The Kingdom Journals Complete Series Box Set

by Tricia Copeland

  “You’ve brought your species out of ancient times and given them a government. You must be quite proud,” Marcus comments when we reach an agreement on verbiage for the treaty.

  “I want to be sure I understand your structure of government,” I inquire, although I know the coven system and the five lines being ruled by Michael’s line, more specifically Michael’s coven, at least previously headed by Sonia. “Do you have the authority to make this treaty with us?”

  Marcus crosses one leg over the other. “I have talked with leaders of the four lines. I speak for Michael’s line.”

  “But what of Sonia and her coven?”

  “We’ve decided not to follow them. Their agenda does not align with the needs of our people.”

  “So, their coven does not agree? They will not abide by any treaty signed between us?”

  “No, they won’t. But they’re but one coven, maybe of a hundred witches at most.”

  “That seems like a large group, and Sonia and her son are powerful witches.”

  “Yes, but please know that having so many witches worldwide agree to a treaty with our mortal enemies has been no small task. If you have ninety-nine percent of us willing to honor this, isn’t it enough?”

  “I guess so, my friend.” I smile and set my signature to the document.

  Marcus rises and bows. “And now I leave you to celebrate as you please.”

  “Won’t you stay and have a glass of wine?” I motion to Will as he approaches with a bottle and glasses.

  “I must be off with our copy of the treaty. All Saints Day is almost upon us, and we honor the passed souls on this holiday. I wish to be with my family.” Marcus tucks the document under his arm, and I feel a gust of wind. The door swooshes open, and he and his two friends are gone.

  “Well, that wasn’t creepy,” Will comments as he sets the wine on the table.

  I lift a glass for Will to fill it. “We should drink.”

  Jacob exits to fetch Elizabeth and Orm. When we’re all gathered, we lift our glasses in a toast.

  “To peace,” I remark.

  “To the Queen of the Vampires.” Will smiles at me.

  As we touch our glasses together, the doors to my suite fly open, banging against the wall. Sonia and Thanatos stand in the hallway.

  “I believe you forgot one queen.” Sonia floats towards us.

  I, along with the others, snatch our spears and crystal-clad shields from their spots along the wall. I hold my shield in front of my torso and spear, cocked and ready to throw.

  “Odd how humans have developed all this technology—muskets, rifles, pistols, revolvers—and yet you still cling to your ancient weapons.” Sonia stops in front of me. “Nice shield. I guess it may even the playing field for a few seconds. But you’ve no need for defense. I’m here to talk since I was so rudely left out of your prior discussions with my people.”

  Sonia lifts her hand and holds it in the air, palm up flat. Thanatos produces a scroll of paper from behind his back and lays it atop her fingers.

  Sonia unrolls the document. “I see your signature, and my sources tell me your people have made you Queen or Chancellor, is that the modern term, so I acknowledge it as valid. However, Marcus is not the leader of our kind. I’m the leader of my people.”

  Shield up, I take a step towards Sonia. “Marcus was under the impression that he had the majority vote in favor of the treaty, and he signed for his people.”

  “May I?” Sonia points to the wine.

  “Of course,” I reply.

  She lays the scroll on the table and takes a seat, filling her glass with wine. “Please, sit, all of you, have a drink with me. I have a proposal that may interest you.”

  “Excuse us if we don’t trust that you mean us no harm.” Will approaches her.

  Sonia’s eyes trace up Will’s form. “It’s hours until midnight. I suspect if her life were in danger, her winged friend would make an appearance.” Sonia looks to me.

  My heart leaps in my chest. Lucas is alive?

  Sonia chuckles. “Your eyes are as big as saucers, dear. What, you haven’t seen your guardian yet? Oh, but perhaps you’ll never see him again.”

  Although my heart clenches, I steel my gaze on her face. “His presence is of no consequence to me. We’re well defended.”

  “I can see that. Sit.” The chair opposite her slides out from the table. “I think we can come to mutually beneficial terms. I’m ready to seal this agreement for my people.”

  I approach the table. “Marcus said you were against it. Refused to even discuss it.”

  She motions to the waiting chair. I lower myself to the seat, spear and shield still firm in my hands. “What do you want?”

  “Aye, smart girl.” Sonia’s lips form a thin smile, and her eyes cut to Orm. “You know of the prophecy.”

  “We do,” I acknowledge.

  “We’ve come to believe that a hybrid may be the key to breaking the curse.”

  “A hybrid?”

  “You’ve read Mendel, correct?”

  “I have. You refer to a being who is witch and vampire? We’ve forbidden those beings for hundreds of years. Are you behind the creation of the ones we suspect to be halflings?”

  “I am.”

  “And you admit it openly?”

  Her hand slams down on the tabletop. “I’m the Queen of the Witches. I do as I please. I’m above the law. Breaking this prophecy will do more for our people than any other act. I’ll see it through.”

  “But they’re demons.”

  “Yes, there have been problems. But, we’ve come to believe if they’re raised in the correct manner so that they know their place, are trained by both witches and civilized vampires such as yourselves, they may be more stable.”

  “You want us to help you sire hybrid beings?”

  Sonia glares at me. “Why are you having problems with this concept?”

  I jump to my feet. “Because it’s absurd. We will do no such thing.”

  “Don’t you see?” Sonia rises and approaches me. “A hybrid being produced out of a mutual goal for peace represents a transcendence of our true nature, an enlightened view. Surely, The Creator will recognize this. These Children of Light, like no others, will have the capability to break the curse.”

  “And if we help you sire and raise these beings, then you will sign the peace agreement?”

  “Yes.” She lifts the scroll.

  My mind works to grasp what she’s saying. Does she really believe I will abandon my principles?

  “Do you need to confer with your counsel?” Sonia motions to Will and the others gathered around me.

  I look to their stoic faces, hoping they’re thinking as I am. Shaking my head, I stand. “It shall not be. The vampires have no need for this supposed curse to be broken or approval from your Creator. I will not go against our laws in this way.”

  “Are you sure?” Her mouth turns up on one side. Circling behind me, she runs a finger across my shoulder blades. Piercing cold shoots through my chest, and I grip the chair back to stay upright. “The next hundred years of violence may be long for you. I know you feel immense compassion not only for your own people, but the humans too.”

  I force blood to my back to heal the fissure in my skin. Stretching my shoulders, I face her. “You think your Creator will let you break this curse, seeing what an evil being you are?”

  “That’s the beauty of our Creator. He allows free will and forgives our sin. He’ll see I have done this for the good of my people. They need to be free of fear of the afterlife. Our departed souls lay trapped in purgatory forever because of the actions of a few selfish beings, beings of The Creator.”

  Orm steps towards her, and I divert my gaze to him. Sonia spins, and her eyes land on him. Shields up, Will and Jacob jump in front of Orm.

  “I can see you value his life. I wasn’t going to hurt him. You have something to say Orm?” Sonia’s voice oozes from her mouth.

  “Be gone, witch, and
take your warlock son with you. She has said no. There’s nothing for you here.”

  Sonia’s eyebrows peak. “What is it that you do not want me to say? The Creator made the angels, the angels are one with The Creator, or at least most of them, save Lucifer, who wanted to be like The Creator and formed his own realm and his own people, who would those people be?” Her eyes cut between Elizabeth, Jacob, Will, and me. “Oh, yes, the soulless vampires.”

  I stomp my foot. “Enough. We tire of your endless ramblings of Heaven and Hell. You forget we’re of Mother Earth. She has granted us long lives, and we’re grateful and need no more.” I stare into her eyes. “Go. There will be no agreement.”

  “Fine, have it as you may.” She points at the scroll, and it turns to flames.

  I grab for our copy, but it alights in my hand. With a blast of cold air and a flash of light, Sonia and Thanatos disappear.

  Goosebumps form on my skin, and I shiver. “Those retched beings disgust me. Did they think I would bend? Agree to sire hybrids to help them break a curse I don’t even believe in?”

  My friends’ eyes are fixed on the doorway, and I follow their gaze. Seeing nothing, I zip over and close the doors, securing the bolts.

  “I can’t believe we’re alive.” Elizabeth slams into me, wrapping her arms around my chest.

  Jacob rubs his chin. “Why didn’t they kill us?”

  “Your deaths would make your cause stronger. As it is, I believe we’re doomed to a century of misery.” Orm lowers himself to a seat and pours a glass of wine.

  “What say you, old man? How much power can this coven possibly have?” Will leans down and studies Orm’s face.

  “A lot.” Orm downs his wine.

  “Well, then, I’m going to need a glass of those spirits too.” Will settles in the seat next to Orm.

  We all fill a glass and drink in silence. I can’t help but keep one eye on the door, hoping to see Lucas. The night passes and the next day. None of us rest.

  “Queen, we will watch until it’s time to leave for the boat. Please rest,” Will begs.

  “I’ll rest when we’re in the middle of the ocean where Sonia can’t reach us. Until then, I’ll see we’re all safe.” I hate feeling like a prisoner, but we don’t dare leave the room.

  It nears midnight on All Saint’s. My body is weary and my spirit nearly crushed. I run through a list of achievements in my head. My people have a solid government in place. No matter what may come, we stand ready to face it. My thoughts turn to Chief Black Crow, to Emmett, to Alec, to Lucas.

  Even with all my layers, cold damp air hugs my skin as we make our way to the dock the next day. Our voyage stretches on for eight weeks as we battle storms, windless days, and ice.

  I wait for a warm breeze, spark of light, white feather, anything to show me that Lucas lives. But, there’s nothing. Even on our trek across North America, the sun fails to warm me. My swims in the ocean off the California coast don’t even brighten my mood as the solstice comes and goes without a visit from him.

  “Little dove, you are sad.” Elizabeth grasps my hand as the new year dawns.

  “I’m not a little dove anymore.” I pull my fingers from her grip.

  “I know you miss Lucas.” She cups her hand on my cheek. “I wish you would see the love right before you.”

  “Who are you talking about?”

  “I’m sure there are many you could choose from, but Will would make an excellent match for you.”

  “I know he loves me, and I love him, but he’s my brother now.”

  “You can’t tell me it wasn’t different once.” She stares into my eyes.

  “That was a long time ago. He was a great comfort to me. Please, don’t make me regret that choice.”

  “You know I don’t judge. I only want you to be happy.”

  I dig my nails into my palms to keep tears from forming. “Then leave me.”

  Sonia keeps true to her word. Incidences of witch attacks grow the world over. Tired of playing it safe, I insist on helping investigate and calm as many situations as Will and Jacob allow.

  Walking along a dark alley between Paris streets in 1917, I feel a warm breeze and look up. I see nothing out of the ordinary. Stop hoping. He is gone, I repeat to myself. Part of me knows it’s probably true, but I can’t bear the thought that he’s dead and continue the psychological suicide.

  We descend into the catacombs. Will and I take lead with Orm in the middle and Jacob and Gregor bringing up the rear. Turning a corner into one of the smaller tunnels, I hear a whistling sound and dodge one arrow as another lodges between my ribs. A searing pain shoots through my torso.

  “Witches and their traps,” I complain as I yank the tip out and throw it to the ground. “I’m done being zapped and skewered. I’m going to put that woman in the ground if it’s the last thing I do.”

  “We didn’t want you to come in the first place.” Will lowers the lamp to his face and glares at me.

  “Guard the opening,” I call back to the others. “If they’ve taken time to set traps, it must be something good.”

  “Or they’re just trying to lure us off the path while they amass outside to massacre all of us. What’s wrong with you this century?” Will proceeds into the small space.

  “What do you mean?”

  “Before, you were always content to let your soldiers and sentinels do these jobs. Why take more risks now?”

  “Remember what happened in the 1600s, when I was forced to marry a human?”

  “Emmett wasn’t so bad, and you got Theo.”

  “It wasn’t the path I would have chosen. Don’t you like this? I do. It’s much better than practice fighting.”

  Reaching the end of the tunnel, Will holds the lamp above his head. “Old dead human.”

  “There’s no dust. Someone’s been here recently.” I pull on the stone top of the tomb, but it doesn’t budge. “Help me.”

  Even with both of us using all our strength, we can’t open the crypt. I search the walls and floor for any signs of movement. Finding none, I kick at the stone. “Oh, well, Louis, I guess you’re not giving up your secrets.”

  We make our way back to the others. “Well, Sonia or one of her coven were definitely here recently. Louis the ninth is entombed at the end of the tunnel, but his crypt won’t open.”

  “How do you know it’s her?” Orm inquires.

  “Smell that? No, you can’t. Will, it’s her, right?”

  “Or someone of her coven.”

  “That doesn’t give us any proof. This is just circumstantial. All we have is three dead vampires and Sonia’s scent.” Jacob paces in the small space.

  I rub my ribs where the arrow wound is healing. “We’ll get her. I’m wondering if this whole war is just an elaborate cover-up for her to move things around as she wishes. What better way to hide than to create mayhem?”

  “You think Sonia orchestrated this huge human war? That’s quite a conspiracy theory.” Gregor shakes his head.

  “It’s certainly derailed our investigations. You can’t find evidence when things are destroyed by bombs.”

  As the Great War ends in 1918, we approach Marcus, pleading for his help.

  “Vampire and witches alike are dying. Can’t you do anything to stop them?” I plea.

  “This isn’t Sonia. Her health is failing. Thanatos has taken over as leader. I’ve met with him many times. He’s not the monster his mother is.”

  “We saw her not nineteen years ago. She looked not a day over thirty. And you expect me to believe that after Thanatos followed her around like a puppy for hundreds of years he’s now somehow good?” I insist.

  “Witches, especially those who wield much power, can decline rapidly. I saw her just six months ago. She’s weak. I doubt she could hurt a hair on a rabbit’s body.”

  “You shouldn’t be here,” Will notes as we board a ship set for Germany in 1945.

  “Someone sired a hybrid being who has caused the deaths of six million humans
. The witches have asked for our help in putting him down. I want to find out who did this. Plus, I’ve dealt with the witches more than anyone.”

  “Again, I ask what has possessed you this century?” Will shakes his head.

  “They elected me Chancellor. I won’t be one of those fat old queens who sits on her throne and orders people around.”

  On German soil, we have enough spies in the human army that we know where the hybrid is and their plan to kill him. Once the bomb is dropped, a cloaked squadron of twelve witches and twelve vampires, including Marcus, Will, Jacob, and myself, enter the structure. Finding the Nazi leader alone in the basement, the witches drop our veil.

  “So, you have finally come for me. She said you would.”

  “Who said we would?” Marcus asks.

  “I don’t know her name. She raised me, taught me to be strong, and I became more powerful than any living being. I built an army who found what we needed.

  “What did you find?” I question.

  “I know you. You’re the Vampire Queen. Why, the sword, of course.”

  Marcus steps forward. “He’s gone mad.”

  “I’ll get all that we need,” a witch named Haley says, approaching him.

  He thrusts his hand out and sends her flying to the opposite wall.

  Marcus holds up his palms. “We don’t want to hurt you.”

  “You can’t hurt me. That’s the beauty of it. We never found the children, but I got the sword and hid it for her.”

  “We’re not getting anywhere with this. We need to move on with the plan,” I tell Marcus.

  The twelve witches link to each other, using their collective power to subdue the mad being. He fights back, zapping them with lightning bolts, setting things on fire, but weakens within an hour.

  “Now,” Marcus instructs.

  I divert my eyes as Will approaches him, sword raised high. Clanging of metal on stone and the dead, still air signal it’s over. The witches collect several vials of blood from the corpse, and evoking a cloaking spell to hide us, we slip from the building undetected.

  A witch from each line is brought to perform a spell that can track de Fuhrer’s heritage using his blood. In addition, others from each line serve as witnesses.