Velvet Bloodlines

Copyright © 2013 by Angel Marie.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Rev. date: 12/06/2013

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CONTENTS

Prologue

Chapter One: The Separation

Chapter Two: Breaking Sanity

Chapter Three: Where to Start

Chapter Four: The Foundation of Life

Chapter Five: Finding Air to Breathe

Chapter Six: All Roads Lead to Rome

Chapter Seven: Sacrificed

Chapter Eight: Long Way from Home

Chapter Nine: Italy

Chapter Ten: Father Time

Chapter Eleven: My Son

Glossary

PROLOGUE

Life’s fragile vision of the truth abandoned me the day I found him. Even then, I knew some of the most fantastical tales were based on some sort of truth; never would I have fathomed that these tales would become my reality. My foster parents told me that I was found shortly after one of the biggest hurricanes ever to sweep through Virginia Beach. I was a newborn left to fend for myself or to drown, I was hardly old enough to do much more than cry and suckle. As I got older, I loathed my biological parents for leaving me. They left me with this burning sense of loss, and what he gave to me was that sense of belonging. He gave my life purpose beyond my own breath. Until now, I thought it was all just whimsical stories, which I looked beyond so that I could have that little girl inside me feel complete. I wanted the same thing that everyone wanted—love.

Entering this moment, I felt as though I was choking on the thick air. Now the dreadful screams have been swallowed by silence, and yet it is louder than anything I have ever heard. To my horror the screams that echoed, they were my own. Trembling, I whispered to the torn and beaten body at my feet.

You left me, my beloved… I gripped his shoulders; his hair was like black silk as it fell away from his face. His body was mangled and slick with blood. I idly wondered why our time together could be so tragically short. Be still, my love, and know that death could not keep me from you. He managed to get out.

I couldn’t hear anything beyond this moment; only the silence roared. I felt so helpless watching Sky, who had fought and fallen saving me. He believed that I was the one that could change his world somehow.

He had explained it to me once before—how Darwin’s theory of evolution was true up until our race changed their genetic code. This changed the natural course of human evolution. In doing so, it gave birth to our kind. This also gave birth to our human descendants. He said that the O blood type was the key. This is also the only blood type that can give to all but can only receive from itself. The O blood type is also unique in that it is the only blood type missing the monkey gene altogether. His face was lined with guilt as he spoke. He reacted like he was the one who did it. The dark remorse that saturated his explanation of the Rajini and how they came to be sent chills down my spine. My revelation of the truth and what was truly real continued unfolding in front of my weary eyes. Humanity’s metaphorical masquerade was coming to its epic conclusion; I was watching the mask fall.

I never thought that the human race had the ability to de-evolve into another creature. How could I argue now? The savage animals were Mother Nature’s way of undoing what had been done. The Rajini was what they were named, and as a result of our existence altering their evolution, they blamed our nation for their curse they now carry. Tonight, I watched these nightmarish creatures in all their primal glory.

The cruel truth was, I never believed him. I couldn’t because that would mean I wasn’t human. Who in this world would be ready for any of that?

My throat tightened and so did my grip. My voice was hoarse as I called to him.

Don’t go, I need you. The tears began rolling from my eyes in empty desperation.

My brown locks clung to my face and neck. My vision became blurry because of my tears. All I could see were swirls of colors; I felt my sense of sight betray me. I felt as though I was being robbed of my last moments as his breath became shallow. I was holding him from death’s grip. My small arms shook as I clenched tighter.

I knew in the back of my mind reinforcements had arrived. They cleared the field next to the restaurant where we were trying to visit. The vacant lot acted as a battlefield and less like the vacant lot that it was. The massive soldiers that smothered the wild ambush gathered around us.

I still couldn’t see clearly, because what looked like a soft glow began to envelope him. I quickly reasoned with myself and decided that the light was not from me. This is what it looks like when a guardian dies. The heat that resonated was almost unbearable, but I would never let go. I pressed my lips against his, only to see the light dim to a glow. With that, I wiped my eyes so I could see him one last time. I watched as the light dissipated and all his wounds began to fade.

I clutched his face.

Sky, please speak to me! I was nearing hysteria.

His eyes opened and focused on mine. In that moment whatever had transpired took its toll on me. Everything went black as I fell into an ocean of darkness. I could hear voices all around. The conversations seemed so far away as if I were listening to echoes in the distance. Distorted fragments of conversation seeped through my consciousness.

I recognized the voices talking to Sky as he carried me to my car. It was Maximus and Irideon; they were two lieutenants in the ranks of the Royal Guard as they would refer to it.

My state prevented me from hearing everything that they were saying. It sounded as if they were making plans to wash my memories. Surely, this was not happening. Sky would never accept such an option that would put so much distance between us.

I felt him bundle me up and slip me into the backseat.

Then I heard the last words come from his lips. I know… His words cut into me, but I was still unable to move. Only a single tear fell and it was quickly brushed from my cheek.

We pulled into my driveway. He lifted me up so gently before walking into the house. He was never concerned with my parents.

Even now while he was carrying me, unconscious, into my home, he would simply wash their memories. He was much older than I was. He never told me by how much. I was all of sixteen. Even with the age gap, he would never cross any boundaries. He had set rules, but it always just felt as though we were meant to be.

After he had taken care of my parents’ memories, I thought I was in the clear. I felt my bed shake ever so slightly as he climbed in next to me. He pulled me to him and adjusted me onto his chest.

I could feel his deep breaths and the even drumbeat of his heart that was lulling my slumber. He ran his fingers through my hair as he cradled me in his massive arms.

I had hoped that he would change his no sleepovers rule in light of him almost dying, and then there was me in this fragile state.

Suddenly his breaths seemed ragged; his voice was but a shadow as he spoke. I love you, and this time we will be apart but a fragment of our life together.

I could feel every moment being stolen from my memories. I was so exposed and unable to stop it. Time is utterly irreplaceable, yet here he was digging himself from my heart—hollowed and emptied of all my emotions.

I struggled, trying not to forget. No was the only word I could muster. My fists clenched slowly to his shirt. God help me. I can’t lose you. Just as quickly, I found myself swallowed in darkness once more with just a pain in my chest, wondering how I could feel so lost in my own room… What… what a sad dream.

Love and Death are one and the same. Both are mourned, and only in the end are there reflections of guilt and sweet memories of what could have been.

—Mr. Monroe

CHAPTER ONE

The Separation

Two years have passed

Eleora, your friend Alex is here, my mother called from downstairs. It couldn’t possibly be time to go to school. It is too early, I thought as I pulled my comforter over my head. Alex made her way to my room, making small talk with my family on her way up. Our fathers worked together at a law firm. Our mothers were best friends; so as a result, we both got pushed on to each other.

When she opened the door, she shot me a disapproving look as she glanced at me still cocooned in my blankets. Alex was captain of every committee at the school, prom queen, as well as valedictorian in about one week. She was also blond-haired, blue-eyed, and perfect in every way.

I often thought she remained friends with me just to add volunteer hours to her transcripts by helping the less fortunate. Not that my parents weren’t well-off; it’s just my parents enjoyed saving money rather than spending it. There was a time I had thought I had made some sort of breakthrough, but something happened in my sophomore year. While everyone else was blossoming that year, I seemed to have taken two steps backward.

In all my self-loathing I managed to wreck my car. As a result, my parents stopped trusting my driving skills, and they hired a nanny to keep me going. Normally this would have been a dream come true for most people. However try being eighteen years old and stuck with your babysitter.

She was a devoted friend. We called her Ruth Nanny, but she was on vacation this week, and with my mother catering to my dad, I was stuck without a ride to school for the last week before graduation.

Eleora, I told you to be ready by 7:30 a.m. That will give us thirty minutes to get to school, and here you are not even dressed, she said as she grabbed my favorite pair of jeans from my closet.

Great, here comes the lecture, I croaked as I kicked off my covers. She didn’t even have to look at me. She knew why I was so tired.

Did you have another nightmare? she said in a delicate tone.

Also not glancing at her, I yanked on my T-shirt and jeans.

Yes, this one was different though… there were heat waves and a man in a black shirt waving his arms over his head.

I was almost dressed. My parents had just left.

I sat down at my vanity. Alex never asked questions; she just started fixing my hair while I slapped on a little makeup, just to hide the dark bags under my eyes. I never put on that much.

Alex always would tease me and say that it was unfair how little of an effort I put into myself and how great I always looked. Of course, I always believed she was being charitable.

We grabbed all my stuff my mother had arranged by the front door and ran to her shiny silver Alfa Romeo.

It was her present for all her accomplishments and a tribute to our graduation trip to Italy that her father was sponsoring.

It was a stunning car, and we seemed so little in it. Everyone stopped and stared when she was on the road. I think that’s why she drove everywhere in it.

Did you hear the good news? Alex seemed to have the I know something you don’t know look on her face as she was driving incredibly too fast out of our neighborhood.

I pulled out my cell phone and started reading my text messages because although she was a gossip queen that somehow always had spies in everything, my best friend, Noah, always got the details first. Noah was larger than your average high-school student. He was cute with light-brown hair and the greenest eyes, and for all intents and purposes, he had been in love with me since we met in junior high. Even with all that, he made it into the friend zone early on. I just never felt that spark as he did.

But that didn’t prevent the school and all its minions from speculating about us. We were the most talked-about couple in school—were they on or off this week? It actually had been a source of entertainment for the both of us through the years.

I searched through our previous messages, and no such luck—just our usual stuff, nothing interesting.

Okay, you got me what news? I teased, only pausing for a brief second, knowing that every moment was painful for her.

Well, your future husband and future NFL star, Noah Delatorre, just RSVP’d. He is coming to Italy with us, aren’t you excited? Alex was practically squealing with the news.

With my phone in hand, Noah was going to get it. I hated surprises, especially surprises that included a play-by-play from Alexandra Marshal. I tuned Alex out for the most part. She was rambling on about how many people would be flying out and how many rooms we would need, and all I was focusing on was my rant of text messages I was blasting to Noah.

Of course, he thought it was the funniest thing ever. Just wait till I saw him.

So have you talked to your parents yet, about Italy? Alex was almost grinning from ear to ear.

You could hear the bells of excitement chiming in her words. I was shrinking in my seat.

I hadn’t talked to my parents. To be honest, I doubted that they would let me go anywhere after 10:00 p.m., and I was already eighteen. Trying to go overseas entailed getting a visa, official immunization records, not to mention a phone that could use Skype minutes so I could call home. No, I was afraid to ask.

Hum, I’m still working on them. This was my attempt at dodging the question.

Eleora, you haven’t asked, have you? Alex said, laughing and pinching my arm.

The subtext reading—you better jump on that because you’re coming. We still had ten minutes to get to class, and we were all of the two blocks from school. The music was blaring. All seemed to be right in the world.

No sooner than these exact thoughts crossed my mind when we turned the corner, and the road was covered in smoke. There was an accident.

A head-on collision—and the heat was pouring out of the vehicles… heat waves… slowly I looked out of my window, and there was a man in a black shirt. He was screaming, but I couldn’t make out the words.

I felt Alex grab my hand. She was pale from the blood running out of her features while she took in the sight from her window. Oh my god, is that your parents’ Suburban?

It looked like twisted metal and fumes. The horror began to sink in when I realized that it was my parents’ vehicle. I could see my mother’s scarf, which she always wore, in the street. No, I thought as I jumped out of the car and started running toward the mess of metal contorted in the street.

Now I could hear the man’s screams. The gas tanks are gonna blow! I didn’t care. I didn’t check for traffic. I was going to get them the hell out of there.

I ran but the man who was screaming caught me, and then he tackled me to the ground.

I was just barely within reach of the cream scarf that was dotted in blood. I reached for it. I pulled it to my face, and I could smell my mother’s perfume. The man pulled me to my feet and started dragging me back. I could hear Alex screaming my name as she ran to catch up, and with that the first gas tank blew.

Then a few seconds later the other. We were thrown by the force of the blast. We had been scorched by the heat, but it was the blast that was so loud all you could hear was a high-pitched ringing.

Shrapnel and ash fell from the sky that was now blackened by the smoke that was billowing from the wreckage.

The Virginia landscape was now covered in the burning wreckage, and like an early frost, the ash covered everything within sight. If only snow could burn and rise from the ground, destroying all that it touched—that was what was happening now.

We were all thrown apart from one another into a clearing on the other side of the road.

I managed to flip to my stomach and started crawling to Alex. She was moving—oh thank God, she was moving.

Her face riddled in pain, suffering from the same hearing loss I was, judging from her grasping on to her ears. I could see my blood dripping from my forehead, splashing to the ground as I was crawling to her. I looked back at the man who was thrown the farthest.

His eyes were fixed on me… his eyes began to turn black as if his pupils were bleeding, burning charcoal. Embers of molten flakes floated away from his face.

Panic pricked the back of my neck. My arm was burned, and everything was engulfed in smoke causing my eyes to water. It must be my imagination (eyes just don’t change color). Finally, I got to Alex with my mother’s scarf still in my hand.

I wrapped it around my neck to free them and so I could reach for her shoulders.

Alex… Alex, we have to get help, please, would you look at me! Desperation commanding my voice, I cradled her, trying to let her come to.

Ash was still falling from the sky, almost-deafening ringing still piercing my