CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
“Hey you two,” I heard from a familiar voice.
It was Quinn, with that mischievous grin beaming across his face, eyes twinkling in the moonlight.
“Gunter sent me to find you. He wants all of you to join us for a little celebration tonight, just something simple for your birthdays; how about it?”
“It’s very thoughtful of him.”
“Sounds good to me,” Damien said.
“Gunter thought it would do everyone good,” Quinn added.
We walked together to the Watchers’ compound. Everyone else had arrived and was sitting around the large fire - except there were five brothers now, not seven. The thought left a lump in my throat, and I had to bite my lip, so I wouldn’t cry. I reached over and gave Quinn’s hand a squeeze, but I couldn’t look at him because I knew if I did, I’d burst into tears. He squeezed my hand back, and then let it go.
“Look what I dragged in,” he announced.
“Well good,” said Gunter. “Grab something to drink and have a seat.”
We did just that. We also laughed and told stories, sang folk songs, and even danced a few jigs.
“Now, since we’re celebrating your birthdays, we have something for you.”
“Gunter smiling, a rare show of emotion,” I thought.
“We all worked on them,” Thomas added.
Gunter handed each of us a small leather pouch.
“Well, go ahead, open them,” Quinn pantomimed opening the pouch.
I opened my pouch and poured the contents into my hand. It was a silver bracelet with double oval silver links, from which five silver charms dangled: two stars, a sun, a crescent moon, and a heart.
“Five girls, five charms—and the hope, wherever you are it will make you think of us, and how much we love you,” said Gunter.
“Happy birthday,” Thomas raised his cup in a toast.
“Thank you all,” I responded, looking at the friends surrounding us.
We all stood for the toast.
“We love them,” Rosa said, “but I want to thank you, Gunter. If you hadn’t trained Kat and Quinn so well, we probably wouldn’t be here tonight.”
“That’s right,” Letta added. “And thank you for putting up with all of us these many weeks.”
“That’s true enough, but you can nominate him for sainthood another day,” laughed Quinn.
“This night is for the five of you. You’re now a part of our family, so happy birthday this year and every year.”
“Here, here!” Thomas yelled.
We all drank a toast, and then we said our goodnights.
“That was really nice,” I said to the girls as we made our way back.
The others agreed it had been a special evening and a wonderful thing for the brothers to do for us.
“I didn’t want to ask you earlier, but show us your necklace Kat,” Kate said.
“Damien gave it to me earlier,” I said as I stopped to show them.
“It’s beautiful,” breathed Rosa.
Then I opened it and they all gasped.
“That’s the biggest ruby I’ve ever seen,” marveled Letta.
“He said it’s his heart, and he’s giving it to me.”
“Ahhh,” they sighed together.
“I’m going to miss him so much, when he goes to America.”
“The time will pass quickly. We’ll keep you busy, and we planned to go to each of our homelands, remember?” El said as we started to walk again.
“You’re right, that’s going to be fun,” I said, “And Damien is going to try to be back sooner than the others. Thanks, El; you always make me feel better.”
We had a group hug.
“I love our bracelets, don’t you?” El fingered the small charms now.
“Yes, that was so thoughtful. See why Father and I have always loved them so much?”
“I certainly do,” El’s face took on a dreamy look. Rosa caught my eye and raised an eyebrow.
“We all do, Kat,” Letta added.
“Avery and Simon were still so quiet tonight,” Kate’s face showed her concern for her new friends.
“Gregor and Cedrik’s death is still a fresh wound for them. Emotions are still close to the surface for all of us; it’s going to take some time,” I said, and they each nodded.
When we got upstairs I decided to tell them about Damien’s visitor this morning.
“Did any of you have an odd feeling this morning?” I asked cautiously.
Kate thought about it and remembered. “Something woke me up, but I didn’t know what it was.”
El and Letta both said they’d had a passing feeling of ‘something’, but shrugged it off.
“What do you mean Kat? What’s happened?” El’s face showed an instant state of concern.
“Damien had a visitor this morning when he went for a ride…his mother.”
They gasped
“Did you see her?” Rosa asked.
“Yes. I went out to meet him, and he was there in the meadow speaking with her. When he introduced me I realized I knew her…from the visions I’d had recently. I’d seen her with another woman, who I now believe is Luena’s mother. The two of them met up with a third woman - the one Kate and I saw in the image we got from New Orleans.”
Kate frowned. “But you still don’t know who she is, right?”
“No, not yet.”
Rosa crossed her arms. “Seems odd she just happened to show up now, after all these years?”
“What did Damien think about it?” El asked me.
“She’s his mother, and he’s dreamed of reuniting with her, just as I did with my mother; but I talked with him and I believe he realizes he needs to be cautious. He understands the meeting could have been driven by ulterior motives.”
“What do you think, Kat? In our vision the other woman felt truly evil,” Kate rubbed her arm as if suddenly cold.
“He wants me to keep an open mind. He also reminded me that he was under Luena’s influence, because she threatened the people he loved, and he suggested it may be the same with his mother.”
“My thought is, I’d rather err on the side of caution, because my gut says she’s using him. They want him on their side, and I think they will use anything or anyone to achieve their goal.”
“Which is?” prompted Rosa.
“To destroy our family, for one, and then rule the vampires. If it means killing all the peaceful clans, just as they tried to do in the clan wars, they’ll do it.”
“They’ll have to go through us,” Rosa vowed.
“That’s right, and so far so good,” Letta added.
“We were right too - I mean about them blocking us, because none of us saw or felt anything to warn us before Damien’s mother, whose name is Daniela, by the way, showed up,” I emphatically pointed out.
“That’s right. What did Mother have to say?”
“She’s working on it; we should know something very soon.” Sunday, I thought to myself, the last night of the full moon.
“And we’ll be going on our trip to Paris soon,” El looked excited by the thought, but suddenly deflated.
Suddenly, we settled into a strange quiet.
“What’s going through everyone’s mind right now? What exactly are you feeling?” My anxiety levels were rising by the second.
“I’m feeling anxious,” admitted Kate.
“Me too.” While I was glad someone else felt what I did, I was apprehensive about what it could mean.
“When El mentioned Paris, I got chills,” Letta shivered again.
“Something is going to happen there, but I feel it’s still necessary we go,” said Rosa.
“That’s exactly the way I felt,” El looked to Rosa.
I gasped and said, “I just remembered something. You know Quinn was gone when his brothers were killed, and before Eric was rescued, right?”
Everyone nodded.
“I sent him to Paris, without anyone else knowing, no
t even Damien. His assignment was to watch Gerhardt and Philepe’s chateau and the general area. When he got back, and after the funerals, he told me what he saw. He said he saw Ivan at Damien’s family apartment, having a heated discussion with someone - a woman. He also saw the same woman outside Philepe’s chateau with two other women. He didn’t recognize them, but they seemed to wait outside the chateau until Philepe left, and then all three entered—through the side gate, not the front, which he thought was strange. How do you interpret that?”
“Those women are the ones in our visions,” decided Kate.
“That means Damien and Luena’s mothers are, or were, in Paris. But didn’t you say she told Damien she had just been in Romania and Bulgaria?” Rosa had cut right to the answer about Damien’s mother and the probability she was using him for her own devices.
“And who’s the third woman, the one you both saw in New Orleans? And what were they all doing at Philepe’s?” El said.
“Obviously Philepe isn’t involved, because they didn’t want him to see them,” I reasoned.
“She doesn’t seem to be blocking us,” Kate pointed out.
“I don’t think she has any idea someone might be looking,” I said.
“We get these visions for a reason, and so far it’s never been good,” Kate said, with a deep sigh as she slumped in her chair.
“I have a feeling the mystery woman is the key,” Letta said with authority.
“I think you’re right,” I said. Letta, as usual, had found the answer.
“So should we try to ‘see’ what she’s up to and where she is, and maybe we’ll see the other two as well?” Kate said.
“She might get tipped off if we try it now. I say we wait until we get to Paris, but just have general look, just before we go,” I said, worried about the implications of warning them in any way.
“Sounds like a good idea,” El agreed.
“Everyone else agree, then?” I said looking for support.
Yes they did, proved by the round of head nods and ‘yeses’.
“Remember, we have to keep these things between us, agreed? What a day. I’m going to bed,” I said.
“Goodnight, Damien,” I said as I slipped into bed. “Thank you again for the beautiful gift. I love it, and I love you.”
“Goodnight, Katrina. You’re welcome and happy birthday. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
We worked out again in the morning, but in the afternoon we went over to see if we could help Mother with anything for that night or the next week.
“Thank you all, but I have plenty of help, and I want it to be a surprise, so go relax. Rest and pick out a nice, simple, but elegant dress, and be ready to come back here when I send for you,” she said.
“Looks like we have the afternoon off,” Rosa quipped.
“I don’t feel like resting. We’re not those kinds of girls anymore, are we?” grinned Letta.
“Let’s go hunt; it’s been too long,” I suggested, warming to the idea after it left my lips.
El laughed, “Sarah’s going to yell at us.”
“She probably was going to do that anyway,” Rosa groused.
We knew how true that was; we laughed as we walked over to the front gate.
“Sorry ladies, you can’t go anywhere without Watchers,” said the guard.
“You’ve got to be kidding,” I said.
“Those are the new standing orders,” he said.
“Problem, ladies?” Thomas asked.
“The guard says we can’t go out without Watchers,” El made doe eyes at Thomas.
“Those are your father’s - all your fathers’ - orders. Do you still want to go out?” he asked.
We looked at each other and shrugged.
“The moment’s passed now,” Letta said.
“I say Watchers can come,” Kate said.
She looked at me and gave me a wink.
“If they can catch us,” I said understanding her idea.
Kate and I leapt to the top of the wall; El, Rosa and Letta followed; we all looked down at poor Thomas; and then we turned and jumped down on the outside of the castle wall.
I could hear him in the background yelling for the others, as we ran into the woods, still laughing.
“Now then, they’re going to be mad, so let’s at least scan the area for safety’s sake,” I said.
I took a deep breath, sensing nothing out of the ordinary.
“Anything Kate?”
“No…oh, now I sense Watchers riding the perimeter.”
“I don’t feel right, there’s something wrong at Mormont,” El said suddenly.
“We have to get back to the Watchers. Let’s go,” I said, instantly on guard.
It took only seconds to get in front of them.
“Thomas!” El yelled. “Stop, we need to go back! Something isn’t right at the castle.”
“All right, let’s go,” he said.
“What is it?” asked Simon, just then riding up behind Thomas.
“We don’t know. Let’s just get back to the castle,” I ordered.
“What’s happened?” Gunter said.
“Nothing, but something is not right—we all felt it,” El said.
“Don’t send Watchers, but someone should go back out to the perimeter with as low a profile as possible, to see if we can find out something,” I directed.
“Done,” he said and ordered them all back leaving us to get back as we had arrived – on foot
“That was really weird,” said Letta as we came through the gate.
“It’s nothing like we’ve ever felt before,” Rosa said.
I looked at Kate, “I’m going over to talk to Mother.”
“I’ll go with you.”
“We should all go,” El said, unwilling to be left out.
“She’s probably still in the reception hall,” I said.
She wasn’t, so we went over to her apartment.
“Mother, are you here?” I called.
“I’m here; I’ll be right out,” She called from the back room.
She didn’t look well when she came into the front room.
“What’s wrong, Mother?” Kate went to her, taking her arm.
“I don’t know, I just don’t feel right,” she said looking puzzled.
“We felt it too,” Kate confirmed.
“Someone out there agrees with me; that you ARE the five prophesied Protectors, and has just tested out our defenses. Whoever it is doesn’t want you to go through with the ceremony,” Allwain said.
“Who are you?” Rosa said.
“This is Allwain,” Mother said. “He’s Lord of the Wizards, and he’s here to help you.”
“I have produced amulets and talismans to both protect and alert you to danger. We won’t be able to wait until Sunday for the ceremony; we’ll have to do it tonight. I have prepared the chapel, so after dinner you must make your way there. Do not let anyone else know where you are going. Someone within these walls is a traitor,” he said.
We were all in shock. Someone we knew was betraying us. Who?
“Go back to your rooms, meditate together, and heighten all your gifts in preparation for the ceremony. You must be prepared for anything and be able to concentrate only on me tonight. I’ll see you at the chapel,” he said.
Then he turned and went back into his room, leaving us to gather ourselves and try to absorb all he had told us.
“You girls stay together. Dinner will be promptly at seven, and I’ll see you then.”
We were in a state of shock. We just looked at each other for a few minutes, not knowing what to do next.
“All right, another day in our dull lives. What now?” Rosa prodded.
“Let’s head back,” I said. “No wait, I’ve got an idea. There are passageways under the entire castle and I think we need to go check them out. If I remember correctly, one leads to a chamber right underneath the chapel. Let’s meditate there.”
“You’re sure about this Kat? You
don’t think the guard should check it out first?” Kate expressed her doubt in my plan.
“Everyone has always told me to trust my instincts, and this is what my instincts are telling me to do.”
“Can we get there from here without being seen?” wondered Letta.
“I think so. Kate, can you see, is there an entrance nearby?” I asked her to use her gift.
She closed her eyes for a moment.
“Yes, down the stairs, at end of the hall, just before you get outside,” she said.
“Do you see anything or anyone inside the passageway?” I continued.
“No, but it’s dark; and remember, there are things we can’t see,” she responded.
“We can handle the dark,” reminded Letta. “Let’s go.”
We flew down the stairs and at the bottom, turned into the hall. At the end, where Kate had said the entrance would be, we faced a stone wall.
“It’s a stone wall, Kate,” Rosa accused.
“I used to run around in these passageways with Quinn when we were kids.”
I pushed on the right side of the wall, and it instantly pivoted open. I let my vampire vision adjust, so I could see. Stone stairs led us down into the passageway. Letta was the last one in; she pushed the door shut behind her and then met us at the bottom of the stairs.
“I didn’t scent anything or anyone in the passageways; let’s keep going. I know the chapel is to the west, so it should be straight ahead.” I called over my shoulder to them as I led the way.
After another fifty feet the passageway opened up onto a large chamber. Most castles used these passageways and chambers as safe havens, escape routes, and storage areas. This chamber was large enough for about forty people to sit comfortably on the floor, and I could see stairs at the far end that must have led directly into the chapel.
“Remind me to make sure we can get out that way,” I said pointing to the front stairway.
“It’s a lot like the dungeon,” shivered Kate, “damp, dark, and musty smelling.”
“I can fix that,” Letta said.
She stared at the floor in the center of the room and a small fire appeared.
“That still amazes me every time you do it,” I said to her, shaking my head.
“Let’s sit and hold hands,” El said, as we sat around the fire.
After we got settled, we closed our eyes and let the energy flow between us. We sat like that for about thirty minutes. When I finally felt both peaceful and renewed, I opened my eyes.
“I think we’re ready to move on,” I announced.
El asked, “What should we look for?”
“Let’s ask to see the one that wants to do us harm,” suggested Rosa.
“I wonder if we really want to know,” El said softly.
“We may not want to know, but we have to,” I said. “We may be able to use whoever it is to find the others. So concentrate and repeat to yourselves, ‘show me the one who wants to do us harm.’ And no matter what we see, don’t break the circle.”
Our grips tightened as we concentrated harder and harder. Finally we started to see an image began to form, slowly the cloudy figure was becoming clear.
It was Eric.
“Nooo!” I heard Kate moan, and she tried to pull away; but I held her tight. We had to see. Eric was in his room, seemingly asleep, moaned and then sat up abruptly in his bed. He grabbed his head as if in extreme pain, seemed to recover after a few seconds, and got out of bed. He looked strange, his eyes open but lifeless. He left his room and wandered from building to building, watching everyone. He saw us training, Damien and me alone in the garden, he had hidden just in time to avoid being seen by Gunter while watching us from the chapel and watched as Allwain arrived; then he went back to his room, lay back down, and went right back to sleep. The image faded away, and we opened our eyes.
“Don’t tell me we were set up,” El said, totally bereft.
Letta began to cry, “These monsters are responsible for the deaths of Gregor and Cedrik.”
“This whole thing with Eric - all we went through, the Volator, all those poor villagers - was just part of a plan to get him close to us?” Rosa was furious.
Kate was quietly weeping.
“But what else could we do? Yes, they used the Volator, the villagers, the ones they made sick, and the ones they turned, but they still had to be dealt with, didn’t they?” I continued. “Damien told me Luena’s gift was being able to control weak minds. It’s my belief she must have been controlling the leader of the Volator, and not just this time.”
“And she’s controlling Eric now.” Kate jumped up as she put the two things together.
“That’s why he can’t remember anything and why I couldn’t help him,” El jumped up, finally understanding why her gift hadn’t worked on Eric.
Letta was frowning now, trying to understand the complexity of what we were suggesting. “You mean he doesn’t know?”
I could see the look of hope in everyone’s eyes, especially Kate’s.
“No, I don’t think he does,” I shook my head.
“Now the trick will be to keep tonight a secret without letting on we know about Luena’s possession of Eric,” Rosa said.
“Luena would know the ceremony is always performed on the last night of the full moon, which is Sunday,” I said.
“Oh my God, Luena hasn’t been after your father,” El’s eyes widened. “She’s been after you—and then us!”
We stared at her, knowing she was right.
“Who do we know that is absolutely trustworthy?” I asked. Then it hit me.
“Our Watchers,” we said in unison.
“We need to get back to our apartment, now,” I said. “But first let me make sure we can get in and out of the chapel from that stairway, and then we’ll go back the way we came.”
We went to the stairway at the far end of the chamber. Kate and I detected nothing in the chapel, so I went to the door and pushed against it; the door stuck at first and then opened. I peeked into the chapel and since I could see all the way to the entrance doors at the back, I knew it was empty. I had to see where the door was and how it opened.
“Come up to the door, Kate,” I whispered. “I need to see how it opens from the inside.”
When I entered the chapel, I saw the door was exactly behind the altar, and when I closed it, it was impossible to see where it had been. I could see no handle, so I pushed on the left side of where I knew the door to be, and it pivoted easily.
“Kat, come on; we have to go,” Kate whispered.
So I left and closed the door carefully behind me.
“Okay, Letta, kill the fire,” I said.
“Is everything clear? Do either of you ‘see’ anything in the passageway now?” Rosa asked.
“Everything looks fine to me. How about you, Kat?”
“All clear, but be careful, it’s what we don’t see, I’m worried about.”
“Let’s run!” Letta urged.
We were at the bottom of the back stairs in seconds. Rosa pushed the stone open and peered out.
“See anyone, Rosa?” El asked.
“No, it’s clear,” she said over her shoulder.
We left the passageway and came out to the courtyard, where we found Thomas.
“I wish Mother would give us more to do for the dinner,” Kate said, acting normal.
“Good cover,” I thought to myself.
“Oh well, let’s just go and get some rest, as she told us to do,” I said aloud. “Thomas, can we see you and your brothers back at the apartment, please? I’d like to talk to you about our Paris trip.”
“Right now?” he said.
“Yes, right now,” I said, giving him an urgent, wide-eyed look.
“Of course,” he said catching on immediately. “I’ll get them as soon as I get you back.”
Rosa’s Watcher was at the bottom of the stairs as usual, so Thomas left us to get the others.
“Any visitors, Max?”
Rosa asked.
“No, my Lady. Any instructions?”
“We’re going to rest for a while, after we speak to the Voss brothers, so please don’t let anyone else up unless it’s an emergency,” she instructed.
He nodded and we continued up the stairway and down the hall to our rooms.
“Who’d think it would be so difficult to act normal,” said Letta once we got inside.
In a few minutes there was a knock on the door.
“Come in,” I said and all five remaining Voss brothers entered.
“We can’t explain much right now, but you’re the only people we trust without question.”
“What is it you need us to do, Katrina?” Gunter asked, accepting my words.
“After dinner tonight, I need someone to keep Eric and Damien entertained, but they cannot realize they’re being kept away from us.”
“The girls and I have something to do and it needs to be completed in secret. Don’t give me that look Gunter. This is absolutely necessary for our continued safety, and we will tell you more about it later. But tonight, we need your help to keep Eric and Damien occupied while we conduct our business. Your job will be to do this without giving us away; you’re covering for us.”
“I’ll ask your father to take Damien and some of the others aside under the pretext of going over plans for their trip,” Gunter suggested.
“Excellent,” I said.
“I can take Eric hunting,” Avery volunteered.
“You will need to keep him in sight, so maybe training or games would be better,” Thomas said.
I continued, “We also need Watchers to guard the lower entrance to Father and Mother’s building and be on guard at the chapel, both at the front and back. And these things must be done discreetly.”
“Now to the last request. The five of us will need to get to the chapel after dinner tonight without being seen,” Kate said.
“You and Kate can escort your mother, who may have a headache, back to her room, and then you can use the underground passageway leading to the chapel,” suggested Gunter.
Of course he knows of all the passageways, I thought. He’s the lead Watcher, our protector, so he has to know all the castle’s secrets.
“There’s another passage leading to the storage room for the chapel,” he continued
“Does it have an entrance directly into the chapel, and can they get to it without being seen?” Avery asked.
“The closest entrance to the dining room would be in the kitchen pantry; it leads to that storage room and there’s a door from it directly into the chapel,” Thomas answered.
“That’s right. The rest of you can make your way there while everyone is saying goodnight,” said Simon.
“Actually, this was supposed to be a surprise, but your father has planned fireworks for after dinner,” Quinn said, saddened by having revealed a secret.
We all looked at him as if he were crazy.
“I know, it was supposed to be simple; but he’s had it planned since we got back. He did ask us if we minded a celebration under the circumstances, and we all agreed it was fine. It’d be what Gregor and Cedrik would want. We all want you to remember their lives, not their deaths, and how much they cared about you. Anyway, it’ll be the perfect time to slip away,” Gunter said.
When the shock wore off, we realized he was right.
“Now then, here’s the plan,” Gunter said. “After dinner everyone will head outside to see the fireworks. As soon as they start, your mother will say she doesn’t feel well, and Katrina and Katherine will go back with her to her apartment. A few minutes later, the rest of you will separate yourselves from your families and head to the kitchen; Thomas of course, will be with you. Quinn will be with Katrina and Katherine as their mother’s Watcher, and he’ll guard the passageway entrance once you’re in. Your father will keep Damien busy. Avery will be with Eric, and Simon and I will be at the Chapel. There will be plenty of Watchers around your fathers while they’re in the meeting with Damien, so we won’t be missed. Is everyone clear?”
We all nodded our heads.
“All right, we’ll see you at dinner,” Gunter said, satisfied with the plan.
I walked them to the door.
“Thank you all. I knew we could count on you,” I said.
“I’ll go now and speak with your father about our plans,” said Gunter and he turned to leave.
As they were leaving, Sarah came in with a tray full of snacks, wine, and Crimson.
“How about a little something to help keep your strength up?”
“Just what we needed, Sarah, thank you,” I sighed.
“As usual Sarah knew what we needed before we did,” Kate chuckled.
Sarah gave us the “yes I did” look, smiled and put the tray on the table.
“Do any of you need anything else?”
“I don’t think so. Thank you, Sarah.”
“Then I’ll see you in a few hours and we’ll get you all ready for tonight,” she said as she turned to leave.
“I didn’t realize how hungry I was,” Letta said, as we finished every last thing on the tray.
El said, “I wish we could have hunted, but the Crimson will give us longer-lasting energy.”
“I just thought of something,” said Kate.
“What?” Rosa looked a little anxious.
“We need to wear our weapons under our dresses, just in case,” she said.
“How are we going to get to them in a hurry if we need them?” I said.
“How about skirts and blouses instead of dresses? We can wear our leggings underneath and just rip the skirts off if we have to,” El suggested.
“That’s a great idea,” Letta conceded.
“For the Paris trip, we should probably have special dresses and skirts made to feature openings hidden in the folds, or pocket access points so we can hide our weapons and get to them easily.”
“If we make it through tonight, I’ll get right on that,” Rosa’s voice dripped sarcasm.
“Kat, what do you think about Eric? In our vision the Volator said they happened upon him while he fed on an animal in the forest. Do you think it’s true, or do you think Luena actually made him?” asked Kate.
“I don’t know for sure. None of us ever sensed any evil in him when we first saw him; which is strange, since we had no trouble doing so in other situations or even our visions.”
El held her chin as she often did when she was reasoning something out.
“Even when someone or something is actively blocking us, we’re still able to sense a ‘wrongness’, but we don’t have any of those feelings with Eric,” she said thoughtfully.
“He’s an awfully good actor if he’s in with them.” Although she voiced it, I could see Rosa didn’t think he was acting at all.
“He said he’d been a vampire for about three years, but that memory might have been planted into his mind,” I suggested. I knew Kate, who out of all of us was the closest to Eric, wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt; but I also knew I could count on her if it turned out Eric was the problem. If I had any doubt of that, her next thought convinced me.
“Allwain will know,” Kate said, “and we’ll deal with it then.”
“Let’s go rest for a little while; but after we get ready, let’s channel our gifts before we go.” Without waiting for the others to follow, I went to my room.
I flopped down on my bed and stared at the ceiling. What kind of a feeling did I have about tonight? I closed my eyes and slowed my breathing. I felt power around me; my skin tingled, my face felt flushed, and then it was gone and I fell asleep.
“Wake up sleepy-head, time for your bath,” Sarah said, as she gently shook my shoulder. “You could have at least taken off your boots before you took your nap,” she grumbled.
“I meant to,” I said sheepishly.
Girls started coming in with hot water and I could hear water going into the other tubs as well.
“I’m
glad your father had that huge new water vessel made so we can heat all this water at the same time,” Sarah said as she added bath salts, lavender, and mint to the water. “All right, into the tub with you and have a good soak. I’ll be back in a little while to wash your hair.”
I sank down in the hot, sweet-smelling water, until it was up to my chin. It felt delicious. I shut my eyes and luxuriated in my own private world. In a little while Sarah came back and washed my hair, rinsed it, and combed it out.
“You’re sure you want this outfit?” she asked, wrinkling her noise in distaste.
“Yes, I’m sure; thank you, Sarah. I can get dressed by myself.”
“All right, if you’re sure. Oh, and Gunter sent over some fresh Crimson. Why he thought you needed more, I don’t know, but it’s out there on the table, if you want it,” she said as she closed the door.
I took out a clean pair of lambskin leggings and put them on over some silk undergarments and a pretty lavender off-the-shoulder blouse. Then I strapped my short sword and dagger as close to my hip as I could and covered everything with a full, light grey skirt. I put on the necklace Damien had given me for my birthday, and, even though one was gold and one silver, I added the bracelet gift from my brothers onto my left wrist. I brushed the charms with my finger and took a look in the mirror. The skirt effectively hid my weapons, I decided. Then I brushed and smoothed my hair, slipped on my shoes, and headed out the door.
“You all look just lovely,” Sarah gushed.
She had made us each a small bouquet of flowers.
“Happy birthday, girls. I love you all,” she said, tears filling her eyes.
“We love you too, Sarah. Thank you,” I said.
We each drank a little bit of the Crimson Gunter had sent over and crossed into the hall, down the stairs, and across the courtyard. We were joined by Thomas and Simon, who both looked even more handsome than usual, I thought. Quinn and Avery met us at the door. Father and Mother were already inside, as were most of our friends and families.
“You all look beautiful, as usual,” Avery said.
Quinn added, “Happy eighteenth birthday, ladies.”
When he smiled, it was still hard not to melt. I couldn’t help myself; I walked over to him and brushed the hair from his brow with my hand and kissed his cheek.
“Thank you, Quinn.”
We went into the reception hall, which was filled with flowers and candles. We set our little bouquets down on the side table, and were greeted with ‘Happy Birthdays’ from all our friends and families. Damien was standing by Father, and when our eyes met my stomach fluttered. He was a breathtakingly handsome man, in his white open-collared shirt, dark pants, and boots. His hair wasn’t tied back tonight, but was left free and sexy; and as he walked over to me our gaze never wavered, until he kissed my cheek.
“Happy birthday, Katrina,” he whispered.
His hot breath on my neck gave me chills. I closed my eyes so I could bask in his scent.
“Happy birthday, darling,” I heard Mother say.
“Thank you, Mother,” I answered, “Where did Father go?”
“He went to check on something,” she said as she winked at Damien. “What a beautiful necklace.”
“My birthday present from Damien,” I said and proudly held the heart up for her inspection.
“You have excellent taste, Damien,” she told him while examining my gift.
“I think so,” he said as he smiled at me.
“And what’s this?” she said, as she examined my bracelet.
“The brothers made one for each of us; five charms for five beauties, they said.”
“Lovely, just lovely. Oh, there’s your father, over there with Katherine. I’m going to wish her happy birthday. I’ll see you in a few minutes.”
“Oh, there’s Eric, let’s go say hello,” Damien said.
It’s all right, I told myself, it’s not his fault…I don’t think. He looked healthy, happy, and ever so handsome.
“Thank you for inviting me,” he said, “and happy birthday.”
“Thank you, Eric, and you’re welcome. I’m glad you have your health back. Are you sleeping well?” I said, thinking back to our vision.
“I still need a lot of it. Sometimes I fall asleep right after dinner and I don’t even remember dreaming. I sleep like a rock,” he laughed.
His eyes were full of life. I knew somehow Luena was responsible for doing this and hated her for it.
“Gunter said he’s learning almost as fast as the girls,” Damien said.
“Speaking of Gunter, here he comes.” I nodded in the direction of the approaching Watcher.
“Happy birthday, Katrina,” he said as he kissed my cheek.
“Thank you, Gunter. I’m so glad you’re here.”
Just then Mother called out, “All right everyone, dinner is served. Katherine, Katrina, Rosalinda, Arletta, and Eleanor, please lead the way.”
“Happy Birthday, Katrina,” Father said, while giving me a big hug. He had a huge smile on his face, and I knew he was happy his family was together again, and we could share this day. It was an important occasion, after all, the last birthday vampires really celebrate, a rite of passage since we age so slowly from then on.
The dining room was simply beautiful. Delicate tendrils of wisteria in hues of purple and lavender had been draped from the candle chandeliers, from large floor vases, and down the middle of the long table, filling the room with the soft, sweet aroma of summer.
“What do you think?” said Mother.
“You’ve outdone yourself Mother; this is stunning,” Kate said as we all stood in the doorway looking at the elaborately decorated room.
We all agreed it was divine. We took our seats and had a wonderful meal. However, I felt a current of tension; the closer it got to dessert, the more anxious I was becoming. All too soon it was over. We were presented with gifts from our families, mostly jewelry and money for shopping in Paris.
“Now for my surprise, we’ll need to go outside,” Father said.
We all looked at each other quickly and followed him into the moonlit night.
The fireworks started immediately and everyone oohed and ahhed. The show was fabulously loud.
“Katrina, suddenly I don’t feel well,” said Mother.
“We’ll take you back to your room, Mother,” Kate said.
“I’ll go with you,” said Damien with concern.
“No, it’s okay,” I said quickly. We’ll be back as soon as she’s in bed.”
“It’s just a headache. I’m sure I just overdid it today,” Mother improvised smoothly.
Quinn had appeared at my elbow, and he escorted us away after informing Father of our intent.
“It’ll be fine; I’ll be right back,” I told Damien with my mind, hoping it was the truth.
Mother was holding her hand to her head, playing the part perfectly, and Kate and I were on either side of her, our arms around her waist. Once we got into the building’s entrance, we rushed to the end of the hallway, and mother went upstairs. I pushed the stone and it pivoted open. Before we went through it, I looked at Quinn’s face. He looked frightened, but gave me a determined nod to go ahead. Kate and I went in, rushed down the stairs, and ran through the passageway. We entered the large chamber room and stopped.
“We forgot to meditate and channel our energy. Quickly, let’s do it now,” I said, holding out my hands.
We held hands and energy again pulsed through us; we could see Allwain waiting for us in the chapel above.
“Let’s go,” Kate said.
We ran up the stairs and pushed the door open. Allwain had his back to us, but turned as we entered.
“Come, stand in front of me and meditate until we are all together. Hurry; there’s not much time.”
A sound came from our left; the other door opened, and in rushed Rosa, El, and Letta.
I could still hear the fireworks. Their lights danced across the chapel, making the stained
glass figures in the windows seem alive.
“Quickly,” called out Allwain. “Form a circle facing out.”
The fireworks ended now, but another sound was filling the air - thunder. Then lightning flashed in what, just moments ago, had been a clear, starry night sky.
“I charge you to think of nothing but me, repeat everything I say, and don’t let go of each other or open your eyes until I’m done. You won’t understand the ancient language I’ll be speaking, but the forces of good and evil will, so repeat it just as you hear it. Are you ready?” he said in a loud voice. He was almost yelling now, the thunder was so loud.
“I can’t stop it,” Letta said.
“It’s all right, just close your eyes and concentrate on me. Block out everything else,” he said as he started to chant.
We held on with all our might and repeated every word. We heard a loud noise and felt the wind, a wind that became so strong I had to lean into it to stay upright, but we held tight. Allwain was shouting the ancient chants and as we shouted them back, the wind swirled around us like a cyclone. We were determined to finish. The current of our combined powers pulsed through us faster and faster as we continued to chant; and even though my eyes were closed, I could see the impression of lightning through my eyelids, as if it were inside the chapel now. Finally the wind was so strong, I felt my feet lift off the floor, but Allwain continued chanting and we kept repeating.
Then abruptly he stopped chanting. And then we heard,
“They are protected now and forever, under the laws of all that is good and right in this world and the next. Evil, be gone from here!” As we finished repeating the last word the chapel went silent and we dropped with a thud to the floor, still clasping each other’s hands, so tight we couldn’t feel our fingers anymore.
“You may open your eyes now. It’s over,” Allwain said, sounding weak and exhausted.
I slowly opened my eyes.
“Is anyone hurt?” I asked anxiously.
“I don’t think so,” answered Kate, looking around.
We all started to get up and brush ourselves off.
“Wait until Sarah sees our hair.” El was pointing and laughing.
We all laughed.
“How about you, Allwain? Are you hurt?” I asked.
“I’m not as young as I used to be, and it’s taken a lot out of me, but I appear to be in one piece.” He answered good-naturedly.
“Let us help you,” said El. She walked over to him, placed her hands on his chest, and closed her eyes, and we all joined her by placing our hands on her back, to make her gift much stronger than if we just concentrated with her. In a few minutes she pulled away.
“How do you feel now?” she asked him.
“I…I…feel…young!” he said, full of surprise.
He looked younger, too.
“Amazing, El. Good job,” Rosa said, reacting to the physical change in Allwain.
Gunter, Simon, and Thomas burst into the chapel, swords drawn.
“What’s happened? Are any of you hurt? We couldn’t get in.”
“We’re fine,” I said.
Quinn and Avery came running in next.
“They’re fine,” Gunter said. “Everything’s fine.”
“I’ll go and speak with your mother,” Allwain said, as he left through the secret stone door.
Our Watchers stood by expectantly; I could see Gunter was asking for an explanation without speaking the words. The silence grew and finally Gunter gave me ‘the look’ and then shrugged. The brothers knew if I could tell them, I would.
“We’d better all go see our families and tell them we’re all right,” El prodded.
Gunter was just about to leave when he turned back and asked, “Was there thunder and lightning in here?”
“Yes, wasn’t there outside?” I said.
“No,” they all said together.
“We had quite a wind as well,” Letta added.
Thomas said, “Not out there.”
“Amazing, I’m sorry we can’t tell you more,” I said.
“We understand it’s safer for all of us,” Gunter said.
Then, out of nowhere, Eric rushed toward me. He was so fast the brothers couldn’t see him, and so close I couldn’t get to my sword in time. His eyes were like glowing coals.
“Die!” he screamed, in a voice that wasn’t like his.
Then I couldn’t see him anymore, for Damien had jumped in front of me at the last possible moment.
“Damien!” I screamed, and grabbed his shoulders.
He slumped against me and we both fell to the ground. Eric’s sword was protruding from him just below his rib cage.
The brothers had Eric on the ground, and Quinn with his sword raised, was just about to separate Eric’s head from his shoulders, when I cried out, “Stop! It’s not his fault! Bind him and take him to Mother’s.”
I looked at Gunter. He knew the man he had glimpsed in the chapel - Allwain - was there. Eric was so strong, it took all five of them to hold him down and bind his arms and legs, but when they were finished he suddenly went limp and they carried him off to Mother’s.
Quinn stayed by my side. My concentration was now on Damien.”
“We need to get the bleeding stopped, now!” demanded El. Looking up at Quinn she directed, “As soon as I get my hands next to the wound, pull the sword from him as quickly as you can, Quinn.” She said to the four of us urgently, “Help me.”
I hoped we had enough strength left to save him. She put her hands on Damien, and Quinn quickly pulled the sword from his ribs. Damien screamed, and passed out, as the blood gushed from the wound, soaking his shirt and covered El’s hands.
“The sword pierced an artery,” she said, as she closed her eyes. Just like before, we placed our hands on her back and concentrated with her. “Heal, heal,” I concentrated as hard as could, “please heal!” I felt hot, the energy draining from me to El and, I hoped, to Damien. After what seemed like hours, but was probably only minutes, El pulled back and I opened my eyes.
“I healed the wound, but he’s gone dormant, because he lost so much blood. He’ll recover, I think; I just don’t know how long it’ll take. We’ll try again tomorrow, when we’ve regained our strength. There’s nothing more we can do for him tonight.”
Quinn called for guards, who were standing close by.
“I’m not leaving you,” Quinn told me, and Thomas agreed; so the guards took Damien to his quarters.
“There’s nothing you can do for him tonight, but go back and rest, so you’ll have enough strength tomorrow to help him. I’ll have Avery stay with him all night. Where’s his Watcher anyway?” Thomas said.
“Damien sent him ahead to take care of business in Paris for his trip,” I said.
I was weak, dazed and in shock from what had just happened. “I feel a little dizzy,” I said.
“Me too,” said El.
“We need to get back to our rooms. Gunter left Crimson for us earlier, remember?” I said, thinking it took a lot of effort just to speak.
Quinn and Thomas helped us get back. Of course Sarah was frantic, wondering what had happened. She poured us each a cup of Crimson, which we gulped down; then she filled our cups a second time, and again we gulped them down.
I felt better - not perfect, but better. “I’m going to go see Mother,” I said and tried to stand.
“Not until tomorrow you’re not,” Sarah said sternly.
“I should go and sit with Damien.”
“No!” everyone said at once.
“You’re going to bed right now, all of you. Now scoot,” Sarah said. “And what in heaven’s name happened to your hair?”
“Ohhh,” we all groaned, and rolled our eyes.
End
About Author
Elizabeth Loraine
I always knew I was supposed to write a book someday but as my family grew; my artistic bent was fulfilled through interior design, painting and garden design work. Now, as
my son and daughter married and began their own lives, I became an empty nester. I left commercial design and painting and found I had more time on my hands for previously ignored creative desires.
Being a lifelong fantasy fiction fan and I had for years devoured books that depicted vast worlds, populated by heroic characters. A particular focus of my reading enjoyment for many, many years had been vampires and vampire lore. My passion for the subject, you could say has spanned the ‘Bellas’; from portrayals of them by Bella Lugosi to books about them featuring Bella Swan.
Although I found their world exciting, filled with romance and adventure, somehow at ‘The End’, I always wanted to know more. Vampires, after all, we knew were long lived; but I had unanswered questions: where had they come from; over their long lives what developments of history had they seen, had they had an impact on the way history had played out? I longed to know their timeline and hear their narration.
From my curiosity and those questions, my creative side picked up a pen, a notebook and out came The Royal Blood Chronicles. These books feature young, and all those that follow feature as lead characters strong, self-reliant, intelligent, and interesting woman. No wimpy female victims allowed here.
Sign up for the newsletters announcements of the release of new works by visiting my website at: www.elizabethloraine.com
Continue following Katrina. Enjoy her vampire past and look forward to the exploits in her future.
The next volume in the Saga”
The Protectors
The rest of the Royal Blood Chronicles Series:
The Dark Prince
Cain, the Quest
Bloodline
Legacy
Redemption
Destiny
Novellas
Marcella, vampire Mage
Quinn, a vampire Watcher’s story
Sabine
Power of the Secret
Other Elizabeth Loraine Paranormal Series:
Phantom Lives
Book One: Collier
Book Two: Power.
Book Three of series early in 2015
Other books by Elizabeth:
Lillian
Book One: Lillian - a Vampire tale
Book Two – the Mask
Book Three - Retribution Coming Summer2015
Shifter Chronicle
Book One - Green River Series,
Elizabeth Loraine writing as EL Loraine
Adult Series
Corporate Ties
Thorns of Revenge
Western Escape
EL Loraine with Timothy Frasier
The Pathogen Series
Pathogen the Beginning
Pathogen
Mutation
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