EPISODE VIII

Where can we be as lords when the sun fades and dies?

"Akasha!" she heard a voice above her. "Akasha!"

The girl groaned, trying to open her eyes, but she felt visibly weak.

"Thankfully, she's at least conscious. "

"He could have at least warned us he was going to attack her," Daniel muttered.

"You know they always do what they see fit, just like you. And since they had the perfect Giver, why shouldn't they take advantage of it?

" "She fainted, isn't that reason enough?"

Magnus was silent for a moment, carrying her to his chamber.

"And where did you even find her?

" "By the stone pentagram, in the valley. She told me she was at a convent.

" "A convent? Alone?

" "Apparently, she saw a meeting of witches, and one of the Lilim appeared to them.

" "She must have been mistaken.

" "She was quite sure of it.

" "Absurd," Magnus muttered, laying her on the bed.

"What could possibly be wrong with such a child?

" "It's not a child, it's a Lilim, and that's something completely different. You probably remember the story of Lillith, who, after leaving Paradise, settled by the Red Sea and there begat demonic children? They confused the minds of sleeping people and tormented them with an unbearable burden. They were said to appear to men in the dark hours in the form of alluring women, then seduced them and abandoned them, drained of their vitality. But the same thing happened with unattended children, whose insides were devoured by the Lilim...

" "You mean they're here?"

"From what you've told me, I don't know if they're here. We can be sure of one thing, though: they're definitely nearby.

" "Do you have any idea how to protect ourselves from them?"

"I know..." Magnus pondered, lighting the candles on the stand. "We'll probably have to kill them... But how, I can't say...

" "It looks like a nice change," Daniel replied sarcastically, heading for the door.

"Be careful. You know that as a dog vampire, you're more vulnerable to their Attack than others.

" "Just let me know who tries!" he smiled grimly. "I won't be killed that easily..." and then added as he left, "May the power of Lillith be with you.

" "You too, brother." Magnus looked at him and raised his hand in an eloquent farewell gesture. The boy did the same and left, closing the high, wooden door tightly behind him.

Akasha felt completely exhausted and overtired, as if from running too long.

"Finally. You're awake." The sound of Nilajhash's voice immediately brought back her eagerness to fight.

"And what are you doing here?

" "I was supposed to be watching over you. Magnus went on a Hunt.

" "Yeah..." she replied, standing up. "I could use a few drops of blood too. I haven't had anything to drink in ages.

" "You're not going anywhere until Magnus returns.

" "Stop annoying me. I need something to drink!" she muttered, getting out of bed.

"Magnus forbade me to let you out, and don't think I'll let you leave."

Without listening, the girl turned to the door, but in a split second, Nilajhash blocked her exit. Akasha glared at him defiantly.

"Did you want something?

" "Sit back on the bed!" he muttered darkly.

"And if not, what will you do to me?"

"If you don't listen to me, you'll end up like that wolf in the forest!"

Akasha shuddered at the thought of what had befallen her so recently and backed away from him. Then, muttering something under her breath, she sat down in front of the fireplace and stared silently into the flames. Nilajhash sat down at a wooden table on which candles were burning.

"I intend to return to my apartment," she said

, as if to herself. "You will do as you please. However, I have a feeling you will return here more often than others.

" "And why is that?" she snapped.

"Life outside the Sanctuary is very difficult. Full of dangers and traps. One small mistake could mean the difference between life and death.

" "And how are you supposed to know that?

" "I've seen much more than you. I've witnessed the fall of great civilizations, bloody wars, conspiracies, and revolutions. You're not trying to tell me I wouldn't know the fate of individuals?"

Akasha didn't answer, just snuggled deeper into her black chasuble and stared at the flames voraciously devouring the dry wood.

"I'm hungry..." she replied quietly. "So... hungry..."

"I can't help it. You have to wait.

" "Who am I that you should treat me like this?!

" "A vampire. One of the most important reasons.

" "Oh yes?" she asked teasingly. "Hmmm..." A very tempting thought, to finally test her limits.

The girl slowly turned her head toward him, and to Nilajhash's horror, it seemed to him that her eyes were turning ashen or silver. He slowly rose from the table and straightened. Akasha also rose. She smiled mysteriously, yet at the same time grim and defiant.

"You're afraid..." she said quietly, touching her neck with her hand. "I can hear your heart beating... Fast... A little too fast... Hmmm..." She smiled, amused. "I didn't think fallen angels could be afraid. But this is getting more and more interesting.

" "Stop," Nilajhasz interrupted her. "Get some sleep. Maybe it'll take you a while.

" "You say that..." Akasha took a slow step forward. "...as if you could sleep through the fact of being a vampire... Don't you know that in a dream you can become a vampire, but once you accept this Gift, you can never give it up..."

For the first time, her voice was quiet, distant, and melancholic. The angel felt as if he was humming something softly under his breath. Most vampires spoke this way; Nilajhasz knew that in Akasha he had just awakened, and that in such a case he was in mortal danger. For nothing could kill fallen angels, except God and vampires.

" "I know what you're talking about. But I only had your best interests in mind."

"My goodness?" Akasha narrowed her eyes slyly, approaching him. "How touching...

" "You're tormenting me. If this continues, they'll have to neutralize you.

" "I wonder... how you plan to do that..." Akasha stood on tiptoe and brushed her hand against his cheek. Her hand also slid down to the angel's neck, but at that moment, the irritated Nilajhash grabbed her wrist and pulled her away.

"Don't touch me like that again! Do you hear me?!" he hissed.

"Why?" Akasha smiled innocently. "Didn't you like it? I thought...

" "Don't tease me! If you dare provoke me, it could end tragically for you."

The girl ripped her hand from his grip and, turning away from him, took a few steps to the side.

"You're ruining the fun. It could have been so much fun!" she muttered, offended.

"Fun..." he echoed. "Probably for you.

" "For both of us." Do you know what pleasure you've given up...?

Suddenly, the chamber door opened, and Magnus stepped in. He was holding something in both hands. It was large and obviously heavy.

"I have something for you," he smiled at the girl.

Akasha turned to him and was beside him in a split second. Magnus walked with her to the light from the fireplace and laid the body on the ground. Then he uncovered it, revealing the woman's pale but calm face.

"Oh..." Akasha moaned in a strangled voice.

It wasn't a moan of horror, however, but the moan of a man incredibly pleased with something.

"Here, for you," Magnus smiled, rising from his knees and walking aside with Nilajhash.

They both watched in silence as the girl, with a stony expression, examined the dead woman's neck, stroked it with a trembling hand, and then, with a slow, very fluid movement, leaned over her and began to drink her blood.

"Magnus..." Nilajhash whispered, "If you have control over her, don't let her get out of your control. Otherwise, you'll find you've created a monster."

"What are you talking about?" Magnus grimaced, captivated by the sight of Akasha drinking blood.

"I haven't seen such an unpredictable and dangerous vampire in a long time. Believe me, she has a terrifying Beast within her.

" "You're exaggerating..." he muttered, not really listening.

"I just want to have a clear conscience. Anyway, I warned you. I hope it won't be too late when your eyes open..."

Nilajhash turned away from him and, covering himself with his enormous wings, disappeared into the dark mist...

"Already?" he asked, as the blood-intoxicated girl leaned back against the wall, tilting her head back.

"How pleasant..." she replied with a blissful smile. "How wonderful!

" "I'm sorry I didn't take you with me. You were unconscious, and I didn't want to wake you. Our Priest's attack was indeed exceptionally strong; it's almost a miracle you emerged unscathed...

" "I had a strange dream," she muttered, wrapping her arms around her drawn-up knees.

"Tell me about him.

" "It was like this..." she began slowly. "That child you called Lilim, he killed people. Those from the city, he came at night and killed sleeping men. He ate... he devoured their entrails... It was terrible... Panic broke out in the city, everyone thought he was some brutal murderer. And then suddenly I was transported to another place. There were high, white walls. Pale fluorescent lights from the ceiling... The room was empty, only something strange sat in the corner. Blood dripped from his mouth, his pupils were enormous, dilated, and his skin was snow-white, but he hid his face behind his long-clawed hands... You know? It seemed to me that he was terrified. Or locked in and trapped... I'm not sure... After that, I didn't dream any more. A hopeless dream..."

"The thing about Lilim really scared me. After all, you dreamed the truth once before. Why not now? We'd be in big trouble if your dream came true, Akasha.

" "Why not? It's just a child...

" "The child of Lillith and Samael, aka Satan. It's very cruel, as you've seen yourself. If it somehow got here, there must be a reason, but above all, consequences. I'm afraid the Lilim only came here for the Hunt, because then it won't stop quickly and will surely try to find us.

" "I thought we were safe here..." Akasha licked her bloody fingers. "Besides, why would it come to us?"

"Normal people don't possess as much energy as we do. Vampires store a lot of life-giving power within themselves; to the Lilim, we are much more valuable than Normals.

" "Okay... If that's the case, how can we defeat them?

" "We have to kill them.

" "Just like that?"

"You should kill them with a cold blade, then cut out their hearts, cut them in half, and bury the body face down. Cover the grave with large stones and plant wild roses around it. It's very important that the Lilim doesn't come out again..." Magnus thought for a moment. "It's useless if no one takes up the Hunt for him.

" "You're joking! There are so many men here... one could...

" "That's impossible!" he interrupted her abruptly. "The Lilim hunt men! Don't you understand, Akasha?! They're just waiting to meet one of us!"

The girl slowly opened her eyes and stood up. Then she went to the fireplace and pulled out a long, Japanese sword with a straight, steel blade.

"I already have the sword..." She clenched it in her hand. "Now teach me how to use it!"

Magnus looked at her in surprise. Suddenly, he walked over to her and made a move as if to take the sword from her, but his hands also tightened on it at the last moment. The man was unable to protest. Perhaps... perhaps the Community Elders would advise them otherwise, but could they wait, did they have time?

"Fine..." he whispered, head bowed. "I'll teach you everything..."

Three days and three nights had passed since that conversation. Magnus had taught Akasha very patiently, though also oblivious to the fact that she was a girl. Akasha had endured much suffering before she mastered the art of swordsmanship. She hadn't slept for two nights, constantly practicing and trying to maximize her strength. Magnus had shown no mercy for her. He knew that if Akasha didn't do this, few would have the chance or courage to face the Lilim...

While they trained, more and more anxious Vampires arrived at the Sanctuary, sensing the Lilim's presence in the city. They knew that only in their Temple would they feel safe. Some of them slept in the rooms adjacent to Magnus's chamber, but others had run out of space, so they spread their sleeping bags in the corridors and engaged in animated conversations there, as rumors of Akasha's intentions quickly spread throughout the Community.