Eternal Sanctuary

by Sela Croft

  “It looks like you need to steer clear of him too.”

  “I plan to,” I said. “But I have things to do. This war is ramping up, and I cannot let destiny take its course—without doing all I can to ensure things come out right.”

  “Since you’ve invited me to be your guest, I intend to take a long, hot bath.” Nemuri put her cup on the table, then stood up. “While I’m soaking, and getting this awful grime out of my hair, I’ll meditate on the future.”

  “Good plan.”

  “Possibly, I can be of help…in your aim to guide destiny.”

  I smiled. “You are a true friend, Nemuri.”

  She headed toward the guest room, so I went out for a walk. I’d missed my verdant forest and the tranquility of my home. It brought me joy, but at the same time, sadness stabbed at my heart. If all didn’t go well, my magic forest would be at risk. I wasn’t immune to the travails of the kingdom, so had as much at stake as the others. My future was intertwined with that of the realm, so I had every intention of using my magic to wrest control from the king’s hands.

  Chapter 6 – Mirela

  After dealing with military matters, Draven came to get me. His sister was on her way home to spend an evening with her fiancé, and we’d have time alone, too. I’d semi-recovered from the attacks we’d endured before returning to the safety of the castle. Yet my emotions were still in turmoil.

  I’d sworn to Calina that her brother wasn’t cut from the image of his father. He had been born of evil, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t rise above that. In my heart, I believed that was true. Yet the reality of what we faced demanded fierceness.

  Draven had protected me, more than once. It irked me that I needed protecting, but it seemed to be the case. Could I ask him to cater to his kinder side, his human emotions, when a violent war raged with no sign of stopping?

  When we left the library, Draven took my hand. I looked into his deep blue eyes, then ran my hand through his dark hair. The silky strands sifted through my fingertips. “I missed you.”

  “I missed you too, my love. We have the evening alone.” Draven guided me to the cliffs, one of our favorite spots. The sky looked brighter than usual under twinkling stars. Ribbons of stars gleamed above, as if a child had strewn sparkling crystals beneath the moon.

  The ocean was turbulent, but the rocky cliffs were quiet. We were high above the crashing waves, with a view to the horizon. Draven sat on a flat rock, and I nestled beside him. My heart filled with love; I admired him without consideration for his flaws, which were all a part of the man I’d chosen.

  “Was Calina all right?” Draven said. “She’s been through a lot.”

  Privately, I was concerned about his sister, for reasons I wasn’t about to tell Draven. She would have to share that when she was ready. “Your sister is strong, one of the strongest women I know.”

  Draven seemed satisfied with that. “And you? The recent events were quite a lot for you to take in.”

  I was unexpectedly overcome with homesickness. “Physically, I’m fine. I just…” I looked at Draven. “I wish I could see my mother. It is difficult not being able to talk with her or share the details of my life with her.”

  “I understand, my love. And I will arrange a visit, as promised…but not yet.” Draven touched my cheek. “I cannot go to war while I’m concerned for your welfare. And it would be too great a risk to allow you to leave the realm at present.”

  “I know that, but it doesn’t make it any easier,” I said. “And I wish that I could talk with Lana. I remember the conversations we had, how she seemed to understand me like no one else did. She was a good friend.”

  “You will be reunited, as soon as I can manage it.”

  “It’s not your fault that dangers abound,” I said, then furrowed my brow. “How did the meetings go? Anything promising?”

  “I learned of something disturbing, but I can turn it to our advantage,” Draven said, then told me about General Blackburn and his betrayal.

  It was hard to hear of such things, and difficult to understand why a general would abandon his loyalties. “I do see the advantage of your arrangement. It makes sense. Maybe he can make up for some of the damage he’s done.”

  I looked at Draven’s hardened expression. He would do what was required to give the Guardians best advantage. More than that, he was willing to do what it took to protect those he loved. He was a hero, not fully recognized for his accomplishments.

  The wind blew softly, ruffling Draven’s dark hair. He looked so impossibly handsome that desire swamped me. I linked my arm with his. “You bear the burden of guiding us to victory. I’m learning day by day what that means.”

  Draven’s jaw stiffened, and his expression was darker. “If only you didn’t have to learn such things.”

  Looking into his eyes, I perceived the evil he tried to hide. His visage darkened from a shadow within. It made me recall what he’d done on our return trip. “I’m glad that you did it.”

  “What?”

  “You killed the vampire hunters who abducted me and were intent on taking me prisoner.” I shuddered at the thought. It occurred to me that I’d previously have been opposed to such retribution. But I wasn’t. All I felt was relief and satisfaction.

  “They got what they deserved.”

  “Can I tell you something?”

  Draven put his arm around me. “Please do.”

  “I feel the vampire part of me is gaining strength. I no longer cringe at the thought of battle or cower under attack.” I hesitated. “It disturbs me.”

  “In what way?”

  “I don’t know what I’m becoming,” I said. “I always thought of myself as kind and caring. But now I find pleasure in things that I would have considered abhorrent.”

  Draven listened, and it seemed he understood.

  “Drinking your blood changed me,” I said. “Slowly, I’m turning into a woman I don’t fully recognize. Emotions such as hatred and revenge are no longer foreign to me. If someone I cared about was attacked, I would do exactly what you did.”

  “Is that bad?”

  “I’m not sure, and that’s what concerns me,” I said. “Is there no limit to such feelings? With the right provocation, I wonder what I am capable of.”

  Draven kissed my lips, lingering a moment. “You are the woman I love, the only one meant for me. I have faith in your judgment and how you will deal with events that you face. You are true to yourself. It’s your authenticity that is your true magic.”

  I could tell that Draven meant that, yet it didn’t wipe away my trepidations. “You feel that you must control the evil that wells up inside you. But I must tell you that I have another side too. I’m not the purist you paint me to be.”

  “We shall see, my love.” Draven rubbed his thumb across my lips. “Soon I must leave for battle. For tonight, we have each other. Let’s speak of other things besides war and confrontation.”

  I leaned against Draven, and he wrapped his arms around me. We stayed a while longer to enjoy the beauty of the scene in each other’s company. The wind blew harder and the sky darkened. “We should go in. I’m getting chilly out here.”

  Draven stood then reached for my hand to help me up. He dug his hand in my hair and kissed me deeply. My heart soared, and my body heated. With his lips against mine, he said, “I need you, my love.”

  There were no sweeter words. A sense of gaiety swept over me, so I pulled free of Draven and skipped over the grassy cliff. “Catch me, then…if you can.” I laughed at the devilish look in his eyes.

  Then my inner senses stirred. I perceived the supernatural, but not quite soon enough. Behind Draven I saw the figures before he did. It had been a while since I’d encountered the women. They were hired enforcers, working for anyone who would pay them.

  Above Draven’s head, the two clawed women swooped toward the cliff. Blood dripped from their eyes, and their black capes whipped in the wind. I shrieked, only it appeared they weren’t inte
rested in him.

  The two passed Draven and plummeted toward me. There was enough distance between Draven and I that he couldn’t reach me. There was no time for my weather tricks, and Pegasus was buried beneath my coat, impossible to retrieve in a split second.

  Just as the horrible women swooped for me, I forced all the energy I could muster into a heavy boulder. I’d learned that sorceress abilities often included telekinesis, but this was a heck of a time to find out. Amazingly, the boulder sprang into the air, striking the women.

  The women fell back, and in that moment, Draven levitated and grabbed me. We flew to the castle with haste. When I was safely on the terrace, I dared to look back. But the women were gone. I’d scared them off. My heart was pounding, and my knees were weak, but I was safe.

  “That was unexpected,” Draven said, with his arms still around me.

  “Do you suppose Silvain is after me again?”

  Draven frowned. “That’s doubtful. I don’t see any advantage for him. Circumstances have changed.”

  “Those women had definitely been hired to grab me.”

  Draven released me but held my hands. “It has to be Alban. He wants you the most. Possessing you is his aim.”

  “Because he wants to kill me…to take me out of the equation.”

  “Yes, he does,” Draven said. “He is determined to strip me of any love, any alliance. Whether it’s you or Calina, he will do all he can to destroy you—thinking that I’ll play into his hand.”

  “Selene cautioned me to stay away from the king until I’m prepared,” I said. “That is difficult to do, when he makes a point to come after me.”

  “Alban is treacherous. We must not underestimate him.”

  I turned to go inside, seeking safety. Draven walked beside me but said no more about the terrifying incident. Instead of spending the evening with him, I might have been held captive at the royal palace—a most disgusting thought.

  Pushing aside my fears, I tried to focus on Draven and our time together. I remembered the evening when he’d proposed, and glanced at the ring sparkling on my finger. All was not bleak after all. Yet I hadn’t suggested dinner in the ballroom since the dark gods had made an appearance.

  It was ridiculous to think that they haunted the cavernous room or lurked around its terrace. Yet that was how I felt. “What shall we do now?”

  “For the evening I have in mind, we’ll need to feed.”

  I felt the same lust and craving that I saw in Draven’s eyes. “I’m starving.”

  We went to the basement to take our fill of human blood. I no longer balked at doing so, having become accustomed to the ritual. I thrived on the sustenance, relished the taste on my tongue and the feel of the warm liquid flowing down my throat.

  In the dim recesses of my mind, I wondered again what I was becoming. But the thought was vague and didn’t interfere with the satisfaction of feeding. I drank more than my usual, having worked up an appetite from the recent trauma. My baser urges surged, forcing me to admit that I was becoming more vampire—that my human side was fading.

  Draven finished a little after I did, so when he emerged, we went upstairs together. I reflected with pride that I’d defended myself earlier, that my sorceress side had been strong. I was curious about what else I could do, as I hadn’t tried too many things.

  “It does my heart good to know that you are a fierce presence,” Draven said with a smile.

  I looked at him through lowered lashes. “And I thought you like me for my sweet nature and my good heart.”

  “I like you for many reasons,” Draven said, holding me in his arms. “And right now, it’s for your uncontrollable passion.” He swept me to our suite, where he ravished me for the rest of our hours alone. I fell into his embrace and indulged with abandon.

  Draven was my heart, my life. I loved him beyond all good sense. He was my other half, and I was his. That brought me great joy. I prayed that the rest of the prophecy would come to pass, so we could truly be together. Even as I loved him with my body and soul, I knew he’d leave soon—that we’d be forced apart yet again.

  The next day, Draven departed with his troops, and part of my heart went with him. I didn’t go along. Instead, he requested that I stay to assist Calina. She’d have need of my support, while she was in charge during his absence.

  I couldn’t argue with that, especially since I’d shown skill at protecting myself and others. No sooner had Draven left than Selene arrived. She found me in the rose garden. “I promised to intern you on your sorceress abilities, so here I am.”

  I plopped onto the garden bench. “You have no idea how much has happened since your last visit. I could have used your guidance much sooner.”

  “I’m sure that’s true,” Selene said. “But I’ve been detained…by one thing or the other.”

  I looked up at her, taking note of her halo of fire-red hair and her navy-blue eyes. She had a unique look, lovely in a non-traditional sense. I liked her and considered that we’d become friends of sorts. Although I wondered if she unconditionally pledged loyalty to anyone or anything.

  “Are you just going to sit there staring?” Selene said, then waved her hand. “Let’s see what your abilities are.”

  I stood up. “What shall I do?”

  A black cat stepped lightly over the dirt in the garden bed. Selene snatched him into her arms and handed him to me. The furry bundle rubbed his head under my chin. “Go ahead. He’s talking to you.” She smiled. “I already know that you talk to plants. Tell me what this little furball is saying.”

  I stroked the cat’s back and scratched the back of his neck, which elicited a loud purring noise. It was easy to understand what the cat was communicating. Only it wasn’t about the pleasure he exuded. He conveyed his acceptance of me and that he preferred me over Selene.

  I relayed the results of my first test, and Selene nodded. “That’s a good start.” Then she headed for the castle stairs. “But that was an easy one. Let’s go up to the tower and put you through more of a trial.”

  “I thought you were going to teach me.”

  “That too,” Selene said. “Although you seem to catch on quite well without my guidance.”

  It seemed that telekinesis came naturally, since I could move objects around with little effort. But other feats weren’t so easily achieved. There was one that Selene called shielding that required me to create a force field around my body.

  I tried repeatedly, but Selene could still break through. “You can do it,” she said. “It takes a particular type of strength. It’s a skill that requires practice.”

  She gave me more precise instructions, then I tried again. That time I kept her away longer, but she was still able to get through my shield. “I don’t know about that skill. It’s very difficult.”

  “It is for now, but the more you practice, the better you’ll get.” Selene seemed to be enjoying herself. “How about fire conjuring?”

  “I have no idea.”

  “Well, you can control weather, and it’s very similar. Here, watch me.” Selene focused then extended her hands. Two fireballs appeared at the edge of the parapet, roared into a blaze, then disappeared. “Now you try it.”

  I wasn’t so sure about this. I might burn half the city down before I mastered that one. I focused, imagining the fireballs before me, as she’d instructed. Then I extended my arms and waited. I strained, hoping to make it happen. Then a flame flickered briefly before extinguishing.

  “That’s okay,” Selene said. “You have to take baby steps before you can graduate to advanced sorcery.” She gave me a few pointers, then I made another attempt. I remained calm, exuding certainty, seeing the image of fire. Then two fireballs burst into existence before disappearing. It hadn’t lasted as long as Selene’s, but I’d done it.

  “Excellent,” Selene said. “If you do it a few more times, you’ll have it.”

  Now I was intrigued. “What else can you do? I know you’re much more advanced than I am.”


  “Sorcery is a talent that improves with practice,” Selene said. “But I’m not sure that you will achieve the level that I have. Remember that I’ve been doing this for centuries. It takes a very long time for some talents to develop.”

  “Like what?”

  Selene thought about that for a moment. “Oh, for example, I can summon ghosts and spirits.”

  My eyes widened, and I encouraged her to tell me more. She told me about the time she’d escaped from a royal soldier by summoning a demon to keep him occupied. I laughed at that one. “I suppose I should feel sorry for the soldier, but it sounds hilarious. I can’t imagine his expression when he saw that creature rise up from the earth.”

  Selene laughed too. “It was something, I have to say.”

  “I think it will be while before I can accomplish anything like that,” I said, “if I ever can.”

  “Yes, but there is still more you can achieve.” Selene proceeded to explain to me what a glamour was. Apparently, I’d be able to cast an illusion. It could change my appearance, so I might look like another person or another creature. It was a handy tool for deception.

  “Just make sure to create the edges of the illusion,” Selene said. “If you don’t, then the person you intend to deceive might see around your glamour and perceive you behind it.”

  “Okay, I’ll be careful of that,” I said. “Um, question…”

  “Sure.”

  “Well, movie stars are glamorous. Is that related to creating a glamour? Is that where the word came from?”

  Selene laughed. “But of course. What do you think those actors do? They create an image, an illusion we can all see. It’s not so different. Others see what we want them to see.”

  “I’m going to like this skill,” I said. “Let me give it a try.” My natural inclination toward this ability made it one of the easier ones for me. After several attempts, I was able to do it flawlessly. I created an image that disguised my true self. I appeared to be one of the enforcers, black cape and blood-dripping eyes included.

  Selene laughed hysterically. “Are you sure that’s what you want to look like?”