Act XIV: The Dance of the Seven Veils (18)
eighteen
Yubi stood between the two, his mind buzzing. Clutching only the ring, he staggered back, staring blankly at the remaining people around him. The war was over, and what had been fought over was now in his own hands. Former enemies had ceased their fighting and joined forces—the blood slaves, stripped of their insignia, were being relentlessly purged by Ambikia and Yesau, their fleeing lives being harvested like fallen leaves. Now, no god or demon could save them.
“A new member.” Anbikia stared at Yesau’s cold face. “I don’t welcome you.”
“I don’t need your welcome,” Yesau replied. “I will carry on the Lord’s will.”
“I don’t understand!” Yubi cried out in despair, “What’s going on…Aren’t we our mother’s children? Sister, you were pregnant with her own body, I saw you pregnant with my own eyes!”
The two people standing opposite him both wore the same strange smile and peered out with the same eerie gaze, as if showing pity for foolishness and mockery for naivety.
“I once told this lucky fellow a secret,” Ambikia reluctantly explained, “a most dangerous secret.”
“This secret, though it cannot shake the Lord’s faith, is not something everyone can accept.” Yesau nodded in agreement. “My Lord has done his best.”
“You’re not a woman, you’ll never know what I gave birth to. You had the chance to never know,” Ambicia said. “Mother, I’ve never liked calling Camilla that. But I really can’t think of a more suitable word.”
“That ring can indeed give birth to a new vampire, but not in the way you think,” Yesau said. “Every vampire is transformed from a blood slave, and only needs to drink the blood of their master—and this requires the ring’s help. Do you understand?”
That new, curse-like knowledge crashed painfully into Yubi's tender mind—Mother, was Camilla truly his mother? Did he come from her womb, or from her grace? He recalled the three distinct faces on the mural, the withered appearance of the stillborn infant, his mother's generous milk and vague commands. Mother and child, Yubi wondered, how exactly should the two be defined? Does one claim the mother from whose womb one emerges, whose blood one draws life from, and must one be bound by an emotional bond by whose nurturing and care, worshipping and revering her as one would a mother, heartbroken and devastated? He collapsed to the ground, head bowed, staring at the ruby ring in his hand—the first gift his mother had given him. Was this the right to live, life, love? Freedom? He suddenly realized his countless self-righteous oversights, sinking into boundless confusion.
"Why did you deceive me..." Yubi knelt on the ground, "Why did you deceive everyone?"
Anbikia and Yesau looked at each other, gazing at the land strewn with corpses.
"Because we were all once human, we know best the weaknesses of human nature," the vampires said in unison. "Driven by desire and the collapse of faith, they will stray from order and morality. If they learn that the source of power can be used for their own purposes, they will fight endlessly for it, becoming lost and turning the world into hell."
"Except for you. You received this power from the moment you were born."
"Now, you can no longer shirk your responsibilities; it's time to punish your selfishness."
“Give me the ring, and I will rule the world, placing everyone in their place, and building the most intricate and fortified fortresses and towers.” Ambikia extended his palm to him. “This is the truth of reality, the truth of humanity. Do not fear established values and cruel struggles; face reality and be honest with your desires. This is true love and freedom.”
“Give me the ring, and I will forever rebel, making all people equal and pure, leading to the most open and distant paradise and land of bliss.” Yesau also extended his palm to him, “This is the yearning for ideals, the mercy of the gods. Do not give up the possible hope and noble pursuits, but keep ideals forever, and trust in dedication. This is true love and freedom.”
Which side do you choose?
Yubi gazed at the corpses strewn across the ground, then at the demands of Ambikia and Yesau. The killing and destruction were presented in such a seemingly reasonable and considerate manner that he was actually wavering—if he insisted on not choosing and instead left with the ring, would that be an ambiguous escape, a despicable and shameless selfishness?
“Whether I choose one side or the other, you will kill Yakov,” Yubi said with shame. “Is he absolutely necessary to die? Or…”
The vampire suddenly noticed that Yakov was standing not far away, leading a horse. He finally remembered that most terrifying, complex, and alluring question:
Can he turn Yakov into a new vampire?
A privilege everyone desires, the highest honor, the greatest power. Fearless of death, transcending time, true freedom. In this way, Yakov will become someone completely equal to himself, someone who understands him perfectly. Whether their destination is heaven or hell, they will never be apart again. Such sweet temptation, such blissful happiness, is so close, so within reach!
All of this was contained in his hands—Yubi stared at the ring, examining the pure yet alluring ruby. His hands trembled involuntarily with excitement.
Finally, he turned around, his gaze settling on Yakov's eyes. The Blood Slave was staring at him, his fists clenched tightly in restraint.
“Yakov,” Yubi asked, “...do you want to become a vampire?”
He hoped that Yakov would reprimand him, be harsh with him, even if it was just a pathetic howl and base desires.
“No,” Yakov replied firmly. “I only want freedom, and I already have it.”
“A coward,” Ambikia arrogantly remarked.
“A selfish person,” Yesau said disdainfully.
Yubi had a sudden realization. He took Yakov's hand, stepped into his stirrups, and delivered his final judgment.
"You all think you are absolutely right, that you have found the right path and the truth. But in the end, you all sacrifice your loved ones for these noble yet empty reasons, bury your fragile nature, and fall into suffering. You do not understand the true meaning of respect, the true meaning of love, or the true meaning of freedom."
"If I give it to any one of you, you will continue to instigate wars and make all people the victims of your ambitions and ideals; if I fall into desire and put it on without regard for the truth, that will be my end, and I will disregard all my loved ones."
"I won't give it to anyone. I'm going to take it somewhere no one can find it, and end all of this."
Anbichia and Yesau looked at each other in disappointment and went their separate ways.
"Perhaps you really can live a free life."
Finally, the ambition for immortality and the endless sparks wearily made their prophecy in the night sky.
"Until the next war begins."
The two rode a horse all night across the dusty sands. "Where are we going, Yakov?" Yubi shouted, gripping the saddle. "Where do you want to go?"
“We’re going to Jaffa,” Yakov said, spurring the stirrups hard. “We’ll sell this horse and use the money for boat tickets to go out to sea.”
"Then what?"
"Then you decide."
“Then let’s go to the farthest place,” Yubi’s voice whistled in the wind, “to your hometown, shall we? To the north! Not the place where you were born. I mean, the place where people who look like you live and speak your mother tongue!”
"Okay. Let's go to Novgorod then."
The dangerous sun was rising from the east, turning the desert into a blazing gold. Yakov shielded his eyes from the blinding sunlight with his arm and pulled a worn, faded silk headscarf from his clothes, covering Yubi's head with it.
"You still keep it!" Yubi covered her face. "My God, you've worn holes in it!"
“Help me untie it.” Yakov tapped the iron ring around his neck with displeasure. “This thing has been tormenting me for three years.”
"Why haven't you solved it yet?" Yubi turned around in shock. "It's just a very simple little mechanism."
The vampire wrapped his arms around his neck from the saddle, his fingers reaching behind him. Yakov heard a crisp click—Yubi had effortlessly removed the object with his bare hands, casually concealing the red branding mark on the vampire's neck.
“There’s a small hole here.” The vampire laughed, pointing his sharp fingernails. “Just stick something thin and long into it, and you can unlock the mechanism.”
Yakov suddenly felt a mix of amusement and despair. He had never imagined that the lock could be opened so easily. He watched as Yubi casually tossed the old shackles into the desert, where they sank into the soft sand and were carried away by the horse's hooves. It was as if a dove, imprisoned in his heart for life, had taken flight with them, as if the devil's most vicious curse had been buried and discarded. An impulse urged him on, urging him to shout with joy, to sing with unbridled abandon, as if the long night had finally given way to dawn, as if he had finally found that most precious and simple thing he had longed for—
"You're free!" Yubi cheered, raising his arms in celebration. "Yakov, we're free!"
Yakov thought, yes. The road ahead may be difficult, and the future may be bleak, but they are free.
Jerusalem chapter complete.
Tbc.
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