The Scroll of Osiris: An Eva & Lilura Novel

Chapter 15 Eva

Chapter 15 Eva

Tyr and I got into my BMW and headed to Waterfront Park, a fifteen-minute drive from my apartment. We were quiet for a little bit, but I wanted to broach the subject of Lilura.

“So, you and Lilura are getting pretty close,” I said.

“Yes, I don’t see how its any of your concern,” Tyr told me.

“It’s my concern because I care deeply for Lilura, as my best friend and sister. If you hurt, her I will destroy you. You already have one mark against you treating her the way you did at the meeting.” I told him.

“I had to be distant, so the Fae don’t use her against me. And I’d like to see you try to destroy me.” Tyr challenged.

I ignored his challenge; he clearly didn’t know anything about me. In my time away from Marcus I had done somethings no one but Erika knew about. “I understand your reason for disrespecting her in front of your people. I understand how mortals can be used against us to hurt us. It has happened to me before a few times.”

“Yes, that’s what I’m worried about. I’m also worried about her mortality she was very upset at the thought of dying before me.” Tyr informed me.

“I know she told me,” I said. “Mortals die that’s what they do. I have loved a few over the years and remember them fondly, they have a place in my heart. I explained that you would too.”

“I know I have had some mortal lovers. It’s always difficult to see them die. Lilura I know will be the hardest to see die.” Tyr told me.

“I understand, you love her, and she loves you. She doesn’t have to die though…” I began.

“You are not turning her!” Tyr shouted.

“I would never. She does not understand what it’s like to watch your family, friends, and lovers continue to die. I was merely suggesting extending it and only if she was certain and you agreed.” I told Tyr.

“How would you extend it? I know of no way to do that. How would it affect her magic?” Tyr asked.

“It wouldn’t affect her magic; she would be the same as always just a longer life. What I am talking about is very old, beginning of time old. I learned about this in my travels.” I said.

“Can you please describe how you would accomplish this?” Tyr asked.

“No, I’m sorry. I promised never to tell anyone.” I explained.

“Hmm, well then I’m not sure I would agree to let you do this to Lilura,” Tyr told me.

“That’s alright. I told her I wouldn’t do it unless you both agreed to it.” I happily told him.

“I see. Is this ritual or spell dangerous?” Tyr asked.

“No, perfectly safe and its been performed before,” I told him. “Looks like we are here let’s take a look around,” I said ending our conversation.

I didn’t like the idea of extending Lilura’s life but if Tyr and Lilura agreed I would do it. I was counting on Tyr to say no. Lilura didn’t understand what it was like to live for eight hundred years or a few thousand years watching the world change and the ones you love die. I didn’t want her to experience it.

Tyr and I walked the perimeter of the park and I smelled Josephs sent coming off the wind. I motioned for Tyr to go around the other side and we approached where Joseph’s scent led. We were too late. The Fae was dead and just beginning to turn into a bush, we must have just missed him. I took a deep breath and began to track Joseph’s scent. Waterfront Park didn’t a dedicated parking lot, but there was parking down some side streets. I followed his scent out of the park in the opposite direction of my car down the street a block or two and down a side street and lost it.

I called Lilura and Kodan to let them know and meet back at my apartment.

“We just missed Joseph,” Tyr said.

“I know, he must have gotten into a car and driven off. Nothing is open right now so we can’t check the camera footage for his car.” I said. “Let’s get back to my apartment. Kodan and Lilura are on their way back.”

Tyr and I walked back to my car and returned to my apartment waiting for Lilura and Kodan. When they arrived, they found that Joseph hadn’t been to his house in a while. Kodan called a friend at the local FBI office and had them run Joseph’s financials and put a bolo out on his car. Tyr and Lilura were going to the Seelie court to get the blade and I helped Lilura get ready, letting her wear one of my old court dresses. Kodan and I were going to go to search the area around where the last charge on Joseph credit card was from.

The four of us separated agreeing to meet back here at my apartment. Kodan and I drove to the location where Joseph’s credit card was used last. We split up and went separate directions and began a grid search of the area. There were many human smells and I followed Joseph’s around in circles but could not place where he had been. Kodan texted me to meet at the car. I met him there and we conferred.

“It's like he went in circles I couldn’t get a clear sense of direction of where he was going,” Kodan told me.

“Me as well. It’s like he did it on purpose. Do you think he knows we are on to him?” I asked.

“Maybe, let's get back to your apartment, it’s been half an hour. Hopefully, Tyr and Lilura are back.” Kodan told me.

We sat on my couch and waited for them to get back from court. I rested my head on Kodan’s shoulder and he placed his hand on my knee. My door opened and Lilura and Tyr stumbled in, I could smell blood.

“What the hell happened?” Kodan asked.

“We ran into some trouble.” Lilura huffed. Tyr was nearly unconscious Kodan and I took him from Lilura.

“No s**t,” Kodan said helping me pull Tyr’s heavy body to the couch where we laid him down. Lilura limped her way over to him and knelt beside him.

“Lilu, you’re bleeding badly,” I said worriedly.

“I know, but I’m fine. Tyr has iron poisoning. We have to help him.” Lilura pleaded.

“We will, but you need help too.” I pleaded. She let me lead her to the chair beside the couch and I quickly examined her cuts.

“There are just some cuts,” Lilura said.

“These are more than some cuts,” I growled at her.

“How do we help Tyr?” Lilura asked desperately.

“Most Fae wear a protective item, but I notice he isn’t wearing his. His energy is drained, but I don’t know how long it will take for him to regain it.” I explained. I had an idea, but I wasn’t sure Tyr would like it.

“He said when I’m near he can access some of my energy. Maybe I can transfer some of mine to him.” Lilura said.

“Give him what Lilu? You barely have enough energy for yourself.” I questioned.

“I have enough.” She said determined.

“Eva is right Lilura. He just needs rest and so do you.” Kodan added.

Lilura went to Tyr’s side and placed a hand on his forehead. She closed her eyes and passed out only to wake moments later. Tyr did look a little better, but she looked worse.

“You two are a f*****g mess,” Kodan grumbled, throwing himself into a chair. I sat on the floor next to Lilura. I put my hand on her shoulder.

“I have never seen you so exhausted Lilura.” I lamented. I pulled her into a hug, and she sobbed into my shoulder until she fell asleep.

“What do we do now?” Kodan asked.

I carefully lay Lilura flat on the ground and stood up.

“I have a way to help them both. First, we need to change my sheets. Can you do that for me?” I asked.

“Sure, where are they?” Kodan asked.

“My clean sheets are in my hallway closet.” I pointed. “They are the grey ones.”

“What are you going to do?” Kodan asked.

“I am going to gather what I need to help them,” I told him and went into my kitchen to begin my prep.

“How exactly are you going to help them?” Kodan asked.

“Questions later saving lives now,” I said and continued to do what I was doing. I heard Kodan huff and walk away.

It was best if no one asked questions about what I was doing, I should even know what I knew. Erika taught me many things when I was with her and told me things I would never forget. In my kitchen, I collected two knives and sterilized them and a metal straw. I opened a hidden compartment in the back of one of my cabinets and pulled out a mortar and pestle and the herbs and a small piece of the last ingredient that I needed and an ancient knife. I closed it and shut the cabinet as Kodan returned from my room.

“Now what?” Kodan asked grumpily.

“We need to place Lilura and Tyr on my bed,” I told him.

He grabbed Lilura and went to my room. I set my stuff on the counter and grabbed Tyr. I set Tyr on the bed next to Lilura and made them hold hands. When Lilura dumbly transferred some of her energy to him she actually helped me along the way without knowing it. I cleared off my side table and used a sanitizing wipe on it. Kodan was watching me.

“What’s next?” He asked.

“I need to finish preparing, can you watch them for me?”

“Yes.” He said and moved the chair from the corner of my room next to the bed.

I went to the kitchen and opened my refrigerator and pulled out all my stored blood and began drinking. I mixed the herbs in my pestle until they were in a fine powder and added the small piece of the last ingredient. I finished half of my stored blood and grabbed my ancient knife and stabbed over my heart until it barely punctured it. I pulled the knife out and quickly stuck the straw into my heart and placed my mouth over the end and sucked slowly until I tasted blood. I put my finger over the end of the straw and pulled out meeting some resistance as the wound I created was healing. I moved the straw over the pestle and moved my finger releasing my blood into it. I grabbed a clean towel and got it wet and wiped away the blood on my skin, my wound was healed.

I picked up the pestle and sanitized knives and carried them to my room. When I entered Kodan looked up at me and sniffed.

“Why do I smell blood?” Kodan asked.

“I cut myself. Can you go grab the blood on my counter I will need it later.” I told him.

Kodan stood giving me a suspicious look and went to get the rest of my blood supply. I took the first sterilized knife and cut Lilura on the wrist and squeezed her blood into the pestle. I did the same with Tyr.

“What the hell Eva!” Kodan shouted and set my blood on the bed as he held Lilura’s wrist.

“Don’t worry it will heal,” I told him.

Using my finger, I mixed my blood, Lilura’s, and Tyr’s into my pestle with all my herbs and special ingredient. Moving in a clockwise direction I began chanting in Sumerian. When I finished my chant, I wrote in Sumerian on Lilura and Tyr’s faces and arms with my mixture and over my heart. I took a sip of my mixture and realized something about Lilura, that I knew she didn’t know yet. This would protect her form who was coming for her. I opened Lilura and Tyr’s mouths and poured the rest in. I kneeled on the bed between them and placed a hand on their foreheads and began to speak Sumerian. I felt a familiar energy build inside me; one I hadn’t felt for centuries. As I continued to chant the energy grew and grew filling the room, filling my apartment. I could see Kodan out of the corner of my eye, reacting to what was happening. Once the energy was at its peak, I place my lips against Lilura’s and felt half of the energy transfer to her. I heard Kodan suck in a breath of surprise. I continued and placed my lips against Tyr’s and the other half of the energy transferred to him. I finished my chant in Sumerian. With the energy transferred to them the symbols in Sumerian disappeared into their skin and my own.

Lilura and Tyr opened their eyes at the same time and looked confused.

“Wh… What happened?” Lilura asked. She looked over at Tyr. “Your alright!” She hugged him tightly.

“Yes, I feel better than ever.” He said confused.

“Me too,” Lilura said. “Eva, what happened are you okay you are shaking.”

I was shaking from the amount of energy I had used. I reached for the blood and Kodan handed it to me. I took a big drink. I was so thirsty.

“I don’t know what she did. I think it was magic.” Kodan told Lilura and Tyr.

“Impossible! Vampire’s can’t do magic!” Tyr exclaimed.

“He’s right,” Lilura said.

“Well, I don’t know what else to call it. I could feel the energy as she did whatever she did a ritual or spell. She wouldn’t tell me until you were both safe.” Kodan told them.

I continued to drink and listen to their conversation.

“There’s blood on her shirt is that my blood?” Lilura asked.

“No, it's hers,” Kodan said as he leaned in to smell it.

“It looks like is by her heart!” Lilura said.

I finished all the blood and felt wonderful, back to my full power. I stood and went to my closet and changed shirts.

“We need to find Joseph and stop him,” I told them.

“We got the knife,” Lilura said and Tyr pulled it out handing it to me.

“Okay good. Kodan and I searched the area around his last credit card charge but couldn’t follow his trail.” I told them.

“We should go to the airport we know he is going to fly from there to New Orleans and go to a graveyard there,” Kodan said.

“Where is his wife buried?” I asked.

No one answered.

“I’ll find out,” Kodan said. He made a phone call. “She is buried at the Knoxville National Cemetery.”

“Okay, everyone calls your people we need to get there fast!” I said.

I texted Marcus and Erika. I hoped Erika would arrive in time.

“Please tell me you didn’t do what we talked about.” Tyr pleaded.

“I didn’t. I did something else. You both were drained and needed to be healed quickly so that’s what I did. I performed an ancient healing ritual.” I told him.

“There’s no such thing.” Lilura and Tyr said.

“Not that either of you know of. It's special, very ancient magic that I learned from Erika.” I told them.

“Who’s Erika?” Lilura asked.

“Someone I met very long ago on my travels. She is actually on her way here.” I told her.

“Stop being cryptic and just tell us what’s going on,” Tyr demanded.

“Alright. The year was 1270 and Marcus and I had been separated for five years. I was deep in my depression at the loss of my son. I left Italy and wandered to Greece and then took a boat to Egypt. I knew vampires originated in Egypt Marcus had told me stories, so I went looking for a distraction. Then one night I was having a wonderful time drinking with some of the local vampires a woman arrived, and the local vampires cowered and hid. She was beautiful and carried a very strong aura around her. She came up to me and sat down. I offered her a drink and she accepted. We sat quietly. I knew I must have stepped into a very powerful vampires’ territory by mistake. When she finally spoke to me, she said ‘You have finally arrived. I could feel your pain and sorrow from here. Your son is alright, he’s happy and safe.’ I was so surprised I wondered how she knew about my son. ‘No Marcus didn’t write me a letter, it's my job to know.’ She told me, as I had just thought Marcus must have sent her a letter. ‘Who are you?’ I asked her. ‘I am Ereshkigal you may call me Erika.’ ‘I am Eva.’ I tell her and she pats my hand. ‘I know. I have been waiting for you to meet me here.’ She told me. ‘You have why?’ I ask her terrified about how she knew I would come. ‘I called to you. We must return to my home, the home of all vampires Sumer. Although it's not called that now.’ She tells me and I am very confused. ‘Sumer, I thought Egypt is where vampires originated?’ I asked her. ‘That is a very long story, but myself and my husband Nergal created the first vampires in Sumer but as our great kingdom fell and our children perished, we moved to Egypt and started fresh where we created Osiris and Isis the first successful vampires the ancestors of you.’ She told me. I was shocked I had no idea, Marcus never told me any of this. ‘Marcus doesn’t know young one, none of them do. Just you and I.’ She said. ‘Why tell me this?’ I asked her. ‘I feel a kinship with you, and I know your pain, like I said I have been waiting for you so that you may be my child.’ She said. ‘What do you mean?’ I asked even more terrified. ‘Will you allow me to make you a new? I will teach you and train you in ways no other knows.’ She told me. ‘Yes. What about Marcus?’ I asked her. ‘Don’t worry, he will never know that his bite has been taken over by me it will still appear and feel as his.’ She said and bit me draining me and feeding me her blood remaking me into a vampire. We left Egypt the next day and she took me to her home and trained me in ancient Sumerian magic, only myself and she know this magic.” I explained to them.

“How did you know it would work on me? Tyr asked.

“Another long story, but I’ll give you the short version. Erika and I were at her home and we went to a market and we saw a group of Fae, some of them started yelling at us calling us filthy vampires, but one of them saw what we were and defended us. They began fighting each other, the one who defended us was injured. I killed the rest while Erika looked after our defender. We took him to Erika’s and she had me perform this same healing ritual and it worked. We sent him on his way back to the Seelie court. I’m sure you know him, Tyr, his name is Aeden.” I explained, knowing Tyr was not going to like that story.

Tyr hesitated looking surprised. “Oh. uh yeah, I know him. I have heard of Ereshkigal and Nergal before too. They are Sumerian gods. Ereshkigal is the Goddess of the underworld and Queen of the Damned and Nergal is the God of war, pestilence, destruction, death, and the underworld, and is co-ruler with Ereshkigal.” Tyr said.

“Yes,” I said.

“That explains why Lilura and I feel so good,” Tyr said.

“Wow. That was a bombshell.” Lilura laughed.

I smiled at her. “Yes, well let’s prepare for battle against Osiris and head to the cemetery.”

I took Lilura too my closet and made her put back on the Kevlar suit and choker.