CHAPTER 1
The silver stars came at her with
blinding speed. Zara dodged the first two with ease, the third she deflected
with her sword. But the fourth star’s
sharp edges caught her cheek and opened a deep cut. Her attempt to avoid it wasn’t
quick enough.
“You’re not paying attention,” Hiro
Tanaka growled a low warning. More stars chased Zara across the training room. This
time she evaded all the deadly projectiles. “A light heart lives longer. In battle, the slightest moment of inattention could
cost you your life.”
Zara wiped blood from her face. “Wearing
the marks of my carelessness should serve as a good reminder, oh fearless master,”
she said, bowing irreverently. Blood dribbled from the burning wound onto her sleeve.
Hiro’s eyes flashed with dark fire, “Staying
alive is not something to joke about.” He pierced her with a searching look.
His frown deepened. “You seem troubled.”
Zara held his gaze for a moment
before her gaze shifted away. Hiro saw too much. “You’re right I’m a little
preoccupied tonight.” Why deny it.
“Problems at the dig?” his gaze
flicked to her cheek, then back to her elusive gaze.
“The dig
is going fine,” she walked past him and placed her twin swords on the weapons
table. “I must be more tired than I thought.”
“Hmm,” his skeptical tone told her plainly that he didn’t believe a single
word. “Then perhaps this is the perfect time to train mind over body.”
“What do you have in mind?” she said,
turning around.
A few minutes later she really wished
she hadn’t asked. For each time Zara bested Hiro he send her tumbling to the floor five times more. There was no time
to think when one sparred with Hiro. He
gave no quater and she expected none. The
physical exertion cleared her mind at least for the time being.
“Very good,” Hiro said, slowly rising
to his feet her swords in his hands. Zara had managed to disarm him but he
captured her sword hands and flipped her over his head. She flew through the
air and landed on her feet several feet on the marble floor.
“I lost my swords—again” A quick smile flashed across her lips. “I’m never
going to beat you.”
“You’re good enough to defeat me.
Stop trying to copy my style and start capitalizing on your own strengths. The
battle doesn’t go to the strong but to the wise.”
“Alright let’s have a go again,”
Zara and Hiro had been sparring with
each other for two centuries. She’d never met anyone more talented in the
martial arts. Training with him had improved her fighting skills greatly. Because
of Hiro she came and went freely without fear of being killed by the guardians.
At the turn of the eighteenth century, Lilith moved her court from the
Carpathian mountains deep into the icy tundra of northern Russia. The guardians
were killing them off by the hundreds. With their numbers severely decimated it
became necessary for them to set up somewhere remote and not easily accessible
to the outside world, somewhere far from humans and hunters alike. Hidden from
the guardians they had grown strong again.
The first time she saw Hiro he was practicing
kung-fu on the ice caps outside the castle. She’d fallen in love with the grace
of his movements. She’d watched him for weeks until one night he’d suddenly
disappeared only to reappear behind her.
“Are you a spectator or are you a
warrior?” he’d asked her.
He’d offered her a wooden pole and
her training had begun. Why he’d chosen to train her when he’d turned away many
others she didn’t know. But she was grateful nonetheless. In a world where
strength was vital for one's survival Hiro’s
mentorship was invaluable. To this day Zara’s training remained a well-kept secret. And Hiro became her closest
friend and confidante.
“Practice seems to have improved your
mood.”
“Having my butt thoroughly kicked
seems to have that effect on me,” she joked.
“I shall endeavor to provide as much kicking as you require then.” Swipe and
dodge. “Especially when it helps you focus.”
“I'm paying attention now,” she said parrying
his thrust. The last half of Zara’s training went much better. Hiro didn’t give
her a chance to let her mind wander. Unfortunately,
she couldn’t stay in the secret underground arena forever.
***
Most
people longed for immortality but they didn’t understand what it meant to be
alone for centuries. It was a cold existence.
Zara could no longer fool herself.
Rising slowly to her feet, she walked around her cluttered room. Ancient texts
and artifacts lined the shelves, fighting for space. Her collection of ancient
objects rivaled Lilith's, in uniqueness if not in quantity. The research she
loved so much could not push away the stark, raw loneliness of her existence.
The fifty centuries of her existence had been filled with study and
exploration. She had read every single text on paper and on stone, traveled the world countless times. For so long
Zara’s search for the blood prince had
consumed her, providing solace in an otherwise lonely existence.
But they no longer did that. It only
added to her loneliness and showcased the barrenness of her life. She had
nothing. No one cared if she lived or died. Lilith didn't count. Not even
Hiro’s quiet presence was enough. She needed so much more.
Zara felt like an insignificant drop
in the ever dynamic stream of life. There was no purpose to her life. Just endless
time.
Even the mystery she'd set out to
solve had been a failure. Yes, fifty centuries was a cold existence.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
She had been so consumed by her
thoughts the knock on her door came as a surprise. Normally she would’ve heard the approaching
footsteps.
"Come in," she said.
Taegaris
Lilith's assistant entered the room and stood just inside the door.
Bowing to her he said, "The
queen wishes to see you immediately."
"What is it now?" she mumbled
to herself. Her fingers plowed into her
hair and she let out a deep breath. She didn't need Lilith's dramatics to add
to her melancholy. "I’ve just arrived. I haven’t even had a chance to
unpack.” Zara said indicating her travel bag.
"It’s not my place to ask
questions,” Taegris said quietly. He didn't bother to answer the latter
question. Everyone knew that what Lilith wanted Lilith got. Zara’s lips compressed
into a tight line. Sometimes she felt like leaving this place and never coming
back.
"Perhaps lord Gregori and his
hunters have brought news," he added.
"Gregori?" Zara's brows
climbed up almost to her hairline. Gregori was captain of Lilith’s hunters.
"What kind of news could he possibly have for Lilith?"
"The guardian stronghold in
Scotland has been overtaken. Gregori's hunters have been working to eliminate
the rest of the guardians."
Zara stumbled back her hand flat
against her rapidly beating heart. The guardians were the vampire’s bitterest
enemies. Countless centuries ago, long before Zara was made, the guardian's ancestors had taken sacred vows to
exterminate all vampires from the face of the planet. Custos castle in Scotland
was their headquarters. Protected by strong ancient spells it had never been breached
until now.
“Well,” she said on a shaky breath. “We may as well go down
and...ahh hear the news.”
Zara and Taegris descended the tight
spiral staircase to the ground floor in silence. Zara was still reeling from
the news Taegris had imparted.
“How did they do it?” she asked.
“The details are known only to the
queen and Gregori. Suffice it to say the guardians are on the brink of total
annihilation.”
“It’s unbelievable!” Zara exclaimed.
Taegris nodded in agreement. Zara imagined her face was just as shell-shocked
as his. It would take some time for any of them to ever get used to a world without the guardians. To feel safe,
day or night.
“So much has happened lately,”
Teagris said. “Everyone is talking about it. This is a turning point in our
history. Imagine we can move away from this icy hell and back into the world.
No more hiding in the shadows. The world will be at our feet!”
Zara leaned forward brows raised, "Did
anything else happen while I was away?" The fall of the guardians changed
many things. But world dominance? Even without the guardians humans still had the numbers and sophisticated weaponry
to wage war on vampirekind and win.
“Very few people know this,” Taegris
said. His voice lowered and his eyes darted about making sure they were
alone.
“Tell me,” Zara prompted more than a
little curious.
"The bearer of the sigil has
been found!" Taegris shared with relish.
"Hold on...What?!" Zara
stopped so suddenly Taegris nearly ran into her from behind.
“It’s true,” he gloated. From his tone, one would think he’d left Lilith’s side
and pegged the bearer himself. “The bearer is as good as ours.”
"I must admit it has been a particularly
interesting fortnight," Taegris confided. "You should stay home more
often," he admonished her in a self-righteous tone.
"I was only gone for a
month." Zara snapped. “No more than usual.”
"Be that as it may, your place
is here serving beside the queen," he said.
"The queen has been doing very
well without me for centuries," she snapped, starting to walk again. She
barely stayed at home and when she did she preferred her own company to that of
Lilith’s courtiers. "The queen doesn’t need me when she has loyal subjects
like you to serve at her feet."
"That's not the point," Taegris
said clearing his throat. "I’m sure the queen would be delighted to have
you pay more heed to court matters."
"You said the bearer of the
sigil has been found?” Taegris nodded and she continued. “But he or she isn’t
in our custody yet?"
“There is a small delay,” he
shrugged.
“And how is Lilith dealing with the
delay?”
"Not good at all I’m afraid,"
he sighed. "The first group of hunters she sent out was unable to recover the girl. It did not go
over very well. But I'm sure the second group will be motivated to do
better."
Zara rolled her eyes at the understatement when things didn't go according
to Lilith’s plans that usually meant blood and death. By now they were in the
corridor leading to Lilith's grand receiving room. More hunters lined the walls.
She'd counted eight as they passed the corridors leading there. They came
across another pair before they reached the last corridor.
"Security has been beefed up since
I was last here," she observed. Another hunter emerged from a corridor to
their left. The hunter bowed to them as they passed.
"Ever since the guardian
stronghold fell the queen feels certain an attack on us is eminent."
Taegris acknowledged the hunters bow with a curt nod.
“The guardian’s have never found this
castle. With their leadership gone they’re less likely to find us here,” Zara
said.
By this time they had arrived at the
huge double doors which a pair of hunters pulled open for them. The room’s
occupants turned to look curiously at the newcomers as they entered. Zara took
note of the black-clad hunters mingling
with the elite. Lilith was seated on her magnificent throne-like chair talking
to Gregori in hushed tones when they entered. They both looked up when the
doors opened.
A joyful smile broke on Lilith's
face. Zara's steps picked up until she was nearly running. Her smile was just
as large as Lilith's. For all her grumblings she loved Lilith with all her
heart. Lilith wasn't just Zara’s sire. Their bond was as strong as that shared
by a mother and her child. Lilith met her on the bottom step lifting her from
the floor in an exuberant embrace. They laughed, wept and laughed again. To a casual
observer, it would have appeared as if
Zara hadn't been home in decades.
"How I've missed you!"
Lilith put her back on her feet and took a step back to examine her from head
to toe. "You look—” Lilith’s smile died and her eyes narrowed on the pink
line marring Zara’s cheek. Normally Zara would have put on some make-up to
cover the still pink cut but Teagris’ news had blindsided her.
“What happened to your cheek?"
“It’s nothing,” she said rubbing the
offending cheek.
“You should stay closer to home where I can protect you,” Lilith chided
her softly. Zara was relieved when Lilith assumed the injury was done by
someone outside the castle.
“I promise to be more careful,” Zara
said. She scrutinized Lilith much in the same way Lilith had her. There was
nothing modest about Lilith's dress, a magnificent red creation any queen would
die to wear. The deep red color was a perfect foil for her raven locks. She was
as beautiful and unchanged as the night Zara first met her all those centuries
ago. "You look ravishing as always."
"Come! Come!" Lilith said, leading her up the raised dais. "I have the most delightful news.
Something guaranteed to keep you away from those dusty books you love so much."
Zara smiled. Though she’d dismissed
Taegris’ comments about Lilith wanting her at court she knew without a doubt it
was true. Unfortunately for Lilith Zara’s only interest was in dusty old books
and ancient myths. She took a seat on the less grand chair on Lilith's right. Gregori
was seated on Lilith's left side, a privilege he must have earned when he overthrew
the guardian stronghold.
Gregori brushed his too long wheat
yellow locks from his eyes and offered her a dimpled smirk. She narrowed her
eyes in warning causing his baby blues to darken with amusement.
"Gregori," Zara snarled his
name.
"Hey gorgeous," he replied
with a leer. Zara rolled her eyes and endeavored
to ignore him. If Lilith noticed their interaction she didn't comment.
"Taegris has already filled me
in on what’s been going on," Zara said moving her chair closer to Lilith’s.
"However did you manage it? Was it even us?"
“Argh, curse your wagging tongue.” Lilith
glared at Taegris who quailed in a corner of the room. “Did it not occur to you that I wanted to share the news myself.”
“I apologize,
my queen,” Taegris prostrated himself at the bottom of the steps. Lilith disdainfully
waved Taegris’ groveling form away refocusing
her attention on Zara. Taegris slithered away relieved his faux pas hadn’t
resulted in a greater punishment. Knowing Lilith it might have been worse, she
wasn’t the forgiving kind.
“Really Zara what a silly question. Who
else is formidable enough to challenge the guardians and win?" she said
with relish. "The werewolves can barely hold it together between full
moons. The witches and wizards are too wrapped up causing mayhem to worry about
anything else. We couldn't attack them from without so we poisoned them from
within."
"You infiltrated the guardian
ranks?" Zara sputtered in disbelief. Lilith's first attempt to recruit a
guardian was a catastrophe. The vampire created on that one attempt had gone on
to become the most feared guardian in vampire history. “But how?”
“I offered what all men want,” Lilith
said.
“And what is that?”
“Power and wealth beyond
imagination,” Lilith replied.
“You offered Kyle the same things and
he refused,” Zara countered. In her quest to eradicate the guardians Lilith had
had Kyle Mcguire turned vampire in the sixteenth
century. Instead of turning on the guardians Kyle turned out to be a scourge on their kind. As a human, he’d been a good hunter but as a vampire
with all their gifts, he was unstoppable.
It was Kyle who had singlehandedly forced them into hiding.
“Without the guardians support Kyle will no longer be a threat to us,” Lilith’s
nostrils flared and her gaze grew cold. “By stealing the bearer of the sigil he
has signed his own death warrant.”
Zara gasped, “He has the bearer?”
Lilith’s lips tightened further, “Not for much longer. Plans are already in place
to acquire her.”
Zara nodded, “And the rest of the
guardians?”
“The guardians are finished,” Gregori
said, joining in on their conversation. “The few that remain are being wiped
out by my hunters as we speak."
Zara’s gaze shifted from Gregori to
Lilith. “We’re really free at last?”
“After millennia of cowering in the
shadows vampirekind will rise again,” Lilith’s eyes shone, the crimson tint
more pronounced. “No one will stand in our way. We will rule the world as is
our right. All who resist us will die.”
“The world has changed. Even without
the guardians to protect them humans have grown strong,” Zara reasoned.
“Their own advancement will be their
enemy. To them, we’re nothing more than a
myth. A story made up to scare children. When the slaughter begins they will
look to their science for answers. They will blame enemies beyond their borders first before suspicion falls on us.
They’ll fight amongst themselves. By the time they realize what is happening we will be in complete control.”
“There are some who still believe the
myths.”
“And who will believe them?” Lilith
challenged. “They’ll be ridiculed. Never has there been a people more advanced
yet so blind in all the centuries I’ve lived. Defeating them won’t be a
challenge. My friends assure me it has been done before.”
“Friends?” Zara asked. As far as she
knew Lilith had no friends. She wasn’t the only one who found this interesting.
Gregori sat up straighter his head tilted towards Lilith.
Lilith’s eyes glided over the room’s
occupants. Eyes skittered away and everyone made a studied effort to appear
occupied. Zara realized belatedly that they had gathered quite an audience.
We
will speak later.
Zara acknowledged Lilith’s mindspeak with a slight nod.
“We have much to celebrate,” Lilith
said. "I wanted to share the news of our victory with you but that is not
why I summoned you."
Zara's eyebrow hiked up. What could
be more important than the downfall of the guardians?
"I have found you a mate!"
Lilith dropped her bombshell. “Isn’t that wonderful?”
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