8
She is the corporate Silence: fear her not!
No power hath she of Darkness and evil herself;
But should some urgent fate
Bring thee to meet her shadow,
Commend thyself to God! - Nicolae Von Shrieder
Gregori and Mikhail stood shoulder to shoulder in the Chamber of women, watching as the females of their species wove intricate patterns into the soil, creating more mineral rich soil for the pregnant women. The Dragonseekers were the most important asset in the community, Skyler, Lara and Natalya each taking a corner and representing the power within. Syndil the Empath in the Northern most corner. They danced and sung, their voices pulling at the minerals deep within the earth staining it deep obsidian that glittered with the pureness they created. The heated sconces sung a song of soothing, as sweet grass and lavender was burned in the alcoves.
"I have never known magic like it, even when our mothers were alive; they did not hold the power our lifemates hold. They could not regenerate the soil like the Dragonseekers and Empaths could. Without these women our species would surely have perished" Mikhail whispered to his second and son-in-law watching as the women continued. The soil turned a thick bleak shade and shone like the stars, the women's song ceased as one by one they reached deep within to feel the treasure of their weaving. The soil covered one of the pregnant women, close to losing her unborn child; the extremophile Xavier had created eating away at the young girl's soul, forcing her mother to push the body out of her, into the awaiting arms of death.
Francesca turned to Lara, great-granddaughter of Xavier, the one mage born child that could detect the thread of Xavier's evil. Lara shook her head in defeat, upon her conversion, she had lost the edge against the dark mage, no longer able to find the whisper of evil that helped her purge the extremophile killing the infants in the womb. Destiny clutched her swollen belly feeling her daughter move away from herself, seeking the nurturing arms of death, away from pain, away from her mother. Destiny spoke to her daughter, begged and pleaded with her not to leave her, but the unborn child could not take any more of the pain. Her wails of a mother losing her first child filled the cave of women, filling each of them with her suffering.
"Destiny you must relax, you must keep your child tethered to you, we will find another way" Destiny's tear filled eyes sought her lifemate whom stood out of the women's circle. Nicolae Von Shrieders heart clamped in agony as his lifemate was unable to hold the life of their unborn child. Even Nicolae was faltering at holding the small soul to himself, he was beginning to believe he should just let the child go and hold his lifemate, swallow her grief and try again. The hum of the sconces changed in a subtle power flow as others entered the chamber of women.
"Mikhail, what is happening?" Zacarias questioned as he approached his Prince, Adriana tucked under his shoulder in a safe and protected place, away from all males. "Destiny cannot hold her daughter to herself; her body is rejecting the infant. In moments the child will perish, along with Destiny if Nicolae should falter" a grunt was heard from said hunter, his complete attention on his lifemate, ensuring her life and the life of his unborn daughter. Adriana stepped out from under Zacarias' safe hold and approached the circle of women.
There was a stain of evil swimming in the young woman's soul, a seed of Xavier polluting the womb and killing the unborn child within her. The stain grew darker and powerful as mother began to lose the fight for her own heart and soul. Adriana approached the circle and was met by resistance by lifemates of those within. "Manilov, you are not welcome so close to our women. Your blood-kin has done nothing but take life" Andre Asenguard spoke, as a non-mated protector to the women in these difficult times. Zacarias hissed low in warning, placing a heavy hand on his lifemates shoulder.
"Mind what you say to my lifemate. Else you shall never get the chance to meet your own" he threatened. Andre took a step towards the eldest De La Cruz "and why should we trust you? We all know of the conspiracy you De La Cruz brothers made with the Manilov brothers to destroy the Prince and the Carpathian people. Who is to say this is not part of the plan? You turned vampire, and she is vampiress, I can feel the darkness within her, just as I can feel it within you" Andre replied without inflection, but intoned it. Zacarias looked deeply at the younger Carpathian, seeing how close he was to losing his soul to the Vampire within. "I will not fight against you, you have no concept of what you say" with that the hunter turned his back on the younger male, dismissing him without words.
"Xavier has created a powerful evil that consumes the soul of the mother and child" Adriana spoke softly watching with heated amber eyes as the stain grew more sinister as mother and child fought together. "You can see it?" Lara hissed frantically, she had lost the power, but it appeared her sister-kin could see it. "I can, and it threatens to consume both mother and daughter. Xavier's pet is mutating within the host" Lara left her spot and approached the woman "help us to save her, please if you have the power to see it, help us defeat Xavier at his game" Adriana turned to Zacarias, silently asking him, to step aside and allow her to show him what she was created for.
Ivory and Razvan soon entered the cave upon the summons of Raven, Mikhail's wife. "Ivory you are needed with the women, every voice is required to purge the evil of Xavier from this hallowed place of healing and life" Ivory moved to where the Prince's lifemate told her to stand, but her heated amber eyes never left the face of her niece. Adriana moved around the body of the sobbing female, feeling the negative power of Xavier flowing from her body and soul. She circled her, repeatedly looking for the slightest rise. When she found it she called to Syndill "Earth singer, take this place, you will begin this circle of power, call to you the power of the earth in song, when I tell you" Adriana continued to walked in a anti-clockwise ring, and stopped once more when the power was strongest, she turned her burning golden eyes to Skyler "young Dragonseeker, stand here, your soul is lighter than air, it whispers of serenity, whisper your song, when I tell you".
Continuing in her search Adriana continued "what is she doing?" Gregori asked Zacarias as he watched carefully, memorising her movements, her subtle fluctuation of power against the unseen darkness. "building the power of the elements. She is using a mage trap against the Dark Mage. Turning his own power against him" Adriana stopped her slow movement and called Natalya "granddaughter to the Dark Mage, your soul is filled with Dragons fire, the song of scorching fire is within you, allow your voice to rise when I tell you" Natalya smiled at the young Manilov "I wish I had thought of what you have planned, Xavier will not know what hit him" Natalya stood tall and proud, her blue-green eyes meeting with her twin, Razvan. Adriana ceased and felt the power of the twins "Twin to the dragons song, enter this circle of power, stand beside your sister. The song is fiercer with the two of you combined, you will be the gateway to power; hells gate will be opened with flames, but you must allow your souls to sing together"
Taking her breath deep into her lungs she continued pulling at the power finding the next fluctuation. To which she turned her power to Lara "Mage-born Dragon-daughter your soul is filled with the glacial waters, your song is of pure ice. Sing your frozen song when I tell you" Nicolas made a move against the Manilov when his lifemate was placed in a circle of power he was unfamiliar with. "Brother, can your lifemate be trusted? She is Manilov and she has belonged to Xavier all of her life" Zacarias levelled his younger brother with a look that spoke of anger and hatred. "My lifemate is Manilov, and I accept her for whom and what she is. She is not to be judged by the blood in her veins. As it stands your own lifemate had belonged to Xavier at some point in her life, as had Razvan, Ivory and Natalya" Adriana continued and felt the final surge in the circle. She turned to Ivory and beckoned to her blood-kin "Blood of the Manilovs, honed in Xavier's hell are powerful enough to take this evil and purge it from this circle. You studied under the Dark Mage, and know when his power flows, when to weave the safeguards and hold each songs power, I will need you to be our anchor, it will not be uncomplicated, as soon as Xavier is aware he will fight against you, with everything in his arsenal"
Ivory nodded in acknowledgment, knowing what her brother's daughter planned. It was a risky and powerful mage-fuelled circle, one created by the mixed races that would never have been thought of had Adriana not been the experimental 'toy' of the Dark Mage's. Adriana turned to those outside the circle. "Do not enter, do not interfere. If you do all we have done, all we have accomplished will be for nothing, and the consequences are deadly" she looked her lifemate I need you to centre me, you will be my guiding beacon. This will be the test, whether you can truly accept our union and purge darkness with me. Our path will be paved in pain, and only you can bring me back. she did not wait for Zacarias to answer but turned her voice to the circle and the sobbing female within.
"Mother Earth, we your sons and daughters sing to thee, purge this evil within this woman, give life when darkness seeks death" Adriana turned to Syndill and gave her the signal to sing the song of her soul. "Mother Earth, I am your loving daughter, my soul sings the song within, I sing your words and bring life as you decree" Syndill stomped her bare feet in the earth, the scent of flowers rose around the cave, sweet and powerful aromas that aided in the art of healing. Adriana gave the same signal to Skyler to sing her song, Skyler's bare feet danced her own rhythm, the rhythm of her soul song Mother Earth, I am your loving daughter, my heart and soul as light as Air, sings for the life of the one within our circle the soft breeze of a oceans wind blew into the cave caressing the scents of the Earth and becoming one.
Gregori, Mikhail and all the males in attendance watched with fascination as the power of the Carpathian females within fuelled the circle and began to purge the scents of death, as Ivory's hands danced and flew in the air, creating weavings contrasting to the colour of the Elements being invoked. Zacarias saw with his new sight, the way the shadows sought the elements that had yet to be sung. Adriana was trapping the darkness without escape. They each watched as she turned her gaze to the Dragonseeker twins. Razvan and Natalya took each others hands and danced together in harmony on the soft ground. Mother Earth, we are your humble twins, we sing the song of heat and light. Our souls aflame and scorching the shadows from your realm as they danced, their patterns with their feet, flames sprung up and danced over their bodies without burning them, again Ivory caught the mage weave and created a holding spell, allowing the Fiery reds and Oranges to join with the Greens and Yellows already floating in the air. Virkinoff held his breath, watching his lifemate dance with her brother, completely entranced in the spell-weaving created by the younger Manilov. The cave heated with the flame, whirred with the soft salted breeze and created a warming scent of soothing lavender.
Destiny's sobs had stopped, her eyes watching the spell-weaving going on around her, her hands holding her swollen belly with gentleness, a light smile upon her face as she could feel the power working around her. Adriana turned her gaze to Lara, much to Nicolae's dismay Lara allowed her body to sway with grace, her feet to slide across the ground in the patterns of her song Mother Earth, I am your obliging daughter. I sing the graceful notes of heavens tears, water of your love swims and flows through me to your child within our circle. The icy chill of ice mixed with the heat of fire and created the fresh scent of frozen water; icicles hung from the walls around Lara and glistened with soft blue light, Ivory caught up the weave and added it to the other three, her lips whispering the spell her hands flying gracefully. Lastly Adriana turned to her blood-aunt, sister to her father. "I trust in you to weave the safeguards and guide our power into the circle and cleanse this female from the shadows of Xavier".
Ivory nodded and stood behind her niece as she began to dance with the others Mother Earth, I am your hidden daughter, I am spirit and seek your love of life to cleanse this fallen child from your bosom. Cleanse the stain that shadows her soul. Allow the earth to soothe her, the air to renew the life within her womb, the fire to scorch the shadows from her heart, waters to wash away her bloodstained tears; permit the spirit to take into itself the stain and darkness and restore her to you, our mother. Adriana lifted her hands as Ivory spun the shadows into the intricate weavings as they left Destiny in a wash of Stained Violet light that stemmed from Adriana, as they wrapped and pulled from Destiny and flowed back into her niece. Zacarias watched in horror as his lifemate took into herself the evil stain of Xavier. No! He bellowed, all Carpathians in the chamber of women and in the surrounding forest heard his heart torn plea.
You are my beacon, the light which guides me back to my own soul. This is my destiny, Xavier created me to be the ultimate weapon against him, and this is what I am. You have to accept this, don't fight me in this, I will need your voice and those of the males around you, you must command them, help me, you are my lifemate, my partner. Zacarias trusted his lifemate implicitly and turned to the males in the chamber of women. "Mikhail call to arms, Adriana needs every man, woman and child if she is to purge the stain of Xavier. She is building the power, and needs everyone, those that cannot be here in flesh must be held onto in their minds, we must be united as a race, this is no small task" Mikhail looked into the eyes of Gregori, who was staring intently at the younger Manilov as she wove great power. "I agree, I can feel what she is doing from the black books I have studied in my youth, she is pitting everything Xavier has done against him in one swift attack. I say call everyone available, she has the power"
'Every male, female and child come to the chamber of women, your Prince commands your presence, for those of you too far, open your minds and do exactly as Zacarias commands' Mikhail called into the night along the path of the Carpathian people. Within moments mists shimmered into place, wolves sang into tune, raptors of every form flew in the open spaces and filled the walls as wolves filled the cave floors. "Adriana Manilov has found a way to push the curse of Xavier; she needs the unity of the Carpathian People. Lend her your voices and do as Zacarias, Ivory and she instructs" there were a few whispers of the task at hand and of the females the Prince was throwing his trust to. Raven and Savannah stood besides their lifemates and watched as Ivory built the safeguards to hold the invoked power around Destiny. It shimmered in the colours of the Elements, of the deep Violet evil that was pulled from the woman in the centre.
Adriana took a deep breath and sang her song of soul and spirit, the darkness of the Vampires daughter in the midst of her own people. Always shunned and never accepted. She spun low and swayed to the song within and waited until the elements around her connected and filled the emptiness.
It won't help if you wait for me.I'm a slave to the - dark.I Know I'm not saint, you Dawn is when it the shadow of my oblivion - hoping mercy would show her face,on the road to your own perdition in the coal-blackened rain.
Lara danced low, her feet pounding the song of Ice water as she connected to Adriana through the pain of her fathers betrayal upon her as a young child, as she was frozen within the ice of Xavier's caves
Frozen in time yearning forbidden and divine.
Razvan looked to his daughter, as Fires dance entwined with the dance of water. Natalya and Razvan allowed fires creeping light to ripple and sway with ice waters breath. Lara's father touched her wrists, tracing his own teeth marks upon her flesh,
Scars of my broken kisses.
Natalya danced in perfect unison with Razvan as she asked the question burning in the minds of those long lost to the darkness, to Xavier and beast within the souls of those yet to find their lifemates.
What will follow if tomorrow's blind?
Syndill wove the flowers into soft creeping vines, connecting each dancer to the woman in the centre, covered with the blackened soil of their homeland. And extended to touch upon those outside the circle, to give them voice to the power being pulled and fashioned as she voiced her answer to the song of fire, the words of Mother Earth herself, a promise to her children.
My eternal night.
Ivory held the safeguards and wove with them, her own mage taught power, she cast her eyes to the men, women and fledglings in the women's chamber as they watched, some horrified, some awed, most without expression "sing the lullaby of the people, Carpathians unite. Hold destiny's child to her womb, aid us in our plight" the Carpathian lullaby rose from the silence, filling the cave with power and song, Nicolae held his lifemate and unborn daughter to his own soul, and allowed the feel of the combined power to fill him. Sing the song Destiny, sing to our daughter, hold her to us Destiny sung as the pain of her own body rejecting her child eased with the elemental dance around her, the tightness of Xavier's evil was releasing her, she was nestled and cocooned in soft nurturing light.
Skyler moved in the soft dance of the others as she felt her hearts song join those of her father and sister, she spun herself and released the energies within, feeling her connection with her own lifemate, Dimitri.
As the wind takes me away from you - before the morning sins are fading into view - I'm so weary deep inside
Adriana held them to herself, pulling on the powers of Air, water and fire within the Dragonseekers. She drew the power of the Dragonseeker within herself, combining the strength against the shadow of Xavier within each of the souls in the chamber, needing only the light and purity. Every male and female in the chamber had been touched by Xavier, and each needed to be purged. She changed the flow of her blood and incorporated the touch of the Earth singer, feeling the warm glow of Mother Earth within her veins, filling and touching all within the chamber.
Feel the shadow of my oblivion hoping mercy would show her faceon the road to your own perdition I may see you again, Xavier.
Lara felt the song of Glacial water move through her soul as it began go warm and fuse with Adriana's spirit and soul song, that she sang once more and filled her voice with as much of herself as she could.Frozen in time yearning forbidden and divine.
Razvan and Natalya danced together in perfect sync as they twirled and sang out together
Scars of my broken will follow if tomorrow's blind?
Syndill answered as she dipped low filling her hands with blackened earth, shining in pure minerals and throwing the treasure into the circle
My eternal night.
Adriana turned to her lifemate and gathered the last of her strength as she pulled the stain of darkness into her soul, and allowed her spirit to bathe in the darkness that was Xavier's, as the entity that stained every male, female and child within the chamber was removed and flew into her body.
Every single dawn I die - swallowing tainted light
She whispered, Ivory threw the safeguards outside herself and chanted with an ancient mage limerick, tying the darkness of Xavier that held every male and female in the chamber, pulling the threads into her niece. Adriana absorbed every last one, and turned herself to her lifemate, as the stain of darkness rose and crackled within her.
Lifemate mine under obligation,
commit to Carpathian flame,
purge this evil of Xavier's creation,
free the people of his claim.
Set me alight so he may never see
the power he's lost unto me.
We are the children of Mother Earth,
not the Dark Mage even through birth.
Dragonseeker, Lycan, Carpathian and Mage,
the blood of all are no match,
we are united in our song,
set me aflame,
release me and erase the wrong
Adriana sung the final verse to her lifemate and watched as he formed the flame of Carpathian death within his hands, and thrust it upon his lifemate.
Every male in the chamber made a move to stop the deranged male from killing his lifemate, but stood and watched as she absorbed the flame into her body, imploded in a burst of purified light and energy, then slumped to the ground, unscathed but clawing for breath. The spell around the chamber crackled and warmed every male and female present, followed the path of the Carpathian people and warmed their bodies and souls as the stain of the Dark Mage was purged from their bodies. The Women along with Razvan danced in thanks to their Mother Earth, as they released their elemental calling. Ivory reversed the weavings allowing the safeguards to dissipate into nothing, as the scents and sounds faded from the chamber.
Bound to the evil of the mage no more,
Manilov curse has found the cure,
we were honed in the fires of hell,
bound to Xavier by heart and soul as well,
we are yours no longer to command,
beware Dark Mage your death is coming,
by Manilov hand
Ivory promised as she wove the threat of death into the final compulsion against Xavier. The power bristled and flowed into the darkness winging its way to the Dark Mage to warn him, the Carpathians were free of his evil, and the Manilov daughters were going to kill him. His creations, his destruction. Destiny cried out with happiness as she felt the strength of her unborn child, as she felt the light in her soul shining with power against the shadow that had been inside of her for too long. Every male and female turned and gazed at the Prince and his second, the Dragonseekers, the Earth singer and finally the Manilovs. As they too rejoiced in happiness that the touch of the Mage was finally gone from their bodies, hearts and souls. Zacarias approached his lifemate as the others did theirs and held them tightly.
"Syndill, you are a true wonder" Barrack nuzzled his lifemate as she laughed with carefree abandon. "Barrack, it was all Adriana, she banished the darkness with the power of the species within her veins, she is a vessel of everything, she is Xavier's ultimate destruction" Each Dragonseeker approached the young Manilov and gave her praise for such a dark invocation of power, soul and spirit. Finally Gregori and Mikhail approached her "I have never seen power harnessed in such a way, and I have stolen from the black books as well as the white. This power was unique. You have purged every Carpathian of the touch of Xavier, we are indebted to you" Gregori spoke. Mikhail held Raven close to him as he added "the Manilov line is to be treasured and respected, without the Manilov daughters we would be lost, our race extinguished by Xavier, none are to harm these women and their lifemates" Mikhail bit into his wrist, spilling his blood to the two women "I give you both my life's blood, you are true warriors against the Dark Mage Xavier and I am proud to call the Manilovs family" all Carpathians knelt at the words of the Prince, including the women and his Second. Razvan held Ivory as Zacarias held Adriana.
Ivory pierced a small wound and placed her hand over the wound in Mikhail's wrist, allowing her blood to flow unto his "I thank you along with my lifemate Razvan" Adriana held her hands to herself, tight against her body "I thank you with my lifemate Adriana, but she cannot give you her blood" some of the males lifted their heads at the inflection "I am daughter to a Vampire, the blood within me is his. Although it would cause you no indirect harm, I would never sully your blood with mine. My lifemate has ingested my blood and he is forever changed. I mean no disrespect, and I pledge my life to the people of the Prince, I pledge my allegiance to you, my soul and spirit to the destruction of Xavier" Mikhail smiled, knowing that the younger Manilov would never give her blood to anyone but her lifemate.
"Let it be known that Ivory and Adriana Manilov are blood-kin to the Prince. If they call for assistance you are to be there as if it were the Prince himself. Raven and Savannah are their sisters, Zacarias and Razvan are our brothers, rise and accept the new blood-kin to the Prince" Gregori announced as Mikhail closed the wound with a long rasp of his tongue. I am so proud of you Palafertiilam Zacarias whispered in his lifemates mind, sending soft caresses across her flesh, which heated her skin like soft butterfly wings. I am going to show you the wonders of life when I get you alone tonight. A smile raced across Adriana's mouth at the erotic images entering her mind, supplied by her lifemate. I look forward to it. She answered.
