Bleed with Style. A vampire eloim story. part 11.

Reaching the priest-hole Eloim waited while his mother and Polly went through. The air was full of dust, and the roof was beginning to collapse as the vortex that surrounded Alexia began to rip apart the crypt, causing the vaulted ceiling to collapse. Climbing into the tunnel, he quickly followed the others as finally Alexia’s screams were cut off and the vortex disappeared.
Eloim was the last to climb out of the man-hole and into the dark alleyway. The air here was full of dust, and sirens could be heard down on the main road as the sound of many humans carried to them. The air was lit by flashing blue lights, making shadows in the pre-dawn light dance.
“Well, Eloim, you really outdid yourself this time, but I can’t see you ever topping this one,” Polly said over her shoulder as she looked to the main road.
“What am I getting blamed for this time?” Eloim began as he walked to stand next to Polly, then he stopped dead.
“Where’s the cathedral gone?” he asked.
“We need to get back to the citadel children. Dad will be getting worried about the two of you,” their mother said, coming to stand behind them.
“I’m not taking the blame for that,” Eloim continued.
“I didn’t tell you to destroy the ring. If you paid attention in your lessons you would have known what happens,” Polly put in.
“Enough, we can talk later,” their mother said. “Come on, we’re going home.”
“I killed the demon though, that’s good,” Eloim said sullenly, taking a last look at the collapsed cathedral.
“I’m afraid you didn’t kill her, Eloim,” his mother began. “You sent her back to her home dimension. She will now begin to search for a way back to take revenge on you.”
“What?” Eloim stopped dead.
“Wow Eloim, not yet twenty-one and you made an enemy of a demon queen and the Vatican all in one night. Way to go, bro,” said Polly with a grin, then she caught the look her mother was giving her.
“Leave your brother alone, Polly.”

Eloim sat on his coffin, absently polishing a red boot. It had been two nights since the events at the cathedral. Turning the boot around, he sighed and threw it to the floor.
“Is that any way to treat expensive footwear?” his dad asked from the doorway. Eloim looked up as his dad walked in.
“Now what are you wearing? I didn’t think you even owned a pair of jogging bottoms?”
“I borrowed them. They’re comfortable,” replied Eloim.
“Who are you and what have you done with my son?” he said as he sat down next to Eloim, who gave a half-hearted smile.
His father shrugged. “I’m not very good at this, am I? Usually I just hand out my credit card and tell the kids to go shopping.” Eloim didn’t react again so his father pressed on. “Your mum sent me. She’s worried about you. Now who are you most scared of facing?”
“Alexia, she beat Polly so easily, what chance do I stand?” Eloim mumbled.
His dad looked confused for a second. “Right, you mean about the other night, I was meaning between me and your mum having this little chat with you.”
Eloim finally smiled. “I’m serious, Dad. How do I stand against a demon?”
“You pay attention to your lessons and just remember that Alexia was tied to that ring for over a thousand years. She has a realm to reclaim and then if she manages that, you need someone with enough knowledge and who is stupid enough to invite her into this world. Summoning demon lords is powerful magic, and most people don’t get much past imps before they become demon snacks. Vampires never summon other creatures. It’s a golden rule of an apex hunter that you never summon something that can eat you.”
Eloim considered his dad’s words. “What about the Vatican then? They’re already here, and can’t be happy that I destroyed their cathedral.”
His dad grinned. “As we speak a group of cardinals are meeting with members of the High Council to broker a peace deal. The destruction of their cathedral and loss of their most powerful weapon has made their crusade less appealing. The High Council in Rome wanted to hold a grand ball in your honour but I’d better send them a message that you are unable to attend.”
Eloim jumped up. “What? I need a new outfit, wait, a string of new outfits. I’ve got nothing fitting for Rome.”
“So you want to go then?” his dad asked. “Well, your Mother and Polly leave for Paris in a couple of days, if you want to go with them. I believe there is a good range of shops there. Your mother loves to shop and knows most of them. From there you can go on to Rome.”
“Paris! I need to start packing.” Eloim looked down at his father and put out his hand. “You said you just hand over your credit card. I need clothes for Paris.”
Polly stood outside the door listening and grinned at her brother’s excitement. Her brother was back and they were headed for Paris. How much trouble could he cause in that great city? Life had got much more interesting with him around.

The End.
Eloims adventures continue in The missing sacrifice.