Chapter 15
Sven
It was days after I killed my sister before I would speak. Her death weighed heavy upon my soul. I don’t know why I did it but I can’t deny that I did. I don’t know what Lucius did with her body but I don’t really care, she is dead and gone. In these past few days something that Lucius said to me began to run through the back of my mind. He said that I would die in a few days, well, it hasn’t happened yet, at least not to my knowledge.
“Lucius.” I said softly, “You said that I would die, why hasn’t it happened yet?”
“It probably already has. There was a night after your sister’s death where you didn’t awaken.” He said simply, he seemed to be distracted.
“What’s wrong?” I asked softly as I looked in the direction he was.
I saw a man but couldn’t feel his presence. Shoulder length black hair and storm gray eyes. Moving quickly, he twisted his hair up and put it under a hat. On the back of his neck a strange tattoo was revealed. A twisting black symbol with hints of blood red. I had never seen anything like it before.
“Lucius, who is that?” I asked as I watched him walk.
He moved smoothly, quickly. I had never seen anyone move like him. Suddenly he stopped. Slowly he looked over at us. In an instant he stood before me. I took a step back, running into Cian.
“Who are you?” I asked softly.
“So, you must be part of Aurelia’s brood.” He said softly.
“I know of no Ostilis who is not. She is the last.” Lucius said with a smile, “I am Lucius.”
“There are those who are not a part of her. I am Asher.”
“What do you mean by that? Who else is there?” Cian asked quickly.
Asher smiled, “If I tell you I must have your word that you will not tell Aurelia of my existence. Do I have your word?”
All of us nodded. I was curious; I wondered who this Aurelia was that he spoke of. Patiently I waited for someone to speak.
“I am older than Aurelia, only by fifty years but that is more than enough. I belong to another clan, there were two, I’m sure she never told you that. Now then, if you will excuse me I’m going to be on my way. There is someone that I’m here to collect. Remember; don’t tell her about me if you should see her. Good day to all of you.” Asher said before walking away.
I was dumb struck. I didn’t really understand what Asher had said but it sounded important. I looked over at Lucius and Cian, seeking answers.
Lucius shook his head, “Come, it’s time to awaken your child.” Lucius said quickly, “Sven.” I looked at him, “I want you to follow that man, Asher, and find out what you can about him.”
My eyes grew wide, “I’ll try.”
“Thank you Sven.” Lucius said, “That’s all I can ask of you.”
I watched as they walked away before closing my eyes and ‘looking’ for the absence of a presence. Once I found it I walked in the direction that I had felt it in. There was a human presence with it. Carefully I followed them. Suddenly my world came crashing down around me, something slammed into the base of my skull. My head whip lashed back and I fell to the ground. When I awakened my head was spinning. I couldn’t think straight. As I was trying to focus I felt something hot flowing into my mouth. I swallowed in surprise but the minute I did I wished I hadn’t. A splitting pain shot through my head. I screamed before falling unconscious. A soft voice awakened me.
“Boy, wake up.” He said softly. It was Asher but I couldn’t remember him or anyone else. I couldn’t remember anything, “What is your name?”
“I don’t know.” I said softly.
He half smiled, “I must have something to call you.” He paused, “Phoenix. That is fitting, rising again from the ashes.”
“My neck hurts.” I said softly, rubbing my hand across the back of it. It came away covered in blood, “What happened?”
“I found you lying in the street. You had been assaulted and forced to drink something. Your assailant was nowhere to be found. I brought you to my home and changed you.” He said quickly.
“Changed me? I don’t understand.”
He sighed, “You are an Ostilis, a drinker of blood. I did not turn you into that, you already were one. What I did was change you from one clan to another. Because you were turned into an Ostilis I could do so. The blood on your hand is a combination of my blood and yours. It was used to change you and tattoo you. You cannot be changed back to the other clan; no one can be changed to the other. Do you understand?”
I sighed, “No, not really. What’s an Ostilis?”
He closed his eyes, “An immortal that must drink blood to live and must not set foot in the sun. Do you understand?”
I nodded, for some reason it didn’t seem odd to me, “Will I ever get my memory back and who are you?”
“I am Asher and I doubt that your memory will ever return. Is there anything I can get you?”
“A pair of scissors.” I said softly, causing him to laugh, “I want a hair cut.”
He smiled, “Get some rest, Ares will be in later to cut your hair. He will answer all of your questions.”
“Thank you Asher.” I said softly.
“Good night Phoenix.” He said before walking out.
I closed my eyes and rubbed my temples. My head ached, my neck hurt, and I was exhausted. Curling up in bed I waited for sleep. It was a couple of hours before the door opened. A young man with spiked black hair walked in with a comb, scissors, and a basin of water.
“Good night.” He said, setting the basin down on a table, “I’m Ares, named for the Greek god of war.”
“Asher called me Phoenix.” I said softly, “I wish I could remember what happened.”
Ares nodded, “Sometimes things are better left the way they are. Everything happens for a reason. Get up and I’ll cut your hair.” He said, playing with the scissors, “How do you want it?” He asked as I got up.
My shirt had been removed but my pants were still on. They weren’t very comfortable. They were stained with blood and large tears were in various places.
“Like yours is fine.” I said softly as he sat me down.
“I’m going to dump the water over your head, it’s easier.”
I closed my eyes and waited. The water was warm as he poured it over my head. I didn’t open my eyes as I felt the comb rake through my hair. Quickly he began to cut, the snip of scissors echoed through my ears as Ares cut. It wasn’t long before he was finished.
“Done.” He said, “Come on, I’ll show you to the shower. You can wash up and I’ll steal some of Odin’s clothes for you, they’ll fit better than mine.”
“Thank you.” I said, managing a small smile.
“No problem. If you need or want anything just ask. Until you know your way around I’ll be your guide. This house is huge so it’s easy to get lost but the good thing is you can never run out of things to do.” He said, opening a door, “Here ya go. Use what ever you want. I’ll be back in about half an hour with clothes for you. I’ll also show you around a bit. I’m sure Asher will introduce you to the others if he isn’t doing something else.” He said before closing the door.
I caught a quick glimpse of a black and red tattoo on the back of Ares’ neck before the door cut him off. Turning the water on I stripped off my ruined pants. Perhaps Ares was right; maybe things were better left the way they are. Some things were better left unsaid. Stepping under the water I began to clean myself. Flakes of dried blood fell from my skin. As I touched the back of my neck I felt a numbing pain shoot through that area. My skin was still tender from being tattooed. Sighing I gritted my teeth and gently cleaned the area. When finished the door opened.
“Hey Phoenix. Since you’re not done I’ll leave the clothes on the counter and wait outside.” Ares said quickly.
Once I heard the door close I got out and dried off, being careful to avoid the back of my neck. Once dry I began to get dressed. When I was fully clothed I picked up a small mirror and, using the large one, looked at the back of my neck. The skin was red from irritation but a very clear, very carefully done, black and red design was permanently etched into my flesh. Sighing I opened the door and stepped out. Ares was waiting for me.
“What’s the tattoo for?” I asked as we began to walk through the house.
“To show that we have his protection. To show that we are a part of Asher.” Ares said, opening a door, “This is the computer room.” There were three people inside, “Phoenix, this is Odin, Thor, and Persephone.”
“Hey.” Odin said before turning back to his game.
“But I’m not a part of him. He said that he wasn’t the one who created me.” I said as he closed the door.
He shook his head, “Look, he may not have created you but in a way he did. He saved your life. By the looks of things the man who stripped you of your memory was also intent on killing you. By all rights you should be dead right now. Asher saved you. You owe him your life.” He said, stopping to look at me, “Everyone here owes him their lives but he expects nothing in return. I have been alive for over two thousand years, back in ancient Rome. He saved me from most certain death.” He stopped and took a deep breath, “I’m not trying to upset you, not trying to preach to you, but sometimes things just are.”
I sighed, “I understand, at least I think I do.” I said softly, “I do owe him my life but I wish I knew about my past.”
“I fully doubt that will ever happen. Even if you do find out pieces of it you don’t know what is true and what isn’t and the things you do find out probably won’t make sense out of context.” He said, “I can’t remember everything about my past but I wish I could.” He sighed, “Anyway, let me show you around the rest of the house.”
I nodded as he began to lead me around. It took almost an hour for him to show me the entirety of the grand house, and that was without telling me where each person’s room was. We talked as he led me back to my room.
“So, what do you think? Any questions?” Ares asked as we walked down one of the many hallways.
“This place is huge. How do you remember where everything is?” I asked as we turned a corner.
He laughed, “After awhile you don’t even have to think about it. I don’t even go to half the places that I know where they are.”
I nodded, “Tell me about the Ostilis and the clans. I want to know more about what I am. Not remembering anything doesn’t help.” I said with a soft laugh.
“Alright, I’ll tell you what I can.” He smiled, “Let’s find a place to sit.” We walked into one of the family rooms before sitting down. He cleared his throat before beginning, “Well, there are a couple of weaknesses that we have, each of these dwindles with age. For instance Asher can be out in the sun with no problems, unlike me who can only be out for short amounts of time, Minerva cannot go out at all and neither can you. I don’t really remember if anything else can harm us, Asher watches us, keeps us under his wing until we are all but invincible. Sicily, Andre, Rashell, Lyta, Tomas, and Cecil it doesn’t matter, they can leave whenever they want. Our lives are fed by blood, we drink and grow stronger. Although we have weaknesses our strengths out weigh them. We are stronger, faster, can hear more, see further, and are just generally better than humans. All I know about the clans is that there are two of them. Our clan is more powerful than the other. From what I’ve been able to find out in the beginning ours was the only one, for some reason another was created. Anything else you want to know?” He said, speaking slowly and carefully, thinking out each thing he was going to say.
“What is there to eat around here?” I asked, causing him to laugh.
“I’ll take you to see Asher, he’ll take care of that.” He said, standing up.
As I got to my feet he began to, once again, lead me through the maze of passages. After a few minutes we stood before a pair of French doors. He opened them and we stepped inside. Asher was seated within and was arguing with a young woman about something.
“What is it Ares?” Asher spat without taking his eyes off the girl.
“Phoenix was hungry.” Ares said softly, “We’ll come back later if we’re disturbing you.”
“No, stay. I need to tell Phoenix something I just discovered.” Asher said with a wicked smile, “Phoenix, come here.” Slowly I stepped out from behind Ares. Asher smiled at me, “Phoenix, I have discovered the reason why and who was behind your loss of memory.”
“Who?” I asked, eager to find out the answer.
“This girl is the one behind it, she told the man to do it, hoping that I would not be able to get to her. It was meant for me, not you.” He said, still looking at her, “What do you think we should do with her? If you’re hungry you may take her, I care not, especially after what she had that man do to you.”
She turned quickly and looked at me, Asher had very obviously beaten her. She looked ready for death. I could feel the life pulse through her even from the distance we were from each other. I wanted her blood and I would take it.
“Well, what do you want to do with her?” Asher asked, breaking me from my thoughts.
“I shall take her, I’m so very hungry.” I said, gazing at the large pulse in her throat.
He nodded, “Then do as your nature commands, do what you have to do.”
Slowly I approached her. For each step I took she stepped back. It was a dance. She, wanting to escape from me and I wanting to feed. Ares sat down and the two of them watched as we continued our dance. I was growing tired of her foolishness but was enjoying her fear.
“Shall we end this?” I asked with a smile.
“I don’t want to die.” She sobbed.
Moving quickly I grabbed her, “That’s just too bad.” I said as I felt my fangs slide down.
I struck quickly, sinking my teeth deep into her skin. She struggled against me in futility. I drank deeply from her, draining her life away. So much blood flowing from those two small holes. I drank and drank; Asher gently pulled me back when her heart had stopped. I tried to get back to her throat but Asher held me away. Taking me against his chest he sat down and waited for Ares to remove her corpse from the room so that I would cease attempting to reach the remaining blood in her corpse.
“Phoenix, hush. She is dead and if you drink from her now it shall drag you down as well.” Asher said as Ares picked up her body, “I shall bring you the man who did this. I discovered who he was from her before you killed her. I shall bring him to you.”
I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself, “I’m still hungry.” I said softly, “Please, I’m still hungry.”
“Patience Phoenix. Because you haven’t fed in days I shall allow you to have more. Come.” He said, bringing me to my feet, “Come, we shall hunt together.”
Together we left the house and walked into the midnight street. The full moon was high in the sky, basking the street in the yellow-white glow.