Solar Flame

Chapter Five

Seid had known from the moment he found the little thirteen year old girl crying in the woods that one day he would be bound to her, wiry limbs, messy dark hair, red eyes and all. Bound, mated, connected- each colony had their own term for it.  Fourteen year old Seid just understood it meant Brelai and himself would be together. 

He had spent the last four years being patient, waiting for Brelai to realize it.  He didn't want to push, she had enough on her plate, especially with the expectations of the elder nobles, and constantly trying to fight the urges that came with being a vampyre. But it still pained him to think that she might not ever realize, or had not even considered it.  Lately, the signs of the bind soon commencing started to occur.  First it was the appearance of her fangs everytime he was near her- he had read a Vampyre's bind must include a bite, thereby allowing their blood to intertwine (more likely his blood and her venom).  There was also the awkward pauses and longer stares, and being able to talk although not saying a word.  

If Brelai knew what any of this meant, she did a good job of hiding it. 

And then there was everything that happened tonight at school.  She could not look at him, she must know about her feelings at the very least, otherwise Alkydma's "experiment" wouldn't have had a large effect on her.  When Brelai bit into his neck an immense feeling of pleasure lolled over him. Only after she had collapsed into his arms did he feel the burning on his wrist.  Seid waited with intense apprehension as the class filed out after the demonstration.  Careful not to disturb Brelai, he yanked back the sleeve of his shirt and saw the silver and gold marking which was newly inscribed.  

His excitement paramounted, and he contained it by pulling Brelai tighter into his arms.  The night passed quickly as he waited reclined on the couch for her to stir.  It was nearly morning before she did.

"Sorry? Sorry? Why was she sorry?" he thought frantically. "Maybe she doesn't want you, you are a commoner after all.  Maybe it's all in my head."  Guilt surged through Seid's mind.  He knew that wasn't the answer; they were best friends, he saw how she reacted, and the entire time he had known Bre she had been against the hierarchy.

"Why are you sorry Bre, there's no reason to be sorry".  Tears were beginning to pool on her bottom lashes.  He lifted his arm and wrapped it around her again  She remained stone silent, so he pulled her in towards him.  With his other hand Seid began stroking her long, dark hair.  

A few minutes later she answered between broken, silent sobs.  "You don't deserve this, no one deserves this.  I'm not even a proper noble, my abilities are still out of control five years after The Teething, and you-...and you..." 

Seid cupped her chin and mader her look him in the eye. "I told you this when you were thirteen, and I'll tell you it again: I don't care what it is, but we'll get through it.  No matter what I have to do to keep that promise, I will."Softly he picked up Bre's left arm and placed it beside his own.  Brelai had her own mark, identical but countered with the words "Seid Vendarys".  "See this?" he asked, "This is a part of that promise, Bre.  It means if you let it happen we can be fully bound.  We can get through whatever it is to be able to stay together." 

Brelai stared for a few moments, looking at the pair of marks on their wrists.  Finally she looked up at her best friend, now also her partner. "Okay," she whispered. 

-X-X-X-X-

They already knew what actions they'd have to take.  The pair had been preparing for a while.  The idea of running had been discussed many times before, and under previous circumstances it had been a far off dream.  Under current circumstances, it was a necessity.  Alkydma and her classmates would have spread the story throughout the school, and by now rumours of what it meant would be spreading throughout the noble families.  A council would have been called, and vampyres being of the dramatic class that they were, would vie for punishment by execution. To them, maintaining the hierarchy, and keeping power over the humans by unquenchable fear was of the utmost importance.  After all, who else could possibly be their feedstock and slaves? 

There were still whispers about a group of people who had left their colonies- gone rouge so to say.  They were rebelling against the clench of monsters over the human race, striving for equality between all of the God's and Goddess' creations.  But these were seen as rumours from bored, gossiping housewives of all classes.  Yet still Brelai and Seid daydreamed about escaping to join such a clan fervently.  They clung to every hint that pointed towards these pieces of gossip being real.  

They now knew that this supposed group often travelled, not staying in one place for too long.  Lately there was talk among the humans that this group had a base camp near the isles.  They had been preparing for a trip if the need arose for the last few months, storing some supplies in a hollowed-out tree.  Brelai thought it was because Seid graduated in a few months and had already been called in to prepare to work as feedstock.

Humans who worked as feedstock often only lived for five to ten years after they had been called.  The human body could not keep up with the constant loss of blood.  To not cause an uproar among the humans, the nobles often called upon the elderly even though their blood was less nutritious.  Seid being called was a direct result of his relationship with Bre. 

Seid had started preparing for the journey before he brought up the idea to Brelai for a different reason, he knew the time was coming.

Peering out the classroom doo and down both sides of the dimly lit hall, Seid motioned to Brelai to follow him.  Clenching her hand, he pulled her behind him as they quietly snuck out.  Once down the stairwell they flew through the door and sprinted towards the forest.  Only once she was safely behind the treeline did Brelai dare to turn around to look.  Down the street she could see the jet black vehicles of the vampyre's militia coming over the hill leading to the school.  Round of soldiers were streaming out of black SUV doors.  They looked as if they were floating up the steps but the gracefulness of their movements had an edge from the determination set across their cold faces.  

Seid felt the tug on his hand as Brelai stopped to look.  He stepped in front of her and grabbed her shoulders.  "Brelai, we have to go! They'll catch onto the trail soon and us if we don't leave now! C'mon Brelai!" The look in Seid's eyes snapped Brelai back to reality.  With a shaky, small nod of her head, Brelai began to run down the trail.