Tempting Destiny

by Sela Croft

  When she vanished, I looked at Mirela. If she’d noticed anything odd, it didn’t show. But I didn’t regret Selene leaving. I wasn’t sure about her, so it put my mind at ease to know she wasn’t hovering over Mirela while I was away.

  “That sorceress is…”

  “She’s intelligent and fun. I like her,” Calina said.

  It wasn’t the time to make any argument against the friendship. I had little to go on, anyway. It was my sister who was prone to premonitions, so I’d best leave the matter to her.

  Military strategy was foremost in my mind. I had scheduled a tactical meeting with my generals. I received an update on battles that raged throughout the kingdom. One thing was clear: it would be to our disadvantage to wait for an attack.

  It was better to fight on the enemies’ turf, as opposed to defending the palace. If at all possible, I intended to keep the war away from my home. I’d defeat Alban in his mountainous region before I’d allow him to batter the walls of my city.

  My army had grown in recent years, despite the casualties. With two forces to defeat, greater numbers were called for. Recruiting and training had been intense. I prayed it would pay off. Calina’s vision of the king’s black soldiers swarming my region lit a fire under my need to put an end to this war.

  After the tactical conference, I went to find my comrades. The generals would lead the troops, but my loyal friends would assist in strategic moves aimed at weakening our attackers. I found them in the barracks sparring. For vampires, that was fun and games.

  Spence and Jon went at it, while Quin looked on. Although Jon was tall and muscled, he was at a disadvantage with Spence, who was stocky. His low center of gravity made it difficult to throw him off balance. I interrupted the friendly tussle.

  “If you vampires are done flaunting your strength and skill, I need to have a word with you.” I waved them over to the closest table. “I hope you’re feeding well, along with your feats of skill. This war is about to escalate.”

  Quin sat across from me, his eyes glowing purple. “We’re ready. What have you to tell us?”

  Spence and Jon took a seat, looking all business.

  “Nicolai brought his team in and debriefed,” I said. “He’s like a ghost out there. I don’t know how he obtains some of the information he brings back.”

  “Let’s hear it,” Spence said, leaning on the table.

  “I’ll give you the good news first,” I said. “A couple of royal soldiers were captured and interrogated. Torture has a way of making even the sturdiest spill their guts.”

  “And the bad news?” Jon said.

  “Nicolai was there during the interrogation and heard it all,” I said. “Alban has spies throughout the kingdom. And I don’t mean in the mountains or the rainforest. Right here, in the coastal region. Outside our castle walls, it’s not safe. Traitors abound.”

  “Yes, those who fear that the king will win, support him—hoping for sanctuary when he gains control of our region,” Quin said. “Did Nicolai say more?”

  I nodded. “It’s rumored that there are spies within our walls.”

  For a moment, no one said anything. That was bad news indeed. If the palace city was infiltrated, then no place was truly safe. “Alban has honed the skill of allying citizens to his cause,” Quin said. “It’s insidious, like a disease spreading that you can’t see.”

  “True enough,” Spence said. “It’s difficult to know if a vampire is friend or foe.”

  “The betrayal pisses me off.” Jon stood and paced, fists clenched. “I don’t understand giving in to death’s army without a fight. Have they so little faith in our ability to protect them?”

  Jon shook his head, “It’s just—”

  A loud boom cracked through the air, followed by shouting and a piercing scream. I headed toward the action, as did my comrades. That boom was the sound of bolts of light piercing the air, a Guardian using the weapon against an enemy.

  But within our walls? Hadn’t we just learned that was possible? As if to prove it, an attack had broken out. But not beyond our fortifications. The disturbance was inside the castle gate. A vampire was facedown on the dirt, unmoving.

  As I raced toward the scene, the guard decapitated the traitor. Not even a vampire could survive that. “He was a spy!” the guard shouted.

  I looked down on the dead vampire, watching blood spill over the ground then seeping into the earth. It wasn’t the death I found disturbing, but the fact that it had occurred in my city.

  “I caught him stealing documents,” the guard said. “Look…in his back pocket.”

  I reached down to retrieve the papers. My blood heated at what I saw. The vampire had been in the employ of the royal army. There was no other explanation. He’d stolen documents that contained military secrets.

  If the vampire had possession of it, that meant he’d stolen it. Or it meant there was another traitor in our midst who’d passed the documents to him. “Get him out of here,” I said, then two other guards swept the body away.

  I motioned toward the guard who’d handled the situation. “I commend you for not letting him escape. Come with me. We need to talk. I need to know all you heard or witnessed.”

  The guard and my comrades followed me to a secure war room for further discussion. I would get to the bottom of it without delay.

  I couldn’t be fighting the war inside and outside the castle walls. I’d find all who were involved and make sure they met the same fate as their companion. It would put fear in the hearts of any who would dare to betray us.

  The hatred I had for death’s servants made my blood boil. I’d fought against them for centuries. But the stakes were even higher, as they’d entered my inner sanctum. The traitors had betrayed all that was descent and had violated my city. That was not to be tolerated, and I would put an end to it. Rage surged within me. I almost pitied the enemy their fate—but not quite.

  CHAPTER 36 – SELENE

  I left the castle city and teleported to my home, so I could check on things. The animals and other inhabitants were cheerfully relishing their lovely forest, oblivious to the battles fought beyond its perimeter.

  As I strolled along a dirt path, I admired the insects and rocks, as well as the stars and sky above. But my thoughts were elsewhere. I didn’t trust Draven any more than he trusted me. In the centuries he’d been fighting the war, he hadn’t won. What was to say that he would?

  Moments before, my encounter with the leader of the Guardians had been revelatory. I possessed the ability to divine. When I was near, or even from a distance, a person’s essence was revealed to me. I could sense conditions and feelings, directly or through magical barriers intended to hide the person.

  In Draven’s case, the rage he harbored simmered below the surface. Yet it wouldn’t take much for him to explode. He had reasons to hate, and to kill. But he might act rashly. He didn’t acknowledge the goodness he possessed, intent on denying it.

  After all, Draven had a human side, and had been born in that condition. Yet his father’s evil blood filled his veins, so might well control his decisions. His sister was of ancient blood as well, but didn’t let that form her self-image.

  Maybe the blood poisoned the male of the species, but the females had immunity. The fact was that Draven was death’s descendant, so viewed himself in that light. Those who considered their soul blackened and their inner self tainted often acted consistent with those beliefs.

  It was unknown whether Draven’s temper would rage, and in a moment of heated emotion, he might act badly. My destiny was woven into that of the kingdom. I’d yet to place my faith in the hands of the Guardians and their morally convicted leader.

  I was all for protecting immortality. Lobbying for death seemed shortsighted. Yet if I hoped to continue to exist in my magic forest unmolested, I’d need to be on the winning side. With the way Alban was amassing forces and training the monster vampires, he could very well achieve victory.

  If Alban regained control
, and sustained his monarchy, it would be in my interests to assist him. The rewards might be worth it. Yet the fact that it made sense to co-operate with the king didn’t mean that I would. I had a disdain for the blackness of his palace, his methods, and his heart.

  Silvain was another story. He was a strong leader, and the Dark Fighters were ruthless. He was by no means an underdog. His vampire skills served him well, and his most potent magic was his sharp mind. Clever strategy, backed with enough force to execute it, had much potential.

  The dark leader wasn’t as easy to read. His motives appeared to be more complex. It was true that he sought to rule the kingdom, after wiping out the Royal Army and the Guardians. When I’d been around him, I’d divined much. While his fight was viewed as a lust for power, there was more to it. Silvain’s motivation went deeper and was based on reasons he hadn’t shared with others.

  Then there was Mirela. She had special powers and purpose that played a role in the tumult of Lumea. She would affect the outcome, yet she didn’t seem aware of that. I understood better than Mirela why she was vital to the kingdom. In no way was Draven’s love a bystander.

  I returned to my cottage and considered the future. My crystal ball had been of use after all. But I hadn’t shared what I’d seen. Calina had revealed her vision, so there was no need to repeat what had already been said. All was in peril, including my treasured forest.

  The animals, plants, insects, and even the earth and stones had a symbiotic relationship. Yet the races inhabiting the kingdom couldn’t seem to manage the same. The resolution of the conflict would shape my future, along with everyone else’s. I was a sorceress, not a goddess. I had no delusion that my powers would enable me to escape fate.

  My retreat to the forest had been a welcome break from the realities of the kingdom. But concerns nagged at me. The war was escalating from all corners. If I hoped to come out on top, it was in my best interest to keep track of the progression.

  Visiting Alban’s mountain fortress wasn’t a pleasant prospect. Yet the king was hiding away, out of reach, preparing for the bloodiest battle yet. It behooved me to observe him and be ready. Pushing aside my reluctance, I teleported to the mountain region.

  But the high peak with the king’s palace was barred. A force field surrounded the royal grounds, so I stood at the base of the mountain, looking up. The shimmery black fortress gleamed under the dark sky, and it glowed—but not from the reflection of moonlight.

  The glow was Alban’s power emitting a force field. It was hot with magic, too much to contain. The strength of it burst forth, as if the very foundation of the palace might explode. I could have created a crossing point to aid my entry—yet I didn’t do so.

  The barrier to the palace meant that Alban was practicing his magic. The jewel-encrusted scepter he held was for more than looks. He had powers that no other vampire possessed, and with his scepter, he wielded unique talents.

  When the king was in such a mood, and intensely practicing his black magic, it wasn’t a good time to drop by. I had confidence in my ability, but I valued my life and preferred not to risk it needlessly.

  There would be another opportunity to look in on the king. It had been a while since I’d made contact with Silvain, so I teleported to the rainforest in pursuit of knowledge about the Dark Fighters. It was immediately clear that the leader wasn’t there. But he had been, and the place was in an uproar.

  I didn’t make the effort to announce my presence, but I picked up much of the conversation and gleaned the emotions of those at the castle. It was a simple matter to read the humans’ thoughts and look at their memories.

  Iris was rattled, trying to regain control of her staff, who’d remained terrified long after Silvain had left. The images of how the dark leader tortured his staff were enough explanation. The humans would have nightmares for a long time. Staying to the back of the group, Lily sobbed quietly. Her thoughts were of Mirela, as she feared for her.

  It seemed that Mirela’s escape from castle confinement, right after Draven’s comrades had freed him from prison, had lit a fire under Silvain’s loathing of the Guardians. It had sparked the dark leader’s tenacious interrogation of his staff.

  At first, no one had revealed knowledge of Mirela’s escape. The guards described that she’d spent much time on the estate grounds. He’d learned that Jason, his senior gardener, had planned to assist Mirela’s escape. It seemed the human had whispered his secret to a trusted friend, one of his staff.

  It was unknown how Jason or Mirela had obtained a passkey. Yet one had been taken from the safe, and the two had gone through the force field. It had been infuriating news. Silvain had flown into a blind rage and was out for blood. He had ridden off with a band of Dark Fighters—but not before burning down his gardens.

  I monitored the thoughts of the castle staff a bit longer, mesmerized by the images of burning trees, flowers, and hedges. Due to my fondness for nature, I found Silvain’s method of expressing his anger appalling.

  It was time for me to go. It seemed it wasn’t my day for social engagements. Yet I’d learned much anyway. Lumea was becoming ever more dangerous, prompting me to think of Mirela. I was on fate’s path, the same as she was.

  It was prudent to sway destiny’s course when I could. Mirela was at risk, whether she knew it or not. And she played a role in the outcome for all. Draven would do his best to keep her safe. But I was compelled to act on my own to protect her.

  I found Calina at her residence, and Mirela was still there. Their conversation drew me to the library, where they were talking. The room was warm and inviting. The residence was cozy, and less opulent than Draven’s castle.

  The marble floors were covered by thick carpets with delicate blue designs. The furniture was satin, adorned with white embroidery. Crystal chandeliers hung from the recessed ceiling, and tasteful paintings in golden frames decorated the walls.

  The pure white walls contrasted with polished wood tables. And massive bookshelves held rows and rows of books. A fireplace was on one wall, an unnecessary but attractive addition. The place was Calina’s home, and she’d arranged it to suit her.

  Nicolai shared it with her, but he was away much of the time. If his masculine sense of taste had contributed to the feel of the place, it was in the bedroom, as the rooms open to view were Calina’s creations.

  Calina smiled when I entered, but I sensed something amiss. “Selene…I didn’t know you were going to visit.”

  “You weren’t my first choice…no offense,” I said. “But my other prospects fizzled.”

  “Join us.” Calina motioned toward an available arm chair. “We were talking about…men.”

  That explained it. I’d perceived Calina’s emotions, sensing her feeling of loss. “What about men?”

  “Nicolai will leave soon. He’s with his team making plans.” Calina sighed. “It seems he’s rarely with me, and I don’t know how much my heart can take.”

  I understood her heartache, although I had no attachment of my own. Few could handle the tribulations of pairing with a sorceress, and I couldn’t claim I’d make it easy. I had even fewer prospective mates to choose from. There had been someone in the past, but that was a story for another day.

  “I can understand your distress,” I said, then settled into the overstuffed chair.

  “I’m unable to console her,” Mirela said. “I’ve just come through an ordeal of my own. Being separated from Draven for so long was unbearable. I’d hate to have to face it again.”

  I had no words of wisdom, or much to say that would soothe Calina’s sadness. Her fiancé was duty-bound to his intelligence work. It was a given that she was second in line for his attention—although he’d vow that she was first.

  Not being the chatty type, I launched into the reason for my visit. “I’ve come with a gift for Mirela.”

  Calina seemed pleased by that. “How kind of you.”

  Mirela waited, unsure whether the item would be desirable or not. The mor
e I got to know her, the more I respected her for her perceptiveness.

  “Without belaboring the fact that conditions in the kingdom are treacherous, let me say that I’d like to offer some protection.” Mirela seemed interested, so I continued, “That is the nature of my gift.”

  I walked over to the sofa where Mirela sat and dangled a necklace before her eyes. It was a titanium chain, to prevent breakage. The pendant was carved of ivory.

  With some awe, Mirela reached for it. She cupped the pendant in her hand, admiring the beauty.

  “That is a representation of the stallion Pegasus,” I said. “The winged master of the air stood for speed, strength, and inspiration.”

  “It’s lovely,” Mirela said. “I don’t know how to thank you.”

  She’d already forgotten its stated purpose, having been distracted by its beauty. “It’s magical and will protect you.”

  Mirela undid the clasp and put it on, then touched the pure white horse with her fingertips. “I’m honored.”

  “You must wear it at all times,” I said. “Do not remove it for any reason.”

  Calina stared at us. “That is a special stallion. His reputation was as a guide beyond the physical world to the realm where the spirit can soar without limit.”

  “I see you know your mythology,” I said. “The necklace has magical powers for thwarting evil. I designed it for your protection, Mirela.”

  “I have no doubt that I’ll need it,” Mirela said.

  “Then I’ll be off,” I said, before leaving. I’d done what I could. Mirela had additional magic in her arsenal now. With her own powers, it might be enough to save her at a crucial time. I’d long been admired for my ability to summon ghosts and spirits. The pendant around Mirela’s neck was imbued with the spirit of Pegasus. It was some of my best work.

  CHAPTER 37 – MIRELA