by Sela Croft
Mirela had been lovelier than I’d imagined—more special than foretold. And her scent had drugged me into insensibility. That could be the only explanation of why I’d stayed so long. If I’d had an ounce of sense, I would have returned to my realm, clinging to a cherished memory of her.
Yet I did not, so was paying the penalty. More disturbing than my discomfort was the fact that Mirela was in peril. She was aware of the danger, having seen me whisked away in the claws of the enforcers. Yet she had no awareness of the magnitude of viciousness that could befall her.
I might have implored Mirela to cease her quest if I’d had the chance. Her dream had provided the vehicle to communicate with her. And I’d counted on her love, confident that I could force her to stop, if my plea was stated in the right context.
I’d been about to tell Mirela that she must grant my request. That she had vowed love for me, so must comply. But my infiltration of her dream had been cut short. The enemies who held me in confinement had their ways of getting my attention.
Two of the vile creatures entered my cell, as if knowing my thoughts. Fire blazed, so hot that it near melted my skin. Pushing things further, one of them scorched my thigh with the burning brand with a look of glee on his face. But I refused to show pain, or yell in agony—which was what they wished.
I would not give in to their tyranny. The greater their torture, the bolder my resistance. I supposed they could kill me, but there would be repercussions for such a traitorous act. Instead, the two plied me with their implements of torture, relishing my agony.
Such was their lust for inflicting pain that their relentlessness might gain the admiration of the gods. Yet I did not give in. The physical stress was great, and it took all my focus to endure the torture. I suffered, waiting for it to end.
One of my tormentors leaned close then hissed. His silvery straw hair and bony face were repulsive. His eyes were but empty sockets. With a smirk of delight, he flicked his finger over the band, tight around my neck. It was just enough to make it spark.
The flicker of light seared through me, forcing me to scream. Yet there was only one tap. Another might have killed me. With grating laughter, the two left me alone in the cell. I gasped for breath, working to calm my body.
The burns from the fire were healing, since, as a vampire, I healed quickly, barring a fatal blow. The unwelcome sensation subsided as the pain reduced. The frequent torture had made it more difficult to recover, yet I managed.
The ministrations had not placated my fury. Each attempt to reduce my strength made me angrier. I would seek retribution—if I was able to free myself. My enemies would experience my wrath and recognize the impossibility of surviving it.
With my burns on the mend, I leaned against the stone wall behind me, careful not to jostle the collar around my neck. The dungeon where I was secluded was little more than a medieval torture chamber, outfitted to accommodate a vampire prisoner.
The gray stone walls were crumbling in places, and the floor was uneven. The stench was bad, the air hardly breathable. The ceiling was low and there was no window. I might be held indefinitely, until I acquiesced to their demands.
That wasn’t about to happen. Lumea was my kingdom, and I would not relinquish it to those devils. Lumea meant light, and I’d stepped into the role of preserving that light. The dark figures who threatened to snuff it out had to be stopped.
I closed my eyes and brought to mind images of my world. It was a great land, a secret place of the earth. Travelling in or out required specific knowledge of how to do so. The kingdom was beneath the Crimson Sea, encapsulated under the water by a unique atmosphere.
The Crimson Sea could not be navigated by ships piloted by humans. Tales had been told of those who had attempted to do so. Humans feared the Devil’s Triangle, a loosely defined region in the Atlantic Ocean. Numerous aircraft and ships had mysteriously disappeared.
Any who had come too close weren’t seen again. The humans had attributed the disappearances to the paranormal, since they were aware that strange things had happened. It was common knowledge that some ocean areas were dangerous.
Yet the humans didn’t know anything about the kingdom, so had no chance of finding it. The location sat on a temporal plate and moved around in space and time, making it impossible to track.
Lumea’s atmosphere didn’t allow light to pass through. Its reflective nature made it invisible, further protecting it from discovery.
Those who knew the method of entry and exit could leave and return—but only at high tide the day after a full moon. The exact condition that allowed the border to be crossed was called moon tide. The clawed enforcers had swept me off the cliff at such a time.
The underworld where I lived was a wealthy land of vampires. The ruler possessed untold riches, since he owned the metals of the earth. The society was composed of many strata, but the vampires were the elite. My land held much allure.
I took a deep breath, remembering my home and those I was close to. Although I wouldn’t reveal any vulnerability to my captors, I longed to return, to be where I was needed. Images of the great land filled my mind, giving me a little relief from the sordidness that surrounded me.
The kingdom had many waterways, and boats were a common method of transportation. The castles with fortified walls put the medieval structures of Europe to shame. The buildings were huge, elaborate palaces, with ornate gold overlays as adornment. The supporting stone walls were expertly carved, and the moats were enchanted for protection.
There were oceans and seas throughout the vast kingdom, navigated by ships of all descriptions. Towns bordered the waterways, but the port city where I lived was beyond compare. The white-stone buildings with clay roofs stretched for miles, from the shoreline to the base of the hills.
The magic that had created my estate also protected it. I wished to go home, where I had security. I wanted to partake of the pleasures that were abundant in my castle. And I was horrendously hungry, starved for blood—which was plentiful, if only I could get back.
If my jailors didn’t torture me to death, they’d likely starve me. But it wasn’t only sustenance I craved. My people waited for my return and would welcome me back. The land was not all beauty and luxury, as battles raged without abating.
The war for power between vampire covens wouldn’t end anytime soon. It was a bloody fight, ruthless and deadly. The right or wrong of each faction could be disputed. Yet the ferocity of the struggle for control could not. Both sides had sustained immense losses, but the stakes were too high to give up.
The kingdom had been ravaged by war. The outcome would alter life’s course for the world below the Crimson Sea. Those in the human realm went about their lives, oblivious to the battles in the land beneath their oceans.
It was a travesty that I was a prisoner, a wrong that I planned to make right. Yet those who’d detained me had effective means of keeping me there. My salvation was that I retained abilities that I could tap into.
With my wounds healed and my torturers at bay, I focused on Mirela. I was able to see into her world. Watching her excited yet disturbed me. She was breathtakingly lovely, and for that alone I could have observed her at length.
Mirela walked the grassy areas around the campus, looking for me, waiting for me to appear. That wasn’t good. She wasn’t in class or with other students. Her obsession with finding me could only lead to trouble.
Then she was at lunch with friends, but she wasn’t talking, and was barely eating. If the other students noticed, they didn’t mention it. I saw Lana whisper in Mirela’s ear, but I was unable to tell what she was saying.
Things seemed to go from bad to worse, as Mirela struggled to make contact or discover a clue about how to connect with me. And she was not in her mother’s good graces. I listened to the conversation between them and found it unsettling.
Mirela had nowhere to turn, no one to count on. Lana listened, but she couldn’t solve the dilemma. Alone and desperate, my love waite
d for me, trusting that I would return. She couldn’t know that I wanted to reunite but was trapped.
Conditions beyond my control had forced me away from my love and sought to change the course of destiny. Mirela was mine; she’d been right about that. But I’d vowed not to bring her to Lumea during such a violent season of unrest.
She would not survive it, as she was wholly unprepared for it. The vampire war had raged for a century and might continue for that long again. The devastation and death of the battles was predictable. Although it wasn’t easy for humans to kill vampires, the race had ways of killing each other.
Mirela was innocent in the ways of the underworld. Far below the ocean, it was out of her reach. And she wouldn’t have been aware of its existence at all, if I hadn’t embarked on a self-gratifying visit to her. But it was far too late to undo the damage.
Not only had I led the fates to Mirela’s doorstep, I’d dallied until my enemies had seen fit to haul me to their dungeon. Restrained and tortured by their minions, I was in no shape to protect the one I loved. Guilt stabbed into my heart like a sword.
If any harm came to Mirela, I would not rest until I got revenge. She was a pure-hearted maiden and destiny had brought her to me. The darkness of my world must not taint her, or I would surely burn in eternity in a fire hotter than my torturers could conjure up.
Mirela’s appearance had been foretold. She was my soul mate and she would come to me—but only if I waited. Yet I hadn’t waited. I’d gone to her prematurely, defying destiny and putting her at risk. The final words of the prophecy haunted me: If you make any contact beforehand, she will be lost to you.
Sin was what I knew; its forbidden fruit laced the very streets of my kingdom. Goodness and pure hearts were the stuff of myths. Self-satisfaction and its greedy pleasures were temptations I hadn’t conceived of resisting.
When I’d found Mirela—after wondering through the centuries if I ever would—I’d had no thought of waiting. And I had no patience for such virtuous acts. She belonged to me, so my compulsion to see her had taken precedence over all else.
My lack of forbearance had set off a chain of events that I should have prevented but hadn’t. The prophecy that had begun my search for Mirela had stated: She will see you as her other half, as you will see her as yours.
Mirela traveled the path of destiny, just as I did. Showing up in her life, meeting her and loving her, had not gone unnoticed. She had responded, as I should have predicted. So, while I was locked away in another realm, she could not give up the search for me.
Out of my gatekeeper’s sight, I continued to observe Mirela. From the beginning, I’d been unable to stay away from her. My need to possess her was overpowering. I wanted her by my side, for all eternity. The lure of her scent had been too powerful to resist.
My actions might have ruined any chance of having Mirela with me. By revealing myself to her, I’d ignited her passion. It wasn’t in her nature to turn away. She was mine, and I was hers. Separated, each of us was incomplete.
I had the ability to make humans forget. Under the current duress, my power had been weakened, but I might have been able to achieve that. Mirela would not remember me, and all the events leading up to the present would be explained another way.
Yet I didn’t have the moral strength for such an act. That would mean wiping away the memories, deleting any knowledge of me, or of us. For a moment, I considered doing so, as I had no other immediate way to protect her.
It might be the only way to ensure that she gave up her mission. She would no longer need to find me, and her life would be restored to its former state. Only the opportunity for that had passed.
Mirela’s knowledge and quest had angered the gods who sought to keep us apart. They were vampires, the same as I was, but with immense power. Plus, they were avowed enemies of mine. And wasn’t immortality godlike? Or so they’d often bragged.
A human who dared attempt to penetrate the mysteries of Lumea would not be tolerated. Mirela had angered powerful vampires who would act without mercy. My plight paled in comparison. Mirela was in dire straits, and I feared the outcome.
Chapter 14 – Mirela
That night, Lana was asleep before I was. The conversation with my mother haunted me. She’d been very persuasive, and I cared what she thought. I’d heard of other daughters who fought vehemently with their mothers, even hated them.
My mother and I hadn’t been like that. I valued my mother’s love and wanted to please her—but at what cost? My heart was torn. During my life, my mother had been there for me. She’d remained strong and independent from my father, so she could care for me properly.
She’d protected me from the sordid details of the past, sparing me the reasons that she was separated from my father. There had to be some explanation for why he hadn’t married her, yet none had been given. From snippets I’d heard over the years, I’d guessed my father was a carouser.
I knew of two other children he’d fathered, each by a different woman, as my half-sisters had lived with us for a brief period. I’d been too young then to ask questions, although I’d been curious about them having other mothers.
My behavior wasn’t intended to hurt my mother or render our relationship untenable. I wished to retain what we had, to have my mother’s affection going forward, and to show that I loved her, too. Yet I was in a predicament.
My conscience wouldn’t be quiet, so I stared at the ceiling for quite some time. The weight of my problems bore heavily upon me as I drifted away at last.
Water was all around me, yet I could still breathe. It was dark above, though there was light in the distance. The environment was foreign, as though I’d stepped back in time. Glimpses of castles with massive walls glittered with gold.
The land extended so far that I had no idea where the boundaries were. I wandered through a castle, lost and distressed. The people who passed by didn’t seem to notice my presence. I asked for assistance, but my request fell on deaf ears.
I panicked, unsure where I was. I hadn’t a clue how to return home, couldn’t clearly remember where home was. I looked down at my body to see if I’d changed, then rubbed my palms over the red velvet skirt of my prom dress.
It was a lovely dress, one I adored. I struggled to recall if I’d worn it before, yet no memories of dancing or a prom came to mind. I was embarrassed, realizing that I was overdressed. Those in the castle wore simple garments and appeared to be busy with tasks.
I peered at a creature with glowing eyes to see what he was doing. But when I looked, he vanished. I staggered down a stone staircase, longing to reach someone who would speak to me. Then there was a tall man, handsome enough.
As I approached, he disappeared, but then reappeared. Yet it was frustrating, as I couldn’t get close enough to speak to him. Then he was in front of me, glaring down at my dress. His amber eyes glowed as though lit from behind.
A vampire. I gasped for breath. He could tell me how to find Draven. I must be in the right place. Then I was all alone, desperately lost and sad. Could I come so close and yet fail to see my love? I covered my face with my hands.
A moment later, I looked around, amazed at the wide waterway before me. Ships were tossed around in the heavy current like toys in the bathtub. Creatures with white hair and skeletal features came toward me from the sky. They were four across, with their arms linked so I couldn’t get past them.
I cried out. Then they were gone. I stood at the base of winding steps, leading upward, so high I couldn’t see the top. Fear for Draven gripped my heart. What had happened to him?
I pleaded, but didn’t see Draven or hear his voice. Desperate, I searched the area, but there was no sign of him. After returning to the staircase, I began to ascend. As I did so, the stairs moved and shifted, making me wonder if they led anywhere.
“Draven, where are you? I’m here. If you’ll speak to me, I’ll find you.”
There was no response. No one was around to tell me where he was. I was unab
le to catch sight of him or implore him to communicate with me.
Heavy chains attached to a wall loomed before my vision, and a spark of light as bright as the sun flashed before my eyes. More creatures with white hair and bony faces taunted me, yet were filmy in substance. When I reached toward them, the figures disintegrated in thin air like so much dandelion fluff.
Then I heard Draven scream in agony. Terror gripped me.
I woke up drenched in sweat and stared into the darkness of my room, wondering where I was. It was with some comfort that I realized I was in my dorm. There were no frightening creatures, and no watery world or castles.
Severely shaken, I took long, deep breaths to calm myself. My pulse began to slow as my sense of my surroundings returned. Yet the dream lingered. Draven had spoken to me, just not in the way I’d anticipated.
Wherever Draven was, he was in a bad way. All doubt was swept away; there was no question that I must get to him. The pendulum had swung, compelling me to come to my love’s aid above all else. He needed me, and I would not let him down.
A week went by with no nightmares to disturb my sleep, yet no appearance of Draven either. I was committed to my task of reuniting with him, so spent hours in the library researching.
The library stocked a few ancient-looking volumes that assisted me greatly. Delving into the mystery proved fruitful, as there was much to know. I spent my days digging through old texts and compiling notes, leaving no time to attend class.
I took breaks to eat and sleep, but little else. The cafeteria was off-limits for me, as friends might ask questions. Or worse, a professor might corner me and press the issue of my attendance. That was bound to happen eventually.
Yet I couldn’t worry about such things.
One day when I went out for a snack, Lana spotted me. She was on her way to class. “I hardly see you,” she said. “You’re gone before I get up, and you’re back after I’m asleep.”