The Revelation

By CJ Hunter

In a race against time, Detective Paige Marshal is about to learn that her black and white world, is anything but. Lurking in the shadows, waiting to strike, lurks an evil which threatens to destroy our world. Creatures, long thought fictional are, in fact, real and Paige Marshal is about to be plunged into the world of eternal night; the world of vampires.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: May 23, 2014
• ISBN: 9781483528298

Book preview

PATRELLI

PROLOGUE

France, 1708 AD

The night was still and warm, only a few hours before dawn. All inhabitants of the fort were sound asleep except for one…

Giovanni; Lord Giovanni Patrelli, of Italian descent, tossed and turned, trapped in yet another of his dreams. Sweat clung to his brow as the sheets tangled around his legs. Lying beside him was his wife.

Wait! Giovanni yelled as he sat up. He was shaking. With wide eyes he looked around the room as if searching for someone.

What? My love, what have you seen? You’ve had another vision, have you not? his wife asked.

"Si, indeed I have, Giovanni answered as he wiped the sweat from his face, turning to look at his wife. He felt blessed to have her in his life. As his breathing slowly returned to normal he reached across and pulled her into his embrace. The scent of her hair calmed his senses. This one, like so many before, was very strange. The people wore strange attire and spoke a strange and foreign form of English. There was a female dressed in skin-tight pantaloons. She was looking at a drawing of a medallion. Then she began speaking to some men and then… then she began screaming at a…" he stopped in mid-sentence. His stare was cold and fixed as he remembered the horror of what he had just seen. Even the Devil himself could not have thought of this evil which comes, he thought.

Feeling his wife move within his arms, Giovanni regained composure. He had almost used the word ‘beast’ to describe what he had just seen, but there were no words to describe it. His wife, along with the whole of his village, knew not of the type of creature to which he was referring. Not wishing to discuss it, he kissed his wife’s forehead then stood and reached for his robe.

Giovanni? What was she screaming at? My love, where are you going? his wife reached out to him.

I must find Eduardo. There is something I must do. Try and go back to sleep. There is nothing for you to fear. I will join you for our morning meal.

He headed for his library. As he passed one of his guards, he instructed the young man to find Captain Eduardo Umberto.

In his library Giovanni lit a candle and began to do what he did after most dreams: he paced. This is madness, he thought. How can such things be? How can they exist? We fight demons now that look like a man, walk like a man, although infected with death and depravity, such as one would expect from a creature created in hell. But this…Sacré bleu! What could create such a thing? Who are those people; that woman? So familiar to me. He knew this dream was not for the present, but the future. God help them if those creatures ever appeared.

He reached for one of his diaries and began writing. He had many, many diaries. Every vision, every dream he had ever had, had been written down – every detail – places, names, clothing, surroundings, conversations. Smells, sounds, feelings. The diary he chose now was for special dreams; dreams that he suspected were years ahead in the future. As he wrote, a chill ran through his bones. A strange pulling sensation made him feel sick. It was as if he had watched someone he loved die and had been helpless to do anything.

He wrote about the strange woman. She resembled someone he knew. He recorded how she sounded so different to women of his time and that she wore masculine clothes. Such a beautiful female should be adorned in fine linens, not dressed as if she were heading off to battle.

This woman had been holding a sketch of a round object; a medallion. How did she get a drawing of it? I am about to destroy the thing. It is evil; cursed. This doesn’t make sense. Giovanni knew the medallion well – in fact, at this very moment it lay concealed in his library. Giovanni had scoured the lands in search of it, one of two forged from solid gold at the dawn of time. He had always assumed that the medallion, if used for evil, was capable of causing utter chaos and death to humanity. After this current vision, however, he wondered if, in fact, it might not be the cause of such disasters after all.

He continued writing. "The woman in this vision had definitely been searching for it. She was not alone either, for there were two men with her. A very large dark-haired man was standing on one side of her but I could not see his face, and to her left was a young, fair-haired man. They were engaged in conversation about the medallion. As they moved around the stonewalled room, similar to a catacomb, they stopped talking when they reached a statue, horizontal or fallen – perhaps of a king or nobleman? Whoever he was, he held a long sword. Cobwebs and dust covered him. The woman bent slightly and blew dust off a plaque. I saw the words and realised where the dream was taking place: ‘Lord Giovanni Luciano Patrelli’. I suddenly understood exactly where this vision had taken me…

Putting his quill down, Giovanni leaned back and examined every emotion he had sensed in the dream. The woman had definitely been scared. He had felt the sense of urgency and desperation running through her, and her desperation had seemed far more than just frustration at not being able to find the medallion. "It was as if she had to, or rather needed to, find it, as though the whole world depended upon it, Giovanni murmured. I wonder…" He stood and, carrying a lit candle, walked to the end of the library, coming to a stop in front of a painting. Putting the candle down, he carefully lifted the painting off the wall. Behind was a small, hand-forged silver door which covered a hole in the rock wall. He carefully extracted a small wooden box and walked back to the desk. As he sat back down, he heard rustling and footsteps.

General, you called for me? asked a tall, dark haired man, slightly out of breath. He had been sound asleep and knew that whatever the problem, it must be urgent if he was to be called for at this hour, and had come at a run.

Si, Eduardo. I am very sorry for the disturbance, but I need your help with something. Giovanni gestured for him to sit. Opening the box, he carefully lifted the medallion out and held it up. Both men looked in wonder at the golden disc with its intricate engravings. Eduardo, you know the lengths I went to, to obtain this thing. You know this medallion must never reach the hands of our enemies, the ones that bring death into our lives.

Si, my lord. Never will they touch it. I give you my word. Eduardo frowned at the heavy golden disc which many had died protecting. Has something happened? he enquired.

Si. You know my thoughts on this thing. I was going to have it melted down, destroy it so it can never be used again. But I have had a vision, and alas, I can no longer destroy it.

A vision, my lord? May I ask what you saw, and why we cannot destroy this thing? I thought your task was to find it and destroy it.

Si, so did I; however, this night I have had another dream. This one was in the future. There is a woman who will need this medallion. I am unsure why, but I sensed the urgency of her heart. I have looked into the heart of the beast and have seen what he really looks like… they are nothing like us… they… evil… Giovanni’s hand trembled and he dropped the medallion. The noise brought him back to the present.

My lord, you are pale. Eduardo took the medallion and put it back in its box. What did you see? What do you mean – beast?

I cannot explain more. It was my vision to worry about. Mine and mine alone. Just know that this medallion cannot be destroyed. It must be found in the future, but not for many, many years. It must be hidden. The dream revealed where I must put it, or rather, where you must put it. What I don’t know is how I can get them to find it. Giovanni started pacing around the library, thinking. Hiding the medallion would be easy, but leaving instructions for who knows how many years or centuries – well, that was another matter.

Them? Who, my lord?

The future. People in the future need this for some reason. They must find it. We must hide and protect it. The future will depend on us to secure this golden curse.

Well then, it sounds as if we need a treasure map; a marker. Eduardo was good at puzzles. As a boy he and his brothers had often pretended to be pirates, raiding and pillaging the seas, making treasure maps.

Giovanni looked at his loyal captain. Si that may just work, my friend. He sat again and opened one of his diaries and began to write. He had a plan, an idea. His hands flew across the page. Looking up at Eduardo, with a smile he continued, Eduardo, I need you to get the stonemason from the village and bring him here today.

As you wish. Eduardo left. He knew his friend well enough to know that when he started writing in his diaries, he was lost to the world and even God himself could not pry him away.

What neither man knew that morning was that it would be some three hundred years before the world would see that powerful, golden medallion again…

Volume I

AWAKENINGS

Chapter One

La Giselle, France, 1710 AD

Lord Blayne Patrelli, son of Lord Giovanni Patrelli, had finished his usual morning consultation with his capitanos, five of his toughest and bravest soldiers. They had discussed the coming battle, debating strategies and assault formations. As the battle drew near, emotions ran high and normally calm men were now filled with nervous anticipation.

The leader of the enemy, Lucian D’iago, faced them with a murderous horde of evil spawn. This fact alone was enough to create fear and trepidation amongst the ranks. The Patrellian Army, although fierce and strong, had never faced Lucian before. The most powerful and ruthless of his kind, he showed no mercy, took no prisoners. He promised only one thing to his enemies: certain death.

Gradually these invaders, created from the depths of hell, had been crossing the northern borders, moving west from Romania towards France. They left a trail of savagery, death and sorrow in their wake.

Blayne Patrelli had had enough. He was tired of all the fighting, all the lies and the constant deceptions that were needed to keep the townsfolk safe and free from the truth. His whole life had been consumed by defence and death, slaying or being slain; knowing not if the sunset, on any given day, would be his last. As much as he loved his father and believed in the Patrellian Army’s cause, deep in his heart he longed for a normal life. He wanted a wife, children, peace and normality, to wake within a quiet morning and know that whatever they did, wherever they travelled, all would be safe. Such thoughts were nothing but a dream, warm and tormenting, but now such a dream was close to reality. Dare he hope? Dare he think that the misery of his life could finally end? Only time would tell.

Blayne felt exhausted from the lengthy defence and strategy discussions, as he walked across the inner ward. His mood was dark as he made his way to the western tower, where he was impatient to experience the longed-for solitude he would find at the top.

Stand aside! he ordered the guard.

The guard lifted a large black, iron key from his belt and placed it in the lock.

My lord, shall you require my services?

No, thank you. Have you seen my father this day?

No, my Lord. Lord Giovanni has not been in the courtyard this morning. The soldier stands to attention, eyes straight ahead.

Blayne hated the aristocratic society into which he had been born. As far as he was concerned, all men were equal in the eyes of God. He yearned not for power or riches, but for equality with his fellow man. He wanted to be respected for what he, Blayne Patrelli, had achieved in life, not because he was the son of a lord. Discontent stirred his heart and he sighed, wondering if he could ever feel contentment and inner peace.

Of the four towers, one at each corner of the outer wall, the western tower had always been his favourite. From the top he could see the town of La Giselle in the distance, and its lush, green valleys seemed to beckon him. Looking straight down he had a clear view of the rear border. A hill covered with a thick carpet of grass ran along the back boundary. On top was a large, rocky outcrop, which Blayne had found very useful on occasion. The rock had crevices where he could sit, or climb upon to stand on top. If he stood behind the rock, looking towards the fort, he could hide himself completely. Blayne and his betrothed, Celeste Levant, would often sneak up the hill to steal precious private moments together. This afternoon would be one of those times. Blayne’s heart suddenly soared in anticipation as he thought about spending time with the woman he loved. The promise of sharing an afternoon with Celeste, free from military discipline, sent the blood surging through his veins.

Chapter Two

For nearly six years, the village of La Giselle had known relative peace within its borders. It was therefore, with growing concern that the villagers noticed an increase in the presence of soldiers from the Patrellian Army, especially at night. Guards had been positioned on sentry duty and a curfew put in place, which made it a chargeable offence for anyone to be outside after sunset. During the past month, villagers had been urged to keep their doors locked at night. They were not informed of the reasons for these precautions so fear of the unknown crept in, and started to affect their lives.

La Giselle had always been a quiet, peaceful village, a safe haven for domesticated folk who tended their flocks and raised their families. However, what the townsfolk hadn’t known was that their town had been targeted by an insidious, parasitic evil which intended to destroy the very hearts and souls of the village. The evil was in human form. It walked upon two legs, and it cared nought for the consequences of its actions.

For centuries this malevolence had existed. It crept and lingered in the darkest shadows of the world, evolving into a deadly force which lay ready to destroy the world. Insane and brutal, it went by a name unknown to nearly all the world: Vampire, the name of the un-dead.

Only Lord Giovanni and his army, and others like them, knew vampires existed. Local law enforcers, even priests were not informed. This was often necessary to keep the peace.

Criticism for the lack of communication was directed at the Chief Gendarme, Bernard Levant, but in truth he had no jurisdiction over the movements of the Patrellian Army, for they acted independently and did not reveal their plans to him. When the situation became untenable, Bernard managed to have speech with Lord Giovanni Patrelli. It seemed that at the end of the week, there would be a change; but Bernard was told to remain vigilant and in the meantime to ignore the villagers’ complaints. He was shocked when Lord Giovanni told him, It’s better they complain in ignorance than run rampant through the city in the blind fear that knowledge will create.

Still at a loss to know what was going to happen, Bernard guessed it was probably easier that he didn’t know the truth – at least then he wouldn’t be lying when he told his fellow villagers that he was as ignorant as they were. But he wasn’t stupid, and after six years of watching the army and enjoying the friendship of Lord Giovanni, he knew the seriousness of the threat they faced, and he suspected that the enemy, whatever form it took, was capable of great evil. He had imagined many possibilities, but in the end he could only think it must be some sort of savage creature. Maybe rogue bears, or a creature that the villagers had never before seen. He did however know some things: he knew that silver had some effect on it, and that every soldier had a number etched in Roman numerals in the right-hand corner of his breastplate. Bernard had discovered these facts by accident.

Early one morning he had been hunting for pheasant in the woods, and on his way back to town he happened upon a soldier driving a horse and wagon. He stopped the soldier to enquire what he was doing and the man said he was a cleaner. He was one of a dozen or more whose job it was to clean up any battlefield. This job had to be done early in the morning and any dead soldiers had to be immediately decapitated. Their bodies were then burnt in the giant earthen pits at the back of the fort.

Bernard noticed black blood dripping beneath a dirty, stained sheet, enough to run between the rails and sides of the wagon and pool on the ground. Whatever was under the sheet was something he did not wish to see.

Why do the bodies have to be burnt?

It’s the only way we can be sure that they are dead, sir.

Bernard was appalled by this barbarity. The soldier seemed unmoved; he told Bernard that because the heads were removed, the only identification of the body was the number etched on the breastplate. Soldiers could appear to be dead, but in fact still be alive. Bernard made no sense of this statement. When the opportunity arose, he asked Lord Giovanni about all of this.

Well my friend, it does sound rather abhorrent, but if my soldiers appear dead, then awake, they are no longer themselves. They are contaminated with poison, which makes them violent and murderously insane. Alas, there is no cure. Once a soldier in my army has fallen and is taken for dead, this is the course of action that must be taken. Now, do not alarm yourself. As you trust God, trust me. Let us speak of this no more.

And so it was. Bernard had never discussed it with anyone.

Bonjour, Papa, Celeste Levant said as she walked into her father’s office. Her long, brown hair spilled over her shoulders and cascaded down her back. Woven through the shining strands was a garland of field flowers.

Bonjour, my dear. You seem gay this morning. What has pleased you so much?

Should I not be happy, Papa? Tomorrow will see the last of the battles and Lord Blayne and I will be free to wed. Yes Papa, I am indeed happy.

Celeste’s smile warmed the old man’s heart, for he loved his daughter and had felt her pain at having to wait for the army to finish its battles.

It truly delights me to see that smile warm your lovely face. My dear, nothing would make me happier than to see you and Lord Blayne finally married. I know that he too wants this more than anything else; he has told me so on many occasions. Smiling, Bernard returned to the charge sheets he had been studying.

Papa, whom do they fight? You must know after all these years. Blayne tells me nothing. I am not a fool. I know that someone, or something, is out there.

Celeste, like everyone else, had wondered about this for some time, but the only answers she had ever managed to extract from Blayne were cryptic making no sense. Wild animals? Thieves, murderers, escaped criminals? Every time she brought up the subject, she got no satisfactory answer, and Blayne was good at changing the subject with a kiss.

My child, if I had a Franc for each occasion that question had been asked of me, I would be a very rich man. Lord Giovanni is most cunning in his avoidance of direct answers. He frowned so hard that his eyebrows almost met. The truth was that short of spying and following the soldiers into the woods, he had absolutely no idea of the enemy’s identity.

Well, no matter, said Celeste, rousing her father from his deep thoughts. After tomorrow it will all be behind us. Blayne assures me that the enemy will be defeated. I must take my leave, Papa; the children want to play circles with me. With a wave of her hand, Celeste headed for the door.

As you wish, my dear, I will see you later on, no doubt.

Chapter Three

The Patrellian army had been effective and consistent in their attacks against the evil ones. In time villagers stopped disappearing in the woods. Children grew up to be healthy and happy, and farmers no longer found their livestock slaughtered.

As far as the villagers were concerned, there were no vicious, bloodthirsty monsters roaming the woods any more. The Patrellian Army knew differently.

About a week before, Lord Giovanni had received news that a large army was approaching. This army was referred to as the Army of Darkness. It had marched from the north, slaughtering its way across Europe. Soon it would cross Serbia and move west. They came in search of a Destroyer: the last Destroyer anyone would know of for a very long time. His name was Lord Giovanni Patrelli.

Blayne Patrelli, atop the western tower admiring the view, saw Giovanni sitting on the large rock. Good: he wanted to talk to his father.

Blayne had watched his father pace backwards and forwards for days. He knew that his father’s dreams were becoming more and more intense, and he hated being powerless to help him. His father was a strong man, fierce in battle. He would not die easily. It made Blayne sick to think of the carnage they would face tomorrow – the blood; the screams; the foul stench that turns the stomach as these barbaric creatures fell, their melting flesh turning to ash. No human should have to face this nightmare. Good men should not have to die. As he walked down to meet his father, he remembered the last battle in which he had fought three weeks past. He could still see the blood, and hear the screams of death come from his men. Having to fight unholy creatures that could yield such power as to dissect a man in half with a mere swipe of a wing! He could still hear their vile hissing, speaking as if possessed by demons; flapping their enormous wings which spanned the length of a horse and carriage. Never would he forget that night.

Blayne ran up the hill, his long muscular legs carrying him with ease. Finding his father, he quietly approached. My lord, how fare ye this lovely day?

My son, I am lost within my thoughts. I trust you are well rested? Giovanni looked at his strong and loyal son, whom he loved so much. He had been thinking about Blayne and how he had his life ahead of him, but there was a dreadful feeling that this might be one of the last mornings either of them would see.

Father, I am indeed rested. You look tired, my lord, what troubles you? Your mind has been disturbed this past week. I pray your visions have not been unbearable? If you are unwell, my lord…You do not have to fight. Blayne loved his father. Throughout his life, he had witnessed firsthand the nightmares that his father endured, and knew the constant inner reflections and inner turmoil that the man faced. Often his father had awakened screaming, in anger or fear, waking the entire household. If not for his mother’s love and devotion to her husband, his father would have gone mad.

My son, I wish we could forego this fight. I have foreseen this battle these past two weeks, but I know not the outcome. Giovanni’s voice was melancholy; his eyes looked red and sore, and he seemed sad and detached.

Father, it worries me so. I see your concern. You say that Lucian, the Leader of the vampire army, will be here? I beg you, Father, do not fight, we need you here. I am not afraid to go in your place. It would honour me. He placed his hand on his chest.

You are most loyal and you honour me; but I have the gift that, sadly, you do not. It is my destiny as a Destroyer to fight tomorrow. Remember, my son, that I was created for a purpose; Destroyers are born to foresee and fight evil. Once Lucian and his demons are finally exterminated, my kind, Destroyers, will no longer be needed. I pray to God in heaven this be so; for these vile things, which we must kill, have plagued our earth for far too long.

Giovanni hugged his son. He closed his eyes. If he achieved nothing in his life other than fathering his son, it would be more than he could have hoped for. Blayne was his reason for persevering in the quest to end the line of vampires. He wanted his son to have a future, free from bloodshed and horror. As they hugged, fragments from a vision flashed through his mind: a vision that he had a few years earlier; a vision of the future. He recalled the woman who had resembled someone he knew, and the gold medallion. Then he remembered those… things… those strange, evil creatures unlike anything he had ever seen. Fear crept through his body and he pushed the visions away. The sound of his son’s voice brought him back to the present. Still, he wondered. Would they, and more importantly, could they, defeat the vampires in the coming fight?

Forgive me, Father, I did not mean to disrespect your gift. I wish I had been born a Destroyer, but I am more than proud to have been born the son of a Destroyer. As much as I desire to ease your stress and foresee the evil ones, as you rightly stated, I was not chosen, Placing his right hand on his sword, Blayne placed his left hand on Giovanni’s shoulder. By your side, tomorrow night, one last time, we fight! And then, by the power of God, it ends! Blayne bowed to his father.

Giovanni smiled, and patted his son’s right shoulder. Indeed it will, my son, indeed it will. He looked into Blayne’s eyes if searching his soul, in a manner that only a father could understand. My son, when I am gone you shall lead this house. You are strong and your heart is pure. I am very proud of you. Unlike the hearts of many men, yours contains love and compassion. As leader, you must never lose that which God hath bestowed upon you. There can never be room in your heart for arrogance and greed. They are evil, and as such belong to the devil, which we are on the eve of destroying.

Blayne thought he saw a tear form in the corners of his father’s eyes. He wanted to speak, but words failed.

Giovanni Patrelli, leader of the Patrellian Army, hugged his son one last time.

Chapter Four

Celeste had returned home and was changing. She had been wearing a lovely, bright yellow dress. After seeing her father this morning she had walked through the village square. The town artist begged her to pose for him. He said that she looked lovely and he wanted to gift her with a painting. Feeling that her refusal would hurt, she had agreed. He asked her what was making her smile so contentedly. Not wanting to tell him the exact truth, that she was meeting Blayne this afternoon, Celeste simply said that love reigned in her heart today.

As she stood in front of her mirror she realised that in her hair she still had the flowers from the children. She was as happy as a bird in flight. This afternoon she was meeting Blayne at the base of their hill. She loved him with all her being; every part of her longed to be with him.

As she fixed her hair, she looked at herself in the mirror. Although she was jubilant and excited on the inside, the reflection that stared back at her seemed tense. As happy as she was that they could finally be married, there was a certain feeling that played with her mind. Over the past week she had noticed an increase in training at the fort. She had also sensed a general feeling of apprehension amongst her friends at court. When she had questioned Blayne about the town curfew, he did what he always did and avoided the question. But he did tell her that some soldiers had seen some very large wolves, and that they had been quite fearsome. He told her not to worry – once the animals were tracked and removed, the curfew would be lifted.

Celeste knew there was more to it than that. She felt that something terrible was about to happen. This past week she had dreamt of her wedding to Blayne, and twice now she had suffered horrible nightmares. She had been walking up the aisle when she saw Blayne lying dead in a pool of blood at the base of the altar. The dreams had been so intense that she was overcome with fear and trepidation. Her nurse had called for the village doctor, who dismissed the dreams as borne out of stress. In the end she had managed to quell her fears and spoke naught of them to anyone else.

Bringing her thoughts back to the present, she smiled. Looking at the clock, she dabbed some perfume on her wrists, picked up her hat and started to walk up to the rear boundary.

You won’t catch me, my love! Celeste yelled as she hitched her skirts and ran up the grassy hill in her bare feet. With pure mischief in his eye, Blayne gave her a head start and removed his jacket, letting it fall to the ground. Next he undid his vest; that too landed on the ground. Quickly his fingers pulled off his shoes, and as he removed his socks one by one, they too were added to the pile of clothes that lay at his feet. He loosened his undershirt, which spilled in full flowing movements as he pulled it out of his breeches. The last items to join the pile were his belt and the scabbards which hung around his waist. Then, like a lion chasing its prey, revelling in sweet victory, he ran after his beloved.

Run fast my dear, for when I catch you, you will be mine!

Celeste’s brown hair cascaded down her back almost to her hipline. Her pale blue dress flapped in the breeze as she ran with earnest up the hill to their rock, a large boulder which, from the other side, blocked all prying eyes, giving them privacy. Out of breath and laughing, she was almost at the top when Blayne lurched forward and seized her by the waist, toppling them both to the ground. He twisted, making sure that he hit the ground first, allowing Celeste to land right where he wanted her.

Do you surrender, my love? Admit it, you can never beat me, he proclaimed between breaths.

Never, my lord! I must train my legs to move swifter. Grow wings perhaps, Celeste gasped, laughing. Blayne couldn’t draw his gaze from her face, her neck; he loved her so much. He was hypnotised by the rise and fall of her breasts, which strained to be free of their prison within her bodice.

Slowly her lungs began to fill with air. Her smile radiated and glowed, the sun danced off her skin, melting his heart. On so many occasions – after battle, before battle, even during day-to-day, mundane life, – if he ever felt sad or frustrated, one look at her smile, her face, and his heart soared.

Blayne looked deep into her eyes and brushed her hair from her face. He sat up. I love you…soon my love, we will be wed. This final battle will clear our path and then the whole world will know that you are mine, and that we are truly one.

Celeste straddled his thighs and threw her arms around his neck. Yes! Yes, my lord, you know I want this. I want you. My body aches for you. We should have been wed this year past, but, let’s not dwell on that. I have waited all this time, surely one more battle won’t kill me? Oh Blayne, I love you with all my heart. I live for you, my love. She leaned her forehead against his and closed her eyes, daring to dream that finally, finally, they would be married, united, declared husband and wife.

Blayne circled his arms around her waist and kissed her; gently at first, but with each breath the intensity grew. Celeste held him tightly, allowing his mouth to claim hers. With each stroke of his tongue, invisible desire swelled within her and begged to be released. As Blayne tasted and teased her skin, his own desire flooded his body. In a whisper he said, I need you, I want you my love. Let me show you how much I love you. Gently he moved her onto her back, and stretched his long legs down the side of her body.

He kissed her chin, her neck, leaving soft, light-as-air kisses on her skin. Her breath caught in her throat and her back arched in response. Slowly, taking his time, his hands worked their way to her bodice, freeing her soft mounds of flesh, drawing each one, in turn, into his mouth, fascinated at how they hardened against his touch. Celeste cried in pleasure as her hunger for the only man she had ever loved swept over her in waves of searing, invisible heat.

Oh Blayne; yes; take me; let us waste no more time. You already have my heart, my lord, now again, let us be one. Blayne reclaimed his betrothed, proving to her with his body how much he loved her.

After, they lay quietly in each other’s arms, each lost in thought. Blayne pictured the battle that the army would fight tomorrow – the final battle, which would see the eradication of an evil so vile that his skin crawled thinking about it. Celeste was planning their wedding, just as she had done for the last two years. Her heart skipped. After all this time she would finally wed her childhood sweetheart, her only lover, Blayne Patrelli.

Chapter Five

The day of battle…

The early morning was already bright and hot. The few puffy clouds that had made themselves visible floated through the sky, on course to unknown destinations.

At half past the hour of ten all the capitanos and senior sergeants with team commands were to meet in the battle room for one last strategy meeting. Blayne and his father, Lord Giovanni, were already there as one by one or in small groups, the forty or so men entered, nodded to each other and sat, waiting for the session to begin.

Blayne sat by his father. Nerves, pre-battle tension, skidded through his body. No matter how he looked at the situation, one thing was clear: this battle would be the toughest and bloodiest fight the army had ever encountered. Much as he was loathed to admit it, Blayne knew that they would all probably

Since the last battle three weeks past, something had been niggling at him: a thought, a feeling that they were perhaps underestimating their enemy.

Gentlemen, I welcome you on this glorious and bright morning. The time has come. Tonight we face the full force of evil. Tonight Satan himself will attack us; will strike at us and strive for victory over our souls. As Giovanni spoke, he saw the pale, worried looks of the men before him.

As the men listened to their general, they thought of their families both here and in Italy. They thought of their future and of their children’s future. Would their children have fathers after tonight? Would their wives be widows? Would they themselves ever see another sunrise as beautiful as the one this morn? Questions and more questions floated through their minds.

Giovanni continued. Men, do not listen to your fears. Do not give in to the questions and doubts that flood your thoughts. Be strong! We are strong! We are the Patrellian Army! We will not be defeated!

The men banged their fists and cups on the long timber tables. Yes my lord! shouted many voices. The army! cried others.

Giovanni held up his hands for silence. Men, men, let me continue. My son has some issues with our strategies. He and I have been in discussion about this matter. I would like him to address you all. Lord Blayne, Giovanni said, and sat.

Blayne rose gravely. Thank you, General. Three weeks past, the last battle that we fought, as you all know, we lost three brave men. We must be prepared.

One of the men stood, a sergeant by the name of Aluggio.

My lord, I was present at that battle. There was nothing we could have done. They were winged beasts. They attacked us from the sky.

Aluggio, that is my point exactly. We have been assuming that our enemy will be on foot. Now I am not convinced. We know they can take animal shape – they fly like bats, run like wild dogs, slither like giant snakes.

My lord, we can cut and stab dogs, and slice snakes, even the flying creatures will land.

Yes, they will land. It has been bothering me that they sent three of their flying beasts out on a scouting party. The flying ones are their strongest weapon, for as you said, Aluggio, we can cut wild dogs and snakes to pieces, but the winged ones are safe in the air. They are their strongest asset. Why did they risk them? They knew we might kill them?

My lord, they would have considered all the possibilities. Why would they show us these assets of theirs at all? Why send them in the first place? said one of the men.

Exactly! Why indeed? The only reason I would risk an asset like that was if I had plenty in supply. Our enemies are arrogant and boastful. They throw their strength in our faces, but they are not of feeble mind. They would not have risked them if they were all they had. I think we need to increase our archers and double our arrows. Dip more in silver before tonight and carry as many bows as we can. Blayne looked at his father. Giovanni was watching the men.

Men, they will attack us from the sky and land. I am certain that they would not have risked three of their flyers if they had limited numbers. We have committed three quarters of our ranks to ground combat. I believe that they have many upon many of the winged beasts. If any of you disagree, now is the time to speak.

Blayne sat, inviting the men to have their say.

My lord, you are correct. You have fought these vampires more than I. I trust your judgement on this. They are cunning; and if it took ten men to deal with three of those flying creatures, God help us if there are more! If it is arrows we need, then by God, so be it! Aluggio sighed and sat down. Other voices were heard, and all agreed. Giovanni stood and called for silence.

Aluggio, how many archers have we? Giovanni asked.

My lord General, we have nearly a quarter of our army carrying bows and quivers.

I agree with my son. Increase that number to half. Command the men to make more arrows. Melt every piece of silver we have. I want those arrows dipped from point to shaft.

As you wish, my lord. Aluggio bowed his head.

Men! Today will be long and hard. Our thoughts will be tested. Do not waste your time wondering on outcomes. Instead, focus on the tasks at hand. Organise your men. Keep them busy so that their minds do not become more anxious and fearful. Be patient with them: just as you and I suffer, they too are afraid for their families and children. Tonight will see the death of many of them, and I am proud to say that they are all good, loyal men of honour. Tonight we honour ourselves and God! Now I will leave you with Blayne to go over the plan of attack. Until later this afternoon, gentlemen.

The men all stood and bowed.

Fifteen hundred men, most on foot, some on horseback, exited the gate and down the ramp. Through the city they marched, their heads high. All, regardless of rank, were the bravest and strongest of men. Their battle attire served to protect their upper body; solid silver breast plates which covered both back and front and were joined at the shoulders by a leather strap. Silver shin guards were strapped to their legs. Silver scabbards shone as they moved. Many of the men carried bows and full quivers of silver dipped arrows at the ready.

Blayne, at the head, looked through the crowd for the sight that would give him hope and still his fears. He had spent most of the night in the arms of his betrothed, and felt guilty for not being able to tell her the truth. For all the years that they had been together, through all her questions, he had kept the secret: that they shared their world with vampires.

Last night he had watched her sleep. Her long hair and angelic face appeared so peaceful as she lay in his arms. He remembered the softness of her warm skin. Dear God, allow me to come back to her; to marry her. Let us be one.

As he reached the end of the road he saw a vision in pale pink. Celeste. She was there, running to him. It took all his strength not to break rank. She reached him and gave him a yellow scarf.

Come back to me, my love, she said, walking beside the horse.

I will. I love you, Celeste Levant. He tucked her scarf into his belt. He smiled, a handsome smile which, according to the jests, melted the heart of any woman. Looking ahead, his heart was warmed as both he and his father exchanged glances and shared a private father-son moment.

They rode along the main road and into the woods. After an hour they reached a clearing near an old church and graveyard, which had been abandoned long ago. Giovanni raised his arm and the army halted.

Blayne rode to the far right of the field and Giovanni rode to the left. Blayne looked at the rows of soldiers. They were ready: ready to face hell and fight for their lives.

Hear me! The sun will soon set. Archers, remain inside the inner circles. Shoot in the air. Do not waste arrows on ground movement. Remember, aim for the heart. Unless you shoot through the heart, they will not die. We are strong and mighty in numbers. Swordsmen, use the cross defence, fight with both swords. Be aware of the winged creatures. Avoid their wings, they cut like razors. Men, we are soldiers! We are the human defence against evil! We are the Patrellian Army! Tonight we fight! Blayne yelled.

The ranks responded. Blayne!

We fight for PEACE! Blayne yelled.

PEACE! yelled the troops.

We fight for our loved ones!

LOVED ONES!

We fight to destroy EVIL

DESTROY EVIL!

The shouts echoed throughout the clearing. Blayne rode along the rows of soldiers with his sword held high and proud. As he passed, the ranks too, raised their swords. BLAYNE! they yelled.

They had dismounted and tethered the horses in the forest. The sky blazed orange and blue. Silver-grey clouds edged with blood trailed across the setting sun. Death would come with the last glimmer of light. The soldiers watched the fading, golden rays slowly disappear. Many fell on their knees and prayed for strength and forgiveness.

Lord Giovanni and Blayne returned to the middle of the line.

Father, the time has come. May God protect us. I want you to know that I have never been more proud of you than I am now. It has been an honour, my lord, to have served you, standing by your side as your son. Blayne swallowed hard, knowing that he might be saying goodbye to the man who had raised him and loved him.

My son, my brave, handsome, son. What joy and gladness you have brought to me over the years. Soldier or not, I could not have asked for a better son. You honour both your mother and I. The Patrelli name shines upon your shoulders. Blayne, hear me. No matter what transpires this night, do not risk your life to save me. I have lived my life. You – you must succeed me. You must lead whoever remains. Giovanni placed a hand on Blayne’s shoulder.

Father, do not speak like this! You will survive this night!

His father raised a hand. Whatever transpires, stay focused. Now, let us not spend our last moments in sadness. Stand guard, and we will fight this evil. They embraced each other as the last sliver of the sun slid below the horizon then drew their swords.

Behind them the ranks stood in battle position, a large circle of horsemen surrounding the graveyard, three rows deep. The archers waited in the middle of the circle, bows strung, taut, with vanes held between nervous fingers. Every soldier held a silver-dipped sword, hands clenched around the grip, waiting to strike.

The evening star became visible over the trees. The hallowed ground upon which they stood was awash with long, stretched shadows cast by the surrounding forest. The night air was crisp, and a chilled breeze muttered in their ears. Blayne could hear the forest and the heavy thud of his heart. He waited.

Fine, light mist started to creep from the ground and, oddly, from the edge of the forest. The frontline soldiers stared into the trees and into the sky. Nothing. They waited. The only movement now were tendrils of steam wafting from their mouths.

The deathly silence shattered as horses screamed. It had begun. Death was approaching, fast.

The soldiers looked around, confused. Nothing appeared; nothing could be heard except the horses. Blayne looked up. Animals could sense danger, so, ignoring the noise, he fixed his gaze on the sky.

All at once the night filled with an ear-splitting cacophony. The legions of hell came howling from the forest. High pitched screams of what seemed a million bats echoed in the night breeze, and Giovanni knew that no one would be standing by daybreak.

Chapter Six

Like black mist they emerged. The sky thickened as it filled with hundreds of black dots; shapes which grew larger by the second. There was movement everywhere. Wild dogs resembling wolves appeared out of the mist at the edges of the forest. Enormous creatures, almost twice the size of normal wolves with large, elongated fangs, were at the ready to rip the flesh from human bones.

Giovanni and Blayne glanced at each other and shook their heads. Blayne guessed nearly two hundred dogs, and two to three hundred winged creatures circling above. His gaze shifted back to the wolves. Vampires in black animal hide strode out of the woods to stand behind the dogs. From where Blayne was standing he could see their red eyes glowing. Their long, white teeth were also visible. Blayne had no idea if they were going to shift into animals or not. Whatever they could or couldn’t do was irrelevant: there were at least one hundred of them.

The wails and high-pitched screams ceased. Blayne barely had time to register that before movement caught his eye. The vampire army was coming.

Standing straight and thrusting his hand in the air, he yelled, Attack! and the Patrellian Army advanced. As they ran, their war cries rang through the clearing. Blayne clenched his swords and blocked out all thoughts and reason. As a dog jumped at

Reviews for The Revelation

[flippsy14 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This book is interesting. I love the relationship between Blayne and Paige. Some parts were more descriptive than others but when i got to the end, it just ended. I really want to know what happens next. It sounds like a lot of supernatural creatures are coming. I hope these ancient creatures arrive. I found Marcus is more intriguing than Blayne but then i like sexy blondes!!