Chapter One: Prologue
9700 BC: Night
Macedonia, Greece
Three bodies are lying dead on the beach. The night is silent as the calm waves crash onto the shore. Feeding on a female villager is Dragan Cronos. He's irresistibly handsome with short blond hair, a muscular physique, and creamy white skin. The villager whimpers as she's drained of her blood. Dragan snarls, snapping her neck with incredible speed. Behind him from afar, Dragan's wife, Dina, is watching in horror. She is extremely beautiful with long wavy dark hair and chocolate bronze skin. Tears flood her eyes to see her three dead children. Their necks are covered in blood. That's when one of them, Alexander, arises. He's Dragan and Dina's first born son. Alexander is sixteen with long dark hair that snakes down his back, chocolate bronze skin like Dina, and hazel gold eyes. He gasps awake in total shock as Dragan turns to see him and Dina.
"Ste prokolnati našite deca. Moj bebinja." Dina is angry that Dragan turned their children. She cries. Dragan stares at his wife. He has four fangs in his maxillary. His eyes are blood red with a black rim. His face is covered with blood. Dina stares at him pissed off as Alexander's identical twin sisters, Kathryn and Carissa awakens. The only difference between them is that Kathryn's skin tone is lighter than Carissa's. The three siblings are suffering from intense, terrible hunger. They can smell the human blood from the bodies. The burn in their throat burns. It feels as if someone is ripping their stomachs open with a knife. Alexander groans and cries out in pain.
"Stavi kraj na ovaa prokletstvo I spasi gi." Dragan tells Dina to end the curse and save them. Dina glances back and forth at her husband and their children. She's trying to decide whether to save them from being cursed forever or become human again. The wind picks up. Violent clouds rage against the ocean and the lands. Thunder rolls in as the lightning crashes wildly around them. One of Dragan's victims whimpers in pain. It's a young boy. Alexander growls as he rushes behind Dragan to feed on the boy. He doesn't show any mercy as he feeds and kills the boy.
"Tellus venti, ignis, aqua et spiritu, vos ego appello!" Dina calls on the five elements, chanting in Latin. She plans on taking down Dragan for what he has done. Her voice is cancelled out by the loud thunder. Dragan begins to bleed from his eyes, nose, and ears. He drops to the ground in horrible agony, screaming and crying out. The pain is unbearable. It feels as it someone is skinning him alive. Dina just keeps concentrating her abilities. "Projecit in ignem aeternum hoc daemon!" She plans on killing him. Kathryn, Alexander, and Carissa watch. They are terrified of their mother and father.
Alexander's voice rumbles with power as his eyes transform from hazel gold to red with black rims. His fangs begin to painfully retract for the first time. There's a burn in his eyes as tiny dark red markings flow from his eyes like blood. The markings travel around his body as his skin blackens with fur. Alexander's muscles bulge, becoming more defined and cut. Claws retract as his ears become pointy. He closes his eyes due to the agony then opens them again to reveal demonic red eyes. Dina stops the spell and the storm lets down. The entire Cronos family is staring at him and his new form. Alex's bones begin to break with a loud, disturbing crunch. He sounds and looks like a hellish beast. His new transformation is darkness in its true form. Breaking through his back are demon wings. The wing's talons are deadly sharp. Alexander unleashes a deafening roar that shakes the earth.
"Brat?" Kathryn is afraid of the sight of her older brother's new form.
"Temninata." Dina whispers. She knows about her son being plagued with her covenant's darkness. Dragan stands up and advances after her with inhuman velocity. He snaps his wife's neck and plunges his fangs into her. Dina is now dead as the storm dies away completely. Alexander roars and goes after him. Dragan turns around, letting Dina's body drop the sand.
"MAMA!" Carissa cries. Their mother is dead. Alexander stabs Dragan with his right wing. He lifts his father in the air, growling with blood drooling from his mouth. He grabs his face with a clawed hand. Dragan snarls. He's scared to see his son this way.
"Te ubiv majka mi." Alexander's voice is deep and demonic. He's angry with Dragan for killing his mother. Alexander tosses him away. Dragan hurries and runs, vanishing. Kathryn and Carissa make eye contact with their older brother. Alexander stares at their mother's dead body. He returns to his human form with tears in his eyes. He drops to his knees over Dina, scooping her into his arms. Dina's eyes are closed shut as his tears land on her face. "Mama." Alex buries his face in her bosom, crying and sobbing. Carissa and Kathryn are in tears as well. Everything has gone to hell and now, they are cursed to live forever as creatures of the night...vampires.
...
ETERNAL DARKNESS
...
Dorm Room
University of North Carolina
Wilmington, NC
August 22, 2010
Thunder shakes the world as lightning strikes the ground. It's pouring down heavily as everyone's resting in their dorm rooms. Gathering her shampoo, body wash, bath towel, and loafer is Lindsey Byers. She's getting ready to escape her dorm room to go and take a nice long shower. She leaves while her roommate is soundlessly asleep in her bed. Lindsey begins traveling up to where the showers are location. The sound of thunder frightens her, but she begins to ignore it and stroll along.
"For centuries, I have lived my life as a vampire on the run from my worst nightmare. I was given this curse due to the sins of my own father, Dragan. I've lived my life by the brutal act of moral nihilism. I molded myself to believe that it was either survival or death. That's what I've learned for nearly 12,000 years. My father made me what I am. He turned my family into the very thing that causes nothing, but death and destruction. Thus, we became the most ancient and powerful family of vampires. We became creatures of death. However, the gifts that we were blessed with also came with a consequence. And that consequence is the unsatisfying and unquenchable thirst for human blood. This drove us further into darkness."
Lindsey is now in the shower. The room is dark as lightning flashes bright. The hot water is relaxing and soothing as steam begins to cover the room. In the darkness, a pair of sinister red eyes gleams vibrantly. Lindsey doesn't notice them due to the shower curtain.
"However, no one's thirst was greater than mine. I've slaughter hundreds of innocent people; filling myself with their delicious, finger licking blood. And with this new thirst, I became the perfect monster that even the Devil fears himself. My hatred for my father and my love for my sisters were the only things reminding me of my humanity. Because of that, I haven't let it slipped. The hatred for my father has grown stronger. But now that I've defeated him and entombed him, my hatred has been placed on my father's council. And I intend to kill them all."
The storm's not letting down. It's been at least half an hour since Lindsey step into the shower. She steps out after turning off the hot water; wrapping a towel around her body. The unknown assailant is now gone as she exits the shower room and through the halls. The vampire is stalking her. His footsteps are silent. Lindsey stops when a chill runs down her spine. She turns around. The vampire has vanished! She turns around to release a loud scream that is masked by the sonic sound of thunder. The vampire is standing in front of her. His face has transformed. His eyes are dark. His teeth are incredibly sharp as his face darkens. Lindsey's screams are silenced when the vampire sinks fangs into her throat.
(….)
The Next Morning
Police are speaking with Lindsey's distraught college roommate, Amanda Perkins. The floor and walls have been stained with blood. There are strange unknown symbols written in the blood, on the walls. Investigators are taking pictures of these symbols and sealing off the perimeter. The other college students are confused. Lindsey's body is nowhere to be found.
Arriving on the scene is Detective Evan Byers. He's Lindsey's father. Evan is tall, dark, and handsome in his early forties. He's been a detective for over twenty years now. Advancing towards him is another detective, Martin. Martin knows that Evan is hot headed. And now that Evan's oldest child has gone missing and floating in the ocean any time soon.
"Trust me; you do not want to see." Martin tries to convince him to not go inside the hall and look at all the blood. Losing a child can be hard on a father.
"Get the hell out of my way." Evan pushes him away, storming inside to see all the blood and the strange symbols. Amanda sees him. "What happened, Amanda?"
"Lindsey left to take a shower, but she didn't come back. I swear that I heard her scream. I must've been dreaming. I came down here and that's when me and three others found the blood and the symbols. I tried calling her phone, but she wouldn't pick up, so I called the police." Amanda explains. Evan sighs heavily. He nods his head at her and goes over to the investigators. He pulls out his cell phone and begins taking pictures of the blood symbols. He then leaves while Martin catches up with him.
"No human could've done this. It has to be one of Mikael's vampires." Evan is pissed off.
"That's absurd. We have a treaty with them." Martin says, but the detective ignores him.
"Don't remind me." Evan growls.
(….)
Devil's Temptation Nightclub
Downtown Wilmington
The nightclub is located underground. It's a private club where many go to have fun and party. A DJ is checking the sound systems for tonight. Sitting at the bar is Mikael Amatus. He's at least eighteen, charming, deliciously sexy, and young with cropped dark hair, blue hazel eyes, and flawless toned skin. He's a 12,000 year old powerful elder, and very seductive and intelligent vampire. Mikael is the ruler of this town with an army of immortal vampires to back him up. He's drinking Midori with a glass of crushed ice while checking his email on his cell phone.
Detective Byers enters the nightclub. He's being escorted by two young men, who are vampires and close friends with Mikael. They are both in their early twenties. There's Nick, who is 5000 years old, cute with cropped black hair, crystal blue eyes, and a pale white muscular tone. On the other side, Hunter, is tall with brown skin, green eyes, and short hair. Both vampires are model-like.
"Detective it's nice to see you." Mikael says before speaking with the female bartender. "Go dobie eden slad viski." He tells her to get Evan a glass of scotch, single malt.
"My daughter's missing. I believe it was a vampire." Evan approaches him.
"And you think it was one of mines. I can tell by your body language." Mikael says as the bartender sits the glass of scotch in front of Evan. Evan pulls out his phone and sits it near Mikael. Mikael puts his phone away. "I can rest assure you that it wasn't. Why would we break the treaty? You are not the only one who'd lost something. Fifteen of my vampires are dead and my blood den has been destroyed. If it was any of my vampires who took your daughter, they would dead right now."
"Then tell me who did." Evan stands his ground. Mikael grins wickedly.
"Have you forgotten who you're talking to?" He retracts his fangs. Evan reminds himself where he is. The female bartender retracts her fangs as well. "You come here, accusing me and my guys? I thought we were friends. We have a deal. Remember? I keep the criminals away and help your department just as long as we can keep the blood flowing and the party going. I make you rich. I make your little bacon squad friends rich." Mikael's vampire eyes flash bright red with black rims around the irises. "Now, I am willing to help you find your daughter. I'll get my men on it. Just keep our deal intact."
"Fine. But can you explain to me what these symbols mean?" Evan points at the phone, showing no ounce of fear whatsoever. He's scared, but he doesn't want to show it. Mikael takes a look at the phone. His face goes blank as if he knows what the symbols mean.
"It's Sumerian. These symbols were also found in my blood den." Mikael shows the photo of the symbols he found at the blood den, on his phone. He grabs a napkin and begins to decipher the message. Nick and Hunter goes over to check it out. "The kings will fall and the rivers will flow with blood. The true heirs to the throne has risen and our enemies will fall. Darkness will fall." Fear sweeps Mikael because he realizes what this means.
"What the hell does that mean?" Evan asks.
"It can only mean one thing." Hunter says.
"...Dragan's children are here." Mikael realizes.
"Dragan's children?" Evan is confused.
"Dragan has children, who he turned. They are the oldest and most powerful vampires." Mikael pauses because he knows this could mean trouble. "I'll have some vampire guarding you and your family as long as you keep our business flowing. Now if you excuse me, I need to make some calls." Evan takes his phone and turns around as Hunter escorts him from the club. "Nick, I need you gather our oldest and strongest vampires. Set up a meeting." Nick leaves. Mikael makes a phone call on his phone. Someone answers. "We have problems. They're here." Mikael says. The person who he's calling says something over the line. Mikael's eyes widen. "Dragan's gone missing?!"
(….)
Secluded Cottage
The property is clean and the grass has been well cut. It's a beautiful summer. The cottage has five bedrooms with two baths, a large dining room, living room, basement, kitchen, pool, and a two door car garage. It's very roomy and modern with the latest technology. Everything has been renovated.
Staring out of a living room window is Alexander. He still appears the same. He's drinking himself a glass of one hundred year old scotch. Alexander's golden eyes are inhuman. He has his mother's pendant around his neck. It's still intact. Behind him are Kathryn and Carissa. The twins have grown and they are gorgeous with flawless light chocolate skin and inhuman eyes. Carissa has red highlights in her wavy, long dark hair. Kathryn on the other hand, has long dark hair with angelic blue eyes. She pours Carissa and her a drink. Alexander chugs his drink and turns around.
"I thought I told you two to leave. And you're hogging all my good stuff!" He goes over and takes the crystal bottle away. "I stole this from an antique deal in 1847." He pours himself another glass while his sisters rest on the comfy sofa. Carissa shrugs.
"I thought we could stay." She says.
"I told you to kill those vampires for me and then leave." Alexander tells her.
"But we thought we could take down Mikael and that God awful council down together." Kathryn swallows her drink down. "Now that father is dead, we can take over the world."
"I'm going to do this alone. You two being here will only distract me as liabilities. And that is a headache I do not want. So, go take some little kid's virginity and get the hell out of town."
"Why do you have to be so harsh to your family?" Kathryn asks the question.
"I'm not trying to be harsh. I'm stating facts."
"I'm not going anywhere." Carissa and Kathryn says in unison. Alexander huffs and rolls his eyes. His sisters are a pain in the ass. Entering the living room is Lindsey! She's completely confused. Carissa chuckles as Kathryn asks her brother: "Why the detective's daughter?"
"Because he protects Mikael and his dumbass vampire clan. I needed to send a message to Mikael to let him know that I am here to raise some hell." Alexander looks over to Lindsey, who's neck is still bloody. "She's delicious and pure. It's like eating ice cream with chocolate and caramel on top."
"Oh God. Where am I? Why am I covered in blood?" Lindsey's freaking out.
"Calm down." Alexander approaches her. "I brought you here."
"Huh?" Lindsey is dumbfounded. "What do you want with me?"
"I need you to send your dad a message." He snatches her, sinking his fangs into her bruised neck. Lindsey cannot cry. Kathryn rolls her eyes. Alexander bites his wrist and pours his blood into Lindsey's mouth, turning her into a vampire. He snaps her neck and lets her body drop to the floor. "Enjoy immortality." He turns around and glances at both his sisters.
"Look, we know that you want to be alone, but we're family. We haven't seen you in over three hundred years. I missed you. Kathryn missed you. You're our big brother. Our father destroyed our family. He killed our brother, had another family with another woman, he made us vampires, and he created the elder council. Kathryn and I have every right to be here. We want that council gone as well. And if we have to kill every single person in this town, we will. Let us stay. I give you my word that we won't get in your way. I just want us to be a family again like in the old days before everything went to hell. Don't you remember anything from then?" Carissa says.
"I remember everything." Alexander goes away. Just thinking about the past pains him.
(….)
Main Hallway
New Hanover High School
Entering the school is Samara Charleston. She's sixteen and a junior with long blond hair, a slender physique, creamy white skin, and glasses. Samara is really cute, but her awkwardness hides her true beauty. She's a klutz, a straight A student, a member of the debate team and the mathletes. She's not really popular because of not only that, but also because being popular is entirely overrated.
Samara travels through the halls until she finds her locker. She exchanges her books for the ones she needs for class. Another girl, Samantha Bryant, approaches. She's popular, mean, and one of few who bully Samara. She storms up to Samara and grabs her by the hair. Samara gasps. She wants to fight back, but she's scared. She knows she's incredibly outnumbered due to Samantha's friends.
"Hey slut bag, got my homework?" Samantha grins, gripping Samara's hair even harder.
Samara reaches into her locker and gives Samantha her completed homework. Samantha looks it over and giggles, smacking her victim in the back of the head hard. "Thank you." She hits Samara hard on the calf with her high heel shoe to trip her before walks away. Samara breathes heavily in anger. She's afraid to fight back, which makes her feel so disappointed in herself.
She leaves to attend her first period class, which is basically a free period. She's been thinking about graduating early, so she can hurry up and get out of this town. She's tired of the bullying. Samantha was her friend once until she started hanging around the popular clique in school. Now, they all bully her and harass her. And now, she knows she's in trouble again because Samantha's boyfriend, Cameron, enters the clan and smiles at her. He goes over and sits next to her.
"Hey, how's my girl doing?" He smiles charmingly.
"I don't want to be bothered today." Samara tells him.
"Bothered? Oh come on. I thought we were friends." Cameron softly rubs her left thigh. He's a real creep and Samara hates him. "I know Samantha and Sara have been hard on you. How about you come to a party with me tonight at the beach. It'll be fun." Samara huffs at his advancements. "I promise no one will bother you. Please, for me." Samara gets up and leaves the class. Cameron grins. "Bitch." He mutters under his breath before speaking with one of his friends.
(….)
Lunch Period
Early Afternoon
It's been a long day. After turning in all turning in all her homework and taking notes in most her classes, Samara is hungry. She grabs her an apple and some orange juice. She goes over to a sit all by herself at a table, near the back entrance. Approaching her is Samantha and her friend, Sarah. Sarah has long brunet hair with chocolate brown eyes, and toned skin. She's wearing a black mini skirt with a red tank top, black stiletto pumps, and a black leather jacket. Sarah is Samantha's partner in crime. She comes over to Samara with her assignment.
"I need you to finish this assignment for me, darling. I expect to get an A for this paper, so you better buckle down. It's for my English class on Othello." She sits the assignment down in front of Samara. Sarah smiles wickedly. "Don't disappoint me." Sarah grabs Samara's orange juice and pours it on her head. The other students are laughing and gasping. Sarah pulls Samara's hair back. "And let me tell you this once, if I get anything lower than an A, I promise you'll regret it." Sarah lets her hair go. "See you later, slut." Samantha laughs, walking away with her friend. Samara grabs the paper and begins to leave. One of the jocks trip her. Samara falls to the floor hard as the entire lunch room bursts into laughter. She just gets up and leave.
(….)
First Floor
Girls' Bathroom
Samara goes into one of the stalls and starts crying. She's always getting humiliated. That's when she raises her left sleeve to reveal several scars from wear she'd cut herself. Whenever she feels sad or tempted to cut, her wrist begins to tingle. Entering inside the bathroom is Samantha. She smiles to hear Samara cry, not caring about how hurt she is.
"Aw, how sad." Samantha mocks her. "The little slut's crying. Come on out, little girl. I feel like playing for a little while with the ugly duckling." She starts to kick the stall door, where Samara is located. Samara's shaking. "Come on out, BITCH!" Samantha kicks the door harder.
"Excuse me!" A teacher in his mid 30s scares Samantha. "I think I need to call your parents, don't I?" Samantha gulps because now, she's scared.
"I was just playing, Mr. Turner." Samantha makes an excuse.
"Get out of here now." Mr. Turner says and she leaves. He closes the door behind her and goes over to check on Samara. "Samara? It's me. Mr. Turner. You can come out." He can hear Samara crying. "I can make some phone calls to their parents if you want." He feels bad for her.
"No, that'll just make things worse. Just go away." Samara's voice is broken. The teacher's heart is broken. He's witnessed this type of bullying before and it's not good. It breaks his heart to see all of some of his students get tortured like this. "I just want to be alone." Samara sobs. "Please, I want to be alone." The pain in her heart and voice are too much to bear. How can she live with this pain? What did she ever do to deserve this kind of torture?