“Lock the door.” He ordered, going over some things piled on a cabinet. I closed the door gently and pressed on the button at the center that hatches the lock.
He pulled a plastic card out and swiped it somewhere on the desk. “Come here, I’ll show you something.”
I felt a little uncomfortable with my wet clothes but still stood beside him.
The wooden top parted and revealed a flickering computer screen.
A man in a lab coat walked into a room- “I know this, Dr. Burke tried to show this to me before but it was too gross.” River said nothing and continued to watch it until we got to the part where the head was focused by the camera, the part where I stopped watching.
What is it with this video?
“That is the scientist’s head...” River explained.
So?
“…and… that is me…” he continued, pointing to a silhouette pacing back and forth in the room, through a 2-way mirror.
How can that be him?
I waited for a clearer view, until the lights on the video were switched on-it’s River, alright.
GASP!
There’s a headless body lying on the floor-that of the scientist earlier!
The video showed River’s blood-covered hands pounding on the viewing glass. He sent out several growls and even attempted to bring the glass down. His eyes glowered in a dark red, bloodthirsty and ready to kill.
Another deafening growl caused a crack on the lens. I noticed a lot of scratch marks, cracks and dents on the wall. Any kind of damage he could inflict is already done.
“This is the girl in possession of that name you know of. I will help you find her if you seal yourself.” The familiar voice on the loudspeaker said. From where the camera is, a projector was turned on and reflected on the wall behind River.
A stolen shot of me.
River settled down and leaned on the viewing glass.
“I knew you could be civilized. Now, what do you need?” The voice asked-it’s Dr. Burke!
“Water…from the lake…”River replied picking a broken piece of glass from the floor.
“NOW!!!” He screamed. The rattling depth and volume shot my back straight up-he’s so different, worse than the wretched form I summon when reading his seal.
“Water-you mean, from the lake where I…” I sputtered, unable to gather my scattered thoughts. Was he referring to the lake I love so much? Was that the reason why he was so pissed off when I tried to splatter some on him? What is in the water? Some sort of demon repellant?
“I used it to seal myself. Demons were never sealed in the first place. The vampires threatened to put an end to you humans and we can’t have that done.” He gazed blankly on the screen, watching the part where he wiped the glass and dipped it into a bowl of water that was passed to him through a small square on the wall and carved a series of scripts on his chest, his nape and arm.
I too watched painfully as he groaned while the sharp edge of the glistening glass ran over his skin, leaving deep cuts dripping with thick, dark blood.
“Demons thrive on your sins, feed on the negativity to keep our souls alive. We have our own rules-and disobeying those will lead to a consequence unrevealed to us. That’s why we do unreasonable things…” River sighed. His eyes paled, almost a pearly-grey veiled over his sky-blue orbs.
I don’t understand it clearly, is he saying that demons do what they do for their own salvation? Humans have a predictable destination-death. It’s the only event we’re sure of. What happens next, nobody knows. Maybe it’s like that for them. I don’t know if they die at some point in their lives…disobeying is like dying and not knowing what comes next.
Demons are immortals, so are vampires. Aren’t they?
“Vampires are the ones who kill people. It is their instinct to consume humans; however, their blood thirst is limited. They can only attack somebody nearing death; if not, that person will turn into a vampire.” On the video, he dropped the knife and started twitching. It must have hurt a lot…he panted and collapsed on the floor, slumped on his own pool of blood. I can’t take any more of this…Dr. Burke was there but he couldn’t tend to his bleeding because River can tear him to shreds any moment he gets near.
Both of us had our eyes locked on the screen. River was trembling on the floor, as if struggling to keep himself alive from lethal venom running through his veins. His screams reached a part of me that wanted to run to him at that time and make him stop hurting himself.
He did it that so he could find me, and Dr. Burke had to take advantage over River’s need.
I shook my head. If I had only known that he needed me, then…
Everything would’ve been different.
When the video finished, he stood and walked over to the mirror. He unbuttoned his shirt and looked at my reflection. “How can you read these seals, when it’s not even in your alphabet?”
I don’t know…you can’t ask me a question which I can’t answer.
“We are stronger than the vampires, but we had to sacrifice our power to keep you and our kind alive and that was by sealing ourselves off. It was easy for the others since they just needed to wound themselves with the seals.” For the first time, I was able to examine those scripts which I thought were tattoos, and they’re not.
These are the proof of his power and misery, a sign that we must be with each other, for each other. Being the only person able to read and see the seals, they need me to break free. The vampires can multiply and overpower them easily and kill us…”River, Fathom killed Dr. Burke’s bodyguards-“
“-he was trying to defend himself. We can kill no more than fifty people at one time as long as they are a threat, or worse, could expose our existence.” he interrupted.
I nodded, now understanding the situation better. “Why did they run away when they smelled you earlier? Are vampires not allowed to kill demons?” A bunch of hair fell on my face-I brushed it away and tucked it behind my ear. River and I should be like this more often, no shouting or threatening. He can explain things calmly.
“They can’t…I don’t know why. It was rumored that their rules imply it.” He’s still lost at thought. I want to know what he’s thinking of.
“Change into something dry.” He said coldly.
I know he didn’t choose this path, and even though he is some sort of undetected demon, he is a good person.
While he traced his seals with a finger, I walked up behind him and, without warning, wrapped my arms around his waist.
If he really is something I must fear, then, hugging him wouldn’t feel so warm. It’s as if my arms could meld with his body and hang on.
“I’m going now.” I let go of him and ran to my room, hoping that the small hug comforted him in some way.
I took my clothes off and went straight to the shower.
River isn’t just a demon. He’s stronger than the rest of the others, and I am the only one who can prove it. He’s untraceable. Fathom only sees him as a regular person, so does Neon-well, before he smelled River’s blood.
Hesitantly, I rested my hand on the shower knob. Hell, I’ve hugged him; his scent ‘s on me and I’m washing it away?! Of course I am, I’m not some sort of obsessed psycho.
Before I get a chance to change my mind, I turned the warm shower on and started rubbing soap all over my body, still wondering if I’d be able to smell him on me.
Forget that! I scolded myself, and shifted to a cold shower. This will definitely wake my sub-functional brain…the colder, the better.
The cold bath felt like a battle between me and the water.
Finishing it off with a towel and a pair of girl boxers and a snug camisole, I nearly lost my balance while dressing up, but still managed to comb and dry my hair.
Plus, I feel hot.
I felt for my neck and forehead.
I am hot…that cold shower wasn’t a good idea after all.
“Ugh. I’m so stupid.” I moaned, making my way to my bed.
Feeling cold and sweating at the same time-it’s not a good sign. I pulled the thick blanket up to my neck and curled into a tight, shivering ball.
Knock, knock.
“Yeah? Come in.” I weakly called. It’s weird; I’m feeling warmer and warmer by the second.
River stepped inside with a stern expression on his face.
What now?
“What are you going to do about Spade?” He asked.
I looked away from him and buried myself inside the blanket. “He’s not my real brother.” By facing it this way, I will learn to accept that I don’t mean anything to him now. He almost gave me up, if not for River.
“Remember when I told you that I only have one memory?” He absent-mindedly asked.
Curiously, I turned to him. I remember that. When he was being a total jerk in the restaurant, he told me he had a memory about me, when I gained my first vision.
I can’t remember anything when I was still a baby and he does. Amazing? Okay, let’s hear it River.
“The first thing you saw was your real parents.” He sputtered.
My…real…parents?
I sat up, forgetting the chilly-sweaty feeling plaguing me. “What did they look like?” I immediately asked.
He broke eye contact and hesitated. “Dead.”
I felt a sharp pain inside my chest. Dead? What does he mean dead?
“It’s the sacrifice you had to make.” He flatly said, haltingly and uncertain.
Sacrifice... does he even know what he’s talking about?! I’ve sacrificed enough, only to discover that there’s more to it, a past that I was completely unaware of?
How?
Why?
“When you gained vision, you took the life of your real family. You had to protect yourself fr-“
“I never asked for this! How many lives….h-hhow………k…..killing my…..family…won’t protect me!.......” I interrupted, before he could say more, breaking into sobs, barely able to make myself understood. “Why….don….don’t……I………rem-mem….ber…..any….. of…..t-this?!” I was a baby, how could a small child kill somebody?
Why does he have a memory which should be mine?
“L…..leave….me…..alone……” I laid and buried myself under the covers. “Please….”
There was a moment of silence, and then, I heard the door close.
His words repeated in my head: Vision…life….family…protect…
Oh, my God. I lost it.
The warmth rose to my ears, and my body reminded me of the previous state I was in. I trembled and felt colder.
My family, both the real and my foster parents-this vision I have ruined their lives.
Spade is right, I killed them.
“Lily, wake up.” Dr. Burke whispered.
Huh? I opened my eyes, a little surprised. I must have fallen asleep.
“Help me pick a venue for your parents’ burial tomorrow.” He seemed anxious, fixing his glasses though they are aligned properly.
But, I don’t feel so good. I forced myself to sit up, swaying a little-everything I see is swaying before my very eyes. Stupid fever.
Picking a venue won’t be so hard. I just have to choose the nearest place he’ll show to get it over with. My legs wobbled as I rose out of bed and wore the thickest robe and fuzzy slippers I spotted. Can I blame myself? I’m burning up, here!
Dr. Burke smiled and walked out. I followed, and glanced at the century-old grandfather clock-three o’clock in the morning? What kind of venue rental would be open at this hour?
Oh, I forgot. Dr. Burke’s a rich guy. It might be his chain of venues and he just wanted to let me choose.
As soon as we stepped out of the house, I almost dropped to my knees from the sudden cold. I can’t do this. I’ve got to tell Dr. Burke that I’m sick. It can wait until tomorrow.
“Hurry up!” He exclaimed, opening the passenger seat. What is he so fussed about? Maybe he’s just tired. I ignored my ready-to-collapse body and stepped inside his car, a black limo without a chauffeur.
He started the engine, not saying a word.
I closed my eyes to rest a while. I still feel tired and the heat from my throat is rising to my mouth and nose. I should’ve worn something longer underneath instead of boxers, taken medicine as well.
The ride felt long, stretching from thirty minutes to almost an hour but it feels like we just went in circles.
How long is he going to drive? Are these venues really that far? Jeez.
“We’re here.” He announced. I smiled and opened the door, wrapping my hands around myself to prepare for that intense wave of coldness, then, stepped out.
I can’t see anything but a vacant lot and a house standing several meters away.
Squinting my eyes to get a better view of the venue, an unexpected shadow suddenly jumped from the trees, standing as I tried to make out who it is.
“Fathom?!” I exclaimed, recognizing his huge form.
My heart thumped loudly in fear as he approached me.
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