Curse of Blood and Shadow

by J. M. Kearl

  When we approached the stairs leading up to the Hesstian boys’ dorms, Zyacus halted. We both looked at Legacy nervously. “What aren’t you telling me?” she asked with trepidation in her soft voice. “Is he—dead?”

  That was the question wasn’t it? He had died and come back to life as something else.

  “Visteal.”

  I turned to see Kyan approaching with three others. Brax, another man I didn’t know and a woman, not a teenaged girl. I was both worried and relieved, Senica had called him a “good vampire” but he was still one of them and after seeing what they were capable of tonight, I was on edge. Especially when Zyacus tensed up and went for his sword. I threw out my hand and stopped him from drawing it. “You shouldn’t be here, Kyan.”

  “We came to help,” Kyan said and looked up the stairs.

  “I saw him fighting the blood drinkers,” Legacy said. “Why are you upset, Zyacus?”

  “Because he’s one of them,” he growled.

  Legacy took an automatic step back, pulling her dagger.

  “There are two types of vampires,” the man, maybe in his thirties, said. “Those of us who kept our humanity and those who only wish to feed on humanity. We will not harm you but the prince will if we can’t train him—teach him control.”

  The dagger trembled in Legacy’s hand. “What are they talking about?”

  “Prince Aric was turned into one of us against his will. I’m sorry,” Kyan said, giving Legacy a sympathetic gaze. “But he will be fine in time.”

  “He wants us to kill him,” Zyacus said, losing the edge, his shoulders even relaxed. “You promise you’ll help him?”

  “We’ll teach him control and what he does after that is up to him,” Kyan answered. “But Aric is good. I hope the only thing that will change about him is his diet but it will be a hard adjustment. He is now immortal except for if he’s killed, he won’t age past today although no one will notice for a long time because he is magic-born. He’ll be much faster, stronger, have an aversion to sunlight and a thirst for human blood. It will be nearly impossible for him to be around humans for a while without wanting to feed.”

  Tears burst from Legacy’s eyes and she took off running, pushing through the vampires and away from us. I wanted to chase after her but I had to take care of this first.

  “What about the missing students,” I said. “Where were they taken?”

  “The three, dark coven leaders—evil you could say, found the portal spell and with the combined use of their magic stones were able to open one,” the woman said. Her eyes were an eerie silver color. “They couldn’t open it inside the wards until the magic was down but they’ve taken the students to Collweya.”

  “We must go after them,” Zyacus nearly shouted.

  “We already have people on it. They’ll be returned by the end of the night. Over the past few months the dark vampires grew their numbers a lot but they lost more here than they created. There are more of us good guys,” Kyan said and smiled. “Unless they want an internal war plus the wrath of King Faustus and his dragons, they’ll turn them over. Besides, two of their three leaders are dead. They’re in disarray right now.”

  “Why did they think coming here would be easy blood?” I asked. “This is a warrior academy.”

  “Intel tells us that the greater vampires told their lesser vampires it would be easy blood, but the leaders were paid—a lot. We don’t know by who.” The woman spoke this time.

  “Someone gave a student here, a boy set on revenge, a scepter and I believe it’s what took the magical barrier down.” I tried to think who could have paid these vampires and had a weapon like that. Someone extremely wealthy and who would either gain from the closing of this academy or was worried about the outcome of it. “We need to know who is behind this.”

  “Can you question the student?” the woman asked.

  I shook my head. “I killed him. He raised the scepter against me and I was scared of its power.”

  “Where is the weapon?” Kyan asked.

  “Stupidly,” I said, grinding my teeth. “I left it outside by his body.” Why didn’t I grab it when I had the chance?

  “Let’s hope it’s still there or was picked up by someone on our side,” Zyacus said, giving me a small smile. Let’s hope.

  “If there’s nothing else, may we go see Aric?” the woman asked.

  “Can we say goodbye first?” Zyacus shifted toward the stairs. “At least let me reassure him you’re here to help. He’s restrained.”

  “We’ll wait here,” Kyan answered.

  Before we went up, I looked at Kyan. “Thank you. For protecting me against Senica with the spell.”

  He smiled, his onyx eye pinned to mine. “Of course. I worried he’d try to take you and well if I couldn’t be there to stop him, then at least I could protect your mind. Senica’s ability was mind influence. It worked better if the person was inebriated. He probably drugged Aric.”

  “I appreciate your help,” I said. “I wish we could have helped Aric.”

  “I had no idea he wanted to use him,” Kyan said, solemnly. “As someone whose been exactly where Aric is, I’ll help him the best I can.”

  Bindy already waited outside the room standing guard when we got there. Probably making sure he didn’t get out as much as ensuring no one went in. “Some good vampires are here to take him away,” I said. “We want to say goodbye.”

  Bindy nodded and opened the door. Aric sat on the bed staring at the floor. He looked up but didn’t budge. “The restraints keep him from being able to move from the shoulders down,” Bindy said.

  His nostrils flared when we stepped into the room, a big reminder of what he’d become. I could see in Zyacus’s face that it pained him to even look at Aric. “Go away,” Aric said without any anger.

  “Kyan is here with some of his friends. They want to help.”

  “I want to die, Zyacus.” Tears welled up. “I don’t want to have to drink blood to survive. I’ve been prepared to die since I realized what this mark on my wrist could be. Please, if you love me—if you care about me at all, cut my head off and tell my mother and father I’m sorry.”

  My throat burned and my eyes stung, and damn, this was tearing me up. To hear his plea, to know he’d rather be dead than be what he’d become hurt me more than I thought it would. He was our sweet, fun, caring friend and it took everything in me not to let out the sob aching to escape.

  “I can’t,” Zyacus choked out and I had to turn away or a waterfall of tears would burst. “I do love you, cousin and that’s why I can’t. One day you’ll be fine; you’ll be happy to be here even if it’s not how you imagined your life would be. Learn to control it.” Zyacus put a hand on Aric’s shoulder. “You are a warrior, a prince, and a damn good man, and this is not your end.”

  Tears ran down my cheeks. Ugh these two, it was worse than if Legacy were here.

  Zyacus took my hand and we paused at the door. “I’ll see you as soon as you’re ready.”

  “Goodbye, Aric,” I said softly. Nothing I could say would top what Zyacus already had.

  “Tell Legacy—” Aric paused. “Tell her to forget about me and move on.”

  Zyacus only nodded and when we got to the bottom of the stairs the vampires went up.

  Chapter 37

  Before we did anything else Zyacus and I went outside to look for the scepter. Something like that was dangerous in the wrong hands, clearly. As the back doors opened and I turned to walk down the steps, a man crouched beside Vyce, holding the golden rod in hand.

  His warm brown leathers were different than anything we wore. The golden hair waving down his back was half tied up to reveal pointed ears. I’d never seen the tips of ears like that before and I simply stared at them curiously.

  Whipping his head around, he stood and there was something about his presence that made me want to step back. He radiated power.

  A spinning, glowing orange ring that reminded me of little crackling fireworks, for
med beside him, large enough for him to walk through. When he stepped toward it I held out my hand. “Wait.”

  Zyacus, who hadn’t moved since we came out the doors, darted down the steps. “We need that!” he shouted. The man didn’t look at Zyacus but he did stare at me and his face was strangely perfect, almost like he wasn’t real. When Zyacus got closer the man stepped through the ring, disappearing, then it was gone. “Damn it!”

  “Have you ever seen someone like that before?” I asked as Zyacus walked toward me.

  He shook his head. “With pointy ears? No. I’ve also never seen someone open a portal like that. It’s different than your mother’s.”

  I ran my fingers through my disheveled hair. “I have a feeling we’ll see him again.”

  ∞∞∞

  We waited at the academy until a portal opened. Everyone present, tensed. Normally my mother was the only one to open portals. The men holding the two academy students wore expressions of stone. Another man wearing an all-black suit came in behind them. Milky white skin, auburn hair slicked back and crimson eyes. “Good evening,” his voice echoed off the walls.

  I wasn’t sure if this was the remaining dark coven leader or a good vampire. My father drew his sword and stepped out from everyone. “Release them.”

  “But of course,” the man purred. “I didn’t come to fight.” The male vampires set the unconscious boy and girl on the stone floor. I recognized the boy from one of my classes. Both of them were Delhoon.

  My mother joined at my father’s side, sparks crackling from her fingers. “Did you coordinate the attack?”

  Lifting his chin, the man said, “Forgive me, I am Demetrius. Greater vampire, leader of the light coven. No, the attack was not my doing. However the return of your children is. I ask that you not retaliate.”

  “Why wouldn’t we?” Father asked.

  “First of all, you’d be hard-pressed to find my kind. Many of us blend in amongst the humans in Collweya. You even have vampire students attending here who do no harm.” His eyes shifted to my mother. “To retaliate would mean waging war against all of the north.”

  Enden stepped forward then. “As king of Hesstia, I will not retaliate. But you need to make certain this does not happen again.” He looked to my mother and father. “I don’t speak for Delhoon, however.”

  “We will not wage war on Collweya,” Mother said. She stooped down and touched the unconscious girl they brought back. “Why aren’t they awake?”

  Demetrius bent over at the waist in a slight bow. “I am sorry but both of them will wake as vampires.”

  Several gasps and cries of anger loosed among the guards. Even my hand covered my mouth before I blurted something out. Zyacus nudged my arm, “At least Aric won’t be the only new vampire since it’s likely Bindy will tell your parents about him. I was worried about that.”

  I wanted that to be a positive but I wouldn’t wish this blood curse on anyone.

  Demetrius stepped toward the portal. “When we got to them they’d already been fed blood and… died. I don’t recommend sending them home. They’ll need to be controlled.”

  “That’s it?” my father growled. “Don’t send them home?”

  “I can offer my services to teach them—the way. For a price.”

  Greedy bastard.

  My mother shot up. “Leave. Before I change my mind about waging war.”

  Demetrius stepped through the portal and it closed in seconds.

  “Bind them,” Mother ordered to the guards. “We’ll bring them with us and find a way to help them.”

  Once Mother sent most of the guards home, along with the two vampire students, the halls of the academy were depressingly quiet.

  “We’ll close down for the rest of the academy year,” Mother said and put an arm around me. “You’ll finish out your classes in Delhoon. And in the spring, we’ll reopen and see how many of the students will come back.”

  Zyacus and I looked at each other. If I was going back to Delhoon that meant he was going to Hesstia. I desperately wanted him to come train in Delhoon with me. Months apart from him would be absolute torture.

  Apparently having the same thoughts, Zyacus turned to his father. “May I have your blessing to finish out the year in Delhoon? They have better magic professors and I want to be with Visteal.”

  King Enden’s glare was sending mental daggers. “No.”

  “Why?” Zyacus asked, sounding calm but his hands clenched into fists at his side.

  “I’m going to need your help with some things.”

  Longingly, Zyacus watched me. “I want to be allowed to see her at least once a month.”

  “We’ll discuss it later,” Enden said although it sounded like one of those empty promises. “Please open a portal to send us home, Daelyn.”

  I didn’t even ask to go to Hesstia, I already knew the answer.

  A black rip formed in mid-air and slowly opened to the Hesstian castle. Enden stepped half-way through and waited for his son.

  Without an ounce of hesitation, Zyacus took my face in his hands and kissed me hard on the mouth. Ugh, please don’t go.

  “See you soon,” he murmured against my lips and then he was gone.

  Eyebrows raised, my father turned to me. “I think you have some explaining to do.”

  “They’re together now,” Mother said, just as Legacy had. “But it is something we need to discuss.”

  Father let out a slow breath but seemed to be at a loss for words. A second portal opened revealing my mother’s throne room.

  “Wait, before I forget,” I said as my father was walking through. “Who is Midlan? His son Vyce was part of this attack.”

  We stepped into the throne room in Delhoon, and after giving a brief explanation behind my question, Mother said, “He was the man who betrayed your Papa.” The portal closed behind us. “His best friend that sent him to prison for ten years. If you want to know the whole story, ask him and Madison. It’s a long one.”

  The twins came roaring through the doors, battling with their swords and shouting at each other. It was going to be a long three months of wishing I could spend time with Zyacus. Thinking about the students we lost. Reliving the attack in my nightmares. I’d have to really focus on my studies to keep myself occupied. Legacy would too after what happened with Aric, so at least we had each other. But what I wanted was Zyacus, my forbidden prince.

  When my parents first told me I would be going to the Allied Kingdoms Academy, I hated the idea. Now I couldn’t wait to go back.

  ∞∞∞

  Thank you for reading! Allied Kingdoms Academy Book 2 will be available August 2020. If you enjoyed this book please help others find it by leaving a review on Amazon.

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  Other books by J.M. Kearl The prequel to Allied Kingdoms Academy

  RISE ( Book 1)| WRATH (Rise book 2) | RIVAL (Rise book 3

  About the author

  J.M. Kearl is an award winning author who has been writing since 2005 but decided it was time to let the world enjoy her stories and she published RISE in 2018! She loves fantasy and is a sucker for a good romance, which is exactly what she writes. She's a mother of a little girl, a baby boy, and is married to a great guy. Currently she resides in Idaho with her family, but is usually dreaming of somewhere tropical.