The Called

Excerpt

The Called
M.D. Neu © 2021
All Rights Reserved

Chapter One

The question of death returned to me as I reflected on recent events. You die and your body no longer functions. I was wrong. You die and your soul leaves, and what’s left turns to dust. That wasn’t the case.

Everything I thought was no longer my reality.

I sat with a glass of brandy between my hands, focusing on the fire in Juliet’s office. The oranges, reds, and yellows of the flames danced around the logs, releasing a warmth that barely penetrated my worried exterior. The crackling of the fire tickled my ears as the scent of burning pine lingered in and out of my consciousness. A knot tugged the back of my neck. What was this new vision? Worse yet, what did it have to do with me? Not to mention Juliet, Kirtus, Gregor, and the other Immortals.

“Chris.” Juliet’s gentle voice pulled me from my fog of apprehension.

How long had I been like this? A minute? A day? A year? I wasn’t sure. I turned from the fire. Kirtus sat next to me on the sofa, his coat removed, replaced by an air of worry. His red hair, green and gray eyes typically so intoxicating, brought me no joy. Gregor’s tall solid frame blocked one of Juliet’s bookcases, his rugged face a shadow of concern. All of Juliet’s tomes and books, several of them personal journals of her long life, sat there taunting me. Would they be able to unravel this new vision? This new mystery? They were next to no help with the witches, or my father. The monster. I sipped my brandy, hoping it would take the chill from my soul.

I caught Juliet out of the corner of my eye waiting for me to speak. She was patient as always. She sat with her ivory pant-clad leg crossed and a glass of red in her hand, but deep in her stunning eyes there was unease. Despite her apprehension in moments like this, she appeared so young. Nevertheless, behind that façade of youth was the power of an Immortal who had been around for 1650 years. No one should ever underestimate her.

My eyes narrowed on the red, and my stomach flipped, not from hunger or desire but from this new burden I was meant to carry.

“Would you like a glass?” she offered. Her dark blonde hair, normally combed out, was in a ponytail, making her appear all the younger. I caught a whiff of vanilla and roses, her signature scent. I inhaled deeper, hoping it would soothe me.

I shook my head.

“I realize it’s difficult, but please can you tell us the vision again.” Juliet’s voice was a whisper, but the request rang in my head. How many times would I have to retell this story?

I put the half-full brandy glass on the coffee table, recalling the images to me. “I’m standing in some kind of chamber, but it’s not anyplace I’ve been.” I scanned their three faces. “It’s not here.” My heart pounded louder in my chest. I focused on my breathing a bit more before I continued. “In the center, there is what appears to be a formal table of polished stone with nine ornately carved chairs around it. On the wall…” I kept my eyes closed and focused on the wall. “There’s a mural. You’re in it, Juliet; so is Sybil, Garrett, Fernando, Rahim, all the members of the Council of Light.”

“The council chamber in Egypt.” Juliet tapped her finger on the edge of her glass, the noise echoing throughout her office.

The sentence was barely spoken before all the images of my vision flashed back. It was too much, and my eyes flew open. Juliet, Gregor, and Kirtus surveyed me. Considering their strained expressions, they are worried about me. I waved off their unease and shook my head.

“What else?” Gregor’s deep voice cool and calm, but the glance he shared with Juliet betrayed his composure. He didn’t understand what to do with this information any more than I did.

I pulled the vision to my thoughts and continued, “The wall with the mural began to crack and crumble and I smell smoke. The chamber is on fire…” I focused on Juliet. “The stone table crumbles. The chairs burn and everything is in shambles.”

Juliet nodded and sipped her red.

“Something or someone destroyed it, but I didn’t see them.”

“Who could do such a thing?” Kirtus rubbed his hands together. “Only the Council of Light knows the actual location.”

“What else do you see?” Juliet’s peaceful aura melted my worry and fear. After a moment my thoughts cleared. Normally I would be upset at her for using her gift on me, but I needed it. Especially after all that had happened these last few weeks. My mother’s sacrifice to save me and kill my father still haunted me. My father’s death came after we discovered he was in charge of a coven of witches who wanted to destroy the world. It was a battle we had to fight to stop the witches from releasing true magic into our world.

We failed at that. True magic had still seeped into our world before we cut it off.

I had hoped it was all behind us. I wanted things to return to normal, but my gift of being a Seer had other plans. I focused once more on the brandy, wanting a sip but not taking it; my gaze returned to the fire. More of the vision came forward. “As the room fell to ruin and the mural burned, a large carved wooden chair with inlays of gold and decorated with jewels pushed the debris away.” I closed my eyes again. “There was a shadow figure sitting in the chair.”

“Who is it?” Kirtus asked.

“I’m not sure, but I hear his voice.” I pushed my eyes together tighter to help me hear.

“I’ve stayed out of the way of history, but it’s time to return and bring what is right and just back to this world.” I took a breath. “That’s what he said, but I don’t sense malice from him, but I don’t know. Sorrow and pain, maybe. Sacrifice?”

“What does he look like?” Juliet called me to focus.

“He’s tall and he’s wearing some kind of toga with deep crimson and white stripes. I can’t really see anything else.” My eyes fluttered open.

Everyone was silent. The crackle of the fire might as well have been the rumble of a train going through the room. It was unbearable, and I was about to speak.

Kirtus beat me to it. “Why don’t we take a break?”

I shook my head. “It’s fine. After the man vanished, I was standing on a grass-covered pasture. In front of me was a hill with a young girl sitting there laughing and clapping her hands. She had long brown hair and her gaze planted on an oversized full moon. It was impossibly big.” I sighed. “I’m sorry but that’s all.” I slouched deeper in the couch, focusing my own gaze on the ceiling and the rich wood inlays and trim. “I have no idea what any of it means.” The square patterns offered my brain a relaxing, ordered shape.

“That’s okay.” Gregor’s voice was stronger now as if he realized what needed to be done.

Maybe he did. I couldn’t be sure.

“You’ve given us a lot of information to go through. Add that to the reports of magic both Victor and I have seen. There is a lot happening we still have to address,” Gregor continued. “Once we begin to break it down, perhaps more will come to you.”

I faced him. “Maybe. I hope so, because right now, it feels like a whole lot of nothing. Especially when you are already dealing with these other problems.”

“We’re all new to this Seer business.” Kirtus’s hand rested on my leg.

His touch caused a shiver to rush through my body, and right now, all I wanted to do was take him to me, hold him, and get lost in his arms and warm body.

“Plus, it’s not like you haven’t been through a whole lot of hell over the last few weeks.” Kirtus offered me a grin, the single dimple on his left cheek popping out. It melted away more of my worry.

“Is it possible it’s another witch?” Kirtus asked. “Especially if magic is involved.”

He must have already known about the reports of magic being seen both in San Jose and up in San Francisco. Either way he didn’t seem surprised by this news. Or, he could have an amazing poker face.

I turned toward Juliet, who had left the chair she was sitting in and walked over to her office windows to look out. Her ivory pants and jade-green shirt somehow still looked as crisp as the moment she had glided into my bedroom only a few hours ago.

“I doubt it’s a witch, especially given the comment about staying out of histories way and setting things right.” Juliet’s voice was tight. “The clothing Chris describes is a Roman Senator, I think.” She turned to me and the others. “Another Immortal, maybe, one from the fall of Rome.”

“That doesn’t narrow the list down.” Gregor pulled at his goatee. “Especially if we include the Dark.” His frown stretched farther across his face. “Perhaps we need to talk to Victor.”

“I can ask him,” Kirtus offered. “He mentioned he wanted to see me this week.” He tried not to grimace.

Was it about the lieutenant position and the posting as his representative to the Council of Light? What he mentioned to me earlier tonight? Was that what he wanted to speak to him about?

“Thank you.” Gregor offered a slight bow of his head. “Juliet, is there anyone you know who can help with this?” He walked over to the golden cart with the bottles of alcohol and red on it. He poured himself a glass of red. “What about the witches you know here? What about the local coven? You have a good relationship with them. What about the one who charmed this estate?”

Juliet’s lips pulled into a small frown. She crossed over to the cart and poured herself another glass of red.

“I could have gotten you that.” Gregor’s tone was gentle.

She waved him off before she sipped her drink. “He’s a Healer, not a witch, and I’m not sure if he will assist us; we have an unfortunate history.” She held her drink in one hand and pulled a book from the shelf. She turned to her desk and walked to her seat, a quiet, far-off look about her.

I peeked over at Kirtus. “We should go.” I stood and glanced over to Juliet. “You have a lot on your plate with the reports of magic. I’m sorry I’ve added to the burden, but with this new vision I figured you needed to know.”

“Chris, if you see anything else…” She trailed off.

“Of course.”

“Thank you, Chris.” Gregor extended his hand. “This new vision and perhaps the magic we’ve seen may be related.”

“I hope not.” The pull of Kirtus’s body helped me realize he was by my side. “I’ll see if I can track down anyone on my end.” He glanced over to Juliet. “My network isn’t nearly as broad as yours, but you never know.”

“I think we’ll need all the help we can get,” Gregor affirmed.

I spared a worried glance at Juliet. Something was bothering her, and it wasn’t just my vision or the reports of magic. I didn’t recognize what it was, but I understood my creator well enough to leave her be. She would tell me once she had processed her thoughts and all my vision information.

She met my gaze. “Yes, we’ll speak more. Thank you for understanding.”

“Of course.” I took Kirtus’s hand, and we walked out of her office for the second time tonight.

*

Kirtus and I sat at the table in the back of the seafood restaurant. We were at this place on the Santa Cruz pier called Stagnaro Brothers. We had the most amazing view of the lighthouse and the ocean. Outside the rain continued to fall, which was both good and bad. On the positive side the rain kept the fog away, but on the negative side the ocean was more active than normal. Every once in a while the building and the pier shook. Kirtus assured me there was nothing to worry about, emphasizing his lack of concern with a gentle chuckle.

So, I tried to put all my worry away and enjoy our night. There were the fresh scents of the sea and the rain as well as chowders and pastas. I would be lying if I said I wasn’t hungry.

The restaurant had a special vampire menu for people of our ilk. The manager, Alfonse, or Al as he went by, was an acquaintance and client of Kirtus’s. According to Kirtus, Al had only been an Immortal for barely over a hundred years. When I asked if he was one of the original owners, Kirtus only smirked and shrugged. Regardless our dinner was wonderful. The soup, as promised, was a blood clam chowder highbred that had the most scrumptious mouth feel. They also had a huge selection of bottles of red. But the real selling point of the restaurant had to be the view as my gaze continually shifted the window.

“So?” Kirtus’s eyebrows raised.

I turned from the window to see him beaming at me with a slightly raised right eyebrow. He held a wine glass filled with red.

“This was really nice. Thank you.” I forced what I hoped to be a sincere expression.

“It doesn’t do you any good to worry.”

“I know.” I picked up my glass of red and took a deep sip. This red tasted more like oak and had an odd woodsy tang to it. Much to my surprise, the red went perfectly with the chowder. “This place is amazing and the view.” I peeked out the window.

“During the summer when there are boats out on the water, it’s breathtaking. They have some places to sit upstairs where you can see the boardwalk, but I like this view better.”

“I wish the weather was nicer. It would be fantastic to walk down the pier and over to the boardwalk.” I took another sip of my drink. “I’ve never been.”

“No.” Kirtus’s eyes were large, and there was a slight shake to his head as he spoke. “I’m shocked. You mean you’ve never been to the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk in the entire six months you lived here? What kind of monster are you?”

“Oh, har-har. Don’t be a dick.”

Kirtus’s laugh brightened the whole room.

The knot that had been digging into my neck was starting to lose ground.

“Does Juliet realize you talk like that?” Kirtus joked.

Laughter rolled from my lips as a warmth filled my body that I didn’t know had been missing. Despite everything I, we’d, been through, it was so nice to relax and be ourselves. “Has it only been six months?”

Kirtus nodded.

We fell into comfortable silence again. I was transfixed by the rain and the ocean outside; the glint of light from the lighthouse hypnotized me. The conversation with Victor prior to my vision played in my head. How much both he and Juliet risked so Kirtus and I could be together, to share moments like this. How much danger did our relationship put us in? A Light vampire and a Dark vampire in a relationship was something the Immortal community was not pleased with. Why? Our relationship surely couldn’t have been the first; there must have been other Dark and Light Immortals who got together. Luckily, everyone had been focused on the witches and the trouble they were causing to give us much of a thought, but now. Who knew?

“Do you know what Victor wants to meet with you about?” I asked after a moment’s pause. I wanted to tell him about the offer to come, but this news wasn’t mine to share and telling him was not my place. I hated it. However, if he knew and he told me, then I was not withholding anything or having to lie to him.

“No.” Kirtus turned from the window, he had been as transfixed as I had. “Probably something to do with magic and what happened.” His expression soured. “Or his and Sahin’s taxes. They are always trying to work some tax angle.”

I chuckled. I imagined Victor and Sahin trying to get Kirtus to bend, if not fully break, some tax rules.

I changed subject. “Have you been told that true magic had somehow seeped into our world?” I asked, trying to figure out how much he knew. I was hoping he would be more informed than me.

“Sadly.” He rested his hands on top of the table. “I was in downtown San Jose at one of my clients in the KQED building, and we spotted a lightning spirit.”

“A what?”

“I don’t know; that was the best name I came up with. I had to convince her the energy was ball lighting, rare but not magic.”

“That couldn’t have been easy.”

“Nope, especially when I swear the lightning spirit—thing—stopped and stared right at me. It hovered there for a few seconds and watched me.” He shuddered. “Creepy as hell.”

I sipped my drink. The faded taste and scent of oak tickled my nose and my throat. I wasn’t used to the muted flavors of bottled blood after having fresh for the last few weeks.

“Anyway, after that happened I stopped by Victor’s and reported the incident. He told me there had been a few other reports but nothing as overt. I guess.” Kirtus continued to watch me. “I don’t think it’s anything to worry about.”

“We don’t know.”

“No, we don’t, but like I mentioned earlier, whatever this new situation is we’ve got this. We’ll face it together.”

“I hope so.”

“Hey.” Kirtus reached out and took my hand. “We can do this.” He squeezed my hand, offering me his reassurance. “What do you think after we finish here, we walk up to the candy shop; they have this red taffy you’ll love.”

I gulped down his wonderful sandalwood scent, allowing the aroma to wash over me. Every part of my body tingled. “That sounds nice.”

“Good.” Kirtus finished the rest of his glass of red.

I turned to mine. “I’ve gotten spoiled.” I tapped my glass.

“It’s annoying how Victor is right about how fresh is best.”

“How does any of this even work?”

Kirtus blinked several times, his jaw working.

“The bottles and—” I lowered my voice. “—and the feeding.”

“The bottles are enchanted with Immortal blood. Juliet will teach you. I was lucky to have both Victor and Juliet train me in that regard. As for the other, that is something up to Juliet, but I promise you it’s not what you see in the movies…” He paused and glanced around the dining room. “But it’s part of our dark nature.” His head shook. “That’s why a lot of the Light have staff and Keepers. So, they don’t have to hunt and risk going into Bloodlust.”

“You mean what happened with Ben, and my test is based in reality.” That night returned to me. Watching Juliet feed from Ben, feeling a need so deep within me I was sure it was embedded in my DNA, not to mention my groin. I wanted to be in the middle of the experience, but I had managed to keep my cool, despite how hard it was. Both figuratively and physically.

Kirtus leaned back.

“Fuck.” I shuddered at the memory of the darkness.

“Remember, you are in charge and you hold all the power in those cases. You can make feeding as pleasant as you’d like.” He frowned. “I get it’s not what you want to hear, but Juliet will show you and teach you the right way.”

I finished the last of my red.

“Feeding doesn’t have to be awful,” Kirtus added. “But it doesn’t have to involve sex either.”

Our server returned with our check.

“My treat.” Kirtus took the bill from the server.

“Okay, I get next time.”

“You got it.” Kirtus pulled out his wallet and handed the server cash with the bill. “Tell Al we had a great meal and I’ll see him next week at the office.”

“Will do,” the male server said with a polite nod.

“Keep the change,” Kirtus added with an ease of charm.

“Thanks.” The server headed off.

“Shall we go?” Kirtus stood and grabbed his jacket. “Plus, it looks like it stopped raining.” He pointed out the window.

“Sure.” I joined him, standing. “I can’t wait to try this taffy you spoke so highly of.”

Kirtus beamed and waited for me to pass as we headed out of the restaurant and into the cool damp air. I was momentarily blinded by the bright lights on all the rides across the pier and the water at the boardwalk. I drew in a deep to allow the scents of ocean mist and rain to chase away the last of the knot in my neck.