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  “Uncle Roderick?” Neomina pleaded with her eyes.

  He nodded.

  “I will speak to the council and tell them of your willingness to pledge allegiance to them. Your vow of refraining from being brought across and keeping the relics and your powers until you can will them away should be worth something to them. That, combined with Octavia's good word, should ensure you the relics.” He paused. A pained look covered his aging face. “Neomina, promise me you'll be careful. I lost your father and I couldn't bear to lose you, too. You are all the family I have left.”

  Tears welled in Neomina's eyes. “You don't know how much those words mean to me, Uncle. I promise.”

  * * * *

  Night came quickly and Neomina opted to forego the Tribe's nightly gathering because the day's business had left her exhausted. She retreated to the private rooms on the top floor of the keep. Alone, Neomina dressed in a simple, sheer shift and made her way across the chamber to her bed. She slid under the silken sheets, her heart and body longing for Lazarus. In an instant she was asleep.

  Come to me Neomina. Come to me. His seductive voice called to her, wrapping her in the rich velvet of its tone. She felt him everywhere, around her, inside her; they melded as one.

  I can feel you, but I cannot see you, Lazarus. Tell me where you rest.

  In the cave, Neomina. I am in Percival's lair. Send me Montgomery. He is the only one who can help me fight my nemesis.

  Yes. Of course, he will come. Montgomery and I shall be with you soon, I promise you this. I have the St. John Stake and the Amulet of Christ. With these relics I will free you from Percival and later free you of the torment that steals your soul.

  Pain tore at her insides. She saw a heavy chain slash Lazarus’ face and leave gaping wounds where flesh once existed. Streams of blood trickled down his face.

  “How dare you take advantage of my hospitality, dear cousin,” a sinister voice rang out echoing through the night.

  Can you hear me, Neomina? Can you see me? It is Percival, the bringer of your nightmare." Grasping for her soul, the voice called to her. Oh, yes. I know you can. Well, listen well, my sweet. Come to me and bring that pitiful father of mine with you. Will you, dear? I would be delighted to see the bastard. With him here in my lair, I will finally have my revenge. I will take his soul from him and damn it to Hell for all eternity.

  And, as for those relics you hold so sacred, forget them. Nothing can kill me, not even the St. John Stake. My blood runs in your veins and, as time goes by, it makes me stronger, immune to the wounds inflicted by the weapons of the Trackers. A Dark Breeder cannot turn against one of its own kind and neither can a Tracker. Your blood runs in my veins and mine in yours. You can never kill me despite your loathing of my soul.

  I made your father and through him I enjoyed your mother. Her death was the most satisfying meal I had ever had. Her blood was sweeter than the nectar of the gods and I enjoyed every drop and savored the taste as it glided all warm and silky down my throat and into my being.

  And now I shall have you. I thought about taking Lazarus first, but that wouldn't be much fun. No, I will take you first, take your life's essence, your blood, right here in front of your husband. An audience makes the deed of killing all the more satisfying.

  Know that when you are gone, I shall then turn my wrath on Lazarus and sate my hunger drop-by-drop so he may suffer for an endless number of days. I will ever so slowly drink from him until nothing but a withered corpse remains and then I will carry him out onto the rocks so the sun may lay claim to his flesh and bones.

  Oh, how sweet it will all be.

  And when I have finished my meal I shall take the Amulet of Christ, break open the vial inside and consume its contents as dessert. Then I will journey into man's world and assemble a harem of mortal wives. Know, Neomina, that when I am through with you, Lazarus and the Tribe, I will begin my work on man's world so my line never dies.

  So, Neomina, come to me. Your Lazarus awaits you."

  She woke in a bed of sweat, her sheets all twisted and wrinkled. Neomina's heart beat wildly filling her ears with a repeated thump as the blood pumped through its chambers. She placed a hand over her left breast and felt the racing organ under her flesh. Her mouth parched from fearful panic, she licked her lips.

  Neomina rose from the four-poster bed and her her way across the room. She poured a glass of Paradisian wine from a pitcher that stood on a table near her clothes chest. The sweet-tasting drink eased her nerves.

  The dream frightened her and she didn't like thinking about Lazarus being Percival's prisoner. Neomina thanked the stars it was only a dream. Or was it?

  She sat in a chair across from her bed and stared at the bulky piece of furniture. Tiny red specks glistened on the silk sheets. Neomina rose from her chair and stepped across the room to inspect the bed coverings. She gasped at what she found.

  On the pillow that should have cradled Lazarus’ head were streaks of blood matching the wounds she recalled seeing in her dream. The lines of thick burgundy liquid painted the pillow exactly like they had Lazarus’ face.

  In a frenzied panic, Neomina dropped her glass of wine and, screaming for Montgomery, ran from the room. The sound of shattering crystal echoed behind her.

  CHAPTER 19

  Montgomery fled the abbey; his feet barely touched the floor. Neomina's scream had sent his soul spinning into a pool of panic. He instantly appeared in the room where Neomina sat.

  “What happened?”

  “I saw Lazarus. I thought it was a dream but my vision was more than that. Percival holds Lazarus as his prisoner and he plans to kill him.”

  An aura of fear flowed from Neomina's shaking body. Montgomery reached out to her with open arms and cradled her against him. His wings unfurled and wrapped around Neomina, absorbed her fear and calmed the panic that held her captive. A sudden flood of relief washed over her. Neomina stared into Monty's deep blue eyes and saw for the first time the true nature of the angel's soul.

  “I won't let anything happened to you or to Lazarus.”

  “Then we must go to him.”

  “Roderick will be here shortly. He sent me a note this morning saying the council has agreed to your oath of allegiance and he will be bringing the relics to Sanctum Hall. Once they are in your possession, we'll leave for Dark Breed territory.”

  Octavia entered the room.

  “Are you alright, Neomina? I heard your scream, but the heavy blanket of sleep held me to its curse. I came as quickly as was possible.”

  “Yes, I'm fine.” She stared up at Montgomery and wondered if she should say anything about the visions that haunted her sleep. “It was only a dream.” Neomina felt it best not to frighten Octavia. She kept her fears to herself.

  “Then I take it you were plagued by the same nightmare that tormented my own sleep.”

  “What did you see, Octavia?” Neomina asked.

  Montgomery released his hold on Neomina and stepped away from her. His massive feathery wings vanished in an instant, curling tightly about his spine as he tucked them away from plain site. He looked much like one of Caesar's soldiers without his wings visible. Monty wore a pale blue tunic and Roman sandals, opting for a change from the usual clothing he wore around the keep. He turned his attention to Octavia.

  Octavia frowned sharply. “I dreamt of Lazarus being held against his will in a cave belonging to the Nephilim. Since the day of his birth, I have feared such a thing happening.”

  Octavia crossed the room toward Montgomery.

  “I will go to him tonight,” he said. “Roderick is bringing the St. John Stake and the Amulet of Christ to Sanctum Hall. I plan to leave here as soon as the man departs.”

  “Is it true? Is my son being held by the Nephilim?” Octavia stared at Montgomery and her eyes begged for answers. “Do not spare me the pain, Monty. I need to know.”

  “He is being held captive by Percival.” He paused and took a deep breath. It was obvious to Neomina that telli
ng Octavia the truth was not easy for him. “Percival is not of the Nephilim. He is my son.”

  The shock on her face matched Neomina's. “Your son?” Octavia asked.

  “When I arrived at Romulus’ villa, I told you I came to man's world to repay a debt to Lexliel, but you didn't want to hear my story then. You told me to leave and that you had no interest in why I came to protect Lazarus. I abided by your wishes and now I am sorry for that. I should have told you about Percival. A beast that lived among the Nephilim killed my son. Lexliel tried to save my boy's life, but it was too late. The child I had sired was dead and in his place all that remained was a hideous creature. I fear part of my son Lucius’ soul still exists in Percival's darkness and that is why he associates himself with Lazarus. He remembers what life was like before being taken by the beast.”

  A rush of grief covered Octavia face. She sat down on one of the wooden benches and put her hands to her face.

  “Forgive, Montgomery. I suffered a great deal back then—the loss of my father, the crossing of Lazarus into the realm of the Vampyre and my own crossing over. I should have listened to what you had to say.”

  He shrugged his shoulders. “It was a long time ago, Octavia. Over the years I have learned to deal with the grief. Or at least I thought I did, but recently I have come to a different conclusion. My way of dealing with the pain only pushed it into the hidden depths of my soul. Now I must deal with it all over again and this time I believe it to be worse than before. I fear I will never recover from the loss of my wife and son.”

  The thundering sound of a hundred horses echoed in the distance outside. Neomina went to the main entrance of the keep and saw Roderick and his men approaching. Octavia and Montgomery joined her in the outer hall.

  Neomina emitted a small gasp. “There are so many of them.”

  “The relics are sacred to all of man,” Montgomery said. “To take them out of hiding is no easy task. Trackers have a great responsibility and never once have they betrayed their fellow man. It's simply not their way.”

  Neomina watched in awe as hundreds of Trackers rode with Roderick to Sanctum Hall. Her uncle rode in the middle, well protected at every angle against potential harm.

  The clan of Trackers reined their horses to a thundering stop outside the keep and Montgomery went to greet them. Floating so his feet barely touched the ground beneath him, he crossed the field and passed through the opened gate that stood in the middle of the keep's stonewall. Roderick dismounted from his horse.

  Watching their every move, Neomina eyed the two souls very closely. First a box was exchanged and then a fabric sack. The two men engaged in conversation, but she couldn't hear their words. They spoke briefly before bidding each other farewell. A cloud of dust and the echo of thunder rose up around the Trackers as they departed Sanctum Hall to return to their own territory.

  Montgomery stood at the gate until Roderick and his army of men were well out of view. He turned back toward the keep.

  Inside Sanctum Hall, Monty handed the box and sack to Neomina.

  “The stake is in the fabric sack and it must remain inside until we have need of it. The energy emitted from the St. John Stake is very powerful and it will easily burn the skin of a mere mortal should a soul ever touch the weapon. Trackers are mortals born to hunt the Vampyre, and as God so deemed, they have the power to shield themselves from the energies emitted from the stake.

  “The Amulet of Christ rests within this box.” Monty pointed to the wooden case that now sat on a table in the great hall. “We will leave this behind at Sanctum Hall. Roderick said the mere presence of the relic would act as a protector for the Tribe in my absence. I advise you to place the amulet in Octavia's care while we are gone, Neomina.”

  “Of course.” Very much aware of the woman's sad expression, she handed over the wooden box to Octavia. “Memories of your father trouble you, do they not?”

  “Yes. The last time I saw the amulet my father was wearing it. I will never stop missing him.”

  Her eyes filled with tears, Octavia stared at the box. “Bring me back my son, Neomina. Do not let the Nephilim take him from me like they took Percy from Montgomery."”

  “Lazarus will return, I promise you this.”

  * * * *

  Montgomery persuaded Neomina to wear a pair of breeches and tunic with soft leather boots he fashioned for her. He expressed his thoughts on the subject by explaining that the journey ahead would not be an easy one and the length of a gown would be a hindrance to her.

  Neomina reluctantly agreed. She dressed in haste and pinned her hair into a knot of coiled braids. She wondered what Lazarus would think when he saw her dressed in a suit of men's clothing.

  The Tribe gathered downstairs in the great hall and sat in near silence as they waited for their mistress to join them. The mood in Sanctum Hall was anything but joyous.

  Neomina descended the stone steps leading from the private chambers down into the keep's main corridor. She then made her way into the great hall. Montgomery sat next to Octavia and waited for her at the head table.

  “Are you sure you want to do this, Neomina?” asked Monty. “I am prepared to go and get Lazarus on my own if need be.”

  She nodded. “I have to go with you. Lazarus means the world to me and I cannot bear the thought of him being in Percival's lair. The Trackers have my word and, under the oath, I will do all that I can to fight their nemesis.”

  The look on Montgomery's face was one of torment and despair.

  Neomina felt a pang of guilt after saying the words. “This must be quite difficult for you.”

  “I will do what must be done. I am an angel who was sent by the Soul of Paradise to protect Lazarus from the Dark Breed. The Nephilim is as much my enemy as it is Lucius'. They are not ones to take up swords and fight man or Vampyre. But they made the Dark Breed and they can control them. One of their beasts took my son from me. His death must be avenged, regardless of the manner in which I am forced to accomplish the deed. Percival is not the soul I sired. He merely exists within Lucius’ body. I do not know what I am to find when I encounter him.”

  Neomina turned away from Montgomery and stared at the fabric sack sitting on the table. What would it be like to actually take a life from another living being even if it were an evil entity? Repulsion stirred her. She prayed the Tracker in her soul would give her the courage to carry out whatever task awaited her.

  Montgomery rose and bid Octavia a farewell.

  “Be careful, Neomina. I now have a son and a daughter and I do not want to lose either of them.” Octavia obviously spoke from the heart and her words comforted Neomina.

  “Fear not, Mother. Both Lazarus and I shall return to you.”

  “Our thoughts are with you, Neomina, Montgomery.” Althea spoke for herself and Byron as usual. But Neomina felt warmed by the expressed concern.

  The Tribe was beginning to grow on her and their acceptance of her was reason enough to return. She eyed them all once and then, with tears welling in her eyes, left the great hall. Montgomery followed closely behind.

  “I can take you to Dark Breed Territory by using the angelic means of thought or we can travel in the manner accustomed to man,” said Monty. “The choice is yours.”

  “I want to get to Lazarus in the quickest manner possible”

  Montgomery reached out his hand and unfurled his wings. “Come to me, Neomina. Take my hand and let my wings wrap about your body. We will be with Lazarus in no time.”

  CHAPTER 20

  “Soon they will be mine,” laughed Percival. His voice sounded more sinister than ever.

  Lazarus shuddered at the thought. His captor had shown no mercy since taking him hostage and he wondered what hellish deed would take place next. His strength still had not returned and, in truth, he felt weaker than before. He eyed Percival with a cautious stare.

  “I think a feeding frenzy. Ha? Would you like that?” Percy studied his cousin's face. He leaned in close and hovered over the
bed. “What's that? You don't like playing my game? Tsk-tsk. By now I would've thought you knew the rules. They are really easy to remember. One, I am master here, the soul more powerful. Two, you must do whatever I say. And three—oh, I guess there are only two.”

  Percival plopped himself onto the bed and landed hard next to his captive's body. A moan escaped from Lazarus’ mouth.

  “Still in pain, huh? Well, let me tell you this. It won't ease up any. Not unless you give in to it. Why do you fight the urge? In the end the hunger always wins.”

  Lazarus glared at Percy. The smell of leather and metal filled his nostrils. Percival must like dressing in leather pants, tunic and chain mail. The mixed aromas made Lazarus sick. He hated Percy. The idea of a being surviving by feeding on others’ blood made him nauseous. He thanked God the Tribe didn't feast in the same manner.

  “Oh, now, that was a bit harsh. My feelings are wounded, cousin. You must remember, I know your thoughts better than you do. I am an expert at reading and manipulating the mind. Do you care to see an example?”

  “Not really.”

  “Think nothing of it. In fact, it would be my pleasure. Now let me see.” Percival sat up and leaned against the stone wall that acted as a headboard for the makeshift bed he had prepared for Lazarus. The pallet of thick straw dented as Percy moved about. He tapped his finger against his chin and mimicked a pensive look. “I think I will show you how I manipulate the mind. It's always such fun for me.”

  Lazarus growled. His fangs grew long and pricked his tongue. The taste of his own blood repulsed him. He fought the Vampyre tormenting his soul, but bound in chains and weakened from the tainted feedings Percival forced on him, Lazarus could do naught but abide by his captor's wishes. The hunger stirred him like never before.

  “Damn you, Percival. Stop it. Stop it now.”

  “Why? What are you going to do? You should be thanking me. I am merely preparing you for when Neomina arrives. By then your hunger will be uncontrollable and you will feed from her, bring her across and then leave her for me to drain. The newly made Vampyres are always so much fun to toy with. They can never outrun you. Of course, I do allow them a head start, but then they eventually get comfortable and forget about me and that's when I make the kill. But with Neomina there'll be no need to hunt her down. No.” He shook his head as if to dismiss the notion.