Black Hellebore Page 30

  “Let us through!” a snake-like voice hisses.

  “Never!” it hisses back, and even with the drastic changes, Tru immediately recognises her. A deep sorrow builds inside of her when she realises that this monster is Lia.

  “What is going on here?” a thundering voice emerges from behind the group. Everyone turns around in shock. As they fought, they must have unknowingly been climbing further up the mountain inside the cave, because they only now realise that there is a thin bean of light shining through to the cave. There is a woman standing in the ray of light who is more beautiful than any dawn. Her hair is glowing like fire and her face is framed by high cheek-bones, full red lips, a slim nose and emerald green glowing eyes. Her breasts are as full as her waist is slim and as opposed to the other inhabitants of the cave, she seems to be human. She is very tall and elegant like a swan. She doesn’t look much older than Lia, but the way in which she moves, so full of poise and grace, makes her seem much older. Her body is naked and yet still covered up. Black streams of fog dance around her and cling to her body like a robe. Her incredible beauty leads to the assumption that this must be Lilith. Even when enraged, her face remains gracious and loving.

  “They are my friends and I won’t allow any harm to come to them.” Lia hisses, being the only one who has the same eyes as her mother. It is only now that the rest of them recognise her and Lindsay throws her hand up to her mouth with a screech. Tru could smack her for her reaction.

  “They are vampires, humans and a half-blood.” Lilith replies in contempt, but even the words that were meant to be in no way friendly and full of hatred seem sweet as honey coming from her lips.

  “That is exactly why they are my friends!” Lia stands her ground, and stares at her birth mother challengingly. The hate and rage that she expresses through her words doesn’t go by Tru unnoticed. Lilith also seems to sense it, but she just reacts to it with a barely noticeable bat of her eyelashes. She pauses and seems to reconsider her decision.

  “Say your goodbyes to them! This is no place for them.” She finishes and with a wave of her hand, she signals for the rest of her children to retreat, and she herself follows the light out into the open. Lia retracts her bat wings and lets them sink, then proceeds to follow her mother. Tru and the others follow her lead. When they get out of the cave, they find themselves on a high rock formation with waves crashing on the rocks far below them. A light wind is blowing against them. As Chasity and Claudia stay back in the shadows, the others step out into the light feeling liberated. It is a relief to feel the sun rays on their skin. Tru notices Chasity’s envious stare. She never would have imagined that the former queen of the vampires could have such a deep yearning for the sunlight.

  She then turns her attention back to Lia. She looks almost starved and her skin is even paler than normal. The transformation has not made her stronger or more beautiful. She looks really miserable. It is like a stab in the heart for Tru to see her suffering like this. How could her mother do this to her? Her eyes wander over the planes, but Lilith is nowhere to be seen. It is as if she has disappeared into thin air.

  Lia turns sadly towards the vampires and doesn’t go into any further details about her transformation. Why should she? It’s not like anyone could miss it.

  “The vampires and succubi are at war. Nobody expects you to stay here and be slaughtered by your own race.” Lia sinks her head in defeat before she continues; “Everyone would understand if you retreated or chose to stand on the other side.”

  Chasity gracefully steps out from the shade wearing sunglasses over her eyes. Despite the long black robe, it is clear to see that every step she takes pains her, but still she continues until she is standing right in front of Lia, and she places her black gloved hands on both of her cheeks, forcing her to raise her head and look at her.

  “My place is at your side. You saved my life!”

  “After my blood nearly killed you.”

  “It was not your intention, but it was my intention to kill you. I am in your debt.”

  Although her face can’t be seen, there is love and compassion in her voice. Claudia now also steps out into the sun and stands beside her former queen.

  “Chasity’s debt is my debt. We will stand by your side, no matter where you go.”

  Tears rush to Lia’s eyes. These are the first kind words she has heard for hours. Claudia reaches her hand out and gently strokes Lia’s golden hair.

  “You probably can’t imagine it, but we know exactly how you feel. We were also torn from our lives and transformed. It is hard to leave the past behind without any regrets.”

  Lia nods, but then averts her gaze, turning to face Mike and Lindsay, who are standing awkwardly behind her. Their eyes are fixed on the ground, unable to stand the sight of their best friend. Their reaction must be more than hurtful for Lia. She is looking for the right words, when Mike suddenly raises his head, and instead of looking at Lia, he reaches his hand out to Lindsay. She tentatively looks into his eyes, but then takes his hand. They both finally manage to gaze at Lia with an apologetic look on their faces. Tru only now realises that their hesitation wasn’t because of Lia herself, but rather because Lia didn’t know about their new relationship. But her reaction should be enough to calm their fears because she responds with a smile that spreads across her entire face. For the first time since they have Lia back, she seems genuinely happy.

  Mike, who has known her for longer than everyone here put together, knows her smile in an instant and it gives him the courage to speak.

  “We didn’t know how to tell you...”

  “Finally!” Lia says in amazement. “I couldn’t imagine anything better than to see my two best friends together! I am so sorry that I was in the way for so long.” Her words are directed more towards Lindsay, but it is Mike who answers her.

  “You weren’t; we were standing in our own way.”

  Her usually very talkative friend manages to find her voice again and quickly adds; “I don’t think you are a slut either. It just slipped out because I was so mad...” as always, she says the wrong thing at the wrong time, but it seems to be exactly what Lia wanted to hear.

  I really don’t know how I can ever make it up to you!” There is regret in her expression, but Lindsay just waves dismissively with a forgiving smile.

  “You don’t have to. Everyone makes mistakes, it’s only human!”

  Lia’s eyes widen in sadness and she tries to blink away the tears that are starting to form in them.

  “I am not human anymore!”

  Lindsay doesn’t hold back as she grabs Lia’s arms hard, unfazed by the wings coming out of her back.

  “That is exactly what you are and you will always be, just like you will always be my best friend.” The hug that she follows up her words with is Lia’s salvation. It says so much more than any words ever could.

  “We will never leave you alone.” Mike agrees with his girlfriend, and hugs them both tightly. They are a team, and they always have been. Once again, Tru feels completely out of place. She was never a part of a group and she also never fit in with the humans the way Lia does with her friends.

  When they separate from each other, Lia has to force herself to say the words; “This is no longer your fight!”

  “It is yours, which means it is ours too!” Lindsay emphatically replies, even though she would love nothing more than to leave this desert wasteland that has no running water or electricity, and is full of cockroaches instead.

  “You have exams! I have already kept you from your studies long enough.”

  “We can always re-sit the exams.” Her swot friend Mike replies, but Lia just shakes her head, as hard as it is for her.

  “Your life will go on. This place will soon be overrun by vampires and succubi, and either one of them would tear you to pieces if they got the chance. You are not safe here and I can’t protect you. Please leave. Do it for me. I don’t want something bad to happen to you!”

  Lindsay opens he
r mouth to object, but then closes it in defeat. She lets out a loud sigh as Lia stares unhappily back at her, but then she meekly nods her head in agreement. Mike puts his arm around Lindsay, and pulls her into him as the first tears start to roll down her face. Lia’s lips are trembling and she gives them one last nod before returning to the cave. Tru stands indecisively by the two humans. Nobody has pleaded with her to stay or to go. It is her decision to make. Even though there is really no choice, she would at least have wanted Lia to look at her just once, rather than coldly disregarding her, as opposed to Mike and Lindsay, who are now turning to face her. Lindsay quickly wipes the tears from her face and makes her way towards Tru.

  “Take care of her and bring her back to us in one piece!”

  Tru can’t manage anything other than a nod, but Lindsay sticks her pinky finger out towards her.

  “Promise?”

  A smile appears on Tru’s face. As much as Lindsay always gets on her nerves, and as much as she would love to make the already so tiny girl a head shorter, she always manages to make her laugh somehow. She links her pinky with Lindsays and creates a pact with her.

  “I promise!”

  As a farewell, Mike reaches out his hand to her stiffly, but with a grateful look on his face, and Lindsay hugs her tightly without any hesitation and whispers in her ear; “You’re not that bad after all!”

  They then start their way back towards civilisation. It is a long journey, but they have left Tru with hope. Maybe there is still a chance for her to lead a normal life with friends and everything else at some point. Maybe one day she too will be some part of a whole. Maybe.

  Tru walks cautiously back into the cave. She doesn’t feel welcome, but she also doesn’t want to stay out on the open plane. She doesn’t need to search very long to find Lia, who is trembling and cowering in a small, bright alcove, not far from the entrance. Chasity and Claudia are nowhere to be seen and so Tru steps timidly towards the succubus. When she reaches her, she sees that Lia is holding Orlando’s drawing of her in her hand. Her tears have already smeared the charcoal lines and the edges are torn and crumpled. Tru silently sits down next to her. Lia turns her dirty face towards her and tries to explain herself.

  “I keep asking myself whether anything would have been different if I hadn’t met him, but I still want nothing more than to see him one last time.”

  Tru tries to stay objective and not let her jealousy show.

  “I think you were destined to meet, like two magnets that just keep searching for each other until you are finally brought together.”

  Her words seem to lessen Lia’s sorrow, but she still seems to be in complete and utter despair. With a rustling sound, she lifts one of her wings. They are not covered in feathers, but rather in black skin like a bat’s wings.

  “I am scared of losing myself. I hardly recognise myself a lot of the time. If he knew what has become of me, he would hate me even more.”

  Tru shakes her head with a smile.

  “He doesn’t hate you. That would be just as impossible for him as it is for me.”

  “But I am a monster!” Lia yells in distress and begins to sob again. She might look like a monster, but her tears are proof that she, unlike the other succubi, isn’t one. Her actions remind Tru of how Lia was when they had found her in the forest. They reverted to their most primal state and lost all human emotions other than their will to survive. Lia is different.

  “You are not like the others. You are... full of emotion.”

  “I only have you and the others to thank for that. You remind me of who I once was. The other succubi have all forgotten. They have lost all memory they had of their old lives.” Her voice is full of sympathy. The other succubi are alone. Nobody joined them on a journey to the end of the earth to let them meet their fate.

  “I will not let the same thing happen to you.” She suddenly comes up with a plan. “Nobody is forcing you to stay here. Nobody is forcing you to fight for something you don’t believe in. This is just as much your fight as it is mine. Let’s run away together. We can go somewhere in the mountains where no other people live. Your wings don’t bother me. They are just a part of your outer shell and that doesn’t mean a thing.”

  Lia’s eyes widen and she smiles, but then she purses her mouth apologetically.

  “I am truly sorry from the bottom of my heart, but I can’t run away with you.”

  “Why not, what is keeping you here?”

  “Orlando.”

  Tru hates that name. It’s always him. Would it have been different if Lia had never met him? Could she have loved Tru then? Without Orlando, Tru would never have met Lia. They go to the same school, and are even in the same class, but before Orlando, Tru didn’t care about Lia in the least. She was just one human among many.

  “Please understand. I have to find him. I have said and done terrible things to him. If I don’t at least apologise to him, then I could never forgive myself.”

  Tru’s emotions are building up like a storm inside her. She doesn’t know what she should feel or think. It endlessly frustrates her that she doesn’t even know how she really feels about Lia. Is it friendship or is it love? It is very hard to know for someone who has had very little interaction with humans. She doesn’t know how to properly judge words and actions. She can’t see through words or read between the lines. Exactly for that reason, she has to know where they stand. She quickly puts her hands on Lia’s cheeks and before she has a chance to pull away, their lips press against each other. She can feel the cracks in Lia’s lips and apart from the taste of salt and blood; she tastes the sweetness of strawberries. Warmth spreads through her like a wildfire. A feeling of security surrounds her and makes her heart beat slow and steady. She feels safe and happy, but the expected fireworks are just not there. This is not a disappointment, but a relief to her. It is a feeling of certainty.

  Tru opens her eyes and looks into the green warmth of Lia’s gaze. The cold emeralds have disappeared and are replaced with summer green grass. Lia has calmed down and her tears have dried. She is taken aback, but there also seems to be something like happiness in her face. Tru still doesn’t know what to make of her reaction.

  “Please say something!” she says hotly and Lia searches for something in Tru’s eyes that will make it easier for the right words to come to her.

  “I... I don’t regret the kiss” she says holding eye contact with her. “I love you, but not the same way I love Orlando. I love you more like a sister!”

  The words are out, and a few seconds ago Tru never would have dreamt that these words would be so enlightening.

  “I’m glad to hear you say that, because I feel the same way.” Finally they are both assured of their feelings and will no longer have to be careful about how they look at each other or be afraid that a touch might be taken the wrong way. The affection that has bound them from the start is still there, but now Tru finally understands it. It is love, but not the kind of love she had assumed, if not feared it would be. Maybe she is just not ready for that kind of love, but a strong friendship is a good start.

  “As your sister, I will not leave your side. I don’t care whether you have wings or horns, as long as you are Lia. And if you ever start to forget who you are, then I will be your reminder.”

  She lays her arm protectively around her friend, who has now become her soul sister. “You will never get rid of me!”

  Lia gratefully sinks her head down on to Tru’s shoulder. She wouldn’t want anyone other than Tru at her side right now. She gives her strength when she is weak and gives her hope when she has already given up. Tru is her light in the darkness. “Thank you. I would never make it without you.”

  “That’s what sisters are for.”

  - 39. Chasity Moundrell -

  Their heads are bowed and their knees press down on the rough, angular rocks. Lilith rests her gaze coldly on them. She circles Chasity and Claudia wearily like a lioness looking for any sign that this could be a trap. But she d
oesn’t seem to find one and so she stops in front of the kneeling women.

  “You have my permission to speak!” her voice is warm but her green eyes are as cold as ice. Her contempt for their race is clear to see.

  “Lilith, queen of the night, ruler of the shadows, I am at your service.” Chasity’s voice is loud and powerful. It bounces off the cave walls and echoes through the holes which are shining violet light in from the setting sun, leaving a fiery glow in Lilith’s hair.

  “What she says, also applies to me.” Claudia says in the same dignified tone. But as honourable and wise as her words may be, they don’t seem to convince Lilith of their honesty, as her face is still full of disbelief and mistrust. She does however reward their bravery with her permission to stand.

  “Why should you be prepared to go to war against your own race?”

  “Noble queen, I owe your daughter my life. Her blood healed me.” Chasity explains herself and hopes to finally reach Lilith’s heart with her words. As the former queen of the vampires, she is not exactly used to having to beg for sympathy.

  “Liandra...” the ice seems to melt from Lilith’s gaze. The fire in her hair flares up in her eyes. The harshness fades from her face and turns to concern and worry.

  “She is my daughter. Tell me, was it your blood that awoke her?”

  Chasity shakes her head guiltily.

  “No, it was my bite that nearly killed her.”