Prophecy: Caelestis & Aurorea (36 page)

She held the symbol of Caelestis high in the air, letting it dangle from the chain so everyone would be able to see it.

“It is true. I have killed Arkalus, and I have set you free.”

There was silence for a moment and then the hundred strong in front of her began to whisper to each other again.

She knew what it was about this time.

“Listen to me!” she said and the room hushed. She swallowed down her nerves and kept the symbol held high in the air. It was strange to be commanding her family, but she had to clear things up as best she could before she announced her intentions.

She made eye contact with as many of them as possible and then stared straight ahead.

“I have killed Arkalus and set you free. I don’t want to rule you like he did. All I ask of you is your loyalty to our bloodline, not to me.” They all stared at her still, their voices silenced while they waited for her to say her piece. She would say it then. She’d thought long and hard about this moment, rehearsing it in her head countless times. “What you have been told about me is a lie. It is not certain that I will destroy our species. I have chosen to save us and this world when the time comes, and it comes soon. Many of you have been an instrument in keeping my secret, even from me. You must know that my blood mother, our true master, had kept me alive for a reason. She was one of the ten that originally translated the scroll, and she was the only one who believed that I would save the world, not damn it. War is coming.”

She looked around the room, feeling a little more confident when she realised that she had their full attention. It was so quiet that the slightest noise could be heard. All she could hear was her breathing.

This was the moment she’d feared. She had said all she could to convince them that she wasn’t going to kill them. Now she had to convince them to remain with her.

“You have a choice,” she said and stepped forwards to the edge of the low platform. “No one is going to force you to stay. Leave tonight if you can’t live with me as your master, or stay and fight by my side. I say this now because we are going to war against the house of Aurorea. If you leave, so be it. I will not hold it against you if I meet you on the battlefield.”

She noticed that many of the people were now staring at Valentine. It had probably been her mention of the Aurorea bloodline that had reminded them of his presence in their home.

“Leave us now. I wish to speak to the guards alone,” she said, relief easing her nerves when all but the guardsmen began to file from the room. It had gone smoother than expected. It was probably because she had given them the option of leaving the family mansion without repercussion and the shock of having the death of Arkalus at her hands confirmed.

She stared at the symbol of Caelestis and then at the guards where they had gathered a few feet from her. They were keeping their distance from Valentine. She couldn’t blame them. When she’d first met him, she’d wanted to keep well away from him too.

He was an Aurorea after all.

Her love was her family’s enemy.

She sighed and let the symbol of Caelestis dangle at her side.

“I’m afraid I can’t grant you the luxury of a night to decide your fate. You must make that decision now.” She looked into the eyes of every guard present. There had to be nearly thirty of them gathered in front of her, some of which hadn’t been guards when she’d been a welcome member of this family. Arkalus must have enlisted them only recently to protect the house. “Kalinor may have spies among us. If he discovers what I have done, he will come for me. I’m giving you the chance to leave. If you don’t take that chance now, you are bound by honour to stay and protect me and our family.”

Silence descended and she waited with bated breath to see what would happen. They all looked at each other. For a moment she feared that they would all leave and she would have to protect the house and her family alone should anyone attack tonight. There was an exchange of muttered comments and then a few turned their back on her and walked away. She felt crestfallen to see them go. When they were joined by some others, she drew a deep breath and held it, trying to control her feelings. Valentine was right. Not everyone would remain with her after all.

She counted the number of guards left in front of her when they showed no sign of leaving.

She was left with twenty to protect her home.

She recognised the faces of those at the front. They were long serving guards who she could remember from when she was little. They were the few that had always protected her from Arkalus.

“I can’t tell you how much I appreciate your service and how relieved I am by your decision to stay,” she said to all of them.

They bowed their heads.

“Tiberius, would you please take command?” She gave him a hopeful look when he raised his head. His grey eyes held her gaze for a moment and then he nodded.

“It would be my pleasure, my lady.” He gave her a brief smile and then turned to his men, brushing his dark grey hair from his eyes. He wasn’t an old man, in his forties as a human and several hundred years older than that as a vampire. He’d been her combat tutor and friend throughout her life and she was glad that he’d stayed.

She watched him lead the guards from the room, leaving her alone with Valentine, or so she thought. Her eyes moved to rest on the other person present.

“Serenity,” she said and stepped down from the stage. She wrapped her arms about her friend, holding her tightly and wishing she had the words to comfort her. How was she supposed to comfort her best friend when she had been the one responsible for taking her love away? “I’m sorry for what I had to do.”

“I’m sorry too,” Serenity said and pulled back. She smiled. “I’ve kept so many secrets for so long. I’ve watched you grow up. I saw you born. All these years I couldn’t say a word. I’m glad that you know the truth now. I wish I had been able to tell you.”

Prophecy gave her a look that said not to worry and gently rubbed her arm. “I have a favour to ask of you.”

“Name it.”

“Arrange for a room near to mine. We have another guest yet to arrive,” she said.

“The lord of Tenebrae?” Serenity said with a smile. “Such company requires one of the best guest rooms. Will Valentine require one?”

Prophecy looked unimpressed and turned Serenity around, nudging her shoulder to make her move. “No he will not.”

Serenity smiled knowingly over her shoulder and then walked from the room.

Prophecy looked around the vast emptiness of it and then at Valentine. Tears filled her eyes when the strength she had been forced to find in order to face her family disappeared, leaving her tired, and as empty as the room they were in. She breathed in deeply when Valentine walked across to her and wrapped his arms about her, pulling her into his embrace. She closed her eyes and pressed her cheek against his chest, her fingers tightly grasping the back of his jacket.

“You did well,” he whispered. She smiled against him.

“There is still so much to do,” she said and leaned back so she could see his face.

He sighed and she could see he was thinking about tomorrow night and his family. She tiptoed, bringing her mouth close to his, wanting to erase the heavy thoughts and replace them with something more pleasant. Her lips grazed his, teasing them, barely touching them. She felt light inside when he did the same, skimming his against hers. The feather-light feeling of their lips caressing made desire build inside of her. She hadn’t felt anything so strong from a touch so light and delicate. It stirred a fire in her veins, making them burn for more contact between them but at the same time, she wanted to keep it so tender and slight.

When he stopped, she opened her eyes and found he was staring at the door. She looked there and saw two of the servant girls staring at them.

She realised from the disdainful look on their faces how much Valentine’s presence wasn’t welcome. It was going to sway her bloodline’s judgement and make them leave. They could probably cope with being ruled by her, but the idea of being ruled indirectly by an Aurorea would make them rebel.

“Maybe it’s best we go to my room,” she said and turned to face Valentine while keeping her eyes fixed on the girls. They walked away, their heads bent together and their hands shielding their mouths as they spoke to one another.

“Stay a while,” he said and lightly touched her cheek. “To show your power. I know the way to your room. No one will stop me. It is best this way.”

She smiled and wished she could go with him. Her eyes closed when he pressed a kiss to her lips and she kept them shut while she listened to the sound of his boots on the hard floor. When they disappeared into the distance, she opened her eyes and sat down on the platform, shunning the throne-like chair that stood a few feet behind her.

She spent a few minutes trying not to think about what was going to happen tomorrow night when she gathered the members of the house in this room again. She had lost almost a third of the guards. She was convinced she would lose almost all of the rest of the house.

When Serenity entered, she was still staring at the door.

“I have arranged quarters in the east wing. Is something wrong?” Serenity said and sat down next to her.

“Nothing. I need a phone,” she said, standing up. Walking out into the entrance hall, she headed for the phone in the small lounge area of the room. She frowned at the way the people near it all moved away, clearing a path for her as though she would kill them for being near her. She turned around and saw that the room had emptied.

They were all going to leave.

Picking the phone up, she rifled around in her pocket for the slip of paper she’d written Valentine’s apartment’s telephone number on and pulled it out. She dialled in the number and toyed with the cord while she waited for Venturi to answer.

“Hello?” he said.

“It’s done. Gather the things and come to the mansion. The guards will let you in.” She placed the phone down, not giving him a chance to respond.

She looked at Serenity. “Speak with Tiberius and tell him to let Venturi in when he arrives. I will wait for him in the great hall. I’d like to be alone until then.”

Serenity nodded and walked away. Heading back into the main reception room, Prophecy slowed down until she was moving painstakingly slowly towards the throne at the end of it. So many times she had seen Iona there. It was her place. To see Arkalus there had seemed wrong and she would never sit there herself. Her place wasn’t on that throne, it was beside it. In her heart, Iona would always be the head of their bloodline.

She cast a glance around the room, taking it all in. She could remember playing here as a child now. She could remember Serenity and Tiberius chasing her. She could remember the first night that Arkalus had looked at her differently. She had been eighteen and it had been her first ball. He had danced with her and in that moment she had noticed that he had stopped looking at her like a child and his sister, and was looking at her with a new fire in his eyes. It had repulsed her even then.

She still wasn’t sure how old she was now. Eighteen seemed like years ago and the false memories planted in her mind made it hard to decipher what was real and what wasn’t. In the picture taken for her passport, she had looked like someone in their early twenties. She could remember being trapped in the house for a little over twenty years. Arkalus had probably started tampering with her mind once she was forming memories that stayed.

Her eyes roamed to the clock above the door she’d entered through. It was getting late. How long had she been thinking for?

She moved back to the platform and sat down on the edge of it again.

Sighing, she resisted the temptation to rest her head on her hand and forced herself to sit up straight. A show of power. That’s what Valentine had said. She needed to let her family see that she was waiting for them to make their decision.

She was so tired.

The sun was still hours from rising but all she wanted to do was sleep.

The door opened and she looked up to see Tiberius walking, his black cloak swishing around him. He had his hand on his sword. She smiled when he moved to the side slightly and revealed Venturi to her eyes. His long black jacket made him an imposing figure and his stride was confident. He was carrying the bag they had left back at Valentine’s place. She wondered what progress he had made on the scrolls and whether the scribe that had taught her in the mansion’s library could be of assistance to him in translating them.

“Venturi,” she said, standing.

Tiberius moved to one side, allowing Venturi to pass. She went to him and barely stopped herself from hugging him like she wanted to.

He smiled broadly at her.

“You were successful then, lady of Caelestis.” Venturi mock bowed and she frowned at him.

“Come, lord of Tenebrae.” She beckoned him closer and then walked towards the other door.

“It is as quiet as the dead in here,” Venturi remarked while she led him through the house.

She frowned when everyone kept disappearing from the halls in front of her, leaving them clear.

“I think they’re scared of me,” she said and looked at him.

“I cannot blame them,” he said with a smile.

She called up her magic and let it thread through her fingers. “Don’t mock me.”

“In all seriousness, they have a right to be frightened of you, Prophecy. A woman they have known all their lives is now the centre of a prophecy and carries a great power. You have just killed their lord, who in turned killed their lady. It is expected of them to be a little unnerved. Houses rarely pass hands in such quick succession.”

“They always knew who I was, or at least those that lived here did. Iona and Arkalus could hide my aging from me, but not from my family. The power, I agree, is probably a little scary.” She let the magic fade and looked at the bag he had slung over his shoulder. “Did you make any progress?”

“None at all,” he said in an apologetic tone.

She turned down another corridor and walked up the set of steps that led to the first floor. When she reached it, she walked across to the next set of steps and went up those.