The Arrival (Children of the Morning Star Book 1)

by Kastie Pavlik

  “Enraged, Lucifer decreed that his walking wrath would march upon crimson fields until nothing but death remained. Jonathan and Lucien were nearly as powerful as angels and possessed potent, lethal bites. But, they were incapable of ‘infecting’ humans, so Lucifer traded varying amounts of their prowess for the infectious protein and created slightly weaker foot soldiers that could alter humans to inflate their army’s ranks. He called them vampires and ordered them to devour the children of God.

  “Lucifer knew that without humans, his vampires would slowly starve and wither to ash. Unaware of this fate, Lucien and Jonathan took Lucifer’s orders and controlled his army to obliterate man. Lucifer’s Holy Rebellion had moved from Heaven to Earth and became the Great Holy War.

  “God sent His Heavenly Host to protect and aid man in battle, and permanently stripped Lucifer of the power of creation. Both sides suffered casualties and their armies dwindled. For a long time, the war was stalemated.

  “Those with the power of creation cannot ignore free will. Just as Lucifer chose to rebel against his master, so did the vampires. They realized their ultimate fate, and tired of war and murder.

  “They evolved away from carnage and many yearned for the peaceful lives of man. They wanted control of their destinies instead of living a life of servitude to a creator who wanted them dead.

  “So Lucien called for a truce with the Archangel Gabriel. After they discussed the terms and Lucien had garnered Gabriel’s trust, God allowed him to beg for forgiveness. God did not speak to him directly and the light of the seraphim guarding His throne burned so brightly that Lucien never saw Him.

  “Instead of destroying the vampires as a whole, God suspended judgment and permitted Gabriel and Lucien to draft the Treaty of the Lasting Peace. Lucien agreed to abide by God’s rules until their intentions were deemed noble and worthy of His judgment based on individual merit.

  “The vampires then withdrew from a war that battles to this day. Since Lucifer and the fallen still roam the Earth, God’s terms demanded no contact with the vampires’ former commander or his subordinates.

  “The newly formed Vampiric Nation didn’t receive the life it wanted, but was given a promise of better things to come—if earned. The vampires were to walk the Earth in their present forms, and coexist with the Realm of Man outside of God’s watchful eye and His love. Just as God forbade Adam and Eve to eat the forbidden fruit, He forbade the vampires from stealing from His flock.

  “However... God does not forsake people. People forsake God. It was unspoken and unwritten, but the vampires understood that the treaty did not cover those who had fallen from the flock, such as those under the influence of Lucifer or those who had lost their faith.”

  Eric paused in reflection. “That is how my brother was able to alter me while I gazed upon the face of Death. I had given up on God,” he said, meeting Paresh’s gaze with deliberate eyes. “So you can see why watching your mother forsake Him distressed me. She was giving up His protection and love. And if she had died without her faith, her soul would have descended to Hades instead of entering His Kingdom of Heaven. She and Andrew would have been forever torn apart. And preventing that sad ending was far beyond my power.”

  “But it wasn’t,” Paresh said softly.

  He reflected back on that night, but couldn’t allow himself to see what Paresh saw. He sighed. “At least they both had their faith in the end. That’s all that matters.”

  Scratching his head, he leaned forward on his elbows. Soft fingertips glided across his back.

  “What did God promise them?” Paresh asked in the same quiet, cushioned voice.

  “His grace, which would make them eligible for Final Judgment—if they honored the treaty and didn’t catch His attention.”

  He paused and sat up. “But there was a problem, because no vampire possessed a soul for God to judge. You see, God created mankind to populate the Earth until Final Judgment, so humans are born with souls, but Lucifer created shells empty of divine spirituality. And, even though vampires feel lust, they cannot bear children.

  “So, God gave each vampire a soul, but tucked it away within their hearts, along with the emotion of love, and gave the promise of a savior, dubbed the Servator, capable of unlocking their hearts to provide the lives they desired.

  “Finally, He wiped the Great Holy War from human memory, altering history to reflect instead the march and fall of the Roman Empire, and left only the faintest memory of the undead who feed on the blood of the living—thus giving birth to the vampire legend, as you know it.

  “When Lucien returned to the physical plane with treaty in hand, the Vampiric Nation began its First New Age. Those created by Lucifer’s hand began calling themselves true bloods. Many had survived the war by commanding fledgling vampires on the front lines of their assault, therefore shielding themselves from the swords of God’s angelic army.

  “They see those born of human blood as inferior replicas of themselves, but a rogue vampire, whether true blood or altered, possesses the power to doom the entire nation. Lucien ordered the race to retire to the Arctic Circle to live outside the Realm of Man in technologically advanced domes called arcs. Jonathan segregated the arcs by origin to keep altered vampires from living in true blood domes, but the High Council later allowed coexistence within specific domes and for external residences by permit.

  “The first arc was designed to house their governing body, so Lucien convened the Vampiric High Council of Elders, handpicking the members himself. His first choice was, of course, Jonathan, but serving the Nation meant remaining within the Arc of True Blood, never able to leave its sanctity. Jonathan declined and instead became Lucien’s eyes out in the world, serving under him directly.

  “Lucien named the remaining council members in order of creation and then separated them into two factions, the elders and the high elders, each with their own set of duties. The high elders differentiated themselves as ‘eternal bloods’ and designated Lucien as ‘Arch Elder Lucien the Eternal,’ instructing the Vampiric Nation to address him as ‘Lord Lucien’ at all times out of respect.

  “Despite being revered for his accomplishments and guidance, even the elders fear Lucien. As his only companion and confidant, Jonathan is the sole witness to any real emotion Lucien may feel and he alone can refer to him without his formal title.

  “For at least a thousand years, they have governed themselves without God’s assistance, careful not to draw attention to themselves by Him or humans alike. The High Council created the Vampire Shadow Hounds—the VaSH—a hunting force capable of capturing and subduing rogues, lethally if necessary. Using them, the High Council strictly enforces the ironclad terms of the Lasting Peace because the fate of the Nation vitally depends on it.

  “Meanwhile, Jonathan roams the globe, living a freer existence due to his social status and intimate relationship with the arch elder. Lucien alone gives Jonathan orders and they visit privately whenever Jonathan returns with something to report. For matters of importance, Lucien convenes the high elders for their input and rarely requires Jonathan to address the full council.

  “Jonathan thinks he is above the elders, especially since he is their elder by at least a thousand years, but he abides by Lucien’s requests and treats them with respect. They, in turn, regard him much as they regard their arch elder.

  “Jonathan’s permanent dwelling is at the Arc of True Blood, next to Lucien’s, and he returns for companionship or to report items of interest. Incidentally, you became an item of such interest that it caught the attention of the entire High Council.”

  Eric met Paresh’s eyes with remorse in his and gave her a moment to absorb his words. He felt unusually drained and sat back. The recent events, surging emotions, and lack of sleep were wearing on him.

  She stared at him with her mouth slightly open. “How did Jonathan find out about me?”

  Eric sighed. The cardinals were watching him from the ground as though equally engrossed by his tale. He sh
oved his hand into his pocket and wrapped his fingers around the photograph there but did not pull it out. “By my own choice, my brother has been my only contact to the vampire world. He alone has told me about their history, their rules, their limitations, and their capabilities.

  “Although we’ve shared a fickle relationship and I wouldn’t refer to him as a friend in the least, he is necessary. He’s always had a special interest in me. For nearly a century and a half, he has tried to persuade me to appear with him before the High Council, but I have refused. He cannot force me to go, because like you, I am unique.

  “My soul was not locked within my heart during metamorphosis. Unlike all other vampires, the conditions of the treaty do not limit me. I can step onto holy ground, speak of God, wear a cross, and enter any place I choose without an invitation. I exist in the Realm of Man under God’s guidance; therefore, I am the only vampire who can pray and feel love.

  “I already had their attention. I am a vampire who is a member of the flock, therefore off limits to the Vampiric Nation’s governing body. The High Council wants to meet me face to face, but they haven’t ordered my presence or sent the VaSH to capture me because they fear that acting against me will break their treaty. They’ve left me alone under the watchful eye and guidance of my brother.

  “They know about you because I told him what I had done, in a moment of uncertainty. As I said, I acted impulsively that night, allowing my emotions to take control without considering the effect my actions would have. I had hoped to learn that others had accomplished similar feats, but found exactly the opposite. It is impossible to bring humans back to life from death, let alone transform them with vampire blood. I should have known, but didn’t suspect, that he reported my confession directly to Lucien and the high elders.”

  He pulled his hand from his pocket and cupped the same photograph he had shared with Chief Hodges earlier. Without letting her see it, he explained, “This... is Jonathan. He was never designed to alter a human, nor ever had the desire to do so, yet I alone intrigued him and became the only exception. In all of his history, I alone survived his lethal bite.” He swallowed hard and looked at her with grave eyes as he handed her the picture.

  “Jonathan ‘Trueblood.’ Better known as the Second Born of the Vampiric Nation, Sir Jonathan of the Arc of True Blood.”

  She paled and caught her breath as she looked upon the face of man who had raised her. Eric saw the tears glistening in her eyes and heard her exhale, but forged ahead and pointed to the pins on Jonathan’s jacket. “The silver starburst pin is the Star of the Vampiric Nation. The ruby in the center is shaped like a droplet of blood and the ribbon bar below it contains two silver stars that designate his status in their hierarchy. He wears these always. I have never seen him without them and I imagine you never did, either.”

  As she shook her head in a daze, he pulled a thin case from his other pocket and flipped it open. Cushioned between the layers of black velvet inside lay a shiny silver pin, nearly two inches in diameter with jagged spikes of varying lengths shooting from the bejeweled center, glittering with diamonds and a sparkling ruby. It was identical to the one on Jonathan’s lapel.

  “Given the nature of their creation, the true bloods have a vast understanding of the dimensional planes that make up Heaven, Hades, and Earth. Though barred from entering either spiritual realm, they can cross cut between them and the physical world. This pin is more than just a symbol of allegiance and obedience. It is the key to their ability to travel to any place in the world nearly instantaneously, allowing them to return to the arctic domes at their whim. This is Jonathan’s means to access the High Council whenever needed and how Lucinda found me suddenly home when I should have been several states away in 1864.

  “Every member of the Vampiric Nation has one and each individual pin contains encoded security information that restricts or allows access to the arcs. Though worn in conjunction with the star, the ribbon bar simply sets the true bloods apart from their inferior replicas. Given the special circumstances of my alteration, Jonathan gave me one of those, as well. He does not regard me as a mere imitation of himself.”

  Eric snapped the case shut without showing her the second pin and returned it to his pocket. “He came to me last night while you were sleeping and filled in a lot of the mysteries surrounding your disappearance and the High Council’s involvement. I’m not justifying what he did by any means, but you should know that he saved your life.

  “My blood was changing you slowly over the years and he thought you would eventually stop aging. In accordance with their laws, the High Council would have ordered your immediate death. But, you were a child of God and they couldn’t ignore the signs of Heavenly involvement—the blood of the only vampire in God’s grace gave you life and you were born on His hallowed ground.

  “Simply put, the elders believe their prophecy may be coming true and that you are their long awaited Servator. He took you away to halt your symptoms from progressing, but he didn’t say how he did that.”

  Eric rubbed his face and sighed. “I don’t know. I initially thought you shared a link with the sacred ground at the cottage. Then Jonathan... well now that the church is gone, the land is no longer holy, but something about Sunset Grove must fuel your transformation. It’s like you siphon energy directly from it. It was evident the night you returned home. All those animals knew you were coming. They lined up just moments before you arrived. You even said that you feel a connection there, that you felt removed from nature in Kansas.”

  Groans came from Paresh’s throat as she struggled to find her voice. Tears dripped from her eyes to the photograph and the bench’s wooden slats. When she finally spoke, she fumbled over her words. “M-Master J... I... no, he—they... what? No... I... I...”

  She sucked in a breath through trembling lips. “I can’t... Master Jon is your brother. I... this is too much,” she cried, waving the photograph. “I can’t believe it! He never cared for me, did he?”

  She searched Eric’s eyes. “You said he hates humans.” Tears streamed down her cheeks as her voice caught in her throat and she choked. She pointed to her heart. “I’m human, b-but I loved him. I did.”

  The photograph fell to the bench as she covered her face with her hands and sobbed into them. Eric pulled her to his chest and buried his face in her hair. “I believe he cared for you, Paresh. After last night, I truly believe that he still does in some way. You aren’t human and he’s known that longer than I have.”

  “I’m not... human. Oh my God. I just...” She sat up, sniffing and wiping tears from her face. Eric offered her another tissue from his jacket pocket. Blowing out her breath and shaking her head, she picked up the photograph. “How did I never notice? How could I not see that he didn’t get older?”

  “You didn’t have anyone to compare him to. Even humans who see each other every day don’t realize the effect time has on their bodies until they look at photographs and can see the passage of time. You were too close to notice.”

  She offered an unconvincing nod and blew out another deep breath as her composure slowly returned. Her brow dipped a bit and her eyes darted to Eric’s face. She held the photograph up.

  “This is weird. Now I understand why I was so confused. He pulled me from the car that day... but—what does that mean?”

  With brief hesitation, Eric said, “It means he saved your life. He was there when I wasn’t.”

  She stared at the photograph. “You talked to him. Did you ask him? Did he kill my parents?”

  A sigh fell from Eric’s mouth. “He did not kill your parents.”

  “O-okay.” Chewing on the inside of her cheek, she exhaled through her nose and glanced from the picture to Eric’s face. “It’s really uncanny. You guys have nearly identical faces. I see it now—”

  “It’s purely coincidental. We are not actually related,” Eric said with more emphasis than he had intended.

  Scrunching her face, she gave Eric a questioning look. “
Hold on. You were there the night I came home?”

  He nodded. She fell into distant thought. As the male cardinal flew up to land on her knee, she focused on him with a peculiar expression on her face. Shifting her gaze to Eric and then back to the bird, she said, “We aren’t near Sunset Grove now and they’ve never been like this anywhere else. Usually they fall back when I leave the woods.”

  Her mouth fell slightly open as she stared at the bird and searched her mind. “I don’t know that I’m this... Servator—that’s a lot to accept—but I can’t deny that something is happening to me. The thing is, I’ve been surrounded by just the woods without feeling any different. In fact, regardless of where I am, if I’m not with you, I feel fairly normal, albeit a lot more confused given everything that I’ve learned in the last few days.

  “But, I meant it. Everything really does fall into place when I’m with you. Life slows down. I can think clearly and I’m emotionally stronger. My spirit feels lifted. Eric, I only feel that way when I’m with you. Sunset Grove is special, because I do share a connection with it, but—”

  Not noticing his incredulous anticipation, her eyes drifted to the wooden slats as her thoughts gained momentum. “You were there. I felt you when I came home. I blamed it on the storm and my nerves. Then, the other night at your house, when you first noticed a change in me, we weren’t near the woods.

  “When Jonathan took me from here, he took me from you. Maybe that’s what they wanted. Think about it, Eric. You have a soul and you brought life to death. Isn’t that similar to turning water into wine? Maybe I’m nothing more than proof of your ability. Why aren’t they looking at you instead of me?”

  He propped his foot on his knee and stretched his arm across the back of the bench, considering her words carefully. He removed his glasses and held them off to the side. “Maybe they are. Jonathan actually said Lucien ordered you removed from my presence, he never specifically mentioned the woods. I inferred that on my own. He said they’ve been watching both of us.”