Awakenings: The Rise of an Empire

Travel Plans

Cadoc

     I stood gazing out past the dark active city, beyond the dark forest at the stone border wall. I crushed the glass in my hand. Anger and rage-filled me every time I looked at that wall. How dare they try to lock us in. Over time we have found ways to enter their lands. Of course, they have found ways to stop our attacks, but that only made my warriors smarter. I watched the city below. Nighttime here is always lively due to the presence of Newborns, and human familiars. Only natural-born vampires can with-stand the sun.  Omklenden; my home, unlike the rest of Etolis has very few natural-born vampires or werewolves. Most here are created. Most werewolves have been bitten and turned by rogue exiles that have decided to join me in my quest to take over Etolis, only Gabriel; my first lieutenant, and I are responsible for the creation of newborns. Omklenden hosts the worst of the worst from the human world and spy’s from across the realm, and I enjoyed it that way. The Elder council had decreed death for Gabriel and me which meant bounty hunters also crossed our borders often, some we have exterminated, and others we avoid. I was passing the time sitting in my office waiting for the arrival of Gabriel, to bring a word of what he has discovered in the human realm. Gabriel is a true born, and loyal. I cannot say the same for the rogues and the newborns. I am constantly punishing them for disloyalty. Just then Gabriel walks in.

      “Cadoc,” he greets me wearily.

      “Gabriel,” I greet him as I walk over to my desk.

     “What do you have to report.”

     “The rulers have been reunited with their children, and they are very well protected. I lost a man the other night while following them to the alliance lands. Their warriors are on alert and aware of our presence.”

     “I expected it, is our spy in place?”

     “Yes, Natalia is in place. She knows not to join the pack.”

      “Good, our numbers are increasing, and we will be ready when the time comes to strike.”

      “They are planning to return to Etolis in a couple of days,” Gabriel informs me they will be heavily guarded on their return.

     “Thank you; Gabriel, you are dismissed.” I have been waiting for this for a long time and I will not allow anyone to stand in my way. Gabriel takes his leave, and I am left alone with my thoughts and my hatred for the alliance. I will destroy them, and I will begin with their children.

Annie

     Everyone in the mansion was busy getting things ready for our travel plans. Our parents were in the pack office meeting with the warriors making sure the route was protected. Marcus and Matt were patrolling the border of our land with some of the warriors to make sure the route was clear. I was in the middle of packing and constantly being mind-linked by Marcus. We argued during our training session this morning. I wanted to run the route to the boats with some of the warriors but Marcus and Kristoph decided that I would not be joining the patrols. I was still irritated, Marcus could feel it through our link, he kept trying to calm me down.

     “Annie you need to let it go, and calm down as future Alpha I have to do everything to protect the pack and our alliance members. You are still in training, if we run across rogues, or vampires from the Jaegar Clan I need to be able to know you can protect yourself. I can feel your anger. It's distracting. Kristoph can feel it too, and I need his head in the game. Since Matt is his guardian, and my Beta I need them both at the top of their game. So, suck it up, once you are sufficiently trained you’ll be out here with us.” I knew he was right.

     “Okay, I will accept it for now. But you and Kristoph are not my fathers, he is my mate we are equal just as you and Dannie are. You are my guardian and protector, but I am your protector as well. We are a team all five of us and our powers will work together. I know Dannie will not reach her full potential until you mark her, and all my powers have not manifested but I want to be a part of all aspects of protecting the pack and the alliance members. The Gammas and the Deltas are excellent warriors, so are the vampire warriors they work together in sync so well like one, I want us to work as one too.”

    I cut our link and blocked him. I did not want my irritation to be a distraction. My powers were developing slowly. In our training session today during our argument I was so angry that I had envisioned throwing Marcus against the wall, the moment the thought manifested Marcus was flying across the room, and I had not touched him, we were all shocked. Everyone looked at me instantly. Marcus growled; he knew it was me because of our link. It had not hurt him one bit, Marcus is extremely powerful and quick. He was in front of me in a blink of an eye.

     “Don’t ever do that again!” he yelled; he towers me by several feet.

     He can be menacing, but he will never hurt me, so I rubbed his head and promised. So far, I developed the power to see the future, and now Psychokinesis as well. I was strong like most vampires but as a royal natural-born vampire I was twice as strong and fast. Kristoph was powerful too, with a simple touch he held the power of the sun. he could disintegrate an enemy with a simple touch. I enjoyed the training; I was just desperate to put it into use.

     I finished packing and decided to head to Dannie and Marcus’ suite to see if she needed help. I knocked lightly on her door.

     “Come in,” she called. “Hey, I greeted her.

     “Hey, Annie,” she greeted me with a smile and a slight smirk. “How are you, I heard about your training session with Marcus,” she giggled.

    “Geez is there anything he doesn’t tell you?” I say exacerbated.

    “Nope,” she laughs.

    “I always knew you two were perfect for each other,” I say while rolling my eyes.

    “If you only knew how perfect,” she said as she smiled to herself.

    “Okay, okay I don’t need to know all the details. So, are you all packed and ready for our trip to our home?”

    “I’m ready, and a little nervous. We have ceremonies planned in each territory it is a hectic itinerary and a lot to take in. On top of everything else Marcus and my parents want us to have the wedding ceremony soon so we can have the marking ceremony and my wolf can manifest. They do not want me unprotected. Marcus is constantly worrying about my well-being.”

     “I understand how they feel, I want you marked soon as well, I get anxious at the thought of something happening to you. I can only imagine Marcus’ fears are probably ten times that of mine.”

    “I know I get it. But remember you and I both made a pact that we would wait and save ourselves for the one. Do not get me wrong, I want him every second. He touches my hand, and I am ready to jump him.” “Tell me about it, Kristoph enters the room and I am ready to strip him. He is my walking fantasy. When he says my name, I swear my knees go week.” We both start laughing as soon as the words come out.     

     The four huge black SUVs were parked out front, packed ready for our departure. Time flew by as the day went along.  We pilled in our designated cars with warriors on each side that would run the route to the boats. It is an hour's journey between here and the boats. I traveled in the car with Kristoph, Matt, Dannie, and Marcus. Our parents were in the other three cars. As I watched the scenery pass by, I drifted off to sleep. I was excited and overwhelmed; I had not slept the past two days due to the excitement. As vampires, we do sleep but our senses remain alert the entire time. I felt the atmosphere change and the smell of saltwater begin to drift in the air. I felt the car when it came to a stop.

    Wow was all I could think when I opened my eyes. We arrived at the dock where a huge ocean liner awaited us. The dock sat against a beautiful rocky outpost with bleached sands that reflected off the water. The water is crystal clear with different size rock formations in the distance. It truly resembled a fairy tale.  Our boat was the only one docked. Kristoph told me that our dock was private, and this location was a part of alliance lands with limited access to the human world. They could only see it if it were revealed to them. This place is called the river pass it is the only connection between Etolis and the human world. Our first dock would be in Kristoph’s homeland, Victoria. We would sail the river pass for two hours then enter Etolis through a secret waterfall.  Our belongings were placed on board and the cars were parked in the dock garages. We boarded the boat began our journey home. What would Etolis be like, and how would we be received. In a few hours, all the questions we had would be answered.