Chapter Forty: The truth crept unwanted into their minds. It twisted and squirmed past all their mental blocks and ignored all of their attempts to stop it. They could not remain in denial anymore. The bliss of ignorance was shattered.
The High Lord Cian of the vampire Court shivered for a reason that had nothing to do with the cold of the swirling snow covering all of the land the eye could see. The Russian winters seemed to have no end when they came. He stopped his musings on whether Russia really had been the best choice for their headquarters - advantage: little sun, disadvantage: it was so very white; it hurt his eyes - when a youngling ran up to him. Bouncing up and down slightly he almost leaped up into the air for joy at being the one chosen to give the message to the High Lord, even if the message wasn’t good.
“There is no sign of her, my High Lord.”
“I rather thought there wouldn’t be.”
“Should we send out search parties, my High Lord?”
Cian looked down at the youngling and he shrugged at the eager-looking subordinate, giving him a bitter smile. "It doesn't matter if we chase her all over the country, or even all over the world, we'll never get her. She allowed herself to be captured the first time, it suited her plans, but now… Being captured now is far too conventional and dull for her taste." The youngling looked disappointed at Cian’s dismissal of the suggestion of a hunt. He sighed. So blood thirsty. If he really knew what he would be hunting… He gazed across the unbroken white. He turned and ran quickly back to the ornate tent pitched half a mile away. The other members of the vampire Court fell silent and looked at him. Lady Vega spoke first as Cian made his way to his chair at the head of the table. Kieran immediately curled up on his lap.
“Why have you dragged to this wilderness, Cian?” Cian stroked a gentle hand over Lord Kieran’s hair. He nodded at Lord Aldon, who took out a file from his robe. He flicked it on the table. A series of white squares flew out in a scattered circle. Lord Eaman was the first to reach out and flick over one. He took some time to understand what he was seeing. Not because what was on the plain white square was difficult to make out but because his mind rejected any possibility that what this photo was showing was actually what he could see. Lord Damien reached out and turned the rest over. His eyes widened at the same time as Lady Vega gasped in shock and LordEamen groaned in despair. They all looked silently at blond haired, blue eyes little girl in the photographs. Then they stared in horror at Cian. Cian nodded. The truth crept unwanted into their minds. It twisted and squirmed past all their mental blocks and ignored all of their attempts to stop it. They could not remain in denial anymore. The bliss of ignorance was shattered.
Celeste was back.
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Within Darkness
Short Story“Immortality is not a gift, Immortality is an achievement; And only those who strive mightily shall possess it” - Edgar Lee Would you be willing to walk in the valley of the shadow of death? Or would you go even further by not merely crossing the va...
