CHAPTER EIGHT - DEFY DEATH

Christian swam through a sea of red.  No matter how far he went, no matter how desperately he reached for the surface, he only found more crimson liquid.  He was trapped. 

At first, he had panicked, believing he would drown. But though his body hurt he did not die.  His lungs burned, but not in the way of starvation for air. It felt like there was acid running through his veins and infecting each of his organs, eating away at them, but he could breathe in this sea of blood.

That’s what it is.  It’s blood …

He stopped swimming and curled into a ball, drawing his legs against his chest, and holding them to him. The pain had been increasing and he was afraid at any moment that the swimming would strain his poisoned heart and everything would give out. So he floated and tried to calm himself.  

He reminded himself that this had to be a dream of some sort.  An ocean of blood couldn’t exist. He couldn’t breathe without air.  He strained to remember what had happened to him just before he “awoke” here. Selene had bitten him.  It had been agonizing.  The movies and television shows made it seem like being bitten by a Vampire would feel good, would be sexy. Maybe it could be if the Vampire intended it and was careful. His experience with Selene had not been either of those things.  She definitely hadn’t been careful.  He’d felt like … food.  A juicy meat bag for her to drain the blood from. Then she’d tossed him aside like an empty carton of milk.

This line of thought was good. Anger focused him.  It made him cold and analytical. It conquered fear.  Being used like he had been by Selene, he was more than angry.  He had been a bargaining chip to try to lure Julian out of the strange building he’d become trapped in then he had been food.  He’d been things. More anger.  He was so glad that Julian hadn’t come out – though it hadn’t seemed like his best friend had had a choice in that.  He’d tripped some mechanism that had trapped him inside.  

Is Julian okay?  Did the Vampires get him?  Is he in a worse place than this?

That had Christian wanting to move again. He had to find and get to Julian.  He had never been a lucid dreamer so this experience he was having must be due to the bite.  For one frightening moment, he wondered if he were dead.  Maybe the afterlife was a simple sea of red stretching forever onward.  He swallowed in dread. There was no sense of the water passing down his throat, which confirmed this wasn’t real, or he was in a place where such physicality did not apply.

I am not dead. I will not believe I am dead until I have true data to tell me I am.  Ockham’s Razor would suggest that I am simply unconscious and dreaming lucidly due to something perhaps in the Vampire saliva. Perhaps there is something in it that plays with a human’s mind.  That likely being the case, perhaps if I can “escape” this sea, I will wake up.

Satisfied with his reasoning, Christian looked upwards again – he thought it was upwards anyways – to see if he could catch a glimpse of the illusive surface.  And this time he did.  Through the waves of red, he thought he saw a light.  Oddly, it reminded him of a candle or lamp turned onto its lowest setting.  Not a moon or the sun or even faint stars.  He blinked.  The light remained.  He started to swim towards it.

Pain wracked his limbs, but he ignored the acid in his veins and kept swimming for that light. Soon the light was all around him, blocking out the red. He paddled harder.  Suddenly, he felt hands on his shoulders. For a moment, he thought it was Selene gripping him, coming to take the last bit of blood from his veins and truly kill him. But the hands were larger than hers.  He felt them lifting him up and up and up. He squinted as the light became blinding for a moment and then he surfaced from the water.  

He took a deep, gasping breath and could hear the rattle of fluid in his lungs.  He could taste the metallic bite of blood on his tongue. His own blood. He coughed violently and spit out blood onto fine white, cotton sheets.  That was when Christian registered that he was not floating on the surface of the water, but was lying down on a rather nice bed that he had just spit up on.

The light he’d seen was in fact a thick, white candle on a bedside table. The table looked like an antique. The bed he realized was a four poster, hung with heavy curtains. He shifted his head as he felt those hands – still on his shoulders – squeeze a little.

There was a face above his.  A male face. A strong jaw with a dusting of stubble.  Full lips that were pursed with concern.  Intense silver eyes.

Silver eyes … why is that familiar and in a bad way?  Vampires! He’s a Vampire!

The two Vampires that had found them in the city of pale stone had silver eyes.  They weren’t normal, weren’t natural, weren’t human. But in this face they were beautiful. He noticed that in an almost clinical way as he struggled in vain. His body really wasn’t working so it was like a kitten twitching.  The Vampire didn’t even notice so he stopped and tried to catch his breath. Maybe if he rested for a moment, his strength would return.  He was disappointed to note that the acid feeling in his veins had not been part of the lucid dream. It was reality.

“Arcius, get me a towel,” a rich, rolling voice said. He had a Mid-Atlantic accent, something of a cross between an American East Coast accent and a British one.

A man, more a bear than a man and from the silver eyes, he wasn’t actually even a man, dressed in what looked almost like monk’s robes handed the Vampire that was sitting beside him on the bed a towel.  The Vampire tenderly wiped Christian’s mouth with it.

“Christian,” the Vampire said. “Can I call you that?  I feel I know you so well that calling you Mr. Thorne would seem strange considering … well, considering everything.”

“K-know me? W-who are you?”  His voice sounded faint.

“You can speak, that’s good.  I was worried that you might be too far gone …” The Vampire’s powerful jaw clenched for a moment and his fangs were revealed. Clearly, he was upset about Christian being injured.

But why?

“Who are you?” Christian asked again, swallowing shallowly.

“I am … you may call me … Balthazar. It’s a mouthful. Not a popular name any longer really.  And my full title is Lord Balthazar Ravenscroft. Try to say that ten times fast.” The Vampire flashed him an actual smile.

“Lord of what?” Christian asked.

“Of House Ravenscroft of the Eyros Bloodline,” Balthazar answered though that made little sense yet to Christian, but every piece of information was crucial.

“Why am I here? How did I get here? Where is Julian?”

This time he struggled to sit up and the Vampire noticed his movements.  Balthazar gently – and Christian could feel the Vampire’s strength so he knew this was gentle – held him down.

“Do not try to get up.  You need to remain still and calm though I know that is the last things you want to do,” Balthazar told him.

“Answer my questions and I’ll be calm and remain still.”

Balthazar’s eyebrows rose in amusement.  “Bargaining already?  All right.  To answer your questions in the order they were asked.  You’re here because … because you were bitten.  You were brought here by some of my Acolytes.  And I do not know where Julian is, but we are looking for him.”

“Balthazar,” Arcius said, his voice sympathetic, but stern. “You’re stalling. You need to tell him everything now and ask him if he wants to join us.  This is no time for niceties.”

Those silver eyes narrowed slightly as if in annoyance, but the Vampire – Balthazar – bit his lower lip, too, as if he knew that what the other man – or likely Vampire – said was true.

“I’ve only allowed you to be here, because he is so sick, Arcius, but he is to be my fledgling and I will do things my way.” There was a surprising flash of temper in those silver eyes, but Christian guessed that it wasn’t because of anger at Arcius, but at the situation.

But why does he care? He doesn’t know me!

Arcius sighed and waved a hand as if to say, “Do as you will.”

Balthazar turned back to Christian. He set his face in what Christian characterized as a “caring” expression.

“Normally, I’ve introduced myself to the person I’m going to spend eternity with. We definitely call one another by first names.” Balthazar smiled weakly.  “A fledgling to a Master is a precious thing.”

Fledgling?  That is what the Vampires call those they turn according to the notes the Harrows left. He wants to turn me?  

Christian didn’t have a chance to really know his feelings about this as Arcius was responding almost gently, “The poison is spreading, Balthazar. I can see it.  Can you not?”

The pain that he had almost forced himself to forget washed over him in a wave as if speaking about the poison called it to the surface.  Christian clenched his teeth and let out a soft hiss.

Balthazar’s head fell forward as if it weighed too much for his neck to hold it up. He stared unseeing down at Christian as if making up his mind.  Christian started to feel the tug of the water again, wanting to pull him under, and he reached and grabbed at Balthazar to hold himself above the surface, or rather, to consciousness. This simple touch had a transformative effect on Balthazar. He covered Christian’s hand with his own.

“You don’t know me. You’re undoubtedly frightened. You have no idea what’s happened.  And I’m going to ask you a question that will change your fate,” Balthazar stated solemnly.

“Am I – I dying?” Christian asked.

“Yes.”

That was such a simple and direct answer.  Christian was glad for it on the one hand. On the other … he still wanted to do so much.  And he didn’t want to leave Julian.  His best friend had barely survived the loss of his parents. He knew that Julian would not survive the loss of him.  If only there was a way to hold on, to defy the odds, to escape death.  And then, he realized, that’s what Balthazar was going to give him: a chance to go on.

Balthazar’s silver eyes searched his face. His expression showed understanding. He knew the cliff’s edge that Christian now walked.  

“You were bitten by a Vampire called Selene,” Balthazar explained. “She wasn’t supposed to do that.  She acted … without my authority or desire.”

“It hurt like hell. Still hurts,” Christian swallowed around the pain.

A flash of anger appeared in those silver eyes again. “Yes, I am sure it does.  She infected you, you see. It is a poison that we can use to kill our – the people we drink from.”

“Prey. You were going to say prey,” Christian corrected.

“Yes, prey.  We don’t do that very often. There’s no need. Especially for one of the Eyros Bloodline.” He did not explain what that meant, but Christian tucked it away.  “There is no cure for this poison. You will die.  The only question you have to answer is if you want a Second Life as a Vampire or if you wish to go into the great unknown.”

He won’t force me to become a Vampire. He’s just going to give me the choice. But I sense this is a bigger deal than just turning me.

“Why do you want to do this for me?” Christian asked.

“Because you’re a bright spark in this endless darkness,” Balthazar answered. “And I would keep that spark going.”

“There’s lots of things about being a Vampire I should probably know before I agree to be one. But I’m guessing that there’s not time,” Christian got out before another wave of pain robbed him of speech and curled his toes with its intensity.

“No, there is not.”

Christian could tell from his tone and expression that Balthazar was telling the truth. He sensed the truth was important to this Vampire.  This need to be truthful was forged in a fire that was beyond this encounter between them.

Christian’s mind laid out the facts for him.. The pain in his body was from this poison.  It was Vampiric in origin so there was likely no cure because human medicine hadn’t studied it – or maybe there simply wasn’t one as Balthazar said.  He could die or become a Vampire. He realized now that he should have considered whether he would want to be a Vampire or not when they started tracking these beings. It was a risk.

Only I never thought that Vampires existed.  The irony runs deep.

His did not want to die, but he wasn’t sure he wanted to be a Vampire either.  He wasn’t sure what it meant to be a Vampire. But there was an easier way to determine what he was going to do.

“J-Julian … is he … a Vampire?” Christian got out through a tongue that was numb and teeth that were cold.

A flutter of some emotion went through Balthazar’s eyes, but he answered with that fiery truth, “Yes, he is.”

“Is he – he okay?”

“I sincerely hope so.”  Seeing the panic in Christian’s eyes, he quickly added, “He was turned by a Vampire in the city you were in.  He took you to the hospital, but then there was … was some miscommunication and he fled.  The sun was rising … I have my people looking for him –”

“He won’t trust them.” Christian’s fingers raked weakly at Balthazar’s arm. “He hates Vampires. Thinks you killed his parents. He’ll only trust me”

Another complicated look crossed Balthazar’s face as if he knew something about the Harrows.  Christian would have to delve into that later. He would find out what this Vampire knew about his best friend’s parent’s deaths and if Balthazar were responsible for them … Well, he would come to that bridge when he came to it. Right now, there was only one choice to be made.

“Turn me,” Christian demanded.

Balthazar’s eyebrows rose. “Are you … sure?”

“You want to turn me and I’ve said yes. What more do you need to know?” Christian snapped. Julian was out there, alone and afraid and hunted. He had to get up and get to him. If becoming a Vampire was the only way to do that then that was what he would do. Besides, if Julian was a Vampire, Christian wouldn’t leave him behind or be left behind. They would do this together as they always did things.  

A new adventure, I guess.

“Oh, Balthazar,” Arcius laughed as Balthazar still looked a little shell-shocked. “This one is going to give you a run for your money.  It’ll be good for you, old friend.  You’ve been alone too long.”

Christian didn’t have any intention of being with Balthazar for an eternity like he’d suggested. Lord Ravenscroft was a means to an end.  He and Julian would figure out this Vampire business alone.  They didn’t need anyone else.

“Since you’re sure.” Balthazar gave him a surprising smile and Christian had a sense that maybe this Vampire had a sense of humor. Then with formality, he intoned, “I offer my blood to you. I give you a Second Life. I take you as my fledgling, Christian Thorne.”

Christian found himself watching in mixed fascination and disgust as Balthazar bit into his own wrist with those razor-sharp fangs.  Blood immediately dribbled along the sides of the Vampire’s wrist, over pale as cream skin. And then Balthazar was pressing that wounded wrist against Christian’s lips.

The initial revulsion to the coppery stink of blood and the warm, very salty taste had Christian turning his head, smearing blood across his lips.  But then a change occurred. There was a tingling sensation on his tongue as the first drop of blood landed in his mouth. The blood suddenly had a meatier taste, a cross between the most delicious steak and tender, sautéed Portobello mushrooms.  

Umami, Christian realized.  Vampire blood has an umami flavor.

Christian’s hand left Balthazar’s arm and grabbed the back of the Vampire’s wounded wrist. He was holding that wrist to his lips as if his life depended on it, drinking down the umami liquid with relish. With every mouthful of blood, the pain in his body not only retreated but was replaced with strength. He was sizzling with power.

In that moment, he could see through Balthazar’s skin as if he were viewing a model of the arteries and veins in the Vampire’s body. Where his heart would be though was a glowing silver globe that pulsed with life. The silver glow traveled throughout Balthazar’s veins and arteries, infusing every part of him.  It traveled down the arm that Christian clutched and that silvery light was flowing into him.   He was being filled with it.  He was suffused with it.  Every cell in his body was bathed in it.

And then he felt this sense of connection, so strong and sure that it stunned him, between himself and Balthazar.  It was like a cord of titanium bound them together.

I’m here with you, Balthazar’s voice whispered in his mind. I’m here with you always.

His hand released Balthazar’s wrist as he did not have that magnificent strength any longer. He was as weak as a kitten.  He felt the mattress beneath him changing into the sea again as unconsciousness wanted to pull him under.  Balthazar took his wrist away.  It was already healed.  With his other hand he ran his fingers over Christian’s forehead and through his hair. Christian wanted to pull away. He didn’t know this person really. He didn’t want to be touched like that by someone he didn’t choose. But, strangely, he found himself pushing up weakly into that touch. It comforted him. He didn’t feel so adrift.

“You need to rest now, Christian. Your body is changing. When you wake up the transformation will be complete,” Balthazar soothed him, petting him some more.  “You will be a member in good standing of House Ravenscroft. You will have power over others' minds being of the Eyros Bloodline.  You will be a Vampire.”

Those words sank in like stones hitting a still pond.  Christian couldn’t quite believe them and wasn’t sure he understood them even as his body tingled and sizzled and sparked.  He held onto the one reason he had done this for.

“J-Julian. I have to get to –”

“First lesson of being a Vampire, you cannot go out into the sun so even if you were strong enough to go look for him, you could not. The sun is already over the horizon,” Balthazar assured him.  “My people will find him. When you wake, we will have news.  But you must rest now. Rest.”

Christian, who had been fighting against the pull of sleep, heard that word not just in his ears, but in his mind, as if it were implanted within him. His eyelids fluttered shut against his will. But he was so tired. He would sleep only a little bit and then he would go get Julian.  Just as unconsciousness took him, he heard Arcius and Balthazar talking.

“This should have been different, Arcius.  He does not know me. His sole reason for becoming one of us is to save his friend,” Balthazar sounded almost … wounded.

“He is a loyal person, Balthazar. That is a good trait,” Arcius said.

“They should have been turned together by the same Master, or at least, by Masters in the same House and Bloodline,” Balthazar sounded angry and raw now. “It would have made the transition easier.  Now, it will be that more difficult for all involved.”

“That would have been ideal, yes,” Arcius agreed.  “But when have things been ideal for us?”

“Never.” That was practically spit out.  “Never. Not once.  But I thought that now, at least, without Roan that – that my chosen fledgling would be treated as – as I wanted.”

“You can still do the whole House party. You can have him take your blood again in front of –”

“A party is not the point –”

“With you, a party is always the point.” Arcius’ voice was a warm burr and Christian imagined it was accompanied by a comforting hand on Balthazar’s shoulder. “You worry he will not love you in the end, but you are his Master.  Even those Masters who are unworthy –”

“That’s not love!”  Balthazar lowered his voice, “That’s not real love and you know it. I’ve always thought it’s our species' defense mechanism.”

Love? I do not think so.  

They were strangers. Balthazar may have done him a favor turning him, but that was all they were. Perhaps they could become friends. In time. Maybe. If Christian had time.  This Vampire seemed messily emotional to him.  He seemed like he wanted more attention than Christian had the desire to give.  He hoped he wouldn’t have to explain all this and could just sneak away to get to Julian once the sun set.

“Defense against what?” Arcius sounded amused.

“What we did to the Immortals.  What I did to Roan,” Balthazar answered.

What did they do?  Who is Roan?

“You did what you had to do. And … and I believe the same was the case against the Immortals,” Arcius said solemnly.  

“What about your beloved Daemon? You don’t include him in your condemnation of Masters that need to be killed, I notice?” Balthazar teased.

“He was not a part of the reason we went to war with the Immortals. He had been asleep for a long time before the abuses began,” Arcius sounded tart.

“Oh, you just don’t want your precious king lumped in with the rest of the Masters who went wrong,” Balthazar said.  

King?  A king of the Vampires? What would he have to be like?

“You need to start speaking of him respectfully, Balthazar.  If he was the one to turn Julian –”

“I don’t believe King Daemon exists, let alone that he turned Julian. Whoever did this is just some old Vampire. Strong, I’m sure. Though, why did he let Julian go? No one let’s their fledglings simply run off. Was he so weak or addled that he couldn’t stop him?” Balthazar sounded perplexed.

“I am certain there is a very good reason for what has happened,” Arcius grunted.  “We need to find out what that is.”

“I intend to,” Balthazar said grimly, but then his voice went tender, “Ah, the little one is still awake, and listening. Christian, you bad fledgling.”  

Arcius let out a rolling laugh. “He is a fighter!  Perfect for you, Balthazar!”

“We shall see about that.”  Balthazar petted Christian’s head again. “You need to sleep. Eavesdrop later.”

Christian wanted to fight again. He was learning so much about these Vampires. But this time he was pushed under by Balthazar’s mental command back into the ocean. Only this time it wasn’t an ocean of blood, but of silver.  It was beautiful. It was peaceful.  It lulled him to true sleep.

He believed his last thought would be of Julian. And it was. Sort of. He wondered where his best friend was, but then he felt sure that Balthazar would find him.  Balthazar seemed like the sort who got what he wanted in the end.

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