Emergence.

[Alira Drakrul]

“Is she dead?”




“Is she dead?, “ his soft whisper inquired. Thick tendrils of concern hung on his question as if the mere inquiry might beg the reply his heart dreaded. She could feel the press of cold fingers along her neck as they sought the faint flutter of her heart. “She lives… although for how much longer I can not say. “ the other voice spoke. “Her body has endured so much trauma that … “ Her mind floated, sluggish and slow. All she wanted was to sleep. She felt the warm promises of a final sleep caress her human mind. “The Fae sent her as a message.” She was past the point of pain from the torture her body had endured. The pain crackled in the background of her mind as she rose and fell from the ebbs of consciousness. “They will regret this.”

The comforting embrace shifted. The faint sound of firm skin popping as a pair of slender fangs pierced their own wrist in search of vitae. The harsh, unwelcome cold pressed against her pale lips and roused her ire. She wanted to be left alone, to sleep in the never-ending dark that blanketed her mind.

[In the dark, there is no pain.]
[In the dark, there are answers.]
[Forgiveness. Love.]
[Come to me.]

The words seeped into her mind from beyond that thick veil, luring her further from the harsh reality of a broken body that had nothing left to give. Another voice invaded her thoughts as the cold compress of dead flesh and thick vitae pressed insistently against her lips. “Alira, you must drink to heal.” She could feel the words drown out the dark whispers that coaxed her. The voice became commanding, paternal and authoritative, “ Alira. “ The voice paused as it softened in its mandate. “Alira. I cannot save you if you do not drink. Alira. Please.”




“Alira. Please.” a young woman's voice pleaded.

“She looks like a corpse. Are you sure she isn’t dead?” an unsure voice asked.

“Oh she’s dead. All of them are.”

“I meant dead… dead.”

“Doubtful. She will look better after she gets some sustenance into her. “ the steady voice reassured. “For now, we must wake her enough to do so. “

“I feel like we are poking a grizzly bear…” she whispered.

“Heh. You have no idea… "

 

[Alira Drakrul]

“How long will it take to wake her up?” She inquired as she took a step forward to move alongside her companion. Her leather boots compressed a thin rat bone as she shifted her weight to her forward foot. The soft cracking sound reverberated and echoed off the thick walls of the stone chamber. The girls held their breath as the flames of the torches on wall flickered as they counted the seconds as the sounds faded. Their eyes scanned the large numbers of stone coffins for the slightest movement of their heavy stone lids.

Silence was all that answered their fear.


The other girl gritted her teeth and hissed at the careless one. “Be more careful or you are going to get us both killed down here. She is old enough to hopefully retain some measure of control over her thirst when she wakes… the others… “ Her voice trailed off as a movement out of the corner of her eye drew her attention. A rat scurried along the stone wall. Its tiny paws seeming to take the heavy footsteps of a boura as its tiny nails clicked loudly along the stone. “… The others… would not be as pleasant…”

She turned her gaze back to the girl who was standing eyes wide; her chest jumping in shallow, rapid breaths. “Daisha, you must calm yourself. Slow your breathing. Your heart rate is racing…”

“I can’t… I’m trying…”

She sighed, “Close your eyes.” The girl’s eyes widened further before her face clenched as she squeezed them shut with a hiss of air as she exhaled. “Concentrate on your breathing. Right now, they are harmless… inert. They cannot harm you. “ She slowly guided her, almost expertly to a place of calm. The frightened girl’s heart rate started to decrease as her breathing slowed. “Good.” The older girl said.

She turned her eyes back to the desiccated corpse that lay upon a thick stone altar. Unlike the other kindred she lay exposed and higher than the others as if her mere visual presence in this unnatural tomb would challenge any seeking to cause ill to those who slept. She wore a delicate gown of silk, the fabric appearing to hang large on the shriveled frame. Long white hair pooled around her head. Frayed at the ends with the neglect of the years in the humidity of the underground chamber, it lay lifeless. The dry skin of her face pulled taut over the delicate bones of her face. Her dry lips were parched and stretched over pearly white fangs that lay exposed in the corpse’s open mouth. Her body was delicate, almost frail as it lay on the stone. Despite this, a strong presence surrounded her and thickly spilled into the deathly silence of the cold, damp room.

In the issued silence, the younger girl opened her eyes and followed her companion’s gaze to the altar. The older girl took another step forward. The younger followed obediently; although her eyes drifted down to avoid the tiny bones that were scattered around the area.

 

[Alira Drakrul]

The older one continued to speak, dragging Alira unwillingly from her slumber. Her voice seemed to scratch painfully at the vampire’s inner ear like a steel fork upon glass.


Irritation.


She danced the twilight of awareness, nightmares and memories overlapped and melded with the words. Feelings breached the surface and rolled over her consciousness.


Confusion. Irritation.


The older spoke softly, “Alira. The world has changed much since you took to your slumber. “ The older girl’s lack of formality to the kindred suggested a familiarity that seemed out of place between such a creature and a young mortal girl. “Alira, please listen…”


Annoyance. Confusion. Irritation.

As her awareness leaned towards reality, the Beast stretched and yawned within.

Hunger. Annoyance. Confusion. Irritation.


The girl continued to speak of mages and rangers, of the clan and of others, of promises and blood.


‘Blood.’



This word sharpened her mind. The Beast seemed to swell in her. The Hunger permeated every fiber of her being, the sharp talons of it scraping along the inside of her abdomen. She reached inward, calling upon the remaining vitae and slowly began to take a breath in.

An unfamiliar sound entered the silence of the chamber and drifted on the abrupt silence of both girls. The crackling sound was similar to dry, unoiled leather being manipulated and stretched. The older one immediately focused on Alira and took a step backwards. The bony chest was slowly rising.

The scents were dull against the dry membranes of her nose. Her lungs slowly expanded as she continued to breathe in trying to gain information on her surroundings. The stronger scent was kindred and vaguely familiar. The fainter scent was unfamiliar and reeked with the stench of fear.

‘Are they enemies? They knew who she was…’


“Marsala…?” Daisha questioned.

“Don’t move. Hold very still, Daisha.” The older one whispered to the girl.

“I’m … trying…,” she responded with a quivering voice.


The long, slow breath continued as her chest lifted high. The dried skin taut against her rip cage as her lungs fully expanded.


‘They smelled like… food.’ The hunger intensified within her. She exhaled completely; dust billowing from her nostrils as if the pains of hunger stoked a fire within.


“Sh*t.” Marsala said flatly.

“Sh*t? What do you mean… sh*t?” Daisha’s voice rose an octave.

“Don’t run… whatever you do, don’t run.” Marsala said as she took another couple slow steps backward. She could feel her own panic begin to rise and her own Beast scream at her to run. “Move slowly with me towards the door, Daisha… very slowly.”

Alira inhaled again, quicker this time. She dragged the fear scent along her nasal passages. The fear was like salt intensifying the flavor of a well cooked meal. If her mouth could water, it would. Her beast salivated inside her, pushing her last remaining vitae into her starving muscles. Coaxing her on, demanding satisfaction.

“Come on, Daisha… a bit quicker. We don’t have much time,” Marsala spoke in a hurried tone.

“You said not to run…” Daisha protested.

Alira’s fingers began to curl. Her nails rasping against the stone on which she lay. Eyelids hiding the palest of blue eyes opened once and then fluttered close as she exhaled again. Her next breath sounded greedy, almost sucking the air in now. A faint growl teased the tension in the room as Alira’s upper lip quivered slightly as if in anticipation.

“I may not have thought this through…” Marsala felt her own fangs descend as she fear gripped her. She turned her face away from the scared girl. “Go! Now!” she commanded. The girl screamed and ran for the door. In her blind panic, she slammed against the door. She tugged on the heavy handle while inadvertently pressing her body weight against the door and thwarting her escape. She sobbed and tugged harder.

Marsala looked over at the hysterical girl and back to Alira. Daisha’s terror was like throwing chum into the water. Alira’s eyes fluttered again and this time stayed open. She stretched her neck slowly from side to side before allowing her feral gaze to come to rest on Marsala and the terrified human girl behind her.

“Alira… It’s me… Marsala.” Marsala pleaded. However her pleas were unanswered by any recognition in the old vampire’s eyes. Marsala backed up as the fear intensified. She opened her mouth and hissed with fangs fully displayed as if a last ditch effort to discourage the predator staring at her intently. Alira’s mouth opened more and her upper lip curled in response answering the mock challenge with brutal authority.

Marsala’s resolve and composure shattered. All she wanted to do was escape, to leave right then and it didn’t matter how. She pushed vitae into her muscles and turned around. Daisha had the unfortunate situation of being in the frenzied vampire’s way. Marsala used the strength in her infused muscles and flung the unsuspecting girl towards Alira as one might a doll. Daisha surprised scream was cut short as her head slammed into the stone a few feet from the stone altar. Marsala ripped open the door wide enough to get through and pulled it shut as soon as she was safely on the other side. She grabbed the drop bar and slammed it into the cradle to reinforce the door even as she sagged to her knees. She heaved and vomited dark blood onto the stone floor.

She had really liked Daisha, but she liked herself more.