The Zodiac Cycle

3.3 To Kill a King

The whole group jumped at the knocking on the door, and Brianna took another step back into what looked like the kitchen. It was already dark out and Carson didn't know that anyone would be out this late.

No one moved for almost a minute, until the knock repeated itself.

Nolan took a step toward the door, pushing a bit past Brianna's mother. He opened the door slowly, peeking out.

"Hello?" Nolan asked the person on the other side.

"Is this where the Zodiacs live?" A male voice spoke.

"Yes, did you need something?"

"Yes, I need..." the voice hesitated, "may I come in?"

Nolan backed up, opening the door for him, but the man just stood there. He was tall and lanky, but with muscular arms. He had wavy dark blue hair that was swept to the side and buzzed on the other side. He looked human other than the blue hair and pearlescent eyes. He also had an array of lighter blue dots up his arms and on his cheeks.

He stood outside the doorway nervously without making the motion to step in. "May I come in?" He asked again.

Nolan nodded, confused. "Be my guest."

The man sighed, finally stepping into the house, and into the entryway to the living room. Brianna's mother had stepped to the side to allow him in. He looked around at the group, mumbling something silently. When he turned a bit to look at Brianna for a moment, Carson realized he was counting them. He stopped on Jocelyn, furrowing his eyebrows. "Who are you?"

She laughed for a moment before saying her farewells. "I must be in the way, I apologize." She turned to Brianna, giving her a quick kiss on the cheek. "Be good and have fun dear, let me know when you'll be back."

Brianna was about to protest, but by the time she went to open her mouth, her mother had already closed the door on her way out. Her mouth remained open, as she looked awkwardly at the rest of the people in the room. She didn't seem to want to be here, and basically everyone else felt the same.

The man looked at her with a hint of admiration for a moment before turning to the group as well, scanning their faces.

"Why'd you ask to come in twice?" Nolan asked as he scanned.

The man looked him up and down, before recognition came across his face. "Oh my! I haven't introduced myself yet." He bowed to the group, "my name is Mark, I am half Lorelei, half Vampire. I cannot enter a house without being invited in."

"You're a vampire?" Rebecca asked nervously.

"Half vampire." He corrected. "It seems I only got the inconvenient traits of one though." He laughed at his joke, but when no one laughed with him, he coughed awkwardly. "Anyway, I have come here to request assistance."

"What do you need?" Ash, who was standing closest to Mark, asked. Mark looked at him distastefully, then turned to Amber.

"I am part of the Neveah Rebellion, in Abbadon, and we've tried all we could, but we are running out of time and resources. We need extra help." He explained.

"Who are you rebelling against?" Ash tried again, only receiving the same look from Mark.

"Have you all been living under a rock the past two years?" He pinched his nose. "We are fighting against the Vampire king, Zach."

The whole group froze, completely silent and shocked.

Carson saw some of their faces turn to terror, others to pure confusion. Amber looked slightly angry, searching the air for a second before speaking. "I thought he was dead."