THE ONE WHO WAIT IN DARKNESS
808 Words
Rain fell harder over the Robinson estate.
Nobody moved.
Nobody breathed.
Marcus Robinson stared at the man standing beyond the broken gates.
Mikael.
Four hundred years.
Four centuries since Marcus had last seen him.
Four hundred years since Marcus believed he buried him beneath fire and blood.
Daniel looked between the strangers and his father.
Confusion slowly became anger.
You know him?
Marcus said nothing.
Mikael smiled.
Time had touched him strangely.
His face looked young, but his eyes looked ancient. Deep scars crossed his neck and disappeared beneath his black clothing. Silver symbols burned faintly across his skin.
He looked human.
But Daniel felt something wrong immediately.
No heartbeat.
No breathing.
Nothing.
Just like the First Blood creature.
Victoria stepped beside Marcus.
Her voice dropped.
He should be dead.
Mikael laughed softly.
That hurt my feelings.
Daniel's eyes narrowed.
I hate when people talk like I already know the story.
Elias stood frozen.
His ancient book had fallen from his hands without him noticing.
He looked terrified.
Not nervous.
Terrified.
Daniel noticed.
Elias.
No response.
Elias.
Elias looked up slowly.
His face had lost color.
He's not supposed to exist.
Mikael's smile widened.
Now that sounds familiar.
Suddenly every hunter surrounding the mansion dropped to one knee.
Daniel frowned.
The female hunter looked shocked.
What are they doing?
Mikael ignored her.
His eyes moved directly toward Zara.
And for one brief second...
Daniel saw sadness inside them.
Not hatred.
Not anger.
Sadness.
The resemblance is painful, Mikael whispered.
Zara stepped backward.
Her heart pounded loudly.
Daniel heard every beat.
Fast.
Afraid.
Confused.
What do you want from me?she asked.
Mikael looked at her carefully.
Then he said something that shattered the silence.
You look like her.
Nobody moved.
Victoria closed her eyes.
Marcus looked ready to kill.
Daniel slowly turned.
What does that mean?
Still silence.
Daniel's patience finally snapped.
What is wrong with everybody tonight?
Power exploded around him.
Golden eyes.
Extended fangs.
Dark veins spread beneath his skin.
For the first time all night, Marcus looked directly at Daniel.
Control yourself.
No.
Daniel looked at everyone.
No more secrets.
He pointed at Mikael.
Who is he?
He pointed toward the First Blood creature.
What is that?
Then toward Zara.
And what exactly is happening to her?
Silence.
Again.
Daniel laughed bitterly.
Unbelievable.
Then Zara screamed.
Everyone spun around instantly.
She had fallen to her knees.
Dark symbols spread slowly across her arms.
Ancient symbols.
Moving symbols.
Alive.
The markings crawled beneath her skin like black snakes.
Victoria rushed toward her.
Zara!
But Zara suddenly looked up.
And Daniel froze.
Her eyes had changed.
Completely black.
No white.
No color.
Only darkness.
Then she smiled.
Not Zara's smile.
Something else.
Something watching through her.
Marcus whispered quietly.
No...
Zara stood slowly.
The wind around the estate changed instantly.
Cold.
Too cold.
The temperature dropped sharply.
Daniel saw his breath.
Impossible.
Not in Lagos.
Not in this heat.
The First Blood creature stared at Zara.
Its expression changed.
Fear.
Real fear.
What is happening?Daniel whispered.
Elias swallowed.
;I think...
He looked terrified.
I think she's waking up.
Mikael's smile disappeared instantly.
No.
Marcus looked sharply at him.
You know this.
Mikael looked away.
Bad sign.
Very bad sign.
Marcus moved closer.
What do you know?
Mikael looked at Zara.
Then toward Marcus.
Then he finally spoke.
Four hundred years ago we made a mistake.
Lightning flashed.
Thunder rolled across the city.
Marcus's face hardened.
Stop.
But Mikael continued.
We created something we couldn't control.
Daniel looked confused.
We?
Marcus turned instantly.
Enough.
The ground cracked beneath his feet.
Ancient power flooded the estate.
Trees bent violently.
Windows exploded again.
Even hunters looked frightened.
But Mikael did not move.
He stared directly at Marcus.
Tell them the truth
Marcus's eyes darkened
No
Mikael laughed softly.
"You still think secrets protect people."
Suddenly Zara began floating.
Daniel's eyes widened.
What...
Dark energy swirled around her body.
The symbols beneath her skin burned brighter.
Everyone stepped backward instinctively.
Even Marcus.
Even Victoria.
Then Zara spoke.
But the voice wasn't hers.
You buried us.
Silence.
Daniel looked confused.
Us?
Marcus slowly looked toward the First Blood creature.
No.
Toward the darkness beneath the estate.
Something moved below.
Then another sound came.
Scratching.
Slow.
Deliberate.
Then another.
And another.
Daniel felt fear crawl into his chest.
Because the sounds weren't coming from one direction.
They were coming from everywhere.
Beneath the mansion.
Beneath the ground.
Beneath Lagos itself.
Elias dropped his book.
No.
Marcus looked toward him sharply.
What?
Elias backed away.
The vault.
Daniel frowned.
What vault?
Elias stared toward the ground.
The First Blood wasn't imprisoned alone.
Nobody spoke.
Daniel stared at him.
Slowly.
Very slowly.
No.
Elias looked up.
Eyes full of terror.
There were others.
Then the ground beneath the Robinson estate exploded.
And something began climbing out.
- Writer
