Bloodborne Awakened (Borne of Blood Book 1)

by Tracey Laviolette

  Subtle thoughts drifted back to my loving grandparents, especially Pops, before he passed away. It seemed like it was yesterday that my Pops was still alive, and I had spent summer vacation with him and Grams. I closed my eyes and remembered his blue eyes, how they had glistened when he gave me my first piece of chocolate candy. My lips turned up into a soft smile at how my parents were so upset over me having chocolate at such a young age. As I opened my eyes, I remembered my Pops’ last words to me before he died. “I will be with you always.”

  The weighted pain tumbled upon my heart, squeezing it so tightly that my eyes crumpled and a tear and fell down my cheek. I missed my Gramps so very much, and I knew that if this day would be my end, I’d see him sooner than later.

  My gaze quickly slipped toward Jacob, how brave and handsome he was to stand and fight, not for honor, but for something more substantial. I struggled with the pain again as another tear fell. I felt a sense of loss, perhaps even guilt, not to ever know what it would have been like to be with Jacob forever—or as long as we both should live. Immortality seemed like a far cry from where I stood and waited for Death. Oh—and I evidently believed that Death and Fate were a marriage made in hell. It appeared those two should be on Dr. Phil Show, or some reality show and work out their issues. They forgot what it was like to work together—or not.

  As my gaze turned back to the horde of demon-hybrids thundering toward us, I wondered if I would ever smell those lovely hyacinths again. If I would ever see my parents again—and what about my Grams? Never did I consider that my life would end this way.

  I glanced over to Kyle, who stood at my right. After a quick glance back, he returned his attention toward the onslaught of creatures that bounded closer, and closer—

  From the corner of my eye, I saw Jacob drop down on one knee as he shoved the tip of his katana into the ground. I turned my head in his direction as he lifted his head and looked right at me. When our gazes met, I saw a glimpse of hope in those now-crystal gems.

  “Let’s do this,” Jacob growled as he stared off into the darkness that I’d called death.

  The hybrids’ footsteps pounded against the ground, sounding like a war drum warning of impending doom. With each step taken, the vibrations tingled up my spine and sent fight signals throughout my body. My heartbeat pounded as if it were in sync with the steps the creatures took as they neared us.

  “HOLD!” Jacob commanded as we all positioned ourselves for battle.

  As the hybrids got closer and closer, their rotten stench as wafted toward me. Such death and decay they held within—such evil. Behind us, the dragons roared their approach.

  “The dragons are nearing!” Tristan called out.

  “Focus on the hybrids! Let’s just hope the dragons hate them enough to kill them first!” Kyle yelled back.

  The first hybrid, larger than the rest, roared out a screeching call as it was only a few feet before us. Instinctively, Kyle and I crept forward and growled back. My entire body shook—not from being afraid, but from the anticipation of the battle. I released a hiss as I tried to control my movement.

  “HOLD!” Jacob called out again as he remained in a kneeling position on the ground.

  The creatures were almost upon us, and the dragons were so close I could hear their wings flapping in the air behind us. They weren’t close enough to harm anything yet, but they were moving fast. From the looks of it, we had the big demon hybrid and his cohort to take care of first.

  Without hesitation, the creature leaped into the air and propelled its body, targeting Jacob and me first. I narrowed my gaze as my heart pumped more adrenaline through my already-hyped veins. My hands clutched the daggers tight as the creature’s body loomed directly over us.

  Jacob lifted his left hand high in the air and brought it down upon the ground. The entire ground beneath my feet shook as an invisible wavy wall shot up and around us, resembling a sort of invisible force field. The creature hit the force field, and as soon as it did, a bright fiery flame consumed it.

  My mouth dropped when I swung around and saw the first dragon as it dived directly at the attacking horde. It appeared that Kyle was right the dragons were probably going to take out the hybrids first. I turned to Jacob, who stood to his feet and took his stance with his katana in hand.

  “READY!” he shouted as the next one approached “NOW!”

  Kyle and I darted off past the other creature and took on the following two. He focused on the one to the right while I took the left one. Its dark scaly arms opened wide as if welcoming me. A guttural growl rumbled up my throat when I flicked the daggers out to my side. I charged head forward into the beast. Within a few feet from the creature, I dropped, slipped my left leg out, and bent my knee as I hit the ground into a slide. I slid through the creature’s legs, my momentum strong, and sliced its Achilles tendon and I passed through. The creature screamed out in pain, dropping to the ground with a hard thud. I moved quickly and jumped onto its back, where I wound my hands up to the back of its head, reached around to the front, and crossed my blades, making one smooth cut. It was over.

  A loud screeched erupted from behind me, which caused me to swiftly turn around. Before I knew it, the creature’s claws sliced across my arm. The pain wasn’t nearly as bad as the burning sensation. The power the creature put behind its punch toppled me off my feet and tumbled me down to the ground. Instinctively, I slapped my hand over the torn skin and looked up at my henchman as he gave a victory screech.

  This had to be it. I knew I didn’t have the training, but I had guts, and that was all that mattered. I gritted against the pain and made the decision that, no matter what, I wasn’t going to die lying on my back. I would die on my feet—I would die like a warrior.

  “COME ON!” I growled through gritted teeth at the creature.

  You will not die today, little one.

  It was as if Fate herself had heard me. My arms tingled as the creature stopped and took a step back as if in fear. One of the great and mighty dragons dropped down between me and the demon-hybrid. I couldn’t see anything as the dragon opened its massive wings. I did, however, smell something like sulfur and see smoke as crackling flames surrounded the demon beast.

  I dropped down to my knees, tears welling in my eyes as I watched the two dragons finish off the horde. The one dragon who landed between me and the creature folded its wings and turned around to face me.

  One after the other, tears rolled down my face. The dragon was the most magnificent creature I’d ever seen in my life. His mass alone was incredible, but those beautiful crystal blue eyes were breathtaking. Slowly, he lowered his head.

  “JESSIE!” Jacob shouted and ran toward me.

  This was another one of those moments where time seemed to stand still, and everything happened in slow motion. The dragon in front of me stopped and turned toward Jacob. Jacob had his sword drawn, and apparently toward the dragon. I looked from Jacob to the dragon and saw him pull backward, and then his mouth opened.

  “NO—” I screamed to the top of my lungs and flung myself in front of Jacob.

  That was when I felt it—his body slammed into mine as the dragon snapped down behind me. I covered my head with my hands and remained steadfast. My heart raced to the point I thought it would burst inside my chest. The dragon pulled back and folded his wings again and sat back on his haunches.

  I turned around quickly to find Jacob still in one piece, but with a bite mark on his shoulder. I looked at the shoulder, then back at the dragon. It was too small to be the dragon’s, and then I looked up into Jacob’s face.

  “What?” I breathed out.

  Jacob’s weary eyes lifted toward the dragon, then he turned his head toward his right side. “He saved my life.” Jacob’s eyes met mine. “Well—he tried.” He frowned, apparently in pain. “I thought he was going to kill you.” With that, he staggered and fell into my arms.

  I frowned and looked behind him to see one of those hybrids, which apparently had bitten him
when he tried to save me. “Oh my God, no!”

  “Fear not, my child.” A voice spoke clearly in my head. “I will not harm you.”

  My eyes widened as Kyle and Tristan came to help. Tristan paused at the sight of the massive dragon. Kyle extended his arm as if trying to calm the already-calmed dragon. The other one took to the air and flew back to where it came from. This one, I guessed, was apparently the male because he was a much vibrant red than the other one.

  I turned around with Jacob still in my arms, just as his body went limp—I knew immediately it was the demon venom.

  “Can you hear me?” I spoke toward the dragon.

  “Yes, I hear you. Why have you come here?” His voice, deep and throaty, filled my thoughts.

  “My friend, can you help him?” I looked to him with pleading eyes.

  The dragon slowly leaned forward and sniffed, then pulled his head back and snorted.

  “He is not mine. I cannot.”

  “What’s going on?” Tristan came closer, and the dragon looked at him and narrowed his eyes.

  Kyle took Jacob from my arms. “He’s talking to Jessie.”

  Tristian’s eyes widened. “Him? Wait, the dragon?”

  “Yes.” Kyle lifted Jacob into his arms. “We need to get him back to the Sanctuary. They may have an antidote.”

  “There is but one cure for him,” the dragon growled.

  “What is that?” I looked from Jacob to the dragon.

  “The abomination that bit him was a demon-dragon hybrid. He is a Bloodborne, not of our lineage, and they cannot sustain the venom of both dragons and demons. Those creatures were made to destroy all Bloodbornes from the face of the earth.” The dragon snorted again.

  “But how can we save him? Tell me, what’s the cure?” I pleaded.

  “There is but one way to cure him. You must bite him in your half form. You are but a halfling in this form, but you have within you enough venom to save his life.”

  “And what will happen afterward?” I looked back at Jacob—his breathing had already become ragged.

  “Jessie, we need to go. Jacob doesn’t have long like this.” Kyle looked from me to Tristan. “Get that portal thing ready. We’ve got to go.”

  “Go. I’ll be right behind you. I want to ask one more question.” I gently pushed Kyle. “I want to know what he knows about the woman. Go!” I turned to the dragon.

  “Jessie—hurry, it won’t hold for long.” Tristan was already folding the dimensions.

  “Tell me, Dragon. Do you know how they came to be hybrids, and did you and your mate kill two humans about nineteen years ago?”

  “There was a fire-haired woman who we did battle. These trees you see before you are the remnants of what we are. Dragons have died here. Now, the Clayborne people come to draw upon the last blood of the dragons to heal themselves.” The dragon roared. “We have no peace, even in our death. The woman is dead. I killed her and watched as her body burned into ashes. As for humans, I did not kill them. It was she who killed them and turned them into something monstrous, and they flew away into the darkness below.”

  I heard the crackling in the air and turned back toward the portal. It looked as though it would close any moment. Turning back one more time, I looked up at the massive dragon.

  “Thank you.”

  “I will always be with you, little one. When I see you again, you will join us here.” He looked up at the portal. “Now, go. To win the war, you must first become the enemy.”

  I ran and jumped into the portal—the icy coldness chilled me to the bone as my mind repeatedly swirled with the last words the dragon spoke. It was at that moment, I realized that it was the dragon’s voice I’d been hearing. I wasn’t crazy, nor was I losing my mind. The voice was real, or at least I believed it to be.

  When I stepped through to the other side, Tristan was there waiting for me. The look on his face was graver and more despaired than a vampire’s tomb.

  “Is Jacob okay?” I walked forward toward him, surprised I didn’t have any side effects from the trip this time. Maybe adrenaline did that to you.

  Tristan nodded, covering his mouth with his hand briefly before speaking. “Jacob’s in the infirmary, and not doing well at all. Evan is furious and had Kyle locked up in the basement. He threatened me, but what could he do? Throw me in there just so I could get out?” He chuckled. “Evan’s looking for you, and if I were you, I’d leave now.”

  “I can’t,” I uttered under my breath. “I’m the only one who can save him.”

  I pushed my way around Tristan and stormed inside the Sanctuary, toward the infirmary. I spotted the blond bitch and her crew, but when she tried to stop me, I just punched her in the face, knocking her out cold as I walked by. Her friends didn’t even bother messing with me, maybe because I growled and hissed at them.

  Gordon was next—he tried to grab my arm along with his friend. That didn’t go as well as he’d hoped. For a High Guard, I’d expect a little more from him, but then I remembered that I beat Jacob with Gordon’s mojo. Blah-Blah-Blah—all Gordon did was just Awaken my skills. I reached under Gordon’s neck and lifted him up against the wall, then looked directly into his eyes.

  “I did not come here to hurt you or anyone. If you want your brother to live, then you’ll let me help him. Is that understood?” I growled and showed him my teeth.

  “Okay, Jessie—okay. He’s in the infirmary.” Gordon pointed down the hall.

  “I know where it is.” I set him down and dashed off.

  Once I made it to the door, I opened it slowly and walked in to find Karina and Mia beside Jacob’s bedside. Mia looked up at me, and her eyes told me of a sad story as her gaze drifted back to the unconscious Jacob.

  “I can help him.” I kept my voice soft and in control as I cautiously moved closer.

  “He’s not responding to the antivenom.” Karina’s voice broke as she held onto Jacob’s hand. “I gave him something to ease his labor breathing and slow the venom from spreading.” She looked to me with red-rimmed eyes. “He doesn’t have long.”

  “Karina, I can help him.” I moved closer until I stood about a foot away from her. Tears streamed down her face like rivers bursting from a dam.

  “He’s my little boy.” Her voice quivered and broke as she slapped her hand over her mouth. “Of course, I want him to live.”

  I cleared my throat. “Listen to me, the only way that he will survive is if I bite him. Whatever I am—the Dragonborne venom will act as the antivenom you need. He will live, but he will become a Dragonborne.”

  “Dad needs to know,” Mia stated as Evan walked into the room.

  “Dad needs to know what?” Evan snapped, then stopped when he noticed me. “YOU! You’ll pay for my son’s death!” He charged toward me with his hands outstretched, but stopped as Mia stepped between us.

  “WAIT!” Karina screamed at Evan. “Let her help him!”

  Evan snapped his attention to Karina. His icy-cold expression grew even harder as his eyes narrowed into tiny slits. “How can she help him? It’s her fault that he’s dying!”

  “I have the cure inside me,” I offered as I stepped closer to Jacob.

  “DON’T YOU TOUCH HIM!” Evan growled loudly, his jawline flexed and tensed.

  “Listen to me!” Karina grabbed Evan by his arms and shook him once. “She can save our son.”

  Evan took a long moment and stared into her pleading face. “How?” he whispered.

  “Her venom acts as an antivenom.” Karina looked at me and back to Evan.

  “She’ll save his life, but at what cost?” Evan’s brows drew into a deep frown.

  “He’ll live, Evan,” she pleaded.

  “And then what?” He turned to me. “What are the consequences? He will end up like you. A half-breed? I’d rather my son die.”

  My heart crushed under the heaviness of betrayal and, worse yet, loss. Jacob had made a choice to help his people, and do it the right way. I looked at Karina and saw a mot
her who was not prepared to lose her son. She didn’t care about the politics and traditions of this society. Dr. Karina Wester cared about life.

  Evan reached out and grabbed my arm, holding it firmly in his grasp. “You will pay for this.”

  I looked up into his eyes, where the pain of ignorance brewed, and saw a man unwilling to change. Evan, unlike his wife, didn’t care about life. He just wanted some type of revenge. He hated Dragonbornes because of who and what they were. And this hatred for my species would cost him his son—his blood.

  “You’re an idiot,” I seethed. “You say you care about Bloodbornes. You show this wealth, training, and teaching other Bloodbornes—for what?” I laughed and nodded. “I get it now. You’re training them not to kill demons, but kill Dragonbornes.” I narrowed my gaze and leaned closer. “Why are you so afraid of Dragonbornes? Is it because you don’t understand them?”

  “You know-nothing!” His voice lowered to a growl. “Dragonbornes are nothing more than an abomination. They are something that should not be. Dragons are evil, and have always been—they are the devil’s tool. They should all be destroyed.”

  I laughed. “You kill me, and you’ll lose not only a war that you really don’t want but your son.” I gave him a once-over. “But then again, I don’t think you really care about blood as much as you do revenge.”

  At that point, Gordon and another person walked into the room. Evan turned to see them, then walked with me in tow toward the door. Gordon placed restraints on my hands, and Evan turned me over to them with clear instructions to take me downstairs. My fate would be decided by the group of Elders, with Evan’s influence, of course. Anyone could see that he desired to destroy all Dragonbornes, and unknowingly, I had been the catalyst to fuel that war.

  Evan had become blinded by an obstruction of an unknown hatred toward all Dragonbornes. As I walked down with my hands bound by plastic tariffs, I realized that he had no real evidence that all Dragonbornes were dangerous. Abominations… that was too harsh a word to use against us. My thoughts drifted back to the majestic red dragon that stood before me, just moments before my captivity. Dragons hated demons, probably as much as demons hated Claybornes. It seemed like an endless cycle of hatred that would eventually end in two things—war and death. The last two dragons of their kind fought against the demons and did not harm us. The one who spoke to me, protected me, and even Jacob. The dragon could have killed us both, quickly and easily with one swift huff of his fiery breath, but he didn’t. He showed us kindness, and even mercy, and saved our lives. Mercy, because we were ignorant of their kind and their losses. Those two traits were more human than what the Bloodbornes had shown to the Dragonbornes.