EXCERPT THE LOST ONE
Excerpt
THE WIND BATTERED NIKOS’S body as he soared through the midnight sky trying
desperately to determine from which direction the sounds were coming. Within
seconds of detecting the beating sound, the electrical storm that had been
rolling in the heavens broke loose delivering unto him massive chunks of ice and
rain that pelted every inch of his body. Lightning ripped through the blackened
sky illuminating the night as if it were day while the deafening thunder shook
the very ground beneath. As the violent storm surged, he zigzagged and
backtracked feverishly in an attempt to detect even the slightest increase in
his perception of the calling that he had only moments before been aware of.
From the ground, anyone seeing his erratic movements and motions might have
mistaken him for an injured and disoriented bird but his behaviour was a result
of nothing of the sort. The rapid shallow pounding flooded his senses as his own
heart instinctually attempted to set itself to the rhythm that could only belong
to one. He darted back and forth paying close attention to the sound and
vibration that rang in his head. As he turned south, the pounding was perfectly
synchronized with his own heartbeat and his instincts told him that this was the
direction from which the signal was coming.
It was far away and faint but it could never be so far or faint as to
escape Nikos’ detection. Nikos stilled himself hanging in the air as if the
clouds were as solid as the earthen ground. His heart filled with emotion and
his thoughts lingered on every beat of the distant drum that called to him.
Overwhelmed with a feeling of gratitude and wonderment of what he had done to
deserve the miracle, Nikos found himself frozen in place for fear that the
heartbeat might fade or even disappear at any moment. He was hearing it,
feeling it, absorbing it and binding it to him for the remainder of his
existence. He remained entranced in his connection to the vibration of the beat
for some time before he was able to think of anything else. With his senses
piqued, he determined that the pulsation was coming from 500-600 miles away. It
was so close. Only half of a night’s travel but he could not cover that
distance on this night. In addition, a suitable arrangement for sanctuary in the
area from which the heartbeat was originating was a necessity. Plans would have
to be made and they would have to be made quickly before the others sensed her
presence!
It was this realization that others might have simultaneously perceived
the signal that broke his trance and he was suddenly aware that dawn would soon
be breaking. He needed to return to his sanctuary immediately!
Nikos rotated midair to begin the return trip home, constantly aware of
the pulsation that tapped away in his mind. Its rapid shallow and slightly
irregular pattern had, over the last hour, settled into a regular, bounding, and
rhythmic beating that lulled Nikos into a state of remembrance… remembrance of
what he once had, what he once lost, and the hope of what he might have once
again. The night that was coming to an end seemed to have passed in the blink
of an eye while Nikos had been engulfed in the familiar comfort of the life
force of his equal female. She was here, on this earth and that was all that
mattered to him. He would have detected her presence anywhere in the world but
it just so happened that only a few years before, fate had led him to these
United States and now she too was in America.
Dawn was just arriving when Nikos reached his destination of the old
plantation home. This was one of the largest and most secure properties in the
region, and for that reason he had come to spend much of his time there rather
than in other countries. True, his homes in France, Italy and other parts of
the world were exceptional, but this one in particular was his favourite. In
addition, the American lifestyle allowed him to fit right in without being
scrutinized by others, but rather simply considered eccentric. Throughout
history, there had been times, which, based on popular beliefs and religious
convictions of the populace of any given country, he had been forced to take up
residence in other countries to avoid persecution. However, currently, North
America was very accepting of unusual habits and practices by its citizens
making it the perfect location for himself and others of his kind.
As soon as Nikos entered his home, he placed calls to his attorney and
realtor. It was 6:30 a.m. and both of them would be getting into their offices
soon but Nikos would need to be secured for the day by that time, so he simply
left messages instructing them both on his needs.
His attorney not only managed all legal matters pertaining to his property
interests, but also oversaw all funds Nikos set aside in trusts over the years
for these transactions; of which, there was more than anyone could ever spend.
As for his realtor, he instructed her to secure a home for him between 500 and
600 miles south of his current location that could close immediately, and to
then contact his attorney for completing the transaction. His realtor already
knew, having procured many properties for him in the past, that he had only a
few requirements and those were that it be spacious, secluded, have a limited
number of windows and have a basement. She had never asked any personal
questions of him and he liked it that way. Had she done so, he would have fired
her immediately as Nikos had learned over the years that when people became
inquisitive about him, it was only the beginning of trouble.
He had also learned to over-compensate the connections he developed. Money
bought him not only privacy but also strict obedience to his demands. His lack
of material inclination allowed him the freedom to be more than generous to
those who did his bidding, and who seemingly had an affinity for material
attachment. He had no qualms about spending exorbitant amounts on that which
was important to him, and this had to be the most important of all things ever
to come his way.
After completing the calls, Nikos adjourned to his basement where he would
rest during the day’s sunlit hours. Over the years, he had come to detest these
hours in which he was completely restricted in his movements. Unlike others’
times of rest, he had no choice in the matter of when his body’s recuperative
hours would take place, for this was determined solely by the suns blazing rays.
It was a condemnation by the sun that dictated his state and his abilities. It
was as if the moment the day’s light breached the horizon, he ceased to exist.
He was a spirit trapped inside of a body whose life force could only be detected
by one of his kind, as all energy and appearance of bodily function disappeared
as quietly as it reappeared with the sun’s descent beneath the opposite horizon.
A useless, motionless, secluded form, capable not even of self-defence but only
of thought… maddening thoughts of how this came to be. While in his
semi-comatose state he could, with much effort, maintain a frail connection to
his outside world yet take no action in it. Over the years, this ability, or
rather this gift of discernment had begun to fade making it difficult for him to
detect real danger until it was nearly upon him. There had been no hope that
this gift would ever strengthen, only weaken, until this night.
Over the next 11 to 12 hours, Nikos would use every last bit of strength
he had maintaining the connection to the beat that had captured him earlier in
the night. This sound alone would soothe him throughout his imprisonment during
this day.
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Children`s Fiction
Romance Fiction
