Eidolon // H.S

Black Blood

“Keep moving” the stocky ginger haired man cooed with little conviction. His appearance was enough to make my figure shiver with revulsion.

Joseph and I had been taken from our family estate five hours previous; thrown unwillingly into a life of the unknown. I can still recall the exact look on my fathers face as we were ushered upon the bullet train - it was one of pure disgust, but not for another being, for himself.

As the metallic train left the boarding platform I couldn’t help but find the bizarreness of the situation intriguing. Never once had we left the confined city walls, the large iron bars mounting the border had provided a well enough warning. It almost felt pleasant saying goodbye to the familiar and hello to whatever lay ahead.

The train had continued on along a straight track for some miles, further and further from the chaos of the city. The sky marked the transition between this world and the next, the stars turning sinister and the landscape desolate.

Slowly but surely the greyness turned to green; the colour green. As we came to a halt the land transformed, it was covered in a blanket of colour, the surrounding dare I say peaceful. A large building complex, its entirety covered in glass, stood at the centre. It was an odd comparison to the deserted lands we had seen on our travels.

My body lurched forward as I was shoved back into consciousness. Joe tugged on the sleeves of my plaid shirt.

 “Stay awake Thea” his green eyes rolled, thick lashes fluttering in annoyance.

The line trudged towards the entrance at a sluggish pace. A mixture of armed guards, weapons strapped around their waist and Doctor’s in clinical white coats huddled around the opening.  

An old man, his beard stubbled and grey hair combed back caught my eye. I had seen him before - one of my fathers colleagues - he used to come and go as he pleased. I can still recall how the pair would sit conversing, whisky in one hand and a pipe in the other. How odd.

Minutes passed and my feet continued to pace until Joseph and I stood at the head of the line. 

“Pass me your arm” a young woman, her arms bearing a wash of black marks commanded. Her hard facial features were emphasised by a wash of poker straight black hair. 

Pale fingers clasped around my wrist, the scratch of nails leaving imprints on my skin. A long syringe was pulled from sanitised packaging - the contents of the tube a clear viscus liquid.

“What’s in there? What’s it for?” I enquired. The black haired woman traced a section of my upper arm, before sending the needle piercing into my skin. A subtle sting struck and then subsided, as the contents of the tube filled with a royal red flush.

Scarlett moved throughout the container, its contents evolving, mixing with the clear matter. I watched, my eyes heavily focused as within a second it turned to black. 

A brief flash of concern sparked across the woman’s face, before disappearing into composure. The needle was withdrawn in an instant, the now black liquid marked with my name, placed carefully into a box. 

I was guided forward, as Joe was forced to endure the process. Although, as my blood had changed his did not. 

The gates gave way to further lines, two to be precise; oh how I was sick to death of queuing. On the left of the complex stood fifty exhausted bodies, by their appearance I guessed they were between the ages of nine and eighteen. 

To the right stood ten, back’s arched and posture strong. They all bore a resemblance despite the gender differences, it was a look of fierceness. 

“Joseph Holland, this line” a man, his skin the shade of cinnamon, hovered his hand towards the larger of the lines. The curve of his lips turning into a grin as he called another name, this time it was my own. 

“Thea Holland, you will be over here” again he pointed, but this time he lingered leaving his hand for a second longer as if to taunt. 

Ten faces turned towards me, their mouths curling with laughter as they observed my difference. I stood out like a sore thumb, lapis hair, pale skin and a gaunt figure was no match to their supremacy. 

A single moment passed and my attention was torn towards my brother. His back turned, as his figure strode towards the correct line. A pang sprang in my chest; he was refusing to look at me and I had no idea why. As he surged off, only a single sentence was uttered “Remember what I told you about the star”.

My fingers fumbled through pockets searching for the desired object. Shoulders only relaxing at the brush of a wooden object. It was still there. 

Joseph’s cool reaction to the situation had stunned me into silence, preventing protest.

We continued in our individual lines for some hours - three others joining my own as we waited. Two males had gathered directly behind me, their stature a replica of a greek titan. The third; a girl, her physique similar to my own.  

“Well newbies, welcome to Octavian” the stocky man who had formally greeted us upon arrival made his second appearance. This time shouting to an orderly crowd.

“You will now be taken to your living quarters. And a bit of friendly advice, get your rest, because tomorrow you will need it” a set of yellow pearls flared, reinforcing the malicious delivering of his advice .

My brown eyes flickered a final time towards Joseph with no avail, before the fourteen of us were guided inside.  

Long brown braids and an accentuated chest lead the group, I could not see his face and nor did I wish to, the deep flesh scars on his back screamed ‘STAY AWAY’.

“I’m Akiva. I’ll be your mentor during your time here” he shouted, his face still hidden. There was a bitterness in his tone and if I was not mistaken a trace of sorrow.

The glassed hallway we had taken appeared to end, a heavy metallic door stood open giving way to a large room.

“You’ll find everything you will need here” a line of exactly fourteen beds were placed symmetrically across a white wall. The space progressing into an open plan bathroom, signalling a loss of privacy. 

As Akiva left our new home we were left to fend for ourselves. Each of us claiming a bed, with no personal belongings to make it our own. 

The timid girl with an appearance alike my own, once again drew my attention, or well her stare certainly did. Her eyes penetrated my being and I couldn’t stop the irritation moulding in my core.

“Can I help you?” I snapped, feeling guilty in an instant. “Sorry”

She smiled cautiously, head bowed whilst her blonde hair sat strung back in a pony tail. Making her way to my side, her heavy breath became audible. 

“Your blood, what colour was it?” my forehead creased in confusion as I was taken aback by her question. I had forgotten all about the blood samples, too wrapped up in where I was and more importantly why. How I had let Joseph leave my side without even the slightest resistance.

My brain pounded against my skull, veins pumping to create a throbbing headache.

“Black, it was black” it had taken a moment for my mouth to function correctly, but the words eventually stuttered out.

 “Why?” I continued. 

 The blonde haired girl violently shook her head, eyes opening with alarm. 

 “We’re going to die, we’re all going to die”

 "I don’t understand!?” I wish I had kept quiet, for the tone of her voice sent a shudder through my spine.

 “Black blood, black blood, black blood”  a chant. It coaxed a fear within me, consuming every nerve end in my body.

“Black Blood”  she whispered, her voice croaked and distorted. A final phrase before she spoke no more.