“You did.” I grinned and shrugged. “But I don’t mind. You can’t imagine what a wild adventure I’ve been on. I would never exchange my fascinating experiences for the mundane life I used to have. You have given me a gift.”
“Ah. And I do believe, you are about to give me one.” He lifted his dark eyebrows at me.
I only nodded, reaching into my interior coat pocket, pulling out my prized, leather-bound journal. I held it up. “Take care of all I have done. I hope it works to your advantage. But, I want you to promise me something.”
He waited, silently, and didn’t yet reach for the journal.
“Protect my wife. Keep her safe. See she is happy,” I said, recognizing the salty taste of tears as it filled my mouth. But I only swallowed them down.
“Of course.”
After the simple promise, I handed it to him. All of my work. All of my effort—it was then in his talons.
The rest of the evening was a dazzling blur. Their women embraced me in their cool arms. I drank the finest wines. I was celebrated. Revered. And I was not done yet.
Finally, at the end of the evening, Cicero and I sat before the largest fireplace I’d ever seen. I told him of my journey and of the accounts and various colorful characters I’d met. He, in turn, exchanged with me some of his own stories, and several of them I wanted to include in my notes, but couldn’t. My book was full. My pages were brimming. And it was in Cicero’s possession.
“I am most grateful, my friend. When this is published, perhaps the light will not fear us as they once did. Perhaps our world will accept the darkness and come to find we are not something to be buried and forgotten.”
“I wish you all the luck,” I replied. “I’ve realized the light is not always good.”
“Indeed,” he nodded. “Vladislov and the Regime will stop at nothing….”
“They must realize you have the ability to be more powerful than they, and without you, they will falter anyway. And perhaps it would be wise if mortals—”
“No,” he interrupted “No mortals shall be made aware. We have been apart from them for centuries and it must remain that way. In secret. You are our only mortal friend.”
“But…the uprising,” I said, remembering the words of one, particular Witch I’d met along the way.
“What uprising?” He arched an eyebrow.
I thought for a moment, but shook my head. “Never mind. Too much wine.”
“No. You know something,” he deduced. “I’m going to request you continue, dear Alistair. Be our eyes and ears. The Regime will never catch you. They won’t know where to look for you. Continue your quest, and I will keep my word about protecting your wife.”
I agreed.
“And out of our sincerest appreciation, I want you to take this.”
The Vampire removed a rather hefty medallion from his throat. If I was correct, the stone was sapphire, set in pewter.
“What is this?” I asked, accepting the necklace around my own neck, feeling the weight of it hanging past my sternum.
“It guards your thoughts. It will protect your motives. It will behoove both of us if you use our magic to your advantage.
I smiled, and shook his claw. Warmth and chill. Life and death. For once, we were on the same side.
And that was that. The Parliament had my words. My adventures. They would publish my studies under an assumed name to protect my identity from the Regime and their onlookers. And they released me with the request I go on to continue my search of knowledge for a second volume. I didn’t know what I might find, or what I might endure. I only knew I was not done with the Occult yet. And the Occult was not done with me. There were many more secrets to uncover. Many more places to explore and truths to be revealed. And I was honored to be the one to concur this most dangerous, exciting, and magical frontier.
…to be continued.
In Closing….
In closing, if any mortal might happen upon this text, I wish to urge the utmost caution about continuing forth. In my case, and in performing a task for the Occult, I was welcomed with open arms, but the case most certainly will not be the same for others. My suggestion is to place this volume back where you’ve found it, and forget all you have read. For the secrets contained within these words will only mean certain death for you.
To all members of the darkness, I thank you for your friendship and your acceptance. Keep close to the shadows. Mind the daylight. And most importantly, do not succumb to the tyrannical reign of Vladislov of the Central European Magic Regime.
To all members of the light, I kindly request you take the time to educate yourselves. And never forget, without balance, this world will fall to chaos. You’re not superior.
Kindly and most sincerely,
Alistair Vlain
~ABOUT THE AUTHOR~
In Shayne's first year out of high school she penned, co-directed, and starred in the feature film 'The Incubus', a paranormal romance, which obtained distribution and screened in over fifteen theaters across South Florida, among major theater chains such as Regal, AMC, and Cinemark. 'The Incubus' has also obtained a passionate fan base of over 100,000 girls online and has garnered the attention of reporters from the Miami Herald, CBS News, and NPR Radio. Leighton also starred alongside Scream Queen, Tara Cardinal, in the film 'Legend of the Red Reaper' which made its world debut in 2013 at the Central Florida International Film Festival and is now set for global release in 2014. Leighton penned the 'Of Light and Darkness', set in contemporary Prague, and is also developing the film adaptation of the novel series. A triple-threat, Leighton has her debut a EP in the works, having been signed to the internationally renowned Spectra Music Group in early 2013. Named #26 in Boca Magazine's "Top 100 'It' People" for 2011. Shayne Leighton lives in Fort Lauderdale, FL with her husband and key inspiration, Frantisek and travels back and forth to the Czech Republic often.
Find out more about Shayne at: www.ShayneLeighton.com
Of Light and Darkness
When one human stands before an army of impossible obstacles, the likelihood of overcoming them in this coming-of-age modern fairytale may result in war between light and darkness.
Abandoned as an infant in Prague, naive and strong-willed Charlotte Ruzikova was raised by one of the last Vampires left alive. As a human, she knows no other home than the one nestled deep in the woods of Eastern Europe, where Witches drew spells of enchantment, Phasers threw tea parties, and Elves are the closest in kin. Charlotte has lived her life in the dark with her Guardian, content to having him to herself and reveling in his attention, until she's realizes she wants more...
Resident medical doctor and Vampire, Valek Ruzik fears the day his ward would come of age and blossom into a fine woman, and he is forced to confront his own motives as time is of the essence once his past catches up to him, and their lives become endangered...
As genocide and war threatens their secret society, the dictator in power is ready to wipe out Valek's race, but Charlotte will not allow that to happen. Fighting for the only one she's ever loved and truly believed in, she will do whatever it takes to save their love...before the sun comes up and light takes over.
The Vampire’s Reflection
Months after their brutal victory over Aiden and his hierarchy of Wizards, Charlotte and Valek have returned from Prague to their home in the Bohemian Occult City. However, this time, they are joined by their new band of misfit, magical friends. In the light of day, all seems to be at peace now that the Regime has been toppled, and the coven of rogue monsters has finally found their freedom. But Charlotte soon discovers that much like her adopted Vampire family, she has developed a strange addiction of her own. Her new disease is destroying her from the inside out, and Valek finds himself at a loss as he defies all odds to save her life. Danger continues to lurk around every corner and they realize that their happily-ever-after has not ended so happily after all, in this highly anticipated sequel of the Of Light and Darkness series.
Contents
Title page
Introduction
Part One
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Part Two
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Part Three
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
In Closing….
~ABOUT THE AUTHOR~
The Anatomy of Vampires: Volume 1 Page 8
