Walk Away from the Sun

By James Aa. Keister

infiltrating the humans town in an effort to gain information on their experiments merra worked hard to prove hse wasnt a vampire. a rogue vampire named eric tried to dig tunnels to the human village in an attemt to get inside and take humans and expand his troops, experiments gone awry endangering everyone, humans migrating to safe territory, scientist who experiment on dna and combining humans with animals and insects send monsters out in the world inflicting death and destruction than invent a serum killing everything, merra finds her real fathers secret leads humans to safety while she awaits her own death

• Language: English
• Publisher: James Aa. Keister
• Release date: Mar 23, 2013
• ISBN: 9781301302864

James Aa. Keister

James Aa. Keister, was born and lives in Monroe, Michigan. An artist in both the arts and music. Letting this strong sense of talent flourish over into his writings. With an imaginative endorsement of realism that brings forth an ever flowing twist to his novels.

Book preview

Chapter One

This is a time when all that humanity can do is try and survive one more day. Disease and trite suffering is all that's left for them now. He said as he stood atop the sky scraper, peering down at a darkened city below.

Will it be the end of us as well? She asked. The worry in her eyes was something that had always intrigued him. Even though she had been turned hundreds of years ago...she still held on to her human emotional traits somehow.

Ever the humanitarian. He smiled over at her.

Father. You know I've never been able to control it.

Hmm! Yes. It has gotten you into trouble a few times. But that's not what has me alerted He said with narrowed eyes.

What then, father? She turned to him, then back down to the streets below as something caught her eye. She pointed down at what was moving through the shadows of the night. Them? She queried.

Yes. We've been tracking them for the last two hundred miles or so.

Who are they?"

"Maybe no one...but we can't be sure.

They have been moving slow and with a purpose. They only move at night, which is what has interested the keepers of the Vade Mecum."

I thought that we Vanish were the only ones who embraced the night? Merra asked her father. She was still young, only mere centuries old while her father...millenniums. Her beauty unmatched. And her fathers pet. He turned to her for a moment to take in that innocent beauty and smiled. We are...so I thought. But this. He pointed down at the group on the move. This is odd. Why do they? He put to thought. Then looked up as the skies broke open with a drizzling rain.

Rain. They'll surely head inside now. Merra stated.

No! Her father said back. They'll not stop. This is the perfect weather for their travels. It helps to cover their tracks and hold their scent to a minimal.

Where do you think they're headed? She asked.

That my dear child is what we want to know. And why.

Are they like us that we can ask them?

No. We have tried. They only shy away or hide. Besides, they're human. They have weapons that are detrimental to our kind. He said then turned to her. But you...you could.

Me! Merra expressed with surprised fright. Why me?

Because, my dear sweet daughter. For some unknown reason...you have been able to walk among them. In their daylight hours. The rest of us are unable to do that.

What are you asking, father?

Only that which is necessary to our kind. We need to know what purpose they carry. Why they move at night and why they only stop where they know there is no food or water for themselves. All of which peaks my curiosity. This is my territory and I like to know what is going on in my land. He stared over at her glowing violet eyes.

Father no. Merra pleaded.

Merra, please...you must. Once we know of their plans, then you can slip away. Merra did not like the idea but she knew that her father was right. If these humans had some reason...some purpose for why they took their chances to travel at night, when they could be killed and surged of the life giving blood they all carried...she needed to find out what and why.

Come child. He said then twisted into his flight form and flew off into the night skies. Rain or no rain, it mattered not to the Vanish. They felt no cold, no wetness, no emotions. And the winter's pulling that was in the air, felt like any other day...or night in their case. She too twisted into her flight form and then stepped off the stone ledge of the 102 story building. She let herself drop like a stone toward the ground, but then let her strong feathery wings spread wide. It was her style of flight. While others liked to take flight right from the jump, she craved the free fall. A trait she had always had. One her father blamed as a human trait she could never truly release. But to her...she liked it's ambiance. It gave her an advantage over all the others. Yet she kept it to herself in fear that her own kind would see her as a threat or weaker and try to kill her. So her and her father kept it all to themselves. But, it also came with a price. Knowing that she could walk among the humans...her father used her for that purpose. To spy. But she also knew that the information she brought back was of grave importance to the welfare and survival of the Vanish. And so the plot thickens. Because both the Vanish and the humans are on the brink of extinction. Both need one certain thing and both will do whatever is necessary to get it. And even though the Vanish have lived for centuries, some for millenniums, their time had run it's course and they along side the humans are now on their last leg of a journey that started in the time of the Egyptians. Now, so close to ending.

But Merra's father had found a way to help both the Vanish and the humans. But it would take the strength and will of his daughter to achieve. Which could and would very well put her in danger. But he had to try, had to do whatever it took to give his kind a fighting chance. So he flew across the star filled night sky with Merra to his side. They quickly darted down between two buildings and landed in an alley. Just blocks from the group of moving humans.

I can escape quickly from here. Alex told Merra. Which should prove to the humans that you are like them. Caught by a Vanish. He said. Kissed her forehead, then waited until he could smell the scent of human blood coming close. Just as the small band of humans came into view, the two began to fight among themselves . Neither trying to appear as the stronger one. Merra's father made it look as if he were about to bite into Merra's throat, then stopped as he looked up at the faces staring at him. The human leader stepped forward and pulled up a weapon crowned with some sort of light that he had turned on. It's ultra violet beam caused Merra's father to begin smoking. Alex leaped into the air, flying up out of sight. Merra lay as if she were helpless. But her ploy did not strike favor with the human leader.

We can't just leave her. One of the human girls said.

Yes...we can! The leader told her.

Wait! Merra shouted. Please take me with you.

Ah! No! He told her.

But I know my way through this city. I know where all the food and water spots are.

That's nice, but we don't need food or water. Not from here.

Why not? She asked, now on her feet and following behind them.

It's contaminated. Spoiled! He said over his shoulder.

Then let me guide you guys. No charge. Merra offered with intent. The human leader stopped in his tracks. Turned and told her, You say that you can guide us through the city. And you're what? Some sort of....tracker. Maybe a Vanish sympathizer. He half laughed.

No, I've just...lived her long enough to know my way around. She tried to convince him.

Then why are you way back there, if you're supposed to be leading the way? He asked with a stare. As she stepped past him, he stopped her by the arm. If you, for any reason, try to mislead us, in any way possible. You won't need to worry about the Vanish. I'll take great pleasure in killing you. Am I clear?

Yeah. Merra said with a nod of her head.

We still need to test her. One of the others said with a loud whisper.

That's right. She could be one of them.

Them! Merra protested.

It's nothing personal. We've been tricked before. The leader spoke.

Yeah so we have to test everyone. The girl said with a half smile.

How do you test us, humans? Merra put in.

First we give you the light test. Vanish can't stand ultra violet lighting, it burns them. Then we check for a heart beat. And lastly we check the blood. Most times, we don't need to do the last test. The leader explained.

Then test away! Merra held out her arms as beams of light splashed across her face and arms with no results. Then the young girl lay her ear on Merra's chest. She raised her head and nodded.

There's a beat. And she doesn't feel cold and clammy. The girl stated. Merra only grinned.

Hope you're satisfied. She said with a tilt of her head.

You may be human, but there's still that one little thing we need.

What? Merra asked.

Trust. The leader said. Prove yourself and you just might live.

Gee thanks! Thought maybe I'd win some prize or something. Merra stated as he walked past her and disappeared into a shadow.

Don't sweat it, he's always like that. He doesn't trust anyone. Not even us.

Nice to know.. Merra told the girl.

Yep. Come on. He'll grow on you. The girl told Merra.

Or kill me. Merra laughed and wandered off in giggling tones with the usual girl talk. Creeping through the night.

Sh! The leader shushed them. Then waved for everyone to stop and crouch low. Ahead of them stood six Vanish members. They were deep in conversation, but where they stood, it blocked the humans path. That's when Merra stepped up.

Come. Merra whispered. Then nodded. She had the group back up toward an old ruined building. Here. We can go down through an old tunnel. No one has used it for a long time. I'm not sure if it's safe, but it will take us past their troops. She said then waited for their response.

Show me. The leader said with a loud whisper. Merra turned and pushed open a cellar window and slid down inside. Helping the others as they came crawling in.

This way. She said as the last one made it in and the window got shut. They quickly crossed through a few rooms and down a small hallway. All the time, keeping an eye out for any lingering Vanish. But Merra knew that would not be a problem. She lead them further through to the next building and then down a set of stairs.

Wait. The leader stopped them. We don't know what's down there. And we made a vow not to travel through any buildings. Especially at night, when their out. He said. Merra stared over at him a moment. Okay, fine. If you want, we can go back up. Take our chances up there. It will probably take us a couple hours to find a way around them. And probably all the others that take up patrols every three blocks, like a grid. If you want, or...take a chance and go this way. Once we hit this tunnel, we can hike it all the way to the city's border. From there it will be easier to avoid them. All we will have to worry about is the rogue ones. And they're easy to spot.

How so? The leader asked.

Because they stink like death. And you can smell 'em way before you get close to 'em. She grinned. I've run into a few of them before. They're easy to kill too. It's like their metabolism has gone into some hyper sensitive mode of over drive which causes them to die quicker. Merra's grin widened. They need to feed every hour or they go crazy. Which is probably why they are crazy. They'll even feed on their own kind."

Ow! The female human expressed.

Merra nodded. This way. She said.

The leader huffed. Okay. Let's go. You lead. He nodded at her. I'm putting a lot of trust in someone I've just met. And I don't like it. So you'll stay ahead of me. If you're lying. He raised his weapon. You'll be the first to die.

I got this. Merra said. Knowing that her father, who is the leader over all the Vanish people, had made sure their path stayed clear from here on out. She could hear his thoughts and knew he could hear hers. Her father knew where they were the whole way. But could not make it so easy as to be unbelievable, so some drama had to be put in place to make a show of it. But Merra knew when those times would be coming, ahead of time. Giving her plenty of time to plan her next move. She needed to gain their trust enough to become a part of their inner circle. That's when she could try and gain info on what they were up to or doing. Moving with the speed of a cat on it's prowl, they made their way down the tunnel. They had made it to the other end and slipped out of the long tunnel into a furniture cluttered room. Merra pushed her way around the litter of dust covered furniture. She made her way zigzagging through the room to a door on the adjacent side. Then stopped so that everyone could catch up. She put a finger to her lips to let them know to be silent. Then cracked the door open.

The stench of death permeated the air, it caused the group to react with horrid faces. They all took a moment to wrap some strips of cloth over their noses and mouths. They filed out into the rancid smell. Again Merra placed a finger to her lips for silence. Then lead them onward. Rounding a corner. Then stopped. Ahead of them, hanging from the pipes that ran the length of the hallway, were six crazed Vamps. Simply called Feeders by the Vanish, Killer vamps by the humans. The demonic creatures hung from their clawed feet, inches from the floor. Now and then shaking with a withdrawal from blood. They would be awakening soon and ready to feed. Their insatiable lust for blood would be unprecedented. And they would let their craze for the coppery tasting substance turn them into killing vices. Slowly the group slipped past the feeders. Holding their weapons on the horrid looking things as they went. But then, one of them popped open it's blood red eyes.

Shoot! Merra said under her breath. Once the one was awakened, it stirred the others. But the human leader was on it. He flipped on his ultra violet flashlight and began to wave it across the beasts. Their burning flesh caused them to scream out. So the leader let a few shots ring out. Hitting the beasts in the head. One of his men put some lead into their cold hearts. The female human, pulled out a wooden stake and stuck one in it's chest. The flames quickly engulfed the thing and it turned to ashes. And as each of the other ones hit the ground, the girl stuck them as well. Clearing a path. After the feeders had been killed, Merra let out a held breath. Wow! You guys can really fight. She said.

Yeah. That's why we don't pick up strays. The leader said.

"Oh! Well, if I am not mistaken. This stray...just helped your lame