The Vampire Species is said to be given flesh by the Seven Original Vampires known as Bluebloods. The Bluebloods form a family, although accounts don't know exactly when the head of the family, the first original vampire, came into existence.
**Wicked Games—Philip Ayers**
The compulsion he had on her instantly broke, and the blank mask he wore slipped away while his expression morphed into something like…anticipation?
"I suppose I was wrong. I thought you were on the dumb side, but it's good to see you possess the basic sense most witches, or even humans for that matter seem to lack," he said coldly, tilting his head to the side.
Ember collapsed to her knees the moment his power of compulsion on her snapped, a sharp groan tearing from her lips as pain seared through her shoulders. It was as maddening as the man who now loomed above her, his piercing gaze unreadable, as though he was silently contemplating what to do with her next. Then, to her confusion, he leaned down.
His hand holding the dagger came up, then paused midair. His eyes flickered to her. "Does it hurt?" he asked flatly, his words mechanical, devoid of compassion, as he raised the dagger—his most treasured weapon—on her.
She should have been terrified. Any reasonable person would be. Yet when she opened her mouth, her answer came out as if under a spell, almost dazed. "It hurts. Everything hurts." She said, her voice breaking as tears began to form in her eyes anew.
She had lost everything.
Even though she had nothing, she had lost everything. And that was more painful than she thought it would be.
A dark grin crept across his face, revealing sharp, menacing fangs while he seemed oblivious to her plight. "Better get used to this pain," he said, voice low and cruel, "from now on, it's going to hurt a lot more… so much more that the pain of this night will feel like a damn rehearsal."
While the words were obviously targeted at her, it almost seemed he was speaking to himself as well. When she said nothing for the reason that she had no response to his words, he continued.
"Little thing, shall I take your pain away? Although I must say that will cost you even more than the price of me saving your life."
She barely processed his offer when with a swift, merciless motion, the sharp point of the double-hilted dagger slammed against her wounded shoulder, piercing through her flesh until blood poured out in hot gushes. She gripped his arm instinctively, squinting and gasping against the agony.
He didn't react to her pain or blood, remaining stone-faced, the embodiment of control. With brutal precision, he began to drag the weapon along the wounded area left by the Frost Drake's attack—drawing out blood that was unnaturally dark, almost black.
She choked, her throat burning as she gasped for air, watching the black blood drip like poisoned tears onto the ground. It hit her then—the monster had poisoned her. And Frost Drake poisoning was no joke. Known to cause hallucinations...and then eventual death.
He finally withdrew the dagger, leaving behind a raw, burning wound. Ember screamed inwardly, her entire body trembling as her vision blurred.
"How… how dare you bully a child!" she cried hoarsely, coughing violently between sobs. "No matter how mighty of an Ancient Vampire you are, you should be ashamed that you bully a child so!"
He rolled his eyes, seemingly finding her ridiculous. "There should be a thank you right there. You would have lost your arm otherwise. Although I suppose no thank you is needed since I shall just add this to the piling debt you now owe me."
She squinted at him. "Are you not ashamed you make a child owe you?" She muttered in a low voice, relief coursing through her body despite her pain. It was obvious that he had in fact done her a favour by removing the poisoned blood.
Not like she was going to remotely admit to that.
But he was not one to let her have the last words, for he said, "Was Rashel ashamed when he bulldozed through your coven without care for the women and children? Especially this sister of yours you speak of?"
Her eyes widened in shock. Then, rage overtook her as her lips trembled. "No."
He stepped closer, his voice dropping into something far more dangerous. "After seeing how easily he did away with your people, how dare you pretend as a child before me?"
"Do you understand now," he continued, voice cold and final, "that in the face of what happened tonight, there's no place for a weakling—let alone a child?"
She stared at him wordlessly for his words had robbed her of any words she might purport to say.
Frustration overtook his features when she remained silent, tears rolling down her face. He opened his mouth, perhaps to scream at her, but then stopped short of it.
Running his fingers through his hair, he muttered under his breath. "I cannot believe that damn wench sent to me a useless girl."
Ember perked at that. Not to talk of how unusual she found his presence, it had become quite clear that approaching her was no accident.
"What exactly do you want from me?" She asked slowly since it seemed he was a bit more approachable.
His pale silver eyes snapped at her like a whip, causing her to flinch. "Nothing you can give me for now… apparently."
Strange.
"What is that dagger you keep gripping?" She said, eying the weapon.
"Nothing you should ever ask about." He said dismissively. "Now you've two choices; either you wait here for the Six Witch Covens to find you, or you follow me." He said and began to walk away.
Ember stared at his receding back, befuddled. Never had she seen someone so confusing and rude. And not to talk of how he kept giving her disguised choices that were never a choice in the first place.
Of course she sprang up and limped after him. Should the six other covens that make up the witch council find her who was an Echo Witch and a servant who mysteriously survived the massacre, then being given away to the Old Ones will be the least of her problems.
Light flashed in the distance, signifying that the witch covens her mother long sent for were finally there. Ember looked back, wondering why they were so late.
It was strange. Everything that night was strange. She wanted to go back and check on the disaster and see if anyone had survived, but the dark smoke that swirled in the air was all the answer she ever needed.
She turned her back against the disaster, and then limped after him, who could be said to be her strange saviour.
He never turned to check if she was following him, but she knew he could feel that she followed. Ember was more curious though as to what an Original Vampire was doing all the way there.
Khaos Blueblood.
She almost couldn't believe that she was staring at the back of a man that existed for at least more than fifty centuries.
They walked until they reached the same forest that she had first met him at. The same forest her coven whispered contained things that should never be spoken.
He walked deep into it while Ember limped after him, and he only stopped at the exact place that he had fallen at that evening. And standing right there waiting for them was a woman.
Easily the most beautiful woman Ember had ever seen, she was blonde haired, lips a blazing red, and eyes a haunting golden. She certainly didn't seem to be a vampire, if her flushed cheeks was anything to go by.
So a witch? Or a human?
Ignoring Khaos though, she approached Ember, leaning before her while staring at her like she was beholding a wonder.
"You survived." She said, eyes shining with awe. "But since you've survived this night of cursed prophecies, another shall die in your place."
Ember of course said nothing. While she knew a lot of things about that night were strange, she was not foolish enough to dismiss them like it was nothing. Everything that happened that night and every word that was said that night she had been keeping a record of in her mind.
She believed the woman who stood before her was probably the one Khaos referred to as 'damn wench'. What was their connection? Why was the woman there? And what was this cursed prophecy?
The look of anticipation in her eyes morphed into a frown as if she just realized something unbelievable. "You're an Echo Witch?"