Kissed by Darkness(50)
I nodded. I’d known that much. I even knew where, or what, this homeland was, as well as the fact that it wasn’t just the sickness that drove them out, but a dying sun. I thought I’d keep that little tidbit to myself for the time being. An ancient race from a dying world? Yeah, that’d go over well. “But they weren’t vampires?”
He shook his head. “No. They weren’t human, I don’t think, but they weren’t vampires, either. I think the sickness had a similar effect to vampirism, but not entirely. It seems that when they attacked humans, the disease mutated and the human survivors became the first vampires.”
“Shit.” My dream was starting to make a lot of sense now.
He smiled a little at that. “Before all this happened, humans and the people of Atlantis had already begun intermarrying. There were many people who were of mixed blood and they alone were immune.”
“How is that possible?”
“No idea. But something about the mix of human and Atlantean genetics was resistant to the disease. The last High Priest discovered this and decided to use it to his advantage to save what he called the Treasure of Atlantis. So he created the Key.”
“The amulet,” I said.
“Yes. His original plan was to entrust the Key to his son who was half-human and a trained Warrior. Unfortunately … “
“They got trapped in the cave and he ate his son for lunch,” I finished for him. Jack just gave me a dirty look. Could I help it if I had a sick sense of humor?
“Something like that, yes. From what I can tell, though, he had a backup plan. Anyone bearing the genetic code of one of his son Varan’s elite squad of half-human warriors who came into contact with the Key would become its next Guardian. I was that person.”
“You are a descendent of one of Varan’s warriors?”
“So, it seems.”
“But how did you manage not to turn into a vampire when the priest attacked you? Or were you immune?” This was getting weirder by the minute. Good thing I was starting to get used to weird.
“The Priest carried the original strain of the disease, not the mutated form which is vampirism. That’s part of it, I imagine, but the biggest part is that humans who carry Atlantean DNA are still partially immune to the disease which creates vampires. If we are bitten we don’t turn into vampires. We become Sunwalkers.”
I blinked. So he did know why he hadn’t turned vampire. I really hated when people hid stuff from me. “It doesn’t make sense. I’m getting the dreams. How is that possible?”
“That’s most likely because you also carry Atlantean DNA. It would also explain why you’ve been getting the dreams. The Key recognizes you as one of its own. I imagine, you could even be a descendent of one of Varan’s original warriors just as I am.”
I was starting to get a really funny feeling about all this. “Jack, I was attacked three years ago by a vampire. I actually died, but they brought me back. I certainly didn’t become a vampire.” My heart thudded in my chest so hard it hurt. “I just got stronger, faster.” I didn’t mention my Spidey sense. Another thing to keep under wraps. For now.
“That’s because, Morgan Bailey, you became a Sunwalker.”
Chapter Fourteen
“That’s just crazy. I am so not a Sunwalker. I certainly don’t have any interest in sucking anyone’s blood.”
Jack laughed. “What do you think Sunwalkers are, Morgan?”
“Well, I don’t know. You won’t bloody tell me anything!” I winced at the distinct whine in my voice. I hated when my voice went all whiny.
That really set him off. By the time he was finished laughing he was holding his side in obvious pain. Good. He deserved a little pain. I glowered at him.
“Oh, Morgan, you are such a miracle.”
I didn’t know what on earth he meant by that so I just glared at him some more. I might’ve looked cute and innocent, but I had a good glare.
He managed to pull himself together. “We don’t drink blood, Morgan.”
“Then what are the fangs for?”
He ran his tongue over his canines. “These aren’t fangs. I was born this way.”
“What?” I wasn’t sure it was possible to be more confused, but I was.
“Morgan, some people are just born with longer canine teeth. It’s genetics. Like yours.”
“Mine aren’t long!”
“Nope, but they’re sharp.” His smile was just a little too smug, but he had a point. I did have unusually sharp canines.
“So no blood drinking? Then why were you nibbling on my neck?” I couldn’t help being just a little disappointed by the whole no blood-drinking thing.