The Kingdoms of Eden

CHAPTER SIX: The Kingdom of Ares

As Amy processed what Cathal had told her, the air on the mountaintop suddenly turned cold. It was the first time in that strange place that she had encountered a chill breeze; even at night there was always a moderate quality to the climate. Yet there was something very familiar about the sudden drop in temperature, and that familiarity was not in the least bit alarming. She blinked as she came out of her own thoughts. As her eyes opened, Branna, Cathal's daughter, was standing next to them.

"Are you two having fun?" asked Branna, cheerfully.

Amy and Cathal exchanged quizzical glances. Branna was a solid soul, but she was not easily overtaken by mirth.

"Sure," said Amy, awkwardly. "Just getting the whole, end of the world tour. Your dad knows how to show a girl a good time, no doubt."

Branna rolled her eyes, and the fleeting levity was gone.

"Tell me about it," said Branna. "You are new to the end of the world club. I've been listening to it for an eternity. Did he tell you why he doesn't want me to go back to the kingdoms in search of answers? One or two fleeting visits, and we were done. Did he tell you why? No? Me either. He is very helpful like that. No clues at all?"

"Hmm, not exactly. Though I'm guessing it has a lot to do with your total lack of self-control once you have a sword in your hands. And that you have no powers down there, except for the, kickass, sword skills?"

"Is that what he told you?" asked Branna, as she turned to face her father. "That's not exactly the full story, is it, old man?"

Cathal raised his hands.

"I didn't say any of that," he explained. "I said that the folks down there could not use their powers. And as my daughter knows only too well, that is the truth. They were created all-powerful, but they are not all-powerful any longer, and their children are cursed with the same restrictions. They are as helpless as any mortal man, but even mortal men can swing a sword to deadly effect. Branna is not one of their children. She is the daughter of a very powerful witch, and a very handsome vampire. Despite what you have seen in the movies, or read in fiction, vampires are not true children of their sires. They have the pure, divine part of their souls drained from them when they are bitten, leaving only the corrupt part behind. They are slaves to evil, not children of evil. And my little bloodsucker has never lost the pure part of her soul. Her mother saw to that. The dark part of her soul did not rise and take control of her. The same goes for me. I was fortunate enough to marry the right woman. In short, the rules don't apply to us."

"You can use your powers?" quizzed Amy, excitedly. "Magic and all?"

"As far as I can tell. My father has never let me fully use my abilities when we have visited the kingdoms. If they knew what I was and what I could do, they would see me as a threat."

"Well, it looks like we are about to find out if that's true," said Amy. "You'll know what to do."

Amy was looking beyond Branna and Cathal, into the valley below. From a large, dense forest next to one of the great cities, an army poured forth and quickly stood in disciplined ranks in front of the city walls. Before Cathal had a chance to protest, all three vanished. The reappeared on an isolated side street inside the city.

"This is not a good idea," said Cathal, mildly distressed.

"The best ones never are," said Amy. "We are here and playing the what-if game is no substitute for the real thing. Relax, and enjoy yourself. If the worst should happen, Branna can magic us the hell outta here."