by D. M. Sears
I grabbed an orange and red silk blanket off the settee, and wrapped my body in it. The brazier in the center of the room was lit and drying my clothes. The cloth was thin, but next to the fire, it was bearable. My body continued to shake. I was tired, hungry, lost, and infuriated at my uncle for ditching me like that. Not cool at all.
“Next time, remind me to not follow Amend. Guess I should eat.” My belly gave its vote and I seated myself down at the table.
I reached for the golden pitcher and was happy to see hot tea pour into my goblet. The steam rose to my nose and I sniffed chamomile. I visibly relaxed at the aroma. The small sugar and creamer bowls were filled, and I happily set out sugaring my tea. The dish closest to me was very large. I lifted the lid to find a roasted turkey breast, still hot, sitting in its juices, making my mouth water. All around the bird, parsnips, carrots, potatoes, and other assorted vegetables marinated in its juice. Once I realized the food was from my world, I ripped the lids off every dish I could reach. There were dishes of stuffed tomatoes, barbecued pork loin, beef bourguignon, buttered peas, sautéed green beans with real bacon, roasted asparagus, pumpkin soup, fruits of every kind. I was in culinary heaven. I ladled some pumpkin soup into my gilded bowl and filled my plate with small portions of as many dishes as I could fit on it.
The food was fabulous. Everything I tried was better than I remembered it back home. The honeyed carrots were my favorite. When I cleaned my plate, I moved down to the end of the table where the last few dishes were still covered…dessert! My mouth dropped open at the sight of all the sugary concoctions that waited my tasting. In the center of the truffles and other confections, stood a tall plate holding a rather yummy looking cheesecake. I almost cried. Aunt Val would make me one every year, on my birthday. Sometimes it was cherry, blueberry, lemon…each year it was different. My eyes teared as I took a bite of the sweet creamy cake. White chocolate and raspberry, mmm. I savored every bite until I ate the last off my plate.
I carefully covered each dish with its lid and feeling very stuffed, sat by the brazier. My mind started to get fuzzy and the room began to spin. My body felt numb and I started to sweat. What was happening to me? Was I drugged? I watched as scenes from my life played out before my eyes. Was this what people saw before they died their whole life in one fell swoop? I watched myself grow older, I saw all the arguments with my aunt and uncle, I watched us come here, then it all stopped and blackness claimed me.
Chapter Twenty-Four
“Do not make me ask again. Where is she, old man?” Gregor grabbed the small man by his shirt lifting him off the ground and looked him square in the eyes, his temper teetering on lethal.
“Eden is safe and well in hand. I cannot share her location nor can I take you to her. This task is hers alone and no one can disrupt that, not even you, my young friend.” Amend took Gregor’s temper in stride. He knew how hard it was for a vampire, bound to his mate, to be away from them. “I know this is hard for you, but if you cannot find the strength to bear this, how will she?”
Gregor put Amend down and turned his back to everyone. He was afraid for her. She had been so weak the last few days. Gregor was furious at himself for leaving her to go rest. Why hadn’t he stayed with her? The sun be dammed, wasn’t she more important than anything? He clenched his fists so tight blood dripped from his palms.
“Fine, but if she comes back harmed in any way, you will pay for it.” Gregor spoke softly, but his words weighed on everyone around him. Gregor raced through the village, leaving everyone to stare after him.
“Poor Gregor, he seems so scary, but he is frightened for his love. I am still finding it hard to believe he bonded himself with another. I was certain he would be a bachelor for years yet to come.” Maiya held Koren’s hand, feeling his warmth. She loved her mate and knew she would react the same way to news like this.
“He did exactly what I was hoping he would do.” Amend gave his high pitched, eccentric laugh and everyone looked at him, confused. “Do you think I would purposefully separate these two when our futures depend on them? Come now, I will reveal all.”
The group followed Amend inside the hut. Lex stood by the entrance, not really wanting to be back inside after all he had gone through. Amend lit the fire in the center and the rest took seats around it. “Now, each of you is curious as to why I sent Eden to the trials, yes?” They all nodded. “Eden and Gregor have a very special bond which I am sure you all know.”
Lex held is hand up to his temple. “Excuse me, but what do you mean by bond?” He wasn’t sure what all had happened while he was out, but this didn’t sound like great news to him.
“Honey, I have been meaning to tell you, Eden and Gregor are bound by Vampiric law as husband and wife. Eden accepted his vow and now, well… they are forever together.” Val took Lex’s hand trying to sooth the blow he had just received. His niece, not eighteen yet, bound to a vampire?
“Why did we not know about these feelings beforehand? It would have been nice to have been asked by Gregor if it was okay, I mean she is so young.”
“Eden will be eighteen soon. She is a woman now, and Gregor is a good man. He will keep her safe and protected. I know this is a shock. It was to me as well, but after seeing them together, I understood. Lex, they have the glow.”
“The glow? You mean like her parents had?”
“I mean even brighter and more glorious. Eden is beyond special.”
“Right you are, missy.” Amend gave his giggle and drew the attention back to himself. “Eden is the one I prophesized about before. She has an unending amount of power that she hasn’t even realized is inside her. Our future depends on Eden finding the core to her power and harnessing it. When Eden pulled Gregor’s essence into her own, she accidentally tied him to her future and ours forever. It is by fate alone these two were meant to be. Eden possesses powers of every race that lives in Ellethny. She can change her natural form into most anything she could ever imagine, use magick as mages do, has the seers sight from the Fey, and was only to have the speed from our vampire friends, but she has now inherited their strength and other gifts they carry. There is no end to what Eden could do, and that my friends, makes her a great gift for either side.”
The group sat in silence for a long time. If the enemy got their hands on Eden, or Gregor for that matter, things could go very badly. Eden was the most powerful person in Ellethny and the Gelseys would not take lightly to that.
“Here is what I do not understand. What does Gregor have to do with all this? I understand they are bound, but what does he have to do with her fulfilling the prophecy?” Koren looked around the circle at all the faces.
“Ah, but that is it in a nutshell, my boy. The prophecy I spoke was about a child born of light. Eden was born of light. The circumstances have changed though, and no one knows but I.”
“Speak plainly, uncle. I have a headache as it is.” Lex put his hand to his temple.
“Eden is expecting, isn’t she?” Val’s words barely registered.
“Indeed, my dear. Eden may be the one, or her child may be the one who saves us. When Eden and Gregor became one, their destinies changed, and therefore the course of our future changed with it. Eden’s child would be a great commodity to be in possession of.”
“Wait. You just said she was the One, though?” Maiya gazed at Amend.
“She was and still may be. My sight is clouded by this new development, and I cannot see the future any more.”
“Do they know?” Val was staring at the fire in a kind of trance.
“Eden knows but doesn’t believe it. The young man does not. They are already finding it difficult to be separated. Once they know about the child, it will be impossible. It is imperative that she finish the trials. That is the only way of knowing what side she will choose to use her magick for. Us…or them.”
A hush fell over the group. “My friends, we will need to be patient as these things unfold. If Eden chooses the dark magicks, we will all be at her merc
y.” Amend rose and left them all in shock.
“What are the trials?” Koren was curious, he always loved knew information.
“It is a place mages go who are intended to take over the leadership of a clan. It is designed to find your weakness and exploit it, try to break you until you find answers to the core question of your being.” Lex and Val held hands.
“If Eden cannot find the answers to her trial, she could be trapped there for a very long time.”
Chapter Twenty-Five
Gregor ran away from the village with preternatural speed. His mind clouded with anger at the old man sending Eden to the trials without telling him first. She wasn’t ready to face such a test. Eden was just getting to know her abilities, why would he send her? Was he mad? Gregor grabbed a tree as he ran by and cracked it in his hands, splintering and shattering it like a toothpick. Never had he felt for anyone the way he felt for this girl. Now he could lose her, and there was nothing he could do about it.
Gregor was so deep in thought that he missed the other vampires surrounding him. Gregor stopped in the clearing as the group approached from all sides. “Where are you off to in such a hurry?” A rough female voice called to him.
“Ale'dra, nice of you to come collect me.” Gregor seethed behind his smile. He knew this would happen eventually, but he hoped for more time.
“Brother, did you think no one would find out you bound yourself to a human?” She clicked her tongue together and waved her finger at him. “You have been hereby summoned to a meeting of the Elders.”
The group surrounded him closely now and he knew there was no getting out of it. “If I must, then I must. Lead the way, sister.” Gregor bowed his half-bow.
“Always so polite, my brother. Keep him in between us. Move out.” Ale’dra called to her men. They all sped away towards the meeting hall of the Elders.
The hall was just as Gregor remembered it, tall as a mountain, the color of crushed shells. The pinks, grays, and whites swirled and variegated throughout the outer walls. The egg-shaped building was always a monstrosity to Gregor. Gauche was the word he used to describe the building that housed the Elders of his race. He walked with his sister and her compatriots to the metal doors. They opened willingly on their own, inviting them inside.
The heavy sound of the doors closing behind Gregor unsettled him. Long had it been since he set foot in this place. Gregor had no love for the Elders and their backwards thinking. They were nothing but puppets to the council, and he despised them for their weakness. They walked in silence down the darkened corridor. Small gas lamps burned low on the walls. Light sensitivity was one of the drawbacks to his race, and the older you were, the worse it became. The group closed in on a set of elaborate double doors. Gems were faceted on the wood, causing the light to reflect. The clownish look continued indoors and made Gregor wince.
Ale’dra looked at the guards on either side of the doors, “We are here to see the Elders.”
The guards jumped to it, and the huge doors opened at once, revealing the high table of the Elders. Gregor walked to the middle of the large circle on the floor before the panel. The room was elegantly decorated with royal colors of scarlet, blue, emerald, and purple. The fabrics were the richest to be found within the vampire race and furnished in more obscene gems and metals. It was enough to make a person sick with disgust at the over-the-top room, but no one dared say anything to offend the old ones.
A man dressed in a royal-blue robe stood from his chair. “Gregor Draen Knightly, do you know why we have called you here before us?”
“I assume you are referring to my vow made to a human female, is that not so?” Gregor’s voice dripped with sarcasm, and the look on the man’s face registered his tone.
At the end of the table sat an oily-looking man with a sneer on his face. You could tell he had mastered the art of deceit. “You have bound yourself to a person outside of our race. While this is not outlawed per se, we believe it is necessary to preserve the potency of our natural gifts. If we intermingle with other races, we dilute our very essence.” The man smiled, and something sinister glistened behind his eyes.
“If it is not illegal, then why have you called a full meeting? I have done nothing wrong, by your own words. My choice is mine alone, and I do not have to answer to you or anyone for it.” Gregor met each shocked gaze head on. He heard out cries of dispute over his words.
A younger woman in a deep rich purple robe put her hand up, silencing the group. She had blue-black hair with bright blue eyes that cooled when she looked directly at you. “Settle, settle down. He is right in his statement. Mr. Knightly has done nothing illegal and he does not have to gain our approval for his choice in mate. However, we would like to know a little something of this person, considering she will now be a part of our society. This is not much to ask, do disagree…my son?”
“Very well put, Havassa. Indeed we should hear about the lucky lady who has landed such a remarkable youth among us.” The oily man gloated in his seat.
Gregor was having a hard time controlling his temper. He knew why they wanted to know of Eden. No doubt word had spread about a human coming to Ellethny to fulfill the prophecy. He was not going to give them anything to tell the Gelseys.
“I am at a loss as to what you would want to know. She is a normal human who happened to be what I was looking for.” Gregor gave the best innocent look he could.
“I think we all know she is more than normal, my dear son. She is quite special…isn’t she?” Havassa’s icy gaze glared at Gregor.
“I think she is very special. She won my heart, after all. That makes her the most special person in our world.” Gregor tried to stay casual and not let them get to him.
“I see. It seems Gregor will not be forthcoming about his bride. Maybe we should escort our guest to a more comfortable space to relax in. Maybe once he has had a minute to rethink our question, he will oblige us.” The oily man’s face was plastered with a wicked grin; he was practically drooling to get the answers his own way.
“He will join me in my private chambers. Bring him, unmarked, to me.” Havassa rose and the rest followed suit. They filed out one by one, murmuring over the meeting. When the Elders were gone, he felt a shove in his back. Gregor spun on his heels to face the person prodding him.
Gregor came face to face with moon-shaped eyes the color of the sky. “Katsu…”
“Ssh, do not speak to me in the open. Just act like a prisoner.” Katsu pushed Gregor again and they walked out of the room. “Listen close.” Katsu was whispering in Gregor’s ear. “Do not say anything to your mother you do not want the Gelseys to know. When she invites you to walk with her, you can speak freely. Until then, say nothing important.” They walked down the dimly lit hallway.
“Why are you helping me?”
“Do you not know?” Gregor turned to look at the petite dark-skinned vampire. “I loved you…once.” Her eyes were wide and glistened with the threat of a tear.
“Katsu, I… the feelings just weren’t there for me. I saw you as a sister. I never meant to hurt you.”
Pain surfaced in Katsu and her face twisted in response. “He is ready.” Katsu turned and walked away, leaving Gregor at the door of his mother’s chamber.
“Darling, come give mother a kiss.” Havassa had replaced her robe with a silk gown the color of blood.
Gregor walked over to his mother and kissed her lightly on the cheek. “Hello, mother. You redecorated…again.”
Havassa crossed the room and lay against a black velvet settee. “Fashion is always changing, my son. I am just another victim, it seems.” She flashed her brilliant white teeth. “Now, tell me about this lady of yours. I am curious about how she stole your heart.”
“It is a little stuffy in here; can we go for a walk? I feel better able to talk in the open air.”
“What a lovely idea.” Havassa held her hand out. “Let us walk in the gardens.”
Gregor walked beside his mother in silence. The
glass doors to the garden were plain, but what was behind them was far more than impressive. The gardens were very lush and well kept. An exotic getaway, this was how people described the gardens. Plants from all over Ellethny grew here in a meticulous fashion that astounded one. Gregor and Havassa strolled down the pathway.
“Gregor, I am sorry for my absurd performance back there. The Gelseys take control more every day, someone must make sure our world thrives. If I do not keep up appearances, I would be killed. You do understand, don’t you?” The tough exterior had melted, leaving the mother he missed.
“I do, but why do you stay? I have many people that could hide you and keep you safe.”
“I must stay; this is the only way to know what they plan. As long as I am undiscovered, I will be fine. Enough about these things, tell me about the girl. Is she really the one from the prophecy?”
Gregor nodded his answer. “She is my heart. I wish I could explain what happens when we are together, but it is unlike anything I have ever felt. Eden is my life, and I will live or die keeping her safe.”
“Well, now, strong words indeed. I never thought I would see the day when my son would bind himself. This woman must be very special. Tell me, where is the young lady now?” The garden wound around a bend, giving way to a large fountain. They sat on the edge of the pool watching the water spill over into the base.
“She is at the trials. Amend sent her without consulting either of us. I was in pursuit of her when I was detained.”
“I am sorry, my son, I had to have them bring you in. This Eden, she is the daughter of Eve and Marcus, is she not?”
“She is. We brought her here to help her find her parents. However, things have not been going well, lately.” Gregor gazed far off remembering how Eden looked the night they bound themselves to each other.