Rain mixed with blood.........

Blood mixed with rain makes a lovely pink color…….


“Rain mixed with the blood makes a lovely pink color. It’s like the color of sunsets over the ocean after a storm, when the clouds have begun to fade and the dying sunlight sparks through. Really it is a lovely color. You would like it. Pity you won’t open your eyes and see it.” I look at the still figure in my arms, hoping to see same change, there is none. So I bow my head and midge on through the thickening twilight.
“But of cause I’m sure you’ve seen sights more beautiful, after all you’ve had 300 years to do it. You must have seen some wonderful things. I’ve heard some of your stories, not nearly enough though. If only you would open your eyes and tell me.” I toss my head to clear the rain water from my eyes, my hands are otherwise occupied. Another roll of thunder and I hunch just a little to protect my precious bundle just a bit from the relentless torrent of rain. “I’m sorry about the weather. Here I’ll turn you just a bit, take the pressure off the wound and get your face out of the rain.”
His eyes open and the glazed stare unnerves me. He blinks painfully slowly, a dribble of blood trickles between his barely parked lips to mix with the rain water. There’s that pink again.
“Hush now, don’t talk I know it hurts. That was a terrified wound you took aback there. You need to be more careful Ira, for now just rest.”
I swallow hard. “That was a foolish thing you did back there, brave but foolish. Your much too pale, even for a vampire and your breathing is far to shallow.”
His face is not much more than a blurred orb in the darkness and the rain but his violet are bright and filled with unimaginable pain. He watches me for a moment longer before his eyes close and he is lost to me. My finger moves in non-sensical circles where I hold his shoulder, he’s extremely light. Vampire bones are hollow they have no marrow at least that’s what yavvana told me. But he is also very skinny; he should drink more when he recovers from this wound. The thought of him dying for real this time is too terrible to imagine. I don’t think I’m ever going to forget that blade plunging deep into his chest, while he was distracted saving me. When the blade was pulled out blood sprayed in every direction staining every where for meters around. Ira had slid to the ground where he remained, unable to rise. So I had lifted him and I began to carry him back to the tower over 20 miles away. I hard no blood to give him and there were no villages for a long way yet. I had resigned myself to singing and talking to him to ease the pain. Time and shock are his deadliest enemies now. I tighten my grip around his withering form. “You shell not have him!!!” I yell at the wind and rain.
He stirs at my vehemant words and opens his eyes watching me with concern even as he shudders wracked with cold and pain”. It’s alright “I hasten to say “We’re almost there. You’ll be fine, I know it hurts but just hold on a little longer and you’ll be fine. You’ll see.” I put on my bravest smile I possessed. He says nothing and I wonder if he still possesses the ability to speak but he does not need to his eyes tell all. I can hear his voice in my head. “Let me go…”
I blink “What are you talking about? You could never walk on your own”. Even though I know that is not what he means. “Did you not hear what I said? You’ll be fine. You can’t die like this, you’re immortal. I’m the one that can die and fade away. Even sunlight doesn’t affect you anymore. Remember how much you said you wanted to see Alera again? If you die now you won’t do that. Don’t look at me like that! You won’t die.”
He signs and his eyes close, he slipped again into that dream world. Then he opens them again and looks around questioningly.
“We’re about 5 miles from the tower”. I enforce him. “See? Not that far at all. Someone with your legendary strength and endurance should be able to hold on, don’t you think?” As if it pains him, he reaches up a hand and touches a trickle of blood on my face. That’s my friend. He can be injured and in insufferable pain but still be concerned about me. “It’s nothing I barely even feel it”. This is true, my world has narrowed to putting one foot in front of the other and listening to Ira’s rattled breathing. A violent spasm of coughing racks his frame and I have to fight to keep from dropping him. Blood spatters across my hands and his chest droplets landing on my face. I am forced to stop and lean against a tree to wait the fit out. When it stops he is left weaker than before and quivering in pain. His back arches in an attempt to draw out tortured breath after tortured breath. He looks at me, his beautiful eyes are dimming, it must be a trick of the murkey light. “No! You would never give up if the position were reversed. So you can stop asking and save your strength”. I push myself off the tree and trudge onwards towards the tower.
Accepting his defeat he slumps his head against my shoulder, I feel the warmth of his breath on my neck. His blonde hair drips over my arm, his nose rubs gently against the rough cloth of my jacket.
The warm heat of his blood faded to a gentle stream over my arm.
“You will not die,” I tell him. “I refuse to let you die and fade away… because you were saving me. I’m still half mortal, I could still die eventually. You’re not supposed to die. I will not have you die in place of me”. I ignore the fact my arms are covered in his blood. Another crash of thunder and a fresh torrent of rain burst from the sky. I curl my shoulders in a futile effect to protect his body- his broken body from the fresh elements onslaught. Lighting flashes continuously, its funny how tricks of the light could make his lips look so blue, his checks so white. It has to be lighting tricks on my over exhausted mind.
“Don’t you dare. Don’t you dare give up”. I whisper fiercely. “There’s so much we still have to do together. You still have the chance to become king of the underworld. We’re going to stand together at your carination. You promised. Vampires don’t go back on their word”. There’s something streaming down my face and I’m not sure its just water. For a second he presses his head into my shoulder and I know he can hear my heart beat. His breath catches for a moment, so does mine. I clutch him tighter wishing I could impart my strength to him. He struggles for another breath and I clutch him tighter still.
I look down at him to find his iradecent violet eyes watching me, his pale blue tinted lips lift upwards in a pain fragmented smile when our gazes meet. I can feel his lips moving against my skin, but cannot hear what he is saying yet I hear it in my mind. Think of me
I know you’re never seen me cry
Think of me
I know it’s hard to say Goodbye
Think of me
What can I say to show you?
That I’ll never give up on you
That I’ll be waiting for you
He sign softly and I can barely hear it through the wind; then at last he sleeps. I cradle him closer and quicken my step. The tower is but 2 miles away and we will make it together.
I run out of things to say so I begin to him hum tunelessly hoping it’ll ease his pain. We’ll get back and Yavvana will heal his body and he will wake up feeling fresh and new. After that we’ll go hunting and Yavvana will heal his body and he will wake up feeling fresh and now. After that we’ll go hunting and I’ll let him get the best catch because I’m so glad. He’s alive and with me again. Then we’ll go to the grotto where the murderers hide and dine on there until we’re drink with their blood. I have taken no one there and I’m sure he’ll appreciate the sentiment. Then maybe we’ll stay awake long into the morning planning how to annoy the elders and all will be well one more.
The rain has slowed and finally abated I imagine I can see the tower rising out of the gray dawn mist like one of the fantasy kingdoms of old. I smile and quicken my pace. “Look Ira, we made it, we’re here, and you’ll be fine”.
A horse appears on the road ahead and I know it is Yavvana came to greet us. She will set everything right, she always does. My aching feet are tired so I wait and let her come to me.
She jumps of the horse and reaches out to take Ira from me while she reaches out her other arm to steady me. I allow my friend to leave my arms knowing he is in good hands, “Careful,” I warn. “He is sleeping” He was very tired. Don’t hurt his side, it pains him.”
Yavvana moves in front of me and I revel in the warmth. She rests her chin atop my head and I know she is silently trying to communicate with Ira as she often does. Ira she whispers and I can feel as strange witness, smell another type of blood. “No pain will come to him anymore”.
I pull back, puzzled and turn to face the growing dawn when I turn back she is sitting on the ground crackling Ira in her arms. Tears have fallen down her checks and she is trembling all over. “No” He is only turned. He will wake up soon”. I move and take Ira from her arms. Yavvana is shaking her head no, but I ignore it. “Exit he’s…”
“No! The journey was long and he was very tired”. Yavvana just stares at me with grief laden eyes. Something inside me snaps. “He isn’t dead. He can’t be dead. We’re going hunting…”
Desperation and fear gnaw at my heart. My hands reach blindly out and I pull Ira closer against me, resting my head against his jet black hair. I ignore the way his breath does not stir again my check and the amount of blood clinging to his clothing. It is pink- the color of sunsets. “No” I mumble the tears blurring my vision. Burning my eyes. “He’s is not dead. He is sleeping. Please wake up Ira. Please. You can’t be dead. No.