Chronicles of Darkness: Shadows and Dust

by Andrea F. Thomas

  Chalice turned to her, shaking her index finger at Skylar. "Uh oh, you naughty little girl."

  In that moment, Skylar managed to slip her hands from the loop, jumped at Chalice with the courage of desperation and tried to choke her.

  Caught off guard by the girl's sudden move, the blonde fury stumbled and both of them crashed to the floor.

  Skylar sat on her stomach and pressed as hard as she could.

  Chalice was stronger, bucked and pushed her off. Gasping for breath, she hissed, "You naughty brat! You will pay for that!" She glared at Skylar and rubbed her sore throat. Chalice scrambled up and stumbled over to the girl that was kneeling dizzy beside the stairs.

  "Do you need a hand to get up?" the fury snarled. Chalice grabbed her nightgown and pulled the girl up. She shook her so hard that Skylar's head collided with the marble column nearby. Pain exploded in her skull and she groaned. Unconscious, she sank down on the stone steps.

  "Oops," Chalice giggled and looked around, but nobody had seen it. Her Master, Helena and Kyrian were still fighting. Releasing a relieved breath, she said, "That's just my luck that no one is paying attention." She sat down beside the motionless Skylar and continued to watch the fight with interest, looking through the banisters' spaces.

  Azrael grabbed the huntress' wrist.

  A jolt went through Helena's shoulder and she thought her arm was being pulled from its socket. Another stronger yank followed and she was hurled across the marble floor. A dull, pulsing pain overcame her abused body. Helena felt herself growing numb. She desperately tried to gather her strength. The roaring in her head grew stronger and Helena was close to losing consciousness. Lying on the cold floor, her trembling fingers touched the back of her head and came back bloodied. Groaning, she sank back and lay there, unmoving.

  Smiling, Azrael announced satisfied, "You fought well, Huntress. Even though it was clear from the beginning that your resistance would be in vain."

  "Mama!" Kyrian shouted. On his knees, he slid towards the holy sword and picked it up. With shaky legs, he came to stand in front of Azrael.

  The vampire laughed, greatly amused. "A child like you wishes to fight me?"

  "I'm not a child!" Kyrian exclaimed furiously.

  The vampire's eyes widened playfully. "Ah yes, of course. You already got to prove what a man you are. How was he doing for his first time, Chalice?"

  Kyrian's face flushed deep red, his heart beating so fast, it was about to burst. Screaming, he went after Azrael, his sword a blur as it came down again and again upon the mighty vampire, who dodged the blows easily.

  As he grew tired of Kyrian's attacks, the vampire ended the unequal duel. With great force, he rammed his elbow against the young man's shoulder.

  Kyrian stumbled back against the wall and slid down, the pain burning in his body. 'I'm not strong enough, I can't do it...' Kyrian blinked and shook his head, trying to clear his dizzy mind.

  Grinning, the vampire left him where he was and strode to Helena.

  She had managed to rise and crouched on the floor.

  Azrael knelt beside her and pulled her into his arms without resistance.

  Helena cried out as Azrael thrust his teeth deep into her throat, making her feel pain like she had never felt before in her entire life. Her back arched and she writhed in his grip to get free, but it was of no use.

  Azrael's eyes glowed in pleasure with the taste of her warm blood. Savoring the moment, he closed his eyes and broke the connection, licking the blood off his lips. Stroking the dying woman's silky, golden locks, he opened his eyes once more and breathed in her scent. "I couldn't resist your temptation. The smell of your blood is so uniquely seducing, Huntress. It's making me hungry for more." Blood was on her lips and he took his time to kiss each drop away. "It is a pity that I will have to kill you, my beautiful Huntress. Still, it will make you happy to hear that your heart will always be with me." His hand moved from her throat to her chest, where he could detect her faint heartbeat. "You must understand, everyone has to make sacrifices and I need the power of your blood. Please, don't be mad at me. Maybe it will be a consolation to you that I promise to take good care of your daughter."

  At that, Helena's body stiffened and the fear was evident on her face.

  In a cold and emotionless voice, Azrael went on, "You carried her beneath your heart, you nursed her and she crawled from your lap. She is the legacy of the old hunter clan. From now on, her blood will feed me. She is a descendant of the Leosol family. Through her, I will get all of your powers."

  Again, he tenderly stroked Helena's hair.

  Tears welled up in her eyes with the knowledge that she could do nothing to prevent the deeds that would follow his cruel words. Death was close and she was no longer able to protect her children. Her mind became lost in the cold embrace of death, her body growing numb, until only one feeling was left. The overpowering, unconditional love Helena had for her children.

  Kyrian still sat paralyzed on the spot near the wall and stared at the vampire.

  After Azrael ensured that he had the young man's full attention, he thrust his fangs once more into his victim's throat. His pointy teeth easily tore through the main vein and the larynx.

  Helena released a final blood-curling scream. Her limbs jerked a last time and then she was still. Like a lifeless puppet, the proud huntress lay in the vampire's arms.

  But Azrael continued to drink. Caught in ecstasy, his fingernails bore deep into her skin, leaving ugly scratch marks behind. She had not been strong enough to beat the mighty vampire. Azrael's dark greed reached for Helena's soul and pulled it from her body.

  Fear choked Kyrian. It was the first time he saw how a vampire drank blood and ripped the soul from a human's body in the face of death.

  Once Azrael had sucked up the final drop, his teeth glistened red and his lips were smeared with blood. Despite that, his eyes glowed, craving more. He let go of the huntress and turned to look at Kyrian.

  The young man's eyes widened in horror.

  The vampire rose and was about to walked to Kyrian, as something hit him in the shoulder with a dull thud, stopping his advance.

  Unconsciously, the young man had raised and fired the crossbow under tears and great pain.

  The bolt nailed Azrael to the wall. Before the vampire realized what was going on, the special bolt began to eat through the tissue around the wound and turned it black.

  Kyrian's trembling voice echoed through the hall, "That... that is for my... for my mother, you monster!"

  Furious, the vampire pulled the bolt from his chest. It seemed that he couldn't even feel any pain. He went after the young man, wanting to at least take Kyrian with him on the journey to the underworld, but then he hesitated. Disbelieving, Azrael looked down to where the bolt had struck him. New tissue was already forming and all traces of a wound were gone a few seconds later. His triumphant laughter reverberated in the hall.

  Kyrian was in a panic. "You will not turn my sister into your blood slave!" He turned his back on the vampire to reach for the holy sword.

  But before his fingers could wrap around the hilt, Azrael had already stepped behind him and asked, smiling evilly, "Who will stop me? You?" He slammed his fists hard into Kyrian's neck, who crashed to the floor, unconscious. "Hmm, who would have thought that the boy would be so determined?"

  Hesitatingly, Chalice entered the scene of destruction, coming to stand at Azrael's side. With mixed feelings, she glanced at the prone young man. "What are we going to do with him? Kill him?"

  The vampire looked at Kyrian and decided, "No, not anymore. That would be too easy. So much anger, so much hot blood. When he awakes, he will want vengeance for his family. Which means, my life will get more entertaining."

  Chalice didn't cherish the thought that Kyrian would awake with the memory of her betrayal. "He will chase us until the end of his days, my Master!"

  Azrael laughed. "You can't take back your betrayal of the boy. Are you scared he will find you a
nd pay you back?"

  Chalice looked at her master with big eyes. She couldn't bear that he was making fun of her. But she could bear it even less that Kyrian hated her now.

  "It seems you have been too long with him. Is that sympathy I see in your eyes?" The vampire's question sounded like a threat.

  At the same time, Chalice realized that it was stupid and dangerous to pine away for her lost time with Kyrian. Now she was about to face an eternity at Azrael's side. She lowered her head and said, "I belong to only you, my Master."

  "Yes, that's what I wanted to hear, that's my Chalice." He held out a hand. "Come."

  Gratefully she took his hand and he pulled her into an embrace.

  She looked at him, her heart beating fast.

  To show his slave her place, he enticed her with the words, "Today you have proven your true worth. I'm very proud of you."

  A smile flickered over her face and the vampire pressed himself tightly against her body. His hands seemed to be everywhere at once, while his bearded face hovered close above her own.

  The blonde moaned in arousal as the vampire nibbled on her lips. He made it easy for her to let herself go, forgetting everything around her. "Please, don't let me do that ever again, my Master. I only want to be yours." Their kisses became more passionate. Chalice threw her head back, moaning in ecstasy. "I'm addicted to you, my Master."

  While his fingers were tracing over her soft throat, he hummed, "I know." Azrael wrapped his fingers in her long, blonde hair and pulled her head to him. Her tongue played all over his face, not disturbed in the slightest that it was still sticky with Helena's blood. From this moment on, nothing else mattered but her master, whom she longed to satisfy in every possible way.

  Abruptly, he let go of her and straightened. Azrael's face contorted in disgust. Taking cape and cane, he walked out. To the stunned Chalice, he merely explained, "You smell disgusting, like the boy. Before you have not washed yourself, don't get close to me again. By the way, don't forget the little girl... and the precious heart of my Huntress. Load everything into the carriage and follow me. We are going east."

  Chalice blushed ashamed and asked, "But I thought..."

  "You don't know all my plans!" the vampire cut her off.

  Silent, Chalice retreated to the closest well in the courtyard.

  Meanwhile, Azrael deeply inhaled the cool night air and called out to the dark sky, "Hear me, children of the night! Finally, I'm on my way to you! I will give you freedom and gain ultimate power for myself!" Loud laughter escaped his chest. Looking to the west, the direction where Paris lay, he thought about the humans with growing hate and said gleefully, "I'm your darkest and most secret fear, visiting you in your nightmares... and the best about it... you cannot escape me!"

  *****

  A heavy storm raged along the southern coast of England, causing windows to burst with its unrestrained power. The warming and illuminating light of the fireplace went out. From one moment to the next, unnatural cold spread out. A strange feeling took possession of the castle's inhabitants. The intense and pulsing emotion of mighty powers overcame the heads of the Dragon Clan.

  Ajatarah sat as unmoving as her soulmate Zephriel, and both took in the unknown energy. The vampire felt new strength rise in her, but also the tragic origin of the new powers. With sad eyes, she looked at the glowing ash of the fireplace and whispered, "A bright, important light of a life was extinguished, robbed by a nameless shadow."

  Zephriel contemplated his life mate's words for a while, until he said, "One sign of the prophecy was fulfilled. The appearance of an Unborn and his endeavor to gain ultimate power. It may be that he is the traitor, who is conspiring against us." Lost in thought and restless, he paced the room.

  Ajatarah still sat motionless. "An Unborn."

  She had to wait a bit for the answer of her soulmate, who was stroking his beard. "Yes. The prophecy says that we, the ancestors and clan founders, will return and must destroy our descendants."

  Angered, Ajatarah rose from her chair and went to her soulmate. "My love, why do you call the Unborn our descendants? Are we really supposed to take on the guilt of their deeds?"

  "It is like it is. They are guilty, if they transform the humans after the act."

  "You once said that there is no connection between the Unborn and us, only immortality and the need for blood. Remember, you cannot compare them to us. That would mean, comparing these creatures with our daughter!" Ajatarah exclaimed fiercely.

  Zephriel turned to her and tenderly stroked her shoulders. Softly gazing into her sparkling eyes, he shook his head. "You said it yourself... a nameless shadow is threatening us, may they have been created out of ignorance or by betrayal. Nobody can say who is at fault, but in the end, we will be held responsible for their existence."

  As fast as Ajatarah's anger had appeared, it vanished.

  Zephriel breathed a gentle kiss on his life mate's hand. "The Chronicles of Darkness will be the key to the truth. We have to be patient. Time will reveal the future."

  Ajatarah leaned her head against Zephriel's strong shoulder and both felt new strength grow inside them.

  *****

  "I don't believe it, you won again," Andrej grumbled and glared at the chess figures. "There has to be a trick, Sadden. What is it? Dark magic?"

  Annoyed, Lilith rolled her eyes. "If there is something humans have no explanation for, it has to be magic. Truly pathetic."

  "Did I ask for your opinion?" Andrej snapped back and instantly the two had another fiery discussion.

  Sadden sighed. She rose and went to the window to gaze at the peaceful night. Suddenly, she felt a terrible pain in her rib cage. Tortured, the vampire grabbed at the place where normally a heart would beat, if she had been human. The anguish forced her to her knees. Again, she heard the fearful outcry of a girl in her mind. Tears trickled down from beneath her closed eyelids. "The Sunlions..." she gasped.

  The pain faded as quickly as it had appeared and Sadden stood up. As she felt the new power streaming through her, she looked at Lilith, realizing that her protégée could feel it also.

  Confused, Andrej looked from Sadden to Lilith and back. "Do I want to know what just happened?"

  "A part of my vision has come true," Sadden explained, her voice shaking. "The mighty lioness is dead."

  *****

  After hours of unconsciousness, Kyrian awoke. The autumn sun send its first rays over the horizon, plunging the area in an eerie, white light. The foggy mist of a dawning day crawled across the ground, and the young hunter noticed how the nightly cold had taken up residence in his limbs. Frozen stiff, he slowly rose from the floor and rubbed his still pounding skull. The memories of the night came back with a rush.

  Immediately, Kyrian stormed to the place where Helena lay and the pain of this loss overcame him. Screaming, he broke down beside his mother's corpse and burst into tears. Sobbing and whimpering, he rocked her lifeless body in his arms. "It's all my fault, Mama. Forgive me! Please forgive me! I've been such a fool. I should have listened to you. Now it's too late... Mama... I'm sorry... I'm so sorry... Mama..."

  It took time until his hot tears had somewhat dried. Then Kyrian lifted his dead mother and carried her upstairs to her chambers. Using his foot, he kicked open the door and placed her gently upon the soft bed. The young hunter lowered himself to the bed's edge and prayed silently. He felt horrible, and in a broken voice, he announced, "Mama, I swear that I will not rest until I have found Skylar and rescued her from the claws of the monster."

  Crying, he loosened the silver bracelet from her wrist and held it in his fist. Overcome by fury, he vowed, "I'm going to destroy them all. All vampires of this world. All of them! I swear to you!" Kyrian kissed Helena's cold forehead and rose from her deathbed. He went to the door and looked at her for the last time. Kyrian pushed over the tall, cast irony candlestick, left the room and closed the door behind him.

  The fire of the fallen candles quickly burned its way through the c
arpets and went on to the curtains of the bed. The flames found enough nourishment. Soon, the whole room was set ablaze. From there, the fire spread through the whole castle. Window glass burst under the heat.

  He raced down the stairs. In the entrance hall, he picked up his mother's weapons.

  All floors burnt brightly and the flames destroyed the whole building, leaving nothing but blackened stones and ash in their wake.

  Kyrian walked out of the castle. The holy sword of the Leosols hung from his belt. He felt the heat of the inferno in his back, but the young hunter didn't turn around.

  Nightshade waited for him in the sunlight, bridled and saddled. Nervously, the black stallion scraped his hooves and neighed loudly.

  Kyrian stored the weapons in the saddlebags and turned to the flames.

  The fire took over the whole estate, burning down everything that was in its destructive path.

  Like a small, unimportant shadow, he stood in front of the burning castle. The fire's heat singed his clothes and hair, while he stood rooted to the spot, clenching his mother's delicate silver bracelet in his fist. "The sweet venom of love shall never again seduce me. My heart shall never be poisoned again. From now on, I live only for vengeance!" Tears welled up in his dark brown eyes as he screamed at the sky, "Vengeance for my family! Vengeance!"

  EPILOGUE

  "Kyrian... Kyrian..."

  The young man felt a warm and gentle touch on his cheek. His eyes opened slowly and he looked into his mother's lovingly smiling face. "Mama... what... how is that possible... you... you are..." he stuttered.

  Helena placed an index finger against his lips to silence him. She indicated that he should listen to her.