Born or Made

Chapter 11: Soul Swallowing

Capry sat in her living room looking anxiously out of the window. She would glance down the street every so often to see if Athanatos’ black Lexus would come driving around the curve. She checked the time. It was going to be seven in the evening. Kathy was outside watering her rose bushes. They would be blooming soon. She stood quietly with her hose in her hand, letting water trickle into the earth, looking serene. Capry was trying to let her mother’s energy calm her as she waited for Athanatos to show up. He had to, right?

Capry’s phone vibrated in her lap. She glanced down at the screen, thinking for a moment it was her Guardian. When she realized it wasn’t, her heart began to pound. There was a single text from Seph that had come in. She picked up her phone to read it and hesitantly clicked the notification.

“I’m sorry about Megan and the girls. She must have gotten your combination from my binder the other night. I didn’t give it to her. I’m glad you’re safe.”

Capry took a deep breath and sighed. She really thought Seph was never going to speak to her again. She wasn’t sure what to say. She didn’t exactly feel safe after the week she’d had.

“I’m sorry about what happened and if I scared you,” Capry texted. “I never meant to hurt you. I’m sorry your parents made you transfer. I always mess everything up.”

“I’ve been meaning to text. My parents just gave me my electronics back. I felt like we should talk,” Seph replied. Capry’s brow furrowed as she wondered what her and Seph might have to talk about. It seemed pretty cut and dry to her what would happen to them after Seph’s parents and the cops had been involved. She was actually surprised they hadn’t made Seph block her number.

“I think your parents would be upset if they knew you were talking to me,” was Capry’s clipped reply.

“I won’t get you in trouble,” Seph’s message came in a minute after Capry sent her last one.

Capry felt odd. A week ago, if none of this had happened, she knew she would have been in knots over Seph not talking to her. If it hadn’t of been for everything else that occurred after that fateful moment when she’d bitten Seph, she would have been devastated that yet another friend’s parents had deemed her unfit to be around their child. But it had happened. Capry realized she had much bigger things to worry about now. The rest of the teenage drama seemed trivial and pointless. She had come to that conclusion after she’d had time to think about the last prank Seph’s friends had played on her. What a stupid waste of energy and time that had been. It must be nice to have that much free time to think up ways to bully someone else.

“I’m not worried about getting in trouble. I already am…” Capry thought for a moment and deleted the message, not sure how to proceed. She put her phone down and glanced out of the window again. Still no sign of him. Her phone vibrated again.

“I told the cops I didn’t want to press charges,” Seph texted. “My dad was really angry at me. He told me this wasn’t how he raised me to be and then transferred me the next day. He said I had to get away from you to see how unhealthy our friendship is.”

Capry read the words and found herself inwardly rolling her eyes. A lesbian wasn’t the worst thing Seph could be, if she even was. She could be a vampire or a potential murderer. Or she could be doing drugs.

“I had to transfer out too,” Capry texted. She felt strangely detached from the situation. Even if she wanted things to be different, this wasn’t her life anymore. “I’m sorry I caused problems with you and your dad but that shouldn’t be an issue for much longer. Do you think he’s right? About us?”

“Megan told me you were at school today getting your stuff. I told her what she did wasn’t funny. Where are you transferring?” Seph asked. Capry felt sad because she knew she couldn’t tell her. And maybe a little frustrated that Seph had only acknowledged the first thing she'd said. This almost felt like small talk. She wanted to ask Seph if there was a bigger reason why she had undoubtedly went against Brent and Tammy's “Capry Ban.”

“A boarding school out of state,” Capry replied. There was a few minutes before she received another message.

“You’re not going to tell me more than that?” Seph asked.

“It’s probably best I don't,” Capry replied. She was tempted to tell Seph to say what she needed to say and stop beating around the bush. She wasn’t sure why she felt so impatient. It may have had something to do with what Kathy had said earlier. Capry thought her anger might have been misplaced. But the more she thought of it, she realized her mother had been correct. Seph wasn't trustworthy.

Capry felt like Seph had a right to ask for an explanation. She even had a right to be angry. But she wasn't exactly sure where this was going. Seph had never been quite good at expressing how she really felt. Capry knew she kept a lot of things from her that she usually had to find out from other people. Capry, however , was usually an open book. Almost to a fault. And maybe she needed to change that.

In the past, a lot of things she’d told Seph had come up in conversations with her friends. And then were used to mercilessly tease Capry when Seph’s friends would question their relationship. Seph usually made excuses, saying they hung out because their parents were friends. Even though Seph knew damn well that their parents had become friends because her and Capry were always hanging out. Megan knew different, for she’d known Seph longer. Perhaps that’s why she’d given Seph so much s**t and resented Capry. Because after a while, Seph didn’t hang out with her on weekends anymore, cause her and Capry were always at one or the other’s house.

“I’m trying to understand what happened the other day,” Seph finally texted.

“You were there,” Capry replied, avoiding the question.

“Are you seriously mad at me???” Seph texted. Capry chewed her lip, feeling guilt seep in through the anger.

“No,” Capry typed, shaking her head. “It wasn’t your fault.”

“Then what was that?” Seph texted. Capry began to reply as another text came in. “When things were happening and you bit me, my head got all fuzzy and everything felt almost electric. And then I started getting light headed and I could feel my blood getting sucked out of my neck. You were so strong, I couldn’t get you off of me. I was PINNED to my mattress. And then outside, in the front yard I HEARD your voice in my head. And I’m starting to feel like I’m crazy.”

Capry cringed away from her phone. Seph used to be able to win against Capry in arm wrestling. It was kind of absurd to think that Capry could overpower her under normal circumstances.

“Am I crazy?” Seph asked.

“No,” Capry sent the text unsure of what else to say. She may have said she was the one that was crazy, in the past. But Capry knew different now. She was different. What she had done, even if it had been wrong, was just part of her nature. “I apologize for everything, Seph. I never meant to do that to you,” she repeated lamely.

“What are you?” Seph asked. There it was. The BIG question that Capry knew was lingering somewhere in there.

“I have to go away to sort myself out,” Capry replied. “Your dad is probably right. About our friendship. But I’m glad to have known you.”

After Capry sent the text she pushed her phone underneath a pillow on the couch and rested her head on the large cushion she’d been leaning against. Her phone vibrated a few more times but she ignored it, scanning the street for Athanatos. She wanted nothing more than for things to go back to normal, but that was clearly just not in her cards.

******************************

He could hear the rhythmic chanting in the darkness, as his tight little world rumbled around him and became impossibly smaller. It was the only sound from the outside world he’d heard in some time. Zagreus may have even rejoiced in the beautiful sound if he didn’t recognize the language of his home and understand that the magic was being cast to bury him deeper in his prison.

He let out a roar, causing the spirits around him to swirl hysterically in their panic as they attempted to dodge his tendrils and hands. He was able to snatch one out of the air, a small one. He brought the small glowing being to his mouth as it flailed and cried. This miniscule offering would not be enough.

He heard the sorrowful wail of its’ mother nearby, knowing she was helpless to stop him. She had spent hundreds of years trapped here with him in the endless black, but she'd had her baby. He paused and looked at the small being as it cried and reached out for its' mother. It would take half a second to swallow the infant whole, but would it even make a difference? He decided he needed something bigger. He set it free and watched the tiny blue-gray being fly back into its’ mothers arms as he snatched another soul. The pair vanished into the swirling sea of spirits above him.

Zagreus’ next victim was a male. He examined it a moment as it struggled. A warrior. He likely still had a body somewhere else. The old magic was fading and he wasn’t sure if he should fully devour or just sip, as he had for centuries. Desperate times called for desperate measures.

The girl would likely have been enough to complete the work of his Sorcerers, if she hadn’t erupted in a ball of hellfire and burned him so. He was wondering how such a small inexperienced being could be gifted with so much delicious power. She had been a source of water in a vast desert. He couldn’t remember the last time he had tasted something so sweet.

Having no fresh blood in his already weakened state had made healing painfully slow. His scorched skin cracked open and wept puss when he moved. He even struggled slightly to keep hold of the warrior before him, who strained against him valiantly.

“Your fight is over,” he rasped, as he brought the being to his cracked lips. He breathed in deeply, inhaling the soul. The warrior did not scream in his last moments of any kind of existence. Zagreus felt a slight burning as the now permanently deceased being’s magic spread through his body electrically, to be absorbed. It was a start but it was not enough. He began snatching more and more souls around him, sucking them in as quickly as possible. If he knew devouring them completely would have given him such an efficient boost he would have stopped trying to make them last. It had been many, many years since the sacrifices had stopped coming. Zagreus had no way of knowing exactly how long it had been. He couldn’t reach out to feel the realms. But now he had eyes, thanks to the female fledgling. If the vampires were smart, that wouldn’t last long.

The mournful screams of the ones that remained were utter hell. They were usually quiet unless he stirred them up. That was how he was alerted that the young female fledgling had entered his realm. The many screams for help from his rations. If he’d had a choice he would have absorbed her completely and escaped.

There was another frighteningly loud rumble that startled him in its’ volume. His surprise quickly turned to anger. He continued to glutinously eat the souls, feeling his body heal steadily. He didn’t know if he dared to try to use his abilities but he stood and raised his hands, feeling new strength in his limbs that he hadn’t felt in quite some time. He felt his energy rising inside of him as he aimed it outwards. He would try to hit her. The High Priestess. She was working quickly to seal him in again. If he waited much longer he probably wouldn’t get another chance. He could feel the strength of her spells pushing inwards. It was a pressure he hadn’t felt since his downfall and was no less painful to witness. He almost wished he had never woken from his Divine Sleep.

He let out an inhuman roar as he pushed the energy he had gained outward, with intent. He watched as a strange bluish/gray light erupted from his hands, shooting sharply through the darkness. It vanished.

Pain shot through his body and he staggered backwards as he felt his skin begin to c***k again. When he had exerted all the magic he’d drawn from the beings around him he realized it was only borrowed. This confused him. How could it just be gone? He almost felt something close to despair as he sat, bleeding from his skin. Was he worse off now than before?

Suddenly the welcoming energy of death filled him. He quieted his inner turmoil realizing he hadn’t failed after all. He could feel their deaths. The vampires on the other side. The ones that were trying to close him in again. His magic had crossed the barrier. It was a small victory that was short lived, for he knew he wouldn’t be escaping this place today. The chanting continued on, unbroken, despite his one slightly pitiful attack. He had missed the only being that mattered and her spells were nearing completion.

He thought back to the days of his glory and felt bitter. He had been reduced to nothing more than an animal in a cage. That’s what other beings did. They put animals in cages. Sometimes he wasn’t sure if he was hearing his thoughts in his own voice or if something more sinister was whispering to him. He struggled to get back to his feet and began devouring more beings. He would attempt one last attack. It was probably all he had time for, and if he broke free, the High Priestess would be the first to go. The old magic would die with her.

*****************************

Athanatos stood, brushing dust and ashes from his clothing. There was a thick cloud hovering in the air. He staggered forward, nearly tripping over pieces of stones that were littering the ground. As the dust cleared he realized what he was looking at. Piles of ashes and weapons.

Aribella’s circle stood still, deep in their meditation as her chants finally came to an end. She slowly lowered herself from the air, her feet landing lightly on the destroyed floor beneath her. Her eyes cleared as she returned to them, and she glanced around, a look of sorrow slowly leaking onto her face.

Athanatos was shocked to see that the statue was in pieces, large chunks of it scattered all over the hallway. Some warriors were helping the injured. It seemed eight of the ten Gikaineró Elders that had accompanied Aribella to Vhladèvara had been reduced to ash. The High Priestess began to weep sorrowfully as she realized what had occurred, kneeling to run her fingers through the ashes. Athanatos wasn’t sure how it was possible but it seemed the attack had been primarily aimed at the Gikaineró people. There was no way to be sure how many had died until they were able to regroup and assess the damage.

There had been two attacks that had hit like bombs. Blinding light had suddenly erupted from the statue and disintegrated any being in its' path. Athanatos had narrowly missed the second attack by the hair on his head.

The Gikaineró Elders had rushed forward, four on each side of Aribella’s circle, and cast a spell that deflected the current of light around her. This in turn had caused the death beam to part like water, washing over the Gikaineró Elders in the first attack, killing them instantly. Athanatos had watched on, as the two remaining Gikaineró Elders in the circle broke their meditation to hold the protective shield the others had died to cast. The Gikaineró Elder’s main purpose was to keep Aribella alive. They sacrificed without a second thought. The absence of the remaining Gikaineró Elders in the circle affected the strength of the spells Aribella was casting and in turn slowed her work, which made the second attack possible.

“Reinforce the shield!” Athanatos heard the Gikaineró Warriors scream. They shouted the words repeatedly so it would travel through the crowd of Vhladèvara and Gikaineró warriors alike. Athanatos watched as the first row synchronized their movements, their combined magic shooting out like lightning to join the shield that was slowly dwindling in its' strength, seeing as it had taken eight to sustain it. The floor was trembling below their feet. Row by row, the soldiers followed suit until the shield was solidified enough that the Gikaineró Elders could return their power to the circle. The second beam erupted from the statue, blasting chunks of the sculpture forcefully through the air. Athanatos was trying to hold the spell but magic was not his strong suit. He was struck hard in the chest by something jagged and heavy, knocking him to the ground just as the last beam of light reached his position. He watched as it faded in intensity only inches above his face. It was over as quickly as it had occurred.

Acara wiped tears from her eyes when she realized the ashes on the floor outnumbered the living that remained. The Elders looked around dumbstruck into silence. Dahlia silently cried, placing her hand over her mouth. Elder Veranda turned and ran her hands over her brother, Virgil, as though she had to be certain he was still alive. She then also succumbed to her emotions, which were usually non-existent.

Aribella stood up straight with tears streaming down her face. When she spoke her voice was steady, despite her clear display of pain.

“We entered this hall today with a purpose, knowing this mission would be life threatening,” she said quietly. “These deaths were not in vain and I thank you all for your sacrifices. The magic is complete. I will return to Vhladèvara for as long as it is necessary and train as many vampires as I have to, to make sure it stays that way.”

The remaining warriors and Elders watched as Aribella’s hand dropped to her side, the ashes she’d been holding falling to the floor.

“Tomorrow we honor the dead. Tonight we reflect and recuperate,” she said numbly. The warriors parted to let her pass. The Gikaineró dropped to their knees and saluted her as she went by. When she came to the end of the sealed off hallway she waved her arm sharply, blasting the barricade wide open. She departed without another word.

The rest of the living slowly trickled out of the hall. Some groaned as they were escorted to the infirmary. They would have to make more than one trip to relocate the rest. Athanatos found himself staring at what remained of the statue. Only the mountain of corpses and part of the Great Destroyer’s foot was left. Multiple cracks and scorch marks were visible on its’ surface.

The ground quivered weakly under his feet. He braced himself for another attack, but none came. It was unsettling. It appeared that the High Priestess’ magic was very good. But even she didn’t seem to be convinced it was a permanent solution.

Athanatos left the hallway to find Acara waiting for him by the stairs. She seemed incredibly uneasy as he approached her.

“Did you feel that?” she asked.

“It’s like aftershock following an earthquake. And it was weak. I don’t think he can do any more damage for the time being,” Athanatos said, although he was troubled as well.

“I don’t know what’s to become of the school,” Acara began. “Is it even safe to have students here after this?”

“I think those are questions best suited for the High Priestess when she has had time to process what has happened here today,” Athanatos replied. He wasn’t sure if it was appropriate to depart when the hall was still full of vampire remains and ruin. “What do you need me to do?”

“I suppose you can take names so we know who is still alive,” Acara said. “It will probably be a few days before we can reopen the school if that is an option.”

“What of Capry?” Athanatos asked. The Grand Sorceress eyes darkened at the mention of his fledgling. Athanatos had not been at the meeting when Capry Ramos had been discussed.

“She will be fine at home for a few more days. If you need to supply her with more bags, you may do so. But there is something else,” Acara said ominously.

“What is it?” Athanatos asked. Acara seemed to search for the correct words.

“The High Priestess wants to meet her,” she began. “But I’m not sure if that is to Capry’s benefit. I don’t think the High Priestess will return home until we produce her.”

“What do you mean, produce her?” Athanatos asked. He didn’t like the way that sounded. His fledgling wasn’t in hiding. She had been removed for her safety. The way Acara phrased it suggested that maybe she needed to remain far from the Academy. “Does she want to take Capry?”

“For the moment I don’t believe that is the High Priestess' intent. There was a discussion regarding how this situation arose that I cannot disclose. I think she merely wants to understand,” Acara said apologetically. “That is all I can say.”

Athanatos knew Acara was bound in silence and she informed him to the best of her ability.

“I should probably check on Capry soon,” Athanatos said, his uneasiness increasing. “I’ll depart after I do what you’ve asked.”

Acara nodded, looking tired.

“I think it best that I permanently seal the fifth floor off,” the Grand Sorceress said, taking a deep breath. “There are too many overly curious students who might think it fun to come poking around up here. I need to make sure it is inaccessible.” Athanatos watched as Acara massaged her temples. “That circle took more out of me than I expected,” she murmured.

“Perhaps you should feed and have a meal,” Athanatos suggested. “This doesn’t have to be done right now. We still need to remove the ashes and give them a proper send off. Why don’t you rest?” he asked.

Acara nodded, her amber eyes sparkling with new tears.

“How could this happen?” she asked quietly. Athanatos shuffled uncomfortably. He then reached out and patted Acara awkwardly. She stiffened momentarily in her surprise and then placed her hand over his appreciatively.

“That fledgling is making you soft,” she teased lightly as she wiped her eyes. He quickly let his hand drop. Before he met Capry he had never felt the need to comfort someone in distress. It was odd how quickly the girl was changing his responses to things.

“I don’t think there was anything anyone could’ve done to avoid this,” Athanatos stated. “We did the best we could and completed our duty. This isn’t a normal threat or a rival coven. He’s a demon. You and the Elders achieved something great today. You bought us time. Hopefully there will be a permanent solution soon. But for now I think you’ve earned some rest. Have your partner draw you a bubble bath or something.”

“Athanatos, how do you even know what a bubble bath is?” Acara asked, cracking real smile.

“I don’t,” he said quickly. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I have work to do.” He stiffly walked away to piece together how many warriors had survived the Great Destroyer’s attack. He was hoping the number of the dead wasn’t as staggering as it had seemed. He also reflected on how close he’d come to death, and for the first time realized he cared. He’d never been afraid to die and now the idea of it bothered him very much. After what Acara had implied he was worried about what would happen to Capry and was very relieved he hadn’t been turned to ash. He had never known what it was like to be needed in any capacity other than his work. And now he had someone who was depending on him to protect her and help her navigate her way through a complete mess. It was why he’d decided to never have children. He’d only experienced a few great losses in his lifetime and those had nearly destroyed him. Maybe they did. It was like he’d forgotten how to feel.

He didn’t know it, but there was a newborn fledgling sitting in front of her window in Albuquerque, New Mexico chewing a hole in her lip with worry waiting for him to come. Either way he would show up.