The Vampire Wonderland

by Gloria Dark

  Eden sat on the soft carpet, different items laying on the floor around him. Some of the items were shattered pieces of decoration, others were jewellery and broken clocks.

  Eden took a few cogs of different sizes, placing a gemstone between them so that the cogs would swirl around the gem. He attached a chain on both outer sides so that twirling the chain would make them rotate. Doing so created a beautiful, soft melody.

  The boy fell asleep, but snakelike voices didn’t allow him to rest. They continued whispering foreign sentences over and over again, making him feel cold and lonely.

  Suddenly, a warm hand on Eden’s forehead pulled him out of the nightmares, then slid over his lip to cover the mouth. When the boy opened his eyes, the room was dark.

  “Don’t shout, okay?” Kastian whispered, removing his hand, “I heard it was your birthday a few days ago! I didn’t know or else I would have prepared a present for you. Would you mind to receive a late gift?”

  Eden shook his head, his eyes were big and surprised.

  “Follow me!” Kastian continued whispering.

  “Where are we going?” Eden opened his wardrobe to get changed into a noble suit since that was what Kastian was wearing.

  “I’ll take you to Snowhold!” Kastian whispered, “But you must hurry before my parents come back! It must be a secret!”

  Eden got ready as quickly as he could, and the boys sneaked outside the caste unseen.

  Kastian noticed a human woman getting into a Stormbird crossing across the street. He approached the woman, insisting on whispering something into her ear.

  The woman leaned forward, but Kastian used a dirty trick. He compelled the lady with his voice.

  “Take us to Snowhold!” he whispered, using his powers against the human.

  “Certainly!” the woman replied in a strange voice as if she were under hypnosis. She allowed the boys to get inside her Stormbird and took them to Snowhold.

  It was a beautiful town full of daylight dazzling over the thick layers of snow. There was a large fountain in the town centre, but there were snowflakes instead of water. Not far, there was a giant castle made of icicles of all shapes and sizes.

  The boys took a tour around the town and left the woman sitting confused in her Stormbird.

  Suddenly, there was a loud sound all over the town as if somebody had blown dozens of giant horns. All citizens left whatever they were doing to run outside their houses.

  “Let’s go see it! It must be the goddess of Winter arriving at her kingdom!” Kastian took Eden’s hand and ran to the crowd.

  The main street was flooded by different creatures watching a trail of dancers move gracefully towards the ice castle. They were followed by musicians playing various instruments. But the crowd started cheering relentlessly when they noticed giant wolves pulling a sleigh towards the castle. It looked as if somebody had carved it from ice and painted silver snowflakes over the surface.

  A tall woman stood inside the sleigh, waving at the crowd with her elegant hand. Her pale blue hair was styled upward like a frozen flower, but her blue eyes glimmered like diamonds. She wore a white top with silver paintings of unreadable symbols, and her long white skirt seemed to frost. Silver snowflakes lest her white skin, too pale to be human.

  “It’s the goddess of Winter!” Kastian elbowed Eden. “Her name is Raya.”

  When the sleigh stopped, tall piles of snow grew from the ground, forming masculine silhouettes with no faces. They assisted the goddess with getting on the high porch of her castle. Usually, the goddess would have greeted everyone, but she lost her words when her eyes locked with Eden’s.

  “I’ve seen her somewhere…” Eden muttered.

  “Of course! Everyone knows Raya, she’s one of the great Leaders who reign over this world!” Kastian replied, clapping his hands to cheer the queen.

  “I have returned from Argona to my lovely people!” the goddess smiled, trying to break the eye contact, “Please be my guests and enjoy the festival!”

  Before disappearing into the castle, Raya glanced at Eden once more.

  “Let’s go, I’m bored!” Kastian headed away from the crowd. “I’m hungry now, let’s hunt for something!”

  Suddenly, Kastian pulled Eden down to hide behind a pile of snow. He pointed towards a human child that played in the snow with his mother not far from them. Eden glanced at them, seemingly surprised when the woman gave her son a hug.

  “What are they doing?” he asked.

  “Not sure, but their humans so I don’t care!” Kastian replied coldly, ready to attack.

  “No!” Eden shouted, but it was too late.

  Kastian dashed towards the human boy, ready to attack him, but Eden created a wall of his translucent energy between his cousin and the boy. It broke Kastian’s nose, but it healed immediately.

  “What the hell?” Kastian yelled, glaring back at Eden with disapproval.

  Suddenly, tall silhouettes grew from snow, trapping Kastian in an ice cage. Before Eden could react, the snow guards had pulled the ice cage under the ground and disappeared. Eden ran towards them to try and help, but it was no use. The ground froze and covered in snow as it was before.

  “Thank you so much!” the human woman thanked Eden for saving her child. She embraced her son once more, checking if he wasn’t injured anywhere.

  Eden watched them, his face full of unanswered questions. Nobody had ever wrapped hands around him like that.

  The woman glanced at the vampire and wrapped her neck in a scarf so tight it would be impossible to bite her. Unsure if she was doing the right thing, the woman embraced Eden too.

  “What is this?” Eden asked, unsure how to call the warm action.

  “Doesn’t your mother ever hug you?” the woman asked, surprised. “Mothers always know how to show their love to their children!”

  Eden pushed the woman away, feeling uncomfortable pain in his chest.

  “Where did the snowmen take my cousin?” he asked.

  “To the ice castle! He broke the law by trying to attack my son. Goddess Raya will punish him!” the woman explained. “Are you here alone? You two, don’t look native!”

  “Yes…” Eden replied, feeling guilty.

  “You can use my phone to call your parents!” the woman pointed at her silver ring on her index finger.

  Eden nodded, feeling fear slowly swallow him.

  The woman said something into her ring, and it created a blue shield around Eden, opening up a screen where he could dial the code to call Kastian’s father, Octavian.

  Octavian was a scary man. He came to pick up the boys from the ice castle and made a deal with the goddess to punish the boys himself.

  A couple of days, Octavian locked the boys in the training chambers to teach them some discipline. They had to go through different tasks to learn to control their hunger. They were forced to sit in uncomfortable chairs without moving for hours, and as soon as they complained, Octavian added more hours of torture. He lectured them mercilessly, testing how well they resisted their temptations. Countless of times, Octavian sent in servants to check if the boys would break and try to drink their blood, but they stayed still.

  When their time in the chambers was over, Octavian fed Kastian and praised him for his endurance. Eden, on the other hand, was so weakened he couldn’t stand properly, but Octavian felt no compassion for him.

  After days spent with no food and no comfort, Eden went to find his mother, hoping to get the same warm action he saw human mother do to her child, but instead of an embrace, he received a cold rejection and harsh words.

  Physical pain meant nothing to vampires, but the broken hearts were always the root of evil. Feeling his heart shatter, Eden started seeing dark visions. Terrible memories flooding his mind, sickening his soul. The snakelike whispers returned, compelling the boy to use the powers that laid deep within him.

  He saw a vivid vision in one of the reflections of the windows. It was a picture of his older self being pushed
to the ground with face down. His clothing was ripped, but his shirtless back was covered in blood. There was a large, bleeding wound next to his right shoulder blade and a giant black wing growing out his back on the left side.

  Octavian’s boot pressed deep into Eden’s neck in the picture where he was older. Adrian held a sharp dagger, slicing the other wing.

  The little pureblood couldn’t look at the terrifying reflection any longer, the images made him nauseous. He saw his entire family against him through different ages for different reasons, each of them trying to get rid of him.

  Everyone apart from Kastian because he wasn’t born back then and Lotteline who always tried to help him in secret.

  Electric feeling ran through Eden’s head, causing him an unbearable headache. As if somebody tried to poke their fingers through the boy’s brain, he collapsed on the floor.

  “Eden!” Lotteline found him, immediately trying to help.

  “Lotte…” Eden spoke in a strange voice, sounding unrealistically mature.

  “What did you call me?” the girl asked, surprised to see her name shortened for the first time in ages.

  “Lotte,” Eden cried out, his voice beastly, “I remember you. I remember you, Lotte!”

  “Eden, how can I help you?” the girl didn’t know what to do, “Tell me, I’ll do anything for you!”

  “I need you to tell me where’s my real violin so I can return my divine power!” Eden coughed out the words, ready to awaken.

  Chapter 8: The Awakening

  The Awakening

  Six more years had passed. Thanks to Lotteline, Eden’s memories had started to come back. Most days, he was just a confused boy, seeing visions of his past lives run before his eyes. Other times, he was an adult in a child’s body. Unfortunately, to others, it looked like insanity, but to him, it felt like a nightmare where a lost soul tried to walk around the world, trying to collect pieces of shattered memory.

  One day, Eden woke up in the Punishment Circle, laying on the cold ground. He couldn’t recall how he’d gotten there, and his mind blocked the godly memories to let him breathe.

  Eden glanced around, trying to understand why his older self wanted him there, but the only clue was the violin laying on the ground next to him and the bow. Its glossy black surface had golden symbols written in a foreign language. Usually, they moved slowly, but they seemed to be frozen this time.

  “Poor boy…” a boyish voice whispered from under one of the Life Capsules; the darkest one of them all.

  Eden glanced towards the sound and noticed a tiny boy laying on the ground, eyeing him. He looked too young to spend time on his own, but no adults seemed to be around. His red pyjamas and the plush toy made him look as if he had just crawled out of bed.

  “Do I know you?” Eden asked, watching the little boy with the red mess instead of hair.

  “I don’t know. Do you?” the boy with the sunset eyes replied in a childish voice.

  “I don’t know either…” Eden sighed, trying to remember at least something; anything. “What’s your name?”

  “My name is Nataniel Sunborn. Nice to meet you Eden Gracious fon Vorigan!” the boy replied, waving a hand in the air.

  “I thought you said you didn’t know me!” Eden eyed the boy suspiciously as he crawled from under the Life Capsule.

  “I never said that!” Nataniel puffed his round cheeks, “I said I didn’t know if you knew me. I know you very well!”

  “Don’t come near me, I can kill you!” Eden warned, feeling rush of the adrenaline building up in his chest.

  Nataniel ignored the warnings. Instead, he jumped up in the air. Giant wings bloomed out of his back, burning crimson red and glimmering in the sunlight. The boy flew to Eden with the speed of light, catching the vampire by surprise.

  Nataniel wrapped his hands and wings around the pureblood, giving him a warm and calming embrace.

  “W-who are you?” Eden asked, seemingly speechless.

  “I already told you, I’m Nataniel Sunborn!” the boy replied, smiling the kindest smile.

  “I thought Sunborns were wizards!” Eden noted, glancing at the giant red wings.

  “Oh, you meant my wings!” Nataniel laughed awkwardly, “I can’t tell you that! It’s a secret!”

  Nataniel puffed his cheeks and crossed his arms over his chest.

  “Why not?” Eden asked. “I won’t tell anyone!”

  “Promise?” Nataniel’s sunset eyes lit up with liveliness.

  “I do,” Eden replied.

  “Okay, swear it!” Nataniel demanded.

  Eden placed two fingers on his forehead and repeated his promise.

  “I’m an angel!” Nataniel revealed his very-well-hidden-secret.

  “I know that! I can see by your wings!” Eden pointed out.

  “Oh…” Nataniel glanced down as if he were guilty for something, “Well, you swore not to tell anyone, so now you must keep the secret!”

  “Okay,” Eden giggled for real.

  “So why did you summon me if you don’t know who I am?” Nataniel asked, pointing at Eden’s violin.

  “I did?” Eden seemed shocked, “How?”

  “You plaid the angel’s lullaby. It’s what the gods from the Heavenly Kingdom used to play and sing when they needed help.” Nataniel explained.

  “Why is it called a lullaby then?” Eden rose an eyebrow.

  “I don’t know. I never asked my goddess.” Nataniel admitted, poking his finger into the ground.

  “I’m sorry for summoning you, I didn’t know I did it. I was probably playing the same melody that’s always on my mind.” Eden sighed.

  “Don’t worry about it, I was nearby anyway. I always come here.” Nataniel admitted, pointing at the darkest of the Life Capsules.

  “Why there?” Eden asked, “Do you belong to Abyss?”

  “No,” Nataniel poked the ground once more, “But my goddess blessed him before she died. I must watch over him to ensure her blessings come true.”

  “Who was your goddess?” Eden asked, scanning the red-haired boy.

  “Demetra, the goddess of Love and Light. She left us for him, “Nataniel pointed his dirty finger at the dark Life Capsule.

  “Us?” Eden asked, “Who do you mean?”

  “Her servants, the angels of love!” Nataniel sounded sad, “When she released her powers and spread them over the world, most of her angels stayed in the Heavenly Kingdom. I decided to come here on my own to be able to watch over Abyss. Unfortunately, I have to wait until he awakens. Meanwhile, I’m trying my best to grow up as a healthy boy!”

  Nataniel patted his belly.

  “Why are you a child?” Eden wondered, scanning the angel.

  “I couldn’t allow myself to lose my powers by coming here. To be able to keep them, I needed a mortal to summon me, to pray the Heavenly Kingdom for me to come down here!” Nataniel replied, drawing an imaginary picture in the sky, “A nice lady from the Sunborn family couldn’t have children. She prayed day and night, wishing for a baby. I heard her prayers and made a deal. I agreed to be her child if she would ensure I never forget who I truly am. It’s our little secret!”

  “So do you come here every day?” Eden pointed at the spot under the Life Capsule. “Just to be around him?”

  “Who said he’s in there?” Nataniel grinned mischievously.

  “Well, most of the world did!” Eden added.

  “It’s not true!” Nataniel giggled, “Most of his powers are there, but his soul has been reborn into a new life. I’m just waiting for him to remember who he is.”

  Eden swallowed hard, hoping the boy wasn’t talking about him.

  “How do you know me?” Eden asked nervously.

  “Most of the gods know you, you’re the boy that is not tied to the Heavenly Kingdom, nor the Underworld, and you’re not a child of the mortal land either. You belong nowhere, yet any place can be your home!” Nataniel replied.

  “What is that supposed to mean?” Eden felt con
fused.

  “Does the name Hiopesia mean anything to you?” Nataniel glanced at the pureblood’s violin.

  A bolt of sharp pain shot through Eden’s chest, tying up in a tight know. It made the vampire want to cry, but he didn’t understand why.

  “I’ve never heard of it.” Eden tried to hold himself together, trying not to cry.

  “Hiopesia used to be a goddess of Harmony. She possessed powers to walk freely through the different worlds. The realms of gods and the mortal lands.” Nataniel replied, “You’re her son. You’re the one who created those weapons, including this violin, and named them after your mother.”

  Suddenly, a sharp headache caused Eden to collapse on the ground. Electric feeling stung his head, pulsating painfully.

  Old memories swirled through the boy’s head, showing him pictures of when he used to be a god.

  ***

  Eden laid in an empty field under the night sky, holding his head. His face was covered in tears, pain shooting through his chest like a hurricane. Four of the divine weapons laid around him - Shinzo, Jitamo, Morcie and Kiari.

  “It’s all my fault…” he cried, “I can’t take this any more…”

  Ready to end his life, Eden prepared the last of his powers to trap it inside a black lily - the last of its kind. He sat up, collecting all of his Darkness, and placed his hands over the flower to release it there.

  “Morinji, your name is Morinji!” Eden said to the lily of Darkness.

  He glanced at the sky once more, ready to sacrifice himself to scatter over the mortal land like pieces of shimmery dust, but a blinding light appeared over his head. The brightness turned into a silhouette of a flaming bird. It was a phoenix, the god of Eternal Life.

  He daggered his sharp claws into Eden’s chest, holding his heart tightly.

  “From all gods, you shall live!” the phoenix said in a dozen different voices at once, “You shall live until the Harmony is restored. Only then you’ll have a choice of the end!”