First Brood: Lost Brother: First Brood: Tales of the Lilim, #3

Prologue:

I find you disappointing already, young one. Adolous crossed his arms, tapping a clawed hand on his forearm. Lacking feet, the tentacles under his robes would never produce the desired sound of an impatient foot tap which may move things along.

Dare’s boots clicked on the crystal floors as she scanned the pillars of crystal, the creaking of her leather clothing filling the formally silent cave with echoing groans and the snap of her impractical shoes. It takes me time to find his thoughts. If it didn’t, I’d be locked in here myself.

Adolous had to admit the truth; the Lost One’s cave was a secret Dare should not know. Very few Lilim knew this place existed and all were sworn to secrecy. It was lucky for the young vampire that her power to be able to detect it yet be weak enough to not get her a cell of her own in these caves. From floor to ceiling, this silent place held Lilim too dangerous to run free. Sealed in crystal cells, they sleep till their bodies age and decay, imprisoned for the length of their natural lives. It was a tomb. Adolous nearly clawed his sleeve in anticipation. ‘I will bear it,’ He vowed, needle-thin teeth grinding in his mouth. ‘if it means I will get what I want.’

Over here. The pale female vampire called out, her hands pressed against the face of a crystal cell. The multifaceted shape jutted out at a mild angle and came to a point far above Dare’s head.

When Adolous peered at the form inside, the outline of the body was distorted and broken by the facets of the stone. He could hardly tell if the figure within was male, only discern a tall amorphous mass behind the crystal. Make it quick. The demon insisted, sounding impatient but filled with fear of this place. It burned his senses with its antiseptic smell and the twisted chill of so many silent minds in a sea of active, living Lilim.

All it should take is a little push. His mind is weakened from all these years in confinement. Dare closed her eyes and gently tapped at the occupant’s mind. She met static; muted and stuttering activity in a sea of stagnation. Ever since the first time she heard a whispering thought of this cave as a child, Dare had kept her very weak psychic ability secret. Even the bare minimum she’d used to secure her place at Cassio’s side was dangerous enough. This gambit was worth the risk to get vengeance against Auris for killing her mate.

Dare may have been right but the minutes it took for the crystal to melt into a gelatinous puddle on the floor and a pale, emaciated vampire to slide out made Adolous’ hearts triple in speed. If anyone were to find them here, they would both be executed. The twisted creature struggled to breathe. Nearly translucent hair hung limp to the floor and skin chalk white from lack of sun clung so tightly to his bones, it was a wonder any organs fit between.

Are you able to stand, brother? Dare made her voice so saccharin to win over the male, Adolous grimaced in revulsion. Let me help you.

A bony hand snatched the woman’s neck; jagged claws digging into her skin and the male pulled her face to his. Dare twitched and clawed at him but the pale one ignored her, his lips millimeters from hers. As her mouth parted to scream, the man pulled in a breath to steal hers. She struggled briefly but the feeding was over in moments. Her life force was sucked from her to feed the starving male. The naked vampire let her drop to the floor, her face twisted in terror and pain, he body now an empty dead husk.

He pulled himself upright using Dare’s body as leverage to get into a seated position. He took careful breaths, muscles flexing and swelling under the sallow skin. Dare’s spirit and mind nourished his body enough to keep him upright but his legs were too weak. Centuries of atrophy would take more than one feeding to fix.

Young one? Adolous whispered, and the skinny male cringed at the sound of the demon’s voice echoing off the enchanted crystals. What is your name?

Adolous’ dark grey skin paled when he was met with the blood red stare and vein blue lips shaped so much like the man he sought to destroy. The image of Auris’ face flickered over the emaciated features of the man in front of him before vanishing to reveal a more rounded face and wider eyes. Vel. The red-eyed one rasped; his voice like the hard shells of insects crushed underfoot. My name... My name is Vel. He repeated, shocked he could remember.

Yes. Adolous pulled his cloak off his shoulders and draped it over the shivering back.

My brother. Vel gripped the cloak so tight it dug into his skin. Where is my brother? He panicked, his labored breaths hissing though tiny fangs.

You must gather your strength. Then we will go find him.

Vel’s eyes watered, fat tears spilling over sunken cheeks. He left me? He whimpered. Vel’s face froze before twisting into rage. He left me! Auris swore he would never leave me! He slammed his frail fist into the floor, the sound of fragile bones snapping joined Vel’s enraged sobbing.

Calm yourself, child! Adolous looked at the other cells to ensure the others stayed silent despite knowing no sound could wake them. Confident they were alone, the demon lifted Vel to his feet and gagged at the feeling of his hands on the man; like lifting a hollow doll. He would have to return later to collect Dare’s body. We need to leave. You have missed much. You will feed and grow stronger. Then we will find Auris.

Chapter One: Darjeeling

"I t’s too soon, idiot !"

With sweet words like that, how can I refuse? I laugh, stuffing my clothes into a duffel bag. Kara’s pet name for me is sweet, isn’t it? But I have school. I started it and I’m gonna finish.

Kara rubs her head, tossing her bleach white hair from her forehead. It flops right back into her bright blue eyes which blaze with annoyance, making her look like an angry fairy. So, you’re skipping out on training so you won’t overheat and set something or someone on fire in exchange for going to med school where you can be sure to get stressed out and set someone or something on fire?

I know the flaws in my plan. Even the six weeks of dragon child boot camp – like regular boot camp only with claws and I cannot stress how much fire is involved – aren’t enough to get me ready to be around normal people all the time. Most dragon-kin stay for six months, minimum. But avoiding people is fine by me. Other than the other genetic potlucks like myself who live in my building, I don’t plan on interacting with normal people unless I’m forced to.

Dio cleared me to go as long as I come back on vacations and weekends to keep training if I don’t have too much homework. He gets how much this means to me. Dio knows my story and his dreamhunter turned dragon hybrid’s need to atone for her fuckups has given me some special considerations. Oh, he doesn’t think I’m special, the dragon king agrees with my decision to give to the world where once I only took from it.

Kara doesn’t agree but then again, she knows about Syd raping me. Dio doesn’t. She’s trained me how to fight to keep that from happening again but my control isn’t the best. Her primary concern is me frying the next poor fucker who even looks at me funny. I can’t say that’s an unreasonable thought; I have the occasional flashback or nightmare. But if I can avoid schmushing souls, I can avoid burning people.

That’s the theory I’m going with, at any rate.

I give the contents of my bag a final shove, smashing what is mostly training clothes down so I can zip it closed. It’s heavy but I lift it like it’s nothing. Ah, the benefits of all the physical training and dragon blood. I haven’t lost weight and I don’t look much different and boy am I ever strong. I haven’t tested the limits yet but I should be able to open tight jars and carry luggage on my own at the very least.

Elder Dio might have cleared it but it’s still a bad idea. Kara’s body blocks the door to my room, a simple yellow box with no windows but a bed and a desk. It’s about as exciting as my dorm room in college. You aren’t comfortable with all the techniques for managing the dragon fire yet.

I’ll make time to fly!

Darjeeling, you know what I mean.

I glare at Kara, my hands tight on the strap to my bag. The nylon creaks. Say it. We’re not in kindergarten.

Kara meets my glare with equal intensity. Flight won’t work long term and you know it. You need to get physical. I can’t go with you so you need to find someone to spar with or sleep with.

The second option makes me shudder. My stomach churns and I drop my eyes to stare at my bed, letting my rapidly growing hair hide the green tint of nausea on my face. Sparring it is. But only when flight stops working. I just... Don’t want to be touched. Can I go now?

Kara looks me up and down and I squirm under the pressure of her eyes. After a small damn eternity, she sighs and grumbles; Stubborn bitch. I’ll give you a ride.

My disgust with myself fades and I hook my arm in hers, feeling none of the usual creepiness I usually feel. Kara is firmly in my non-flashback safe zone. I’ll fly with you. We’ll race.

Ha! You’re on.

Chapter Two: Auris

My relaxing afternoon is going well which means of course fate would interfere to disturb it. After a night of successful hunting and a busy morning managing my various business interests (there are conference calls in Hell, I’m certain of it), I’d hoped to be able to sit and feed Isaac in peace. The first of my childer, Isaac still refuses to harm a human; too much a kind heart to hunt. Taking the gift of immortality necessitates drinking blood, so I share the task of feeding him from my own veins with his wife; Ash. A sacrifice we both are more than willing to make.

Midway through his feeding, fangs deeply embedded in my wrist and gentle pulls the only sound in my living room, Salem enters to give me news.

Master. The man says; his massive, shirtless form with skin darker than mine filling the doorway. You have a visitor. Should I tell him to leave?

The tone Salem’s voice tells me he would love to send my guest packing. I am tempted to let him. Isaac’s feedings are important. Without them, he could weaken and die. He’s been dead twice already, once when I Turned him and again when reduced to ashes when the dreamhunter smothered his soul.

The vampire in question whines at my wrist and prepares to pull away but my hand in his jet black hair keeps him there. Who is it?

Another vampire, sir. Young by the look of him. He says there’s an issue with his group’s leader

Ah, elder business it seems. Send him in.

Salem nods, sunlight glinting off his tattooed head when he turns towards the front door.

I feel relief in Isaac’s shoulders as he continues to feed, sucking around the holes made in my wrist by his fangs. The cotton of his shirt bunches as his tension fades, olive skin filling with color. His legs dangle off the edge of the couch, the denim a shock to eyes so used to seeing him in professional attire. It will take a few decades for memories of his death to fade and he can return to his teaching and to his classic button down shirts and stereotypical sweaters. I close the newspaper I was only half reading to give my guest my full attention.

The boy – for I wouldn’t be able to call him more than that without it being a lie – enters my line of sight with a slow pace of a hunter who knows a predator more powerful than himself is feeding. The dark-skinned boy’s nostrils are flared, pupils eating at the copper colored eyes and his hesitation to approach uninvited is wise. Lilim are highly territorial predators who will maim first and ask questions when their meal is done.

Come and sit, child. I purr, in an attempt to calm him. As you can see, you have visited during lunch. Whatever you have to say to me, you will not disturb my childe. This is both an order and a fact. Not a single thing could tempt me from my seat right now and woe to any who would try. What is your name?

He sits across from me, putting the coffee table between us. I am called Arbour, Elder Auris. He says, the holes in his jeans stretching as he tries to appear calm.

And what is your business with me?

Arbour tugs at the hem of his shirt nearly rending the fabric with his black tinted claws. Our group is without a leader. Cassio is dead. No emotion in that statement. Interesting. And now his mate, Dare, is gone. After Master Kizu defeated him, she disappeared. We have felt her death but cannot locate her body. His eyes dart from mine to Isaac, then to the floor. Our clan is fighting over who will take over and suspicions of conspiracy are tearing us apart.

They are squabbling instead of hunting; a typical problem for a clan as small as theirs with a leader as young as Cassio. Those beneath him must be even younger than he was, only a few hundred years old at most. Cassio had been long on ambition and short on sense and now those who followed him are suffering.

Using my connection to my childer, I ask Jackie to prepare O to bring my guest a drink. Not only to honor my devotion to hospitality, but also out of pity. Arbour would not be reacting so forcefully to a feeding near him if he were not starving.

Jackie herds O to the door, the bewildered human’s gaze fixed on the tray holding a glass of warm blood. She looks at it, baffled likely because I don’t order her to feed my guest from her own vein. I am sure my sister, Halcyon, expected such servitude from her before O was gifted to me during the revel announcing Kizu as my apprentice. O’s features have filled out nicely in her time in my home, no doubt due to real rest and food and no Lilim frequently feeding from her. Her blue eyes are no longer ringed with shadows, her hair has grown thicker, and her ribs are no longer visible. She has yet to part with the piercings in her nipples, however, finding their presence gives her a sense of being owned. I have always detested the use of mindless blood slaves who are brow-beaten into obedience. Since O is now mine, she will have to learn she can have a different life.

Arbour nearly jumps to his feet when presented with the glass; snatching it so fast, O gasps in surprise. Isaac withdraws his fangs and lays his head in my lap, watching with sleepy eyes as the young vampire guzzles his meal with obvious relief.

Jackie beckons O with a smile and encouraging words. When she meets my eyes, I nod in agreement. O has a long way to go but she kept her clothes on and did not offer her vein without being ordered to do so. Jackie and I can agree today is a landmark.

Another for him, my dear. I am not without a heart. I’ll not send the boy home hungry. And Arbour, I am certain there is more. Your hunger aside, something more than a simple squabble called you here. A simple squabble could have been handled over the phone.

Arbour falls back into his seat with a sigh, tension fading from his features as he clenched the cup in his hands. Vitality gives more color to his dark skin. Dare is not the only one, Elder. We have lost four and no bodies, no trace of how they died was left behind. It’s like they blinked out of existence. After a steadying breath, he says, Since you were charged with watching the dreamhunter-

It isn’t her. I interrupt him with a neutral shake of my head. You would have felt the souls of your brethren screaming in pain as the dreamhunter snuffed out their lives. Isaac shudders against me, pain in his eyes as he remembers exactly how it feels. "Tell your clan I will get to the bottom of this. As for the infighting, I would use this threat as a chance to pull them together and hunt. Watch out for one another and do not hunt alone. If anyone else disappears, inform me at once."

Yes, Elder. Arbour takes this as a dismissal and rises but with a raised hand, I stop him.