Chapter 19 （Nathan）Love Still Burns in Desolation
Chapter 19 (Nathan)
Love Still Burns in Desolation
M y head felt like it would explode. How could I still be alive? Wasn’t it enough that I lost everything? There was no respite from despair. In this cruel world, even death mocked me. I scorned this life that wouldn’t let me be.
My body was too heavy to move. The memory of Xavier’s betrayal came to mind. It seemed that every time I trusted someone, I regretted it.
A voice echoed in my mind, “ Nathan .”
That word alone, spoken with such affection, was enough to justify all the pain that assailed me. I tried to discern if it was my mind torturing me once again or if she was there.
It was warm. I was no longer on top of the mountain, but the wind raged outside, and the snowflakes hit the windows violently. I heard the sound of a plate being placed on a table, or perhaps it was a cup. I wanted to open my eyes, to move, but I couldn’t.
“You shouldn’t have brought him back,” a woman’s voice said.
“He was about to die,” retorted a man.
“So what?” asked the woman.
“You know who he is.”
“Yes, I do. I know how dangerous he is.”
The man argued, “Come on. He’s always been a good king. Do you prefer the current queen?”
There was silence. I knew they were talking about me and wondered who they were. It seemed they had saved my life, or at least the man had. Fate was forcing me to trust someone once again. Would I regret it? No matter. If they wanted me dead, they would have left me where they found me.
The woman sighed, breaking the silence. “No. But I’d rather stay away from vampires.”
The man sighed. “I know. There’s a good reason I suggested we build our home here.”
A clatter of metal against ceramic was heard. It smelled like meat broth. There were more noises, and I guessed they were eating .
“Do you think he’ll survive?” the woman asked between mouthfuls.
“He was in such a state,” the man replied with concern. “I don’t know.”
I tried to move once more but could not. Exhausted from the effort it took me to stay awake, I let myself fall into the dreamless sleep my body so desperately needed.
? When I came to, only the sound of flames licking the wood could be heard. The winds had died, and I could no longer hear the snow against the windows.
My body still ached, but less than earlier. I was reassured to feel my vampiric magic flowing. It meant I would recover quickly. As I was still alive, I guessed they’d given me blood.
I opened my eyes and was happy to see I was in control of my body again. I looked around. I was in a log cabin, lying on a sofa in an ample open space that contained the kitchen, dining room, and living room. I could see the darkness of the night through the window, but from the angle I was at, I couldn’t see much more than that.
On one side of the room, a staircase probably led to the bedrooms. At the far end of the room, a large fire warmed the cabin. Two armchairs faced the fire, and beside them was a rocking chair with a man quietly rocking.
His back was to me, but he looked human. His hair was gray, and he was reading a book, slowly turning the pages. There was no sign of the woman. She was probably sleeping.
Sitting on the sofa required considerable energy. Although naturally stealthy, I made some intentional noise, wanting the man to notice I was awake.
He looked up from his book, turned his head, and smiled at seeing me.
“Ah, you’re awake,” he said in a low voice.
My mouth felt dry as I spoke, “Yes.”
“Don’t talk too loudly,” he added, rising from his chair. He filled a glass with a water pitcher and brought it to me. “I wouldn’t want to wake Anna.”
I nodded but pushed the glass away. “I can’t drink it.”
The words were hard to say, and my throat ached.
“Yes, I know,” the man replied. “But I don’t have anything else.”
I took the glass from his hand. I knew he meant well. I took a big gulp of water to rinse my mouth, then spat it back into the glass. I could already feel it had the desired effect on my throat.
“Thank you.”
I handed the glass to the man, and he went to empty it at the kitchen sink.
“Humberto. My name is Humberto,” he said, coming back to me.
“Thank you for saving me, Humberto.”
“It was nothing,” he replied, rubbing the back of his neck. “Anyone would have done the same.”
I weighed his words. Humberto was either naive, or he’d been blessed and only met good people. Either way, I nodded .
“Where are we? What happened?” I asked.
The man brought a chair near the sofa where I was and sat in front of me. “You’re in my house on the eastern side of Desolation Hills.”
I arched my eyebrows, surprised that humans had decided to live on this treacherous mountain.
The man chuckled softly. “I understand your surprise, but Anna and I are loners. We don’t like living in society and prefer to provide for ourselves alone. We limit our contact with the towns as much as possible and are self-sufficient. Our goats provide milk and meat. We buy food from Ichoryllia about once a month. The snow makes it easy to store it for a long time.”
This couple lived so differently from what I had known. I appreciated the simplicity of their lifestyle, but it wasn’t for me. I knew my place was at the castle and intended to take it up again once I’d found Emerald.
Humberto continued, “I was going to get some plants and medicinal herbs to feed the goats. They grow where the winds are less strong. I always detour to the top of the mountain on the way. That’s where I found you, lying next to a dead body.”
The man grimaced at these words, and I had a flashback of the carnage. What did Humberto think of all this?
“At the time, I thought you were both dead. I picked up the bag full of supplies that was nearby. That’s when I recognized you—the former king. I got closer. You were naked, and your body was so cold. The dried blood on your face wasn’t yours, and I realized you were still alive.
“I knew I didn’t have much time before the mountain cold took you away. I brought you back here at once, dragging your body as best I could. It’s a good thing the mountain went down; otherwise, I’d never have been able to carry you. When I was close enough to the house, I tied up a goatskin sled and hoisted you onto it. It was easier to carry you that way.”
I looked at the man, speechless. He knew who I was but decided to save me anyway. He had given me the baggy clothes I was currently wearing. But one question remained.
“How is it that I’m still alive?”
The man stared at me for a moment. “You are probably referring to the fact that I fed you. Like everyone else, I’d heard the rumors about the great Cursed King. I knew you could only drink blood. And, after all, they say there’s nothing better for vampires. So I picked up a knife . . .”
Humberto raised his arm to reveal a healing scab under his arm.
“I made you drink my blood.”
My chest tightened, and I felt overwhelmed with emotion as I searched for what to say to the man who’d saved my life.
“I can’t express how grateful I am,” I finally said.
Humberto smiled. “It’s nothing. I’m glad you’re feeling better.”
He rose from his chair. “It’s getting late. Get some rest. You probably need it. We’ll talk with Anna tomorrow.”
I nodded as the man went upstairs to his bedroom. I wasn’t tired, but I would respect the sleep of the couple who had welcomed me into their home.
I closed my eyes and tried to find peace, waiting for morning.
As hard as I tried, I couldn’t find peace. Thoughts of Emerald haunted me. Where was she? I had no idea where to look for her. Was she even still alive? Absurd as it may sound, I was convinced that if she were dead, I’d feel it. I clung to the hope that she was still alive. She had to be.
As we were on the mountain’s east side, I suspected the morning was still young when the sunlight began to stream in through the window. I waited to hear creaks from the ceiling, indicating that Humberto and Anna were awake, before getting up.
Anna was the first to come down. Her white hair was tied back in a bun, and she wore a neatly tied white blouse and gray cotton pants. She smiled when she saw me, but I could sense her fear.
“I’m glad to see you’re feeling better, Nathan,” she said, her clear blue eyes piercing mine. I suspected she was only being polite.
“Thank you for your hospitality,” I replied nicely, keeping my distance from the woman to avoid frightening her.
Humberto came down the stairs. The man wore a big grin and exuded no fear. His brown eyes seemed to sparkle, reflecting his mood.
“It’s great to see you standing,” the man said joyfully.
I grinned at the man. “It’s thanks to you.”
I offered my help in the kitchen, but Anna shooed me away. She was the one making decisions in the kitchen and wouldn’t have it any other way, but I suspected it was because I was a vampire.
“What will you do now?” asked Humberto.
I didn’t have time to answer that when Anna interrupted, “Will you get your throne back?”
I was surprised by her question, then remembered her conversation with Humberto while I was lying on the couch. They clearly had an opinion on Ichoryllia’s ruling despite having minimal contact with the city.
“Would you like me to get my throne back?” I asked, curious to hear what the woman had to say about it.
“I would like that very much.” She hesitated, then added, “I don’t like vampires very much, but I felt safer when humans were allowed in Ichoryllia. The new laws make it impossible for Humberto and me to get our supplies anymore.”
I chuckled softly at the woman’s candid admission of her repulsion for our race. I knew that was the case for many humans since we were their predators. This explained her fear for me.
“Is that so?”
I knew Samantha had declared Mi?onblood the town’s official religion, but I didn’t know about the new laws.
Anna nodded. “Have you been to Ichoryllia lately?”
I shook my head. “Not in a few weeks.”
The woman sat at the table and brought a plate for her and Humberto. She glanced at me uncomfortably. “I thought you wouldn’t be eating . . . But I can make you breakfast if I’m wrong.”
I shook my head, chuckling. “No, you were right. I don’t eat. But please, go on. Tell me about the new rules.”
I was anxious to discover what Samantha had done to my beloved kingdom .
Humberto spoke up. “Ancient laws have been restored. Humans are considered like cattle. It’s degrading. They catch any human in the city. The lucky ones become pets, and the unlucky become slaves.”
Anger invaded me at these words. Everything my parents had worked so hard to put in place. Laws, respect, and acceptance of other races. It had taken years to build trust with other races and to change mentalities. She had destroyed it all with the back of her hand. She would pay for it.
“I vow to you. I will reclaim my throne and restore the city as it was.”
The woman smiled, and for the first time since I saw her, I felt her fear disappear.
“Thank you,” she whispered with watery eyes.
“This means so much to us,” explained Humberto. “It takes us three days to travel to Ichoryllia, but it’s the closest and safest route. Getting supplies at any other town would take weeks, and the path would take us through dangerous areas.”
The laws of Ichoryllia directly affected their way of life, and I felt indebted to them because they had saved me.
“What will you do in the meantime?” I asked.
“Well, the supplies we found near you should last us a week or two,” started Humberto. “We still have some vegetables left, so we should be fine for a few weeks.”
“There are a few lone fields to the east,” added Anna. “We might see if they’d agree to sell us some supplies or exchange for goat milk or leather.”
I nodded. “Good. It will take a while for me to reclaim my throne. You need to survive until then.”
They nodded, and I added, “Anyway, I’m in no shape to fight an army alone. Only the gods know what that vampiress has prepared for my return—her and her cult.”
Silence fell between us as we were all lost in our thoughts.
“So where will you go now?” asked Anna.
I shook my head. “I don’t know. Going to Ichoryllia seems like a bad idea right now. There are wanted posters everywhere.”
They both nodded. The elven king wouldn’t help me. Ichoryllia was out of the question. This left me with either the dwarves, the humans, or the werewolves. Of course, there were a few small towns I could go and ask around, but to face a force such as Samantha’s and get a chance to find information on Emerald’s whereabouts, I was better off visiting a big town.
The dwarves lived farther away than any other race. I highly doubted that Emerald would be there. I could always seek their help later. This left me with humans and werewolves. Though humans were ingenious and friendly, werewolves would be stronger allies against vampires. Especially knowing that Samantha treated humans like cattle. My wolf growled in agreement, and I was reminded that he had been more active than ever in centuries. It would also be a good opportunity for me to learn to communicate with him and control him. To think I had taken my wolf form for the first time ever. I still had no idea how it had happened, but I remembered the pain from the change.
“I will go see the werewolves to the Dark Forest Pack.” Simeon was from there. He had spoken in detail about his pack in the United Race Committee meetings.
The couple looked surprised. “But that’s more than a week away,” commented Anna .
“By flying, it should take me three or four days at most,” I said as I calculated mentally the time it would take. “Of course, flying takes more energy. I’ll need to drink blood on my way there.”
Anna stepped back at these words. The fear that had been gone returned, and I was sorry for it. I understood why she was reluctant to trust me. Years of evolution had made it so that some humans feared us as much as they did in the days when vampires hunted humans relentlessly, even if we had evolved a long way since then.
“What will you do about the blood?” asked Humberto, curious.
I was grateful for the man’s carefree attitude. I knew few people like him. I smiled at the couple’s imbalance. I should learn from Anna’s lack of trust in strangers. I may be too much like Humberto for my own sake.
I shrugged. “I’ll find some remote villages where I can feed.”
The man nodded slowly. Considering he’d fed me the day before, I’d better leave as soon as possible if I wanted time to find a village before I needed to feed.
I stood up. “I’d better go now.”
Anna breathed in relief, but the man stopped me short, jumping out of his chair. “Wait a minute! You can’t leave like this.”
I raised my eyebrow, and he said, “Drink before you go.”
Anna’s eyes opened wide.
I asked, “Are you sure? You already saved me yesterday.”
The man nodded. “Yes, but I want you to leave on a full stomach. Or . . . however that works.”
I laughed at his hesitation. “Although my stomach isn’t filled with blood, you can still say that since I never eat. Though I prefer to say with full energy .”
I walked up to the man. Anna shrank behind him. She was so scared it was unpleasant. Although I usually avoided using my vampiric powers on humans, not liking to bend their will, I cast a wave of magic toward her.
“Please, you have nothing to fear from me.”
She calmed immediately.
“Let’s do it,” said Humberto.
I knelt before him, taking his hand, turning the palm up. “I’ll drink here,” I indicated with my finger under his wrist at the base of his forearm.
The man nodded, and I waited no longer, sinking my teeth into his skin. The man groaned with a start. I closed my eyes as the warm blood hit my tongue, filling me with delight. Through our bond, I could feel his emotions and smiled, telling myself that Anna would enjoy what happened next.
I drank a large quantity of blood. Not enough to hurt him, but I knew he could recover safely, and I had to prepare myself for the journey ahead.
Lost in Humberto’s emotions, I glimpsed his thoughts from when he’d first met Anna. She was young and beautiful. They immediately fell in love. Connected to him through his blood, I could feel the strength of their love, making me miss Emerald even more .
When I felt I’d had enough, I removed my teeth from his arm, healing the hole in my tongue. Humberto was breathing heavily, and Anna became worried.
“Are you all right?” she asked.
I didn’t wait any longer, wanting to leave them alone. I left the house, saying, “I won’t forget my promise. Ichoryllia will be safe again.”
I could hear Anna let out a muffled sigh as I closed the door. Humans were so fragile but beautiful. I’d do anything to ensure they could live safely in Ichoryllia again. I would get back at Samantha and restore peace between humans and vampires. First, I’d get my delicate flower back.