Balgus stared coldly down at the girl prostrate on the floor in front of
him. If he remembered correctly, her name was Isabelle…and of course, his
memory was never faulty.
The girl had ridden in on an exhausted horse from Kuwaro's duchy, where she had been a spy in his house. Sending word with another messenger, she had informed him that she had very important information on Van Fanel… Balgus had sent for her immediately to come to his private chambers.
"So…what news have you for me that was important enough to blow your cover?"
Isabelle winced. "I told the others it was a family emergency."
"What lies you told them is not a concern of mine at this time. What I need to know is what information you have for me?"
The girl explained her actions after Van had summoned her, up until she hovered outside the door. When she paused, Balgus prompted her.
"Yes?"
"Well, Van and this other young man were talking. Van was saying that he didn't mind about something and asked if they could travel to Lokia. The other man said, don't you realize how important it is to become vampire? And he said something about doesn't Van feel the hunger? Van said yes, he felt the hunger, but wanted to stop anyway. The other man agreed."
"What else?"
"Well, sir, Van and this other man are lovers."
Balgus stopped cold. "Lovers?"
"Yes, they pledged their love."
"So…you come here to tell me that my student is not only a vampire, but in love with another man?" Balgus turned white with restrained fury. The servant sensed this and just nodded sharply, perhaps afraid of his wrath. The warrior turned around abruptly and leaned his forehead against the wall panting, as he thought this over. Reports of rape in the woods had ceased the same time that Van left…and all the victims swore that the man who seduced them had bitten their necks. Balgus hadn't believed them then, but now…? Obviously this other young man was the vampire, and had convinced Van that he was too. Perhaps, he was… Balgus had never approved of his liege's wedding to that horrible demoness. This disease must have come from her!
Swearing in several different languages, Balgus whirled back around to face the rebellious girl. "Do you have anything else of interest?"
"No, lord. I have told you everything I know." She stood up, hips swaying seductively. "Will you be…needing me any further?"
He ran an eye down her figure. "A full description of Van's companion would be nice." She pouted but complied, telling him everything she'd noticed. After she was through, Balgus took her hand and thanked her. She pressed up against him as he led her to the exit, shutting the door firmly.
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The captain of the guard stared down at the orders he'd just received from Balgus.
"Deploy all troops immediately to find and capture Van Fanel. Also, capture his companion, a tall young man with long dark hair and eyes. Beware…they will resist arrest. Use all means at your disposal. Last known location, Lokia."
It was signed with Balgus's seal. And that was all. The guard captain snorted in disgust. For all that Balgus was a master swordsman and supposedly expert strategist, he obviously had no idea how to track down a criminal… At this, the captain frowned. A criminal…their king. This didn't seem right. Master Van had left to visit his cousin…so why did Balgus want him tracked down? Shaking his head at politics beyond him, the captain reluctantly gave orders for his men to pack up and move out.
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The next evening set dark and chill, waking Van with its unnatural silence. This time when he woke in the inn, it was his arm wrapped around Ki, not the other way around. Withdrawing quickly, he shook Ki awake. Looking around with bleary eyes, Ki sank to his pillows.
"Ai…so tired." They had spent last night admiring corals and the other great sights of the city, walking around for at least an hour. Van nodded sympathetically to this last statement. Kiosun reluctantly hauled himself from the warm cocoon of blankets and pulled on a rumpled shirt. Van pulled on his own shirt and rinsed his face with water from the basin.
"So we leave for Angelique's?" He asked.
"Yes, immediately."
"Hai, alright." Van threw his few belongings in his pack and slung it from his elbow. Ki followed suit, and soon they were on the edge of the city, after having thanked the pair of vampires who ran the inn.
"Ready to go?" asked Ki.
"As ready as I'll ever be." The two young men stripped their shirts off, tied their bags around their waists and launched themselves into the sky, wings beating powerfully towards the west. Neither one saw the pickpocket who'd followed them to the city limits stare wide eyed as she watched their odd departure. Nor did they ever find out who sold them out to the Fanalian guard six hours later.
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Angelique scanned the sky nervously for her foster brother. Ki was nowhere to be seen, nor was Folken's brother. Folken himself was inside, having declined her invitation to join her while watching for Kiosun. She half- smiled to herself at the thought of Ki returning. That little trickster was always getting himself in trouble so innocently! And this time, his biggest jump ever…he had finally picked his lifemate. The irony of it also being her mate's brother was somewhat surprising.
When Vampires bonded, they mated for life. At least, most of the time. There were far too many cases just like Kiosun's, where the elder vampire deserted the younger. Which was a good thing in the long run, for the race to survive. After all, every once in a while, the bloodlines traced by the Draconians were faulty, and new vampires showed up about twice every fifty years. These new ones needed elders to induct them, and if everyone bonded, there would be no free ones for the new vampires. Still, there were all too many cases of heartsick young vampires going rouge and attacking whole villages in their rage. Ki had been one of the few to recover completely. She had been another. Laike had been the first she'd changed and only because she was his sister. Together they'd decided to choose other lifemates.
Wait…on the horizon… Angelique peered into the faint light cast by the moon… Two figures, flying strongly in her direction. It had to be Van and Kiosun! She hurried back to the cabin, a grin spread across her face.
"They're coming! Ki and your brother are coming!" Folken looked up at her from the table. His eyes were haunted. He said nothing. Her grin faltered, then disappeared.
"You're nervous. You think he'll repudiate you."
Folken looked away. "Yes. Why shouldn't he? I left, without telling him. I never contacted him…I gave him no reason to believe I was still alive. I may have caused the death of our mother…she disappeared too, and we still don't know where she is."
"You know I believe she returned to Draconia."
"Yes. But we don't know for certain. Remember, they don't associate with vampires." The last word was spit out resentfully. Angelique sighed as Laike tried to make himself invisible in the background.
"At least we associate amidst ourselves. You must accept his feelings, Folken. I know he'll accept you. I'll leave you two alone for a while when they get here. I'm sure Ki and I have a lot of catching up to do, so you should have plenty of time to work out your differences."
Folken nodded. Angelique walked out the door to greet her foster brother and his newly chosen lifemate.
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Van peered in the direction Ki pointed, and could just make out a tiny figure waving to them next to a warmly lit cottage. As they got closer, Van could see a beautiful woman who looked about twenty-three. She had ash- blonde hair and a mature figure. She wore a brown dress and had her hair pulled back into a ponytail. Van glanced at Ki, who had a huge smile on his face. Ki sped up a bit, but Van fell behind. Emotions twisted his heart and clouded his mind. Finally, after years of not knowing, after so many sleepless nights of wondering, he would see his brother again. Ki turned his head to look back at his reluctant young friend.
"What is it? Or need I ask…this is about your brother, isn't it?"
"Yes. I don't know what I'm feeling…It's like I should be angry with him, but I'm not. I just want to be his little brother again. But what if he doesn't forgive me? After all, I almost stopped believing in him."
"Van, that's ridiculous. Do you honestly think your brother would be mad at you for that? He wants forgiveness just as much as you do. Show him you still love him. That's all he wants."
Van nodded, still uncertain. Ki grinned and grabbed Van's hand, pulling him along faster.
"Come on, let's go!" With no choice, Van flapped faster.
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Ki touched down in front of Angelique and was pulled into a very enthusiastic hug. Laike walked over with a grin on his face and hugged both of them. Just beyond Angelique, Ki could see Folken paused in the doorframe. Van stood behind the group of vampires and stared at his brother. The threesome pulled back, and there was a very awkward silence as the tension between the brothers lengthened and stretched.
Both brothers moved at the same time and embraced, holding tight as if they'd never let go. At a discreet signal from Angelique, Ki followed her inside to one of the bedrooms, Laike trailing behind. She turned to him and hugged him again.
"Foster brother! How I have missed you!" She held him at arms length and scrutinized him carefully. "You look like Hell. Something tells me things are not going to plan."
He collapsed onto the bed and threw an arm over his eyes. "Oh sister, you have no idea." She sobered immediately.
"Tell me." So he did. He explained his entire journey to her, leaving out nothing. When he finished, she let out a sigh. "I see your problem."
"Yes. I must make him love me before it's too late. If not, the transformation will be very painful, and tear us apart, causing no end to the anguish he will feel. The bonding ceremony works quite well, even if there is no love…but if there is not…"
She finished for him. "Then the pair is unable to stay together. The betrayal is too great."
"The love survives when it is there, with few other effects. I love him so much…I just don't know if he feels the same."
She considered this for a moment. "Well, what have you tried so far?"
He groaned. "Everything, and nothing seems to work. It's driving me crazy!" He paused then continued.
"We spent a whole day together at Lokia, talking and laughing. We looked at the corals in that tiny boat, and then slept together in the tiny beds they have at the inn. No matter how close we got, he drew away every time I made an advance. Every time I think I made some progress, he stiffened up and just became untouchable. I've nearly given up hope! I know I'm right about his preferences, he admitted as much himself."
She absorbed this in silence. Finally she spoke. "Well…it looks like you're right. Until he admits he's in love with you, even to himself, then this bonding won't work. You'll be unable to stand each other."
He snarled. "You think I don't realize that?! I love him too much to wish that kind of pain on him. Maybe it's best to let his brother conduct the ceremony."
She glared at him. "That's not up to you."
"Nor to you! Folken is his own man, and he can decide for himself whether he wants to conduct the ceremony. When he and Van finish making up, then we can ask him."
She countered swiftly. "Yes, but what if the love between the brothers has been strained beyond bearing? The ceremony wouldn't work then either."
He turned on her swiftly. "Then we have more than just a little problem, don't we? We'll have a half-mad, rouge vampire on our hands."
She sighed. "Let's not fight, Ki. We need to unite in this, if we want it to be solved."
He softened and hung his head. "I'm sorry, sister-love. It's just been such a hard week. To be so close to the one I love and be entirely unable to touch him."
She walked over and settled down on the bed beside him. Laike had remained silent throughout the tirade, but spoke now in his quiet tenor.
"He may not have responded to you because he is afraid." The other two looked up quickly. Laike did not speak often without reason, and what he did say was carefully reflected upon and, more often than not, entirely accurate.
"What?" Ki was the first to speak.
"If what you have told me is true, he did not make his preferences public, and would have been shunned for it if he had. It may be that he still feels the need to hide his feelings. Habit, if you will. So when he finds himself responding, he backs away so that he doesn't show what he truly feels." Laike settled back, apparently satisfied that his point had been made. The other two nodded cautiously.
"That could be true…" Ki capitulated. Angelique nodded agreement. In the surge of emotion that Ki felt, blackness tinged the side of his vision, then roared its way free, surrounding him as he fell against the bed.
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Van felt hot tears make tracks down his cheeks as he held his brother, who for so long was lost to him. Folken clutched at him as if he could hardly believe he was real. For how long they stood like that, Van could never be sure. But finally they did draw apart, and Van found that he was not the only one crying. His brother beheld him with wonder.
"Oniisan…" Van whispered. "My brother…"
Folken stared long and hard at Van. "You've changed so much…"
Looking at Folken, Van realized his brother looked exactly the same as when he'd left. "You haven't changed at all."
With this, the tension was broken, and the brothers walked into the house, chatting about the events that had occurred in Folken's absence. Folken told of how he'd watched Van, every once in a while, and how he had longed to return. Van spoke of how he had longed for his brother's return and had finally given up all hope. Folken smiled sadly at this, and hugged Van.
"Can you forgive me for leaving?"
"Of course I forgive you… Can you forgive me for not believing in you?"
"With no regrets. Aishiteru, Van."
"Aishiteru, ani."
All of a sudden, a gasp came from the bedroom, and both heads swiveled to regard the closed door. The door then crashed open and Angelique came through. Taking a small glass of cold water, she returned to the bedroom, offering no explanation. The brothers exchanged a glance and followed.
Ki lay on the bed, deathly pale. Angelique poured a small amount of water into his mouth, with no noticeable change. Van rushed over to Ki's side.
"Kiosun? Ki, talk to me!" He was nearly frantic, and entirely unsure why. From off to his side, he heard Laike mutter to Angelique.
"I guess that answers our question." Whether she replied, Van didn't know, for at that moment, Ki's eyes fluttered slowly open. Angelique was immediately at his other side.
"Kiosun!" she cried. "What happened?"
"I…" Ki's reply was weak. "The hunger…I haven't fed since five nights before the night we left Fanalia."
Angelique counted the days. "Ki, that's nearly two weeks! A vampire can only survive for so long without feeding!"
"I know…I think I've reached that limit."
"Why? Why did you strain yourself? Here…" Angelique bared her neck and bent down. Ki turned his head aside and tried weakly to push her away.
"No…"
"Why?"
"Remember…my blood must be untainted by another's for the ceremony."
"And you didn't expect the ceremony to be held off for so long." There was no answer. Angelique sighed. "Very well. Tomorrow night, Laike, Folken and I will travel to Lokia to stay for several days. That should give you the privacy you need. When we return, I fully expect the ceremony to be complete. Regardless of whether you think he is ready. He has most likely not eaten since he left, either. Perhaps longer, since he will have been unable to digest anything but raw meat."
Van nodded guiltily. "I haven't eaten in a week."
"You will be able to after the bonding. Now, Van and Ki, you will sleep here tonight. Folken and I will be in our bedroom next to this one, and Laike will be in his. Get some rest…" Angelique blew out the nearby candles as the first feeling of dawn made the skin crawl on Van's back. The other three vampires left, closing the door softly behind them.
Van helped Ki get into the bed completely, and covered him up tightly. Slipping in next to him, Van relaxed slowly, staring at the ceiling. Soft even breaths beside him told him that Ki was sleeping…though from his experience in the inn at Lokia, that wasn't a sure sign. Rolling over, he closed his eyes tightly, relieved to be safe and reunited with his brother. He could worry about the rest of it some other time.
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Ki awoke to insistent shaking by Laike. The young man bent down close to Ki's ear.
"Ki…can you wake up a little? Angelique wants me to go to Italville to prospect some mares for breeding, so I leave now. Everyone else is still asleep. It's about ten minutes after sundown. In another hour or so, Folken and Angelique will leave for Lokia. If you're not awake by then, they told me to tell you farewell for now. Now, I've got to go. Rest some more, and restore some of your strength. You'll need it for the ceremony." At Ki's bleary nod, Laike bestowed a soft kiss on his forehead, and walked silently out of the room. Ki turned over and began to snore softly.
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The guard captain put the spyglass to his eye as a black winged figure rose from the trees about a mile ahead of them. Though the figure matched the description in the letter, he looked far too young to be the man they were looking for. Still, one vampire was better than none.
The captain had done a little research after reading the dispatch sent by Balgus. The girl who brought the information had been found and agreed to repeat all she'd learned…for a price. Though expensive, her information was well worth it. Traveling to Lokia, his men had searched and found the inn where the pair had stayed. A street urchin hanging about the inn had told them what she'd seen. Also for a price. A price returned, as soon as they'd killed her. So the captain and his men had set out due west, fanning out in the trees for likely hiding places. Finding nothing but farmhouses, they stationed themselves where anyone flying could easily be spotted.
The sentry at his side cleared his throat. Brought back to the present, the captain began issuing orders. "Alright men, fan out and find the cottage he flew from. Once there, surround it and wait for my orders. Move!"
The well-trained men moved silently through the forest, leaving no trail and making no sound. The captain followed, just as silently. When they reached the cottage, the guard captain whispered his orders.
"On my word, cover all exits. You, you, and…you. You three will follow me when we break in. Allow no one to escape. Everyone in the house is suspect to harboring dangerous criminals. Find Van and his companion and bring them before me. Anyone else you find, tie up and wait for further orders. Dismissed."
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Kiosun heard the whispers outside. Shaking Van awake with a hand over his mouth, he breathed softly, "Quietly, Van. Fanalian soldiers have found us."
Van came wide-awake at once. Gesturing that he would remain silent, Ki removed his hand. "How?" mouthed Van.
"I don't know. But we have to hide quickly."
"Alright."
Ki stood up silently and motioned Van to follow him. Moving to the next room where Folken and Angelique still slept, Ki woke them in the same manner. After quickly explaining the situation and the need for urgency, Angelique pushed the bed aside a few inches. Underneath was a trap door leading to a very small cellar, just large enough for two or three people. Angelique pushed Folken in first, followed by Ki, and then Van. Just as Ki was completely inside, the sound of the front door being flung off its hinges made everyone jump.
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Van heard the door come crashing in just after Ki dropped into the cellar. Acting quickly, he slammed the trap door shut and pulled the bed over it with strength of adrenaline alone. Only after the bed was in place did he realize that Angelique was still outside. Her face was white and pinched, pupils dilated with fear.
Van swore silently as he heard the noises of…four different soldiers searching the house methodically. These were the special troops…it was unlikely that the trap door would be missed unless they immediately found who they were looking for. Running to the door, he braced himself and held it closed as the first soldier tried to open it. Angelique ran over and helped, as the soldier outside called over his comrades.
The four soldiers were more than two vampires, however strong their enhanced powers made them, could handle. The bedroom door was ripped off its hinges and thrown aside. Pushing Angelique behind him, Van spread his wings to protect her, ripping his shirt to threads. The four soldiers stood in the doorway gathering their bearings. Finally orienting themselves to the darkness, they spotted Van and began to fan out, trapping him in the room.
"Lord Balgus wants you back at the castle, Lord Van. Please come with us peacefully," said the one with a blond beard.
Something inside of Van snapped. Hearing soldiers, special troops, that he used to be friends with, order him to return to the capital like a common criminal, was too much. He hissed at them and mantled his wings, showing as much tooth as he could. Crooking his fingers into claws, he threw himself on Blond Beard, trying his best to bare handedly take out the whole quartet.
The soldier, caught off guard, was thrown from the doorway, leaving Angelique an opening to escape. Though startled, she was not slow to take it. She ran through quickly, before the other three guards could stop her. Van turned his attention back to the man at hand.
Blond Beard was startled, but only for an instant. Soon it was all Van could do to remain on top. Plunging his teeth at the soldier's neck, his nose was cracked against an elbow, blood dripping onto the floor. A red haze descended on his vision, the sight of blood more than the vampire inside of him could handle. The soldier barely had time for a short scream before Van tore out his throat.
The other soldiers were standing around them, trying to help their comrade without accidentally hurting him. As soon as they saw their friend down, they moved in to subdue the young princeling. By then, it was too late. Van staggered back, adrenaline gone, blood dripping from his fingers and his nose. The lack of sustenance combined with the sudden surge and withdrawal of adrenaline caught up with him, blackness rising in his vision. The last thing he heard was a shrill scream from outside before he fell to the floor.
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Van awoke to a gentle murmuring voice and soft fingers stroking his cheek.
"Van…Van, can you wake up please? Van…speak to me."
Thinking himself with Kiosun, he smiled and opened his eyes. Angelique's worried face hovered above his and the events of the evening came rushing back to him. The smile left his face immediately, leaving no trace that it had ever been there.
Attempting to sit up, he found himself bound hand and foot. Angelique was similarly bound, but helped him sit up anyway. Before he could ask, she made a quick summary of events.
"As soon was I went outside, I spread my wings to fly. A net was thrown over me and six more soldiers surrounded me. They brought you out a moment later. After a cursory look around, they left the house and we've been traveling since. We're in some kind of a wagon, reinforced with bars. Even vampiric strength can't bend them. Our wings, hands, and feet are bound…they're taking no chances. Thankfully, they didn't gag us. We're still in the forest, and as near as I can tell, it's almost dawn. They know we're vampires since you killed one of them in such a spectacular manner. Unfortunately, it wasn't the captain. He's the one riding the horse in front."
Following her finger, he saw a brown haired man, one of the ones that had been in the search to enter the house. Arranged around the wagon on full guard position were eight more soldiers. Thrown over a horse behind the wagon was a body wrapped in blankets. Any hopes of escape he'd had disappeared. Eight soldiers and one captain on full guard status was eight soldiers and one captain too many.
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After hours of tense waiting, Kiosun finally decided it was safe to come out. Folken had remained silent the entire time, not offering any opinion. The only time he'd shown emotion was when Angelique's scream had echoed from outside. He'd closed his eyes and shuddered, almost moaning. Ki had grabbed his hand and shook his head, indicating caution. Folken had looked away, expressionless again.
Opening the trap door proved to be a problem, however. Since the bed was over top, it had to be pushed out of the way first. With the combined strength of both vampires, they were able to open the door and overturn the bed at the same time. With the huge crash that resounded, Ki doubted any remaining guards would not have come running. When the house remained silent, Ki cautiously crept into the room. Folken followed, just as silently. They moved through the house checking for signs of what had happened. A bloodstain on the floor attested to Van's kill. Folken looked worried when he saw it, but Ki assured him it wasn't Van's.
"We both heard the soldier go down. Besides, I would have recognized Van's blood." Ki said. A small voice in the back of his head told him that, no, he wouldn't really recognize Van's blood, but he ignored it. Folken just shot him an unreadable glance and was silent. Outside in the dust they saw signs of a struggle and a net. Folken went down on a knee and traced the imprints.
"Angelique was captured here. No blood…she is unharmed as far as I know. We must get them back immediately. It is almost dawn…if the soldiers don't cover them, they won't survive."
Ki winced. "But they know Van and Angelique are vampires…the wings attest to that. Or if they are truly stupid, they'll at least recognize them as Draconians. And of course, when they see the two slowly burning and begging for cover, they'll have to do something." He added bitterly. Folken looked pained, as if he did not wish to contemplate that possibility.
The two young men searched the clearing and found the tracks of twelve horses and a wagon. After a moment of hesitation, they took to the air and followed the trail, hoping to make enough time to get to a safe haven before dawn.
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Van winced as the feeling of the approaching dawn made his back feel so unguarded. Angelique was white with strain but holding up very well. In just a few minutes the sun would break over the horizon and begin to slowly kill the pair of vampires, roasting them alive. Van tried begging the guard captain one more time.
"Please, Captain…if you do not provide some shelter for us…blankets, cloaks, anything…we will die. Please, you must help us…at least help her! Just shove a blanket through the bars… Just as long as it can completely cover us, it will be fine. If you want to return anything to Balgus besides a corpse, you must help us!" The sun peeked out from the horizon, it's bright morning light striking Van's upraised arm. "Ahhh!" he screamed in pain. Angelique screamed as well, turning her back to the sun. Van placed himself in front of her, covering as much of her as he could reach. The guards had turned quickly at their screams, having ignored everything else they said.
Van sobbed quietly now, every exposed part of his body on fire…literally. Though no real flames were evident, his skin was slowly turning black. Everywhere the sun touched hurt with a total complete pain. Angelique was behind him, protected from the light by the shadow from his chained wings and body. She was however, still crying from her first burns. The pain was intense, every nerve in his body screamed in agony.
Suddenly, the light was cut off. A blanket had been thrown over the cage, blocking the sun. Van collapsed in relief. Tears leaked from his eyes as he tried to ignore the pain. Angelique glanced over at him. Her back was slightly burned, but had only been in the direct light for a few seconds. Van's arms, chest, wings, and face were burned badly. The soldier captain lifted up the far corner of the blanket, so that no sunlight would shine through.
"So…the rumor was true. You are a vampire. And your friend here too. But the orders specified another…taller, with darker hair and white skin. About twenty. Where is he?"
Van opened cracked lips to answer. "I don't know."
The guard captain smiled grimly. "Yes, you do. And if you don't tell us, we'll drag your woman into the sunlight."
Van whimpered. "I really don't know. I left him at the house."
The guard captain nodded slowly. "That may be true. After we captured you, the house was just given a cursory examination. We may have missed much. It is too late now to return. Balgus will have to be content with you two vampires. It makes little difference to him. You'll both die anyway." He began to turn away, then seemed to notice just how badly burned Van was. "Of course, if you die before we reach Fanalia, Balgus will not be pleased. You, girl…what do you need to treat his burns?"
Angelique whispered quietly. "Bandages…salve from Madame Greenwood, in Lokia. She makes special burn potions for the firemen." She added at the Captain's doubtful look. "Two blankets, new clothes…soft cloth, not harsh wool or cotton. The salve would take effect before we reached Fanalia, and he would be nearly healed."
The captain nodded curtly and summoned one of his men. Van heard their whispered conversation. "Go to Lokia, find a Madame Greenwood. Get her most potent burn salve. Pay her well, but if she shows any signs of being a vampire, kill her. Also, buy the other things the vampire requested. The best you can afford. Here… Meet up with us at Fin Crossings." Money exchanged hands. The soldier saluted and rode east, towards Lokia. Van lay back gingerly against the rough wood of the wagon. This would surely be a very uncomfortable ride.
The girl had ridden in on an exhausted horse from Kuwaro's duchy, where she had been a spy in his house. Sending word with another messenger, she had informed him that she had very important information on Van Fanel… Balgus had sent for her immediately to come to his private chambers.
"So…what news have you for me that was important enough to blow your cover?"
Isabelle winced. "I told the others it was a family emergency."
"What lies you told them is not a concern of mine at this time. What I need to know is what information you have for me?"
The girl explained her actions after Van had summoned her, up until she hovered outside the door. When she paused, Balgus prompted her.
"Yes?"
"Well, Van and this other young man were talking. Van was saying that he didn't mind about something and asked if they could travel to Lokia. The other man said, don't you realize how important it is to become vampire? And he said something about doesn't Van feel the hunger? Van said yes, he felt the hunger, but wanted to stop anyway. The other man agreed."
"What else?"
"Well, sir, Van and this other man are lovers."
Balgus stopped cold. "Lovers?"
"Yes, they pledged their love."
"So…you come here to tell me that my student is not only a vampire, but in love with another man?" Balgus turned white with restrained fury. The servant sensed this and just nodded sharply, perhaps afraid of his wrath. The warrior turned around abruptly and leaned his forehead against the wall panting, as he thought this over. Reports of rape in the woods had ceased the same time that Van left…and all the victims swore that the man who seduced them had bitten their necks. Balgus hadn't believed them then, but now…? Obviously this other young man was the vampire, and had convinced Van that he was too. Perhaps, he was… Balgus had never approved of his liege's wedding to that horrible demoness. This disease must have come from her!
Swearing in several different languages, Balgus whirled back around to face the rebellious girl. "Do you have anything else of interest?"
"No, lord. I have told you everything I know." She stood up, hips swaying seductively. "Will you be…needing me any further?"
He ran an eye down her figure. "A full description of Van's companion would be nice." She pouted but complied, telling him everything she'd noticed. After she was through, Balgus took her hand and thanked her. She pressed up against him as he led her to the exit, shutting the door firmly.
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The captain of the guard stared down at the orders he'd just received from Balgus.
"Deploy all troops immediately to find and capture Van Fanel. Also, capture his companion, a tall young man with long dark hair and eyes. Beware…they will resist arrest. Use all means at your disposal. Last known location, Lokia."
It was signed with Balgus's seal. And that was all. The guard captain snorted in disgust. For all that Balgus was a master swordsman and supposedly expert strategist, he obviously had no idea how to track down a criminal… At this, the captain frowned. A criminal…their king. This didn't seem right. Master Van had left to visit his cousin…so why did Balgus want him tracked down? Shaking his head at politics beyond him, the captain reluctantly gave orders for his men to pack up and move out.
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The next evening set dark and chill, waking Van with its unnatural silence. This time when he woke in the inn, it was his arm wrapped around Ki, not the other way around. Withdrawing quickly, he shook Ki awake. Looking around with bleary eyes, Ki sank to his pillows.
"Ai…so tired." They had spent last night admiring corals and the other great sights of the city, walking around for at least an hour. Van nodded sympathetically to this last statement. Kiosun reluctantly hauled himself from the warm cocoon of blankets and pulled on a rumpled shirt. Van pulled on his own shirt and rinsed his face with water from the basin.
"So we leave for Angelique's?" He asked.
"Yes, immediately."
"Hai, alright." Van threw his few belongings in his pack and slung it from his elbow. Ki followed suit, and soon they were on the edge of the city, after having thanked the pair of vampires who ran the inn.
"Ready to go?" asked Ki.
"As ready as I'll ever be." The two young men stripped their shirts off, tied their bags around their waists and launched themselves into the sky, wings beating powerfully towards the west. Neither one saw the pickpocket who'd followed them to the city limits stare wide eyed as she watched their odd departure. Nor did they ever find out who sold them out to the Fanalian guard six hours later.
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Angelique scanned the sky nervously for her foster brother. Ki was nowhere to be seen, nor was Folken's brother. Folken himself was inside, having declined her invitation to join her while watching for Kiosun. She half- smiled to herself at the thought of Ki returning. That little trickster was always getting himself in trouble so innocently! And this time, his biggest jump ever…he had finally picked his lifemate. The irony of it also being her mate's brother was somewhat surprising.
When Vampires bonded, they mated for life. At least, most of the time. There were far too many cases just like Kiosun's, where the elder vampire deserted the younger. Which was a good thing in the long run, for the race to survive. After all, every once in a while, the bloodlines traced by the Draconians were faulty, and new vampires showed up about twice every fifty years. These new ones needed elders to induct them, and if everyone bonded, there would be no free ones for the new vampires. Still, there were all too many cases of heartsick young vampires going rouge and attacking whole villages in their rage. Ki had been one of the few to recover completely. She had been another. Laike had been the first she'd changed and only because she was his sister. Together they'd decided to choose other lifemates.
Wait…on the horizon… Angelique peered into the faint light cast by the moon… Two figures, flying strongly in her direction. It had to be Van and Kiosun! She hurried back to the cabin, a grin spread across her face.
"They're coming! Ki and your brother are coming!" Folken looked up at her from the table. His eyes were haunted. He said nothing. Her grin faltered, then disappeared.
"You're nervous. You think he'll repudiate you."
Folken looked away. "Yes. Why shouldn't he? I left, without telling him. I never contacted him…I gave him no reason to believe I was still alive. I may have caused the death of our mother…she disappeared too, and we still don't know where she is."
"You know I believe she returned to Draconia."
"Yes. But we don't know for certain. Remember, they don't associate with vampires." The last word was spit out resentfully. Angelique sighed as Laike tried to make himself invisible in the background.
"At least we associate amidst ourselves. You must accept his feelings, Folken. I know he'll accept you. I'll leave you two alone for a while when they get here. I'm sure Ki and I have a lot of catching up to do, so you should have plenty of time to work out your differences."
Folken nodded. Angelique walked out the door to greet her foster brother and his newly chosen lifemate.
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Van peered in the direction Ki pointed, and could just make out a tiny figure waving to them next to a warmly lit cottage. As they got closer, Van could see a beautiful woman who looked about twenty-three. She had ash- blonde hair and a mature figure. She wore a brown dress and had her hair pulled back into a ponytail. Van glanced at Ki, who had a huge smile on his face. Ki sped up a bit, but Van fell behind. Emotions twisted his heart and clouded his mind. Finally, after years of not knowing, after so many sleepless nights of wondering, he would see his brother again. Ki turned his head to look back at his reluctant young friend.
"What is it? Or need I ask…this is about your brother, isn't it?"
"Yes. I don't know what I'm feeling…It's like I should be angry with him, but I'm not. I just want to be his little brother again. But what if he doesn't forgive me? After all, I almost stopped believing in him."
"Van, that's ridiculous. Do you honestly think your brother would be mad at you for that? He wants forgiveness just as much as you do. Show him you still love him. That's all he wants."
Van nodded, still uncertain. Ki grinned and grabbed Van's hand, pulling him along faster.
"Come on, let's go!" With no choice, Van flapped faster.
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Ki touched down in front of Angelique and was pulled into a very enthusiastic hug. Laike walked over with a grin on his face and hugged both of them. Just beyond Angelique, Ki could see Folken paused in the doorframe. Van stood behind the group of vampires and stared at his brother. The threesome pulled back, and there was a very awkward silence as the tension between the brothers lengthened and stretched.
Both brothers moved at the same time and embraced, holding tight as if they'd never let go. At a discreet signal from Angelique, Ki followed her inside to one of the bedrooms, Laike trailing behind. She turned to him and hugged him again.
"Foster brother! How I have missed you!" She held him at arms length and scrutinized him carefully. "You look like Hell. Something tells me things are not going to plan."
He collapsed onto the bed and threw an arm over his eyes. "Oh sister, you have no idea." She sobered immediately.
"Tell me." So he did. He explained his entire journey to her, leaving out nothing. When he finished, she let out a sigh. "I see your problem."
"Yes. I must make him love me before it's too late. If not, the transformation will be very painful, and tear us apart, causing no end to the anguish he will feel. The bonding ceremony works quite well, even if there is no love…but if there is not…"
She finished for him. "Then the pair is unable to stay together. The betrayal is too great."
"The love survives when it is there, with few other effects. I love him so much…I just don't know if he feels the same."
She considered this for a moment. "Well, what have you tried so far?"
He groaned. "Everything, and nothing seems to work. It's driving me crazy!" He paused then continued.
"We spent a whole day together at Lokia, talking and laughing. We looked at the corals in that tiny boat, and then slept together in the tiny beds they have at the inn. No matter how close we got, he drew away every time I made an advance. Every time I think I made some progress, he stiffened up and just became untouchable. I've nearly given up hope! I know I'm right about his preferences, he admitted as much himself."
She absorbed this in silence. Finally she spoke. "Well…it looks like you're right. Until he admits he's in love with you, even to himself, then this bonding won't work. You'll be unable to stand each other."
He snarled. "You think I don't realize that?! I love him too much to wish that kind of pain on him. Maybe it's best to let his brother conduct the ceremony."
She glared at him. "That's not up to you."
"Nor to you! Folken is his own man, and he can decide for himself whether he wants to conduct the ceremony. When he and Van finish making up, then we can ask him."
She countered swiftly. "Yes, but what if the love between the brothers has been strained beyond bearing? The ceremony wouldn't work then either."
He turned on her swiftly. "Then we have more than just a little problem, don't we? We'll have a half-mad, rouge vampire on our hands."
She sighed. "Let's not fight, Ki. We need to unite in this, if we want it to be solved."
He softened and hung his head. "I'm sorry, sister-love. It's just been such a hard week. To be so close to the one I love and be entirely unable to touch him."
She walked over and settled down on the bed beside him. Laike had remained silent throughout the tirade, but spoke now in his quiet tenor.
"He may not have responded to you because he is afraid." The other two looked up quickly. Laike did not speak often without reason, and what he did say was carefully reflected upon and, more often than not, entirely accurate.
"What?" Ki was the first to speak.
"If what you have told me is true, he did not make his preferences public, and would have been shunned for it if he had. It may be that he still feels the need to hide his feelings. Habit, if you will. So when he finds himself responding, he backs away so that he doesn't show what he truly feels." Laike settled back, apparently satisfied that his point had been made. The other two nodded cautiously.
"That could be true…" Ki capitulated. Angelique nodded agreement. In the surge of emotion that Ki felt, blackness tinged the side of his vision, then roared its way free, surrounding him as he fell against the bed.
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Van felt hot tears make tracks down his cheeks as he held his brother, who for so long was lost to him. Folken clutched at him as if he could hardly believe he was real. For how long they stood like that, Van could never be sure. But finally they did draw apart, and Van found that he was not the only one crying. His brother beheld him with wonder.
"Oniisan…" Van whispered. "My brother…"
Folken stared long and hard at Van. "You've changed so much…"
Looking at Folken, Van realized his brother looked exactly the same as when he'd left. "You haven't changed at all."
With this, the tension was broken, and the brothers walked into the house, chatting about the events that had occurred in Folken's absence. Folken told of how he'd watched Van, every once in a while, and how he had longed to return. Van spoke of how he had longed for his brother's return and had finally given up all hope. Folken smiled sadly at this, and hugged Van.
"Can you forgive me for leaving?"
"Of course I forgive you… Can you forgive me for not believing in you?"
"With no regrets. Aishiteru, Van."
"Aishiteru, ani."
All of a sudden, a gasp came from the bedroom, and both heads swiveled to regard the closed door. The door then crashed open and Angelique came through. Taking a small glass of cold water, she returned to the bedroom, offering no explanation. The brothers exchanged a glance and followed.
Ki lay on the bed, deathly pale. Angelique poured a small amount of water into his mouth, with no noticeable change. Van rushed over to Ki's side.
"Kiosun? Ki, talk to me!" He was nearly frantic, and entirely unsure why. From off to his side, he heard Laike mutter to Angelique.
"I guess that answers our question." Whether she replied, Van didn't know, for at that moment, Ki's eyes fluttered slowly open. Angelique was immediately at his other side.
"Kiosun!" she cried. "What happened?"
"I…" Ki's reply was weak. "The hunger…I haven't fed since five nights before the night we left Fanalia."
Angelique counted the days. "Ki, that's nearly two weeks! A vampire can only survive for so long without feeding!"
"I know…I think I've reached that limit."
"Why? Why did you strain yourself? Here…" Angelique bared her neck and bent down. Ki turned his head aside and tried weakly to push her away.
"No…"
"Why?"
"Remember…my blood must be untainted by another's for the ceremony."
"And you didn't expect the ceremony to be held off for so long." There was no answer. Angelique sighed. "Very well. Tomorrow night, Laike, Folken and I will travel to Lokia to stay for several days. That should give you the privacy you need. When we return, I fully expect the ceremony to be complete. Regardless of whether you think he is ready. He has most likely not eaten since he left, either. Perhaps longer, since he will have been unable to digest anything but raw meat."
Van nodded guiltily. "I haven't eaten in a week."
"You will be able to after the bonding. Now, Van and Ki, you will sleep here tonight. Folken and I will be in our bedroom next to this one, and Laike will be in his. Get some rest…" Angelique blew out the nearby candles as the first feeling of dawn made the skin crawl on Van's back. The other three vampires left, closing the door softly behind them.
Van helped Ki get into the bed completely, and covered him up tightly. Slipping in next to him, Van relaxed slowly, staring at the ceiling. Soft even breaths beside him told him that Ki was sleeping…though from his experience in the inn at Lokia, that wasn't a sure sign. Rolling over, he closed his eyes tightly, relieved to be safe and reunited with his brother. He could worry about the rest of it some other time.
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Ki awoke to insistent shaking by Laike. The young man bent down close to Ki's ear.
"Ki…can you wake up a little? Angelique wants me to go to Italville to prospect some mares for breeding, so I leave now. Everyone else is still asleep. It's about ten minutes after sundown. In another hour or so, Folken and Angelique will leave for Lokia. If you're not awake by then, they told me to tell you farewell for now. Now, I've got to go. Rest some more, and restore some of your strength. You'll need it for the ceremony." At Ki's bleary nod, Laike bestowed a soft kiss on his forehead, and walked silently out of the room. Ki turned over and began to snore softly.
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The guard captain put the spyglass to his eye as a black winged figure rose from the trees about a mile ahead of them. Though the figure matched the description in the letter, he looked far too young to be the man they were looking for. Still, one vampire was better than none.
The captain had done a little research after reading the dispatch sent by Balgus. The girl who brought the information had been found and agreed to repeat all she'd learned…for a price. Though expensive, her information was well worth it. Traveling to Lokia, his men had searched and found the inn where the pair had stayed. A street urchin hanging about the inn had told them what she'd seen. Also for a price. A price returned, as soon as they'd killed her. So the captain and his men had set out due west, fanning out in the trees for likely hiding places. Finding nothing but farmhouses, they stationed themselves where anyone flying could easily be spotted.
The sentry at his side cleared his throat. Brought back to the present, the captain began issuing orders. "Alright men, fan out and find the cottage he flew from. Once there, surround it and wait for my orders. Move!"
The well-trained men moved silently through the forest, leaving no trail and making no sound. The captain followed, just as silently. When they reached the cottage, the guard captain whispered his orders.
"On my word, cover all exits. You, you, and…you. You three will follow me when we break in. Allow no one to escape. Everyone in the house is suspect to harboring dangerous criminals. Find Van and his companion and bring them before me. Anyone else you find, tie up and wait for further orders. Dismissed."
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Kiosun heard the whispers outside. Shaking Van awake with a hand over his mouth, he breathed softly, "Quietly, Van. Fanalian soldiers have found us."
Van came wide-awake at once. Gesturing that he would remain silent, Ki removed his hand. "How?" mouthed Van.
"I don't know. But we have to hide quickly."
"Alright."
Ki stood up silently and motioned Van to follow him. Moving to the next room where Folken and Angelique still slept, Ki woke them in the same manner. After quickly explaining the situation and the need for urgency, Angelique pushed the bed aside a few inches. Underneath was a trap door leading to a very small cellar, just large enough for two or three people. Angelique pushed Folken in first, followed by Ki, and then Van. Just as Ki was completely inside, the sound of the front door being flung off its hinges made everyone jump.
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Van heard the door come crashing in just after Ki dropped into the cellar. Acting quickly, he slammed the trap door shut and pulled the bed over it with strength of adrenaline alone. Only after the bed was in place did he realize that Angelique was still outside. Her face was white and pinched, pupils dilated with fear.
Van swore silently as he heard the noises of…four different soldiers searching the house methodically. These were the special troops…it was unlikely that the trap door would be missed unless they immediately found who they were looking for. Running to the door, he braced himself and held it closed as the first soldier tried to open it. Angelique ran over and helped, as the soldier outside called over his comrades.
The four soldiers were more than two vampires, however strong their enhanced powers made them, could handle. The bedroom door was ripped off its hinges and thrown aside. Pushing Angelique behind him, Van spread his wings to protect her, ripping his shirt to threads. The four soldiers stood in the doorway gathering their bearings. Finally orienting themselves to the darkness, they spotted Van and began to fan out, trapping him in the room.
"Lord Balgus wants you back at the castle, Lord Van. Please come with us peacefully," said the one with a blond beard.
Something inside of Van snapped. Hearing soldiers, special troops, that he used to be friends with, order him to return to the capital like a common criminal, was too much. He hissed at them and mantled his wings, showing as much tooth as he could. Crooking his fingers into claws, he threw himself on Blond Beard, trying his best to bare handedly take out the whole quartet.
The soldier, caught off guard, was thrown from the doorway, leaving Angelique an opening to escape. Though startled, she was not slow to take it. She ran through quickly, before the other three guards could stop her. Van turned his attention back to the man at hand.
Blond Beard was startled, but only for an instant. Soon it was all Van could do to remain on top. Plunging his teeth at the soldier's neck, his nose was cracked against an elbow, blood dripping onto the floor. A red haze descended on his vision, the sight of blood more than the vampire inside of him could handle. The soldier barely had time for a short scream before Van tore out his throat.
The other soldiers were standing around them, trying to help their comrade without accidentally hurting him. As soon as they saw their friend down, they moved in to subdue the young princeling. By then, it was too late. Van staggered back, adrenaline gone, blood dripping from his fingers and his nose. The lack of sustenance combined with the sudden surge and withdrawal of adrenaline caught up with him, blackness rising in his vision. The last thing he heard was a shrill scream from outside before he fell to the floor.
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Van awoke to a gentle murmuring voice and soft fingers stroking his cheek.
"Van…Van, can you wake up please? Van…speak to me."
Thinking himself with Kiosun, he smiled and opened his eyes. Angelique's worried face hovered above his and the events of the evening came rushing back to him. The smile left his face immediately, leaving no trace that it had ever been there.
Attempting to sit up, he found himself bound hand and foot. Angelique was similarly bound, but helped him sit up anyway. Before he could ask, she made a quick summary of events.
"As soon was I went outside, I spread my wings to fly. A net was thrown over me and six more soldiers surrounded me. They brought you out a moment later. After a cursory look around, they left the house and we've been traveling since. We're in some kind of a wagon, reinforced with bars. Even vampiric strength can't bend them. Our wings, hands, and feet are bound…they're taking no chances. Thankfully, they didn't gag us. We're still in the forest, and as near as I can tell, it's almost dawn. They know we're vampires since you killed one of them in such a spectacular manner. Unfortunately, it wasn't the captain. He's the one riding the horse in front."
Following her finger, he saw a brown haired man, one of the ones that had been in the search to enter the house. Arranged around the wagon on full guard position were eight more soldiers. Thrown over a horse behind the wagon was a body wrapped in blankets. Any hopes of escape he'd had disappeared. Eight soldiers and one captain on full guard status was eight soldiers and one captain too many.
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After hours of tense waiting, Kiosun finally decided it was safe to come out. Folken had remained silent the entire time, not offering any opinion. The only time he'd shown emotion was when Angelique's scream had echoed from outside. He'd closed his eyes and shuddered, almost moaning. Ki had grabbed his hand and shook his head, indicating caution. Folken had looked away, expressionless again.
Opening the trap door proved to be a problem, however. Since the bed was over top, it had to be pushed out of the way first. With the combined strength of both vampires, they were able to open the door and overturn the bed at the same time. With the huge crash that resounded, Ki doubted any remaining guards would not have come running. When the house remained silent, Ki cautiously crept into the room. Folken followed, just as silently. They moved through the house checking for signs of what had happened. A bloodstain on the floor attested to Van's kill. Folken looked worried when he saw it, but Ki assured him it wasn't Van's.
"We both heard the soldier go down. Besides, I would have recognized Van's blood." Ki said. A small voice in the back of his head told him that, no, he wouldn't really recognize Van's blood, but he ignored it. Folken just shot him an unreadable glance and was silent. Outside in the dust they saw signs of a struggle and a net. Folken went down on a knee and traced the imprints.
"Angelique was captured here. No blood…she is unharmed as far as I know. We must get them back immediately. It is almost dawn…if the soldiers don't cover them, they won't survive."
Ki winced. "But they know Van and Angelique are vampires…the wings attest to that. Or if they are truly stupid, they'll at least recognize them as Draconians. And of course, when they see the two slowly burning and begging for cover, they'll have to do something." He added bitterly. Folken looked pained, as if he did not wish to contemplate that possibility.
The two young men searched the clearing and found the tracks of twelve horses and a wagon. After a moment of hesitation, they took to the air and followed the trail, hoping to make enough time to get to a safe haven before dawn.
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Van winced as the feeling of the approaching dawn made his back feel so unguarded. Angelique was white with strain but holding up very well. In just a few minutes the sun would break over the horizon and begin to slowly kill the pair of vampires, roasting them alive. Van tried begging the guard captain one more time.
"Please, Captain…if you do not provide some shelter for us…blankets, cloaks, anything…we will die. Please, you must help us…at least help her! Just shove a blanket through the bars… Just as long as it can completely cover us, it will be fine. If you want to return anything to Balgus besides a corpse, you must help us!" The sun peeked out from the horizon, it's bright morning light striking Van's upraised arm. "Ahhh!" he screamed in pain. Angelique screamed as well, turning her back to the sun. Van placed himself in front of her, covering as much of her as he could reach. The guards had turned quickly at their screams, having ignored everything else they said.
Van sobbed quietly now, every exposed part of his body on fire…literally. Though no real flames were evident, his skin was slowly turning black. Everywhere the sun touched hurt with a total complete pain. Angelique was behind him, protected from the light by the shadow from his chained wings and body. She was however, still crying from her first burns. The pain was intense, every nerve in his body screamed in agony.
Suddenly, the light was cut off. A blanket had been thrown over the cage, blocking the sun. Van collapsed in relief. Tears leaked from his eyes as he tried to ignore the pain. Angelique glanced over at him. Her back was slightly burned, but had only been in the direct light for a few seconds. Van's arms, chest, wings, and face were burned badly. The soldier captain lifted up the far corner of the blanket, so that no sunlight would shine through.
"So…the rumor was true. You are a vampire. And your friend here too. But the orders specified another…taller, with darker hair and white skin. About twenty. Where is he?"
Van opened cracked lips to answer. "I don't know."
The guard captain smiled grimly. "Yes, you do. And if you don't tell us, we'll drag your woman into the sunlight."
Van whimpered. "I really don't know. I left him at the house."
The guard captain nodded slowly. "That may be true. After we captured you, the house was just given a cursory examination. We may have missed much. It is too late now to return. Balgus will have to be content with you two vampires. It makes little difference to him. You'll both die anyway." He began to turn away, then seemed to notice just how badly burned Van was. "Of course, if you die before we reach Fanalia, Balgus will not be pleased. You, girl…what do you need to treat his burns?"
Angelique whispered quietly. "Bandages…salve from Madame Greenwood, in Lokia. She makes special burn potions for the firemen." She added at the Captain's doubtful look. "Two blankets, new clothes…soft cloth, not harsh wool or cotton. The salve would take effect before we reached Fanalia, and he would be nearly healed."
The captain nodded curtly and summoned one of his men. Van heard their whispered conversation. "Go to Lokia, find a Madame Greenwood. Get her most potent burn salve. Pay her well, but if she shows any signs of being a vampire, kill her. Also, buy the other things the vampire requested. The best you can afford. Here… Meet up with us at Fin Crossings." Money exchanged hands. The soldier saluted and rode east, towards Lokia. Van lay back gingerly against the rough wood of the wagon. This would surely be a very uncomfortable ride.