The Shadows of the Sun

Chapter One

            I was sprinting, fast. The stupid tracker had found me again, only this time I didn't realize it until it was almost too late. Almost, and that's why I'm running now. I could outrun a vampire in human form, but it was difficult. I really should have flared before I began running. Flaring is what we lions call our shifting. I'm a lion, or more accurately a lioness. And now the Volturi wanted me. All because I was trying not to die and they happened to see me flaring. I have evaded them for almost two years now. But this time I didn't realize they were there until I heard the smallest sound and smelled them, then I ran. There were just two this time. The tracker and the big one. The big one had fallen behind, so right now it was just the tracker trying to catch me. I continued my sprint, not exactly sure where I was going. I was more focused on not getting captured. I could hear the feathery sound of the trackers' footfalls behind me. The wind whipped through my hair, giving me a thrill. I had ditched my shoes awhile back. After another couple minutes of sprinting, I arrived at a cliff. I didn't break my stride. I pushed off with my back foot and launched myself off the cliff, holding my body perfectly straight. I caught a glimpse of the tracker's face. He had stopped when I jumped and was smirking like he knew something I didn't, then he turned and ran off. My body sliced through the icy water and I immediately started gliding underwater. I had barely made it a foot when an icy hand latched onto my ankle and dragged me backwards. I thrashed desperately, but the strong hands grabbed the back of my shirt and dragged me to the surface. As soon as we broke the surface I started screaming angrily and blindly thrashing. The hands struggled to keep a grasp on me as they towed me toward the shore. I swung my head around only to be met by the crimson eyes of the big vampire. So he didn't fall behind. The stupid vampires had herded me right into their trap. The vampire tugged me ashore. I finally managed to break free of his hold and was about to start running when I was once again yanked to the ground. I wrestled with the big vampire a little, but in the end I was on my stomach with my legs pinned down by his, my arms were held behind my back by one of his meaty hands while the other pressed my face sideways against the sand. I continued to struggle, and he was slowly losing his grip. I felt another presence arrive, the tracker probably.

"Hurry up!" The big one exclaimed, seeming almost out of breath.

"I'm trying!" The tracker responded quickly, excitement evident in his voice. "How much does she need?"

"You don't know?!" My captor exclaimed angrily with a hint of panic sounding in his deep tone.

"Well, we weren't exactly expecting her to discover us so quickly! We're lucky we didn't lose her!" The tracker said.

"We are going to lose her if you don't it hurry up!" I had almost gotten completely free. I just needed to stand so I could flare, then I would be gone. With a shout I yanked my arm free and snatched one of my reinforced knives from its sheath on my leg. I struck out blindly with it, hoping to hit the mountainous vampire. If the cry of pain and the sudden absence of restraining arms were anything to go by, I hit my mark. I stood quickly and attempted to flare. My form was just starting to brighten when both of the vampires tackled me and dragged me to the ground. They got me secured under them both, ripping my knife from my hands in the process. I refused to give up just yet. I had just about wriggled around enough to get another knife free when my arm was abruptly yanked back and there was a prick in it. This was followed by a dreadful tingling sensation that spread rapidly throughout my body. My face tingled, and my eyelids begged to close. I fought it as best I could, but I was getting weaker. There was another prick, this one in my thigh, and I could fight it no longer. My eyes shut and my body fell limp, fully surrendering to the darkness.

My eyes snapped open. I was in danger, I could feel it. My limbs felt like lead. I quickly took in my surroundings. I appeared to be in a room on an airplane perhaps. The Volturi. They had finally managed to capture me. My hand automatically flew to my hip for my knife, if only just for comfort. I cursed when it was bare of the weapon. I would have to make a new one. That sucked, I liked my other one. I closed my eyes and willed the metal in the plane to bend to my will creating me a sword of sorts. That was my gift. Most Atheris had one, mine was the ability to form metal and other resources into weapons with my mind. It happened almost instantly, and I was a force to reckon with when I processed a weapon made in this manner. I felt a cool presence appear at my waist, but there was only a small dagger. I was suddenly overtaken by a sharp pain, sort of like when blood gets cut off, only to rush back and get cut off again. I let out a cry as I crumpled to the ground. I became aware of something new. I reached a shaky hand out and touched it. It made my muscles cramp and I cried out once again. It was ice cold and seemed to cut to the very core of my being. I gazed down and saw my suspicions confirmed. There was an onyx choker around my neck. Onyx, one of an Atheris's few weaknesses. The darkness swallowed the light of our aura and consequently, our gifts. Desperately I tried to yank the choker off, screeching in pain every time it burned and shocked me. The two vampires who had captured me came barging in and easily pinned me. Not only did the onyx take the lioness in me, it took all my extra strength, speed, senses, and most of my gift. I could still use it, but very little, like my tiny dagger.

"Calm down, now." The tracker ordered me. This was in fact a very stupid command. I debated on using my knife, just for fun, but it might be the only thing I have for a while. I decided it was better not to get it taken away now. I began to fight again, I hated feeling weak and helpless. The tracker adjusted so I was completely immobile under him. I was completely trapped under him, and I did not like it at all. I hated feeling trapped; that's part of the reason why I have been running wild for the past two years, the other being to avoid capture by these very vampires. My breathing became ragged and my heart rate increased dramatically. I knew my eyes were wide with terror right now, and it was on display for all to see. I didn't care now how long it took me to get my knife back, I needed to get out, now. I couldn't breathe. I ripped my arm free and grabbed my knife. I moved to dig it into his flesh when my arm met considerable resistance. The big vampire was there and was currently prying my fingers off of my precious knife.

"Where does she keep getting the knives?" He wondered aloud. I was in the process of having a panic attack under the tracker, who seemed to find this amusing. With desperation and panic running rampant in my mind, I remembered an old saying my mom had always told to me, 'Remember Kaiya, no matter how cloying the darkness, light can banish it and darkness will never overcome it.' She was the only one I allowed to call me Kaiya. To everyone else it was Kai. Kaiya sounded too sweet. Kai described my personality as I presented it to the world, tough, strong, unbreakable. I just needed a little light to remove the darkness. I attempted a deep breath, then searched for the smallest amount of lioness buried deep within me. I concentrated on amplifying it in hopes of shattering the darkness. I felt my body grow warmer and focused even harder. With a wild cry, a cracking sound filled the small room. The onyx choker shattered and flew in all directions and I was on four golden paws. The big one looked at me, dumb-founded, while his friend picked himself up off the floor. He looked at me, then at the big vampire with a nervous expression. They had obviously not expected me to break the onyx, but to be honest, I didn't either. But hey, you learn something new everyday I suppose. I finally realized just how much energy I had expended in my antics. I was already a little dazed from whatever sedative they gave me, then the onyx sucked away at my power, and I decided to have a power explosion that blew the onyx to bits. Yeah, I was tired. I couldn't let them see though. These vampires were not ones that I could show weakness to. I couldn't show weakness to anyone. I took up a fighting stance and snarled at them, daring them to try. To be honest, I have no clue what I am doing. I can't get off the plane until it lands, and fighting them is going to do me no good, as I can't win right now. I was scared, and fear makes you do weird and most of the time dumb, things. Now that I was a little calmer I realized that this was, in fact, dumb. However, I also knew I could not let them take me back to their masters. Still, it wasn't looking as though I had much of a choice right now. The big vampire abruptly lunged forward. I quickly danced to the side, trying not to register the pain that accompanied the movement. This dodge and strike game continued on for a few minutes before he managed to land a blow, and I flew backwards into the wall. I smacked against it, hard. Honestly, it was a wonder the plane didn't wobble. I slumped to the floor, trying to regain my breath. The big one stepped forward again, but the tracker put a hand on his shoulder. They seemed to have some sort of strange communication through their eyes, because they both turned and walked out. I let go of my lion form, and I was human again. I didn't even know if I had the energy to get up. Instead I remained slumped on the floor, my eyelids drooping. I heard a lock clicking and the door open. I made no move. They wouldn't hurt me, not after all the trouble they went through to get me. I heard a quiet sigh and something being set down, a plate maybe? Suddenly there were cold arms around my small frame. I tensed a little, then realized he could probably feel it and evidently presumed me to be asleep. I forced my body to relax. With surprising gentleness the arms picked me up and walked a few steps before setting me down on something soft, the bed. I forced my body to remain limp as my enemy positioned me on the bed and stepped back. I heard him take a deep breath, as though to inhale a scent, only to sigh again and walk away. I listened to the door open and then close accompanied by the sound of a lock clicking into place. As soon as he was gone I let my exhaustion sweep me away into deep sleep. My precious little sleep was haunted. Visions of the past along with nightmares of the future.