"You will always be fond of me. I represent to you all the sins you never had the courage to commit."
By : Oscar Wilde
While her mother and Carlisle went to search out this Alistair the vampire. Gene was tasked with baby sitting her little brother Kieran. Who had been growing at a normal speed. Luckily his mother fed him before she left so the baby slept for most of the time they were gone. Secretly she liked taking care of him. He was more interested in his surroundings and the people around him to care about anything else. Everything grabbed Kieran's attention. He liked his sister's fire hair and wanted to pull on it. Sadly he could not. Though, He liked the color red. His mother would dance around with him in her arms. Kieran wanted to do that again but his sister just left him in his bassinet.
There were rules Zena thrusted upon her again. This time for her brother's safety. No one who was unfamiliar was allowed in the house and she could not take Kieran outside.
Whispers emitted from the kitchen. Gene entered with a sleeping Kieran in her arms. Callum was there with their dirty blonde maid Madeleine. They were carrying on with a general conversation about things they liked.
Imogen interrupted them, "What are you doing here? Callum?"
He patted Madeleine on her shoulder, "I found maiden Madeleine at the market and so I offered her an escort home. Where are your parents? Girl?" He made 'girl' sound patronizing.
"They went out... What are you doing consorting with our maid?
He began to help Maddy with putting things away. "I am making friends... and looking out for Carlisle and his kin... Even if he doesn't know."
Imogen refused, "We look out for our own and don't need your help."
"Our own? I have known Carlisle since we were both children." Callum informed her putting the knifes away. "In fact my mother helped his father take care of him after he was born as a result of his mother dying in child birth... So he is like my brother."
Imogen got a indicator of something most unsavory, "There is something else you are not telling me?"
"Yes, After my unhealthy father died. Carlisle's father married my mother for family security and other less pure reasons. The pastor had begotten a love child by my mother three years before. That is something Carlisle would never tell anyone because he held that old preacher in great esteem. He wished to be the ideal type of man... His father wore as a mask... But at the end of his life Pastor Cullen proved to be an honorable man by his family." Callum spoke truthfully.
Gene asked another question, "How did he die?"
Callum thought and spoke, "... The plague... Hopefully he went to Hell."
Gene glared at him, "Why do you say that?"
He began to speak after Maddy left the kitchen and up to the second floor, "Pastor Cullen knew things that only men who observed the darkness would know. The occult and vampires. He like the priests before him called vampires heretics and well... He was right. His failure was in keeping his children in the blue about that misunderstood evil... Sending us blindly to our deaths you could consider as his greatest sin... He would find people he would like in Hell, dull ones in Heaven and we vampires shall stay here in the happy hunting ground for eternity."
"This is Your heaven?"
"Cullen would say we are damned but are we really? We were given a chance to embrace something more than ourselves that actually exists... This is more than any religion, enlightenment or cult." He philosophised facing the red head face to face.
She scoffed, "You really think that?"
Callum chuckled softly peering down at Kieran, "Today's god-fearing preacher is an ignorant man's guide in his fall to madness, hate, self-contempt, cowardice, shame, submission and eventually his own death... There is nothing compassionate onto the man about these qualities. He is not free but a slave to lies. What fuels these lies are men like Astaroth who spread gossip as truth so clergy and men would believe it and fear what they cannot understand. The only true compassions that can bring peace is love and learning to understand what we do not."
Gene tried to take in everything he said, "You are quite the philosopher, Callum."
Kieran made a mumbling sound and opened his eyes. This was the same man as earlier. He remarked, "The apple doesn't fall far from the tree. Can I hold him?"
Gene gave Kieran over to Callum, "Yeah, Just take him."
He began to talk to Kieran, "I guess you can consider me like an uncle... By the blood... It's unfortunate you have a fool for a father and an unrealistic mother... But don't we all?"
Zenobia stepped through the ruins of an abandoned monastery in a shaded grove near the northern hills. She gazed all around her. The broken stained glass and rows of wooden seating, desks, and left over pieces of books. The unkempt and withered graves outside. She entered the main chamber and gazed upon middle ages art work. Devils and angels fighting each other.
She smiled and felt Carlisle's embrace, "Hmm, Beautiful."
"That is the Apocalypse. The end of the world where the angels and demons would fight a great battle." He whispered kissing her neck.
"I've read about this... It's one big battle of good against evil. Gods, angels against titans, demons or giants, man against man... It's all a cycle of war." She said softly. He always admired her ability to see the bigger picture. Zenobia now hated war.
He smiled kindly, "I agree... These myths and religions were created to explain what nature doe's around us. The worldly occurrences we do not understand. Only though science we will discover the truth."
Zenobia nodded, "Yes, But even science cannot tell us if there is a higher power out there and religion cannot prove it."
He chuckled, "But never tell that to a scientist or a religious man."
She laid back into his chest, "I am happy I found you." His voice was like velvet against her skin, "You tell me that every day and most of the time you do not have to say it. I know how you feel about me."
Zenobia giggled and dared to ask,"I wonder what the gods would think if we made love here?"
Carlisle shook his head, "Only ghosts of monks would be offended... I believe."
She kissed his cheek, "I was only pulling your leg."
"Indeed, I knew that."
She turned to face him and caressed her lips against his, "Take me fair knight... I am your's."
He kissed her back, "I thought chivalry was not one of your values?"
Zenobia explained fully on how she thought, "No, I do not like to be fawned over or chased after. I am not something to be courted and worn like a ring. Flattering a woman to get her to have an interest in you is deceit and I know you are not him. Only when man is honest with woman and gives her power and freedom... Will be the only time where he has her in his arms with her unconditional love."
"I have given you that opportunity?"
"The day the sea gave you to me and all those days after the first." She mused holding his hands in her own. He kissed those hands. "I see. Just remember... I am on your side and never want to hurt you."
"You cannot ever hurt me... You only make me stronger." She pulled his blonde hair back and licked his lips. "I will make you stronger."
"You give me the strength to endure what I thought would overwhelm me and destroy me." He murmured into her kiss, "Endurance that keeps me going onto greater horizons... You make me more."
"Come on, Let's continue our search. We are close to where Callum told us to go." She took his hand and leaded her lover outside. They explored more into the shadows of the green coppice. Coming in contact with a fallen tree in their path.
Carlisle stalled and said, "Cannot you use your dhampir senses to hunt out this English noble?"
"I'm not sure if I could do that... If he likes to hunt in the woods he may be a vampire with a tracking ability... He may even find us... A recluse stays in place and so we do not have to rush." Zena entangled him with her arms.
She could feel Carlisle's unrest. His love held him close and he kissed her warm shoulder. Her yielding arms embraced him. Lust ravaged the flesh and allured the desire on. Her heart beat against his ears seemed like a sweet angelic hymn now. He breathed in the scent of her blood and tasted it in his mouth. Her blood was luring him in. Telling him to give in. As she had the first time they had made love. The angel whispers were telling him to submit to what his instincts wanted. His eyes turned black ushering in arousal. She moaned as he kissed her under her jaw trailing down her neck. His better conscious begged him to stop as his teeth abraded her skin. On spur of the moment Carlisle's focus came out from Zena and he left her there against the tree. She opened her amber eyes, "Lisle?"
Stag and the smell of a foreign vampire came to her senses. Zena pursued Carlisle and found him feeding on the stag. She had never seen him drink blood before and like all vampires he seemed like a different person. He had stolen another man's prey. Another vampire stood over Cullen and turned running once he had seen Zenobia.
She raised the earth and roots to stop him. Blocking his path with a rock wall. He glared at her with annoyance. Contrary, he was impressed by her abilities. The vampire wore out of date medieval clothes and smelt of dirt. He kept his dark blonde hair long nuzzled with braids. A roughly handsome deep forest hunter.
She gave a gesture of peace and spoke, "Halt... um... Alistair?"
He spoke defiantly, "I do not want anything to do with either of you." The vampire ran in the south direction behind Zenobia. She inhaled his ordour as he past by her. Strong sanguis, hunter, man, predator, a vampire. Now she could track him down without getting lost.
"You are my prey." Zenobia said to herself.
She tracked him down to a cave entrance shaded by alpine debris. Entering the cave her vision to see through the darkness kicked in and Cullen had finally followed up with her. He gestured to lead on and she nodded. Through the dirt and stalagmites. She had found prey's path and destination.
Her voice echoed through, "You know the vampire named Callum Cederic Anderson. He told us to find you."
"The assassin." He said like she should know.
"He's an executioner?" Her memory brought back to what Callum had said about 'hunting human participants' for his sire.
"You might want to give this back to him." Alistair handed a simple blood stained necklace with a cross.
Carlisle spoke up and took the necklace from her, "This... Is my father's cross."
Alistair fell completely silent leaning on a rock as the two began to converse, "Why would he have your father's cross? Carlisle?"
"This was a gift from my mother after they had married... I do not know."
"I do." Golden eyes looked to Alistair for an explanation.
"What you have there is a hunter's trophy," Revelation abounded as the nobleman spoke, "I have seen him kill a middle aged man dressed in black who was hunting with a party of men nearby about ten years ago. That is what he took from him."
Carlisle stilled any emotions of anger in him, "Why would he kill my father? My father took care of his mother and family after his father had died... We were like brothers."
Zenobia stopped any flames within him by keeping a logical stance on this situation, "We have to accept the facts before condemning him... Your father had a part in the hunt for vampires in the sewers and Callum's sire forced him to hunt out the men involved... There is still things we do not know."
"We should leave... You have my thanks, Alistair." Carlisle grabbed Zenobia's hand and forced her to leave with him. Alone now, Alistair wished they would never come back. One with foresight would say his solitary life would now be momentarily challenged in the next few days.
Without due haste, The lovers had arrived back home in less than an hour. Carlisle was the first to enter into the abode followed by Zenobia. She reminded him to keep a level head. Gene accompanied her baby brother and sat in the living room playing with him. Callum had walked out from the kitchen and into the hall.
"Excellent, You are here."
He forced him against the stone wall. Holding Callum by the shoulders of his satin vest. "You killed my father! You murderer!"
"Your father? Only? Are you sure he is not mine as well?" Callum challenged the hell in those auric eyes.
"You are lying." Desperation rang in Cullen's weakening voice.
Callum did not fight back and responded, "God knows I am not... The story as it goes: My mother Rosemary's husband Allen was physically infertile. They wanted children more than anything and to pass on the family name so to say... Praying for a baby was in vain... They had been friends with your father since childhood and asked him to take up the position of impregnating my mother. That child was me and my four sisters afterwards. Your father gave you and I the chance to live and he took our lifes by one foolish decision... Do not think that I murdered him willingly... I was the puppet of my sire who dominated my will with her own. There is nothing more devastating to a person than to have their will and body controlled by another. Your love there can define my sire's powers."
Zenobia nodded and spoke, "Yes, He is telling the truth. Asherah has the ability to control and command others. She was the commander of her husband's army and she is the one who murdered your father, Carlisle, She used Callum to do this and to break him. Submission is one of her practices onto her lackeys."
Carlisle released Callum and returned to Zenobia's side. "I see. Why did you take his cross?"
Callum fixed his coat, "She wanted proof that he was dead and when I lost the cross my sire became angry... None of that matters anymore. She deserves to die, yes, but I also want to protect your family, brother..."
This family discovery was tiring to her and she had more important things to do such as taking care of her son. Zenobia rushed into the living room, picked up Kieran and kissed his forehead. He felt contented to held by her after all this time. Carlisle sat down on the marble stairs to the second floor. He remained in thought there for five minutes. Callum stood against the wall opposite of him. He had always knew there was some inner connection his father had to Rosemary. He married her after the death of their spouses. Childbirth and ill health. Callum and his four sisters were his siblings by the blood.
Callum's sister's all had husband's now and children. Living a comfortable life. He saw them visit the graves of their fathers and brothers a few times. It disturbed him to be looking down at his own tomb stone and shallow grave. It proved Carlisle died 12 years ago. The human was dead and replaced with a vampire. It relieved Carlisle more than anything in knowing the family line did not die with him. The living Cullen blood would be pasted down through their sister's descendants. He had no choice but to forgive his half-brother.
Despite the flaws; He could not deny this life gave him happiness. A woman who is his friend and lover. The son she had given him and their troubled adopted teenage daughter. He had not expected to have this kind of second life. Until she had all too quickly entered it. As they say; Everything great starts with a woman.
The next month Carlisle tried to get information out of Alistair about his sire and tempted to get to knowing Alistair better. The hunter wasn't much for talking or company. Carlisle had to decode him by his body language and brief conversation. Slowly but surely he was getting through to him. Zenobia returned to raising Kieran and over looking the household. She found peace in the simplistic joys of everyday life.
Happiness
3 years later... 1679, A.D
Zenobia walked home from the market. Cherubic Kieran walked beside her dressed in a blue coat, vest, britches and little shoes. His little hand in her own. Her son's candid smile always lightened her days and those to come. He had grown strong, smart and healthy. His curling leucous hair jumped when he walked and skipped. She had not expected him to walk after nine months of his life. Now it was hard to keep an eye on him.
She gave him a piece of lightly chewed venison meat and told him to do what she had done before eating it. He did as she instructed and swallowed.
His voice chirped, "Mommy, A birdy!" He pointed at a raven who purched on a tree nearby. Kieran was discovering new things every day.
Her hybrid son knew plenty of words. Mommy, daddy, A, birdy, sissy, kissy, go and no. Birdy was his first word. She picked him up and littered him with kisses, "It's a raven, My son."
"No, kissy." He made a grouchy face.
"Too bad, Mommy is going to kiss you always." She smooched his cheeks.
"Go kiss daddy."
"Daddy is finishing college... He's too busy." She threw Kieran up at the sky and grabbed him in her arms when he came back down. He giggled and she threw him up again now higher. "Kieran! Oh! No!"
"I almost missed you! Baby!" She hugged him and he began to weep. "Bad mommy!"
She kissed his forehead, "Yes, I am a bad mother and you are a bad kid."
Kieran thought he was a good kid. He disagreed, "No,"
They entered the cottage and into his father's office. Kieran climbed up on to his father's chair and he took the quill from the ink pot. He began to draw circles on his father's physics paperwork. Zenobia stopped him and took away the quill. He began to cry.
"No,"
She picked him up and took him to his room which was formerly hers. Gave him a roll of parchment paper and paints to use. Kieran smiled going to work.
Zenobia watched him paint with his fingers. He drew a circle, smaller circles for eyes, long hair and a half moon smile. "Who's that? Me?"
Her son nodded smiling and continued on with his art. Kieran drew a raven and a stick figure of himself. "Me and birdy."
She heard laughing and talking down stairs. The voices belonged to no other than Callum and Madeleine. Those two had become dangerously and romantically involved in the past few years. First, Madeleine was reluctant to have anything to do with him considering the unaddressed suspicions she had about her employer's family. The only people who ever ate food was Zenobia and her son. Late night excursions and those unnatural good looks. Callum was extremely honest with her about the whole truth and cherry topped off with a pun about his kin. She had heard about vampires but never thought they actually existed. She thought the people who randomly showed up dead died by the attack of a mad man or disease. The truth did not change much other than making the unnatural seem more common as the days go. They both had taken their relationship slowly in order to keep impulsive decision making at bay. Madeleine had found herself falling for Callum and the farther she fell she could never get out of the hole she dug for herself. She was in love with a suave monster who had seduced her with affection, satiric words, ideology and his presence.
He hugged Maddy and kissed her lips. Callum spoke, "You sure about this?... I do not have any money to provide you with a decent life."
"Zenobia has paid me fairly for keeping up her house. I have money... Like a vampire like you would even need it." Maddy said kissing him. The only one who had currency was Zenobia and all of it in whoever name it was undoubtedly her's.
"The land grabber... I wonder when my half-brother is going to marry her... It would be in his best interest." Callum gave a devious chuckle.
"If you haven't noticed... They love each-other... She could have left him and the baby here and go back to Greece with her creepy father but she stayed."
"Leaving Carlisle? She will never leave him because he got her pregnant and she needs a male guardian in society. I am not sure if they do love each-other... Would they not get married? If they did?"
Zenobia listened to their conversation and it frustrated her. Even the humans outside this house had suspicions about the degree of their relationship. She did not want to enter a marriage and loose her freedom and power. Though now she had to think about reasons why she would marry him. The one she had told him. A family. She had to secure her family's future for the sake of her children. It was what he was trying to tell her that night. Only her raging pregnant hormones were ignoring everything Carlisle was saying. The important words. She had to speak to him alone.
While she was alone in her thoughts; messy Kieran had fallen asleep on the floor. His mother picked him up and snuggled him up in his bed. She left him there with a kiss on the forehead and left his room.
Late afternoon Carlisle arrived home. He took off his coat and placed it on the chair in the front of his desk. He sat down at his desk and peered down to see circular drawings with dots inside the circles done by someone who was undoubtedly his son. He laughed lightly shaking his head. Planets. Zenobia saw Kieran being an artist and his father: A Scientist.
Zenobia entered into his office and stood behind him. She hugged him around the shoulders. "You seem stressed... Come with me."
"You are going to cure that with intercourse?" He said as she began to unbutton his vest.
"Coitus was a cure-all before civilization. Even if humans never understood that... It is also important for every healthy relationship." She replied messaging his shoulders and down his chest. "I also need to speak to you about other important things."
"Take me with you," He stood up and she purloined him up to their bedroom. Carlisle closed the door quickly and to his surprise she jumped into his arms. Kissing him, her arms and legs around him. He pushed her into the bed and unlaced the front of her white gown. Cosseting her skin with his lips and a kiss on her flat stomach.
Author: We all know what happened now... I changed the title of this story... I hope it's better. Alistair screen time was brief here... Nah, He will come again. Now we will be going into the conclusion of act one with the next two chapters. Part 2 will focus on Volturi matters. Review/comment and tell me your thoughts. All is needed and appreciated.
Chapter 9: Cult Of The Damned - Summary: With a request from his sire, George steals important tablets on vampires from Asherah and gives them to Spiridon Petricallas for a sum of money and cult prestige in return. What they don't know is a pissed hybrid commander/queen Asherah is on their trail to take back what is hers.
Coming in a week or two!
