Unexpectedly, Priest Cornelius put his hand on Leo’s head in approval. Knight Leo jerked back as if impaled by a rush of wind. The tall head chief fell back to his knees.The crowd quieted down.“What happened?” Diana spoke to Celestina.“The spirit of the Saints has come upon the new head chief. Such foolishness if you ask me.”On signal, Knight Leo stood up again and seemed to grow taller than he had been. His stance spruced up and he now exuded the enthusiasm he had lacked just minutes earlier.It fascinated Diana. Maybe he was acting or he must have been possessed by something or someone darker but the drama was almost as promising as a theater act.Knight Leo turned to the public and declared openly in a firm chiefly voice, “All Twin Hollow villagers, send your husband, sons and father and anyone who will fight for our security. We will hunt the witches and vampires on the land, and I will oversee our armies in success over these adversaries of the church!”The throng was surpris
Redberg VillageCamellana's VillaIn the heart of the oasis of Camellana's little chapel, an assembly of dark forces took place beneath the lanterns and otherworldly spells that concealed the dwellers inside.The pitch blackness was perfect, a sort of visual lull that gave a venerable fear. With human eyes closed there was the thoroughness of fear that gives one's heart a bitterness of existing, of being, of breathing, and how those moments extended with such gloom until the dawn chose to bring back the colors.They devoured the meat of animal sacrifices contributed by the villagers and drank the blood for refreshment.The assembly consisted of Sulu, the leader of the dark sorcerers; Camellana, the priestess of the village, Nirvana, the young witch of Winterberg, wife of knight Ambrose, and lastly Lord Cornelius, the legendary vampire from three hundred years ago, the leader of the secret orders of monster knights.Cornelius was a peculiar vampire. Because of extensive time burrowing
“Agreed,” said Camellana. “Your counsel has ascertained the most beneficial, Sulu dear. My trust in you heightens daily.”Fortunately, Sulu thought to himself, because when he was the most inexperienced, then he would gut them and filet them like the fish that they are. Such high swine. And with the help of Camellana, he will take back his rightful merit of this region, and with it, the witches of the dark natives. His vengeance against the dark natives chief must be administered soon. He would come up with all the excuses he wanted for revenge, yet it would always be the work of an inner tantrum and thus could always represent his best or what he could have been capable of... He was worthy of destroying the elders, especially the foolish Lucinda… He was competent enough to eradicate their most beloved cavern.“Good,” uttered Sulu himself.“Indeed, Sulu. Because when you are the most trusting, then I know our alliance will be the only way we can win this crusade and claim the sovereig
Three days later, the group of Diana evaded the hunters as they were now seeking refuge in the next ravine. Daisy Valley. By day, they rested and by night they journeyed.Early dawn, Cavin, now faultlessly healed, hurried down the ridge to get back to their little cabin sanctuary. Daisy valley was a trivial small borough on the edge of the highland before Dark Mountain fifteen miles west of Twin Hollow. There were only twenty-five family dwellers. Though it was the burial place of witches and the supernatural, the small valley never rose to significance.Damian's father was not a well-off man and had no importance to be known for. He had two sons, three daughters and Damian was the youngest and often neglected. In one of his highland explorations, he met Diana's group and offered his little cabin for refuge, and proposed to look for some food in exchange for silver coins.When Damian arrived at the market neighborhood in the middle of the valley, he hesitated to see the valley's peopl
Damian has a plan on his own. He shall uncover his origin. He had decided he had to unearth his ancestry’s full story, to find out who his parents were. He had never hoped for joyous family reunions. He just had to know. Possibly, that hadn’t been the best idea. No good ever came from ladling into the past. It was like kicking a nest of hornets. That’s what his foster father had always meant.Brushing off those metaphorical hornets, Damian nudged all thoughts of his past to the sidelines. He had to concentrate on something else. He had to keep his mind off the horrible truth that he had a dark sorcerer for a father.He might have despised him. After all, he wanted him dead. And his foster siblings were even worse. They wanted to use Damian as a tool to earn golds and silvers, then discard him like trash on the side of the cliff. Literary again.Regardless, Damian tried to think about the upcoming challenges, but they all seemed to lead back to him. To expose him. No, he needed somethi
Damian's stepfather was watching his every move. He might already suspect it.“Alright father, let’s do it,” Damian told him, wiping all those concerns from his mind. “Let’s train tomorrow. But I won’t go easy on Elfar.” Damian added, knowing full well, no training shall happen sooner or later.A heathen smile broke through his stepfsther suave cloak. “Good. Only a jester clenches back when fighting an elder. And I never took you for a fool, Damian.”“Just a troublemaker sir.”“Always and forever,” his stepfather jested. His words fell heavy against Damian's head when he nodded back in agreement.—with the pressure of finality. Of the battle that lay before them. Or did it? A glint of fragile terror pulsed through Damian. Elfar had said before that he would be testing his magic when this training was over.The secret order would use those mysterious tests to try to pair him off with another warrior. That was what they did. May the winners survive. Maybe Damian was upsetting for nothing
The soldiers nudged David and Sergio forward with their swords. The silver-tipped swords shone like eternal weapons from hell. The two and sure moved away from the swords like the weapons had the power to hurt—or even kill them, but no fear could be seen in their eyes, they knew somehow that the elder could get through them away from the soldiers' resentment...“Young David and Sergio,” Elfar began. His disappointment was understandable in his hawk-like eyes. There comes a time that for keeping one's self-respect intact, one must leave what one hoped would be a good thing. The disappointment arrives as sadness. It was a sorrow, a conclusion, yet in time it upheld, in time the soul can begin to hope for something real, lasting, and secure and he hoped his decision wouldn't give him enough regret for his great-grandson's future.“Both of you…stand accused—”“The recruit is my underling, Sir,” Damian stepped up and cut in, striding forward to the old man's cabins. “I will conclude how it
"What made him change his mind, Elfar?""I don't know, but Damascus told me that the ancient vampire who invaded his mind once before, told him to pass the message. Your father told me to warn you about confiding your dream to anyone. It would be a tremendous risk. However, he told me that the ancient one will help you someday, and he instructed me to tell you to trust the ancient and no one else for that matter."Damian was speechless. Now everything seems understandable. His father knew about Lord Andrew Lawvosky. This new information makes sense. But how about his great-grandmother? Was he in danger?Yes, he was powerful but does he even stand a chance?He would clearly show that while his born magic comprises more darkness than the human typically seen in witches who survive the churchs’ hatred, nonetheless Damian fire magic was powered by dark magic and was lying if he told himself that he could control it. He could not, and that made him not to use it to anyone.“I am merely sim
" I… I've come to realize that things aren't quite as black and white as I've been portraying them to be. I don't need to give up something to become someone else. I'm hoping to gain something more. But as long as you were with me. I don't care anymore, Andrew. My grandpappy can wait. In fact, the tenth century can wait. Right?” She looked at him with a sheepish expression.It took him no time to respond affirmatively. His hands glided down her back to her shoulders as they reached his chamber, then he went down her neck back again. "Yes, my love." The corners of his mouth split into a sensuous smile. "Your grandfather can wait." His words kissed the side of her face. “However, I believe you could push yourself even further. You are powerful Diana. Never hold back yourself. Do whatever is necessary to survive.”“Why? Do you want me to be like you?” She exhaled as his hand became entangled in the buttons on the front of her gown. Slowly giving her goosebumps.“You are really similar to
Diana's heart began to beat again, her lungs began to fill with air, and she took a deep, gasping breath. Slowly, the chill began to melt away from her body, dissipating in the face of the raging river coursing through her, ratcheting up her seer magic a notch. The amazing bliss she felt from his single drop of blood fueled her mind and made her want for more, and she felt like she was drunk on lust. Diana could see everything so clearly now, and at that moment, she wished she could have Andrew with her. Now! Right here, right now!And so she stepped closer, coming to a complete stop in front of Andrew. Then she pushed herself to her toes and grabbed the back of his neck, pulling him against her for a long, passionate kiss. In that kiss was the sweetness of passion, a million loving thoughts condensed into a moment. In that kiss were the promise of years and the sweetness of waiting for real love.She then drew back just as fast as she had come. Diana was aware that people were starin
Blanca's cheeks were flushed. "I'll be delighted to comply with my lord's wishes." She kissed his cheek once more as she grinned. It had been a long journey, a long adventure, and she had given up hope that she would ever see Dimitri's smile once more...The ladies with the wine approached them, and Blanca whispered to Dimitri, "This area looks like a battle zone, and I can't wait to taste you again." He halted when Elfar groggily waved the ladies over to them. "How is he going to get it ready for a celebration by tonight?" "He was drunk as hell." Blanca wondered as she waved her hand to Elfar, who reciprocated by waving his hands in their direction."The stubbornness of Elfar should never be underestimated. He was more than just a mere wolf. He is my sire demon for a reason.""I get what you're saying. He's just as stubborn as you are!" Blanca spoke with a little smile on her lips as she gave him a sly look. "Don't be concerned. There's no danger of that, my love. My stubbornness wil
Nirvana, on the other hand, smirked and murmured, "I happen to know that you are killing all of the offspring you have spawned through your wicked younger years," Nirvana said with a smirk and a "tsked."Camellana looked at Danny with a guilty expression on her face.Nirvana went on to say, "After all, you are not the only one that has spies." It turned out to be true. Nirvana had covertly dispatched spies across the hamlets in order to gather information about Camellana's plan.Continuing to dig, Nirvana said, "You are gathering military resources for yourselves to take with you, leaving Redberg Village as a shell of its former self, with its great walls as its sole defense. And I'm not sure what the assembly of the knights had expected you to perform, but I'm sure it's something big, something monumentally important. Despite Sulu's self-assurance and bluster, your very situation was dire. Andrew Norton was led here by my spy, and you are well aware that I am probably the only person i
Diana made a shaky motion with her head. Several strands of filth dropped from her hair and landed on the dirt floor. Diana then continued to recount all that had occurred earlier, while the others sat there and sobbed as she spoke. The others were so enraged at the traitors that it was understandable that they were infuriated. Even Anna had been questioned about what had transpired, and she proceeded to tell them about her confrontation with Sulu as well, which elicited a gasp from the audience.The elderly lady was deafeningly silent. Diana recognized that she was just as excellent at concealing her feelings as Lucinda was. In addition to being a charismatic leader, she would also be an excellent commander of their troops, as Anna would be.The following morning, Diana, Danny Nirvana, and Elfar, who had recovered from his wounds, arrived in the Redberg Village, which was close to Camellana's villa. As a result, Knight Leo chose to stay for another day at the witches' new cavern, firs
Elfar had the distinct impression that the ground itself was enraged at them. Massive mountains of loosened rock were falling into the cavern, and the rapid shift of such a large amount of mass was causing the entire area to become unstable. A louder, sharper disturbance could be heard just above their heads, and when Elfar peered up, he noticed fissures appearing in the concrete and stone roof of the tunnel. It was a terrifying sight. Within seconds, the fissures had grown in length and width. Clods of earth spilled out of them, strewing the train rails with their ashes."Run!" Elfar let out a yell. He snatched Anna and Leo's arms once more. "The tunnel is about to collapse! Is it possible for Nirvana to create some gateways, perhaps portals, to allow us all out?" Elfar was the one who inquired."I'm not sure if it's even possible to do so. Lucinda had made certain that her spell was strong enough to prevent anyone from entering or exiting the cavern without her permission. It's not t
Leo and Anna seemed to smile at their successful accomplishment.When they returned to Diana, they saw that she was barely holding her own against Sulu, but Nirvana was on her side as well.But Anna rushes to the other witches who were still battling with the two elders, and the three of them are found dead in the ravine, practically sizzling with the lava, as the enormous beast slowly drops its black tail into the ravine and falls. Along with the witches, of course. Then Anna threw herself at the elders and engaged in combat with the four friends. While Tommy engaged in combat with the four huge goblins that had fallen from the above-ground pit. And Leo rushed to Diana's side to assist her.Although she was backed up against the ravine that encircled Sulu's dais, Diana came close to falling, until the snake plunged into the lava under her feet. Nirvana was well aware that Diana was on the verge of being pushed over the ledge and into the abyss of molten lava below her feet. She didn'
Tommy added, "Oh well, D. I had planned on eating snake BBQ for dinner this evening, but it's not even feasible with that shadow hanging over me. Doesn't it look like a green screen that was used in future movies, D?""Yes, it's some kind of animated fuck of crap! In addition to a pot of giant worm soup. So put an end to your stomach aches and put your wolf fangs on, Tom."Then both of them halted their mind foolish conversation then Sulu's boomed around the niche of the chamber."Your commander Cornelius is a weakling," Sulu howled. "...Cornelius was a softie, but Nirvana here, on the other hand, was astute in assisting me, as were the two other chiefs." The two elders of the Dark Native's coven appeared out of nowhere, causing the witches to gasp in surprise. It took them completely by shock. It's no surprise why Sulu was successful in apprehending Lucinda. "Traitor!" Anna muttered under their collective breath while the rest of the witches stared at the two older leaders with contem
But Sulu is a master at exploiting the relatively weak aspects and outsmarting his stronger opponents. Yet he was livid, and his hands trembled. His fury had such a potent effect on him that if he had stayed that way in front of a human, it would have blinded them. Nevertheless, Diana was not a human. Vampire Seer, the Fated One. She wouldn't be phased with this jerk. She thought to herself.Sulu, on the other hand, flashed a menacing smile and lifted his hands in the air as if invoking his magical abilities. "Arise, my brethren!" he said emphatically.Then unexpectedly, the huge shadow and black barrier started to wiggle and move. To slither towards them. It was not a column that had fallen. It had come to life. And it was now poised to swoop down on Diana's entourage.Meanwhile, Knight Leo vampire knights and Aya's witches were frantically fighting with the Goblin who was waiting at the entrance to the Gathering Hall. It was a bloody battle. With its hammering power, the battering r