Previous Chapters: One, Two, Three.
It had been four days since the attack at the royal palace, Kamilah was slowly recovering. Lysimachus pulled the blanket over her, worried for his sister. Wondering when she would recover. There was no sign of Alice in the last two days, all he could do is wait. And hope that she was okay. Sharpening his spear, knowing it would be needed. He stepped outside, knowing his sister would not wake anytime soon. Heading into the river, removing his boots before stepping into the cool water. Twirling the spear in his hands as his eyes darted through the water. Hunting for food. Unable to truly focus as his mind kept drifting to Alice, where was she, what was she doing, did she worry about them or did she use them for her self gain. All he knew, was that the royal palace was a pile of rubble and the mysterious sorcerer was the key to all the answers. Had vanished in the crowd when Alice threw him outside.
Alice crawled up the sand, ice cold against her warm skin, winters breath leaving hairs on her arms up. Her breath visible in the darkness. She wasn’t prepared for this, having neither killed an innocent man to survive, kamilah would have told her she did what she had to, but it didn’t change the fact a man was about to die for a reason he’d never understand. Alice’s moral compass struggling as she closed her fingertips into a fist, feeling her pulse race through her body. Nervous for the first time, she had never done anything truly alone, someone always watching her back. Lysimachus sword strapped to her back, Kamilah’s daggers strapped to her thighs. She was outfitted for a fight if it was needed but hoped for an easy target, a hit and grab. She paused at the top, laying against the sand, the sand whipping through her hair. She saw the nearby trees rattling in the wind, it would help cover her approach under the moonless sky, an aid for her tonight. Her eyes turning red to help her, the bloodlust beginning to take over as she she felt it surge through her, her pulse thumping as it ached for blood, for slaughter, to feed. “Not now.” She swallowed hard. Hunching over, pressing her open palms against the cold sand. Her eyes screwed shut as she breathed slow and deep to stop it. She didn’t want to slaughter them like sheep. She only wanted one, she only needed one to survive. She wouldn’t become the monster, she wouldn’t give in, she hadn’t succumb in the mansion and she would not succumb now. Her thoughts remembering Kamilah’s words, her voice echoing in her head. “Come on Alice.” Kamilah whispered encouraging to her. The bloodlust spell pass, she moved into a crouching position at the top of the dune hill. Spotting the Roman patrol below, seeing how spread they were. All of them carrying torches, the fires struggling to stay alight in the cold breeze. The tents flapping hard under the increasing wind, more noise, providing more cover for her. She spotted the Roman soldier patrolling on his own. His torch barely alight. “This wind is impossible to navigate without the moon and properly lit torches!” He called out. The leader. Alice slid down the sand, unsheathing Lysimachus sword silently. An extension of herself.
“Do you think we’ll get to join the main army?”
“I want to see this Centurion everyone goes on about.”
Alice slit the throat of the Roman patrolling his camp, catching his body before it could hit the ground. Dragging him away to feed on. Licking her lips before she sank her fangs into his flesh, the blood burning down her throat at first. Having not fed for so long it hurt at first, grimacing before finally feeling the relief she had desired for the past few days. Relishing, indulging in the freshness. Blood sliding down her chin, dripping down on her clothes, caring little for the mess she made. Only that she was feeling better, feeling much more like herself. A calmness washing over her as she sat back, breathing deeply, her body healing from the past fights, her cuts and bruises vanishing before her very eyes. A burn on her leg healing. Her eyes returning to their normal green, seeing light on the horizon and knowing she had to hide the body. Dragging him to the swamp, leaving him to the wilderness. Leaving him bare, strapping his gear to her side. His armour far too large for her but would fit Lysimachus if it were quickly required.
She saw Lysimachus with a spear ahead as daylight began to break. Ankle deep in the swallow waters, his eyes darting over the water. Alice sensing the fish. “Morning.”
Lysimachus turned his eyes to Alice, seeing some fresh blood on her bloodied and torn dress. “Where the hell have you been?” He stopped what he was doing. Slamming the spear into the ground and approaching Alice with a brewing storm of anger and frustration. “You left for two days! You can’t just leave.”
“I didn’t leave. I was nearby. A Roman scouting party.” Alice explained. Trying to push pass Lysimachus when he grabbed her arm in a vice grip. “Let go.” She glared, her eyes flashing red but he didn’t back down. Only tightening his grip, but it had no effect, not hurting Alice in anyway except frustrating her. “I will not ask again.”
“Answer my damn questions then. And screw the Roman scouting bullshit. We both know they don’t come through here. They hate the swamp. Only bastards here are people trying to hide.” Lysimachus gritted his teeth. Having had enough of the silence, of no answers and being no closer to knowing anything about the sorcerer. “Tell me the truth.”
“I can’t.” Alice gripped his hand, crushing it underneath the strength of her powers. Lysimachus having no choice but to let go. “I came with supplies.”
Alice slammed the pack she had tied up into his chest. Lysimachus taking a step back as he examined it. “Here’s the Roman bullshit.”
“Where did you find them?”
“The edge. By the dunes.”
“You’ve drawn a target on our backs. We have the entire Roman army baring down on us. I can’t believe you did something so stupid. They will send the undying Centurion after us. I’ve heard the rumours, no blade can kill him.” Lysimachus worried for his sister, for himself. Unable to understand why Alice would take such drastic actions.
“If he shows up. I will deal with him. It’s not my first fight against Gaius.” Alice scowled. “But don’t you dare think I did something stupid again. I did what I had to, to survive.”
“We have food. Plenty of water. And shelter. Why risk that?” Lysimachus questioned. Following Alice towards the hut. “Alice! Answer me!”
Alice stopped. Turning. “Because what I need you two cannot offer me.”
“You’ll be surprised. Try me.”
“The Roman I killed.” Alice stepped closer, lowering her voice. “I needed his blood.”
Lysimachus grabbed his spear from the water, pointing the tip at her. Hoping this would give him what he desired. “what kind of person needs blood? What are you?! Answer me!”
“The kind who drink it to survive.” Alice curled her hands into fists. “I’m not like you.”
“What are you?” Lysimachus asked. Not lowering his spear.
Alice stepped back. “Lysimachus. I won’t hurt you.”
“How can I trust you when you won’t tell me the truth. I have to protect my sister.”
Alice raised her hand to the tip of his spear, pushing it down. Swallowing hard. “Lysimachus.” She met his eyes, showing no fear but seeing hurt behind his. “I’m a vampire.” She felt relief wash over her unexpectedly, she didn’t have to explain everything but hoped it would be enough.
“I’ve read the legends.” Lysimachus unsure what to make of Alice. “But how did you end up here?”
“I don’t know. And I fear I may be stuck here.” Alice admitted. “I don’t want to wait two thousands years to get back to her.”
“Her?” Lysimachus questioned before realising. “Your wife.”
Alice nodded. “I need to go back. This isn’t my time. My place. This is her past.”
“Wait. Your wife is egyptian? It could explain how the portal threw you here.” Lysimachus concluded quickly. “But it doesn’t explain how you landed near me. Or why he’s after my sister.”
“Lysimachus. He’s already attacked your sister twice. I’m waiting for him to come back to kill her. He doesn’t seem like the type to quit.” Alice worried for Kamilah. Unable to help her in the future right now. Wondering where she was, what she was doing and if she was safe.
“But the attack at the royal palace is the first I’ve seen of him.” Lysimachus remembered it well, the chaos, the flames, the blood.
Alice heaved. “Lysimachus. When I was thrown through the portal. I was with my wife.” She wasn’t sure how he’d react but he needed to know. “My name is Alice Sayeed. And my wife is Kamilah Sayeed. Your sister, I’m married to her where I’m from.”
Lysimachus froze. The truth behind Alice’s words hitting him hard. His sister would go on to marry Alice. “When does she marry you?”
“About 2000 years from now.” Alice smirked a little. “Your sister is still the same in many ways.”
“2000 years.” Lysimachus sat down on a nearby rock. Racking a hand through his hair. “How did my sister live all this time?”
“She becomes a vampire. She’s the one who turned me.” Alice revealed. “I stabbed Gaius. But he stabbed me in return. I died in your sisters arms. And she turned me.”
“I’m not there. Which means I’m dead.” Lysimachus knew. “Do you know how I die?”
“In battle.” Alice knew that much. Kamilah had told her bits and pieces about Lysimachus. She pulled out her phone, turning it on. “Do you want to see what she looks like?”
Lysimachus nodded. Standing up. “Yes.” Alice moves to his side. “Is she happy?”
Alice opened her gallery and pulled up a photo of them, enjoying Paris. “This was our recent trip to Paris. She had promised to take me there one day.” Alice could see Lysimachus eyes glisten with tears the same way his sisters did. She smiled before showing a few more photos. “She hates it when I sneak in a few photos when she isn’t looking.” Showing one of Kamilah fast asleep on a train.
Lysimachus smiled. “Why is the countryside so-”
“Oh. We’re on a train. It’s moving so quick the countryside is blurred.” Alice realised. “That was our anniversary trip to Canada. We went up to Montreal for the weekend. Niagara Falls was beautiful at night.” She closed her gallery and glanced down at the camera button. “Can I ask you a special favour. I know this is a lot to take in but I think when I get home. Kamilah will love this, and our anniversary is coming up so she won’t suspect this.”
“What is it?” Lysimachus asked. Alice’s smile was infectious and he couldn’t help but smile back.
“Can we take a photo together, all you gotta do is smile.” Alice asked of him. Lysimachus nodded before she turned to stand beside him. He wrapped his hand around her shoulder. “I’ll try not to take a picture of my bloodied clothes.” She tilted the camera to catch their faces before snapping a few. Showing Lysimachus, “I think you take a good photo too easily for someone who’s never had one taken before.”
“I have natural talent. It’s why I’m a commander of a platoon.” Lysimachus softly chuckled. He pressed his hand to Alice’s shoulder. “I’m grateful that my sister found someone like you.”
“I’m glad I met you. I never thought I’d meet anyone from Kamilah’s family.” Alice squeezed his hand.
——————————————————————————
Serafine sat across from Kamilah, her chest rising and falling slowly. Her breaths shallow, her wound had healed on its own but where did it come from baffled Serafine most.
“How is she?” Lily asked. Handing Serafine some coffee.
“She will make it.” Serafine leaned back in her chair, sipping the hot coffee. “Was she injured in the attack?”
“Yes. But she already had blood and healed. I don’t know where this wound came from. Or how it healed on its own.” Lily didn’t understand.
A sharp knock stopped Serafine from answering. Rising from her seat and crossing her apartment to answer the door. Seeing Adrian. “Adrian?”
“Kamilah texted. Said she was heading down to New Orleans-” Adrian saw Kamilah lying across the couch. “What happened?” He almost scowled.
“We don’t know.” Serafine let him in, closing the door behind him. “Alice is missing and Kamilah hoped I would be able to find her.”
“Alice is missing?! Why didn’t you tell me sooner Lily.” Adrian turned his attention to Lily.
“Kamilah said she would contact you. And this was unexpected. She suddenly collapsed with this wound that magically healed on its own but she hasn’t woken up yet.” Lily explained. Raising her voice to the point where she almost squealed.
“Relax Lily.” Adrian raised his hand. “I’m not telling you off. I just- does anyone know what happened to Alice?”
“She was thrown through a portal.” Lily answered before shrugging. “And no, I don’t know where.”
“I’ve made a few phone calls to people who might be able to help.” Serafine piped in. “I hope it’s enough.”
“Any help is appreciated.” Adrian softly smiled. “How are you?”
“Good but worried for our friend.” Serafine worried for Kamilah. Unsure when she would wake up. Her heartbeat and breathing was steady and it was all they could do for her. They just had to wait for her to wake up.
“Does she know Alice is missing?” Adrian asked.
“Yes.” Serafine answered for Lily. “It’s why she came to see me. And Lily managed to find footage of the incident.”
“You can show me later Lily.” Adrian nodded to her. “Right now. I need to find an old friend.”
“The graveyard shift people already know.”
“No. But he’s there enough. He’s a new contact I’ve made.” Serafine explained. “I believe he will have better luck finding the source of that portal.”
“If you find the source. Could you open it at the other end?”
“I don’t have the answers Adrian. We have to be patient and be prepared for this sorcerer to come back and take another shot at Kamilah.”
“We’ll be ready if he tries anything.” Adrian vowed. “He’s not hurting Kamilah. And he better have not done anything to hurt Alice when he threw her through the portal.” Curling his hands into fists. “I’ll rip him apart myself.”
“It will not be necessary Adrian.” Serafine grasped his fist, calming him down. “We will stop him. But you should get some rest.”
“I’m fine.” Adrian stepped over to sit in Serafine’s seat. Staring at Kamilah’s sleeping form. Hoping she would wake soon and give him answers to Alice’s disappearance. “You better be okay Alice.” He racked a hand over his face. Feeling helpless he couldn’t do anything for them. Wherever Alice was, he prayed she was safe and looking for the same answers they were.
Kamilah gasped for air, sitting up abruptly. A faraway look in her eyes as tears streamed down her face. Realising she had the answers all along to where Alice was, they were suppressed until now, the memories flooding back. The night of passion with her despite her misgivings before Alice revealed that there futures were entwined, how Alice made her feel. The night before the sorcerer stabbed Lysimachus, his death, how her world was shattered, how she swore revenge, how she slaughtered his entire village when she found him as a human. “I know where Alice is.” She met the trios concerned eyes. “But I don’t know how to get to her. To save her. To save my brother.”
“Kamilah.” Adrian pressed his hand to her shoulder. “Where is she? Where is Alice?”
“If she was in Egypt. I’d be able to call her.” Lily pointed out. “Modern technology is a blessing Kamilah.”
Kamilah shook her head. “The royal palace. It burnt down. I couldn’t remember how. But it was an attack, the sorcerer. He tried to kill me.”
“Alice.” Kamilah wiped her eyes. “She’s in Egypt. In my past. We have to find a way to get her home.”
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