Cirque Du Freak: The Zachariah Saga Chapter 3
The beautiful stars that adorn the black night sky, I could see them clearly, but it wasn't long till I fell to the ground. Thud! Landing onto the rough ground on my back groaning, more from irritation than pain I see a large shadow casting upon my body, blocking the moonlight.
"Don't tell me your done already, I barely put any effort to that throw," the castor of the shadow bellowed. Getting back on my feet and dusting myself and moving the crimson color from my eyes and I stare at my teacher.
"You're too cocky old man," I sneer at him as I rush him and try to land a blow to his mocking ugly mug of a face. Catching my fist he grabs me by the stomach, lifting me up and throwing me against a tree. As I collide against the big hunk of wood the vibrations shake it like a drum leaving behind a few leaves. A normal human would've probably gotten broken bones, but I'm not entirely human.
"Lets end training for today," Vancha huffs acting tired. Standing up and dusting off some leaves from the tree I follow my teacher so we can quench our life long thirst for the liquid that our kind can't live without...blood.
Hidden among the trees and bushes of the forest we wait for our human prey. Patiently waiting, waiting, waiting, my thirst and instincts almost leading me to insanity as the time passes without the great caress of human nectar on my dry tongue. Vancha has taught me how vampires of olden times would feed off people. They would wait for a human for the right moment like a wolf stalking a rabbit. As a middle aged human male walks across from us we strike.
Like a purple and black blur we strike at our meal and Vancha with his vampire abilities breaths on to the man's nostrils before he can react. In the eyes of vampires, the middle aged man isn't a person, but a meal ticket. Vancha lays him down and cuts his bulky and hairy leg with his sharp fingernails and takes a sip from the open wound, relishing the taste of the holy crimson water. When he finishes his feeding, it's my turn. This was my third time feeding from a human and I've gotten used to it. Putting my lips near the open wound I suck the man's leg just enough to quench my thirst until another time.
We leave the man unconscious, on a bench. By the time he wakes up, he'll think that he accidently slept while sitting down. It's been a month since my experience with the vampire hunter and my blooding. I left the realm of humans and walked alongside the path of nightwalkers. Vancha turned me into a half vampire, by the traditional way of cutting my fingertips and exchanging blood. He says most vampires at this time would wait till I was older, but Vancha's not like most vampires. He's not like most regular people either! Vancha's a traditionalist which means he follows the customs of vampires before the Princes and Generals. He acts more like an animal than a vampire, but you got to give him some props for sticking to the customs for this long. Also because of his stupid belief of conquering the sun which I don't understand at all.
Vancha and I usually don't stay at urban cities, but he's made an exception today and agreed to sleep in the forest near the town. During most of the day Vancha's mostly sleeping so that gave me a chance to explore the town. Looking at myself in the glass of a department store, I looked different from one month ago. My hair was longer than it was, I grew about 2 inches taller, and I had a more muscular physique. Training with a vampire 24/7 does that to a growing boy. Staring into my ragged clothes I could tell I needed a change of clothes as well, I always wondered where we were going, since Vancha and I would travel around.
As the sun set and dusk was arriving I walked back to the bridge that we were sleeping in. Walking down the sidewalk I saw Vancha, all up and ready to leave. "So where are we going this time?" I ask walking closer to my master.
"Have you ever heard of Evanna, the lady of the wilds, Zac?" Vancha questioned me as we left the forest and off to where the vampire gods would know of.
"No, why is she some famous vampire or something?" I looked my teacher curious about who this "Evanna" person was.
"Famous yes, but she isn't really a vampire. She does have a great connection with us though." Vancha explained. "She's a user of magic."
"So you mean she's like a witch?" I questioned and after those words blurted from my mouth Vancha's large and dirty hand covered my mouth.
"He didn't mean it Lady Evanna!" my master pleaded at air. With a very confused look I met the gaze of my teacher and he let me go embarrassed of his outburst. "Sorry about that, it's a reflex," coughing into a closed fist.
After the strange incident Vancha and I walked silently approaching a slight swamp like forest. As we continued walking through the strange terrain I could hear a croaking noises and as I dropped my gaze all I saw was a slime covered, big eyed frog. The croaking got larger as more frogs appeared and they started surrounding the two of us. Panicking a bit I reached for the knife that was strapped across my right leg, but a voice stopped me from drawing my blade.
"Stop! Don't draw your knife! That'll scare the frogs and they'll attack," a voice called across from Vancha and I. As the person came closer my jaw went ajar as I saw a short and hairy man-like woman. She/he had long brown hair, with a brown beard and moustache, green and brown eyes with long fingernails only on her pinky fingers. The only clothes she wore was...they weren't even clothes, but rope! And I thought Vancha had bad fashion sense.
"My lady, thank you for letting us enter your home," Vancha bowed and spoke with utmost respect. I stared at my master then moved my head back to the person who I knew was the legendary woman of the wilds, Evanna!
As the frogs started making way for the sorcerer, she started walking across the path made from the amphibians. As I had a better look of her I could see her eyes switching colors. She leads us out of the ring of frogs and as she walks, in an instant she disappears into thin air.
"Where did she go?" I ask openly.
"Concentrate your eyes Zac! You're a vampire look harder and you'll find your answer," Vancha barks. Focusing I see a faint image of a hut.
Vancha walks in the same way Evanna has and I follow entering the lady of the wild's home. Her home looked like any other rural home, except for the lack of technology. Vancha sits down on the grounds biting his toe nails trying to clip them off. Moving to a chair, I go and sit down waiting for Evanna. She comes back with trays and baskets that were overflowed with fruits, vegetables, and bread. The food was levitating off the ground with magic from the lady of the wilds.
Setting down the feast on a large dining table we all dig into the all vegetarian meal. After indulging ourselves on the meal, I spot Vancha picking his teeth with his nails, the usual after meal table manners.
After the meal had been devoured Evanna finally spoke, " So Vancha, why have you come to my home?" Evanna questions. "Surely you did not come here just so you can show me your assistant," Evanna spoke.
Letting a loud belch Vancha replied, " I have business, now that I have started a traveling relationship with Zac, I wish for your gratitude to lend us some equipment for our journey."
"Are you going to take him to the mountain," Evanna questions while drinking some tea.
"He's not ready for the trek, but in time he will be strong enough to go, it's not if he can go, it's when he can," Vancha replies jugging down his fourth mug of milk. I smile, since this was the first compliment Vancha had given me since my blooding.
"Well I do have a few spare items that can aid in your travels, but look at him Vancha! He's almost as filthy as you and those clothes are more rags than clothe. Come we must give you proper clothes and a bath before you leave," Evanna nags. "My assistant will lead you," Evanna waves her hand.
I stood up and walked over to the hall way that leads to the bathing room and as I opened the door I saw a girl, about my age. She had short green hair with sharp bangs, brown eyes that had a serious yet confident tint, all I could do was gawk at her beauty. Standing up she looked at me questioningly and eyes fell to my fingertips and when she took notice of the ten tiny scars on my fingers her bewildered look turned into one that looked as though she was repulsed by me.
Finding the words in my mouth again, I spoke, "Um...are you Evanna's assistant?" I asked. Even though she clearly heard me, she just continued scrubbing the floor and not paying me any attention. "Um...hello?" I asked once more and she looked at suddenly causing me to flinch.
"I heard you the first time," her voice firm and cold yet beautiful like a winter's night.
"Well, Evanna told me to take a bath and she told me to ask you for help." I replied a little nervous.
"Towels are in the shelf over there, shampoo and soap are inside a cabinet and there are some fresh clothes in a closet over there," the girl replied coldly as she took her cleaning items and left.
Bewildered by her attitude I went and stripped off my raggedy clothes and took a cold shower. It had been weeks since I took a shower and the feeling was incredible, even though the nips from the cold bothered me, but as a vampire you needed to learn to deal with discomfort. Finishing my shower and drying myself off with a towel I walk over to a closet that looked incredibly huge. The closet seemed endless with different clothing from different styles and from different times. I picked out some fresh clothes and put them on and as I was leaving I saw something catch my eye.
There was a large red cape like jacket. It was a brilliant crimson with a long coat tail and it was redder than my hair. I reached for it and put it on then left the room back toward Vancha and Evanna. When I got back Vancha and Evanna were catching up, Vancha telling her wild tales about his journeys abroad and all the battles he has fought over the years. Not wanting to bother the two I solemnly sat listening quietly.
As Vancha finally noticed me I could see his eyes light up from shock and surprise. Vancha stood up abruptly, his eyes wide staring at me bewildered. His gesture surprised me a bit, but as he regained control he sat back down.
Evanna broke the silence, "Zac how old are you?" Evanna asked.
"When I was blooded I was sixteen," I replied taking a seat.
"He looks a lot like the young Prince...does he not Vancha?" Evanna asked. "Zac that cape looks very good on you, you should keep it," Evanna said.
I smiled out of embarrassment from her compliment, but as I saw Vancha his eyes lost in a void of memories that I couldn't understand.
"Clair, go and bring the bag that I have prepared," Evanna ordered her green-haired assistant. "Zac did you know that I had the ability of foresight?" Evanna questions me.
"S-so you can see the future?" I asked intrigued by her abilities.
" I can do much more than that, but to an extent yes I can see the future," Evanna chuckles.
"T-then can you tell me what my future is like?" I ask now fully interested.
"No," Evanna replies bluntly and all my hopes disappearing like a drop of water in a desert.
Clair comes back with a one strapped bag and she throws it at me with full intent on hurting me. I catch the bag and look inside of it, inside were some folded pots and pans and other kitchen utensils and a cube like item.
"There's a new invention that I made, it's called a coffin cube," she points out proud as a peacock.
After the gift from the lady of the wilds we make our leave and head out to only where the vampire gods know where. As we were marching away from Evanna's household I could hear rustling coming from behind us.
"You know if you wanted to join us you could've just asked," I said, noticing our follower.
Out of the bushes and trees was Clair, all packed up and ready to leave. Vancha keeps marching along not taking any attention to our follower and I follow, as Clair follows along. Only if I knew how important it was for me to have left her behind...and not let her get caught in the hands of destiny.