Nico is used to people fearing him. He's the black sheep of his royal family, the youngest vampire prince, but scorns everything to do with his royal title. That is until his brothers ask him for a favour, one that brings the captivating Akari into...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
The house was set back from the rest of the town as if it was just one step out of rhythm. From the outside, it really wasn't anything special; a two storey building with a door that had seen better days. The window shutters hung at a precarious angle, though the occasional twitch of the net curtain behind suggested they were being watched. Roof tiles shifted with the breeze, echoing against the sides of the other houses.
But Akari could sense the magic seeping out of every crack. The building hummed with energy.
They all paused at the door as the woman placed her hand against the peeling paint and muttered a few words.
Nothing happened as far as Akari could tell, though the door swung open silently.
They walked forward into a dimly lit corridor, Nico leading, her following and Gabriel bringing up the rear. She jumped as the door slammed shut behind them. Neither Nico nor Gabriel reacted.
Gabriel took her elbow as they were enclosed in almost darkness, leading her forward.
'Follow,' the woman commanded, leading them down a rickety staircase to the basement.
Nico's hand drifted to Akari's as they descended, and she felt reassured to have her hand in his, and Gabriel behind her. In the dim lighting, it was easy to fear what was coming, but she was comforted.
As they descended, she made out more and realised that wherever they were going, there was light. The floorboards squeaked beneath her feet, but still they climbed lower. Just how much further could they travel? Surely the foundations must be more than thirty feet deep at the rate they were descending, Akari thought to herself. Wisps of magic drifted through the air, which suggested the staircase they found themselves on had not been there naturally.
'Dolores,' a voice called.
The light grew as they reached the bottom of the stairs, where a wizened old woman sat in a rocking chair. A fluffy grey cat sat perched on her lap, and it hissed as they all came into view. Its beady eyes tracked Nico with minute precision, its hackles raised.
'Hush, Sérgio,' the older woman chided.
'I've brought the strangers, Mother Marcia,' their guide said.
'Obviously, though I don't see why you permitted them entry into our home,' Mother Marcia replied coldly.
'They have brought a light walker, one with a healing ability. I've seen it with my own eyes.'
'A light walker? With vampires?' she snorted. 'Never in all my years.'
'But it's true,' their guide replied. 'She can help.'
The older woman's eyes lifted and locked on Akari. Though her face was marred with wrinkles, her eyes heavy with them, her sight didn't falter as she gazed at her.
'So show me, light walker. Your kind never ventures beyond your borders. And I shall be the judge, but if I find you've tricked my student, then know that your trespassing on our land will not be taken lightly,' she warned.
