Blood Reunion: Turn Three of the Hybrid Helix by Berne JCM

Author:Berne, JCM [Berne, JCM]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: The Gnost House
Published: 2022-10-31T00:00:00+00:00

18

You Are My Sunshine, My Only

T he vampire staggered, nearly setting a foot off the back end of the raised clay platform.

Rohan suppressed a cough, choking back pain and blood. I’m too badly injured to fight, so I’m antagonizing him? I guess Mom raised at least one fool.

“Must have been tough, right? Carrying on all those arguments. Showing off the glory of The Chorus, bragging about what an amazing accomplishment you are, while all alone on an empty planet with a half-functioning space station overhead.”

“No. No, that’s not right.”

Wei Li was first to reach the base of the platform, the three Pledged lined up behind her. Ursula was limping along far behind the others, her eyes on the semicomatose Ursans littering the stadium seats.

“What’s not right? That you didn’t go out with all the glory you should have had?” The urge to lash out, to hurt the vampire in any way he could, was too strong for Rohan to resist.

“It’s not right that the planet was empty. That I was alone.”

“Are you—hold on—are you whining? That they left you alone?”

“No, it’s not right. It’s not true. I wasn’t alone. Not at first.”

“Rudra save me, you’re not . . . There was a colony, wasn’t there? You weren’t alone. What happened . . . Never mind. I think I know.”

“The hunger, it was too much. I fought it, at first, but . . . You can’t understand.”

“Leave him alone.” Brother Famine’s voice rang out.

ar’Tahul’s head snapped up, his eyes refocusing on the space past the edge of the platform.

Rohan tried to project his voice. “Get out of here. I can’t fight him.”

Wei Li answered. “If you cannot, the rest of us surely do not stand a chance. We must get you out of here.”

“I’m hurt, Wei Li. I don’t think I can stand. He sliced some stuff inside that I’m pretty sure I need.”

“You talk too much for your own good.”

Brother Famine spoke again. “I’ll stop him. At least slow him down. You get the Hybrid out of here.”

Sister Famine yelled. “That’s insane! Put aside your stupid pride for once; you can’t fight that thing.”

Mother Famine cleared her throat. “He can. Brother Famine, are you sure?”

“I’m sure, Mother. I’ve fought the hunger for so long, every day. Let me embrace it, just once. Let me loose. I’ll never hurt an innocent; you know that. Let me have this one thing before I die. Let that death serve a purpose.”

Her response carried the cadence of a chant. “I give you permission, Brother Famine. You may set aside your discipline, on this and only this day, so that you might serve the greater good. Let your death be a blessing to the world.”

Sister Famine cried out, her voice torn and wretched. “Let your death be a blessing.”

“It was nice to meet you, Rohan. Mother Famine, you should know I’ve had uncharitable thoughts toward you. For saving me.”

“I know, Brother Famine.”

ar’Tahul’s eyes flickered wildly from the Pledged to Wei Li and back to the Hybrid.

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