The Blood Painted Cage

Thunder roared furiously in the sky which writhed in a black mass. Lightning flashed and snaked down to the earth, stabbing true at ring of enemies that surrounded us. Fire burst into life and danced wildly. More flames were born with every strike of the rainless storm that obeyed my blazing rage.

Out of fear, the puppets tried to flee the flames and bright bolts of lightning but the Silver tightened his grip and drove them forward. In retaliation my mind flooded the puppets and wrenched away each and every link without flinching. As one the assassin fell in their rush to attack me. Apart from one lone man.

Delving into the last remaining puppet, I forced him to approach me. Mentally I told my guards to back off when they prepared for a fight. Dana and Sonia hesitantly glanced at each then at me. Vaguely I saw the fear on their faces and deep inside I felt a pang of shame but the me in control did not stop what she was doing and neither did she care for the thoughts of others.

The storm continued to rule the sky and lashed out at the earth without mercy as the lone assassin came to stand a few paces from me. He kneeled down before me and lowered his head. The man was sweating from the mental war that was currently going on his head. The Silver was trying to flee and slither away but I wouldn’t let him. I forced him into the man’s consciousness and spoke with my mouth.

“Name yourself.” I asked softly.

The vampire flinched visibly. “I will not say.”

Annoyance rose in me and the power that rolled about in my body reacted. It filled his mind and inflicted pain on both the puppet and his master while inside guilt filled me. I didn’t want to hurt this man, only wanted to find out who had betrayed me. I didn’t understand what was happening to me and why I was doing it. Ever since I first truly felt rage, something filled me. It made the world blindingly bright and the sky and earth reacted to me. The storm was a mirror image of my strong emotion but the person who was standing and speaking didn’t feel like me at all.

Breathing heavily, vampire cried out. “Okay!” He shouted. “I will say! So enough. Let me go.”

The writhing mass of power burned gently and flourished him one last time with a horribly sensation of pain before retreating gently. I waited as patiently as I could. This power within me was like a chained animal; blood thirsty and angry. Holding it back was not easy.

I forced my head to move when I heard someone calling to me urgently and my eyes latched onto Nuan and Livia. Livia looked confused while Nuan appeared both livid, terrified and shocked. She stopped cautiously a few paces from me, glancing between the male vampire and myself with narrowed eyes. It was only then I realised all my maids were keeping their distance and the stink of fear was not of the Lost Silver.

“Lady,” Nuan called to me gently. “Lady, is that you?”

My eyes stayed latched onto her and, with much effort, I nodded.

She smiled in relief which faltered when she saw the mess behind me. I noticed her throat swallow hard before she focused her attention on me, blocking out whatever emotions the sight of Lucius dying brought up.

“Lady, you must control it.” She said as calmly as she could. “The blood you consume is not nearly enough for you to control this amount of strength. Please, lock it away before it makes you do something you’ll regret.”

I blinked slowly and sluggishly my brain considered what to do. I closed my eyes then gently felt the glowing orb of bright energy inside me and felt the raw power emanating from it. It was overwhelming and swirled with my emotions, flaming the negative feelings and calling to the earth and sky to protect me. It had a will of its own and I couldn’t control it. But my awareness of it calmed it slightly and forced it to retreat. The sky even calmed down to a low flash and rumbling from above.

Killing was not something I wanted to do and the thought even repulsed me. I didn’t want to harm anyone even if they had betrayed me. The predator like energy rumbled softly and lashed out when the Lost one tried to flee. I struggled against the rising panic and grabbed at the energy to stop it from fighting. It was hard. It was like fighting against a force of nature; something powerful, raw and wild. At first it didn’t answer my calls. It was only when a low deep voice was humming in my ears, speaking words I couldn’t hear properly, that I managed to grapple with it and lock it deep within me where it had been dormant for so long.

My eyes flew open as soon as the strange fog lifted and normalcy hit me. Tears leaked from my eyes and I almost choked with relief when I saw Vincent towering over me. His hands cupped my face and his thumb stroked my cheek in his usual act of comfort. His lips were moving as he spoke gentle words to me while his eyes roamed my face with a mix of anger and concern.

I managed to mumble his name before my legs buckled beneath me. He fell down with me, letting our knees hit the floor before his hands shot to my shoulders and brought me into a crushing embrace. His right hand delved into my hair while his other arm circled me in unbreakable prison. He nuzzled my head, breathing in the scent of my hair, and kissed hard me a few times. I snuggled into his warmth and strength and let my tears of horror and shock flow. It didn’t take long however before I was forced to concentrate on those around me when the sound of chocking could be heard.

I pushed myself away reluctantly from Vince and stood as firmly as I could. My eyes latched onto the only connection left to the unknown Lost who was now being throttled mentally by his controller. Livia and Dana tried their best for him but their best to not let him claw his own throat out as he wrestled with the non-existent hands. They leaned over him, watching with sorrowful expressions, with his hands held firmly to the ground as he died. I only had a moment to look at the new dead man, trying my best to suppress my guilt at not having saved him, when Nuan screamed for me.

“Lady!” She cried out to me behind sobs. “Lucius! He’s going!”

Alarm and dread filled me and I rushed towards the bloodied mess of Lucius. Viorel and Susan had been trying their best to staunch the horrific wounds but the blood just flooded out, soaking the cloth through thickly. Nuan was trying her best to keep him focused on her but she was losing hope. Too many of the wounds had been made to be fatal. He was not going to live through this.

Lightly I came to kneel beside Susan who was now staring blankly at her master. She was exhausted now and the guilt was running deep inside her. Quickly I swept my mind over Lucius’s wounds with a grim doubt I couldn’t do anything. After my analysis, I found my horrible growing of uselessness was true. With large sad eyes, I looked up at Nuan, slightly telling her there was nothing I could do.

Nuan choked on a sob and shook her head hard. “He can’t die Lady!” She yelled angrily. “He is too important!”

“I can’t do anything.” I said numbly. “The damage is too great. It will take hours to heal these wounds and I don’t have that long. He is lost.”

There was a horrible silence that followed. Everyone knew what I said was the truth. There was nothing anyone could do to save him. So when Vincent stepped forward I was surprised.

“There is something.” He said grudgingly.

Nuan looked up at him sharply. At first she seemed confused but slowly her eyes slid to Susan with realisation.

“Feed him witch blood?” She said dumbly.

I blinked heavily before I glanced up at Vincent. I hadn’t thought of the witch blood but it was a way of saving him. A way that may be a little drastic I suppose but right now, drastic measures were the only way to save this kind man’s life. I was pleased though that Vincent wasn’t about to stand by and watch him die, no matter how much he hated him.

Susan became active swiftly at Vincent’s proposal and woke herself from her silent stupor. “My blood? How can that help?” She asked.

“Witch blood is very powerful. The matter on its own is like a poison to us however, if mixed with the blood of the same witch, it will become a strong healing potion for the vampires.” Vincent said blandly.

“Then I’ll do it.” She said vigorously and pulled the sleeve of her tattered black dress up her arm roughly.

“Susan, think carefully.” Nuan said darkly. “I do not wish to lose the son of my old friend but neither do I wish you to be tied to the master in such a way.”

“Will it, for certain, save my master.” She snapped.

Nuan nodded as I spoke softly beside her. “There is no doubt your blood will save your master’s life, Susan. Just know there are heavy consequences.”

“I don’t care!” She roared savagely. “If anyone kills him, it will be me! No one else has the right to take his life!”

A small smile played at my mouth at her determination to save him and nodded once, letting Nuan take Susan’s small hand and cut it with her claw. Gently Nuan pressed her palm against Lucius’s bloodied mouth and watched anxiously as he drank slowly. I felt no guilt as the witch child unwittingly tied herself to her master. I had warned her that there would be heavy consequences but she refused to hear them. Inside I didn’t particularly want to dissuade her anyway. Lucius dying was not something I wanted to happen and Susan was the only chance he had at survival.

Under a sharp order from Nuan, all but Viorel began to search among the fallen puppets for those you hadn’t been killed. The vampires were the top priority. The sun was coming and all of those I had saved would only end up being killed by the light. Vincent grudgingly accepted his task when I had asked specifically. He was strong and would help my maids and Nuan a great deal to get those still alive to safety. Viorel stayed beside myself and Susan and watched the horizon for any possible danger that could be thrown at us. I was very doubtful the Lost one would return. He was wounded and in pain so he would go to ground for now. But he would return for me soon.

Just as the sun streaked across the sky, the door was closed firmly behind me. The dead remained outside now and the light would not harm them now. The bodies would be dealt with properly this evening once the other two Elders hurried to my house.

While the maids flittered about the wounded and Viorel and Susan watched over Lucius in his room, Nuan wordlessly guided me into the kitchen with Vincent in tow. I sat at the table while he hovered nearby. His dark eyes never left my back which I was well aware of as always. In an attempt to keep my mind from remembering what had happened shortly before this sordid affair and the confusion of where I now stood with him, I concentrated on the Elder as she struggled to hide her feelings.

Nuan absentmindedly made me my tea but her hands were shaking quite badly and unintentionally made the light cut deeper than intended on her palm. I had never seen her like this. Normally Nuan was quite bright and sober, never letting emotions get the better of her but rage and fear were claiming her now and making her lose control slightly. She brought the cup over to me while sealing the wound with her tongue quickly. She didn’t wait long to speak after I had started drinking

“I have made a horrible mistake I fear.” She said darkly. “Not stopping Susan from tying herself to Lucius may be my undoing.”

“Would you have let him die then?” I asked gently.

Nuan’s eyes snapped up to me before they lowered guiltily to the floor. “No, I wouldn’t have let him die. I promised my old friend I would watch over his children. I have failed with one of them but I will not let his youngest son die when I can stop it.”

“So what do you fear then?”

“Christof and Beriko. They, like many of the old ones and most of the young ones, distrust witches. They can barely place a little bit of trust in Clan-promised Families. If they find out Lucius, one of the few Blue bloods we have left, is practically on a leash for an un-claimed witch because I didn’t stop her, they’ll kill me.”

“They will not find out, Nuan.” I said firmly. “This will stay among us and I will watch the progress of both Lucius and Susan carefully. And if the worst happens, I will stand against Beriko and Christof to defend you. You forget, this was also my decision.”

Nuan bit her lip hard but nodded her head in both acceptance and thanks. Seeing the conversation trail off, Vincent stepped in sharply, letting his deep snappish voice be heard.

“What happened out there?” He demanded.

I glanced at him then back to Nuan who was tilting her head from side to side in thought. “What happened out there is the Lady showed her potential.”

“And what does that mean exactly? She acted nothing like who she is!” Vince snarled.

“Blackburn, calm yourself. I don’t want you losing it now.” Nuan chided lightly before she continued, ignoring his irritated growl. “Within every Silver is a nameless power. It is what makes the Silvers hair white, what physically drains them of their strength and is the reason why they can walk in the sun. It also controls the earth and the sky and bends the thoughts and minds of those around them. To use this ability and control it, the Silvers must feed on vampiric blood. Depending on how much they feed will depend on how much power they have access to. The Lady has only ever had a mouthful of blood every day and this is only enough to gain access to the basics and control it. However, like what happened outside, she accidently tore down the barrier that protects her from a dangerous level of the energy within her. She couldn’t control it and it worked on her thoughts and what she wished.”

Understanding filled me then at the confusion of never having the strength everyone claimed I had. I had always had it, I just never had the strength to control it so my body kept it locked away, somewhere where it wouldn’t harm me.

“Sadly, this power is also the reason why Silvers can become lost even though they are pure blooded vampires. The power distorts over time and death, cutting off emotion to the Silver and only letting him feeling joy when he kills. In short, this power almost feeds off of death and the small emotion a Lost one feels when killing becomes almost like a drug. It’s why partners are necessary. They ensure their Silver will not kill and allow them to live without fear of becoming Lost. Sometimes though, a Silver has to kill and eventually the power becomes demonic if they do not take care of themselves.”

“And this will happen to me?” I asked in a small voice.

Nuan shook her head hard. “No, Lady, not you. The Sinclair’s are special. We don’t know why but even though your Clan harbour an energy far superior to every other Silver, a Sinclair will never become Lost. Their energy remains pure. But this is all I know.” She said gently and rubbed my arm in comfort. “Have no fear of becoming Lost, Lady, and if you wish to control the strength within you to either defend yourself or those around you more effectively, you must begin to feed more.” She grinned brightly suddenly and would’ve looked very friendly if it wasn’t for the dried blood that was smeared over her face. “Now I suggest you go sleep. As soon as dusk is on us, you leave for England. It is no longer safe for you here.”

And with that she left me, letting me face the curious expression on Vincent’s face. With a light sigh and stood from the chair and stepped towards him. Hesitantly I reached out and gripped one of his fingers to tug him along after me. I had to turn away quickly though as the memory of our last encounter. I didn’t speak at first out of fear of him turning on me in anger. Instead, I guided him to my room before shoving him into the bathroom and demanded he get rid of the blood on his body and the torn clothes he wore. As soon as I had changed, I delved into my bed and pulled my quilt right up to my nose. I lay on my side and watched the door silently and listened to the sound of running water.

I wasn’t looking forward to telling him we were returning to his old home. He never seemed that enthusiastic whenever his sister was mentioned. While I was intrigued about it, I knew it was a subject I could never speak to him about which is what made telling him so terrifying.

I was half asleep and hovering about Lucius as I tracked the growing strength of his body when the door opened. Vincent came out, rubbing his hair half heartedly with a towel. He still wore the blood covered and torn jeans but his destroyed shirt had been left behind, revealing to me his lithe toned muscles. Embarrassed, I closed my eyes and listened to his footsteps come closer to me. He sat in the chair beside my bed, the one he had constantly sat in when I was in the grips of my fever, and continued to rub his wet hair.

“Would you mind explaining what Nuan meant?” He asked in a tone that said I had no choice but to answer.

“Nuan and the Elders agreed it would be safer if I went to a Clan house.” I said quietly. “They decided yours would be the best choice.”

I felt his growing anger instantly. It gathered like a dark cloud beside me, rapidly and without restraint. I pushed myself up and sat in front of him, letting my hands instinctively cup his strong face. His eyes snapped to mine and they showed his disagreement to this decision strongly.

“It will only be for a few days, just until we know who the Lost one is. As soon as he is discovered the Elders will summon me and I will end his life and then we can come back here.” I said the last part a little thickly but I managed to hold my small warm smile. However his anger grew considerably more, the complete opposite of what I wanted.

I squeaked in surprise when his hand shot out and gripped my shoulder then shoved me back down onto the bed. My hair fanned out on the pillow and a shoved the thick locks that covered my face and eyes away. My attention however was quickly taken from my hair when Vincent loomed over me. He leaned down, letting his face hover not too far above mine but it was close enough to make my face glow brightly and for my heart to start pounding rapidly. His eyes were narrowed in unhidden rage and he bared his fangs at me in an annoyed hiss.

“I will return to my Clan home if it is to keep you safe, Eva, but I refuse to let you leave it if you are summoned by the Elders. I won’t let you fight the Lost one even if I have to chain you to a wall to stop you.” He snapped hotly. “Now go to sleep. I will wake you when it is time to leave.”

Roughly he pushed himself away and leaned heavily against the back of the chair, letting his fingers run through his wet hair angrily. I did as I was demanded though. I curled into a ball and pulled the blanket up to my nose. Closing my eyes, I slept deeply with the warm sensation of Vincent’s lips pressed lovingly against my neck.