Khira Chronicles - The redemption of Eleannor

"Mother?!"

Mixed feelings built inside of Khira for having her mother standing right in front of her after such a long search.
She slowly took in her wounds, the emaciated look on her skin showing just how little she had fed for some time, weeks or maybe even months. She watched how Frederick gravitated around her in a protective stance and how much his expression still showed the love he had for her.
She opened her lips to say something and all that came out was a hoarse voice adding to Khira's suspicion of her mother being underfed.

"Eleannor, you should not try to speak just now. First you need to feed and rest, then there will be time for you girls to discuss whatever needs to be discussed." said Frederick while almost giving in to caress Eleannor hair falling down her shoulders.

Khira was lost for words, she felt anger for the woman who had casted her out and still all she wanted was to hold her and make whoever wounded her so severely pay for every scratch.

"Who did this?" she was able to ask while trying to collect herself from giving in to the sanguinary impulses that gave her the name she hated to be called.

Frederick hesitated and stared from Morgan to Eleannor as if looking for guidance. He was clearly nervous about whatever he was going to say and the anger inside Khira only stirred even more.

"Who?" She spoke with a growling tone added to her voice, unable to hide the animalistic urges and violence creeping into her blood every time her eyes headed on her mothers injuries direction. "Do not tempt me, I am not called the Sculptress for no reason..."

Eleannor cringed and mumbled the last word she had been waiting to hear "Mutts".

Morgan laughed loudly causing every one in that room to stare at her and started pacing in front of the door with a very sarcastic grin on face.

"So the mighty Eleannor Kiergarten, ruler of the pure casts of vampire and leader of the Elder council was trapped and defeated by wolves?" Morgan laughed one more time leaving them all confused. "That means war, daddy Fred... You know it means war."

"Morgan, it means retaliation not war. Calm down your hatred and blood thirst" Frederick said.

Khira growled and pressed her fangs together so hard it was hearable. She moved closer to Eleannor and kneeled at her feet before taking her pale hand into hers.

"Mother, I do not love you but in some way I do not hate you as well. I may never forgive you for giving me away and casting my out but not because of power, but because you refused me of being raised by you as my mother and giving me the love all children crave..." Her voice grew a bit hoarse, she licked her bleeding gums and continued. "But nevertheless, you are my mother and I will kill whoever did this to you."

Frederick moved in front of them with a concerned look on his face.

"You can't. Not now... Your mother is in enough danger as it is by being here. Queen Eunice will not like to know that official royalty is in her domain. Fragile as she is now Khira, she can't be left unattended and your blood is hers, it will work much faster than mine or Morgan's."

"Two days and I'll go hunt them down."
"I casted you out... to keep... you... safe... from the court. I promise I will explain... Thank you Khira, I do not deserve your vengeance or help. You are kind..."

"Not thanks to your guidance and teachings." Snarky Morgan spoke before leaving the room. "These people make me sick. I'll do all the hard work. " And with that she took off to find the warehouse where Eleannor had been trapped.

Khira Chronicles - The reveal of the fallen (part 2)

Khira left the room closing the door on her way out violently. Zephyr barely moved at such a youth's rage display and remained sipping on the fresh blood inside his goblet.
He waved the servant away and looked outside the window pondering his next move.
The heavy drapes on the edge of the room rustled a little and a feminine voice broke the silence too soon for his liking, but there were bothers to be bared in order for his plans to work. And the Queen was one of them.

"How did it go with the young vampire?"

He took a long sip before turning to face the beautiful female now standing in front of him. He might be old but he still was not unaffected by beauty specially if it came from a real cast and not some half-breed or turned vampire.

"It went as planned. The bastard seemed very affected by the information I gave her. So volatile the younglings, won't you agree Eunice?"
"Raven did a great job too, so I am guessing the mother will be just as enraged."

He looked straight at her and he could almost tell the chill of terror or desire it caused on the poor queen's skin. He stood and moved so quickly she barely saw or sensed him before she feel on her back on to one of the luscious couches that filled the room with him straddling her lap and his tongue on the sensitive neck nape.

"And what happens now Zephyr?"

He looked at her with a devious grin on his face, he leaned down to lick her skin, brushing his fangs dangerously over her neck before replying to her.

"Now, the bastard child turns on the wolves along with the her whore of a mother. The Lamia will no longer have to worry about those rebellions mutts and we can blame their deaths on them before the Elder council." He twirled the liquid inside his goblet and stared at the Chamber queen. "Then you will rule along with me, not on a forgotten city but over all Lamia. The rule of the Kiergartens will be over... forever."

Image by Victoria Frances

                                                                          *


As she approached the Frederick's door step she paused and considered all of what she had learned about her mother and the reasons that led her to leave her behind. More importantly, what did Zephyr had to gain with sharing all that knowledge with her?

She questioned all of her previous doubts, she questioned her upbringing with the pack and Bogart teachings. Had she really been so blind and naive all that time? Had she only been the killing machine, that got her the name and fame as The Sculptress, to serve the purposes of the Lamia natural enemies?
Had the sense of home and belonging been just an act for as long as she played just what they wanted her too and never truly accepting who she really was and the differences between species?

Her mind was racing, everything she ever knew for certain was now covered with a big question mark.
She knocked on the door hoping her mother's previous lover would be able to help her and be the friend he wanted and proclaimed wanting to be.

The girl that Frederick protected as his own daughter opened the door and gave her a lopsided smile.

"You arrived just in time, Khira."
"And why is that so Morgan?"

She gave her silence and simply gestured to the right showing her the path to be taken and smiled once again before shutting the heavy oak door behind them.
Khira walked as led keeping her head down, still trying to decide what to ask first. The she raised her head and stopped frozen under the threshold.

"Mother?..."

Khira Chronicles - The reveal of the fallen (part 1)

If there was something that Khira had learned well during her years among vampires was not to trust them and to reveal the full extent of her abilities.
Their ignorance proved to be a powerful weapon if needed, it sure helped her escape to meet the Bojangles pack years ago.
She was just sitting at the local pub when the courier delivered Zephyr's invitation to break fast with him, he assured her of a very amiable vintage meal that she would surely enjoy, but more than offering a quality meal, he offered information on her mother's whereabouts.


"If he knew something, why didn't her say so when introduced to me? Maybe he didn't want the queen or Frederick to hear..."
"Did you say anything love?" Asked the scruffy old hag that tended the bar, she seemed to incorporate every concept of old wicked witch into one human, or not, vessel.
"Just talking to myself Ma'am."


She grumbled something Khira did not understand and resumed to what to seemed an "Morticia Addams" method of cleaning. The rag she used to scrub the counter must have been as old as her and it the true antithesis of clean.
Khira tried to ignore the fact that her bare arms were laying on the counter that must had been cleaned by that rag and returned to her rationalizations.


If her instinct was correct, Zephyr had something up his sleeve and the fact that he was an Elder so far away from the official Lamia court did not help her suspicions. He was up to something and by agreeing to meet him, she might be placing herself deliberately in danger.


"What's life without a little danger?" She said loudly before running her tongue over her fangs. "Might as well enjoy the meal and who knows? I may be wrong..."
"What?" The old witch yelled back to her.
"Nothing Ma'am, here is my expense." She got up and headed to find Zephyr's place of residence.


The old witch cursed and muttered to herself while watching Khira leave. "Damned young people, no manners..."


Khira didn't take long to find the location described in the message, she pondered for a few seconds if she should maybe warn Frederick of where she was but then she started remembering all his clingy attitude and quickly decided that it was better to depend only on her own as she had been taught.


Before she could knock on the door, it squeaked and opened for her revealing a very pleased vampire on the other side. He had a traditional japanese robe, the lantern Hakama, and his silvery hair was neatly pulled back in a high ponytail.


"Welcome, young one. Please do come in." The pointed with his arms the direction she should follow and she entered calmly, trying to take in as much information as possible about the place she had just entered. 


For a lion's lair, it looks quite fashionable. Let's just hope I don't become the lamb...


Zephyr lead her through the hallway until he reached a small living room, with a very cosy feel. The three sofas that populated the space looked extremely comfortable and the matching pillows added a welcoming feel to the room. It was anything but what she expected to find in the house of an Elder, stone walls and hard wood benches would me so much more in time with the owner, but she also guessed that for him to survive for so many centuries, at least she guessed that it would be his age, would have adapted to more current trends but still she was expecting the cliché. 


If she couldn't follow the preconceptions and common notions about the old ones, then she really was about to enter total unknown territory with Zephyr. The monarchs of the Lamia were old and powerful but the Elders were in a totally different category of power and might.


"Please do sit down Khira." 


She picked a long sofa across from where he was standing and sat down crossing her legs, she would play cool and relaxed until need of other stance. 


"So, this information you claimed to have, sir, will you be willing to share it now that I am in your presence?"
"Ah... the haste of youth... All in good time, dear Khira. Shall we not feed first?" He pushed a small button that had remained unnoticed by her until then and shortly after a maid entered with a child no older than 5 years in front of her and carrying an elegant decanter that resembled an hourglass filled with a rich dark colour in her hands.


"Do you like yours straight from the source? Or perhaps a bit more fresh?"

What Hides in the Dark - Taking the lead

"Patrolling has become a real pain lately. When are you going to let me take the lead Angie?"

Angie dismissed his comment with a simple wave of her hand and continued her relaxed walk holding her favorite crossbow hanging down. She was so used to having it there on her hand that it was almost like an extension of her arm.

"Don't call me Angie. You know you are way too sure of yourself to take the lead. I don't want you to get yourself killed, especially if the lead we got on the couple was correct."

Brad started to kick the stones on his way, taking deep breaths to prevent from having another burst of anger. He measured his words, considered well what he was to reply and what eventually come through his mouth was nothing but another proof of the cockiness she accused him with.

"I saved you last night and you know I can handle myself well. You are the one getting overprotective of me."

She halted and turned to face him. The look on her eyes was a mixture of anger, hurt and most of all disappointment. Her voice was stone cold unlike the words that came out, making it even more awkward to  simply say what she needed to say.

"Listen to me, you were the one pressing that I got involved with you. I warned you of the consequences of that. If it was just sex like I wanted, it wouldn't have gotten this way and you know it. Do you think I like to bring you with me now?"

She shrugged and took a long look to their surroundings before continuing her patrol leaving him behind. He followed her as he always did and imitated her actions, trying to hear something unusual or catching any movement in the dark.

"Angie, I care about you too but I am not going to stop doing what I have to do. I never did before you gave me a chance to something more and that isn't going to change now."

"But it changed for me!!" She yelled. "Why couldn't it be..."

She fell on the floor and hitting her head hard. The sound of her lips as she became unconscious was like a hit on his stomach. He looked around again as silently as he could, pondering where did the attach came from.

"Angie, get up! Angelina?" He took two steps in her direction and understood the error of that. She had lost her focus and stood in open view making her an easy target and now she was also an excellent decoy for him.
"Well, great..." He said to himself sarcastically. "I wanted a chance to lead and there it is."

He tried to focus on everything but the fallen body of her partner, which wasn't easy. Everything was eerie silent and he needed to make a decision quickly. He cursed himself mentally and went for Angie, he grabbed her and carried her out of sight. He laid her body a tree and went into a crouch keeping her behind him.
A laugh echoed into the night and he felt fear creeping upon him.

"One little piggy went to the park..." A male voice said.
"Two little piggies went to the tree..." A female voice said.

In a flash there they were in front of them, Siegfried and Marguerite, the ones they had been hunting now hunting them.
Marguerite smiled revealing her fangs instantly while Siegfried laughed and for the first time in a long time Brad was almost speechless, managing only to express...

"Oh shit..."

Bits and Pieces - The Love of a Vampire

I can feel your presence
Your hot breath on my neck
My senses are heightened
You reach out to me
Wanting me to come to you
I open to you completely
Suddenly I am there in your arms
The feeling is so intense
Our eyes speak to each other
Our hearts beat in time
Our minds merge and we are one
I feel your tongue on my neck
Then exquisite pain
In an instant we are connected
Bonded for all eternity
Never to be parted
The miles cannot separate us-nothing can .

Khira Chronicles - Requiem

How long has it been....

The sore muscles of her weakening body burned. She tried once again to release herself from her restraints but the silver chains that held her must be enchanted.
Those damned wolves were waiting for her, she had been betrayed. The real question was by who?

When she reached the woods near the Forgotten Forest, a pack of wolves took her as prisoner and tortured her for days, even though she claimed to be just a traveller. It only made it worst.
Her memory started to fail after months of torture... She remembered only the bleeds and the burns...
The silence cut only by their mocking howls and Eleannor's screams and hisses.

I hear the sound of something dripping...
I'm being bled again...

The sound of approaching footsteps forced her to open her eyes. Her lids felt heavy and her vision blurry. Before her was Raven, the one that seemed to be the leader of her captors.

"Lady Eleannor, I can't help but to thank you for your precious contribution. We had never laid our hands in such pure elder blood." she grinned maliciously and poked Eleannor's right thigh with a burning red poker. "It's such a shame that you are becoming so weak... Maybe I should get you something to eat..."

Raven stroke her face violently and laughed hysterically.

"Soon enough, all of your disgusting and murdering familiars and kindred will fall. Thanks to your precious blood, you will all meet your doom."

She started howling then, soon all the others joined the deadly song, the song for the dead.

The song of my death...

The moon was full and soon Raven and her pack turned, running into the wild hunting and procreating.

Peace for now... She thought before hearing another noise. Her hurting eyes tried to inspect the rotten warehouse they trapped her in, she was too weak to focus, her throat burning with the thirst.
Then he came into view...

It can not be...

"Eleannor, dear... It has been so long..."
"Frederick? Is that you?"

He moved quickly to her and released her restraints. He picked her up and carried her in his arms away from the putrid confinement she was in. He caressed her burned cheek and whispered against her forehead.

"Some of these will not heal, beautiful."
It was the last thing she mumbled before fainting.

"I know..."

Bits and pieces - Realization

It came to me in the most unexpected way

the realization of something wild and free
the feeling that I no longer have to stay
the feeling that I can...
If it depends on me.

Bits and Pieces - Colírio

Como me afectas, mexes comigo
a embriaguez do teu toque entorpece-me os sentidos
leva-me à fantasia e faz-me flutuar no prado dos teus olhos.

O roçar dos nossos corpos ao som de uma melodia mágica
faz-me tremer e suspirar.
Fecho os olhos e estamos a voar debaixo de um céu estrelado

Olho para cima e vejo o teu sorriso suave e quente,
banhado pela luz dos teus olhos, tão profundos e limpidos
fresco e tão quente ao mesmo tempo.

As tuas palavras são escassas mas o teu silêncio diz-me muito mais
a emoção não precisa de palavras quando estou ao teu lado