A Moonlit Night - The Complete Saga

by Adrianna White

  Amanda looked upon the valley, from the place that had once given her so much joy. A tear streamed down her eye as she watched the helpless people below cry out in agony, their voices screaming out to her for help. She wanted to assist them, to hold back the darkness that was ravaging their land; but, her people would not allow that, maintaining hope that righteousness would prevail.

  “I can see them. I can see the people dying,” said Amanda, pointing to a large brushfire down in the vale. She could see several tribesmen being slaughtered by a marauding troll. “This is our fault, Lars… the people need our help!”

  “Our help is the reason this is happening,” replied Lars, his steady hand giving her little comfort in these dreary times. “We have to believe that balance will be restored. I know you feel strongly, my love. My heart goes out to them as well, but under what circumstances is genocide justified?”

  Of course Lars was right, but it still didn’t make the sight of watching helpless people murdered by beings far superior to them, any easier to bear. Just like the tribesmen down below, she was powerless to stop the evil from casting its shroud across the valley, and then to the rest of the world.

  In time, their creations rebelled; fearing that the summoners would one day take away the power that was given to them. All of the paranormal races joined together, in defiance of their makers. The summoners were culled by their own creations, as helpless as the humans that they once turned their back on. Wherever the summoners turned, the monsters followed close behind; they were an ageless race, killed by the very life that they had created.

  “Faster, they’re coming closer!” shouted Lars, following Amanda close behind as the fled up a high mountain pass. The monsters were fast approaching, tearing and clawing at the heels of Lars. Werewolves and vampires joined the hunt, setting aside centuries of hatred to complete a common goal.

  “We’re not going to make it,” continued Lars, pushing Amanda forward. “You have to go on without me. I can hold them off!”

  “No, I will not leave you!” yelled Amanda, turning around with her arms extended, desperately trying to grasp Lars. It was no use; Lars had already turned around to face his aggressors.

  “You have to leave!” Lars bellowed. “Please, don’t let my sacrifice by in vain!”

  A blinding white light beamed out from Lars, engulfing the whole mountain pass. Amanda covered her eyes, catching quick glimpses of the monsters burning with all of Lars’ fury.

  For the second time in Amanda’s endless life, she shed a tear for the one loved. Sobbing, she turned away and continued up the mountain; each stride harder to handle than the last.

  The war started out of ignorance, and it was finished with hate. The summoners could have ended the war before it began, but then they would have been no better than the monsters that had consumed them. They all died, except your mother. She survived, hidden in the shadows of a slowly dying world. The summoners were quickly forgotten, their divinity now nothing more than a whisper, an echo in the fabric of time. Amata Gemeti will stop at nothing to see this war re-ignited, until the final summoner breathes her last breath. Her mother imbued you with all of her power, in hopes that you would be the one to bring peace to this world.

  Chapter Eight

  “Leave me, my children,” hissed Amata, sitting atop the fallen Korolev’s throne. “Search the building for any survivors… and destroy them.”

  The youngling vampires stormed out of the council chambers, in search of a greater feast.

  Perched on the throne she so deeply coveted, her boney fingers tapped loudly on the metal armrests, trying to steady her rapidly beating heart. She needed them to fear her, to trust that being on her side was the only side worth being on.

  “William, bring in my family,” said Amata, motioning to the door. The newborns were merely pawns, and now it was time for the rest of her clan to assume the positions that so rightfully deserved. Survive of the fittest, Amata kept repeating in her head, attempting to relieve herself of the thoughts of treason, festering around in her brain.

  The mountainous man returned from the dark corridor, with the rest of her family following close behind. Unlike the filthy and disease infested newborns, they were stately and bred from the finest stock; vampire royalty, in every sense of the word.

  “House Gemeti, please take the seats that should have been yours since birth,” said Amata, her voice booming across the room. “For far too long, we had to stand by and watch the old, gluttonous vampires rule our council; vampires born of a different time… a fallen time. It was not I, who murdered these eldest of vampires. Their lack of forethought and narrow-minded views delivered them to their fate… I only sped up the process.”

  “I want you to all know that I have a plan,” Amata continued. “The summoner’s days are finally numbered, and with her blood I will cement our position atop the other paranormal races. My witches have insisted they have found a way to draw the summoner’s blood, and with it we will change our very existence. We will combine the paranormal races, unshackling ourselves from the burdens of past hate and bigotry. What I am talking about, is the next step in our evolution.”

  The crowd began to whisper amongst themselves, completely thrown off by the latest development. Their voices were hushed with the raise of Amata’s hand. She leaned forward on the throne, and said, “But before any of that can begin… I need you all to deal with the newborn vampires. Kill them all… their purpose has been served.”

  Chapter Nine

  Standing in front of the Johansson’s country home, the survivors all listened closely to Xander’s story. He had recounted for them, the details of the summoner’s plight. They deliberated their situation, each deciding on the course of action that suited them best.

  “You can’t honestly be considering his proposal,” said Tyler, completely bewildered by the turn of events.

  “What other choice do I have?” Emily asked. “I’m not leaving to run away… I’m leaving to meet this head on. I just need to get far away from the people I love to do that. I hope you can understand.”

  “Y—you’re actually going to leave, I can’t believe it,” Tyler stuttered.

  Emily brushed her hand against his face, his sadness touching her heart. She looked him in the eye, and said, “Julia and I were best friends since before I can remember. I remember when she first introduced you to me. You were such a pompous jerk back then, but she fell so deeply in love with you. I miss her so much, Tyler, and it is for her that I leave—.”

  “And I’m leaving, too,” interrupted Steven, limping forward.

  “I think not,” said Emily, looking back sternly at her wounded brother.

  “Not with you, sister,” Steven replied, looking over to the vampire hunter. “I would like to go with Samuel… that is, if the Hunter’s Guild will have me.”

  Samuel was stunned, clearly not expecting Steven to be so ready to throw himself into harm’s way, after nearly losing his life. Steven didn’t look crazy, and he didn’t carrying himself around like a man looking for trouble; no, there was something about him that Samuel liked, something that reminded him of himself at that age.

  “Well, it’s not usually accepted,” said Samuel, scratching his chin. “Though, the overseer does owe me a favor. All right, if that is what you desire, I believe I can make that happen.”

  “I’m tired of being afraid,” Steven said. “Emily, you want me to be okay with the fact that you’re going to run off, to god knows where, and take part in a battle you knew nothing about a few weeks ago. If you want my blessing, you will have to accept the fact that, as your brother, I will make sure I am able to protect you. I believe the Hunter’s Guild will allow me to do that.”

  A tear ran down Steven’s cheek, the situation deeply emotional for the usually steadfast older brother. Wiping the moistness from his eyes, he returned his gaze towards Emily, and said, “I’m tired feeling helpless… unable to save the only person in this world that I still have left. I need
you, Emily, and I’ve never going to let you head into danger without me.”

  The cold breeze rushed against them, a reminder of what it felt to feel alive; something they could all collectively agree was in their best interest.

  “I hate to ruin the moment, but we really must be going,” Xander said. “If Amata Gemeti is involved, her response will be swift and fierce. We must depart immediately, so that their witches cannot track our position.”

  “So that’s it,” Tyler said. “You’re all really going to leave and there’s nothing I can do to stop you.”

  “Fear not, Tyler,” said Emily, more sure of herself than she had ever been before, with a confidence in her eyes that made Tyler feel like everything really would be all right. “Neither Heaven nor Hell could keep me from coming home to my family.”

  The End

  House Franson

  Chapter One

  Dear Brother,

  It has been over a month since we last saw one another, and I hope that your time at the Hunter’s Guild has been well spent. Samuel’s kept me updated on your progress and it warms my heart to see that you’ve fallen in love with something. He says that you’re his star pupil and at the top of the class. I couldn’t be more proud of you, or your accomplishments.

  House Franson, as the people around here call it, is isolated and dreary. Few of the denizens of this castle even speak to me, the rest simply avoid me or hush to a whisper when I draw near. Regardless of the vampires ill-regard for common courtesy, I find strength in the knowledge my time here has purpose. Every day Xander and I get a little closer to finding the elusive Temple of Prometheus, where this misbegotten war will finally see closure.

  My powers have grown considerably since the awakening on the front steps of our house. It should give me comfort, but I feel that every step I take towards my summoner heritage moves me one step farther the humanity that I hold so dear. I miss you, dear brother, and can’t wait until I see you again.

  It’s been hard not having you by my side, but I know it’s for the best. Autumn is almost upon us and with it comes a breath of fresh air in our search for unraveling this mystery that has befallen us. I promise to see us through this, brother, so that we will one day return home, and live the lives our parents always intended. Take care, Steven, I hope to see you again soon.

  Your loving sister,

  Emily

  “A month,” Steven whispered to himself as he sat in his bunk, “She wrote of autumn…”

  He was in disbelief, and looked out the window towards the snow covered hills and frozen lake— nothing out of the ordinary for the middle of December. Unless their distance involved time dilation, the letter arrived over three months too late. These questions only fueled his desire to see himself far from this place and take up arms by his sister’s side.

  A crimson stone was tucked into the envelope, a hidden souvenir from his sister that sparkled with untold wonder and intrigue. He couldn’t place his finger on it, but there was something familiar about the stone, a myriad of emotions that rose higher with every passing second that he held it within his grasp.

  “Steven,” a voice spoke to him, resonating from the stone itself, “Come to me…”

  Unprepared for what he heard, Steven quickly stashed the stone back into the envelope and tucked it into his pocket. He grabbed his duffel bag, already packed and filled with all that remained of his former life, a life that he so carelessly ran away from. He was trying to help his sister, he kept telling himself, but those thoughts were of little comfort when he realized that she was a world away.

  Steven stood in silence for a moment and took reflection of the life he was leaving behind. He made many new friends and would be sad to see their friendships dissolved, but there were more important things in life than what he wanted. Like his sister’s safety, and the danger that Emily was now shrouded in. She needed him, even if she didn’t realize it yet.

  He slinked out the dorm room and made sure to not make the slightest of noises while he opened the door and left them behind. They were all well trained and their senses would have alerted them to his plans, a motion he couldn’t allow to come to pass. They were his friends, or at least they used to be.

  The Hunter’s Guild was a massive testament to their way of life, with over six hundred years of rich history behind these ancient stone walls. It was a fortress, meant for defense from otherworldly adversaries.

  He carried himself down one of the exterior staircases with a quickened pace as his eyes darted between the turrets and covered parapet walkways. It was eerily quiet tonight, with not a single lookout atop the walls, or guards manning the gate. It was almost as if his departure was predestined, a thought that gave Steven little reassurance.

  “I hope you’re not thinking of hitting up the local bar,” a voice bellowed from behind Steven, “It’s past curfew and your instructor would make your life miserable, if he were to find out. There’s nothing worse than running ten kilometers when you’re hung over. Trust me— my instructor did it to me when I was your age.”

  Steven recognized the voice and promptly turned to greet his instructor, and closest friend, Samuel. He was the one person the dejected trainee didn’t want to see; the one person that could stop him from achieving his goals.

  “Although I can now see that drinks are of little concern to your troubled mind,” Samuel said as he pointed to the bag Steven carried by his side. He walked up to his student with a depressed look, the sting from a betrayal that cut right to the bone. “I’ve grown accustomed to your presence… and the thought of you leaving us weakens my resolve to see this class finished.”

  “My apologies,” Steven said with a look of shame, “I didn’t intent to say goodbye like this.”

  “No,” Samuel replied, “It would appear you had little thoughts towards a goodbye, at all.”

  “It’s not like that,” Steven said.

  “Then tell me, boy. What is it like?”

  “I… I don’t know how to say it,” Steven answered after a moment’s pause.

  Samuel moved to intercept, his eyes fixed upon the closed wooden doors directly in front of his student. “Well you better find your tongue, boy; because the road out of here passes through me and if you think I’m going to hold the punches… you’re in for a rude awakening—.”

  “This letter is three months late!” Steven shouted as he grabbed the note out of his old letterman jacket’s pocket. “I thought the guild’s carrier pigeons were supposed to be good at this kind of thing? Why the delay, huh? What are you hiding from me?”

  Samuel looked back with curious eyes, unable to give Steven the answers he desired. “I don’t have any clue, Steven. Is this why you leave? …Over something as trivial as a delayed message from your sister? I’ve written her several times, myself, and I can assure you that’s she fine.”

  “You don’t understand,” Steven said.

  “No, you don’t understand,” Samuel restated, “I understand survivor’s guilt better than most men, and I know the pain you’re going through. Your sister needs you, I’ve no doubt about that, but you’re no good to her without proper training.”

  “You take me for a fool,” Steven said with clenched fists. “She’s in a goddamn palace swarming with vamps and you don’t think it’s a big deal?”

  “I never said that,” Samuel replied as he stood his ground, “But running off in the middle of the night is only going to get you killed… and that accomplishes nothing.”

  “I’m not some fresh recruit!” Steven barked, “I’ve no doubt there is much for you to teach me, but my strength comes from within and I’ll see any obstacle in my way knocked down.”

  “Does that include me?”

  “I hope that it doesn’t,” Steven replied.

  “Tell me, boy, what’s the real reason you’re running away?”

  “I don’t wish to speak of it,” Steven said, “This burden is mine to carry. I’ll not involve another.”

  “Wron
g answer.”

  Samuel rushed forward and caught Steven unprepared with a right hook. Samuel wasn’t trying to hurt the errant young man, but he did need to knock some sense into his student’s thick skull.