Dark Angel: Book of Souls

I'm not a Vampire!

My eyes fixed on the reflection cast upon the dark, murky water below. My eyes bore into their reflection, firmly sticking to the dark center. As I focused my stare, I saw a glowing kindle behind my liquid, glass eyes. It was as though a fire of color roared to life underneath, wispy flames of color burning into my reflection. Then slowly it stood up, and raised at my height, it walked forward, I backed away until it stood, hovering in the air above the beach…slowly she began to change.

            Her hair fell short, just to her shoulder and flew out at the ends around her, turning into red hot fire. Her eyes stayed the same amber-brown but glowed brightly. Then she smiled, bringing her hands to the center of her chest, a small ball of light; colored gold, purple, red, blue and silver, formed between her hands. And then she shoved it at me. Everything was immersed in rainbow light, and then faded into black.

            “Evermore! Oh God, please get up…please get up!” I heard Sam’s husky voice call from the shadows. I opened my eyes slowly and his face changed into a grimace.

            “What? What is it?” I looked around; the security guards were here as well “what’s going on?”

            “Evermore, your eyes…” Sam stared hard at me and took a deep swallow. “Your eyes are…gold.” I blinked. Not comprehending what he was saying.

            “I want to see.” I heard my voice chime. He led me into the bathroom. I looked at the mirror and as my vision focused in I saw it. My eyes were like honey with specks of golden light throughout them. I could feel the numbing pain spread through my body as my knees grew weak and gave out. I collapsed. And then the pounding migraine in my head started. And I was back to the blackout zone.

            The minute my eyes opened I could instantly sense something was wrong. The air was still, I could hear the soft rustle of breathing from somewhere around me, but I couldn’t focus my vision to figure out where.

            “Whose there?” I called out; my voice was husky from my mouth being shut for a time.

            “How did you know I was here? There is no possible way for a human to hear so well from such a distance.” A sharp-tongued almost giddy voice responded. Then a very profound man exited the shadowy blur to my left side.

            “Hello, my Sweet. My name is Cicero, and yours?” The man was funny looking. He had orangey-brown hair the stuck out in eleven directions it wasn’t made to go in, He was dressed like someone from the middle ages and by my guess hadn’t been in the outside world for a very long while. That was when I noticed his eyes. Yellow eyes. Old eyes. Ancient.

            “How old are you Cicero? Answer me that and I will tell you my name.” My voice was returning to normal and then Cicero let out a manical laugh. My body tingled with chills. I went to rub my arms but realized I was chained. I was trapped.

            “Cautious as ever, you are. Do you really not recognize me Sweet? I guess I can’t blame you. I suppose you obviously lived for the past 300 years. I wonder though, how long have you been lost? It’s one thing to forget your creator, another completely to reject not only him, but what you are.”

            “I don’t know how long you have been…here, but I think you’ve gone delusional old Man. Stop calling me Sweet. My name is-“

            “Windshift Evermore Grace. Born on December 21, 1482 in France. You are half Italian and half Irish. Of course you don’t remember any of this but if I do recall, you’ve been getting back your old memories.” Cicero spoke, he smiled at me after and I saw something in him that I hadn’t seen towards me in a long time. He was happy, caring, almost loving.

            “No. That’s not possible. I’m only 16. That would make me what? 500? Are you mad?!?” I started screaming, but he just sat there, smiling, and then he started to laugh. He was laughing like a psychotic freak. It was a good 10 minutes later and he was still howling with laughter.

            “Will you shut up? Tell me what the Hell is going on!” I screamed even louder than before.

            “Close your eyes Ever, concentrate. Remember this as I say it.” He paused, and I closed my eyes. “Heart Racing with adrenaline, each breathes a wispy, burn of air, loud and obtuse in the world of silence all around. Thoughts racing through your head, incomprehensible to you. Every move a mistake, each breath is a clap of thunder. Fear; and in its most deadly form: silence.

            “that feeling in the back of your mind- pain, insecurity, deafening cries against a noiseless atmosphere. Fear is everywhere, it follows you wherever you go and it haunts you in the deepest hours of night. Fear stalks your dreams and wears down your hope. No matter what you do now, you have no hope. Fear is there, never leaving, it stays with you, lingering. Forever.

            “This fear, is it really all in your head? Even the strongest people, the mightiest, the bravest; all of them break down and are brought down to their knees in fear. Just as you were.

            “You were on your knees, watching your mother and father, chained, bound, blindfolded and on their knees. Their heads bowed over. Then there is your sister, she, like you is bound, on her knees. A guard on each side, and there behind your parents is the man who brought all this fear upon you. He walks to your father, holds up his head, and then slides the silver dagger across his throat. There is blood everywhere and you muffle a scream while your sister’s pierces the air. Your mother begins to whimper and the man reaches for her. Just as he gets a hold of her, a silver arrow is plunged into his right shoulder, forcing him to let go. Then another one is in his knee. The guards are down, as is the man. You and your sister squirm to get free and turn your attention to the footsteps from behind. There are your saviors. Another piercing, howling, mournful scream. Your mother dies just as the mighty Achilles. I am beside you, letting go of another arrow. My partner trying desperately to free your sister. You hear the drop of someone falling dead on the ground. There is your sister, eyes still open, bleeding from the black arrow in her back, as it turns to smoke. And my partner beside her, bleeding, dying. Then we disappear.” Cicero got very quiet. I opened my eyes to see tears in his.

            “Cicero, I remember. But how, how can that be?”

            “I don’t know my Sweet, but you are what I am. I turned you for a reason. Now, my Sweet, wake up.” His voice echoed in my ears, making me dizzy, turning the world dark.

            I opened my newly golden eyes to see Sam. He just stared at me.

            “Who’s Cicero?” I asked as politely as I could.

            “Cicero? He’s a vampire. How do you know who he is?” Sam looked at me, examining my every detail. Almost like I had found out a secret he was trying to keep.

            “Wait-what? No! I’m not a damned vampire!” I shouted at him. My voice high, surprise obvious, frustration engraved in my frown.

            “What…?” Sam mumbled. He backed away, shivers crawling up his spine. Goosebumps encompassing his flesh.

            I. Am not. A vampire.” I muttered.