Vampire's Return: Real World, #7

A human’s guide to the Real World 

Dryads - Dryads are the embodiment of a tree’s living spirit. They have the peculiar characteristic of changing their appearance of age with their mood, with the exception of Iws, which always look ancient. Iws are the spirits of yew trees and they make up a ruling council of dryads, known as the Iwhād. All dryads are known by the Old English name of their tree variety. Dryads are all sexless and leave reproduction to the trees they inhabit; new dryads form naturally within a tree once it is mature enough to support the additional life. Though very rarely seen by humans, they are treated with respect by other Real World creatures. Always treat Bercs (birch) with extreme caution as they will deliberately send you in harm’s way if they can. As they get older, many dryads begin to create long verses that can take hours to recite through its tree’s leaves.

Gifts - All dryads have the ability to search the minds of flesh-based races. They can also manipulate the memories of flesh creatures. Dryads are the source of prophecies in the Real World

Elves - Elves are a race made up of tribes and clans. Tribes are groups of several bloodlines that live together, hidden from the human world. The majority of tribes live in rural locations. Clans are single families and live closer to humans. Elves can be distinguished from humans by their gold eyes that glow with the energy they absorb. Elves cannot eat meat or drink alcohol. Because of the elven belief in keeping their bloodlines pure from dilution from outsiders (blood purity), they are not viewed favourably by other creatures. Contemptuous of humans, elves will, however, make use of their natural beauty to lead humans into sexual encounters. Elves have a particular hatred of faeras.

Gifts - Absorbing energy from the ground, communicating with animals, phasing out of sight. Clan elves have more evolved versions of some of the lesser gifts, such as healing and absorbing pain from others.

Faeras - Faeras are a warrior race, sometimes likened to Vikings. They live a high-octane existence of feasting, drinking and fast motorbikes. Their diet is mostly meat based.  All faeras live alongside humans with perfect ease. They have a complex culture full of ritual. Faeras are distinguished by their either light or dark eyes that reflect other colours. Their eyes also contain silver flecks that can spark with their emotions. Protective of their families, faeras are only dangerous when crossed, otherwise they are affable and sociable. They are most easily identified by their tattoos of complex knot work designs and preference for wearing leather. Faeras reciprocate the elves contempt. At one time, there were two courts of faeras, Blessed and Unblessed. Now only the Unblessed remain. The myth of fairies being repelled by iron can be traced back to the faera legal system: Any faera sentenced to death would be executed with their own sword.

Gifts - Plant manipulation. All faeras can make plants grow by placing their hands on or close to the plant and focusing on what they want the plant to do. They have incredible stamina, meaning they can cover vast distances on foot without needing to rest. Their warrior training from childhood means they are all exceptional fighters.

Gyptish - Descendants of the Egyptian goddess Hathor, the Gyptish are viewed as humans as being the same as Romany gypsies. However, they are very much a part of the Real World. Like their Romany cousins, they live a mobile life. Their leader is known as the Heart and Mouth of the Mother. The Gyptish have no concept of property, so are often at odds with others for taking what they view as free to anyone. Though virtually unknown of, even in the Real World, those who are aware of their existence have reported the eyes of a Gypt can turn white.

Gifts - Gypts are all mildly psychic. Some are talented seers. As with many other Real World creatures, they are stronger and faster than humans, though not to the same degree as halfbreeds.

Halfbreeds - Part human and part vampire, halfbreeds need to consume both blood and ordinary food. They are created when humans treated after vampire attacks are prevented from turning fully. The treatment was the brainchild of one Dr. Lindsey, though not successful until after his death, when his son continued his work. The Lindsey family still treats victims of vampire attacks. Though they pose no threat, halfbreeds can terrify humans with eye contact. The only time they are likely to be a danger to others is if they are kept from their mates. All halfbreeds have voracious sexual appetites and these can only be satisfied by their mate. Recognized by their black eyes, hence their other name of blackeyes.

Gifts - Faster and stronger than when they were fully human, halfbreeds also have heightened senses. Many halfbreeds have some psychic ability, though this varies from one to another. Their gifts can be combined and increased by physical contact with another of their kind.

Imps - Imps have no trace remaining of their own culture and live entirely in the human world. In evolutionary terms, imps are the cousins of elves. Imps have a unique aging process, growing to the age their spouse will be when they meet, then staying that age until they are espoused. Their aging after that depends on what creature their spouse is. Imps are only able to achieve fertility with their spouse. They are identified by their green eyes, a true green that can emit some light when they are particularly energised. Light is also emitted when they have sex with their spouses. Harmless, though occasionally tricky. Imps have an affinity with water and always live close to a river. They need the energy created by running water and absorb it in a similar way to elves from the ground.

Gifts - Absorption of energy from water. Hydratransmutation is a rare gift amongst imps, one that enables them to transform their bodies to water. It is commonly known as ‘going liquid’. Imps can take the energy from a human, and give it as well. If enough energy is absorbed from someone, it will render them unconscious.

Lady Sabrena (The Lady of Justice) - Born to a Blessed Faera mother, Lady Sabrena was sired by a mixture of elf, faera, imp and picsa. Thousands of years old, she is the ultimate justice for Real World creatures, and inspires fear in all who know of her. Though she will help those who ask it of her, she only does so at a very high price. Use extreme caution at all times when dealing with her. Highly dangerous.

Gifts - Being a mixture of so many creatures, her gifts are limitless.

Lukos - The lukos are more commonly known as werewolves. The lukos race originated in Eastern Europe and gradually spread out from there through the infection of humans. They transform to their wolf form in the two or three nights before and of the full moon, when they lock themselves away to protect others from their infection and appetite for flesh. In human form, they are impossible to distinguish. The lukos have a well-earned reputation for being extremely aggressive and territorial. Treat with caution, particularly approaching a full moon.

Gifts - All lukos are exceptionally fast and strong, particularly during the nights they transform. They have good night sight and their hearing is equivalent to that of a true wolf. A lukos will heal any injuries in minutes.

Naiads - Naiads are the spirits of the water. They live in rivers and lakes, often bearing the name of their body of water. They are usually thousands of years old. Comprised of water held in a human form by a centre of pure water energy, they generally have a watery appearance, though can look more solid if they wish to. They work to keep their homes clean and running efficiently. Not likely to be seen, they are usually harmless. Not naturally occurring, naiads are created by elves and imps combining their energy manipulation and passing it through dryads.

Gifts - They have the ability to move their form between liquid and solid and in solid form can breed with imps, though not with each other. Being made of energy, they can move and manipulate the energy from any moving water source, including flesh creatures.

Nereids - Nereids are very similar to naiads, only based in salt water. Unlike naiads, nereids are not created but born. They can live for thousands of years, though many chose not to. Nereids sometimes take mates from amongst the land-based creatures. The children and descendants of these unions are always drawn back to the sea.

Gifts - As naiads, they can shift their form between solid and liquid. They can predict storms. 

Picsas - An extinct race, picsas were identifiable by their fang-like pointed teeth and vividly blue eyes.

Gifts - Unknown.

Vampiros - The vampiros, or vampires, are another creature that has spread out from Eastern Europe. Dangerous at all times and entirely dominated by their hunger for human blood, they should be avoided at all costs. The vampiros form into small packs (more than four together tend to end up killing each other). They are only loyal to their parent, the vampire that turned them. They have a particular weakness for the blood of children and always kill them rather than turn them, which is why they are always adult in form. The easiest way to recognise a vampire is by the simple fact of not wanting to look at them at all. They have red eyes that give them their name of redeye parasites. Never approach.

Gifts - Stronger and faster than halfbreeds, they also have exceptional senses. Though lacking the halfbreeds psychic gifts, the oldest vampiros can learn to manipulate the air and solid matter with their minds. One theory suggests this is due to the sheer number of conscious minds they absorb when draining humans to death.

Vampire’s Return

Eden Elsworth

Copyright Eden Elsworth 2016

Cover design copyright Eden Elsworth 2016

Acknowledgments

Creating each of the books in this series is a slow process that entails lots of research for the tiniest little details, and in the case of this one in particular, lots of swearing, as I kept losing internet connection, so most of all I have to thank my amazing fiancé, Jack Silince, for not just putting up the swearing but also finding a solution for the problem!

There’s several ladies in particular I have to mention, for encouraging me to keep going so they can find out what happens next: Ava, Sue, Susan and Clayr. Without them, especially Ava, I’m not sure I would have been able to get out of the funk that kept me from writing for months. So this book is for the four of you!

I also have to mention my son, Alec. Ever since I began writing seriously, he has left me alone when I’m writing, only disturbing me if he absolutely has to. No author could have a better son! He may never read any of my books (as they’re not graphic novels!) but he has contributed hours, days, weeks and possibly even years of silence to their creation.

To a writer, silence is a gift beyond price!

Chapter one

Sitting astride a dark brown shire mare she had given the name Zulu, Paloma Fortescue determinedly ignored the tall, muscular, dark haired man rapidly approaching her. Despite the fact she had recognised him; she refused to acknowledge it, admitting it to no one. Unfortunately, both her sisters knew the truth, although she would have preferred it if they didn’t.

Having only just reached her majority, she wanted a bit of time on her own without the childhood restrictions before she settled down. Deep down, she knew there was no one else for her, but for the time being she wanted to be herself without any entanglements.

Pal, where are you going? Rowley demanded a bit crossly, his darkly reflective eyes fixed on her face. He often sounded grumpy with her. He probably couldn’t help it, but it really pissed her off.

Up the Downs, not that it’s any of your business. Her tone was tart, her annoyance coming through.

Although she knew why Rowley behaved like he owned her, it still fucked her off. The longer she resisted him, the worse he got. He had no right to be so possessive. She was her own person, not his property.

Sometimes, she came very close to relenting and telling him about her recognition – he had been living with the discomfort of his of her for over four years – but she just wasn’t ready. Not yet. In time, she would let him know; when it suited her. Until then, he could go whistle.

Unlike her sisters, both of whom were extremely happily bonded, Paloma wanted to be herself for a while. She didn’t want children yet, if at all. She didn’t want to give up her single life, even though the heat of her recognition pulsed angrily in her chest every time she turned away from Rowley. It caused her pain and made each day increasingly difficult. She was stubborn though and suffered the pain in silence.

Tugging on the left reign, she urged the horse forward and around, holding her breath to control the throb of discomfort as she left Rowley behind yet again. As the heat burned in the centre of her chest, she closed her eyes for a moment, letting Zulu follow the familiar route without any guidance. The horse was always reliable, a steady beast who never stumbled; never let her rider down.

The court gates were opened for Paloma and she trotted along the road that was desperately in need of patching, but there was no tarmac to be had to repair it. Like every other road over the last few years, it would only get patched if the materials to do it were come across at any point in the continuous excursions out into the surrounding area. The best it would get until then was a bit of compacted gravel to fill up the worst of the holes. Something more permanent would have to be done one day; the gravel patching was undermined every time there was heavy rain.

Passing the Reavey house, she looked into the garden, wondering for a minute or two whether to call in on her eldest sister for a while before heading to the Downs. Branwen and her unpopular picsa husband had moved into a small house that had been built in the garden just over a year ago, relieving Branwen’s family of the picsa’s unwelcome presence at court. The small house had three bedrooms, but there was no sign of Branwen having any children. Paloma knew her sister found the lack of her own family hard to bear; she wanted youngsters to fill her home with. Whether the picsa wanted kids too, Paloma didn’t have a clue. She had no intention of asking about it, preferring not to talk to him at all.

Deciding not to visit and gently nudging Zulu’s sides with her heels, Paloma stepped up her pace and cantered for a few minutes, enjoying the peace and freedom of being alone. The soft grey sky overhead, the sound of birdsong, the tranquillity without the old constant hum of traffic and humans, was a temptation she could rarely resist if she had a bit of time to herself. A clear blue sky would have made the day idyllic, but this was England and even in summer blue skies could be in short supply. It was more likely to rain.

Her excuse for going out was to see if there was any sign of her sister and Queen returning, but the true reason for the trip out was to be alone with her thoughts, most of which revolved around Rowley. Paloma knew she was being childish continuing to deny him, and it was persistently uncomfortable to keep it up, but nothing would make her change her mind until it was in the right place to accept the changes hearing Rowley’s pledge would bring to her life. Once it was done, she would be tied to him for the rest of her days, and she couldn’t bring herself to add new restrictions when she had only just shed the ones all children had. In the faera world, those restrictions lasted until the age of twenty, which was a long time to be treated like a child.

As she entered the outskirts of Cadenbourne town, Paloma nodded to a few people she recognised. She knew most of the inhabitants of the area, though some only by sight. The town had begun to re-establish in the years since the old world had died, but the centre was still abandoned and only ventured into when something was needed from the remaining stock in the shops and warehouses. To start with, everything had been rationed and controlled, but now what there was left in the old shops was free for anyone to take as they needed it.  The edges of the town, where the houses were bigger and so were the gardens, had been populated once more. People needed to grow their own food and that required space. Every garden she passed was abundant with rows of vegetables. People who didn’t grow didn’t eat, unless they had other skills they could trade for their food.

Most of the houses had at least one solar panel on the roof, and many had small wind turbines in the gardens. The renewable energy sources provided lights at night. None of the houses had running water anymore. Instead people collected what they needed from hand pumps connected to underwater storage tanks it had taken a herculean effort to install. The tanks were fed by guttering, the rain water running through reed filter beds before going into the tanks. During summer when the amount of rain sometimes didn’t provide enough water, they had to fetch hundreds of bucketsful from the river to fill the tanks. All the water had to be boiled, and the power for doing that also came from the solar panels and wind turbines.

For the first couple of years after the summer that had wiped away the old world, the faeran court had ruled all aspects of life for the survivors in the area, but once everyone had got used to working hard every day to provide for themselves, they had moved out of the court and found a house to live in. Much of life was still ruled by the court, but not as closely as it had been. As life settled into a new pattern and the feral humans were killed off, the need for constant tight security eased off. People looked to the court for law and order, to settle disputes and provide solutions for problems people couldn’t solve on their own. Faeras