AtoZ Day 15: O is for Occult, Ohyn, Only Lovers Left Alive

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Occult

The occult is the study of things beyond reason, things beyond reality which is often described as science. Hence vampires are of the occult. There is plenty of lore surrounding vampires and so many myths and legends there is a lot to study.

When many of us hear the word, occult, however, we tend to think of rituals and pentagrams and such things. It is a word which brings to mind demon summoning and magical spells and blood sacrifice rather than your average vampire. Of course vampire possess one of the many things followers of the occult and many other religions are fascinated with: eternal life.

There are vampires out there created by occult rituals and magic rather than simple infection or damnation either to give the witch or wizard power or to create a slave. I suppose you could say these are level one occult vampires.

What do you think of when you think 'occult'?

Creature Feature:

Ohyn

I'm afraid I couldn't find much on this one, all my sources say is that this is a vampire from Poland and a child born with teeth and a caul at birth will become one when they die.

Movie Recommendation:

Title: Only Lover's Left Alive
Rating: 15
Summary: Adam and Eve have been in love for centuries, but their personalities are very different. Adam is a tortured soul of a musician and lover of science, often given to bouts of depression, where Eve sees the love of life in everything. This is their romance.
Why you should watch this: Tilda Swinton and Tom Hiddleston are simply amazing in this and the way the vampires are written is brilliant. These are literary fiction vampires as compared to genre fiction vampires and even though I don't normally go for literary fiction, I love this film to bits. When I saw it in Feb I wrote a full review here: Review: Only Lovers Left Alive.

What You Don't Know 

(#15 in The Diverse Life of Ianthe Jawara, Vampire)

by Natasha Duncan-Drake

Alex was standing next to the fireplace frowning at the empty grate and not saying anything. He had been that way for the past ten minutes after Ianthe had explained everything that had happened.

"We may be able to track this human down," Alex said eventually and turned to her.

"How?"

She had found it best to ask the obvious questions, sometimes Alex forgot she was not the perfect little vampire.

"Come with me," was all Alex said and then marched out of the room.

Ianthe followed, annoyed at her maker's attitude, but not exactly surprised. However, when she realised they were headed to Alex's study she felt the cold realisation of shock. It was the one place in the house that was completely off limits. What Alex did in there she had no idea.

As she followed Alex inside, she was even more shocked and she did her very best not to gape like a fish. It didn't look how she had expected at all. There was a bookcase covering one wall and a large desk in the middle towards the back, so far, so expected, but she really hadn't thought the bookcase would be full of what looked suspiciously like genre fiction and the desk be absolutely covered in mess. A state of the art computer stood proudly amongst the chaos with three screens. She caught a glimpse of one of the screens reflected in the window and she almost laughed; it had a Star Trek screen saver.

Never in her wildest dreams had she thought Alex would have lowered himself to popular culture. She was learning so much about him. At a guess the reason the study was completely off limits was it was where Alex actually let his guard down.

She sobered quickly, however, remembering why they were here.

"Give me the arrow," Alex said, clearing off a small side table.

It was as he moved a pile of books and several pieces of paper that she realised the table had a pentagram inscribed into its top. When Alex cleared his throat she stopped staring and did as she was asked. He placed the broken bolt into the centre of the design.

"I have not studied much occult lore," Alex said, motioning for her to join him, "but there is one ritual I have found useful in the past. Because this was used to draw your blood it has taken on some of your vampire power. It has also been in the possession of your assailant and will hold a reflection of him."

"But he's human," Ianthe pointed out.

"Humans leave psychic residue," Alex said, "it is just much weaker than our own. If we can set up a resonance within the power in the bolt it should cause a level of connection and when you sleep today you should dream of your attacker."

"That's actually possible?" she asked.

Alex simply nodded.

"What do I need to do?" was her next question.

She wanted desperately to take control of the situation.

"You do not yet have enough strength to do this yourself," Alex said, "but if you will allow it, I will help you. You will have to trust me."

Ianthe smiled just a little; trust wasn't something that came easily to either of them.

"In this I trust you," she said eventually. "What do I do?"

"Stand here," Alex replied and moved aside so she could do as he instructed. "This is a blood ritual."

"Aren't they all?"

"I will have to bite you."

That brought her up short; Alex hadn't bitten her since the very early days of her turning.

"And?" she asked even though the idea made her very uncomfortable.

"Use the tip of the bolt to cut your finger and allow your blood to drip into the grooves of the pentagram," Alex told her, "I will do the rest."

"Which will be?" Ianthe really wanted to know what would be going on.

"I will guide your energy to the bolt and set up the resonance as I said."

Alex sounded just a little impatient.

"How?"

"You will see," Alex snapped, "it is impossible to explain."

It wasn't much of a clue, but she knew it wasn't a lie either.

"Let's get on with it then," she decided and tilted her head to the side.

Alex stepped up behind her and his fingers lightly brushed the hair away from her neck. It was an intimate gesture and she had to prevent the shudder that it caused. Their one and only sexual encounter had been completely mutual, but she didn't like to remember it anymore. After all, Alex had intended to kill her.

When his lips touched her neck she did shiver.

"So sensitive," he said and she would have called him on it, only that was the moment he chose to bite.

The pain was completely irrelevant as her power rose up to meet his and joined as only maker and child could do. It was a coming together of spirit even as their minds stayed separate. Ianthe could feel Alex's presence as it saturated through her body and she hated herself for instantly feeling safer. Alex was an incredibly powerful vampire.

"Now," he instructed as he broke away.

Reaching out, she picked up the tip of the bolt and she could feel it humming in her hand. It was responding to their combined power, but it was nothing she could define. Without hesitation she stabbed it into her index finger and allowed her blood to seep out, dripping down onto the table top below. She didn't need to direct it; it was as if the blood travelled down an invisible tube and then spread far more quickly than was natural around the pentagram. With it travelled the sense of power.

It was a heady rush and Ianthe felt her knees go weak. Only Alex holding her firmly around the waist prevented her falling and she understood why she would not have been strong enough to do this herself. Instinctively she placed the bolt head back on the table as it started to all but move in her hands.

"Think of him," Alex said.

His voice vibrated in her ears, heavy with the power they were channelling. All she could do was obey and she conjured the mental image of the man who had attacked her. With everything she had she concentrated.

When it happened it was like a wave coming back at them. She felt it crest over them as Alex held her steady and something she could not explain settled in her bones. It made her legs feel even weaker.

Then, just as suddenly as it began, the feeling of power was gone. Like a bubble bursting it simply wasn't there anymore and she sagged against Alex.

"Well done," he said quietly and she didn't even have the strength to be shocked at the praise.

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A few of us discovered that we all had supernatural themes for the AtoZ so we got together and did a mini list. If you also have a supernatural theme (ghosts, monsters, witches, spells etc), please feel free to add yourself to the list.

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