“Internally? Enough games.”
He laughed, “I was sent here.”
“By whom?” I demanded. My hand ready in the striking position.
“Wouldn’t you like to know?”
I lowered my hand, stood up and reached over to the table by the wall near by. There was a prue silver knife with runes engraved on it.
“You’re going to cut this innocent human with your little letter opener?” He laughed.
“No. I’m going to cut open this innocent human with your little letter opener. I found it on you.”
He didn’t respond. He sat quietly with his eyes fixed on mine.
“Were you going to kill me with this? Or someone else?”
He licked his lips.
“I know these markings. They bind the demon to the human who bears the mark.” I straddled him again holding the blade to his neck. “Remove the mark, and you remove the bond.”
“Did your father teach you that?”
“No. He didn’t.” I smacked him again, grabbing his chin and squeezing tightly. “You have no rights here. Especially when it comes to talking about my father.”
“Oooo. Touchy.” He spit blood out to the side. “You’ve done your homework Angel.” He smiled.
“Who are you?”
“I’m shocked that you don’t remember me?”
“Why? Should I?”
“Don’t you remember everyone you’ve ever come across?”
“I’m the one asking the questions here.”
“Not for long.”
“Meaning what?” I pushed the blade closer to his throat.
His hands came out from behind him and pushed me off of him. Damnit to whoever tied him up!
I went flying backwards, my back hitting the edge of the table and falling to the ground. He dove at me, picking me up by my neck and punched me in the mouth. “That’s for asking too many questions.” He licked the blood off of my chin and lips.
I smiled the best I could. I never let go of the knife. My right hand came up and the knife went right into his gut.
“Human or not. There’s nothing I can do to save him once a parasite from the great serpent enters him. Go die somewhere or I’ll hunt you down and eat you for dinner.”
“You’re brave, I’ll give you that.” He dropped me like rag doll and ran to the door. I’d gotten up and out of the cabin just in time to see him disappear into the woods.
“What happened?” Kane came running from down by the lake.
“What does it look like?” I asked reaching my hand up to my lip wiping away the blood and his slobber. “Damnit.” I swore.
“Angel!” Huyanna was coming out of her house.
“I’m fine.” I snorted. “Who tied that bitch up anyways?” I demanded an answer.
“I think James did.” Aden was now standing behind Kane.
“Really?” I questioned.
“Should we go after him?” Aden asked.
“Thought you’d never ask!” I said probably sounding like an asshole.
“He couldn’t have gone too far. Come on Kane. Angel stay here.” Aden smacked Kane on the back and they both took off into the woods.
“What did happen?” Huyanna stepped closer looking at my bleeding lip.
“I’m careless and reckless. That’s what happened.” I licked the rest of the blood off of my lip that started to drip again.
“Angel. There’s got to be a point in your life where you say ‘no more’.”
“And have more of them come after me and all that I love?” I gestured towards the woods, “I don’t think so. I will not have these people be put in danger.” I pointed towards the village.
Huyanna sighed. “The Elders and the Ancients are arriving today Angel.”
“For what?” I questioned.
“To name a new Chief.” She said.
“Oh.” I said.
“Yes. You better go and get cleaned up.” She placed her hand on my shoulder and squeezed. I went to walk away and winced in pain, I’d forgotten how hard I hit that table. Ouch.
“Angel!” Aden yelled as I was half way back to the village.
“What happened?” I turned.
“Shreds.” Aden was out of breath.
“What?” I was confused.
“That demon, or something else out there, tore that kid apart. He’s all over the forest.”
“Gods!” I rubbed my hands over my eyes and face.
“I don’t think there is anything you could’ve done.” Kane said.
“I think you’re wrong. If I could just…” I paused. I saw James moving towards the village. “Bastard!” I ran up to him and pushed him on the ground.
“What the hell was that for?” He questioned. “What happened to your face?”
“You were the one who tied him up? Not very well did you? Did you do it on purpose? Were you trying to get me killed?” He stood up and I punched him in his face.
“Easy.” Kane wrapped his arms around my waist holding me back from doing it again.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” James said nonchalantly.
“You tied him up James, don’t deny it. And you left it lose on purpose knowing what would happen. You will do anything to get rid of me.”
“You’re crazy Angel. Why would I do something like that?”
“Ahhhhhhhhh!” I screamed. Making a spectacle of myself, and I just didn’t care. “I’m fine! I’m fine!” I loosened Kane’s grip from around my waist. I straightened my shirt and started to walk back to my house where I could get cleaned up, eat some food and get some rest. I could hear Kane and Aden’s footsteps behind me. I took a few deep breaths.
Draven.
33.
Bring Me Back To Life.
Present Time.
“I thought you were on lockdown.” Akuma’s voice came out of the darkness, in my room, as I snuck in through the open window.
“Akuma.” I froze where I stood.
“Draven. You don’t get it do you?”
“Get what?”
“What can happen to you if you keep disobeying.”
“What are you afraid of Akuma? You’ve spent a huge chunk of your life being a bad ass and now he’s here and you’re cowering in the darkness behind him.”
“I value my life.” He said.
“What life? This is no life.” I pointed between us. “Creatures like us live in fear. Constantly looking behind us wondering who is going to get us. Another creature? A human? One of our own? It’s time you see things for what they are. You’re free. What’s holding you here? Him?” I blurted out without thinking about what I was saying.
“Tell me how you truly feel Draven.” Akuma smirked. “Been holding that all in this long?”
I sighed and leaned against my open window looking at him.
“Draven, this is who we are. It’s what we are. Know that.” He took a step into the light. “The ship has sailed hours ago and within days our guests of honor will be here.”
“Guests?”
“Guests.”
“I thought it was only Vlad coming?”
“Apparently he has a son. One that has been kept hidden all these years.”
“How could no one know about him having a son?”
“He didn’t want anyone to know.”
“That just sounds…sketchy.” I crossed my arms, now that I could. I was finally starting to heal a little bit.
“Yea.” He turned towards the door. “You better get cleaned up and get some life put back into you. Oh and Draven, those guards out there were given an order to take down anyone no matter who it is.”
“What is this, a prison?”
“Like a prison.” He walked out of my room slamming the door behind him.
“Glad to see you cleaned up and looking almost like you’re alive.” Akuma said to me as I entered the library where Lazarus was discussing future plans.
“Feeling alright?” Lazarus looked up at me.
“Fine.” I stated.
“Good. Then lets get to business.”
Lazarus was at his desk looking through scrolls that were piled up in front of him and old memoirs and books of shadows.
“What is it you’re looking for again?” Akuma asked at his side helping him read through them all.
“The blood ritual for Vlad. That’s the only way I know of bringing him back.”
“Blood ritual?” I asked.
“Yes. A sacrifice of innocent blood spilled, or the blood of a strong bloodline…” Lazarus started mumbling to himself.
“Sir? Do you want us to read through these all to help you find it?” Akuma asked.
“Sure. Sure.” His voice was sounding exhausted.
“Draven.” Akuma snapped his fingers and pointed towards the stack of books that were by the desk.
I had just started to move towards the pile when I heard a voice come from the doorway, “Looking for this?” We all looked up in unison. There stood a tall muscular man with black hair that was spiked. His eyes were a neon blue and he was dressed in all black. His voice was deep and intimidating. “This has the ritual in it.” He held up a very old beat up leather bound journal.
“Chase?” Lazarus asked.
“Chase Tepes at your service.” He bowed his head.
“Dracula’s son?” I asked.
“Yes.” He stepped in towards us and handed the book to Lazarus.
“Thank you.” Lazarus took the book nodding to him.
“I’ve heard about all of you. It is a pleasure to finally meet you all.”
“May I ask why you’re here ahead of time?” Lazarus asked, not really sounding like he cared for an answer.
“I came ahead of everyone else to get things prepared and ready. I left my trusted men with my fathers remains.” He paused. “Not that I don’t trust yours.” He smirked.
“Understandable.” Lazarus nodded, and continued to read through the journal. “Draven, show him to a guest room please. He’s traveled a long way, I’m sure he will want to rest before things get under way.”
“Sure.” I said.
“Thank you.” He said and followed me out the door, but stopped. “Lazarus I want you to know that I will be supervising what happens until he has gained enough strength to be on his own.”
“Of course. That is perfectly fine.”
I kept walking towards the stairs finally hearing his footsteps behind me. I peered over my shoulder at him. “Long trip? Where’d you come from again?” I thought I could try and be friendly; make conversation. He’ll be here a while and as intimidating as he is, I don’t want to be on his bad side.
“Yes, it was. We left Romania almost two weeks ago.”
“You’re Romanian?”
“Only half.” He responded. I could tell. He had no accent and there was something very American about him.
“Here’s your room.” I opened the door and let him step in.
“Thank you.” He walked past me and put his bag on the bed.
“If you need anything we’ll all be downstairs.” I said closing the door.
Shit!
Angel.
34.
A New Age.
Present Time.
Today they are going to name a new Chief to head this tribe. Outside there is a lot of commotion. Fires being built and food being prepared.
I do not want to get out of my bed to face this day. My father was Head of this tribe for a couple hundred years, and before that there was grandfather, and before that was my great grandfather, and so on. Being Chief has always run in the Fowler family.
Though my father never had a son, and a woman has never been Chief, I’ve got a horrible feeling about this day. Something in the air is making me uneasy and it’s all very unsettling.
“Angel?” A tiny knock on the door. “Angel.” Scarlet walked in closing the door behind her.
I laid there not moving, and just stared out the window.
“Everything ok?” She walked closer.
“What do you think?” I didn’t look at her. I knew she was still kind of angry with me about what happened with that boy.
“Today’s the big day, maybe in a few hours you will be…”
“Thank you for the optimistic attitude, but it’s not going to happen.”
“It’s possible.” She sighed.
“No. It’s not.” I covered my arms with my blanket. “The Elders are set in their ways, in the old ways; only a man will be Chief.”
“Maybe it’s time for a change.”
“Not going to happen.” I said, miserably.
“Angel…” She reached out, I moved so she wouldn’t touch me.
“I just want to be left alone please.” I sniffled.
“Angel, we need to talk about earlier.”
“Not right now, ok.”
“What is going on with you?” She asked.
“Please just go. I just want to be alone for a while.”
“Fine.” She turned around and left. The door slammed.
I heard foot steps outside on the porch roof. First a foot, then a leg, then a body entered. Rayna.
“Hey.” She said looking over at me.
“Hey.” I saw her and started crying.
“Oh Angel.” She came over and laid next to me. “What’s wrong? Talk to me.” She tried to get me to show my face from under the covers. I didn’t answer. “I thought I would check up on you. I didn’t want to come in while you were telling Scarlet to leave.” She sort of laughed.
“Yea.” I sighed.
“So is everything alright?” She asked me.
“I don’t know anymore.”
“I know that you want to be left alone, but when have I ever left you alone?” She smiled.
“Can I admit something?” I asked.
“More?” She laughed.
I smiled, “I’m afraid to go outside to the council tonight. Something doesn’t feel right.”
“I feel it too.” She said, putting her hair up into a band and laying flat on her back looking at the ceiling. “But what choice do we have right?”
“Right.” I took my head out from under the covers. “Is everyone mad at me?” I asked.
“I don’t know. Maybe more frustrated, and confused, not understanding why you did what you did.”
I laughed, “I don’t even understand the things that I do.”
“Well, I better get back to Micah.”
“Yea, I better get showered and dressed for later.”
“We’ll see you out there.” She gave me a hug, then dove out of the window landing on her feet and taking off to where she and Micah lived together.
I walked over to my closet grabbing a long black skirt and a black halter top with turquoise beads sown onto it. I stripped down to nothing and jumped into the shower turning on the water. It was cold at first, then so hot it could’ve burned me if I were just a normal human. I let the water run down me while I cried some more, washing my hair and body. When I was done, I watched the water go down the drain and dried myself off. I quickly ran a comb through my messy hair, and pulling it up into a bun. I looked like hell but I didn’t care.
With bare feet I exited my bedroom and went slowly down the stairs. The lower floor of the house was empty and quiet. Then I heard voices outside on the porch. Kane, Scarlet, and Aden were all standing by the railing watching everyone walk down towards the south shore.
“Angel.” Kane sounded almost surprised to see me out and about. I stood there looking at him like I was a lost child.
“We’re um, not part of the tribe, so we’re staying here.” Scarlet said watching me.
I nodded and walked off the porch still bare foot and headed towards the fires lit like a beacon in the twilight hour.
“My friends,” The oldest of the Elders started to speak. “Today is a
n important day for us all.” He paused for a breath. “It has been nearly seven hundred years since we’ve had to name a new Chief.” Another breath. “Caleb is one that we cannot replace and he is one that will never be forgotten.” Another big breath. “His spirit now lies with the Great Spirit above and runs wild with the wolves.” A breath. “But this is a new era for our tribe.” He paused. His stance was wobbly.
I took a deep breath and my heart started to pound in my chest.
He continued, “With all of the past events that have surrounded our people and the face,” Another quick breath. “The face I have seen always take interest.” He sat back down in his spot, but continued talking, “The young face of curiosity and much wisdom to come. This young soul has much to learn and will be surrounded by the tribe and the Great Spirit for guidance.” He paused and looked to the other Elders as if to ask them; “are we sure we’re doing the right thing?”
My heart stopped. Something didn’t feel right.
“We name,” He paused. Everyone was on edge and all waiting with anxiousness. Then he finished. “James Wolfe.”
Shit. My mind was screaming. No. Oh no.
This cannot be happening. I didn’t hear it right. I wanted to raise my hand as if I were in school to ask “can you please repeat that?”
I looked to Rayna and Micah. Micah’s eyes were shut tight and Rayna looked wide eyed at me as if she were a deer in the headlights.
I quickly stood and took off towards the lake shore, opposite of where they were. I was so angry and I didn’t want to be around the tribe when I let out my frustrations. I was truly hoping that this was all just a dream and I was going to wake up at any moment.
“No!” I said, almost too loudly, as I kicked a bunch of pebbles into the water with a small splash. “This can’t be happening.” I ran my hands over my face and walked to the end of the dock. “What have they done?” I yelled to the stars.
From the corner of my eye I saw movement. I turned to see a tall man dressed in all black walking on the beach on the Vampyres side. “Draven?” I questioned. I squinted to look closer. It wasn’t. He spotted me and we stared at each other.
Fate of the Blood Moon's Path Page 25