The life of a mountain vampire ch 7

Chapter 7

Betrayal

The fire dances brightly in the large fireplace and its light gives the room a warm and welcoming feeling.  Xavier yawns wide and rolls over to face its inviting warmth.  A small voice catches his ear and he sleepily begins to wake up.  The voice was familiar to him, but he still couldn’t place it.  It floated and swirled around inside his head, whispering and teasing.  It urged him to wake up and to follow, follow and see what was being hidden from him.  Still half asleep and a bit annoyed at being woken up, Xavier grumbles under his breath and crawls out from under the warm covers.  “This had better be good.  I don’t like being woke up ya know.”  Still grumbling he steps out onto the cold stone floor and heads for a large wooden door on the other side of the room.  The voice ever whispering in his ear to hurry.  As he came to the door, he found that it was slightly open and he could see through a small gap between the door and its frame.  As he leans up against its massive frame and peeks through the narrow crack to his surprise he sees Nioby standing in front of a large floating ball of light.  Her voice is sad and unsure of itself as she discussed something with others.  He couldn’t see anyone else in the room with her, but he heard what seemed like voices coming from the ball of light.  For a second or two he thought his eyes were playing tricks on him as other smaller orbs of light begin floating around the room.  Shaking his head he knocked his hand up against the side of his face to jar his eyes back into focus.  To his surprise the multi colored orbs remained and now they were talking as well.  He watched as Nioby patiently answered each of their questions and posed questions of her own. 

Groggy and still half asleep, the voice urged him to wake up and pay attention. ‘LISTEN YOUNG ONE, AND LISTEN WELL.  THESE ARE NOT THE FREINDS THAT THEY CLAME TO BE.”  Still half asleep Xavier slumps against the wall and rubs his eyes, trying his best to shake off the overpowering urge to sleep.  “My name is Xavier.” Stretching and again taking a large yawn he looks around the room. 

“WHAT DID YOU SAY YOUNG ONE?” 

“My name is Xavier, not child or young one.  So stop calling me that.”  The room grew cold and silent, as if a great hatred was beginning to brew in the very air itself.  The voice spoke again but this time it seems colder and a bit crueler. 

“PLEASE FORGIVE.  I MENT NO DISRESPECT.  IT IS THAT YOU ARE STILL SO YOUNG, AND I JUST ASSUMED THAT ….” 

Looking around, but still not seeing where the voice was coming from Xavier hisses and growls.  “Well that was your first mistake.  Don’t assume anything with me.  I may be young, but I’m ah quick study and I now know how to defend myself.  So just back off and leave me alone.” 

For a time there is silence then with a low growl the voice returns.  “THEN I WILL LEAVE YOU, BUT IF YOU EVER NEED ME ALL YOU NEED DO IS CALL MY NAME. 

Grunting and hissing loudly Xavier crosses his arms and leans back up against the wall.  “Yeah whatever.  What is it then?”

“WHAT IS WHAT YOUNG…I MEAN XAVIER?” 

“Your name, you idiot.  What did you think I was asking for, a date?”    The voice seems to make what sounds like a mix between a laugh and a growl.

“NIX”…

Xavier just shrugs his shoulders and growls. “Whatever now go away, you’re starting to get on my nerves...”  As he looks through the crack in the door again the chill in the air disappears and Nix is gone.  Noticing that his unseen guest was gone, Xavier just grunts “jerk.”

The darkness that is Nix’s domain swirls and explodes as he appears and begins pacing back and forth.  Laughing to himself, he begins to sit as a large throne made of what appeared to be skulls and bones forms out of the mist behind him.  “HAHAHAHAHAHA…….This is too easy.  The child only needs to be provoked and he will do whatever I need.  Oh what fun this will be.  Now all I need do is lead him to where he can find the stone that holds me.”  Placing his hand to his chin, he begins to form his plans.
                                     
Xavier meanwhile sits and listens intently to what the others are talking about. Nioby paces around the room as the others try and convince her to seal him in an eternal sleep, or one that is long enough to cause him to forget his lust for revenge.  A large orb of bright green hovers nearest to her and the soft voice of a man gently poses the question.  “Nioby be reasonable, if he continues to hunt these people, then he will be seen by the humans and we will be exposed.  Are you willing to risk all of our lives for this child?” 

Shaking her head she stares out an open window and drops her head. “No, but I said that I would not interfere in his hunt.  I asked him to leave them, and the hurt I saw in his eyes cut deep into my heart.  The pain of my request was almost too much to bier.  That is why I brought him here, and sought your council.” 

The brightly colored orbs begin to circle the larger one as it slowly rose toward the ceiling.  “Then it is the decision of this council that you place your young charge into a deep sleep until we have decided that the threat to us and to him has passed.” 

She hangs her head and takes a deep breath.  “Is this the will of the whole council then? It would appear then that I have no other choice left to me then.  It will not be easy, but I will do as you instruct.”  Unnoticed by the others, she wipes a tear from her eyes and remarks under her breath that this was not fair, and that she prays that Xavier can someday forgive her.

Xavier growls and slams his elbow against the wall.  “She lied to me, and I was fool enough to believe her.  Nix was rite she aint my friend.”  Quietly he stands up and walks back over to the bed and climbs back onto it, pulling his knees up under his chin. 

“SO I TAKE IT YOU HAVE SEEN SOMETHING INTERESTING.” Nix’s voice swirls around inside his head once more.  “DID I NOT TELL YOU THAT SHE AND THE OTHERS WERE NOT TO BE TRUSTED?” 

Barring his face into his knees, he tries not to cry and instead takes his cap off and swings it around his head trying to make Nix go away.  “Leave me alone you jerk.  I didn’t ask for your opinion.  Now go away.”  The shadows in the room begin to move towards the bed and condense into a single deep blackness.  Peeking from under his cap Xavier can see that the darkness is taking the shape of a man.  In appearance he doesn’t seem to be much older than Xavier, but the feeling Xavier gets from it makes his skin crawl.  They are feelings of power and rage.  An overwhelming sense of ancientness fills the room.  Nix now stands before him and he makes a slight bow in Xavier’s direction.  Xavier sits up and just stares at him with a puzzled look on his face.  “What tha hell?  Are ya ah ghost or what?  I mean I can see straight through ya.” 

Nix just laughs and drifts over to where he sat.  “NO I’M NOT A GHOST.  YET I’M NOT QUITE ALIVE EAITHER.  THANKS TO THOSE THAT CALL THEMSELVES YOUR FRIENDS, I NOW I’M JUST HERE.”  Smiling slyly he stands behind Xavier and places his claw like hands on his trembling shoulders.  “LOOK WELL, THIS IS WHAT THEY PLAN TO DO TO YOU.  UNLESS YOU STOP THEM BEFORE THEY CAN.”

Placing his hands over Xavier’s eyes, Nix bids him to look and see what lays in store for his future.  Slowly Xavier opens his eyes and sees through the mist that makes up Nix hands.  The sight that greats his unprepared eyes cause him to fall back against the wall.  Before him there stretched a large open space, almost as far as his eyes could see.  It was surrounded along its sides by large crystal columns.  In each, there seemed to be someone standing or kneeling.  On some of their faces, there were looks of complete horror, or looks of untold sadness that would move the most hardest of hearts to tears.  Still others stood in silent defiance.  “Nix who are they?  What did they do to deserve this, to have it done to them?” 

Nix just smiles and places his ghostly hands on Xavier’s shoulders again.  “OH NOTHING...  SOME WERE PUT HERE BECOUSE THEY WERE INCONVEIENT, MISUNDERSTOOD, AND SOME WERE YOUNG AND HEADSTRONG.”  Looking over his shoulder Nix smiles evilly, as he sees that this last statement has upset Xavier a bit, he then casually drifts around the room seemingly distracted by the dust on a few shelves. 

“No that’s not true, it just can’t be.  Why would they do that to some one just because they have different ways of seeing things than they do?”  Pulling his cap down, he once again cover his eyes trembling in fear of what he sees.

Drifting back over to the bed where Xavier is still trying to figure out what he has seen. Nix sighs and does his best act to seem concerned.  “OH XAVIER WHAT IS IT, DID I SAY SOMETHING THAT HAS UPSET YOU?  I DIDN’T MEAN TO MAKE YOU CRY.  PLEASE FORGIVE ME.” 

Xavier sniffs back his tears and wipes his nose then looks up at him.  “I’m not crying.  I just got something in my eye that’s all so just back off.”  He growls and gives Nix a dirty look barring his fangs.  Climbing off the bed he stands in front of Nix and pulls his cap halfway down over his eyes.  “What is it to you what I do?  It’s not like your gonna get anything out of this if I listen to you.” 

Nix looks surprised and drifts back over to the window and looks out.  “WELL NOW IF THAT DOSEN’T JUST BEAT ALL.  BOY…I DON’T EXPECT TO GET ANYTHING FROM YOU, I REALLY COULD CARE LESS IF YOU LISTEN TO ME OR NOT.”  Watching him from the corner of his eye Nix smiles an evil smile and then turns to face Xavier.  “ALL I WANTED WAS FOR YOU TO SEE THEM FOR WHAT THEY TRULLY ARE, PETTY, JUDGMENTAL, AND FRIGHTENED FOOLS.  IF SOMEONE JOINS THEIR LITTLE GROUP AND UPSETS THEM, THEN THAT PERSON JUST DISAPPEARS.”  Appearing behind Xavier he leans in close whispering in his ear softly.  “AND IS NEVER SEEN AGAIN.” 

A shiver runs down his spin as Xavier hears those last words, and realizes that such a fate was about to befall him.  Spinning around, he strikes out at Nix and disperses his shadowy form, as if that would help stop the feelings of betrayal and hatred that were now building up in his heart.  “Just shut up.  Stop it, just STOP IT NOW!!”  Nix reforms a few steps away from him and just grins.  He knows that if he can upset Xavier enough, then he will be ready to defy Nioby and the others.  He just needed to push him a little further and he would crack.

Nioby swings open the heavy wooden door and quickly steps inside.  “Child are you alright?  Who are you talking to?”  By this time Nix had faded back into the walls and Xavier is left standing alone in the middle of the room to face her.  He just stands and looks at her with an expression that resembles that of a child that has just realized that there was no Santa Clause or Easter bunny.  He isn’t sure if he is upset at the idea of what they were going to do to him, or that it was Nioby herself that had brought him here for it to happen.

“Child what has happened?  You seem upset.” 

He bites his lower lip as he wipes the tears from his eyes and looks at the floor.  “Why…why did you bring me here lady?  Didn’t I love you enough, or…or, did I up set you some how?  Tell me so I can make it right.  Just don’t do this please.” 

She just looks at him strangely and steps further into the room.  “What are you talking of child?  You have not upset me, but you are starting to worry me now.  I do not know what you are speaking of.” 

Breaking down in tears Xavier falls to his knees and slams his fist into the floor.  Leaning over he rests his head to the floor and starts shaking all over as he continues crying.  “DON’T LIE TO ME.  I CAN’T TAKE ANY MORE LIES.  Trembling Xavier lifts his hand and points to a dark corner of the room. “Just tell me that he is tha one lying and I’ll believe you, just tell me please.” 

Directing her gaze to where he was pointing, she sees no one there, just an empty shadow filled space.  “Child who are you talking about, I see no one.’  Nioby walks over to where he was sobbing on the floor and kneels down in front of him.  Softly she places her arms around him and pulls him close to her.  “Child, I will not lie to you.  Ask your questions and I will tell you what I am allowed.”  Lifting his head so she can look him in the eyes, she kisses him gently on the nose and smiles.  “Now dry your tears and calm your mind.  First, please tell me who has filled your head with the idea that I have lied to you.”

Xavier begins to calm his sobbing as she gently starts to rock him in her arms and begins humming a soft song.  He wipes his tears and with a soft whimper he says the name Nix. 

Nioby briefly stops her song and sits still, and then returns to gently rocking him.  He looks up and notices that her expression though still smiling now has a bit of fear mixed in with it.  “When did you talk with him?” 

Xavier shrugs and messes with his cap.  “Just a minute ago, he was here and was talking about what yall was gonna do to me.” 

Nioby looks down at him as she continues to gently rock back and forth.  “What did he say we were going to do? That is if I may ask?” 

Xavier sniffs back a few tears and runs his hand across his nose.  “Well he didn’t really say anything, but he did show me something, something bad.” 

“Yes, what was it that he showed you?”  Gently she turns him so he now faces her.  She looks down at him and brushes a patch of stray hair from his face and tries to smile a reassuring smile. 

Xavier weakly smiles back and pull his cap down over his eyes.  “Well ma-am he showed me a place that had all kinds of people in it, but they weren’t people.  I think they were like us, vampires I mean.  They didn’t look at all happy to be there.  All froze in place, in big crystals.  Some were crying and some were just standing there with no expression at all.  It was awful.”  Standing up he walks back over and climbs up onto the middle of the bed.  As he pulls his knees up under his chin, he starts messing with the covers, then slowly looks up at her.  “He said that you and those other people were gonna put me there for not being like you.  Not fitting in, or cause I was not behaving, or something like that.  Wasn’t really sure of what he said now.  Just don’t like the idea of being there alone.”  Barring his head in his knees Xavier just sits and starts sobbing again at the thought of his soon-to-be future.

Nioby quietly sits on the bed beside him and puts her hand on his knee.  “Then ask what it is that you want to know, and I will tell you the truth.  Unlike him I will not deceive you for my own ends.” 

Looking up at her he tilts his head to the side and quietly, almost unheard asks if they are going to put him in that place. 

Nioby lowers her head and with out a word closes her eyes and just nods.

Xavier bites his lower lip and brushes another loose strand of hair from his eyes nodding.  “Oh... ok.”  Not sure of what to do now, he just sits and chews on his lower lip, looking down at the covers.  He didn’t expect such a direct answer with no attempt to explain or deny it. 

Nioby looks up and starts to reach out to touch him, but he flinches and she stops just short of his arm.  “Child please know that we did not come to this decision lightly.  It is just that we are concerned that you are not yet ready to face some one like Kevin.  He is too strong for you, even if he dose not yet realize his bloods calling.  I am truly sorry, please believe me.”

“When will I have to go?”  Xavier doesn’t even bother to look up as he repeats the question a bit louder, knowing full well that she had heard it the first time. 

“In a few hours, as the moon reaches its highest point in the sky.  I will come for you and together we will walk to the chamber of silence.”  Standing up she turns and slowly walks to the door “Is there anything I can get for you?  All you need do is ask and it will be given.” 

With a weak laugh, he just smiles and asks “Well I’d really like an extension on my sentence. That is if it aint too much trouble.” 

Smiling softly, Nioby just hangs her head and states that she will see what she can do, but first she has some one that she needs to talk to.  Silently closing the door behind her she is gone in a swirl of mist.


Xavier is now left alone.
For the first time in his whole life he finds that he is afraid of the dark.