Page 42 of The Clash of the Damned
Tao, my parents’ life work and now mine, is going up in flames. Everything we worked for, gone in an instant because of their prejudice. I can’t even be happy that none of my staff was inside. Even if insurance covers us, it doesn’t bring back the memories amongst those walls. Jumping to my feet, I wobble first as I start towards the blaze–to I don’t know, put out the fire,do something, but strong arms hold me back.
Silva.
I keep struggling against her, but she turns me around and slaps me. “Tao is gone. There is nothing you can do.”
Holding my hand to the sting on my cheek, I see Amelia flinch. “We didn’t go through all of that for you to throw your life away. I need you to live, Luca. So does Silva.”
“Why do you care so much about me living when we’re over?” I ask her, my head cocking to the side. I rethink the movement when it comes with a fresh wave of pain.
“You think we’re over, but what we have never will be. I’m keeping an eye on you until you realize that too.” She glances at the side of my head, concerned. “I thought your head injury would start healing by now. It’s worse than I thought.” Amelia turns and addresses Silva. “How does Undead physiology work? Will she heal further or does she need more blood first?”
“It was a good call to get Luca to drink blood before you left her office. That’s what has kept her awake, but for it to progress further, yes, she will need more blood,” Silva explains.
“Well it’s not like we have willing donors here.” Amelia quips and motions to the empty parking lot space with us three. “ I don’t see you offering your blood–”
“Once upon a time, Undead blood was used to try to create more of us, and it went wrong. So it’s something we avoid at all costs.”
“I guess it’s over to me then.” Amelia pushes her sleeve back and winces at the movement.
“Are you hurt?” I exclaim, sitting up straighter.
“I think I broke a rib or two, but nothing that won’t heal in a few hours. Rogue’s easily survive injuries like this.” She pushes her wrist towards me. “It’s nothing for either of us to worry about, now drink.” I may not be in the right frame of mind, but I know this is a bad idea. Sensing my hesitation, she urges me, “Drink, Luca. You need to heal. I trust you.”
The Undead’s need to drink is biological, but when it comes to Amelia, it’s so much more for me, especially adding our history and the complex truce we’re in. If I drink from her now, there is a real possibility I could lose control and kill her, regardless that she has Rogue healing abilities and is offering her wrist not her neck.
Wouldn’t that be penance for killing my mother?
Ignoring the dark thought, I look to Silva for guidance, and she motions for me to take the wrist. Needing no more encouragement, my blood lust takes over, and my fangs snap out, piercing Amelia’s wrist. Nothing could have prepared me for the incredible taste of her blood. Flavors explode across my tongue, too difficult to pinpoint, but at the same time it’s every one of my favorites. I grip her wrist harder and draw more blood, not knowing if I will ever have enough. Her blood does its job as I feel my head wound healing and the strength of the Undead flowing through my body.
“That’s enough, Luca.” Silva’s command rings across the parking lot, and common sense comes back to me. I jump back from Amelia’s wrist like it’s burned me, hoping her Rogue healing can overcompensate any damageI may have done. Meeting her jade eyes, I see I’m being too cautious; there’s a heat that wasn’t there before. Instinctively, I know that if we were alone, this experience would have ended up with us naked; issues be damned.
“Now that the immediate danger is over, Amelia, thank you for saving Luca, but I will take it from here. It’s time you go home to your family. They will need you for what’s to come.”
“But, Luca–”
“I will take it from here and ensure she’s okay. There is gas in the Tao kitchen, and while I don’t expect the fire department soon because of the cult, caution will serve us well.” Amelia gives me one final look, and I nod. She kisses me on my cheek as I murmur my thanks for her saving me, and with a final look, Amelia jogs to her car.
“What’s more important than almost dying and my life going up in flames?” I ask Silva when we’re alone again.
“Magic is absolute, and once something is created with magic, it cannot be undone. The only option is to create something new with magic to work against the original item. It can not be destroyed.” Silva turns, watching Tao crumble piece by piece as the crackles of the fire echo throughout the night.
“There were so many times I watched you suffer, and it pained me because I could do nothing to stop it or help you the way I wanted to. When Hecate spelled us, we had no choice but to obey.”
“Silva, you’re starting to scare me.”
“When Hecate realized the Siphoners still existed and that she couldn’t take back her magic like she intended, she created a new spell. None of us could tell any of our descendants the truth. Personally, I believe she had trust issues after her stunt with Edmund, and she used it to control us.”
“Who isus?” Deep down, I know the answer; I just need her to say it.
“I could have run and created a new life. But what would the point be if I had to hide my identity and what I was? Staying close was the best option; we all agreed on that much. When we came to this country, we decided after my failure with Renfield that birthing our children was the only way to grow. Each of us would have five children to lead their own families, with us being the sixth, and each Supernatural would maintain their lines that way.”
Club music pulses dimly in the air, a weird backdrop as everything I’ve ever known is ripped away from me.
“We were aware of the genetic concerns and inbreeding, which is why we decided on six families. Eventually, they could mix when the relations became too distant, but in the beginning, we relied on humans. This way, we were small enough to stay under the radar, but big enough to thrive the way we always wanted. I kept waiting for someone like you. I’m so proud of the Undead you’ve become, despite everything you’ve gone through. You are an honor to my legacy.”
No. I hit my head harder than I thought, and now I’m delusional. I take a step back, prepared to run, fight…I don’t know.
“Silva isn’t my real name. But I can see you figured that out. You would know me as Drusilla, Dracula, Dru, whatever you prefer. You’re one of my direct descendants, and I am the first of our line.”
