Prologue
Julia's POV
I groan as I wake, blinking. It takes a few minutes for my eyes to adjust, but when they do, I see that I'm in a small, dark room. Dust lines the floor, and there are no windows, but one of the walls is made of metal bars.
What is this place? Where am I? The last thing I remember, I was in Camp Half-Blood. I was in the woods, we were playing Capture the Flag. I'd been near enough to our flag, since I was on defence, but still not close enough to see it. I'd heard something behind me, but before I could turn around, everything was dark.
I sigh, looking around the prison I find myself in. Who could do this? No monster could get through the border…so a demigod attacked me. Who, though? I didn't think any of the demigods at camp had a thing against me, but the stories I've heard of the Battle of Manhattan and the events leading up to it prove that you can never be too careful about who you trust.
I hear a door open, and turn to see a cloaked figure step into the room on the other side of the bars. She looks at me, though I can't see anything under her hood except for glittering, blood-red eyes. I see her hands — they're snow-white.
Oh, no. No, no, no!
Of course I know that vampires are real. I'm a demigod, so I've experienced more than my share of monsters. These vampires, though, aren't connected to the Empousae of Greek mythology. I heard of them through my human side, the Quileute legends that my dad always told me and Emily, my human half-sister. Vampires are fast and strong. They're rock hard, and nothing can harm them except for werewolves and other vampires — though I've often wondered how they would fare against Celestial bronze. Vampires are bad news, everyone knows that.
And now I've been kidnapped by one.
The Cold One stops and watches me.
"Good, you're awake." Her voice is very cold, like ice, and terrifyingly sweet. "I have a deal to make with you, demigod…" she stops again, probably monitoring my reaction to her presence. I try to keep my face emotionless, and my voice disinterested.
"And if I refuse?"
"Simple," the vampire replies. "Your half-sister will die, followed by her husband, his family, and your little friends back at camp. You will watch, and then you will live for decades more, knowing that it is your fault, before I eventually grow bored with you and grant you escape."
I can't breathe. She'll kill Emily. She'll kill everyone.
"What do you want from me?" I ask. I'm surprised that my voice doesn't tremble. The vampire smiles under her hood —at least, I think she does.
"You will come with me. I have some…acquaintances…who must be taken out. The problem is, I cannot directly act against them, or I will be killed. You are going to come with me to their land, then you are going to use your abilities to weaken them."
"Abilities?" I pretend to not know what she's talking about.
"Do not play games with me, demigod. You will incapacitate them, one by one. Then, I will strike at just the right time and wipe them out. If you do as I say, I might consider letting you go — after your memory is altered, of course."
I nod. There's nothing else I can do. I pray to my mother, to Zeus, to everyone. I beg forgiveness to the unfortunate souls I'm going to have to murder. Then, I think of something.
"Are they vampires?"
She blinks, then nods once.
"I don't know if my abilities will work the same way on Cold Ones."
She laughs. "Oh, trust me. They will."
AN
Ok, I know this chapter is short. I also know that I promised to update Shadow Blades every week, which I will try to update them both regularly, but sometimes I might get to one but not the other. Sorry!
Review or the mystery vampire will bite you!
Seriously tho, review
