Page 47 of Those That Don't Exist
“I can already tell you loved them fiercely.” She doesn’t offer her sympathy, she gets it, sorry isn’t enough in this situation.
“I did. I guess you can relate.”
She’s silent for a beat but then nods. “It’s a deep kind of ache isn’t it?”
“Indeed.” We’re both silent for a moment more. The connection between us deepens a little more as we individually reflect on our grief. Hers must still be so raw. I admire her ability to pull her life together so quickly and with such powerful force. I spent decades allowing the sadness and anger to consume me.
“So it’s true? Shadow wielding is a hereditary power?”
“Yes it's true. I don’t know how many of us are left, but there aren't many. They targeted those of us with vampiric powers ferociously and far more fiercely.”
“It was believed you were more powerful?” Red’s eyes gleam like she’s getting the scoop of a lifetime. Which to be fair she is.
I’ve not talked much about the war with anyone. However, I want Red armed with as much knowledge as I can give her. It’ll help her navigate this new world she’s been thrust into. So, I find myself opening up to her despite the tightness in my chest constricting further. I’ve spent many years shoving those memories into a box locked up tight in my mind. I drank and drugged myself nearly into oblivion to manage it.
Red clearly sees some of the turmoil in my gaze as she quickly adds, “Sorry, I don’t want to pry. I’m letting myself get carried away. You don’t have to talk about any of it.” She reaches for me, closes her hand over mine and gives it a small squeeze.
“It’s ok,” I reassure her as I close my eyes so I can’t see her. I focus on the feel of our connected hands. I turn mine over so our palms are touching. “There are a lot of bad memories I’ve suppressed for a long time. There’s a lot of rage I’ve locked down for a long time too.” I take another deep inhale. “Indeed those pricks, those Fae, targeted the shadow wielders, walkers and mind readers first. Any vampire with those powers, those unique to our kind, was a sitting duck. Especially as citizens believed the bullshit being spouted and started reporting vampires to the authorities.”
“Was your mum included?” I knew Aurora was going to ask but her question still chokes the air from my lungs. She moves closer to me, to my side. She doesn’t break our connected hands, but at this angle she can entwine her fingers with mine.
“She survived until near the end. She wasn’t showy with her power like some others. My dad too, though his power was more generic. My parents also managed to maintain a lot of friends who stayed loyal. As you’ve probably read this Isle was one of the last to get swept by those murderous assholes.”
“How did you…” she pauses. “How did you escape?”
“I remained human for most of the war. I wasn’t turned until my parents were forced to,” I tell her, the memories pouring out of their locked box, flooding my mind. Red must notice something in my body language because she quickly responds.
“Ty, you don’t have to talk about this. Please just tell me to butt out,” she reassures me.
“No, it's ok. I want to tell you.” I look at her, face showing concern, but I can't help thinking about how beautiful she is like this. Her eyes sparkle like emeralds, bright against her pale skin, contrasting the red framing her face. Shadows creep towards us to surround us on the bed. I sense their apprehension at the strong emotions pouring from me.
“For most of the war I was a spy. My parents initially wanted to turn me, I was old enough, but I refused. I knew I could play as an agent much better without the supernatural abilities - I had grown up amongst vampires, was one in my heart and soul, so knew exactly what I was looking for.
“I infiltrated the government army and for years went unnoticed, passing information back to our side. My parents worried about something dreadful happening to me but even then I think the shadows helped me. I got into and out of several sticky situations.
“That is until the active zones of fighting expanded. We started losing and I was sent to battle instead. Whilst fighting I injured my knee really badly, nearly tore every ligament. I had to return home to heal, it was at that point my parents turned me. It turned months of recovery into days.”
I pause as Aurora strokes my arm with her free hand, tethering me to the now. I take a moment to savour her touch, even through the fabric of my t-shirt.
“I think on some level they knew. Knew our pack was going to be targeted. They didn’t want to leave me defenceless and injured so they gave me my fangs.
“Once my leg had healed and I was settled with my new abilities I returned to the continent. My squadron needed me more than ever.” The tears start to fall then, my vision blurring. Aurora continues softly stroking my arm. She moves our joint hands to her lap, closing the gaps between us even more.
“I hadn’t been back undercover long when I learnt of the plans to eradicate the packs on the Isles and Froan. I was too slow, however, to get the message to our side.” I run my free hand over my face as an actual sob breaks free. “By the time I landed here, they were all gone. Taken out in one fell swoop without much backup to help them fight.”
Aurora shifts further and her head lands on my shoulder. Her warmth seeping into me.
“How did you escape?” she asks quietly as she snuggles into my side and settles.
“After the attacks here, there was one last major push on the continent. You’ve probably read about the carnage on the eastern side where many of our kind were residing to try and form a retaliation battalion.”
“The massacre of Carnio?”
“Yes. As soon as word reached us we knew it was over. It was hide or die. I was in such a state over my pack I barely remember what came after. There were a few rebel Fae in my section who had returned to Froan with me. They saw me safe on a boat and I ended up in the southern lands. I was a wreck for a long time.”
“I can’t imagine living through that and not being destroyed. But I’m glad you’re here. That you survived.” Her whisper is barely audible but I hear it.
My breathing hitches at her words. Needing her closer than she already is I reach across and pull her to me. She gasps in surprise as I wrap my arms around her but she’s quick to embrace me too, her arms coming around my neck, her thighs wrapping around my hips. We sit, limbs tangled, and her weight on my lap. I cling to her like the lifeline she’s becoming, burying my head into her shoulder as her hands stroke softly along my neck and back.
