Innocent Darkness

Liam Holdcraft

Liam POV

It had been about a month and a half since I saw the young vampire girl. I walked through the park around Lake Eola as I inhaled the fresh air of the morning. The Orlando and Grand Council refused to listen to me in the beginning when Prince Marcus seized Lakeland. And now that the new Prince has ruined Lakeland with vampires, werewolves, witches and even humans afraid to function without asking for his permission. And too many have chose to side with him to protect themselves and their loved ones that it's been impossible to reclaim the city back properly. And even though Nadine ran from us when we brought her to Orlando, I vowed a debt to her for helping my sons and another of my pack members be freed from that Van Helsing.

I let out a sigh as I pull out my pocket watch to stare at the photograph on the inside. It was a photograph of my late wife, Cassandra. She past away about sixty years ago in an attempt to make peace with the witches here in Orlando. She always had optimism and even her lasts breaths were full of hope. I stared at the photo of a woman who looked to be in her mid forties. Her wide brown eyes looked like two round acorns. Her thick, curly, short hair was the color of charcoal and worn with traditional pin-curls. She worn her favorite sundress when this photo was taken and she was pregnant with our daughter, Amelia, at the time.

"May you forever be in your mother's arms Amelia." I said out loud still staring at the photo. My daughter was carelessly killed by Van Helsing, parts of her flesh carved out and strung up on display for a small coven of witches to discover. I didn't believe it at first but it was her.

She insisted we take a photograph for our family portrait that decade because she grew tired of always having to wrestle two boys to sit still long enough for a painting. I enjoyed a good painting and had been our family tradition since we settled in Orlando just before the city was officially founded. But I am glad I humored my wife's request. Granted the photo was in black and white, but I will always remember what she looked like in color.

The soft summer breeze blew around as I took in more deep breaths. Nadine reminded me so much of Cassandra. She was part of a dark, cruel, and unforgiving world but yet saw it with innocent eyes. I can see why Mr. Brugger had such an affection toward her even before he realized she was his mate.

I looked over at the time on my watch before closing it and tucking it back into my vest pocket. I got up from the bench I was sitting on and continued through out the park heading towards my office building. I most of the older businesses in the city, even when they changed hands among the humans, I was still the one who oversaw the buildings.

Issac had spent the day with me and even though we had spent most of the time since he was back catching up, he still had other things such as taking over my position as Alpha. I may have lived for a couple thousand years, I am just as vulnerable to death as a human would be.

But he was my oldest son out of my three children. Him and his brother Charles both looked like a splitting image of myself, except the differences were plain as day. Issac looked like a younger version of me but his eyes were a much more icy blue then mine, almost looked white. He had dark

"I wonder what she's up to?" Issac asked me, breaking me from my thoughts. I knew he was talking about Nadine. "Do you think she's able to control her abilities better? What if Mr. Horne was working for Prince Marcus? What if she's back in Lakeland spilling innocent blood on the streets like the others there?"

I looked to my son as he rambled about his worries. "I'm sure she's fine." I said trying to assure him. "She's still here in the city. If you are concerned about her well being, you should ask Mr. Brugger. I may be old, but him and your brother Charles frequent near the Sanctuary building to check on her."