I fly from the cliffs of the villa and straight into the heart of city, jumping so high, my fingers almost brush the clouds, the white blood-soaked pouch dangles from my hip as we're airborne, the generals head slinking back and forth. I land firmly onto the hardened dirt in the central of Rome, central parks and gardens litter the space around me. The snow isn't as impactful on nature inside the city. Witches coming out of hiding to spruce up the garden, making sure the flowers don't wither and die outside of its season, and restricting the snow fall from covering the blinding green grass. Appearance is everything to the Emperor and having supernatural's making your dying city look as alive as a newborn baby is nothing short of denial.
The city still teems with activity at this time of morning, the sun is just breaking through the corner of the city and ready for a new day, I make my way towards Castle Ușa, the vampire clan of the city. It is an ancient clan that has lived since the first vampires, The Dragun Clan, an honour to even be a servant there, let alone a Bloodshadow. A Bloodshadow is an assassin that serves the elders of the clan, tasked with taking out mortals or immortals that threaten their position of power. Trained to kill in most swift of ways, the training of Bloodshadow takes almost one hundred and fifty years, perfecting all skills in hand-to-hand combat, with all manner of blades, the bow and vampire abilities. The perfect weapons to guard the most powerful leaders of the immortal world.
I am the commander of the Bloodshadow legion, all around the world there stand outposts of more vampire clans that are also guarded by my assassins, the contribution of us weapons among other vampire clans gives The Dragun clan the most power.
The leaders of other vampire groups ask for protection from the elders and in return, they handover the leadership of their clan and weekly shipments of Bloodfiends.
Bloodfiends are humans who have been fed on for such a long period of time that the vampire blood so consistently given to them in order to regenerate blood cells is permanent, they enter a state of consciousness that makes them under any command, craves for vampire saliva in their bloodstream and doesn't have any mental compacity but to sit and wait for the next feeding. A cruel life, but their nervous system is taken over by the vampire cells and no longer is capable of feeling pain. So, in other words, a piece of rock would have better chances at feeling emotions. Does not make it humane though.
I pass many of the citizens of Rome on my way to the castle, they look away from me almost forcibly, a hardened leather suit covers my entire body, from neck to ankles, the light cloak strung across my back and flowing to my calf's, my gloves fit tightly around my fingers and hand, as if they're a second skin. I am also covered in weapons but that is not the main reason they try not to stare. I have metal pin strapped just above my bodice, a dragon insignia roaring with its fangs displayed.
The Dragun Clan symbol.
Many humans of the city know of the "group", but they have no idea what we are.
They think of us a band of deadly people with power in high places, not to be toyed with. Little do they know; we quite literally clean up the Emperors scraps.
Nothing to be proud of. Vampires are powerful creatures, if not the most powerful beings in the supernatural world.
Supernaturally, our world is governed by a general of five species.
Vampires: our species is the most powerful among them all, having connections with the mortal government all around the world, we are a force to be reckoned with. Also, the first immortals to ever live.
Banshees: another immortal species with abilities to manipulate death itself, not bringing people back from the dead, they don't have magic like witches and warlocks do. But they have a deeper connection to the dead than any living thing. They can manipulate death in ways like; communicating with spirits, sensing when an individual is close to their death, can trace poisons and sicknesses in the mortal body. Banshees also have a powerful ability to use extreme destruction with telekinesis. Many of their abilities are unknown due to a lack of the species in over five hundred years. Banshees are also made not born.
Warlocks: the last immortal species in the group, warlocks are often related as male witches but is actually complete opposites, females and males can be warlocks, the only difference is that this species is not born, they're made. They have basically converted into the reverse of witches. Witches are known for light magic, they bring things back to life, tapping into spirits that give them power to restore balance to the earth. Warlocks have chosen to take life rather than repair it. They have developed immortal bodies from the lives that have been stolen using dark magic. They are just as powerful as witches.
Witches: they are known to be servants of the earth, pillars of light in human form to restore damage to natural balance. Witches are mortal just as humans.
Werewolves: the final mortal form of the group, werewolves are commonly referred to "moon beasts" considering on a full moon they are seen to be in a humanoid wolf form, with sharp talons, standing over 8 feet tall with deadly levels of agility and a deep hunger for blood just as vampires. They are able to turn at will but on full moons they have no choice but to turn regardless.
These species have all lived in conflict between each other for thousands of years. Commonly starting silent wars when the other is killing too many of the group.
I finally trudge up the steps towards the entrance of Castle Ușa, the statues that surround the place are breath taking, white polished stone constructed into dark knights surrounding the front courtyard, all of the great statues have one thing in common, the Dragun insignia displayed proudly on they're chests. Great metal gates stand behind me, with pike like ends on top, the entrance to this place is deathly chilling, even so much as to send a piercing chill up my spine.
The courtyard is also decorated in red roses, and other beautiful bright flowers that all have the colour in common, stone slabs for seats surround a luscious fountain sprouting in the middle of the floristry. I continue my hike up the steep steps and two guards emerge from behind the dozens of pillars flanking the huge palace. The castle is ancient and is built like classic roman architecture, the stone is withered and aged from years of standing but mostly cleaned of every speck, the palace towers over most of the structures in the area and holds six stories.
The guards are about to stop me until they think better of it and see me with my insignia, I pulled them up on it one day and asked if they approach every vampire that climbs the steps, they replied "You can never be too cautious my lady" that is true in all aspects, but I have left this castle a thousand times for my contracts and every time they approach regardless. I nod as I go past them and receive one back, they open the great hulking doors that reach to height of twelve feet. I walk in silently, my steel capped boots occasionally clinking against the checkered marble floor, the doors open up to a breath-taking entrance, there are two sets of stairs on both sides of the room and they wind up to a platform with a grand overview of the entrance. There is a door to a room under the stairs and it opens up to multiple facilities in the building. There are also doors flanking the left and right of the room, my right opens up to a serving room, linked with a kitchen. The left opens up to a grand library that I thoroughly enjoy holding up until my next task.
Up on the balcony a good friend sits waiting for me, I smile and move toward her.
Her name is Natalie, she has brown honey golden locks that fall well down her shoulders, her chestnut eyes sparkle in the candle lights that litter the castle walls. And her beautiful black dress that compliments her bodice and curves, it glitters off the reflecting floor. She raises her eyes when she hears the door open and practically runs down the stairs.
She jumps into my arms holding so tight, a vampire's strength could not compare.
"Hello, my love" I say softly into her hair, I feel her face smile in my shoulder.
"I missed you my dragoste" she says, she pulls back, and her smile makes my chest flutter, those plump beautiful cheeks rosy with colour.
I caress my hand across her cheek and kiss her passionately, she replies with her body and moves into my embrace.
I pull away slowly, Natalie dragging this out for as long as she can.
"I have only been gone a night my dear, is everything well?" I ask her, worry flooding my head. She turns away and signals for me to walk up the stairs.
"Yes of course! I just worry" she says meekly, almost ashamed to admit it. I hook my hand through hers, "I would never leave this world without seeing you go too my love, you know that more than anything" she kisses my cheek in reward. I love Natalia more than I have loved anything in the world. She is my sun, and I am her moon.
I met Natalie when she had only turned eighteen, I found her in the gutter of the streets, beaten and dying. I knelt down beside her and those eyes looked into mine and knew somewhere inside my dead heart, that she would make it breathe again. And she did.
The only problem is, is that she is a witch. A powerful one at that, but the only reason she is a part of the vampire clan is because she offers talents that no vampire can do. I was frightened of what the vampires might do to her here because she is mortal but surprisingly in less than a week, my little witch had made more friends here than I had in a decade.
Of course, her coven never enjoyed the idea of vampire friends, but to join a vampire clan was pure treason. They stripped her of her next in line matriarchy title and kicked her out, part of the reason she was removed from the coven is because who she chose to love. A vampire.
We continue walking towards the council room, which is right in the middle of the castle, and trudge through the ball room. The friendly faces that greet me home is welcoming, they nod and smile at both me and Natalie walking hand in hand. The enormous dome that hugs as the roof makes all heads turn, the diamond and gold chandeliers never cease to amaze me. Oh, how I long to dance under this roof, gouging my taste in all bloods and eating fine mortal meals with Natalie, while the alluring notes of music seep into my ears.
Another time perhaps, and I lock the joys away.
We make it past the crowds of immortals and through another pair of huge doors, both guards open them for me and only me. I turn to Natalie.
"I will meet you back here in half an hour, I won't be long my dear" I say trying to sound assuring. She meets my gaze "Yes of course my dragoste, but please don't be long" she almost whimpers. I take her hand and plant a kiss. "Never enough time with you, my love" she warms under my lips, her cheeks blooming red.
I turn away before I can't and head into the spiral of rooms that lead to the council chambers.
I finally come to a stop at a door just as big as the last. Great dragon patterns decorate the doors and walls leading up to it, each more detailed and magnificent than the last. There are eight guards standing by it, four Infront and four behind some paces away from the wall.
They all step aside when they see me and open the doors.
I step into to another domed ceiling that goes on forever, the light never able to catch the darkness that clings to the edges of the roof.
Straight ahead of me there are four thrones seated on platforms, each grander than the next. And on those thrones sit four dangerous, ancient and powerful beings.
The Elders.
"Mi-am întors stăpânii" (I have returned my masters)