The Sunwalker- Heirs of the Night

1- The Elisabetha

The Elisabetha left the docks and set sail towards Italy. Shadows were escorting Heirs down below deck, away from the soon-to-be rising sun. A hooded figure landed on the deck from out of nowhere. It got to its feet, looked around and walked right up to one of the Elders. Baron Magnus was not a man to be approached so carelessly, but this stranger seemed unafraid. The newcomer pulled down their hood, locked eyes with the Elder and spoke.

"Nadja ot Belov has arrived."

"Come with me."

Baron Magnus led the girl to a chamber where they could talk without being overheard or interrupted. He closed the door behind them. When he next spoke, his voice was stern and serious.

"Bold claims you bring. The Belov are dead."

"Almost, but not quite. I am the Heir of Belov- and the last living member of my clan."

The Baron was about to cut her off, but the girl, Nadja, continued before he had the chance.

"I know you do not believe me, but arguing is pointless. I am who I claim, and you can check. Read my mind."

How foolhardy of her, a newcomer and stranger, to command Baron Magnus like that. Surprisingly, he did as she had suggested and Nadja pushed forth the memories that would prove her story. Memories of her family, of her and her mother watching the sun rise together.

"Was such a grand entrance really necessary?"

The Elder asked after a few moments. There was something odd in his expression, something that didn't quite belong. Why would the Baron's face show triumph? Nadja just shrugged.

"The ship was leaving and I had the feeling you wouldn't stop by Russia any time soon."

"Go, daytime is almost upon us."

Nadja bowed respectfully and went outside. She knew he intended for her to go down below, but she did not. Sunlight was not something Nadja feared. She removed her cloak and hung it over the railing beside her. When she leaned her arms on the railing, Nadja heard her knives rattle in their holster, two of which were of silver. Though silver brought vampires great pain, Nadja carried such weapons. She was a warrior, just like the rest of her clan, and was trained to withstand touching silver, in case the need to protect oneself from other vampires arose. Though born of a suspicious warrior clan, the young Heiress could now be found leaning over the railing of the Elisabetha with her back to the few vampires still on deck, simply to watch the sun. Her mind began to wander, as it often did when Nadja watched the sun. It was something her mother had always taken the time to do with her, even during the busiest of times. Although it had been years since her death, it still felt weird, in times like these, that Nadja would never see her mother again. A sudden voice broke her train of thought.

"Careful now, you shouldn't be so close to the railing, wouldn't want to fall overboard."

Nadja turned to see a tall, blonde vampire approach her. He stopped no further from the railing than she was, with a glint in his deep blue eyes.

"Not to worry, I won't fall. I'm not planning on leaving quite yet, I just arrived, no?" She looked around. "There doesn't seem like many others have though."

"There aren't many clans left, most of us have perished. Only the Vamalia clan have chosen not to respond, and every other clan has boarded by now."

"My clan didn't respond either, but we managed to get ourselves represented even though the ship has not passed our homeland."

"Where are you from?"

"Russia."

"So it's true then. You are a Belov, a Sunwalker?"

Nadja nodded, proud to be recognised as such.

"I thought the Belov clan had gone extinct."

"Evidently not, for I am here, am I not?" Nadja pressed on, wishing to avoid this topic. "And you are a Dracas, no? A mind reader?"

"Of course. The heir, in fact."

It seemed that he, too, was proud of his lineage. Understandable. The Dracas were a powerful clan, second only to Belov, though they would undoubtedly argue it the other way round, and perhaps they would be right. After all, theirs was the only clan in possession of more than one clan ruby.

"Even you admit it, we are the most powerful clan."

"I recall the word perhaps was used, no?"

Proud, and not afraid to use his powers. Well, Nadja was no different. She was not exactly using hers sparingly either.

"Lars, kom inn øyeblikkelig! Du skal ikke være her! Lars, come inside at once! You're not supposed to be here!"

They both turned to see a blonde and blue-eyed woman coming out and shouting at them, undoubtedly a Dracas Shadow. There was little Nadja wouldn't to do get a Shadow of her own. If only under-eighteen year olds could bite humans for themselves...

"Guess we should've stepped away from the railing after all.." Lars muttered.

"And you too, come down here!" The Shadow shouted at Nadja too. "The sun is rising!"

"Slapp av, Karen, jeg kommer! Relax, Karen, I'm coming!" He shouted at the woman, before turning back to Nadja and speaking normally again. "Are you coming as well?"

"No, I think not."

The boy, Lars, and his shadow began walking down beneath the ship. Lars stopped halfway down the stairs and turned back, just as the sun came over the horizon.

"What is your name?"

She heard his voice in her mind and replied by thou that, excepting him to read her mind.

"Nadja."

The sun hit her as she stood by the railing, her light brown hair was practically glowing in contrast with her now illuminated pale skin. Her ice blue eyes followed the Shadow as she pushed Lars down beneath the deck and at last, and he did not resist. Nadja was glad to be alone. She didn't want her thoughts read as she closed her eyes and was enveloped by memories.