Blood Rite Saga, Season One Box Set

by Dylan Keefer

  “What is that?” Larent asked.

  “Simply the process of turning a human into a vampire. It is not a common occurrence and can only be done with approval from the Dominion under extreme circumstances. For decades, the Dominion ruled with only minor issues. They began to grow in power. Then came the day when it was discovered that vampires weren’t the only supernatural creatures on earth. Werewolves, walking dead, succubus, and so many that you may have only thought were science fiction. The Dominion didn’t want to take a chance that any of them could overpower them. So, they teamed up with a certain sect of witches.”

  “Summoners?” Larent raised an eyebrow. Lao nodded.

  “The Summoners helped the Dominion increase their power with the promise that they would be equals in ruling the supernatural world. Their partnership lasted a long time. Hundreds of years until the Dominion decided that all witches were beneath them. The Summoners had to bow, too. And they would not. They put a curse on their own blood so that they could not be attacked by the Dominion who were the only vampires strong enough to challenge them.”

  “And Mei?”

  Lao looked as if she were in deep thought over the question. “Vampires are not to bear children with humans. It is a law that the Dominion decreed a lot time ago. Mei’s father was next in line to be not only head of the Dominion, but emperor as well. Aulus was sired to him which meant he would gain the throne if anything happened to the emperor. Aulus fell in love with a human slave that was bought for him for food, even though he was engaged to another Dominion vampire. They had a child. The first child ever born between vampire and human. A half-breed. Her father had enemies, and so, he sent Mei’s mother away with his most trusted friend and servant, Sergius. It is assumed that the mother died in childbirth, and the child was raised by him. During the founding and settling of America, she was tracked here. By Gregory, Sergius’ brother and servant of the Dominion King, whom you met. She escaped and hasn’t been heard of until now.”

  Larent watched as she motioned to the nearly a dozen computers with high definition screens, a lab, tools, and anything he could think of. Lao smiled.

  “This is my playground,” she said. “I’m eager to see your mind at work Larent. You know what is at stake here, and why we want your help. The time for story-telling is over. The time to change the world is upon us.”

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  Clayton shut his door. Evening had already hit, and the darkness made the woods seem a little eerie. Father Moore had given them a brief overview of the area. It was a four-mile loop that had a number of famous landmarks. It was a popular hiking place for nature enthusiasts which was why going at night was the best option.

  “There was an event that started the supernatural activity in the United States,” Father Moore said. “I’ve seen it referenced, but never in detail as to what happened.”

  “Maybe if we walk the loop something will trigger,” Madi said.

  “That’s why you’re here.”

  4 miles. Clayton was sure that meant they were going to be a little late getting back to the house. Hopefully, Mei was okay. Father Moore fell into step with him as their feet crunched along the path.

  “So, who is she?” Clayton glanced at him.

  “What do you mean?”

  “I mean, who is the evil love that is keeping you from becoming a full vampire hunter?” Father Moore asked. “I feel like you’ve been in this limbo for a while.”

  “Was it easy for you?” Clayton asked.

  Father Moore shook his head. “Killing someone you love is never easy. I mean, I’m a priest. How was I to come to grips that the job I vowed to take to save lives was now telling me to take one?”

  “Can you tell me who it was?” Father Moore took a deep breath.

  “It was my brother. He had become possessed by a demonic presence—a very powerful one that he had invited in.”

  “You priests can do exorcisms, can’t you? Why didn’t you just perform one?”

  “When it comes to the spiritual, you have to want it or not want it. An exorcism is never affective if the person doesn’t want to give up the thing inside of them. They must be willing, and my brother wasn’t. He liked the power so much that he didn’t see what it was doing to his soul.” Father Moore clasped his hands together. “And I did what needed to be done.”

  “So, if it’s something that—that can’t be given up. If it’s a vampire.” Father Moore looked at Clayton.

  “So, the ‘she’ is one of them,” he said. “This won’t be an easy decision. If you clearly love her, and the evil inside of her…”

  “She isn’t evil though! She has the kindest heart, and she wants to change this for the good,” Clayton said. “And she can’t help what was done to her.”

  “We can’t help that we were born with a natural ability to do wrong,” Father Moore said. “We all have to decide to do good. Evil is natural. You choose to be a vampire hunter. You could choose not to be.”

  “Shh!” Madi stopped and her hand went up. Both men stopped alongside her and were quiet. They were in the middle of a grassy area of the wood. Madi dropped to the ground and lay on her back. “Be very quiet. This is the place.”

  Clayton and Father Moore gently sat down beside her and watched as she closed her eyes. Madi could feel something strong around her.

  “Taisbean gus a dhol seachad. Taisbean gus a dhol seachad.” She whispered. A wind picked up around her moving through her clothes and kissing her skin.

  “Open your eyes child,” she heard in one ear. Madi jolted into a sitting position. Father Moore and Clayton were nowhere around. The surroundings were similar, but not exactly. For one, it was daylight out. And the woods around her were more like an unkempt forest.

  The feeling of a presence behind her made her jump. The woman was older and from the descriptions she had been given recently, it wasn’t hard to guess who it was.

  “Elizabeth,” Madi said slowly standing up.

  “I’ve been waiting for you to find me,” Elizabeth said. “I didn’t think that you would in time, but maybe this is the right time.”

  “The right time for what?” Madi asked. “What happened here? What is the event that started the supernatural presence in America? Do you know where I can find the Dominion Bible?”

  Elizabeth put her finger over her lips. “You must be patient, child.” She waved her hand around. “This is the place that the Dominion call Eden. It is the place where the great power that they fear manifested itself first.”

  “What could they be afraid of,” Madi said. “I know they are afraid of us—Summoners.”

  “You seek vengeance and have a hatred for the Dominion because you take on the weight of all of the Summoners before you—including mine?” It was an observation, but also a question. Madi nodded. “I’m sorry that you felt like you had to take on our burdens. You don’t have to anymore. You can let it go.”

  Madi’s eyes grew wide. “How? Why would I? This is a part of me and…”

  “It is not a part of you. Anger is not a part of you. Hatred is not a part of you. It is something that you want, and you can let this go.”

  “But the Dominion are evil and dangerous! You can’t want me to not destroy them.”

  Elizabeth shook her head. “You might destroy them by using the book, but you will destroy yourself. Or you can let go of the hatred and see the love in front of you and how you are truly created to change the world.”

  Voices close by interrupted them. Elizabeth tilted her head as if listening. Then she smiled. “It’s time.”

  Madi watched as her ancestor walked away into the woods. “Wait!” Madi ran after her. The trees seemed to move in a way that kept her from going forward at a fast past. She batted away branches and hopped over roots. Finally there was a break in the trees, and she stopped at the sight in front of her.

  A huge man was being attacked by several others. Another man had his hand around a girl’s throat. She was lifted high in the air.
Elizabeth stood outside of it all in the process of raising her hand. When she did, it seemed like everything stopped.

  “Oh my god,” Madi covered her mouth with her hands. It was Mei—young Mei. The man being attacked was Serge. This was the vision that Mei had at the beach? This was her memory. How?

  She moved around the action and felt a little bit of impact from the explosion of power that erupted from the girl when she let loose. She had never seen anything like it. She could never have imagined it.

  “Elizabeth!” Madi called out, but the woman ignored her. Why am I here!

  The three sat on the grass talking. Madi walked up to them. It was plain to see that neither Mei nor Serge could see or hear her.

  “Elizabeth, why am I here?” She asked.

  “So, you want to put Mei to sleep for a few years?” Serge asked.

  “Not a few,” Elizabeth said. “A few hundred.”

  Mei’s eyes widened. Serge shook his head. “That’s extreme, don’t you think?”

  Madi stood over them with her hands running through her hair. “What am I supposed to learn here?”

  “The Dominion are extreme. They have the ability to send wave after wave of fighters to kill her. Are you willing to risk her life?”

  Madi tried to think. If she wasn’t meant to destroy the Dominion with the book, then what was she supposed to do? Then it hit her.

  “What would we have to do,” Mei said to Elizabeth. The old woman gave a weak nod of acknowledgment. Elizabeth turned her eyes to Madi.

  “You will help her when the time comes,” Elizabeth said.

  “You want me to help Mei. She’s the one that is going to change everything, isn’t she?”

  “You know how?” Elizabeth said.

  “I do. I’ve been blaming this on the past Summoners. It’s my hate and anger that’s driving this,” Madi said. “I need to let it go. She’s the love that I need to embrace.”

  Clayton was shaking her when she came to. He and Father Moore looked genuinely concerned.

  “Madi, what happened? What did you see?” Madi looked at Clayton.

  “I saw Elizabeth and Mei.” She turned to Father Moore. “I don’t get to the book. I’m not the Summoner that needs to control what happens here.”

  Father Moore looked at her warily. “You are the only Summoner left?”

  “The only full Summoner,” Clayton caught on. Madi nodded. Father Moore looked confused. “We need to explain some things Father, but…” Clayton was interrupted by Madi’s cell phone ringing.

  “I don’t know this number,” she said. Only a hand full of people had it, and that was Eric, Mei, Clayton, and the team that she worked with back at the University. Her own mother didn’t even have her number. She answered it.

  “Hello?” Clayton and Father Moore listened. Madi’s face turned white as she listened. “I—haven’t seen him since—well, it’s been a long time. Yes, we’ve talked though.”

  She listened a minute longer and then hung up the phone. Clayton narrowed his eyes. “That was the Boston Police. Father Eric Bishop was found dead in his church office a few hours ago. He was killed.”

  “They came after him,” Clayton said. “How much do you think that they got out of him before they killed him?”

  “Enough,” Madi said jumping up to her feet. “We need to go. Now!”

  CHAPTER NINE

  Mei lay curled up on the couch. Madi’s mom had fallen asleep while watching episodes of some detective show. Mei had tried to watch the shows, but as fascinating as they were, her mind was preoccupied with her anxiously waiting for some sort of word from Clayton and Madi. They had been gone for hours with only one text from Clayton telling her not to worry, but they had a lead. Of course, she was worried. The thought crossed her mind. She was a vampire. All she had to do was find them and follow them. But she had promised to watch the older woman. Lucas had woken up to find Mei there, and he had been furious to know the Madi had left her with his mother. Thankfully, Laura was there to talk sense into him, and since Madi hadn’t put her back to sleep after waking her up for information about Father Moore, she and Mei had talked a little. It had been hard to dance around any questions about her life, but she had somehow gotten Laura on track with giving information about her, Lucas and Olivia.

  “Mei is a good person,” Laura had stood chest to chest with Lucas. “You can trust your mother here, and Madi will return. Let’s go and give your mother some peace.”

  Lucas grumbled his response as he allowed his wife to push him out of the door. From then on, it was patiently waiting.

  Mei got up from the couch and walked to the kitchen. She really needed some blood. Nothing in the refrigerator looked appetizing when she looked inside. Nothing. As she closed the door, she looked around the house. Something just didn’t feel right in her bones. Maybe it was something about Clayton and Madi. Looking out of the window, she could see that it was dark out. Something had to have gone wrong.

  She walked out of the kitchen and back to the room. As her eyes scanned for her phone, Mei realized that Olivia wasn’t in the spot where she had left her. Strange. Mei looked around the room and found the remote for the television. She turned it off and listened. It was quiet. Too quiet. She couldn’t hear the woman’s heartbeat. Forgetting about the phone, she walked quickly out the front door and looked over to the house next door. Had she been that quick and gone over to her son’s? The lights were all on in that house. Maybe that was it.

  Mei jumped down the stair and jogged over to the house. Stepping towards the door, she realized that it was partially open.

  “Laura? Lucas?” She called out as she pushed open the door slightly. There was no answer. “Olivia, are you here?”

  Their house mirrored their mother’s in almost every way. Laura definitely had her say in the decorations of the place. It was very bright and bubbly. As Mei stood in the entryway, her senses started to kick in high gear. She sniffed the air. Her fangs instantly came out as the smell grew stronger. Blood. Her body felt a chill as she walked down the hallways and into the living room.

  An audible gasp escaped her lips as her eyes fell upon both Laura and Lucas. His body was broken and crushed underneath their fireplace. Her body was mangled and bloody on the couch. They found us!

  Mei took off back through the house and outside where the whole street was covered with vampires standing in the dark—waiting for her. She swallowed as she started to back away. A few—maybe, but there were at least a hundred. She didn’t care what power she had, she wasn’t that strong.

  One vampire stepped out from the rest. His smirk was unmistakable. “Hello, Mei. It’s been a long time since we last met. I think we’re overdue for this gathering, don’t you?”

  Gregory stared at Mei. She looked older, but she was still the same girl he had seen in the woods so long ago. She was still the same power that he had witnessed. He had been sent to kill her back then, and he hadn’t questioned it because the King and the Queen had demanded it. Now he had a hundred vampires behind him ready to see that accomplished.

  “Where are your friends? I would really like to meet the witch. I hear she’s a real fiery one.” Gregory stayed where he was.

  “Why did you kill them?” Mei asked with a tremble in her voice. Gregory nodded.

  “You mean the whiny man and his pleading wife? Trust me, I did the world a favor. And the old lady. I think someone took her to the water and tried to see if she could float.” He looked around at the vampire hoard behind him. “I really hoped someone drained her first!”

  Laughter erupted from the Fallen. Mei shook her head.

  “So, you’ve come here to kill me. Go ahead then,” she challenged. Gregory took a step forward.

  “Let’s go inside, shall we?” Mei watched as he turned and spoke to the group of vampires; all of them with fangs out ready to sink their teeth into someone’s flesh. “No one gets past you.”

  He turned back to Mei and took the porch steps in one smooth leap
. He walked inside of the house. Mei followed hesitantly. What was his plan? Did he want to take her alone and kill her?

  “Who are you?” She said as he searched the kitchen for a glass. Gregory nodded.

  “Oh, you remember me, don’t you? Though, I keep forgetting that we were never formally introduced,” he said. “My name is Gregory. You knew my dear brother, Serge. Though, he never mentioned me to you, did he?”

  “Brother?” Mei frowned. Gregory pointed at her.

  “I can see that even after our first meeting, Serge never came clean about everything. Ahh! There it is.” He took a glass in his hand and went to the living room. “Serge and I were best friends with your father, Aulus. Although, we were considered Dominion, we were not royalty. Sergius became your father’s errand boy. Oh, Aulus, always said that they were more like equals, and he did his best to treat him as such, Serge protected him from himself. Of course, then they had you, and all sense flew out of the window.”

  “You knew my father,” Mei said. For a moment, she let down her guard. Gregory stopped and looked at her for a moment as if trying to make sure he didn’t let down his. Then, he reached down and grabbed Laura’s body. Holding his glass under some of her still bleeding wounds, he kept talking.

  “What happens between vampires and humans is none of our immediate concern as Dominion, but what is law for us is that vampires and humans cannot spawn a child. When his sire bond was made, and your father was next in line to be vampire King, he had the right one of us chosen to be his Queen. The Dominion were happy. Thrilled. See your father was very well liked and respected.” Gregory took a sip of the blood and swished it around in his mouth before swallowing. “But then, Aulus started to change. He was secretive and aloof, and only Serge seemed to really be able to talk to him. Then one day, Serge disappeared. It wasn’t long before we found out why.”

  “You killed my parents. I remember you saying that you did,” Mei said with fists clenched.

  “They killed themselves,” Gregory said. “At least, that is what the world thinks.”