Insperatus (23 page)
Authors: Kelly Varesio
“
Welcome, Rein.”
Welcome, Rein.”
Then her head lifted off of a pillow.
She was in a dark room and seemed to be alone.
It was a bedroom, but she didn’t recognize it. A small window was on the wall to her left. It was the only thing making the room at all lit. Daytime? Then she realized that she wasn’t on a bed, but on a divan. Red and gold and black twirled in a pattern amidst the buttons that held the fabric on. There was a hardwood floor underneath a pale golden rug.
Had she only been dreaming about the angelic woman? She knew the rest was real; she still felt sharp eyeteeth with her tongue. She could still see profoundly well in the darkness. She wasn’t in pain anymore from the collision with the heavy crates. But where was she?
As if on cue, Traith entered from a bright hallway that nearly rendered her sightless. He closed the door quickly and held it there as if someone were trying to break in.
“
I think that I’m blind,” he said, most likely to himself.
I think that I’m blind,” he said, most likely to himself.
He approached her without another word, shaking his head as if in relief to have gotten out of the blaring light. She was grateful to see him. She didn’t have to be scared because she had him.
“
Where am I?” she asked, sitting up slowly, realizing that she was still dressed in the cream, bloodstained dress she had been wearing on the ship.
Where am I?” she asked, sitting up slowly, realizing that she was still dressed in the cream, bloodstained dress she had been wearing on the ship.
“
It’s called the Council of the Presage,” he muttered. “But forget the name. You’re safe, Rein.”
It’s called the Council of the Presage,” he muttered. “But forget the name. You’re safe, Rein.”
His voice was steady, as she knew it best. He took a seat on a chair next to the divan. He had on no shirt, and she saw muscles rippled down and throughout his chest and sides. His stomach wasn’t moving. He wasn’t breathing. She also caught sight of the scars left on his throat.
A burnt, smoky smell was detectable on him.
The
explosion
.
explosion
.
“
Your back, Traith?” She panicked. “Is it hurt? Where is your shirt?”
Your back, Traith?” She panicked. “Is it hurt? Where is your shirt?”
“
It was burned off,” he said calmly, reminding her of how he had spoken before what had happened. “And my back is rather sore.”
It was burned off,” he said calmly, reminding her of how he had spoken before what had happened. “And my back is rather sore.”
She felt ill. “I felt us dropping,” she said, breathing out. “You were losing consciousness…but you didn’t let go.”
He smiled a little. “Of course not.”
She managed to smile back and started looking around the room, studying it. “How long ago did we get here? And where’s here?”
“
A few hours ago,” he said. “And it’s hard to explain where here is exactly. But anyway, once we arrived here you collapsed, and before I did, I laid you in here. After an hour or two I came out of it. I’ve been directly outside the door since, so I haven’t had the chance to worry about my back.”
A few hours ago,” he said. “And it’s hard to explain where here is exactly. But anyway, once we arrived here you collapsed, and before I did, I laid you in here. After an hour or two I came out of it. I’ve been directly outside the door since, so I haven’t had the chance to worry about my back.”
“
Traith, I can imagine your back is burnt horribly.”
Traith, I can imagine your back is burnt horribly.”
“
It is,” he replied, rough and quiet. “I can’t touch fire, Rein. If I do, the wounds take a great deal of time to mend. Do you know anything about vampires?” His voice was strained when he spoke the last word. “Vampires heal quickly. They don’t die. This doesn’t mean less pain, but both of these advantages have the exception of the stake, and…” He paused. “Every vampire has his own weakness. The first substance a vampire encounters after being bitten becomes excruciating for him to tolerate. If he comes in contact with it again, he won’t heal quickly at all. I don’t know what yours is, but my own,” he said, making his empty, single-breathed laugh, “is fire.”
It is,” he replied, rough and quiet. “I can’t touch fire, Rein. If I do, the wounds take a great deal of time to mend. Do you know anything about vampires?” His voice was strained when he spoke the last word. “Vampires heal quickly. They don’t die. This doesn’t mean less pain, but both of these advantages have the exception of the stake, and…” He paused. “Every vampire has his own weakness. The first substance a vampire encounters after being bitten becomes excruciating for him to tolerate. If he comes in contact with it again, he won’t heal quickly at all. I don’t know what yours is, but my own,” he said, making his empty, single-breathed laugh, “is fire.”
That made sense. At the meeting, he was sitting farthest from the hearth.
“
Did you dream anything?” he asked.
Did you dream anything?” he asked.
It took a moment before she could formulate words. “Yes, about a woman, shining, like an angel.”
“
Her…well,” he said, becoming quiet, “she isn’t an angel. She’s bright, I’ll give her that. Nearly burned my eyes out with those bloody lights. That was Mistress. Although I’ve yet to speak with her, I was told that she would give you a dream.”
Her…well,” he said, becoming quiet, “she isn’t an angel. She’s bright, I’ll give her that. Nearly burned my eyes out with those bloody lights. That was Mistress. Although I’ve yet to speak with her, I was told that she would give you a dream.”
“
She only greeted me,” Rein muttered.
She only greeted me,” Rein muttered.
He sighed. “I figured such. She likes to confuse people. I think she gets more kick out of life that way. I must warn you, she likes to speak in riddles, and she can be intimidating, but do not feel too flustered by her. She wants to meet you.”
“
Is there no way for her to turn us back?”
Is there no way for her to turn us back?”
“
I wish there were a way,” he murmured, “but nothing has ever worked. Some say it’s because I was bitten by an advanced vampire, one that has mutated more than normal and is much more powerful. Even though
you
might have a chance of being turned back,” he paused, “to do so would result in your death. If you had been bitten alive it would be a different story. I can guarantee I would’ve never bitten you otherwise.”
I wish there were a way,” he murmured, “but nothing has ever worked. Some say it’s because I was bitten by an advanced vampire, one that has mutated more than normal and is much more powerful. Even though
you
might have a chance of being turned back,” he paused, “to do so would result in your death. If you had been bitten alive it would be a different story. I can guarantee I would’ve never bitten you otherwise.”
She nodded, trying to push back fear. “Traith, can I ever see day again?” she asked, the realization of the blinding light hitting her. “That blinding light—”
“
It isn’t blinding, Rein, to anyone else but us,” he said. “But I can be out in the sunlight. It makes me weaker, but I’ve trained to become accustomed to it. It’ll take a little time for you, however, but you’ll get used to it, don’t worry; it isn’t
that
bad. You’ll absolutely
see
sunlight again.” He smiled.
It isn’t blinding, Rein, to anyone else but us,” he said. “But I can be out in the sunlight. It makes me weaker, but I’ve trained to become accustomed to it. It’ll take a little time for you, however, but you’ll get used to it, don’t worry; it isn’t
that
bad. You’ll absolutely
see
sunlight again.” He smiled.
But she needed to know more. The questions were flooding her mind again. “What you did, to the ship and the rope—”
“
Let’s just say I’m more dangerous than I’d like to be,” he replied. “But you and I are alone in this.” He was choking on his words. “I have never known an honorable vampire before, Rein.” His voice became grave. “There were never any, anywhere, other than Carden and myself.”
Let’s just say I’m more dangerous than I’d like to be,” he replied. “But you and I are alone in this.” He was choking on his words. “I have never known an honorable vampire before, Rein.” His voice became grave. “There were never any, anywhere, other than Carden and myself.”
Her eyes blurred. “Carden!
Saria
—”
Saria
—”
“
I don’t know where they are.” His voice was trembling, now, hard.
I don’t know where they are.” His voice was trembling, now, hard.
He was actually afraid, and she saw it.
“
The Mistress will tell me,” he cleared his throat, but the quiver was still noticeable, “when we meet with her. She knows. She’s got to.”
The Mistress will tell me,” he cleared his throat, but the quiver was still noticeable, “when we meet with her. She knows. She’s got to.”
“
Oh God, Traith! Saria is like my sister; she can’t have—”
Oh God, Traith! Saria is like my sister; she can’t have—”
“
Rein,” he whispered with his head down.
Rein,” he whispered with his head down.
“
Waiting is hard,” she murmured. “That’s all.”
Waiting is hard,” she murmured. “That’s all.”
“
I know,” he said. “I can see your pain, Rein; I understand it.”
I know,” he said. “I can see your pain, Rein; I understand it.”
“
See my pain? Tell me what I look like,” she said, wanting him to be more expressive. “Please tell me. I must know if I can’t ever see my own self again. I trust you to describe me.”
See my pain? Tell me what I look like,” she said, wanting him to be more expressive. “Please tell me. I must know if I can’t ever see my own self again. I trust you to describe me.”
His flaming eyes closed partially while he hesitated. “I’m not exactly sure how you would have me do that,” he said. “I can’t—”
“
My hair? Eyes? Face? Do I look at all
human
?”
My hair? Eyes? Face? Do I look at all
human
?”
He bent down with his arms resting on his knees, his hands becoming still and dangling flaccidly. “Rein, you don’t look any less human than before. Your eyes aren’t like mine. They are…subtle.”
“
My eyes are red, then?” she asked with a weak voice. “Blazing red?”
My eyes are red, then?” she asked with a weak voice. “Blazing red?”
“
No,” he said quickly. It seemed as though he had taken a blow from hearing about his own eyes. “Your eyes nearly look…they’re dark, Rein. Like a deep scarlet. Your hair is still black, and your skin is only slightly lighter, now. You don’t look…” He seemed to bite his teeth together tight. “You’ve hardly changed at all. You’re not nearly as obvious as I am.”
No,” he said quickly. It seemed as though he had taken a blow from hearing about his own eyes. “Your eyes nearly look…they’re dark, Rein. Like a deep scarlet. Your hair is still black, and your skin is only slightly lighter, now. You don’t look…” He seemed to bite his teeth together tight. “You’ve hardly changed at all. You’re not nearly as obvious as I am.”
She could see that he was more depressed and alone than she had ever seen him. A long silence followed. She used it to think of every possible question she could. But then when she wanted to ask him, she had to stop herself. He was lost in thought, and she knew he was too upset to answer her any further. He was bent over with his head resting on his hands, and he wasn’t breathing. It was so obvious to her now, with his shirt off, that he wasn’t breathing.
On the ship he had been breathing. She knew because she noticed how slowly he had done so. Had he done so for her? It was voluntary for him, and her now. They had to think about each breath.
“
What about what I did?” she asked gently.
What about what I did?” she asked gently.
“
What?” He glanced up at her, but he blinked heavily.
What?” He glanced up at her, but he blinked heavily.
“
Traith, I didn’t mean for those nails to hurt you; I didn’t. They went so deep, and you pulled them out as if they were tiny splinters. But I killed him. How was that—?”
Traith, I didn’t mean for those nails to hurt you; I didn’t. They went so deep, and you pulled them out as if they were tiny splinters. But I killed him. How was that—?”
“
Rein, I don’t know!”
Rein, I don’t know!”
She flinched at his raised voice and said no more. But he wasn’t angry. He seemed only to know as little as she, so she bit her tongue. She didn’t ask any more questions.
“
I’m as confused with my own new abilities as those you exhibited,” he muttered more calmly. “I was stuck on that ship, Rein. I could not get off. No matter what I did, I couldn’t get off. I tried jumping, but the next moment, I was in my chamber bed. In a matter of ten seconds I would somehow be back on that ship. With that man. It was so torturous.” It looked as though he couldn’t finish his words. “But somehow I could, and after so many years.” He stopped abruptly.
I’m as confused with my own new abilities as those you exhibited,” he muttered more calmly. “I was stuck on that ship, Rein. I could not get off. No matter what I did, I couldn’t get off. I tried jumping, but the next moment, I was in my chamber bed. In a matter of ten seconds I would somehow be back on that ship. With that man. It was so torturous.” It looked as though he couldn’t finish his words. “But somehow I could, and after so many years.” He stopped abruptly.
She was sitting up straight, her legs off the side of the divan. He was still leaning on his hands with his head down and eyes closed. But she reached over to him, taking no thought in the matter. It was a simple action. She lifted his head with her fingers, and when he looked at her, she placed her arms around his neck, careful not to touch his back.
He stood and she felt him go limp for a moment. Then his naked arms tightened around her, and his head touched her own. She rested her face on his bare shoulder, and she could smell that familiar cologne on his skin beneath the scent of fire. She was in love with him, no matter what she was. No matter what he was.
A vampire.
But without doubt a godly vampire.
Chapter 30
He closed the latch on the door as quietly as he could. Rein had fallen asleep instantly. She was so overwhelmed, and all he could do was watch her and be there for her when he could.
As he turned from the door, he gasped slightly at the blinding effect the light of the place still had on him. He closed his eyes immediately and held his hands over them, hoping no one was watching. He needed a moment to adjust.
Then someone ran into him. He heard a “humph” of irritation from the body who hit him…or had he been inadvertently inching his way to a walk? He slowly dropped his hands from his face and tried his best to look at the man he’d run into.
“
Excuse me,” Traith murmured.
Excuse me,” Traith murmured.
All he could make out of the man was a voice. “What is your problem?” he snapped back. “You blind, or something, boy?”
Traith felt himself flooding with fury. He dropped his hands entirely and squinted at the man. He was hardly a man. Young.
God, his eyes felt
ablaze
!
ablaze
!
“
Who the devil are you?” Traith shouted in question.
Who the devil are you?” Traith shouted in question.
The boy hummed in arrogance. “We like to walk around half naked, too, do we? My name is Magellan, and I’d better not find the likes of
you
in any other place but this
infirmary
!”
you
in any other place but this
infirmary
!”
The man went to walk away when Traith grabbed his shirt and yanked him back. “I suggest you know who you’re talking to before you run your bloody mouth.”
“
Why?” the man growled, holding onto Traith’s fist. “Who are
you
?”
Why?” the man growled, holding onto Traith’s fist. “Who are
you
?”
“
Don’t you know?” he said in reply.
Don’t you know?” he said in reply.
Traith finally felt his eyes doing a little less squinting, but squinting all the same. It was then that he could finally see what the man looked like; long blonde hair, blue eyes, a pale blue shirt buttoned up with a belt diagonal from shoulder to waist. The man’s face went icy, and his eyes enlarged.
“
Traith Harker
?” he declared. He cleared his throat, and Traith let go of him, letting him put his hand out. “Mistress’ right hand man, huh? Oh for the love of Merlin, I’m
sorry
,” he replied, curtsying like a girl with a sarcastic grin. “I’ve only been here ten years, and I’ve never met you—”
Traith Harker
?” he declared. He cleared his throat, and Traith let go of him, letting him put his hand out. “Mistress’ right hand man, huh? Oh for the love of Merlin, I’m
sorry
,” he replied, curtsying like a girl with a sarcastic grin. “I’ve only been here ten years, and I’ve never met you—”
“
Apparent as hell you’ve never met me,” Traith said, not giving him his hand. “Sarcasm isn’t the right approach, right now. I’ll tell you once and once only, that I’m not exactly a
boy
, I’m half naked because my back is nearly burned
off
, and I can’t
see
out here because I’m a—”
Apparent as hell you’ve never met me,” Traith said, not giving him his hand. “Sarcasm isn’t the right approach, right now. I’ll tell you once and once only, that I’m not exactly a
boy
, I’m half naked because my back is nearly burned
off
, and I can’t
see
out here because I’m a—”
“
A vampire,” the man said, wiping a golden lock from his forehead. “By gold, I’ve never met a true vampire before.”
A vampire,” the man said, wiping a golden lock from his forehead. “By gold, I’ve never met a true vampire before.”
Traith shook his head and held it, the lights giving him a headache. “In ten years, you’ve never met a vampire? You must have done a
great
deal
of field work, then.”
great
deal
of field work, then.”
“
I doubt that I entirely trust you, Mr. Harker,” the man dared to say.
I doubt that I entirely trust you, Mr. Harker,” the man dared to say.
Traith felt his eyes wanting to widen in shock. “What?”
“
A vampire?” Magellan laughed. “Being that you’re the only good one I’ve ever heard of, it just seems too implausible for you to be good when you’re straight from the Devil Himself.”
A vampire?” Magellan laughed. “Being that you’re the only good one I’ve ever heard of, it just seems too implausible for you to be good when you’re straight from the Devil Himself.”
Traith clenched his fists together. “You’ve no right to speak to me like that. You’re too ignorant, and you’re too young—”
“
Me? Young! What about you?”
Me? Young! What about you?”
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