ENLIL’S PAST-E

`You don't stop talking until I tell you so', as soon as Ace's Maserati left their view, both walked discreetly into the forests.

`Enki is my brother by blood. The chain you wore is made from my blood and sweat. He has one as well. It is only to be given to our life partner or children. In your case, Jones decided to pass it to you. Nammu saved my life and as a boon, I gave the chain to Jones. Technically, Enki thinks you are my wife.',

`And decides to hunt me because..'? Astrid was not satisfied with his answer.

`As far as I can remember, I've never passed the other half of my chain to anyone worthy. Though there is one that always comes into mind. Enki's chain has been passed to many lovers, sons, daughters, I think he has lost count himself. It allows him to control his people, keeping them on a tight leash. Mind you, only a pair can be made. So the more chains you make consumes more energy and also you'd look like an Edward Scissorshand albeit chain. That demon kills people as easily as he passes the chain'.

`How do you make the chain?',

`Well, I take up my design and pass it to the goldsmith, not your ordinary one, but the one on the Realms of Gods. Add a tear of mine and a few drops of my blood, voila, we have a chain linked to me and you', Enlil said.

`How do I fit in the picture?', Astrid shrugged.

Enlil stopped walking. `Do you understand the gravity of your importance? You are the only being I know who can control 2 elements of nature. A mortal at that. Your worth is infinite.'

Astrid's eyes grew large. She was the hunted one. `How many Enki's are out there?'

`He is the only asshole I know who would do anything to have you. He can tap into your energy and force you to work for him. Work means killing, murdering, torturing, you name it and he punishes. Fret not, you are stronger than me'. Enlil squeezed her hands. Astrid snorted at his revelation.

`But right now I am at the weakest and he is tapping into my mind to sow fear. A crumbled and weak me-', Enlil butted in.

`Is the easiest to manipulate and mould. You need to lay low and I will make a stronger enhancement for you. Look at my chain. It burned earlier protecting you from his mind intrusion. If he had managed to locate you, he'd be here in no time,' Enlil showed his chain and it had repaired itself. All gleaming in gold.

`Your friend, Ace. Is he a vampire?' Enlil had doubts about him. His energy or rather his aura was as strong as Astrid. Something is not right with Ace.

`He has canines and all. Why?',

`He is experiencing instability. The mutation which happened years ago was sealed by me and Enki. We prevented vampires from rolling back to their olden ways. But from the looks of it, Enki is trying to undo it'.

`Why is Ace unstable? Did anyone drug him?',

`No, no one can drug the vampires per se. Only Enki and I know the formulation to subdue their instinct to prey on humans and we have shared it with every country on the planet. It is an irreversible process. Many people tried to reverse formulate it, but it always fails. Over time, we have lost contacts or blood samples of the first-generation vampires, the pure-blooded if you may call it.' He explained at length.

`What if some hideout or you missed out?', Astrid wondered how the world look like centuries ago, with vampires and humans fighting for survival. She gulped at the possibility. Lucky me.

`Fat chance of it happening, the way we spread the potion continually with our powers, leaving no room for error. My students helped as well. You must understand all this happened when Enki was still the good guy',

`So when did he turn bitch?', Enlil laughed at her choice of words.

`Sometime after world peace. He fell in love with a girl, his student. But the girl died of a freak accident, she did not control her power properly and it struck her. That was the only time I saw tears in his eyes, he was an empty shell after that. Went missing for 300 years.'

`So he comes back for revenge. You haven't told me his element yet'.

`He is known as God of Water, knowledge and mischief. I don't think it is revenge. I don't know what he is up to. All I can think of is he wants to disrupt the current peace. Rogue vampires who prey on humans is akin to a world war'. Enlil could not think of a better reason behind Enki's rash attack, having lost contact with him for a long period of time.

`Maybe he made a new poison or potion to reverse the spell or something?',

`Maybe yes or maybe no. Enki is associated with Nergal, God of Death. He tempted Enki to side him, showing him an entirely new world. Enki ended up taking over his throne, making a puppet of Nergal.'

`Is he using the God of Death to eliminate vampires?'

`Honestly, I don't know. But Ace is unique. When I saw him today, his energy collided with mine. I've never come across that many vampires who could possess an element', Enlil was lost in thought.

`You mean he is like us? 'Astrid was happy at the prospect of Ace holding an element to him.

`Currently, there are 2 options. Either he is holding an element, or he is reverting to his old savage ways', Enlil concluded.

`How can we conclude?', Astrid kicked a pebble only to watch it stop after 2 jumps.

`We don't. Only time will tell. We just pray he is the former not the latter', Enlil looked at her seriously with a sad expression. And she knew what he meant. Ace would be injected with the serum to turn him back to normal, but if that fails then he will be killed.

Just then Ace called, and she answered him speaking happily to him over the phone. She promptly texted him once she reached home. Grandpa Jones was already waiting at the front door with a scowl on his face.

Enlil had a brief meeting with Grandpa Jones and filled all the details of Enki and Astrid's dream. Grandpa Jones was not in the best of mood. He grew agitated and grumpy, exchanging words heatedly with Enlil.

Astrid retired to her room. Enlil knocked on her door seeking permission which she granted albeit tiredly.

`Astrid, will it be okay if you quit your job at McPhearsons?' Enlil dived directly to the point. Pop appeared beside him fidgeting with his fingers.

`And why both of you think I must quit my part-time job? It helps us financially right?' she was puzzled at their request.

`We think, you need to start training, build up your body as well as your element', pop walked to her bed and sat beside her.

`But the money helps us in some ways pop', she explained.

`Leave the financial part to me, Astrid', Enlil spoke with confidence.

`And how exactly do you plan to finance us?', she cocked an eyebrow at him and crossed her arms around her chest.

`What made you think someone as old as me having no stash of money. I have more than enough to last an entire generation of Astrid and Ace', he blurted out, embarrassing her.

`How dare you!', she took a pillow and threw it at his face, but he caught it easily.

`You like him, the Wagner sibling?', Grandpa Jones wanted to confirm with her.

`I think so. I like him.' she dared not to look into pop's face, too shy to discuss her love life not to mention her mind keep reverting to her times asleep in his arms and kissing him. She blushed.

`Well, I hope the best for you. I don't want history to repeat itself again.' Grandpa Jones seemed dejected and he hugged Astrid before patting her head and leaving the room with his shoulder slumped.

Astrid never felt a profound sense of sadness but at that moment it pulled the strings of her heart, the pit of her stomach dropped, and she leapt out of her bed to hug her pop.

`I would never disappoint you pop. Not now, not tomorrow, not ever. Trust me. I love you too much to lose you. I need your consent. Your permission. If you may', her voice choked with emotions.

`That I know my child. I don't want you to be heartbroken. If he is what your heart is content with, then you have my approval', Grandpa Jones kissed her forehead and tucked her to bed.