by Lynn Landes
“I thought you could walk in sunlight,” he continues goading him.
“Obviously, since it is now two p.m. However, not being in the sun for centuries does have adverse effects. We are sensitive to the sun, not destroyed by it, as the legends go.”
Vorn reaches out and punches in the address on the GPS and sits back for the drive.
“Tell me, why you are here, Drow?”
His grin fades as he glances at the ancient vampire. “I was sent by Queen Caderyn to find a way to stop Caius and see what you are planning to do about him.”
Sebastian doesn’t let his surprise show. Caderyn was crowned Queen of the Fae when she rescued their King. All the species were surprised when a human female was allowed into the Vale, especially as the new Queen. The rules of not mixing species apparently do not apply to the Fae. It is becoming more common among some species and a problem for the vampire community. Many of the Fae revolted and some left the Vale in their anger and revulsion at the thought of watering down the species.
“Caius should have been dealt with after his last episode. Why wasn’t he destroyed? He broke your precious laws, yet he lives to cause more chaos,” Vorn snaps.
“Your Queen was a witness to exactly why our laws are necessary to all species.” Sebastian falls quiet for a moment as he merges into the next lane. “I am not privy to all the answers, Vorn. I am only the keeper of the archives, not a council member. I argued for him to be ended, but it was forbidden by the council. Besides, your people left us no evidence to take to the council. All we had from the last encounter was charred bones and ash.” Sebastian explains.
“Surely the word of our Queen…”
“The word of a human means nothing to the Council. I can promise this time he will be stopped,” Sebastian grates out.
“Do you agree with your council, that humans are merely meat?” Vorn demands and glances over at him.
Sebastian is quiet for a few minutes while he thinks about how to respond. The council has grown weak in his mind. They thrive on the conventions of the past and no longer seem to care about preserving the culture of his species. Power is the drug all species seek. Vorn hears his thoughts as easily as if he spoke them out loud.
“No. I believe we are multiple species, sharing the same planet, and that has never boded well for anything living in this world,” Sebastian sighs. “I believe that all immortals are natural born predators and we are all striving to be at the top of the food chain. It is a sad state of affairs.”
Vorn decides in that moment to trust the vampire. If they share information maybe they can stop Caius and save the young woman. “You are right about one thin. He must be stopped now. I have spent months tracking him. Watching, listening, and gathering information. Caius is way past the planning stage, Sebastian. He is preparing for war.”
Sebastian stops at a traffic light and looks over at Vorn with surprise registering on his face. “A war with whom?”
“All of us. Human and immortals.”
Sebastian’s cell phone rings and he ignores it, “Continue. Tell me why I should share all my Intel with you? What’s in it for me? Vampire hate the Fae. Do they not?” Sebastian laughs and begins to drive again.
Vorn chuckles at the vampire’s dry humor, “I’m sure some do, as much as they hate humans, werewolves, pixies, shifters, angels, and any other creatures who are not vampires. The rest of us simply wish to live peacefully.”
He turns following the directions and pulls onto the interstate, just as the GPS states, “Continue twenty miles to your destination.”
“Obviously, this new creation is a threat to all of us. We should work together,” Sebastian announces.
“What if it I told you that Caius has the backing of your council?”
Shock rocks Sebastian’s body and he grips the wheel tightly beneath his hand.
“What if I told you that under a mountain of fire and ice, the creatures of Caius’s design, wait, feeding on the fallen, angels, vampires, humans, whatever they manage to capture.”
A red flame erupts behind Sebastian’s eyes and his fangs burst through his gums. “Waiting for what?” Sebastian hisses.
“For the Herald. If he gets his hand on her before we do, we’re all lost.”
Chapter 15
Magdalene pushes the button on her phone and growls in frustration. “Sebastian, where are you?” Glancing up she is surprised to see Lady Faygin enter her office, followed by her two older sons.
“Where is Sebastian?” the ancient vampire demands. To human eyes, Lady Faygin would appear to be in her thirties. Beautiful, delicate features hide the true ferocity behind her lilac eyes. Both of her children are similar in size and coloring. They are her guards and Mags knows they would be only too happy to rid the vampire world of any they consider less than. The hierarchy is simple. Lords and Ladies are the ancient vampires who are natural born. They are the only vampires allowed on the council. All others are, simply, not.
“My Lady,” Magdalene bows before straightening up to answer her question. “Sebastian was investigating the incident at a club last night.”
“Of course,” she interrupts, “that is why I’m here. I have come to collect this witness. He is to be interrogated immediately.”
Magdalene does not indicate her surprise. She knows better than to demonstrate weakness in front of the Council. “Foster is in the holding room. Shall I bring him to the council for you?”
A quick glance at her children and they leave as silently as they entered. Her lilac colored eyes pin Magdalene and she feels the attempt to push into her mind. “Yes, in fact, you can ride with us.”
Magdalene does as Sebastian trained her and drops her mental walls while shielding her private memories and thoughts. Lady Faygin turns on her heel and leaves, expecting Magdalene to follow, which she does on trembling legs.
“How did you know about Foster?” She asks as they move into the hallway.
Lady Faygin smiles down at Mags, “We know everything.”
Magdalene follows quietly flanked by the two younger vampires. Careful to protect her mind, she can’t shake the feeling that something is not right, but one does not question a council member.
Chapter 16
“Da, you need to find the man you call my father and ask for his help. Tell him what you’ve just told me. I have to go after this book.”
“The book tells the location of the gates, Anya. Caius is planning something, either to destroy them or use them. Either way, he must be stopped,” Keane explains.
Anya turns to Katie, “I need you to show me this angel of yours, Kathleen. He will know the location of the gates.”
“Fine, but how do we get there. I can’t fly, Anya, and we must hurry.” The urgency in her voice matches the fear in her heart and Anya smiles. “Picture him in your mind before he was hurt. The moment before he touched the gate.”
Katie closes her eyes and Anya touches her fingertips to her temples. Morgan is smiling at her. His Bronze wings are spread out in front of her and when he touches Katie’s face, her heart gallops. He takes her hand and pulls her along the sandy beach…
“Beach,” Anya murmurs and a door opens out of thin air. The call of the birds and sound of the ocean calls to her and she pulls Katie through with her. Keane watches in shock and then laughs aloud.
“Lailah, I did it. Our girl is safe.” Keane wipes a tear and whispers, “Now to go find Sebastian. First, I need my weapons.” He limps to the front of the house and climbs in Katie’s car. Damn thing is tiny! Struggling for a moment he manages to fit inside and as he drives along, he hopes to find his courage along the way. “What do I say to the father of the child I stole?” Will he understand why they did what they did? Or will he strike first? Either way, he knows he owes it to Lailah, to tell the truth.
Once on the beach, Katie is dazed for a moment from moving so quickly. The salty scent of the ocean pulls her and the sound of the waves crashing on the shore mirrors the pounding of her hea
rt. Her fear has her trembling as she waits for her eyes to adjust before running towards the mountain of debris. “Morgan!” Katie digs frantically, pulling bricks away with her bare hands.
“Morgan? There was so much blood,” she sobs out. Anya has moved forward and is now walking slowly around the fallen ruins, sniffing at the air like an animal. Her eyes are beginning to glow and her teeth are pushing at her gums. This time, she does not fight the urge to shift, she simply lets it take over.
Stone, by, stone, Katie pulls away the rocks of Morgan’s tomb.
“Move back,” Anya hisses. Katie jumps back and watches in amazement. With a wave of her hand, Anya lifts the rubble up into the air and fires it across the darkening waters of the ocean, revealing Morgan’s motionless body. Katie rushes to his side, weeping in relief. His wings are crumpled and broken and the stump where his arm once was, is no longer bleeding. She lifts his head into her lap and rubs his hair away, but his eyes do not open.
“Balthial said he could heal himself, Anya. Why isn’t he moving?” Anya is staring at him and trembling with desire.
“So much blood, Katie. Doesn’t it smell amazing?” Her mouth is pooled with saliva at the thought of all that immortal blood. The tangy metallic taste is drawing her in, and she doesn’t know if she can fight it, or even if she wants to.
“What?” Katie whispers horrified. Staring up at her best friend, she doesn’t know how she will stop her. Anya only has eyes for the blood, slowly, she steps towards Morgan. A blur of movement is the only warning before Anya is struck from the side.
The vampire Daria managed to survive the blast. She was blown backwards through the hole in the wall and on the other side of the sand dunes. Leaping at Anya, she sinks her fangs deep into her shoulder and grins as the human screams. She needs nourishment to replenish her wounds.
Anya grabs the vampire by the hair, ignoring Katie’s screams and jerks her clear of her shoulder. Her strength surprises Daria and when she turns on her, the vampire is shocked.
“You are a vampire? I thought you were human.”
“Wrong on both accounts, I am the Herald.” Astonishment fills her face just as Anya pulls her head back and bites. Daria screams and tries to fight, but she is no match for Anya’s strength.
Katie watches in horror as the female vampire begins to shrivel, drying out like a prune, before finally turning to dust. Anya stumbles for a moment and allows the powerful blood to fill her system. “Yes, oh! I needed that.”
“Morgan, wake up baby. I’m in trouble. I need you…” Katie whispers smacking his pale cheeks. “Come on Morgan,” she yells shaking him. Terror fills her heart. She knows if Anya turns on them, they are lost.
His dark eyes flicker for a moment and she sobs out a semi-hysterical laugh, “That’s right, come back to me. Don’t leave me alone here! I need you.” Katie presses a kiss to his forehead and his hand reaches up to caress the back of her head.
“Kathleen?” His eyes open and the pain in his body registers. Anya hisses and Katie’s head snaps around in fear.
“Get away from him, Katie! He killed my mother!” Anya demands and she stalks towards her. “I’m going to drain him until there is not a single drop of dust left to remember him by.”
“No, Anya! We need him, remember. He can tell us where the gates are,” Katie pleads.
Morgan struggles to stay awake and turns his head towards Anya. His eyes fly open wide as he stares at her. “Is it true?” He whispers through cracked, bloody lips. “You are the Herald?”
“I am the harbinger of death to the Twelve, Angel.” She leaps forward as Katie shields him with her body, protecting him with all that she is.
“Kathleen, you need to go, now!” Morgan demands struggling to push her away with his good arm but Katie clings to him.
“No,” she screams, “I’ll not leave you here to die again, I can’t.” He tastes her salty tears as she protects him with her body. Katie holds on tightly to him, curving her own body, overtop of his, to shield him from the attack. She glances up when Anya screams in rage and the attack does not come.
Two Archangels land blowing rock dust all around, Katie squeezes him as he grins at his brothers from her protective embrace. Anya is held immobile by an invisible power. “What took you so long?” Morgan demands.
Liam walks quietly towards them and leans down to look in Katie’s eyes. “We have him now, little one, let us in.”
Katie nods and backs away in relief, while watching as the two angels begin to heal his wounds.
“Morgan, this is becoming a regular thing with you, isn’t it?” Liam says as he slices his arm and drips the blood into Morgan’s mouth and onto the stump of his arm. Katie looks at Anya and the angel staring at her.
“Is she really the Herald?” Cassiel wonders.
“Cassiel, I need you!” Liam snaps at his brother, who immediately focuses on Morgan.
Anya is struggling to move, fighting against the bonds that hold her. She can see what they can’t. One of these three is fallen. Katie moves to Anya’s side and reaches out to touch her.
“No,” Cassiel snaps at her. Katie stumbles back and glances at him. “She is more powerful than you know.”
“Is it hurting her?”
“No, and we can’t hold it forever. Cass, we must get him to a gate. I can’t heal him here.” Liam announces. The strain of fighting Anya is beginning to show on his face. He is trembling and sweating as he struggles to keep her in check.
“I’m going with him,” Katie announces.
“Humans are not allowed into the gates,” Cass replies with a laugh. Liam hooks his arm under Morgan’s and lifts him to his feet. Morgan struggles not to scream. Multiple bones are broken, his wings are damaged and his arm though bandaged is bleeding once more.
“Caius knows the location of the gates, Liam,” Katie says. He jerks at the sound of his name as Katie explains, “Morgan called you before they attacked us.”
“Balthial betrayed us,” Morgan chokes out, “the gates are compromised. You must leave me behind. Release her.”
“It’s not safe to release her. She’s in a blood lust. Look at her fangs,” Liam snaps. “Right now, we have to get you through a gate. I can’t heal you on earth, Morgan. Your wounds are too extensive.”
“Anya is our best hope against Caius. She just hasn’t quite learned to control her… urges,” Katie explains.
Cassiel has been listening and circles Anya. Standing directly in front of her, he stares into her amber colored eyes. Her forehead is beaded with sweat as she struggles against the bonds they hold her with. “Look at her. Her fangs are extended and dripping with, what is that exactly?”
Katie is quick to push at his chest, not caring if he is an angel or not. “What are you doing?” She places herself in front of Anya, with her hands on her hips, “Get away from her. She can’t help what she has been turned into.”
Cass lifts his hands in defeat, “Easy little warrior, I am simply inspecting her. We have waited centuries for her to come. Honestly, I expected a bigger fight from the Herald.” Cass looks down at Katie and smiles when she pokes him once more in the chest.
“More! She only just found out that she is this… Herald you people keep spouting off about. Cut her some slack.” Morgan grins despite his pain. Katie is amazing, standing up to an Archangel covered in the blood of his brother and ready to fight still.
Rage and frustration rush through Anya’s body. The scent of the three immortals is driving her insane. She is fighting against it, trying to fight it back. A tear of impotence slips down her cheek, and she whispers, “Katie?”
Katie reacts instantly. She spins around and wipes her tear, and whispers to her of the memories of childhood. “Remember, Anya, who you are. You are more than just the Herald. You are a daughter of humanity as well. Born to walk amongst us, protect us and heal those that need you. You are not a monster! You are a precious gift. Find the part of you that believes that and hold onto it.”
&nb
sp; The three angels stare at the small human as though she just sprouted wings. Kathleen has a glow that surrounds her, and it emanates from her soul. Anya listens and her fangs retract. When her eyes shift to their normal color, the blood lust dissipates and with it comes a sense of relief. But her job is not done yet.
The wings on her shoulders begin to burn, and she knows she must deal with the fallen. Anya pretends to be frozen and waits for her moment. When Liam and Cass talk to Morgan, they do not notice Anya move.
Katie is quiet as she watches her friend. Anya closes her eyes and remembers Christian, and she whispers a prayer for guidance. When she opens her eyes, she can see a radiant power around each angel. When Katie moves close to Morgan his power envelops her. They share it and he doesn’t even realize it. Anya is capable of more than they know and maybe this is what they need to realize. It makes her wonder if she could draw on it. There is only one way to tell for sure.
“What do we do about them?” Cass asks.
Liam glances at Morgan with growing concern. The blood he gave him did not heal him. He seems to be growing weaker with every passing second. “We have to go to a gate because this one is obviously destroyed. Compromised or not, I have to get him through.”
“The gate will no longer accept him. He is fallen.” Anya says from behind them.
They spin and this time, they are caught in her snare. “I have a suggestion of my own,” she grins as they struggle to move. “Did you know your fear dances on the wind, mingled with the scent of that delicious angelic blood? It calls to me and I admit, I don’t want to fight it.”
Katie gasps and starts to move, but Anya holds up a finger. “But, I am more than just urges and desires, as my sister explained. I can help him.” She whispers a prayer and moves forward amongst the three angels. Looking deep into Morgan’s eyes, she places a hand on his cheek and reaches for Katie.