Memorias de vampiro libro X

Bonus Chapter 

The Demon God

 

Hear the words of Cain, the sinner and the saint

The grave is a flower

And you are dying to be born

Baptized by fire and you will slough your skin

(Therion, Abraxas)

New York, 2011

 

- How long have you been in New York?

 

What a simple question and still, it took Hephaistion a while before he could answer. He kept staring at the mantle of lights that was the city below him, watching from the balcony of the 12th floor how all those mortals went about their own business, so worried about their own affairs that they never imagined that a 2 thousand years old creature was watching them from above, in the same way God should watch his creation from heaven.

 

- A hundred years, maybe less –answered the Macedonian at last.

 

Eric paced around the luxurious apartment, the most well known haven of Hephaistion, but not the only one. He hadn’t lived for 2 millennia for nothing, and he never slept in the same place 2 days in a row; not even his friends knew all his havens, the same as he didn’t know all theirs. It was safer this way.

 

Two nights ago Eric and Lucius had came to see him. The Roman was completely recovered after his fight against the Carthaginian in Mexico City, but they hadn’t the chance to see Hephaistion until now that terrible news compels them to come.  

 

- Who else, besides us, knows that you are here? –asked the Viking, stopping at his side on the balcony, his arms crossed over his powerful chest.

 

Hephaistion had to raise his head to see him in the eye; he was so tall.

 

- Only the Toreador.

 

- The Prince’s Child? –asked Eric, talking about Zophiel, and the Tzimisce nodded—You can’t trust her.

 

- She won’t talk –said Hephaistion sure of every word.

 

- She is young –the Viking reminded him— And you know better than I how easy is to break into a mind like hers.

 

There he had a point and the Tzimisce couldn’t find one argument against it, after all, he had done that many times, break into others’ minds to take their most hidden secrets and his victims didn’t have as much as a chance against him.

 

- Let’s hope it won’t have to come to that –said the Macedonian.

 

- Hope? –asked Lucius with derision, walking to join them—I’m afraid we are beyond hope now –he bent to the front, resting his arms on the banister.

 

- Are you sure it’s him? –asked Hephaistion, unable to believe that this were happening to him when he was so close to achieving his goal. Thousands of years looking for a way to bring Alexander back to life and now this. 

 

- Bloody sure –said the Roman—It’s Enki himself.

 

- Enki? I will never understand why some of us choose to take Gods’ names –said Hephaistion, his dark gray eyes again on the city.

 

- He is old enough to be a God –said Eric is a sober mood.

 

- That’s fucking true –Lucius turned to rest his back against the banister—Rumor says he managed to do what you always wanted to: raise the dead.

 

- Raise how? –asked the Tzimisce, turning to look at him—A zombie? Anyone can raise a zombie.

 

- No Phai, Enki managed to restore a soul into his original body –said Eric, and that made Hephaistion shiver. How did he achieve that without Kaine’s sword? 

 

- How old was the dead he raised?

 

- We don’t know the details –said the Viking, lifting his head to look at the dark sky—The only thing we know for sure is that Enki is looking for you and you are in danger.

 

Those were curious feelings: fear and danger, being 2 thousand years old had made him feel invincible, beyond everything, but Enki was a vampire so old that some said he had met Kaine himself. Hephaistion shook his head.

 

- I can’t leave New York –said the Tzimisce—Not now that I’m so close of assembling the pieces of Kaine’s sword.

 

- You do realize that Enki is going to kill you if he finds you, right? –said Lucius getting tired. Patience had never been one of his virtues, not even when he was mortal. 

 

- We don’t know that –answered Hephaistion.

 

- Don’t be a child Phai! –exclaimed the Roman angry—Do you really want to take your chances with him?

 

- No Lucius, I don’t. But I can’t leave –the Macedonian held his gaze.

 

An uncomfortable silence fell upon the three of them. Hephaistion tried, with all his might, to think what to do but felt terrible lost. Enki had restored a soul into his original body, in simple words, he had resurrected the dead and now he was looking for him, why?

 

- Something must have gone wrong –said the Macedonian, suddenly, his voice just a whisper, catching the attention of the other two.

 

- What was that sunshine? –asked Lucius, frowning. 

 

- Everybody knows I’m a necromancer –Hephaistion turned to face them.

 

- And a bloody good one! –the Roman chuckled—Even the Giovanni clan, the so called Necromancers, fear you.

 

- Thank you Lucius, but if you want to bed me you don’t have to flatter me, just ask –said Hephaistion sweetly, teasing him. Lucius narrowed his eyes and Eric laughed, successfully crushing the heavy atmosphere.

 

- You were saying –the Viking said, before his Sire started to complain.

 

- If Enki suddenly wants to see me, then it must be that something went wrong with his “resurrection” and wants my help –said the Tzimisce. 

 

- It has sense –Lucius admitted, rubbing his chin with the back of his hand—So, if that’s the case, what’s the plan? What do we do with Enki?

 

- You have to ask? You know that if Enki really wants to see me there is little I can do to prevent it –said Hephaistion.

 

- So, that’s it? Just wait until the motherless dog snaps his fingers and we’ll go running? –the Roman complained.

 

- We? –for a moment Hephaistion was sure he had heard wrong, even if that was stupid because he couldn’t hear better. He had supernatural senses.

 

- Yes, we. Or were you planning to have all the fun for yourself? –Lucius grinned, showing the tips of his sharp white fangs.

 

He could be damned, a blood sucking fiend, but Hephaistion was grateful that he still had such good friends.

 

XXX

 

Just as Hephaistion said they waited for weeks but didn’t hear anything about Enki. Someone could think these were good news but the truth was that, if anything, this was even more preoccupying. Those were peaceful nights where nothing particularly interesting happened: Zophiel continued to go to the Tzimisce’ haven to hear his amazing story; Azrael, Hephaistion’s only Child, went sometimes to pay a visit to his Sire, the Macedonian waited to complete the ritual to assemble Kaine’s sword, and his friends Lucius and Eric went almost daily, or nightly, to see him, sometimes staying with him to spend the day.

 

The year was quickly dying, and, even if it were November, the stores were ready to sell Christmas gifts. But this wasn’t Hephaistion’s concern; after all, what was one more years after 2 millennia?

 

One particularly cold day the Tzimisce sneaked out of his room, wearing only the pants of his soft pajama and the locket Alexander had gave him once, long, long ago. He went to Lucius’ room in that big old house, so dark that the shadows appeared to bow for him. One may think it was midnight but the truth was that, in a matter of an hour, the moon would be claiming its rightful place in heaven. Vampires could be awake during the day, not all of them that is, just the strongest because it required a lot of energy to do so.

 

Hephaistion’s bare feet made no sound on the wooden floor of the hallway, it was almost as if he were floating, every movement exquisite and fluid, looking at him one may think he didn’t weight, he was more like a feather at the wind’s mercy. When he arrived at his destination, he didn’t have to open the door, he dissolved his body turning himself into a line of blood and slid under the entrance.

 

It was an spacious room but it looked small thanks to all the furniture decorating the place, almost everything inside dated from the XVII Century, from the curtains to the bed, the wardrobe, the chairs, everything; it was the dreamed place of a collector or a historian, and everything belong to the Macedonian. Apparently, the Roman was nowhere to be seen, but that was because he slept in a hidden place under the bed. The Tzimisce knew this and, taking advantage of his liquid form, slid through the floor to reach his friend.   

 

Lucius opened his eyes immediately, feeling a presence there, he took the gladius resting at his side at the same time Hephaistion regained his original form over him.

 

- You know Lucius, this is not a very nice way to welcome me –said the Macedonian with a playful smile, feeling the cold edge of the gladius against his throat.

 

The Roman opened his eyes in disbelief.

 

- What the fuck are you doing here?

 

As answer Hephaistion writhed over him, rubbing his body against his friend, sitting astride on his lap.

 

- I was bored –he said in a sensual innocence that would have fried the senses of someone else, someone who wasn’t use to his games.

 

- And that’s an excuse to come in the middle of the day? I could have killed you! –Lucius complained angrily but the Tzimisce kissed his cheek slowly, savoring his cold skin, his hands resting at each side of the Roman’s head and, his silky hair falling to the front at each side of his face.

 

- Lucius, you are good –Hephaistion purred, his words with a strong double meaning—But not enough to… kill me.

 

If the Roman could sigh, he would have done it.

 

- Whatever. Now, get the fuck out of here! –he tried to push the Macedonian away, but Hephaistion didn’t let him and this time he trapped his lips in a savage kiss, forcing him to open his mouth and surrender to him.

 

He knew Lucius was in love with Eric, he knew the 2 of them were finally dating after one thousand years, but…The truth was he felt lonely. Being so close to restore Kaine’s sword made him feel anxious and, all those nights talking to Zophiel made him nostalgic. He wanted to feel again what it was to be loved by someone, even if it was just for a moment. Hephaistion could sleep with whomever he wanted but he loved his friends, and he knew Lucius cared for him, besides the Roman was also 2 thousand years old and knew exactly what he was, Lucius accepted him knowing he was a demon, knowing the terrible things he had done in all that time...

 

Slowly, Lucius surrendered himself and kissed the beautiful creature over him, embracing him, running his hands up and down his back, enjoying the sensation of his wonderful skin.

 

- What’s wrong with you? –asked the Roman between kisses.

 

- What do you mean? I can’t be horny? –whispered the Tzimisce, nipping his lower lip, taking his hands to his strong chest.

 

- I have seen you horny, and this is not the case –Lucius looked at him, holding his gaze—What the hell is happening here?

 

Hephaistion brushed his hair behind his ear, and then, he stopped abruptly realizing what he had just done. It had been years, centuries! He no longer had his mortal ticks, or at least he thought so. But, that night he felt again like a mortal, with all the weaknesses and insecurities.

 

- I don’t want… —he averted his eyes—I don’t want to be alone.

 

Lucius had always been bad dealing with feelings, and was incapable of understanding others, something that hadn’t improved in 2 thousand years; but, somehow, the Macedonian’s words made sense to him, it was as if he could almost touch his sadness and he understood because, there had been a time when he had felt the same way. He nodded slowly and kissed him again, but this time not with savage passion, this time he kissed his friend as he liked to kiss his lover. Hephaistion rocked his hips slowly, without breaking the kiss and Lucius quickly unbuttoned his own jeans.

- You know –whispered the Roman against his lips—This was easier when tunics and chitons were the fashion.

 

The Tzimisce laughed.  

 

- Want a hand with that? –he dragged the words, watching his friend through heavily lidded eyes.

 

- No need –Hephaistion never knew how, but suddenly he felt Lucius inside him. That had been quick, rough and savage, just the way he liked it the most, and soon he was moaning with all the force of his lungs.

 

He had always been noisy and he would always be. The Roman took him with such force that he hit his head against the floor over them, it was a very narrow place and they both laughed, but no even that was enough to extinguish their desire while the sun hid in the horizon and darkness took over the city outside that old house. Hephaistion mounted him, matching the rhythm of his thrusts and making them both touch the sky when…

 

- Did you feel that? –asked Lucius, remaining very still, taking the Tzimisce by the thighs.

 

- What? –Hephaistion’s silky hair was falling deliciously disheveled over his eyes. He was so lost enjoying his friend’s body that had no idea of what was the Roman talking about. He rocked his hips again but the Roman remained still, like a wolf that had spotted his prey—Lucius, what are you…?  

 

- Shush.

 

The Tzimisce rolled his eyes, he was going to hit his friend, or raped him, when he felt it.

 

- There! Do you feel it?

 

- Yes, there is some…thing inside the house –said Hephaistion, all his sense on alert—It’s a wraith.

 

- A wraith?! –Lucius hated wraiths, not to say he feared them, and he was going to start complaining when the wraith in question appeared where they were. Only the Tzimisce could see it but the Roman could feel its disturbing presence.

 

It was a woman, or what in life had been a woman, but her features were no longer recognizable; the Macedonian could feel it was an old wraith and full with a terrible rage, someone had been using it for a very long time and it was not happy.  

 

- What do you want? –asked Hephaistion in a commanding voice that chilled Lucius blood.

 

- I have a message from my master –said the wraith in the complicated language of the death—Come to Enki the next full moon, at the harbor.

 

And with that the wraith disappeared.

 

- What happened? –asked Lucius. The disturbing presence was gone but Hephaistion kept looking at the place where the wraith had been.

 

- Looks like Enki finally sent me an invitation –he answered, smiling. He turned to look again at his friend—So, where were we?

 

The Roman thought he was joking, was Hephaistion still in the mood to end what they had begun after what had happened? Apparently yes.

 

XXX

 

Three nights later, Hephaistion, Lucius and Eric went to the harbor where, to their complete astonishment, 2 werewolves were waiting for them. It was well known for everyone that werewolves hated vampires with all their might. Werewolves, also know as Garou, considered themselves the children of Gaia, and Gaia’s enemy was the Wyrm, the force of corruption, decay, and destruction. Vampires were, according to them, creatures of the Wyrm and therefore their enemies; the first thing Sires taught to newborn vampires was to run if they found a werewolf, but these creatures in front of them had a strange look in their eyes and their bodies were covered with horrifying scars, even their faces were deform.

 

- Have you ever seen werewolves like them? –asked Eric, all his senses shouting: Danger!

 

- No, I have fought against them in the past and I have never seen creatures like this –answered Hephaistion, pointing at the 2 men in front of them with his chin.

 

What had Enki done to them? They didn’t want to know.

 

The werewolves took all their weapons and escorted them to a warehouse with stairs going all the way underground. Soon they were in the sewers but they didn’t stop there, the werewolves made them walk for almost an hour before stopping before a hidden door. Then, more stairs until they arrived to a luxurious room with ancient and expensive carpets and tapestries. The room was full with other vampires, Hephaistion counted 10, some very young, maybe only a month or two had passed since they were Embraced into the linage of Kaine, others were as old as 500 years, not more.

 

A very tall, very pale and very beautiful woman wearing an extremely short dress, high heels and a collar, as if she were a pet, approached to welcome them.

 

- You must be Hephaistion –she said in a melodic cold voice. She turned to look at the Tzimisce’s companions—And you must be Lucius Macro and Eric Northman.

 

- You are good gathering information –said the Viking—And you are?

 

- Ilena.

 

- At least she is not a wraith –muttered Lucius, looking around him, establishing a possible escape route in case it were necessary.

 

- Master Enki is waiting for you –Ilena looked again at his friends—Just you.

 

- Fine.

 

It didn’t make them happy to let Hephaistion go alone but they didn’t have a choice. The 3 of them were strong but not strong enough to end with 2 werewolves, 10 vampires, Ilena and Enki. The Macedonian followed Ilena through another series of stairs until they reached a bigger room with less people, there were only 1 male vampire, as old as Eric perhaps, and so alike Ilena that Hephaistion immediately noticed they were twins, 2 powerful wraiths were lurking in the shadows and, in a throne at the end of the room was Enki.

 

Enki was as terrifying as Hephaistion had feared, his sole presence made him trembled and he felt a powerful urged to kneel before him. For the Macedonian, Enki looked in that moment like a God, a King, an Emperor…Everything! He had to worship him, showed him that he was nothing compared to him, he had to crawl to him, because he was nothing compared to Enki, so beautiful and powerful, but…

 

Hephaistion bit his lip with force until blood slid through them, the pain served him to focus and he needed desperately to think clearly. Enki was playing with his mind, making him feel something that wasn’t real and he had to fight it back or he would become his puppet.

 

Enki laughed.

 

- Very good Hephaistion –said the demon in the throne, a magnificent piece with carved dragons showing their jaws open with sharp teeth, and the back was so big that it appeared to cover the entire wall behind it—Not many vampires, not even the old ones like you, are able to confront me.

 

- What do you want from me? –asked the Tzimisce through clenched teeth. He didn’t want to stay long there, and even if he didn’t want to admit it, Enki scared the living hell out of him.

 

- Right to the point, boy –boy? Well, coming from Enki one could expect everything—I heard many…interesting things about you. You are a very skillful necromancer, some said even better than me –he said this as if that were impossible, as if no one could be better than him in anything.

 

- Do you need my skills as a necromancer? –Hephaistion could see Ilena and his brother wincing, they weren’t use to hear someone address their master in that tone. 

 

- You can say that –Enki looked at the twins and Ilena’s brother went to fetch someone—You want to restore a soul into his original body, isn’t that correct?

 

- Yes.

 

- Have you succeeded?

 

- No.

 

- I did.

 

- So I heard –Hephaistion tried his best to hide his emotions, it appeared that Enki didn’t know about the Sword of Kaine, that was great, and he had to do everything to keep things like this.

 

Ilena’s twin returned with a woman, or what in life had been a woman, she wasn’t a zombie, and the Tzimisce could sense she had her soul, but her flesh was rotting.

 

- Hephaistion, meet Aislinn –said Enki while the Tzimisce watched the woman with scientific interest—Aislinn was very dear to me but she died 30 years ago. I wasn’t with her when that happened, and it was impossible to give her the gift of Kaine’s false life –Enki turned to look at the woman who, in life, had been very beautiful—I kept her body frozen until I found a way to restore her soul. I thought it was a success, but then she started to rot.

 

Hephaistion held Aislinn’s eyes and saw pure terror, she was at one step of losing her mind, trapped in a decomposing body and absolutely conscious of what was happening to her.

 

- Interesting –muttered the Tzimisce and this pleased Enki.

 

- I want you to examine her and tell me if there is something it can be done –he ordered, not asked, but Hephaistion accepted immediately. This was a great change to investigate what happened when a soul was restore into its original body without being a vampire, and he desperately wanted to know what could happen to Alexander.

 

Neither Lucius nor Eric were happy knowing that Hephaistion was going to stay, but could do nothing to prevent it.

 

The Macedonian stayed almost for a month in Enki’s place, and lucky for him he didn’t have to see Enki often. He found many interesting things but, at the end, he determined that it was impossible to stop the decomposing of Aislinn’s body at this rate. He didn’t know what method had Enki used to bring her back to life but it had been the wrong one. The only solution he could think of was to turn Aislinn into a vampire but he learned from Ilena that Enki had tried to do it but it was impossible. Aislinn was too decomposed. 

 

At the end Enki let Hephaistion go with his gratitude, but the Macedonian was sure this wasn’t the last time he was going to hear from him. Everything had been too simple, and he didn’t like it.

 

- You have been too quiet since you left Enki –said Eric one night. Again, they were at the balcony of the 12th floor.

 

- I have been thinking in Alexander –said the Tzimisce after a while—If I restore his soul to his body…is he going to rot? Will he look at me like Aislinn? Terrify?

 

- For once I’ll quote Lucius –said the Viking, smiling—You think too much –that made Hephaistion smile—You said Enki didn’t use the correct method, and you have a very special sword that it’s going to help you to get things right.

 

Hephaistion smiled. Eric was right. He couldn’t give up now.

 

XXX

 

A/N: All the information regarding vampires and werewolves was taken from White Wolf’s books: Vampire the Masquerade and Werewolf the Apocal