As the human world continues to celebrate the tiny fact that it is blessed with the gift of light, it often forgets that it is also cursed with the bane of shadows.
As Schatten Academy's search for its three missing students went far and wide, even to the distant districts as well as the students' homes, something was brewing within its own walls
'Is everything ready?' a boy's voice was heard.
'Yes, commander everything is ready.' The woman replied.
'Are you sure, you know the prince does not like any mistakes in regard to this matter.'
'Yes, Kaelan.' There was a hint of irritation in the person's voice now, 'I'm perfectly sure. How come do you expect all these two people to have the mark upon them?'
'You know the Zia is always a female, how can a male have the mark of the Zia? I'm asking you again. Are you sure? Because the prince does not like any mistakes regarding this. And I don't think the prince will spare anyone if they make a mistake regarding this.'
'The prince can spare his own sister.'
Both of them eased back into their seats in front of the fire as they glanced at the three figures that lay behind them. Two of them were unconscious while the third had lay dead. They had been waiting for the moon to rise again when they will be able to cross the gate again.
'I so do not like this waiting. We've got the Sangue here with us; why the fuck do we have to wait, we don't even need the moon now.' The woman said while impatiently shifting in her seat.
The man wrinkled his nose in disgust. Clearly, he was not pleased on the use of such a word.
'Living with the mortals has degraded your language, princess.' He said bitterly.
The girl shifted in her seat once again as she huffed.
'You're forgetting that I have an authority over you.'
'I'm not. But you're forgetting that you have a duty on our people.'
'I have not forgotten, as you can see that, I have found two people who have the mark of the Zia. The Zia is born after every hundred years and here are two that are born before the century is even complete.'
'I still have my doubts regarding this.' The boy said, 'The birth of the Zia takes place among one of the families of the Schatten Gardien. And it is a powerful event. How come we didn't feel the power when these two were born? I'm telling you Renata something is wrong. Maybe these three kids were just normal people from the kingdom of lights. Many children from the kingdom of the lights do have the mark of the Zia sometimes.'
The girl stood up and scoffed. She made her way to the three figures that lay side by side.
'You're just jealous Kaelan.' She said while letting out a mock chuckle, 'That I was the one to find out the Zia when you were the one assigned to find her out.'
Kaelan's face turned red in embarrassment.
Renata knelt in front of the three figures that lay in front of her. Two boys, perhaps twins and a girl. One of the boys and the girl were still breathing while the other boy just lay cold and still. She caressed the dead boy's face.
'I'm really sorry honey, I wouldn't have dated you if I could help it, but your brother here,' she took a quick glance at the other boy before turning back to him; 'I had to lure him into my trap. Don't worry sweetie, you're important too, your blood will help us cross over to the other side. Just you wait till the moon comes out honey, and I'm sure Kaelan would love to feast on your blood, won't you Kaelan?'
Kaelan gave out a disgusted scoff.
'I'll rather be stabbed with a silver knife rather than drink the blood of any man. You can give him to Chrysantha and Ethan.'
The girl smiled as she looked out the window. Sure enough, the sky had cleared and the full moon was out.
'Yo Kaelan, the moon is out.' She said.
Kaelan let out a disapproving sigh and looked out the window as well. The moon glowed in a faint purple-bluish silver glow. The boy got up from his seat and faced the three figures.
'It's time, Renata; can you please move the bodies other than the Sangue? Also, place the Sangue's body so that the blood can flow out directly into the star.' he said.
Renata nodded. She clapped her hands twice and the three bodies began to levitate and position themselves accordingly. The girl and the boy who was still alive were placed where she and Kaelan were previously sitting. The dead body of the other boy was now laid on his stomach.
'Let the magic begin.' She said as she rubbed her hands gleefully.
The moonlight flowed in a silver beam of light through the window and straight on the body of the dead boy. As soon as the moonlight touched the dead boy's blood that flowed out in an abstract manner, the blood turned golden and stilled.
'In the name of the kingdom of Schatten I command the Gardien to open the door and allow us to cross over.'
A rumble shook beneath them as the golden blood gushed out of the dead boy's body and flowed until it had completely spread out in the form of a circle around the body. The body glowed faintly and disintegrated into shimmers as a new hooded figure stood in its place where the body.
'Who is it that commands us to open the kingdom of the Schatten?' the hooded figure asked in a low metallic voice.
'It is us, you mean old man.' Renata huffed impatiently seeing the principal of Schatten Academy.
The figure ignored her and turned to Kaelan.
'Who is it that commands us to open the kingdom of Schatten?' he repeated.
'The Vampire Commander and the Shadow Princess wish to return to the kingdom of Schatten. We have found the Zia.'
The hooded figure showed a look of surprise but then it was immediately replaced by a brooding look.
'Very well,' he said and disappeared.
The pool of golden blood that had formed began to shimmer again. It began to flow out into the creases and joints that had been etched into the floor until an intricate pattern had been formed, resembling a star, perhaps.
'The Bloodstain, the Star of the Shadow.' Renata gasped. No matter how familiar she was to this symbol, the blood sacrifice ceremony had never failed to amuse her.
Kaelan bared his fangs as he raised his right hand. It looked ghastly in the combined light of the chandelier and the moonlight.
'In the name of Schatten.' he said as he tightly bit his own hand causing blood to come out of it. He extended the bleeding hand and let it pour down on the golden star.
The star glowed in a blinding light. Kaelan and Renata covered their eyes.
When the light subsided, Kaelan and Renata were no longer inside the cosy and furnished room. They and the two bodies now were in a clearing in a forest in pitch black darkness. The sky was in a similar shade of black as the forest around them. The full moon was in its full glow, a sphere of silver against the starless night sky. Faraway they could see the faint outline of a castle that very much resembled Schatten Academy.
'Look Kaelan, we're here. let's go.'
Kaelan nodded in agreement.
'Let's go. The Shadow prince will be very pleased with what we have found tonight.'
'Indeed.'