DAWN.
We were gathered around a large, oval table in the war room of the Vlad mansion—somewhere I had no idea existed.
Maps of the villa and its surrounding areas were sprawled across the tables along with wooden figurines.
"It's no news that word has spread among the vampires about Dawn being the Divine Purge" Dragos announced, hands leaning on the table. "The fault is partly mine. Back when I confronted members of the dark order, a servant came to deliver the news to Petru about what she is."
"But how did the servant find out?" I asked, facing the others.
Darcia, Rafael, and Dragos all turned to Azrael, their eyes accusing, and I let out a frustrated sigh.
"Of course," I stated flatly, throwing him a glare. I was still angry about our last conversation, and since then, we hadn't spoken to each other. Everyone noticed, but they just assumed I was still cold to him because of what he did to me in the past. But that wasn't it. I wasn't the type to hold grudges for long. I'd understood him to an extent when he explained that grooming Dragos and preparing him to be Alesul was all he'd ever known. But for him to suddenly revert to the cold, distant Azrael overnight? That was what pissed me off.
"He must have escaped when I... took care of the others. I completely forgot he was even there, let alone that he knew what was going on."
Mrs. Vlad placed a hand on his arm. "It's not your fault," she said gently.
Dragos nodded and continued. "Just days ago, there was an attack while she was away and now, we're preparing for another." He looked at every face in the room and continued "According to Rafael, some are already on their way"
Rafael nodded in agreement. "Yes. They should arrive by nightfall" He stated. "My informant spoke only of the Arpád clan coming for her. I have no idea if any other ones would be here as well"
"Regardless of this information, we must be prepared" Darcia spoke, strutting towards a large chair.
The mansion was quiet. Eerie. All staff had been dismissed including weary old Renfrey because of what was coming.
"Azrael?" Dragos called, looking at his brother who had been silent the entire evening.
"I started this mess, so they're mine to handle," he said. "It's time they remembered why they call me the Wild One."
Dragos smirked. "I know you can handle them."
He stood upright. "Fighting vampires isn't something new to us, but we're aware of the Arpad clan's reputation for playing dirty. Especially since they're up against us. They'll likely resort to every dirty trick in the book to gain the upper hand"
"Rumors say their leader, Variel possesses a relic that grants them more enhanced abilities" Rafael spoke, circling the table "Speed. Strength. Illusion casting, almost as potent as you Vlads"
I couldn't believe Variel, the same man who had shown an interest in me during the grand dinner was also a vampire. And now, he and his minions were coming for me.
"Illusion casting?" I inquired quietly.
"Yes. You see, we possess other abilities you're not aware of, apart from the typical speed, strength, hypnosis, enhanced senses, and regeneration..." Azrael answered, finally looking at me. I wondered why he was suddenly talking to me after all these days.
"But because we descend from the bloodline of Dragavei, our great dark lord, our abilities are sharper than those of ordinary vampires"
No wonder Variel and his minions took extra steps. They were obviously no match for the Vlads.
"Some vampires gain unique gifts after being turned, while some don't," Darcia added. "Those who find themselves lucky can move objects with their minds or even read minds. Some can teleport through shadows or manipulate the darkness, some can see the future, and some can shapeshift... The list is endless"
"Does your family possess any unique gifts?"
"Apart from being able to withstand the sun, I can enter and manipulate dreams" She explained. "Vampires call it dreamwalking. And I discovered this when I slipped into my brother, Geta's dream to torment him after murdering my first pet"
I looked at Azrael, asking coldly but curiously, "What is yours? Were you lucky enough to gain a special gift?"
"Yes," he answered, eyes dropping to the table again. He could barely hold eye contact with me for long and I wondered why.
"I can manipulate memories"
"That sounds cool" I stated "How does it work?"
Azrael grimaced faintly, proceeding to elaborate, although his eyes still found a way to avoid mine. "I can create false memories and perfectly implant them into someone's subconscious making them believe they experienced something that never actually happened. They will be unable to tell what's real and what's not"
"That's not all" Rafael chipped in, sounding excited. "The craziest part is, Azrael right here..." He nudged Azrael "Could literally rewrite someone's personal history if he wanted to, but he makes it sound boring."
"He could take away a particular memory and replace it with a new one," Dragos added.
Azrael merely shrugged.
"Then why don't you sound excited talking about it?" I asked.
"I've kept it locked away for hundreds of years"
"Why?"
He was silent for a moment before speaking up. "It has consequences. Each time I use it, I..." He paused briefly, and that hint of sorrow was back again. "I relive a particular memory"
I could see the pain in his eyes and hear the hurt lacing his voice.
"I can relieve others of grievous memories, but not myself. It is why it keeps happening—the reliving thing. I don't like to refer to something so torturous as a gift. I call it a curse"
I found myself pitying him again, instead of staying mad at him. Azrael was a big ball of mess clearly battling more than he was willing to reveal. He appeared to be going through a lot more than he let on.
"I'm sorry"
The room fell into silence before Dragos cleared his throat, stepping towards me and smiling. "Aren't you interested in hearing about mine?"
I blushed "Humor me"
"Just like you, I believe I can manipulate the weather" he responded proudly.
"Just like me? I'm only able to control the wind to some extent" I guffawed. "And how's that even possible? I mean the weather manipulation?"
"I haven't exactly used them in battle yet, but I have the potential of manipulating them." He clarified.
"You should've seen him when Rose died," Rafael said again. "The weather mirrored his grief. I've never seen it rain that hard before."
I grew a little tense and jealous at the mention of Rose.
"You're really always around to witness everything, aren't you?" I asked lightly, trying not to show it.
I turned to Dragos. "So, does that mean you can also control lightning?"
"It takes a lot of power to summon lightning. It's not something that can be done occasionally." He responded. "According to Mother, I have to reach a certain height of emotional pain or desperation for it to happen."
"Oh. I see"
"Hello?" Rafael waved a hand in front of me. "Before we get a little carried away by other matters, aren't you going to ask what my special gift is?"
I rolled my eyes at him. "Dramatic much?"
He smiled at me.
"Get on with it, drama lord"
"My powers are those of telepathy" he stated with a smirk. "I can communicate with the mind, without having to speak. There's just one ick about it"
"What's that?"
"Not all vampires can hear me or listen. Only a few can. A few older, stronger vampires"
"Bleh" I stuck out my tongue at him. "That's boring"
For a split second, I caught a smile on Azrael's face before it disappeared.
Azrael had smiled. I wasn't sure whether to be relieved or downright terrified.
"That's enough talk about powers, we're straying from the reason we're here" Mrs. Vlad interrupted, rising from the chair. "If these rumors about the Arpad clan's possession of the relic are true, then we shouldn't underestimate them."
"Artifacts like that are made from dark magic. I've read about them—encountered a few on my travels" Azrael said "They're rare, but not totally extinct"
"So, what does this particular relic do?"
"Like Rafael mentioned earlier, it amplifies their speed and strengths. Might grant them illusion casting too, but once taken from them, they'll fall like autumn leaves" he explained. "Whoever bears it has to be nearby for its potency"
Rafael moved to stand beside Azrael "But once we take this thing from them, how do we neutralize it?" He looked around. "It has to be neutralized or destroyed, right?"
He shrugged "I have no idea, we'll figure out what to do after we get our hands on it"
"It's a powerful relic," Darcia said again. "Not one to be destroyed so easily"
"I'll do it" I spoke up suddenly, and all heads in the room turned to look at me.
Azrael guffawed. "You can't be serious"
"Why not?" I asked, facing him. "You don't think I can do it?'
Dragos interrupted before he could respond. "You don't have full control of your powers yet," he said softly.
"Yes, but I might be the key to neutralizing this relic you all speak of. The blast I shot at Azrael could destroy it. I have to try, at least" I said. "I can't just stay and do nothing"
"Uh, yes, you can, Miss Carter," Rafael replied. "We'll do the protecting"
I shook my head "No. I won't stay and watch knowing I can at least try to do something"
"Dawn" Dragos looked at me. "What if you lose yourself in the process, like what happened to Azrael?"
"It's a risk I'm willing to take" I gazed up at him seriously. "Don't try to talk me out of it, 'cause I'm doing it."