Antikythera

I had a really productive day as far as writing goes today. I reached 30,500 words on The Birth of God, and I was feeling so inspired, I decided to jot down another little story. The other day as I was writing The Birth of God, I had an urge to throw a vampire into the mix. Ya know, vampire stories are so popular these days, I thought, why not?

Don’t worry, I didn’t throw any vampires into the book… Mostly cause then I would have to throw in the token werewolf, and the whole story would have to revolve around 15 year old’s falling in love with 200 year old vampires…

Creepy..

Then again, I will most definitely write my own vampire story at some point. So lame, so cliche, so deliciously fun.

I knew I wouldn’t have the opportunity to write that type of book for quite some time, what with the God’s and Children series taking up so much time. So, I did the next best thing..

Vampire Short Story.. Yaaaaaay…

Without further adieu, here you go. Feel free to comment, on anything and everything. If something doesn’t make sense, you have a killer idea for a story, or you just want to see your words written down and immortalized for all eternity on this website, leave a comment. I’d love it if you did!!!

Antikythera

“I have it!” the man said as he came bursting into the room. Water pooled on the floor beneath his rain soaked cloak. Removing the silver helmet upon his head, the man fell to one knee. Blood from a gash above his eyebrow mixed with the rain water that trickled down his cheek.

Leonis perked forward in his chair at the scent of the man’s life force. Pupils growing wide, he felt a flush of blood rush to his cheeks. With a deep breath, he forced his primal urges back down.

“Have what, Sir Raymond?” His cold dead eyes watched the stream of blood weave through the man’s stubble, before pooling in the crook of the man’s neck. The perfect cup.

“The Antikythera, my lord.”

Crossing the room in the blink of an eye, Leonis knelt in front of the man. Taking Sir Raymond’s chin in his hand he lifted the elderly Knight to his feet.

“Give it to me.” Leonis could feel the man’s pulse quicken, causing the cut above his head to bleed a new, as he removed a small velvet bag attached to his belt.

Snatching the bag, Leonis could imagine his own heart beating out of his chest, if the thing still worked. Turning his back on the old knight, he opened the bag and pulled the metal object from inside. Worn bronze and copper created a complex series of gears and cogs around the clear jewel in the center. The fireplace in the corner threw warm rays of light glinting off the stone that was no larger than his fingernail. Leonis remained transfixed in place as he stared at the object of his longing.

“Sir Raymond, you have done me a great service. One for which, I feel I shall never be able to repay you.” He said placing the object down on a small wooden table. “You have given me back my reason to live, or at least to exist.”

Gliding across the floor, Leonis stopped in front of the old Knight, holding the stare of the man’s blue eyes in his own.

“A thousand years I’ve searched for the Antikythera. Name your reward and you shall have it.”

“I wish to be immortal.” The old Knight shifted in place, a fresh coat of water ran down his arm before falling to the ground.

Leonis parted his lips to reveal his perfect white teeth. “As you wish.”

Lunging forward, he took the man’s head between his hands. The knight quivered with fear, letting out a hoarse cry as Leonis’ teeth sunk into the man’s flesh. A gush of hot blood filled Leonis’ mouth as the man convulsed. Sir Raymond ceased to struggle as Leonis lay him down on the thick black carpet turning a deep crimson as it absorbed the fallen Knight’s blood.

Rising to his feet, blood ran down Leonis’ cold dead skin. A drunken smile of ecstasy crossed his face as he stumbled back to his pillowed couch. Firelight cast long shadows as he held the antikythera between his long slender fingers.

“I’m coming my love.” His eyelids grew heavy from his feasting as he slouched across the couch. The first rays of the morning sun would be appearing over the Balyrian Mountains any moment.

“I’m coming.” The words tumbled heavily off his tongue as he clutched the antikythera to his chest. Images of a young woman dressed in green danced in his dreams as he awaited the sun to complete its arc across the sky.

When he awoke, the fire in the corner was already a blaze. Closing his stiff fingers, he realized his hands were empty. Jumping to his feet, he scanned the couch for the antikythera.

“Looking for this?”

Spinning around, he saw the tall, lean figure concealed by shadows across the room.

“Give it to me, and I’ll kill you quickly.” Leonis said lowering his voice.

“You cannot kill what is already dead, Leonis.” the man said stepping out of the shadows.

Markus the Elder. “I’m sorry, my Lord. I did not realize it was you.” Leonis said resenting the man, if you could still call him that, as he bowed his head in a show of respect. “What brings you all the way out to Shigatov?”

“Why, this, of course.” Markus held the antikythera up to the light. From across the room, Leonis’ could see the small gem between the copper gears sparkling in the light as if it was on fire. “The Council will have many a good use for this little device, don’t you agree?”

The bones cracked as Leonis clenched his fist.

“I wouldn’t recommend that.” Markus said following Leonis’ eyes to the wooden stake in the corner.

“My Lord,” Leonis stepped towards Markus watching his black eyes consume the light around him. “I only need it for one task. Then you are free to have it.”

“I’m free to have it?” Markus dashed forward suddenly, appearing inches from Leonis’ face, his breath reeked of blood and stolen innocence. “It is already mine.” he spat the words out as if they were poison.

Leonis remained rigid, his muscles tensed, ready for attack.

“I’m curious,” The Elder said taking a step back. “What would you use this for?”

“To correct a mistake.” Leonis said through clenched teeth.

“Ahh, of course.” Markus licked his lips as he stared into the antikythera. “Evangelina, was it?”

The mention of her name sent a chill down Leonis’ spine. Parting his lips involuntarily, he fought to suppress the anger welling up inside him.

“Yes, my Lord.”

“And what, pray tell, would you do differently?” he said mockingly. “Do you really think you could stop your blood drunk feasting before the last ounces of her life slipped away?”

Leonis took a deep breath, and ran a hand nonchalantly through his hair.

     The memory of waking in a pool of Eve’s blood still haunted him. He re-lived that memory in his dreams, every night for the past thousand years. Finally he had the means to change the nightmare for good, to give her the eternal life she had desired.

“I will not let you take her from me.”

“You have no one to blame but yourself, boy.” Markus said running his dark eyes over Leonis’ body. “You took her from yourself.”

“Ahhh!!” Sir Raymond had a risen a child of the night from where he fell the evening past. Wielding his sword over his head, he brought it crashing down where Markus had stood. The Elder was too quick and the blade found nothing but air and wood as it splintered against the floor. Disappearing with inhuman speed, Markus reappeared behind the fallen Knight. Raymond’s eyes grew wide and pleading, his mouth dropped to let out a scream. No noise left his throat as Markus tore the man’s head from his body. Flames erupted from Raymond’s chest as he was engulfed by fire. The heat filled the room as his corpse dropped to the floor in a pile of ash.

Leonis used Sir Raymond’s sacrifice as an opportunity to gain the wooden stake hanging ornamentally on the wall. Leaping across the room with his white fangs bared, Leonis swiped at the Elder’s throat. Markus caught the younger man’s wrist with his hand, holding it with an unbreakable grip. Holding the antikythera in his other hand, Markus slammed his head into Leonis’ face.

The air was driven from Leonis’ chest as Markus thrust his foot into the younger man’s stomach, sending him smashing into the bookshelf across the room. Swaying from the force of the impact, the bookshelf teetered momentarily before collapsing on top of Leonis with a large crash.

Struggling momentarily beneath the immense weight, Leonis exploded to his feet, sending books and broken bits of wood flying in all directions. Markus stood his ground in the center of the room as Leonis brushed the dirt off his sleeves as he stepped out of the debris.

Rushing towards the Elder, Leonis feigned to his left as he lunged to Markus’ right. Connecting with bone and flesh, Markus doubled over, as Leonis spun around his back, wrapping an arm around the Elder’s neck. Markus reached behind his head, grabbing the back of Leonis’ neck. In one smooth motion, the Elder leaned forward, while pulling down with his hand causing Leonis to go flying over the man’s body as Markus threw him across the room.

Crashing into the mantel above the fireplace, Leonis’ fell to the ground with a sickening thud. Markus was on top of him before he could gain his feet. Leonis’ ribs cracked and gave way beneath the Elder’s weight as he drove his foot down again and again. Black blood oozed from the corner of Leonis’ mouth as he gasped for air.

“You’re not worthy to use the antikythera, boy.” Markus said leaning in close.

Leonis reached desperately for the fire burning just outside his fingers grasp. Markus’ iron grip closed in around his throat as he struggled for air. Flailing desperately, Leonis felt the singe of hot metal as his fingers wrapped around the red hot poker that had fallen to the floor during the scuffle. Bringing it around with the full force of his might, he felt the metal glance off bone as it connected with Markus’ head.

The Elder let out a piercing scream as he fell to the side. Quickly rolling on top of Markus, Leonis held the poker against the Elder’s cheek, filling the air with the pungent odor of burning flesh. The antikythera rolled out of Markus’ hand as he clawed at the metal poker. Snatching the antikythera off the ground, Leonis’ retreated to the other side of the room in a flash.

With a finger, he sent the bronze cogs spinning. The clear gem in the center filled the room with a blinding white light. Leonis could see Markus rising to his feet in slow motion as time came to a stop. Leonis focused his mind as the world spun backwards, accelerating as he rocketed through time.

The sun had just set on the Spanish countryside as Leonis emerged from the crypt. He had waited a thousand restless years for this one night. Dark clouds swirled overhead as he descended the grassy hill towards town. Peasants were hurrying home as the final moments of daylight fled. It would soon be the Children of the Night’s turn to roam the streets, searching, hunting, and feeding.

Working his way through the narrow streets, Leonis took care to remain in the shadows as the last of the townsfolk boarded up their windows for the night. They would come, soon, as they did every night in his dreams.

He watched as a shadowy figure slipped from the dark alley across the way. A window creaked open as a young woman slid down a rope, made of bed sheets, to the ground. Leonis’ breath caught in his throat as he watched the woman’s green dress dance in the flickering light of a lantern across the street.

Leonis followed as the two individuals ducked into a dark alley. There was no need to follow closely; he already knew where this road led. Springing into the air, Leonis glided along the air to land atop a house with a thatched roof. Silently, he stalked the two from above.

When they emerged on the other side of town, the two individuals paused for a moment before dashing for the woods. The woman’s dress glimmered in the Moon’s light as it sat full in the sky. Dropping to the ground, Leonis followed them into the woods.

Branches hung low, near the ground, tearing at Leonis’ cloak. The forest floor was blanketed with thick, gnarled roots and leaves of orange and red. No light from the Moon penetrated the thick underbrush as Leonis followed the woman’s scent.

Leonis stopped at the edge of the trees as the forest gave way to a small clearing. The woman stood in the center, shining like an angel in the night sky. The man had removed his hood; his long blonde hair appeared silver as it flowed down past his shoulders. They stood embracing one another, when the sound of a branch snapping underfoot grabbed their attention. Wheeling around, the young man pulled a sword from its scabbard. Leonis stared into the face that was no different than his, and yet separated by a millennia.

Half a dozen torches emerged from the other side of the clearing as men armed with swords, pitchforks, and axes came running from the forest.

“Father, no!” he heard the young woman cry.

“Stay where you are, Evangelina.” The old man said shaking violently as he held his sword in front of him. “This creature from hell has ensnared your soul! I will not let him have you.”

The young man stepped forward, the light of the Moon glinting off his sword’s silver edge. Circling him, one of the townsfolk sprang forward, wielding his axe overhead. Bringing it down like a man who has never used an axe for anything but chopping wood, the young man side-stepped, while bringing his sword down in a high arc, separating the man from his arm.

A cry filled the air as the man collapsed to the ground. Blood shot out from the wound, and Leonis’ could see the young man’s eyes glow red in the darkness at the sight. The invitation to the feast flowing so freely on the ground wafted on the breeze towards Leonis’. Taking a deep breath, he suppressed his desires.

The young man brought his sword to his lips, dragging his tongue against its crimsoned blade. Throwing his head back, he let out a howl as he turned on the other townsfolk. Moving faster than any mortal could follow, he slashed his way through the remaining men. Their cries of pain rang out into the night as the man approached the woman’s father.

“SAAAAAAH!!!” the old man screamed as he charged forward, sword held high overhead. Stopping abruptly, the man looked down with wide eyes as the young man plunged his sword deep into the man’s stomach, the blade emerging out the other side.

“NOOOO!!” the woman screamed as she ran towards her father. Wild with blood lust, the young man turned on the girl. Dropping his sword, he jumped in front of her before she could reach her father. Taking her head in his hands, he opened his mouth wide as he descended upon her throat.

Leonis emerged out of the woods, and covered the distance to the man and woman in an instant. Grabbing the young man by the neck he pulled him away from the girl, throwing him across the grassy field.

“Run.” Leonis said to the girl whose eyes had gone hollow with fear.

Leaping high overhead, the young man came crashing down on Leonis who stood his ground. Catching the young man’s hands in his own, he held him close, staring into the young man’s lifeless grey eyes.

“Who are you?” the young man said, his white fangs illuminated in the darkness, as he struggled against Leonis’ superior strength.

“You, Leonis.” The old man whispered leaning in close. “You’re in a blood-lust; I’m here to stop you from killing the woman you love.”

The fire faded in the young man’s eyes as he searched Leonis’ face for truth. Turning his head towards the dead and dying men laying in pools of their own blood, the young man stopped resisting Leonis’ grasp. Crimson leaves rustled in the breeze as Leonis’ stared into his younger half’s eyes shimmering silver in the moon light.

Caught in the moment, Leonis’ did not hear the attacker approaching until it was too late. Searing pain spread through his chest as the icy steel blade tore through flesh and bone. Blackened blood dripped from the end of the sword that protruded from his chest as he gasped for air.

Blind with pain as his body erupted in flames, Leonis spun, lashing out at his attacker. Bone cracked beneath his fist as he sent the assailant flying across the clearing. The evening air filled with the scent of his burning flesh as he dropped to his knees. Purple grey clouds swirled overhead, obscuring the Moon.

What was left of Leonis’ heart broke in that moment, as he locked onto the lifeless eyes of Evangelina staring back at him from across the field. Her body laid twisted and mangled, rivers of blood streaming down her face from his strike. Clutched between her cold dead fingers, she held onto the sword, black as night with his blood. The cries of his younger self pierced the night air as the man ran to his love.

Leonis watched helplessly as the young man rocked the dead woman’s body in his arms. Turning to ash, Leonis’ body floated away on the breeze to the sound of his own anguished cry.

Edited

This is where the power of comments come in. I’ve made a change to the ending to make it more clear what is happening. In my haste I skimmed over assuming everything was sufficiently explained Hopefully, this does a better job .Leave a comment and let me know if it still sucks.

Thanks guys, leave a comment after the beep.

Anthony

BEEEEEEEEP!