The Council
Moaning, John opened his eyes. He had drunk too much again. His head was throbbing. Glancing around the living room, he was thankful that the drapes were closed. He didn't think he could handle the bright sunlight.
Sitting up, John moaned again. His head was really throbbing. He touched it gingerly. "Damn." He cursed. There was actually a bump on the back of his head. He must have fallen last night. Angry, he stood up. Immediately the room began to spin. Slowly he sat back down. He couldn't remember last night. Almost the whole night was a blackout.
"Good morning sleepy head." A soft feminine voice said. Jumping to his feet, he whipped his head towards the sound, and standing there was a ghost; a ghost of his sister. He rubbed his eyes. Looking again, she was still there.
"I'm real John." She whispered. "I'm a bit different, but I'm real."
John reached a hand over, and touched her face. Her skin felt soft and cool. He did notice how her once wavy hair had become tight curls. "What's going on, Sarah?"
"Sit down. You're not going to believe it." She turned and walked into the kitchen. She appeared a moment later carrying a try of tea. "Here, drink."
John, on shaky legs sat down on the leather couch. He grabbed the mug of tea and took a sip. He was not sure if he was dreaming, or if she was really here. And if she was here, why had the police told him she was dead. His body was developing a bad case of the shakes. It was hard for him to hold the mug of tea without it spilling. Slowly he set it down on the coffee table.
"I know that you're confused John. Really, I do. What I'm going to tell you, is a bit unreal in itself."
"You're alive. That's all that matters. I just want to know why you needed to lie to me. You don't know what I went through these past two weeks without you. I put my career in jeopardy." John was beginning to grow upset. He realized that she wasn't a dream after all. He had been lied to, as his mother had, and his life had been disrupted.
"Listen!" She hissed at him. "I'm not really alive okay. I really did die. The fact that I'm here now is either luck, or a curse, I am not sure which. If you want to get mad, get mad at the guy who killed me in that alley."
John's face whitened. He didn't want to lose her again. He felt bad for making her feel guilty. "I'm sorry Sarah. I love you. I really missed you."
"Okay." She sat down beside him and patted his leg. "I'm a vampire John. I wanted you to know instead of thinking I was dead."
A laugh escaped from his lips. He couldn't keep it in. Sometimes his sister would embellish. She often complained that her life was too boring so she would make up wild stories to liven it up.
"Honest John. I'll prove it." She stood and walked over to the drapes. "Vampires can't be in the sunlight, right?" John nodded. He started to feel sick. "Open up the drapes, only a crack, I'll show you what happens."
With heavy feet, John stood up and walked over to the drapes. He could feel the heat of the sun lurking behind the thick material. Looking at her, she nodded. He reached his hand, and pulled the drapes open a few inches. Sarah stuck her hand in the path of sunlight that shone through.
"Ah. It burns." Her face scrunched up and she softly moaned. He watched as her hand started to turn a dark black colour. He blinked his eyes quickly; it was unreal. Sun did not hurt mortals. He continued watching as her hand began to develop burn spots. Soon the spots began to smoke and tiny flames danced on her hand. He shut his eyes. He didn't want to watch. He could smell it though. The smell of burning flesh. It was enough to make him want to vomit.
"Stop it Sarah! You've proven your point." He turned and headed to the bathroom. The woman that was standing in his living room; was not his sister. She was something, unreal, unholy, and very dead.
You knew she would leave. And yet you didn't stop her. Why? Trinya stood in the throne room. All the elders were present. The countdown was on. All of them felt it. The end of their era was near.
Hayer was sitting on his golden throne. He was the strongest out of all of them. His power was the ability to see the future. He rose, and smiled at her. He was at least three times her height.
Sit, Trinya. I know you are worried. All will end well though. He turned and faced the other elders. "I suppose you are all wondering why I let Sarah leave the safety of our shelter."
Trinya backed away towards her throne. She looked around the room; everyone was intently staring at Hayer. It wasn't often that all the elders came to Canada. But here they were. She gazed around the room looking at everyone fondly. Across the room sat Sophia. Trinya caught her eye and smiled at her. She couldn't wait to catch up after the meeting. She hadn't seen Sophia in at least fifty years. Sophia was the leader of a vampire sect in Egypt. Being the leader didn't allow Sophia to travel often. Trinya was sure they would have much to talk about.
"I want to welcome all of you." Hayer stood and looked around the room. He started the formal greeting. "Welcome Sarina from England, Leift from Africa, Kira from Ireland, Sais from China, Trinya from Canada, Gulan from Australia, Brut from South America, Ilya from Yugoslavia, and Sophia from Egypt. Thank you all for coming. It is great to see all your faces, it has been a long time."
Hayer sat back down. Now that the opening introductions were over, the council had now begun. Trinya glanced around the room. Finally Sais, an oriental vampire from China stood.
He turned and bowed at each of them, and then faced Hayer. "Honourable Hayer, I am Sais from China. My issues are many. But I am here to discuss Garath. Why have you let him run such havoc here? In China if a member became that out of control, he would be dead. Why do you let him live?"
"He lives because that is the way." Kira called from across the room. "We cannot kill him, anymore than we can walk in daylight."
"What Kira means to say," Hayer said, "is that I have seen the way. Killing Garath is not the action to take. I thought it was originally. Then I had a vision."
Sais returned to his throne. Each elder had a chance to ask one question.
Gulan stood up. "I just have one question, Hayer. What have you foreseen? What will happen to the elders?" Gulan quickly sat down. Trinya could tell he was uncomfortable being in the spotlight. Gulan's cheeks had a flushed pink colour to them.
Hayer didn't bother standing; his booming voice could reach everyone. "I have seen the end and the beginning. My vision I will reveal to you all, in good time. Let us not waste time on it. I have many things to discuss with you about Sarah and my vision, ask other questions? I am sure you all have other issues."
The floor was open, and all the elders discussed the other issues they had. Trinya sat there politely listening, but she felt that it was a waste of time. She wanted to know about Hayer's vision and what the meaning for all of them was. She also wanted to know what was happening to Sarah, and why Hayer would let a young vampire leave their safety.
"Trinya."
Trinya blinked and turned to Ilya the elder from the sect in Yugoslavia. He was staring at her intently. "I'm sorry, Ilya, I wasn't listening."
He laughed. It was a deep rumbling in his chest. His curly brown hair fell forward covering his eyes. His large hand, swept back his hair so that he could look at her. "I'm sorry Trinya. I had a feeling you weren't listening, and felt like centring you out."
She smiled politely at him. "I am sorry Ilya. How rude of me. Please forgive me." She looked at Hayer who frowned at her. It was hard for her to keep her mind on the other issues the elders brought up.
You are very impatient Trinya. You must learn to trust in Hayer. He does know what he is doing. If he says he will discuss his plans with us later, then we must trust him. There is obviously time, and he must have some course of action.
The mute elder, Sarina was speaking in Trinya's mind.
Trinya blushed. She wasn't the youngest elder, but since meeting Sarah, she felt a personal connection. Garath had spoken of being able to smell a bloodline on Sarah. Upon meeting the newly turned vampire, Trinya had also detected a bloodline. Sarah was from Trinya's bloodline. The bloodline of water. It was the purest form of vampires, and it also
meant they had the most potential to do well in the world.
Trinya bowed her head and glanced at Sarina. I am sorry that my thoughts interrupted yours. I am just worried about a daughter of my bloodline.
You are worried about Sarah. Do not worry. She is strong. Even though she is only a vampire of a week, she has strength inside her. Even now I can feel that she is alive and well.
Sarina smiled at Trinya. Hearing the news that Sarah was okay, Trinya felt better. She turned her attention back to the council. She couldn't wait until it was over so that she could hear about Hayer's vision, and his plans.
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