DARKLING: Book One

FATE

Ciprian gazed at the infant girl in disbelief. He knew once he touched the child’s flesh the glow would cease. He hovered over her clear crib and breathed the child in. His brow furrowed and his mouth turned into a grimace.

“This can’t be possible”, he thought out loud. He gripped the sides of the clear acrylic crib so tightly it sent cracks through it. He stepped back. He looked down at the baby, no longer sleeping, but staring at him. Her little mouth yawned, and her eyes blinked as if trying desperately to focus. His heart melted.

He did not have the reaction one should have had upon meeting a mate. Obviously. This was a child. He had known other male Darkling’s like Werewolves, Werecats, and Shapeshifters, that found their mates at the female’s birth. The only reason a mate was found in infancy, was because they needed protection, had no parents, or were not the same race. In those cases, the male mate would come into their life as a guardian and protector. Kind of like a big brother or whatever the child needed, really. Most stood by and watched them grow, knowing the connection would be there, but the s****l attraction could not exist until she had reached her bloom phase. Though some Darklings chose to leave the child in another, already mated, male’s care and protection until the female fated was of age. Ciprian didn’t think he had a choice. If he had it his way, he would walk away and come back when she was older. But he knew in his soul that wasn’t possible.

Between the sickening smell of something evil in that hospital, and the dark shadowy entity that was creeping along the water beside him earlier, Ciprian knew walking away would put her at risk. This did not seem fair to him. He had waited so long for her. He conquered so many evils and temptations. He deserved an adult mate.

Part of him wanted to forget all of this and find his cousin Droden. Just give in and turn Fear Eater. Part of him wanted to hold the baby in his arms and flee into hiding.

When he pictured running away with the child he was flooded with waves of soothing sensations and warmth. Immediate visions of the woman lying in the bed took over his mind. Flashes of her smile as she leaned in whispering to Ciprian and kissing him. No, kissing her. The baby. This infant was reading his thoughts and sending her argument about why she must stay. Her mother. She was telling Ciprian that she wanted to stay with her mother. Without words. But he simply knew and felt it.

What she was doing was absolutely unheard of. No child of a shifter race of any kind could do this. He wondered what she was. He did not sense a Darkling essence of any sort in the mother. What he had sensed had been the infant. Whatever the child was, she was showing powers immediately after birth. Things others had to be trained to do as clearly.

The infant must have sensed that Ciprian was not going to run away from the mother. She was no longer feeding his mind visuals and she looked to be sleeping. Her eyes were moving back and forth very quickly behind her tiny eyelids.

So precious, Ciprian thought, and smiled down at her. His heart was swelling with love and admiration. This tiny being was who the Creator chose for him. Though he had just met the special little creature, he held the pride of a father, uncle, or grandfather. He knew he could never, ever, leave her side. He would see to her protection, safety and care before his own. Including the protection of those she loved. He would give the mother and child some time, but not long. Then he would have to insist on their leaving the village and staying out of the city, until the child reached adulthood. This would not be up for discussion. His only purpose from this day forth, would be to protect the child. He would teach her ways to use her powers and love her as a parent Ciprian was almost certain he would have to entrance the mother. He couldn’t see a human leaving behind all they knew.

Ciprian was distracted by the frantic breathing pattern of the newborn. He touched her mind a few times. He wanted to share beautiful visions of his childhood home and the places she would see. But when he touched the baby’s sleeping mind, all he witnessed was brilliant colors, bright and flashing glimpses of faces. Her mother’s, a ghost-like version of Ciprian, a nurse or doctor he believed, and then, evil, dark, blood shot eyes of someone that shouldn’t have been there. Ciprian broke the connection. Someone had been in the room before him. But how? Ciprian was positive he would have sensed something that evil.

He began to scan the room for evidence. There was nothing in the room, no other being. He stepped into the door frame and scanned the hall. He could still sense the wretched scent of evil from before and it was closer now. Quickly, Ciprian began to put up safeguards to protect the mother and child. He made sure, with final touches, to enchant the doorway so it appeared as if no one were inside. Of course, if another Darkling tried to enter, it would set off the safeguard, giving away there was something worth protecting within the room.

Staying invisible, Ciprian clung to the wall, and crept up to the ceiling. He followed the scent of rot knowing it all too well. He had fought and ended the lives of many that smelled and felt like this. No matter who or what they were, evil had a distinct odor. He did not want to risk the being having the power to shift as well and also being invisible. If the creature had chosen invisibility, Ciprian could accidentally walk into them and lose the upper hand. He crawled across the ceiling quickly and it did not take long for him to find the wretched. She was crouched down over a bed smelling it and then looking puzzled. She jerked her head around like a crazed person and froze as if listening for something, or to someone… She shook her head back and forth and held her fists to her temples squatting down for a moment. Ciprian crawled over the bed. He watched as the girl cried and punched herself in the head.

She had massive rings under her eyes and pale sickly skin. She looked crazed. She was filthy, with dirty torn black pants and a shirt that was long sleeved but barely clung to her shoulders. Her hair had dark roots and faded dark pink coloring. She seemed to be a human. A minion. Unable to be turned, but if fed a Darkling’s blood, they could be controlled to an extent. Usually they were promised immortality and complete turning. But it wasn’t possible. Not that Ciprian knew of. Not unless the human was a natural witch or born with Darkling bloodlines. Someone was ordering her moves. She would have heightened senses like sight, smell, hearing, and taste. She would be able to hear her master in her mind. But Ciprian could not read her mind. She was tainted. He could not break past the barrier the master would have in place to ensure his commands stayed secret.

Suddenly Ciprian knew exactly why the girl was frantic. Just below the overwhelming scent of rotting corpses and sulfur, like the smell of putrid eggs, was that precious, rare scent again. Woodbine. It broke through just enough for Ciprian to confirm, they were, indeed, after his mate.

This must have been the room the infant was born in, and they probably moved the mother and babe to a room for aftercare, he figured. He had to get back and fast. He was careful not to make the slightest of sounds as he crawled his way back out to the hospital hallway. He turned right toward the room where his world laid sleeping. He very slowly dropped to the floor when he had gotten to the door. He entered the room, putting the safeguards and enchantments back up behind himself. He looked at the mother and child. His heart belonged to these two beings now. If anything were to happen to the child, he would then cease to have a reason to continue life. If the child were hurt by losing her mother under his watch, he would not be able to bare it. He would ensure her safety and then end his existence.

Fear began to swallow his thoughts and reasoning. He knew that if that minion had been looking, others were too, and even more would be coming. How they found her or sensed her, he would have to find out later. For now, he had to get them out of this hospital where everyone was a threat. He gathered the spare items he found lying strewn about by the mother’s bedside and placed them into the pink luggage bag sitting open on the loveseat.

Ciprian stopped when he saw several strange-looking pamphlets on the table nearby. He picked one up. The pages felt so fragile and slick. There was a group of young men on the front page. “Fashion Week Magazine”, it read. He flipped through the book, taking in as much information as he could. It was shocking. This was an era he had not been able to observe yet. He had been too distracted trying to find and now protect this mate of his. He studied one of the human male’s attire while taking visible form. He looked down at himself and the animal within him grumbled. He had not worn clothing in sometime; nor had he often taken the form of a man in those years before he went to the ground. He felt it unnecessary. But if he were to take on protecting his infant mate and her mother, he would have to adjust to modern human methods.

He tossed the magazine on the table. The mother stretched and shifted in the bed. She reached over and laid her hand on the baby in the crib beside her. Once the woman stilled again, Ciprian went to the window and opened it just a crack. He then began to speak in a strange tongue, chanting a phrase over and again. He spoke the words so low; no human could detect them. This old generational magic, warmed and opened the frozen ground below the window. He began to beckon the air toward him, his hands made a rolling motion. Soon there was dirt floating into the room through the cracked window. It gathered in front Ciprian, hovering in the air. When he felt he had enough, he let the dirt fall to the floor gently, with a wave of his hand. He took the heavy white blanket at the foot of the mother’s bed and spread it over the dirt. Standing before the dirt and blanket, he began a new chant. He made quick movements with his hands and then stepped into the center of the blanket. Holding in his mind the clothing from the magazine, Ciprian closed his eyes as the blanket broke apart and mixed with the dirt, while lifting it in the air. With one last wave of his hand, the now tiny particles of what had been soil and cloth slammed into his body with no sound. Ciprian was now fully dressed in tight-fitting khakis, black deck shoes, and a black sweater that clung a little too snug on his arms and chest. He then walked over to wake the mother.

He sat on the side of her bed, intentionally waking her. “Hello, Miss.?” He smiled his best, knowing it probably was going to scare the hell out of her.

She immediately turned over, pulled herself up in the bed and protectively pulled her baby’s crib as close as it could get, against the bed rail. She nervously smiled. Ciprian didn’t need to read her mind to know that she was trying to keep herself from screaming. He moved faster than her eyes and mind could register. He was eye to eye with her. He could feel her every tremble and smell the fear. It was intoxicating. For a moment, he imagined what her blood would taste like. Knowing her blood was pumping full of adrenaline-laced fear. It was almost too much for him to bare. He felt his muscles ripple under his sweater. His jaw clenched tight. He felt his fangs lengthen. It took all his control to keep the black iris from bleeding into the white of his eyes. Ciprian forced himself to look at the sleeping child.

The baby had to have felt his struggle. She sent the same visions of her mother to his mind as before, calming him ever so slightly. It was as if each time something occurred that would bring her pain, she was able to connect to him. He regained composure.

Ciprian’s pupils dilated. His eyes were so black, the mother would never have known the difference. Her eyes mimicked his. This assured him that she was now enthralled in a trance and would obey any commands given to her.

It was kind of sad to him that humans were such easy targets. No evolved self-defense, nor source of natural protection. Just waiting for the next predator. Yes. It was sad. He had not felt pity for anyone, nor anything in so long. This was a nice surprise. Ciprian began to weave his lie.

“I am an old family friend, you’ve known me since youth. I’ve come to take you to one of my homes in the mountains. You need the rest. You and the infant will be greatly cared for. We have planned this since the beginning of your pregnancy. You are not afraid of me.” Ciprian leaned in closer. “You trust me with your life, and that of your child’s. My name is Ciprian Kristenssen.” He shifted his body even closer to the woman. Her eyes seemed to be heavy. “Now, tell me, where is your husband? And what are your names?”

“You know my name, silly,” the woman said, as if intoxicated, smiling brightly and giving Ciprian a playful shove that had no effect at all. “I’m Lara! I still have no husband. Im in love with my boss, Roger. But he is married. He will not talk to me because I gave birth to our daughter, Genivieve.” Genivieve. That was his mate’s name. Beautiful.

“So, you are alone in the world? What about family? Friends?” Ciprian pushed. He needed to know if he had any loose ends to tie, before disappearing into the night with the mother and child.

“Ma lives in the States now and Dadda has been dead for ten years now.” Her lashes fell even lower, indicating that soon the trance would end.

Ciprian could sense the minion lingering near-by. It was too close and he would have to deal with it.

“Get your bag,” Ciprian ordered, “Wrap yourself and your child warmly, as it is cold outside. Gather all you have here. I will make arrangements for the night. We must go. Quickly.” Ciprian blinked, letting her go from the trance. Lara looked down for a moment and then up at Ciprian.

-LARA'S POV-

“Oh, I am so glad you’ve made it here!” Lara exclaimed. “I ended up delivering her alone. I did not think it would bother me so. I am very happy to see you!” She spoke to him as if they truly were the oldest of friends. Ciprian did not think this through. He had not interacted with humans for more than feeding for so long; he knew he could not come across as natural. Lara continued. “I was so worried about Vi! I truly thought that vile father of hers would come in and try to take her or force me to place her for adoption!” Lara was already up getting her bag together and grabbing items from the drawers and under the baby’s crib.

Lara grabbed Ciprian’s massive bicep. She did not seem to notice how unnaturally large and muscular he was. She looked up at his rugged scarred face. He was a beauty to behold. Deep inside she felt off. But overwhelming love and trust flowed for this man. She knew that he was all she and Genevieve had left. Her mother had left them there on the island and Roger only loved her until she became pregnant. Lara felt deep down in her soul, the only future would be with this man. She tried to remember where the scars that kind of resembled a tattoo, came from. Her head began to ache when she thought about it too much. She saw that he was almost supernaturally pale. It didn’t seem possible for a human to be the color he was. Lara herself, got teased often for her very white skin. The kids in primary called her “Snow White”. But this man was almost white-grey. It should have bothered her. It didn’t. She knew him. He was her only friend growing up in the tiny village outside the town. That much she recalled. This man was a brother, a father, and a friend.

Lara was so happy to be rescued from the horrid little hospital, afraid every minute, Roger would show up. She hadn’t intended to fall in love with a married man. It wasn’t like her. She was a virgin. But Roger courted her properly. Made her feel desired, beautiful, and even convinced her they would have a future together. She broke things off once when she caught him with another lady at the bank. They were making out just outside by the trash bins. Lara stepped outside that day to toss out some trash that was overflowing, and she heard them. She was so heartbroken. Roger had told her for months that he was preparing to leave his wife. That he needed to do everything perfectly so that he would be able to keep the home and cars. He had even lied and convinced Lara that his wife was also seeing someone, that he was gathering evidence. Lara found out, soon after telling Roger she was pregnant, that Roger was a narcissistic asshole and that his wife was very aware of his “s*x addiction”, as he put it. Roger demanded a terminated pregnancy. It wasn’t something people did on the island. When she was far along, and in the third trimester, his lawyer tried to convince her to place the child up for adoption. He even offered to pay her if she would. She knew as soon as he found out she had been in labor, he would be at the hospital. He had all the right friends. He would eventually get his way. Not now. Not with Ciprian there. Though she still could not shake that uneasy feeling.

“I must speak to the nurse to let her know we are leaving, Lara,” Ciprian looked down at her hand on his arm. She seemed to be moving well despite having just delivered. Ciprian had no idea if this was common for humans. He could sense she was weak despite her eagerness to get out of the hospital. “Be absolutely ready,” he continued, “when I get back, we must leave and make haste. I need to make it to your home before daybreak. We will rest there and leave at night fall.” She dropped her hand from him.

“Why would we leave at night?” She began to worry. Was he in some kind of trouble? Lara hated this nagging sensation she had. She told herself she was being ridiculous, and began to tend to her precious baby. She lifted Genevieve and breathed in her newborn smell.

“Well, I traveled for days without stopping to get here, Lara, I believe I am owed some rest. Don’t you?” Ciprian played on her kindness. “Besides, it is less likely Roger will catch us leaving with the infant if we travel at night fall. I would rather not have to fight to leave the village.” Ciprian walked to the door, smelling that putrid scent lingering just outside it. “Be ready Lara.” Ciprian did not even turn when he walked out, closing the door behind him.

Lara realized he was right. It was best if they gathered more items for their travels from her home and did everything they could to avoid Roger. Genevieve began to fuss, and Lara sat to breast-feed before the trip home.

-Ciprian's POV-

Ciprian walked out into the hall. He knew it was near. He could smell the Fear Eater’s tainted blood. He did not bother to shift. His eyes spilled over with blackness. He saw a magical residue in the Darkling sight he now used. It trailed from down the hall on his left and then stopped just to his right. It shimmered and was fading. Fast. He saw the shimmering trail go up the wall beside him. In one swift move, he reached out and grabbed the Fear Eater by the throat, causing him to hiss and spit. A black sludge like liquid poured onto his hand. He could feel the thick fluid burning his skin. He ignored the pain and squeezed harder, causing the Fear Eater to lose its invisibility.

“Unexpected surprise, Fear Eater, “ Ciprian smiled a sharp toothy grin at the monster.

xoxo