Sunset

By Belinda Topan

"What makes a monster? Is it their sharp teeth? Their eyes? Skin? Eating habits? Behaviour?

Is a monster defined by their looks or by their actions?"

In a time of Ancient Rome, the head sorcerer sacrifices the lives of the many to seek one soul.

Syrus Valerius, the only boy to survive and the only one to receive the wr

• Language: English
• Publisher: Belinda Topan
• Release date: Jan 9, 2021
• ISBN: 9780994350039

Belinda Topan

Vampires have always been my obsession, before the craze known as twilight. I fell in love with the vampires who show no remorse and no care for human life. The vampires I have created, are made with a certain twist. They care to an extent but still become the cruel creatures they deserve to be depicted. With my love of vampires, music has been some odd kind of muse for me, listening to a particular song seems to set the scene just right. some songs have created spectacular fight scenes, while others have helped me write the portrayal of character's emotions, and some even help me get past those pesky writer's blocks

Book preview

Sunset

By Belinda Topan

Copyright © 2020 Belinda Topan.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the Author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other non-commercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, write to the Author, addressed Attention: Permissions Coordinator, at the address below.

Email: [e-mail]

ISBN: 978-0-9943500-3-9

Any references to historical events, real people, or real places are used fictitiously. Names, characters, and locations are products of the author’s imagination.

Information cited is used to explain the story

and the purpose of particular events to help the reader understand.

Front cover image by Belinda Topan Book design by Belinda Topan

Artwork Created by Puppypaww

Twitter: https://twitter.com/puppypaww Website: https://puppypaww.carrd.co/

Proof Reading and Editing was done by Sundus

Fivver Username: Sundus_writings

Ebook publishing with Amazon First printing edition 2021. www.belindatopan.com.au

Thank you

First off I just want to say thank you, dear reader, for purchasing a copy of this book.

I also wish to extend my thanks to the online readers who have been here since the first page of living with vampires and have continued reading my other works. I also wish to thank Sundus Writings for editing my Novel and Puppypaww for drawing my characters.

I hope you enjoy the story before you and have a chance to look at my other stories.

Happy reading!

Glossary

BCE – Before Common era (Scientific term for BC) CE – Common Era (Scientific term for AD)

(Ludus latrunculorum , 2006) – Ludus

latrunculorum, latrunculi, or simply latrones (the game of brigands,

from latrunculus, diminutive of latro, mercenary or highwa yman) was a two-player strategy board game played throughout the Roman Empire. It is said to

resemble chess or draughts, but is generally accepted to be a game of military tactics. Because of the scarcity of sources, reconstruction of the game's rules and basic structure is difficult, and therefore there are multiple interpretations of the available evidence.

Bibliography

Ludus latrunculorum . (2006, November 18). Retrieved from Wikipedia the free encyclopedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ludus_latrunculorum

6 BCE (Before Common Era)

I see it! the old warlock declares, flaying his arms up in the air. The hot cauldrons of fire burst, shooting up a river of flames. The emperor stands still, as his people quickly back away in fear.

He draws a shaky breath. Stiffly watching the dark magic, the warlock has used.

Blood only pools off from the altar. The smell of burning flesh clutches to the thick smoky air, making it impossible to breathe.

The few lives of his people will be worth the sacrifice. What do you see? the emperor asks. Proud to

keep his voice steady in front of a power-hungry warlock. "The gods have given me a vision. A vision of a

boy! the warlock swiftly turns to the emperor. He servants and guards back away. Small gasps and shrills are heard amongst the temple. Yes, a boy. Born in the second Sanguine." The warlock announces. Carefully stepping down the altar, trying not to slip over the blood.

Did you get a name? the emperor asks drearily. Getting tired of the warlocks performance. As a child, he has put up with old coots nonsense, and for years he has tolerated him for his dramatics. The emperor has only kept him at his royal court because he is the only one to use Decay magic.

no – no – no, he mutters to himself, turning away from the emperor. Tapping his chin and shaking his head uncontrollably, he mutters to himself like a lunatic. But Wait! he jumps back, causing a fright for everyone within the room. I do have a plan.

The emperor sighs in relief. Finally getting results. But you will not like it.

The emperor frowns. Taking a deep breath, he stares in the delusional warlock's eyes. His eyes turning a milky white.

What is it?

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It was an early morning for Alexandros, never to have the chance to get a decent amount of sleep or rest. It is the same tedious routine, having to force himself out of bed, stumble across the empty space of his home, to the spare room, and soothe the trembling young child inside.

He always did want a son or daughter, he didn’t really care what gender they were, he just wanted a family, but of course, he never had this in mind.

It is to be expected. Alexandros thought to himself. Quietly sitting on the edge of the bed, Alexandros wraps the small boy into a hug. The child was trembling, tears streaking down his face, and wetting his night tunic.

It needed to be washed anyway. Alexandros thought, watching the boys snot wipe into the cream-colored fabric.

Another nightmare? Alexandros asks the boy.

The brown-haired child nodded, sniffling.

They killed me, he whispers. I could feel their spears piercing into me as I begged to be let go, he trembles, salty tears begin to leak from his eyes once more. Alexandros said nothing but hold the boy closer, humming a tune, his love used to sing to him during their long journeys.

He felt sorry for the boy, having to lose so much in such a short time, and now to be troubled in his sleep, the gods are ruthless. The boy has dreamt so many different ways he has died, waking up every night, screaming, begging for it all to go away.

Alexandros asks himself if he has done the right thing. Saving this boy from the same fate as all those children have face

Death. It's everywhere. The streets run with blood, the air is filled with the scream of desperate mothers trying to protect their children. And I in the midst of it all can only save one boy.

He was running in the forest outside the city. He was lucky to escape the city walls, even more, lucky to run into Alexandros.

This madness came in the early hours of the morning, two months ago. Awoken by the terrors within the night, the smell of burning flesh. Alexandros thought the worse when he jumped out his bed, hoisting his sword from the floor and running to the city. He expected vampires or witches to be causing mayhem. His heart only sunk when he laid eyes on the poor boy on the dirt ground, bleeding from his knees and the royal guards charging for the boy.

No one was expecting the onslaught of the royal guard that night. They all fought back but miserably failed and to only watch in horror as their sons were killed. Daughters were spared, older brothers lived, so did the babies.

Boys born on a specific year were slaughtered. Alexandros was filled with rage as hears the orders given out to the guards. They did not enjoy nor agree, but it had to be done. Alexandros marched to the royal grounds, the boy clinging on to his robes for dear life. Not once did he let go, fearing once he did, he would be put up for the slaughter.

Alexandros could not save all the boys in Rome, it was too late for him to take any action, but if he could save one life tonight, it would be this boy.

The emperor is a reasonable man, he would not have caused such an order without reason, even if there was a valid reason, this was not the right way to go.

Fury bubbled beneath the surface as he marched up the stone steps, the guards trailing close behind. Nothing would stop Alexandros from getting to the emperor and throwing the first punch upon his old friend. The guards around him

went ballistic as he did, but