The Immortal Coil (6 page)

She’s been reading my mind this entire time.

“Please forgive my rudeness.” Aurelia seemed worried that she may have offended me. “I’m not normally so intrusive into my guests’ minds. You must understand, while we may all be supernatural here, you are still different than the rest of us. I must be conscious of my people’s safety at all times.”

I had always felt there must be others out there like me, but I never thought I would get to meet them. Most of the time I tried forgetting about my powers since I couldn’t explain them. To be honest, I guess I was scared of what I might be.

“I would never hurt anyone,” was the best I could offer.

“I’ve heard the contrary. Noah tells me you handled yourself impressively against the attackers in your home.”

I forgot I overheard him telling Vivian he witnessed that.

“Uh, I wouldn’t say it was impressive, not after seeing what he can do.”

“Don’t be so modest, my dear! I have a keen sense for talent. It was I who turned Noah, after all.”

“What do you mean, you turned him?” I would be lying to myself if I said I didn’t already have a good idea what she meant, but I was hoping it was just a misunderstanding.

“We are the Archios.” She smiled and extended her arms out to the crowd dramatically. “Members of our coven have had many different labels imposed upon us throughout time. Regardless, I believe you would agree that we are merely beautiful, yet tragic beings lost somewhere betwixt life and death.”

All eyes in the room were on me now. Vivian was watching from across the room with a drink in her hand. Noah was still relaxing up on the balcony, looking down at us. The dancers glanced over their partners’ shoulders as they passed. These were not the hideous monsters portrayed in the movies, or the ones from back in New York. Everyone here was sophisticated and gorgeous, so gorgeous it only made sense that they were supernatural. I felt the same tranquilizing sensation again as I had with Noah in the alley. This feeling coming over me must be another of their powers. But what would they want with my powers when they had their own?

“As the last remaining founder, it is my will alone that governs our many houses across the world. Aristocrats, bureaucrats, and various artisans fill our ranks, but monsters we certainly are not. However, we are but one of three covens and countless strays. Those other covens give rise to your nightmarish legends, and taint our good name.”

I watched her mouth closely as she talked. Sure enough, she was still reading my mind. “The Archios do not prey on humanity for sustenance like savages. We use our allure to draw in potential donors. Those we drink from are more than willing to let us in close and to feel our lips pressed to their flesh,” she said, and smiled just enough for me to see her that her top two incisors were subtly sharpened to a point. “Our fangs are diminutive and purposeful; they are all that is required to draw the blood we need.”

“Aren’t you killing people by taking their blood either way?”

“Absolutely not! Violence is quite unnecessary. Our donors experience unspeakable bliss, so they remain comfortable and …
satisfied
by the encounter. Not to mention that their emotions flavor the blood we drink. The taste of their arousal is something of a delicacy that our kind savors.”

She covered her smile with her hand and looked away as if taken aback by her own forwardness, but I was anxious to hear more.

“Taking very little to keep each person healthy is beneficial to both parties,” she carried on. “In present times, humanity far outnumbers us and it is in their nature to fear and loathe the unknown. A revolt would be disastrous to our kind if they were to learn the truth of our existence.

“All we wish is to spend our immortality in peace. I have amassed quite a considerable amount of wealth in my time. As a connoisseur, I have often made large financial contributions to help fund the cultivation of the fine arts through the ages. Unfortunately, my appearance makes remaining unseen in public an impossibility. My undead heart breaks each night knowing I can never leave these walls to offer applause at an opera or walk the red carpet in support of an artist without persecution.”

I could sense a great feeling of despair growing in her voice.

“Even those outside of this coven make some attempt at remaining hidden now, although murder is much more common for them. For centuries, the Archios have been burdened with covering up such violent indiscretions. We are forced to use our powers over the mind to influence human governments and media for the survival of us all.”

“That sounds like a lot of work for something that isn’t even your fault. It’s not fair you have to hide from persecution when you aren’t the ones hurting anyone. All that effort could be used on working together instead.”

It was tragic. If even these beautiful, cultured, benevolent people couldn’t exist freely because humans were too close-minded, then what hope did any other minority have?

“It pleases me to know you are sympathetic to our plight. We have even established connections with blood banks to further avoid harming our delicate flock. There was once a time when we were more openly accepted among mortals, but those days have long since passed,” Aurelia said, and then stopped abruptly to watch the crowd behind me.

“There is a small problem,” Vivian whispered to Aurelia as she walked over. “Intruders are in the south garden. They appear to be the same creatures that our young guest encountered in New York.”

“Not again, not here too,” I said in a panic.

“This is unheard of!” Aurelia exclaimed. “They must have followed you here. Now I fear we are all in danger.”

The party came to a halt as everyone began squabbling among themselves. They were all speaking other languages, but it was pretty easy to understand their reactions.

“Noah.” Aurelia spoke and he immediately dropped down beside her. “Please handle this troubling situation with great haste.”

“Good, I was getting bored listening to a bunch of whiney socialites all night,” Noah said, looking around at the crowd with disdain.

“Take Dorian with you, should you need help,” Aurelia offered.

“What? Why me? I have no idea how to fight!”

“You’ve dealt with them before, no?” Vivian gave an encouraging smile. “You are the only one here with any experience.”

“You guys are probably a lot better at this than I am, though,” I tried to reason with her, “and I think Noah has way more experience with this kind of stuff; just look at him!”

“At least he has good taste,” Noah nodded smugly.

“Just because we are immortal does not mean we are made for war. I am still a lady above all else. I was under the impression you understood us. Surely you do not expect to send me out to face such horrors,” Aurelia said, sounding hurt and appalled.

“I didn’t mean it like that …” I was digging myself a pretty deep hole.

“Please help us,” Aurelia and Vivian pleaded. I couldn’t refuse them no matter how badly I wanted to. They had all gone out of their way to help me and now they were in trouble.

“Okay, no problem.” The words slipped out against my will, captivated as I still was by their beauty. Just looking into their inviting eyes filled me with courage.
I can do this, I did it once before. At least this time I’ll have Noah with me so I shouldn’t have to actually do too much
.

“Marvelous!” Aurelia rejoiced and turned her attention to Noah. “Do watch out for one another. I wouldn’t want either of you to be harmed by those vile things.”

“Of course, your Highness.” He bowed to her with a hint of sarcasm.

Noah grabbed the back of my shirt and the halls of the chateau flew by. We were outside surrounded by a maze of tall rosebushes faster than I could blink. The mutants’ threatening growls echoed through the night ahead of us.

“Well, good luck, ‘hero’,” Noah chuckled as he dropped me to the ground.

“What? Where are you going?” I panicked at the thought of being left alone out here with those things.

“To the far side. We’ll split up and flank the enemy. Work your way to the fountain at the center. Sun Tzu,
The Art of War
, man. Pick it up sometime; it might save your ass.”

I wanted to inform him how irrelevant that advice would be in about five minutes, but he was already gone along with my tiny shred of confidence.

The sickly sweet scent of roses did little to detract from the horrors in store for me ahead. Light out here was scarce. The only way I could see anything at all was from the light of the chateau and some lampposts around the garden. There was nothing in sight I could use to defend myself with either, just winding rows of ten-foot-high rosebushes.

It sounded like the monsters were scattered throughout the grounds, but I had no way of telling how many of them there were. Hopefully, Noah would just take care of them all before they found me so we could get out of here. A growl came from the other side of the hedges, and it was moving fast. Those things were cutting through the maze. With no way to tell what sort of progress Noah was making, I would have to figure out some way to help, or else they would reach the chateau. Despite impending doom, the classical music from the party was starting up again as if the dancers hadn’t a care in the world.

I crept to the first intersection, trying not to get ambushed from either side. The pounding footsteps on the ground followed by unearthly growls made me wish I were back in the company of the Archios. A violent rustling from a hedge nearby made me tense up. I knew what was coming, but I was still unprepared.

A roughly human figure came bounding out toward me. It was further mutated than any of the infected people in New York. Most of the mutant’s clothes were torn off, but it was nearly impossible to discern what they had looked like originally. I could make out the same black veins and creepy eyes, but it was so deformed that there were no longer any discernible facial or body features. The skin was sunken-in, like it had suffered from a sudden extreme weight loss. If these people had any shred of life left in them, they were suffering badly.

One look at the monster’s claws and I wanted to run, but it wasn’t about to give me the chance. A thick fog was rolling in, making visibility even more of a problem. I had no clue how effective my powers would be without a weapon to use them on. I held my breath and put out my hands in front of me as the creature charged.

I hit a home run, as I knocked the creature back through the bushes much further than I expected. The fog was blinding now, obscuring the little visibility I had to start with. However, the crash the creature made when it landed must have alerted the rest of them. Their snarls and trampling footsteps were all headed in the direction of their fallen friend. The distraction might work in my favor if I could navigate the maze swiftly to the fountain where Noah said to meet.

The maze felt like it went on for miles. Turn after turn was just getting me more lost, but I could hear running water somewhere close by, so my port in the storm shouldn’t be too far off. I didn’t know why I had agreed to this, or how I was expected to kill these mutants, but it wouldn’t be the first time in my life I had been talked into something I didn’t want to do. Another one of the creatures ran past the intersection ahead, but didn’t notice me. I crouched down and snuck over to where it came from to check for the fountain.

A guttural howl from above caught my attention in time to see one of the mutants descending from over the hedges. It landed on top of me and knocked me over. I panicked and tried to push it off, but couldn’t. There was barely an inch between our faces as it tried biting mine off. It was hard to concentrate on knocking the creature away during the struggle, although my life depended on it.

It was now or never. If I wasn’t able to use my power, I would die. Painfully.

My head throbbed as I strained to launch the mutant into the air. It soared ten feet, then twenty feet, thirty feet, until I lost sight of it. I never thought my power would have this kind of effect. I got back up and leaped out of the way just in time for the creature to collide with the ground. It was crippled and broken, but that still didn’t stop it from lurching after me.

I started running toward the sound of the fountain, but was tackled from the side as another of the mutants burst out from the bushes. I felt a stabbing pain followed by the warm sensation of blood trickling down my forearm. The creature had its teeth lodged deep into my arm and was attempting to tear the meat from the bone. I was in too much shock to yell, but I managed to pry the creature off and send him flying backward.

Black viscous drool from the mutant’s mouth was mixing with the bite it had taken out of me. The way to the fountain was now blocked by all of the creatures, which had heard the fighting. The first one I had encountered was at my feet, gripping my ankle. I was trapped and frantic to find a way out. More of the mutants closed in, clawing and slashing at me from behind.

Hands grabbed at the back of my shirt, making me fall and hit my head. As I lost consciousness all of the sounds of the night swirled inside my head. I could feel the creatures closing in on me. Everything faded to red and then black until finally the pain stopped.

I woke up in another of the chateau’s bedrooms with a peculiar salty-sweet taste in my mouth. I put my fingers to my lips.

It was … blood?

I felt good — lucid even, for someone who had just been through hell. The cuts and scrapes on my arm were gone and I wasn’t in pain or tired anymore. I checked my other arm, hoping the bite was also mysteriously healed. There wasn’t any pain or bleeding, but the deep holes made by the mutant’s teeth were still wide open and the veins surrounding the wounds had turned black. Staring at the infected bite made me sick to my stomach.

This can’t be happening … I’m going to turn into one of those things
.

I got up to look around the room for something to wrap my arm with. The bedroom’s decor was completely different from the rest of the chateau. In place of the oil paintings, display cases, and expensive vases were weapons, and a lot of them. This had to be Noah’s room. All of the weapons were different kinds of
katana
, and several scrolls hanging on the walls had writing on them similar to his tattoos.

“Don’t touch my stuff.” Noah’s voice startled me as I was leaning in to look at one of the swords.

“It would have been great to have had one of these out there,” I said turning to him. “Now I’m going to become one of those things, aren’t I?”

“Yeah, about that …” Noah hopped up onto an antique seventeenth-century dresser like it was some piece of cheaply manufactured furniture. “I fed you some of my blood to help fight the infection.”

“You what?” I shouted in disgust. Without the Archios using their alluring aura to entrance me, my feelings of hopelessness and dread returned. “What is that going to do to me? I don’t want to be undead or a mutant! I just want to be normal!”

“That’s not how it works. You need to have died recently for my blood to turn you. Basically, your soul can’t have passed on to the afterlife yet,” Noah clarified. “Our blood is good for healing; as I’m sure you noticed, your other cuts are gone. It’s gonna get burned off by the infection after a while though.”

“How long until that happens? And what do I do when it does?”

“Who knows? But I guess we’ll find out soon enough!” he exclaimed just a little too enthusiastically. Noah’s callous personality was easily equal to or even beyond his physical appearance and fighting skills. I didn’t think he could keep himself from acting like a complete asshole for more than a few minutes at best. “Stop admiring me for a second. This is serious. You can’t tell anyone I gave you my blood.
Anyone
. Got it?”

“I wasn’t …” I forgot he could read minds. Of course, with his ego he would interpret my thoughts as a compliment, so it was futile explaining myself. “It’s not like people would believe me anyway, but what does it matter if somebody like us knows?”

“Because it’s forbidden. Not only does it reveal us to humans, but then we’d have people creating armies of superhumans if everyone did it.”

“You don’t seem like the type that follows the rules.”

“Yeah, well, I didn’t, and now I don’t want anyone to know about it. I’m kind of old, so my blood is more powerful than that of the other Archios. If someone is still after you and they get my blood, it can be used against me.”

“Just how old are you?”

“Almost two hundred years,” he boasted.

“My, that is quite the exaggeration,” came Vivian’s smooth voice from the doorway.

“You’re just an old hag, Vivi,” Noah laughed, and flashed her his signature grin. Vivian gingerly unsheathed a
katana
, checking her reflection in the blade before replacing it.

“You are very lucky that age is a symbol of status, Monsieur Burckhardt.” She strolled over behind him and walked her fingertips across his shoulders.

“Now, tell me why I needed to search all over for you. You know Aurelia wishes to speak with you.” Vivian spoke softly in his ear from behind him. She placed her hand over the tattoos on his chest.

“Funny, I thought this was my room,” he teased and leaned back against her. “Checking here first would make sense to me.”

“You are only ever here if you are hiding something,” she said as she dug her nails into his pecs just enough to draw blood.

“Damn it,” he said, and grabbed her by the wrist. “You know I hate having to get my ink redone.”

She let go and licked her finger with a mischievous smile. The cut on his chest had already healed by the time she backed away, leaving a tiny gap in the writing.

“Your tattoo should be the least of your worries. Aurelia isn’t too pleased with your performance tonight. You failed at something so simple,” she scolded him.

“I don’t fail,” he scowled. “It isn’t my fault the kid can’t take care of himself.”

I might as well have been mounted up on the wall with the swords. They were so absorbed in their conversation they didn’t notice, or maybe they didn’t care, that I was in the room.

“I’m sure that will go over famously with her. At least I will be abroad when it happens.”

“You’re going to America? Without me? Why?”

“New York is quickly slipping through our fingers with Price no longer in control. The same creatures have besieged at least one hospital, a hotel, and a police station in only a few hours. The remaining Archios we have there are doing their best to cover it up as wanton acts of violence, but there is only so much they can clean up without a source of leadership,” she said.

“How are you planning on actually eliminating the problem?”

“I will recruit help once I’m there. We must contain this at all costs, with the humans unable to do so.”

“I could clear those things out with no problem,” he bragged.

“Really? Could you?” she antagonized.

“Let it go, Vivi. If I had known what I was working with out there, things would have gone differently tonight.”

“I worry about you, that’s all,” she said, and placed her hand on the side of his face.

“There’s no reason to. You did a pretty good job teaching me a thing or two.” Hearing Noah speak genuinely was kind of shocking. Their interactions together were always interesting, to say the least, but it was hard to tell what the relationship between them was.

“It doesn’t look as bad as I had imagined.” Vivian glanced over at my arm, finally noticing me standing there. “I thought he would have turned by now. I’ve heard in New York it was taking only a few hours upon infection. Curious that he has no other bruises. Don’t you think so, Noah?”

I didn’t need to be a mind reader to tell that he was already busted.

“Isn’t that something?” Noah went to stare out the window, looking for a distraction to change the subject.

“Now I see why you were hiding with him here. I hope you know what you’re doing. Aurelia is busy with matters concerning her sister, so I suggest you tread lightly.”

“Haven’t they been feuding for years? What’s up with Rozalin now?”

“There was news that she was staked and burned.”

“Nice, that calls for a drink. But, I’m sure she’ll be back.”

“
Oui
, she is unmatched in her field of magic. When she does return, she will most certainly feel that Aurelia was involved in her death and come to make trouble, so be on guard.” Vivi moved to the door. “It will be dawn soon. I’ve arranged for one of the drivers to take our young guest to the airport. The private jet will be waiting to return him to Boston.”

“I get to go home?” I couldn’t hold back my excitement. Finally some good news.

“Yes, child. It isn’t safe here any longer, especially during the day, if you can’t defend yourself,” she said and addressed Noah before leaving. “Take care of yourself in my absence, Monsieur Burckhardt.”

“I’m ready to go home,” I said, hurrying to the door. I couldn’t care less about my arm if I could make it back to Boston.

“Not yet, you’re not. You’re mine until sunrise.” I didn’t like the sound of this.

“You’re not talking about sucking my blood, are you?”

“I’m sure you’d like that, wouldn’t you? But no, I don’t want to catch what you have and I’m sure it tastes terrible, too.”

We were outside again in an instant thanks to his blazing speed. I could see the main chateau not far across the lawn. Noah’s room was actually in a smaller chateau on the property, and we were now standing on top of it.