Chapter 2
Viktor
“In the beginning my name was not Viktor. It is simply the name that I have chosen for this time, as Acacia well knows.” I said softly, gently feeling the texture of Acacia’s hair, “It begins as all things begin. Life, death, all things one in the same. I didn’t know what was in store for me; no one ever does, in the beginning. Once the minds of mortals become open books everything changes. But I am getting off topic, you wanted to know why I choose the way I did but I was instead going to tell you how I came into this.
“As I was saying, over nine hundred years ago I was born into this world, this world of death. I knew that I had been followed; I knew that I was being watched. It had gone on this way for weeks. This strange dance. Every now and then I would catch a glimpse of him, of the man who followed me. He was handsome, pale skinned, young. It confused me, this man. Why would he be following me? I knew not.
“This night, this silent night, so many years ago. I walked the English streets. The light from the street lamps sent a dim glare across the rain soaked cobblestones. I walked, I was alone. I had left my home, my family. My father and I...it is unimportant what happened between us; just know that I left because of him, because of what he did. Now, as I walked I walked alone. The silence pressed in around me, the light, so dim. I could barely see.” I paused. Closing my eyes I kissed Acacia’s throat, I wanted a small taste before going on, “Acacia.” I whispered, “May I?”
“Yes.” She whispered, “But only a little.”
I smiled as I sank my teeth into her flesh. Her rich blood, sweet upon my tongue. I sipped from her, small sips, pleasurable sips. Releasing her, I licked my lips before continuing, “The silence.” I continued, “It surrounded me, permeated me. It was cold, unforgiving. I bowed my head as the rain began to fall. My hair was matted to my head; my clothes clung to my body. I shivered as I felt eyes peering at me from the shadows. Eyes full of hunger, of want, of love.
“I shook my head, “Who’s there?” I said, a little afraid at the prospect of what awaited me hidden in those shadows. Laughter, rich laughter. I scowled, “Answer me!” I spat. More of that sweet laughter. Then I saw him. He stepped out of the shadows like a silent angel, a demon rather. He was perfect; his skin caught the light of the lamps, giving it an almost golden luster. Long black hair and his eyes, a soft violet, the color of lilacs.
“Striding towards me, long, smooth steps. He seemed to glide across the surface of the street. I gasped as he walked towards me with inhuman speed. “Hello, child.” He whispered, his voice so sweet but melancholy. “Who are you?” I asked in fear, not sure of who or what he was. “Come with me.” He said softly, “And I shall show you the world.” His voice so sweet, it drew me to him. His outstretched hand, waiting for me to take it. A single hesitant step forward, he knew he had me. That was more than enough for him. He came upon me quickly, his speed startling me. Drawing me to him, grasping me tightly, holding me to his ice-cold body.
“I struggled, trying to pull away from his grasp. “Hush, Darius, my dear, sweet, Darius.” He whispered, “Don’t struggle.” His words didn’t faze me; I continued to pull away, pummeling him with my fists. Breaking my skin upon his unyielding flesh. Blood poured from my knuckles, I clawed at his face. He was so like a statue, hard, solid, strong. He laughed as he held me in his deadly embrace. “Release me!” I cried, “Who are you?” He smiled as he brought his lips to my throat, “Darius, I am the one who will deliver you. My name is Cian. Prepare yourself.” I clawed at him, tried to pry his face away from my neck. He held fast as he sank his teeth into my throat. I think I screamed as I sank into the dark bliss that each of us has felt and feels every time we feed or are fed from. An eternity, never wanting to be released from it. My release came. I felt myself lifted, carried by his strong arms. My time of death was not yet to come. I was sure that he would destroy me, that he would kill me, just as sure as I knew that this was death, that this man was the grim reaper. He had come for me, he had chosen me. “What is it that you want?” I asked, so weak, so very weak. He chuckled, “You.” He said simply as he brushed a hand through my hair, “I have you now. You are in my hands, your life, your existence.” He said, so softly, so lovingly.
“I closed my eyes. I felt weak, alone. “It is not yet your time to die.” He said softly, “Darius, my dear sweet Darius. Rest. When you awaken we shall have already arrived.” I fell asleep in his arms, relaxed, calm, waiting for death.”
I looked at Acacia, Zarek, and Katryn. They sat in rapt attention, hanging on my every word. I shook my head slightly, they were my descendants, my children, all of them, even Katryn who I had not even created. They wanted more; they sat looking at me, hungering for my knowledge. I knew so much more than I would tell them, so much more about this life. Things that they would not want to hear and I would not tell them. They were not ready for all the things that I have experienced, the times that I went through. I would only tell them what they desired to hear. How I came to be and why I chose them.
“Please, Viktor, please go on.” Katryn pleaded, a look of hunger, hunger for knowledge and blood, upon her face.
She was so young, so hungry. But she wanted to wait; she was allowing the hunger to build, to strengthen. I shook my head; Zarek had indeed made a wise decision in creating her. The strength of youth, her skin still filled with the color of life. It would fade; her beauty would become solid, so like the statues of angels. Her eyes, the spark of life still filled them, it too would fade. They would change, become hard, the color would strengthen or would it fade? Perhaps the deep blue would change altogether. It could never be known until it happened. I closed my eyes, deciding if I should truly go on.
“Viktor, you must go on. Tell us what happened next.” Acacia said softly, her voice demanding.
I laughed, out of habit I guess, but I continued still the same. I felt obligated to do so, “I awakened to find myself surrounded by wood, a coffin. I had been placed in a coffin. Pounding upon the wooden innards I screamed for help. This box, this horrible, horrific, box. I was panicking, afraid. I had to escape but I couldn’t. I was trapped. “Please!” I cried, “Someone, please let me out of here!” But there was no answer, only the sound of rats and the sweet smell of pine. I was afraid, so very afraid. Trying to calm myself I took in deep breaths of air. The blood had been washed from my knuckles. They had been bandaged with soft white cloth. I pushed my hair out of my face and laid in the darkness, breathing deep, attempting to calm myself. The lid was pushed back and Cian stood above me, “Good evening my dear Darius.” He whispered, “How did you sleep?” He asked with a laugh.
“I didn’t answer but scrambled out of the pine box. He laughed at me, at my actions. I stood leaning against the wall for support as I gasped for breath. “I believe that I shall end this now.” He said with a smile that showed his sharp canines. I gasped and looked for a means of escape. A single wooden door caught my eye. I was sure that was the only way out of this place. A flash of movement and he was upon me. I fought as he held me in his deadly embrace, gasping for breath, trying to hold onto my life. He drained me and dropped me onto the dirt floor. I lay there, trying to breath. “Are you ready?” He asked softly, “Are you ready to truly live?” I couldn’t find my voice; I couldn’t move my head, “Yes.” I managed to croak. I saw him bite his wrist but I didn’t believe it. Drops of his blood fell into my mouth as he brought it to my lips. I found myself latched to him, drawing his blood from him and into myself. Sweet bliss. He pulled away after I had taken enough. Unlike you, Katryn, I did not die the next night. I began to die where I lay.
“Pain, so severe that I couldn’t stand it. I groaned and doubled over. Pulling myself up the stairs only to fall back down. Cian stood watching with detached interest. He didn’t tell me what was happening, did nothing to help me. It was my death and I would experience it on my own. Writhing on the floor at the bottom of the steps I breathed quickly then stopped for a moment only to start again. I could hear my heart thumping in my ears. It sounded like a drum, loud, deep. Shutting my eyes tight I waited, waited for the pain to end, all the while writhing in exquisite agony. When it was finished Cian approached. Carefully he helped me to my feet, back to the coffin to rest.” I stopped, that was all I would tell them of Cian. I could tell them no more about him, about what came after.
“What happened?” Zarek asked softly, “After you were created? What did Cian do?”
I shook my head, “I shall tell you no more about Cian. It is not important.” I said before turning to Acacia, “Now, the reason I chose you, how I found you. For this we travel forward six hundred years. I had not created anyone; I had never thought I would until I saw Acacia. It was night, of course, what other time would it be? She was alone, very unusual for where I was but there was something different about her. Cian saw it as well. Acacia, beautiful Acacia. So filled with life. I wanted you, just as I still want you but now I have you. “Beautiful isn’t she?” Cian asked me softly as I stood looking at you. I nodded, “Yes.” He half closed his eyes, “Do you want her? You can have her if you want.” I smiled at the prospect, “I don’t want to kill her.” I whispered. That made him laugh, “You don’t have to. Make her like us. It is simple. Drain her than give her your blood. Simple as that.” I shook my head, the gypsy girl before me, for I gathered that from her mind, was perfect. I wanted her to be with me but gypsies knew of us, they knew so much and it scared me. Acacia frightened me, me who would, in the end, turn her into this. “Do it Darius.” Cian hissed, breaking me from my thoughts, “You have nothing to fear from the likes of her. You are over six hundred years old.” He threw up his hands in disgust, “You disappoint me boy.” He was very obviously ashamed of me. I hated it. I didn’t want him to be angry with me. I wanted to please him. He created me and I was rewarding him with impudence, fear. “I must find out more about her first.” I whispered. He shook his head, “No, not with the gypsies. With them you must strike hard and fast. They must not know what has befallen one of their own; if they do the effects could be detrimental. If you are going to do it then do it now.” He said calmly.” I looked at the angel beside me. Acacia, in all her beauty, her death. I shook my head, “My beautiful Acacia. I took you that night. I sauntered over to you. You smiled at me, enamored with my beauty until you realized what I was. By the time it dawned on you I was latched to your throat, draining you. All without even knowing your name, where you lived, who you were. I gave you my blood in return. You drank from me with the greatest abandon.” I was talking only to her, ignoring Zarek and Katryn, “Cian helped me to raise you into the woman you are now.”
She nodded, “I remember Cian, but only briefly. I remember leaving soon after you brought me into this, leaving the two of you after I had exploited what you knew.” She bowed her head, “I returned though. I don’t know why. After two hundred and seventy-five years I returned. Fifteen years ago.” She said wistfully.
I nodded, “Yes, I am pleased that you decided to return.”
Zarek was holding Katryn tightly to him. Her body, still filled with life, pressed against his marble form. Her eyes were closed as she listened to what I was saying, hunger, so much hunger in that unprepared body. She hadn’t been completely changed. Her body was dead but she was still very alive. Not changed, I remembered the feeling well. The second death then the third. That was when it truly began. Acacia was the only one who had felt the beginnings of the third death; I knew that was the real reason she had returned. The pain had come to her one night but it had been fleeting. It wasn’t the end and I knew it. I knew that she would soon die for the third and final time. The second death would come to Katryn in a few days. The second brought with it pain, suffering, the physical changes, the awakening of the power. I shook my head as Zarek and Acacia looked at me expectantly.
“Tell us how you came upon Zarek.” Acacia prompted.
I nodded, “Very well. I had long since left Cian. I had left when I traveled to the New World as they called it then.” I looked at Zarek; “You were walking the streets, thinking about your writing. The words that you wanted to use, how you were going to use them. Your mind was racing with words, careening out of control. Pandemonium is the only word I can find that truly describes what I was bombarded with. Your thoughts first then you came around the corner and ran into me, as you were lost in thought. That was the first time I saw you. “I’m sorry.” You said absently as you walked past me. I just smiled as I watched you pass, rubbing your left temple with two long fingers.” I turned to Acacia, “I wish you had been there to see him.” I chuckled quietly.
“That was you?” Zarek asked in shock.
I laughed, “Yes, I was the one you ran into. In a way you brought yourself into this, you and your thoughts. I followed you home that night. I discovered where you lived. Then I set about finding out who you were.” I smiled, “I started with your family. Tasting each of them, finding out everything they knew about you. Your name, your life. I was pleased with what I had discovered. I wanted to be sure that I wanted you; I didn’t want you to leave me like Acacia did. You didn’t disappoint me. I spent weeks watching you, following you. I would have spent longer except for the accident...” I trailed off, remembering what had happened. Acacia elbowed me so that I would continue. I brushed a hand absently through my hair, “Zarek was growing ill. There was nothing anyone could do, he was dieing.” I was talking to them all now, not just to Zarek, “I couldn’t stand for that, not after all my careful planning. I would not have it.” I clenched my hand into a fist as I remembered the rage I had felt when I discovered it, “I was angry. Enraged. I had wanted everything to be perfect when I brought him into this. I still had time, not much, but a little. I set about preparations immediately. Procuring a coffin was the most important thing, deciding how I was going to get him out of his room was the other. His mother was always by his side, always with him, day and night.
“The coffin was easy to get and bring to my home. Placing it beside my own I prepared for the next night when I would spirit him away. When it came I found that he was near death. Quickly I went to his window. His mother was crying by his bedside. I had to find some way to get rid of her. He lay in his bed, death upon his face, the knowledge that he was going to die rich in his deep brown eyes. Amazing how they’ve changed.” I shook my head, “Back to the subject. He looked over at me as I perched in his window. A thought came to me, struck me with the force of a cannon. He thought I was death come for him. “Mother, please leave.” He whispered into her ear, no mortal nearby would have been able to hear him. I smiled as she reluctantly got to her feet. One last look back before she walked out the door. Stepping into the room I approached his bed. He looked up at me, “I am ready.” He said softly, thinking that I had come to take him away, which I had but not in the way he thought. Gently I picked him up, careful not to cause his dieing body too much harm.
“Returning home with Zarek in my arms I went down into the basement where the coffins were stored. “This may hurt.” I said softly, laying a gentle kiss upon his throat. He chuckled, “I hurt now. Please, just make it end.” He grimaced. Quickly I sank my teeth into his throat. He gasped as the pleasure began to flow. His eyes closed as I drained him. He smiled as he died but I would not allow it. Quickly biting my wrist I held the wound to his mouth. Wrapping his arms around mine he held my wrist tightly to his mouth. I gently stroked his hair as he drank. When I felt as though he had enough I pulled away. Picking him up, I placed him into the coffin. It was the next night that he was difficult to deal with. Too willful.” As I finished my three stories I folded my hands in my lap to wait for someone to say something.
Katryn opened her eyes, “I’m hungry.” She whispered, breaking the silence.
I chuckled quietly, “Zarek will have to deal with that. I shall leave everything to him.” I stood up, “Acacia, shall we leave them and find our own meal?” I asked, holding my hand out for her to take.
She took it and together we left the living room to the young ones. “Thank you for telling me how you found me.” She whispered as we left the house.
“It was only a matter of time before I told you.” I replied.
She smiled, “You left something out. I know you did. Will you ever tell me what you omitted?”
I shook my head, “I doubt it. It does not concern you, or the others. Only Cian and I.” I said softly as we walked the brightly lit streets of town, her arm looped in mine.
“Where is he?” She asked as a small child held out his hands for money. She brushed him away, not finding him fitting enough.
“Safe, I hope.” I replied, “Things may have happened between us but I would not wish him any harm. In fact, I hope that he is alive and well. It would be a shame for the world to lose someone as old as he.”
She laughed, “How old is he?”
“He is older than the two of us put together.” I said sternly, “We must not speak of him any longer. I grow weary. I fear that he may be listening.”
She scowled, “I’ve never known you to fear anyone. What’s so special about him?”
I shook my head, “That is none of your concern Acacia.” My voice a little harsher than I had intended but it got the point across.
She looked taken aback, “I’m sorry.” She whispered, “I’ll drop it.”
I nodded, “It’s just as well that you do. Now, shall we find a nice meal?” I asked, leading her towards an apartment complex.
“Yes.” She replied, “What’s here?”
I smiled, “I have been watching someone. They would make an excellent meal. Her and her husband. The perfect pair.”
Shaking her head she accompanied me up the fire escape that scaled the side of the building. The window that I was heading for lay slightly ajar halfway up the building. I smiled as I pulled it open, past the small pin that kept it from going any further. I stepped inside with Acacia behind me. Approaching the bed I heard soft crying from an adjoining room.
“We must end this quickly.” I whispered, “There is a child.”
She nodded, “I shall take the man.”
I nodded. Together we took them. They never awakened, even when their son came and tugged on their arms. We left the boy alone, didn’t take him as we had his parents. Back out on the street we walked, we headed for home.
“Darius.” Acacia said with a laugh, “So, that was your name in the beginning. I’ve never heard anyone call you that.”
I shook my head, “If Cian were here...” I froze as I heard a voice in my head, “Darius.”
Acacia scowled, “Viktor, what’s wrong?”
“Nothing.” I said with an absent wave of my hand, “Just a thought, an unwelcome thought.” I wouldn’t tell her of the bond I had with Cian, the connection that we shared after a ritual we performed to gain more power so that we could better protect our descendants from a strange man.
Acacia didn’t like my answer, “I know that you’re not telling the truth, I want to know what’s wrong.” She stopped to look at me with her flashing eyes.
“Do not demand anything of me, child.” I growled, “You shall not receive an answer, I will not tell you what happened, I will not tell you about Cian, and I will not tell you what just transpired.” I was upset, angry, that she dared order me to inform her of anything.
She crossed her arms and closed her eyes, unmoving from her position in the middle of the street. I shook my head as I began to walk away; I wasn’t going home, I was going away for the rest of the night, in search of Cian. I would be back before sunrise; I would not leave these children to their own devices. That alone frightened me more than having Cian return. I didn’t fear Cian himself; it was what he was capable of. He was old, older than any that I had ever met. His power was immense and with our combined energies he was a force to be reckoned with. His purpose is what I was curious about. Why was he here? What did he want? I wanted answers and Cian was the only one who could give them to me. Acacia didn’t follow me as I walked away, I was glad of it. I didn’t want her with me when I found Cian. Street after street, house after house. Still no sign of Cian, no other words from him.
“Where are you?” I thought, “Where are you Cian?”
Laughter. Sweet, familiar laughter, “Beautiful Darius. You are so very close. You can find me, you always could.”
I shook my head, “No, I couldn’t.” I whispered as a light caught my eye.
This was the only house on the block that was filled with soft light. No movement from within. I could feel death, new death, old death, coming from this house. Slowly I walked towards the door, Cian was here, I knew it, I could feel him. Slowly, slower than any human could ever dream of going, I placed my hand upon the doorknob. Did I really want to see him again? It was now or never. I didn’t think about it any more, I turned the handle and stepped inside. My boots clicked softly on the linoleum of the small entry room. As I walked into the living room I saw him. His back was to me, his perfectly fitted coat hitting the back of his knees. Long jet-black hair tied back, the end touching his lower back. He was just as I remembered him, just as he was when I left him. The position, the clothing, the demeanor, was the same as it had been so many years ago.
“Hello Cian.” I whispered, stopping in the doorway, “Might I ask what you’re doing here?”
He turned to face me; violet eyes glittered with intelligence as he examined me, took me in, “You’ve changed, my dear one.” He said softly, his voice soft, smooth like honey.
“I haven’t changed all that much. You haven’t changed at all.” I was weary around him, unsure of his intentions.
Gliding towards me he stopped to stand before me. Smiling he embraced me, holding me tightly against him. I returned his sign of affection with a kiss. His cheek was warm under my lips, he had fed well. So soft, supple, so alive. But he wasn’t, I knew that he wasn’t just as I knew that I was not. Feeding made us seem more alive although we never would be. Pulling me to arms length he smiled sweetly, showing just a hint of fang. So human, his actions, his feel, all except his teeth. He chuckled as he looked at me. Taking my face in his hands he smiled.
“You are beautiful my child. So very beautiful.” He whispered, “My Darius.”
I bowed my head, “What brings you here Cian?”
“Is coming to see my child not a good enough reason? Does there always have to some hidden agenda?” He chuckled.
“No. Seeing your child is not a good enough reason. You have more children than just I. Why do you not harass them?” My voice was soft and controlled as I bowed my head.
He half smiled, “I think you already know the answer to your question.”
I shook my head, “The bond that we share.” I whispered, bringing my head up to look at him, “That’s why you’ve come, isn’t it?”
He nodded, “Yes.” He turned and looked out the window, “The bond. It has always been the bond. That is what keeps me coming back, even when you don’t know I’m there. I’m always watching you, making sure that you are safe.” He turned to face me, “I don’t know why, I doubt I will ever know why I keep coming back for you.” He shook his head, “My Darius. This time I’ve gone too far. I shouldn’t involve you and your children but I have no choice.” There was a sadness that spread over his features as he spoke, “There is so much that I wish I could change, that I wish I hadn’t done. The bonding of the two of us is one of them.” He shook his head, “I don’t know if I can protect you, so you must protect yourself. I shall protect you as best I can but there are things that cannot be helped.”
I scowled, “What are you talking about Cian?” I asked, annoyed at his enigmatic way of speaking, “You know, this is part of the reason I left. You would never give me a straight answer, never explain things so that I could understand them.” I narrowed my eyes, “For once would you explain something to me so that I can understand?”
He bowed his head, “I try but it is something that I have never been good at.” He laughed softly, “I shall attempt to explain.” He paused, “Where do I begin?” He asked through his laughter.
“At the beginning.” I prompted, crossing my arms over my chest.
Cian stood stalk still as he began to think, debating on what to say. When he finally spoke his words were soft and measured, “You know that a hundred years ago a man appeared who began to hunt us with a fervor unlike any I have ever seen. What you don’t know is that he brought himself into immortality. He took an old one, but younger than I, and forced him to make him into one of us. Now, he has begun his hunt again. This time he wants the blood of the old and the young alike. He wishes to drain us all before bringing our death. He is only hunting in the Old World though; he has not yet traveled here. I came to warn you but I believe that he has followed me. If anything happens to any of you I am at fault. So now I tell you, watch your young ones. They will not be able to protect themselves against his powers. He didn’t retain his human abilities when he was made but he does have ours. He is a parasite that must be dealt with, that must be destroyed.” He spoke slowly, deliberately as if he was trying to think of a way explain to me everything so that I could understand, “Is that a good enough explanation?”
I nodded, “That will suffice.” I replied softly.