Shattered (9 page)

~History Revealed~

Later that night, Laura sat in front of a smal cookfire. Night had fal en, and al the sounds from the forest around her seemed amplified in the dark. Thankful y, Logan was with her.

He was diligently watching over a smal hare that roasted over the fire. He had found and caught if for her, and was now preparing her meal. Laura watched as he meticulously rotated the branch the rabbit was speared on, watched as he kept it a perfect distance away from the fire to let the meat cook. She was absolutely ravenous, and aside from a few berries she found on the trip, hadn’t eaten al day.

“It’s ready,” Logan final y said, handing the branch to her. Laura took it, and was surprised at the weight of the animal. It was much heavier than it looked. She took a bite – and was surprised again at the rich flavor the rabbit contained. Logan had cooked it perfectly, and al the juices flowed into her mouth deliciously. She was careful not to get any on the dress she was wearing, though.

“Hungry, huh?” Logan laughed. “I’ve forgotten what it’s like to eat a regular meal like that.”

“But apparently not how to cook,” Laura replied.

“Where did you learn to do that?”

“I’ve been alive for a long time, remember?”

“Right.” Laura took another bite, and chewed it thoughtful y. “Can I ask you a question?”

“Now would be the best time.”

“Is it true what that other vampire said? About the punishment you’d face if they caught you?”

“I… I believe so,” Logan replied.

“It seems a little harsh, doesn’t it? When you think about it compared to the severity of the crime, I mean. From what little of it al I understand, it’s al because you took me into the dream world, isn’t it?”

Logan sighed. “It’s not that simple, Laura. What I did was prohibited by a doctrine sacred to our race. It’s a doctrine that has kept us alive and safe for al these years. It’s what keeps order in what we do, in who we are. It keeps us safe.

“Now, to be honest, I didn’t think anybody would notice if I showed that world to you. If we entered the dream world together. It was
your
dream, after al , and you have just as much a right to be there as anybody else. More, in fact. But typical y humans only enter fleetingly, and not in ful as we did.

“Usual y, vampires stay away from human dreams, from human realms. The only time they would do so is in the hunt.”

“The hunt?”

“Yes. The dream world isn’t quite as wonderful as I made it seem. When it was discovered by vampires, they started taking ful advantage. They would jump into humans’ dreams, haunt their dreams. It was used by hunters, to find and stalk their prey.”

“Wait, it was discovered? So you mean you didn’t always know you had the ability to enter that world?”

“No,” Logan admitted. “the first of our kind didn’t have the ability. It was only the first converts, the first vampires who were born human, who discovered it. A purebred vampire – one who is born a vampire, not converted – lacks the ability to dream. The ones who were converted, they knew of dreams from their previous lives. And with their new abilities, they learned to enter that world.”

“What abilities do you mean? Is it like the mind thing you showed me? Can every vampire do that?”

“No. I’m the only one I know of. Although, that doesn’t necessarily mean there aren’t others. You see, aside from the physical benefits of our race –

speed, strength, vision, al that – each
Vassiz
has another, more mysterious ability. Most keep theirs secret, and don’t share with others. Not even with others in their own pack. We’re a selfish bunch, you see,” he laughed.

“But you shared with me,” she marveled.

“Yes, I did. But understand that I’m not like most others. When a human is newly converted… as I was, al those years ago… they want nothing to do with other humans. Except to take their blood. Most converts go into hiding, and the packs seek them out. Slowly, as converts acclimatize their new… talents…

they can withstand human contact better.”

“What do you mean, ‘withstand’? Is there something wrong with humans, for vampires? For the
Vassiz,
I mean?”

“Wel , first of al , you
stink
,” Logan laughed. “New converts are repulsed by humans as a species. Taking their blood, feeding on them, kil ing them – it becomes an obsession. The drive to do so can overwhelm a convert without the proper guidance. And too much blood too quickly can kil a vampire, if he’s not careful.

“Now, the purebreds, they don’t have that problem with humans. They have the same drive to feed, the same need for blood, but they aren’t repulsed by humans, either. That’s why they can be found living right beside humans in society.”

“But you were living amongst humans, right?

Before you came to my school?”

“Yes,” he laughed. “My conversion did not go as smoothly as it could have. I am told I fought it, resisted the poison until I nearly died. Because of that, I think I retained a better… affinity for humans. A better regard for them.

“It helps that I have little love for my own kind. Most are a selfish, hating breed. There are some who are not like that, though…” his eyes became sad, “…

though most of them were kil ed a long time ago.

‘Purification,’ the elders cal ed it. To get rid of the weakest of our race.

“I was around when it happened, and only nearly avoided getting caught in it myself. It was a ridiculous undertaking. It spread as a wild cult idea, at first, the notion of purification. But then the elders started to listen, and they were seduced by the poisonous whispers of their fol owers. The peace that existed between the vampires was broken, and warring factions broke out.

“There was one I knew. One I cared deeply about. And she was caught on the wrong side of it al .” His jaw clenched.

“Who was she?” Laura asked. “What happened to

her?”

Logan sighed. “Her name was Maria. She was the love of my life.” Laura felt an inexplicable stab of jealousy as he said that. “She was one of the first to take pity on humans, and dreamed of coexistence with them in the future. A world where vampires did not have to hide their true selves. And where humans did not have to fear us.

“She was the first to be targeted in the purification. She was set up as an example of the weakest of our race. But nothing could be further from the truth…”

He trailed off, staring into the distance.

“…was this very long ago?” Laura asked.

“Almost two centuries.” Logan sighed. “But that’s neither here nor there.”

“Do you… stil love her?” A smal voice in the back of Laura’s head told her she was a fool for asking such a question, for bringing up ghosts of the past. But she had a burning desire to know.

“I… ahh. She was a part of my life, but you must understand it was a very long time ago. The memories I stil hold… they have paled and dul ed as the years have gone by. The truth is, I do not think I can stil remember her face.” He shook his head gruffly. “This is a poor subject to draw our attention to. I shouldn’t have brought it up. We have more pressing matters to attend to now.” He picked up a twig and started poking at the fire haphazardly. “The vampires that are after us…
that
is of importance. I’ve told you nearly al I know about our species. Laura, you have to understand the danger we face. The ones coming after us, they’re perfect kil ing machines. And if they ever catch us, they wil not show mercy.”

“Your eyes,” Laura said suddenly, remembering she felt when they first met. “You haven’t mentioned your eyes.”

“Oh?” Logan raised an eyebrow. “And what would I have said?”

“When I first met you,” Laura explained, “and you first looked on me… I felt an enormous stab of fear. It was gone as soon as I blinked, but it was there. Why?”

“Ah. Wel , yes, that might have happened. Our eyes can strike fear, irrational and completely primal fear, into humans. It’s always different, how people react. And the effect gets stronger the further away we are from a feeding. Usual y, we can control it, decide when to let it work, but sometimes that control falters… the further we’ve been from a feeding.”

“The longer you go without blood?”

“That’s right. When the hunger strikes, it’s difficult to control yourself. That’s why I was so… withdrawn…

that first week you met me. If I had been engaged, with al those humans at the school, wel … let’s just say that murder would have struck slightly closer to home for many of you.”

“So you were control ing yourself? Restricting your desire?”

“Yes. I had to find a… target… for my feeding. Somebody I would have no moral qualms overtaking. Wel , maybe that’s not quite right. There are always morals that fight in conflict deep within me, every time I take a life, but – I try to push them down by feeding only on those who deserve to die.” He barked a laugh. “But who am I to make such decisions? The truth is, what I am repulses me in those moments. But it’s the only way to survive.”

Laura felt a yawn coming, and tried to stifle it, but it escaped anyway. She didn’t want to be disrespectful, and what Logan was tel ing her was
fascinating.
“You need to sleep, don’t you?” Logan said.

“Yes,” she admitted. “What about you?”

“I’l stay guard and watch.” Logan put out the fire by kicking some dirt over it. “I wish I had something you could sleep on, but…” he spread his hands, “…looks like the ground wil have to do for tonight.”

“That’s alright,” Laura answered. She thought it a shame to soil the dress by sleeping on the ground, but it wasn’t like there were any other options. Logan sat down, facing the direction they had come from, away from her, and Laura tried to find a comfortable position on the dirt. It was hard. Roots and rocks poked at her, and there was no comfort on the rigid earth. She lay awake for what seemed like hours. When she final y found sleep, it was of a restless sort, and dark nightmares haunted her dreams.

~The Marble Twins~

For three days they trekked through the wilderness, going east and north. Headed towards the Canadian border, where Logan said there would be less people. With less people came less of an opportunity to be noticed.

Laura hadn’t seen any signs of their pursuers, but Logan assured her they were coming. He made haste, pushing the pace as often as he could to increase the separation between them… and

whoever was coming after them.

Laura’s dress fit snugly, and Logan complimented her on it once or twice. More importantly, though, he said it was doing its job – by leaving her old clothes behind, Laura had less of a scent by which they could be tracked. Laura wondered how much of an advantage it actual y gave them. Logan assured her it was significant.

She also wondered sometimes how Logan

managed to procure the garment, but whenever she asked, he went curiously mum. No amount of prodding or urging would change his stance, and Laura decided to drop the subject eventual y.

On the morning of the fourth day, while making their way through dense shrub and heavy bush, Laura noticed a strange gleam from among the branches overhead. She stopped, and squinted her eyes. There was nothing here she could think of that the sun could reflect off like that.

“What is it?” Logan asked, once he noticed she stopped fol owing him.

“Look up there,” she replied, pointing to her left.

“Do you see anything?”

Logan looked, and shook his head. “Just leaves and branches. Why?”

“I thought I saw light reflecting from there.” She moved her head to the side. “There it is again!”

“Real y?” Logan picked his way back to her. She pointed in the direction of the glare. He looked that way. “You’re right,” he nodded. “I can’t see it as wel as you, but that reflection’s definitely there.”

“Should we go see what it is?”

“We need to continue on, but…” he shrugged. “A few minutes won’t kil us.”

He started towards the source of light, and Laura fol owed. The reflection disappeared as they walked towards it, blocked by the trees, so after a while, Laura couldn’t be sure if they were headed the right way or not.

Unexpectedly, they stumbled into a clearing. Laura’s jaw dropped. Hidden deep in the seclusion of the woods stood a polished white tower. It looked like a marking of sorts, or perhaps a monument. A narrow base converged into a point high in the sky, doubling the height of any nearby trees. Laura thought if she wrapped her arms around the structure, her fingers could nearly meet on the other side.

“What is it?” Laura asked.

“I… don’t know,” Logan answered. Cautiously, he walked up to it. By the overgrowth in the clearing, Laura guessed they were the first ones to come upon it in generations. She fol owed Logan.

As they got closer, Laura started to make out symbols inscribed in the marble. They looked like hieroglyphics, and twirled al the way up to the top. Logan was studying them intently.

“Do you know what they are?” she asked.

“They’re hard for me to see, but… I think they’re here to ward against intruders.”

“A warning?” Laura asked.

“Maybe. I think this tower may have a twin around here somewhere.” He looked around. “You can see better in the light – see if you can spot another reflection.”

Laura looked around them. The clearing in which they stood appeared to be isolated from the growth of trees and vegetation around them. Then her eyes caught something: a twinkle, from not too far away. Had she not been consciously looking for it, she thought she would have missed it.

“Over there,” she told him pointing in its direction. “I saw a glimmer there.”

“Ok.” Logan started walking in the direction she pointed. Instead of going with him, Laura walked closer to the tower. Its vibrant shine cal ed out to her, its pure white surface begging for her touch. She reached out to put a hand on it…

And she knew danger. Terrible images of death flashed in her mind.
Danger!
Humans being carved like pigs on a sacrificial stone, children hanging by their necks in chains with blood streaming out of their eyes.
Danger!
Women being skinned alive, their tortuous screams unaffecting their hooded captors.
Danger! Danger!

Laura ripped her hand away from the stone, and the images died. She looked around wildly, searching for Logan. She was alone. “Logan?” she cried out. No answer. “Logan, where are you!?”

She ran in the direction she thought he went.

“Logan? Logan!” She tripped on a root, and started to fal forward, right on her face – when a pair of strong hands caught her.

“There you are,” Logan said as he helped her up.

“What’s going on?”

“Logan, the tower,” she began breathlessly, “I touched it, and there were images, images of death, and suffering, al the bodies, nobody was safe!” She col apsed sobbing into him, and he held her tight.

“There, there,” he said soothingly, “nobody’s going to hurt you. Not when you’re with me.” Laura felt the sincerity in his words, and gripped him even tighter. For better or for worse, he was al she had.

“Now, you said you saw images?” She nodded vigorously. “And they came when you touched the tower?” Again, more nodding. “I want to see for myself.”

He held her close as he walked towards the tower. She stopped a good ten yards short, not wanting to come any closer. Logan, however, marched right up to it. He reached out to place a hand on it…

And nothing happened. He looked back to her quizzical y. He took his hand off, and placed it on again. He tried a few more times, but then shook his head and came back to her.

“Are you sure, Laura? Perhaps the travel is getting to you.”

“I’m sure.”

“I felt nothing.”

“I felt… danger. A warning. For me to stay away. Far away from this place.”

“That’s interesting,” Logan mused.

“Interesting? It’s
terrifying
! Have you ever heard of anything like it before?”

“My own gift,” he said absentmindedly. “I have a suspicion…” he trailed off. Then he grabbed her hand and led her away.

“The other tower,” he explained. “I got sight of it when I heard your cries, and rushed back. But I have a feeling… wel , you’l see.” He led her through the dense forest, around thick trees and right through heavy shrubs. Final y, another clearing appeared ahead of them.

This one was smal er; much more compact. But a near-identical tower stood right in the middle. Except that this one was pure black. Again, the stone gleamed in a marvelous luster.

“I don’t want to come any closer,” Laura said.

Logan looked at her, and nodded. “I understand.”

Leaving her at the clearing’s edge, he marched up to the tower. And bent his head close, examining its surface. “There are markings here, too,” he told her.

“Just as I suspected. And I think I can understand them.”

“You can? How?”

“Come closer and I’l show you.” She hesitated.

“You needn’t worry; I don’t think this tower wil have any effect on you.”

Cautiously, she inched her way closer. Just close enough so she could make out the inscriptions. She saw foreign letters and shapes, completely different from the ones that adorned the white tower. They spiraled up in much the same way, but in an opposite direction.

Logan ran a finger along one line. “These,” he said,

“are ancient vampire symbols.”

“They are?”

“Yes. It is a language that has been long forgotten in favor of the human tongue, but I’ve picked up bits and pieces of it over the years. Not many of my kind even know it exists, now. But I think I can make out enough…” he paused, studying the letters. His finger ran up, fol owing the twisting text, and he walked around the tower slowly, reading. “This predates the elders,” he said to himself with awe.

“The elders? You’ve mentioned them before, but you never explained to me who they are.”

“Ah. Wel , just as it sounds. They’re the most ancient of vampires, and they watch over our race. We answer to their demands, and they administer justice over matters of… importance. They provide their wisdom, and ensure the unity of the
Vassiz
. They are highly revered. Almost as much as the vampire creed.” He smiled at Laura knowingly.

“Which I broke.”

“How long have the elders had control?”

“Since our history started being recorded. Perhaps longer. There is not a single vampire alive who can say they lived in a time when the elders did not rule. But this…” he looked to the tower “… this, I have not heard mention of before.”

“You said the markings predate the elders?”

“Yes. I believe so. If they do – if these towers do –

it is a monumental discovery. There is no consensus as to how the elders came to power in the first place. But there are whispers, uttered in only the darkest of crevices, and under penalty of death, that their ascent to power was not peaceful. In fact, some say it was much the opposite. They say our race paid a great price for the overseers.” He turned his head back to the tower, and continued reading. “I think… I think this was a place where great rituals once took place. And I think there’s more to it than just these towers.”

“What do you mean?”

“If we look, I think we can find it. A sanctuary, maybe. A part of the writings, they say… ‘Come hither, Thou who seek Respite, and Fear Not for your Mind.’ I think… that this was a safe-place for the
Vassiz
, once.”

“A safe place from what?” Laura could not imagine a single vampire – a
Vassiz
–needing to hide from anything.

“Maybe if we find it, we’l find out.” He set off, but Laura caught his arm.

“Logan, wait. I don’t think this is a good idea. What I felt, what I
saw
, when I touched that tower…” she shuddered.

“You’re with me, remember?” he said reassuringly.

“I won’t let anything happen to you. Besides, I suspect that part of the power of the sanctuary is to keep humans away.”