The life of a mountain vampire ch 8

Chapter 8

SPELL CASTING

The chamber is silent and dimly lit by two flickering candles on a small stone table in the center of the massive room.  The walls glow faintly from the many crystal columns that ring its sides.  This place was created centuries ago.  Its very existence has been forgotten by all but the most ancient of the immortals.  It had but one purpose when it was created, the holding and forgetting of the vampire clans’ most dangerous enemies.  As the centuries passed and the number of threats to the clans diminished it has taken on a secondary role.  A place for those who have broken a law of the clans were to be placed there until their crime has been forgiven.

Nioby appears in front of the table and looks down crossly at a small gem that is hovering slightly above its smooth stone top.  She begins taping her finger on the edge of the table as she slowly circles it several times.  Slowly she makes one final circle around the table and stops just in front of the stone.  “Nix we have to talk.  I know you can hear me. You will answer me, or by all that is holy I will bury you so deep that you will never again see another living soul or a dead one for that matter.  NOW ANSWER ME.”  Several seconds pass with no answer, just the moaning of the wind as it passed between the frozen lips of those kept in this dark long forgotten place.  Nioby slams her hands on the table and in a voice much louder than she is used to, she repeats her request.  “ANSWER ME NOW.”

“Temper, temper dear sister.  No need to shout, you will wake the dead.”  Appearing behind her Nix mockingly smile and gives a low bow.  “How may I serve one of the great council?  Or is it that you need something from me?  I wonder which it could be.”  Silently he glides across the room and aimlessly inspects one of his frozen comrades, carelessly flicking a spec of dust from its frozen lips.  Nioby crosses her arms and just stars at him annoyed.  ‘You know why I am here, so do not try my patients.  I am not in the mood for your games.”  He flicks another spec of dust from one of the columns and just smiles.  “Oh yes I remember now.  I had a small chat with a most interesting little fellow just not to long ago.  He was not to happy to learn of what his great benefactor was going to do to him, just because he wanted to finish hunting down those that hurt him.  A real shame that he will never know what it is like to be free ever again.  Is it not?”

Placing her hand to her head she just looks away.  “You do not know what you are talking about trader.  If we do not stop him he will die.  This is not something that I am willing to sit back and watch. He has so much to offer, but if he goes off on his childish quest for revenge then he will fight and he will loose.”

“So I’m being childish?  Is that what you think?”  She turns in surprise when she hears this half sobbing question.  She turns to face Xavier who now was standing behind her trying not to break down in tears.  His face was pale and filled with emotions that he didn’t understand.  He stands with his fists clinched and his cap pulled down over his tear filled eyes.  “Nix was rite you lied to me.  You told me that you could understand that I wanted revenge, but now ya say that it is childish.”

“Please child let me take you back to your room and we will talk there.  This is not the best place for you to be now.”  She reaches out to take him by the wrist but he just growls and pulls away from her.  “My name is Xavier and no I don’t think I’m gonna go any where with you ever again.”  Wiping his eyes he smiles up at her and starts to walk around her in circles.  “Yeah I know that’s ah bit childish, but hey guess what.  I am achid. And as my momma used to say, “Children will play.” So guess what I’m gonna go and play.”  With that He tips his cap and blows her a little kiss, then steps back into the nearest shadow and vanishes.

“Jev wait come back.”  Reaching into the shadow she tries to pull him back but is too late he’s gone.  Grumbling under her breath, she walks back over to the table and stares deeply into the dimly shining stone.

“His name is Xavier, not Jev.  You should try and remember that.”  Nix glides behind her and smiles amused.  Nioby slams her hands on the table and gives him a look that would freeze his soul, provided that he still had one.  “Will you please shut up?  This is all you’re doing anyway.  If you would have only kept your spectral mouth shut, then we would not be here now and this would not be happening.  Nix if anything happens to him I will….” 

Nix stands in front of her and crosses his arms in defiance.  “You will what?  It’s not like you or the others can do more to me than you’ve already done.  So what will you do now oh great and powerful ancient?” 

Knowing that there was some truth in what he had said Nioby can only shake her head.  ‘You arrogant son of a ……, she just turns her head and looks him in the eyes if anything happens to Jev then I will personally see that you suffer for all eternity.”  As she walks away Nioby stops and looks over her shoulder.  “And believe me Nix I will find a way to make you suffer, make no mistake about that.  You are not the only one that can defy the council and get away with it.”  Blowing him a small kiss she vanishes in a swirl of mist and leaves him to figure out what she meant.

The shadows part and Xavier finds himself once again standing in his bed room.  As he walks down the hall that leads from his room to the living room the phone rings and causes him to jump a bit.  Still trying to wipe the tears from his eyes he answers the phone in a broken voice.  “Hello…

(Hey Jev it’s me Sara.  What cha up to?)…

UUUmm…hey Sara now aint a good time ta talk.

(Oh of course it is.  Hey where did you take off too earlier taday?  I was talking to you and then you were gone.  Talk about rude.) 

Oh I’m sorry.  Just wanted to get home and besides I was tired. 

(Whatever, ya still didn’t tell me what happened last night and if he was cute or not.  So spill tha beans.  I want details.) 

Hey Sara now aint a good time.  I’m tired and want to go to sleep. 

(Well fine, guess I will talk at ya later.) 

Ok see ya.” 

Walking out on the porch, he folds his wings and sits quietly on the bench just looking out across the night’s sky.  “I’ll show her.  I’ll show them all that I aint a kid anymore.”  After a few minutes of this he walks back into the house and starts running a cold shower.  As he sits against the wall letting the water run over his tired muscles he tries to figure out a way to find his last victim.  Yawning sleepily he streatches and pops the bones along his spine.  With a cheeky smile he looks over to the window and laughs.  “Hey Kev do me a favor, tell me where ya are so we can finish this tonight.”  There was no answer.  As if he really expected to hear one.  “Typical, not like he was actually gonna save me tha trouble of looking for him.  Well I guess I’ll have ta just do it myself.”  Stepping out of the shower Xavier walks outside into the middle of his back yard under a full moon.  The way his house was situated on top of the mountain, there was no fear of him being seen outside naked.  After a few minutes of walking around the yard he made his way to his intended destination. 

Ya see, some months before he had made a stone circle there and planned one day to make it into a gazebo, but so far he hadn’t gotten around to it yet.  So far it was only made up of a small circle of stones.  He had read up on the practice of Wicca and had decided on making it into a small shrine instead.  The circle was made up of small standing stones and at each of the four compos points stood a larger stone with a flat top.  On each alter there sat a bowl, and in each bowl there was one of the four elements.  Xavier decides to see if he could mix Wicca with his newly gained Vampire powers.  If the Vampire ancients won’t help me, then maybe the earth’s sprits will.    Hey who knows he thought.  It might just be the extra power boost I need to find Kevin’s hiding place. 

Taking his spell book from its hiding place he lights a few candles around the edge of the circle and sits in its center with his legs crossed.  “Now all I have to do is call upon the sprits to aid me. And we can get this party started.  It took a few minutes to find the spell he was looking for and after studying it for a few minutes more he places the book before him and closes his eyes.  Clearing his through he lowers his head and begins the chant.

O Mother Goddess,

O Father God,

Answer to all mysteries and yet mysteries unanswered;

In this place of power I open myself;

To your Essence.

In this place and in this time I am changed;

From henceforth I walk the Wicca path.

I dedicate myself to you, Mother Goddess and Father God.

The candles flare up and a strong wind begins to blow across his naked body, whipping his hair about him in long flowing spirals.  The clouds race across the night’s sky and soon the moon is cloaked in shadows.  Standing to his feet he raises his arms and tilts back his head.  In a loud voice that rivals the howling of the wind he continues his chant.

I breathe your energies into my body, commingling,

Blending,

Mixing them with mine,

That I may see the divine in nature,

Nature in the divine,

And divinity within myself and all else.

O Great Goddess,

O Great God,

Make me one with your essence

Make me one with your essence

Make me one with your essence.

To his surprise the circle begins to glow as streaks of light circle around him.  Xavier closes his eye again as he is gently lifted off the ground and slowly begins to rotate.  With each pass of the lights they would enter him as a bubble of energy begins to form around him.  As the last of the lights enters into his body the bubble expands and explodes as he extends his arms to his sides and screams.  As the energy disperses he is gently lowered to the ground and rests on his knees.  “Man what ah rush.”  The winds begin to slow and the clouds move more easily across the sky.  A small beam of moonlight peeks through the clouds and brightens the spot where he kneels.  Closing his book he replaces it in its hiding place and thanks it for its use.  “Now with these new abilities I will be able to find who ever I want in no time.  But first I need to ask one more favor of the earth.”  Walking over to the bowl of dirt, he lifts it above his head and with a clear voice begins a new chant. 

O Spirit of the North,

Ancient One of the Earth,

I call you to attend this circle.

Change this by your powers, Old One!

As he says this a greenish mist begins to form around the stone and takes the form of a person.  The wispy spirit slowly and gently takes the bowl form his hands and gives a slight bow.  After he bows back he walks over to the next stone, after softly blowing into it he raises it above his head.

O Spirit of the East,

Ancient One of Air,

I call you to attend this circle.

Change this by your powers, Old One!

As he says this a whitish mist begins to form around the stone and takes the form of a person.  The spirit takes the bowl and bows.  With a return bow he moves on to the next stone this time the stone of fire.  In a small crack just below the stone he removes a box of matches and carefully lights one, dropping it into the bowl.  Lifting it over his head he calls.

O Spirit of the South,

Ancient One of Fire,

I call you to attend this circle.

Change this by your powers, Old One!

A mist of red forms and takes the bowl from his hands with a bow.  Xavier bows and moves to the final stone.  Twisting a small portion of his hair over the bowl, he manages to squeeze out a few drops of water into it then he lifts it high over his head.  Now I call to the last of the great spirits and complete the circle. 

O Spirit of the West,

Ancient One of Water,

I call you to attend this circle.

Change this by your powers, Old One!

As the bluish mist takes the form of a person it bows and receives its bowl.  Xavier steps back and bows in turn.  Now that the spirits of the stones are here the circle glows brightly and begins to pulse with ancient power. 

I thank you for answering my call and I need to ask a question of you.  Xavier takes his place in the center of the stones and sits quietly on his knees.    With one voice they speak.

(ASK YOUR QUESTION CHILD, AND IF IT IS WITHIN OUR POWER TO ANSWER WE SHALL.) 

Respectifly he lowers his head before speaking “I ask only this, that you aid me in the search for the one known as Kevin Helsin.” 

The spirits remain silent then slowly replace their bowls onto the alter.  A bit confused by their actions he raises his head and looks at them.  “Have you reached your answer so quickly?  Please tell me where he is.” 

(NO CHILD.  IT IS NOT WITHIN OUR POWERS TO ANSWER.) 

“But why not?  I need your help.  He has to pay for his actions.” 

(CHILD WE ARE NOT ALLOWED TO INTERFEAR.  YOU MUST FIND HIM YOURSELF.) 

With this said they slowly and silently disappear.  “No wait, why won’t you help me?  It’s not fair!’  With his outburst he stands and knocks several of the bowls off there stones.  Falling to his knees he growls and slams his fits on the ground.  “Who need them anyway?”

“Oh poor baby, what ever is the matter?”  Nix drifts up behind him and smiles.  “You didn’t really expect them to help, did you?” 

Xavier looks up at him and growls, taking a swing at him.  He was too upset to realizes hat Nix’s body wasn’t really there, his fist just passed through a cold mist.  “Man shut up. I’m not in the mood for your little jokes.  Leave me alone.” 

Nix just smiles and drifts over to the only bowl that still is sitting on its stone.  “Pity, I guess you didn’t know that those so called spirits were really vampires.  And that they were sent by the council of ancients.” 

Xavier looks up in disbelief and bares his fangs.  “What are you talking about?  How can they be vampires if they are elementals?” 

“You poor witless fool, if you had taken the time to study up on your vampire history then you would know that all so called elementals are in fact vampires.” 

Xavier grunts and crosses his arms.  “You’re lying.  It’s not true.  I’ve read all the books I could find about elementals and they didn’t mention anything about that.”  Nix just chuckles and drifts around the circle inspecting the condition of the other dislodged offerings. 

“You poor small minded child.  You of all people should know that you can’t believe everything you read.” 

As Xavier sits growling under his breath, Nix contuse to float around the edge of the circle chuckling.  “Well if you need help finding him, all you had to do was ask, and I’d tell you where he is.” 

Looking up at him with a frown, Xavier brushes his bangs from his eyes.  “Then why didn’t you tell me when we were talking earlier?  Why did you wait until now and let me go through all this before you said any thing?” 

Turning to look at him Nix just smiles.  “You had to learn the truth for yourself.  That the others will not stand up to the council.  This should show you that you are truly on your own, that is if you don’t want my help.”  Nix drifts around the circle again and bumps the remaining bowl off of its stand, sending it crashing to the ground.  As the bowl smashes and its contents spill out a small spark of light explodes and for a second Xavier could see Kevin.  From what he could see he thought that he saw him sitting among some large flat faced stones. 

“Wait, wait where was that?  Do it again, I saw him, but couldn’t tell where he was.” 

Nix agrees to show him again, but states that he can’t because he is weak, and needs to be near his soul stone.  “If you retrieve it for me and bring it here then I will be able to aid you in your search.”                     

Xavier sits and just looks up at him, trying to decide what to do next.  He had just learned that he couldn’t count on the other ancients for help, so what was the deal with Nix wanting to help?  “Ok man but if you are trying to trick me, then don’t think that I won’t take it out of your hide.”  Concentrating on the place where Nix’s stone was kept, Xavier slowly reaches into his shadow on the ground and after a few seconds pulls out a smalls shining stone. 

Nix smiles and begins rubbing his claw like hands together.  ”That’s it my boy.  Now I have the power to show you were that whelp Kevin is hiding.  Now be very careful and place it in the center of the circle.” 

Xavier smiles slyly and begins tossing the stone from hand to hand and high into the air.  “Ops I’m sorry I guess this aint what you meant by being careful now is it.” 

Nix gives out a screech and tries to catch it as it falls dangerously near the ground.  “You clumsy brat, that is not a toy now be careful with it.”  Smiling even more he tosses it higher into the air and catches it just as it was about to hit the top of one of the stones.  “Oh chill you old goat, I aint gonna drop it, besides it’s just an old stone aint it.” 

Nervously Nix regains his former composer and slicks back his spectral hair. “It’s not just an old stone you little twit.  It’s the only reason I’m still here. Drop that and I will cease to exist.”  Looking back over his shoulder he notices that Xavier has a sly grin on his lips.  “Oh and don’t go and get any ideas, got it.” 

Placing the stone on the ground Xavier just shrugs and mumbles under his breath, “Yeah whatever dude.” 

Nix instructs him to sit and hold the stone up in front of him. “Now as you clear you mind, try and visualize Kevin and the powers of the stone will lead your minds eye to where he is.  Understand?” 

Sighing heavily Xavier just rolls his eyes and waves him away.  “Yeah… yeah…I got it now back off your invading my personal space.  Gggeessss what ah nag.”

Reluctantly, Xavier does as he is told and closes his eyes.  As his mind clears itself of the recent happenings, he begins to think of Kevin and where he might be found.  The stone begins to pulse in his hands and he feels the rush of air past his nude form, as if he were moving through it at high speeds.  He can here Nix voice in his head as the air begins to move more slowly around him. 

“Now, open your eyes and see.  Open them I say.” 

Opening his eyes slowly, he finds that he is moving through the streets of town.  It was as if he was flying but he knew that he was still sitting firmly out in his backyard because he could feel the soft touch of wet grass beneath his naked skin.  He darted up and down different ally ways like some bird searching for its nest.  Finally he flew over the stone gates of the local cemetery, and as before darted among its weathered headstones.  Soon he sees a large bond fire burning in the far corner of this hallowed place, and to his surprise there stood Kevin boozing it up and knocking over some of the stones.  Circling high above him Xavier’s heart begins to pound as the long suppressed anger began to boil up, ready to be released. “Come back now child.  You have found what you were looking for.” 

Before he could strike Xavier felt his sprit being pulled backwards, and along the same path he had just taken.  He is knocked backwards as his spirit reenters his body, and he just lays there cussing and pounding his fists on the ground.  “Why did ya do that for?  I was about to finish this and you go and stop me.  I thought you were gonna help me find him so I could get this over with.”

Nix just rolls his eyes and mockingly places his hands on his hips.  “Oh calm down before you go and have a heart attack.  I did what I said I would do didn’t I.  I said that I’d help you find him and find him you did.  Besides what were you gonna do?  You were a spirit like me.  And like me you had no physical body.  So what was your plan, gonna rattle some chains and moan real loud?  I’m sure that would have really made him pee his pants.” 

Hissing and growling loudly, Xavier jumps to his feet and snatches Nixes soul stone form the ground.  “Ya know something, I’m really getting sick and tired of your smart mouth and tha way you’re constantly putting me down.  You’re no better than the rest, I should just put ya back where I found ya and be done with it.”  Walking back into the house Xavier tosses the stone on the bed and starts digging through his closet for something to wear.  “Hell Fire and Brim Stones.  Where are those cloths?  Just had em a few minutes ago, oh there they are.  How’d they get all the way under there I wonder.”  As Xavier flops down on the floor after getting dressed he accidentally bumps the bed and causes Nixes stone to roll off and hit the floor.  “Ops sorry man didn’t mean ta do that. Heheh.”  As he begins to braid his hair Xavier lean back against the bed and asks Nix how he got in tha stone in tha first place. 

Caught off guard by his question Nix begins to nervously drift back and forth.  It didn’t take him long though to think up something and he turns to face him with a slight grin on his lips.  “Well like you I was betrayed by those I thought I could trust.”  Xavier looks up at him confused as he holds the end of his braid in his mouth while he feels around on the floor for the hair band that he had just dropped. 

‘What ya mean betrayed by those you trusted?”

Nix drifts over beside him and sits on the bed looking down at him.  ‘It was a long time ago and I was once a member of the high council of vampires.  I was one of its founding members along with your mentor Nioby.  Well to make a long story short, I did as you I upset cretin members of the counsel and they trapped me in this stone.” 

Picking it up Xavier closely examines the shining stone that now pulsed in his hands.  “But you said that if it was cracked, that you would die.  I though that if something like that was cracked, then the one inside of it would be set free.’ 

With a sly smile Nix places his hand on Xavier’s should and shakes his head.  “No young one, I have been in it for far too long.  You see my body has long since turned to dust and only the magic found in this stone can keep me from the land of the dead.” 

Xavier finishes tying up his braid and spits it out looking up at him with and expression of fear on his face.  “Wait ah sec.  They did that to you and now they wanna do it to me.’ 

Nix just looks down at him from the corner of his eye and shrugs his shoulders.  “It looks that way to me.” 

Xavier quietly stands to his feet and pulls his cap down over his eyes.  With out another word he walks out of his room and down the hall mumbling under his breath.  As he passes Cleo sitting on the counter he scratches her behind the ear and remarks that he will be back later.  He has something to take care of tonight.  Slamming the screen door behind him, Xavier walks out on the porch and climbs up on to the roof.  Nix silently passes through the roof and stands beside him as he attaches the cuffs to his ankles and writs.  “Why do you still wear those awful things?  They will only serve to remind you of your shame and loss of innocence.’  Shewing away a small bug that had started flittering around him Nix just looks over at Xavier.  “I’d throw them away if I were you.” 

Xavier looks back at him and just grunts.  “Well your not me and I want to remember what happened.  If I forget for just a second then Kevin and the others will have won.  I don’t want to forget till either he or I am cold and dead.  I will show them that I’m not a child.”  Holding his fist over his head and looking up into the clear night’s sky he yells “I’LL SHOW YOU WHOS AH CHILD.  I’LL SHOW YOU ALL.” 

As he spreads his wings and takes off in the direction of the cemetery.  Nix just smiles and fades back into what ever realm he now holds as his own.  “How easily I move my new piece around the board.  I only now have to think of a way to trick him into breaking the seal around this prison.”