Frailty: The Darkshine(4)

“You called for me, Father?”

“Ah, Gaijryc, my son, please come up here with your family.”

Gaijryc loved his mother and father, but over the years, he had grown to resent their ways, the way they cared only for themselves, and very little for their kind that they ruled over. He walked up the red carpeted steps and stood between his parents. He looked down at the sea of bodies, the elite society of his kind. The females were in their jewel inlaid gowns, the males in suits ranging from different time periods. Gaijryc watched the faces in front of him, each one of them beautiful in their own exotic and deadly way.

“My son, I have been speaking with the council and it was discussed about you mating a female and producing an heir. Your mother and I would like to step down from the throne soon, and since you are the high-ranking prince, your time to rule is nearing.”

He looked down at his father and grimaced inside. The king spoke the words as if he didn’t remind him about mating a female and producing an heir every day. The fact that he’d spoken with the council about the matter proved that he was growing impatient with Gaijryc, and his failure to produce a grandchild for them.

“We will be having a ball in a months’ time, and any available high ranking DarkShine female will be presented to you for your choosing.”

“Father, I really don’t think that is necessary.”

“Silence! Your mother and I have waited long enough for you to find a female. It is clear you need some assistance in the matter and are well past the age of maturity. You should have mated and have had many offspring by now. This is a gift to you from your mother and I before we retire from the throne.”

He didn’t speak, knowing that his father was furious. He had shown his anger in front of the council and that was proof enough that he was livid over the matter. Gaijryc feared he would have to take a female which he had no feelings for just to appease his father’s wishes. His mother patted his hand and threw a small smile toward him. She might look sweet and innocent, but under that façade was a far more dangerous being. Gaijryc looked down at his polished dress shoes and waited for the meeting to end.





Alone

Two weeks had already passed since Helina had moved into the mountain. She’d figured out how to open the cans without an opener—a jagged rock being the blade while she hammered it into the lid. She had gotten a nasty cut on her hand the first time she tried, and was starting to get worried when it didn’t heal right away. While cleaning it every day helped, the wound had become a nasty shade of red and refused to close.

Nightmares assaulted her of her hand getting gangrene and eventually falling off. If that could actually happen, she didn’t know, but the images in her head had her constantly tending to the wound, and eventually it healed.

Every day she sat at the opening of her mountain cave, the bushes covering her appearance from any eyes. The sun was still able to pierce the thick branches and she enjoyed its warmth for a short time before her paranoia got the best of her and she moved back into her dwelling. Food was becoming scarce and she decided that it was imperative that she venture out to find something to eat. Helina had been surviving on a can of fruit and a few Twinkies a day, but that alone was making her feel sick and malnourished.

For those first two weeks she listened to the small battery-operated radio she had been smart enough to bring. Mainly there was static, but every once in awhile she would picked up a pirated site, people screaming and ranting about how creatures of the night had taken over the world and how every human would soon be their meal. Helina listened with fear at how these monsters were described like vampires: sharp fangs, bloodlust and inhuman strength and power pouring through them. The images made her shake uncontrollably and she feared she would be found and be the vampires’ next meal.

After hearing those horrific proclamations, Helina decided it was best not to listen at all. She tucked the radio away, so frightened that if she turned it on she would hear more of the same things or worse…nothing at all.


Helina sat at the entrance of the cave once again and listened to see if she could hear anything. She had no idea where to look for food, or if she would even be able to find any, but she knew she had to try. Debating wouldn’t do her any good, so without another thought, she went out of her hole and into the fresh air. Bringing up her hand to block the bright sun, she looked at the sky for a moment. Most of the tree tops covered what blue could be seen, but there was a break every now and then and she was able to glimpse the beautiful sky.

Standing as still as she could, she listened for any kind of movement. The only thing that she heard was her own heart beating against her ribcage. She started off to the left, hoping something would just pop out in front of her that was edible. Helina walked for a good twenty minutes before she was lucky enough to find some wild raspberries. Picking as many as she could, she tossed them into her outstretched shirt. She ate more than she actually put into her shirt, but her stomach was growling and the Twinkie hadn’t been enough.