Mira (26 page)

           
Fog began to roll into camp, causing more unease amongst the guard.
 
“Is it just me or do you feel like we’re being watched?”

           
“I don’t want to talk about it.”

           
“I say this entire march has been cursed.
 
We’re all walking into our own deaths.”

           
“I told you I don’t want to talk about it,” the guard snapped.
 
Standing, he stormed through the haze toward his tent.
 
“I’m going to my
palate
pallet
before I can’t find it.
 
I suggest you do the same, instead of blathering on like a moron.”

           
“We’re not getting paid enough for this.”

           
Taking advantage of the fog, Rillan moved among the tents, listening to the various complaints of the men and piecing together the circumstances of the trip from Noviodunum to the Circle.

           
“Halt, who goes,” a voice from nearby called toward Rillan’s shadowy figure in the fog.
 
The guard may not have been able to see Rillan well, but he could see enough to know that he wasn’t another guard.

           
A heavy sigh of annoyance escaped Rillan’s chest.
 
He could hear others nearby getting up to see what was going on.
 
Darting toward the guard, in one swift movement he dodged the swing of the guard’s gladius and grabbed him around the head and shoulders.
 
A sickening crack preceded the spurt of blood that gushed from the guard’s neck when Rillan snapped his head back.

           
The smell of fresh blood nearly distracted Rillan from his purpose.
 
But it only took a moment for him to take his vampire half in hand and continue in his mission.
 
Slipping through the tents, Rillan could hear the commotion begin, when another guard found the body of the one he killed.
 

           
Great,
he thought in frustration,
now I have a time limit

           
Deciding that the quickest way of dealing with the supposed army would be to make a bloody mess of their leader, Rillan worked his way to the largest tent in the encampment.
 
Pushing aside the flap which served as a door, Rillan looked around with disgust at the lavish accommodations afforded to the leader of this fracas.

           
Closing his eyes, Rillan surrendered himself to the beast within.
 
Skin paled and pulled taught on his face, eyes sank back into black holes in his skull, and claw
s
protruded from bent fingers.
 
Suddenly the room focused with complete clarity, and Rillan began to search for the son of Tiberius Novanus.

           
It only took moments to find the sleeping form in a makeshift bed, behind a partition that separated his sleeping area from the main room of the tent.
 
Upon seeing the smallish form Rillan stopped.
 
He’s no more than a boy.
 
Angry, Rillan slipped back into the shadows to think.
 

           
As Rillan stood watching, a robed figure rushed into the room straight for the bed.
 
Finding Marcus sleeping peacefully, Darius moved to a nearby table and lit the lantern sitting on it.
 
Holding it aloft, he swung it wildly about his head, peering into shadows.

           
“I know you must be here,” he snarled.

           
To Rillan’s amusement, the man actually seemed to not be afraid of him.
 
Rillan looked the man over.
 
It didn’t make much sense.
 
The man looked distinctly like one of his own people, but he was wearing Noviodunum clothing.
 
The vampire in Rillan smiled with satisfaction,
the traitor.
 

           
Darius began storming about the room searching corners.
 
Unable to contain himself any longer, Rillan stepped into the lantern light.
 
“Are you in such a hurry to die?”

           
Darius never expected the nightmare that faced him.
 
All but losing his resolve, Darius screamed, “Guards!
 
Guards!”

           
A demonic chuckle, enough to cause Darius to drop the lantern and back away, rolled from Rillan’s chest.
 
Within moments, several guards burst into the room.
 
They only barely caught a glimpse of Rillan, before he disappeared into the shadows again.
 
There wasn’t any time to think about what they saw.
 
The lantern on the ground spilled its oil, and the tent caught fire.
 
Darius stood blathering incoherently, while the lead guard shouted orders.

           
The guards barely managed to grab Marcus and drag Darius out of the burning tent.
 
By the time the guards managed to put out the fire, nearly all of the others had arrived to see what was going on.

           
“See, we’re cursed.”

           
“Did anyone else see it?”

           
“What was it?”

           
“The vampire!”

           
“The druids sent the vampire for us now!”

           
“Where’s Marcus?”

           
“He won’t wake up?”

           
“What’s wrong with him?”

           
“We’re cursed!”

           
Rillan stood back and watched, as the irrational fear from a long march and numerous odd coincidences fed into the subconscious of the superstitious men.
 
Darius did his best to attempt to calm the situation.
 
He was too
Too
late
, however
,
;
it had taken him so long to regain his own coherence that the damage was already done.
 
By morning, Darius only had a handful of guards left.
 
All the others had taken what they could and disappeared into the woods during the night.
 

           
Rillan couldn’t help but find the incompetence of the traitor amusing.
 
I’ve never had such an easy assignment.

           
The few men who were left were the last of the most loyal men from Tiberius’ house guard.
 
As morning dawned, they began tearing down the few tents which were left.

           
“Alright,” Darius started.
 
“There may only be a few of us left, but the druids aren’t fighters.
 
I think we can still manage.”

           
The guard with the most rank rolled his eyes.
 
“Do we have everything,” he asked one of the others.

           
“I think so.
 
What about Marcus?”

           
“Carry him.
 
Maybe one of the apothecaries in Noviodunum can help him.”
 
The guard glared over at Darius.
 
“Continue your quest alone druid.
 
We return to Noviodunum.
 
The senate was right.
 
This was suicide.
 
You’re lucky we don’t cut off your feet and leave you here for the predators that have been stalking us since we left civilization.”

           
Darius fumed angrily.
 
“Suicide?
 
Suicide!
 
No one has died!
 
You all need to gather what you can and come with me.
 
It’s only a day’s walk from here.
 

           
“It’s over druid.
 
Go home and accept your position in life.
 
You won’t be welcome in Noviodunum once I’ve related the events of this trip.”

           
Rillan watched Darius beg and plead.
 
The men finished gathering their things, and turned back the way they came.
 
A strange sense of well-being rushed over him as he realized that he managed to finish his assignment and only killed a single man.
 
It’s truly amazing what fear alone can do.

* * * *

           
Every thump, thud, drip, or squeak in the darkness, every stirring, even her own heartbeat, made Aris tremble.
 
When’s he coming back?
 
“How should I know,” she answered herself.

           
Maybe he won’t come back.

           
“That’s a nice dream.
 
You volunteered for this.
 
Stop whining and get ready.
 
He’ll want to feed on you again.”

           
Aris shook her head and cowered in the black corner of the room.
 
She had yet to find a way to light the fire or lanterns.
 
She hadn’t even managed to clean and dress herself.
 

           
Maybe he won’t be hungry.

           
“Of course he’ll be hungry.
 
He’ll always be hungry.”

           
That’s not what Mira said.

           
“And you trust that bitch?
 
She picked you.
 
She sent you here.”

           
No I volunteered.

           
 
“She only told you that it wouldn’t be so bad so that you would go more willingly.
 
Foolish little Aris.
 
Always do as you’re told Aris.
 
I wonder if he likes what you taste like.
 
I wonder if he’ll try your body next time. Make use of you for more than just a meal.”

           
Aris heard laughter in the darkness, echoing off the wall of the room he put her in.
 
The laughter almost sounded like her own voice but it couldn’t be.
 
Could it?

           
“Maybe he’ll be nicer too you if you make it easier on him.”

           
What do you mean?

           
“You could get ready for him.
 
Women cook for their men when they’re hungry.
 
Your man merely wants your blood and body.
 
Much easier preparation there.”

           
I don’t understand.

           
“Don’t be stupid.
 
Do I have to explain everything to you?
 
Fill a cup for him and he won’t have to bite you.
 
Better for everyone.
 
You don’t have to be bitten
,
and he gets what he wants.
 
I would think he would be grateful for not having to do the work himself?
 
I bet Mira never thought to do that for him.
 
It’s probably why he didn’t want her anymore.”

           
I don’t know.
 
How would I do it?

           
“There were cooking things by the hearth.
 
Bound to be a knife and a cup.”

           
Aris felt along the floor as she crawled roughly in the direction of the fireplace.
 
It took her some time to find it.
 
But in the end she managed.
 
I’ve got it.
 
She held up a long sharp knife.

           
“Now find a cup.”

           
There’s one right here.
           
“Good.
 
You know what to do now.”

           
Aris carefully placed the cup on the hearth in front of herself.
 
She did her best to line her wrist up with the cup in the darkness.
 
The cold in the cave combined with the lack of clothing had her numb enough to the environment that she barely felt the knife slice into the flesh of her wrist.
 
She whimpered as she felt the warm stick fluid begin to drain into the cup.

           
“See there.
 
That wasn’t nearly as bad as what he did to you.”

           
How much do you think he’ll want?

           
“Hard to say.
 
Better give him as much as you can stand.”