Kindred of the Fallen

by Isis Rushdan

  Floorboards didn’t creak as she explored a wide hall. It was a house built to last and weather any storm. Although it had been marvelously maintained, it didn’t have a brand new sparkle. She stopped in front of a great room and peered inside. A massive, half-moon, carved fireplace in pale gray marble drew the focus of the room with a sofa on either side, and two large chairs facing the hearth. Plants, knickknacks and easy chairs filled in the rest of the space.

  The house had the luxurious feel of a resort, but the warmth of a home. She wandered further down the hall into a room with tea green walls. Cushions in neutral shades were scattered across the floor, a grand panel of glass overlooked the manicured garden and an impressive waterfall fountain made of brindled brown marble with copper trim covered the entire back wall. It was the piece de resistance of the house.

  As she turned to leave, she noticed Abbadon sitting shirtless in linen pants with eyes closed, meditating. So quiet and still, it was as if he’d been cloaked. She crept toward the door on her tiptoes.

  “Please join me,” he said, eyes still closed.

  She winced. “I didn’t mean to disturb you.” Reluctantly, she sat across from him on a soft cushion.

  “Welcome, most favored sister.” He folded his hands and bowed from the shoulders. “As I have sworn to guide and protect Cyrus, so shall I do the same for you.”

  She didn’t know what to do, so she put her hands in Namaste and bowed back.

  He opened his eyes. “I’ve been waiting for you to get started with our first lesson. I’m going to help you master self-control by training you to expand your consciousness through meditative practices. We need to raise the vibration level of your energy. By the time we’re done with your training, you’ll have achieved the self-realization that you are an energy being.”

  She scratched her birthmark on her neck, not understanding a word he’d said. “Cyrus didn’t mention a lesson with you.”

  “Just before he left the estate, he said you were ready. I checked your room, but found you on the security camera in the gym. You looked as if you needed some time to yourself.”

  “Cyrus left?” Alarm sharpened her voice. “Where did he go?”

  “He didn’t say.”

  She squirmed at the idea of Abbadon knowing they’d had a lover’s spat. But they weren’t lovers, she reminded herself.

  “How was your evening?” Abbadon asked.

  “Are there cameras in my room?” No need to tell him about her evening if she’d been watched.

  “There are no cameras in any of the bedrooms.”

  “It was a long night. I had a great deal to think about.”

  “I’ve never met one of our own who has grown up away from the collective. How unbalanced you must feel.”

  “I guess it sort of feels like walking on sand for the first time.” She only hoped it wouldn’t turn out to be quicksand.

  Abbadon gazed at her with curiosity. A jagged scar over his heart blighted his smooth chest. Below his sternum, three lines snaked into a knot. A fracture ran down the middle.

  “Are all Kindred marked?” she wondered.

  “All bear marks to help them find their kabashem, but only those with one of the thirteen marks of the Fallen are considered Blessed.” He directed her attention to a framed print hanging on the wall of thirteen symbols drawn in fanciful, artistic strokes characteristic of calligraphy. Her birthmark was the seventh symbol. “All Kindred know the sacred marks of the Fallen.”

  “May I ask you a personal question?”

  “You may ask me any question,” he said.

  “Have you found your kabashem?”

  He smiled, but his cheeks resisted and the ends of his mouth flattened. Wisdom and despair swirled in his gunmetal blue eyes. “Yes.”

  “Where is she?”

  “She serves House Sekhem,” he spat the last word as though it had coated his mouth in filth.

  “Why aren’t you together?”

  “My kabashem lives her life in opposition to all I hold sacred. They practice an unorthodox way with regards to mating, taking partners of convenience, sometimes choosing not to mate with one’s kabashem at all. I believe it’s about exercising their freedom to choose, rather than have fate dictate it for them.”

  She nodded in silent agreement. The freedom to choose was crucial. Her attraction to Cyrus was as irrefutable as a bullet to the head and her blossoming feelings for him ran deeper than she cared to admit, but she didn’t buy into this soul mate, predestination crap.

  “She will not leave Sekhem and I shall serve Herut for all my days,” Abbadon said. “It’s an obstacle we’re unable to overcome.”

  “Don’t Kindred need to connect with their kabashem’s energy stream to inoculate them from the dark veil and blood rage?”

  “Inoculate? I’ve never heard it described that way, but yes. The connection to the anima or energy stream of one’s kabashem need only happen once, even briefly, to stave off the affliction. Prolonged connection sustained over years increases our vitality and lengthens our lifespan. Those of House Sekhem will seek out their kabashem for inoculation, but seldom for anything more. Rather than follow the dictates of the Creator, they wish to choose.”

  “What about the yearning you feel for her?” Separated from Cyrus, her thoughts centered on him, her body cried out for his and her stream sloshed in withdrawal.

  “Some principles and beliefs are worth self-sacrifice.”

  “What about love?” Did they all feel this inexplicable tug at the heartstrings for their kabashem? If they did, how could they resist it?

  “The love I bear for House Herut, for my brothers and sisters, is greater than the love I have for my kabashem,” he said easily.

  Serenity shuddered at the thought.

  “Open your mind beyond human constructs. Dare to see the world with Kindred eyes.”

  A human construct was all she had. For now, she wasn’t complaining. It was probably the only thing keeping her rational. The shadowy world of Kindred had a precarious edge where a blessing was a curse. She didn’t want to rush into anything. “At least you don’t have to worry about dying in some freak accident like Cyrus and I do, just because we’re Blessed.”

  “Freak accident?”

  “Cyrus said the other three Blessed couples died in tragic accidents.”

  “Those events were tragic, but they weren’t accidents. They were murdered. Cyrus knows this. He must have withheld these facts because he didn’t want to frighten you.”

  Abbadon’s words ploughed through her, dull blades ripping up tender, new roots, gutting her in one acute swipe.

  She strained to breathe. “You don’t seem to have a problem with that.”

  “Fear is natural. The only harm it can do is what you allow, but I thought, at the very least, he told you this.”

  At the very least? She knew this soul mate set up was too good to be true, but this was the catch? “Who killed them?”

  “We suspect it was an extremist wing of House Sekhem. Paladins, exceptional warriors, committed to doing whatever is necessary to preserve their House and uphold its ideals.”

  “I don’t understand. Why kill us?”

  “Our gifts are tied to our suffering of the dark veil and sangre saevitas. There are those who fear what a Blessed union will mean for all of us.”

  “Aren’t we supposed to be special if we have a mark of the Fallen? I thought finding each other was good, some kind of a blessing.”

  “You and Cyrus are very special. Your union is a great blessing, a mixed blessing.” He folded his hands in his lap. “Be patient with Cyrus.” The intonations of his voice shifted, hinting at emotion. “We’ve never dealt with a Kindred raised as a human. He worries you’ll be overwhelmed with information.” He hesitated. “May I speak frankly with you? I’d prefer not to censor my words simply because they may injure your feelings.”

  She gulped, doing her best to maintain a poker face. If everything he’d said so far had been
filtered, he was liable to say anything uncensored. “Please be candid.”

  “Cyrus worries your emotional constitution may be as fragile as your body since you were raised human. A lesser female would not have the mettle to endure the road ahead, but you are Cyrus’s mate. I have seen his fortitude tested in harsh ways. He not only survived, he came out worthy of our love. House Herut will follow him through the darkness to come. And we will follow you. I know what you are capable of because I know him. Show him your strength.”

  Her thoughts spun in a whirlwind and her pulse raced. She had no idea how to navigate through this new world safely, as if she were walking blindfolded, knowing somewhere out there loomed the edge of a cliff.

  Cyrus stood on a hill, overlooking the Long Island Sound. The cell phone in his pocket vibrated. It was Simon’s number, his lawyer in London working with Evan. “What?” he snapped in the phone.

  “I wanted to give you an update. The lawyer you sent is sharp and brazen. He took a chance that could’ve cost us the entire deal. Instead he lucked out and saved you a quarter of a million dollars. Rushing the deal was dangerous. He’s fixated on getting back to New York, worried about a woman he hasn’t been able to reach. I could lose some paperwork to keep him longer.”

  He shoved a hand in his pocket. Manipulating the situation had only backfired, repeatedly. The human was insignificant and she would come to realize it.

  “Don’t take further action. When he’s done, if he’s set on returning, don’t impede him.”

  Cyrus disconnected and stared out at the water. He needed the human out of her life permanently and that couldn’t happen if he was in London. Allowing Evan to ingratiate himself by becoming his lawyer had only complicated things.

  This needed to be resolved as soon as possible. If an oracle had had visions of him with Serenity, the sands of time were now moving against them. He had to make expedient choices to keep her safe, get her into his bed and save his species.

  Chapter Twelve

  In her room, Serenity zipped through a warm shower, missing the scent of her vanilla and brown sugar shower gel. The chamomile soap had a pleasant smell, but sorely lacked lather. Towel-drying her hair, she longed for her coconut hair milk that kept her tresses tamed and a diffuser hair dryer. Cyrus had provided almost every staple, but there were a few items she still needed. Staying with him until he resolved the issue of the mercs was for the best, but once the problem was solved, she wasn’t sure what to do.

  She had to break off her engagement to Evan. He deserved someone who wanted him the way she wanted Cyrus, and now she couldn’t face a lifetime devoid of passion and heat. The situation with Evan required delicacy, sensitivity, then she could move forward, but forward into what?

  In one hand, she had been awakened to her true self and found an amazing connection with a man her spirit had craved. In the other hand, fanatical Paladins wanted to kill her because of the strange mark on the back of her neck. What happened to happily-ever-after once you found your supposed soul mate? Fairytales were a crock. Even as a child she knew it. That’s why there were no stories about what happened to Cinderella after she married the prince.

  She put her damp hair in a ponytail and slipped on jeans and a marigold top. Four sketches lined the drawing table, reminding her of work. Not only did she have follow-up appointments scheduled to present sketches this week, six new clients had appointments booked for the end of the week. She couldn’t stay in this house forever. Her stomach grumbled. It’d been hours since she’d eaten.

  Down in the kitchen, she passed the granite island, crossing the same type of dark hardwood floor in her bedroom. Glossy white cabinets lined the walls and stainless steel appliances sparkled. The refrigerator was twice the size of a typical one and had a panel on the front, which displayed the day’s forecast and a scrolling grocery list. Bottled water, platters of cut vegetables and fruit, containers of hummus, and cold cuts filled the shelves. Several ceramic containers were labeled with names and instructions.

  Abbadon: Polenta with corn, herbed black soybeans, seaweed, and vegetable mix.

  Talus: Chicken Cacciatore, bake at 350 degrees for 30 min.

  Cassian: Spaghetti Bolognese, heat in microwave at 50% power for 5 min.

  Cyrus & Serenity: Eggplant Parmesan, bake 375 degrees for 45 min.

  Seeing her name again, amongst the others, next to his, grounded her in a strange way. She smiled, feeling oddly at home.

  She made a hummus sandwich and meandered into the conservatory. Dusty rose and tangerine painted the twilight horizon. As she finished eating, two Doberman Pinchers darted across the yard, chasing a Frisbee. She went outside, crossing through the tranquil courtyard. One of the dogs caught the plastic disc and ran in the opposite direction to Cassian and Talus.

  Cassian waved at her to come over. “Hey, how’s it going? Are you settled in?”

  “I’m getting there,” she said uneasily, walking toward them.

  Cassian looked at her inquisitively. “Come meet Max and Sybil.” He whistled and the dogs came running. “This is Max.” He rubbed the dog with a tan nose. “And this is Sybil.”

  Both dogs sniffed her, and then slowly, she petted them. Max licked her fingers.

  “They like you,” Talus remarked with surprise.

  Serenity smiled at her. “What did you two do in the city?”

  Talus looked away and threw the Frisbee. The dogs took off running.

  “We danced all night, hitting every new club we could find and every old one worthy of remembering, then we slept all day,” Cassian said.

  “Sounds like fun. I haven’t been clubbing since college.”

  Talus called the dogs in with a clap of her hands. “I’m going to the fitness center to practice,” she said, heading to the gym. The dogs ran behind her.

  “Why doesn’t she like me?” Serenity whispered to Cassian.

  “Talus helped Cyrus watch you and decorate your room. She even bought the clothes in your closet. She doesn’t know how to act around you. You have to take the lead with her.”

  “Why are you so normal around me?”

  He shrugged. “I don’t worship Cyrus. I love him like a father and you’re his kabashem. For me, it’s pretty simple.”

  “Have you seen Cyrus?”

  “He’s in the gym working out. He asked us to come back to the house, thought you might be sore after training today and would appreciate my healing touch.” Cassian wiggled his fingers.

  “Actually, I ache all over. After four hours with Abbadon, meditating, breathing and doing yoga, even my brain hurts.”

  Cassian laughed and took her hand tenderly. His palm and fingers grew warm. Ripples of his energy stream brushed hers. With each wave of connection, the vibrations of her own stream deepened, balancing into a steady rhythm. The craving for Cyrus’s pool of energy lessened, but her desire for him remained. Soreness and pain trickled from her body as he drew it out, leaving her renewed.

  “Wow! That was incredible. Thank you,” she said as he let her hand go.

  He smiled, rubbing his forehead.

  “Are you all right? Does it hurt when you heal someone?”

  “I’m not a very strong healer. It takes a lot of energy and the drain is uncomfortable, exhausting, but I’ll be okay in a few minutes.”

  They strolled toward the fitness center.

  “You guys work out a lot?” she wondered.

  “Talus and I do. We’re runts and have to work twice as hard to be half as good.”

  “Runts?”

  “Prodigierium, weaker than the others. Our parents weren’t predestined mates. Offspring from unions of kabashem are a lot stronger.”

  “What happened to your parents, if you don’t mind my asking?”

  “Our father had sangre saevitas and killed our mother in a fit of rage,” he said plainly. “We were lucky he didn’t kill us too.”

  She blanched. “I’m sorry.”

  “It is what it is.”

 
“How did you end up with Cyrus?”

  “The Triumvirate,” he answered.

  When she gave him a puzzled look, he continued, “The Council wanted to throw us out with no place to go. They said we were abominations and never should’ve been born because our parents weren’t kabashem.”

  “That’s extreme,” she said in disbelief.

  “Cyrus said our mother had served Herut with love, and we should be shown the same affection. The Council decided he should take us.” He held open the door to the gym for her.

  Off to the side, Talus stood in a room that resembled a racquetball court. Holding metal rods about eighteen inches long with one-pronged tine, she blocked an incoming array of serrated steel disks flying through the air.

  “Can Talus shift like other warriors?” Serenity asked Cassian.

  “She’s stronger and faster than a human, but for Kindred she’s fairly weak. Can’t shift and if she ever found her kabashem, she’d never get wings. Only higher level warriors like battle-guard can change and are lucky enough to one day get wings once they fully connect with their mate. Well, I better get a workout in myself.” He headed off to a different training room.

  The gravitational pull of Cyrus’s energy stream drew her to the back of the gym. She still couldn’t see him when the pools of their life force mingled, vibrating in unison.

  Her chest filled with warmth and light as she drew closer to him and her entire body tingled. She caught sight of him and the smile in her heart spread to her face.

  Clad only in a pair of linen pants, he practiced with a double-bladed sword. Every time she saw his body, her insides rolled like a surfer knocked silly by a crest of waves.

  Twirling the weapon, he did flips, kicks and expansive sweeping movements with his legs and arms. He bent at the waist and spun the weapon in a silvery whirl on his back. His acrobatic repertoire had the fluidity of a deadly dance. As he grasped the weapon again, the sword elongated. He tossed it across the room, somersaulted through the air and caught it.