by James Somers
“Calm down” I insisted. “There is a lot we don’t understand about what’s really going on.”
“What do you mean, sir?” Uriah asked.
“First of all, the portal wasn’t only my doing,” I said. “Someone else forced their way into Greystone at the same time. I’m not sure who, but I definitely was not alone. I couldn’t have created a sustained portal like that by myself. As near as I can tell, no one could.”
“So, someone else, with similar abilities to yours, wanted the vampires to be released from Greystone,” Uriah said.
“Think about it,” I mused. “What will happen, now that Greystone is open to London?”
We all looked at Charlotte.
“My father will bring our people through in order to feed those that have been starving,” she said.
“As any leader would,” I added. “But we also have a situation brewing among your people, Sophia.”
“What do you mean?” she asked.
Uriah cleared his throat in an effort to caution me about what I said next. I understood his meaning. Still, there was nothing that could be done to soften the news I had to deliver.
“Sophia, your father was killed when you were taken from Tidus,” I said.
Uriah caught Sophia, restraining her before she could lunge after Charlotte.
“I’ll kill you!” she shouted at the vampire.
“I had nothing to do with your father’s death,” Charlotte said, stepping back a little.
“Liar!” Sophia shot back.
I stepped between them again, placing my hands on Sophia’s shoulders. “I believe Kron may have had some part in this,” I said.
Sophia stopped struggling abruptly. “Why would you suspect Kron?”
“Because Master Helios was also killed,” I said, “and Kron quickly placed the blame on me, calling me a co-conspirator in their deaths and your capture.”
“He even attempted to have us killed,” Uriah added.
Sophia shook free of Uriah’s grip, and he released her. “I must go back to Tidus,” she insisted. “I must find out the truth about these matters.”
“That would be an extraordinarily bad idea,” Uriah said.
“He’s right,” I added. “Think about it, Sophia. We heard Kron offering the council his own leadership in place of your father’s. If Kron had your father and Helios killed, then you are the only threat to his rule.”
“I cannot allow my people to be deceived.” She paused. “I am their queen now. I have an obligation.”
“You have an obligation to survive, so that you can rule,” I argued. “We must be careful. Kron is not the only one who may be plotting in this situation. After all, he had no power to create this rift into Greystone. But we’re looking at a potential war igniting because of all this. Someone—and I believe I know who—has brought these events to pass by the subtle manipulation of everyone involved.”
“Lucifer,” Uriah said. “And almost certainly with the involvement of Grayson Stone.”
“That stands to reason,” I admitted.
Charlotte spoke again, standing next to Tom. “But what purpose would that serve?”
“Difficult to say. I didn’t think it made any sense for Lucifer to work against Black, but he blatantly admitted as much.”
Tom began to stir, though he still wasn’t conscious.
“I suppose we could try a mortal doctor,” I offered. “I don’t know how we could use Lycean’s physician after all that’s happened. And if Kron found out, he might have him killed.”
“Begging your pardon, sir,” Uriah said. “I wouldn’t allow a mortal doctor within ten feet of anyone I actually cared about.”
“I’ll take him to his people,” Charlotte said unexpectedly.
“You know them?” I asked.
She continued to stare down at Tom’s face. “Yes, I know them.”
The rest of us looked at one another, wondering under what circumstances that might be. Still, Charlotte didn’t appear to be in a forthcoming mood, and we had no time to pry. Tom needed medical assistance.
“We’ll take him together,” I said.
Kron and his men passed through their portal near the Palace of Westminster beneath the Clock Tower. They had been hounded the entire distance by vampires serving Tiberius. Fifty Lycans were swallowed up by the portal. At least as many vampires followed them through, all of them arriving in Wolf’s Bane.
The Lycan commander turned from the moors spreading out into the fog. He led his soldiers deep into the bordering forest. The vampires cheered and followed after them, unwilling to let the fleeing dogs get away from them so easily.
The werewolves suddenly spread out as they came into a clearing in the wood. They shape-shifted into their animal forms, bearing their teeth, ready for a showdown. They would run no more from their enemies.
The vampires arrived in the clearing a moment behind, weapons drawn. The battle would be swords and knives against teeth and claws. They supposed their numbers would, at the very least, give them the necessary advantage over the werewolves. Then, a volley of fist-sized pouches were hurled into the clearing, striking the group of vampires from all angles.
A cloud of sparkling dust resulted that enveloped the Breed warriors. They emerged, crawling on all fours in various directions, choking on the volatile powder. Within seconds, cries of glee erupted from the trees as a horde of pixies descended upon the vampires. Their specially concocted pixie dust had reduced the Breed warriors to catatonia in seconds.
The werewolves remained where they were in their animal forms, except for Kron. He became human again, approaching the largest of the pixies, who stood waiting for him with his spear in his hand. He only came up to Kron’s chest in height, but the Lycan commander still bowed to him.
“Og, King of Pixies,” Kron said, addressing him. “I am in your debt.”
“Don’t attempt to ply me with pleasantries,” Og said gruffly. “Just keep your promises to me and my people, and I will support your ascension to the throne with any help I can give.”
Kron grinned slightly. “I go to my people to declare war upon the vampires and all who side with them,” he said. “Be ready with your army when I call.”
Og nodded, glancing back to the spoils of his attack. His pixies were dividing the vampires up already, greedily pinching and prodding them, deciding for themselves which were the most tender specimens. Still, he was the king and would have his pick first.
“In the meantime,” Kron continued, “I have an irritation I would like you to deal with.”
“What irritation?” Og grumbled.
“A young human named Brody West,” Kron said. “He has the princess with him.”
Og became more irritated, his face pinching up even more than usual. “Pixies do not conduct rescue missions.”
“Don’t worry, Og,” Kron said. “This won’t be a rescue mission. I’ll have the details sent by one of my patrols. Please, make it as messy as you like.”
Og smiled then turned to the catatonic vampires. He wanted to get his share before the others carried the good ones off for themselves. He spotted one potentially delicious vampire and went to kicking at him delightedly.
The werewolves ran from the clearing, heading toward the moors of Wolf’s Bane. Beyond the mist, they would come to the village and enter Tidus through the portal there. Kron walked out of the clearing as a man, only glancing at the pixies as they roped their prey and began to drag off the choicest ones for eating first. He waved away the pixie dust particulate still floating around the clearing. Fortunately, Lycean had long ago bartered with the elves for the formula that now allowed the Lycans to inoculate themselves against the potent pixie potion.
He thought of Brody West and Princess Sophia, knowing how gruesome the pixies could be when they set their minds to it, and smiled.
I stood before the book case on the south wall of my library where the proposed volume was said to be located. Uriah, Charlotte and Sophia waited n
ext to Tom. He had not regained consciousness. His complexion remained deathly pale due to the significant blood loss he had sustained. Charlotte had assured us that he could survive this, but he would require treatment from the healers of his people. Had he been mortal, Tom would have already died.
I looked at the books and called to the one relating the history of Tom’s people. “Xandrea,” I commanded.
High up, two shelves from the top, a single slim volume slid out from the others. The book drifted down toward me, coming to my hand as gently as a butterfly. I waved it away toward the fireplace, and it obeyed my wordless instruction. When the book landed on the mantle, the cover opened, and its pages began to glow. A mixture of amber and pure white light boiled within the inner hearth, bathing the room in flashes and fiery hues.
“We must hurry,” Charlotte said. “I don’t know how long he can maintain.”
Uriah and I lifted the Tom’s stretcher by staves, allowing Charlotte to lead us through the portal into Xandrea. Sophia followed. The vortex swirling within the inner hearth enveloped us each in turn as we walked through.
We were delivered upon a broad avenue of very white stone. A green valley lay around us with distant hills completing a horseshoe in shape. Before us stood one of the most beautiful cities I have ever seen. The road led directly to a city of similarly immaculate white stone and clear crystal. Even its protective wall, rising fifty feet in height, was built of the same material. Beyond this, a seemingly impenetrable forest stood as a background, stretching to mountain peaks miles away.
“Xandrea?” I asked.
The others nodded. Evidently, they had all seen the city before. I remained dumbfounded by the splendor of it. Even Tidus, which was amazing and beautiful, could not compare to Xandrea’s grandeur.
Within seconds of our standing outside the city’s white wall, a host of elf warriors materialized, encircling our small troop. They carried six foot spears in their hands and pairs of long fighting knives in scabbards across their backs. In contrast to the city, their garb was colored in a mixture of deep greens and browns. In the forest beyond the city, they would have been virtually invisible.
“We bring one of your own in need of healing,” Charlotte said quickly.
The leader approached cautiously, examining Tom upon the stretcher still carried by Uriah and myself. The elf called for two of his own to take the stretcher from us. Finding ourselves hopelessly outnumbered, we reluctantly agreed, relinquishing Tom to his own people.
The elf warriors disappeared with Tom a moment later. I was amazed at their ability to utilize portals so smoothly. Rather than create and walk through portals, the elves simply teleported away. I could not help but be reminded of Grayson Stone.
“What about us?” I asked.
“We will tend to him,” the leader said. “You must go.”
The leader turned away from us, but Charlotte caught his arm. He turned quickly with his speared leveled on her. The other warriors stood ready as well, but Charlotte did not back down.
“We will not go,” she insisted. “He is dear to us.”
Sophia and I glanced at one another. This was a side of Charlotte we had not witnessed before. I couldn’t imagine the connection between her and Tom, other than him saving her life from Black, but there appeared to be more to it than that.
The elf leader stared at Charlotte for a moment before lowering his weapon. Something in her eyes must have convinced him of her sincerity. He offered his hand. She took it, and they both disappeared. Three warriors, from among those who were left with us, offered us their hands in like manner. A moment later, we appeared somewhere within the elf city of Xandrea.
The building where we found ourselves was bright inside despite no lamps burning. Somehow, the elves had constructed this place in such a way that white stone, crystal and available sunlight worked in concert with one another to great effect. Though I had no view of Xandrea, at the moment, I suspected it would be the same throughout the city.
To my surprise, the warriors, who had paired with each of us to bring us within the city, were not present. Apparently, these elves were so adept at teleportation they could dematerialize with someone in tow and then deposit them without needing to materialize themselves. I decided that was one trick I would definitely like to learn.
Uriah and Sophia and I were now standing in a hallway outside of a room with frosted crystal doors. A procession of elders wearing white garments with silver borders approached from a hallway. Two of the elders had straight white hair running down onto their chests, but no facial hair. However, the leading elder, who also wore a gold band upon his head, possessed wavy white hair that reminded me of Tom’s wild red mane.
He gave us each a cursory examination as he approached with the others. However, his curious expression changed to recognition when he laid eyes on Charlotte. The moment was subtle and he quickly played it down. I got the feeling that he not only knew her, but that he felt uncomfortable having her in Xandrea.
“I thank you for returning my son to us,” the elder said.
Charlotte did not hesitate to approach him. “Will he live, Donatus?” she asked.
“Our healers will save his life,” he replied, though he did not address Charlotte directly. “I will provide the necessary blood my son requires in order to recover. This is not the first time such treatments have been necessary.” He glanced in Charlotte’s direction on that note.
“If there is anything we can do, sir, we would be happy,” I offered. “Tom has saved my life more than once.”
“In the meantime, you may accompany these,” he said, indicating the elders to either side. “You can rest and refresh yourselves. I will join you later and apprise you of Tom’s progress.”
The two elders walked past us, indicating that we should follow them down the gently curving hall. Each of us, except Charlotte, bowed to Tom’s father and turned to go. She remained, watching Donatus as he walked through the frosted crystal doors, which had parted upon his approach.
Realizing she had not gone, Donatus turned back to her. “I’m sure my son would be glad to see you when he wakes, Charlotte,” he said.
To my surprise, she smiled and walked after him through the doorway into the infirmary. Again, I glanced at Sophia. Her curious expression mirrored my own. Nevertheless, we left that mystery alone for now and followed the elders in white where they would take us.
Kron waited upon the king’s throne as the elders of his people filed into the room two-by-two, taking seats to either side of the main aisle. He sat with a grave look upon his face, never lowering his eyes to anyone who looked his way. He did not have good news to deliver—at least if one happened to be one of the pacifists of Lycean’s administration.
However, Kron was a soldier. He had watched for too long while Lycean allowed the vampires to roam free among the mortals, taking them for their own vile purposes as part of their covenant with Black. Kron had desired to confront them, but had always been denied.
He had not a single altruistic bone in his body. It had never been about the mortals or their safety. But it had been about their ancient enemies making inroads into the mortal world—opportunities that rightfully belonged to his people. After all, the Lycans had existed for millennia among the mortals without the base need to feed off of them. He and his kind were more suited to a peaceful co-existence.
The vampires, on the other hand, were a blight upon mankind—parasites in need of eradication. Kron would not waste his opportunity now that Lycean was gone. And, if his campaign happened to eliminate other potential threats as well, then all the better.
The elders seated themselves and waited for Kron to speak. He straightened upon the throne and prepared to deliver his declaration of war. However, he noticed someone else walking into the throne room, even though the doors had already been shut.
Grayson Stone sauntered toward Kron, walking right through the middle of the seated elders. The older men watched him, curiously. Kron w
as unsure how to address the man. Should he acknowledge him and risk the implications that might come from his knowing the Son of Lucifer? Might that not also lead to a discovery of Lycean’s murderer?
Kron started to stand as Grayson approached. However, Grayson raised his hand, motioning him to sit again. As Lord Stone stopped before the throne, Kron obliged him and took his seat.
“Do not fear,” Grayson said. “These do not see me, or hear my words.”
Kron begged to differ. The elders had watched him come into the room. There would certainly be repercussions. Then he noticed the suddenly blank expressions on the faces of the elders. They were staring off into space, no longer acknowledging Stone’s presence in any perceivable way.
Kron felt the familiar pull to believe everything Grayson said to him. He alone could be trusted. He alone was his friend.
“How do matters stand, Kron?” Grayson asked.
Kron did not hesitate to convey everything relevant. “I followed the boy with my soldiers to his meeting with the vampire woman in London. We witnessed him in the presence of the vampires and in possession of the princess. In fact, it would appear that the boy was the culprit who opened a portal from Greystone into London.”
“And your soldiers were privy to all these events, particularly the boy’s role?”
“Yes, Lord Stone,” Kron said.
“And your plans now?”
“I have gathered the elders of my people, in order to declare a state of emergency and suggest that we go to war against the vampires and their allies,” Kron reported.
“Including Brody West?”
“Yes, Lord Stone,” Kron said. “In fact, I have already arranged for our new allies, the pixies, to lie in wait for West.”
The elders continued to stare off at the walls, oblivious to everything transpiring before them.
“It would be ashamed to have the princess come back to power among the Lycans,” Grayson said. “After all, she might seek to return to her father’s policy of negotiations first and war never.”
