Hybrid Trilogy

Chapter 42 Returning Light

The Castle loomed menacingly over the village casting a darker shadow even in the darkness of the eternal night that now swathed the land of magic. The once crystal white building now looked like a dirty white stone mountain, it had once been the center of the magical universe & now it just looked like an ominous reminder of the malevolent times that currently existed. Dirty battered & evil, that evil appeared to consume every brick, not helped by the fact that the world had been plunged into a magical darkness. Something Cassandra had done, so that Mandrake & his Vampire Army could roam freely in the gloom.

Mandrake who was by all accounts the most powerful Vampire known, the son of Drakon the first Vampire the sire of all Vampires in the human world, he was tall over 6ft, he had black shoulder length hair, his milky white skin was only illuminated by his violent blood red eyes, dressed in a full length black leather trench coat, he really came across as an imposing & scary adversary. White source castle had been the seat of all Witch covens & the home of the lady Alcina but was now possessed by Cassandra the Witch responsible for committing (occidit fratres) & killing the lady Alcina. Known now as the dark Witch, she was now a thin gaunt girl in her mid-twenties with long straight black hair, sunken eyes with dark shadows around them, Mandrake & Cassandra's son Drake was a young Vampire of 12 years or so & like his mother & father had jet black hair.

In the great hall of the castle, the grand room once bathed in light. now housed a dark foreboding Mandrake slumped in one of the dirty stone chairs draped in dirty blood splattered white furs. It had been raised on a pile of slabs to form steps, it stood about 6ft high, making it much like a throne, set next to the fire pit, that now lay cold filled with black ash the other chairs, some brought in from the nearby houses strewn about with Vampires lounging about feeding on the farm animals gathered by the Witches. Mandrake looked down at Cassandra disdainfully "how long will the sun be gone Witch?" He asked dismissively "permanently my lord" she replied timidly " that is good to know take Drake to eat!" he snapped "yes, my lord" she answered quietly taking Drake's hand & scurrying off. At the door she met a young brooding male Vampire with an attitude to match his inflated ego, baring his way "And where do you think you are going Witch?" He asked slyly. He was about 18 years old looking with greased back blond hair, dressed in a grey hoody & black denim jeans & clearly consumed by his own anger. She looked up at the young Vampire "you forget yourself boy" Cassandra said softly but with a subtle degree of venom in her voice, the young Vampire had as yet not met her so looked at her with contempt "now move" Cassandra added with a little more agitation. The young Vampire smiled looking down at her.

"Mmm I do like a girl with a little back bone, why aren't you my Witch?" He replied craftily with that Cassandra raised her free hand, dark noxious anger suddenly spread over her face, as she lifted her hand, a shocked, helpless & now breathless Vampire rose with it "I SAID MOVE!!!" she snapped, swiping her hand to one side, as if swatting a fly, sending the stricken Vampire across the hall, & without looking walked on whilst Drake looked back. The throng of Vampires & Witches all looked on impassively as he landed in a crumpled heap on the floor near the lifeless fire pit "BITCH" he shouted & was quickly to his feet & began to run after her, only to be stopped by Mandrake "do not presume" once again the young Vampire found he had a lack of air, as Mandrake's hand closed around his throat, lifting him with ease from the floor. "NEVER FORGET, THAT I AM LORD MANDRAKE, & CASSANDRA BELONGS TO ME!!" he hissed acidly looking up at the young petrified Vampire, a young Witch of a similar age with brown curly hair, wearing a black denim skirt & a white T-shirt ran to Mandrake's side "please my lord, I beseech you, he is still young and is yet to know his place" she pleaded, all the other Vampires & Witches looked on emotionlessly.

Mandrake looked down at the young Witch with emptiness in his expression "& you are who? He asked "I am his protector my lord I know that I too am young, but I have been advised by my sisters" she replied he looked back up at the Vampire, tilting his head to one side & as if to prove his strength, put his thumb high against the neck of the young Vampire in his grasp & with consummate ease, pushed creating a light snap causing the Vampire to fall limp. Mandrake let the body of the Vampire slide unceremoniously to the floor, his Witch guardian screeched loudly, but seamed suddenly surprised that her charge had not died or that she hadn't returned to middle wood. Calmly Mandrake reached for a nearby chair ripping off one of its legs & plunged it into the heart of the Vampires prone body. Almost instantly his eyes opened widely, laced with panic he sucked in a huge breath, cracks & fishers began opening all over his face & hands his body went rigid, light streamed from the cracks then he exploded into a dust cloud, his Witch protector looked on helplessly "Oh shit!" she exclaimed & then vanished. The crowd of Vampires & Witches who had been watching with little interest turned away & carried on as before, as if nothing had happened, & Mandrake returned to his seat again with no emotion on his face. "ENOUGH" a bored Mandrake shouted slumping down into his chair the other Vampires suddenly took notice, Cassandra & Drake stopped at the door & turned around "I am board here Witch" Mandrake announced to the room, Cassandra in turn bowed her head "YOU...GO NOW, BRING ME FOOD, ALIVE MIND YOU, I NEED TO HUNT" Mandrake demanded, pointing to a group of Vampires & Witches, who immediately got up & made to leave.