Salvation's Kiss (Tales Of Mython Book 1)

by Kathryn Jayne

  Heat chased through her as she realised Conrad had moved to sit beside her, his hand on hers creating a comforting warmth that spread through her to combat the cold dread that had threatened to take hold.

  “I know trusting us is a lot to ask, but I promise, my parents would never betray your confidence, that’s why I brought you here in the first place.” He squeezed her hand, his gesture reassuring her beyond any words he had spoken. She glanced between the faces of those present before her eyes fixed upon his, savouring the feather-light sensation of his thumb as it caressed the back of her hand.

  “Will you stay, too?” she asked, glancing up at him, giving him the full benefit of her pleading eyes as she looked up at him through her heavy lashes. He gave a slight nod. “Okay, what did you discover?”

  “Not here.” Selene gestured towards the hall. “This conversation is one to be had in the protection of my room.”

  Her saying that seemed to spark a reaction from both Reuben and Conrad, and Ashley swore she felt the pressure in the air almost solidify. Rising from her seat, she followed, placing a hand to her stomach as it churned, making her wish she hadn’t eaten quite so much.

  When everyone but Selene was seated in the room, a heavy blanket of silence descended. Selene seemed anxious. Her finger tapped her chin as she paced, as if finding it difficult to decide on the best approach.

  “The reason I suggested speaking here is because nothing leaves this room. Nor can it be overheard by any manner of technology or magic,” she explained, her eyes fixed on Ashley. “Before I talk about the results, I believe Reuben may be able to offer some closure on one of the issues you’re facing, but first, since Ashley has agreed to have you here, I’d like her to relay what happened the night she was attacked.”

  “Mother!” Conrad snapped, coming to her defence, clearly not wishing for her to relive the events of that night again.

  “It’s fine.” Finding the same small imperfection she focused on last time she was in here, Ashley began to recount the events, her vision occasionally chancing a glance towards Conrad, who sat beside her, his fists balled but resting on the table. She saw his anger, his jaw clenching as she spoke about how they had restrained her, tearing into her flesh. When she spoke about them fleeing, his shoulders seemed to relax, his fists uncurling ever so slightly. It was a moment before she realised why. “Conrad, I’m sorry, I didn’t think. You thought…”

  “No, I assumed, given where the bite was and what you told me. It changes nothing, though. Those bastards attacked you and—I mean, just look at that scar, that’s not intent to turn, it’s intent to kill!” He gestured towards her leg where she had pulled her loose-fitting Lycra trousers up to show them her injury. It was a decision made in haste and embarrassment at being the centre of their intense stares, rather than something she’d intended to do. Fumbling with the trouser leg, she pulled it down again, shifting her vision.

  “So the first question, before anything else, is why did they run?” Selene took control of the conversation much in the same way a professor would. “Well, the truth is, I don’t believe they did. Reuben?” Selene prompted.

  “Self-defence, pure and simple, but still—” he began.

  “That is not self-defence,” Conrad snapped and his palm slapped the table, punctuating his point.

  “No, sorry, let me explain.” Reuben held his hands up apologetically. “A few nights ago, I was called out to a suspected crime scene by a couple of rookie Blue Coats. One was a shifter, and you know how the saying goes, the nose knows. They were patrolling the park and came across some scorch marks, two, near the bandstand. Forensic data came back today to show the ash samples present contained vampire DNA. We are in the process of opening an investigation and appealing for witnesses, but no one saw anything. Which is just as well, I assume, based on my wife’s expression.” Ashley watched as a piece of paper exchanged hands. “Is that accurate?” His eyebrows raised as his gaze peered over the paper towards her.

  “Afraid so. Was there any blood at the scene?” Conrad’s hand slid across the table to rest lightly upon her arm as if he’d sensed the rising nausea that enveloped her. If she was correctly understanding what they were saying, her attackers hadn’t dropped her that night to flee. They were dead. She recalled hearing the sound of a scream, a scream that, until now, she had honestly believed had been her own.

  “I’ll check the crime scene notes once we’re finished here. I don’t believe they found anything. There was a theory about it being suicide, given the thorough manner in which the bodies were destroyed.” His vision dropped to the paperwork still held within his grasp. “I can’t imagine any new evidence coming to light, so the case will go cold. Did you leave any traces of this?”

  Ashley felt herself begin to tremble as Reuben inclined his head towards her while addressing his wife. She felt almost invisible, like a child being discussed between two very concerned adults, and she still didn’t understand all of what was being said.

  “Nothing. The samples I took were destroyed. You hold the only record of the results, and I’ve already initiated a full-scale system wipe.”

  “What is going on? Why would you need to wipe your systems? They’re protected.” It was as if Conrad had sensed her building fear. Perhaps it was the way she had shuffled closer to him, her hand now gripping his arm. Hearing his outburst, Ashley released her grip, realising her knuckles had turned white.

  “I can’t be too careful. Ashley, your blood shows you to be preternatural,” Selene revealed.

  “But that’s because I was both bitten and ingested blood, though, right? I’ve seen the tag, it’s full transition.”

  “Normally that would be the case, but you’re creating cells to neutralise the vampire toxin.”

  “Like antibodies?” She frowned.

  “No. Unlike antibodies, these cells aren’t working with your body to destroy them, rather they’re changing them into something different, but I can’t ascertain what. That said, your blood itself is not like anything I’ve seen. You’ve got Elder bloodline markers, but there’s another—”

  “You mean she’s a sovereign hybrid?” Conrad questioned. “How’s that even possible? I thought cross-species procreation was impossible.”

  “Almost impossible. It can be achieved if the female was a breeder, and yet her DNA shows neither of the parents held any breeder markers. The reason she was conceived must have had something to do with her father’s lineage, and whatever gifts he passed on to his child allowed her to survive.”

  “Can you tell who—what my father is?”

  “No. I’ve not seen a genetic composition that even resembles what you have, and I have access to the most extensive catalogue ever compiled. Whatever line your father is from is so well hidden, even we don’t know about it, and his genes not only allow you to maintain your genetic purity but would allow a foetus from any race to survive. That necklace you wear is the only reason you’re safe. If anyone were to discover you could sire a child, not to mention pass on Elder blood…” Selene shook her head. The Elder bloodlines were powerful preternaturals thought to have initially been conceived with divinity, making them into something more. The blood was passed down to each genuine heir, but they were few in number due to the difficulties of procreation, which meant those who did exist were held in renown by all the clans. Their position being similar to the archaic monastery system for each species’ faction.

  “I don’t understand. Do I hold the breeder gene or not?” Ashley wrapped her arms protectively around herself. She knew from her studies that those capable of bearing offspring to preternatural beings were identified at the age of fourteen. Breeders, being very few in number, possessed no rights and were destined for a life of servitude. However, a family who bore a breeder child was well compensated, but had no right to deny the sale of their offspring. A preternatural breeder was almost unheard of. Most hailed from the human race, but generally only one was located every few decades, making them a sought
-after possession to be used and sold on after bearing the family a child.

  “No, not in the traditional sense. You’re a preternatural whose breed is capable of bearing children. Until today, I didn’t even know such a race existed. Others will not only smell this on you, but taste it, too.”

  “But she doesn’t have a scent,” Conrad interjected, echoing the words his father had spoken just hours before.

  “And now we’re back to the necklace.”

  “Wait! Doesn’t her chip contain historical data of her family’s genealogy?” Reuben questioned, straightening slightly in the chair.

  “I wasn’t chipped—at least not until I was adopted. My adoptive parents arranged the chip, but not knowing my birth parents meant the information completed was limited.”

  “How old were you?” Selene questioned, finally pulling up a chair to join them sitting around the table.

  “Six, almost seven.”

  “That’s before children come into their gifts. Given you were also wearing the suppressor, you would have read as human. Only tests completed after this age would have shown your blood to be different and, because of the necklace’s holistic suppression, your scent won’t have trigged any mandatory examinations from peers. Very clever.” Selene dipped her head slightly, lost in thought for a second.

  “And it has never been updated because you always refuse to go to hospital,” Conrad said, with a dawning realisation.

  “I’ve never really been ill, not until I started collapsing, and my brother insisted a place full of preternaturals beings was not the best place for someone to go who can undo their nature. That’s why Tess and Jack knew what to do at the cinema,” she added, glancing at Conrad. “So what exactly do I do with this information?”

  “For now, keep that on at all times.” Selene gestured towards the necklace. “I assume from how it reacted to me earlier, that it is protected to ensure no one but you can remove it. I’d like to arrange some time together to study your abilities once your body has expelled the remaining virus. I’m curious to see what that necklace is suppressing. It may offer us answers as to your father’s species, but we’ll have to be careful. You’ve worn it since before you came into your magic, so if it’s removed without some manner of buffer in place, the results could be disastrous. We’ll have to proceed with caution. I can fashion some lower level seals and we can work on altering them accordingly. I’ll have Conrad set something up that works for you.”

  Alex ducked as magical bombardment flashed and ricocheted overhead, illuminating the metal girders of the large warehouse. Tables lay strewn and broken while the shattered glass from the manufacturing lab sparkled in the explosive light of the crossfire. One of his arms protectively shielded the head of a young boy from the Aphrodisia Clan—the clan name given to beings whose presence induced feelings of lust and love—as the false ceiling rained down fibreglass.

  A quick glance towards his partner, Bindu, who sheltered several feet away, confirmed the Anthousai—more commonly known as a flower nymph—had also been successfully retrieved. A resounding crack sent a shower of sparks from above, shorting out the remaining lights, plunging the warehouse into darkness for barely a second before his partner released her magic, sending several glowing orbs soaring above. They spiralled upwards towards the ceiling for a moment, before homing in on their attackers, providing Alex with the perfect markers. Ice left his fingertips in silent, deadly attack. The crumpling of the bodies crunching upon the shattered remains of the laboratory confirmed his aim had been true.

  For the last twelve months, they had been setting up this sting operation, their operation slowly leading to the ringleader of the drug chain. It was one thing for humans to ingest things created by their means, but when preternaturals perverted their vice market, it led to trouble. Hard-hitting and highly addictive, this new drug—known on the streets as zeal—had taken the country by storm.

  While this side of the barrier preternaturals still lived in the shadows, they had their own network in place, facilitated by the countries’ leaders who—after being sworn into power—were shown the world’s true history, ensuring their cooperation. Their knowledge was bound, ensuring that, even should they wish to, they were unable to even hint at this concealed community.

  Alex’s unit was one of many that ensured this hidden world stayed undiscovered and protected. His team had been assigned to investigate a string of abductions thought to be related to the manufacturing of zeal. After a year of undercover work and a fictitious relationship with the ringleader’s sister, Katrina, their diligence had paid off.

  Katrina had been the one to first seek help. As Madam of a brothel, she employed both humans, preternaturals from the Aphrodisia Clan, and nymphs. The flower nymphs, in particular, gained much interest. While few in number, they were able to reproduce any aspect of a plant’s nature and were often craved for the drug-like effects they induced on exchanging fluids with their client, creating a natural, risk-free high. It wasn’t until her third employee had vanished that she contacted the P.T.F., the Preternatural Task Force. She had been certain her brother had been involved, but at the time lacked any proof.

  Alex had been impressed by her decision to turn informant in exchange for the promise of being taken to Mython, a place where she could choose whether to live in the shadows or flaunt her talents. For years, her brother had forced her to run his brothel, but when her employees started vanishing, and others confided to her that he was forcing them to act as mules and peddlers, her tolerance expired and her fear of him evaporated.

  It was her Intel and cooperation that had brought the operation crashing down, and now it was clean-up time. Alex couldn’t deny his relief that this mission would soon be over, he could shed his glamour. Not that it made any difference, his very nature meant very few people actually knew he was a natural blonde with eyes as blue as the ice he controlled. His aura held a constant glamour that altered from person to person, protecting his identity, which was why undercover work had always been his forte.

  It was approaching Ashley’s birthday, and this was an important one. It was time to tell her the truth about what she was, and how his father finding her and taking her in had been more than just good fortune. It should have been his parents’ job, they had taken her in knowing full well the danger. But now it fell to him. At first he had resented the little intruder who inserted herself into his life disrupting their balance. She was monopolising time with his parents that belonged to him. But his dislike soon thawed and now he would do anything to protect her.

  ‘That’s the last of them, Lex,’ came the telepathic communication from his team beta who had taken point on the other side of the warehouse. Just a few hours ago, they had brought down the kingpin, Katrina’s brother. His execution sentence was completed instantly, which had meant targeting his distribution chains and warehouses had to be done quickly, before they destroyed any evidence along with the innocent lives of their captives. Alex glanced at the young boy. The makeshift bandage he had applied to the bleeding needle wounds was doing its job, but a mere bandage was nowhere near the level of help he needed. It would take more than that to heal him. Judging by his gaunt appearance, it had been months since food had passed his cracked lips. He had been kept alive by drips, chemicals, and feeding tubes while the rest of his body was coated in animal fat and scraped raw. He had never imagined enfleurage could be used in such a way as to harvest this clan’s pheromones. The poor boy was days away from a deadly infection, which of course had only made him more potent, in a hope to lure a prey closer to save his life.

  ‘Excellent. Great job, everyone. Call the cleanup and let’s get the survivors passed to medical and regroup back at base.’ Alex turned as his partner’s hand patted his shoulder. She offered him a faint smile, her tired brown eyes matching her weary posture. The young girl she had recovered hung onto her leg, her tiny hands clutching Bindu’s black combat trousers tightly as her frail legs trembled under the strain of her weight
.

  ‘Bet you’ll be glad to get back to your sister,’ she continued telepathically, but Alex knew it was a conversation shared just between the two of them. Bindu was the reason this group could communicate across the distances telepathically. As a psychic vampire, she created a link between the task force; as long as the number in the task force was geometrically stable, it caused no detriment as the linking of minds created a web of joint energy-sharing which actually enhanced the team’s overall powers. She worked best with five or six, but had been known to link as many as fifteen people. Her light affinity also gave her the ability to utilise the power of light in a similar way that normal vampires could manipulate darkness. Energy, after all, could become light.

  ‘Honestly, I’m dreading what’s to come more than this raid.’ Alex blew out a breath as the now-opened roller shutters came into sight. Waiting outside were the cleanup crew, complete with ghouls to dispose of the bodies before the area would be purged. ‘But at least I’ll make it in time to tell her before her magic awakens. I was worried it was going to be a phone conversation.’

  ‘You’re going to talk to her about joining us, right after she’s finished studying? Our unit would be unstoppable. Not to mention I heard tell they have rejuvenating abilities. Imagine what linking with a replenisher could do.’ He could feel her excitement in her thoughts. Two medics approached, their reassuring smiles and soft tones instantly putting the two children at ease. They watched in silence as the medics escorted the children into the waiting ambulance, noticing another two vehicles pulling away, no doubt containing the adults who had been discreetly escorted to safety before the attack began. There had been no way to approach the children without being seen.