Peter, please.”

“I’ll pour us all a drink,” Malcolm said, bypassing his seat and walking for a liquor cabinet on the other side of the room.

I watched him depart, then motioned for one of the other chairs and pointed uncertainly. Kaylee nodded. “Yes, please, Peter. Sit.” She settled back in her chair and crossed her legs. I sat as well and stared at her across the expanse, waiting. She gazed downward for a few moments before finally continuing. “You aren’t wearing your sunglasses anymore,” she said.

I nodded, managing a small grin. “It would seem the Fates have granted me several boons as recompense.” The grin faded slowly. “What about my waking had you uneasy?”

“You had us a little nervous on several fronts,” Malcolm interjected, walking over to me with a glass filled two fingers full with an amber-colored liquid. Lifting it to my nose, I took a generous sniff of the contents. Scotch. He walked to Kaylee and handed her a similar glass. “For one, you’ve been out for two weeks now without budging. We wondered if we broke you.”

“Two weeks?” I asked, not bothering to mask the surprise in my voice.

“Twelve days to be more precise.” He walked back for the liquor cabinet and pulled out another glass. “And we’ve been locked in discussions with the rest of the Council since we dragged your body here. We’ve had our best spellcasters and physicians try to put you back together again. Were starting to believe we might’ve lost any chance at redeeming ourselves when you kept sleeping.”