Vampires Dead Ahead

TWENTY-FIVE



“Wonder how things are going at home,” I said as I walked the last few steps out of the belowground realm of the Dark Elves and into the late-afternoon sunshine of Otherworld. I ran my fingers along my Drow collar as I spoke.

“We’ll be heading back soon.” As the enormous stone covering the entrance shuddered to a close, Colin came up behind me and rested his hands on my bare shoulders. I leaned back against him and felt myself relax just a little. “And we will deal with Volod,” he said.

I nodded and felt the slide of my hair against Colin’s chest before I turned to face him. “The Great Guardian better have some answers.”

Colin’s lips were soft as he brushed them over mine. I wrapped my arms around him and hugged him back.

“Are you stalling?” He smiled as he drew away.

I started to protest then realized he was right. “I guess I am a little intimidated at meeting her in person.”

“It’ll all be fine.” Colin took my hand and squeezed it. “Which way, O beautiful one?”

I raised our joined hands and indicated a path in the forest a little to our left.

“I don’t know how Father arranged this meeting so soon.” I started walking at Colin’s side. “But I’m glad he was able to. We need to be getting back.”

“Your father is a man of amazing stature,” Colin said. “Rodán is the only other person I’ve known to have been in the Great Guardian’s presence.”

“Yes, he is a man of great stature.” I sighed. “I just wish he could join us with some of his men. Just think what an advantage that would be. If Vampires can’t turn Dark Elves, and Elves have superior strength and magic, it could make a real difference.”

“Vampires are one thing.” Colin squeezed my hand. “A Vampire paranorm force of former Trackers is as formidable a force as he would face.” He continued, “Taking nothing away from Dark Elves, who can hold their own against any fighters, but this is a dangerous fight and your father knows it.”

I frowned as I thought about this. “My father is not one to shrink back from a fight.”

“I could see in your father’s eyes that he wants to help.” Twigs and dried leaves crunched beneath Colin’s shoes. “It is not that he is afraid. He just has to think about his own people first.”

“Of course.” I heard the sound of a nightbird as it started to wake. “I have to get past the idea that my father said no to me. It’s something he doesn’t do. But I know it’s unfair for me to put that on him and I understand his position.”

“We’ll find other ways to defeat Volod.” Colin ducked beneath a low-hanging branch. “How far to the meadow your father told us about?”

“Not far.” I stepped over a fallen log, making no sound whatsoever, unlike Colin who stepped on a branch. The large cracking sound echoed through the forest. Birds quieted.

I looked up at him. “I didn’t realize Dragons were so noisy.”

“You should see me when I shift.”

“I have.” I shook my head. “Let’s just say it’s a good thing we don’t have to rely on you for stealth right now.”

He bumped my shoulder with his intentionally, and I did a little sidestep but didn’t stumble. I laughed and bumped him back and he did stumble a bit.

The forest grew quieter as we neared a meadow. From ahead came the burbling sound of a small stream. The forest smelled so clean, of fresh air, pine, and rich loam.

My heart beat faster as we got closer to the meadow and my belly did a flip. What would it be like to talk with the Great Guardian?

We paused at the edge of the tree line. I caught my breath and wished Father could see the beauty here in daylight. Soft yellow sunshine, patches of purple and pink flowers dipping in the light breeze, and grass as green as a carpet of Drow-mined emeralds.

My boots skimmed over the tops of pale mushrooms at the edge of the darkened forest. Colin came up beside me. “Your world is amazingly beautiful, Nyx. This looks like a place I’d expect to meet the Great Guardian.”

A small footbridge spanned the width of the stream, the water sparkling in the ebbing sunlight. The opposite end seemed to fade away into the forest. It was like looking into the distance, yet it wasn’t that far.

I tipped my head back and looked at lacy clouds strewn across sky growing deeper blue with every passing moment. My skin wasn’t tingling yet, but the night was on its way.

“Nyx.” The sound of a sweet voice had me whirling and facing the bridge again.

A glow filled the meadow. I raised my hand in front of my eyes to block the strength of it.

When the glow faded enough to see, an ethereal being, beyond anything I could imagine, stood a few feet away.

Slender and fine-boned, she was almost as tall as Colin. She had long, delicate fingers that were folded in front of her, against the soft white material of her gown.

I’d never seen such perfect skin, or eyes as crystal blue. Long, glossy hair, pale like jasmine, tumbled over her shoulders to the soft grass at her bare feet.

Colin had a hold on my hand still, and he gently tugged as he bent to one knee. I found myself kneeling before her.

“Rise.” She spoke like a queen, yet sounded young and sweet.

But when I was standing, through the crystal blue of her eyes I saw ancient wisdom that I knew I could never grasp. I could feel the Guardian’s power, vibrant, tangible. Warmth and a tingling sensation traveled throughout my body like I’d never experienced before. As if I were being embraced by someone who I truly loved.

I felt no fear. The warmth and goodness of her filled me.

“Nyx, welcome.” She smiled at me then inclined her head to Colin. “It is a pleasure to see you, Colin of Campton.”

Colin bowed his head before looking at the Great Guardian again. “I never expected to be permitted to see you. Who am I to see the Guardian? I will forever remember this day.”

She smiled. “Who are you? You are a brave Dragon who cares about others. You have righted your way and you are worthy of such time with me. I see great things for you. So yes, you shall remember this day.”

When she returned her gaze to me, I wondered how I’d ever called her GG instead of the Great Guardian. My face burned at my lack of respect.

“I am pleased with you.” The strength of her statement surprised me, and my cheeks grew even hotter. “You are a brave warrior. Most important, you are a brave warrior who cares for others before herself.”

“Thank you.” I could almost picture how small my words were in her presence. They seemed insignificant.

“What can I do for you?” she said.

“I’m here because neither Rodán nor Monique can be.” I swallowed. “I am told there is no one but me who can speak with you.”

“It saddens me.” The Guardian’s voice grew softer. “That two such as them should be lost to something so evil.”

“How did you know about Rodán?” I asked. “I guess I have heard that you know all, but I wasn’t certain.”

She gave a sad smile that seemed to say, Of course I knew. Instead, she said, “Rodán is a good man. Now he will be tested.”

Hope made me straighten. “Does that mean he’ll be okay? That he’ll come back to us?”

“That is not for you to know.” The Guardian’s face told me nothing as she spoke. “I will only guide you along what I believe is the right path for you.”

“I’m sorry I doubted you.” I don’t even know where the words came from. “I am sorry I didn’t believe in you.”

“Now is when it is important to believe. You have seen me and heard me. Now is the test for you.” She didn’t look at me any differently than she had before. “You are young, and you do not know me like Rodán and your father do. They have trusted me. You will learn this also.”

“Still—” I started.

“Just know that I have been with you before today, and I am there with you even now. In times of trouble when you will feel most alone, you are not.” The glow around her seemed to grow brighter as the day waned.

“Your father and Rodán were successful,” she continued. “They knew when to call on me and knew I would provide them enough to prevail if I was able,” she continued. “Rodán adhering to that conviction made a difference in your victories.”

I tried to process what she was saying. She must have seen the confusion on my face.

“Know that there are powers you can avail yourself of,” she said.

I frowned in thought. “What powers? When?”

“You will know when the time comes,” she said. “I can’t tell you what will happen or how. Only that the evil, the threat is real. The difference can be your belief in the powers available to you.”

“I don’t understand,” I said.

“I will not tell you the outcome. Things look dire now, and hopeless.” She was like a patient teacher with a child. “Without faith in what I am saying, following through with the right actions, and using the powers available to you, defeat will follow.”

“What about Rodán?” I asked. “He was one of yours, yet an evil has come to him now and he has been turned.”

“I have not left Rodán, but sacrifices must be made, Nyx,” she said. “Due to the evil of others, sometimes the good of one must be sacrificed for the good of all.”

“What can you tell me?” I asked. “What can I do to help my people defeat Volod?”

Her crystal-blue eyes held my gaze. “I will tell you that your victory can come, but only at the cost of your blood. Yet you must trust me and not lose hope, no matter the circumstances.”

A chill swept through me. My blood? She had to mean me. My blood. My sacrifice. My death.

So be it. What choice did I have? I raised my chin. “I will trust you and do whatever it takes to save paranorms and humans in my adopted Earth Otherworld.”

“I know you will.” She turned to Colin. “She will need you till the end.”

The end. My stomach cramped and my conviction wavered. But I knew what I had to do.

“Thank you.” I was grateful to Colin when I felt him take my hand. “I will do anything to defeat Volod. Anything at all.”

She gave a slight incline of her head. “I will leave you now.”

I opened my mouth to say something then shut it. Instead I bowed my head. When I looked up I saw that Colin had done so as well.

“Farewell, Nyx.” She reached up and caressed my cheek. Her touch was soft. I felt an incredible warmth throughout my body again, like a power surge that entered me when she touched me.

“May good fortune be with you.” Her last words seemed to be carried on the breeze as they slipped past me.

We watched as the Great Guardian turned away. My skin tingled with the oncoming night, telling me I would be shifting soon. I ignored it and followed her with my gaze.

She walked onto the bridge and paused, then glanced over her shoulder at me. Our gazes met and she gave me a smile again.

Then the Great Guardian turned away and walked the rest of the way across the footbridge before she vanished.