Chaser of Faith

“Oh… so you’re not a vampire, then.” I closed my mouth, realizing how impolite I was being. I shook my head.

“Oh no, I’m sorry, that was rude of me. I just wasn’t expecting…” I looked away, embarrassed. “My name is Claire.” I looked back up to him, noticing in my peripherals Adriel’s grin, silently laughing at me.

“Geer rith nal. Geer yte oto dyn,” Adriel tried to say without laughing. I noticed the word geer, meaning she. I glared at him, for whatever judgmental thing he probably just said. Nonetheless, Nicholas smiled and nodded with a breathy laugh.

“Wy rith dae. Wy rith jio, Claire,” he said, looking at me with an almost kind smile. I gave him a small smile back and shifted my feet, biting my lip, feeling a little uncomfortable and lost. He tilted his head at me, letting go of his smile cautiously. “Oh, of course,” he said quickly. “If you just got here yesterday, that means you don’t speak Sanen well, do you?” I looked down, shaking my head with a shrug.

Is that what Adriel had said, I asked myself. That I only got here yesterday?

“Well,” he started again. “I’m glad you speak English then, or we’d all be in a right mess, wouldn’t we?” I smiled in spite of myself. His accent was charming and he seemed well-mannered. I was shocked that I was so frightened of this man just a few moments ago.

Adriel walked over to me, putting both of his arms around my shoulders from behind me, wrapping me up and putting his head against mine. I widened my eyes, shifting my head automatically out of surprise, gulping nervously. His hair was surprisingly soft; I noticed as strands of his hair brushed against my hot cheek.

“This one is also Rahmiel’s pet. But I get to take care of her while he’s at work.” I immediately glared and tried to rip myself from him as my anger flared.

“Hey, what?” I put my hand on his chest to keep him away. I suddenly felt like I was caged up. I stepped closer to the window, staring down Adriel, who merely smiled at me quickly.

“Geer rith kos haf,” he aimed at Nicholas, who was shifting his eyes between me and him nervously. Adriel didn’t look away from me until he spoke again, grinning icily at Nicholas. “Den, gristh kolet Rahmiel. Jo vitestas eto.” They both stared at each other, not breaking the eye contact. I took in a breath.

“Adriel. Stop,” I pleaded. I was so tired. Too tired for his shit. I realized that I had dropped my dress by the window in the fearful commotion. I picked it back up. “Nicholas, it was nice to meet you. If you both will excuse me, I need to shower.” I started towards the stairs, leaving the two men behind me.

“It’s down the hall, two doors down on the right.” I stopped walking. Twisting squarely to the other direction, without looking at them. I felt myself blush as Adriel snickered.

-*-

One of the guys had put a note on the counter for me, informing me of what I could use to shower with, and directions for how to use them. There were only two glass bottles that they told me to use. One contained a viscous, white liquid for my hair and the other contained a viscous, yellow liquid for my skin. They both smelled floral, with something similar to vanilla for the body wash. I had to use a very sharp knife to shave, which was terrifying, but I managed to keep my hand steady and only nicked my knees twice, drawing a bit of blood.

The shower itself was a wood basin with a spout coming out of the wall that sort of sprayed and dribbled warm water. It was mildly annoying, but I managed to use the tub to bathe, and then rinse myself off when I was done. I hummed to myself as I bathed, trying to pretend like I was home. I spent some time just sitting in the tub, hugging my knees and enjoying the safe peace of the warm water. Perhaps also to make myself feel like I was home. The candle cast a very dim light in the bathroom, making me feel quiet. There was a small window above the basin, at head level that I could see out of, but I chose to close the blinds for it instead, not wanting to see or be seen.

I realized, when the water started to turn cold, that I needed to get out and face the world. I hoped that Rahmiel had gotten back, though I couldn’t be sure. I couldn’t hear what was happening in the living room from the tub. I took in a deep breath, draining the tub and rinsing myself off. I dried myself off, got dressed, and brushed my teeth, taking my time.

Before going back to the living room, I dropped my old dress off in my room and brushed my hair with the wood comb that the guys had left in my room. I couldn’t hear anything from the hallway, either, and I debated whether I should shelter myself in my room. I sighed and walked back out to the living room with my head held high.

It was only Rahmiel and Nicholas seated on the couch. Adriel was gone now.

“Rahmiel, you’re back,” I sighed gratefully. He turned his head as I spoke, grinning at me. For a brief moment, I remembered what Adriel had told me about him.

”He’s the reason why they killed my sister.”

I smiled weakly, nervously.

“Claire, hello.” Nicholas turned back to me slowly, giving me a polite smile, which I returned. “Come join us, we were just discussing, well, ah, we were discussing political matters.” I shot him an incredulous look, taking a seat in one of the arm chairs. “Nicholas will be staying with us for a while,” he reported, nodding at Nicholas with a solid expression. Nicholas smiled shyly at me.

“Oh okay, good, it’ll be nice to have extra company.” I noticed him seem to relax his posture a bit once I said that. “Are you staying for political reasons then, Nicholas?” I joked. He shifted his gaze to Rahmiel, like he needed help answering.

“The surrounding countries aren’t the most friendly towards vampires, to be honest,” Rahmiel explained gently. My lips formed a circle, letting out a soft ’oh.’ “Nicholas has actually been investigating deaths in his village, Tiver, out west. His village is made up of refugee vampires. There have been many unexplained, mysterious deaths in the past four years.”

“But they’ve stopped. They stopped a few weeks ago week. And… I had a lead to follow.” My mind immediately jumped to the monster that I saw, my imagination getting the better of me again. I blinked quickly to bring myself back to reality, frowning. I didn’t know what to say.

“Are you like a police officer?” He laughed airily.

“I used to be a medical officer in the army. I’m one of the more investigative citizens of our village. Most of my people aren’t exactly trained for, well, serial murder,” he said gravely. I held my frown.

“I promise I don’t usually say so many stupid things,” I said horrified. I didn’t know why I had said and done so many stupid things ever since he showed up. He gave me a genuine smile.

“Don’t worry about it. This is a very jarring experience, I know. You’re adjusting still. But, you’re in good hands,” he affirmed with a nod. Rahmiel smiled quietly. I looked at my hands, still shy and a little embarrassed. “Rahmiel took me to Aksan when I was turned. I was very lucky that it was him who found me.” That threw me off.

“Rahmiel found you? Where? When? What happened?” Nicholas smiled and Rahmiel got up slowly.

“I'll make us some kion,” he said understandingly. I looked at Nicholas, confused.

“It's sort of like an floral tea. It’s popular in Ythe,” he explained. “I was twenty-two when I was turned,” he began. “The year was 1942. I was an officer in the Royal Army Medical Corps, working at the 207 Manchester Field Hospital. There was an air raid. The Germans bombed the hospital; took out my wing of the building.” He paused for a moment. “I was dying. My arm was hanging on by a shard of bone. A steel pipe had gone clean through my stomach. I tried to help as many as I could to get to safety.” I was in awe at his heroism.

“Then, one of the patients that I was helping suddenly turned on me. He tore into my neck and started to drink my blood. After that, all I remember was seeing his panicky face as I blacked out. He must have realized that what he did was wrong and fed me his blood to try to heal me. Because when I woke up, I knew I was no longer myself.” I heard the back door open, but I didn’t look away from Nicholas. “I was so hungry. It was a deep pain that I had never felt before. Compared to the steel pipe in my bloody gut, I’d face the metal any day.” Rahmiel placed two cups of tea on the short table in front of us, taking his own and sitting in the other arm chair near me.

“I was working in the next wing over,” Rahmiel chimed in, sipping his tea. “Psych ward.” I was taken aback.

“You… you worked on Earth? In a hospital? As a psychiatrist?” Rahmiel shifted his head slightly.

“Sort of. I worked with soldiers released from the service. Basically, long story short,” he began with a smile. “I can heal people’s emotions.” I raised my eyebrows surprised. “I’m what angels call an empathic healer.” I held up a hand quickly.

“Wait, hang on, hang on. How did you work on Earth? People never noticed the wings?” Rahmiel chuckled.

“No, I had them concealed. I was able to locate an artificer who sold me a ring that had the power to conceal my wings from the Singtragoniat. Anyway, I was working in the next wing over, and we had been narrowly missed by the missile. We were all pitching in to try to find survivors. And I, thankfully, was the one to find Nicholas and his attacker. My instincts were to kill him. I knew of vampires. They’re… rather taboo on Aksan, and I had been taught to kill first… ask questions later. I killed the vampire who turned him, and I very nearly killed Nicholas, too.” Nicholas drank his tea, lost in his memories.

“I saw his wings. Since I was no longer human, I saw who he really was. And I asked him if he was there to bring me to Heaven.”

“I felt his fear and his hunger, but also his control. He was a soldier, through and through,” Rahmiel added with a smile. “It’s why I brought him here. I knew he was one of the good ones.” Nicholas smiled into his tea.

“He brought me to Aksan. To Tiver in the country Sithen. Where I could be with other vampires and learn how to survive and control my… cravings.” It was quiet for a moment as I let Nicholas’s story sink in. I felt awe and inspiration.

“Did you have to leave your family behind?” I asked before I thought the question through. I scolded myself. My mother had appeared in my mind once more, which inspired the question. Nicholas sighed.

“I did. I left behind my wife Mary and my daughter Emily.” My heart broke for him. I shook my head, frowning.

“I am so sorry.” He smiled at me.

“Don’t worry. I’ve been able to check up on them from time to time. Mary lived a long life and Emily grew into a beautiful, intelligent woman, and even had a family of her own. Life is funny sometimes.” I didn’t say anything. I looked behind me to the window. It was pitch-black outside. “You must have left your loved-ones behind, as well?” he asked carefully. I nodded, not meeting his eyes again yet. I let my eyes unfocus, set on no particular shape beyond the cottage in the woods.

“My mother.” I could feel their gazes focused on me. I broke away from the window and looked to Nicholas with a small smile. “But in the long run, I’m better off here. I have a second start. There wasn’t much left for me back on Earth.” Nicholas nodded with understanding.

His pale blonde hair was messy, hanging over his forehead, nearly long enough to meet his eyebrows. I noticed for the first time that his eyes were not merely dark brown, but black. The contrast between his deep black eyes and his milky skin was alarming. I realized that I was holding eye contact with Nicholas for too long, and looked away, embarrassed.

“So Rahmiel, is that what you do in Beythas? Empathic healing?” I turned my attention to him.

“Yes,” he said with a nod.

“Where do you work? In another hospital?” He half winced and half smiled.

“Not quite. I actually work for King Ymet.” I was taken aback.

“King Ymet? That’s the King of Ythe?” He let out a breathy laugh and nodded. “Wow, why didn’t you tell me? That’s amazing,” I mused with a bright smile. He shrugged.

“It’s sort of complicated. It’s not exactly… a prideful position.” I let my smile fall.

“He did something pretty bad.”

My stomach flipped. Everything seemed to be complicated in their world.

“To me it sounds very respectful and prestigious. What’s complicated?”

“My work with the King is a punishment.” I grit my teeth subtly, my muscles tensed. “Empathic healing can be painful for the healer.”

“He killed my sister. I can never forgive that.”

“What are you being punished for?” I asked, hoping for honesty.

“It’s…”

“Complicated,” I finished for him. He looked bashful, nodding.

“Namina wasn’t enough for you, you want to ruin her life too?”

“I’m a little tired,” I said quickly, looking at the two men. Nicholas seemed concerned. “I’m gonna call it a night. I’ll see you in the morning.” They both wished me good night. Rahmiel seemed nervous and a little guilty.

I had had such high hopes for him. I couldn’t believe that Adriel, a creature from Hell, could be more honest than a Heavenly angel.

I knew that those with cruel intentions used honesty as a way to hurt others; as a way to manipulate others. Was that what Adriel was doing? I knew then that I couldn’t trust either of them. Those two men who had uprooted my life, and took me away from my home- they were hiding more than I had first thought. They looked like angels, but I realized that they could lie like humans.

What if I left?, I thought to myself as I shut my door behind me, leaning against it and letting the darkness wash over me. I took in a deep breath, letting it out slowly.

I would learn more Sanen in the coming days, with my now two tutors. I would learn more about Aksan and how to survive on this planet. And then I would leave.

I knew that if I stayed with these men, no good would come to me. Self-preservation. Survival was important. If not for me, then for the memory of my mother, and for the martyrdom of my father. This was my second chance at life, and I wasn’t going to waste it being someone else’s pet.

I got ready for bed and fell asleep thinking of the monsters on this planet and how I could assimilate into this new culture. I was an alien, starting over from scratch. My stomach turned as I mentally prepared myself for change, for growth, and for strength. I was no longer the old Claire Turn. I was new and improved, and ready to fight for myself.