Fate of the Blood Moon's Path (17 page)

The man lay on the floor in defeat. Akuma walked over smiling looking down at him.

"People like you never learn Victor. There have been millions like you and there always will be." Akuma leaned closer bending forward, Victor’s daughters blood dripping down into his face. "Carry it to your grave......the death of the family will always be a burden on your soul.....always." Akuma stood up reaching into his long coat and pulled out a pistol. A loud BANG filled the room and the man was dead.

"Burn it." Akuma said sniffing in the scent of blood. Walking out of the door.

The smell of blood was in the air tonight.

“The more we kill, the closer we will get to finding these hybrids.” Akuma said licking his lips and wiping his chin with his sleeve.

“Can’t wait.” I replied simply.

His vision of the past and Scarlet’s were two different visions.

“You knew I was there the whole time?” I stepped away asking him.

“Not the whole time.” He’s such a liar. “I could see you watching the whole thing. One thing I will never understand is why you didn’t come down and try to stop it all from happening…” He commented.

“Sometimes things aren’t meant to be stopped.” I shivered. “Everything happens for a reason. And I would have been out numbered.”

He noticed my shiver. “Here.” He took off his black zip up hoodie he was wearing and wrapped it around me. “Being out numbered has never stopped you before.”

“This doesn’t get you off the hook.” I said, referring to the hoodie.

He smiled at me, “Then what will get me off the hook?”

“Nothing.”

“There’s got to be something. I mean I haven’t killed you yet…”

“Don’t you see what you are? And what I am? The feuds between our species?”

We stood perfectly still under the moonlight. His skin was glowing from it.

“Why didn’t you stop it?” I asked.

“Stop it?” He asked.

“The killing of innocent people. You could’ve just taken the guilty party somewhere else to have them killed.”

“That’s true, but they all knew too much.”

“Scarlet and her sister knew nothing about their world. They were innocent children, and their lives were destroyed. And for what?”

“Orders are orders Angel.”

“And you knew my mother Draven.”

“Yes I did.”

“What was she like?” I asked looking him in the eye.

“Just like you, but you’re better.” He smiled.

“Far from.” I said.

He sighed.

“You have to take me to the mansion Draven.”

“Just give it up already!” He threw his arms in the air.

“If you don’t take me there I will find a way there myself.”

“When the time is right,
I
will bring you there.”

“Will the time ever be right?” I asked him.

He stuffed his hands in his pockets and looked out at the lake, “I don’t know.”

“You Vampyres are way to complicated for my taste.”

“Maybe that’s where you get your stubbornness from,” He smiled. “Stay here…” He looked up towards the woods over by the lake.

“What is it?”

“Come out.” He stated, taking a few steps forward.

“Draven, you’re wanted at the mansion immediately.” The man said. He turned towards me and bowed his head, “Miss Angel.”

“Um, hi.” I said trying to figure out why he bowed.

“Yea, this is Corwin.”

“Ok.”

“Pleasure.” He said to me, “Come soon Draven.” He turned again towards me bowing his head. At lightening speed he took off into the woods.

“What’s going on?” I asked.

“I don’t know. But I need you to stay on your territory. Do you think that you can handle that?”

“I can try.”

“Keep it…” He motioned to the hoodie. “I don’t know when we will see each other again.”

“What do you mean?” I asked.

“Things are crazy right now. I have work to do. I will come to you when I can. Behave.” He touched my cheek with the back of his hand.

“I’m a big girl, I can handle myself.”

“Right.” He smiled, “And you have a lot to think about.”

“Like?”

“Everything you have seen and now know.”

“Yea, I’ll have to think about that all.” I said without smiling.

“I have to go Angel. Just please try and stay out of trouble.”

“I will be fine.”

He reached down slowly pressing his lips on my forehead, kissing me. I got on my tip toes and claimed his lips with my own.
What am I getting myself into?
I asked myself. Out of all the passion in the world I’ve had or could have, this is where I felt it the most. Almost four hundred years old, and this is the first time I have felt anything like this. It was overwhelming and full of power.

“Until then.” He stated with a final kiss, taking off into the woods.

Angel.

13.

Time In Edinburgh.

1646.

“Angel when are we leaving?” Scarlet was non stop questions about going to Scotland, and it was only the next morning.

I could smell the Vampyres in the wind this morning. “Scarlet, wait here!” I commanded.

“Wait, where are you going?”

“For a quick walk. I mean it Scarlet, you stay here this time!” I said forcefully walking away from her to the forest. She actually stayed put this time, sitting down with a few of the others.

I followed the smell into the darkest part of the woods. The branches were rubbing together and the leaves shaking; to a human that would have been frightening.

“Who are you?” I ran up behind a Vampyre who was kneeling down in the darkness. “Who are you?” I raised my voice holding my blade to his throat.

“How’d you find us?” He asked.

I tightened my grip on him. “You disgusting blood soaked vile creatures don’t know how to stay downwind. Who the hell are you?” I repeated the question.

“Ronald.” He stated, and I couldn’t help but laugh.

“Not a frightening name is it?” I put my blade closer to his throat. “Why did you follow us out here?”

“Orders.” He gulped trying hard to not move, the blade was close to slicing his throat.

I made a disgusted noise and released him, throwing him into the nearest tree. He the tree hard with a thud and cracking noise, making the tree shake.

“Leave or it’s your life. I know there are others with you. There are hundreds of hungry wolves that way!” I pointed in the wrong direction to throw them off. “Orders my ass!” I sighed. “Let me send a message!” I screamed into the sky. I raised my dagger and quickly plunged it into his heart, then cut off his head. “Separate head from heart.” I stated loud enough for the others out there to hear me. I left with a satisfying grin, while hearing the thoughts of other Vampyres that were around, and someone holding them back from coming to me.

“That’ll learn ya.” I said. I put my dagger up to my mouth tasting the blood. “Bitter.” I made a face, then I turned around and made a motion with hand like I was going to blow a kiss towards the Vampyre I just killed. A ball of fire flew through the air and hit Ronald.

I turned towards a cave seeing a pair of eyes looking out at me, and stared back. “Our Secret.” I stated. I turned around and took off.

“Get your people packed up and moved out of here.” I said coming back in sight meeting Quinn.

“Why?” He was curious.

“Because I just killed a Vampyre.” I said like it wasn’t a big deal at all, and the look on his face was the exact opposite.

“You just killed a Vampyre?” Scarlet came running at me with some more questions.

“Yes. Gather your things were leaving here now.” Scarlet ran to get her blades and jacket.

“Ready.” I heard her say.

“Did you lead them here?” Quinn yelled behind me accusingly. Quickly I turned and was in his face.

“Doesn’t matter how you were found, what matters is that you were. Get your people out of here. We will have the rest of our lives to bring them down. For now we go our separate ways.” I said through my teeth.

“Here are two horses we don’t have a use for.” Braeden came up behind Scarlet and I.

“Thanks.” I mounted the black horse. Scarlet mounted the white horse, speckled with gray. She looked very nervous.

“By then they will have gotten ten times stronger Angel.” Quinn said.

“We’ll be in touch. Move your people out, Quinn. Those Vampyres are still out there.”

“You’re heading to Scotland aren’t you?” Braeden inquired.

“Perhaps.” I stated.

“You are sure you know what you’re doing?”

“Of course.” I shot him a smile.

And with that we took off as fast as we could northwest. In my minds eye I saw them all scurrying around getting ready to move out some where else.

“When do we get a break from all of this riding?” Scarlet whined a little.

I couldn’t help but smile, “Soon.” I laughed at the face she made indicating that she was annoyed with my response. “You’ll get used to it.”

“How long is this going to take?” She whined again.

“Weren’t you the one that was pushing and being a pain in the ass about this trip?” I asked her sarcastically.

“Yes…” She sighed. “But I thought that maybe we’d fly or run fast.” She sighed.

“You’d better get used to all this riding Scarlet. It’s going to be like this way while we travel.”

“I guess…” Scarlet responded, looking away holding tight onto the reins of the horse, pulling on the bit. The horse looked like he was getting annoyed.

“Scarlet, let loose the reins.” I suggested to her. She shot me a frantic glance.

“You’ll be fine. Trust the horse.” I gave her a reassuring look. She loosened her grip only a little, and her horse looked relieved.

“So I need you to stay calm when we get there.” I said.

“No!” She yelled making her horse jump, then she jumped, “Death is all they deserve!”

“And tell me how you think you’re going to kill them…” I asked being ever so curious to her plans.

“I will run real fast up behind them slicing their throats and watch them bleed out.” She replied ever so seriously about her plan of vengeance.

I couldn’t help but burst out in laughter. To Scarlet I’m sure that was a thought out plan, and that it would workout well.

“Why are you laughing at me?” She asked angrily.

“You’re not thinking straight, first of all. These Vampyres have been around centuries and they’re a million times stronger than you are and their senses are always one hundred and twenty percent. They’d see you coming and you’d be dead before you had a chance to even start running.”

“Then teach me. Teach me how to be like you. Fast. Strong. Teach me! I want to learn!” She said enthusiastically.

“Scarlet, you have to trust me. You will have all the time in the world to kill those who took your family from you. Please trust in that. You will learn, but it takes time. I can’t teach you to be a warrior in a few days.”

“Then how can I fight them? I want to be strong and fast like you.”

“It’s not about being strong and fast Scarlet. It’s about being intelligent and out smarting them. Besides you are immortal, and so are they. You’ll have a long time to gain all that strength and power. You really just need to learn patience right now.”

“Patience isn’t exactly a strong point for me.” She admitted trying to be a smart ass.

“That is definitely obvious,” We both laughed. “I’m being serious.” I started to add, “If you don’t stay calm, these will be the last days in these worlds.”

“Worlds?” She asked curiously. I gave her no response and just kept on riding towards our destination.

I always speak the truth, no matter how harsh it may seem. What I said was the truth. The only way to stay alive is to stay calm and keep your cool. When you get upset and charge into things, you’re not thinking rationally and things are bound to get messed up. The great battle where she would have her vengeance, would not be this trip. It would be in the future, many many years in the future. Life alone is a battle, there is no doubt in that. There will always be danger lurking in the shadows and battles on the horizon. The war between dark and light is eternal. It’s within everything that surrounds us, and even inside of us.

There can’t ever be one or the other. There’s light, and there’s dark. One without the other would throw things out of balance and cause chaos. Though it’s all the truth, and can be scary sometimes. That is reality. We must learn to live with, and handle it. Adapt. Going day by day and not thinking about the future or living in the past-- well, it’s easier said than done.

“Angel?” I heard Scarlet’s voice pull me out of my thoughts.

“Hmmm?” I shook my head.

“We’ve got to almost be there right?” She was tired, and annoyed, with the journey.

“Yes. Almost,” I squinted into the sunlight that was ahead of us, “By the sunset.” I added.

“Good.” She said. “Because I am sick and tired of riding this horse…I mean, he’s a good horse, but…”

“Shhh!” I said making my horse halt. I sat quietly listening for a moment.

“What is it?” She asked me in a whisper.

“Nothing. Never mind. Lets ride.” I proceeded forward. Scarlet looked at me with curiosity, wanting to know what I was keeping from her.

It’s not that I kept things from her or anyone else intentionally. Alright, so maybe I did keep a few things from people on purpose. I guess I didn’t want to give her more to think about right now. But, what I had heard was laughter in the wind. Almost the same laughter as in all of my dreams. The same laughter that has haunted me. The same laughter that had killed my mother. Scarlet’s family. That laughter that I met in the forest back near London.

“There.” I pointed. There was Edinburgh. A town on stone buildings and underground winding tunnels and passages. Cemeteries haunted with the voices of the past.

“Finally.” She sighed. I gave her a quick smile in response.

The constant thoughts and stench of humans hustling around the streets were everywhere. Buying, selling, stealing. The streets were covered in waste and garbage. Women selling themselves to the highest bidder. Men drenched in liquor and being just plain disgusting. Humans were everywhere. And riding through the streets, it appeared as though we were just like everyone else. Their clothing a lot like ours; however their mannerisms, not so much.