Dark Blood

Prologue

Captive and Capturer


It is important to remark that there was nothing especially important or ostentatious about the Range Rover speeding along the highway that wet windy evening. The onyx shell of the car was shiny and glimmered in the pale moonlight spanning through the gaps in the windy thin trees as raindrops pelted the roof and windscreen like bullets racked by the forceful gusts of wind shaking through the branches spraying the orange and brown leaves, causing them to dance through the air. The music was turned up to drown out the racket and howls of the protesting wind - Italian music. It was doubtful if a single person in that car could understand a word being uttered by the female soprano.

In front seat sat a middle aged woman whose brown hair was on the verge of greying with strands of salt littered through the pepper. Balanced on her lap was a map of the Italian highway leading out of Rome and she frowned at it as though the directions inscribed were all parts of a complex jig-saw puzzle she could not quite grasp. Next to her in the position of driving was her husband who between loud blasts of soprano was angrily cursing the fowl weather. Behind them sat two teenagers in the back seat who, if it had not been perhaps for the workings of age and gender, may have been identical to the last freckle as both shared the same sunny coloured hair and doe-like brown eyes.

There was never any time for them to see what lurked ahead thrashing towards them. The final notes of the song had almost ended before quite a different sound crashed through the air snapping the tune in half throwing the faithful range rover through the air. Smoke and fire curled around the remains - the couple dead upon impact while those wide innocent brown eyes stared emptily ahead of them with the last drops of life slipping away as blood trickled down their chins.

Nobody could have guessed what they were thinking in those final moments. Perhaps the short years of their lives flashed before them, perhaps they cried internally in pain or perhaps they prayed for life which was growing every more dim as their heated skin was cooled by the drops of water splashing and mingling with the red liquid oozing from their broken bodies. However their prayers where answered in those final moment the girl stared into they scarlet eyes that glistened like rubies.

And as sharp teeth pierced her flesh she knew then that her life was over.

************

The gap of time passed slowly, ten summers fled and winters followed since that fateful day.

On top of one of the tallest buildings in the world a girl was balanced precariously on the edge. If they drop below was any indication of the danger she paid no heed as recklessly she perched forwards her eyes transfixed by the skyline ahead shaping the dark shadows of many brightly lit buildings silhouetted by the light of a dying sun sinking into the horizon. Far below there lingered the drones of human engines their faint hums audible to her sharp ears. As the sun faded casting a final glow her skin shone like diamonds and her hair sparkled live woven sunlight glowing in the dark.

"If you stray to far the humans will see you," Cautioned a voice behind her. The girl smiled a little as she watched the small streaks of colour muddle about. Turning around she was met with the sparkling scarlet eyes of her mentor while his long raven tresses curved his strong handsome jaw. Like a shadow he loomed behind her with a long smoky cloak draped over one arm almost identical to the one thrown around his shoulders.

"From up here? I wasn't aware humans had suddenly gained such tremendous vision. Half of them are wearing glasses. I mean look at that guy, he has a pair of pink sparkly ones on! Humans really are idiots sometimes." The girl replied turning around to face her teacher who smiled as only a teacher could smile when caught between amusement at his pupils antics and exasperation. Finally out of pity and respect she grabbed the proffered cloak and wrapped it around her exposed pale shoulders.

"You are the idiot Octavia and I am the fool who has to teach you discipline," Sighed Demetrius. Octavia rolled her eyes and jumped lightly off the railings before following him out of sight in movements far too fast to contemplate to the naked eye. Swiftly like shadows there moved around the darkest dimmest recesses of the cities invisible to all except those who ran beside them. Out of the four of their company three possessed smooth olive skin while the latter was pale like marble and silk. As she ran the young immortal considered her current position musing over what she had left behind.

And what she had yet to return too.

********

"I see," The voice chimed down the mobile, "And I don't care. Either you get here in the next half hour or it's both our asses on the line!" The man promptly hung up and then to express his anger suitably kicked the nearest bin sending a cascade of garbage sailing through the air as a stray empty can rolled over on it's side coming to rest under a shiny black boot. In one step it was flattened into dust as the figure walked forward soundlessly unknown to the prey that ran it's hands through it's greasy hair.

"Fuck me!" He swore taking out a small tin as he began to roll his own. Soon the smoke was trailing through the air mingled with the scent of a stronger substance. The figure did not halt it's approach veiled by a hood and indeed the man did not even notice until it was mere inches from him. As he looked up he could see distantly the road at the edge of the forlorn grubby alley and could hear the faint sounds of traffic. His beady greedy eyes were feasting on the beauty before him illuminated in the moonlight as she drew down her hood and smiled.

"Didn't you know that smoking kills?"

That voice was so compelling, so hypnotic and beautiful that the man found he could spend an eternity listening to the sound of it. The cigarette containing liberal amounts of cannabis dropped limply to the ground and a smile was plastered over his face as he mindlessly listened to the sweet lull taking him like sirens do ships to their doom. The face was so close that he could see the real deep scarlet irises and feel something cold brush his skin.

He didn't even notice when those eyes did gleam hungrily and when his last breath was heaved from his lifeless corpse he would never know or care why or how. The voice that had lulled him was still playing a hauntingly beautiful melody taking him to his death.

*******

Tiberiu Bercovitz let the human collapse weakly to the ground.

He had drank deeply that night, his thirst had been aching and now he was quenched he felt the same desolation and emptiness fill him like all other nights. Before he turned away he allowed himself to ritually plant an image of alcohol in the breathing man's mind to explain his unexpected fatigue and then turned away stalking into the shadows. The greyness and bleakness of life was taking it's toll and he found he grew closer and closer to the inevitable with every ounce of blood that touched his lips.

The streets of this hectic city were mobbed with late night shoppers and party-goers of all varieties. People from all walks of life came to the Big Apple looking for a thrill or adventure of some kind. Perhaps that was why he felt compelled to see the massive city for himself drawn here unexplainable despite the contrast to his native rural roots in the mountains of the Carpathians. His homeland seemed a distant memory but he knew it had existed, he even suspected that it might still do but he had long lost contact with any of his kind. The last he had spoken to had been his older mentor Gregori and the exchange had not been a pleasant one. He wondered if the 'Dark One' had finally succumbed to the darkness awaiting him or if he had prevailed.

It was some time later amongst the deafening noise and bright flashing lights of the shopping district with it's tall sky scrapers near Central Park that he felt the presence lingering in the air - oily and repulsive like a parasite. He recognised it dimly though and permitted it to follow him into the thick green trees of the park offering shelter from prying eyes. Materialising out of thin air the figure appeared dressed impeccably in a red silken shirt and a pair of clean crisp trousers masking the filth beneath. The creature smiled, to mortal eyes appearing as a handsome man of European origin with tanned skin and long raven hair, to immortals it was a ghastly sight with skin contorted and stretched tightly over bones with decaying hair and mad eyes.

"Ah Tiberiu!" The thing said clapping it's hands together giving the impression of great delight. "I see you still survive in this pitiful world." Tiberiu inclined his head wordlessly. He knew this man, had once called him a friend even but he was long past the pointing of sentimentality. Once upon a time he had been the rebel of his people and notorious making even the 'Dark One' himself want to rip his own hair out but now there was nothing. No spark or rebellion just resignation.

"Isaak," Tiberiu said finally. "Let us be done with this and accept your fate."

"Oh? So you do not come in peace then? It is so sad when old friends turn against one another," Isaak sighed as if sorry.

"Old friends being the operative word Isaak. Let's have this over before dawn," Tiberiu said eyeing the pink horizon between the branches of the trees. A sword appeared in his hands out of the air and in a single motion it was ablaze with hot hungry flames. Isaak eyed the weapon warily, Tiberiu's skill with weapons was unparallel and he had yet to lose a battle. Taking a stance Tiberiu eyed his opponent before making his mood in a rapid stroke that would surely have sliced the monster's head off had it not at that moment changed shape into a leering vulture flying out of reach.

Screeching the bird dived towards Tiberiu's head with it's lethal talons outstretched. Deftly Tiberiu felt his jaw and bones crack and remould as he emerged in the form of a deadly tiger and clamped his jaws around the birds neck biting into the flesh with his razor sharp teeth. Before any of the toxic blood could touch his lips he changed back into a man watching as the bird morphed into a monster hissing and screeching wildly with long dangerous incisors and claws. The stench of blood and death oozed sickeningly but Tiberiu paid it no heed.

"Traitor!" Snarled the beast. Tiberiu flung himself towards it and drew his sword slicing It's head off in a single blow watching as the carcass crumpled towards the ground staining the grass as it shrivelled up with the touch of the acidic blood. Summoning lightening from the heaves Tiberiu watched as the white hot energy collided with the corpse of his old friend turning it into the dust to be blown away on the wind. He watched as the ashes were scattered in different directions before turning once more towards the fertile ground beyond. This small patch of forestry in such a huge industrial city was a piece of Eden where he could sleep undisturbed beneath the ground.

Then it reached him.

The sweet perfume so lovely it was almost sickeningly so with a fragrance of blood. It was rich like chocolate and so intoxicating that Tiberiu could hardly move - then it hit him. Wave upon wave of colour blinding his senses in one glorious symphony causing him to sweat blood profusely as he staggered to the ground feeling old emotions stir that had not been for centuries. In his black grey world it was as though somebody had just painted a rainbow of colour - the green of the tree's astounded him, the brownish colour of their barks, the true pink of the horizon and shine of the stars above. Thirst beat at him and he felt his hear escalate as he turned around.

A shadow stepped out of the trees. A figure hidden by a smoky cloak but strangely he could hear no heart beat. It watched him and he knew then it was her, his soul mate hidden from sight but watching. He could feel the beast within roar savagely demanding her here and now but he waited - what was she? He scent was not human but filled with blood and she seemed to bend as though leaning into a predatory stance as a hungry hiss echoed from somewhere. Tiberiu could hardly believe his eyes…was his own life mate going to attack him?

"No! Tav!"

A male voice shouted across the scene and three more cloaked figures appeared from the shadows. The tallest one grabbed his life mate around the waist in order to restrain her but heard ugly snarls and roars as she struggled against him. Tiberiu saw red - how dare he lay hands on her! How dare he touch her! A jealous fury overcame him and he growled fully intending to rip the man's throat out as another figure also grabbed his life mate gesturing towards the last one.

"Nyla! Do it now!" Implored a female voice that Tiberiu recognised as coming from the slighter figure restraining his life mate. The last hooded figure drew back the hood of her cloak revealing olive creamy skin that shone like polished marble in the light. Long raven locks fell down her shoulders to he waist and her eyes were a shining ruby colour and slit like a cats. She seemed to walk silently towards him, unafraid. Tiberiu deliberated, this woman looked no older than twenty at the latest and he did not want to hurt a female.

"Sleep," A harmonic voice whispered in his mind, "Sleep deeply…" Tiberiu tried to fight the drowsiness that was rapidly overcoming him but fail as he sank to his knees. He could feel fog cloud his thoughts as he plunged into darkness with wild screams and savage snarls lulling him towards sleep. He didn't know what had just happened or what was going on but he had one last thought.

After a thousand years he had finally found her.

And there was no way either the demons of hell or the angels of heaven were going to stop them from being together.


I don't know why but suddenly I got an urge to re-draft this. I hope this first chapter makes up for all my lacks. The next chapter is one it's way and Andromeda is now called Octavia as you may have figured. The plot is slightly different as you will find out but I hope you enjoy it just as much.

Daydreamer!x