24

ot a foolproof plan.”
Charles’ words reverberated in Lori’s head. He continued to pick out the overlooked details, as if trying to find some way to persuade her to forget this suicide mission. The biggest and most costly detail was the fact that the facility will be armed with H13. But Lori was quick to remind him that they also carried the antidote. “And besides,” she added, “these guys are the distraction I need to get in and find him.”
Included with the vampires willing to help, a handful of humans joined in, mainly to serve as drivers for the daily trip north.
And finally, the day had arrived.
Charles stood in the underground parking lot as the small army of vampires loaded into the two tractor trailers. Other vehicles, mostly dark vans and a few cars, carried the brave humans. Lori stood by the lead van, speaking with the driver as her eyes caught sight of Charles. She told the man to wait before hurrying over to him, the excitement in her unable to be contained.
Charles rolled in his lips as he tried to hide his smile. “I guess there’s no talking you out of this now.”
“There was never any way you could talk me out of this.”
He let out a sigh. “And if this doesn’t work?”
Lori looked back at the last of the vampires to enter the packed trailers, then whispered, “Then I guess I’ll have to call in for some backup.”
Charles ran his fingers through his hair. “I don’t see how you can be so calm about this.”
She shrugged. “Good breeding, I guess.”
“Once you leave, I’m gone. Don’t come looking for me. I’m finished with all of this.”
“Alright,” Lori said, reluctantly. “If that is what you want. Thank you for everything you’ve done for me.”
“I should say ‘you’re welcome,’ but I’m not feeling it right now.”
“I understand. Thank you anyway.” Lori stepped in closer and gave him a hug. Seconds passed before Charles slowly returned the hug. The small act felt abnormal to him, especially in that moment and in their location. But in this awkward gesture he knew the tides were turning. This was the end of one era and the start of something new.
Lori pulled away and gave saddened smile. “I hope we do meet again someday.”
“I doubt you really mean that.”
“I do mean it. But I hope it’s under better circumstances.”
A nervous laugh left him. “Perhaps.”
“I’m being honest.”
Charles took her hands and held them to his chest. “Then you better survive.”
“That I can promise.” Lori gave him one last hug, then returned to the van.
Charles watched from the sidelines as the caravan rumbled into life and exited the parking area. The homestretch. Just one more thing left to do before he could leave.
Reentering the haven, Charles went down the stairs to the last level. He knocked on the door to Lori’s room and waited. A few seconds later a tiny voice came from the other side.
“Who is it?”
“It’s me, Charles.”
The door cracked open as Jayda made sure it was Charles, then opened it further.
“They already left,” she said.
“I know. I saw them leave.”
“So is this your goodbye?”
“Nothing else is keeping me here,” he said, extending his hand. “It’s been a pleasure to have met you, Jayda.”
She looked at his hand then face, then back to his hand. With her own hand extending, she took his. As his skin touched hers, all sight left her under the collision of a new, ominous vision. A massive form, black and towering, roared for itself to be seen. The colossal symbol was accompanied by the sour stench of death, burning her just as strong as the symbol. Jayda held on until the vision broke the steady stream of her consciousness.
Charles caught Jayda as her body collapsed and carried her to the bed. He then returned to the door, debating on whether to leave now or tend to the poor girl. But the decision was already made for him. Calmly, he closed the door and went to Jayda’s bedside. He sat beside her, taking her hand into his and using the other to rest on her forehead.
“Jayda, can you hear me?”
Jayda’s lifeless body jumped into life as she gasped for air. “Don’t… touch me. Don’t touch me!”
Charles removed his hands, bewildered by the reaction of his touch. The girl began to calm down with each shuddering breath.
“What happened, Jayda?”
Another wave of panic hit her as her eyes snapped around, focusing on nothing. “I can’t see. Everything’s black.”
Charles leaned in and saw the pupils fully dilated. “It looked like you had a massive stroke.”
“I’ll be fine,” she whispered.
Sitting back, he watched the girl rub away the tension from her face. He finally spoke, his voice hushed. “What did you see?”
Jayda removed her hands and saw her vision returning. “I didn’t see anything.”
“Don’t lie. I know you saw something when our hands met.”
“It was nothing.”
“It was important enough to be seen.”
Rubbing her face once more, she took her time in answering him. “I saw a symbol—massive and frightening.”
“What did it look like?”
“Like a utility pole with a halo going through it.”
Charles went to the table, picked up a pencil and began to draw on a small piece of paper. He then returned to the bed to show her the drawing. “Did it look like this?”
Jayda blinked at the image. “Yeah. That’s it.” She heard him sigh as he sat on the side of the bed, once more.
“That’s the ancient symbol used by The Brotherhood. It was abandoned when they aligned with the US Government. That else did you see?”
“That’s all. But I did get the scent of something decaying. It was so strong that it burned my eyes.”
Charles seemed relieved. “You saw my past.”
“And you’re not weirded out by this?”
“I’ve seen some strange things in my life. A girl with visions isn’t new.”
“And it’s the only reason they’re keeping me around.”
Looking at the symbol, Charles took in a well-needed deep breath. “No destiny is written in stone. Some things can be changed.” He reached for her hand, grabbing it before she could pull away.
Another vision poured into Jayda’s mind, this one depicting Ancient Egypt. A ship arriving from the lands up north docked along the Nile. The men aboard, dressed in Roman clothes, begin to exit. Jayda’s inner eyes center on one man: Charles.
Jayda pulled her hand away from Charles and stared at him, confused and breathless.
“Your mind,” he said, “though rare, is a very dangerous weapon in this world. And if I were to sit back and allow Gysai to add you to her Court, then the result would be less to my liking.”
His words—the coldness of his tone—sent a chill through Jayda’s veins. She began to back away from him. Charles followed her, his hand gliding from behind his back and holding onto something silver. Jayda’s eyes locked onto a knife as it was lifted into the air and driven down toward her body. The blade entered into her chest, past her ribs and missing her heart. But Charles’ aim wasn’t off. His target was her aorta.
With the knife still in place, he lowered himself to whisper into her ear, recalling the vision she explained to him. “You saw your death at the hands of something you perceived as evil, and your mind assumed it to be a vampire. Of course, there was no possible way for you to fear a necromancer when you didn’t even know they exist.” Moving up higher, he kissed her forehead. “Oh, Jayda, what fun we could have had. But this was never about you. I have a bigger trophy in my sights.” He backed away, taking the knife with him in a slow tug.
Jayda tried to breathe but the blood began to enter her damaged airway and fill her stomach and mouth. She coughed and fought for any air, even grasping at the pain in her chest with her hands.
Charles grabbed the bottom of her shirt and wiped the knife clean before placing it back. He then returned to watch her, the blood now moving from her mouth. The girl’s death was a quiet one. The blood did the silencing for him. It was a kill he mastered over a millennia ago.
Picking up the paper again, he went back to the table, adding a small line of text below the symbol. He then stood by the bed once more, carefully placing the paper on the girl’s body.
Time was against him now. The blood would attract the vampires soon. He needed to be out of this place before anyone discovered the scene. As calmly as he could, Charles left the room and made his way back to the parking lot. A few stragglers of vampires and humans waited where the tractor trailers one sat. They paid no attention to the human climbing into his car and leaving the lot.