Eternal War Rising to the South: The Beynok Vampire Series (12 page)

For the first time in a long time, I woke with no fear or discontent rushing in. No crazy dream to try to remember. No urgency to attend to. No “Where am I?” bouncing in my head. No beast, monster, or unexpected Beynok hidden in the corner of the room. No other sensations or emotions were captured in this room except mine. I was alone, safe, and not needed at that moment by anyone.

Don’t get me wrong; in my world, circumstances could change in a blink. Therefore, I was content taking advantage of this precious time. I decided I was going to be an average female and snoop. The room was eloquently decorated, not at all what I had imagined the room of a vampire warrior would look like.

The ceiling was covered in lightly shaded tiles. On them were paintings of naked male and female bodies. For some reason, they fit and offered a calming effect. The walls were covered with thick, striped wallpaper. The carpet was a rich cream, almost a golden color. I lost my feet in the carpet when I walked, it was so plush.

I started on the right side of the bed and made my way around the room. Nothing looked like it belonged to Sorin except for one thing. I had almost given up looking for any hint of Sorin when my eye caught something shocking. A small, framed portrait of me was on the nightstand next to the bed. The frame was so delicate I thought it would break in my fingers but I needed to examine it closely. It was me, but not exactly me.

“He told me the artist couldn’t quite capture the description he was trying so hard to convey verbally. He said it wasn’t the artist’s fault the painting didn’t look exactly like you.” It was Galloway. I could tell by the hint of Irish in his whisper of a voice.

“So whose fault was it?” I placed the portrait back down on the nightstand and faced Galloway, who was in the doorway of the bedroom.

“He said it was his fault. He said he couldn’t describe the part of you he held in his heart, his love for you.” Vladimir’s story about Sorin being an obsessed vampire popped in my head, but it didn’t quite fit.

I glanced back at the small portrait before I made my way to the vampire. Just a couple of days ago, I would have killed him first and made conversation later. How the tables had turned.

“Where is he? He was not in the room when I woke. He owes me a few answers that I plan to beat out of him tonight.” I was trying to act tough, but it really did bother me that I didn’t know where he was. He knew I was waking up in a strange place. I thought he should be with me.

“Sorin felt it best that he leave.” I gasped in shock. “Before you get upset, let me reassure you, he’ll be back. He felt it best because he wanted to fulfill the personal part of his mission first before the most important part was fulfilled.” He paused, I think, to see if I was going to lose it, but I didn’t. “See, we sent Sorin looking for you because we knew he would be the one before all others to succeed in finding you. We were not quite sure if he could handle you once he had you, though.”

“Can you tell me why you wanted to find me? Why am I so important to a race I have tried so many years to destroy? Why a vampire loves me?” I was pissed at Sorin, but I wasn’t going to cry. I was so close to getting some answers.

“It’s my place to share the reason those of us who serve good wanted to find you. Sorin, on the other hand, will have to share his personal reason for wanting to find you himself. Shower and get dressed. Meet me downstairs in the foyer. Do you remember how to get there?” I opened myself a little to Galloway, and the vibe I read was one of respect and pride.

“Yes. Wait, one more question. Did Sorin tell you what happened with my swords when I pulled them on Gallagher? Do you know what is going on with them?” I really needed someone to help explain my swords. I needed them almost as much as I needed Sorin.

Galloway, regrettably looked to the floor and shook his head before he met my eyes, “Sorry dear, I haven’t figured that one out yet. I have a few ideas but I think Sorin will need to explain it, if I am right.” He turned and walked out of the room before I could protest and beg him to tell me his thoughts.

When I walked out of the bedroom, I had showered and put on my dirty clothes from the day before. Serenity was leaning on the wall in the hallway with a smug look on her face.

“I went ahead and ordered you some more clothes. I guess I am your personal shopper now. Galloway requested it of me. I hope that is okay with you.” Her voice told me she was clearly not happy about her requested chore.

“That’s fine.” I couldn’t keep my mouth shut, so I said, “I can’t figure you out. Are you upset because you’re asked to cater to me, because you don’t like me, because you’re a bitch, or all three? I want to get this out in the open.”

“I’m not sure, maybe all three. I don’t have any female friends, and I’m known to be a bitch at times, but I do respect you. I’m just not sure if I believe in you and what you represent. In Salvuswy, you earned my respect but not necessarily my belief. You stepped up and put yourself between Sorin and Gallagher, but that still doesn’t prove anything.” I could sense her conflict and the confusion she had about me.

“That’s enough, Serenity,” Galloway said, appearing at the top of the stairs. “I’ve come to see what was keeping you, Anya. It’s time for you to come with me.”

Galloway gave Serenity a dirty look. I wanted to protest and ask him to let her continue because I was finally having an honest conversation. So what if she liked me or not? At least she had been speaking her mind, and that made me respect her, just as I could sense she clearly respected me. As I passed Serenity, I nodded at her. I was determined to continue my conversation with her the first chance I had.

No words passed between Galloway and me as we walked down the main stairs and through a hidden door on the first level. The light was extremely dim as I followed him down more stairs leading under the mansion. He looked back at me occasionally, and I’m not sure why. Not knowing what I was getting myself into, I opened my senses, which was definitely against my better judgment. I wasn’t sure if my senses would become overwhelmed again, but I was going to have to get over that fear and learn to master my gift eventually.

I mentally moved past Galloway and followed the stairs in front of me, deep underground. My senses bounced off the empty walkway further and further ahead. I felt nothing. The stairwell became narrow and dungeon-like. The steps became steeper and steeper. The walls became stone and leaked of moisture.

I pushed further until I felt the expanse of a room. My brain no longer felt like a ping-pong ball bouncing off the narrow passageway. I could tell Galloway was leading me to a room, and it held only one exit. Was he leading me to my death? Why had I been so comfortable in this trust I had developed so quickly with my enemies? We were alone down here. That was the only thing I was sure of.

I retracted my senses and focused them on Galloway. He was not an easy read. I had heard the older a vampire becomes the more powerful, in both strength and mind.

“Anya, I can feel you in my head. What are you trying to find?” He said this as if I were amusing him.

I tried not to act surprised in my voice when I answered, “Well, I guess I want to know how you’re feeling. I’m vulnerable right now, and I’m not sure if I can trust you.”

“You’ll learn to trust many of my kind, my dear, including myself. You’ll soon understand.” A soft moan came from his direction, and I saw the black silhouette of his hand run through his hair. We turned a curve in the stairs, and I hit the last step, and the stone walls opened into a large room. I could barely make out anything but the outlines of the objects in the room. Galloway must have forgotten I was a Beynok. I could see some in the dark but not like a vampire.

“Would you mind if I had a little light?” All of a sudden, flames shot out of the floor in the center of the room and stayed lit. The light revealed four walls covered by shelves filled with old books and scrolls from floor to ceiling. There were four desks in the center of the room, placed evenly apart in a square around the flames.

“What is this place?”

“Here you will find our history … our archives … our beliefs. We have kept records of our species for decades. Every controller of every mansion is responsible for keeping records current to the best of their knowledge and keeping the records safe. We have fifteen mansions throughout the world.”

“How did you become controller of this mansion?”

“I am old and I have many stories. Let’s leave it at that.” Galloway paused, nodding his head and a slow smile started to appear. “I have something to show you.”

I followed him over to the opposite side of the room, passing two of the desks. They looked as ancient as I believed Galloway to be. He stopped in front of a bookshelf divided into twelve shelves. Each shelf held a single scroll. He pointed to the one on the eighth shelf down from the top.

“This one. This one is yours.”

I frowned, wondering what he meant, and said, “Thanks.” I wondered what I was going to do with an old scroll and why something belonging to me would be in a mansion filled with vampires. Was it a gift?

“Anya, take it. You can read it over there.” He pointed to one of the decks. “But when you’re done, place it back on the shelf. It’s very delicate and very old.”

So I can’t keep it. It’s not permanently mine. I was so looking forward to placing it on my bookshelf at home. Oh wait, I don’t have a bookshelf or a place to call home, for that matter.

“Anya, you can have a home here as long as you like. I’ll make sure you never go without.”

“I didn’t say anything out loud. Let me guess. You’re a mind reader. I should have known.”

“No, not exactly. I can read thoughts sometimes, but not on purpose. You put out strong waves at times. You’re quite comical within yourself, are you not?” A smile appeared on his face again and I couldn’t help but think how calm I felt when I was around him.

“I guess it comes from a life of not sharing emotionally with others. I never quite fit in anywhere. I keep a lot in.” I paused and asked, “Why am I talking to you like this? Why do I feel so comfortable around you?” I forced myself to focus my attention on the aged paper.

I made a mental note to keep my mind shut around Galloway. I took the scroll over to one of the desks and carefully opened it. As soon as my eyes fell on the text, I could tell it was written in an old language, one I had studied. My index finger hovered over the text as I read,

The one who holds the soul of her enemy in her hands shall lead her followers down a long and perilous journey to a time of union. On the second rise, the chosen must be found by good before evil and placed on the throne for all to see. Only then will war and rage begin. The chosen spirit and that of her enemy held shall raise the fall of evil.

In time, peace will prevail. Place trust in the power of the four directions and the heart will guide the way. A journey of rising and falling is key to everlasting peace. She will become what she was created to be.

I read it five times before I realized I had absolutely no understanding of what it was saying, and then I read it twice more. The one thing that was evident was a war was coming. The rest was mostly gibberish to me, except the part about the four directions. That part pertained to me. Beynoks are defined by the four directions. But what did it mean? Was this the way vampires answered questions, with riddles?

“So, when does the war begin?” I wanted to act as if I had gotten at least a small part of it. I didn’t want Galloway to think I was an idiot.

“The answer is totally up to you. Do you understand what it says?”

I wanted to say nope, but I said, “Good and evil are going to wage war until peace is achieved, right?”

Galloway’s lips creased together in a tight line as he ran his hand through his hair. I couldn’t tell if he was mocking me or if he was becoming impatient with me.

“Anya, read it one more time. This time, read the words with an open heart. Feel them. Understand them.”

I did as I was asked. I remembered Galloway’s words, “This one is yours.” It hit me that the scroll was talking about a warrior who would lead good and evil to a time of peace. Beynoks say it is written that I am to be their leader someday, but I realized I wasn’t fighting for just Beynoks anymore.

Good versus evil meant something different to me than it had three days ago. I saw Beynoks weren’t the only species other than humans that could be good. I saw Beynoks had been blinded by ignorance for hundreds of years. Was I to be the leader of all good? I knew Galloway was patiently waiting as I sorted everything out in my head.

“Beynok Princess, do you understand what your role is now? Do you understand that all species have scripts written for them, and it’s just their beliefs that interpret them? You will start the war that has been upon us for many years, and you will end the war, bringing peace.”

“I understand.” His eyes fell on me with approval. I understood the bulk meaning, but even with understanding, I was having a hard time believing it.

“You weren’t created to lead just the Beynoks, Anya. You were created to lead all that is good. Your kind will soon have to acknowledge this, if you choose to believe in your full purpose.”

Galloway was placing the scroll back on its shelf, when a part of the script that made absolutely no sense hit me. Shit, a lot didn’t make much sense anymore. Things were black when they should be white, up when they should be down, safe when they should be unsafe. “
The one who holds the soul of her enemy in her hands…”
What did that mean?