by Joanne Ellis
“Angeles tells me you smell good which I don’t agree with. Your aroma doesn’t please my palate. You should know why I do.”
Sera stared at Angeles for a moment startled by Angel’s words and he licked his lips emphatically. She took an involuntary step back which induced laughter from him again.
“I would appreciate it if you would stop looking at me as though I am your next meal.” She turned her attention to Angel. “You have no need to feel threatened by me. Sam is my best friend and nothing more.”
She turned and walked over to Sam.
“What did you say to them?” he whispered.
“I simply asked them to cease their intimidating stares.”
“Well it worked, now they just look amused.”
“Good morning all,” their conversation cut short by Kalar addressing the group. “Today we venture to retrieve Nermina from Mecaldorf and we believe a protection chant would aid the journey.”
Sera was relieved to hear the words as this was the incantation she’d purposely spent most time on assuming it may be used. Kalar stepped out from the circle as the princesses took their places and summoned their gem. Sera felt proud as she recited the words perfectly with the rest. Once the protection spell was complete she felt stronger and slightly invincible.
“Do not let your sudden feelings fool you,” whispered Sam.“You’re still breakable.”
She smiled at him and turned back when Kalar addressed them again.
“It has been decided a small elfin, hazer, pixie and nymph army will join the chosen ones on their mission today. We have foreseen a large force created by Mecaldorf and although we endeavour to avoid bloodshed we are to remain realistic and prepare ourselves for battle.”
Sera wondered whether the pretty Elfin was part of this army and decided it would account for her presence.
“Once Keelor, Nermo, Sampson and Angeles with the army have located Nermina they will bring her to the princesses and remaining protectors awaiting them in the forest by the wizard’s castle. Then return to the garden where we will wait for you. The remainder will ensure their return will be unchallenged before passing through the gate. Any questions?”
“Will we be returning through the gate?” Sera asked.
“Oh, Seraphina, have you become familiar with the transporting spell?”
“Yes.”
“You will be using this as it is swifter and safer than opening the gate. All eight of you are to be present for it to be effective so you will use the gate to travel to the banished lands.”
Kalar glanced around the circle and when no further questions were asked she said the words - which Seraphina now understood - to summon the gate and they began to pass through. Sam and Keelor both seemed to hesitate and wait for the army to pass through and when Angelique with Angeles followed their forces - who had appeared out of nowhere as far as Sera was concerned as she’d only noticed the pretty elfin prior to the starting of the meeting - Sampson gestured for Sera to follow and he was close behind her. Keelor brought up the rear directly behind Keela.
As Seraphina crossed through she discovered the forest they entered was darker and eerie and held none of the uplifting sounds and smells found within the mystic forests.
Tiana called forth a guiding fairy and with Tanner led the group towards the edge of the forest. When they stopped, Sera was unable to see what lay ahead because of the twenty odd militia standing before them and resolved to take a closer look once they marched towards the castle. Sera grew concerned about Sam not because he was leaving her alone - not alone but unprotected by him - but because she was concerned for his safety.
“I’ll be alright, Seraphina. I have been trained for this,” he told her quietly as if sensing her mood. She realised he’d always had an uncanny way of doing that and thought perhaps they’d always been connected in this way too.
“Be careful and come back to me,” she whispered before embracing him and kissing his cheek which emitted a hiss from Angelique.
Sera merely smiled sardonically over her shoulder at Angelique.
The group suddenly disappeared through to the clearing and she noted Keelor seek out her eyes before he too departed. She mentally kicked herself again for reading into every small detail like a school girl.
She peeked through the trees and watched as they walked cautiously towards what appeared to be an abandoned castle. A tall dark grey circular stone tower looked sinister and Sera found it disturbing. Chills tickled her skin as she watched them cross the field.
Sera noticed Nermo watching her with quiet curiosity as he’d often done over the past days. His pursuit of her had ceased and Sera hoped he’d lost interest although the way he was staring at her now thwarted that idea. Perhaps a warning about his obvious affection for her had been issued and he was listening, which surprised her a little. He did also appear very concerned and it occurred to her he was more worried about Nermina than he let on. She walked toward him and a strange pained look crossed his face.
“Nermo, I know you’re concerned about Nermina but she will be alright.”
“Yes, even if they are not successful today she will return to us. I saw it in the same dream I saw you, whilst in the trance.”
“Nermina and I were in the same dream?”
“Yes you will be an important factor when it comes to defeating Mecaldorf.”
“I highly doubt that.”
“You will see. This is why I have such high regard for you. You have powers you are unaware of, the circle are not aware of. I am not sure what it is yet but it is there nonetheless.”
“It was only a dream.”
“It was a vision, Seraphina, and due to this dream you fill my thoughts constantly.”
“Then why are you avoiding me?”
“I do not want to break the law and be banished then I would be further from you. I will wait, the law will change.”
For a few puzzled moments Sera stared at him and suddenly confused, elect to sit. She found a mossy log to rest upon to wait. Audrey joined her and they made idle conversation as they anxiously lingered. Sera asked her usual line of inquisitive questions which Audrey answered patiently and realised she was going to find a remarkable friend in Audrey.
“What is your favourite shape to change into?”
“That’s easy, a tiger. I feel powerful and sleek and I fight best this way. I also like the panther because I can blend in with the darkness.”
“What does it feel like?”
“To change?” Sera nodded. “The first few times it feels strange. My heart pounds and my blood boils like it’s on fire until I change and then I sort of encompass the traits and habits of the particular creature.”
“It seems like a pretty cool power to me.”
“The one you have is much more powerful and useful than any we have. Except the vampires, of course, who are immortal and can heal themselves, although, they do have to drink blood.” She stopped and made a disgusted face before continuing. “You still win though because you can heal others.”
“Doesn’t seem all that exciting to me.”
“Wait until you really need to use it, like during times like these when you save someone’s life. That is pretty awesome.”
Her blue eyes grew excited as her blonde ponytail danced around. Sera hoped she wouldn’t have to use her power today. To be cautious, Sera channelled into the feeling and her hands simmered with a soft glow. Audrey clapped her hands with excitement.
“Just in case.” Sera shrugged.
Angeles broke through the trees at that moment covered in blood his or others Sera couldn’t be sure for any wounds he’d received would have healed already.
“You all have to leave now!” he yelled.
Keela summoned the gate and they all clambered through with Angeles in the rear.
16
Rescue
Nermina awoke in her dark imprisonment to discover two red eyes staring at her through the darkness. Startled at first, she rea
lised it was probably a hazer in his shifted form.
“Who is there?” she commanded.
She heard the unmistakable noise of a hazer returning to human form and knew her assumption was correct.
“It is Mortimer.”
“Mortimer? I thought you were dead.”
“No, simply banished. I have missed your pretty face.”
“Why are you here with Mecaldorf?”
“I wish to return to the mystic lands and my hazer home within.”
“Most of the hazers live in the human world now.”
“Not all of them and you live in the mystic lands.”
“Are you still harbouring a ridiculous fantasy?”
He snarled and instantly appeared beside her cell as a wolf with fangs exposed.
“Never could control your temper could you, Mortimer?”
Returning to human form, he reached a hand through the beams to touch her face.
“Not when it came to you.”
“Mortimer,” she heard Mecaldorf’s stern voice from the darkness.
Mortimer shrank back and sent her one last longing gaze before leaving the room.
“Well, Nermina, it seems your friends have arrived to rescue you,” he told her in an amused tone. “Pity they have my army to face and will scarcely venture further than the forest before they will be retreating back to your lands. Soon I will visit them and advise them of my plans for you however I am not quite ready yet.”
“You underestimate us, Mecaldorf.”
“On the contrary, Nermina. You underestimate me.”
When they arrived at the garden Angelique was on Angeles in a flash. “What happened?”
“With all due respect, Elder Kalar whatever visions you foresaw, they were incomplete,” Angeles said.
“Please, Ang, where are the others?” Angelique asked him again.
Angeles sank down onto the grass, disheartenment evident in his expression.
“As we broke through the clearing the castle appeared deserted. We could see no-one on the roof watching for us and contemplated what this would mean and we soon found out. There were too many to count, hazer and vampires mixed together and powerful. Some of the blood you can see is mine. We lost a few out there today. The others are in the forest waiting for it to be safe for a princess to open the gate. We were vastly outnumbered, even if we were the better fighters. These creatures were erratic and bloodthirsty. I was disgusted and I like being a bloodsucker.”
Sera paced restlessly as he relayed his story then stopped, waiting with bated breath to discover who had been slain and why the wounded were not with Angeles being healed. Why was he the first to return to them?
“We lost two nymph, a pixie and maybe an elf. The wounded were well enough to hold off until they could return.” He turned to Seraphina.“I hope you are ready, we have many wounded.”
“I will help,” Anna told them stepping forward.
“Sampson? The other protectors?” Angelique asked the question churning in Sera’s mind.
“They were unharmed when I left them. They sent me because I am quicker and could ensure you were all safely through before they were followed into the forest.”
Relieved slightly that Sampson and Keelor were safe for now, did little to calm her ragged nerves. Without waiting any longer, Keela opened the gate but no-one came through.
Many long mystic minutes passed and their concern grew as each moment passed. Just when Sera began to lose hope, through the gate appeared the tired blood soaked troops. Finally the protectors began to appear and Sera sought out the two faces she longed to see, to find them together, one over the other’s shoulder.
Anna raced off to aid the wounded troops while Sera stood rooted to the spot for a moment, stunned. Keelor was carrying an obviously wounded Sam over his shoulder. How could this be? Couldn’t he heal himself?
Keelor placed Sam on the ground beside her and looked at her with grave concern. She immediately felt the overpowering need to heal and her hands burned bright and intense.
“What’s wrong with him? Can’t he can heal himself?”
“He was bitten.”
“Where is his wound? By what? I don’t understand.”
“A vampire bit him, Seraphina. His wound healed leaving the poison inside him. There is nothing to be done.”
“No there has to be. Can I heal the poison? We have to do something.”
Angelique pushed her way through to knee beside Sam’s head, her wrist bloody.
“No!” Keelor told her. “It is against the law.”
“He will die!” she cried. “Please, let me do this.”
Kalar stepped forward and looked from Sera to Angelique and noted their distress.
“Why are you so concerned for Sampson, Angelique?”
“I love him.”
There was a collective gasp from those within earshot and Kalar’s shock didn’t register on her serene face.
“Seraphina,” Kalar turned to her. “I know you are very fond of Sampson however it is forbidden for him to be changed. If this were to happen he would no longer be your protector and both he and Angelique would be banished from the lands and you would not see him again.”
Looking down at her best friend, Sera debated as she watched him writhing in pain. The poison surging through his body was killing him slowly. He opened his eyes, so like hers, to find them filled with uncertainty. She knew instinctively he was asking her what she wanted, even as he lay dying. Tears welled up in her eyes as she turned to Angelique.
“He loves you and he has to live. There is no other way.”
Angelique brought her bleeding wrist to his mouth and he drank hungrily for a moment, stopped abruptly, closed his eyes and became very still.
“What have you done?” Sera asked her.
“Patience, you have to wait for the human to die before the vampire emerges.”
Sera sat and watched him apprehensively, unsure what to expect if and when he opened his eyes. His hand in hers began to feel cold. Keelor was looking at her strangely and she resolved to deal with him later.
When Sam finally opened his eyes their colour was magnificent. The blue once deep indigo was now brighter in colour. His pallor translucent and his hair shone with a slight golden tinge. He was beautiful. Always handsome, he was now devastatingly so. His hand in hers was stone cold and she watched as he assessed her with his vampire eyes.
Mortimer returned after a short while and found Nermina once again trying to pixie dust the beams which housed her.
“Nermina, do not drain your power, it will not work.”
“I have to do something, my folk, your folk; my friends are putting their life at risk to save me. I cannot allow this to happen.”
She reached forward to touch the beam with a fingertip to test its ferocity and was rewarded with a sharp burn from fingertip to palm.
“Ahh,” she cried out and pulled away which had Mortimer at her side immediately.
“Let me see.”
He pushed his hand through the beam singeing his arm as he gently touched her finger.
“Why do you care so much about me, Mortimer?”
“I always have, Nermina.”
“Then help me leave here.”
“I cannot.”
“Then leave me be.”
“I do not want to leave you. I want you to be safe but cannot let you leave.”
17
Vampire Eyes
The first person Sampson saw when he opened his eyes was Seraphina. When he smelt her blood, the thirst came on hard and strong. He saw the pulse beating at her throat and felt sharp fangs cutting into his lip.
His first instinctive reaction was to leap to his feet before looking around briefly with his newfound sight. Everything held more clarity and was unbelievably brighter, the colours more intense. Every tiny sound in the garden and the surrounding forest was amplified and every aroma burned his nostrils. After surveying the area with his new eyes they rested back
on the smell enticing him to feed.
Knowing his glance had been mere seconds, as vampires did everything rapidly, he knew his perusal would have gone unnoticed.
“Step back,” Angelique told Seraphina before coming to stand in front of her.
“Why?” Sera asked with a hurt lilt within her tone that Sam recognised but barely gave it a thought.
All he could feel, think and imagine was biting her elegant neck.
“He is thirsty and you are the only human within range.”
Sam barely allowed Angel to finish her sentence before using his vampire speed to stand behind Seraphina.
“No!” Angelique cried and with great force heaved Sera towards Keelor who caught her before she fell.
Angelique seized Sampson by the shoulders and held his eyes with hers.
“Sampson,” she said firmly holding his attention. “You do not want your thirst satisfied by Seraphina. Focus and I will take you to the hazer’s village and you can feed.”
“I want her,” he hissed, now in a complete bloodthirsty frenzy.
He noted Keelor was now standing in front of his prey ironically protecting Sera from her own protector.
“Take him away from here blood suckers,” Keelor said in a low strong voice.
Angelique and Angeles barely managed to drag him away towards the forest.
Seraphina in total despair felt tears warm her cheeks. Relieved Sam was still alive she began to wonder at what price. Had she now lost him forever? He craved to kill her, would this bloodlust ease? Would they ever be able to continue being friends? Keelor turned to her and noted her heartache.
“Elder Kalar,” he said without taking his eyes away from Seraphina’s. “Permission to leave the circle with Seraphina?”
“Yes you may go. The elders have much to discuss. We will re-convene in the morning.”
Guiding Seraphina towards the river as the others dispersed, he noted sobs now racked her body and she appeared to be shaking. She sat heavily upon the ground and continued to weep.
“Seraphina.” Keelor sat beside her placing a comforting arm across her shoulders. “Once he has satisfied his thirst, his urge to feed upon you will subside. A new vampire has little control over their cravings. In time he will improve.”