by Matt Stuart

This novel is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters and incidents portrayed in this work come wholly from the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or localities is entirely coincidental.

©Matt Stuart 2015

This book is copyright. All rights reserved.

Apart for fair dealing for the purposes of private study, research, criticism or review, as permitted under the Copyright Act, no part may be reproduced by any process without the written permission of the author. Extract may be used for the purpose of reviews.

Peace or War

The night wind whistled through the knee-high grass on the outskirts of the city of Rhorn. The breeze was crisp and fresh, typical for this early in the winter. Rhorn was located in Sauria, the powerhouse nation at the very southern tip of Taagras. Known for its masterful swordsmen and fine crafting, Sauria was one of the wealthiest countries throughout Taagras.

To the north lay a mountainous range and an infamous area known as the Rhorn Pass in which the armed forces of Sauria found the neighboring Renori. Both sides had been fighting in the Pass for years after an assassination attempt on the Sauriaan Councilor’s life. Even though there was a temporary treaty in place, sentries continued patrolling Rhorn’s high walls to keep the city safe from enemy raids.

Each man was dressed in the typical gold and silver livery of the Sauriaan armed forces. Most carried standard short swords at their belts, with a silver cloak and wooden shield strapped firmly in the center of their back. Every sentry wore a chainmail vest underneath their cloaks and kept their heads on a swivel, constantly searching for any sign of attackers.

Aside from the wind and gentle footsteps of the sentries above, Rhorn was quiet; the occasional tavern or brothel still operated this late into the night. Lights from the buildings on the main streets could be seen from a distance, breaking through the darkness.

One building not far from the main street was also lit up like a bonfire, standing alone in the city filled with darkness. Inside two men scurried around the spacious room. Their shadows bounced off the walls in the dancing firelight that came from several braziers placed around the room. One man was tall and thin, built like a reed, and dressed in a doctor’s garb. His entire body obscured, save for eyes, that could be seen through the sockets in the grey bird-like mask.

The other man in the room was much more menacing and commanded a larger presence. He almost matched the doctor in height; only two inches separated them. However, the second man was composed of lean muscle, tense like a whip, instead of skin and bone. A cowl covered his face and his body was draped in a black rawhide trench coat that looked thicker than most. On the insides of the coat and along the man’s belt, knives and a sword were visible.

The doctor examined several of the tools on the table and looked to his companion. “Are you ready to proceed, Barros?”

“You better ask my wife,” the armored man replied.

A woman lay on the bed in heavy labor, her gasps coming in rasps as her body rose and fell. Her contractions grew closer together, tearing a cry from her lips. She was thin and extremely beautiful. Her golden curls fell down to her shoulders and her green eyes stood out from her fair complexion.

“Barros, this baby will change everything we know,” she whispered.

Sweat poured from her brow and she let out another groan as the baby moved inside her. It was desperate to be born into the world. Sophia grabbed her husband’s hand as he crouched beside her.

“I know, my love. Everything will be alright.” Barros gently stroked her hair. He let out a smile. “Have you ever felt Fyndfire? This won’t be as bad as that.”

“This is worse!” Sophia screamed.

The doctor looked up from his table. He walked over to the bed to check on the patient. “Are you ready, Sophia?”

“Of course I am. Get this thing out of me!” Her contractions shortened and she screamed again.

“It’ll be alright, my love, I promise,” Barros said.

The Hunter remained by his wife’s side throughout the ordeal, enduring her screams and comforting her as best he could. As the clock on the wall struck one, the baby was born. The doctor cradled the mess of flesh and blood in his arms while the screams and cries of its mother echoed around the room. The newborn child still had its umbilical cord attached. One swift cut from the doctor’s knife saw it removed.

Instantly blood spurted from the wound at a much faster rate than normal. The doctor let out a cry of alarm as he desperately tried to stem the flow. Both Barros and the doctor were instantly soaked in blood but then, the wound began to heal, sealing off the blood flow. The doctor watched, amazed as the baby’s body rapidly repaired itself.

“Barros, the child has lost a lot of blood, it will surely kill him.” The doctor examined the child and scratched his head. The child was still breathing; it’s pulse still strong. “I’m not sure how he is still alive.”

“Sophia is a Vampire, doctor. This child is the first ever half Vampire to have been born within Taagras.”

“A Vampire? I thought they’d begun to die out, hundreds of years ago, after the first war!” the doctor said. “This is unbelievable. I will have to undertake a study.”

“You will do no such thing with my wife and son. Find yourself another child to experiment on,” Barros growled. “Not that you ever will.”

“Apologies, Barros. I overstepped. It is merely the possibilities that could come from such research that excites me beyond measure.”

“There’s no need to offer apologies doctor. Every man loses himself in a moment of passion. I understand the impact of what a child like ours could have on science, rewriting every known law there is.”

“What are we going to call him?” Sophia asked. “I can tell he’s already got powers. He’s going to be much like me.”

“Do you have any suggestions?”

“I don’t know, my love.” Sophia gestured to take the baby from Barros. “Let me see him.”

The Hunter took the child to his wife, gently lowering the boy into her arms. Sophia looked down on him, her eyes wide and full of tears as she cradled him. “He’s beautiful.”

“He also needs a name,” Barros said.

“My lady, Barros. If I could offer a suggestion here.” The doctor looked up from his bag. “Long ago, I read a book. It told of a time when a boy would become a man and save darkness from Taagras. Since I am now aware that Vampires still live among us, I dare say there could be a particular darkness on the land. No offense, Countess.”

“None taken,” Sophia replied too sweetly. “Was there a name in the book?”

“No, there was a title, however. The author referred to him as the Son of Light,” the doctor said.

“If I’m not mistaken, it translates to Abner in the old tongue,” Sophia said.

“A strong name,” Barros said. “But one that will put a great burden on his shoulders.”

“It is a good name, Barros. Don’t let this opportunity for our child pass us by. A name is as important as the accomplishments he achieves throughout his life,” Sophia said.

“Very well, he will be known as Abner Toldar,” Barros said.

“Excellent.” The doctor smiled marking the name down on a sheet of parchment. “I shall inform the archives at once. Rest assured nobody will know your true identity, Sophia.”

“You should leave immediately doctor,” Sophia suggested. “I need to rest and regain my strength and I’m feeling rather thirsty tonight.”

Barros turned to shake the doctor’s hand but the second he did so, he heard a gasp from behind him. Sophia’s hand covered her mouth and Barros could feel her body beginning to shake. “Not now,” she sobbed.

White fangs slid from her mouth and her fingernails slowly extended turning into wicked claws. Sophia’s skin darkened and her eyes grew unnaturally large. Soon there would be nothing left of the woman Barros loved. He snatched the child from her outstretched arms and placed him gently in the crib beside the bed.

“Stay with me, Sophia.” He grasped her hand and knelt beside her. “Focus on me, you won’t turn again. I promise you.”

Sophia laughed. “It’s too late, Barros. I can’t hold out anymore.” A red glaze covered her eyes and Barros could tell she was now lost to him.

“You swore to me, for as long as we are together, that you wouldn’t change! Hold it back!” Barros roared putting his hand on a dagger. “You know I’ll have to kill you?”

“I can’t, Barros,” Sophia cried.

“Doctor, get out of here now,” Barros commanded. “Leave your things, I’ll find you when it’s safe.”

“Barros, what do you want me to do? I will alert the city guards,” the doctor said.

“You will do nothing. Now flee!” Barros ordered. “I can handle this.”

Sophia struggled to shift into her true form. It had been five years since she last transformed and time had decayed her abilities. Barros found two long daggers, relics of his early days as a Hunter suddenly in his hands. As his fingers closed around the hilt his skills, once forgotten, came flooding back and with it the thrill of the hunt.

Barros turned his head, measuring the progress the doctor had made. He was almost out the door. Sophia used the distraction to her advantage. She leapt from the bed, her natural grey rotting skin still not visible. The Vampire used the bed as a springboard as she drove her powerful legs into the mattress.

Sophia caught the doctor before he even had chance to unlock the door. Before Barros could blink she’d administered two quick slashes with her hands. The doctor’s throat was ripped open and his lifeless body slumped besides the door. Sophia stood triumphant over him, saliva mixing in with the blood that surrounded her mouth.

She pointed wickedly at Barros with one long finger. “Barros, my fearless Hunter, kneel beneath me where you belong,” she said in her human voice. “Your blood is as corrupted as mine, and thus of no use to me. I smelt it all those years ago. There is a taste of my kind in you, Barros, and I cannot have that. Any other Hunter would be perfect and I would find myself in a much better situation. Abner should provide me with suitable nourishment and killing him would hurt you.”

“No, you will not cause any harm to our child.” Barros shouted.

“You’d defend the very child that could be the downfall of your beloved Order? Sophia asked. “He has the very potential to be the destruction of humanity, Barros.”

“Abner is still half human and more than capable of destroying the Vampire threat,” Barros growled. “He could even be the missing link between our two races. Let me take him to the Huntrey and together you and I might bring Hunters and Vampires together.”

Sophia laughed softly at her husband. “My love, when it is a choice between human and Vampires, you know that my kind will always come first. As a Hunter, you should know that is true for every Vampire. Abner is just the first of many weapons that will come in this second war. Do you see this?” she asked pulling a simple round amulet from a fold in her gown. The only distinguishing feature was a small red circle in the middle.

“An amulet of Tal’davin,” Barros breathed. “That’s impossible. Lars Hunter scattered them to all corners of Taagras before he died.”

“This is one of the seven, Barros. It’s a plan I have had in place for many years now. My subordinates are currently locating the other six that will join with this one to create the whole. I will raise the Red Sky across the whole of Taagras and revive Tal’davin, the first and greatest Vampire to walk across Taagras,” Sophia said.

“Tal’davin will never rise again,” Barros grunted climbing to his feet.

“This is where you are wrong, Barros. Once the other six amulets belong to me, I will become the first Hand of Tal’davin and Taagras will flourish under my rule alongside him. My kind will lead the way in shaping the future, not humans,” Sophia laughed.

“I’ll kill you,” Barros threatened.

“You will try and you will fail.” Sophia walked back to him.

The Countess gently placed a hand on the Hunter’s shoulder, forcing him to the ground, her hand digging into his flesh. Daggers hung loosely by his side and once again Barros was defeated. Sophia moved her other hand to his head, squeezing gently on his temples. The Hunter felt the tingling sensation he had experienced during their first encounter.

“Sleep now, my love,” Sophia whispered softly as she cast a spell of submission over him. “Rest and find me here in the morning.”