KIngdom of Embers (Kingdom Journals Book 1)

by Tricia Copeland

  The referee called for a timeout, and we stood up and faced the audience. The expression of the Mother’s guard in front of me didn’t change, and I knew he had no clue Theron was outside the stands. When we got a water break, I texted Hunter about Theron.

  The game was close, but Nick pulled off a Hail Mary pass in the last seconds to overcome their three-point lead. As I gathered my things, Sophie waved her phone in front of me.

  “Hannah is having a party. Everyone’s going. Can you come?”

  “My mom has this huge thing tonight.”

  “Oh, right?”

  “Maybe after? You could sleep over.”

  “I’ll let you know.”

  I jogged to the vehicle Mother had arranged to pick me up from the game, sliding in the back seat beside one of the security guards.

  “He was outside the stadium,” I said to them.

  “We didn’t see him.”

  “He spoke to me.”

  “How was that?” Orm asked.

  “I could hear him in my head.”

  “He’s very powerful. Did he threaten you?”

  “No, he asked me to meet him.”

  “I’ll let your Mother know.” Will lifted his phone to his ear.

  “No. It’s fine. Don’t worry her with it.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Yes.”

  At my condo, I rode the elevator up with five of the guards. Elizabeth had a plate of food and my dress waiting in my room. I showered, and Mother came in as I buttoned up my dress.

  “The deep red looks beautiful against your skin.”

  “Thanks, Elizabeth did an amazing job.”

  “I am very proud of you.”

  “For what?”

  “Getting through this week. I know it was tough. We have each other though and that is cause for celebration.”

  “Yes.” I smiled and hugged her.

  “Here.” She held my earrings up to me and then fitted the necklace on my chest.

  “You look beautiful.”

  “So do you.” I squeezed her hands.

  “I love tradition,” she said as I followed her from my room. “Mabon always reminds me of such good times.”

  When we reached the foyer, Elizabeth and Orm were there and ready to greet the guests. Mother’s parties were very formal, more like a ball, with a small orchestra and dance floor. Our home would be lit up until early morning.

  I smiled and greeted the familiar faces as each guest arrived. The invitation list hadn’t changed since my childhood, and I marveled at how they never seemed to age. Looking to Orm, I felt sad. The past few years had worn on him. He moved slower and slept more.

  “I believe all the guests are here.” Mother’s words brought me out of my thoughts. “I shall start the toasts.”

  We followed her to the main room, where she lifted a champagne glass and clinked a fork on it. The toasts were the most boring part of the evening for me, and I fought yawns as I clapped after each.

  “Miss.” I felt a tap on my shoulder and turned to see Will standing behind me.

  He motioned for me to follow him, and I maneuvered through the crowd as he made a path for me. He opened the front door enough for the two of us to slide through. Jacob clicked the door shut, and I found myself sandwiched between the guards. The air carried smells of honey, musk, and herbs, and I spun from behind Will to see Hunter, Chalondra, Fahim, and Dimitri.

  “I just came from Theron’s house,” Hunter said.

  “And the bookstore?” I asked.

  “Yes.” He motioned to those standing behind him. “Thanatos has the sword. Father is making Theron a coven member tonight, and then he will receive the sword. We have to stop them.”

  “Alena.” Fahim stepped forward. “What is this?” He motioned to Will and Jacob, clearly aware that they were vampires.

  “There isn’t time for explanations. We must retrieve the sword. It can’t be possessed by someone like Theron,” Chalondra said, stepping in front of Fahim.

  “What do you know of Theron?” I asked.

  “I have seen.” She raised her chin and looked down her nose at me.

  “Can we find him?” I asked ignoring her ambiguous statement.

  “I have already performed a locator spell using Hunter’s blood. Theron and his father are gathered in a park north of the city.”

  “Alena, we need more forces.” Dimitri spoke for the first time. “From the looks of it, yours are formidable.

  “Jacob, get Orm and Elizabeth, and half of your staff.”

  “But, madam.”

  “Theron is not a danger to this gathering. Mother will be safe. Get them,” I spat the words quickly.

  Looking at Hunter, I saw his brow furrow and his eyes studying Will. “These people are not witches, Alena.”

  Will grunted. “And you are, boy?”

  “Yes. I’m the son of Thanatos.” Hunter puffed out his chest, and the hum of magic spread through the air.

  “Child.” Chalondra approached me. “Why does Hunter speak this way, as if he is surprised of your nature?”

  “She is none of your concern.” Will blocked Chalondra’s path.

  “Hey.” I stepped in front of Will. “We’re all on the same side here.”

  The door opened, and Elizabeth and Orm followed Jacob and five other guards out. “Oh my stars.” Elizabeth put her hands to her mouth.

  Orm’s expression froze, and he shuffled to Chalondra. “You are alive.”

  “I most certainly am, old man. Do you think I would let those stupid humans catch me? Dug a tunnel straight out of that city.”

  “We need to focus. Elizabeth and Orm, I need you to come with me to help stop Theron from possessing the lance of Longinus.”

  “Longinus?” Orm glared at me. “What do you know of the sword?”

  “Theron and Thanatos have it.”

  “It cannot be.” Elizabeth’s hands went to her mouth again. “We have searched for it for years.”

  “Come on.” I grabbed Elizabeth’s and Orm’s arms and pulled them to the elevator. Just then the door clicked open again, and Mother’s scent hit me.

  “Alena.” Scanning the room, her eyes landed on me. “What have you done? Why are these heathens at my home?”

  Fahim and Dimitri darted towards her, and Will and Jacob blocked their path.

  Dimitri lifted his chin. “We are not unbelievers. We follow a natural order.”

  I pushed between Fahim and Dimitri to Will and Jacob. They stepped aside, giving me access to Mother. “Theron and Thanatos have Longinus’s dagger. They mean for Theron to possess it tonight. We have to stop them.”

  “The sword.” Mother looked to Orm.

  “It’s seems so.” He shrugged.

  “We have an army of twenty downstairs,” Fahim interjected. “How many can you spare?”

  “Jacob, round up all but two. Will, you will come with us.”

  “Madam, I do not—”

  “Will, that is an order.” Mother picked up her skirt and marched to the elevators. “The two leaders and the witches, Alena, and Elizabeth will ride with us. The others will follow.” She stopped mid-step. “Hunter?”

  Hunter squared his shoulders. “Thanatos is my father and Theron my half-brother, but I do not wish to see him possess the sword.”

  Her eyes grew wide, and I recognized the tightening of her brow. “Alena,” she demanded.

  “There is a lot to explain.” I grabbed her arm and tugged her into the opening elevator. “But we have to get to Theron before he receives the sword.”

  “It seems you have been quite busy, daughter.” She held her eyes still, but the corner of her mouth curved up. “Let us go then.”

  In the garage, twenty more vampires rivaling Will’s size greeted us.

  “Miss Alena.” Aaron bowed his chin when I approached. “We have weapons and sustenance here.” He opened a cargo van and lifted a cooler from the back. Setting it on the concrete, he opened the lid and tossed a bo
ttle to me. “Drink up, princess, we’ve got a dagger to save.”

  “What is this?” Mother jerked the container from my hand. Opening the lid, her eyes grew wide. “Alena? This is—”

  “Much needed sustenance.” Dimitri grabbed the bottle from her and bit the top off. “I suggest you drink up, Queen.”

  Fahim gathered an arm’s load of bottles, and we loaded into our vehicle. Will took the driver’s seat with Orm in the passenger seat, Fahim, Dimitri, and Chalondra sat in the middle row. Elizabeth, Mother, Hunter, and I squeezed in the back.

  As the bottles were passed around, Mother unscrewed her cap and sniffed the mixture. “Is this clean?”

  “Top of the line, Queen. Your daughter is still alive.” Dimitri told her.

  “Alena,” Mother scolded.

  “You have created a forbidden being, and you ask it to follow the rules?” Chalondra laughed.

  “Take her hand. She is not like Theron. She is a child of light.”

  Chalondra held out her palm, and I placed my hand in it. As her eyes closed, the feel of electricity surged through my brain.

  “She speaks the truth.”

  “Thanks be to the gods we have not made a deal with the devil.” Dimitri touched his forehead, his chest, and then each shoulder, making the sign of the cross.

  “What is everyone talking about?” Hunter whispered to me as he spun the top off a bottle and raised it to his lips.

  With lightning speed, I swiped it away.

  “What the … how did you do that?” Hunter stared at me.

  Dimitri laughed. “Best to not ask questions now, boy. Just go with the flow.”

  “We need a plan.” I redirected the conversation.

  “I can be a distraction,” Hunter volunteered.

  “No, Theron will suspect something. I’ll tell him I changed my mind and wanted to see him.”

  “How will you say you found him?” Chalondra asked.

  “His essence drew me to him?”

  “I think I’m going to be sick.” Hunter covered his eyes.

  “It’s our best chance.”

  “They’re going to sense us.” Orm spoke from the front seat.

  “Can we get a cloaking spell?”

  “The wind and darkness will aid our plan if we approach from the east,” Dimitri said.

  “I can cloak everyone long enough for us to get in place. Ten minutes tops, though, if I want to have any juice left for a fight,” Chalondra offered.

  “How many others will be with them?” Hunter asked.

  “Thanatos will have at least eleven besides himself. Twelve must witness the joining of a coven,” Orm told us.

  “He won’t have more than that. It would be too risky to expose Theron to too many people. Only the most trusted circle will be with them,” Mother said.

  “That’s thirteen witches to our two, three witches if you count the younglings as halves, plus forty-some-odd vampires. I like the odds.” Dimitri lifted the bottle in his hand to his lips and took a big gulp.

  Hunter’s body grew rigid beside me and his hand grasp my leg “Those guys are vampires? Vampires are real?” he whispered into my ear.

  “Yes.”

  “And you’re one of them?”

  “Half vampire, half-witch.”

  “A forbidden creature. Why didn’t you tell me?”

  “I’m sorry.” My eyes pleaded with him.

  “We’re almost there,” Will called from the front.

  The vehicle slowed as we entered Topanga State Park. We exited the SUV and the vampires gathered their weapons.

  Mother stood in front of me. “We’re going to stay about five hundred feet behind you. It won’t take a second for us to get to you if something goes wrong…”

  “I’ll be fine. Hunter has my bracelet.”

  “I can track your scent anywhere, princess,” Dimitri said to me.

  “Don’t call me princess.”

  “I have no other name for you. Chalondra and Fahim believe you are the chosen one. I will protect you with my life.”

  Swallowing hard, I turned to face Hunter. “Don’t do anything stupid like get hurt, okay?”

  “He will come to no harm.” Chalondra moved to his side.

  Gathering my skirt, I set out across the field to a copse of trees, grateful my costume included high-laced boots. I didn’t need the hum of magic or Theron’s musky smell to guide me, something else drew me to the clearing. A wooden box lay on the ground in the center of a pentagram drawn with white powder.

  Theron tipped his nose up and turned to face me. “Alena, you have come.”

  I knew the part I had to play. “What draws me here?”

  “Come, see our destiny.” He held his hand out to me. “Father, this is Alena.” Theron introduced me as I reached them.

  “I know the child. I have watched her for a while. I did not allow her to know of your existence until the time was right. Now you are of age, and I have found the sword. Tell me, Alena, why have you come at this late hour, and how did you find us?”

  “I opened my mind and reached out and found Theron. I realized he is the only other being like me. I have never fit in. I want to belong.”

  “Theron will join my coven and receive the lance, and then you may complete the coven training and join him in freeing our fallen comrades.”

  “Lance? Is that what’s in the box? I thought you had to be eighteen to join a coven.”

  “The training and union can be any time within the eighteenth year of life. Are you willing to renounce your family’s coven?”

  “As I’m sure you know, I do not know my father. Orm is not my true family. I wish to form a legacy that I was not offered.”

  “And what of your disagreement with Theron.”

  I raised my chin to convey conviction. “I realized some minds are weak.”

  “And what of your mother, what does she say?”

  “She is the one that sought out this path for me. This is what she prepared me for all my life.”

  “You speak with maturity beyond your years.”

  “I have lived two lives for a long time. I want one of my own.”

  “Come join us.” He held out his hand. “The others will be here soon.”

  “This is not my ceremony.” I took a few steps back. “I will watch from here.”

  Backing almost to the trees, I prayed our forces were near. Not knowing the direction of the other coven’s arrival made me nervous, but I decided to leave the strategy piece to Dimitri. They would have heard our conversation and planned accordingly.

  Before I could blink, an arm wrapped around my waist, and Aaron snatched me off the ground, slung me over his shoulder, and ran through the trees away from the clearing.

  “Alena?” I heard Theron’s voice behind me.

  Although angry, I knew better than to make a sound. Will, Jacob, Dimitri, and a host of other vampires sped past us, headed towards Theron and his father. Looking back to the glade, I saw creatures begin to descend from the dark sky. Realizing the coven had arrived, I beat on Aaron’s back.

  “Let me go!” I whispered.

  “Not my orders.” He kept his pace steady.

  At the vehicles, he slowed and set me on the ground beside Hunter, pinning me there with his hands.

  “Release me.” I spit at him.

  Orm appeared in front of me. “Do not loosen your grip for a second. She may look small, but she can escape.”

  “Got it, boss. Hear that, princess, you’re with me now.”

  Noticing one of the vampires stood in front of Hunter, I called out to Orm’s retreating form. “Why can’t I help?”

  “Chalondra keeps repeating children of light, that’s all I got,” Hunter said beside me.

  “This is ridiculous.” I wriggled my arm under Aaron’s grip. “I am more powerful than any of you. I could use my magic on you in a second.”

  “Well, that’s the good thing about this little circle Chalondra spelled,” Aaron said.
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  “They used salt, common table salt that Chalondra brought from Fahim’s kitchen.” Hunter looked at the ground.

  “Of course they did,” I huffed. I only had my vampire strength available to me and pondered how to escape. Letting Aaron think he’d won for a few minutes, I used my most melodic voice. “You’re pinching my skin between your fingers.”

  “Oh, sorry—”

  He loosened his hands enough that I was able to jump from his grip and out of the circle. Racing to the trees, I scaled the first one and hopped from tree to tree to the clearing. With fifty-and-some-odd beings skirmishing in the field, I couldn’t spot the sword, much less Mother, Elizabeth, or Orm.

  Looking to the sky, I jumped. As soon as I hit the apex of my leap, I called the wind to bear me up. Floating over the mash-up of beings, I found each of my family members holding their ground. Seeing Theron grab the lance’s wood box and run into the trees, I threw my arms out, propelling my body at him. Not ten feet from the trunks, I felt a surge come from the group. Turning my head to view the energy stream, I realized Thanatos’s eyes were set on me.

  Thinking I had speed on my side, I kept my trajectory. A wave washed over me and sharp pings, like quick jabs of a needle, shot through my brain. The short blasts grew to prolonged pierces, causing me to lose focus and fall to the ground a few feet shy of the trees. Seeing Theron sprint off, I turned to the source of my pain. A feeling of nausea flooded my senses as I tried to stand. Run, my instincts told me, but my feet wouldn’t respond. Pulling forth my magic, I pushed a wave back at Thanatos, giving me a second to dive roll between the pines. Staying low, I scrambled through the bushes in the direction Theron had gone.

  Within a couple of feet, another stream of energy hit me, and I tripped over a fallen log. My stomach heaving, I fought to stumble away, but my feet felt like bricks in the heeled boots. Checking over my shoulder, I saw Thanatos striding towards me. His face held no tension. Confidence radiated from his squared shoulders.

  Why hadn’t I stayed put? No, I am Alena Scott, daughter of the Queen of Vampires, hybrid witch, and Child of Light. This evil High Priest will not defeat me. Jutting my arms into the sky, I called the wind. A tree behind me snapped and broke off, flying at Thanatos. He lifted his hand, and it fell to the ground in front of him. Stepping over the log, he stalked towards me.