Caressed by the Edge of Darkness

by Amanda J. Greene

  Books by Amanda J. Greene

  Rulers of Darkness Series

  Caressed by Moonlight

  Caressed by Night

  Caressed by a Crimson Moon

  Caressed by Shadows

  Under Realm Assassins Novella Series

  A Bewitching Christmas

  Surrender to the Chase

  Coming Soon: Wicked Passion

  Caressed by the Edge of Darkness

  Amanda J. Greene

  Publisher Amanda J. Greene

  Copyright © 2017 by Amanda J. Greene

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be transmitted or reproduced by any means. This book is fiction. Characters, events, places, names, and etc. are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to any actual persons (living or dead), businesses, or locals is completely coincidental.

  Cover art by Kim Killion

  www.amandajgreene.blogspot.com

  ISBN – Not Yet Assigned

  Acknowledgements

  To my bestie, Becca, thank you for sticking through this one with me. I know it was tough and I’m sorry for sending you emails at all hours of the night.

  To my husband, Robert, thank you for understanding that I had to lock myself in the office days on end and for making sure I had food, coffee, and a beer when needed.

  Glossary of Terms

  Binding Ceremony: Takes place between a vampire and their mate through the exchange of blood. Their blood will mix and they both must consume the combined blood at the same time. They will bear the mark of their binding, a scar.

  Black Knights: The protectors of the vampire royalty and nobility and the enforcers of vampiric law.

  Bleeder: A human slave kept by a vampire for the use of feeding. This practice is outlawed, though it remains in use within the Outcast Society.

  Death Curse: A spell cast by the Shaman upon any vampire that becomes ruler of a Clan. This curse was created to limit the power and reign of the monarchs. It begins by attacking what remains of the vampire’s conscious (often times the king reports seeing the faces of those he has slain, thereby attacking their mind), hallucinations set in and the vampire begins to descend into madness. Next, the curse singles out the vampire’s emotions (they become overcome by grief, shame, loneliness, despair, etc.). While the curse twists their minds and emotions, an illness consumes the body. Death is always welcome in the end. The average reigning term of a monarch is 200 years. This has helped cut the numbers of the older, stronger, vampires.

  Fathers: Cassius, Uro, and Imbrasus. These three of the four purebloods shared their blood with humans, thereby creating fledglings. They also formed the vampire clans. Fathers can also be addressed as Sire. (Dimitri is a leader of a clan, though he has never created fledglings and is addressed as Sire.) Began to change humans to vampires when civilizations became strong.

  Fledglings: Humans that have been changed into vampires. A vampire’s strength is determined by four (4) factors. How hard the victim fought to hold on to their mortal life.

  The stronger the will to live the stronger the demon will be within them upon transformation.

  How strong the vampire is that is attempting to turn the human. The Purebloods possess the most strength, while their direct fledglings are the second strongest and so on and so forth. As the blood continues to be shared with humans, the vampire curse becomes more and more diluted. Example: the vampires that are made by the 16th generation will not be nearly as strong as those made by the 2nd, no matter what.

  The more blood a vampire shares with their victim, the more poison (the curse) the human consumes. With more poison in the system, the transition is easier, though there is still no guarantee that the human will survive the transition.

  The passage of time. As years turn into decades and decades into centuries, the demon within (the vampire) grows stronger and some develop extra senses: mind reading, mind control, teleportation, and visions of the future.

  Mate: A vampire monarch’s lover. The Shaman, with his ability to see far into the future, knew that one day a ruler would come into power (one for each vampire clan) that would want to bring peace into the world of darkness. In order to save these rulers of the Death Curse, the Shaman created their mates. If the vampire finds their mate, they will never fall victim to the Death Curse. Though, there is no guarantee that the vampire will find their mate and if they do not, they will parish.

  Mylonas Clan: The very first vampire Clan to be formed. Created by Cassius, their territory consists of Southern Europe, every country that lines the coast of the Mediterranean. Reigning monarch: Dorian Vlakhos

  Outcast Society: Made up of vampires who have been banished from their Clans or were changed into vampires illegally (without the blessing or the approval of the King). Generally they are the weaker of the vampire race, with few exceptions. Their territory consists of the United States, with some small factions scattered about Canada and South America. To protect themselves from the Red Order, they form groups, banding together. The two largest groups within the Outcast Society are led by Gabriel Erhard and Boras Werner (competitive factions). Also known as bastards, blood-bastards, or filthy-blood.

  Pureblood: The original vampires cursed by the Shaw: Cassius, Uro, Imbrasus and Dimitri. The proper way to address a Pureblood is Sire.

  Rightful Ruler: The intended monarch chosen by Fate to rule a vampire clan. They will bring about peace and be granted a mate through the spell created by the Shaman.

  Second: Also known as heirs. They are chosen by the current reigning vampire ruler to be their successor.

  Shaman: Leader of the Shaw. He is all-knowing and his magical abilities are limitless. He is continuously reincarnated; this helps his powers grow and insures that his knowledge of the past continues on. The Shaman can choose to retire, meaning he selects a fellow member of the tribe, generally from his direct bloodline, to pass on his strength and knowledge. Once he relinquishes his power and memories, he is free of the reincarnation cycle and will live out his life to finally pass on to the next realm.

  Shape-shifters: A species that appear human but can take the form of an animal. Also known as Weres. They separate themselves by animal type and live in packs/tribes. Africa, Asia South America, and some parts of North America are split up amongst the different factions. Generally live in small groups and amongst people. They share much of their territory with the Outcast Society. War is popular within their communities and peace is always short lived. One cannot be changed into a Shape-shifter. They can breed with humans, producing Half-Breeds.

  Shaw Priestess: Gifted witches who show great promise for strength. They are trained by Shaman and are highly respected within their otherworldly community. They are Seers, able to look into the future. They are assistance to Shaman and are members of his bloodline. Priestesses are pure of blood, meaning their blood, if given to a human, can grant immortality.

  Shaw Witches: A peaceful tribe of witches possessing great magical power.

  Soul Shattering: When a human is on the verge of death and receives vampire blood, the transition from human to vampire begins. The blood is poisonous to a human; it eats away at the soul and conscious until the next full moon. Once the full moon rises, the transition begins; excruciating pain claims the victim as their body begins to morph into that of a vampire. At this point, the soul is weak and splinters under the pressure. In most cases, the soul dies and the human does not survive the transition. If the soul does not die, it is forever shattered – in pieces. The human will awake a vampire possessing little humanity. They retain their memories and some of their emotions, though their conscious is almost non-e
xistent. However, there is a way around Soul Shattering. When the human is being given the vampire’s blood, the vampire can press their hand over the human’s heart, thereby creating a shield around the soul, protecting it from the poison. A vampire is stronger if they possess their whole soul.

  The Red Order: Witches, who have very little magical power but possess great physical strength, they are the hunters of vampires. Also known as the Red Order Hunters.

  Transition: The process by which a human is transformed into a vampire. The human must be near death from blood loss and receive a vampire’s blood. Upon the next full moon, the change from human to vampire takes place. It is an agonizing event and most do not survive. Males dominate the vampire race because, for one reason or another, female’s bodies do not absorb the vampire’s poisonous blood well and often die when the blood first enters their system.

  Validus Clan: Created by Imbrasus. They claim Eastern Europe, beginning with the Czech Republic and advancing East, with the exception of Russia. Reigning monarch: Hadrian Lucretius.

  Voidukas Clan: The smallest of the vampire clans, created by Uro. Their territory consists of: Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Germany, Denmark, and Switzerland. Reigning monarch: Sonya Rebane.

  Volkov Clan: Formed by the pureblood Dimitri. Territory belonging to this clan is Northern Europe and Russia. He created this Clan to give refuge to vampires over the years trying to escape persecution, slavery, and tyrannical rulers of their own Clans. Reigning monarch: Dimitri Arsov.

  Prologue

  Lithuania, 1237

  The rancid stench of chard flesh thickened the stale dungeon air. Blood slickened the cold stone floor. A faint heart beat and the rasp of shallow breaths whispered through the darkness. There were no whimpering sighs or screams for help. The word mercy had no meaning in a Hell such as this.

  Hate, so pure, so true, so strong, it electrified the air, snapping and sizzling like lightning.

  Chains scrapped the ground, sloshed through puddles of blood.

  Crimson rivulets snaked down the slave’s bare chest, back, and arms. Droplets of blood elegantly cascaded from his fingertips. Welts scored his torso, long slashes crossed over his shoulders. His skin still smoldered, tendrils of heat danced as his flesh continued to blacken.

  The slave remained on his knees, his shoulders squared, his head never bowing. His chest slowly rose and fell as he met the blond stranger’s gaze. There was no fear or hope in the slave’s stare, but determination hardened his crystal green eyes and he tilted his chin up in challenge.

  Impressive. Most would have crumbled from such a torture session, but the slave had endured centuries of pain and continued to be strong, rebellious.

  “Your defiance…” the blond vampire whispered in awe, “Remarkable.”

  The slave’s cracked and bleeding lips pealed back, revealing his fangs. They glistened in the darkness as he slowly stretched his dislocated jaw until it popped back into place.

  The blond male stepped closer to the cell. Extending an arm through the bars, he held out his hand and said, “I am Dimitri Arsov.”

  Ignoring the stranger, the slave lumbered to his feet. His chains rattled and rasped against the bloody, raw flesh of his wrists. His bones ached and every muscle in his body screamed in protest as he straightened, tearing his newly healed skin. More blood flowed. He didn’t notice. Didn’t care.

  Dimitri dropped his hand and smiled. “Your spirit is admirable.”

  Turning his back on the intruder, the slave walked to his bed of dirt and blood stained hay. Madame Sideth would be entertaining her guests for the next three nights. He’d be able to get some rest and perhaps heal, if fed, which wasn’t likely. The Madame took immense pleasure in trying to break him, using every tactic: torture, bleeding, starvation, rape.

  The slave’s lips twisted in a cruel smile. He would never bow to her, no matter how much pain she inflicted or how much humiliation she forced upon him. To be weak was to be prey and he refused to be victimized.

  But it was his pride and strength that attracted the Madame. She loved her defiant slave. Wanting to keep him forever, she’d ripped away his mortality and with it, his only hope for escape. Never would he know the peace of death.

  He suppressed a shudder as the memories of that night rose from the dark recesses of his mind. The guards had starved him and beat him senseless before dragging him from his cell to an altar. They chained him to the stone slab, a sacrifice offered to their lady. He’d struggled against the restraints, tearing muscles and breaking bones, while the henchmen laughed. Madame Sideth praised his warrior spirit and crooned lovingly in his ear. Bile rose in his throat as she climbed atop him. Relishing the hate that burned in his gaze, she smiled, flashing her fangs then struck. She drew on his vein and he thrashed beneath her. As he fought for his last breath, she pulled away. The Madame slit her wrist with a bejeweled blade, pressed the bleeding wound to the slave’s mouth and placed a palm over his heart. He’d refused to drink, turning his head from side to side, until the commander of the guard came forward and held him still. The next night, when the moon was full and high in the sky, unimaginable agony consumed him as his body transformed, his heart withered, and his soul burned to ash.

  He was demon.

  Just like them.

  The sounds of the celebration taking place above drifted down to the dungeon, and grated his nerves. Hours ago, the cell beside him had been crowded with fresh humans, captured for the Moon Festival. He knew none would return. They’d be used: fucked and bled to death. Like all the others that came before, century after century. But he’d been left in the dungeon. The Madame refused to share her slave. So, why was the blond vampire here, speaking to him? What did he want?

  “I’m not a guest. Lady Ingrid, who I believe is known to you as Madame Sideth, is no ally of mine,” Dimitri said.

  The slave glanced over his shoulder, his eyes narrowed. He’d heard of vampires powerful enough to read other’s thoughts. Could this male?

  “Why are you here?” he asked, his windpipe finally healed from the metal cuff that had been locked around his neck only moments ago.

  “Your situation has only just been revealed to me. If I had known, I would have…” Dimitri’s words faded and he shook his head. “I have come to help you, Gabriel.”

  The slave spun around, his vision blurred, his skull throbbed, and his stomach heaved from the sudden movement. Gabriel. It had been an eternity since he’d heard someone speak his name. Madame Sideth had asked him sweetly and demanded him ruthlessly, but he’d never told her. His name and identity had died eons ago, murdered along with his wife and tribe. How did this monster know him?

  “I will explain everything, but we haven’t much time.” Dimitri tossed something black and metal into the cell. It bounced and binged across the floor, sliding through blood until it hit Gabriel’s bare foot. “If you desire freedom, claim it now. Head for the border. Three miles north, there is a short wooden fence. Cross it, and you will be a slave no more.”

  Dimitri disappeared.

  Gabriel frowned and swiftly swept the dark dungeon with his gaze. Was he finally going mad? Had the blond vampire truly vanished or had he been a delusion? Could this be a trap? Madame Sideth enjoyed perverse games.

  Gabriel’s gaze dropped to the floor. Swallowing hard, he knelt and grabbed the key. With trembling fingers, he unlocked the shackles around his wrists then watched in awe as the key changed form. Hesitantly, he approached the cell door. He searched his surroundings with his senses. Sentries were posted atop the stairs.

  He took in a deep breath and exhaled through his nose. As the oxygen left his lungs, his heart slowed until it stopped. His gaze sharped and darkened. His claws extended, his fangs punched from his gums. For the first time, he surrendered completely to the beast within. His mind focused, his body strengthened and power unlike he’d ever known flooded him. The demon had been denied blood, had been tortured and used for too long. Now, it would have its reve
nge and seize its freedom.

  The cell lock released with a gentle click. A low growl rumbled against the back of his throat as he stalked forward, silently taking the stairs two at a time. His claws effortlessly sliced through flesh, muscle, tendon, and bone, the guard’s heads and limbs dropped and rolled across the crudely paved stone floor. Blood splashed his chest and the walls of the dimly lit corridor. Determined, Gabriel continued to the next level. More sentries, more tearing, more ripping, more death. Screams echoed through the halls. Blood painted the walls dark crimson, it ran and pooled while bodies littered the floor.

  A shout of alarm rang out too late. Gabriel destroyed wave after wave of the Madame’s guards. His hands stained, rich red dripped from his claws. Hate and rage swirled like a maelstrom in his black, demonic eyes. Soldiers rushed to the ballroom to defend the aristocrats. Gabriel paused, sweeping his gaze across the sea of panicked vampires until he found Madame Sideth. Her personal guard tugged her toward the exit. Terror streaked her face and her hysterical cries would forever grace Gabriel’s memory.

  His lips curled revealing his fangs, enhancing his hard, handsome face with a smile fit for a fallen angel. The scent of terror was thick in the air, but it was the crisp aroma of a winter storm that beckoned him.

  Gabriel threw open the castle doors. Snow covered the frozen earth. He spared a quick glance toward the heavens and barreled down the steps. A roar tore from his chest as he charged toward the northern forest.

  The night was dark, silent, the cold air painfully sharp. It burned his lungs and nipped at his bare flesh.

  Three miles. Freedom.

  The blond vampire, Dimitri, had said three miles. Doubt crept up Gabriel’s spine as he ran between the trees, dodging branches and hurdling over gnarled roots. Dimitri could’ve lied. He could mean to imprison him. Use him.