Chapter:   1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22

His Lady of the Night

Chapter Twenty One

Jake staked the vampire that got too close as he arrived at Drake's chamber door, his fangs grew and he snarled as he kicked it in.

"Drake!" roared Jake as he caught sight of Olivia hanging from the embedded chains.

Jake leapt at Drake, his claws swiping empty air as the Master vanished and reappeared beside Olivia.

Drake grabbed Olivia's hair in his hand, her head pulled back. In his other hand he held a stake above her heart, Olivia's stake, ready to plunge it into her at a moment's notice.

"Back off!" barked Drake, his voice dripping with contempt at the smell of Jake's soul.

Julius quickly blended into the rock face; it wasn't yet time to reveal his presence to Jake. 'Besides, that honor should be Olivia's,' he thought as he watched the blood from her pricked finger drip steadily into the empty Druid bowl.

~ * ~

Though unconscious, Olivia dreamed. She was deep in the forest, in a clearing, taking part in a special ceremony. She was about to see her soulmate. The Sacred Druid Bowl of Sight sat atop a pedestal scripted with rune symbols. Beside the bowl was a small silver knife. Many others of her race surrounded her, men, women and children, making a circle.

She was seven years old and wore a long flowing white gown with a crown of Moonflowers atop her head.

Her heart was light with anticipation, as she cut her wrist and let her blood flow into the empty bowl, then peered inside and saw the face of her soulmate. He was a handsome man with deep black eyes and long flowing blond hair. His nose was straight and his face was that of an angel's. 

"I see him mother, father," she whispered. "He is ever so handsome. But I sense he is not what he appears," she said eyes alight with ancient wisdom.

Her father nodded, "You are right child, he is not what he appears," he replied.

Olivia just stared at her father, knowing he had more to say. She glanced at her mother, who smiled and nodded approvingly at her wisdom to not speak.

"This man is a vampire," he began, "a vampire with a soul. When our enemy, the Master of Tarsus turned him, this man preformed a great act of kindness and left his village before he could kill his own family. God saw this and rewarded him; He, in his great wisdom offered this man the return of his soul if he would imprison Drake forever. This man agreed and his soul was returned to him," her father explained.

"What is his name father?" Olivia asked breathlessly.

"His name is…" he began to say, when suddenly, everyone started screaming as dark, black shadows emerged from the heavens and swooped down upon them. Her father ordered her mother 'to get their little one out of there.' Her mother grabbed her in flight and along with the other females of their race, who had children, ran for their lives. As she was carried away, Olivia heard a strange voice say, "Someday we will meet again, then…"

Olivia's father pulled his saber of steel, turned and joined the other men fighting the shadows. Her father, along with many of the other Druid men, perished that night.

~ * ~

Olivia moaned, pain slowly waking her. Dazed and still half drugged, her blurry gaze focused on her soulmate standing twenty feet away. She felt the unfamiliar hand in her hair and looked up into light gray eyes.

"Welcome back my dear," said a familiar voice. "So good of you to join us," he said and brought his face closer to hers. It was a face she'd seen before, a face she thought for a moment, she'd conjured from long buried memories. Recognition was evident in her face and Drake laughed fanatically, " I see you remember me my dear. You were what? Seven, eight years old at the time?" he said. "I told you we'd meet again someday, and I was night.

"You killed my mother," she whispered, horrified.

"Ah yes, you mother. Her blood was sweet; it enabled me to walk in daylight as well as night for two long centuries," he said reminiscing. "But alas, it didn't last long. I drained her completely, killing her, when I should have kept her alive and taken her blood slowly," he said to himself, his mind in the past. Then he looked into her eyes and smirked. "But with you my dear, I won't make the same mistake. Your blood will free me to walk in daylight again and feast on humanity," he informed her.

"Her blood won't do you any good Drake," said Jake.

"Of course it will!" Drake argued. "Both her parents were Druids, her ancestors were Druids, she carries Druid blood."

Jake chuckled and shook his head, "She may carry Druid blood, but it's not just Druid blood you need to walk in daylight," he said mysteriously.

Drake frowned, "What do you mean? Of course it's Druid blood I need! What other kind is there?" he asked suspiciously.

"Don't you remember who her mother was?" Jake asked. "Don't you remember the position she held in her clan?"

Jake watched as Drake looked down at Olivia, trying to figure out why her blood wouldn't work. He took the chance to glance swiftly at his love and wink.

"What's going on Jake?" she asked, confused. "Why is my blood so important to him?"

"I'll explain everything later, don't worry love, everything is going to be fine, I promise," replied Jake and smiled cockily.

Suddenly, he sensed a presence in the room. He immediately sent out his senses, scanning. He could detect no other mind but Olivia's, Drake's and his own, yet he could still feel another in the room with them.

"I don't believe you," suddenly said Drake as he took a step forward. "Her blood will work, you're just stalling for time."

Jake shook his head, "I'm not lying," he said. "Her mother's blood worked not because she was a powerful Druid, but because…" he trailed off, waiting for Drake's to come closer.

"Because what!" shouted Drake and he took another step away from Olivia.

Jake relaxed his stance and cocked his head, "Like I said, Olivia's mother held a high position in the clan's hierarchy, a position one is born to, one which Olivia was not," taunted Jake, wanting Drake closer still, before he delivered the coup de grace.

Drake fell into Jake's plan and moved closer, "And what position wasn't she born to?" he asked teeth clenched, his eyes glittering with suppressed rage.

"Why the position of Priestess of course!" exclaimed Jake, "Don't tell me you didn't know a Druid Priestess's blood is what gave you the shield to walk in daylight?" he said incredulously.

"Jake!" mentally cried Olivia as the drug in her system pulled her into its foggy embrace and again she dreamed.

~ * ~

Julius listened as Jake delivered the crushing blow to Drake's plan, and from the corner of his eye he saw the bowl begin to glow.

~ * ~

Olivia saw, standing before her and smiling, a man dressed in a flowing white robe. She looked beyond him and saw more men and a few women, all dressed in white. They too were smiling at her. Her gaze turned back to the man in front of her.

"Father?" Olivia asked uncertainly.

The man smiled and gently cupped her cheek, "It is time my daughter, to remember who you are," he said.

Colors swirled, pulling her into a vortex of memories. She saw herself standing before a council of elders, a Moonflower crown being placed upon her head, and a cape of white ermine was placed upon her shoulders. She was led outside and proclaimed the next Priestess of their Druid clan. She had been chosen, for she had exhibited fighting skills, herbal knowledge, and wisdom in disputes, the ability to read minds and to recognize the false mask of those trying to hurt them, all this she knew before it was taught to her.

Her eyes focused again on her father and his loving smile, "Momma said you were dead," she said in a soft voice.

Her father's eyes dimmed slightly, "I am my daughter, but because you hold my memory in your heart, I can be here with you," he said.

"It's not going so good father," she told him. "I'm chained to a wall by the very vampire that killed mother and my soulmate is about to fight him. I want to help but the drug is still keeping me dazed," she said helplessly, tears filling her eyes.

"Do not cry my daughter," he said as a wiped a lone tear that escaped. "You have the power to purge this drug, tap deep down inside yourself and draw it out. You're mind will clear and then you will be able to use all your abilities to help your lifemate defeat this enemy."

Olivia frowned, "What abilities?" she asked.

"My daughter, you are a Priestess, a very powerful one," he replied. "You've seen the memory of your coronation, you know what you are, and you know what you are capable of. All you need do is set your fears aside and embrace your destiny," he encouraged. The others behind him nodded and they all began to fade.

"No! Wait…father!" cried out Olivia.

"Do not be afraid daughter, we will be near to help you," echoed her father's fading voice.

Olivia panicked until she did what her father suggested and dug deep down into herself for the knowledge just waiting to be used. A chant filled her mind and calm filled her whole being. The drug began to slowly dissipate and she could hear Jake's frantic voice in her mind.

"Olivia! Answer me! Come back my love, fight the drug, don't let it take you!" he exclaimed over and over.

"Be calm my darling, I am here. I am fine," she communicated to him.

She felt his instant relief and the brush of his invisible fingers along her cheek. She returned the sentiment and softly, invisibly kissed his lips, then slowly opened her eyes.

Jake visibly started when he saw her vibrant green eyes no longer clouded. They were clear and held a glint of something he didn't recognize, something he'd never seen in anyone's eyes before. He felt her merge strongly with him, stronger than before, her energy level was incredible. He couldn't decipher it now though, for he sensed Drake was ready to attack and he needed all his concentration to defeat him.

"You're lying!" shouted Drake. "I only need her blood and she doesn't have to be a Priestess!" he growled and launched himself at Jake. "Your only trying to distract me, but it won't work. Now that I have her, you are of no use to me. It's time I finish you off once and for all!"

Jake jumped clear across the room to avoid Drake's deadly claws, then he jumped forward, his leg stretched out, his foot level with Drake's chest. Drake jumped to the side and clawed Jake's arm as he flew by.

Jake laughed, "Is that all you can do?" he said. "If I remember correctly, you could never beat me in a fight," taunted Jake. "At least not in a fair fight."

Drake roared and came at Jake head on. Jake leapt up to meet him and clawed the Master's face. Drake howled in pain and slapped a hand to his cheek as he landed on his feet. During the fight, Drake's prized warrior statue fell to the ground scattering pieces of armored items everywhere. The master grabbed a spear and began swishing it back and forth walking towards Jake.

 

©2006 Romance at Heart Magazine.

©2000 Angel Young.

Return to Page Top