Chapter 2

• *Stormfall Mountain*
• Everyone could listen to the howls of the wind as a storm was passing Stormfall Mountain. The inhabitants huddled together aiming to keep the children quiet as there had been reports that feral vampires had been spotted nearby.
• To the shock of Alpha Cesa, she was sure that once the weather had changed the spotting of feral vampires would cease, at least for the winter season. This meant that the Clan Elders and her council had to have a meeting to consult on appropriate steps on how to deal with the issue before the situation escalated.
• “It has come to my attention that the feral vampires are still in our domain.” Alpha Cesa spoke to all who had joined the conference meeting. “It is of the utmost importance that we remain silent, at least until the ice and snow has become thicker over the entrances to our home.”
• “This is a coward's way!” Brang glanced around the area to see if any others agreed with him.
• Glenwarin beamed daggers at the young man who spoke his thoughts. “Brang do not be a fool. If a vampire should fall from the top of the mountain, they will simply heal. Whereas we will be dead becoming nourishment to our antagonists.”
• Growling, “I hate to agree with the old man, but this is not a time where we have the advantage. Glenwarin is correct, we need to proceed with caution.” Vakas grumbled, displaying his frustration over the situation.
• Elder Clan Aldiel spoke up, “I understand your frustration at the crisis that is going on. But you will not serve your family nor your clan if you are dead based on irrational emotions. The Generals have spent a great deal of time planning this. They have taken into consideration how you may respond to this threat. Do not let your emotions cloud your better judgement. The great clan of Stormfall Mountain has a reputation of being ruthless and cold as ice.” She smirked at the shifters. “Do not allow our enemies to make a mockery of such a great kingdom.”
• Brang was heaving, “they are making a mockery of us as we speak!”
• Alpha Cesa sat there as she listened to her council, her people venting out their frustration at not acting on the threat that was so close to their home.
• “Sometimes …” Alpha Cesa waited for the room to be quiet, “the best course of action is nothing at all. My last conversation with Alpha Queen Finja …” She inhaled, “she believed that we would be the last to be taken over.” Cesa intertwined her fingers together and placed them on the table as she leaned inward. “This means we have until the snow begins to melt to find a strategy to take down the feral vampires and aid our brothers and sister kingdoms. Our resources are plentiful and we will not run out any time soon. But our neighbouring kingdoms are not as lucky as we are.”
• Glenwarin studied the group, “alpha?” He waited for permission to speak.
• “Glenwarin you have the floor!” Alpha Cesa motioned with her hand for him to continue.
• “I have a plan! From the interactions that I had with Rimvan Longarm … he was a military strategist … a genius in his own right. I recall many of the stratigys that Rimvan spoke of." He cleared his throat as he looked at his peers, “If we are nimble … clever … and stealthily! We will be able to attack these blood-sucking demons and send them back to the universe. But this plan will take time and we will only have one opportunity to execute this mission with no mistakes.”
• Alpha Cesa gave her undivided attention to Glenwarin, “we are listening!”
• *Island*
• Lord Lewis was quick to learn that the Dorasea army would not comply easily with his demands. Many of them had made it clear that they would not listen to a vampire lord. Until they heard from their Alpha Relzeiros that they had to take orders from them they would continue with the orders they had been given.
• Many of the shifters began to show signs of mutiny against the snobbish vampires.
• The two captains sat down with the vampire lord in the conference room wanting to defuse the situation before it turned into a whole new battle.
• “Can you not see it from our perspective?” Captain Xowrick was trying to be reasonable with the lord. “We came here to get away from feral vampires … vampires all together. Then you come here bossing us around. If it were the other way around, would you not display hostility?”
• Lord Lewis hissed with irritation towards the two captains, “it does not matter what I think! Emperor Baldwin has given an order and it will be carried out!”
• “There you go again with your pompous attitude!” Captain Xankin chimed into the conversation. “Your emperor has had nothing to do with the shifters for centuries. The only time he leaves his kingdom is to see the crowning of the Alpha King. Then he is gone! There is no relationship between your Emperor and the shifters.”
• “He is keeping to the end of his deal! The treaty states …” Lord Lewis narrowed his sight on the man that was disrespecting him.
• “The treaty states that there is to be good relations between vampires, shifters and humans.” Captain Xankin snapped. “From my perspective … your Emperor has not done that at all. Where has he been all these years?” Dramatically he tapped his finger on his chin as he gazed at the ceiling. Snapping his fingers, “ah I know! NOT HERE!” Growling, “where was your Emperor when the roamers that Rimvan spoke of reached our ears? Ah I know … not here!” He leaned back into his chair with a thud. Crossing his arms over his chest, “from what I can tell Lord Lewis … you are as fucked as the rest of us. You can lock each and every single one of us up. But unless you start working with us … there will be no peace on this island.”
• Captain Xowrick glared at his comrade with disbelief. “I think what my friend is saying …”
• Hissing, “I know what he is implying C.A.P.TAIN!” Lord Lewis said with each word laced with venom. “Let me make this clear …”
• “No how about …”
• “Enough!” Captain Xowrick yelled. “We are not getting anywhere with you two at each other's throats.”
• “I will not budge!” Lord Lewis stated to the captains.
• “If you will not see reason and compromise, then maybe you will listen to our reality.” Captain Xowrick was struggling to keep his temper down. The air rushed out of his lungs. “The people do not see Emperor Baldwin as the supreme leader.”
• “Whispering Port …”
• Captain Xowrick cut off the vampire lord, “I mean the people of Dorhelhound. The tyranny that Coldfurgus brought down on the people and the alphas …”
• Lord Lewis snorted, “Shifter and human affairs are not Emperor Baldwin's concern!”
• Captain Xankin jumped out of his seat, and pointed at Lord Lewis, “You just admitted it! We are not the emperor's concern. We are not his subjects! And not his to order around!”
• Captain Xowrick glared daggers at his friend, “Xankin sit down! The point is this …” He locked his eyes on the lord, making sure he understood each would he spilled out of his mouth. “Emperor Baldwin has been so detached from the Dorhelhound people for over 200 years that we the people do not see him as our emperor. When he turned his back on us, we reached out. When he walked away, we pleaded. When he closed the door on us … we turned our backs on him.” The captain sighed, “when Alpha Zevar held the heads of Coldfurgus and his brother for everyone to see. No one shed a tear! Instead, we cheered and threw a party. When we found out it was Finja Longarm who was the executioner … we looked at her as our saviour!”
• “The rumours are that she is smart! Fighting skills like her father! And even though she is human … she understands the people's needs better than Emperor Baldwin!” Captain Xankin spoke his words with pride.
• “Facts are this Lord Lewis …” Captain Xowrick glanced briefly at his companion. “We will work alongside you. Though … we will not take orders from you. When Coldfurgus had his head chopped off, we said out loud we will no longer be suppressed and we will stand with our heads held high like our queen.”
• Lord Lewis smirked, “you have disrespected me for the last time.”
• Keeping his tone low and calm, “As you have disrespected me several times!” Captain Xowrick's eyes glazed over while Captain Xankin stood up and walked out of the conference room.
• ***
• “Little Island to Hydrophiinae!” Captain Xankin moved the two-way communicator receiver away from his mouth.
• For the longest time, there was only static until Captain Xankin could hear the low sound of a male chuckling, “Having issues with the emperor's vampires, little pup?” The male had made the assumption.
• Glaring up at the ceiling, “I really do hate vampires!” Captain Xankin hissed. Clicking the button to speak, “your assumption would be correct. We were wondering if you need extra fighters? If the pompous arse isn’t going to work with us … we are willing to try things out with you!” Captain Xankin released the button and waited for Hydrophiinae to respond.
• “What is the meaning of this?” Lord Lewis barged into the command center.
• “Negative!” A male said over the speaker. “This is Zane Hunter! You need to listen to me. Get back to Whispering Port and disrupt the army that is leaving the Bazzu Mountains. We underestimated their numbers. Things are worse than what Rimvan, Red Fang and I had ever imagined. We are still waiting for reinforcement from Briar Tower.” There was a click followed by static. “Listen to me pup … The Emperor’s military is prideful! Admitting that this crisis is partly on Emperor Baldwin’s shoulder is a big pill to swallow. The fact is this if we do not work together. General's Zincan Ulla, Vafir Husol, Viscarti, Sovexis and Perlen Rapidspirit will win this war before the winter season is over.”
• Captain Xankin glared at Lord Lewis in disbelief then hatred. Snatching the receiver out of his hands Lord Lewis introduced himself. “You are now the property of Emperor Baldwin …”
• “Lewis … Lewis! Ah it has been a long time since I last saw you. I am surprised you left the shadows of your undead fathers protection.” There was laughter on the other end of the line. “And now I understand completely why Little Island is having issues. Pull your head out of your arse dear boy or you are going to find your head chopped off by our enemies. This is no longer about seniority … It is about survival. You are as much part of the food chain as everyone else and your daddy isn’t there to dig you out of trouble this time.”
• “Listen to me you little inbred makeshift vampire!”
• Zane laughed over the line, “A Bloodrose has more power than you will ever have. And don’t forget you begged for the change. Where I was born a vampire … just like Lamia!” There was heavy breathing coming from Zane, “you will work with Little Island or it will be the last thing you will ever do!”
• “You little …”
• Ending the conversation, “Over and out!” Hydrophiinae half yelled over the line.
• Captain Xankin crossed his arms in front of his body, “that sounded like an order that you can’t disobey!” He smirked. He tapped his finger off his lips. “I am a little rusty in the politics of the vampire kingdom, but I do believe a born vampire has more sovereignty over those that are created. And correct me if I am wrong but if the emperor is unaware of a situation that is a foot … his bloodline has the right to make commands.”
• “He is a nomad! I don’t have to listen to a low life like him.” Lord Lewis hissed.
• “You do if I have overheard the whole conversation.” Lord Kherr strolled into the command centre. “You know as well as I do that Zane Hunter is of the bloodline. Whether he chooses to live in one of the emperor’s kingdoms or not. The fact that you are acting like a fledgling is concerning to me.” Lord Kherr motioned with his head for Captain Xankin to leave the location. “Do close the door Captain!”
• The two vampire lords waited until they were alone.
• “I refuse …”
• “When the emperor left you incharge at the request of your undead father. The emperor made it clear to me … that if you at any point should try to sabotage this mission in any way, I was to step in.” Lord Kherr took a step toward Lord Lewis. “You stand here because your undead father is part of the Elders Clan. I am a Senior Clan member. Don’t forget that!” He glared down at Lord Lewis. “I listened to Captain Xowrick. His concerns are valid! The disrespect is not on his part but yours. This power trip that you are on is now at an end.”
• “Captain Xankin …”
• “Will be reprimanded for entering the command centre without my consent. As you will be reprimanded for disobeying a direct order from a superior.” Lord Kherr gave the lord a toothy smile.
• *Briar Tower *
• Zenmia was wandering the paths of Briar Tower as the snow softly drifted to the ground. In the short time that she arrived, getting into a new life pattern was easy.
• In all of her years, Zenmia had never seen snow like this. Erolzwald would get snow, though as quickly as it hit the land, it would melt.
• Doing what any other child would do, Zenmia flopped to the ground and began moving the snow with her limbs. Standing up, she studied the silhouette of her masterpiece.
• From behind her Zenmia heard the light chuckles of Lord Zinpetor. “I would have thought that someone of your age would have passed this stage in life.”
• Giggling, “I have never seen snow like this. It only seemed like the right thing to do!” Zenmia responded with a smile.
• Lord Zinpetor wrinkled his nose, “I thought the central kingdoms received snow during the winter season?”
• “Nothing like this!” Zenmia looked up to watch more snowfall. Blinking when a flake drifted into her eye she giggled. “The snow would fall and melt when it landed on the ground. Only kingdoms that are further North or South get to see the snow and get to play in it.”
• Motioning with his arm for Zenmia to take it, “It is getting late, time to head to your room.” Lord Zinpetor smiled when Zenmia took his arm without question. Placing his other hand lightly on her arm, Lord Zinpetor guided Zenmia toward the entrance.
• As they strolled toward the tower, “have you heard anything yet from Damillin?” Zenmia asked the vampire lord.
• “Are you smitten with him, little wolf?” Lord Zinpetor asked as he squeezed her arm a little.
• “I only ask because I am wondering if he has crossed paths with my family?”
• Loosening his grip, “Damillin did not speak of your family.” He sighed, “it must be terrifying for you to be parted from those you love. Not knowing what has happened to them.” He patted her arm. “I wish I had news that would cheer you up.”
• Zenmia forced a smile on her face, “I imagine in my mind that my father has found my mum and she is holding my brother safely in her arms. A little bundle that is pure and innocent!”
• Opening the door for Zenmia to proceed onward, “Keep those thoughts in your mind. It will make living here tolerable. I will do my best to make sure the dark clouds do not cover those pretty eyes of yours. Though there is only so much I can do!” Lord Zinpetor closed the door.
• The sound of their boots hitting the floor echoed around them, “I am thankful for your hospitality! If I may seem down, it has nothing to do with being here. This is a life experience I would not have been given if this was any other time. I will carry this experience with me throughout the rest of my existence.” Zenmia gave the vampire lord a genuine smile.
• Heading into the lounge, the residents of Briar Tower motioned their heads to the two who had come from outside. Placing his hands on Zenmia's lower back, he urged Zenmia to continue walking.
• As they were walking all eyes were on Zenmia. They glared at Zenmia as the newest thing to play with. “Divert your eyes elsewhere!” Lord Zinpetor commanded. “Not only is she underage … don’t forget Zenmia is under my protection until she can join her clan.” He reminded them for the fifth day in a row.
• When they were out of hearing, “you don’t have to continue to remind them! I am sure they remember from yesterday and the day before then.” Zenmia whispered.
• Chuckling slowly, “You do not seem to understand little wolf … we like to play games when the sun goes down. We hunt our prey down and feast on what our humans allow us.” Lord Zinpetor stopped walking. Placing two fingers under her chin, he lifted Zenmia's face so that he could stare into her eyes. “But we have never hunted a wolf before.” He lowered his face to hers as if he was going to kiss her.
• Backing away from Zenmia as if he had gauged his actions as a crime, “we are merely wondering how fast a pup is.” He licked his lips as he stared at Zenmia's lips.
• Smirking, “We? Would that also include you?” Zenmia giggled giving an expression of all innocents.
• Lord Zinpetor moistened his lips then began walking, “Be careful little wolf … vampires bite!”
• Getting to her door, Lord Zinpetor opened it up making sure there were no surprise guests, “remember to lock the door after you place the empty tray out in the hall. Don’t come out until dawn.”
• Zenmia watched as the door was closed leaving her alone in the quarter that had been assigned to her. Breathing in and out rapidly. She gave her head a mental shake.
• “No fraternising with the host!” Zenmia scolded herself.