Blood Sacrifice

By Tamara Zeegers

Just when they had finished dealing with the Order of the Nyx, Enlil and friends must confront the number one cause of death among his kind, the Anoshiruvan family when they kidnap a group of vampires. Among them Enlil’s wife and daughter. As Enlil and Enki are forced to go in search of Eldorado, he sends a team headed up by Matlock and Whittington, two of his most trusted Custodians, to go in search of his loved ones.

Charlie soon regrets her harsh last words to Enlil when they find themselves in a cell somewhere in Syria. All they can do is hope and pray they are rescued in time before their enemy embarks on their favorite past time, torture. They soon find out who their allies are and who their foes but what none of them could have foreseen is the betrayal.

Enki still plagued by the loss of his lover Kaden, must deal with Dagan, his newly found son as the boy desperately tries to get close to him. Then tragedy strikes and his world gets turned upside down. But fate it seems is not done with him as things get much, much worse and he is forced to make the ultimate decision.

Soon they find out what is hidden deep within the jungle, and nothing could have prepared them for what they find.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tamara Zeegers
• Release date: Jul 13, 2021
• ISBN: 9781005994785

Tamara Zeegers

Tamara Zeegers is a fifty year old bookkeeper, with a huge creative streak. Unfortunately that is not a trait they appreciate in her line of work (strangely they do not look kindly upon creative bookkeeping), so she had to find other ways to satisfy these needs. So drawing and writing became her outlets to vent all this creative energy. Her writing first took the form of song texts and poetry, then progressed to short stories.Her love affair with the United Kingdom, its people and language started at the age of two when her folks started to holiday there every year. Due to her young age she picked up the language with ease. By the time she went to high school she sailed through her English classes.In ninety one she married a Scot. After spending their first six years of marriage in Holland they decided to move to Scotland. She remained in the UK for the next ten years moving from Aberdeen in the north, to Brighton right down south.After a short spell back in the Netherlands she moved back permanently to sunny (well it normally is anyway) Brighton.In Brighton, well Hove actually, surrounded by artists of all descriptions her creative juices were once again flowing. In 2006 she began her first novel and soon after finishing it continued by writing the follow up The Phantom, then the third installment Blood is the Life and the fourth Blood Moon. She has almost finished her fifth installment Blood Sacrifice and will soon be working on the sixth The Custodians.Apart from her vampire novels she also draws her own cover art, portraits of her characters and tattoo designs. She also likes to try her hand at making miniatures in 12th scale.Aware of the huge number of vampire novels already out there, she knew she would have to bring a new dimension to this genre. With her love for ancient history, mythology as well as her pagan roots she began to weave all these different facets together. So unlike most vampires, who are either portrayed as monsters or mystical creatures with an out of control blood lust, she went with a whole different side. Although by no means angels and still dependable on the blood, as well as charismatic, and beautiful to behold, she has put them in the role of protectors of mankind. Turning them into the fabled Anunnaki, the Elohim, the Nephilim, the watchers of men and the god heads of many an ancient culture. So they go from gods, to the fallen ones, from judge to executioner, from power to a fall from grace while they traverse the centuries.

Book preview

Blood Sacrifice

5th Vampire Chronicle

Tamara Zeegers

Fifth of the Vampire Chronicles

Blood Sacrifice

by

Tamara Zeegers

This E-book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination and not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or locations is of course coincidental.

Disclaimer: The material in this book is for mature audiences only and contains graphic sexual content and is intended for those over the age of 18 only.

Copyright page

Copyright © 2021 Tamara Zeegers

All rights reserved.

Additional books by Tamara Zeegers:

Love Reborn 1st vampire chronicle

The Phantom 2nd vampire chronicle

Blood is the life 3rd vampire chronicle

Blood Moon 4th vampire chronicle

Acknowledgement

This book is dedicated with special thanks to my parents, Arie and Sylvia Zeegers-Woerlee, for believing in me and all their help with the first round of editing. To my, four, number one fans, Gem Riley, Georgia Petroutsas, Sophie Socrafts, Petra Westermann for their continued enthusiasm, you all make writing worthwhile and for their patience while waiting for book five to go to print. Reading your excitement, your lovely reviews always put a smile on my face, and they are very much appreciated. For the support of all my lovely family members, like Dickie Woerlee, Mary Visser, Barry Wels to name but a few. And of course, to all my other fans, each and every one of you are appreciated more than I could ever tell you (yeah, I know funny as I am a writer) My fabulous Editor Debz Hobbs-Wyatt for all her help and support and making me smile while I read her editing notes. To my patron God Enlil, his strength and love. To the other eleven Gods of The Council, Lord Anu, Lady Antu, Lady Ninlil, Lord Enki, Lady Ninki, Lord Sin, Lady Ningal, Lord Shamash, Lady Inanna, Lord Adad, and Lady Ninhursag.

Connect with me online:

Website: https://tamarazeegers.wixsite.com/vampire-anunnaki

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vampire.chronicles.anunnaki

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zeegerstamara/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/nanach13

Cover Design by Tamara Zeegers, for more art please visit:

https://www.deviantart.com/tamarazeegers

Quotes:

(Enlil to Enki)

Betrayal, my brother, it sometimes comes from the most unexpected places and those hurt the most. From our enemies, we expect nothing less, but from those we love, and whom we thought loved us, that is true betrayal and that causes pain beyond anything you wish to experience.

(Enlil)

Most people see lying as a great sin, a great evil, I however have learned it is a necessity. Whether people wish to admit to it they don’t actually want to know the truth. Most, when confronted with the truth will ignore it anyway for most of the time it is easier to believe the lie.

(Enlil)

Only those that go through the red mist and come out the other side, those are the ones that will survive. Those that do not, might not die on the battlefield, no, it will be their own mind that will be their greatest foe and will finally be the end of them.

(Enlil)

When seeing the whites of another mans eyes, seeing the hue of them, the veins even, that split second when your brain notices all those stupid little details, that second feels like an eternity. Yet it is over too soon as you watch them register surprise, shock, and pain before they fade as you pull your blade free. For within those seconds, we sometimes know our enemies too closely, too intimately and it is those seconds which will haunt you should you let it.

(Enlil)

It’s not those that look scary or evil I worry about, it's those that look normal and sane but are not for I have seen evil hide behind the faces of babes and saints.

1

New York Present day

I sat and stared at the wall before I punched the pillow in my lap in rapid succession, upon the last blow it popped, and feathers burst out then twirled down to the floor. Wearily, I dropped it to join what was left of the other three. I could scarce believe it had been twenty minutes since I, Enlil, the head of The Council, had been abruptly stopped from passing a seven-year sentence on my baby brother Enki. The punishment had been due to him breaking one of our most cardinal rules for he had accepted and taken part in a TV show, playing a vampire, letting mortals capture his image on film, but worst of all he had used his real fangs, thereby risking them finding out about us and our existence and all the dangers that entailed.

Luckily, Matlock and Whittington, two of our finest Custodians had ensured the series never aired and though they had testified in Enki’s favour for his bravery in the battle against Fallon, the head of The Order of the Nyx, who had gone Rogue, it had not negated his sentence.

Enki, though, had been more than willing to accept his punishment, begged me even, after I had to break the news to him that his lover Kaden had died at the hands of Fallon, the poor boy’s neck ripped out and their love snuffed out in a mere instance. My heart had broken, and I had barely been able to swallow for the lump in my throat when I had seen my brother’s reaction to the news. The pain and agony that had swept through him while he had wailed and punched and hit my back and sides as I held him tight before he had totally broken down as it donned on him that Kaden was gone for good, his first love since Mestor, well, since Byron really, gone before they had even had a chance.

Just when I had been about to plunge the needle with the Su Mannuor Sa Sitti Darisam, a sleeping potion to put a vampire to sleep for long periods of time, into his arm, Bes, Ptah, Quentin, and Dagan had burst in to stop me. We were rushed back up the stairs were seven of The Council members who had not yet departed were waiting for us. The note they handed me made my blood run like ice in my veins with dread for the group that had travelled to Syria the day before for an emergency archaeological dig had all disappeared without a trace and had not made it to the rendezvous. All attempts to contact them had failed. Among the group, not just my beloved wife Charlie, but my daughter Nanach, her husband Jachin, Dagan’s girlfriend Nicky, Bes’ wife Beset, Seth’s wife Aithne, but also two of our Ancients and my dearest friends, Lilith and Sybella.

And then an email had come in, an invitation to AlienCon in LA on June the twenty-first, from an old long-standing enemy, Roshan Anoshiruvan, kindly threatening myself and Enki to attend his lecture there or face the consequences. It did not take any of us more than a second to realise who was responsible for the kidnapping of our loved ones once this message came in. Ra had quite rightly immediately noted the fact we had first been attacked and found by The Order of the Nyx and now by Anoshiruvan. We all knew this could not be a coincidence.

No doubt remained in my mind that this latest reincarnation of The Order of The Nyx had been fed all they knew about our kind by Anoshiruvan. Most likely to draw us out into the open, distract us and for him to lay his plans and now it seemed to take our loved ones. The Gods only knew what vile acts he would subject them to or already was. I shook my head trying to dislodge the horrible images from flooding in. I had to stay focussed, I was worried about the conference as Anoshiruvan over the centuries had only one goal and that had always been our total and utter destruction, and he had killed many of our kind, too many. Not knowing his plan and the very public place he had set to meet worried me and the subject matter had not escaped me either.

In a fury I had sent everyone, apart from Bes, Ptah, Thoth, Dagan, Enki, and Seth, away. Though I knew Ra would not take kindly to this I did not care. They had taken my wife! Taken my daughter! My loved ones and friends. Ra, though he knew a little about Anoshiruvan, did not know the whole sorry tale, nor did I want him too. He was too much of a hothead and had a habit of riling the others up, and that was one thing I could do without right now. To placate him I had put him in charge of making sure all the others in New York had new and safe places to stay and to inform our kin worldwide to take the necessary safety precautions.

I had asked Dagan, Enki’s son, to join us, Anoshiruvan did not know him but as a foresight I had booked Enki and my own ticket on the plane via one card and IP address and Dagan’s via another, we would not be sitting together and even travel to the airport separately. I knew Anoshiruvan would most likely be monitoring us, and Dagan was the only ace we held and one I wanted to ensure we kept hidden for as long as we could. To make his cover more natural I had added Rohan and Tarik, two of his friends, to go with him and for all three to go to the conference.

FUCK! I slammed the wall, the impact stinging my hand, as plaster crumbled to the floor. Why does that bastard, Anu, keep haunting me… him and the things he did! Will I never be rid of this… of him!

I got up then quickly I threw some clothing into a suitcase before I went to the safe. I put in the combination and opened the door. I looked inside, for a second, I hesitated before I grabbed all five guns, the ammo, three large knives and dumped them in my suitcase before I went back and grabbed the sword. As my hand wrapped around the hilt I paused as I looked along the blade, the metal gleaming pink in the light.

No, that will not be a good idea, it won’t kill the bastard but might just give him the means to kill us. If only we could kill him, if only Anu had not experimented blindly and without thinking about the consequence of his actions, but then he had never cared what he did to anybody. And now that piece of shit Roshan Anoshiruvan had come out of the woodwork once again. I had so hoped that he had met his end, some… now when was the last time we had clashed… I thought as I sat on the bed with the sword still in my hand.

†††

1700 - 1720 A.D. Europe

Yes, it had been about seventy years after I had left my daughter when we had lived in Amsterdam. After I departed from her, I had roamed Europe, though I never stayed anywhere for long to prevent anybody from finding out what I was. The climate within Europe was still quite tumultuous, with poverty, religious intolerance and hate for the monarchy and nobility still rife. Anoshiruvan, his son and two daughters had always used religious zealots and political fanatics against us. Time and time again they had rallied up groups with one objective in mind, our total and utter destruction and he was good, incredibly good indeed, at using humans to do his bidding, his dirty work.

In seventeen hundred I had travelled to England and slowly had made my way to Scotland some twenty years later to a stunning location at the foot of the Ochil hills just outside Stirling town. I had acquired a cottage in the small village, well, clachan or as the English would say hamlet, called Blairlogie which sat nestled at the foot of the first hill in the range of the Ochil’s. This impressive hill was called the Dumyat, pronounced by locals as Dum-eye-at.

The locals were all in all fairly tolerant of pagans, though some of the elders of the Logie Kirk were still trying to whip people up against anything or anybody that could even remotely be in league with the devil or anything akin to witchcraft. The outcrop of rock at the bottom of the Dumyat was not called Carlie or Witches Craig for nothing. In earlier days it had not only been used, as the locals would have it, as a meeting place for witches to dance and celebrate with the devil and host their supposed heinous rituals but as a place of execution for those unfortunate enough to be accused of these practices, as they were hurled to their death on the rocks below.

I had found it peaceful enough, the beautiful scenery, the quiet, the on the whole friendly locals. Though I was no longer the head of The Council, I still met up with others of my own kind wherever I travelled to. I did so to check up on their welfare and to stay in touch with those I considered friends. Two low ranking vampires, fairly young as they had only been turned about a hundred years ago, Ellie and Jake Drummond, a couple, who had been living some twenty miles away in a small town called Crieff had come down to meet up with myself and my travel companion, an old friend of mine from Persia by the name of Akaal.

For weeks we had enjoyed exploring the hills and villages around us, telling tales, and catching up. We would take small drinks from the locals and sometimes the livestock, making sure none were ever harmed. One night, after returning from our wanderings Ellie and Jake were stoking the fire, while Akaal and I were cooking up a nice beef stew when something felt off. I stopped stirring the large pan of fragrant stew and glanced at Akaal who had stopped chopping mushrooms and was looking at me.

Just when he was about to say something, I echoed; No, do not speak!

Something is wrong, Enlil!

Yes, there is, though I cannot quite figure out what. Act normal, I do not want them to know we have noticed them.

Okay, but warn the others.

I will. Ellie? Jake?

ENLIL! Jake echoed and I could feel the terror that was passing through him.

What is it, Jake?

They’ve taken Ellie!

Who has?

A group of men took her as she went outside to fetch more firewood. I was just about to help her when I just caught a glimpse of her being dragged away. They have chained her, and she was bleeding!

Come into the kitchen, we must not be separated! I echoed as I signalled for Akaal to stop and move away from the window while I snuffed the candles.

Jake walked into the kitchen and towards us just when there was a loud crash. I stared at the stone that had landed at my feet. I did not have much time to ponder it as more stones were hurled through the windows, glass and stones littered the floor as we protected ourselves from the flying shards as more and more were thrown into the kitchen. Then all went quiet, eerily quiet, we looked at each other as we straightened. A scream cut through the night so horrible it made my blood run cold while I turned to Jake. His face was as white as ash, as tears ran down his cheeks. When he took a step towards the door, I grabbed his arm.

Get off me, Enlil, they’re hurting her!

They’re trying to draw us out, Jake! That’s what they want!

I don’t give a toss; I’m not standing here while they torture her!

Then let me go, I’ll get her back, trust me!

He looked at me, his eyes fierce and bloodshot before he gave a curt nod. I ran out and shot up into the air, then looked down. The cottage we were staying at lay on the outskirts of the small hamlet. With my excellent night vision, I saw them, ten, no fifteen men, armed with muskets and torches were heading towards the Kirk with Ellie where a further group of about ten men were waiting. They had cut her wrists, legs and even her neck to weaken her and had put her in chains to prevent escape. Limply and barely conscious she was dragged by two men holding onto her upper arms.

What have ye done! One man asked in a gruff voice as he marched towards them.

We did as ye asked, James, we got the witch!

That’s not what–

Silence, both of you!

In shock I stared at the man who had just spoken, there, standing in the garb of a minister was Roshan Anoshiruvan.

But we do not know who else occupied the house! James said as he turned to him.

We know enough, we know there are at least three others, it matters not who they are as they’ll all share the same fate and anyway, it cannot be helped but now we must act quickly. All those with torches come with me now, we must surround them and burn out the vile creatures and send them back to hell before it is too late!

And what do we do with the woman? One of the men holding her asked.

We’ll burn her too once we have dealt with the others, well, once I’ve made sure she has told me all she can tell me, come hurry! he said as he marched back along the path towards the cottage.

Anger burned in my veins as I watched them close in. Akaal get Jake out and away, I’ll follow with Ellie, do it now! They’re coming wanting to burn you out, you need to leave now!

Okay, we’re out, need any help?

No, I’ll be with you shortly.

I dove down, fast, ploughing through the group of men, who shouted out in terror as they were shoved and pushed out of my way before I snatched Ellie out of their grasp and flew away.

You idiots, after them! Roshan shouted as he tried to see where we had gone.

I looked down at Ellie, I knew she was very weak and needed blood urgently or she would die. My face twitched before I flew as fast as I could to meet Akaal and Jake who were waiting for me on the far side of Stirling. As I landed Jake rushed towards me.

Ellie! Oh my God, Ellie! He pulled her into his arms and sank to his knees crying while he cradled her.

We need blood Akaal, get someone, make sure it’s someone deserving death, do it, now! I said as he looked at them before he nodded and shot into the air.

I walked over and pushed Jake away, and took Ellie into my arms. I pulled the chains from her wrists and threw them behind me. Jake looked at me, but before he could berate me, I bit my wrist and gently parted her lips.

She needs blood, lots of it, I’ll feed her first as my blood is the most potent, then you can feed her. Once Akaal is back he can feed her too and then lastly whomever he has found, I said as we watched my blood drip into her mouth.

He stared at me as he silently cried while he held her hand. After a while I passed her to him and watched as he bit his own wrist and held her mouth open. She was still out and not responding. Worried, I stood and looked around, then saw Akaal rushing towards us with someone in his arms. As he landed, I walked up to him and took the man he was holding from him.

You need to feed her first.

He nodded as he gently took over. When Jake got up, I passed the man to him while I checked on her. I stopped Akaal when he had sufficiently fed her then laid her down on the grass. She was still deadly pale though her wounds had stopped oozing blood. Gently, I stroked her cheek.

Ellie? Ellie, that’s it, open your eyes. I glanced at Akaal and gestured for him to take the man from Jake.

He lifted the man and laid him next to her. Weakly, she looked at him, her face twitched, her mouth opened, and her fangs slid out, but she was too feeble to sit up, so I grabbed him by the neck and pulled him closer to her. Just as she was about to sink her teeth into his neck he woke and screamed. Though he did not do so for long as she clamped down on his throat and greedily drank. I held his arms behind his back, while Akaal held his legs as she fed. Before long she wrapped her arms around him as she continued to drain him. When she was done, she let go and Jake rushed to her.

Are you okay? he sobbed as he covered her face with kisses.

Yes, hungry still, but much better. I’ll be fine, my love, she smiled.

We need to get out of here, soon the sun will come up and I want to be far enough away from here so they cannot find us again. Will you be able to fly? I asked her as Jake helped her up.

No, I don’t think I can, she said as she looked at me, thank you, for saving me, my Lord.

Say no more, Akaal and Jake can take you in between them, I’ll dispose of the body and follow. Head North, we’ll need to find shelter and soon.

Then we go to Crieff and our house there, Jake said as he put his arm around her waist.

Okay, you three go, now!

Akaal nodded before he too wrapped his arm around her waist, and they took off into the dusky sky. Quickly, I cut along the bite mark before covering the body with some hay. I took out a piece of flint striking it against a stone and watched as the sparks ignited the dry grass then the body was consumed by flames before I too took off after them.

†††

I arrived just behind the rest as we landed and headed inside the home of the Drummond’s. We all rushed down to the basement as dawn was almost upon us. Though Akaal and I were old enough to withstand the rays of the sun the couple were too young. Jake gently laid Ellie on a bed as I walked over.

How are you feeling? I asked as I checked all her wounds.

Hungry and very, very tired, my Lord, she sighed as she fought her eyes wanting to close.

Then sleep, my dear, and we’ll make sure there’s plenty of blood when you wake tomorrow evening.

Thank you, my Lord, she mumbled as her eyes closed.

Yes, thank you, my Lord, for all you’ve done, Jake said as he laid down next to her. You can sleep next door, there’s another room with two single beds.

That’s kind, sleep well. I said before we went next door.

Are you okay? Akaal asked.

Yes, it’s just… Anoshiruvan, he… he never…he never has…

Yes, he has never given up this easily. He’ll find us again, but it’ll take him time. We should be okay for several days. Tomorrow we can come up with a plan and see where to go to. Come, let’s rest, he said as he patted my shoulder.

You sleep, I’ll check the neighbourhood… no, let me do this, I’ll feel better, okay?

Okay, then check, but make sure you sleep, will you promise me you’ll rest?

I will.

He smiled as he let himself fall onto the bed and fluffed the pillow.

Go on then, do what you must.

I smiled and shook my head before I went out.

†††

It was almost midday before I got back to the house, still not able to quite shake the feeling of foreboding. I knew how persistent Anoshiruvan was, how he never gave up, his cruelty, his sadism, his utter hate for my kind. The last known tally of his kills had been one thousand, three hundred and twenty-two over the last twelve thousand years. Though it seemed like a low amount, he was still the first most likely cause of death of my kind besides those that chose to die or those that succumbed to The Sleep.

Wearily, I positioned an armchair so I could see out of the window, without anyone seeing me and sat down. The vantage point, great for seeing anyone coming up the road towards the house. Luckily, the house was outside of town, the remoteness a great advantage, the house on a slight slope, the back covered by thick woodland, better to defend. I knew Akaal was right and Anoshiruvan would need time to find us but again I just could not shake this horrible feeling of foreboding. I rubbed my eyes, I needed to stay awake, to keep an eye out just in case.

Having fed Ellie with my blood had sapped my energy, that and the little feeds we had done were not helping now, it had been a month or so since I had last had a full feed. My body wanted to rest, to restore, and revitalise. I shook my head as I waited and desperately tried to keep my eyes from closing.

†††

Air was sucked into my lungs as I woke to screams echoing through the building before, I went into a couching fit. My nostrils flared as the scent of burning reached me and I could hear the crackling of the fire. Still half asleep I stood and turned and looked on in horror as I saw I was surrounded by flames. I turned back and made out a crowd standing outside with torches and weapons as they piled more wood against the building and touched a flame to it. I tried not to cough again as I backed away behind the wall. I knew they had not yet seen me, they seemed to have concentrated on the basement exists, the front door and windows.

My breathing was rapid, and I desperately tried to calm down to think. Again, a horrifying scream came from below. Without a doubt it was Ellie, before I could be overwhelmed by the pain she was going through while she burned alive, I closed my mind. I heard a commotion from outside and snuck a peek.

There Jake and Akaal burst through the basement hatch and landed on the lawn, Jake was still on fire while Akaal also severely burned tried to extinguish him while the crowd moved in. Weakened by their injuries they did not stand a chance as they were shot and stabbed before they were put in thick chains then bungled into a heavily armoured coach which took off straight away.

I could feel the fire on my back, feel it singe my skin. I knew I had to get out, and now, or die. I turned, I moved to the fireplace, smoke was streaming up as more of the room burned. I stuck my head in and looked. No, I was too bulky to fit through, and the one thing I so did not want was getting stuck and then Anoshiruvan finding me. No better him thinking I had burned it would be the only way to safe my friends. I squinted through the flames, there was a door in the far corner, the fire had not quite reached that far but it would mean I had to move through the flames and though I can move extremely fast even I would not be able to escape being seared.

Fuck here goes nothing, I shuddered before I leaped through. I smelled my skin and hair burn as I reached it. The pain was sharp and overwhelming, but I had to keep focus. I placed my hand on the door, when it felt relatively cool, I quickly yanked it open, went through, and closed it behind me. I blinked, I was in a hallway, though smoke filled this at least had not yet been consumed by the fire. I tried to think what to do. I could not go outside for the crowd would be waiting for me, I could not go down to the basement for they had made sure that was burning too.

I looked at the door at the end of the hall and marched towards it, again placing my hand on the handle I was relieved it was cool to the touch and quickly slipped inside. I found myself in a kitchen, this also was not yet on fire, though there were bundles of branches alight outside the windows so it would not take long before it would be. Keeping low I went to the far corner and slipped through the door there. Darkness welcomed me and as my hand touched the cool slab of marble and I closed my eyes. The Gods be praised it was a stone larder. As my pre-natural sight penetrated the darkness, I could see there was no wood in sight bar some boxes and a barrel as most of the shelving was made of stone instead.

I made my way as far in as possible, right at the back there was a large stone coffer with a stone slab to cover it. This would have held meats to cure for the human inhabitants, lucky for me it was empty. I stepped inside and pulled the lid in place. Now all I could do was wait. Wait for the fire to consume the house. A tear slid down my cheek as I remember Ellie’s horrifying screams as the flames had destroyed her. She was beyond my help, but Jake, and Akaal, they had been taken alive and that meant the bastard was going to torture them for information about the location of others before he would kill them too.

My jaw clenched as I balled my fists and waited. Beams crashed down as the house started to collapse. I concentrated on my breathing and heartbeat, lowering it beat by beat to the bare minimum to keep me alive. The noise outside was deafening as the house was slowly but surely destroyed by the raging fire.

†††

It must have been at least an hour later when I heard a noise coming from outside, the fire had only lasted a mere thirty minutes to annihilate the building, but I had remained concealed.

Look everywhere, make sure none have survived, if any have, they’ll be weak and need to be chained immediately! Do not be fooled by any that may seem to have sustained injuries, these vile demonic creatures are harder to kill than you may think! Anoshiruvan barked.

Yes, your eminence.

My heartrate went up as I could hear things being kicked and thrown around outside as they sifted through the debris. I was worried, with nowhere to go or hide I felt like a sitting duck.

Anything?

No, your eminence.

Did you check everywhere?

Yes, your eminence.

What about the pantry and kitchen?

Douglas, check the kitchen and pantry! Do it now!

Aye sir!

I tried to still my heartbeat as I heard them rummaging through the remains of the kitchen.

You! Check the pantry!

Aye, sir!

The sound of wood splintering reached me as someone kicked what remained of door in. I closed my eyes and concentrated, focused. I send my soul outwards and I rushed towards the man holding a musket as he poked it underneath the stone countertop, prodding at the remains of wooden boxes there. I entered his mind and could feel him stiffen as I took over. Carefully, I made him go on now in control of his body and mind. If he suddenly would stop, I knew the others would grow suspicious, so I kicked the stone coffer hiding my own body before smashing what was left of the barrel on the other side.

All clear, sir!

Good, it seems if there were any others, they burned to ash, your eminence.

Hmm, okay, let’s head out, I want to get back, I’ve work to do!

Yes, your eminence.

Gently, I released the man whose mind I had been holding and gave him a mental push to follow the others. I waited, waited while I heard them slam the doors of the coach, heard the crack of the whip, the hooves of the horses, heard the crunch of the wheels grinding the stones into the path as they rode off, but still I remained hidden. I let my spirit soar, there the coach riding off, the others riding along side on horses as they rode on. When I had satisfied myself, they were indeed all gone I finally pushed the stone out of the way and hopped out. I was soaked with sweat and covered with soot.

I looked around at the devastation. A mere few hours ago this had been the happy home of the Drummonds, now it was Ellie’s final resting place and all that was left was a pile of rubble. My eyes stung and a tear spilled from my eye and rolled down my cheek. I balled my fists, my cheek twitching as I dug my nails into my palms. Determined, I shot into the air, straight up as I high as I could. Though the sun could no longer kill me, in my weakened state it would still burn me if I was out too long, but I had no choice I had to know which way they were headed, if wanted to safe my friends.

As I soared, I could see the coaches pounding down the path before they turned. My skin grew tighter as the sun charred it. The coaches rode on, the riders now behind them in single file. One rider however stopped and got off his horse. I watched as he walked up to a house there and handed a pouch to a gentleman waiting there.

His eminence thanks you for your valuable information and service.

The pleasure is all mine I assure ye, he smiled as he tossed the pouch up and let it land then turned and went back into the house.

My face twitched as I careered towards them, my eye on the retreating riders and coach. When I knew they would no longer be able to witness nor hear what I was about to do I smiled.

Just as the rider was about to mount his horse I fell from the sky. His mouth shaped in a horrifying O as I grabbed him and sank my teeth into his throat and drank greedily. In seconds I finished him and tossed his remains into the wooded aera surrounding the house, I tied the horse to the post before I snuck up to the downstairs windows. I glanced in, there the man I had seen outside walked in, the maid looked up startled as she poked the fire before she hurriedly got up.

Git oot! he snarled before she rushed past him in her haste to get away.

My eyes narrowed in distaste as I watched him sit down in front of the fire and empty the pouch in his lap. A pile of gold gleamed in the dim light as the man smiled before he put the coins away in a box. I carefully crept on, checked each window on my way, but so far did not encounter any other people than the master of the house and the maid. At the back of the house I found her, she was in the garden hanging laundry. Gently, I snuck up to her and entered her mind.

Shh, all is well. You’ll turn around but will not call out.

She turned, her eyes large as they flicked from me to the back door, her mouth ajar.

Don’t be afraid, you’ll come to no harm from me. Are there any others inside?

She shook her head, her face pale.

Then go to your room and stay there no matter what you may hear.

She nodded before she rushed past me and slipped inside.

I walked to the door and went in. I let my senses roam to get a lay of the house until I found my target. My soul rushed back, and I made my way to where the snitch was. Gently, I turned the handle and opened the door. His back was towards me and he did not turn.

Did I nae tell ye tae git oot! he grumbled.

No, you told me no such thing! I said as I marched up to him.

Startled, he turned, his face as white as a sheet, his eyes like saucers, the pipe he had lit fell into his lap as he stared at me in horror as I grinned with my fangs on show. I must have looked like the devil himself as I was still covered in soot and grime.

No… no… no please! He babbled as he stood with his arms in front of his face.

Ah, now you want me to show you mercy and what of the woman that lost her life thanks to you, and my friends that were taken? Did you show them mercy?

"Tis nae my fault, ye should nae hae been in