Outcast (Book 1 in the Blood Trilogy)

Chapter 1

Many centuries ago, a dark plague in the form of three vicious creatures came to our world. From where these monsters came from is uncertain. Some believe they were divine beings that had fallen from grace, and now came to spread their darkness across the world. Others say they came from another world entirely, that they were conquerors on a dark crusade to consume the universe. Whatever their origins, their purpose was soon clear. To each country they went, and chose a small handful to become their chosen, the ones that would spread their plague. And so, the vampuric race was born. From the edges of the world they spread out and began to consume the world. Hundreds fell to their will before the rest of humanity rose up against them. Armies were formed, battles were fought, and thousands of lives were lost in the conflict. These terrible battles would come to be known as the Night Wars, the unrelenting conflict between light and dark, day and night, life and death. It is here, in the year 1109, that we meet the young Italian warrior Alecto El'fatore. A young man of ambition, he was one of many of his country-men to go to war with King Richard against the Saracens, in the hope to reclaim the glorious city Jerusalem. Little did he know that his journey would take him so far down a dark path?

"Mother, please we've been over this" Alecto said as he packed the last of his things away. His weeping mother, Dellona, standing in the doorway, her eyes red and gushing tears. "You don't have to go Alecto. You don't have to give up your life for some foreign land" she pleaded with him, but Alecto's mind was made up. "If Gods disciples won't rise up to defend his name, then who will?" he said, pushing past her to walk through the house. Dellona grabbed the surcoat draped over his armor and held on tight "Your father died in this armor. It wounded me to bury a husband, it'll kill me if I have to bury a son" she said, her voice shaking, the tears coming in torrents. Alecto stopped to face her but Dellona just collapsed to the floor. Alecto crouched slowly, draping his arms around her. "I can't lose you, I can't lose you" was all he could make out through her whispers, and he hugged her, pulling him close to his chest. "I'll come back mother, there's no need to fear" he said before a shadow appeared in the doorway, and Alecto looked up to see his captain standing there, waiting with the other knights. Alecto gave his mother one last kiss on the head, smelling the sweet fragrance of her hair last time, and then stood to join his brothers as they rode from their home.

For two weeks they rode for the port at Catanzaro. Alecto soaked up the rich familiarity of his home land, for deep in his heart he knew this may be the last time he would ever see it. He said his silent farewells to the vast fields, dappled in soft tones of green and yellow as the land grew into summer. To the majestic mountains that sat upon the land lie a crown, and lastly to the broad rivers that carried fresh sweet waters from the snow covered peaks. Alecto would miss his home, but not more than the people that filled it. He knew it had hurt his mother to leave, on another war like his father before him. But he was determined not to share his father's fate. Alecto may have been young and inexperienced, but his heart was true and his soul pure. He knew the holy lands would not be his grave.

When they finally arrived at the coastal town seven ships had already preceded them on their journey to Arabia, to join their brothers on the battlefield and reclaim the holy city of Jerusalem. Alecto had only one friendly companion amongst the other riders. Piero Masalievii wasn't much older than Alecto, and resembled more a freshly baked loaf of bread covered in a hand towel than a bold knight about to set off on the crusades. Because their ship wouldn't set sail till the next morning Alecto and his friend decided to walk the streets on Catanzaro and experience Italian hospitality one more time.

"I think I'll miss the smell most of all. Home has a sweet, herbal smell, like rosemary and lavender on a hot meat. I've heard the desert smells of death and the sea" Piero said to Alecto, but his friend was only half listening, his attention more focused on a group of young women browsing the stalls in the streets. One in particular, a dark haired beauty with eyes like a stormy sky, had caught his eye, and for a moment they shared a gaze. But the moment only lasted for a heartbeat, and she quickly returned her eyes to the pottery her friends were inspecting. Piero kept talking about how he would miss his mother's homemade chicken stew and other foods, but Alecto remained fixated on this girl, and when they came closer he left Piero's side and went to stand beside her. She glanced at him as he picked up a terra cotta relief of an old god and turned it in his hands. It was of a young child with wings and a bow with an arrow nocked looking down upon a couple holding hands. Alecto went to put it back and noticed the girl was staring at the small tablet.

"Do you not appreciate art milord?" she asked in a voice so soft it could've been a gentle autumn breeze, and Alecto was too stunned to speak for a few seconds. When he did manage to regain control of his tongue he faced her to look into those dazzling eyes and spoke. "I don't understand its purpose" he said, and she smiled and held his hand in her as she traced a finger over the images. "This is the god Cupid, lord of lovers. He carried a bow that could shoot arrows that made people instantly fall in love. He would use it on both mortals and divines, causing a lot of trouble. But sometimes he would get it right, and the couple would remain together forever. It's quite romantic" she said. Alecto stood there as the girl let go of the tablet, her hands small and gentle with delicate fingers. She looked up to him and Alecto was once again captivated by those eyes. He saw he cheeks start to turn a shade of red as she gazed down to the other items on the stall. Alecto looked over the tablet once more, then fished out a few coins and paid the merchant. He then turned to the girl, took her hand in his and placed the tablet in it. She looked first at the image then into Alecto's eyes. "It seems this time he has got it right" he said and she smiled. The girl clasped her other hand around Alecto's and stepped in closer. "I don't even know your name sir?" she asked and it was Alecto's turn to smile. "Alecto El'fatore" he answered, taking a brief step to close the gap "and yours my lady?" The girl leaned closer and brought her lips to his cheek. "Lia" she whispered in Alecto's ear before kissing his cheek. Alecto let her name fill his thoughts, then leant in to kiss her, but Lia held a finger to his lips. "You're off to fight in the crusades milord, it would be inproper for you to leave with my virtue and never return" she said, and stepped away from Alecto, releasing her hand from his.

Alecto let his smile drop, and his gaze fell to the tablet in his hand. "Take this then, and let it be a reminder of someone who adores you" he said.

Lia smiled and folded Alectos fingers over the tablet. "Keep it, my knight, as a promise that at least a part of you may return to me" she said, before she turned and disappeared of into the jostling crowds of the market place.

Alecto stood there, feeling the clay images in his hand, as his eyes tired to follow Lia but eventually lost her. He stood there for a few moments longer before Piero came up beside him. He looked down at Alecto's hand and then tried to follow his gaze.

"What are you looking for?" he said, leaning this way and that to try and seee throught the crowds. "A child of Venus" Alecto said, and turned to tavern his brothers were choosing to spend the night. Piero took one last glance then hurried after his friend.