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“Far greater than that. You will retain your humanity but also attain superior power.”
“What is the catch?”
“Not something you already wouldn’t welcome––death.”
“It cannot be so easy,” Gabriel said. “Who knows what you hide behind such propositions?”
“Ah, but you underestimate death. To become a superior being requires beating death at its own game. Many have tried, but none have succeeded. Can you?”
The lady had great marketing skills. I could give her that. But Gabriel didn’t seem to hesitate. “I refuse help from the one who put me in such a predicament. Find yourself another poor lad’s soul to torture. I’ve had enough.” He turned and left.
“If you change your mind, mortal, you know where to find me,” Vedoma said and disappeared.
I ran after Gabriel, but one blink sent me to our home in the village. Gabriel lay in our bed. The house’s complete disarray clued me in on his mental state. He held above his head the handkerchief I gifted him. He had lost so much weight I could barely recognize him. He placed it to his nose and breathed in deeply. Next to him lay all the things belonging to me: the knitted bag, the knife, the wallet, and the phone. Tears trickled down his cheek and onto the pillow. Gabriel didn’t even bother to wipe it.
“Brother. Brother, where are you?” Marius entered the bedroom as he searched for Gabriel. “Brother, Mother tells me you never get out. Father is worried beyond means. He will die soon if you continue as such. Please return to the castle. His Majesty needs your help, if not as his second-in-command, at least as a knight. Fighting Turks would do you better than fighting your demons.”
“Leave, Marius. I do not wish to go anywhere,” Gabriel said, still looking at the handkerchief.
Marius remained relentless and went to drag his brother from the bed. In doing so, the phone fell on the floor.
“You idiot,” Gabriel said and punched Marius in the face.
“Are you out of your mind?” Marius said, dumbfounded. “You’d rather pine for the dead than listen to those who live and care for you.”
“She is not dead,” Gabriel bellowed.
“Maybe, but you’re already dead to me,” said Marius and left in a fury.
Left alone, Gabriel looked in the small mirror next to the bed and touched his gaunt cheeks. “I am indeed already dead.”
“No, no, Gabriel. You are not dead,” I said, whimpering. “You are alive. You promised you’d continue to live even if I left.”
Gabriel fell to his knees, his head dangling aimlessly. His disheveled hair covered the continuous stream of tears.
“Might as well become deader.”
What did he mean by ‘become deader’? Did he concede to Vedoma’s offer?
The following blink transported me into the woods again. I stood next to Solomonarul and Vedoma. What was Solomonarul doing here?
“I hope your measly powers will work,” Vedoma said to Solomonarul.
“Enough to save my friend,” he said.
Did Solomonarul agree to help Gabriel become a vampire? But how? I scanned the meadow and saw Gabriel lying unconscious on a fresh bed of leaves. What did they do to him? I ran toward him. Upon a closer look, I noticed his deep breaths. He was sleeping.
“How long till the wine leaves his body?” asked Solomonarul.
“A few hours,” said Vedoma. “You’ll conjure your little spell from then on. Also, burn this frankincense. The smell keeps unwelcomed spirits away.” She threw a pouch in Solomonarul’s direction.
“I never imagined helping my usurper, but here we are,” said Solomonarul as he caught the pouch. “Are you going to kill him?”
“I’ll do better. He’ll have the decision to die or not.”
I approached Solomonarul and Vedoma. She turned and looked straight into my eyes. Could she see me? My breath got stuck in my lungs, and a wave of anxiety rose in me. If there were a time when I wished my performance anxiety wouldn’t betray me, it was at that moment. Alas, it never went my way. I tripped and fell toward Vedoma, except during my fall, I grasped her arm.
A tidal of new emotions engulfed me: the laughter of a little girl, a mom, and daughter playing with wooden toys, the seamstress mom sewing dresses for the little girl, both being cast out of a castle by the queen, a dragon battle, the mom dying in her teenage daughter’s hands, the promise to avenge her death. Vedoma suffered greatly. Everything Kira told me resembled the truth. That frightened and sad young girl still lived in Vedoma. Then why did she kill all the dragons? Somewhere along the lines, that young, innocent girl slipped into darkness and never got out. But maybe she wished to do better? It was never too late to make amends.
