Bloodlines: Alexus Dracula

Into the Wilderness

Alexus:

I am not sure what day it is but it seems like we have been here a while.  We made it to the spring, Rome and I have been living in the hut that Papa had built a few years ago.  This was where we would escape the world and live our best lives without having to hide our abilities.  Rome has been quiet, he hasn't really spoken much since he woke up.  I'm starting to worry about him and I don't know what to do but give him space and hope that he will talk to me when he is ready.  I have taken it upon myself to do all the hunting, cook our meals, and gather firewood.  My sleep has been riddled with nightmares, mainly about hunters finding us and I'm not strong enough to protect Rome or the sick jokes where we are home with Mama and Papa, laughing, enjoying each other's company, being a family until I wake.  It's become common for me to either wake in terror or emptiness.  I try to be strong for Rome and never allow myself to cry in front of him, I leave those emotions for the shower, where I can disguise my sobs and tears with the flow of the water.  My hope that Mama will come and get us grows dimmer and dimmer by the day.  

I roughly think we have been here eight days but the first couple was blurs of emotion before I picked myself up, dusted myself off, and decided I had to keep moving forward. I need to be strong for Rome. I kept reassuring Rome that someone was going to come for us but as the days passed I knew that, that someone was not Mama.  I think I knew the night we left but was in denial.  I was hopeful though, hopeful that grandfather would find us because Mama had mentioned he was coming to get us anyway.  My only doubt about that idea was the fact that he had never been to the spring and I can't leave any traces or signals of our positions.  It's already risky enough that I have a fire going, I keep it constantly and slowly burning with the hope that it won't be too visible.  On the off chance that someone does find us, I have been preparing weapons, mainly spears, and scattered them throughout the area.

"Rome, dinner is ready" I yelled from beside the fire, I decided to have a good old cookout.  Rome slowly made his way over to the fire and sat down ready for some dinner.  He was still not talking so I decided to talk to him.  "Eat your food before it gets cold, please," I said as I looked at him with concern.  "Alexus, I am fine.  I just don't know what to say or do or think" said Rome quietly.  "Well, I am here whenever you need me," said Alexus softly. They continued to eat their dinner in silence, looking at the stars in the sky. "Do you remember when we use to come up here with Mama and Papa and Papa would show us the different constellations in the sky?" asked Alexus and a tear threatened to spill over. Rome gave a small smile then continued to eat his dinner.  I continued to reminisce memories with our parents. Suddenly Rome spoke just louder than a whisper, "She didn't give me a choice", confused I stayed quiet hoping that he would elaborate.  "She didn't give me a choice and I never got to say goodbye" continued Rome. I was sitting there silently trying to figure out who Rome was talking about until it hit me. Mama knocked him out so it was easier for me to move him but she didn't think about how it would feel to wake up to her gone thought Alexus as she buried her hand into the palm of her hand.  I moved closer to Rome and wrapped my arms around him, "I am so sorry Rome but she loved you so much and this was the hardest thing she has ever had to do" I explained. "Mama would never have left us if she didn't have to and she was so scared that she acted in haste and didn't think about anything other than getting us out. But I can tell you her leaving you was the hardest thing she has ever done and even though she isn't here with us she is a part of us.  Her blood runs in our veins and her memories live in our hearts.".  "I love you Alex" said Rome softly and he snuggled into her hug.

At that exact moment Alexus heard rustling in the bushes, "Rome, you know where to go and I will get you as soon as I can.  I promise." instructed Alexus. As Rome ran down the forest path behind her, she slowly and cautiously moved toward the entrance of the forest path without taking her eyes of the rustling.  Alexus slowly reached behind a Totara tree on the edge of the forest path and grabbed a spear she has been sharpening.  Alexus slowly shifted her weight and got into a ready stance with her knees slightly bent.  As the rustling got louder and closer, she began to see a shadowy figure coming through.  Alexus lunged forward and launched the spear at the shadowy figure.  A hand snapped out of the bushes and caught the spear, "Wow! Your throw is stronger than I remember" said a familiar voice as they became visible.  Tears began to stream down Alexus' face "Grandfather!" she said as she ran and launched herself into her grandfather's arms.  Dracula scooped Alexus up into a tight embrace and let the silence engulf them both.  After a while standing in their silent embrace, "So, I am guessing that she didn't make it" whispered Alexus.  "She will always protect you and your brother but this time she fought to her last breath, I am so sorry Alexus" explained Dracula.  Alexus snuggled her face into her grandfather's chest one last time before breaking away.  "I guess we should probably so and find Rome before he begins to worry", "Ahhh yes little Roman," said  Dracula.  My grandfather has always been so formal and won't use our nicknames, he has always stated that we were given first names to be honoured not to be dissected. Alexus grabbed her grandfather's hand and led him down the forest path towards to hut.

As they came into eyesight of the hut, Rome came bursting out of the side door and ran down the path before launching himself into grandfathers arms. "Grandfather!" yelled Rome, it was good to see a smile on Rome's face again, I thought I would never see that smile again and without realising, I was smiling too.  "I will go put the kettle on, tea with milk still?" asked Alexus, "Yes, please Alexus," replied Dracula before continuing to catch up with Rome.  

As Alexus busied herself inside preparing the tea for her and her grandfather, she couldn't help but wonder if they were still safe.  Thoughts continuously invaded her brain, 'what if someone saw him? what if someone followed him? what if the hunters are tracking him'.  Alexus was deep in her thoughts, that she didn't even hear Dracula and Rome enter into the kitchen.  Alexus snapped out of her daze as she heard Rome pull a chair out from the table.  She continued to make the tea before placing it in front of her grandfather and sitting down across from him.  "Roman, go get ready for bed please" instructed, Alexus.  Rome never argued when Alexus used his full name because he knew she only used it when she was serious.  

The moment that Rome left the room Alexus began to speak, "Do you know if you were followed grandfather?  Were there any signs of Hunters?". "I made sure I wasn't followed and the only place that I saw the sign of the Hunters was at the homestead," at the mention of the homestead Alexus again zoned out thinking about her mother but soon snapped out of it as a rogue tear fell down her cheek, she quickly wiped it away.  "And Mama?" asked Alexus.  "There was no sign of her, nobodies.  There were only the bullet holes through the house and soaked blood-stained walls that were the telltale sign of a fight" explained Dracula.  Alexus' angry began to grow and her breathing became rapid as she flung herself up with such force that her chair flew into the wall, in anger she rose her hands in fists and slammed them on the table as she let out "They took her body", the sheer force broke the table clean in half.  Rome worried by the noise came running out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around him.  He had never seen Alexus this angry and was scared.  Alexus stood there breathing heavily, the anger threatening to take over her, she was seeing red.  Dracula was trying to snap Alexus out of her rage but she couldn't see past her rage until she heard a whimper come from Rome. "Alex, are you alright?" he said with a scared tone in his voice. Alexus was snapped back into reality and looked at the table then at Rome who was hesitant to get any closer.  "Rome, I'm so sorry.  I'm fine, I don't know what happened.  I just need some air," said Alexus before she ran outside.

Alexus:

I don't know what came over me in there but all I knew was that I had to run and run fast.  Before I knew it my legs had carried me back to our house.  As I reached the edge of the forest, our home which was once warm and inviting looked cold.  There were bullet holes in the walls, broken windows and the back door had been broken of the hinges.  I approached the house cautiously, I was halfway across the back yard when I saw them laying on the ground.  I dropped to my knees and cried, my mother's swords were lying in the middle of the yard which meant one thing, this is where she fell.  After I managed to compose myself, I picked up her swords and walked inside.  My childhood home was destroyed, I walked past my bedroom and didn't even recognise it.  I walked into Mama and Papas room and saw the sword covers.  I carefully placed the swords in their covers and continued to investigate the rest of the house.  All our rooms were destroyed and all our memories tainted.  As I went to leave, I stood on a broken photo frame that was lying on the ground.  It had a picture of me, Rome, Mama and Papa when we first built the spring hut. I carefully slide the photo out of the broken frame and placed it in my pocket before leaving and heading back towards the hut.

Alexus returned to the hut and slowly walked in through the side door.  Dracula was standing in the kitchen by the sink.  Alexus was looking around to see where Rome was, "He's in his room getting ready for bed," said Dracula.  "Ok, I might just go in and let him know that I'm home," she said quietly before making her way to Rome's room.  Alexus softly knocked on the entrance to Rome's room before walking in. "Hey Rome, I just wanted to come and see if you were okay and to say goodnight," explained Alexus unsure of how he was feeling about the whole incident.  Rome walked over to Alexus and wrapped his arms around her waist, "I'm glad that you came home, I wasn't sure if you were coming back," replied Rome.  "Rome, I am so sorry for scaring you.  I don't know what happened but I promise, I will never leave you, ever again," Alexus comforted him.  "Right, now you jump into bed.  I need to go talk to grandfather and pack so we can leave tomorrow," explained Alexus before tucking Rome into bed.

"How are you feeling, Alexus?" asked Dracula, "A little tired but I wanted to talk to you about what happened and what I can do so that it never happens again?" asked Alexus.  "It's called bloodlust," explained Dracula.  "We're not 100% sure what causes it but all we know is that it is a primal instinct set off by emotion.  The downfall is once you go primal, there are no cases of a vampire coming back from it then they become a dweller but from what I witnessed tonight it's obviously set off from extreme emotions" stated Dracula.  "You are going to need to be careful of your emotions Alexus, especially at your young age.  Hopefully, as you get older your emotions will be less and less affected by it" explained Dracula.  

"Thanks, grandfather.  Now, we need to talk about what is going to happen from here," said Alexus.  "Well, we will leave tomorrow morning and head towards Auckland.  Once we reach Auckland we will fly back to America but we need to make a few stops on the way to cover our tracks.  It will take us roughly 6 weeks to get back to my house in Pennslyvania but from there we will have to make a plan for your's and Roman's future" explained Dracula.  Alexus was a little worried by her grandfather's statement regarding their future but decided to leave it alone.  Alexus showed her grandfather to his room before retiring herself.  She couldn't help but wonder what Dracula meant when he referred to their future and she kept wondering until she drifted off to sleep.