Fabled Dreams || Book 1: Truth

Chapter 2

Once we arrived at the village, everyone in it gawked at our little procession. Sooner than I had expected we arrived at a tepee-looking house. We stepped inside. There were really brightly colored tapestries that hung on the walls. All these colors actually hurt my eyes. A fire flickered in the middle of the room and smoke rose in a stream towards the ceiling where a little opening filtered it out. Someone cleared their throat, and we turned to see an old man sitting crossed-legged on a rug in the right area of the tepee house. He looked wise and kind, with all his wrinkles. "Master Verlance." Shadow bowed in respect to him.

Damien nodded, avoiding the gaze of Master Verlance, whose gaze lingered on his face for a few moments then turned to mine. He furrowed his brow, "What may I do for you?" He asked, turning his attention back to Shadow.

"We were hoping that possibly you could help my friend," Shadow replied.

"Hmm..." Verlance looked me up and down, inspecting me. "I don't think I can but I think I know who might be able to help her." He looked down, thoughtfully.

We stood quietly and expectantly, watching the mixed-blood elder. I felt a little awkward about this whole thing. "Who?" Shadow broke the silence that neither Damien nor I dared to break.

The wizened elder looked back up at us and replied with a soft smile, "An old friend of mine. She lives in the cavern just beyond our forest. When she answers to her name, Viviane, tell her that Verlance sent you. Tell her your problem and she will do her best to help."

"You mean the prophetess who lives in Vashnam Caves?" This time Damien spoke.

"Yes, my dear vampire prince." Replied Master Verlance nodding with a sort of smile.

"Wait. Hold up. You're the vampire prince?" I asked, surprised. This was new.

Damien nodded, going awkwardly quiet. He seemed like he didn't really want me to know this. I honestly am way too oblivious though because I proceeded to ask, "So, that means you rule over all the vampires?"

"Not exactly. My father and mother do. But, they will soon step down so I may take their place. However, first I must find a queen." He explained awkwardly.

"Oh, I see," I said lamely. 'So, that's why he needs me... I feel kind of used.'

"Anyway..." Shadow interrupted, "Let's get going. We need to go see the ol- I mean awesome lady to fix Arianna."

"Yeah, let's go." I sighed, feeling that we should just move on from this conversation before it got even more awkward.

We stepped outside. The cool air of evening wafted over us. I lifted my face feeling the cool air move across my warm face. It felt good. We started to walk towards the woods after a few moments standing there enjoying the breeze. As we entered the forest everything was suddenly absolutely silent except our feet crunching through fallen leaves and twigs and our breaths that came out in quiet tense breaths.

A shadow slid across the floor of the forest. I gulped, 'Yeah this doesn't seem good. No animal sounds, that shadow, and this really bad feeling in my gut.' We all looked up instinctively. A giant bird had perched on a limb of a nearby Hemlock Tree.

"Oh no!" Gasped Damien for he knew well what it was. "A Shadow Beast."

"A what?" I asked, frowning confused.

"An animal... or anything really that has been infected with the Dark Energy from the Dark Lands," Shadow answered.

"Dark Lands?" I frowned getting more confused.

"...It's where all evil and turned evil reside." Replied Shadow quietly.

"You should know all about that." Smirked Damion and Shadow growled. Before I could ask what the hell he was talking about the bird took off from the tree and dived straight at us.

"Okay! No more talking!!" Shouted Shadow, "Run!!!" We bolted heading for the caves. We raced into them at high speed.

"Viviaine!!" We all shouted.