The Vampire Hunters Academy: The Shadows

by Delizhia Jenkins

  They reached the smaller building. Professor Grizoni glanced around nervously while he struggled to sort through the bundle of keys he kept on a single key chain. He opened the door, ushering her inside before closing and locking the door behind her. The sound of the door locking echoed throughout the candlelit room.

  Grabbing one of the wall torches, he led them deeper into the cavern-like building, bypassing a room filled floor-to-ceiling and wall-to-wall with ancient texts. The stone walls were decorated with chiseled pictograms, cuneiform texts, and images from the Renaissance of the crucified Christ—a reminder that most of the battles humanity had fought were spiritual. They approached a steel door nearly hidden in a recess in the wall, a door that opened only with Professor Grizoni’s ocular identification.

  “Inside are the original text and documentation of Cain’s reign,” Professor Grizoni said as the door slid open. “We’ve had experts in here working for centuries to translate Aramaic into English, but unfortunately, they are not even halfway finished.” He motioned her to a seat at an aged wood table near a row of computers.

  The tiny room looked just like a tech lab filled with various computers, gadgets and gizmos, and enhanced weaponry. Sanaya gently smoothed her hand across the blade of a sword made of titanium alloy, ancient inscriptions covering the handle.

  “Whose sword is this?” she asked.

  “We are working on new weapons for some of the Guardians who are scheduled to assist with Louisiana,” he said as he sat beside her.

  “Oh, who’s going?” She pulled out a chair directly across from the Professor.

  “That is of little importance now,” he said. “Here is where your real lessons begin.” Slamming his briefcase onto the table, he popped it open and pulled out his laptop. “Do you see that large, opened text over there? Bring it here.”

  Sanaya did as she was instructed, surprised by the weight of the antiquated book.

  “This is the Book of Cain,” he told her grimly. “One of the few books that have been erased from history. The truth and origins of vampires all start with him, and the early Guardians made sure that the rest of humanity would never know that vampires are more than myths and fairytales.”

  He reached for the book and carefully turned through the pages until he stopped and began typing away. He pulled up an image on his screen and motioned for Sanaya to view it.

  ‘This is the last known sighting of Cain,” he whispered as she knelt for a closer inspection.

  The blurred image showed a tall and muscular man with thick dreads barely covered by a black hoodie. He was gazing in the direction of a group of women who busy enjoying the scenery of Greece, just outside of Athens. Sanaya could barely make out his face, but from what she could tell, Cain was incredibly handsome, which added to his threat level.

  “When was this image taken?” she asked.

  “Two years ago, I believe,” Professor Grizoni said. “The Elders did not want to believe he existed until more images popped up with this same ageless entity making appearances in all levels of society in different periods, and we have had one hell of a time keeping it out of the hands of Google, The Smithsonian, and a bunch of conspiracy websites. The point is, Sanaya, we have been following him for quite some time now, and as far as I know, he has not made any more vampires through his bite. The disease pretty much spread on its own.”

  “You do know that he probably has allowed you guys to track him,” Sanaya said. “I cannot imagine such an entity would be caught unaware that easily.”

  “We have suspected that, which is why we have instructed a specialized tracking team not to engage him. They also have been trained in what to do should he decide to retaliate, but so far …”

  “Because he doesn’t want to waste the energy,” Sanaya said.

  Professor Grizoni nodded. “His daughter is the only surviving heir. Cain and his new vampire wife went on to make many more children, which later resulted in The Great Flood. But that wasn’t enough. ‘The Final Six’ managed to live on, destroying kingdom after kingdom in their wake until one by one they were killed by a living Slayer. Selene is the only one who survived, and even though she has been locked away in the caves of Mount Sinai, she knows the exact location of The Academy. She was there when it was under construction! It took the work of hundreds of Guardians and the intervention of Angels to guarantee The Academy was protected.” He sighed. “I fear, however, that she is now amassing an army, which is why you need to go to Louisiana and put an end to her once and for all. At this point, Cain is the least of our concerns.”

  “Okay, this is all well and good,” Sanaya said, rising. “But we’re not doing anything about it. Why did you really bring me here?”

  “I needed to show you something.” He cleared his throat. “Look over there in the tall cabinet.”

  She rushed to the tall cabinet in the far right corner of the room and wrenched open the doors. On a velvet cushion on a gold holder and sheathed in leather binding rested a long sword with a silver handle engraved in Coptic. She removed the sword and holder from the cushion and carried it with the same attentiveness one would a carry a newborn. She handed it to Professor Grizoni.

  “This, my dear,” he said as he unsheathed the blade, “is the Millennium Sword.”

  The blinding white light the sword made both of them turn their heads until it dimmed enough for Sanaya to witness the expert craftsmanship of the weapon.

  “Durable and fashioned for both hands,” Professor Grizoni said, “and yet it weighs less than a pound.”

  Sanaya’s palms tingled with excitement at the idea of parrying with an enemy in battle.

  “May I?”

  “Before I relinquish this blade to you, young Slayer, I must have you know that you are not supposed to have use of this blade until your twenty-first birthday. Unfortunately, things have changed drastically and the Council would not have brought it here had they not deemed it necessary for you to have.” He held out the sword to her.

  Sanaya accepted it with shaky hands.

  “I believe you will treat it with the utmost respect,” Professor Grizoni said. “It is said to have the power to kill any entity from Hell including the Unnamed One. This was Aklia’s sword, and if the stories are true, no other Slayer has been found fit to carry it but you.” He checked his watch. “That sword is one of a kind. When you are tired of wearing it on your waist, it can actually gel to your skin as a tattoo. I have no idea what instructions to give you, but I am certain Aklia will tell you how to do it, and I suggest you wait on the Council to show you how it is done.”

  “Aklia gave me her blade?” Sanaya asked. “Me?”

  “Yes. Apparently, she believes in you. I was not here when they arrived, but I will tell you that their appearance caused quite a stir with The Elders.” He chuckled. “But listen, we have to get out of here. You are already late for training, and the last thing I need is for Archer to be on my case.”

  “He will be,” Sanaya said.

  The Professor gathered up his things and led them out of the building to the gym, where Archer was waiting outside looking at his cell phone.

  “I thought I was going to have to come and get you, kid,” Archer said with frown. He eyed the Professor but kept his mouth closed when he noticed Sanaya holding the sword.

  “You know she needs to have it,” Professor Grizoni said.

  “But that was not for you to determine.” Archer sighed. “C’mon, Sanaya. You already missed the debriefing.”

  Professor Grizoni stared into Sanaya’s eyes. “I will see you at my next class. And do not forget to go online to check for tonight’s assignment.”

  “Do not bring up anything that we discussed to your younger teammates,” he mentally said her. “At least not now. Do not mention it to even some of the older Guardians. Tensions are high right now. The last thing we need is for them to panic. Just focus on Selene for now. The Council will guide you on what to do next.”

  The Professor spun ar
ound on his heels and left, leaving Sanaya and Archer alone.

  “Go on inside, Sanaya,” Archer said. “We will talk later.”

  Sanaya slipped passed Archer and took one last look at the Professor as he shuffled away. She gripped the sword firmly in her hands and hurried inside.

  Chapter Nine

  Raya, Natasha, and Aklia appeared only minutes after Selene departed from the New Orleans restaurant while the authorities retreated to their vehicles after gathering their forensic evidence. They maintained their cloaks of invisibility as they surveyed the carnage. Although attempts had been made to scour the blood away, the scene still smelled of massacre and the silent screams of terror still clung to chilly night air.

  Natasha spat on the cold concrete, fury blazing through her blue eyes. “We’re too late,” she said through gritted teeth.

  “We need to retrieve the Slayer,” Raya said, “and we need—”

  Aklia gasped, crouching low, her eyes filling with tears from the third eye impressions she received. There was nothing she could do as the violent and gruesome images filtered into her mind’s eye. A child being ripped apart … an older man being helplessly snatched from his seat as his granddaughter watched in horror. They had arrived too late because they had been assisting a small team of Guardians surrounded by a recently elevated Master Vampire and his harem. The other war parties were either out hunting or tied up other battles, but Aklia’s heart still found it to be inexcusable.

  “We should have finished this a long time ago,” Aklia said with clenched teeth. “This was my fight, my responsibility to put an end to her.”

  “This is not your fight alone, Aklia,” Raya said. “This battle belongs to all of us.”

  “No, you do not understand,” Aklia said. “I was the one who was supposed to put an end to this so long ago. Now this new Slayer, who is barely old enough to join the fight, must finish what I could not.”

  “The other teams just sent a signal!” Natasha shouted, unsheathing her sword. “That bitch is about a hundred miles north of us in a human containment center for the wicked.”

  Raya unleashed a war cry that spiked the fury in all three women, and an ocular-shaped opening appeared in front of them and engulfed them in a ball of white light …

  Petronius, who had hidden himself in the shadows, smiled. “All according to plan,” he whispered. He shifted into a massive cloud of bats and escaped into the night to continue with the rest of his mission.

  “Now, go easy on me. boo,” King whispered to Sanaya as they faced off in another sparring session while their peers looked on with unease.

  “Go hard on me, babe,” Sanaya whispered. “I’m serious. I can take it.”

  “Sanaya,” Archer said. “Focus. You are in an alley. He is your teammate and a recent turn victim. He is thirsty for blood.” Archer crept closer his hands folded calmly behind his back. “And he wants your blood. This is a life or death situation for you, Sanaya. For your team. Whatever he meant to you before, you have to suck it up and grieve for him later.” He laid a heavy palm on her shoulder. “This is about survival. Your entire team is under attack.”

  “She is your enemy,” Eve whispered into King’s ear after stealthily creeping up behind him. “She is an illusion of the girl you love. She is not real. Look at her.” She slipped her hand underneath his chin, forcing him to look at Sanaya. “She even wears her scent to deceive you, to lure you in for the kill.”

  “This is about the survival of your team, the people you love most,” Archer said. “And this is about setting the soul of the man you love most free. Set him free, Sanaya.”

  No one could have foreseen King’s quick movement across the gym floor. His roundhouse kick barely missed Sanaya, who doubled back, caught him by the ankle, and flipped him. Landing smoothly on his feet like a feline, he recovered and the fight was on.

  The two went head to head across the gym with Archer and the other Guardians following close behind. King managed to corner Sanaya against the bleachers in an attempt to use his weight against her. She surprised him when she demonstrated her flexibility, bending her spine far enough until the base of her head brushed against the metal seating, wrapped her ankles around his neck, and flipped him over her. King hit the upper rows hard and tumbled forward as Sanaya crashed clumsily back down on the bleachers, bouncing off before hitting the floor.

  Maya and Bullet were on their feet rushing to Sanaya while Charlie and Lisa rushed to help King. Both fighters groaned and grimaced as their teammates helped them to their feet. Slightly disoriented and bruised from head to toe, Sanaya glanced at King, who appeared to be in the same condition she was in.

  “Oh my God!” she shrieked mentally. “I am so sorry!”

  “Girl, stop trippin’,” King thought. “I was just about to ask if you were all right.” Charlie helped him to his feet. King blanched when his eyes met hers. “Fuck! Damn, baby!” Ignoring his own pain, he hopped down, skipping over row after row until he was standing in front of her. “Your lip is busted and you have a bruise forming under your eye!”

  She reached to touch his face. “So do you, and I think I broke your nose!”

  “Oh for Pete’s sake!” Archer shouted. “If it makes either of you feel better, Eve broke both of my ribs and had me in a headlock and kept me there until I said I was sorry. This is nothing.”

  “This is real,” Eve said. “Imagine having to choose between the lives of your teammates and the one you would sacrifice the entire universe for. Imagine seeing the image of one of your teammates, one of your fellow Guardians, no longer human but a bloodthirsty entity you now have to put down. Imagine if that were your family … a friend … a lover …”

  “Pair up!” Archer barked, startling the students into formation. “Sanaya, King, ten minutes, and then I want you both on the mats for weapons check.”

  Sanaya glanced over at King. who was being treated by the school nurse, before her gaze returned to the Millennium Blade. Her palms ached to have it in their grasp, and she wondered how it would feel when she pierced the hearts of her enemies in battle. Archer would surely not dispute her right to it. It was destined to be in her possession.

  Her vision became clouded as her mental sight merged with the memories of another. Adrenaline spiked her system, and there was nothing she could do to stop the memories …

  Blood was everywhere. On the walls. On the ceiling. On the doors. And staring into the stained glass and through the reflection of the worst abomination to plague human history was Cain. Deep brown, emotionless eyes with a hint of crimson looked back at his image: dark skin dripping with red. He had gorged himself silly on countless bodies, but none of his bloodlust did anything to numb the pain. Luluwa was gone—staked by one Aklia’s descendants and decapitated by a Guardian. The world had long matured from its infancy, and Egypt, the land of the Black Gods, had become a bastion of magic, creativity, and a reflection of the advancement of the human spirit. He could take the land and become the God King the Egyptians adamantly believed in and worshiped—but with much more skill. He could build his own army of vampire children to unleash on the world and bend humanity to its breaking point.

  Blood. That was his curse and his redemption. His night and his day. And because of it, he had lost everything. He had shed his brother’s blood, and through his brother’s blood was the curse. A strange thought occurred to him as he inhaled sharply: Will any of this end? How long must he roam the earth leaving nothing but death and destruction in his path to be forever hunted by a branch of his own bloodline? Every time he took a life, another part of his soul slipped away unknown. Another 10,000 years of a shadowy existence was the price for every monster born of his bite.

  As he stared into the mirror, Cain thought back to the Egyptian pyramids. A new queen had been born, King Ramsey’s daughter, and judging on her bloodline, he knew she was destined to either be a Guardian or a Huntress. Placing a palm against his chest, he allowed a heavy wail to escape his throat. Luluwa, hi
s adoring sister and loving wife, was gone. He would forever be hunted unless he found redemption, and perhaps he was already too far gone to hope for such a blessing.

  But if he could control his thirst, his rage …

  His nostrils flared at the all too familiar scent. Demons were also on the hunt for him on behalf of the Fallen One. He vowed that no one would hold ownership of his soul and that he would fight until the death of him before he allowed himself to become a servant to another master again. Gathering his strength, he no longer cared for the human bodies left to be discovered by their own kind. It was about survival.

  North. He needed to head north and back into The Old Country. There, he could start anew and perhaps find a new bride and hopefully regain some of the peace he had lost. In twenty-one years the new Huntress would pick up her blade to track him, and this time … he would put a final end to the blood line.

  Blood.

  It all began in blood.

  Sanaya snapped out of her daze, unsure of how she ended up on her knees with her eyes squeezed shut, while concerned Guardians, King, and her teammates looked on.

  “Man, that was intense,” Sanaya said, wiping away a bead of sweat that dripped from her brow.

  King helped her stand. “You all right, boo? Was that another vision? Are you hurt? We need to get a doc.”

  “Easy, lover boy,” Archer growled, examining Sanaya. “You all right, kid?”

  Leaning against King, Sanaya wobbled on her feet. “Yeah.”

  “Walk with me, Sanaya,” Archer said, motioning for her to follow him.

  King smoothed away a stray braid from her cheek and offered her a reassuring smile. “Tell me all about it when you get back,” he whispered in her mind. “I’ll be waiting for you.”

  “I will.”