by Sela Croft
Calina had spoken of Nicolai, told me how they’d met, and about their desire to have children. It touched my heart and motivated me further. She was capable of managing the palace city in Draven’s absence, and survived on her own when her fiancé was gone on business.
She didn’t need looking after, protecting, or coddling. I didn’t either; I just had to prove it. So far, I’d run into obstacles on the path to sharing life with Draven. There would be no life at all if the war didn’t end well. I’d managed to reunite with my love, but at great expense.
I’d nearly died in the rainforest, and would have if Draven hadn’t arrived in time. But things were different now. My vampire skills—combined with talents I’d already possessed—had better equipped me to deal with dangers.
I looked at Calina leaning against the arm of a chair. “What do you think? Was there a reason Selene gave me this necklace? Can she see what we cannot?”
“She’s talented and knowledgeable,” Calina said. “I suppose when you’ve lived as long as she has, you learn things. Over the centuries in Lumea, she has seen much. I imagine it gives one a broader perspective.”
I considered that for a moment. “Selene has seen many changes, then. She wouldn’t be as easily caught up in the moment as I might be. It was wise of her to foresee my vulnerability.”
“I find her interesting. She isn’t simple to understand. It’s as though she draws on her experience in making decisions before taking action. I like that about her…but it also makes her unpredictable.”
“Would Selene tell us if she had a premonition about what was coming?”
Calina rolled her shoulder. “Probably not. If she has insight into the future, she seems to keep it to herself.”
I lifted the white pendant to gaze at the stallion. “She must care…or she wouldn’t have given me this gift.”
“She can’t ignore that we are on destiny’s path together.” Calina smiled. “And I’m glad that she offered protection.”
My bond with Draven had grown stronger. Since I’d drunk his blood, my link with him enabled me to often perceive what he felt. I fingered the pendant at my neck, unsettled. It felt like something had happened to Draven, and I sensed that he was disturbed.
“I have to go,” I said.
“Certainly. I’ll have someone escort you.” Calina stood. “I’m expecting Nicolai to return shortly, and I don’t want to miss him. Otherwise, I’d walk you back to the castle.”
“I’m sure you want to spend every second with him until he has to leave on the mission.” I took a step toward the door.
“Just a second,” Calina said. “I’ll call a servant. My brother would prefer that you are accompanied.” She smiled. “I know him well.” A male servant in his thirties entered the room. “This is Thomas. I’ve employed him for a few minor renovations. He will see you back to the castle.”
Thomas nodded. He appeared sturdy enough to defend me. He was average height and solidly built. His dark brown eyes didn’t show any emotion. But then, he was a servant, so that wasn’t unusual. “I’ll be happy to escort you, ma’am.”
“You may call me Mirela,” I said. “The ma’am doesn’t really suit me.”
Calina laughed. “All right, I’ll see you in a bit. I tend to hang around the castle more when Nicolai is away.”
As I walked down the hall, Thomas stayed a step behind me. My thoughts were with Draven, and I was anxious to get back. Once outside, I went down the garden path then out to the bustle of the city. It would have been a simple matter to levitate and travel to the castle. But Calina knew I enjoyed the sights and the flowers in the gardens along the way.
But I wasn’t relaxed. There would be another time to linger.
Then Thomas pointed toward a blooming rosebush. It was growing along the side of a building. The gorgeous white flowers caught my eye, and at his prompting, I went over to smell the blooms. The flowers grew in an alley, blocked from the starlight—an example that beauty could be found in the most unlikely places.
A sharp object pricked my neck, incapacitating me. Terror stabbed my heart, as I didn’t know what had happened. I would have fallen to the ground if Thomas hadn’t caught me in his arms. Only he didn’t carry me back to the street or tell me what had struck me.
Desperate to move and be free, I sought to read his thoughts. Thomas was human, and when I focused, his dastardly deed became clear. He was carting me off to an unwelcome fate. If only I’d taken care to assess him more carefully.
I gleaned from his mind that he’d pricked me with a poison-tipped knife. It was a type of poison capable of incapacitating a vampire until more drastic measures could be taken. I panicked, wondering if he intended to kill me. If only I could move, I’d defeat him easily.
My mind worked perfectly, but my body was unresponsive. I had no idea how long the effects of the poison would last. This was bad news indeed. Thomas intended to deliver me to his accomplices, and to what end I wasn’t sure.
It was possible that Thomas didn’t know. But he was in the enemy’s pay. I’d assumed the city was safe, that no attacker could reach beyond its fortifications. That had been a grave error in judgment.
My situation grew worse. Thomas took me to a storage shed and laid me on a wooden wagon. Then he covered me with a large burlap bag. I could breathe through the material but couldn’t see. I couldn’t shout for help, as my vocal cords were immobilized, along with the rest of my body.
The wagon began to move, and Thomas thought about his task. He had supplies in the wagon and could exit the palace gates to make a delivery. The guards wouldn’t know that he had a vampire beneath the cargo. Leaving the city wouldn’t be suspicious, as he’d done so before. He was a carpenter, and it was routine to pick up supplies or make deliveries.
The guards ushered him through with barely a word. I went unnoticed. The wagon rolled along the path, and I reached deep to think of a method of escape. My vampire strength and speed were useless. Surely, Draven would perceive my distraught state and come for me.
But when he got there, it might be too late. I had to fend for myself. Thomas made no effort to hide his thoughts, not knowing that I could hear them all. It was crucial that I figure out where he was taking me and why.
Chapter 4 – Mirela
I bounced in the wagon as it rolled over hills, along a path to an unknown location. Thomas gloated about my capture. It seemed that I was quite a prize. He was headed for a meeting, where he would make his delivery.
If only his co-conspirators had told him more. But as it was, Thomas was merely an errand boy. He realized that his cargo was of value, and he supported the aims of those he dealt with. He was human, and as such, a part of the oppressed group in the kingdom.
Humans were mistreated, used as servants, and forced into roles as blood slaves. Many and various thoughts raced through my captor’s mind. I didn’t disagree about the plight of the human population, but this wasn’t the way to right the wrongs.
I failed to see how kidnapping made the humans any better than the vampires. But I doubted the majority of the human population would resort to such tactics—or so I hoped. Thomas was fighting for the freedom of his race, so didn’t conceive of any wrongdoing.
That was of no assistance at all. And I could hardly make a plea to him if I couldn’t speak. We went quite a distance before the wagon slowed. I heard voices, so we must have reached the place where he was supposed meet his companions. My pulse raced.
Intently, I focused on Thomas, reading every thought in my struggle to find a solution. The voices I’d heard were deep, so I assumed they were male. There would likely be no feminine side to this situation, no one to empathize with me.
The wagon stopped then feet shuffled toward the back. In a gravelly voice, a man said, “You’re sure it’s Mirela?” Then he pulled back the burlap covering, and I stared into grotesquely large eyes that seemed to bulge from his head. The man was a vampire.
His red eyes glowed, and his skin wa
s pale. But he was unlike any vampire I’d seen before. He had long, dark, stringy hair, and a large nose. His features were out of proportion, making him repulsive. Then I remembered Draven talking about the vampire hunters that he’d encountered, on the way home after his prison escape.
That was how he described the hunters. My predicament was bleak, as hunters wished to kill all vampires. I’d learned that they were part human, so allied with that faction, and turned away from their vampire heritage. My life was worth little in their hands.
“There is no question. I escorted her from Calina’s home. She introduced herself to me,” Thomas said. “Although it wasn’t necessary, since I already knew who she was.”
Another face loomed over me, and I cringed at the sight of an unkempt vampire with metallic eyes. “Ah, she’s a beauty. Maybe I’ll keep her for myself.”
My stomach churned at the thought of the creepy hunter touching me. I was a woman alone, vulnerable, and without defenses. It struck fear in my heart to realize that I was at their mercy—if they had any in their hearts.
Thomas laughed. “Well, I brought her to you…just like we agreed. The sooner we take down the Guardians, the better.”
“That’s one group of vampires I’m anxious to see wiped out,” the hunter with the red eyes said.
I glanced at the licentious one and noticed that he cast no shadow under the moonlight, due to his vampire nature. He looked at me, making my skin crawl. I envisioned a fate worse than death in his slimy grasp. It seemed that whenever I was separated from Draven, some horrible trauma befell me.
The message was clear that I should be with him. Yet I feared being ripped apart. I wanted to speak, to plead with my captors to let me go. But my muscles refused to budge. I prayed the poison would wear off soon.
Anger at the poor treatment surged within me. I’d been torn from the protection of the castle city and was about to be violated. The instant I could move, I’d get free. I was strong, fast, and could escape. I had no desire to fight, since there were three hunters plus Thomas.
I was enraged but not foolhardy.
The vampires talked among themselves, taking no precautions so I wouldn’t hear. It appeared that they were so confident that it didn’t occur to them that I might get away. They’d regret this betrayal.
The red-eyed vampire seemed to know the most. “Mirela belongs to Draven. Her name has spread across the kingdom. She is priceless, and he will come for her. All we have to do is keep her secured, then lure him in. Without their royal-blooded leader, the Guardians will be weakened. We’ll wipe out the troops he brings to rescue her. Then we’ll go after the rest.”
“It’s a shame not to keep her,” the slimy one said. “I agree about killing all the vampires, but I’d prefer to save this lovely maiden for last.”
The third vampire hadn’t spoken yet, but he looked on with interest.
“Why is Mirela so special?” Thomas said.
“That’s not the point,” the third vampire said. “What matters is that she plays an important role in Draven’s life. And he will come after her. The bloodsucker will walk right into our camp, as he’ll have no choice.”
It seemed that they planned to keep me somewhere until I was rescued. I’d been in captivity once and despised the idea of being trapped. And I resented being used as bait. Killing me didn’t appear to be their intent. Yet I didn’t trust the lot of them.
The vampire hunters were murderers, intent on making the race extinct. Thomas was no better, since he was on their side. My aim was to escape before they could execute their plans. I wiggled my fingers, as the poison was beginning to wear off.
Arrogant bastards that they were, they would likely misjudge me. I appeared slender and feminine. In their demented minds, they might not know that I could fight. I’d try to work that to my advantage. The element of surprise might be all I could count on.
The red-eyed hunter scooped me into his arms, and I assumed he intended to move me to another wagon for transport. I was careful not to move, lest I give away that my mobility was returning. The other two vampires had already walked away. And Thomas had resumed the seat in his wagon, prepared to return to the castle city.
For a breath, I had a chance. There was no way to tell how much my muscles had recovered. The first test would be when I made my move. It was better to try without delay. The closer I was to the other vampires, the more the odds were in their favor.
The red-eyed vampire was strong. He held me against his steel chest and his meaty arms were underneath me. But he didn’t hold me tight, since I was immobilized—or so he assumed. I shifted out of his arms and slipped to the ground.
I could move my hands, but my legs were stiff as boards. I realized with horror that I wasn’t fully recovered. My head hit the dirt, and my necklace slid into the dust. The ivory pendant skittered over a small rock, propelling it toward me. The wings of the stallion brushed my lips.
Before the vampire could reach down and scoop me up, my pendant—a replica of Pegasus—morphed into the real thing. Magically, the white horse came to life. I was on his back, gripping his mane.
In the blink of an eye, the winged horse was in the air. I caught the stunned expressions of my former captors. They thought that I was special, and now I believed it. The most powerful sorceress in the realm had bestowed this protection upon me.
If only she’d given me instructions on how to activate it. But I knew now. All I had to do was brush my lips against the pure white wings of the stallion to turn the pendant into a flying horse—one that could carry me to safety.
I leaned forward, hugging the warm neck of Pegasus. He was flying me home, and I sighed with relief. Evil could pursue me, haunt me, and abuse me in many ways. But it was unlikely that any could take to the sky and follow when I was riding my white savior.
My morale wasn’t fully restored. Relief washed over me, followed by trepidation. A human had betrayed us. The alarming part was that he’d been within the city walls. My sense that Draven was in upheaval intensified. Whatever had disturbed him would be magnified when he learned that I’d been kidnapped.
I had to return quickly to warn Draven. Yet my gut twisted; I feared that something more awful might have already happened. Traitors were within the city walls. I only hoped that I made it in time.
Chapter 5 – Draven
Behind the locked door of the war room, I debriefed the guard who had discovered the traitor. My comrades sat at the table with us, interjecting with questions during the interview. It was no secret that Alban’s spies were stationed throughout the kingdom, feeding information back to the king.
What was the most alarming was that my palace city had been infiltrated and military secrets had nearly been stolen. I looked at Quin. “The question is whether this is the first time,” I said. “That traitor who bled out on the dirt won’t be delivering any information. But how many more are there?”
The guard squared his shoulders. “That’s the first one I knew of. My team keeps close watch. Don’t doubt that.”
Jon threw up his hands. “We don’t know for sure. War strategy is only deadly if the enemy doesn’t know you’re coming.”
“Exactly,” Spence said. “If the king is privy to our plan, it will be our undoing.”
The guard stiffened. “It won’t be due to lack of security. I can double the staff and tighten things up. I won’t slack on my duty.”
“What I need to know is where that vampire came from?” I said. “Did you check? Does he have inside connections?”
The guard stood, his look hard. “I’ll initiate an investigation. If there are any other infiltrators, I’ll find them. Not one will live past tomorrow if I get my hands on them.”
Draven held up his hand. “Conduct the investigation swiftly. Delay could be costly. But if you find any other spies, proceed with detention before execution. I command that any spy be interrogated, since it would be a fruitful source of information.”
“I’m up to the task
of torturing any spy you deliver to me,” Jon said. “I’ll squeeze every drop of information out of him.”
“If you get any leads, connect with Jon,” I said to the guard. “He will take it from there.”
The guard assured us that he would proceed accordingly. When he left, I faced my comrades. “I’ve given orders to my generals. Preparations are underway. It won’t be long before we’re on the attack.”
“That can’t come too soon,” Quin said.
After the conference, my comrades and I headed for the castle, intent on feeding in the basement below. On the way, I looked for Mirela, wondering if she’d returned from Calina’s. The servants hadn’t seen her, so I sent a messenger to find out.
My staff would put their life in peril to interrupt feeding. Starving vampires were left alone when in a frenzy for blood. But when I resurfaced, a message waited for me. Mirela had left with Thomas a long while before. But she still hadn’t shown up at the palace. My inquiry drew Calina, who entered on the heels of the messenger.
“I’m very concerned,” Calina said. “Thomas hasn’t returned, and it seems that Mirela didn’t make it home.”
“That’s bad,” I said. “I must find her immediately.”
“I sent a servant, who had the gate checked,” Calina said. “The guard on duty remembers Thomas driving his wagon through. But he didn’t see Mirela.”
Quin stepped up. “It adds up to only one thing: Mirela must have been taken.”
“I’ll need your tracking skills,” I said. “I’m bonded with her, but since she turned vampire, I’m unable to watch her at a distance like before.”
Calina stayed at the palace in case Mirela returned. I raced to the stables, then mounted my horse. I would have flown straight to her if I’d know which direction to go. As it was, a slower method of travel was required, and Quin would lead.
For the sake of speed, I took only my three comrades. There was no opportunity to recruit others, and a larger troop would slow us down. The initial part of the trip was the easiest. There were numerous wagon wheel tracks, and it didn’t take long for Quin to determine which were from the wagon Thomas had driven.
