“I guess.” Still something seemed off. “Let’s check it out.” I motioned to the side of the building.
We slid between it and the next building, taking a narrow stone path to the alley. The building behind it stood the same height and was made from the same brick. We walked down the alley between the buildings, noting both had the same architecture.
“A mirror image,” I whispered, putting my hand to the back door. As I did, the wood around my hand grew warm, and an electric shock shot through my hand to my arm. Jumping back, I pointed at the house. “This is the one?”
“Are you sure?” Hunter asked.
“Want a good jolt of magic? You check it out.”
Making our way back to the side path, we continued along to the front of the structure. Approaching the front doors, I used the light from my phone to illuminate the entry. A knight’s helmet was carved above the single large wood door with a vine pattern along each side. A large lion was carved into the wood of the door face. When I placed my hand on the wood, it heated again, and I pulled back before I got shocked. I took a picture and sent it to Pop, noting the sensation when I touched the entrance.
Looks like you found it, he responded.
“Here’s a sign for a property agent,” Camille pointed to a second-story window. I took a picture of the name and phone number and joined the others.
“Try the entry spell,” Tyler insisted.
“Not without Pop. I want everyone here so we can all go in at once. I don’t want to risk anything.”
“It’s a good start, but we should get some rest.” Hunter took Alena’s hand, and they walked towards the sidewalk.
Traipsing back to our vehicle, we traveled to the safe house in darkness. Finding Pop in the study we reviewed the night’s findings. When finished, I made my way to my room. I wondered if I could sleep as we were so close to all the pieces.
I heard a knock on my door and opened it to see Camille.
“Do you mind if I come in?” she whispered.
“Never,” I smiled at her.
“I can’t sleep,” she explained as we sat on the bed. “I can’t believe we’re so close.”
“You still have to get the sword.” I wrapped my hand around hers.
“But all the pieces are falling into place. Just think, what if you’d never gone to Iceland?”
I shrugged. “Maybe my dad would have found you, Alena, and Hunter. Somehow I feel we would have found each other.”
“I’m glad we had Iceland.” She laced her fingers through mine.
“Me too.”
“Do you feel tied to this?”
Turning her hand over, I stared at it for half a minute. “Do you?”
“Well, that was sort of a deflection. But, yes, and no.”
“Same, I guess.” I studied her face and tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “I don’t want to live like my dad. I wouldn’t want to move a family around, but it looks like witches have been doing it for generations. Marcus’s family seemed happy.”
“Until Sonia chose Gabrielle.”
“They’re going to have to figure out what to do with her sooner or later.”
“Are you nervous about tomorrow?”
“You mean about the part where I may be the only one able to open that house? Nah.” I chuckled. “Lie down with me. You keep my nightmares at bay.”
“What do you mean?”
I admitted to the nightmares that plagued me and told her my theory on them prompting me to act. How else could I explain their disappearance when I focused on helping Camille and then re-occurrence when her issue got resolved? The dreams were telling me I had more to do.
“I hope you’re right. I don’t want you to suffer.”
“I never have them when you’re around.”
“Well, that’s insurance for me.”
Holding her hands, I leaned down so we were eye level. “You never have to worry about that.”
“Let’s not talk like this. We’re seventeen.”
“I won’t leave you unless you don’t want me around anymore.”
“I’ll always want you around.”
I kissed her and kissed her again until we were both out of breath. Thinking we should conserve some or our energy, we stretched out, and I hugged her to me.
Tyler’s voice boomed in my head. “Wake up, dude.” He stopped short. “Oh, my, umm, I’m not telling Dad this.”
“Well, if you wouldn’t barge into people’s rooms.” Camille swung her legs over the side of the bed.
“It’s acceptable business hours. Jude needs to make the call.” He spun and exited the room.
We made our way to the kitchen for a plate of breakfast and then to the command center. After eating, I phoned the property agent, expecting to be able to name a price or meet to look at the property. The agent explained I was required to meet with the owner’s assistant and gave me a number to ring him.
“Master Alfred here,” a raspy voice answered the phone.
“Sir, this is Jude Alonso. I’ve called to inquire about the Pentelis, the Chalandri property, or rather the mirror property to its west.”
“Alonso, you said? Mirror property?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Well, that is interesting. How would you like to proceed?”
“My friends and I would like to meet with you about the structure.”
He cleared his throat. “You should choose your friends wisely.”
“I have.”
“Well, then, you may meet me at my office.” He gave me the address.
I agreed for our party to meet him in two hours, and we rounded everyone up. We decided four vampires, including Dimitri and Aaron, would accompany Alena, Camille, Chalondra, Hunter, Orm, Tyler, Nan, Pop, and me to the office. At the car, we loaded the larger items in the back and piled in, holding our backpacks on our laps. We’d adopted the practice of keeping a day’s supplies and all our papers with us just in case. Today we’d each packed for a week’s absence from the command center.
We circled through the city to Master Alfred’s estate. Beyond an open gate, the drive wound around a garden area to the front entrance. We walked up a set of broad steps to the front door. I raised my hand to knock, but the door opened before I it hit the wood.
“Master Alfred is waiting in his study. I shall escort you,” a man dressed in a black suit told us.
He turned and walked towards the center of the building, and we followed. Dimitri and Aaron accompanied us inside, and the other two vampires waited out front. I noted Hunter’s eyes scanning our surroundings and prayed this wasn’t a huge trap.
“Greetings.” A man stood and approached us as we entered a room lined with wood book shelves. “I’m Master Alfred.” He offered his hand and Pop stepped forward.
“I am Wesley Alonso.”
Master Alfred’s eye cut to me and back to Pop.
“It’s wonderful to meet you.” He gripped Pop’s hand.
Pop’s arm tensed, and I stepped toward them. Pop put his palm out. “It’s okay, he’s a reader.”
I looked to Master Alfred. He opened his eyes and released Pop’s hand. “While I see that you are of the Alonso coven you are not the one the master seeks.” He spun to face me. “I assume you are the younger Alonso?”
“I am Jude Alonso. My father David sent me.”
I put my palm in his, and a zing of magic shot through to my skull. A hum filled the air, and I guessed him to be a very strong witch.
“And so, you are who you say you are.” He continued to grip my hand. “Just a few seconds more.”
The sound between my ears rose till I thought I might double over, but I stood my ground.
He released me. “You are brave to come here. Your father would be most proud.”
“You know my father?”
“I have known him for a long time. My master trusts no one else with his”—Alfred’s eyes cut around the room to each face—“business.” He took a step back motioning to the others
. “It’s good to meet you. Have you been in the country long?”
I took the lead. “Only a couple of days.”
“Have you noticed others roaming the city?”
My eyebrows shot up. “We’ve been pretty focused on finding this particular structure.”
“Well, I would say many were, as I’ve noted extra witches in our city. But you, son, may be the real deal.” He winked at me. He raised his chin and his eyes scanned our group. “I would ask that the vampires wait outside, please.”
“They are with us.” I folded my arms over my chest.
“They will not be allowed to enter the residence, only witches.”
“And how might one gain entry to the structure.”
Faster than I would have guessed he could move, he slid to stand in front of Alena. “May I? You favor someone I know.” He held his hand out to her.
Hunter and Tyler jumped between them, blocking Alfred from touching Alena.
“Yes, I assumed as much. No matter.” He shuffled back to me. “We should stay on topic. Should I follow you to the property?”
“Of course.” I answered with more confidence than I felt. Looking to Pop, I saw him nod his head.
We loaded into our vehicle and drove to the building. At the door, Master Alfred turned to face me. “Sir Jude, having seen you to be of pure heart, sound virtue, honorable character, and proper lineage of the Alonso coven, I present you with the key to this dwelling. I beseech you to choose its occupants wisely.”
His words weighed heavily on my mind. Alena, Camille, and Hunter had to be there, that we knew from the poem. Orm and Chalondra held great knowledge. Had we chosen wrong when we left Grady in Italy? If Michael’s coven was searching for the dwelling, did we need to fortify it? We’d already witnessed their powers with our prior compound. I couldn’t risk the contents of this structure.
“Can others join us later?”
“Yes.”
I turned to Tyler. “You should remain outside. Do we have an internet connection?” I asked Master Alfred.
“A traditional land phone line is operational. No images may leave the house.”
“Okay, we’re ready.” I took the key from Alfred.
The iron key weighed heavy in my hand. I inserted it into the lock, and the mechanism glowed red.
“My master will be pleased.” Alfred motioned for me to enter.
I stepped back to let the rest of our party in. Glancing back at Tyler, Dimitri, and Aaron, I closed the door. Lines of light permeated the space where the shutters didn’t match the window frames. Stacks of books waist high formed narrow rows. Dust swirled around us as we made our way into the home.
Alfred flipped a switch on the wall, and chandeliers illuminated the space. We seemed to be in a parlor of sorts. Beyond an arched entryway, a long table held open texts as if someone had abandoned them in haste. My vampire hearing picked up the sound of a labored breath, and my eyes fixed on Alena.
She pointed to an oil painting. “Who is this?”
Master Alfred’s lips turned up on the ends. “He is Uriel, the master of this home.”
Alena jumped into the air and hovered in front of the image. “That is the man… angel, I saw on the ocean, the one that guided us to shore.”
“I believe you favor him. Well, I should be going now. Good luck young ones. I wish you well in your quest.” Alfred paced out of the room to the front entrance. He crossed the threshold, and a gale swooshed through the opening and up the chimney.
I ran to the exit. “What happened?” I hit an invisible wall when I tried to step outside.
Alfred smiled. “You, dear friend, have been given a Biblical amount of information. Use it wisely.”
“Why can’t I get out?”
The others raced to my side, each having the same experience as they tried to cross through the doorway.
“The spell will be lifted when you find the information you seek.” Alfred descended the stairs and disappeared.
Camille fit her fingers between mine. As she turned to face me the wind from the others’ quick departure blew her hair across her face.
I tucked the strands behind her ear. “We’re stuck in here.”
“It doesn’t matter. We’re together.” She grasped my other hand.
I smiled down at her. “You’re right. As long as I have you, everything will be okay.” I leaned down and kissed her lips.
THE END
Keep reading for a brief look into Kingdom of War, Kingdom Journals 4 – Hunter’s Story
Kingdom of the Damned
Kingdom Journals – Provocation – Anne’s Story
The LORD God said to the serpent,
“Because you have done this,
cursed are you above all cattle,
and above all wild animals;
upon your belly you shall go,
and dust you shall eat
all the days of your life.”
— Genesis 3:14
The Edict of Châteaubriant, signed 27 June 1551 by King Henry II of France, censored Protestant rhetoric and enabled seizure of funds for punishment. The Edict of Compiègne, of 24 July 1557, allowed the death penalty for crimes of heresy. The witch community, garbed in the Catholic faith, hunted and killed vampires under the guise of bringing the pagans to justice.
Mabon – 21 September 1557 – France, during the reign of King Henry II
A vampire has memories from the time they are born. I recall my mother’s face and her warm skin, the sound of her voice that morning. I’ll see you tonight in your beautiful red dress. I love you. She kisses my forehead.
In the evening, I slide the garment over my head, and Elizabeth curls my hair with a hot iron rod. She fits the sash around my waist and into a large bow on my back. I sit in a chair, waiting for the sun to set as she dresses her children for the party. Her daughter Elle twirls in a circle, making her skirt fan out. Even though Elle is older, I am as tall as her, because she and her brother, Hank, are halflings.
Hank is two like me, but not as big or smart. He fiddles with his collar buttoned tight around his neck. As the sky grows dark, I climb atop the chair near the window, impatient to be united with my family and to begin the festivities. An orange glow rises over the hill where my house lies in the next valley. The color looks different than any sunset I remember.
I run to Elizabeth. “Elizabeth, the sky.”
“What child?”
“Come see.” I grab her hand and pull her to the window.
As I push up on my toes to look out the glass, I see flames shooting above the ridge. Men carrying torches summit the hill and race towards us. At one’s signal, they circle the house, making a ring around Elizabeth’s cottage.
“Finn!” Elizabeth yells.
“There’s no way out.” Finn’s eyes dart around the room. I can smell the fear rolling off his skin.
Elizabeth points out the window to a tall tree. “When we open the door, run.”
Wide-eyed, I nod. Elizabeth scoops up Elle, and Finn grabs Hank. Opening the door, they sprint towards the forest. I dart off in the opposite direction. A large dog barks on my heels, but I am fast and reach the tree before the animal overtakes me. Low branches form stairs, and I jump to the first. I feel a tug at my skirt and hear it rip as I reach for the second limb. I catch it and swing to a higher branch. The beast jumps and yelps, but I focus on the limbs above. The branches become thinner, and the space between them shorter as I climb, hand over foot, until I feel the trunk sway with my weight.
Looking down, I see the men with the torches have surrounded Elizabeth and her family. Flames close in on them, engulfing the group in smoke. A bitter smell assaults my nose. The men douse the flames with water from buckets. Raising the torches over their heads, they retreat. As the air clears of smoke, I see the forms of Elizabeth and her family lying atop the charred grass.
Darkness descends on the clearing. I listen, but there is little sound. The night is quieter than I ever remember it bei
ng. The air smells of the metal pans and the out-building Elizabeth’s family uses, and I cover my nose with my skirt. Clutching the tree trunk, I watch the bodies on the ground, hoping for movement. I wait a long time, and tears form in my eyes. The wind picks up, clearing the air, and I let go of my skirt. I uncurl my fingers to find white lines where the fabric cut off the circulation. In the distance, I hear the hoot of an owl. Faint flapping sounds grow louder, and three black birds appear in the sky above me. I move down the trunk and cling to the bark, copying the hiding game Elizabeth taught me. Exhaling, I slow my heart rate and breathing.
I train my eyes on the bodies, wondering when Elizabeth will get up. One of the birds lands near the forms and approaches with slow steps. Almost quicker than I can register, an arm snatches the bird and pins it to the ground. The bald bird emits a shrill squawk and then is silent. I watch as the person brings the animal to their mouth. Within seconds, they hurl the bird away. The form rises first to a sitting position and then to its knees and feet. I can’t make out the identity, save that the person is tall like Elizabeth and her mate. The frame is thin, rather than wide like Finn’s, and I decide it must be Elizabeth.
She walks in my direction, but I don’t dare move an inch. Then, she cups her hands to her mouth and coos. I recognize the call and release my breath. Backing down the trunk, Elizabeth catches me in her arms as I drop the last few feet. The skin on her face is black, and I freeze. I wriggle out of her grasp and hold out my arm to her. Flipping my wrist over, I point to my vein. She shakes her head. My eyes scan the area, looking and listening for signs of life. Above us, the remaining two birds have abandoned their circles, and the air is quiet.
Elizabeth kneels before me. “Anne, dear, let’s see about your family.” She points in the direction of my home.
We creep over the tall grass, keeping close to the trees for cover. Elizabeth’s hand shakes in mine, and I fear she may fall any minute. The smell of smoke wanes as the wind sweeps through the valley. As it dies, my ears detect the flutter of a heartbeat. I motion for Elizabeth to stop and scan the clearing. Light fur catches my eye, and I bolt to the animal. It startles and runs, but I am faster and catch him before he enters a hole. Sprinting back to Elizabeth, I offer her the animal. Extending her fangs, she pierces the rabbit’s skin. After a few seconds of sucking, she offers the limp body to me. I take the hare and sip the remaining fluid from its arteries.
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