Bound: A Lamian Wars Novel (The Lamian Wars Book 1)

by C. M. Steele

  "I need you to promise me that you will be brave." I tilted my head to examine the strangeness of her words as if I could somehow make sense of them at another angle. Perplexed, I stared at her for a moment longer. I’d always been brave; it was an inherent trait in me.

  "Mother, I have never been afraid. What is going on? Have you had a terrible vision?" I asked. It was a question I was not sure I cared to hear the answer to.

  "No; however, I must ask that you and Draco stay close together and do not drink from the humans in the village." She was lying to me.

  "Why ever not?" I asked, continuing with her charade, hoping to reveal more.

  "Falcon," she said my name in such a scolding manner. I truly believed it was a mother's weapon against her children and even their mates. A simple twist of her tone and my name came with a warning to behave. Not even my father had such a strong effect and he bowed to her tone many a time.

  "Forgive me, mother," I apologized.

  "There is nothing to forgive. You know I cannot reveal the future no matter how greatly I wish to."

  “Yes, I comprehend. It is just quite infuriating to sit idly by.”

  “The time will come when the answers will be known. Until then, I ask that you do as I say and remain close to Draco. You two will need each other.”

  “We are always close, mother.”

  “Yes, but I want you to heed my words, my son.”

  “Something is amiss, mother, and I fear that you are saying goodbye.”

  “No, my beloved Falcon. Times will be getting worse before they will get better. And you must steady your course and stay true. My son, you are a great leader and your soldiers will need your guidance for the road ahead. Go now, eat and remember what I said, do not feast on the humans. I love you, my son,” she uttered, escorting me from her chambers. I felt something akin to a goodbye in her words. A final goodbye.

  My father approached, and the look in his eyes was just as haunted as my mother’s. He grabbed me, pulling me into his embrace. “The warrior, the leader. We could never be more proud that you are, our son.” He released his hold and joined my mother, closing the door behind them.

  The child in me begged it not to be true. Then my mother’s words echoed in my head to be brave. A chill coursed through my bones as their eyes said goodbye.

  Chapter Three—Falcon

  Daily, I awaited news from the palace, however, there was nothing. Not a single word was sent by the Council. It was the second week into our battle with The Lamians. What started in Northern Italy had expanded into France. We were just miles from the location of the next village that was in The Lamia’s sights when we were met with one of our Council messengers. I recognized him immediately by his red hair; it was fiery and unmistakable, even in the dark of night. He swooped down and hurriedly bowed to Draco and myself in a dramatic fashion.

  “Your Grace, I come with word from the palace,” Atticus’s voice shook. The hair on my arms stood up as my fears were about to be uttered. I could feel that he was not bringing good news.

  “What is it? Are my parents well?” I felt the truth vibrating from him and I didn’t have to ask.

  “Sir, I do not know how to express the sadness in our hearts. Other than yourself, the entire Supreme Council has been killed.” I felt the aching blow to my chest so deep that I did not know how to respond. My parents were gone, the Council gone? I was the only one remaining? None of this made any sense, but I knew it was true.

  “I cannot believe such a thing. It is not possible. You cannot kill one vampire with ease, let alone nearly twenty of the strongest and most intelligent vampires. Not one with the gift of sight,” I muttered, echoing the confusion in my heart.

  “Tell us what transpired, Atticus,” Draco commanded him.

  “We did not know it was possible, but more than the Council have fallen. It was believed that it was some kind of poison or they were cursed. The Council entered the grand room for their meeting, and with the sun light coming up, they all turned to ash. I’m sorry, my Lord.” The world was falling apart around me.

  “I need to understand.” The retched feeling of retribution ripped through my chest. Nothing was going to soothe me.

  “It was quite peculiar. The day after your departure, several of the royal Greek sect arrived to discuss the growing tensions between the families and the need for support against The Lamia. The Supreme Council invited them to discuss matters after two days’ time. It was after such that all parties perished in the Council chambers, including the Greek representatives.”

  “Their people died as well?” Draco asked as I thought about what my mother had said. She had to have known this was coming. Why did she not stop it from occurring? It did not make sense. Could her visions have been taken away? Was that the reason for her sadness the day I departed with my soldiers? My mother was a loving soul, honest and pure. What could have made her visions fade for her not to see this impending doom?

  “Yes, the five royal elders and their guards,” he answered rapidly. I was at loss for words.

  “How many have perished?” Draco inquired, a low grumble in his throat.

  “Nearly fifty in the castle and two hundred in the village.”

  “Is it a pox?” I asked. Plagues had killed many humans since the 1300’s, could this be our version of a plague. “Could we have caught something from drinking human blood?”

  “We do not know. All we know is that not everyone is infected with the sunlight death.”

  “The sunlight death?” Draco asked.

  “It is what many are calling it. Most will not even venture in the light for fear of being burned.” I did not comprehend what was causing this. Why had they perished when we had never before been afflicted by the sun.

  “Everyone who entered the light has died?” I asked, needing more information; something I could wrap my head around. Atticus shook his head, trying to speak, but his gaze was focused toward the horizon.

  Forcing himself to look away, he replied, “No, some have caught a part of the light and it singed their fingers, so they withdrew. Others have done the same and had no aversion to it.”

  “What of my brother?” I had to know. He was not a part of the Council because he chose his mate and solitude over ruling the people.

  “Alessio is in the darkness, hiding with his bride and their son.” I didn’t want to think about why mother did not protect Alessio.

  “Very well. We’re flying back this moment.” I had to inform the soldiers to stay where they were. They could handle the battle without us, but now I understood why she wanted me to leave. I would have met the same fate, as I would have stood guard in the meeting room as I had always done.

  “If you do not mind, I will remain here,” Atticus said, looking down as though full of shame.

  “Whatever for?” Draco questioned.

  “I am one of the infected. I cannot fly in the sunlight.” The sadness was just the beginning. The sun was nearly up. When out of sight, Draco and I transported ourselves back into the castle.

  We needed answers and my people needed to mourn.

  The halls were shrouded in drapes, blocking the light. One of my guards came to me. “Your Excellency, we are sorry for the loss of your family.”

  “Thank you. Please explain what happened to the remains.”

  “The ashes were placed in Urns. Each of them labeled with our great leaders’ names and placed in the vault.”

  “No one in the room survived?”

  “Two of the Greek guests did, Prince Kyros Stavros and Kostas Giannopoulos.”

  “I wish to speak with both of them, immediately.”

  “They are packing to depart. They should be leaving within the hour.”

  “Summon them. This is my castle,” I snarled, visibly furious. How dare they allow these vampires to leave my castle without speaking to me.

  “Yes, your Grace,” he replied nervously and departed hurriedly from my study.

  I paced the floor
in my study as I awaited the knock at the door. “Sit, Falcon.”

  “I cannot sit and you know it,” I retorted, stewing with anger and pain so great that patience was not something I possessed at the moment. I needed to gather myself for this meeting. Taking a deep breath, I remembered who I was, and as a great leader, I must remain strong and true.

  The knock at the door came and I could smell them. “Enter.”

  A small looking vampire entered my study and I raised a brow at him. He was slender and not even as tall as my shoulders. He did not look like someone who wished to gain power over anything. “Lord Lombardi, I am Prince Kyros Stavros. I am terribly sorry for what has befallen our families,” he said in sincerity, but only time would tell whether it was just for show or not.

  “My condolences, your Grace. Can you explain what happened?” I asked as diplomatically as possible.

  “I do not know what was told to you, but we were all in the large room, waiting to discuss the matter of growing tensions and battles that our people were being thrown into with The Lamian’s war. Within moments, the sun peeked through the windows and everyone around me began to turn to ash. It happened so rapidly that I did not even understand what I was witnessing. It was as though they were there, then nothing.”

  There had to be more. The sun had never been harmful to the people and it still wasn’t harmful to me. “What happened the night before?”

  “We dined, discussed the architecture, and retired early. There was supposed to be much business to handle in the morning.”

  “Why weren’t you and your guard burnt and turned to dust?”

  “We do not know. It seems to be random. Not everyone in the castle or village around have been affected.”

  “The entire Council does not seem random. I wonder what could have caused this,” I said, looking at him accusation written in my tone and in gaze.

  “Are you accusing me? I lost my family as well. I have to take their ashes back home and mourn with my people.”

  “What did you dine on?”

  “Wine, meats, and a bit of fruit,” he said.

  “Was there anything else that they had that you did not?”

  “After dinner, many had blood or tea, but I cared not for either as I was not in the best humor.”

  With a nod, I accepted his version of events and dismissed him. Prince or not, I did not trust him, and he had no idea that I had abilities he did not and he was now going to be in my sights.

  “Draco, tell me. The villagers cannot afford extravagant items like teas and the like, so what else?”

  “Perhaps it is in the water? It is used for many of the meals and the tea,” he offered, but I believe I had the answer. My mother had given me the answer in her last conversation with me.

  “Perhaps. Do you remember what my mother told me? Not to drink from the humans in village,” I reminded him.

  He stood up and looked out the window to the village below. “Oh. Do you think they carry the disease?”

  “It very well could be.” I stood up and began to pace again as I thought about my next course of action. “Could The Lamia poison the humans then place the blame on the them so that those who followed my mother would turn their hate towards the humans and ultimately join The Lamia?” I asked myself aloud.

  “That seems probable, though, I don’t know if they have the foresight to think that far ahead.”

  “The Supreme Council is gone with one sunrise. They planned that out well. Five days from now we will journey to Greece and spy on the Prince. Families have been known to betray each other. Now, let us prepare to mourn our family.”

  “Perhaps you should rest, Falcon.”

  “Yes, perhaps I shall. Where is my parchment?” I needed to draft some documents to deal with the loss of our leadership. Alessio should be here doing this, but now the duty fell to me. I grabbed the key I wore around my neck and opened my desk drawer to find more than I expected. I paused, frozen with emotion and overcome with grief.

  “What’s the matter?” Draco asked.

  “It’s a letter in my mother’s writing.” I held up the sealed letter.

  He tapped my shoulder. “Rest, Falcon. Then read it. If she placed it there, then there must be a reason.”

  “Yes, she wouldn’t wish for anyone to see it. I shall take your advice and retire for the night.” I got up, passed by Draco, and retired to my bed chambers. With the door locked, I sat on my large bed and opened the letter.

  Dearest Falcon,

  I love you, my son. I miss you terribly. You were a surprise your father and I had not expected. For two hundred years we had not born another child, then you did battles in my womb, readying to become the warrior you are. The day you were born, I felt the world change. My visions grew and my heart was full of fear for your life as a commander of our people. Yet, I knew that you would be destined for greatness.

  I know what has transpired must confuse and pain you, but there was no other way. You had been right about the prophecy, however, there was nothing to be done. I worked through the visions, hoping I could change the course of the future. It was not to be. The alternatives were too costly to all.

  You must understand that the choices I have had to make where the most difficult, the hardest choices I’ve ever had to make. It is with sadness that I am leaving you and your brother to a world of utter chaos. Given my visions, I should be able to fight my fate, however, there was no solution other than the original given.

  It may seem that I spared you out of my love, and yes, mostly it was my love, however, there was a greater purpose. You, my son, are the key to the salvation of our people. The world has grown dark for so many. They will need you to resolve the darkness. I cannot say when it will happen or how it will happen, but one day you and Draco will find the light for all. I love you, my son. Do not lose faith in the future. I weep for you and the pain you must feel. I weep for your brother’s future laced in the shadows. However, you must know, there was nothing that you could have done. Our fates were sealed a century ago. Do not mourn us. Honor us, my Falcon. Your Father and I are at peace. Our lives will be forever intertwined in the afterlife. Your Father was a brave and strong man who knew the truth of his fate and did not alter his course. It took his bravery to handle the knowledge of imminent death. Be brave. And remember, stay close with Draco. You will need each other.

  My love for eternity,

  Your mother

  In the privacy of my chambers, I wept.

  Chapter Four—Draco

  I watched my friend stand strong when I know that he was questioning his reason for living. This was what we feared from the moment his mother announced the coming of the end for The Lamia. The Lamian army was not going to take that prophecy lying down. Action was a must, and act they did. They struck us in a way I did not know was possible. How could they have managed to poison the humans? How long had they had this plan in motion? I was starting to think that her words were not the catalyst, but rather the excuse they needed to strike. Fear was running rampant around the villages. Atticus had brought back news that the illness, curse, or whatever we cared to call it had struck many countries where vampires resided.

  I hated the night and was glad that I hadn’t been forced into the darkness. My family had died over fifty years ago. It happened fast and in the middle of the night. They were leaders in their town and a part of the Council’s ambassadors. The attack on them had been the start of the coup. Their loss was still hard to cope with, so I understood Falcon’s pain. It was gut wrenching and soul crushing. I ached for the day I would have my revenge, the day I ended my parents’ assassins.

  In fifty years, my ire had not lessened, and I was not as close with my family as Falcon had been with his. This was going to a test of his leadership skills. With his eldest brother in hiding with his wife and son, Falcon was now the leader. He was the only one who could keep the people from surrendering to The Lamia.

  I got up, unable to sleep, and started to pace the
castle. There were guards still on duty, like the world around us had not changed, but the castle felt different. I had to think about Queen Maria’s prophecy, a female will be born to us. That had never happened. Yes, they became vampires once we mated with them, but that was the only way. That was one of the reasons we had not tried to dominate them and why we found it wrong to kill them. One of them could be our mate or the parents of them, so drinking from human was all we did, sealing the wound and our meal being none the wiser to it. They never suffered more than a bit of fatigue.

  Well, that’s what we did. The Lamia on the other hand, it was their pleasure to kill humans callously. Once their first kill had been discovered with puncture wounds and drained dry of blood, rumors of a monster invading the human villages had spread. Our secrecy was at risk, and the danger of overfeeding on the masses scared the Council. My parents learned of the matter and had brought it to the Council, and this is what brought about their demise.

  The only benefit of the prophecy was that if true, The Lamia would be defeated. And her prophecies have always been true. There was no doubt in my mind that The Lamia would fall one day. By whom or how was a mystery.

  As Falcon’s friend and the second in command of the guard, I went to check on my friend. His door was locked, but I just transported myself in. He was sitting in his bed staring out at nothing.

  “Somehow I knew it would not be long before you appeared. I am well, Draco. You do not need to watch over me.”

  “I am here as your friend, Falcon. It is only natural that you are feeling quite a lot of things at once.”

  “Read this.” He handed a letter over to me. It was something I had not expected, and it was rather hard to consume.

  “Falcon, I have no words.”

  “Yes, and if the people had learned that my mother knew of this impending doom and yet had not helped her people, they would burn down the castle and come for my head.”