…and why me?
I dismissed the second question. There was no point in thinking about it at all. The first one—how?—was more important now.
How did I convince a council of twelve grumpy bastards—and I was including the five women in that bastard title because they were just as bad as the men—that the mountain called to me.
Never had I shown a unique talent with the magic. I was a true-blooded druid, both father and mother were from the Old Families, but that didn’t guarantee I was talented.
Until today, I hadn’t been. I had been mediocre at best.
Taking shorter strides, I looked around me. The magic had faded back when I wasn’t paying attention, but as soon as I looked for it, it lit up.
The strands and strings were bright and strong. I could see them dancing in the air, waiting. They waited for whoever would call them.
A couple I passed was surrounded by a thin mist, enveloped by light yellow magic. Another was surrounded by an intense red bubble. Another, an orange cloud. And still another, a bright blue fog.
The auras were a fact of life. I had never seen them quite this well or this easily, though.
The rousing of the mountain was meant to be a joy. The two worlds, that of the Vampires and ours, were meant to be reunited and the Lost God to return. We would have a King and Queen again. There would be revelry in the streets and dancing in the squares, fireworks in the sky, and dancing fountains on the lakes.
The joy and excitement bubbled up inside me. There was so much happiness due to the people of S’Kir, and I was going to deliver the news to the Temple Masters that it was time.
Finally, time for joy and celebration.
The smile lodged firmly on my face bolstered me, and the wonderful thoughts of such celebration put a bounce in my step like no other.
My walk almost became a skip—how undignified.
The people around me stared at me in my formal dress in the middle of the week, with no declared festivals or celebrations. I didn’t care. I was delivering marvelous news, and my heart would not sit still.
The residences of the temple were in a different area from the school and the temple proper. Behind the school, down a path that wound away from the temple entrance, were the residences’ thirteen buildings.
One massive center building hosted the common area, with kitchens, library, receiving and conference rooms, a gym, and a smaller temple. The other twelve buildings circled the main one, each the private home of the Temple Masters. Not evenly spread around in a circle, they bunched slightly to the back to allow a pathway through a massive old hedge and tree tunnel that lead to the main entrance of the big building.
The necklace I wore proclaimed me an acolyte, and no guards even tried to approach me as I marched up the walkway.
A building as old as time, bound to its eternal splendor by spells and magic weavings, it gleamed white, even in the deepening night. The moon was rising, and it cast an eerie shadow on the white bricks. I could see the magic used now, and watched a moment as it cleaned the façade nearby, scouring the bacteria that tried to ruin mortar.
Raising my hand, I knocked with tremendous force on the thick, unyielding doors placed by the Lost God. The knock barely made a sound on the wood, as though the door swallowed sound whole.
Still, the doors creaked and parted to swing open a few seconds later, allowing me to walk into the hall.
Swallowing my gasp, I screwed up the courage to enter. I had never been here before. Everything I had done with the temple had been in the school and in the Dedicants’ dorms.
This was a very different place.
The Lost God had lived here once.
With as much reverence—and silence from my shoes—as I could summon, I strode in with my head high.
And saw.
The massive rotunda streamed with magic, the threads tumbling from the heights above in magnificent waterfalls of color and light, flashing and dancing, laughing—welcoming. I could see beyond them as though they were a painted glass, the walls covered in murals and statues. The ceiling was a dome, concave step pyramids lining it, and an opening in the top center that would let the sun, or moon, shine down.
“What is the meaning of this?”
I whirled back to the one dramatically arched entrance opposite the main door and saw Master Dorian standing there, flanked by Master Hedregon and Mistress Lunella.
My courage tried to flee, but I pulled it back and stood up a little straighter. “Masters, Mistress. I am Acolyte Kimber Raven, a teacher in the temple school. I have to report a joyful and wonderful occurrence in the mountains.”
“This couldn’t wait until morning?” Dorian’s eyes rolled in his head. I suspected if he rolled them any harder, he might sprain them.
“Master, I know you do not regard me highly for my indecision on my path forward, but the mountain called me tonight. Its magic beckoned me to the caves below.”
“The magic speaks—”
I dared to cut him off. “Not like this. Never like this. The mountain cracked below, and the walls were full of crystals, dancing in colors. The magic there was so thick and rich. Your excellencies, I think the Breaking Time has arrived.”
Dorian rolled his eyes again and turned his back to me, walking to the back of the quarter. “You are an infant, Miss Raven. You have no idea of that which you speak.”
“Mistress Lunella,” I said, bowing respectfully in her direction. “Will you hear me out?”
Her sigh said everything.
“Master Hedregon?”
He pursed his lips.
“You are not going to listen to an acolyte of your own temple? I do not speak in hyperbole! I am not given to hysterics! I have been a faithful servant—”
“You are a child to us,” Dorian snapped at me from the distance. “You have no knowledge of power and magic that even begins to rival ours.”
Pompous ass!
“Excellency, I—”
The voice that interrupted me was calm and deep as the ocean. “Be still, child.”
Master Tymon walked into the rotunda from behind his fellow masters. He placed an arm on Mistress Lunella and guided her to the side. “Come forward, young one. You say the mountain spoke to you?”
I corrected him. “Called me, master.”
“And what did you see in the cave?”
“Crystals, sir. Colors and light dancing in the rocks. My companion said he could see the magic respond to my laugh through the crystals.”
“And now? What do you see?” His hand swept the vast space of the hall.
“Threads of magic, sir. Thousands. Hundreds of thousands, some falling from the walkway above, some seemingly alive on the floors and walls around us.”
“Can you show us?”
I didn’t have an answer. I couldn’t think of a way to show them the magic I could now see.
A moment later, the magic told me how.
Extending my palm up, a thread dropped to my touch and spun like a dust devil, swirling and twirling, and gathering more thread to itself. With my other finger, I touched the whirling dervish in my hand. It was soft and gentle, nothing at all like what a tornado should feel like. Bringing my lips closer to the tiny maelstrom, I dusted a breath across it, and whispered, “Glow.”
A cascade of chimes surrounded me as the magic flowed down from the whirlwind out into the air around me, creating its own waterfall. Cascading down to the floor, the threads lit each one they touched and a new chime added to the beautiful cacophony.
I watched as the colors and lights of the magic glowed more brilliantly than the moment before. Traveling across the floor, the threads seemed to catch fire when they reached the waterfalls that surround the rotunda. A burst of light flew up the threads, and soon, the whole room was aglow, and the chimes were melodic, sweet, and calming.
Marveling, I tipped my head back to stare up, and I realized Dorian was suddenly there, glaring at me with confused anger in his eyes.
&nb
sp; “How are you doing this, acolyte?”
Not pleased, Dorian stared at me instead of the lights that I was able to create.
“I listened to what the magic told me to do.”
“You are nothing but a middling—”
Lunella raised a hand. “Dorian. With all respect to your station as the oldest of us, hush.”
Tymon nodded at Lunella and studied me. “You are well known to us, my dear. A bright, brilliant, but not naturally gifted druid. And now you can do this?”
“Sir, I’m just as overwhelmed as anyone else. But the mountain called, and I answered. The magic has become stronger even from the time I left the cave until my arrival here.”
“You cannot believe this child, Tymon. It’s ridiculous.”
“It’s not, Dorian,” Tymon said, smiling at me. “You see, her friend Elex contacted the Geology Guild, who, in turn, contacted me to let me know there was a cave that needed exploring, and I instructed them to send several geologists and two of our master magic wielders to check this cave and our acolyte’s claim.”
Tymon whirled around to Dorian and considered him. “I am not afraid of the Breaking Time. I would welcome them. It’s been millennia. It’s time.”
His ice-cold eyes found mine over Tymon’s shoulder. “Her. Of all people in S’Kir? Her.”
“Who are you asking that question of, Dorian? Me or the magic?”
Releasing my gaze, he fixed his sights on Tymon. “You’ve sent someone out to survey this place she claims called her?”
“Elex Everettson is one of our finest trained geologists, and his gift with magic is strong. I trust his word, and he is in my purview. Why do you not trust one of your own?”
Tymon stared at the angry, ancient druid who was hiding behind Lunella.
Was this old, wise man actually a coward?
I held my breath, the air burning in my lungs. I wasn’t scared of Dorian. While he was my teacher and the master of the school, he was generally… an ass. But I was not going to be afraid of him or doubt what had happened to me.
“I trust her,” he finally said. “If your study team has seen the cave she claims is breaking—”
“They will be reporting back in just a few minutes.”
“And you won’t take me at my word?” I cast a glance at him
“We have had hysterical claims like yours before. I won’t take steps based on the claim of just one acolyte teacher who was, until just moments ago, barely adept at using magic.”
Lunella turned and stared at Dorian. “You are being quite the asshole to this young woman.”
“We have had false alarms.”
Her arms folded in disappointment. “You do not have to make her feel like this is not important! All our acolytes—imbued with magic or not—are critical to the survival of this temple and this school. So, Master Dorian, shove it.”
I liked Lunella.
A heartbeat passed, and he pivoted on his heel and marched out of the rotunda with a sound of disgust.
Tymon and Lunella shook their heads and dismissed him. Turning back to me, they smiled—and I could see they were genuinely pleased I had come to them with the news.
“Have you eaten tonight, Miss Raven?”
“Yes, mistress, hours ago.”
“Then allow me to offer you a drink.” A graceful hand motioned me to the inner sanctum of the Masters’ Hall, and there was no way to refuse. “Let’s at least wait for Mister Everettson in comfort. There are things to discuss yet.”
The sitting room, done in shades of ivory and red, and peppered with all kinds of chairs, chaises, and sofas, was a welcoming, lush retreat from the massive, echoing chamber of the entrance hall.
I was in a sacred space now. This was something I hadn’t anticipated or expected. I thought perhaps that I might wait in the rotunda or an antechamber. Not the sitting room of the masters.
“Mistress Lunella.” I dared to lay a hand on her arm and keep her from walking away from me. “Please. If this is the Breaking Time, is it not an appropriate time to begin the celebrations? Don’t the people of S’Kir—”
The grin she graced me with was blinding. “My dear. If this is the Breaking Time, our joyous celebrations shall last through years. The people of S’Kir have kept the Lost God alive. That he will return to us and reunite us with our vampire brethren is cause for joy.”
She leaned in closer to me but stared at where Dorian had planted himself in the corner. “We may even be able to get a smile out of Master Dorian.”
My chuckle slipped out.
CHAPTER FIVE
~ GWYNNORE ~
My baby’s engine purred down the winding two-lane roads of Japri. The small town could be viewed in the valley from our height winding up into the mountains, a village not too far off in structure from when I had laid down for my Rest. Two hundred years hadn’t done much for the buildings. Only the coloring of green and blue new roofs were the noticeable changes against the white stone houses. The tiny town square still housed a courthouse in the center with a pointed clock tower. The humans moved like ants along the roads, ready to be squashed.
If they only knew what lived in the mountains surrounding them…
I slowed, pulling back on the gas pedal as we neared the stronghold.
The forest was lusher, the trees robust and fragrant. The leaves danced in the breeze of the noonday hours. My heartbeat thrummed in fast cadence, the compulsion causing my hands to shake on the wheel. Birds chirped their merry tune above, and the wolves lurked in their safe havens below. I slammed on my brakes, chewing up the gravel beneath my tires, as a deer sauntered out of the woods onto the path.
Adelie leaned and rested one of her hands on top of mine. She squeezed ever so gently, whispering, “Breathe, Gwen. You will be fine.”
When she removed her hand from mine, I stretched my fingers out over the wheel, my eyes on the deer taking its sweet time to pass by. “Will this call end as soon as I’m in the castle? Did they tell you?”
She cleared her throat, her tone quiet. “They said it would lessen considerably, but if you try to leave without seeing them, then it will only get worse.”
I cracked my neck. “Fucking Original vampire amulet.”
My friend nodded in agreement. “That beast of a jewel is nothing to mess with. Only the oldest and most powerful can use it. And when the overlords do, it still costs them.”
“I know,” I mumbled. The deer finally flicked its little tail as it disappeared into the trees on the other side of the road. I pressed on the gas pedal again, taking us even closer to our destination. “I can’t even imagine the power the Originals had. One person to control theirs? That’s fucking insane.”
Adelie snorted. “Then the Original druid murdered our Original vampire…and only the newly appointed overlords were left to wield the Original vampire amulet. Blah, blah. I swear you are obsessed with the Originals. And, fuck, one of them is dead!”
I blinked. “I’m not obsessed. I just find it fascinating. That Original druid took our Original vampire’s power when he killed him. We shouldn’t ever forget that. If you forget history, then your future is screwed. The druids will always be a threat to us because of one man’s actions.”
She waved her hand in defeat. “Yes, you’ve explained that many times.”
I shook my head at her blasé attitude, but I lost interest in trying to push my ideals on her as the castle came into view. My insides—my organs—were thrumming with the pressure to race as fast as I could to the stronghold. So, naturally, I eased up on the pedal and cruised even slower. Managing power greater than your own was always a fun game I liked to play—beautiful torture as you achieved your goal.
The castle was older than me. It was born of magic and dedication by overlords many years ago, courtesy of the Original vampire amulet. There were a few castles such as these all over the world, but the overlords only lived in one. This one with its majestic swirls of black stone intimidating newcomers and polished marble
to hinder climbing.
With the castle built into the mountain, all you could observe was the front.
It was menacing enough no one ever ventured inside who wasn’t invited.
I bit my bottom lip, gripping the steering wheel tighter. “There are no cars outside.”
Adelie instantly pointed at a side road. “Follow that. When vehicles became normal in daily life, the overlords created a new section to the stronghold. There’s a parking garage down below now.”
I turned the wheel, doing as instructed. “Is there anything else new?”
Her brown eyes lit up. “We have an indoor tennis court now.”
My lips trembled, and a snicker escaped. “Anything new that I would like?”
Tiny fingers drummed on the door. “Well…let me think. There’s a new indoor swimming pool, too—and the water is always the perfect temperature. Oh! There’s a top of the line workout area now with all the latest machinery. I bet you’d like that.”
The grin that popped up on my features was broad. “Yes, I think I will like that.”
Adelie flicked her finger to the left. “That way when the road forks.”
“Where does the other fork go?”
“Horse stables. The overlords won’t get rid of those.”
I rolled my eyes. “I bet Cato had something to do with that.”
Brown eyes flicked in my direction—quickly—then away. “Speaking of Lord Cato. How do you feel about seeing him?”
“I’ve practically forgotten what he looks like,” I dissembled.
Delicately, she cleared her throat. “He’s your biological father, Gwen. And you haven’t seen him in forever. I know his abandonment is hard to think about…but you should prepare yourself for seeing him before you go in front of the five overlords. You don’t want to mess up because he’s one of them.”
I drove my baby into the ornate opening in the mountain. Instantly, the car dipped, our destination down into the bowels of the stronghold. Much like where my father truly belonged—in the ground. Forever.
My sanity instantly returned full force as the call quieted to a mere buzz, like a bee flying far overhead and thinking you might hear something nearby. I stated calmly, “I won’t let that bastard ruin my chance. You don’t need to worry about that, my friend. I’m focused on the prize.”
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