Author's Note: So sorry its taken me so long to update. My muse got a little overworked on this chapter. I want to thank all of my loyal reviewers out there and I want you all to know how much I appreciate the encouragement. For those of you who did not review, I would really appreciate it if you would do so. As a writer, I feel I like to get feedback from my readers in order to learn how you think. Often times, it is difficult for the author to see through the eyes of the reader. I need to know how you view my work in order to improve as a writer. So please, review. That is all. Now enjoy.

Chapter 10

"Long we have lived in harmony with all creatures of land, sea, and sky.

As is our creed, we welcome strangers with love and compassion.

Soon, our kindness will be repaid, but not with gratitude.

Envy and greed will tear us apart, and one by one the mighty shall fall.

Blood shall rain from the skies and the rivers shall tell of our sorrow for ages.

The light shall be snuffed out, leaving our world to succumb to the dark.

But a time will come when out of the world of darkness, a child will be born

One who's soul is so pure that the very sun shall darken to reveal her splendor

She alone can tame the dragon and force the beast into the dawn of destruction.

And then she with her command of the light shall be seated at the right hand of our king."

The words of the ancient prophecy never truly left the forefront of Bastian's mind. How could they? These words, recorded by his very own ancestor in an all but forgotten tongue, were all he had ever really known. The importance of this prophecy had been drilled into his brain from the moment the monks took him in when he was sixteen--when the Order of the Light had rescued him from the flames that took the lives of his parents.

Oh how Bastian wished he could remember life before the fire. What he wouldn't give for just a tiny glimpse into his past. But alas, the images always eluded him. In fact, Bastian couldn't even remember the fire. Sometimes, in his dreams, he thought he caught flashes of blurred memory, but they always left him as soon as he opened his eyes. He never played the wounded orphan. He'd never wanted for anything. The monks had been kind to him. But he wouldn't be human if he didn't wonder about it. Especially since he had not a single tangible item left of his life before. If it weren't for the scars on his back, he could swear his life began at sixteen.

Bastian supposed this was the very reason he had been chosen to find the child of the prophecy. He knew nothing outside the Order. There was no chance he could be swayed from his task. The prophecy was clear. War and death had spread like a plague upon the Earth. The time of judgment was close at hand. The messiah would soon come again. According to the prophecy, only one child had the power to defeat the Beast described within the holy scriptures. Bastian knew it was his destiny to find this child and raise her in the ways of the light. The sign in the sky could not be more obvious. The time to act was now. In only ten days, the sky would darken as the sun eclipsed overhead. At that time, the Child of Light, the Lord's chosen bride, would enter the world. But Bastian knew he was not the only one who sought the baby girl. The Beast would be after her as well--to eliminate her.

After all his research, Bastian had determined not only the location of the promised child, but he was almost certain now of the woman carrying the baby within her womb. Seven children had attended his service on Sunday morning accompanied by Slavica, the local innkeeper. Curious as to the whereabouts of the children's parents, he had approached the woman after the service to question her. She had explained that the children's adopted mother, Sara, was on bed rest due to a high-risk pregnancy of which she had entered her final month. Their adopted father had stayed home to take care of his wife. The timing was perfect. This woman, Sara, had no idea what she carried within her womb. He had to go to her, safeguard her, before it was too late.

These mountains were rumored to house vampires. Bastian might not be superstitious, but when dealing with prophecies, he knew it was better to be safe than sorry. Tomorrow morning he would travel to the inn and ask Slavica to take him to Sara. He would say he wished to pray with her and bless the child she carried. Bastian knew the innkeeper well. She would not deny him an act on behalf of the heavenly father. There was no chance of Bastian sleeping tonight. He pushed himself off his cot and readied himself for the days to come.

"Dominic." A voice penetrated the dark recesses of the ancient's mind. "Dominic Dragonseeker, you will acknowledge me."

Dominic recognized the voice calling out to him. He had heard its persuasive tones urging him to give into the darkness for too long. He would continue to ignore the beast within.

"Dragonseeker, I am not your beast!" the voice became an angry roar within his mind and echoed through his entire being.

"Who are you then?" Dominic sent back.

"I am the dragon whose fire runs through your veins. For centuries, I have kept your soul safe and protected. I kept you on the path of honor when all others lost their way. I am Baylor, guardian of your soul, and keeper of all soul walker memory. We are one."

"This is some sort of trick. My dragon is merely a mark on my skin. It has no name or purpose. And I know nothing of this soul walker memory."

"I am not your enemy, Dragonseeker!" Baylor insisted. "See the truth for yourself. For as long as you have existed, so too have I dwelled within your spirit. Yet I grow weary of this role. When you took that tainted blood, it was like poison to your very core. I could not endure long the agony of this torture. I cried out for a merciful end, but instead the great Creator gifted us with a miracle. Open your eyes, Dominic and look upon the face of your soul's new protector.

Dominic opened his eyes to a brand new world. Well, intellectually he knew he was resting upon the very soil of his homeland, but it seemed so much more. Colors. Such vivid and vibrant colors all around him. After almost three thousand years of dull, lifeless gray he now saw green grass and red and blue wildflowers. Only a lifemate could restore his color. But where was she? Baylor had said his soul had a new protector. That had to be his lifemate. Everything was so fuzzy. How had he ended up in this field?

It was then that Dominic noticed a weight upon his chest. He looked down to see a head of beautiful white-blonde hair shining silver under the light of the full moon. He struggled to sit up. Oh, but he was so weak. Above him, the woman stirred.

Dominic soon found himself staring into the most beautiful blue-violet eyes he had ever seen. Well obviously, he hadn't seen colors in millennia, but he knew deep down that no other creature on Earth could have eyes more beautiful. But wait. These gorgeous eyes were filled with tears. His heart clenched. Lifting a hand, Dominic gently wiped away the woman's tears. The woman gasped. Fearing he had frightened her, Dominic began to withdraw only to have the woman latch on to his hand and hold it against her cheek. Dominic felt a stiffening in his groin as she sighed and rubbed her face against his skin.

"It's really you," her voice was like music on the wind. "I've finally found you."

"How is it that I have a lifemate after so many centuries of emptiness?" he whispered to her.

Once again, the tears began to flow. "Forgive me, my love. I have been a prisoner all my life. 968 years, 5 months, and 22 days to be exact. I only just escaped a few nights ago." She kissed his hand and struggled to move closer to him. "I've dreamed of you for centuries, but in my isolation I believed you an illusion of my tortured mind. It was not until I felt your soul scream that I was certain of your existence. I am just so glad I made it in time."

Dominic felt rage boil inside of him. A prisoner since birth? How could he have let this happen? "Now is not the time to place blame Dominic. In a way you are both victims of circumstance." Baylor's words somehow calmed him.

The woman smiled. "It seems your guardian has awakened. My own guardian, Denae, and I were shocked to discover our mate was a soul walker. I had thought I was the last."

"Soul walker?" Baylor had mentioned that. "What is a soul walker?" Dominic asked his lifemate.

His lifemate looked up at the sky then turned back to meet his gaze. "Our souls have form and essentially house sentient beings. We'll have the rest of eternity to discuss this Dominic, but we don't have the time right now. You are weak and the sun will soon rise."

Impulsively, Dominic buried his face in her hair and inhaled her scent. A small moan escaped his throat and he found himself growing even harder. She smelled like vanilla orchids. He looked up at her once more and asked, "What is the name of this miracle God has sent me?"

She continued to stare at him silently for a moment before grabbing his head and planting a fierce kiss upon his lips. When finally they came up for air, she rested her head in the crook of his neck and clung to him as if afraid to let go. "Zohra," she said. "My name is Zohra."

"Zohra," he whispered huskily as he nuzzled her neck. "A beautiful name." She moaned in encouragement as his fangs sprung out. He began to scrape his teeth along her sensitive throat.

"Please, don't tease," she begged him breathily. "Bite me. Take my essence into you. Bind us together. Make us one. Please." She whimpered. "Don't leave me alone inside."

Instinct overtook him and Dominic sunk his fangs deep into Zohra's throat. Ah... The taste was pure ecstasy. He clutched her closer and feasted. Her blood was intoxicating. He knew he would never get enough. "Stop Dominic! You're killing her!" Baylor's warning stopped his feeding immediately. Dominic quickly closed the wound and looked up to find his lifemate slumped against him, her skin a sickly grey. What have I done?

"It's all right, love." Zohra's voice rang through his mind. "Just help me finish the exchange and then say the words my soul needs to hear."

Dominic quickly slashed his chest and pressed Zohra's lips to the wound. The suction of her lips as she drank from him had him biting back a scream of pure need. But the sun was rising. They had not the time to complete the ritual this evening. But he could bind them with the ritual words.

Zohra's spirit soared as Dominic recited the binding words. "You are my lifemate. I claim you as my lifemate. I belong to you. I offer my life for you. I give you my protection. I give you my allegiance. I give you my heart. I give you my soul. I give you my body. I take into my keeping the same that is yours. Your life will be cherished by me for all time. Your life will be placed above my own for all time. You are my lifemate. You are bound to me for all eternity. You are always in my care." As Zohra felt the invisible bonds tying their souls together, she silently rejoiced. She had been so alone for so long. Now she had only to look within to find companionship and love.

Well that's it for now. Next chapter I plan to have Father Bastian arrive at the inn searching for Sara. Also Skyler's thoughts on Dimitri's recovery.