The Vampyre: The Rule of Three, #2

By Adom Sample

An intergalactic empire lay before my feet. Through lust and determination alone, I would conquer all.

I was told from a young age that our conquest would help to serve the Crimson Asa Court and farther expand our empire to heights of perfection. The birth of the Vampyre was what set our path for dominance in motion. Lust was awe. Passion and hunger were quintessential.

Those were the rules I lived by since winning the Royal Challenge and becoming Athanasia of Vampyraya, heir to the throne. All worlds would kneel before the supremacy of the Vampyre, and I alone would stand atop—or so I thought. Shade—that was the only name he went by. The moment I laid eyes on him, my whole world fell apart. I now had to struggle with my inner demons as the blood's passion rushed my veins whenever he was near.

I had a choice; close myself off and focus on glory in battle—or choose him as my mate and wallow in the decadence of political puppetry. I told myself that love was an illusion, and those who succumbed to it would pay the price. Nevertheless, that price would soon be paid by me—in glory . . . or blood.

Includes
Book 4: Blood's Passion
Book 5: Renascor
Book 6: Raison D'être

Author's note: This book is a part of the COURTING MOON UNIVERSE. In this series, will you learn the importance of the Courting Moon, the Vampyre gene, and the first Earth all made possible through the will of the Omni. The history and creation of Rule of Three and the ten-mirror multiverse is revealed in this epic three part series.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Adom Sample
• Release date: Jun 15, 2022
• ISBN: 9781958205150

Book preview

1.  The Royal Challenge

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AS DISCONCERTING AS it may be, this is your birthright. Don’t deny what others would kill for, said Joseph, my guardian and occasional lover. The crowd cheered as the hot rain poured down on the lot of us, soaking the already bloodstained arena. With my dagger in my right hand and my UV sword in my left, I gazed at my opponent with pity. Resentment fueled my blood as he lay on the ground, covered in blood, gasping for air. The emperor, Magnus Sawnyo, who ruled over all three worlds, decreed that his heir must be strong enough to defeat his or her own blood in battle. I’d graduated top of my class at the Red Sun Academy, the most elite Special Operations school in all of Vampyraya. I was bred to kill and feel no emotion. I was a warrior.

Kill him! Kill him! Kill him! chanted the crowd as my cousin lay on the ground, begging me to end it. I’d never thought this day would come—killing my own blood. All I’d ever wished for was to attain glory in battle and spread the superiority of the Vampyre to the far reaches of the universe. I did not intend to involve myself in politics. My place was in battle—not this.

End it, Athanasia! Finish it! screamed my cousin. He’d rather choose death than humiliation, as would any Special Elite warrior. My resentment for him faded. He was ready to die. But was I prepared to kill?

If you show weakness, if you falter, your uncle will excommunicate you from the tri-world collective, and you’ll be a wanderer for the rest of your immortal life, said Joseph. I removed my communication device from my ear and threw it to the ground. I didn’t need Joseph in my head right now. The thought that my uncle would see his son perish this day had my mind rattled.

The rain had washed the blood from my cousin’s face as he rested there, completely helpless— his limbs were spread to his sides, and he gave me an odd smirk. The emperor stood from his black crystal throne and marveled at the massive arena filled with bloodthirsty Vampyres screaming for my cousin’s death. I looked up at the sky as the rain stopped, the clouds cleared, and the bright crescent moon lit up the night. If I killed him, I’d take my place in the Emperor’s Hall, where I would remain at court. I’d be a political puppet to be paraded around for show. There was no way I could endure such a life. I dropped my UV sword and dagger, turned my back on my dying cousin, and gazed at the holographic screen of the emperor. I had to try to reason with him—indeed, he would spare his own son, or at least I hoped he would. But before I could say a single word, I was ambushed and tackled to the ground—my own dagger at my neck with the full weight of my cousin’s body on top of me.

Sympathy begets weakness. Weakness begets death! Only the strong are worthy of life! shouted my cousin as the crowd roared. He dug his clawed hand into my neck and raised the dagger above his head. He intended to end me with a fatal blow to my chest. The look in his eyes said it all. I’d seen that look many times before. He was more than ready to take my life and claim his position at court. As he brought down the dagger, I pushed him off, lifted my knees into my chest, and kicked him high into the air with the full force of my legs. He sliced my cheek and ear just as I was able to avoid the brunt of his strike—the bastard.

I grabbed my UV sword and leaped into the air. He was still coughing up blood as we glided side by side. The moment my cousin opened his eyes, the last thing he saw was my blade coming toward him. The wind blew through my hair, and blood rage filled every vessel in my body. I kicked him in the chest and decapitated him in midair. Everything that he was turned to ash as I landed on the blood-and rain-soaked ground on my fist and knee. My cousin’s ashes fell slowly from the sky and I stood victorious. The crowd went crazy as the glory of what I’d done invigorated the bloodlust within them. I was, indeed, the victor. And I would take my place at court.

The emperor licked his fangs and howled happily at the death of his son. The empress, Ophelya Sawnyo, laughed with glee and licked her mate’s neck. The reaction to seeing their own flesh and blood die in this arena put me on edge. But it wasn’t unexpected. This was, as one would say, the way of the Vampyre. I sheathed my dagger, deactivated my UV sword, and attached it on my hip. The fight was over and I was the last survivor. Thousands of people in the arena and billions of others who were watching on their holographic monitors roared and clapped over my victory. I had prepared for this all my life and it was finally coming to fruition. The countless hours of training on distant worlds, the multiple combat missions, the zero-gravity martial arts drills, and the various deadly-weapons certifications had all led me to this. I was a killer, the perfect weapon. Now, I was to be the ideal politician. The emperor would have his way with me. Whatever command he gave, I’d follow—just like a damn puppet.

Vampyraya, Karathra, and Necropolia, hear your ruler! shouted my uncle with his hand extended in the air. Within seconds, the entire arena went silent. Everyone was on their best behavior around my uncle. He was ruthless, bloodthirsty, calculating, and at times savage. No one dared cross him or my auntie by marriage, the Empress Ophelya. She was just as rich with bloodlust as her mate and enjoyed watching combat and death.

They were the perfect match, but not even my uncle could satisfy her appetite for sex. I’d steered clear of her my whole life because of that fact. My aunt didn’t care who you were or what position you held in the hierarchy of the Crimson Asa Court. She would satisfy her hunger when she saw fit. That was one of the many reasons I dreaded taking a position in the Emperor’s Hall. Her blood’s passion knew no bounds. I had to be on guard at all times.

My niece, Athanasia Sawnyo, has slain the weak to become the sole victor of the Royal Challenge. From this day forth, I, Emperor Magnus Sawnyo, decree that she is crowned Imperial Princess Athanasia Sawnyo of Vampyraya and the entire Vampyre Empire! The successor to the throne if I am ever to die in battle! he roared. My auntie, with her full plump lips, long silky purple hair, and bright green eyes, clapped at my uncle’s declaration—all the while eyeballing me as if I were a meal. I knelt by a pool of water at my feet, dipped my palms in, and splashed my face to wash off the blood and ash. The thousands in attendance stood and bowed to pay their respects. I’d killed many people in this arena today, and all I wanted to do was shower and rest. The festivities to come were going to be exhausting, but it was all for the sake of tradition.

Joseph entered the arena and flew toward me with a hot towel and a bucket of water. You did well. Allow me to service you, he said. As he was about to press the warm cloth on my head, the whole stadium vibrated and the ground shook. I knew right then what would happen. A red glow formed all over my body, and I began to hover two feet from the ground. Joseph bowed and backed away.

The crowd went still just as before as the emperor used his power of telekinesis to summon me to the royal balcony, where he and the empress sat. All the blood, flesh, rain, and dirt were cleansed from my body and I was born anew. My fangs lengthened and my senses heightened. I could feel the gifts he was bestowing upon this vessel. My hair transformed from black to red, and my skin illuminated the same radiant color. Bliss filled every atom of my body as the power surged through me. I was becoming one of the gifted—an elite group of Vampyres able to bend reality to their will. It was marvelous.

As I floated higher into the air, my skin perspired and the urge to feed grew stronger in me than I had ever felt before. Delicious was the taste of blood, and I needed it now more than ever. I couldn’t wait to sink my fangs into someone. I floated back down and the red glow diminished. Taking a deep breath, I opened my eyes and found myself back in the center of the arena. I could see more clearly than I ever had. The universe was divulged to me in all its eternal glory.

Rise, Athanasia of Vampyraya! Take your rightful place in the Crimson Asa Court. The colonies and moons of Necropolia are now yours. This I decree, said the emperor. The crowd cheered once more and I could feel the vibrations of every vocal cord, every clap, every foot stomp. It was amazing. The powers he’d given me would prove indispensable in battle.

A-are you all right, Athanasia? asked Joseph. He looked somewhat frightened of me. How much had I changed?

I’m well beyond all right. I feel invincible. I snatched my UV sword from my hip, activated it, and waved it above my head. I brandished and posed, enacting various techniques from my martial arts training. The sensation was surreal. My hunger for power grew to new heights. Everyone was in awe at my display, and I could hear the empress cheering from her throne next to her mate. I had to attain a power that only a few had. Satisfaction was only a dagger’s strike away. The remedy for this growing bloodlust was there in Joseph’s eyes. I hoped he’d fed, because I was going to ravish him tonight.

My sword suddenly flew from my hands, up into the sky toward the royal balcony, and into my uncle’s lap. The crescent moon shone with a blinding glow as I breathed in the ecstasy that came with my new gifts. Athanasia . . . you will join us in the Emperor’s Hall, said the empress. You must be bathed, dressed, and readied in time for your coronation before the court. Joseph, please see to it that the princess wears something red. The shade of blood would do her justice.

Joseph bowed as the crowd exited the arena. The emperor stood, glanced at me with a smile, then took his mate by the hand and made his exit as well. The court was calling, but first, I needed to satisfy the burning desire in me that was fighting for dominance. The boiling passion in my blood felt as if it could rival the empresses. It was a good thing my uncle had left Joseph as my caretaker for my coronation. I hoped that he’d survive what I had planned for us this evening.

I shed my clothes and tossed my remaining weapons to Joseph. My battle gear was wearing on me, and I couldn’t take it on my skin any longer. Five hours of battle had me famished. A glass of fermented blood from the canals of Saro would hit the spot quite nicely. Speaking of Saro, I was so wrapped up in the powers my uncle infused in my body that it hadn’t hit me before now that I owned Saro and the other three moons of Necropolia. My reach was expanding, and all it had taken was the deaths of my extended family members in this arena.

Only the strong are worthy of life. You’ve proven yourself the best warrior I’ve seen in centuries. You may even be on par with Genevieve the Conqueror, said Joseph.

Ahhh, yes, Genevieve the Conqueror. The first Vampyre born of blood from the three worlds, who single-handedly created the tri-world collective and birthed our species and its expansion through sheer will. Yeah, I’m sure my battle in this arena today proved I’m just like her, I mocked. It was annoying when someone compared me, or anyone in our lifetime, to the greatest Vampyre who’d ever lived. She was the mother of us all. I could only dream of accomplishing half of what she had.

You continue your training and make connections within the court, and you may see the same glory, he said.

I walked up to him in my naked flesh and caressed his face. Tell the men to get my bath ready, and be sure a bottle of Saro blood is waiting for me.

He bowed. Yes, my lady.

I grabbed his arm and sank my clawed nails into his skin before he could walk off. Oh, and Joseph. Make sure you’re there as well . . . naked, I whispered.

He smiled. I’d expect nothing less.

2.  The Empress’s Advice

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IT ISN’T THE REFRESHING waters that pour from the horizon at dawn or the songs that are chanted in the night while we drink from delicious virginal flesh that should drive you. The cornerstone of ambition should be to see your enemies kneel at your feet before you drive a dagger into their bellies, said the empress. I stood there in my pink silk robe, dumbfounded. My auntie was nude, in my bath, surrounded by my masculine, muscled bathers. What was she doing here? The flames of the candles intensified, as they tended to react to my mood. Element manipulation was one of my gifts, and the emperor had enhanced them with his endowments.

My empress. I bowed slightly but didn’t take my eyes off her. The tub was made of crystal rock from the mines of Necropolia, and the water was clear. I could see every inch of her submerged body as she soaked in the hot, soothing bath that I thought was for me.

Rites of passage don’t come easy in our court, do they, Athanasia? She caressed her breasts with a soft white sponge as soap trickled down her body.

No, they don’t, my empress.

She kicked her foot and splashed water all over me. Don’t be so formal. Just call me Auntie Ophelya like you used to when you were young. Laughing, she kicked the bathwater at me again. The bathers and Joseph, who was standing near the doorway, all joined in on the laughter. I wiped my face and gave Joseph a cold look, which shut him up quick. This woman had mated with my uncle when I was a child. I’d always referred to her as my auntie since their joining. I knew she had eyes for my uncle the moment I first saw her when I was a child. And now here she was dining on the pleasure her status had to offer.

I lowered my gaze.

Auntie . . . to what do I owe the honor of your presence? I asked. She uncrossed her legs and stood from the bath. The water and soap dripped from her perfect, athletic figure and hair. Her body mesmerized all the bathers, including Joseph. Her lust-influence was so strong it began to affect me as well. I’d known this day would come. My auntie’s lust was boundless.

Remove your robe and join me. We have much to discuss before you make your debut at court, she said. The cocks of the bathers were stone hard under their white polyester robes that only covered the lower halves of their bodies. My auntie knew what she was doing. She enjoyed watching men suffer a sexual need for someone they couldn’t have. Without dispute, I removed my robe and stepped into the bath with her. We joined hands and sat in the center of the tub, the comforting water submerging us both.

Remove your robes as well . . . all of you! she commanded of the bathers. Sweating and shaking, the five of them tossed their robes to the floor, revealing their long and thick pulsating members. All my life, I’d only been concerned with battle and glory. I rarely took part in the sexual ways of the Vampyre and when I did, it was with Joseph. Now it seemed this aspect of my life that I’d avoided so much would be a daily occurrence.

Good. She licked her lips. Just the way I like it. I locked eyes with Joseph as he slowly backed out of the bathing room and closed the door behind him.

What is it that we have to discuss? I asked with my arms crossed over my breasts.

Her left fang extended and she pricked her wrist. Blood ran down her arm as the bathers summoned every ounce of willpower to keep from taking us both. The lust-influence in her blood was damn powerful. Open your mouth. I have a gift for you. She extended her blood-soaked arm toward me. I couldn’t believe what was happening. Tasting the empress’s blood would be a dream come true. She was one of the ancients who held every little detail of their lives within their blood. All the knowledge and power in her veins would be mine to see, mine to experience. I could barely contain my excitement. Nevertheless, I had to keep my composure. She might take me if she saw how much I wanted this.

Are you sure? I asked. My expression was a façade of indifference. I had to act as if it didn’t matter to me one way or another.

Your uncle infused you with gifts and now it’s my turn. Take your prize, Athanasia. I can see behind your disguise. I know you want this, she said. Blood dripped into the water and my fangs grew. She knew me well. Drinking her blood would be like tasting the nectar of the gods. However, I’d have to control myself. I was already in a state of arousal from all the fighting and the gifts instilled upon me by the emperor. This would be the ultimate test of willpower for me. Perhaps my auntie knew this, which was why she chose this moment to gift me her blood. I grabbed her wrist and stared into her eyes.

Go ahead. She smiled. The bathers surrounded us with their cocks fully erect. My auntie, to my shock, grabbed one of the men by the backside and pulled him closer. His manhood was inches from her face when she began to caress his length from the tip to the shaft. He moaned as the other bathers watched in envy. It seemed as if the stories were right after all. The empress took what she wanted when she wanted.

The scent of her sweet royal blood crept its way up my nose and into my lungs. It drew my attention away from her pleasuring hand and back to her dripping wrist. I saw the veins circulating blood throughout her arm and it called to me. The bather moaned louder as the empress caressed him more intensely. Was she trying to make him come?

Drink. Plunge your fangs into me, she commanded. The wound she’d made on her wrist had already healed, but the blood was still there. I opened my mouth and licked the blood from her wrist. So sweet. The bather grabbed the edge of the tub as the empress twirled her tongue around the tip of his member. This was my introduction to what would happen at court. I gazed at her wrist and slowly sank my fangs into it. She moaned as I began to drink. The heat from my gifts turned the bathwater so hot that it almost boiled. It was ecstasy. The empress’s blood entered my system along with the lust-influence she wielded.

I squeezed my eyes shut when a rush of energy flooded my mind and soul. Her entire history was revealed to me—all the battles, all the lust and blood. An entire millennium of knowledge dwelled in her veins. My skin illuminated white and red as I continued to drink. The formation of the Crimson Asa Court and the allegiance of the tri-world collective poured into my mind. Knowledge beyond my imagination cascaded through my very being. I was in love with it.

The bather screamed, and I opened my eyes to see the empress with a mouthful of his seed. She swallowed it and licked her lips, satisfied. Now more than ever, I wanted to unleash my animalistic lust on someone. My auntie’s lust-influence drove me to the point of insane arousal.

Take one of the bathers, she said. I stared at her with blood dripping down my lips. Don’t look at me like that. I know what you want. Take one of your bathers and appease the hunger growing inside you. She leaned toward me and wiped the blood from my lips with her wet thumb. I was still dazed by the sagacity and experiences that cultivated her life. There was no Vampyress alive that more deserved to serve at my uncle’s side than her.

You are of my mate’s bloodline, Athanasia. That connection binds us. But now, you and I are bound by blood, she said before sinking her fangs into my neck. I grabbed hold of her and dug my nails into her back. The feeling paralyzed me. The aphrodisiac in her saliva was paradise in itself. The only thing I could do was let it happen. The mind-thought connection between us was established, and I could hear her every thought just as she could mine. On Vampyraya, sharing blood was a rite of passage for those who entered adulthood. Such rituals were reserved for those who had mated. Nevertheless, the empress, as always, took what she wanted without question. I was at her mercy.

Deep in my gut, I could feel the warmth of my juices as they flowed like the Blood Rivers near the mountains of Katayu on Saro. My eyes glowed as the thought of a long, thick eight-incher pushing itself into my womanly lips entered my mind. I was going insane.

Take one of the bathers, Athanasia. Cure your sexual appetite, she whispered in my mind.

But I’ve only ever known Joseph, I replied. She released her fangs and gazed into my eyes. With my blood on her lips, she pushed her tongue into my mouth and caressed my breasts. I cupped her ass under the water and opened my legs. I couldn’t believe this was going to happen. One of the bathers entered the tub. He licked the empress from the small of her back to the inside of her backside as I wrapped my legs around her. Another bather stepped foot into the tub and dived under the bathwater. Gracefully, he swam under the empress and the other bather until he reached my open thighs. The feel of his tongue caressing my clit under the hot water almost made me bite Ophelya’s lips. It was a pleasurable shock to my system. The empress released me and turned her attention to the bather who was tongue-lashing her.

My eyes illuminated red as the other bather continued to eat my pussy under the water. The empress opened her legs wide and welcomed the tongue of her lover on her clit. The view of her body and the bather buried between her thighs was so deliciously sexy. I’d never thought I’d get used to this so quickly. Perhaps living in court wouldn’t be so tedious after all. She licked her fangs, held the bather’s head under the water, and wrapped her legs around him. I did the same to my bather as he cupped my ass and shoved his tongue inside of me. This was the first time anyone had given me oral pleasure. Each time Joseph attempted the act, I’d shun him. I was always more concerned with battle than foreplay. Nevertheless, I saw now that I’d denied myself a magnificent pleasure.

I clawed the bather’s back as my climax neared. I didn’t know how much longer he could hold his breath, but I didn’t want him to stop. He had to finish me. My toes curled and my fangs lengthened. I was coming. My thighs shook and the heat of the water became more intense. I wanted to feed. The bather servicing the empress tried to come up for air, but she held him under. The blood’s passion had her now. I gaped and moaned at the feeling of my bather sucking on my clit and fingering my pussy. I was about to explode. He sucked harder and placed his middle and index fingers inside me. I clawed his back deeper until blood dripped from him into the water.

Clamping my legs around his head, I came furiously into his mouth and unleashed a scream that echoed throughout the bathing chamber. Panting, I opened my eyes and saw Joseph standing in the doorway, staring at me. We locked eyes for a moment before he glanced away and left the room. I was too caught in the moment to deal with his feelings. The afterglow of my climax was still simmering in my blood. I turned my attention to the empress. My bather popped his head out of the water and kissed me softly on the side of my neck.

Thank you for allowing me to taste you, princess, he said. I gazed at him and sighed in sexual satisfaction. It was all so wonderful.

With both hands, the empress held her bather’s head under the water. She laughed when he fought furiously to come up for air. Between smiles, she moaned in carnality and shoved her pussy deeper into his mouth. An animalistic expression overcame her face and she continued to force the man to stay under. I’m fucking coming! she screamed. When the bather flailed his hands in and out of the water, the empress wrapped her legs tightly around his head, flipped him onto his back, and sat on his face, fully submerging him. She swayed her hips back and forth, splashing water all over the place. The other bathers watched in horror as their companion was on the brink of drowning. Not one of them could do anything about it, nor would any of them dare. They knew the law. The empress was untouchable.

She held his arms down with her knees and continued to ride his face. "To die