Three cloaked priests stepped forward. The middle one spoke. “Lord Chaos has commanded us to do nothing for the time being. And nothing we shall do.”
Muttering broke out. I felt a sharp pain on my arm. Brandon shook his head furiously, and only after I relaxed did he let me go.
“Harijan Shadow,” King Yuan said. “Step forward.”
I schooled my features as best I could before obeying. I was too angry to notice the jealousy and hatred radiating from the Kshatriya.
“Have you located Mercedes Strand?”
“I have not located her, but I have felt her through the slave mark,” I said. “She is alive and unharmed.”
“Good,” King Yuan said coldly. “Your life depends on her welfare.”
Not my life, my soul, I inwardly corrected.
***
Brandon
When the Kshatriya were dismissed, their masks of indifference were betrayed by the fury radiating from them. For the first time in my life, I actually felt sympathy for them. We couldn’t speak our minds. Questioning the will of the gods was blasphemy, and blasphemy was punishable by the Lazarus Pit. It was incredibly difficult to keep silent, however. Before the Kshatriya left, the priests gave one last order that was spreading through the vampire world: everyone was to keep their Evanescence companions hidden.
Once Shadow and I were dismissed and far away from the palace, I spoke my mind.
“Do nothing, keep the Evanescence hidden…” My fangs emerged. “I thought I would jump into the Lazarus Pit myself before thinking that the royal family would joke.”
“But they aren’t joking,” Shadow snarled. “Fools, idiots!”
“My friend, I hope you’re talking about the royal family or even the priests and not Lord Chaos.”
“Lord Chaos would never give such an order unless he wished to destroy us,” Shadow spat.
My already cold blood went even colder. “You don’t think—”
“If he wished us dead, we would have been killed during the war,” Shadow insisted.
“Maybe,” I said. “And maybe Lord Chaos doesn’t appreciate the thought of a heretic being given the chance to gain the rank of Kshatriya.”
“Who knows how the gods think? I don’t care. That is the goal of a priest, not a warrior.”
“Or a lover?”
Shadow’s eyes burned. “Or a lover,” he agreed.
I looked down when I saw my beacon flashing. “That would be the soldiers. We are to continue scanning the area where Mercedes was taken. Morgan’s already there.”
“Good,” Shadow said in a distracted voice. “I will continue my own search.”
My eyes narrowed. “If Lord Chaos himself ordered that you protect Mercedes, I can’t believe the royal family hasn’t sent soldiers to assist you.”
“You saw King Yuan’s face,” Shadow said with cold indifference. “They secretly wish me to fail so I can be put to death for blasphemy. As you said, Lord Chaos ordered me and me alone to protect Mercedes, and I failed. The royal family view it as a loophole.”
“It’s an extremely hypocritical one,” I said, and my voice was far more passionate. “One that could get Lord Chaos to damn them.”
“I will not pretend that is not a cheerful thought.”
“Shadow, I’ll call you when the soldiers order us back. I can help you with whatever you’re doing.”
He smiled at me, and I was stunned by the genuine warmth in it.
“I thank you, my friend, but unless you can change the course of the sun in the mortal world or be in two places at once, you will not be able to assist me.”
***
Shadow
Blackhole was waiting for me when I entered my apartment.
“Have the gods spoken to you?” I asked.
Blackhole gave a disappointed whine. I sighed.
“It appears we are becoming as un-favored as you claim to be.” I sat down. Blackhole bounded beside me. “According to the priests, the creature who took Mercedes has sent minions to our world. The vampires and the Evanescence have been ordered not to fight back. We have been ordered to do NOTHING!”
I jumped up and hurled the sofa across the room. As Blackhole skulked away from me, I began to pace.
“I must find Mercedes. I must find where that creature lives.” Yanking my newly updated Chaos wand (the only assistance the royal family offered) from my belt, I thought furiously.
That frequency was of utmost importance. If I found it, we would be able to make a portal and perhaps Lord Chaos would enable us to fight for ourselves.
Tomorrow, I vowed. Tomorrow when the sun sets in the mortal world, I will find it. I will find the home of the beast that took my love.
*********
Chapter 10
Love can kill and love can save
To truly know you ride its wave
If asked beware of what you answer
Ignorance is no small cancer
Tarasque
Each warrior I sent to the vampire world all gave the same report: the vampires were weak, defenseless. They possessed no magic, and their strength was only slightly less puny than a human’s. If they possessed great treasure, it was hidden in the palace of the royal family. Unfortunately, that was the only place they could not breach unless they desired to attract attention.
I stared at the Mirror, willing it to obey me, to show me the vampire world.
Tell me, oh great Mirror, what magnificent treasures does this race possess?
Oh great Mirror? What a nice title! Perhaps I will add that one to my list of many names.
Necoc Yaotl.
The Mirror became filled with that gray smoke. Fearsome feline eyes glared at me within the swirling clouds.
Do you still refuse to believe that I am the Mirror? You must because if you truly did believe it, you would not be here right now. Or is it that you are simply addicted? You cannot let it go. It is like a drug, is it not?
Laughter rang through the entire chamber, and I unleashed my fury in a jet of flame.
When the smoke cleared, the Mirror was completely undamaged.
Oh, King Tarasque, what a complex creature you are.
“You are not the Mirror!” I roared.
So you tell yourself. But enough bantering; we have important business to attend to. Your warriors are not impressed with my brother’s children.
I expelled several volumes of smoke in order to calm myself before replying. “They find them to be quite pathetic.”
And who can blame them? The mighty dragons against a race that does not even possess magic! How disappointed they must be.
But you must destroy them, Your Majesty. The sooner they are destroyed, the sooner your sacred grounds are safe from my wrath.
And the sooner I earn my father’s favor. The sooner my forefather will be willing to welcome me with open wings. The sooner Mercedes will wish to be mine.
But first I needed to make her love me.
Apart from discovering a way to make Necoc Yaotl pay for his crimes, that was the greatest dilemma I currently faced. We would conquer the vampires with ease, but making Mercedes love me would be no easy task. For the first time since knowing her, I genuinely regretted that she was different from other humans. If she were, I could make her love me by offering her treasures and power beyond her wildest imagination.
Then again if she was like other humans, I never would have wanted her.
***
Mercedes
Cold water was not a substitute for sleep, but at least it helped to stave off the need for it. I looked at my face in the mirror. My eyes were looking slightly shadowed. I knew I would have to risk falling asleep tonight, else Tarasque would make good on his threat.
Tarasque. The one who was planning to destroy the vampires.
When my neck didn’t grow warm for three days straight, I knew I would have to insist on Tarasque telling me about this mysterious god who was blackmailing him. Like with Xavier, waiting f
or Shadow to come up with something was not an option, and this time the entire vampire race was at stake. I would not be useless.
I’ll get him to tell me about this god, I vowed. Maybe I haven’t gained his trust yet, but I’m running out of time. I have to take the chance.
When the door opened, it wasn’t Eulathrin who stepped inside. I stood ramrod straight as the king of the dragons approached me.
“There is something I need to know, Mercedes,” he said softly.
“There’s something I need to know, too,” I said, my tone far firmer. “And you’re not getting any information from me until you answer my questions.”
Emerald eyes darkened like a thundercloud.
“You will watch your tone, child.”
“I’m not afraid of you,” I snapped. “And if you succeed in wiping out the vampires, you won’t have any hold on me anymore. I don’t believe for a moment that you’ll spare Shadow. You intend to kill them all, right?”
He didn’t answer, but I took his silence as an automatic affirmative.
“There’s nothing you can do to me,” I whispered. “But if you want information, the bargain remains the same. Only this time my questions get answered first.”
Despite my words, I was deeply unnerved by how still he was, how his unreadable face clashed with his stormy eyes. There was nothing I could do but wait.
“What information do you want?” he asked at last.
Thank God.
“I want to know everything you know about the god who’s blackmailing you.”
He continued to glare at me, but I had a feeling he was testing me again. Are you truly unafraid? He seemed to ask. You would risk your life to get this information?
“You have not earned my trust,” he said. “But…you impress me. Very well. I will answer your questions.”
For the next hour, I picked his brain, but only a few facts really stood out. And all of them revolved around the mysterious Mirror that Tarasque used as a portal. Unfortunately, I would have to contemplate them when I was alone again.
“My turn now,” Tarasque said. “What is love?”
I was stunned. “What?”
“You heard me clearly the first time.”
I blinked, no less astonished. He wanted to know about…love?
“I did, but you’ll have to be more specific,” I said. “There are many different kinds of love. Do you want to know about a specific one or…?”
“I most curious about the kind of love between lovers. If it is easier, you can describe the love that you share with your vampire mate.”
I bit my lip. This was so odd. But I couldn’t deny it was good as well. If Tarasque didn’t know about love, I would have to fix that as best as I could.
“Shadow and I…that is the love between us…” I took a deep breath and laced my fingers together. “It’s a connection that goes both ways. His pain is my pain, and his happiness is my happiness. But I know I truly love him because of what I feel in my heart. When I look at him…I feel it’s about to burst.”
“And how did this feeling come about? How did it start?”
“It first started with admiration and respect. He’s lived through hell many times over, but he never gave up hope for something better. Who wouldn’t admire such strength?”
Tarasque’s gaze was calculating. I didn’t like it one bit.
“And how did the connection form?”
I shrugged. “It just…did. I can’t explain it. Love isn’t really something you can explain. In fact, it’s known to surprise you when you least expect it.”
“I am not satisfied with that answer.”
I sighed. “I’m sorry.”
“That isn’t good enough either.” His handsome features grew cold. “I’m very glad that I did not tell you everything about Necoc Yaotl. You have yet to prove yourself trustworthy.”
He told you enough, my inner voice piped up when he was gone.
I sat down on my bed. A storm was brewing in my mind. It consisted of everything Tarasque had told me about this god.
Necoc Yaotl.
That name was familiar. I knew it. I knew it.
The Mirror. Necoc Yaotl’s presence made smoke appear.
Smoking mirror.
Smoking mirror.
The storm broke at the sudden flare of warmth on my neck. I gasped and clutched the mark. The gasp turned into a sob when I heard his voice.
Mercedes?
Shadow!
My soul was suddenly filled with relief and joy that was not my own. Coupled with my own relief and joy, it was as if I were on fire.
My love, my love, oh bless Lord Order. My love. Are you all right?
“I’m fine,” I sobbed. “I’m fine. Don’t worry about me. I’m okay.”
I could feel him struggling to control himself as I was. When he next spoke, his voice was calmer.
We do not have much time. Contact like this through a slave mark is mostly unheard of between a vampire and a human. You must tell me how I can retrieve you, how I can kill the one who took you from me.
The one who took me from him. The one who was planning to…
Shadow, listen to me. You need to warn the royal family. The guy who took me is really a dragon, as in a monstrous fire-breathing lizard. He’s the king of the dragons and he wants to wipe out the vampires. He already has his warriors scouting your world. He’ll launch a full-scale invasion soon. Please, warn the royal family!
Silence on the other end. For a moment, I was terrified the link had broken.
I thank you, my love. I will inform the royal family, but they are already aware of the invaders, though they do not know they are dragons. Lord Chaos has ordered that we take no action.
I felt my heart stop. Take no action!?
It is madness, yes, but….must obey…cannot afford to…
Shadow!
Tell me…location...my love…will save you…
Shadow? Shadow!
I called his name again and again long after my neck grew cool. There was nothing. No. There was something: fresh despair.
My warning had been delivered.
And no action would be taken.
***
Shadow
The roar I emitted when the link was broken made Blackhole cringe away from me. He did that a lot lately, and I had no one to blame but myself. Unfortunately, there was no time for me to give an adequate apology at the moment.
“I must leave,” I said shortly and didn’t look back as I exited my apartment.
I did not expect to accomplish anything. The only hope that had increased was the one I possessed for Mercedes’ safe return. I had heard the voice of my angel of light, and while still imprisoned, she was alive and well. And I would save her.
When I arrived at the palace, a guard informed me that the royal family would see me right away. Good. The sooner I got this over with the better. The sun would be setting in the mortal world in a few short hours. I would find that frequency tonight.
“Harijan Shadow,” Queen Radella greeted. “You have something to report?”
“I have spoken to Mercedes through the slave mark,” I said shortly. “She gave me valuable information.”
“You spoke to her through the slave mark?” The queen was incredulous.
“It does not just strengthen the bond between an Evanescence and a vampire,” I said. “I contacted Mercedes. She informed me that the creature who took her is the king of the dragons and he desires to destroy the vampires.”
The information seemed to crack through Radella’s ruthless, icy composure, but only for a second.
“Be that as it may,” she uttered. “Lord Chaos has spoken. Until the priests report otherwise, we must do nothing.”
Only the thought of Mercedes enabled me to hold my temper. Once I was clear of the palace, I took it out on some unfortunate debris.
***
Radella
It must have taken extraordinary will power for the Harijan to a
ccept what he had been told and walk away. Harijans would always be heretics, but sometimes they possessed admirable qualities. And this time, I could not help but agree with this particular Harijan.
I made my way back to my chambers. An attendant was waiting for me outside the doors.
“My lady.” She bowed low. “Do you wish anything of your servant right now?”
“As a matter of fact, yes,” I said with a smile. “Are you loyal to me?”
“Of course?”
“You would lay down your life for me?”
“My lady, there is nothing I would not do for you. Nothing.”
“Very well, then.”
Three seconds later, the attendant was lying on the floor, her blood staining the carpet. Her head continued to roll lazily down the hall.
“Has something happened?”
I turned around. King Yuan slowly approached me, though not out of caution. He was completely unfazed by the blood down my front and the corpse at my feet.
“The Harijan called Shadow,” I seethed. “He communicated with his human through her slave mark. She claims that the ones who attack us are dragons.”
King Yuan nodded gravely. “If we are to face blasphemers, then we must consult with the priests again.”
We made our way to the Chambers of Chaos. Three priests greeted us outside the massive, obsidian doors.
“My lord and lady,” one greeted. “Our brothers and sisters are about to meditate right now—”
“Our enemies are dragons,” I spat. “The bastard children of that demon, Quetzalcoatl. We must consult with the priests right now!”
The middle priest bowed. “As my lady wishes.”
The doors swung open, bathing the otherwise pitch dark room in light. Our footsteps echoed off the obsidian walls as we approached a circle of kneeling priests. Their hoods were drawn and their faces were painted black. Fresh blood glistened in their hair. Undoubtedly, it was the blood from the dead vampire in the middle of the circle. The corpse was nude, painted black, and the gaping hole in his chest indicated that his heart had been ripped out.
I stared at the ritualistic sacrifice, completely unfazed. I always knew this was one of the various methods used to communicate with Lord Chaos. And I was a vampire. Gore and blood were a part of my very nature.
“Servants of Duality,” I uttered as I approached the priests. “Speak for the Brothers. I command it.”