by Sela Croft
“Mirela is all right, though,” Calina said. “She dealt with it as well as anyone could have. It might be that her very nature held them back. The dark ones are used to degradation and violence. They’ve have had little interaction with kindness and truth.”
I nodded then looked at Mirela. “Hopefully, you gave them something to think about.”
“But Alban will ally with the dark gods if he can,” Calina said. “He’s arrogant enough to believe they will support him.”
“Alban has no room in his heart for abstaining,” I said. “If he sees any way that might forward his cause, he will take it. Morality doesn’t enter into it. He will fight for death, to defeat immortality, because those who attain freedom of spirit cannot be possessed.”
“I agree,” Calina said. “The king will fall to his knees to worship the dark gods, even though he has no true loyalty. He worships death, so places no value on life. His morally abhorrent practices continue as they always have.”
“I just met with my men, and we are doing all we can to defeat Alban,” I said. “We possess skills that he does not, such as emitting the bolts of light from our palms. That took many years to perfect, and the king cannot match it.”
“But he has other abilities,” Calina said.
Mirela’s eyes widened. “Like what?”
“Go ahead. Tell her,” I said.
Calina looked at Mirela. “The king is Strigoi, an elite breed of immortal vampires. He has the ability to transform into an animal or other form. He can become invisible, then reappear at a location of his choosing. And he drains the vitality of victims via blood loss, absorbing their essence and knowledge.”
“I see what you mean,” Mirela said. “It would seem that he is more powerful than the rest.” She paused. “When he turned you into vampires, didn’t you drink his blood? Didn’t you inherit his powers?”
I shook my head. “No, it doesn’t work that way. Calina and I might have the potential, but the Strigoi abilities must be practiced. The king took care not to induct us into the elite.”
“Do you think he’s been afraid of you all along?” Mirela said.
“It was a power grab,” Calina said. “The king must maintain control. He won’t allow others to rival him; his ego is such that he retains all advantage for himself.”
“But he must be aware of weakness,” Mirela said. “Otherwise, why call upon the gods to help him?”
I huffed. “I doubt that he sees it that way. Alban probably feels that the gods owe it to him, that he is fighting on the side of death. If they are to reap the benefits, then they should do their part.”
“That is how he thinks,” Calina said. “I’ve seen how he functions, watched his behavior. As a young girl, I was appalled at the things he did, the abuses, and the misuse of power. In rare moments, he exhibited flashes of sanity. But I believe his heart hardened, and his mental state worsened, as the years passed.”
“Was the king always that way?” Mirela said. “Was he never good or kind?”
“I admit that he might have been,” I said. “But that would have been before my birth.”
Mirela appeared puzzled. “Was that significant?”
Calina looked at me, waiting for me to reply.
I hesitated. It was a subject I preferred not to discuss, but Mirela had a right to know. “Yes, my birth was significant. But not because he had a son.”
“Why then?”
“Because he lost a wife, a woman he railed at for daring to die,” I swallowed hard. “And I lost my mother.”
Mirela walked over and took my hand. “That must have been difficult for you, to not know your own mother.”
“The problem was that I knew too much of my father,” I said. “Alban was bent on corrupting me, and I had his blood in my veins. I didn’t resist soon enough or hard enough. I have part of him within me. I’m vulnerable to the old ways, as much as I fight for the new.”
“But you lead the Guardians.”
“Yes, and I would give my life for the cause,” I said. “But I realize that the other part of me, the evil that Alban instilled within me, could rise and take over. I must be cautious and alert to it. And yet my nature, my instinct, might overcome and cause me to ruin all I stand for.”
“I can’t believe that you’d do that.”
“I don’t wish to,” I said. “But nature has its ways. I must be alert to the possibility. That is the only way to keep the evil submerged.”
Mirela took a moment to think that over. “There is something else about your mother’s death, isn’t there?”
“You are perceptive, my love.” I clenched my fists, having difficulty breathing. “My mother died…because of me.”
“You must not see it that way,” Mirela said. “Surely, she must have been overwhelmed with joy at giving life. You would have meant everything to her. She was…your mother.”
Guilt gnawed at my belly and loss squeezed my heart. “It was her life in exchange for mine. I blame myself for her death—that won’t change.”
Mirela looked at me, sadness in her eyes.
“I am duty-bound to fulfill my calling,” I said. “My mother’s death must mean something. She didn’t die for nothing. She gave me life, a life which I must make the most of. It’s my motivation, the driving force behind my fight.”
Rage surged within me. “Alban’s hatred for humans extended to our mother. Calina and I are his offspring from a human woman. Yet I learned how he mistreated her, even before our births. The king’s disgust for humans goes beyond the race as a whole. It was even aimed at our mother.”
“Our mother Odeya was kind and gentle,” Calina said. “She loved us. I learned of her through servants who remembered her. I made them tell me all the stories they could recall. She was human, compassionate, and caring.”
“Yet Alban used her for his own purposes,” I said. “He used her to sire children, then failed to honor her when she died in childbirth.”
“It is a heartbreak that we didn’t have our mother to nurture us,” Calina said. “But even worse to know what she endured in her marriage to Alban.”
“I will win this war and defeat Alban,” I said. “He will not act on his hatred any longer. Our mother’s sacrifice was the greatest of all; she gave her life. I will honor and respect her—and see that she’s remembered.”
“Draven…”
I looked into my love’s eyes. “My mother’s memory won’t remain tarnished. I will carry the guilt with me into eternity; I have no choice. But I will face the evil that she endured and make things right. I will achieve victory over her oppressor.”
Chapter 16 – Calina
Draven’s admission had struck me to the core. I’d known of the guilt he suffered, but hearing about it brought forth the emotional pain anew. I watched in silence as he shared his innermost convictions with Mirela. There was nothing more to say—nothing anyone could say—that would relieve his burden.
“We must go,” Draven said, then took Mirela’s hand. “I’ll be leaving for the battlefront with my comrades.”
“Where?” I asked.
“Behind the line, near the rainforest. The Dark Fighters’ tactics have become more clandestine,” Draven said. “I must be at the scene firsthand to rein things back under control.”
“I’m going with you,” Mirela said, making me admire her conviction.
Draven balked. “I’m inclined to leave you with Calina. Yet, since you’ve drawn unwelcome attention from the gods, I’d rather keep a close eye on you.”
With that settled, Draven left the tower with Mirela. I was alone, a condition that I was getting rather used to. Clouds filled the sky, muting the brightness of the starlight. I gazed at the moon, forcing my thoughts away from Alban.
All I needed was for the king to make a connection with me. It was best to block him out and let Draven remember the past. I had the future, and when I was married, my life would be all I desired. I wished that I could see that far ahead and know w
hat was going to happen.
I needed comfort and seclusion to process all that had happened. When Draven left for the battlefield, I’d be in charge. But until then, I could relish my freedom. There was work to be done, but that would need to wait. I’d return to the castle soon enough and see to my duties.
I went directly to my home without dallying. The instant I stepped inside, I felt better. Nicolai’s scent lingered, so I closed my eyes to pretend he was there. I settled in a chair beside the fireplace.
It might have been hours before I moved. I’d lost track of time, enjoying the warmth of my environment, stealing time away—blocking out the war. I stirred but didn’t move immediately. Comfort enveloped me, but I knew that wouldn’t last.
My thoughts went to the bedroom, the last place I’d been with my fiancé before he’d left. My impulse was to bury myself in our bed and breathe in his male aroma. Or to smell his clothes, the closest thing I had to him.
But I was obsessed. I loved Nicolai beyond what I’d thought possible. He meant so much to me, and I was so alone when he was gone. I dug deep for strength. I could indulge for a brief interlude—think only of him—but when I returned to the castle, I’d be focused on duty.
My longing for Nicolai nagged at me, unrelenting. I was unable to pull my attention away or stop missing him. It was nearly too much, then I realized why. He was calling to me, trying to tell me something. Our bond allowed that connection.
Only I wasn’t sure what message I was receiving. Did he miss me, just as badly as I did him? But no, when he was on assignment, he was the ultimate professional. His heart might ache, but he wouldn’t allow the distraction. He couldn’t afford to make a mistake.
Nicolai hadn’t told me where he was going. It was all very secret when he left on a mission. The fewer who knew the details, the safer he was. All I cared about was his safety and his return to me, as swiftly as possible. I was selfish in that way and had difficulty with his career choice.
I had to be separated from him. I’d done it many times before, so why was this different? I reclined on the sofa, hugging a pillow, my eyes closed. Worry haunted me, so I tried to discern the source of it. Nicolai had come home after every foray into enemy territory.
But what if he didn’t?
A vision appeared, but it wasn’t a good one. It wasn’t a memory of intimate moments or cherished love. It was of the present and the imminent future. My heart beat faster. It was Nicolai. I saw him, just as if he was standing in the room.
Only he was at the edge of the rainforest. Fear riddled my belly. I didn’t want him anywhere near Silvain’s region, but I could see that he was. The dense forest in the distance was unmistakable. I didn’t recognize the few Guardians who were with him.
But then, I wasn’t aware of all who were employed in intelligence. It looked like a normal scene, as they progressed on horseback. Then the group ducked behind a ridge and dismounted. It appeared that they were going to continue the journey on foot.
That made sense, because soldiers on horseback would alert the enemy. If Nicolai’s aim was to gain intelligence from behind the line, he would have to move without being seen. I watched as events transpired, then realized that I’d been holding my breath.
A feeling of foreboding engulfed me, and I hoped the vision would continue. I had to know what was going to happen. It wasn’t often that I saw Nicolai on the job. As stealthy as cats in the night, he crept toward an enemy camp with two of his comrades.
Then, like a dark ghost, Nicolai entered the camp while the other two stayed back to cover him. Quietly, he stepped toward the enemies’ horses. Using his abilities, he held his hands toward the horses to silence them. There wasn’t even a whinny that could be heard.
Deftly, Nicolai reached into the saddlebag of a white horse and withdrew a document. It occurred to me that he must be intercepting an enemy communication. He slipped it into his pocket and returned to the hiding place behind the rocks.
I expelled a breath, thinking that it was over, that Nicolai would return to me. Seconds passed, minutes, then hours. All seemed well, until shadows appeared along a ridge. It was the Dark Fighters. Had they noticed the missing document and tracked Nicolai?
My heart pounded as I watched the fighters surround Nicolai and his group. But they didn’t kill him instantly. Instead, he was transported. Where were they taking him, and what was to become of him? A knot formed in the pit of my stomach.
I could not lose Nicolai. This could not be happening. I hadn’t seen the enemy search him, so maybe he was being taken to headquarters for interrogation. That would involve torture then death. There was no other way it could end.
I couldn’t watch such violence to one I loved. But I didn’t have to. The vision ended abruptly. I opened my eyes and sat up, panting for breath. Nicolai had taken too great a risk and had fallen into enemy hands.
His thoughts had been of me, of regret for a future we might not have. I had to do something. I flew from the room and returned to the castle. But Draven had already left. I was told that his mission was urgent, and he’d be away with Mirela for an unknown period.
How long had I been in reverie? How many hours or days had I been lost in the vision? I couldn’t say…but it didn’t matter. Nicolai had reached out to me. I would go to him without delay and rescue him.
It was up to me. Our blood share allowed me to track him. I could guide our soldiers to him, but I had to be with them. There was no choice, and I didn’t give it another thought. There wasn’t a second to spare. I had no idea what the enemy was doing to him.
I only hoped I could get there fast enough.
General Clay was in the command center, so I went there first. I told him my plan, relaying only the highlights. I didn’t have time for a discussion.
Clay frowned. “I disagree; you should not leave the protection of the city. Draven is away, so you are in charge.”
“I am placing you in charge,” I said. “I’m certain of your capabilities, and I’ll return as soon as I can. But I will not leave Nicolai in enemy hands.”
Much to my dismay, the general wasn’t easy to convince. He was loyal to Draven and was reluctant to go against his wishes. But I held my ground. The delay was frustrating yet couldn’t be avoided. I could hardly gallop off on a horse alone. I’d need backup if I hoped for a successful rescue.
At last, I won out. “I will arrange a party of soldiers to go with you,” Clay said. “I can have them mounted by the time your horse is ready.”
It didn’t take long to prepare, yet it seemed like an eternity. Every second could make a difference in whether Nicolai lived or died. But I didn’t breathe a sigh of relief as I galloped away from the castle city. My only focus was on crossing the distance and getting to Nicolai as fast as possible.
If the situation were reversed, I had no doubt that Nicolai would risk his life to rescue me. It was right that I do the same for him. I had no concern for my safety, only for his. If he didn’t make it back from the mission, my life wouldn’t be worth living.
I knew the way to the rainforest, but I didn’t know exactly where Nicolai was being held. If his captors had taken him to Silvain’s castle, it would next to impossible to rescue him.
The weather clouded up, then it began to rain. I cared little about getting wet. As long as I could get through, a storm was of no concern. The general had sent his best soldiers with me, aware that my task would be challenging. There were only four of them, as too large a group would make the trip slower and our chances of staying out of sight less.
As we crossed the plains outside the coastal region, I began to sense the rainforest. The storm was behind us, but the air had become warmer and more humid. I couldn’t get any connection to Nicolai but hoped to do so once I was closer. The supernatural aspect to the forest made it eerie. Not many wished to travel through it, and that suited Silvain just fine.
The dark leader had hidden his castle deep in the forest, a smart move. He was inaccessible, not tha
t I wanted to see him. I hoped to avoid dealing with him directly. If a few of his soldiers had Nicolai restrained, I could handle them.
The forest loomed ahead. I could see its darkness and feel its gloom. Worry stabbed at my gut. Nicolai had to be okay; he just had to be. It was good that the forest wasn’t any farther, or I might have run my horse into the ground. I could levitate and fly, but only short distances. I was dependent on my equine friend to carry me to my destination, as well as to bring Nicolai home.
I would need to manage the rescue forthwith. But it was possible that Draven would show up. General Clay had been adamant that he would get a message to him. I hadn’t had time to argue with him about that. My brother was dealing with his own issues behind the battle line. I wasn’t sure it was wise to distract him.
But the general would send a messenger. He’d stated that Draven would want to be informed, and that he could make his own decision about how to deal with matters. That was how we’d left it. I didn’t have the luxury of pondering it further. Even if Draven did arrive, I had no idea when.
I’d dig deep and use all the ability I could muster. The downside to being without Draven was that my powers were weaker. I was stronger with him than without him.
I’d have to do with what I had. Waiting, without even knowing if Draven would come, wasn’t an option. He’d been headed toward the battle line encroaching on Silvain’s region. But the area was enormous, and the border was thousands of miles long. My brother could be anywhere.
Although Draven preferred to leave me at the castle, I’d been in battle before. I’d been trained and could use weapons. I understood tactics, so needed to be smart about my approach. Well before I made it to the rainforest with my men, I took a route that offered cover.
It would be foolhardy to gallop toward the forest in full view. And the closer I was, the quieter I’d need to be. The trick would be in not alerting the enemy to our presence.
Carefully, I made my way toward the forest with my soldiers. It was quiet. There were no birds chirping or animals foraging. It seemed that even they didn’t wish to make themselves known. It occurred to me that something had scared them.
