Chapter 26
Veylor
My hand trembled uncontrollably as I lifted it to cover my mouth, desperate to stifle a gasp. Oryx bolted out the door, his massive hooves pounded against the wooden floor, creating a thunderous echo as he raced down the hallway.
My legs felt like jelly as I slumped against the floor, drained and defeated.
Every project I'd embarked upon had crumbled in my hands like sand slipping through my fingers.
I had set out with the best intentions to mend the broken pieces of our lives, but each attempt seemed to unravel further into chaos.
I rose to my feet, relying on my trembling legs for support. Earning back his trust wouldn't be easy, but even in my hollow state, I had to make an effort. What else could I do? Just stand by and watch him find joy with someone else?
He had transformed into something new, and I was the reason for it. The beings he was merged with had changed him. Despite everything, I still felt drawn to him, and I was certain he felt the same way about me. But why was he also drawn to her?
Why was I drawn to her?
Is it the guilt he feels for bringing her here, where she ended up falling in love with a monster? Is that why he can't leave her and be with me? Or is there another bond because of how I've made him?
A chilly tear slid down my cheek, and I lifted my fingertip to brush it away.
It felt cold, just like the rest of me. Why would he even want to embrace me in my current state?
She was warm and understanding, it took time to understand who I am.
We were both so different before and it took time for us to court one another in our past life.
He is here now, it was my turn to act and I was afraid to make another mistake.
I'm devoid of heart and soul yet he is the one that holds them both.
Heavy clomping from Oryx’s hooved feet echoed through the hallway, causing the delicate crystal chandeliers to tremble and sway.
My heart raced as I sprinted down the corridor.
As I neared the source of the noise, the roars grew more intense, reverberating in my chest. Suddenly, with a deafening crash, the front doors burst open, slamming against the walls with a force.
A thunderous roar, a terrifying blend of a Minotaur's bellow and a dragon's growl, erupted from Oryx's gaping maw.
His massive body reared back, muscles bulging beneath his skin like coiled ropes, veins standing out like cables under immense tension.
His obsidian tail lashed the air with such ferocity that I instinctively stepped back, narrowly avoiding its powerful swipes.
It struck the doors with a force that sent them crashing to the ground, their hinges wrenched free and clattering to the floor.
“Her blood is in the air!” Oryx cried, his voice a growl as his claws elongated like sharpened daggers.
He dropped onto all fours, his muscular form low to the ground.
He bounded down the stairs with a feral grace, each step a controlled leap.
As he hit the dirt, his claws raked through the earth, sending clumps of soil flying behind him.
His petrified snout pressed to the ground, sniffing and searching with an urgency that suggested he could almost taste the scent.
Benedict came behind me, his hand on my shoulder. “By the Shadows, what happened?”
I growled and faced him. "Where is Vesper? You were responsible for her." I seized him by the throat and shoved him against the remnants of the door frame.
Benedict panted and shook his head. “I was bringing her afternoon snacks. She was sore with me, I was bringing a peace offering.”
I snarled at him. “Where did you leave her?”
Oryx's fur bristled, and his tail flicked sharply as he turned his head toward the forest.
Benedict’s eyes widened.
I shook him again. “Speak! This is life or death!”
“A walk! She went for a walk, on the grounds! I told her not to venture out past the walls!” He hooked his thumb behind him. “That way, she went that way!”
I sighed in frustration. If she headed in that direction, she must have gone to the stables. Her curiosity was just like that of a cat.
“Did the stablemen arrive last night?”
Benedict gasped.
I released my grip on Benedict and sprinted down the steps.
Oryx had already disappeared beyond the courtyard, his figure becoming a mere silhouette against the backdrop of the looming forest. With a swift flick of my hand, my attire transformed into sleek black leather armor, every segment glistening in the dim light, and a cape fluttering like liquid night behind me.
The inky darkness swirled around me, tendrils of shadow enveloped form, lifting me gently from the soil as if I was weightless.
I'm lifted high above the treetops. Below, I observe Oryx's enormous form crashing into trees, unsettling the whole environment.
I shake my head and focus intently on his location, gliding quietly behind him.
In his monstrous hunting mode, he is relentless, stopping at nothing until his mission is accomplished.
As he stopped, I moved in closer and formed a protective barrier.
We didn't need any additional complications.
If my suspicions were correct, these vampires had Vesper trapped in a tree, and it would take Oryx some time to locate her.
Setting up the ward was essential, as even a single drop of her blood could attract more vampires, and I wasn't inclined to deal with any more of them.
Another roar echoed through the forest, sending leaves rustling and birds erupting into a chaotic flight, while small creatures scurried for cover. I descended rapidly through the dense canopy, branches brushing against my armor, and landed with a solid thud on the forest floor.
In front of me, a tense standoff was unfolding before me. The vampire, his face streaked with crimson, stood glaring at Oryx. Blood, unmistakably hers, glistened on his lips. High above, perched precariously on a thick limb, another vampire clung to her body, a sinister grin playing on his mouth.
Vesper was bleeding heavily. There were bites in her arms and legs, but luckily not in her neck. No arteries seemed to be broken, but she is full of scratches and bites along her body.
Oryx snarled, his monstrous form looming over the vampire sprawled on the ground, incapable of speech due to his rage. These vampires were ravenous, desperate for blood, and now that they had a taste, they will risk their lives for more to satisfy their hunger.
They weren’t going to give up their meal, even if I tried to persuade them. These two were too far gone, especially when it is human blood they weren’t accustomed to.
The vampire holding Vesper in the tree hissed at Oryx, the back of their throat clicking to keep their prey subdued. This revealed the sharp fangs stained with Vesper’s blood.
Vesper's pale face was twisted in pain even in unconsciousness, her mouth parted and her eyebrows furrowed.
Grief filled my chest. I took a quick look at Oryx and it was like I could feel his pain. He glanced from the vampire on the ground to the one in the tree, holding onto something so precious to him.
I knew that feeling.
“Oryx,” I spoke without looking at him. “Attack.”
I raised my hand, summoning dark energy to form a barrier around the vampires, preventing them from escaping. Oryx let out another thunderous roar, causing the ground to tremble beneath us. His primal instincts had taken over, consumed by the need to destroy.
With a swift motion, Oryx lunged at the vampire on the ground, his claws slashing through the air with deadly precision.
The vampire tried to dodge but their feet were rooted to the ground.
Oryx's strength was unmatched and in a flurry of movement, Oryx incapacitated the vampire, body parts flung in all directions.
Meanwhile, I focused on the vampire in the tree, who was now frantically trying to climb higher to escape.
I extended my hand towards him, my shadows lengthened from my arms and entwined around the vampire’s limbs.
The shadows pulled him back down to the ground with a swift tug, while keeping Vesper high above us, untouched with my shadows.
With a thud, the vampire fell from the tree, landing at Oryx's feet.
Oryx growled fiercely and lunged at the vampire lying before him. As I moved past, his instincts kicked in, tearing the vampire apart. The shadowy tendrils I controlled gently lowered Vesper, keeping her suspended in the air and away from the turmoil, drawing her nearer to me.
Vesper's breathing was shallow and ragged. Her dress was torn, her body a mess of claw marks so deep it would need stitching.
Oryx approached, his massive form crouching down to the height where I had her suspended and gently nuzzled her with his snout. Despite his monstrous appearance, there was a tenderness in his movements as he assessed her injuries.
My own mind was riddled with guilt for having allowed this harm to befall Vesper. I never want harm to come to anyone, not truly. Her only crime is taking Oryx away from me, not going back to her home and leaving us alone.
I tilted my head as we both looked at her.
Maybe she was beautiful in her own way. She has tended to Oryx in ways I couldn’t, made him see he was worthy even without a normal vessel. For right now anyway. She taught him to read, gave him hope, and kept him busy. He even has thoughts.
Things I, myself, have given up on.
She perhaps has saved both of us.
Maybe.
"Oryx," I said softly, placing a hand on his massive skull. "We need to get her back to the estate. She needs medical attention."
Oryx nodded, a deep rumble emanating from his chest in agreement. Oryx grabbed her in the suspended air and held her to his chest as we returned. We left the vampire's bodies for the forest to take over.
With every step Oryx took, Vesper's body jostled slightly, her breaths growing more labored. I kept my hand pressed firmly against her wounds, my shadows attempting to knit her flesh back together, but my powers were not made for such healing. They were made for darkness, for destruction.
I could only do so much to keep her from bleeding out.
As we approached the estate, Benedict rushed out, his eyes wide with worry. "What happened?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
"Vampires," I muttered, my voice laced with bitterness. "They've been dealt with."
Benedict nodded, turning swiftly to lead us inside. "I'll prepare a room and send for the healer immediately."
“No,” I barked and we all halted. “We can’t call for a healer. I’ll take care of her, grab books from the library about human anatomy and medicine.”
I wasn’t about to have Vesper be the center of anyone’s attention right now. If it gets around that a human is in the realm, many would want to see her and treat her like a special attraction.
Attention I didn’t want right now.
Benedict swallowed. “What room to put her in?”
“Our room,” Oryx stomped his foot. “What is wrong with ours?”
I sighed. “If you were romping in it this morning, it’s contaminated.”
Oryx lowered his head.
Benedict cleared his throat. “I cleaned your room this morning, my Lord. Sheets, tables and windows opened for fresh air. Put her there,” he said.
I pursed my lips into a thin line and nodded. Oryx, with no ability for me to get a read on his skull said nothing.
Oryx followed Benedict, his massive form ducking to avoid the doorframes. I walked beside him, my hand and shadows still pressed against Vesper's wounds, my shadows writhing around us like a dark mist.
Oryx gently laid Vesper down, her body looking even smaller and more fragile against the vast expanse of the bed. I withdrew my hand, my shadows dissipating like smoke.
Benedict handed us towels and I made the water warm with a wave of my hand as I pressed a cloth to her wounds, applying pressure as he looked at me, awaiting instructions.
“Go get the books Benedict.” I made my voice calm for Oryx’s sake. He had begun whimpering as he saw the sheets being stained with blood.
"Will she be alright?" Oryx asked, his voice a low rumble.
My shadows had drawn the skin together, slowing the bleeding now that we were no longer moving. “She’s lost a lot of blood, but she’s stubborn. She’ll heal.”
Oryx nodded. "Veylor, I... I couldn't protect her."
I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "This isn't your fault, Oryx. You did everything you could."
He looked away, unconvinced. I could see the self-blame in his stance, the guilt gnawing at him. I knew that feeling all too well.
"I should have been there," he muttered. “I won’t leave her side again.” Oryx climbed up onto the bed and curled up around her. My shadows didn’t leave her body, they only grew tighter around her wounds to keep the bleeding at bay.
I frowned. "I should have ensured the stablemen were vetted properly," I added, my voice laced with bitterness. "We both made mistakes, Oryx. But we can't change the past. We can only move forward."
Oryx looked at me, his eyes searching mine. "What do we do now?"
I looked down at her. The cuts, the bruises, the bites, I could stitch her back together, but the psychological things she has been through?
“I’m going to heal her the best I can.” Which was all that I could promise because look at what I did to Oryx.