Chapter 1

Damien Vesper knelt next to his dying father. He'd never thought his own father would die while he was in his early twenties. Not at all. Yet, an unknown illness had befallen him and here his father lay on his deathbed. Tears silently fell from his face, landing on the bed sheets and making small damp spots.

"Father." Damien whispered. "What do you want me to do? I will do anything so you don't die."

His father craned his head and gazed his glassy, yet well experienced eyes upon his son. His face was dark, dimly brightened by the burning candles lined on the far wall. It made one side of his face glower as of it were golden.

"There is nothing you can do to stop my death."

"But you can't! You still have a great responsibility. You are the leader of the Vespers!"

"Son." His father said in the strongest voice he could muster. "I know. That is why I want you to listen."

Damien leaned closer. "What is it?"

"When I die. I won't be the leader of the Vespers anymore. My years of searching and making our greatest ancestor proud has failed. I have spent years trying to vanquish the Cahills for the ring, the ring that we need so much."

"I know." Damien said.

"I cannot continue. I cannot be Vesper One for any longer. Now I'm giving my entire responsibility to you Damien. You are Vesper One."

The realization of this was slow-coming and Damien could only feel astonishment.

"What should I do father. Should I continue what you have strived for myself?"

His father nodded, very weakly. "I know you will do it. But you will need new people, the current council is aging and proving more ineffective as time goes on. One person I want you to keep however is Luna Amato, she still is lethal and a worthy asset."

"Who else should be in the council?"

His father stared out past him for a moment, and Damien nearly thought he had died. Then he spoke.

"You aren't the only descendant of Damien Vesper, our great ancestor. There is still another. And that person is Isabel Vesper-Hollingsworth."

Damien looked shocked. "You don't mean my cousin!?"

"Is there a problem with that?" The tone of his voice made it clear that this wasn't debatable.

Damien sighed. "I will do so. Is there anything more you want me to do, anything?"

His father gazed into his eyes. "Get the ring. No matter what befalls you."

Damien bowed his head in agreement and promise for a long moment. When he looked up again, he saw that his father's eyes were closed. He wasn't breathing.

Damien Vesper II was dead.

A sniffle was heard from the corner of the room, where his mother sat.

A sense of grief, then resolution filled Damien's body. He would make sure his father's legacy was continued. He was Vesper One now, the big guy.

He rose, looked at her weeping mother and left the room of the private hospital.

Get the ring. No matter what befalls you. He would make sure the Cahills would fall. But first, he had to pay a visit to his dear cousin.

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