Chaos & Order

The Secrets of Chaos & Order: Sneak Peek

"Last warning, fangs. Wake up."

SMACK!

Aliyah came to when she felt a hand sharply strike her across the cheek. She quickly looked around, almost in a panic. "Where..."

"That's not necessary, fangs. Just lemme get a good look at you." The man said, grabbing her face and forcing her to look at him. His hair was dark, but almost seemed a bluish color and had fiery orange eyes. He looked her over and held a hand out in front of her. There was something like a heat haze around them, making a shimmering effect around it. The man smirked, "Well, I'll be. It's not a glamor. Looks like we stumbled on a genuine vampire."

Aliyah struggled to get free from his grasp, baring her fangs as her eyes glowed red. "Who are you? What do you want?"

"I'm Xudus and money." The man replied, nonchalantly.

"Why'd you kidnap me?" Aliyah asked.

"Because I think you can get me money." Xudus said, "You're a bit slow on the uptake, y'know that?"

Aliyah looked at him before she asked, "You're...planning to sell me?"

"What do you want, a cookie?" Xudus asked.

"I want you to let me go." Aliyah said as she tried to move. Though she couldn't feel anything like rope or chains, her hands wouldn't free themselves.

"Thinking your vampire strength and speed's gonna get you out? Well, sorry to inform you, but...I'm not an idiot." Xudus said, holding up his hand to show a strange, triangular symbol tattooed onto his hand.

"My aunt and guardian will come for me..." Aliyah said. Her fangs still bared.

"I'm sure they will. Unfortunately, they've gone off in completely different directions." Xudus replied, "You see, they think I spirited you off to one of the many nooks and crannies of this city, but the reality is? We only went into the building." He held up his hands as gold-colored sparks came out of it, "Magic. Your people fancy yourselves the dominant species, but you still haven't QUITE cracked its secrets, have you?"

"My aunt's a witch, she'll figure it out." Aliyah said, trying to sound strong.

"Can't be a very good one. I mean, she didn't even try checking out here." Xudus said, looking her over with a very...predatory look, "You'll get me a good price, I've no doubt. Maybe I could get a taste, too. Considering what price your kind could catch...might help getting the seller's recommendation."

"I refuse to be an object for you to sell." Aliyah growled.

"You think I give a crap about what you say?" Xudus asked, grabbing her chin and looking at her with that same expression, like a wolf staring down a fat, slow sheep, "That's so adorable!"

Aliyah glared at him with her glowing eyes, "Get your hand off me..."

"Why?" Aliyah's response was to try to bite him. He quickly took a step back and waved his hand. Aliyah felt her jaw suddenly glue itself shut, "Little fight in you. I like that!"

Aliyah tried to yell at him only for her voice to be muffled as she could no longer open her mouth. So instead, she looked around the room she was in. There had to be something she could move with her power to attack him with.

Suddenly, a bright golden light radiated out of Aliyah's body. Xudus didn't have time to save anything. Aliyah, though...something happened inside her. It felt like something deep, deep down had suddenly been...unlocked. Her eyes started to turn white as bloody tears started to fall. This was the second time this had happened in the past two months. Only this time, there was no pain. Images soon started flashing through her mind. Of a far off land, hidden in the sands. Of a temple carved into the side of a mountain. And of a clay jar bound in chains. The vision soon went black as Aliyah's eyes went back to normal. She panted heavily as her head lolled back.

"That...what was that?" Xudus asked. Judging by his expression...he had seen what she had.

"Siel..." Aliyah mumbled tiredly as she picked her head up.

"That...was that the Magedo Desert?" Xudus asked.

"Siel..." Aliyah mumbled again before looking at Xudus, the bloody tears having stained her face. "L-let me go..."

"Wait, Magedo...a treasure...it's real, isn't it? The Seed of Life!" Xudus said. His smile slowly took a more excited than sinister quality, "If I got it...if I could just find it! Then I could get her...she'd be...Finally!"

"No, I need it..." Aliyah said as she tried to get herself free. "I need it for Siel...."

"But first, I need a little extra dough for provisions. You know how much people will pay for a vampire?" Xudus asked, looking back at Aliyah with that wild expression, "News flash, fangs. Here, you have no power."

Aina struggled more before her black wings suddenly appeared on her back. "S-Siel..."

"You are quite incorrect in that assumption." Xudus was knocked aside by the glowing fist of Aura Siel. The mage tumbled until he hit the other wall.

"Siel, I can't move..." Aliyah said as she looked at Xudus. Aura Siel walked back to her and looked her over.

"You're bound by magic, Princess." Aura Siel said.

"We'll need Aunt L-" Aliyah suddenly paused as a familiar scent hit her nose.

Blood. The thick, metallic scent that she always hated. Because she knew what would come next. One of her eyes soon started to turn black as she looked towards Xudus.

The mage had staggered to his feet, spitting blood from his mouth, "Damn piece of..."

"Get...out..." Aliyah said in between breaths as she bared her fangs once again. One eye completely pitched black. Xudus held up his hand, murmuring something under his breath. She kept her eyes on him as her wings twitched. Her other eyes started to slowly turn. "Be glad...your magic is keeping me here..."

"Yes. I am." Xudus scoffed.

"Do you wish for me to remove this?" Aura Siel asked.

Aliyah looked at aura Siel, "I might hurt him if you free me, Siel..."

"That was not the question. Do you WANT me to?" Aura Siel asked.

Aliyah hesitated before she nodded, "Yes..."

"As you command." Aura Siel said, swiping at her hands. Xudus yelled as he recoiled. Aliyah then found her hands suddenly free.