Chapter 1: Slaves of the Prophecy

And so darkness fell over the world. Like a leaden blanket upon empty, glistening streets. One of the first vampire groups sent to aid the Angelic Army was "Darkblayde". Darkblayde was a small, specialized assault group, taken from the best warriors Clan Phyrehawk had to offer. If any group could test the water's for the vampire nation, and survive any outcome, it was Darkblayde. And so Darkblayde went out on their first mission for the Angelic Wars. To clean out a temple of evil, located in the center of Hoboken. Well, if evil was to be found somewhere, Hoboken seemed as good a place as any.

The sounds of fear filled the night air like the subtle distortions of a moth's flapping wings before a flame. To her super sensitive ears doors were being barred, deadbolts rammed home, and alarms were being set. Not that those trivial things could even begin to keep out the evil that lurked outside, the war looming outside every front stoop. Phyrestar, or "Star" as she was more commonly known, was not afraid, she was not even nervous, this was her purpose, what she lived for. Thousands of years ago, she was born to an Irish/Italian family, in a small village in southern Ireland. She was snatched from her bed one night by a group of roaming vampires. Her parents, herself and her youngest brother were turned, her middle brother was in town and missed the turning. Later on the human brother, lost to his family, was caught by another Clan and turned. It became Star's mission to find him and bring him home with the other family members. Her first vampire kill had been out of passion for her own family. She may have belonged to Clan Phyrehawk now, but blood was blood, and her brother had to come home to the rest of his family.

Her success in this lone venture to rescue her lost brother made her one of the favorites among the vampire elders, the ancient vampires who had originated the clans. Tonight the elders called on her to preform again with her team, and she would not let the elders down. She had never failed and tonight was not going to be that night either. Angels or not, she would not, could not lose. She felt the comforting weight of , "Phoenix Star" Clan Phyrehawk 's short sword on her hip. On her weapon belt down her right leg, a modified glock. Across her back, her sniper rifle. Both guns were commissioned specifically for her and both were modified to fire silver , holy water, or standard rounds. On her black leather vest, 6 inch spikes of solid silver. Her body was average height, but thin, giving her the illusion of height. She wore knee high, black leather boots, and black leather pants that hugged her thin frame. Above her right bicep was a tattoo of a phoenix, wings spread, fire trailing, with a luminous star wrapped in it's flaming talons.

The elders sent her for a reason, she was one of the best, and her team was incomparable. Her long, auburn and honey hair blew loose and unfettered in the damp night air. Her blue-green eyes were rare, intuitive, and observant. She hiked across the sky, roof top to rooftop, all the while watching her team move in the shadows below her. She looked down at her mate, the one that she sired and kept for her own. His blood called to her, she always knew where he was and even his thoughts were often no secret to her.

His name was Wolf. He was given the title Phyre when Star sired him into the Clan. The team still called him Wolf, the elders and formality called him Phyrewolf, behind closed doors Star called him lover. The day Star laid eyes on him in dark and dingy pub, his blood sang to her. Out of the fifty other people in the building that night she gave into her hunger, it was his blood and soul that sang the loudest. His soul already belonged to the night, she simply awoke his dark potential. His dark, mysterious eyes were only visible when he looked up at the night sky and caught the reflection of the stars in them. He was strong and skilled, he wielded his black bladed Clan Phyrehawk daggers, "Darkstorm" and "Shadow Wraith" with deadly intent. He was nothing more then a shadow in his black leather pants and blackened chain mail shirt. Soft soled leather boots made him silent to all but the most sensitive ears. He was the scout/planner of the team. He got the info and relayed it with suggested plans to Star. Even though Star sired him and was technically his master, she had only ever once used her command voice on him. For the past several years they had been friends, lovers and equals.

Behind Wolf trailed Hardcore, Star's lost brother. He was sired by a different vampire, but upon his master's untimely death at the hands of Star, he was freed. She fought to have him brought into Clan Phyrehawk as a member, so he could reside in safety with his family. She got him a home yet could not get him a title. Not being sired by a Clan Phyrehawk member, ancient rules stated he could not obtain a Phyre title. Yet, on the ancient registry he worked his way up to Honored Clan Member status by doing many deeds and much work for the Clan. He was equal in all but name. With sandy brown hair kept short, and intense blue eyes, his average frame drifted in and out of shadows like a ghost on the move. For his exceptional service with Clan Phyrehawk he was granted clan blade, "Gryphon's Rage". Clan Phyrehawk's long sword, that he wore across his back with pride, and in his hand a black-bladed dagger. He also wore black leather pants, a blackened chain mail shirt, and soft soled black leather boots, identical to Wolf's. He was the team's muscle, the trained killer hidden behind the veil of youth. He was dangerous, and calculating, but his battle rage in desperate situations is what won him "Gryphon Rage" and the Clan's respect. He was a warrior, and he was the best at what he did.

On the side of the street where Star ran the rooftops "Phyrerage", or "Rage" as he was more commonly known, was moving silently below. Rage is Star's youngest brother. Another seasoned warrior covered in the veil of youth. He was thin, and wiry, yet had broad shoulders and strong arms. His dark, rangy hair and blue eyes were those of a hardened brawler, yet his eyes were always under layed with humor. The command voice was used frequently on him, for he was a free spirit. He followed with Star, closely linked, and was her shadow always. He always showed up just in time to deflect a well aimed bullet or an errant sword swing. Like a dark guardian angel. The brothers were family and blood defended blood to the death, yet they were also distant. Years of being separated caused a rift that was very hard to heal. But they were working on it and now her squad was top notch due to the link the two brothers found that they could fight for together, Star. Both would protect her to the death and she would do the same for them. Their blood ran deep, and pity not those fools who try and harm that bond, they deserve what they get. Rage got his name for a reason. He carried a black steel dagger, but he thrived to kill with his bare hands. He wore the same outfits as the others, but his was a chain mail vest. His arms, riddled with the scars of battle were covered with tattoos of skulls, wrapping and entwined with blood, vines and smoke, each skull an enemy life he took with his bare hands. There were so many that his arms were now "sleeved" as the tattoo world calls it, and the skulls were starting to run onto his back and shoulders. In a close quarters fights his inner rage takes over and he is all but unstoppable. He is fast and strong and always aware. He has every back in the group, and no one worries when Rage runs with them.

On the roof across from Star ran "Shadestrike". Shade was a thin, raven haired woman with hard hazel eyes and pale skin. She wore the same leather as Star and could have been mistaken for Star's sister. She was fairly quiet and enjoyed sniping as much as Star. There is not much known about Shade's history. If she knows anything she has let it remain lost in the mists of time. All that Star knows is that the same Vampire that sired Hardcore, sired her. Upon the slaughter of Hardcore's master, this woman appeared on Clan Phyrehawk's doorstep a few days later. Star left no trail, yet this lost soul found her and explained that it was Star's fault that she no longer had a home or family to go to and so Star got her membership to Clan Phyrehawk. Children of the same master, Hardcore and Shadestrike should have a blood bond, yet they knew little of each other supposedly. Star did not buy that story in the least, but it mattered little to her. The only time the two of them could be seen talking was when the whole team went for their ritualistic victory drinks at the Clan Tavern, "DarkWaters". As far as Star was concerned, Shadestrike was one of the best snipers around and she was loved by her team, and she was Star's victory drink partner, end story.

Lastly there was Phyrestone, a big man with olive skin and dark waving hair he kept in a military clan ponytail. He was an imposing figure, big, strong and intimidating. He wore the same black outfits that Wolf and Hardcore did, and at his back, a generic bastard sword. He was in line for Clan blade "Skullsplitter", beings he was the first in centuries big enough to wield the cumbersome two handed sword, and he only had a few more merits to achieve first. Star found him in New York, and liked his humor the moment she first spoke to him. She came across him when her team had a night off and they decided that a they had not been to New York in quite sometime. At a random New York club they ran into a human with the soul of a child of the night, breaking up a brawl. To Star's surprise, he was very knowing as well. He knew who and what the team was and expressed an interest in the hunger. Star took his request under advisement and took to watching him for weeks like a hawk stalking prey. She alighted to him in Central Park one night, content with his person and morals after weeks of survey. He stuck a deal with Star, she could bring him into the fold, but only if she brought in his female companion. Star was more then happy to bring his brilliant companion into the fold as well. Star had watched her as well. The deal was struck and Star shared her hunger with Phyrestone and his companion Phyremind. He was the strength and she was the wisdom and together they were a phenomenal pair. She designed the weapons, outfits, armor and all the technology that they could find themselves needing. He went out and pounded the pavement with the team. He was the extra muscle and humor when needed. But he was always level headed, which Star found herself leaning on. Phyremind became fast friends with Star and Shade. Star also learned, to her amusement, that saying Mind was a "companion" to Stone was an understatement. The lover's were soon legendary within the Clan's walls...and loud. It added to their charm, and that charm blended them into the Clan, and Star's group, very well.