chapter 9

Erik’s story

I still don’t know the reason but I already saved this girl twice. The first time was harder because she had been bitten and I had to use my blood to heal her. I can only hope no damage had been made because of my pure existence. 

It’s been a long time but I still recall those days when my uncle killed my parents. He never stopped looking for me or my brother Adam, but he never found us. We used some kind of a spell that kept us out of sight but I really don’t know for how long we can do this. We needed the blood of the one who has the crescent. Our aunt was like that but she passed away a few years ago. Those who wear the crescent are mortals but they possess huge powers, like mind destruction or seeing into the future. And the most powerful is the fire within them. Legend says that they can never fall in love without killing the man or woman they fell for. Because love is the one who can trigger that power.

For a few weeks now I was using my office to research all that it is to research in order to get a hold of a new Crescent, but with no luck so far. They would have to use one of their emotions for the power to emerge. I still don’t have any evidence that such emotions had been used so far.

-          Hey bro! Any findings?

-          Nothing so far Adam. I am afraid we are running out of crescent blood and that scam of our uncle will find us.

-          I thought that was what you wanted, you know, getting revenge.

-          All in their time Adam. We have to be careful and calculated. Kane is ruthless. He will kill everyone who stays in his way. Actually he will kill no matter the reason. That is why we have to find that Crescent. He or she has the power to destroy him.

-          I thought you wanted us to end his miserable life ourselves.

-          That was the plan. But he is no ordinary vampire. If we drain him, his blood will recover so fast that we won’t have enough time to escape. If we put a stake through his heart it wouldn’t even scratch him. Not to say if we try to burn him or cut his head off he will regenerate himself with much more hatred on us. So the only way to do it is with the help of a Crescent. With his fire.

-          What makes you think is a he?

-          I don’t know, guts maybe.

-          Whatever, for now we need to hire an assistant manager. I saw the announcement you made. It is so vague. Do you really expect someone to call?

-          Why not, it is a fair job after all.

-          I couldn’t agree more with you bro! But there were no references. Like what we do.

-          Do you really want me to put there what we do?

-          You know what I mean. As a cover up. In the line of business we are an advertising company, so you need to highlight this if you want someone to come.

-          You are maybe right. It is shallow. Anyway I will take care of it right now. We really need an assistant.

After my brother left I was able to concentrate on what I had to do. And that was looking for someone that might help us with the company. It was not like we couldn’t

handle this, its’s just that a few shooting commercials are about to happen and me and my brother Adam work on another issue, we call it „the crescent project” .I am gifted with some weird power to be able to see with my mind the one who has the crescent. But that will be only and after he or she will fall in love. So it is going to be a long way.

I was looking again on the paper we gave the announcement in and decide to leave it the way it was. And then my phone started to ring. I think I already took like five phone calls but none of them was suitable for what we were looking for. I don’t know why, my instinct I think.

-          Hey bro, do you have a moment?

-          Of course…

My brother popped his head into my office. I noticed immediately his concern so I motioned him to come in. He was still standing at the door.

-          No, I meant if you spare a moment to have a coffee with your brother.

I think a wide smile was surfacing on my face. It was quite nice smiling again. We barely had time for each other since our aunt died. All we do is look for the one with the crescent. There were times when I am thinking to leave the things as they are and face my uncle. But when reality strikes my thoughts are bringing me once again to that conclusion of horror, that he cannot be defeated. His immortality was not from this world.

-          Oh ok, never see that coming…

-          We need to talk!

-          Seems important.

-          It really is.

               The pub where we were going was out of sight and quiet just what we needed. It’s been quite some time now that we realized we were not the only vampires in town. We didn’t mind, on a contrary we were relieved we were not the only ones. The other vampires were peaceful, going on with their lives. I bet they do not know that there is a person in this world who can make them stronger. And we intended to keep it that way. Not because we wanted all for ourselves but because there were a lot of things involved.

               That person with the crescent is a human, a mortal and these are vampires and no matter how peaceful they look when it comes to blood and survival they could become beasts. And to be honest we do not want another problem on our hands right now. We had a precise goal and that was killing Kane and revenge all those years of sorrow and pain.

-     The same table?

               A familiar voice greeted us and brought us at the same place as always, the third table in the back of the pub. It was the most hidden from the curious eyes of others. We were anyway different form all the vampires in here. We were dressed in suits, elegant and mysterious as I heard them whispering from time to time.  The pub was though very stylish and welcoming. Large wooden columns rise as if threatening. But it was only an illusion to drive away curious mortals from this place.

-     Thank you Leo. The same drinks too, please.

-     Right away gentleman!

               We were given a mixture of blood and ambrosia. We also kept this meeting a secret at the office. The code name is always coffee because the walls have ears.

-    

So, I heard your phone ringing once or twice.

-     Actually there were five times, for the job.

-     And?

-     Nothing so far. I mean I will know when the person is right.

-     Yes, I know that you have this telepathic thing…

-     It is like something is telling me when the right person will come.

-     So what do we know so far, Erik?

-     Well, mostly nothing. We know that this person has a crescent on her or his right forearm. It is not like we go and check all the right forearms we’ll find. We are looking for the needle in a haystack, you know?

-     I am aware of that, but I am counting on your visions to pin point exactly that person.

-     There is a catch…

-     What do you mean by that?

               The worried expression from my brother’s face made me realize that I was not the only one surprised by what I said. Even by thinking what I am about to say changes things, remains to find out in what manner.

-     I mean the one we are looking for has to fall in love…

-     I know that…

-     Well, with a vampire.

-     Say that again? With a vampire?

-     A pure blood one, actually.

-     No way, that means with us?

-     If it is a she, but if it is a he? Where do we find a pure blood female?

-     And since when do you know that?

-     Quite some time now. You know Coral, the medium?

-     Who doesn’t?

-     Well, I paid her a visit after I sensed an unusual activity the other day. And that was right after I saved that girl, for the second time.

-     You think she could be the one?

-     I don’t know, maybe. You remember I gave her my blood the first time she was attacked? From that day on I have these telepathic things like you call them.

-     So what are you trying to tell me is that this girl has something odd and that is why other vampires are after her?

-     It could be, otherwise why the trouble?

-     So we have to find her and protect her? What if she is not the one we were looking for?

-     Also at this question Coral answered me. Only when she falls in love with one of us the crescent will appear. It also will be painful for her.

-     So basically we have no proof that she could be the one but still we have to find her just in case…

-     That is correct.

-     So tell me? How was your encounter with her?

-     She seemed scared and running from someone, a vampire. But not that powerful though, I killed him with only one bite.

-     And her? With all that powers she possess didn’t she harm you?

-     Don’t tell me you are afraid of her Adam!

-     That is not what I meant and you know it. First of all we don’t know for sure who she is and what she might be able to do. And if she is the one we are looking for think about the fact that she has the power to kill Kane. So no pissing her of or imagine what she could do to us!

-     Oh, come on Adam, she is just a scared little rabbit looking for help. She is starting to experience things beyond her understanding.

-     Don’t be so hard on her, we don’t know her yet.

-     There is something more…

-     Can things be more complicated than this? What is it this time?

-     There has to be, how I shall put this, carnal involvement in order for the crescent to be activated.

-     Is this a joke?

               I could see a mocking smile on Adams’s face. I just knew what he was thinking without him naming it. He is so foreseeable.

-     Do I look like I am joking? This is awkward for me as it is for you believe me, but if this means that with the help of this girl we have a chance to kill Kane, this time for good, than I will do whatever it takes, Adam!

Jessica’s story

               The next morning I had no job to go to. So calling at the firm I found the other day to have one seems like a great idea at the moment. How hard can it be to arrange some paperwork and to make coffee? Steph told me that something was not right, that they have an incomplete job announcement. Nevertheless I needed to work. My bills won’t pay for themselves.

               So I put my emotions aside and dialed the number in the paper. A low male voice yet sexy I might add greeted me.

-     Ink Advertising, how can I help you?

               For a brief moment I remained frozen in time by that fierce voice. The filling that I would like to meet this guy in person was beyond my expectations. That lost I felt that I forgot to answer.

-     Miss, are you there?

-     Oh, I am, I am sorry. My name is Jessica Powell and I am calling about the job opening?

-     Of course, the job is still available. Can you come to an interview tomorrow morning 8 AM?

-     I understand…

               It was like a dream come true. I needed this job or I will be evacuated from this place I like to call home. It was the only thing I could call my own even if it was in rent but nevertheless mine. It took me longer that I expected to answer. Finally the men’s voice cut through the awkward silence.

-     Miss Powell? Are you still there or we lost connection?

-     No I am here. I was just thinking that…tomorrow would be perfect for the job…I mean for the interview.

-     Fine then, see you tomorrow!

               I did not get the chance to thank him when I heard the busy tone. They were really in a hurry to find someone. I stared for a few seconds at my cell then put it on the table. I must not blow this up or my life is going to take a turn I might not like it. I still don’t understand my so called powers or why I was still being attacked by mystical creatures I didn’t think existed until recently. Madam Coral was helpful to understand myself a bit but not entirely. And if she said my dreams are not really dreams than I could say for sure there is still more to come. This thought gave me the chills.

               I did not mention to Coral the man who saved me twice but something tells me she already knows. I recall when she said that my crescent was not fully grown and that it will emerge with my last feeling that is fall in love, as if that will ever happen.

I was still at my morning coffee when my friend called me from work.

-     Hay Jess, how are you doing?

-     I am fine, thank you. And you? How are things going at the diner? Don’t tell me Paul is missing me.

-     Things are good and Paul is not missing you, yet, he is still screaming at every employ he finds in his way.

-     I am sorry to hear that, I just hope you are fine.

-     I am, really, thank you for your concern Jess!

-     Listen, I called the company we saw on newspaper…

-     Oh, you did. And?

-     They seem nice I will go tomorrow morning to the interview, 8 o’clock.

-     Congrats Jess! Look I know you need a job but please be careful, ok?

-     Promise! What time do you finish or is Paul going to keep you overtime?

-     I don’t think so. It is going to be some kind of a checkup at the diner so he told us to make our leave as soon as we finish. Why?

-     No reason, I just wanted to talk a little more.

-     Tell me something Jessica. Are you afraid?

That question popped out of nowhere and it made me jump a little. Maybe I was but I won’t let my friend worry about me.

-     Jessica?

-     Afraid of what Steph? I have been living worse things before. What I am feeling is not fear, more likely uncertainty. I mean first of all why me? Why do I have to be some kind of a chosen one?

-     Chosen to do what Jessica?

-     See? That is what I am talking about. There must something bigger I am supposed to do.

-     What makes you say that?

-     Think about it. I am being chased by monsters, if I get mad enough I can kill an army of them. And that is now because before I was so helpless that someone else had to step in to save my life. So you see this is going gradually. If before I needed help now all this changed in my favor.

-     You are maybe right. Wait for me after my shift and we will talk about it.

               After Stephanie hang up millions of thought flood my mind. I had so many questions about who and what I am and what I can do but no one to ask them. There can always be Coral but that girl sometimes scares me. And not her as a person but what she might tell me I am capable of.