The Dark Gifts Birthright (23 page)

“I’ll never let you have her. You’ll have to
take my life, Sekhmet, and even as powerful as you are, you cannot
do it.” Cass whispered vehemently.

The ancient vampire raised her claws,
leveling them at Cass. Jenna whimpered, looking at Liz for help.
When the beast drew forth her dark power, Michael and the others
struck. The attack came from all sides.

As the darkness slithered and wriggled around
Cass, her blue flame flickered to life. She threw her arm up over
head creating a large blue shield that covered her body from floor
to ceiling.

Distracted by the screaming vampires to her
right, Sekhmet sent one hand toward them throwing them off of their
feet and slamming them into pillars and walls. Shrieks echoed in
the great room making it sound more like hundreds battled.

While Sekhmet focused on Cass and the others,
Michael moved lithely around behind her, prepared to remove her
head from her monstrous shoulders. With a flick of her wrist, he
flew across the room, bounced off a pillar, and crashed into the
wall. Small bits of stone and dust spewed into the air. Even with
the tremendous force of impact, Michael was back on his feet in an
instant searching for his lost sword.

Liz darted forward to where Cass was failing
under the onslaught of the dark magic. She took Jenna from the
woman’s arms, intending to run for safety.

The room unexpectedly went silent. Sekhmet’s
head lay on the ground in front of her tuberous legs; eyes opened
and glazed with surprise. Angie stood behind the monstrosity, her
lips pulled tight. A clank reverberated through the room as the
broadsword she held hit the stone floor.

Cass fell to the floor unconscious while the
others slowly picked themselves up.

Jenna jumped out of a startled Liz’s arms and
ran to her motionless mother. While Michael and the others made
their way over to where Cass lay on the ground, the massive body of
the old one started writhing and melting into a voluminous puddle
of ichor. A green fog of stench blanketed the room. Everyone
coughed and gagged from the reek. Gingerly lifting Cass, Michael
told the others to head out. They had to proceed up many levels
before the smell dissipated to a tolerable concentration. Once
there, Michael began trying to revive Cass.

Shortly, Cass regained consciousness. She was
weak and weary, but unharmed. “Where are we?” she asked.

“In Slovenia,” Michael replied. “Why did you
come here?”

Cass answered, still somewhat in shock, “I
don’t know. This isn’t where I intended to go. I opened a portal to
our cabin in the mountains. Somehow, she must have changed the flow
and brought us here. From the moment I exited, I had little control
of my functions. I was drawn to her, and as hard as I fought, I
could not lift the weight of her power from my mind.”

Cass’ eyes rested on Jenna. Reaching out, she
stroked her cheek and tenderly pushed stray strands of hair behind
the child’s ears. “She wanted Jenna. She said that Jenna was to be
the most powerful vampire that ever lived. She told me that Jenna
would not need to grow old to become strong, and that she had
selected her for turning.” Cass lifted her eyes and met Michael’s
gaze. “Now. She was going to turn her now.”

The appalled look on Michael’s face spoke
volumes. There were no words to express his horror at turning one
so young.

A deep sigh shuddered from her chest as she
pulled her daughter closer. “All these centuries I had thought her
dead, and the entire time she had been watching me. Who killed
her?”

Michael nodded to Angie and softly replied,
“The one we keep under estimating.”

Cass stared at Angie. “You saved us,” she
whispered in awe of this young girl who had seemed so helpless and
innocent.

Angie looked down at her feet for a moment;
her voice trembled as she spoke. “I would have died before I let it
take her.”

Chapter Fifteen

The Citadel

Michael offered his hand to Cass. “You gave
us a scare.”

Cass cast her eyes down as he pulled her up.
“Thank you. Have you talked to Gregorio yet?”

“I will right now.” He closed his eyes. By
the time his lids opened, a blue shimmer of light flickered in
front of the group, and Gregorio, Athena, and Minerva stepped
through.

Gregorio and Athena rushed to Cass’ side.

“You are well?” Gregorio asked after a brisk
hug.

Cass embraced Athena saying, “I’m sorry. She
pulled me here. There was nothing I could do.”

“Michael, is it safe?” Gregorio asked.

“I’ll take care of that now.” He shifted his
gaze to the others. “I need you in groups of two or three. Inspect
each room, regardless of size. Clear every level. Not even a closet
is to be left out. Sekhmet claimed others were coming. Be watchful
and keep in contact with each other.” Michael flicked his hand
dismissing them.

Gregorio placed his hand on the old stone
wall and smiled as he ran his hand over it. “This will do quite
nicely.”

“It’s perfect.” Athena said.

“Should we start bringing the rest?” Minerva
asked.

“Yes, get them here as quick as you can.”
Gregorio said.

Minerva gave a quick nod, created a portal,
and left.

“Well my dear, are you ready to run another
fortress?” Gregorio asked.

Athena, still smiling, said, “I better be.
They are arriving.”

Blue lights shimmered up and down the hall as
the host of vampires entered their new home. Athena walked to the
center of the hall to meet them. “You there,” she pointed to a
petite woman with platinum-blond hair braided into a tight bun at
the nape of her neck. “You are?”

“Esmerelda, Callista’s daughter.”

Athena shook her head. “Of course, and my
apologies, names often seem to elude me. Please take fifteen to the
first level and begin cleaning up.” The woman nodded and scuttled
away on her mission. Athena moved down the hall with purpose
setting each to a task. “Marcus, Gregorio wants you with him. Take
your men with you. Ah, Callista, you take another fifteen and get
the second level squared away. Gen, I don’t want you cleaning.
Minerva will need you to help with stores and their placements. You
take twenty with you to help bring things in. Go ask Michael which
men you can take.”

Jenna reached out and tugged at Gregorio’s
sleeve. “Did you notice?”

He knelt down to speak with her. “Notice what
little one?”

“This looks like my picture!”

Gregorio tussled her hair. “Of course it
does, dear.”

Another portal shimmered and Michael stepped
through. “You have to see this place from the outside Gregorio.
It’s massive and easily defensible.”

“Our little Jenna says it looks just like her
picture.” He answered.

Michael's grin spread ear to ear. “It
does.”

Jenna, hands behind her back, swayed from
side to side. “I told you so.”

***

Built into the side of a mountain, it could
only be attacked from the front. To accomplish such a feat, enemies
would need to scale up a mile of steep rocky hillside, lush with
vegetation and wild animals. Those inside could see for miles
around. Not one human dwelling stood within fifty miles. Thirty of
which, were overrun with forests full of deer, elk, and numerous
other large animals that would provide an almost unlimited supply
of fresh blood for all those gathered. This place was twice the
size of the fortress and every bit as impenetrable as it should
have been. Before the two days they had been given by Jenna’s
voices had expired, they were completely moved and settling into
the castle.

Four days later, the castle was running like
a well-oiled machine. Except for the loss of those that had died in
the fortress, it was as if they had lived there for years. Once
everyone had settled into their niche, there was finally time for
meetings and loved ones.

Although there were many Council meetings to
attend, and tasks to accomplish, Michael and Liz s were finally
able to spend many happy hours together. It was the first time
since her turning that she had actually had him to herself. It was
a relief to finally have some down time, and even get to the point
of monotony. Liz enjoyed those days with Michael. They were perfect
together. Even without their connection, it was obvious to all who
saw them that they were very much in love. The lingering touches
and looks they continuously gave each other, spoke more than any
words even the greatest of storytellers or songwriters could have
contrived.

Angie had been appointed guardian and
defender of Jenna. She was also designated to teach the child.
Jenna was at the age when she should have been starting
kindergarten, but there were no schools available to her. Angie was
thrilled to be given the position and took it seriously. Jenna and
her teacher became inseparable.

The camaraderie the vampires and witches had
felt just before the assault on the fortress did not diminish. If
anything, it grew stronger. Of the one hundred and ninety five
witches that started with them, only five had died at the fortress.
They took shifts at the castle, some staying, while others went
home to their lives and families. Every floor had ten resident
witches that were on duty at all times. If there was a need to run,
they were prepared to evacuate everyone within a matter of minutes.
This unexpected alliance, and even friendship, had given the
vampires a new sense of home and family that none had ever expected
to find. Even those who had lost their 'connection' basked in the
glow of this newfound joy.

***

Gregorio cleared his throat. The leaders
quieted and waited patiently for him to speak. “We have done great
work here. With all that we have managed to accomplish, there are
still many things to be done.”

The council members nodded in agreement.

“It is imperative that we find Monroe’s base.
Rene, what is being done to facilitate that?”

“William is working diligently. He has
recruited several spirits to help him, but is not having much
luck.”

“I can speak to that as well.” Minerva said.
“We’ve been casting bones and worked several retrieval spells. Each
time we come up with zilch. A dark magic is hiding them.”

The sound of shifting material whispered
through the room as the leaders moved uncomfortably in their
seats.

“Are you certain?” Cass asked leaning forward
in her seat.

“There is no doubt.”

Cass looked at the faces of her followers.
Dread filled her. Monroe was not capable of pulling that off alone.
Someone of great skill and power must be involved. She thought back
on her battle with Sekhmet. While the beast infiltrated her mind,
the link had also allowed Cass access to her maker‘s thoughts and
memories. Sekhmet had hidden herself away from the world many
thousands of years ago. Cass had been six hundred years old when
she had heard that the woman was dead and felt the breaking of the
connection.

There had been another uprising and many of
the ruling vampires had been killed that year. Several ancients had
banded together to take out those stronger and more powerful than
they, one at a time. With the help of the ancient magic, Sekhmet
had hidden herself away from the minds of those who sought to kill
her. Alone in the world, with her husband dead and primaries gone,
she had delved deeper into the darker realms of the magic. It had
totally consumed her.

She’d lived in a cave for several thousand
years, only leaving to feed. Then two thousand years ago she’d
ventured to this castle. Never having turned another; for fear they
would one-day rise against her as well, she entombed herself in an
abysmal solitary hell. So many years in the darkness had made it
impossible for her to return to the light of day. Living in
constant fear and hatred, controlled by her dark magic, she had
entranced any human in the area to come as an animal to the
slaughter.

This lush land had been once been inhabited
by many small villages full of farming families. Over a period of
two hundred years, she had eaten her way through all that remained
in the surrounding area. Those that managed to escape had left the
countryside long ago, leaving nothing behind, except rumors and
stories about a monster that lived in the castle, ate babies for
snacks, and devoured entire families at a time. She watched Cass
from afar all those years, never giving up her vendetta against the
woman, seeking a way to destroy her. That is how she found
Jenna.

Inside Sekhmet’s mind, Cass saw that Jenna
was destined to great power. The woman intended to turn the child
from light to dark, using the child’s abilities to conquer not only
the vampire nation, but the entire mortal world. Cass had known
from the first time that Jenna had answered her telepathically,
that the child was destined for greatness, but even she had not
seen the power that would eventually come from the girl. If her
turning were allowed, she would truly be the most powerful vampire
of all time.

“Mother?” Gregorio’s voice interrupted her
thoughts.

“Yes. Sorry. I was elsewhere.”

“What are we to do about Jenna?”

“I don’t know. I’m too close to this, I
think.” She said looking at the table.

Athena reached out and grabbed her hand. “Of
course you are. She will be fine, I swear it.”

Minerva coughed slightly and received a glare
from Athena for her effort.

Athena’s gaze remained on Minerva as she
repeated, “She will be fine. We will all see to that.”

Minerva and the others nodded, but their eyes
showed the suspicion and worry that had settled in their
hearts.

Days and nights followed, one after the
other, until three months had passed with no more happening other
than a few much-needed repairs. Gregorio had contacted his agent in
the mortal world and purchased the Citadel. Owning the property
ensured that no human would enter without cause, and they gave no
cause for entry. Already filled with antiques and remnants from the
past, it had become the beautiful, majestic place it had been in
history.