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Once we arrive at the school, I notice people running through the courtyard. Panicky screams and mentions of the word gun permeate throughout. Dalcour gives me an awkward glance, but he takes in a large gulp of air and then turns to Lux.
“Do you smell it, my lord?” Lux questions as Dalcour nods in agreement.
“Yes, I can smell it. Can you, Damina?” Dalcour questions in a hurried tone.
“No, I don’t smell anything.”
“Try, my lady,” Abigail whispers behind me. “It should smell of raw chicken and dried blood.”
“It’s the stench of the slimy trail they leave behind,” Cedric adds.
Inhaling once more, I detect a faint scent of the raw chicken smell Abigail mentioned. My nose crinkles at the odor I detect and Dalcour pats my shoulders, offering a covered grin. “Yep, she smells it all right. Okay, Lux, so where is your contact?”
“He’s inside,” Lux replies.
“Who is this contact?” I ask. With my mind clouded with Dalcour’s goals of turning me into a blood drinker and the churn just the thought of it gave to my insides, I didn’t really know much about what I was getting myself into.
“His name is Rashad Robinson. He and his wife care for children of the supernatural variety if you will. Both he and his wife were orphaned Bulwarks. They are not of the Order, but they do their best to protect halflings and other orphaned supernatural children. The girl they have is exhibiting some Breaker-like abilities. He has kept me apprised of her progress, which to date hasn’t been much. But when the Guard informed us of the Scourge sighting and Rashad contacted me stating they were in trouble, I thought it best for us to lend a hand.”
“You did the right thing, Lux. Damina, you’ll need to go in with Lux first. Use your light. They are Scourge so your light should vanquish them almost immediately. Cedric will let us know when it’s safe for the rest of us to enter. You got this, Beautiful,” Dalcour says, drifting his fingers along my chin.
I nod as Lux takes my hand, leading us into the school. Briefly looking over my shoulder, I notice other members of the Guard have arrived, but Dalcour keeps his eyes fixed on me. He nods his head, giving me one final boost of confidence before I am fully out of his eyesight.
While I’ve had several opportunities to fight Scourge and protect myself since I’ve entered this new world, I have very little experience marching into it headfirst. Still, I push through my fears because I realize even helping the Guard tonight at the school is the training I need to help rescue my cousin.
Once we’re inside Lux points out his contact Rashad with his wife and child nestled in his arms on the floor by the door. Rashad turns to see us, but Lux covers his mouth, motioning for him to remain quiet. Rashad’s wife directs our attention to the other side of the basketball court where we see a large, menacing Scourge toss a young girl across the floor. She lands headfirst into a large table, toppling books and a computer on top of her head.
More Scourge enter from opposite sides of the arena and Lux looks at me with his wolfen eyes glowing a bright gold. “Are you ready, Lady Nicaud? You light the way and I’ll be right at your side,” Lux whispers.
Looking up, I see a glint of the moon’s light shining through the gymnasium and it gives me the assurance I need to take my flight above the bleachers. Lux quickly scales the bleachers behind me, mounting four or more rows at a time. His movements are rapid as we keep a stealthy flow to the top of the bleachers, and I am hovering at its center.
“Now, Lady Nicaud,” Lux directs as I summon the Altrinion force within me.
Bright rays of sunlight exude from my pores and a bright, golden white shines throughout my entire being. Loud screeching cries bellow from the Scourge as they burn in agony.
“Okay, my lady. Pull back, Lord Marchand is here,” Lux shouts and I look down and see Dalcour and the remaining Guard at the door. Dalcour gazes up at me, but I can hardly see him through the iridescent rays of light encapsulating me.
Just as the brightness fades, Dalcour and the Guard swarm the gymnasium, putting a swift end to the Scourge with an almost effortless assault. As the vampires vanquish to mounds of Sulphur and dust, my eyes scan the floor and I see the young girl still laying on the ground. I also spot another family huddled at the base of the bleachers.
“Damina!” I hear Brae shout from below. “He’s hurt pretty bad. You better get to him first!”
At my descent I find a handsome young teen wearing a basketball uniform bleeding from his shoulder. He’s laying against the chest of an equally handsome man I assume to be his father. The man looks up at me as I land, and a gripping familiarity lingers between the two of us. His honey-coated hue slightly mirrors my own, and his eyes carry the reminiscent gentleness of my Grandma Roux. A lovely woman with thick goddess blonde tendrils and a teen girl who is her mirror image is also kneeling at his side. It doesn’t take long for their scrambled thoughts to invade my mind, giving me just enough information to know they are a blended family.
“I can help,” I say softly to the man and woman as the two lock their hands together. The young teen looks up at me, his eyes filled with both tears and pain.
“Please help my brother!” The young girl calls out to me as a waterfall of tears flood her face.
Placing my hand at his injury, a soft warm light permeates through me. He grimaces at first contact, tensing up as the healing rays seep through his flesh, cauterizing his wound. As the warming light dims, his muscles relax under the weight of my hand and his feverish sweat subsides.
“He’s going to be just fine,” I state, leaning the teen back into his father’s lap.
“Thank you! Thank you!” The woman exclaims, gripping her son’s hand to her mouth as she kisses his knuckles.
“Whoever you are, thank you. We are in your debt,” The father replies in a still small voice. His eyes remain locked on mine and I can’t shake the vibe I get from him as though we were familiar.
Strange.
“Who are you, people? Are you related to Theadra?” The young girl asks. “Are you here for Grant?” She says pointing toward a young man on the floor—an obvious Scourge victim. “He came in here like a lunatic! Said he was trying to protect me from something. But then he pulled out that gun—and then those things came—and then Theadra she—”
Unable to finish her rant, the young girl breaks out into a series of sobs and falls into her mother’s arms. Brae looks at me as she examines the slain boy’s fatal wounds. She opens his duffle bag, pulling out a stash of pictures, weapons, and cash. Hunching her shoulders. Both Brae and I wonder what part the boy played in the events of tonight.
“Damina!” Dalcour calls from across the court. “The girl! Come help!”
“Theadra!” The young blonde screams. “Oh, my gosh! Please, can you do something?”
“Theadra!” The teen boy erupts in a series of shouts as he stretches his arm toward her still body on the other end of the court.
“Travis, son, calm down!” His father commands, gripping him tightly.
“Damina!” Dalcour shouts once more.
“Travis, your father is right. Stay calm. I’ll go see to Theadra,” I reply, running my hand along his forehead, hoping to douse his erratic energy. Once more, I feel him calm beneath my palm.
“Please, I love her.” Only his thoughts echo his sentiment as it pierces through my mind. Although he seems too young to express such a commitment, his eyes alone tell me his declaration is sincere.
Making my way toward Dalcour, I watch the synchronicity of Cedric and Abigail’s movements. Even as they fend off Scourge, they move as one. Now, I can see Dalcour’s fascination with the pair firsthand. A small smile dances across my face despite the onslaught being carried out before me. Inside, a giddy, girlish joy bubbles to the epicenter of my heart knowing this is possibly the life Dalcour wishes for us two.
We shall see.
Arriving near Dalcour, I see the young girl try to push herself from the floor, but her strength is all but spent. Reaching down, I grab her before she hits her head on the wooden deck. “It’s okay, you’re safe. I’ve got you,” I say, nestling her into my arms. There is a small bruise on her forehead and a trail of blood leaks down her cheeks. Cupping my hands along her face, I allow the warming light to heal her wound. A look of relief crosses her face and she exhales. “Now, that’s better,” I add.
Slowly, her blurry vision dissipates, and her eyes open wide before Dalcour and me. A wide smile blankets her face and she is oddly happy to see us.
“Heaven,” she whispers. Images of her standing alone at the funeral of her parents and brother, along with happier moments of them together, flood my mind. A deep longing for her loss pains through me at the realization of her grief. Looking up at Dalcour, my eyes water with thoughts of losing my own parents.
“Not quite, I’m afraid,” Dalcour replies, taking a firm hold of Theadra’s hand.
Squinting as she comes to, she looks at Dalcour and me in awe. Both worry and intrigue cross her brow line as she looks at us and around the auditorium. One last shrieking cry from one of the creatures as its wretched body is torn from its limb and she jumps to her feet.
“Please don’t be frightened. We’re here to help you, Theadra,” I say, raising my hand in caution as I notice how wobbly she is.
“How do you know my name?” Theadra asks, wary.
“Your friends told us,” Dalcour answers, pointing behind us.
Theadra turns around, looking at her friends, and she blows out an air of relief as she spots Travis. Her eyes continue scanning the gymnasium as she watches as Cedric piles the Scourge husks aside.
Batting her eyes, she places her hand along her brow, staring off confused. Was I dreaming? Theadra inwardly wonders.
“No, you weren’t dreaming, Theadra,” I answer her thoughts. Although I do not detect a trace of the Altrinion force within her, I am strangely curious as to what I should make of her.
“How did you—” she begins with a more guarded stance.
“Because I’m special—like you,” I quietly reply.
“What do you mean, like me?” Theadra’s stubbornness is ringing true and I cannot help admiring her doggedness. For someone who's been through so much, she wears her grittiness like a badge of honor.
Good for her. She’ll need it in this world.
“She’s certainly a tough one like you,” Dalcour laughs, plunging his hands in his pockets as he paces between us.
“Why don’t you give us girls a chance to talk, Dalcour?” I say, not wanting to crowd her too much.
“Okay, Beautiful, I’ll just check in on the basketball star. He should be fully healed by now,” he answers with a broad smile while kissing my forehead before heading across the court.
“Dalcour? Some name,” Theadra replies.
“Yes, he’s some man,” I proudly reply.
Cute couple. I hear her mutter secretly.
“Why, thank you,” I answer, revealing her hidden thoughts
“How do you do that? You can read my mind? What are you?”
“Firstly, it would be rude of me to say what I am, without first introducing myself. My name is Damina.”
“Got it. Damina and Dalcour. Now, what are you people? And what were those things earlier?”
“Dalcour and I are Altrinions. We are a supernatural species if you will.”
“Supernatural?”
“Yes. And those things were what we call Scourges—but most commonly known as vampires.”
“You’re telling me vampires are real!” Theadra shouts and the gym goes quiet. Dalcour and the others stare back at us and he walks back toward us with his posture more stiff and his face stern.
“Shh,” I begin, placing my finger at her lip as she gazes around the gym. “It’s probably not a good idea to blurt such things out.”
“I’m sorry, but I mean they’ve already seen it.”
“Yes, but they are mortal and it’s best to keep them separate from such things. You understand, don’t you Theadra?”
Looking over my shoulder at Travis, Theadra smiles when she spots his sister patting the top of his head.
Theadra’s eyes fall slightly as if a thousand-pound weight now rests on her shoulders. “Yes, I understand. “So am I like you? Am I Altri—whatever you called it?”
“No, I’m afraid you are something different entirely,” Dalcour announces, once more at my side.
“What does that mean?”
“Well, you’re the first I’ve known in quite a long time, but long ago we called those like you caesor or breakers.”
“Breakers? Am I supposed to know what that means?”
“Well, isn’t she feisty?” He laughs over his shoulder. “You see, Theadra long ago when Altrinions or other supernaturals wanted to hide their existence from the world they would intermarry with mortals—humans. As time went on, their supernatural DNA would wane. That is, until such a time a caesor or Breaker was needed.”
“Needed?”
“Yes, needed. If we pure line supernaturals abandoned our post or at any moment of heightened emotion, a Breaker could have hewn their supernaturality from within—much as you’ve done tonight,” Dalcour answers.
“And with Grant’s actions tonight, you must’ve felt forced to allow your power to break out,” I add.
“But that doesn’t explain why those creatures were here tonight. Were they after me?”
As I part my lips, Dalcour places his hand on my shoulder and shoves a heap of information to my mind. My mouth gapes open at the telepathic revelation Dalcour shares. Once more it is evident the Vitreous are at work. Even more, it’s obvious had it not been for Theadra’s intervention, these people may not be alive.
“What?” Theadra demands. Her patience with us is waning.
“To tell you the truth, Theadra, we were tracking a herd of Scourge heading near the school. We had no idea you were here. But now it’s evident who they were tracking here and why,” Dalcour says turning toward Travis and his family.
“Your boyfriend Travis and his family—well, they are LeClaires—like me,” I confess, still in shock. I always knew there were more LeClaires in Louisiana I’d never met, but to know my bloodline is being hunted to extinction is maddening. Still, I do my best to maintain my composure for Theadra’s sake. “He and his father are pure line Altrinion. They are my distant kin. An evil group of Altrinions called the Vitreous want to end the LeClaire bloodline, and they sent the Scourge here to do so. I’m afraid if you weren’t here tonight, Theadra, they might have succeeded.”
“How can you be sure?” Theadra asks, her eyes growing wide in both concern and fear.
“We found Grant’s bag,” Dalcour says while handing her four photos. “There are pictures of Krista, Travis and their entire family. In almost every shot a Scourge is seen following them.”
Scanning the photos, Theadra now sees the dark shadows of the Scourge in each.
Oh no, Grant was trying to protect Krista! Theadra’s thoughts sear through both Dalcour and me as the gravity of it all pulls on her already weighted shoulders.
“Only Grant went about it the wrong way. Frankly, he never stood a chance. You were meant to be here,” Dalcour answers her thoughts gently, placing his hand on her shoulders. A proud smile crosses my face as I watch his genuine care for her. This is a side of him I’d never thought to see, but I like it. “Listen, Theadra, we need to get you and the LeClaire family far from here. It’s not safe.”
Once more, Theadra’s emotions spring into a frenzy. Thoughts of her family’s death leading her to this very moment fills her with both purpose and grief.
“Theadra,” I quietly say, cupping her hands in mine. “I know this is all surreal right now, but Dalcour is right, we need to get you and your friends to safety. Believe me when I say I know what it is like to lose your family to tragedy only to be put in such a position. I was where you are—just the other day. But I promise, I will help you. We both will. Not only will I vow to keep you safe, but I’ll help you understand how to manage what you’re becoming. After all, us orphans have to stick together.”
Theadra looks up at me and pools of water flood her cocoa-covered cheeks. For the first time, this otherwise spunky and strong sixteen-year-old resembles a child. She’s spent the last six weeks since her family’s death being strong. For six weeks, she has held it all in. Her breath, that is. She even managed to maintain her composure long enough to save her friends. From the fight she put up, it is clear she has no plans to lose anyone close to her ever again.
In this I can relate.
My heart aches for her and I share with her a kinship that can only be felt among orphans.
Pulling Theadra in for a tight hug, she finally allows her grief to have its way as she cries in my arms.
“It’s okay, Theadra. Breathe, sweetie, just breathe.”