Chapter 1
The village burned as Gabriel ran out of the house. He saw other villagers fleeing towards the borders of the village as his sibling and parents ran out of the house. Gabriel looked at his family and they began to join the fleeing throngs moving out of the village into the darkness. He did not know what was going on or why the village was burning as they fled. Then he heard screams and saw armored forms rush in among the villagers. Blades flashed as one of the figures shouted orders in a high arrogant voice. The villagers were rounded up and captured those that resisted were dragged of screaming into the darkness. As the figures came close Gabriel understood they looked like men but had burning eyes and sharp fangs. The Vampires dragged the villagers to a fortress and taken into a deep dungeon and confined separately.
Gabriel sat in the darkness of his cell and wondered what had become of his family. He had only just turned 20, and his family had been celebrating when the attack had begun. He also wondered how the vampires had managed to attack the defenses around the village had been strong. There was a clash and a heavy trod of boots. Gabriel's breath caught as the voices at his door and the door opened as torchlight illuminated the room. The vampires grabbed him and dragged him upstairs into a large stone hall. A vampire stood in the hall wearing deep black robes instead of armor. The vampire looked at him and told him he was being given a grace and he should rejoice. This grace was given to him for the service of the one who delivered the village to them. Gabriel looked around and saw Damon, who had been his lifelong friend, and understood with a sinking feeling that Damon had delivered the village to the Vampires.
The vampire came closer, capturing Gabriel’s attention. The vampire asked if he was ready for his grace. Gabriel spit at his feet and told him he wanted no grace from monsters. The vampire laughed and told him he had spirit and motioned to his guards to hold him. He was held fast his head up and jaw open. Gabriel’s eyes watered as he watched the vampire cut its hand and held his hand above his head. A few drops of blood fell from the vampire's bloody hand and fell into Gabriel's mouth. Gabriel tasted the coppery taste of the blood as it moved down his throat. The guards let Gabriel fall in shock and Gabriel not believing what had been done to him stare off into space. Then Gabriel curled up and began to scream as searing burning pain flowed through his body and every nerve burned.
Gabriel woke up with a shout and looked around wondering where he was. Then he remembered, he was Gabriel, a centuries old Vampire. He was moving towards the devil-controlled city of Valis in search of a friend. Gabriel calmed and thought back on his dream. The events that had turned him into a vampire and ended his old life. It was strange since he had not truly dreamed for decades. He did not need sleep as men did he only truly meditated and that was enough. Gabriel settled back down to wait out the last of the night and begin the next day's journey to the city of Valis.
Chapter 2
The dawn came with a muted light that was not unusual in this underworld. Gabriel rose and packed and began moving in the direction of Valis. He thought back on the strange dream he thought not only of the betrayal but of the years of darkness that had followed it. He had become a monster in that time his mind lost to the blood savagery of the Vampire. Damon had been his master, and he had been a slave to his blood lust. They had unleashed him to kill many. Then a day came then a day came and where he had been unleashed onto a village of humans that had defied the Vampires. He had been moving through the village when a slayer appeared to challenge him. The slayer had been powerful but not enough for him to survive. In a final act, the slayer had attacked his mind and the force that had controlled him had been broken. The memories came back to him in force. The feel of the blood on his hands and in his mouth the fear and pain in the eyes of the slayer as he looked up at him for the last time. The relentless shame of what he had done, and he had fled into the darkness abandoning the village and his old masters.
Gabriel brooded on his memories as he moved through the early light until he saw the city of Valis appear on the horizon. The city was dark and brooding on a plain of wilted grass. He saw the city grow as he got closer and could make out the dark stone walls and obsidian gates of the city. Gabriel knew this city far better than he wanted to. The city is divided into eight districts with seven districts surrounding the edges of the city. The eighth district was situated in the center of the city. Each of the seven outer districts is controlled by a Devil tribe and has become a domain for them. The central one is controlled by the Supreme devil and is his personal domain. The devil tribes are separated by their besetting sin, and their domains are also representative of their sin. The loud and vain territories of the Prides, the opulent territories of the greeds, the endless indulgences of the gluttons, the rage of the Wraths, the hog pog of the envious, The rundown elegance of the sloths. He was not in this city for any of them though. He had no desire to become lost in this city again, but he needed information and the only person he could ask in this city was in the most dangerous territory. The pleasure houses of Lust.
Gabriel entered the dark city and began to slowly make his way through it. He saw the devils watching him. They looked like humans in form, but he knew they were more than that. All Devils were physically perfect until you looked into their eyes which burned with a bright red light, or they smiled, and you saw the jagged fangs of their teeth. He ignored the devils as he moved through the main street. Then he began to see them and the almost inhuman attractiveness of the Lust Devils. They were far harder to ignore since they decorated themselves to enhance their attractiveness. Gabriel keep is attention set on his goal as he moved towards a great palace looming over the Lust’s district. Gabriel knew he would be in the palace as he approached the doors. There was a guard at the door but he knew Gabriel from years before and the devil smiled as he opened the door and Gabriel walked into the palace.
The palace was opulent and lush as he moved down the familiar path towards the throne room. Gabriel saw more devils watching him as he moved down the halls. Then he was before the throne room door. He pushed the doors open and entered the throne room he saw decorated in red hanging and carpeting. “It has been a long time, Gabriel,” said a voice. Gabriel looked around a saw him. Tristan was walking towards the throne. Tristan was slim and devilishly attractive with pale skin, golden blonde hair and deep blue eyes. Gabriel felt a stirring in him, and it was not just because of Tristan’s looks. Gabriel had known Tristan for decades and knew him from before Tristan had become a Devil.
Tristan sat on his throne and looked at Gabriel points of bright red light flashing out from his blue eyes. “You have disappeared for such a long time. What brings you back to me?” Tristan asked in a soft, seductive tone. Gabriel looked back at him, his own eyes flashing “I am here because I need information on a slayer that would have passed through devil territory” he said. Tristan sneered and took on a hurt look “Here I had hoped you were here to see me again” He said then his face hardened “Why would you think I have any information on a human?”. Gabriel looked at him “You are the Arch Devil of Lust, and the lust devils have access to as much information as the greed devils. You know everything that happens in devil territory. I know you do Tristan” He said looking at Tristan. Tristan smiled wickedly “You know me too well Gabe, yes, I have heard of a human slayer moving through devil territory. You also know that I have a price for my information” Tristan said with a devilish look “Are you willing to pay the price Gabe?”. Gabriel smiled he knew what Tristan’s price would be. He took a small pouch off his belt and threw it to Tristan. Tristan caught it and opened the pouch with an interested look. He pulled a blood red crystal out of the pouch and studied it his eyes glinting. “Vampiric vitae” Tristain said with interest, and he tasted a piece of it and shivered “From an elder Vampire. Where did you get this Gabe?” Tristan turned his attention back towards Gabriel. Gabriel smiled “I took it from a Vampire that I had hunted. That is more than a fair price for your information”. Tristan smirked “What if I demand more from you, Gabe. What if I demand you return to me as the price for my information?” He asked his smirk, widening. Gabriel showed his fangs “That will be a problem, Tristan” he said. Tristan laughed and pocketed the pouch “The price is fair but I will eventually get you back Gabe. You know you belong with me here in my palace” he said and he smiled showing his fangs “perhaps I should turn your human pet and you will be more amenable to return”. Gabriel felt a true flash of anger “If you touch Tobias then I will kill you Tristan. You know I can” he said in a hard voice. Tristan smiled wider “You could try Gabe but you will find it harder than you think” then he became more serious “as to your information the slayer was last seen heading south past our territory and into the land of the Lich”. Gabriel thanked Tristan and prepared to leave “Don’t be a stranger Gabe, you should visit more often. We will have a wonderful time like we used to,” he said. Gabriel did not stop but quickly left the palace and the city of Valis. As he left the city, he turned south and prepared to head into the misty lands of the Lich.
Chapter 3
Gabriel moved quickly away from Valis into the wild country and as the city slowly moved away from him he let his mind drift back to a time before when he had first met Tristan. Tristan was a young human who had found Gabriel lost and wandering in the wild and taken him in despite him being a vampire. In gratitude Gabriel had not taken his blood. For a time, Gabriel stayed with Tristan and one day the Devils came to the village and took Tristan and several others. Gabriel pursued them to the city of Valis and entered the city seeking Tristan. When he found him it was to late he was already in the process of changing into a devil and Gabriel did not know how to save him. He stayed with Tristan until he turned and remained with him after. Tristan had taken Gabriel for a lover for a time and Gabriel lost himself in the Devil society and in Tristan. Gabriel helped Tristan rise to the rank of Arch Devil by helping him kill those who opposed him. Then one day Tristan had taken another lover and that is what broke Gabriel out of his influence. He did not blame Tristan he was a Devil now and more importantly he was a Lust. It was expected that he would take other lovers, but it had still hurt, and Gabriel left shortly after.
Gabriel came out of his memories when he came to the misty borders of Lich’s domain. The desolation of the undead territories was not a place to wander lightly, so he collected his resolve and stepped into the misty shadows. He might have go around searching for the tracks of the slayer he was seeking but he knew he did not need to in the mist. All paths in the mist led to the same place the dead temple even if he had died in the mist the undead would bring him to the temple for the Lich. Gabriel began to move slowly through the mist on the alert for dangers. He knew that the mist held many undead creatures that were in service to the Lich. As a Vampire Gabriel had little to fear from the Undead but still undead hordes had managed to bring down vampire’s arrogant enough to invade their territory. He did not know how long he had been in the mist when he came upon a group of wandering skeleton. The skeleton pulled out ancient and rusting weapons and rushed at him. Gabriel lashed out with deadly grace breaking apart the fragile skeleton warrior. He left their bones scattered on the ground, but he knew they would reassemble in time even if he ground the bones into dust. He continued down the misty paths until the dark shadows of the temple appeared. He approached the temple slowly but saw nothing at first until he saw him. He lay by a dying campfire wrapped in a cloak. He approached the figure laying near the doors slowly. As Gabriel got in range of the fire the figure moved quickly drawing a blade and staring at Gabriel it was a human man. The man looked out at Gabriel and then is face changed “Gabriel what are you doing here?” The man asked. Gabriel smiled showing his fangs “I am here to find you Max. Toby was worried when you went off like that” Gabriel said. Max sat back down by the fire “Toby knows that I am on a quest. You should just go back Gabriel”. Gabriel sneered “Oh and what quest is that to die at the hands of a Lich”. Max looked up at him and gave him a hard look “No, my quest is to defeat a Lich and bring proof back”. Gabriel returned his look “You're going to die on this quest. A Lich is beyond the power of a single Slayer no matter how powerful they are, especially a Lich from this temple” He said with a hiss of anger. “Perhaps, but this is my quest and I will carry it out Gabriel so don’t get in my way or better yet leave” Gabriel said as he rose again and turned towards the temple “I am going Inside”.
Gabriel watched Max enter the darkness of the temple. He stood and debated if he should follow Max and then he thought of Toby and how he would feel if Max died. Gabriel plunged into the darkness of the temple after Max.
Chapter 4
Gabriel entered the temple his eyes quickly adjusting to the darkness and he sniffed the entrance hall smelled of dust and decay but he smelt Max’s scent strong in the room and he began to follow out through narrow corridors of the temple. He began to hear the soft shuffling of creatures in distant chambers and the louder movements of Max as he moved through the darkness ahead. Then he heard Max shout and the clash of steel ahead he moved quickly thru the corridors and found Max fighting with a group of armored skeletons. Max was weaving around trying to get a strike against the skeletons, but their numbers and armor were causing him problems. Gabriel smiled as he watches Max struggle for a moment before Gabriel moved in. With a deadly grace and Vampiric strength, he tore into the nearest skeleton. Armor rent underneath his claws as bones scattered, and Gabriel began to move through the group. He lost himself in the rhythm of battle until there was only Max staring at him his blade out.
“I told you to leave” Max said as he looked around at he scattered bones “I had this under control”. Gabriel smiled “Not from where I was standing. You looked like you needed some help”. Max gave him a hard look “Why are you interfering with my quest?” he asked. Gabriel returned his hard look with a condescending one “I told you Toby sent me to bring you back and I am going to bring you back alive”. Max look hardened “What is Tobais to you anyway Gabriel?” Max asked “You are a Vampire”. Gabriel bared his fang “What do you know of being a vampire?” he asked, “What do you know of my curse?”. Max looked at him his blade held at the ready “I know that vampire drink the blood of humans that you kill them and worse turn them into other vampires” Max said. Gabriel advanced slowly on Max his fangs bared “Did you also know that I have lived for centuries and that I watched my family and village die or become monsters. That I have buried countless others that I call friends. That I hold on to the bitter threads of my former humanity even though it causes me nothing but pain so that I don’t become the monster I fear I was. That I am reviled and hunted not just by my own kind but by every other. Now telling you this, can you figure out why after Toby showed me some kindness, I want to help him” he said with a low snarl. Max gulped and looked at Gabriel with a shocked look. Max opened his mouth to speak when a low sinister laugh came from a side corridor.
They looked at the door to the corridor as a cloaked figure entered the room. Gabirel smelt the scent of a human and the soft heartbeat from the figure “Well what do we have here a vampire and a human” the cloaked figure said in a soft voice. Gabriel snarled “I didn’t expect to find any living Necromancers. The cloaked figure chuckled “Yes my master's have promised to show me the deepest secrets of Necromancy if I deal with the pest” he said, raising his hand. There was a green spark as a ball of fire emerged and few towards Gabriel. Gabriel moved out of the way as green flames flew across the room. Gabriel moved with a fluid grace and advanced upon the necromancer, grabbing him by the throat Gabriel gave into his hunger and exposed the man's neck biting down. He tasted the cool blood flowing and he drank. The necromancers' blood tasted like dust, but it energized him just the same. He felt the necromancer go limp and tossed his body to the side and turned back to Max.
Max looked back at him with a wary look. Gabriel smiled “Well if you want to do your quest lets get on with it. They know we are here and we aren’t getting out without a confrontation”. Gabriel turned into the dark corridor and moved deeper into the temple. He heard Max following quickly.
Chapter 5
Gabriel moved through the temple corridors with the darkness broken by torches casting pale lights. He stretched out with his senses picking up the shuffling and smell of decay from groups of the undead and avoiding them. Gabriel had a decent idea of what he was looking for as he passed through empty chambers. Max followed behind Gabriel “Do you know where you are going?” Max asked. Gabriel smiled to himself “No, but I have an idea of what I am looking for” he said as he looked into another chamber. They moved through the darkness for a time “What exactly are you looking for?” Max asked his frustration in his voice “We don’t seem to be getting anywhere”.
Gabriel kept moving trough the darkness “I am looking to find a lich soul” Gabriel said “if we can find one we can use it to get out of here”. Max followed in silence for a time “What does a lich soul look like?” Max asked “Why would it get us out of here?”. Gabriel shook he head and looked back at Max. “How exactly were you going to defeat a lich since you know so little? A lich soul is a crystal vessel that holds the lich’s mortal soul” Gabriel said “It is most likely in a secure chamber in the temple”. He saw Max nod and then he saw max open his mouth again “We haven’t seen any undead in a while. Why don’t they attack us” he said in a quiet voice. Gabriel smirked “Why should they attack us. We are trapped here. They only have to wait and let us come to them”.
Gabriel looked into a another chamber and smiled he saw the chamber lit by more torches their pale light shining on crystal amulets that were displayed throughout the chamber. Max looked in and moved to enter the chamber, but Gabriel threw out his hand, stopping him. “Careful there is magic protecting this chamber” he said as he looked through the room sensing the radiating magic throughout the room. Gabriel moved into the room quickly weaving through the magic defenses. He got close to the collection of amulets and he knew that he might only get a chance to grab one. He ran his hands near the amulets and tried to sense which one he should grab and then sensing one in particular he grabbed it. The chamber began to shake as the magic began to flare. Gabriel moved with supernatural speed weaving through the magic traps and seeing a door beginning to seal the chamber. He slipped through the door as it closed sealing the chamber. Max looked at Gabriel as he held up the amulet. “Is that it?” Max said looking at the amulet “doesn't look like much”. There was a rumbling roar from somewhere deeper inside the temple and Gabriel could feel the attention of powerful forces focus on them. Max looked around “What was that?” he asked. “They have decided that we are a threat them and not simply pest. It will get much more dangerous from now on and we will have to fight to reach the lich” Gabriel said and smirked at Max “I hope you are ready to fight, Max”.
Max nodded gripping his swords hilt tightly “I am ready” he said. Gabriel grinned showing his fangs “Then lets go and find a lich” he said and moved back into the brooding darkness.
Chapter 6
Gabriel and Max moved quickly through the corridors and chambers of the temple. Gabriel felt the powerful presence focused on them as the moved and as they stepped into a chamber they began to meet enemies. A group of skeletons and decaying ghouls found them and Gabriel and Max were forced to fight their way through the chamber. As they fought their way through the temple, they were continuously attacked by various undead as well as wraiths. Gabriel was forced to admit that Max was a competent fighter. He proved himself with each successive battle with an undead horde. They had moved through a number of chambers and Gabriel was tearing through a group of skeletons. He looked over seeing Max carving his way through ghouls when another necromancer appeared. He did not speak but waved his hand and a number of wraiths appeared they moved merging with a number of statues. The statues stuttered and began to move the necromancer pointed his fingers and the statues began to move towards Gabriel and Max. Gabreil managed to weave away from the statues grasping clutches he lashed out with fist and claws and a statue shattered the wraith fleeing into the darkness. He moved around the others and saw Max struggling in the grasp of a statue.
Gabriel shattered another statue and looked again seeing Max struggling and being carried by the statue towards the necromancer. He dodged another statues lunge and saw the necromancer raise his hand infront of Max’s face. He watched Max go limp as though he had been put into a deep sleep. Gabriel could still hear the soft beat of Max’s heart so he knew he was not dead. Then the necromancer and the statues disappeared into a dark corridor the other statues and undead retreated into other dark corridors and Gabriel was alone.
Gabriel raced after Max down dark corridors and through empty chambers. He traveled through several minutes until he found a large obsidian door at the end of a dim corridor. Gabriel put his shoulder against the door and it gave way easily as he rushed into the antechamber and he came to sudden halt. The chamber was a large throne chamber with a dozen throne situated in a circle around the chamber. On each throne was the skeletal forms of a Lich and at the center of the chamber Max was suspended in the air by magic.
Gabriel felt the attention of the Liches as he stood at the doorway and slowly moved into the chamber. Gabriel saw the forms of black cloaked necromancers and other undead beings in the far edges of the chamber and Gabriel looked at the largest throne in chamber and the ancient Lich who sat upon it wearing a tarnished silver crown. “Vampire” said a cold whisper “welcome”. Gabriel felt the cold shiver run up his spine and the voice spoke again “Why did you enter this place?”. Gabriel let his anger run “I came for him” he said pointing at Max “He is mine”. The voice spoke again in a soft sinister whisper “He is human and he entered our realm, he is ours now body and soul. Leave now vampire if you do not wish to join him”. Gabriel smiled showing his fangs in his anger “No he is mine and I am leaving here with him”. Gabriel saw the Lich move slightly and the soft voice had a much more dangerous tone “It is our law vampire that if humans enter our realm, they are ours. You lost all claims to him when you let him enter here. Leave now or suffer our wrath.”. Gabriel smiled again and pulled out the amulet that held the Lich soul “It is vampire law that if take what is ours then you must pay in equal measure. If he belongs to you then this belongs to me”. Gabriel heard a collective hiss from the gathered assembly and Gabriel felt a pressure as the full attention and hate of the Undead was upon him. The voice spoke again in a dark and dangerous whisper “You dare?”. Gabriel stood silent the amulet in his hand he grabbed the crystal and began to envelop the crystal with is own power slowly applying pressure as he felt the magic from the crystal pulse. Gabriel saw one of the Liches tense as though he was feeling the mounting pressure. “Enough” The voice said “If you want the human we will trade him for the return of the amulet but know this if you or the human are caught again then your lives are forfeit to us”. Gabriel nodded “I also want safe passage out of your realm Lich. I heard that your deal only lets me have the human” Gabriel said still holding the amulet. The voice came again in a resigned whisper “Agreed”.
Max fell to the floor in a stupor and Gabriel approached him listening to his heartbeat. A necromancer approached Gabriel, and he held out his hand. Gabriel passed the amulet to the necromancer and then bodily picked up Max. He did not say another word as he carried Max through the corridors and out of the temple. He was quickly passing through the mist shrouded land when Max woke up. “What happened, Where are we?” Max said. Gabriel did not stop but said “We are out of the temple and are heading home” he said “No questions for now”. Max looked like he really wanted to ask questions but remained silence while Gabriel carried him moving swiftly through the mist.
Chapter 7
Gabriel ran almost nonstop when he exited the temple. It was beginning to lighten to a new day and as he ran the light grew and then faded back into the dark only to start brightening again before he broke through the mist. All the time he ran, he carried Max, who alternated between bouts of silence as he watched the misty land and sleeping. When Gabriel broke through the mist, he ran for a while longer before he found a sheltered place where he dropped Max. Gabriel quickly moved to create a small camp and prepared to rest. Max rose and began to help Gabriel set up the camp. They had no tents but found a copse of trees nearby and gathered wood for a fire.
As they got the fire going Gabriel set down he felt his energy was drained. It would take a while for his energy to return without drinking blood but he had only Max nearby. So Gabriel felt for a small pouch at his side and pulled out a small vile. He looked at the red liquid inside and popped the cork. He quickly downed the liquid and felt new energy run through him. The potion did not have the same effect as blood but it gave him power and curbed the blood hunger. He thought about the fact that he potion he had taken was created by Toby just for him when Toby had discovered he was a Vampire. With his blood hunger curbed he set himself to rest while Max sat by the fire. “How did we get out?” Max said “I remember being grabbed. So how did we escape?”. Gabriel looked at him and smiled “We escaped because I claimed you as my own and traded the Lich soul for yours”. Max sat still “What?” He asked, looking at Gabriel. “You didn’t think that it was because there was an epic battle that we are out of that temple. The undead do not let go of the living when they wander into the heart of their domain. When you were captured, I had to tell them you were mine and use the amulet to threaten a Lich, in order to get us out of there. Don’t go back I cannot and will not get you out again, Max”. Max turned back and looked at the flames not answering him. Gabriel settled and they waited out the night.
Gabriel and Max left at the coming to dawn and continued traveling north and west towards the human country. Gabriel felt eyes on them as they passed through the demon’s territory and he noticed as they traveled that Max was becoming more withdrawn and sullen. After another day or two of traveling they began to see the forest and the towers that rise over the human company. The towers are powerful magic items that were created for the growth and defense of the humans country. Gabreil heard that they came out of the greater realm of Mortalis where humans were more numerous. They operate by collecting light and holy energy and allowing it to be utilized. The towers had made the human country wholesome by driving out the darkness and gloom of the rest of the underworld and offered the humans protection against the other races.
When he was a human the towers had not existed and in the decades he was a weapon of Damon and the vampires the towers had only been built around the human city of Agartha in the shadowed Valley. Now with the slayers and their order of the scared flame growing in power, new towers were built along across of the human's country. Gabriel knew how to protect himself against the towers light when he needed to. Gabriel saw the light shining brighter from the tower as they got closer to the human’s country. They passed into the human country and Gabriel and Max moved along the border of the forest for a time until the village appeared. Max moved quickly ahead moving into the village and a young man around Max’s same age stepped out of the village intercepting Max. The young man only about 19 had silver blonde hair and shining green eyes. He was slim and had mages look. Gabriel came approached and the young man broke away moving towards him. “Thank you for bringing back my brother Gabriel” he said and he frowned “He seems upset by something”. Gabreil smiled “You are welcome, Toby. I think he is upset because of how I had to save him. Just give him time”. Gabriel turned away and started to walk away from the village towards the forest. Toby raised his hand “Are you going Gabriel?”. Gabriel turned back towards Toby “Yes, the light hurts my eyes, and I need to return home. I am sure I will see you again before long Toby”. Gabriel walked to the forest and entered into the welcome shadows of the trees. Gabriel moved quickly through the trees and finally came to his home. The small fortress was built in a bygone age when the Vampires had ruled an empire that stretched across the underworld. It had been long abandoned when Gabriel had found it and taken up residence. He had lived in this place since he had left Tristan and Valis behind over a century ago. He entered his home feeling the webs of magic he had set long ago for his protection and began to settle into his home.
Chapter 8
Gabriel fell into a reflection as he rested in the cool comfort of his home. He thought back to when he first came to this place the forest had been larger and wilder then. The forest had been the home of flesh-eating wendigos when he had come. Gabriel had fought with them for control and claimed the forest for his own. In those days human territory had been smaller, and no villages had been nearby. Then the humans began to expand their territory and push back the dark creatures that surrounded them. The wendigos were pushed into the foothills of the mountains where they still lurk. Gabriel had lurked in the dark of the forest for a long time watching the humans begin to build their village. He did not approach the village but watched only until the first slayers came. The slayers decided to enter the forest and search it for dangers. Gabriel had not wanted to kill the slayers, but he could not allow them to find his home so he sent them on a wild goose chase through the dark forest. They left the forest exhausted by their adventure and they had never caught Gabriel.
The growing presence of humans did present one problem for Gabriel. In his life he had been plagued by blood hunger. In his time with the Vampires and the Devils he had been driven to satisfy his hunger. Since coming to the forest, he began to find new ways to manage his hunger but now there were new human temptations nearby. For a time the humans avoided the forest, and Gabriel was content to watch and leave them be so as not to lose himself to his hunger. Then one day Gabriel found a woman entering the forest. She seemed to move without fear as she went deeper into the forest. Gabriel was interested in this woman for no reason he could understand. He followed her and watched her pick certain herbs and then she looked around and seemed to find him even in the shadows. She smiled at him as she left the forest and once a week, she seemed to return to pick herbs and each time she seemed to know Gabriel was there. Then one day she spoke and introduced herself and Gabriel in his curiosity showed himself. The woman was kind and did not fear Gabriel and she would come into the forest to seek out Gabriel. The woman was a healer in the village and for many hears she would meet Gabriel in his forest. Then one day the woman brought with her a young boy and she told Gabriel that the boy was named Tobias one of her sons. This was how Gabriel had first met Toby and Toby showed a level of kindness and fascination to Gabriel that he had never known. Gabriel had watched Tobias grow up and one day when he had become a healer and mage in his own right, Tobias had come to Gabriel. Toby had asked Gabriel about his blood hunger, and Toby had used what Gabriel told him to create a blood potion that allowed Gabriel to manage his blood hunger. Gabriel was thinking about Tobias and his potion when he heard a knock on the door to his home. Gabriel rose and walked down to the main door to his home. He opened it and saw Tobias and Max standing before him. “Gabriel, my dear brother has told me that he never thanked you for saving him” Toby said quickly. Gabriel smiled as Toby pull his brother forward. Gabriel still saw the sullen and angry look in Max’s eye as Toby pulled him towards Gabriel ‘Go on Max you know how this works” Toby said. Max sighed and turned towards his brother “I am not going to say thank you to this vampire do you understand he tried to claim me like a slave” Max said. Toby gave him a hard look “You know that he only did that to save your life Max. Must you always be so pigheaded? Just say thank you” Toby said stare at Max. Max gave a big sigh and turned to Gabriel “Thank you for saving my life” Max said in a sulky voice and he turned to Toby “Happy Now?” He asked before storming off in the direction of the village. Gabriel smiled as he watched Max storm off and he looked at Toby. “Sorry about him” Toby said and asked “Can I come in Gabriel?”. Gabriel nodded standing aside and motioned for toby to enter his home.
Chapter 9
Toby and Gabriel walked into a warm study and Toby sat down in a plush armchair. Gabriel looked at him “So is getting Max to say thank you the only reason you came to see me” he asked smiling. Toby looked up at him and smiled back “No, I had other things to talk to you about, but I did enjoy reminding Max about his manners. I came about these” he said presenting an ornate box and opening it. Inside were several vials of dark red potion. Toby laid the box on a side table. I made these potions while you were going after Max since I did not know how much you had used.
Gabriel looked at the potions pulling out a vial to better see the potion, and he remembered the first time that Toby had brought him the potions. He remembered that he had told Toby that he could drink animal blood to curb his blood hunger, but that animal blood was not strong enough to energize him like human blood. Then Toby had made the potion that incorporated animal blood with certain other ingredients to allow him to better manage his blood hunger and maintain his power without having to feed-on the blood of humans. “Thank you, Tobias,” Gabriel said “It is appreciated”.
Toby smiled and nodded “You are welcome Gabriel”. Toby began to look around and saw a book that Gabriel had been reading. “What is this?” Toby asked. Gabriel looked at the book “That is a history of the underworld written by an ancient vampire” he said “It details the awakening and rise of the vampires in the underworld. The establishment of their empire and how they enslaved humans and other beings for centuries and the great rebellions that ended their empire” he said. Toby looked at the book in shock “I didn’t know that such books existed. The only history that I have ever heard was the history of our village” he said. Gabriel smiled “There is quite a history in this realm Toby from the Vampires, the Undead, The Devils and the Werewolves. I might tell you some of it” Gabriel said. Toby smiled “I would like that, but I have to return home soon. Mother and my other siblings are waiting for me, and I am sure Max is still fuming,” he said.
Toby rose and Gabriel walked with him from the house and together they moved through the dark woods. Soon they reached the forest edge and the Toby looked at Gabriel. “Thank you for escorting me Gabriel. I will come visit you again soon” he said as he moved towards the village. Gabriel smiled as he turned back toward his home. He moved under the growing shadows of the trees when a familiar scent came to him on the wind and he heard the snapping of branches under boots.
“Well Gabriel you seem to have found yourself a pet” said a drawling voice as a figure appeared between the trees. Gabriel felt his anger rising at the voice “What business is it of yours Damon and how did you find me?”. Damon smiled showing his fangs dark desires moving behind his eyes “you were spotted traveling north with a human and tracked to this forest and I am here to offer you the chance to return to us of your own free will Gabriel” Damon said “I missed you and I want you back”. Gabriel growled low and threatening “I will never return with you Damon. I want nothing to do with you or your kind anymore. Get out of my forest before I end you”. Damon smiled wider “You mean our kind Gabriel you are just like me after all and I am here to extend the offer. The elders need your strength and I need you back. I will give you some time to think on my offer and make sure it is the right answer” Damon said and he turned and disappeared into the darkness.
Chapter 10
Gabriel remained on guard for several days after Damon’s appearance. During that time, he wandered around the forest seeking some signs of Damon or other vampires. Toby came to visit him and Gabriel was always worried for him when he came or left the forest since he knew that Damon might try and attack him. As the days past he saw nothing of Damon or any other vampire, he began to let his guard down. He was sure that he could deal with any vampire that might come, but it was becoming frustrating to have to wait on an attack from them. When Toby came to visit Gabriel they talked and Gabriel told Toby of stories of the ancient days. The rise of the Vampires in their city of Baalasam and how the herald of the dark father led the vampires on their war of domination. The silent temple of the Lich before the undead awoke and how humans would go in and be taken by the undead of the legend of a confession at the heart of Temple about the Lich. The rise of the red wolf and the first blood moon. The first corruption and the birth of the first Devils in the city of Valis. The great rebellions that saw the vampires driven from their ancient holdings over the underworld until all they could hold is their city and mountain regions surrounding it.
Then the day came in the deep night as Gabriel was resting in home. He looked out a window looking towards the village thinking about Toby when he saw bright flashes breaking the darkness. The flashes were bright and powerful, and Gabriel knew what it meant. The tower was active, and the keepers of the tower were directing the holy magic of the tower against an enemy. Gabriel tensed feeling an icy fear moving through him, and he quickly made for the door. Gabriel grabbed a dusty red blade that he had hoped never to wield again as he moved to the door and pushed it open. He turned in the direction of the village and was met with Damon and a group of vampires facing him.
“Well Gabriel, what is your answer?” Damon asked smiling showing his fangs. Gabriel snarled “Did you attack the village Damon?”. Damon chuckled “I wish I had but that honor went to a group of Devils. We are just taking advantage of the situation”. Gabriel felt the icy fear deepen “Devils, No he wouldn’t”. Gabriel tried to move past Damon and the others and Damon growled low “You are not going anywhere, Gabriel. What is your answer to our offer?”. Gabriel’s face hardened and he snarled “I already told you. I will never return to you or the vampires”. Damon had a self-satisfied smile “Good” he said and looked at the other vampires “Take him”. The vampires moved in, but Gabriel was faster pulling out his sword and in a series of fast sweeping arcs the vampires fell away screaming. They cradled wounds made by Gabriel's blade, and Gabriel moved in slashing at Damon. Damon’s smile faded as Gabriel attacked and he cried out as his blade sliced into him. Gabriel in a sense of urgent haste did not stop to finish them but instead quickly moved towards the village.
Gabriel moved quickly through the trees until he found himself on the edge forest and moved towards the village. As he moved towards the village he saw a woman moving towards him. He recognized her even though she had grown older. She was the woman who had found him first in the forest and the mother of Tobias. Gabriel saw she was bleeding from a wound and she was running towards him. She rushed into his arms in a state of shock. “Gabriel, they took them”. Gabriel felt a sinking feeling as he looked at her “Who?” he asked but he felt he already knew. “Tobais and Elizebeth” she said her breath shallow and ragged. Gabriel remembered Elizebeth was the sister of Tobias and Max and the Devils had taken them. Then Gabriel heard a shout and saw Max running with two other Slayer “release my mother vampire and what did you do to my brother and sister” Max shouted drawing his blade. Gabriel looked down at the woman. She was looking at him with wide eyes “I will bring them back if I can” Gabriel told her as he pulled away from her. Max and the slayers came to her as she watched Gabriel with a sad hope. Max approached him “Well what have you done with them?” He asked, pointing his sword at Gabriel. Gabriel growled “I have done nothing and I am going to get them back” he said. Max’s face darkened “Liar” he shouted swinging his sword. Gabriel swept his own blade and in a clash of metal Max’s blade was sent flying into the dark. Gabriel snarled as he revealed great black wings. He did not speak again as he flapped his wings and he rose up speeding towards Valis and Tobias.
Chapter 11
Gabriel flew fast, streaking over the lands of the underworld as he drew heavily on his vampiric powers as he flew towards Valis. He felt fear and rage that he might be too late to save Toby and let those feelings fuel his powers. Soon the city came into view, and Gabriel doubled his speed as he approached. He knew where he needed to go and quickly turned to approach the Lust district and Tristan’s palace.
Gabriel flew at high speeds towards the palace, and he saw the large windows that were situated within the throne room. Gabriel dove towards one of those windows and with a crash of shattering glass he brought himself to a hard landing within the throne room. “Welcome Gabriel” said Tristans soft purr “I have been expecting you”. Gabriel rose and faced Tristan pulling out his red blade “Where are they Tristan?” He said in a low growl. Tristan gave him a condescending smile “If you are looking for the girl. I gave her to some of my favorite Devils. She had already been given devil seed and is well on her way to awakening.” He said with a malice chuckle “If you are looking for your pet then he is in there”. Tristan pointed to a door behind the throne. Gabriel rushed towards the door, smashing against it. Tristan did not stir from his throne but turned his head watching Gabriel as he rushed towards the door. Gabriel entered the room and saw Toby laying in a plush bed. He approached Toby and his heart sank as he saw the signs. The flushed appearance and the shallow breathing. Gabriel heard Tristan’s malicious chuckle as he entered the room. “I took him myself Gabriel” he said “The seed didn’t take but the Devil poison is still in him. It is slower turning but still he will still awaken as a full Devil”. Gabriel ignored Tristan and touched Toby’s cheek. Toby stirred under the touch and Gabriel knew what he must do. “I am going to save you” Gabriel told Toby. Tristan gave another malicious laugh “You can’t save him Gabriel. No more than you could save me from my turning”. Gabriel gathered Toby in his arms and carried him out of the room and into the throne room. Tristan followed him out of the room, returning to lounge on his throne “If you take him now then I shall be around to collect him as soon as he turns. I will also collect you and I might even let you keep your pet” he said with a smile. Gabriel did not acknowledge him but spread his wing and with another crash slammed through a window as he flew towards his home and his only hope to save Toby.
Chapter 12
Gabriel rushed through the air, traveling quickly back to his home. He felt Toby move in his arms, and he could feel the burning of his skin as the poison moved through him. He saw the forest and the tower of his home rising up out of it. He dove in for a landing in front of his door and touched down gently so as not to disturb Toby further. He rushed into his home the door opening with a soft crash and he rushed to a room. He placed Toby in a bed and began to make quick preparation for what he had to do to save Toby.
Gabriel began by placing signs upon Gabriel’s body. The signs became conduits of his vampiric powers, and he placed his hands on a sign near Toby’s heart. He slowly began to fill the sign with his power and felt his power entering Toby. He worked slowly using his vampiric power to find and contain the poison flowing through Toby. Then he slowly moved the focus of his power up Toby’s body towards his neck. Then Gabriel leaned his fangs bared and bit down his fangs piercing Toby’s neck. He felt Toby’s rich sweet blood enter his mouth. Gabriel almost lost his mind at the sweet rich taste of Toby’s blood and with great force of will he brought himself under control. He was slow and steady as he slowly drew the poison out his and soon, he tasted the bitter taste of Devil poison mixed in with the taste of his blood. He kept a hand near Toby’s heart as he drew the poison out of Toby’s body. The he felt the fluttering of his heart as it strained from loss of blood. The he stopped pulling away from Toby. He looked down at him and saw the pale gaunt figure. He knew that this was the penultimate moment. The loss of so much poison would mean if he died now, it would be final, but he would die as a human. Gabriel thought as he looked at Toby’s pale body “It would be kinder by fare to let you go on now. To travel the paths, I cannot follow, to the necropolis and then to rebirth”. As he looked at Toby he felt something stir “I cannot lose you Toby. I am sorry for what I must do. I hope you can forgive me”.
Gabriel bit down on his own arm creating a small tear and he felt the dark blood begin to well. He moved his arm and over Toby’s mouth and moved so that a few drops of blood fell into Gabriel’s mouth. He saw Toby swallow the drops of blood and then he began to spasm his body going ridged, and Gabriel held Toby while the spasm passed. Toby went limp and Gabriel sat waiting for the change to complete. Gabriel sat for hours in the dark of the room watching Toby. He waited and hoped he had never done this ritual before, and he only hoped that he had done it correctly.
Gabriel heard the pounding at the main doors of his home and he knew that Tristan had come with the intention of claiming Toby. Toby remained laying in the bed his eyes closed almost like he was dead. Gabriel rose and brushed some of Toby’s hair away from his face before he left the room and began to approach the door.
Chapter 13
Gabriel came to the door and opened it to show Tristan with a group of Devils. “Well Gabriel I have come to collect what's mine. Where have you left him? It is time for us to go”. Gabriel gave him a hard look “Nothing here is yours Tristan”. Tristan gave him a wicked smile “Toby is mine now. The poison has had plenty of time to work through his system, and he should be awakening any time now. If your good and come with us quietly I might let you have him after I am done playing”. Gabriel growled low and bared his fangs “Toby is not yours I have save him from the poison and the fate you would force on him”. Tristan eyed him angrily “You killed him?”. Gabril shook his head “No, I saved him and you will not take him again”. Tristan’s eyes flashed “You could not have saved him. It is not possible and I promise you there will be pain if you killed my new toy. Now where is he?”
“I am here” said a soft voice and everyone looked to see Toby standing in the doorway to the room. Gabriel saw then the pale complexion and glowing eyes and when Toby smiled the vampire fangs that had appeared there. Gabriel smiled at Toby as he approached and turned watching Tristan a look of shock on his face “How did you do this?”. Gabriel smiled at him “I drew the poison out and then I turned him into a vampire”. Tristan’s shock turned into anger as he stared “So you found a way but still I have not given up you are both mine. Just like her”. He motioned behind him a stunningly beautiful female appeared from among the other devils and began to drape herself over Tristan. She had burning red eyes and the wicked smile of the Devil. She looked over from Tristan's side and smiled. Toby stirred "Elizabeth is that you?”. She smiled wider “Hey Tobias, do you like my new look”. Toby took a step back “No what happened to you Liz?”. She pressed herself into Tristan whose hand moved around her waist and she let out a low purr “I woke up Toby. Come on you can join us and then we can bring the rest of the family in and have so much fun”. Toby shook his head and moved closer to Gabriel seeking some kind of protection “No I won’t let you take the others Liz and I know Max won’t either”. Liz laughed maliciously “You can’t stop us Toby”. Tristan smiled at her “She is such a good Devil. Isn't she Gabriel?” He looked at Gabriels and smiled wider “Come now you know that you should just come with me quietly. I will still take You and Toby for my own and let you be together”. Gabriel opened his mouth when a drawling voice rose from behind the group of Devils. “I was wonder why a group of Devils was coming to visit you Gabriel but remember you belong to me not this Devil”. They looked around and saw Damon and a group of Vampires standing not far from the door and coming closer. The Devils hissed and began to tense ready for combat and Tristan looked at Damon “Begone Vampire. This has nothing to do with you. I have come to claim what is mine”. Damon smiled “Gabriel is mine not your Devil, if you want the other then take him but Gabriel is mine”. Tristan’s eyes flashed “Then we have a problem because Gabriel is mine”. Tristan and Damon looked at each other bodies tensed and ready for combat as they looked at each other. Gabriel looked at toby and placed a hand around him and whispered “It will be okay. I have prepared a little something for this situation”. Gabriel watched as the Devils moved out of the hall and squared up against the other vampires. He moved quickly, closing the main door and then reaching out with his power he pulled at a thread of bright power that seared and burned as he touched it and suddenly there was flash and shouts and screams from outside.
“What was that?” Toby asked looking shocked at the bright flash from outside. Gabriel smiled “That was a trap I set up just for them It was a holy magic blast similar to those used by the human towers. I set it up in the event that Tristan or Damon decided they could try to take me”. “What now?” Toby asked with a frown “Will they come back?”. Gabriel nodded and looked at Toby “Yes, they will come back. They always do they are persistent like that”. He looked at Toby “For now we need to talk about what I have done to you and what it means for your future Toby.” Toby nodded and Gabriel led him into the study where they sat down and began to talk.
Chapter 14
Gaberiel told toby of the events leading to him becoming a new vampire. Toby gave him a sad look “So you save me from becoming like Liz?”. Gabriel nodded “I am sorry again that I turned you, but I could not let you die Toby”. Toby smiled “I am glad you did Gabriel. I did not want to die”. His smile faltered for a moment “I worry how my family will take it though, especially Max”. Gabriel nodded, understanding “I am sure he will make an appearance in a short time, especially after the light show that the traps set off. He will most likely try to attack me for what I did Toby”. Toby frowned “I won’t let him, Gabriel. Max is a bit of a fool, but he won’t attack me or you”. Gabriel smiled “He may not have a choice you know; he will be accompanied by other slayers and perhaps villagers including your mother and other siblings Toby. If we are forced to flee or fight, will you be able to handle that?”. Toby nodded “If we flee where will we go?”. Gabriel smiled at Toby “We can go anywhere you want. We will just have to be more careful in some places than in others”. Toby smiled and opened his mouth to speak when they heard a lot of noise coming from outside. Then suddenly a voice shouted from outside “Vampire come out and face the punishments for taking Tobias and Elizibeth and endangering our village”. Gabriel smiled as he looked at Toby “Max is here”. Gabriel rose and moved towards the door and pushed them open. Outside ringed around his castle stood a large group of humans. Standing facing the doors was Max and around him stood other young slayers. Max smirked and drew his blade “Well Vampire are you ready to face your punishment”. Gabriel looked at him “Why would you punish me? I did not attack your village Max”. Max face hardened with anger “You were responsible for it though don’t deny it and where are Tobias and Elizibeth?”. Gabriel sighed “I was not responsible for the devil’s attack, and I was not able to save Elizibeth. As for Toby”. “I am here” Toby voice came clearly as he came out the door. Max looked at Toby for a moment in hope, and a scream came from the crowd as an old woman ran out. She threw herself on Toby. Toby smiled and hugged her “I am okay, mom”. The woman wept while Max’s hope began to change to horror. “Get away from him, mother. He has become a Vampire,” Max said with a dark look. She did not step back but looked up at Toby and then to Gabriel “Why?”. Gabriel gave her a sad look “It was the only way, and I am sorry I could not save Elizibeth”. She nodded and looked back at Toby and opened her mouth to speak when Max approached and seized their mother. He pulled her back his blade at Toby’s breast. “Take my mother back to the village” Max said to some of the other villagers. They pulled her away as Toby looked sadly at Max “Now what brother?”. Max growled “shut up vampire. My brother is dead and you are just a monster wearing his form”. Toby’s sadness was palpable “Please Max, I am still your brother”. Max sneered “No, my brother died and that monster killed him” with this he pointed at Gabriel. Max moved his sword to point at Gabriel. “Now vampire it is time for you to pay. For the attack on my village and the deaths of 2 of my siblings”. The other slayers moved forward their blades drawn and ready fight Gabriel to the death. Gabriel sighed and as Max moved in, he stepped aside to let his ineffectual attacks sweep by him. Gabriel growled as other slayers tried to attack him “Enough of this”. He grabbed threads of power for other traps he had set.
Gabriel clapped and there was a shockwave of energy. In that shockwave Max, the slayers and the other villagers all collapsed. “What was that?” Toby asked his voice soft. Gabriel went to him “That was a shockwave it rendered all the human's unconscious for a time are you okay?”. Toby shuttered “I don’t know. I didn’t expect Max to act the way that he did”. Gabriel embraced him in a comforting hug “I know. They will wake up soon so let's go and leave this place for a while”. Toby looked at him “What about the castle and saying goodbye to my sibling”. Gabriel smiled and waved his hand towards the castle. It vanished before Toby’s eyes, and he turned to Gabriel in shock. Gabriel smiled “Yes, it is still there just hidden. No one, including Max, will be able to find or enter the castle. Now we can go and say goodbye”. Gabriel led Toby out of the forest and into the village most of it was deserted due to the villagers having followed Max so no one saw them enter or head to Toby’s house. Toby knocked on the door and his mother answered and she began to cry again as Toby told her what happened and that they had to leave for a while. As Toby spoke, two other boys appeared; one was slim and had a dark look to him, and the other was wild and energetic. Toby told his siblings and his mother that he was leaving for a while. After a few tearful moments Gabriel spoke “It is time to go Toby. Max will be coming soon”. Toby said on last goodbye to his family, and Gabriel and Toby turned away and began a journey into the wilds of the underworld.
Chapter 15
Gabriel and Toby moved swiftly through the darkness away from the village. “Where are we going to go Gabriel” Toby asked in a soft voice. Gabriel thought as they moved through the darkness “Lets head south for now past the river of shadows there are still dens of wendigo, Ogres and other flesh eaters. They are not too dangerous to us so they will be good training for your new vampire abilities, Toby. It is also far away from Devils, Vampires, or humans that will be hunting us. They turned south and came to the dark waters of the river of shadows. This proved to be Toby’s first trial learning to summon his wings. Gabriel showed him the basics of using his wings and watched as Toby learned to channel his new vampiric powers and calling his wings. When Toby had the essence, they both took off over the river and came to the dark woods and the hill country of the flesh-eater's territory. They found a sheltered cave in the hills that was unoccupied and set up a camp inside. “What do you know of this place Gabriel” Toby asked a hint of fear in his voice. “This country is were the flesh eaters fled to as the human territory expanded with the aid of the Slayers and their Order of the Sacred Flame. In the nearby forest, these hills and in the Mountains to the west there are a variety of flesh-eating creatures. Wendigos, Ogres, Ghouls and other such creatures. We have little to fear of them if we are watchful”. Toby smiled “Okay you said I could train while we are here”. Gabriel smiled back at Toby “Yes, you will have a chance to train with your new ability while we are here Toby. For now, let's rest”.
The next day Gabriel stood on a high branch looking to at Toby. Toby stood in the deep forest and was looking around. Gabriel heard the malicious whispers from the darkness of the trees. A wendigo was hunting Toby in the darkness. The wendigo looked like a human only twisted and warped. They will hunt just about anything, and they hunted by terrorizing their prey until the prey cannot flee anymore. Gabriel could see the wendigo moving in on Toby its whispers diminishing as it got closer. He fought the desire to jump on the wendigo but this was not his training. Toby stood still and seemed to be listening to the whispers trying to identify the wendigos location. The wendigo waited tensed and then it lunged towards Toby. Gabriel watched with a tense form as he saw Toby’s hand lash out and grabbed the wendigo out of the air. Gabriel jumped out of the tree and smiled at Toby “You did well Toby. You were not fooled by the wendigos whispers”. Toby smiled back as he held the squirming wendigo “Thank you Gabriel. What do I do with it now?”. Gabriel looked at the twisted creature “You can drink it blood but it’s blood is rather rancid or you can simply kill it. I would not recommend letting it go since it will only continue hunting us”. Toby looked at the wendigo and with a grimace he tightened his fist snapping the creatures neck. Gabreil watched the wendigo go limp and nodded “Lets go back to the cave and rest a while Toby. Toby nodded, moving closer to Gabriel as they moved back towards their cave.
Over the next couple of day Toby’s powers began to flourish. He found a number of animals that still lived in the dark woods and was able to make more blood potions that allowed he and Gabriel to maintain their powers. Toby also discovered that magics that he had learned when he was human were strengthened by his vampire powers. In a battle with a large ogre, he utilized his magic to bind the ogre in place, allowing them to bring the beast down. Soon Toby was more confident in his new powers as a vampire. Gabriel looked at Toby and smiled “I think you are very skilled now Toby and if you are ready we can move on to some other place”. Toby smiled and nodded “Where will be go then?”. Gabriel thought “we can travel through the Lich’s territory and head east towards the Dark forest and the territory of the werewolves”. Toby looked at him “Why not the vampires or the Devils first?” Gabriel laughed “We can go there at some point, but Damon and Tristan are still on the lookout and probably seething. Best to avoid those areas for a while”. Toby nodded and they rose and began to prepare for another part of their adventure.
Chapter 16
Gabriel and Toby crossed the river again into the borders of the lands of the lich and the Devils. They crossed into the mist shrouded lands of the lich. “We should have little to fear in these lands if we don’t enter the temple of the Lich” Gabriel said as he look at Toby. He smiled “Just stay on your guard there will be skeletons and other things in the mist”. Toby nodded and they began to move though the mist. They moved quickly the mist swirling around them as they moved. Then suddenly they ran into a group of skeleton warriors. Toby proved to have a deadly grace as he carved through the skeletons leaving them broken piles of bones on the land. When the last skeleton fell Toby looked to Gabriel who smiled and they rushed through the misty lands. When they came to the temple of the Lich they quickly moved past it not desiring to test the power of the Lich or their words that if Gabriel entered that they would destroy him.
For several days they moved through the swirling mist never needing to rest or recuperate. Soon they saw the mist let up, and they found themselves on the broad Plaines again to the northeast stood the vast and tangled dark forest.
Gabriel and Toby moved into the plains seeking a place that they could rest for a time. Toby looked at Gabriel “What do you know about that misty land or the forest over there”. Gabriel looked at the mist “Those lands are the lands of the Lich. The king of the undead, the legends say that he was a priest who delved too deep into the arts of necromancy before the cataclysm that created our world. When he awoke, he surrounded his temple in the mist and raised armies of undead to serve him”. Then Gabriel looked over at the forest “I don’t know much about the forest but as I heard a power werewolf appeared there and brutally subjugated the humans that lived in and around the forest. Now they worship it as some sort of living god and give the werewolf offering for it protection”.
Toby moved in closer to Gabriel seeming to seek comfort, and Gabriel put his hand around him. He smiled “Don’t worry we should be fine we will avoid the human settlements were possible and try not to incur the wrath of the werewolves. He moved in a brushed his lips across Toby’s neck feeling the soft pulse of blood. He felt Toby shutter with pleasure at the contact and Gabrie smiled “For now lets rest and we will see about entering the forest when we are rested”. Toby nodded and they found a sheltered area and prepared to rest.
Chapter 17
They lay together in the deep trances that pass for sleep for Vampires. Gabriel felt the surge of danger and rose quickly from his trance as human forms rushed at the them. The people had features that were feral and twisted their bodies warped into something close to humans but not truly human. Gabriel felt Toby rise beside him and together they moved through the human forms. With fist and claws they dispatched many of the creatures and Gabriel grabbed one and bit down on its neck. It let out a scream as Gabriel felt blood fill his mouth. It was refreshing but there was a wild taste imparted by the blood. As he threw the drained body away, he looked at Toby “You should feed to Toby before we enter the forest”. Toby nodded and grabbed another of the creatures as it lunged to attack him and began to feed. Gabriel caught another creature and began to feed. With that the creatures will finally broke, and the survivors began to flee into the darkness. Toby threw the body of the creature he had drained away and looked at Gabriel “What were these creatures?”. Gabriel tossed away the drained body he had been holding “I am not absolutely sure what these creatures are. They seem to be some form of twisted and feral humans. I had heard that some creatures lived along the southern edge of the black forest”. He looked at Toby and smiled, moving closer, he raised a hand slowly wiping away some blood along his mouth “Let's get going into the forest, we have some exploring to do”.
Toby nodded and they looked towards the forest. They began moving at a fast pace toward the forest. They soon past into the dark quiet of the trees. Gabriel looked around at the dark oppressive nature of the forest. They moved slowly through the trees the heavily overgrown canopy blocking even the muted light of the underworld but still the forest was lite by the sickly radiance of certain plants. Gabriel watched as Toby looked around in wonder at the dark forest and he smiled. They saw several animals darting through the dark and Toby moved back towards Gabriel. Gabriel smiled “The animals are not that fierce so close to the edge of the forest. It is when we get further nearer to the wolves territory that the creatures will become more fierce. Toby looked at him “Are we going to go that deep in?”. Gabriel shook his head “Not just yet there is a place that I know exists a little further though I have not been there”. Toby looked at him “What do you mean?”. Gabriel smiled “Much like my home in the forest near your village there are old Vampire fortresses in this forest. If we find one, we can stay there while we are in this forest”.
They continued to move through he forest until the thick canopy of the forest opened into a clearing. In the clearing rose a small castle similar in design to the one that Gabriel had made his home. Gabriel smiled and looked at Toby “See, now let's see what condition it is in”. They moved towards the door of the fort. The doors still stood strong, and as Gabriel opened the door, he found the layers of dust of a place that had not been entered in centuries. Gabriel waved a hand and felt power flow, and the air stirred as the dust was thrown up and driven out of the fort. He looked at Toby “It is not like home, but it should be comfortable while we stay in the forest and no one is likely to find us here”.
Chapter 18
Gabriel and Toby remained in the castle for many weeks, and they went out to explore the dark forest. Toby quickly found the forest to be a treasure trove and became infinitely fascinated by many of the animals and plants that grew in the dim dark of the forest. in the castle he found a laboratory with a number of dusty implements and Toby took it and began to experiment with a number of the plants he found.
One day as they explored the forest, Gabriel heard a loud crashing through the trees. Toby was beside him instantly holding samples of a new plant he had found. Toby looked into the cramped darkness of the forest “What was that?”. Gabriel looked at Toby and out into the darkness “I don’t know”. They heard the crashing again and then emerging from the darkness was a young man. His clothing was ragged and torn and he had a hunted look to his eyes. He stopped when seeing Gabriel and Toby standing before him “Please Help”. The young man fainted away after that. Gabriel moved towards him and bent down feeling his pulse. It still beat strong and regular, but Gabriel caught something else about the boy a hint of something. Gabriel bent and scooped the boy up and looked at Toby. Toby smiled and nodded, and they quickly moved towards the fortress. Gabriel carried the boy to a bed and laid him there to rest. Toby went to his lab and Gabriel decided to get something for the boy, he went back out into the forest. Shortly after he came back with an animal over his shoulder. He prepared the animal and soon the smell of cooking meat filled the fortress.
Gabriel knew that the smells would attract the young man and he was not mistaken. Soon the young man appeared he stood in the doorway smelling the air. The boy looked to be around 18 or 19. His hair was brown and long, and his eyes were a vivid green. Gabriel watched him move into the kitchen, looking at Gabriel with a fearful look. Gabriel smiled at the young man “Are you hungry?”. He plated some of the meat and placed it on a hard wood table. He watched the young man stare at the meat and then at him and he moved to the table and tore into the meat with animalistic desire. Gabriel saw Toby enter the room and he also watched the young man he fed. Gabriel gave him more meat, and the young man continued to gorge saying nothing.
After a time, the young man looked up at Gabriel “Thank you for helping me”. Gabriel smiled “Your welcome, know can you tell us why who you are and why you were in the state that you were in?” The Young Man consider for a moment and nodded. He took a few more bites of meat and then he looked at Gabriel. The young man took a breath “My name is Wulf and I am being hunted by the red wolf”. Gabriel felt Toby move near him as the watch Wulf hesitated and began his story.
Chapter 19
Wulf started in a low whisper and slowly his voice grew in power. “First I must tell you. I am a Lycan. My mother was a woman from the villages, and my father was a wild Lycan from the forest. I was born near a village at the edge of the forest and we lived several years in relative peace. I have the power to control my transformation into a wolf and my parents successfully hid my and my fathers condition. Then someone discovered my fathers secret” Wulf's voice began to falter “They came in the darkness in the days before the rising of the blood moon. They took my father and mother. I was taught if they were taken to run and I did. I ran into the forest and somehow managed to come to another village. I was an orphan and I was homeless. I hid during the Bloodmoon because I knew that the wolf guard would be searching hard for me. I heard later that they sacrificed my father during the blood moon ritual and executed my mother. After that I lived as best I could until a family took me in. I was happy there for a while then they figured out I was a Lycan and they turned me over to the wolf guard”. Wulf shuttered and looked at Gabriel and Toby. “The wolf guard are powerful and terrible. They threw me in a cell and told me I was to be a sacrifice and feed the new life at the next Bloodmoon festival. While i languished, another young man was brought in and imprisoned with me. He said he came from outside the forest; he said he came to find certain healing plants. We grew close in that cell and planned our escape. It was several days later that the Bloodmoon rose. My friend was taken from the cell and forced to join in the first ceremony. When he returned, he was tattered and weeping. He told me how the red wolf had taken him and that they told him that he had nine days left”.
“The wolf guards laughed and told me that I would be sacrificed in a few days for my friend and the others chosen. I had been watching the guards for days and that night during a guard change we escaped. We ran and I used my skills to help keep us alive and ahead of the guards”. Tears fell down Wulfs eyes “We were separated a few hours before you found me. I fear that he has been taken again and that he will die”. Gabriel did not speak but looked at Toby. Toby nodded and Gabriel turned to Wulf. “Wait here with Toby and rest” Gabriels voice was firm and he turned passing swiftly out into the dark forest.
Chapter 20
Gabriel rushed through the darkness of the forest following the track that they had followed to bring Wulf to the fortress. When he reached the place where they had found Wulf, he sniffed and caught his scent faintly among the other scents of the forest. He moved quickly among the cramped dark trees of the forest following the scent of Wulf. Wulf had come far on his own and Gabriel followed the faint scent across dark streams and through dense trees.
The scent became faint at the streams but the senses of a vampire were not so easily fooled by simple tricks. He followed the path until he tasted the scent of Wulf and another familiar scent. Though he could not place where he remembered the scent. He stopped and considered the scent and began moving arounds seeking the path the new scent took. It took several minutes of searching before he discovered the path and moved quickly following the new path. Then he was brought to a stop as he heard distant howling. The howls were distant but coming nearer. Gabriel smiled a whispered to themselves “Their hunting”. He continued quickly down the path listening to the approaching howls. Then the forest opening into another clearing and Gabriel saw him. A boy of 18 in ragged clothing and covered in dirt but that is not what gave Gabriel pause it was the large belly the boy sported. Gabriel approached and saw the boy was in a unconscious but was still breathing. Gabriel put his hand on the boy's belly and felt strong movement from inside. Gabriel did not have time to consider this situation but quickly picked the boy up. He was light and his body was thin like he had not been properly fed in days. Gabriel sped back into the tree with the boy in his arms. He moved quickly through the dark trees in the direction of the fortress that he and Toby had occupied. Gabriel listened to the approaching howls and as the howls got closer he heard something change. The howls amplified and there was a new urgency in the sounds. Gabriel knew they had likely found the scent of the boy and were rushing to find him.
Gabriel kept speeding towards the safety of the fortress and he heard the howls change again. He heard loud echoing yammers and snarls among the howls as well as the shouts of men. Gabriel reached the doors of the fort and listened to the howls and shouts of pursuit as he entered the fortress.
Toby and Wulf appeared as Gabriel entered and Toby gasped as he saw the boy. “Jace” Toby said as he looked at the unconscious boy “What happened?”. Gabriel shook his head as he moved down into a bedroom and set the boy down on a bed. Gabriel looked at the other two “There is not much time. The pursuit from the werewolves was not far behind me. We must prepare”. The other two nodded and they moved quickly Gabriel made sure that defenses that were built into all vampire fortresses as well as a few that he had created himself were active. The others made their own preparations as the howls erupted again just outside the fortress.
Chapter 21
The howls echoed around the forest as Gabriel looked out of a window into the forest. Dark figures could be seen lurking in the dark shadows under the trees. Gabriel heard the other two come up behind him. He turned to them “They are surrounding us. Toby look after Jace he is weak right now and we don’t want him to die before he wakes up again. Wulf come and tell me everything that you know of the werewolves and the wolf guard you told us about”.
Wulf moved closer to Gabriel and they looked out of the window. Wulf started to speak “My mother told me something about the rites. Mainly that once every few years during the blood moon the Red Wolf chooses a certain member from among the villages to bear its young. The ritual lasts nine days, where the young wolf grows in the host body. After the end of the ritual the host gives birth to the young werewolf and perishes in the process. I don’t know about the werewolves themselves only that the Red Wolf has existed since before the birth of the villages. One story is that the Red Wolf preyed on the humans until the compact and first rites.”
Gabriel watched the shadows move in the dark of the trees “You said Jace was a prisoner before he was taken to the Red Wolf. I had thought by your words that the ones chosen were picked with greater care”.
Wulf nodded “They usually are, but I heard the wolf guards speaking once. The Red Wolf was demanding more sacrifices in preparation for the coming war. So, more villagers and even the those from outside the village are being given to the rite.”
Gabriel looked at him “Which war is this?”
Wulf shrugged “I am not sure the guards only said something about the war. The guards are humans in service to the villages. They protect the villages and keep the peace for the Red Wolf. During the Rites their leader, the Black Wolf, is chosen during the contest of the Black Wolf.
Gabriel nodded and he thought about something Damon had said when he appeared to try and take him to the other Vampires. Something about the Vampires planning a great war to retake the underworld. If the Red Wolf had seen the coming war, it would explain many things. Gabriel looked over at Wulf “how many days has Jace been like he is”.
Wulf looked sad “Seven days in two more he must give birth to the wolf pup he is carrying, but I don’t think he can survive even that long”.
Gabriel frowned and nodded “We will have to see what we can do about that but first we will have to deal with the wolves at the door”. Wulf smiled as he looked out at the forest the no figures had appeared yet, but the shouts of men were now mixed in with the howls of wolf. Then a figure appeared near the edge of the clearing where the fortress stood. The figure wore a helm in the shape of a great black wolf. He looked up at the fortress and strode closer without any fear. He stopped just before the gates and shouted “Come out and speak to me Vampire. My lord the Red Wolf wants what is his and if you give it up then we will leave you in peace. If not, then we will take it by force. Come out and give your answer”. Gabriel smiled baring his fangs “well I think that I will have to go and speak to him”. He looked at Wulf “Go with Toby and help him care for Jace. I am not giving him up, but we need him to survive if we are going to have any hope of negotiating with the wolves”.
Wulf nodded and Gabriel prepared himself and moved towards the main doors. He walked out the doors and approached the Black Wolf. He stopped just before him. The man was fit and powerfully built and his face was hidden by the wolf helm. Gabriel could see and hear the wolves still hiding in the forest surrounding the fortress. They stood staring at each other. Gabriel smiled baring his teeth “Well what are your demands Black Wolf”. The man tensed and Gabriel knew he had thrown him off and the Black Wolf snarled behind his helm “It is very simple release the chosen you have taken and the Lycan abomination to us and we will leave you in peace. My Lord is not without some mercy so he is giving you a day to release them but if you have not released them by the rising of the next blood moon we will enter your fortress and kill you to take back what belong to our lord”. Gabriel laughed low and threatening “you might regret storming my fort but I will consider your demands”. He turned without another word and reentered the fortress.
Chapter 22
Gabriel reentered the fortress and stood still for a moment. His mind raced trying to work out the best path forward. As he though he moved through the fort and entered the room where Toby and Wulf were tending to Jace. Jace was still unconscious but Toby was tending to him carefully. He was spooning a broth down his throat that Gabriel knew was made to give Jace some new energy. Toby and Wulf looked at Gabriel as he entered both faces held the questions they were begging to ask. Gabriel looked at Wulf “They want us to turn you and Jace over before the rising of the blood moon tomorrow night”. Wulf frowned “What are we going to do?”. Gabriel shrugged “First we will have to wait for Jace to wake up and then discuss our options”.
Wulf nodded and turned back to Jace. Toby looked at Jace the empty bowl in his hand “If we need him to wake up now I can try a new potion”. Gabriel’s attention focused on Toby “You have a potion that can do that?”. Toby nodded and placing the bowl on a table he pulled out a small vial and with great care he tipped a drop into Jace’s mouth. They waited for a moment their breath held and then Jace stirred. Jace’s eyes opened and he had a lost look in his eyes at first. Then he focused at first on Wulf he smiled and then seeing Toby and Gabriel his face became shocked “Tobias, when did you get here”. Toby smiled slightly “We have been here for a while. When did you get here and shouldn’t you be at home with Mom, Max, and Lucian”. Jace face became sad “Max left after you did Toby he was in a rage and went north to Agartha. He is determined to gain the skills and power to kill Gabriel. When Max left Luc and I tried to help Mom as best we could but then she got sick. The healers came but could not heal her; they took her into their care. Me and Luc began searching for ways to heal her and I heard about plants in the great eastern forest. I found some warriors traveling east and managed to secure a spot on their expedition. We traveled carefully through devil territories and came to the forest. We went into the forest and we were attacked. I was captured and this happened”. He raised a trembling hand to his swollen belly. Then a grimace crossed his face as the wolf pup, within pressed out against the stretched skin. Jace looked at Toby “What happens now am I going to die?”
Toby looked sadly at Gabriel and Gabriel stepped forward. His voice was low and firm “There is little hope if we wait. We can remove the pup from Jace but he is to weak and the operation will likely kill him”. Toby looked sad “Can you turn him into a Vampire like you did with me”. Gabriel shook his head “No, the power of the wolf is on him and it would take time for him to turn. If I did, he will die from the shock before he completely turned”.
Gabriel looked at Wulf “The wolves have accelerated healing and the strength to survive. Can you turn others into the Lycans”. Wulf looked at Gabriel “I don’t know I have never tried”. Gabriel smiled “This is the best option I can think of. Jace’s condition is will make turning him into a vampire impossible. If you can turn him with the bite, it will give him the strength to survive”. Wulf looked at Jace “I don’t know”. Gabriel looked at Jace too “We still have time to decide. If we decide to go through with this, it will need to be done with the help of the Bloodmoon”. Gabriel left them to consider and wandered to the windows staring out down into the forest and watching the shadowy forms of the wolves still awaiting their reply.
Chapter 23
Gabriel returned to the room and saw Toby, Jace and Wulf talking. Jace looked at Gabriel as he entered the room “I want you to get the pup out of me and for Wulf to try and make me a Lycan”. Gabriel gave him an intent look “you understand what that means Jace. There will be pain and you could die”. Jace nodded and looked at his swollen belly “Like you said, I am going to die anyway when this thing wants to come out. I might as well go for the plan that might let me live”.
Gabriel smiled “Well then we have a lot to do before the Bloodmoon rises”. Gabriel sent Toby to prepare a blade as well as potions and water. Wulf was left with Jace to look after him and Gabriel went to prepare something special. Deep in the fort was a holding room where animals were kept in stasis so they could be harvested for blood. Gabriel entered the room and found a strong beast among those they had captured. He took the beast and prepped it and took the beast's heart. Gabriel looked at the beast heart “this will work for my purposes”. The blood of the beast was collected in a bowl, and Gabriel shredded the heart and began mixing it with blood. All the while he muttered spells of strength and power. When it was prepared he took the body and the mixture that he had made and brought them to the room where Jace was.
The preparation went quickly and soon the Bloodmoon was set to rise and they were ready to begin. Gabriel gave Jace the mixture and he told him to drink it all. Jace drank all of the mixture as the Bloodmoon rose they let the moonlight enter the room. As the red moonlight touched Jace they watched his belly begin to swell and move as the pup finished it growth. Jace looked in horror at the swollen expanse of his belly. Gabriel motioned to Toby who gave Jace a drop of potion to dull pain and he grabbed a thin knife and prepared to operate.
Gabriel had to move quickly he made the first cut quickly cutting into the tight skin of Jace’s belly. He moved down quickly opening his belly and then he reached in and felt the squirming mass of the pup. In a quick motion, he pulled the pup out of Jace with a gush of amniotic fluid. Gabriel was quick to move the pup that was the size of a human infant but the pup was covered in hair and was already snarling at them. Gabriel set the pup near the animal carcass that he had brought and smelling the meat the pup jump on it and began to feed. Gabriel turned back to Jace and watched as Wulf who had transformed into the wolf form bite Jace. Gabriel saw Jace even in the haze of the pain potion grimace and then he seized up and began to convulse. Toby, who had been toweling the fluids and blood from Jace’s body, grabbed Jace and held him as he convulsed. Then Jace went still, Gabriel moved up to Jace’s body and placed a hand on him “He still lives. We wait to see if the transformation takes and he wakes up”
They looked at the new born pup who had fed on the body and was snoozing now. Then there was a crashing explosion and bright lights coming from outside. They all looked at the window “What was that?” Wulf asked. Gabriel smiled “They tried to storm the fort they must have realized what we would do”. He moved over to the pup and picked it up. The pup snuggled against his body as he carried the pup out of the room and headed for the door. He exited the fort the pup snuggled against him and he looked around at the group of humans and some wolves who were laying unconscious in front of the fort. Gabriel then saw the red eyes staring out at him from the fringe of the forest. The eyes were coming from the silhouette of a great beast standing in the darkness. Then a snarling voice came from the darkness It asked who he was and how he had done this. Gabriel smiled and responded in the old tongue of the beast. He told him who he was and that he had his pup. The pup stirred and began struggled as it located the beast. Gabriel let the pup loose and it raced towards the beast. The red eyes watched the pup as it approached and accepted it as it moved into the darkness.
Gabriel's voice rose again and in the old tongue he claimed the lives of Jace and Wulf. The red eyes flashed and the rumbling snarling voice came again. It accepted Gabriel’s claim and with a howl the humans and wolves stirred and they rose retreating back into the darkness of the trees. Gabriel watched and then he turned back into the darkness of the fortress.
Chapter 24
Gabriel entered the fortress again and quickly traveled to the room where Jace was transforming. Gabriel entered the room and found Jace still unconscious. Toby was tending the wound in his now deflated belly. Wulf had turned back to his human form and was watching Jace for signs that he was going to awaken. Gabreil approached Jace’s form and heard the slow beat of his heart and the shallow exhale of his breath. Gabriel looked at Jace’s form and thought he saw the slight shifting of his features as his body healed and changed. Gabreil looked at Wulf “Jace lives and I think the bite has taken but I do not know how long it will take for him to wake”. Wulf smile faintly and nodded looking back at Jace.
Toby finished tending the wound and looked over at Gabriel. He motioned that he wanted to speak with Gabriel outside. Gabreil nodded and he followed Toby out into the hall. Toby looked at Gabriel “I am worried about my mother and Luc. I want to go back to the village to check on them. Do you think Jace is out of Danger?”. Gabriel looked at Toby sternly “I understand your desire to go Toby and I you want to go then we can anytime. As for Jace, I do not know. He is changing but I do not know when or even if he will wake”. Toby nodded and Gabriel saw him shutter and tears collect in his eyes.
Gabriel moved and wrapped Toby into a hug “It is okay Toby”. Toby let his tears flow “Really Jace almost died, Max wants to kill us, Liz is a devil, Mom is ill, and I don’t even know what happened to Luc. How can it ever be okay again”. Gabriel held him close “It will be okay Toby your family is changing. We can knock sense into Max and find a way to reconcile with Elizebeth. Jace will survive, I am sure of it, and we can go check on your mother and Lucian soon”. Toby managed to master his tears and looked up a Gabriel “Thank you Gabriel”.
Gabriel smiled and ran a finger down Toby’s face and wiping away the last of his tears. Toby shuttered and smiled then he turned and reentered the room with Wulf and Jace. Gabriel watched him go and turn away from the room. He went instead to a window and looked out into the dark and silent forest, letting his mind wander into strange paths of his own thoughts. He did not know how long he stood in front of the window thinking but he heard a commotion in the room with Jace and he quickly entered. Jace looked at him as he entered. Jace’s body was quickly healing and Gabriel saw that the wound he had made removing the pup had healed well. Jace smiled at him and in a weak voice “Am I going to make it Gabriel?”. Gabriel smiled “Yes, I think you are going to do fine”. Jace looked at Wulf “That's good”. Jace then fell into a deep sleep. Toby and Wulf breathed and smiled. Gabriel looked at them “I think you both need to sleep too”. Toby looked at Wulf and nodded. Wulf said “I will sleep in here to be near Jace”. Gabriel smiled and offered any bedding Wulf needed. While Wulf settled in the room with Jace. Gabriel took Toby’s hand and led him to their bedroom. Gabriel looked at Toby “you need to rest now Toby”. He moved in a nuzzled against Toby’s neck and felt Toby shiver. He whispered in Toby’s ear “Let’s go and get some well needed rest”. Toby nodded and they moved into the bedroom.
Chapter 25
Gabriel awoke with Toby after a long rest and they returned to Jace’s room to find him looking stronger and healthier. Jace was talking to Wulf when they entered and he smiled at them. Toby smiled back “How are you doing Jace”. Jace’s voice was stronger than it was “Better, still weak though”. Toby smiled again and Gabriel moved up and looked at Jace. He saw the changes in his body and felt the power slowly growing in him. Gabriel looked between Jace and Wulf “You are welcome to remain in this fortress for as long as you need. The wolves will not come back here for a long time” Gabriel looked at Toby “We can go and visit your mother anytime Toby but by the sound of it the sooner the better”. Jace looked at Toby “You're going to visit Mom?”. Toby nodded and Jace got a tense look “Tell her that I am sorry for leaving and if you tell her what happened break it to her gently”.
Toby nodded “We will be back in a few days”. Jace and Wulf nodded and Toby followed Gabriel out of the fort. They revealed their wings and in strong flaps they took to the air and flew over the forest. They looked down as the shadowy expanse of the forest spread out under them as they flew They flew fast and far with the forest giving way to the plains and foot hill. Gabriel saw the city of Valis in the distance as they flew over the plains and saw a smoke rising from a place far to the north on the plains but then they were past and Gabriel relaxed a little. They flew over the river and came down near the wood by the village. They moved towards the village and found that it was almost empty. Only the old and stubborn members of the community seemed to be left. Toby saw some old men he had known and moved to them “What happened here? Where is my mother?” The old men looked at Toby and recognition came to their eyes “The village is being abandoned because of the recent attacks.. The young have gone north seeking refuge or to fight against the evil in the land. Your mother tobias is in the healer's house. She is dying and she has been in decline since Jace and Lucian disappeared”. Toby eyes widened “Lucian is gone?”. The old man nodded “The last we heard he crossed the river and headed south”.
Toby gave Gabriel a look of fear as they left the old man and moved towards the house of healing. They came to the house and entered and Toby gasped as they entered the wide open space and saw his mother. She lay on a bed in a corner and her breathing ragged and shallow. Toby rushed to her and bent over her. Gabriel stood by the door letting Toby have his time with his mother. A healer appeared near Gabriel and they looked at Toby and his Mother “Will she make it?” Gabriel asked his voice husky. The healer shook his head “She is old now and the shocks she has suffered have put her beyond recovery. It is just a matter of making her as comfortable as possible until the end”. Gabriel nodded and move closer to Toby. Toby was whispering to his mother in a soft voice and she looked at him and responded in a voice as soft. Gabriel could not hear the whispers and as he got closer she looked at him her eyes soft and full of pain. She smiled softly “Please help my children as you have helped Tobias and Jace. Please save them if you can Gabriel”. Gabriel nodded as a shuttering gasp racked her “Can ease my journey Gabriel, Please”. Gabriel nodded and leaned over her “Go in peace my friend and may your journey to the necropolis lead to a better place I will help your children as best I am able and keep them safe. Rest now”. Gabriel drew from her the final breath of her life and they watched her life fade from her. Gabriel heard Toby’s sniffling and he turned to him and saw the tears. Gabriel moved in a held him “She is at peace Toby”. Toby nodded “I know, she is in a better place now. Lets go south and find Luc before we go back to the forest”. Gabriel nodded and saw the healers begin to prepare the body for burial. “We will go as soon as you are ready Toby” Gabriel said in a soft voice as they left the house of healing.
Chapter 26
Gabriel moved through the forest to the fortress that was his home. He had left Toby to watch over the grave of his mother. Gabriel would like to be with him now but there was a gift that he must retrieve. It was an old gift that he had carefully tended for many years. It was long ago when he had first met her. She had been so young then. One day they had met in the shadows of the forest and she had been carrying a pure white flower. It was a Moon Rose, a rose that bloomed in the pale light of the moon. He had recognized the flower and had tensed for he remembered that the flower had been a bane for him when he had been the monster that Damon had made him. The Moon Rose was an anathema to dark creatures since it is a symbol of purity.
She had given him the Moon Rose in vase and he let the surprise show that he was not repulsed by the flower. He had kept and tended the flower carefully over the years and still it bloomed beautifully in the moonlight.Now he desired that flower a living memory of her. He entered his fortress and found the flower where he had left it. He collected the flower and carried back to the village. As he approached the village Gabriel heard raised voices. Moving quickly found a group of men standing near the grave of Toby’s Mother. Then he saw a man confronting Toby and it was from them the raised voices were coming from. Gabriel recognized the man was Max and he was holding a blade on Toby. “I will not let you defile our mothers grave Tobias. If you tell me were the monster Gabriel is then I will forget I saw you and you can go find a dark place to hide”. Toby snarled with tears building in his eyes “You come here threatening Gabriel and Me and declaring you care about mom when you abandoned her” Toby’s eyes sparked and his voice became more feral “When you abandoned everyone”. Max scoffed his face becoming haughty “I did not abandon anyone. I left to find a way to destroy that monster and to put my brother and sister to rest. I came back when I heard mom was ill but it appears I was to late. Now I have to make sure she can rest in peace”. Max looked over at the men behind him. They were on horses and Gabriel could see that they were armored. “Dig her up” Max shouted at them. Gabriel watched and saw Toby’s body go rigid and Gabriel caught the whisper “You will not dig our mother up Max”. Max looked at Toby and sneered “Yes I am going to dig up my mother beast and make sure she will not wake up like you”. Toby began to snarl and growl deep in this throat and Gabriel saw the signs that Toby was losing control.
Gabriel move forward and shouted “You will not Max and I you want me I am here”. Max jerked as he looked around and saw Gabriel emerging from the shadows. Toby turned to and Gabriel saw the tears sliding down his cheeks as he fought for control. Max face became rigid and he pointed his blade at Gabriel “Die Monster”. Max rushed at Gabriel and Gabriel moved with an elegant grace. He was not going to allow Max to fight this time. Gabriel lashed out as Max rushed in he hit him with a single hard thrust. Max crumpled to the ground unconscious. Gabriel picked up his body and moved closer to the mounted men he saw the empty horse being held by one of the men and he threw Max’s unconscious body over the horse’s back. He looked around at the other men “Leave”. The men looked at Gabriel with fear and turned driving their horses away from the village. Gabriel returned to Toby and gave him a soft look “It is okay now”. Toby looked at him with tears still streaming down his face. Gabriel smiled and wiped the tears away before he took the Moon Rose and gently he placed the flower over her grave. He gently patted the roots as the flower shone in the moonlight. Gabriel began to mutter an enchantment of great complexity and the flower began to shine and grow. Soon seeds began to fall around and take root. The grave was soon covered in shining Moon Roses. The first rose shone strongest on the grave. Gabriel looked at Toby who looked at the flowers in wonder “It is a final gift to her the Rose will protect her from Max and any others who might wish to desecrate her grave”. Toby smiled and looked at the shining flowers “Thank you Gabriel she would have loved this final gift. Goodbye Mom we have to go now and find Lucian”. Gabriel looked at the grave one final time and he followed Toby out of the village. They spread their wings and in a few flaps they began their journey south.
Chapter 27
Gabriel and Toby flew south over the plains at speed. Gabriel knew where Lucian would end up going. He wanted to save his mother but he knew she would not survive long. He would go to the Lich country and seek out the power of a necromancer. So they flew quickly towards the mist shrouded country of the undead. Gabriel watched the ground speeding underneath them looking for a figure moving south but he saw nothing as they flew over the plains. Then they crossed into the mist shrouded lands. They landed among the mist and Toby looked over at Gabriel “Where do you think that he is?”. Gabriel’s face was tense “If he made it all the way into this country then there is only one place he could be”. They moved through the mist but did not encounter groups of undead. Gabriel became more tense the further they moved “This is strange we should have encountered some undead before now”.
Toby looked at Gabriel “What do you mean?”. Gabriel kept moving his body tense “I have moved through this country multiple times and I have never seen it so empty. I have always dealt with multiple groups of undead just to move through this country. If it is this empty then the Lich that rule this land are planning something”. Toby nodded as they moved through the mist and soon they saw the towering form of the temple through the mist. Gabriel stopped before the temple and Toby walk up beside him “Should we enter?”. Gabriel smiled “No I have a better way”. Gabriel placed a hand on the great stone door of the temple and there was a shutter as power pulsed through the door. They felt something respond and its attention focused on them. Gabriel smiled softly “Here they come”. Gabriel and Toby stood waiting and then the doors opened no figure appeared but a soft voice emerged from the dark “Who dares to approach the temple of the Lich?”. Gabriel spoke to the dark “I am Gabriel and this is Toby. We have come seeking a novice among you named Lucian”. A muttering whisper as though a great number of people were standing near the door floated out of the darkness and then went silent. The voice did not speak again but something stirred in the darkness and a figure emerged from the dark. The figure was dressed in a pitch black hooded robe and as he approached he lowered his hood. The face was sunken and the eyes were dark. Toby stirred “Lucian” The man smiled “Tobias, I did not expect to see you”. Toby gave a sad smile “Mom is dead”. Lucian smiled faded “I feared as much, she had been failing since Jace left. I was alone and I began to seek ways to save her. It was from a stranger travelling through the village that I learned about necromancy. I will use this power to bring her back”. Toby looked sad “No Lucian, she is already gone and at peace please come with us. We can go back to Jace and then we can figure out how to help Max and Liz together. It is what she wanted Luc”. Lucian's face hardened “I am sorry Toby but I have made my choice. I will bring mom back”. Gabriel looked at him with a red gleam in his eye “No you won’t Lucian. I made sure that no one would ever be able to disturb her rest. Lucian’s dark eyes flashed “So be it but I am still remaining here. They have promised me power”. Toby voice rose and became pleading “Please Lucian”. Lucian raised his hood and began to walk back “Leave Toby, things are moving here. So the Lich is willing to let you leave our territory”.
Toby looked sad as he watched Lucian enter the darkness of the stone doorway and Gabriel warped his arm around Toby. “We won’t give up on him Toby. It will just take time for him to come around” Gabriel whispered into Toby’s ear “Lets go back to Wulf and Jace. We can figure things out from there”. Toby nodded and they moved away from the temple and turned east towards the forest.
Chapter 28
Toby and Gabriel flew from the mist covered lands and soon they saw the edge of the forest appearing. Gabriel looked at Toby as they flew through the high airs and then something hit him. Gabriel looked around and saw other form flying around them. Several of the humanoid forms dived and struck out at Gabriel. Gabriel tried to defend himself and he heard Toby scream. He looked around and saw Toby being dragged down by the flying forms. Gabriel looked at the humanlike forms and suddenly got a good glimpse at them. They were vampires. Wearing dark armor the vampires sneered at him as they dove for the ground.
Gabriel snarled a followed them down to the ground and saw the Vampires land near a camp set near the eaves of the forest. Gabriel heard Toby scream again and he landed in the heart of the camp his fangs beared “Where is Toby?”. The Vampires smiled and a familiar voice spoke “Welcome to our camp Gabriel”. Gabriel turned and saw Damon. He was sitting on a large throne like chair and beside him being held in a kneeling position was Toby. Gabriel snarled “Damon let Toby go”. Damon looked at Gabriel “It was not kind to attack me like you did at the fortress Gabriel. I am going to have you again. You are needed for the war already we have begun to fight”. Toby looked up at Gabriel a pleading look on his face. Damon continued “If I must hold you precious little fledgling to get you then I will Gabriel. You are mine and you will serve. If you are good then I might let you spend some time with this young one”. Damon placed a hand under Toby’s chin and raised his head up to look into Toby’s eyes “I can see why you like him Gabriel”. Gabriel snarled again looking at Damon “Why do you want me Damon?”. Damon looked at him with disappointment “You know why Gabriel. You were a powerful and dangerous force. The Herald has said that you will be the instrument for our victory. You must resume that reputation that you gave up all those years ago. You must become the greatest fear of the humans again”. Damon looked at Toby “Do you know what they use to call Gabriel young one. They used to call him the bloodletter. He killed many humans as well as other creatures. Do you want to see him do it again young one”. Toby gave Damon a look of contempt and did not answer. Damon smiled and let Toby’s head drop “Come quietly Gabriel and no harm need to come to your young friend”. Toby looked at Gabriel his face fearful. Then Gabriel heard it a deep low growling coming from the forest and the twilight was full of howling.
From the forest great hulking forms of the werewolves rushed out and they were among the vampires. As the wolves and the vampires fought Gabriel rushed forward. Damon’s attention had shifted to the attacking Wolves and he did not perceive the Gabriel was upon him until Gabriel landed a blow across Damon’s temple. Damon dropped unconscious and Gabriel swept up Toby and they flew off with great speed as the fighting continued. Gabriel looked at Toby “Are you okay Toby?”. Toby looked at him and nodded “Yes, I am okay but what was that about”. Lets get back to Wulf and Jace before we talk about that”. Toby nodded and they fell into a gentle silence as the approached the fortress in the forest and came in for a landing.
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I hope that you all are having a good Halloween. Here is a story for the Halloween season Halloween NJake
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Hello, I am NJake I am an aspiring writer. If you like my stories, please give me a follow and a comment and consider joining my Patreon ...
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