Reckless Abandon - The Secrets of Avelina Chronicles 2

1: Ellis : October 2063

Ellis couldn't stop himself pacing outside the double doors. He was nervous. He had never been called into the council meeting room before. Certainly not at a time when there was nothing but peace in the world. Ever since the three clans had been united nothing had prevented them from going out into the world and living normal lives. There were no unnecessary killings or turnings that created fear and panic in the humans. Everything was as it should have been. Vampires were happy to coexist with humans and Ellis knew of at least two instances where a vampire and a human had dated, which would never have been tolerated in the old days.

Now every human dreamt of being in love with a 'dangerous' and 'mysterious' vampire. Some, like his fathers old professor, Carl Brown, were even giving lectures to humans and vampires alike. They taught them about the true origins of vampires, their true nature and the persecution they suffered at the hands of humans in the old days. Nothing was a secret anymore.

For Ellis, that was worrying. Humans knew all of their weaknesses, all of their strengths, even the folklore and history that had previously been kept a secret from vampires themselves.

And they knew about the Island. The magical world that existed on another realm.

When the doors to the council room opened and the Elder Matisse appeared, he fully expected to be given his orders and turned away.

"Come in, child." The Elder smiled at him, rather weakly. Ellis ran his sweaty hands against the hips of his jeans and took a deep breath before going inside. Whatever was going on wasn't good. Matisse never falsified his emotions with fake smiles.

As soon as he walked in, he saw the beautiful leader Kaitlin sitting at the head of the council table. He felt an overwhelming urge to stand there and quietly adore her for a few moments. She was magical, with or without the gift she had been born with. In the passing years, the fifty since she had started her reign as Queen, she had only become more beautiful and more powerful than ever. Ellis crossed to her and kissed her cheek as he crouched at the side of her chair. He was glad to see her smiling at a time when he only expected to be told of trouble.

"I was told father wished to see me..." Ellis explained, with a curious look that Kaitlin could only smile at. He had grown into a strong young man. She and Damian were proud of the decision he had made, two years ago upon turning twenty-one, that he would stay a human until he had investigated the past of both humans and vampires. Their other children, Knox and Aubrey, had also made their decisions.

Knox had decided fifteen years before that he wanted to be just like his father and had gone through the Awakening ceremony, where he was blooded and turned. Their only girl, Aubrey, had decided that Ellis was right to be cautious. There was no turning back once they had become a vampire and she so hoped to lead the exciting life her mother had lead in a magical world. But to do that, Kaitlin had to advise her that being human in that world was a simpler life. Heartrendingly, that decision had lost Kaitlin her daughter, who had traveled to that world just six months ago. She would return when she was ready, but no-one would know when that was but Aubrey.

"He's talking with your grandfather. He'll be along soon." Kaitlin explained softly. She was saddened to know that he had been summoned by his father and she didn't even know why. She wasn't mad at Damian for keeping a secret. He had every right to, but she did worry that whatever revelation he was about to make to his son, would result in her losing yet another child.

"Your father? But mother, what is he doing here?" Ellis wondered. He knew fine well that it couldn't be Damian's father, since he had died sometime in the 1500's. It had to be his grandfather Malcolm...but he hadn't left the Island in years and even then it was only for the occasional visit. He couldn't help but ask himself what had happened that would take him from his home to a world he barely knew. Both his grandparents had been turned not long after Kaitlin had taken the throne so they could live out their lives with their daughter and see their grandchildren grow up.