Lehi watched Upir who was lying on the bed.
She looked pale and weak. Although she had managed to feed on human blood and even that of vampires, she was not getting better.
Lehi was beginning to doubt if she would survive it. He wondered if he should end her misery by killing her. But what if she was not as weak as she made him to believe? What would happen if she were to realize that he had just tried to kill her?
Upir opened her eyes slowly.
“Did you get the things for the sacrifice?’ She asked.
Lehi was surprised. There she was with one leg on the land of the living and the other leg in the land of the dead. Lehi had thought she would be more sober, maybe even repentant but all she was thinking about was the power she wants to get.
“I got them.” Lehi replied, “but you’re not strong enough to tear the veil now.”
“We shall see.” Upir said, standing up with much difficulty.
She walked slowly to the window and raised the curtains. The warm afternoon sunshine flooded into the room, filling it with a golden hue. The sunshine had a soothing effect on Upir’s troubled mind.
But the relief was not to last long, her mind quickly started bringing back images and memories from her past life to torment her.
She saw herself back in the year she was killed:
Four young men walked into the Upir’s throne room. They were her sons. Upir stood up from her throne and walked to them.
“Mother!” The youngest of them cried, falling into her arms. She noticed that he that he had been bitten on his neck.
“He was bitten by a werewolf,” Her eldest son explained.
“And where were you when your brother was being bitten?!” She demanded angrily.
“They were fast mother,” said another of her sons, “they are all revolting. Witches, werewolves, even our kind – vampires have joined them .”
“The ingrates!” She cried, still holding her youngest son who had begun to hallucinate.
She asked her personal witch to make her an antidote, but the witch had added venom to it.
Upir held her son in her hands , her other sons stood around them, aware of the fact that it was probably the last time that they would see their brother alive.
And that was when…
“Upir.” Someone called her from afar.
She did not reply, she was still engrossed in her recollection.
“Upir!” Lehi’s voice called loudly.
Upir jerked and turned around.
“Did you call me?” She asked.
“I did – several times,” Lehi replied, “didn’t you hear me?”
“If I heard you, I would reply.” She said.
“I wanted to know when you would want to destroy the veil.” Lehi said.
“Tonight.” Upir said calmly.
Lehi looked her over, pale and struggling to move from one end of the room to another.
“You can’t be serious.” He said, unbelieving.
“We don’t have time Ah’Lehi,” she said, “I’m sure that by now The Guardian and everyone powerful in the abyss are already looking for a way to fix the veil. The veil is already weak so we don’t need any more children. We tear the veil Ah’Lehi, we break it tonight.”
“So he demands another sacrifice?” Evan asked.
“He said the sacrifice is the only way to fix the veil.” Kenneth replied.
“I don’t think he’s a hundred percent sure.” Nella chipped in.
Evan looked from Kenneth to Theo and then to Nella.
“So let me get this straight,” Evan said, swirling his drink in the glass cup, “Tony wants one of us to sacrifice himself – or herself – just to get the attention of a Creator who we’re not even sure will help?”
“Exactly.” Kenneth replied.
“Okay what kind of horror movie have I landed in?!” Evan yelled, “first it was this sacrifice thing, we lost Agnes…”
“And Lucy.” Nella added.
“And Lucy,” Evan continued, “then Upir came along with her werewolves and then…”
“We did not ask for a story recap Evan.” Kenneth said, interrupting Evan.
“All I’m saying is that there are several other vampires in this city that would do this hero job better,” Evan said, looking into his cup, “why us – why me?”
“We don’t choose our destinies.” Theo said.
“Since you’re such a smart one why don’t you sacrifice yourself?” Evan shot at Theo.
Theo kept quiet, he was not even dreaming about it. Who would Nella have left if he sacrificed himself?
“None of us will have to sacrifice anything.” Nella said.
“Oh no,” Evan said, “this is the part where you come up with the almighy plan – that ends up in disaster!”
Kenneth could stand it no longer. He lunged at Evan’s neck with great speed and pinned him to the ground.
“You think you lost someone huh?” Kenneth asked, through clenched teeth, “I lost my wife!”
Nella and Theo were trying to get Kenneth off Evan but the older vampire had a point to prove.
“Nella lost her mother!” Kenneth continued, “and what did you lose? A crush!”
“She wasn’t just a crush, she made me a better man!” Evan struggled to say, “and at least you lost Lucy to Upir, I lost Agnes to the people I called my friends!”
Kenneth stopped. He took his hands off Evan.
“We said we were sorry man.” Kenneth said.
“Sorry doesn’t take away the hole in your heart.” Evan said quietly.
Kenneth got up, as did Evan.
Everyone was quiet, there was practically nothing to say.
Evan took one good look at Kenneth and stormed out of the house.
Upir and Lehi were at their usual spot in the woods . Lehi had cast a spell that kept the werewolves under control. They wanted no disturbance.
Although the veil was already weak, it would not be very easy to break. Upir had told Lehi that it might take them most if not all of their power to tear the veil, but Lehi was not too worried. If they could tear the veil, they could get their power directly from the abyssal realm. Well that was what Lehi thought, Upir had her own plans. She wanted the abyssal magic for herself alone. She thought that Lehi had agreed to settle for the magic they would seize from witches.
So they were going to tear the veil, but for different reasons.
Upir took off the ring and placed it on her left palm, Lehi stood beside her and placed his hand in Upir’s right hand.
“As eke zineje habudi,” Upir intoned.
“As eke zineje habudi,” Lehi chanted.
A few leaves swayed in the wind. The air was cool and still. A few crickets and nocturnal animals were making their characteristic noise.
“Tha shsir vamoe asniz,” Upir said, her voice increasing in volume.
Lehi chanted the same spell.
The air was becoming hot and still, the wind did not move the leaves anymore.
“Ahs iensj iensins on!” Lehi shouted, his eyes glowing.
The woods were quiet. The animals had stopped making noises.
Back in the town, Nella and Theo stopped what they were doing.
“Something’s wrong.” Nella said, her brother nodded.
Upir opened her eyes, she saw a portal opening. The heat from the portal nearly seared her skin. They could hear screams from it.
“Ajs usak keno Mii!” Lehi shouted, summoning all his powers.
The plants around them dried up.
Lehi had summoned all his powers, it was time for Upir to do same.
She reached deep into her and summoned all her powers. She uttered a string of arcane words.
The ring floated off Upir’s hands, they had summoned the veil , they had gathered all their powers, it was time to tear the veil.
They held their hands tightly, they would tear the veil even if it killed them…