Chapter 18

(Ingram)

HOW HAVE you been, Brianna? I wish there’s a way I could tell you just how much I've been missing you. I whispered as I glanced up the sky. I turned towards Erasmus when I heard him cough. He was still alive. It really helps to have a friend with you in the darkest time of your life. Knowing that I’m not alone in this somehow eased the emptiness within me.

Sullivan’s Knights didn’t kill us. They did something worse than that. They wounded us and through the humans that they were able to compel, they had us tied on the tree using the silver chains. They also stabbed us with silver daggers that were still on our bodies. They had to use the humans because even those Knights couldn’t stand silver. We burn each time we touch it. The Vampires were cursed not only in the sun but also in silver.

According to Erasmus, ever since the number of Vampires multiplied in the past, the Divine Mages gathered to stop them from dominating the world. Because they couldn’t kill the Vampires, they cast a sun curse against them instead. They also cast a strong magic bound to silver so humans could use silver to protect themselves. The first Vampires were vile creatures; they failed to control themselves and murdered humans as a result.

Vampires were born through the rebel Mages who dreamt to live forever. But the divine Mages found out about it and cursed them. Silver can slow down a Vampire’s healing process, too. That was the reason why I couldn’t accept Brianna’s gift back then.

Sullivan’s Knights were as heartless as their master. They intended to kill us slowly. Because of the countless silver daggers plunged in our bodies and the effect of the thick silver chains, there was no way our wounds could heal.

We’ve witnessed eighteen sunsets and sunrise already. In just a few days or so, our marks would fade. Once that happens, the sunlight would burn us. Sullivan’s Knights were gone. They left after they had us tied.

We’re exhausted. Physically, emotionally, and mentally. Our throats were dry, and our bodies felt numb.

I glanced at Erasmus. “You still haven’t told me why you left that day.”

“I was on my way to the Council when they caught me. I was planning to leave the country. I wanted to finally inform the Council about Sullivan’s abuse of power in case he tried to do something nasty against you and the other doppelganger again. I’m sorry, Ingram. I should have meddled a long time ago. I should have told them about Sullivan, but I was terrified as hell. He’s still the Primus’ son after all.”

I was startled.

“Then what made you change your mind?”

“It was the sparkle in your eyes whenever you look at Brianna. You both seemed so happy and so ready to die all for love. Both of you have limited time now and I wanted you to spend it without having Sullivan messed things up between the two of you. You have been like a brother to me, Ingram. And I only want what’s best for my brother.”

Despite everything, I found myself smiling. The Council was in a sacred place. I’ve spent centuries with Erasmus, but he never told me their location. I’ve wanted to report Sullivan many times because of what he did to Levana since it was against the Black Veil. But Erasmus kept their address a secret from me knowing that Sullivan had eyes and ears in and out of the Council.

But now, Erasmus wanted to personally report to the Council. He wasn’t able to do it in the end but what he did was such a big thing for me.

“Thank you, brother,” I sincerely said before lowering my head. If only I wasn’t thinking about Brianna, I’d have given up from the time I was tied here. But I kept resisting, I kept enduring with a hope that a miracle would come one day and would save me and Erasmus from death.

I was prepared to die. I’ve prepared myself for it. But I haven’t prepared my heart yet. Tears glazed my eyes. “If I can only see her today, smell her hair, hold her hand, and kiss her lips, I could die in peace, Erasmus. But I can’t die like this. I can’t handle not seeing her for the last time. I’m scared, brother.”

“So am I, Ingram. So am I. The gods must do something about this or else, even when I’m dead, I’d mess up the orders in the Underworld.”

When Erasmus began expressing his desire to see Ellen, I looked up at the sky for the countless time today. The sky was dark, the rain was pouring, and the thunder was deafening. The weather was like this, too, the last time I was with Brianna. But I feel the opposite now. I was at the cloud nine back then but now, even the sky seemed to be crying together with my soul.

“BRIANNA!”

I opened my eyes right away after hearing Kiara screamed my name. I got up on the bed. I suddenly had a bad feeling. For weeks now, I feel heavy inside. And it wasn’t only because of my mother’s illness but because Ingram and Erasmus hadn’t return yet. Kiara seemed to be hiding something from me.

I put on my robe and went outside my room. I called Kiara’s name many times, but she didn’t respond. My heart pounded out of anxiety. Normally, I only had to call her once and she would immediately show up right in front of me. I ran down the stairs while shouting her name until I reached her bedroom. Kiara was quiet, but I’ve gotten used to the comfortable silence between us.

But this silence was frightening. I opened the door when I didn’t hear anything. It wasn’t locked. I screamed when I finally found who I was looking for. Kiara was on the floor. Her whole body had turned black, and her eyes were closed but her chest was ripped open.

“Oh, God. Oh, God!” My knees wobbled as I stepped away until I stumbled into the door. I had to drag my feet just to get away from her room. I went to the telephone stand in the living room and dialed Ellen’s number. My tears fell when she finally answered on the second ring.

“’Good thing I decided to visit you today. I’m almost at the mansion. I’m driving right now. Wait for me,” she said before disappearing on the line.

I went to the front door and waited for Ellen. I was still shaking when I sat beside the door. I covered my face with my hands and sniffled when I remembered Kiara. When I heard the gate opened as Ellen called my name, I wept louder this time. I lifted my face when she embraced me.

“What happened?”

Ellen and I met last week when she visited my mother. We avoided talking about Erasmus and Ingram because I was still stressed at that time over Mama’s situation. But I knew that Ellen already knows about Ingram’s connection with her boyfriend. Erasmus once told me about it.

“Kiara…” my voice shattered. “Kiara…”

“Erasmus told me about her before. Why? Where is she? She was supposed to be here, right?”

“S-she’s...d-dead.”

Ellen gasped. There was suddenly a deafening silence between us. We just remained hugging each other. Until when could we handle this new world that we entered?

“Are you calmed enough now?” she asked after a few minutes although I knew that she was only faking her bravery.

I nodded.

“Then let’s head inside.”

We stepped inside the mansion while holding hands. I closed the door. When Ellen asked where Kiara’s room was, I could only point out the direction. I couldn’t speak anymore. Ellen pulled me towards the room.

“Close your eyes,” she said after we’ve reached the room. I didn’t manage to close the door earlier because I was in a hurry to leave. I closed my eyes and felt Ellen pulled me inside. She held my hand firmly. She was now trembling, too, as she stopped walking for a minute. I heard her let out a couple of deep breaths before continuing.

“We’re beside the window. You can now open your eyes, Bri,” she said before releasing my hand.

Ellen pulled up the blinds and opened the windows. When I turned to Kiara, I saw her body burning because of the sunlight. After a few minutes, her body had turned to ashes.

I glanced at Ellen’s direction when I heard something fall. I saw her on the floor, she was throwing up. Not long after and I heard her wail.

“I’m scared, too, Bri. I still couldn’t get a hold of Erasmus until now. W-what if like Kiara, he and Ingram are dead s-somewhere, too?”

I felt like someone just stabbed me on the chest upon hearing that. I sat beside Ellen. My mouth opened but no words came out. My tears just kept on falling.

Where are you, Ingram? You can't be dead! You promised me that we'll die together.