The Immortals

Chapter 9

Vanessa tossed and turned in her sleep. She was plagued with nightmares. Running through endless corridors of a dark and drafty castle, trying desperately to find a way out to no avail. Ryan chasing after her, “You think this is done b***h? I’ll make your life a living hell. It’s your word against mine who’s going to believe you, you w***e?”

    Vanessa kept running. She knew there had to be a way out. “Help!” She screamed but no one came. She reached a crossroads in the corridor. She had to turn left or right. She could not go straight anymore. Vanessa hesitated. Behind her, she could hear the footsteps getting closer. Ryan was coming. She had to make a decision. Both hallways looked incredibly dark and she knew she would not be able to see regardless of which way she went. She looked down hoping to find a weapon, or even a flashlight to help her see. But there was nothing. She was wearing nothing but a long white t shirt. She didn’t even have shoes.

    Ryan was getting closer. Without knowing why, she chose the left corridor. She ran through the total blackness. She needed to get out, she knew there had to be a way out. She ran and ran until she slammed headfirst into a solid stone wall. Vanessa desperately felt the wall looking anywhere for a door or window, anyway out. It was solid. She was stuck. She picked the wrong hallway. She felt the tears roll down her face. It was over. This is how she would die.

    “Fight.” The words pushed through the despair and fog of her brain like a hurricane. “Fight Vanessa. You can do this. You need to win.”

    “Hello?” she called but she knew no one would answer. There was no one there, the voice was coming from her mind, as if someone was speaking to her telepathically.

    “Fight. Win” The voice told her again.

    Vanessa stood up, wiping her tears. The voice wanted her to fight? But with what? She had no weapon, nothing she could use.

     “You are the weapon.” I am the weapon? What did that mean? Then she suddenly knew what she had to do. She would fight. She would win.

     Ryan suddenly appeared before her, a disturbing smile across his face. But he looked much different than he did a few days ago. The man who was not more than 5’6 was well over 7’ tall. His shoulders broad and muscular. His eyes a pool of black. He was a monster.

     “Well hello Vanessa. I knew you could not run forever. It is time to pay, whore.” Ryan tried to take a step closer, but Vanessa didn’t hesitate. She threw her hands out and the man left the ground, floating about two feet off the ground. She had complete control. Much better than she had in reality.

    With one hand holding the monster still in the air, Vanessa brought her other hand up to be even with it and closed her fist. Suddenly, the monster started grabbing at his throat gasping for breath.

     “What are you doing to me you f*****g witch!” He gasped trying desperately to get some air. Vanessa closed her fist tighter. And tighter still. The monster couldn’t speak anymore. He desperately grabbed at his throat, his legs thrashing helplessly in the air as his face started to turn blue. Vanessa closed her fist even tighter.

    “This isn’t the way.” Without losing her concentration, Vanessa looked over to her right. There stood a small woman, smaller than Vanessa. Her white blonde hair was pulled in a tight bun. She wore white robes with gold trim and stood calmly, her eyes never leaving Vanessa while the younger girl choked the life out of someone.

     “He’s a monster. He tried to rape me! He deserves to die”

    “Yes he is and he did. I do not determine who deserves to live or dies, but I know very few would mourn his death.”

     “Then why shouldn’t I kill him?”

     “How would you feel if you killed him? Would that make you feel better?”

     “Yes!”

    “Vanessa, I know your thoughts better than you. Think. Would you feel better? Killing a man, who is unarmed, unable to fight back, when you have the clear advantage? You already won. What will his death accomplish now?”

    Vanessa looked at the man slowly dying in front of her. The woman was right. She felt no satisfaction from watching him die. “But if I let him go, he will go free, he may hurt other women.”

     “I assure you that will not happen. He will be taken care of.”

     “What does that mean?”

    “I can’t answer that right now. In due time Vanessa. But it is time you make your decision. We are all waiting.”

     The monster before her was seconds away from death. She was watching as the blood drained from his face. Just a little longer and he would be gone from her life forever.

    What was she doing? She wasn’t this person. She still didn’t quite understand her powers, but she knew that if she used them to hurt and kill she would be turning away from the person she was. The person her parents raised her to be. She had a great responsibility, and right then and there she vowed her powers would be used for good. They would be used to protect the people she loved. She would hurt people or even kill if it meant protecting the innocent, but she would not kill for her own purposes. For revenge. Vanessa let go of Ryan. He fell to the ground, with a gasp, grabbing at his throat trying to get his breath back. And just as he was about to stand up, he disappeared.

    Vanessa collapsed to the ground, tears flowing freely from her eyes. She saw the woman in the robes walk towards her, and suddenly next to her appeared a man. A tall man that  looked to be about 27 or 28 with dark hair and grey eyes…Caleb. “You,” Vanessa whispered.

    The man just nodded and held out his hand. Vanessa grabbed it and he helped her up. The woman smiled, “It’s time Vanessa. You’re ready.”

    “Ready for what?”

    “For your awakening.” The woman put her hand on top of Vanessa’s head and closed her eyes. Vanessa felt like she was being pushed through a tunnel of her life. Memories whizzed by on either side as if she was watching a movie of her life. Then suddenly it stopped. And with a jerk, Vanessa woke up.

     “I know what I am,” she whispered to herself. And then passed out into a deep, dreamless, and peaceful sleep.

                ****a few hours earlier****

    Caleb leaned back in the leather recliner in the apartment that he was temporarily renting while browsing Netflix. Most of the older members of the council shunned technology and frowned down on Caleb for embracing it. But the truth was, regardless of when he was born, he was currently living in 2020 and had access to an absurd amount of entertainment 24/7. He thought it was ridiculous not to take advantage of that.

     Caleb was doing his best to keep his distance from Vanessa. He was still monitoring her with the bugs he planted in her apartment and her phone. But he had not gone to her apartment or followed her in almost four days. It was making him crazy. He had the connection open to the bugs constantly, obsessively listening and checking to make sure she was ok. He knew he did not need to be physically watching her unless she was in danger, and he would know.

     For some reason he was unsure of, ever since the incident at the restaurant, Caleb was able to sense Vanessa’s emotions and could feel when she was in danger. He felt her fear and apprehension, but also her strength and resolve when speaking to the police and her lawyer. He felt the utter annoyance whenever someone mentioned his name. And he sensed her excitement and just sheer power when she was practicing her telekinesis. He wished he was able to see her the first time she truly tested her power. But he would be there next time. He just had to be patient.

    Restless, Caleb reclined further in his chair and closed his eyes. He had been getting very little sleep lately, and it was starting to affect him. He did not need sleep the way a regular human did, but even his body needed a way to refuel and recover and after too many sleepless nights he would begin to wear down. After a few minutes Caleb began to drift off in a restless sleep.

    Brother Black, it’s time. Elder Helene’s voice in his head jerked him awake. It was time? Already?

    Yes, Elder, I’m ready. He thought back to her. Of the 8 Head Council Members, only he and Elder Helene had telepathy. Not even Elder Marcus was gifted with that ability, though under extreme circumstances, he had been able to force a one way telepathic connection to either Caleb or Helene for a few seconds.

    Caleb sat up straight and braced himself as Elder Helene entered his subconscious and inserted him in Vanessa’s vision. Caleb had never experienced being implanted in someone’s subconscious before, and the feeling was jarring.

     It took him a few seconds to adjust. Blinking as he tried to get the room in focus, and keep his head from spinning, Caleb realized he was standing in Ellainberg Castle, the Council’s headquarters. He was wearing his navy blue robes that were required while in the Castle. Next to him stood Elder Helene, she was wearing her white robes, her hands folded in front of her and her eyes focused calmly at the scene unfolding before her.

     Caleb turned his attention towards the scene and had to stop himself from gasping aloud. Vanessa stood before him wearing nothing but a large white t shirt, her bare feet were cut and bloody from running barefoot, her curly hair was drenched in sweat and was matted to her face. He could tell she had been crying by her puffy face and bloodshot eyes. Everything inside of him wanted to run towards her, scoop her up in his arms, protect her from everything that was coming their way. But he resisted and stayed still. He knew what this was. He remembered it all too clearly even if it was over 300 years ago. She needed to beat this on her own.

      His eyes finally shifted to the creature in front of Vanessa, hovering about two feet off the ground, writhing in pain, clawing desperately at his neck. For the first time Caleb realized Vanessa’s arms were both outstretched, one hand held out like she was telling someone to stop, the other in a fist. She was doing this.

    He looked to Helene, who still seemed very relaxed. She put a finger to her mouth indicating for Caleb to remain quiet and watch. He balled his fists at his side and fought every instinct in this body and remained still. 

      “This isn’t the way.” Elder Helene told Vanessa gently. Vanessa looked over to the Elder but she did not see Caleb. He realized Helene must be hiding his presence still. Tears were starting to fall down her eyes, but still she did not lose concentration.

      “He’s a monster. He tried to rape me! He deserves to die”

       “Yes he is and he did. I do not determine who deserves to live or dies, but I know very few would mourn his death.”

     “Then why shouldn’t I kill him?”

     “How would you feel if you killed him? Would that make you feel better?”

     “Yes!” Caleb knew this was a lie. Even now he can feel the anguish rip through Vanessa’s body as she slowly took the life from the man-like creature. He knew taking a life like this, even in a vision, would eat at her.

    “Vanessa, I know your thoughts better than you. Think. Would you feel better? Killing a man, who is unarmed, unable to fight back, when you have the clear advantage? You already won. What will his death accomplish now?”

    Vanessa turned to the man in front of her, and Caleb knew her mind was changing. “But if I let him go, he will go free, he may hurt other women.”

    “I assure you that will not happen. He will be taken care of.”

    “What does that mean?”

     “I can’t answer that right now. In due time Vanessa. But it is time you make your decision. We are all waiting.” Vanessa hesitated and without even entering her mind, Caleb could hear and feel all her thoughts as they were his own. He couldn’t quite understand their connection yet but he knew it meant something.

     Suddenly Vanessa released the creature and he went crashing to the ground. Before he even had a second to gain his bearing, Elder Helene waved her hand and he disappeared. Vanessa fell to her knees sobbing. Again, Caleb had to resist the urge to go to her, to comfort her, and protect her. He imagined her soft, pouty lips on his…

    Vanessa looked over again and this time Caleb knew she could see him. They locked eyes. “You,” she whispered. Caleb didn’t trust himself to say anything, so he just nodded and held out his hand to help her up. She reluctantly took it, and he pulled her to her feet.

    “It’s time Vanessa. You’re ready.”

    “Ready for what?”

    “For your awakening.” Elder Helene put her hand on top of Vanessa’s head and closed her eyes. And then she disappeared.

    The Elder looked up at Caleb. “She will awaken in exactly six hours time. Make sure you are ready.”

    Caleb nodded at her. “I will be.”

     “Good. I had my doubts about you being ready, but I see it clearly now what Marcus has been seeing for a while. It has to be you.”

    Caleb didn’t respond but just tilted his head in acknowledgement. He may not have the power of foresight the Elder’s had, but even he could see it could only be him.

    “Take care Brother Black. The world is counting on you to succeed.”

    The Elder touched his arm, and he felt the unsettling push of being sent back to reality. Only a few seconds later Caleb was back on the leather recliner, an episode of Unsolved Mysteries still playing in the background. He was back to wearing jeans and his black t-shirt. He stood up, and for the first time in a while, felt excited. After weeks of waiting around and lurking in the shadows, it was finally time. He was ready.