[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
In order to be a true vampire, one would have to be turned by a true vampire, one who fed
with the intent. Vampires are not allowed to turn just anyone it would inflate our race too
greatly. They must receive permission in advance from the Master Council.
Caitlin furrowed her brow, trying to take it all in.
You have some of our qualities, but not all. And since you are not a full breed,
unfortunately, the vampire race will not accept you. Every vampire belongs to a coven. It is too
dangerous not to. Normally, I could petition to accept you in our ranks. But given that you are
mixed& they would never allow it. No coven will.
Caitlin thought hard. If there was anything worse than finding out that she was something
other than human, it was finding out that she wasn t truly something. Finding out that she
couldn t belong anywhere. She was neither here nor there, stuck between two worlds.
So then what was all this talk about the Messiah? About me being& The One?
Our doctrine, our ancient law, tells us that one day a messenger, a Messiah, will arrive, and
lead us to the lost sword. It tells us that on that day, war will begin, a final, all-out war between
the vampire races, a war which will even drag in the human race. It is our version of the
Apocalypse. The only thing that can stop it, that can save us all, is this missing sword. And the
only person that can lead us to that is the Messiah.
When I witnessed what happened to you tonight, I felt certain that it was you. I have never
seen any other vampire immune to such holy water.
She looked up at him.
And now? she asked.
He looked off into the horizon.
I am not so sure.
Caitlin stared at him. She felt a desperation welling up.
So, she asked, afraid for the answer, is that the only reason you saved me? Because you
thought I would lead you to some missing sword?
Caleb stared back, and she could see the confusion in his face.
What other reason would there be? he answered.
She felt the wind sucked out of her, as if she had been hit by a bat. All the love that she had
felt for him, the connection she thought they had, went rushing out in a single breath. She felt
like crying. She wanted to turn and run, but didn t know where to go. She felt ashamed.
Well, she said, fighting back tears, at least your wife will be happy to know that you were
just doing your job. That you don t have any feelings for anyone else. Or for anything but some
stupid sword.
She turned and walked away. She didn t know where she was going, but she had to get away
from him. Her feelings were just too overwhelming. She didn t know how to make sense of
them.
She had only gone a few feet when she felt a hand on her arm. He turned her back around. He
stood there, looking down into her eyes.
She s not my wife, he said softly. We were married once, yes, but that was 700 years ago.
It only lasted a year. In the vampire race, unfortunately, they don t forget things easily. There are
no annulments.
Caitlin tossed his hand off of her, Well, whatever she is, she ll be happy to have you back.
Caitlin kept walking, right for the steps.
Again he stopped her, this time getting around her and standing directly in her path.
I don t know how I ve offended you, he said, but whatever I did, I am sorry.
It s what you didn t do, Caitlin wanted to say. It s that you didn t care, that you don t really
love me. That I was just an object, a means to an end. Just like every guy I ve ever known. I had
thought that this time, maybe, it was different.
But she didn t say that, instead, she just lowered her head, and did her best to suppress a tear.
She couldn t, though. She felt the hot tears streaming down her cheeks. There was a hand on her
chin, and he raised it, forcing her to look up at him.
I am sorry, he said finally, sounding sincere. You were right. It was not the only reason I
saved you. He took a deep breath. I do feel something for you.
Caitlin felt her heart swell.
But you must understand, it is forbidden. The laws are very strict on this. A vampire can
never, ever, be with a human, or a half breed, or anyone who is not a true vampire. The
punishment would be death. There is no way around it.
Caleb looked down.
So, you see, he finally continued, if I were to feel something for you, if I were to act for
some motive other than for the general good, then it would mean my death.
So, then, what s to become of me? she asked. She looked around, Clearly, I m not
welcome here. Where am I supposed to go?
Caleb looked down, shaking his head.
I can t go home, she added. I have no home left. The cops are looking for me. So are
these evil vampires. What am I supposed to do? Go out there on my own? I don t even know
what I am anymore.
I wish I had the answer. I tried. I really did. But there is nothing more I can do. One cannot
defy the Council. It would mean both of our deaths. I am sentenced to 50 years confinement. I
cannot leave these grounds. If I did, I would be banished from my clan forever. You must
understand.
Caitlin turned to go, but again he spun her around.
You must understand! You are merely human. Your life will end in 80 years. But for me,
it s thousands. Your suffering is short. Mine is endless. I cannot be banished for eternity. My
coven is all that I have. I love you. I feel something for you. Something even I don t understand.
Something I ve never felt with anyone in 3,000 years. But I cannot risk leaving these walls.
So, she said, I ll ask you again. What s to come of me?
He just looked down.
I see, she answered. I m not your problem anymore.
Caleb opened his mouth to speak, but this time she was gone. Really gone.
She made her way quickly across the terrace, and down the stone staircase. This time she was
really gone, heading into the Bronx in the dark, New York City night. She had never felt more
alone.
Chapter Fourteen
Kyle walked straight down the stone corridor, flanked by a small entourage of vampires.
They headed quickly down the hall, their footsteps echoing, one of his aides holding a torch out
in front.
They were heading deep into the corridor of command, a subterranean chamber which no
vampire ever entered unless given permission. Kyle had never been down this deep before. But
on this day, he was summoned by the supreme leader himself. It must have been serious. In
4,000 years, Kyle had never been summoned. But he had heard of others who had. They had
gone down there, and had not come back up.
Kyle swallowed hard, and walked faster. He had always believed that it was best to greet bad
news quickly, and get it over with.
They came to a large, open door, guarded by several vampires, who stared coldly back.
Finally, they stepped aside and opened the door. But after Kyle passed, they held out their staffs,
preventing his entourage from following. Kyle felt the door slam behind.
Kyle saw dozens of vampires lined up, at attention, along the wall, standing quietly on either
side of the room. Front and center in the room, seated in a massive, metal chair was Rexus, his
supreme leader.
Kyle took several steps forward and bowed his head, waiting to be addressed.
Rexus stared back with his cold, hard, icy blue eyes.
Tell me everything you know about this human, or half-breed, or whatever she is, he
began. And about this spy. How did he infiltrate our ranks? [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
zanotowane.pl doc.pisz.pl pdf.pisz.pl szkicerysunki.xlx.pl
In order to be a true vampire, one would have to be turned by a true vampire, one who fed
with the intent. Vampires are not allowed to turn just anyone it would inflate our race too
greatly. They must receive permission in advance from the Master Council.
Caitlin furrowed her brow, trying to take it all in.
You have some of our qualities, but not all. And since you are not a full breed,
unfortunately, the vampire race will not accept you. Every vampire belongs to a coven. It is too
dangerous not to. Normally, I could petition to accept you in our ranks. But given that you are
mixed& they would never allow it. No coven will.
Caitlin thought hard. If there was anything worse than finding out that she was something
other than human, it was finding out that she wasn t truly something. Finding out that she
couldn t belong anywhere. She was neither here nor there, stuck between two worlds.
So then what was all this talk about the Messiah? About me being& The One?
Our doctrine, our ancient law, tells us that one day a messenger, a Messiah, will arrive, and
lead us to the lost sword. It tells us that on that day, war will begin, a final, all-out war between
the vampire races, a war which will even drag in the human race. It is our version of the
Apocalypse. The only thing that can stop it, that can save us all, is this missing sword. And the
only person that can lead us to that is the Messiah.
When I witnessed what happened to you tonight, I felt certain that it was you. I have never
seen any other vampire immune to such holy water.
She looked up at him.
And now? she asked.
He looked off into the horizon.
I am not so sure.
Caitlin stared at him. She felt a desperation welling up.
So, she asked, afraid for the answer, is that the only reason you saved me? Because you
thought I would lead you to some missing sword?
Caleb stared back, and she could see the confusion in his face.
What other reason would there be? he answered.
She felt the wind sucked out of her, as if she had been hit by a bat. All the love that she had
felt for him, the connection she thought they had, went rushing out in a single breath. She felt
like crying. She wanted to turn and run, but didn t know where to go. She felt ashamed.
Well, she said, fighting back tears, at least your wife will be happy to know that you were
just doing your job. That you don t have any feelings for anyone else. Or for anything but some
stupid sword.
She turned and walked away. She didn t know where she was going, but she had to get away
from him. Her feelings were just too overwhelming. She didn t know how to make sense of
them.
She had only gone a few feet when she felt a hand on her arm. He turned her back around. He
stood there, looking down into her eyes.
She s not my wife, he said softly. We were married once, yes, but that was 700 years ago.
It only lasted a year. In the vampire race, unfortunately, they don t forget things easily. There are
no annulments.
Caitlin tossed his hand off of her, Well, whatever she is, she ll be happy to have you back.
Caitlin kept walking, right for the steps.
Again he stopped her, this time getting around her and standing directly in her path.
I don t know how I ve offended you, he said, but whatever I did, I am sorry.
It s what you didn t do, Caitlin wanted to say. It s that you didn t care, that you don t really
love me. That I was just an object, a means to an end. Just like every guy I ve ever known. I had
thought that this time, maybe, it was different.
But she didn t say that, instead, she just lowered her head, and did her best to suppress a tear.
She couldn t, though. She felt the hot tears streaming down her cheeks. There was a hand on her
chin, and he raised it, forcing her to look up at him.
I am sorry, he said finally, sounding sincere. You were right. It was not the only reason I
saved you. He took a deep breath. I do feel something for you.
Caitlin felt her heart swell.
But you must understand, it is forbidden. The laws are very strict on this. A vampire can
never, ever, be with a human, or a half breed, or anyone who is not a true vampire. The
punishment would be death. There is no way around it.
Caleb looked down.
So, you see, he finally continued, if I were to feel something for you, if I were to act for
some motive other than for the general good, then it would mean my death.
So, then, what s to become of me? she asked. She looked around, Clearly, I m not
welcome here. Where am I supposed to go?
Caleb looked down, shaking his head.
I can t go home, she added. I have no home left. The cops are looking for me. So are
these evil vampires. What am I supposed to do? Go out there on my own? I don t even know
what I am anymore.
I wish I had the answer. I tried. I really did. But there is nothing more I can do. One cannot
defy the Council. It would mean both of our deaths. I am sentenced to 50 years confinement. I
cannot leave these grounds. If I did, I would be banished from my clan forever. You must
understand.
Caitlin turned to go, but again he spun her around.
You must understand! You are merely human. Your life will end in 80 years. But for me,
it s thousands. Your suffering is short. Mine is endless. I cannot be banished for eternity. My
coven is all that I have. I love you. I feel something for you. Something even I don t understand.
Something I ve never felt with anyone in 3,000 years. But I cannot risk leaving these walls.
So, she said, I ll ask you again. What s to come of me?
He just looked down.
I see, she answered. I m not your problem anymore.
Caleb opened his mouth to speak, but this time she was gone. Really gone.
She made her way quickly across the terrace, and down the stone staircase. This time she was
really gone, heading into the Bronx in the dark, New York City night. She had never felt more
alone.
Chapter Fourteen
Kyle walked straight down the stone corridor, flanked by a small entourage of vampires.
They headed quickly down the hall, their footsteps echoing, one of his aides holding a torch out
in front.
They were heading deep into the corridor of command, a subterranean chamber which no
vampire ever entered unless given permission. Kyle had never been down this deep before. But
on this day, he was summoned by the supreme leader himself. It must have been serious. In
4,000 years, Kyle had never been summoned. But he had heard of others who had. They had
gone down there, and had not come back up.
Kyle swallowed hard, and walked faster. He had always believed that it was best to greet bad
news quickly, and get it over with.
They came to a large, open door, guarded by several vampires, who stared coldly back.
Finally, they stepped aside and opened the door. But after Kyle passed, they held out their staffs,
preventing his entourage from following. Kyle felt the door slam behind.
Kyle saw dozens of vampires lined up, at attention, along the wall, standing quietly on either
side of the room. Front and center in the room, seated in a massive, metal chair was Rexus, his
supreme leader.
Kyle took several steps forward and bowed his head, waiting to be addressed.
Rexus stared back with his cold, hard, icy blue eyes.
Tell me everything you know about this human, or half-breed, or whatever she is, he
began. And about this spy. How did he infiltrate our ranks? [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]