Within the Cards (29 page)

Ultress had to prepare himself to extinguish his own sons, and if they hadn’t abolished Suzi upon her return, he would have to remove her as well. This task would be an enormous burden to him. Her fate was nothing but an ending because she chose to stand with what she knew to be true. She would not be able to remain with the hatred and greed that she gluten herself.

When the time comes, we would wonder if Ultress and even Elizabeth would be able to remove the child that once sat upon their laps and smiled at their gentleness. Ultress hoped Suzi would join us in our task to regain control of this race, but she refused our outreached hands. She spat in the faces of our family and lashed her evil tongue at them as if it were a razor blade looking for flesh to slice. Ultress’s only choice now was to hope his sons would do as they had always and erase her before he had to make that choice. He knew this would be one of the hardest choices of his existence.

It was a quiet journey back to the village that had become our refuge. This was a village of outcast. They were outcast from a race that should not exist in the first place. This was a race that began from fear and hatred, as well as their opposite of love. The fear the hybrid vampires had of Ultress’s differences and the hatred Ultress held for these same vampires, but it also come from the love that brought him and Elizabeth together.

I heard Ultress's thoughts as he contemplated them in his mind. His face showed a look of instant aging that was impossible for a vampire. The thoughts of worry that Elizabeth held for him were taking their toll on her. Dee’s thoughts of fear still lingered in her mind, and Ellie’s thoughts of disgust for a sister that lashed insults toward their loving grandparents were strong and violent. Ellie’s anger was her worst enemy. She could not see through the other’s insecurities of losing a child.

If paleness were not the normal tone for our kind then Ultress would stand out in this silent crowd. His normal pale skin tone was even whiter now. He felt drained of the strength that made him a force to be reckoned. His love and caring non-beating heart broke.

“Ultress, we must accept Suzi choice.” Elizabeth told him as she touched his arm.

“She’s one of the innocent that our son’s rule has managed to fill with the poison of hate.” His voice was low and beaten. He ran his fingers through his long, flowing hair.

“This is how they'll use your weakness against you. You have to push this out of your mind and use their hatred to fight for a better existence. The existence we should have had,” she encouraged him. She rested her head on his arm. She wanted to comfort him, but she also wanted him to remember the hatred Suzi felt for them.

“Will you be able to remove her existence if the time comes? If this is a choice you have to make?” he asked as he turned to face her. His eyes sunk in deep. She saw the toll this was taking on him.

“If I had to make this choice to save you, Ellie, Dee and Daught; yes I would.” She was direct in her reply. He looked at her with shock, but he knew she was right. He had to save his other children.

I could stand in silence no longer. I walked over to Ultress and confronted him. I knew I was taking my own life in my hands. He was Ellie’s maker and therefore, he was mine.

“Ultress your sons know your weakness. Please know they will use it to win at any cost. They will prey on your feelings of love. Suzi is no different from your sons. She offered Ellie and Dee as sacrifices just as your sons did with you and Elizabeth. You’re our only hope to save the two granddaughters that stand with you now.” I pleaded with him. I could see Ultress had many past demons to deal with now. He had created his sons to hate the vampire race because they had outcast him. He knew his spores were incapable of emotions. These emotions included everything but hate.

When he allowed them to see his feelings of hatred for his own race, he taught them of hate. He created not a race, but a cult of monsters. This was the true meaning behind this war. Ellie believed it was because of her creation of me, but the hatred they allowed to fester like an abscess was the real reason for this war. I was just a symbol of that hatred because many considered me a hybrid vampire as well as Ultress. We were the ones the Lords hated and because Ellie loved me, she was a traitor to the witchyres. She had also brought back the two hybrids the Lords sentenced to death. They had already been extinguished, so now Ellie would be more than just killed for her betrayal of bringing their immortality back. She would be made an example of, and all who watched would know this wasn’t tolerated.

Ultress spoke at last and the silences of our wandering minds ended. His voice was soft, but strong and commanding. He called all to listen.

“It’s hard for me to see the destruction my sons have caused. This race wasn’t supposed to be, but it is. My intentions weren’t to rule with making all immortal beings our enemy. Yes, my ancestors are my enemy. They cast me out of my own race for being different. We are all different, but we are all the same. Love knows no boundaries. Now comes the time when I must make the decision to end the existence of the sons I created. These sons that cast their mother and me into the depths of hell,” he looked at Ellie and Dee, “these sons that raped and shamed my children that follow them. This is my word. I shall remove any being that acts in anger or war against my new family.” He looked at the villagers. “You are my new family of outcast. You are my new family that took my granddaughters in, and welcomed Elizabeth and myself to join you. I damned my sons and all of their followers. This includes Suzi, if her fate hasn’t already been decided.”

Ellie smiled. Dee’s eyes still showed uncertainty. Elizabeth’s face showed only respect for her husband and leader. I stood in admiration for Ultress and Elizabeth. I knew the love they felt for their children, and it was strong. He hadn’t forgiven his sons for this past indiscretion toward them, and he wouldn’t tolerate the continuous destruction they reined over this race. Ultress was ready to stand tall and do whatever must be done to deal with the present. This would include removing Suzi.

Ellie and I followed Ultress and Elizabeth back to the area our huts stood. Elizabeth held Ultress’s hand. She told him she understood his feelings. These were feelings of guilt for allowing this transgression against his descendants. Ellie and I knew from their thoughts she was talking about this guilt that started with hatred.

Ultress and Elizabeth wished they had never talked of hate when their children were growing, but this wasn’t something they could change. Ellie touched her grandfather’s arm.

“Please don’t be sad. I too don’t want to have to remove her, but she made this choice. We tried to help her.” She smiled at him. Ellie hated seeing her grandfather weak. His strength was what made him a fierce leader.

“Dear child I wish you as much love and happiness as your grandmother and I have had. I hope the world in which your children exist is a caring world. I am proud of you, Eleanor.” He pulled her into his arms and held her tight.

Elizabeth joined their embrace. I looked around and saw Dee watching. She felt alone. I walked in her direction, but she turned her back on me. It was time I confronted her feelings of hatred that had no place in this new clan. We had to pull together. I yelled for her to stop. She stopped, but didn’t turn around. The others watched with tension. They were unsure of Dee’s reaction.

“Dee, it’s time for a truce.” I was direct with her. She kept her back to me. I reached my hand in her direction, and I touched her shoulder. She tensed and tried to pull away from me. I heard the thoughts Ellie lashed at her. Then her tension relaxed.

“Daught, thank you for your concern, but I’m alright.” Dee informed me. I circled around to see her face. She looked up at me with a bewildered look.

“Dee, I love your sister, and I love your grandparents. Please give me a chance.” I begged. I could see from behind me that all eyes were on us. I leaned close and whispered, even though I knew they could hear my thoughts.

“Hey, we could probably be good friends. Besides you don’t smell that great either.” I chucked. Her face looked up at me again, and I could detect a smile then a slight giggle. She turned away again and started to walk in the direction of her hut. Then she stopped and turned back to me. She had a matter of fact look on her face.

“Truce vamp, but just one thing, can you start wearing some type of cologne?” She smiled and then started laughing. I raised my arm and sniffed under my armpits. Dee and Ellie were laughing as well as Ultress and Elizabeth. We were making progress. It was a truce, one with insults, but one that would prove to be the beginning of Dee’s and my friendship.

“What’s she talking about? Do I stink?” I smiled looking in disbelief and then winked at Ellie. She returned my smile. We headed for our hut for a long night of holding each other and cherishing what returned to us.

Chapter Twenty-Five

PREFECTING

Ellie and I worked over the next few days trying to perfect my newfound abilities. Neither of us realized the extent of what had transferred to me during my change. Not only could I read the thoughts of others, see things that were behind me, make objects I thought about appear, and see what someone would be doing in the future, but I also found I had more abilities. I could stop objects in mid-air and thrust them in any direction I wanted as well as pull objects out of another’s hands without ever touching them.

I worked day and night to make sure I could fix my attention on an object and teleport it where I wanted it to land. The things Ellie transferred to me amazed her. She never realized she had these abilities either, but as she told me, some things are stronger in one than in others. Her stronger abilities towered over these so she could not make these abilities work as well. Her stronger powers came second nature to her, but mine were new to me so it amazed me to be able to do them. She sat and watched in awe of the new things I could do and laughed at my excitement.

We sat most of the day by the water and reminisced over the times we shared prior to her leaving me. We talked about the things we had done and the places we had been during our separation. It was strange that many times we were not far from each other. At times, we were in the same country and other times just a few blocks away in the same city. Fate seemed be trying to bring us back together for many decades, but this was only to be when the gods made sure the timing was perfect.

I never thought I could love Ellie more than I already did, but I loved her more and more every minute we spend together. I learned more about her each day. Her belief in mortals fascinated me. Most immortals cared less about the mere things humans could do, but Ellie thought them fascinating. Listening to her was like listening to a child tells about a new toy. I saw the gleam in her eyes when she talked about humans, and how their ways were phenomenal.

As we sat and talked, I remember the gift I gave her so long ago and recently retrieved. It was time for it to find its rightful place. I pulled out the ring that I made appear the first night Elizabeth encouraged me to try to use these powers I didn’t realize I had. When Ellie saw the ring, she smiled and took it from my hand. Her face glowed with excitement.

“I thought it was gone forever.” She said as she looked into my eyes. The glow on her face told me she loved me.

“Everything about us is coming back, Ellie.” I told her as I kissed her. I took the ring from her and placed it back on her hand where it belonged.

“Daught, I never want to be without you. I made Elizabeth promise she would extinguish me if we lose this war, and I have to destroy you.” She looked down at the ground. I saw her sadness.

“Ellie, that’s not going to happen,” I replied to her. I pulled her next to me and held her tight. I felt the pain race through her thoughts as I touched her face and brought it to look in my direction. “But if it does, please know I have never been as happy as I’ve been during the time I’ve had with you.” She again looked away from me. I knew she needed some time. Ellie didn’t like anyone including me to see her weak.

I pulled her close, and we lay on the beach holding each other in silence as we watched the sea come and kiss the shore then pull away again. I too never wanted to know an existence without Ellie. I walked the earth for too many years without her, and this was something I would never do again.

Many hours passed as the sun laid its sleepy head, and the moon began to stretch and rise again. Ellie and I lay with each other on the shore by the water as we enjoyed holding each other tight and knowing we loved each other. As the moon rose, we swam in the warm waters. The low light of the stars glowed on our alabaster skin. I admired her beauty and gave thanks to the Gods of the Universe for bringing her home to me. The nights passed quickly, too quickly because we knew this doom of war was nearing.

The next morning the sun began to rise and the warmth of its rays filled the air. I looked up and saw Dee coming down to the shore.

“Listen you two, could you tone down the volume a bit. Remember you aren’t the only ones that don’t need to sleep.” She laughed. Ellie looked at her and rolled her eyes.

“Dee,” I spoke. “I might be able to find you a nice young vampire boyfriend if you’d like.” I squinted my eyes and shielded them with my hand as I looked up at her. She hissed at me playfully, which was a change from her reaction to me just a few days ago. We had finally made amends and this made Ellie happy. I laughed at her reaction to my offer. I knew Dee would never accept a hybrid for a mate.

“I don’t think I need your help, vamp boy.” She laughed as the wind blew her long black hair. She walked closer to the shoreline and picked up a shell still laughing while she admired it.

“I don’t know I’ve heard, once you go vamp, you never recant.” We laughed. Ellie hit me, and Dee threw the shell in my direction. I held my hand out. It stopped and hung in mid-air. It dangled as if it were hanging from a rope that wasn’t there. I waved my hand, and the shell flew across the air into the water. Ellie was pleased. Dee was amazed as she sat down on the blanket beside us.