Vampire Heart: Taste of Royal Blood

PROLOGUE

It was deep into the stormy night as the roaring waves of the ocean crashed against the cliffs of the rocky shores of .England. In a world within a world stood a solitary structure on forgotten land, an abandoned castle, the once lively halls riddled with life and prosperity now empty of any evidence of long lost residents. Fear and superstition kept the soldiers of the war away; seclusion eliminated the possibility of the holy raiders coming upon him.

Michael sighed deeply as he sealed his crest symbol on the leather cover of what would become his journal and a history for the generations to come. He closed his eyes and listened to the blowing wind that shook the stone walls of his newly acquired home. Cold drafts snuck through the cracks in the stained glass windows and whistled through the empty halls. He opened his eyes and watched the flame from the candle flicker, threatening to extinguish under the pressure of the breeze.

And then there were two, a gruff, thick Scottish accent said from the dark. Michael’s head snapped up.

Desmond, brother, Michael spoke warmly, rushing to stand and greet his dear friend, so close to him it was as though they were family. Though in their human life, they never shared a bloodline, as that life had ended they had become a close knit coven, defenders of each other and protectors of others like themselves.

Desmond sauntered into the light from beyond the shadows. He was by far, Michael thought, the fiercest looking of their kind. He was dark and menacing, a broad chest, his hair was a thick, deep reddish brown. Dressed in classic Scottish attire, Desmond had adapted to his new home happily, immersing himself into the rich culture. Desmond loved war; he loved to fight, placing himself in the heat of the battle, always emerging victorious. It had made him a fierce warrior throughout the lands he had made his home... until now.

As Desmond grabbed Michael’s hand firmly he pulled him into a tight embrace. Michael returned it affectionately.

I’m glad you made it. Somehow, I knew you would. Michael said with a tight smile on his pale face. He himself was smaller than Desmond, but only slightly. His hair was blond and long. The two were a complete contrast as they stood beside one another in the candlelight. So very different in appearance but with one deep secret that linked them. Unlike Desmond, Michael had taken up camp in the land of the Viking, he traveled the seas for many years, until he too was found out and his entire clan had been wiped out, including his human lover, Gabriella. Desmond seemed to mirror his internal pain.

Nobody else made it out, brother. The holy raiders had slain them all before I could make it back to them. Desmond informed, for the first time since they were created. Michael heard strong emotion in his brother’s voice.

I have heard Jonas is alive. Michael said, I have sent a message to him, to meet us here.

I suppose we wait then. Desmond replied shrugging. He and Michael made their way to a table in the middle of the dark room.

Michael peeked out the window, at the moon that had replaced his sun. It was several hours before the sun arose. He was, at that moment hoping his brother would make it here safely, before the harsh light covered the earth and forced them all underground.

Jonas, unlike Desmond and Michael, had chosen the life of the light, metaphorically speaking of course. He was the frailest of the three left standing, but the most powerful in Michael’s eyes. Jonas had chosen the life of a priest. He had never killed, never taken a human slave; he fed only from the willing. Perhaps, Michael thought to himself, if all of his kind had lived by the way of Jonas, then the happenings of the holy raids would never have come to pass.

"I’m here brother." Michael heard in a faraway voice, which sounded within his head. It was Jonas, his telepathic brother.

Both Michael and Desmond stood up eagerly as Jonas appeared from within the shadows, his skin so pale it seemed to illuminate the darkness in the room all on its own. His body seemed so small and weak to look at though both Michael and Desmond knew better than to base the strengths of others like themselves on appearance alone. All but his dainty face and hands were covered completely by his dark priest robe.

Jonas. Michael said unable to diminish his excitement from seeing his smaller brother alive and apparently well.

Aye, said Desmond, out of all the masters of the seven clans, it’s hard to imagine, ye were the one to survive. He teased.

Jonas smiled genuinely. "It was, believe it or not, my congregation that kept me safe, and helped me escape." Jonas answered wistfully, his eyes closed and his lips motionless. It had taken awhile but over the many years they had existed Jonas had found a way to communicate with his brothers. He had created a type of bond with them granting him able to be heard inside their minds.

He had always spoken lovingly of the people he taught in his church to Michael and Desmond. Even now, though it was the same sort of people who just murdered all of their kind, God fearing people, who had considered Michael and his brothers to be monsters.

Were there any other survivors besides you, brother? Michael asked hopefully. Jonas only shook his head sadly. Michael nodded and eyed a door in the corner of the room. All day he had been thinking, planning and exercising ideas in his head as to how to handle the consequences with what waited for him behind the door. My brothers, he began eagerly and determinedly, it is just us three then. I have searched these lands, no others made it; of this I am sure. It is up to us to ensure our kind survives. Michael spoke with brute enthusiasm.

Aye, revenge! Desmond bellowed, holding his fist high.

No, Michael corrected firmly, don’t you see? Our entire race was nearly exterminated. We have no solders left, no way to fight back. We are strong yes but their numbers make them stronger, we must make our own numbers grow! Michael insisted as he paced the room, the events of the past few weeks colliding together as possible solutions unravelled in his mind. Come with me. Michael ordered, leading his brothers to the door in the corner opening it a crack, he motioned his hand, and from beyond the door came a tiny woman.

She looked near dead, the dark circles under her eyes and her sunken facial features, robbed her of any of the beauty it was obvious she once had. She held an infant in her arms, tightly as if to shield it from the three monsters that surrounded her. She looked around nervously, from Jonas to Desmond and then back to Michael. Michael laid his hand gently on her shoulder, trying to comfort her.

Do not be afraid, Penelope. He urged gently. These are my brothers, and you are mine, they will not hurt you.

Michael, Desmond snarled, How is it a tiny female will help us? We are monsters; she shudders at the sight of us!

Michael smiled and held out his arms for the infant, the woman eagerly handed it over then backed up towards the wall to hide in the shadows as far away from Desmond as she possibly could. The child made a strange noise in Michael’s arms, a sound not made by any other infant the three brothers ever came across, igniting their curiosity. Michael carefully laid out the baby on the table and motioned for the brothers to gather round. As they did, they all became instantly aware of what they were witnessed to.

By god, Michael, Desmond gasped. What the hell have you done?

Jonas crossed himself before he spoke inside the minds of his brothers, "if we were not damned before, certainly we are damned now." He responded.

Michael only smiled at his brothers, as he cooed and cuddled the child.

Disregard your uncles my child. Michael spoke softly. For you are very special, and your existence ensures our future.

What, pray tell is your plan, brother? Desmond commanded. Again Michael smiled.

This brother, he spoke dramatically, this is our future, this is how we survive, Michael lifted the child and held him in his arms. This is the new species.. ..of vampire.

Both Desmond and Jonas came to the same conclusion as Michael simultaneously; they smiled and stared at the new child, half human, half monster, with new pride and excitement.

"The first living vampire." Jonas murmured silently, Michael nodded in response uttering one single word, a name for his new child.

Gabriel.

CHAPTER ONE

Years have passed since the first meeting of the un-dead fathers in their castle off the shores of England. An ocean away, in a brand new land, I now sat gracefully on the limb of a tree, eyes closed and ears open as I took in the sounds around me. My name is Angelica Mackenzie, I live, I breathe, I feel the sun on my face and I.. .am a Living Vampire.

A descendant from a completely different species of vampires, the un-dead, as the humans had referred to them back then, a species that had almost been completely eliminated for many years now. Our last remaining fathers had created us by mating with human females; this is how my species came to be.

As the fathers had predicted in the late 1970’s, the new species of vampires were discovered by the human race. As our numbers grew, it became harder to keep our existence a secret. So we came forward, only this time the population ratio of vampire to human was vastly

increased. This time the holy men could not wipe us out, our new race was now untouchable.

The humans had no choice but to accept that we were part of their world. From the stories my own father had told me, it had been difficult for them, and who could blame them? Creatures of myth, we were to them. Stories of our kind meant to terrorize and shake their faith in the comforting security of their world. Now, the monsters of their nightmares, walked among them, living across the street, or hanging out at their local community locations. There had been an uprising of panic among the humans, especially those of faith in their God. We were the makings of the devil, they had believed, the soldiers of Satan, as they had called us.

It was not until our First Father’s had come forward to create a truce with the human leaders of the world, so that to two species could live among each other, side by side, that a relative peace and harmonious union was formed. A new government had been created strictly for the vampires, to not only protect our race but to ease the minds of the humans.

The First Fathers, Michael, Jonas and Desmond had enlightened the humans with our word from our creator, assuring them that no human would ever suffer death by way of a vampire. That we would only bleed of the willing, and only take pets of humans who asked of it from us. With this, a truce of peace had been made between my vampire leaders and the human’s leaders.

The panic and uncertainty of the humans had been alleviated some, and slowly but surely the two very different beings, human and vampire, had begun to co-exist as best they could. Complete acceptance was something our kind could only hope for back then, but our First Father’s had given my ancestors before me faith that it would become easier as each generation passed. As usual, the wisdom of Michael had prevailed, and as time went on the humans prejudices against my kind diminished.

These days, humans had, for the most part become used to our presence in their world. Some chose to ignore us, some feared us, but most were intrigued, for those who had no fear of us; our natural pheromones attracted them, seduced them and drew them to us. Nowadays it was as natural to see a vampire walking around casually as it was for the sun to be shining, and we now, had the ability to walk underneath the sun, finally after a thousand years of darkness, when Michael created us, vampires became creatures of the light. We had finally made our place permanent in this world, and with that had fulfilled the aspirations of our First Fathers.

***************************************************************

The sun was just beginning to set. The sky was illuminated with a brilliant orange, pink and yellow glow that painted the clouds. The last few rays of sunlight broke free of them and cascaded over the East river, causing it to glitter like diamonds. Right now no unwilling human would be happy to stumble upon me. For those of us who chose to practice the act of drawing blood, it was hunting time and even though our laws were meant to protect the unwilling, some remained wary of us, believing that at any moment a vampire would turn and take them, willing or otherwise.

It was the darkness I believed that unsettled them. When a human came across us during the day we appeared just like them, easing their superstitions. But at night when our fair skin illuminated in the darkness we appeared almost ghost-like, arousing memories of gruesome tales of the night-stalker who hunted them and fed on their blood.

Although I was a practicing vamp, a hunt was not my objective for this evening. Something had distracted me however, causing me to pause and change my course. I perched upon a large tree that hung lazily over the river, peering across the water, my eyes roaming, searching the trees and scanning the river banks. I breathed in deeply savouring the smells that surrounded me. The smell of pine and spruce from the forest around me was the strongest; there was a faint smell of salty sea water in the air, mixing with the mud and the grass from along the river bank.

I loved it out here in the village. Everything was still and quiet. A complete opposite of the busyness of the city I now resided in. I spent most of my free time out here and had become familiar with all the scents, so when I had stumbled upon something new it had been curious to me. I had spent the last few weeks chasing the origin of the scent but it always evaded me. Even now it seemed to be nothing more than just a change in the air as it was carried by a breeze. Still I had stopped and waited to see if the source would stumble upon me.

Finally I allowed my eyes to wander towards the setting sun. I knew it would be dark soon and my father would be waiting. Just as I realized I couldn’t linger much longer something different caught my attention then, and I straightened up to listen. My senses sharpened. Humans were near, I could smell them. I could feel them approaching, my body tensed in anticipation. I hadn’t expected a run in with some humans at this hour, it was late and getting dark, and I was in the middle of the woods. What were they doing out here? I thought to myself, mildly irritated.

I jumped from my branch, landing gracefully and silently on the ground. I debated the idea of just hiding from them, maybe even taking off. One could never know what to expect when running into a human. Sometimes it could mean trouble, but if I took the trail I would have to cross paths with them, and I didn’t want to alarm them. I sighed and glanced around. Then smiled to myself as I stared into the distance and saw what was coming.

Two teenage boys were walking and conversing with one another, heading right towards me, completely unaware of what they were about to come across. I smirked. Teenage boys were nothing to run from. I thought to myself confidently, this could actually be very interesting. I stood firmly and waited for them to notice me as they continued to advance my way. They both stopped dead in their tracks when they finally saw me. I kept a safe distance of about eight feet. Close enough to appear approachable, far enough to give them a chance to run if they felt the need to. They recognized me instantly for what I was.

Shit! one of them exclaimed as he saw me. His eyes waved over me and he stared in awe. The other took a nervous step backward standing slightly behind his friend, clearly weary of my presence.

I took in a deep breath and concentrated as I released my pheromones into the atmosphere around us. Vamp pheromones were our best choice of weapon. Human beings were unusually susceptible to their effects, it gave us the power to manipulate emotions, and both boys instantly calmed and stepped towards me.

One was slightly older, perhaps nineteen. He had short blond hair and green eyes. His clothing was loose fitting, a dark oversized sweater and baggy jeans. He wore his hood up. The other was younger. Their scent told me they were related, but the younger of the two was a red head. His hair was longer and shaggy and his clothes unlike his friend were grungy and unkempt.

Are you a...vampire? the red head questioned, his voice a mixture of fear and admiration.

I smiled sweetly.

It would appear as such. I said smoothly.

Are you.. .you know.. .hunting? the older one asked, his smiled widening.

Not tonight boys. I replied, smiling at their infantile curiosity.

Well I live here in the village, the oldest explained. My name is Dylan, this is my cousin Matt. He motioned towards the younger boy.

Nice to meet you, I said, amused at their excitement of running into a vampire. Older humans would have been more cautious of me, some might have even run, but this boy was genuinely ecstatic.

You have no idea how great it is to meet you! he said excitingly. I’ve been bitten before, he turned to Matt. Dude, it’s the most insane high! he turned from me to whisper to his cousin, thinking I couldn’t hear him. Plus she is hot, and all vampires are always up for fooling around before they bite you!

Matt turned to me and stared wide eyed. His innocence to my kind was almost attractive. What an experience it would be for him. I turned to Dylan and sighed, rolling my eyes. A venom junkie, I figured, too young to realize the dangers of perhaps and most probably getting mixed up with the wrong type of vampire.

Do you have any pets? he inquired.

I smiled. By pets of course, he meant human slaves. Willing human’s vampires bound to them, turning them into mere morsels, their blood slave, to drink of whenever they wanted, among other distasteful things. This was a practice that was no longer as popular as it once had been. As the years went by more vampires turned against the Word and took blood from whoever they wanted, without binding their human to them. Technically as long as the human was willing, it wasn’t breaking any laws and therefore went unpunished.

The fact that the new race of vampires had blood coursing through them also gave us other options. We could now feed off each other. Something our ancestors had not been able to do. Unlike them we did have blood, a beating heart, the need for air, and a sense of hunger. Hunger not only for blood but for food and nourishment as well. Blood to us now was our immortal drink. We needed it to retain youth, our beauty and our strengths. We no longer needed it to survive, unless, of course, if we wanted to live forever. Without it we would age, like a human, grow old, and our bodies would eventually give up. I myself, had never liked the idea of taking a pet, but did however only bite and draw blood from the willing. I had only been feeding for two years, since the age of twenty, and I chose only people who were experienced in the act of giving blood to a vampire. I had no experience in taking a pet or seducing a willing. Lucky for a young vampire like me, there were plenty of humans like Dylan who willingly and enthusiastically offered themselves up as a blood source.

My eyes narrowed as I gazed at the boys.

I don’t take pets. I answered coolly, but politely.

Dylan smiled. I guess you wouldn’t, you seem young, are you young?

I’m of the same generation as you, Dylan. I answered, gracefully stepping closer to them. But older, I’m twenty-two.

Cool, what’s your name?

Angel.

That suits you, he commented. You look like one. He smiled impishly at me, his eyes suggestive.

I blushed slightly; I was not ignorant of my appearance. Being a vampire had its advantages, one of which was beauty. No imperfections. We were designed to be perfect, desirable and approachable, meant to entice our prey. However, sometimes the attention an un-fearful human lavished upon us was uncomfortable or down right annoying. I stole a glimpse down towards the river at my own reflection. I was petite, with long wavy black hair, and like most vampires, fair skinned. I was proud of my appearance, but to myself looked no different from others of my kind.

I even felt I paled in comparison to most. I was smaller than most vampires, short, for lack of a better word. While most beautiful vampires had bright blue or deep brown eyes, far more defined than that of a human; mine were a fair golden brown. I enjoyed having the unique eye color, for I blended in better with the human race, more so than others like me. It was mostly my scent that gave me away, a vampire scent was overpowering to a human and difficult to ignore. I smiled appreciatively at Dylan for the complement anyhow.

If you’ll excuse me, boys I purred, slowly making my way to stand behind them, heading towards the path that would lead me to my destination. My eyes never left them and their eyes never left me. I gave them one last gleaming smile and winked at Dylan, he smiled back coyly.

With that I was gone. My vampire speed had me yards away from the boys within seconds. Once I knew I was well out of their sight I slowed down to a walk. I took in another deep breath, hoping to once again trace the scent I had caught earlier; my shoulders slumped in disappointment when I didn’t.

Whatever it was, a scent so sweet, so tantalizing, so. captivating, it had been keeping my attention for weeks now, continuously distracting me. The smell was familiar, I knew it was one of us, a vampire, but somehow different. Why this scent was so irresistible to me, I did not know, but I intended to track it and find the source. Though not today, today I was going to visit my father. Perhaps he could enlighten me as to why I was so drawn, and so obsessively consumed by it.

After all, my father was over 400 years old and well knowledgeable when it came to the workings and meanings of our world. He was my blood, my guardian, my tutor, and my best friend. I continued on eagerly towards his secluded cabin, looking forward to our visit, and in search for answers.

***************************************************************

My father, Dorian Mackenzie was an old fashioned vampire, born and raised in the times where it had still been necessary to keep our existence a secret from humans. He had also been, and still remains, a loyal follower of the word of our first fathers. He was believer in mating for life and protecting the surety of the survival of the new living vampire species.

Now, even in this new time, he was very comfortable and set in his ways. He still resided in the home he raised me in. The very same home he had built when he first came to North America during WWII. The cabin was built in the middle of the forest, far from any human residence and hidden in a remote location. It was unlikely any humans would stumble upon it. He had chosen the location because at one time he had traveled a lot, until I was born, then he brought me here and we settled in the small county in Nova Scotia... New Scotland, as my father still referred to it.

As I approached from beyond the trees that surrounded the property, I took a moment to gaze at my childhood home, and reminisce. So many memories I had from here, learning to excel my strengths, learning to defend myself, learning to hunt, to swim and to grow various plant life. Almost every time I wandered over to my father’s cabin I would ask myself the same question, why did I ever leave this heaven to reside in the city? Of course the answer was simple, I was not meant to live a life of solitude. My father had shooed me out, insisted I blend in with the world more. Meet more humans, and more importantly, other vampires.

I brought myself back to the present and began making my way to the front door. It was a modest two story cabin, built entirely of wood from the trees that had once flourished in this clearing where the cabin now stood. There was one door and several wide windows, having no electricity; their purpose was to provide light during the day. Now that it was dark he had drawn all the shutters, preventing the light from his candles I knew he had burning from illuminating the outside, making the cabin, all but invisible now that the night was upon us and the forest, draped with darkness.

As I looked at it from the outside now, it dawned on me how frightful the house might appear to a human at night. To them it would seem dark and unwelcoming, perhaps even gloomy, but to me it was home. It was my sanctuary, my place of peace and love and solace.

Don’t dawdle child, come in here. I heard in a gruff Scottish accent, coming from inside. I smiled, it was my father, I never had to knock on his door or call him to tell him I was coming, he was very aware of my scent and he always knew where I was or how to track me. Not that I could call him anyways, I thought to myself. The male refused to use modern technology; he didn’t even have a phone.

As I entered the house the smell of fresh bread and aged wine greeted me. The aroma tickled my senses and gave me a warm, welcoming feeling, a pleasant sense of familiarity and comfort. Some of these feelings were associated with the act of stepping into my childhood home; the rest was my father’s natural pheromones circulating in the air. He no longer used them to seduce a human, for he was no longer participated in the act of taking blood. His only gave off a sense of protection now; making anyone around him feel safe.

The inside of the house was just how it was when I was growing up, the door opened into the kitchen, there was a small round table with two chairs. There was a long counter and above them tiny cupboards. A small entryway would lead to the den where there was a large fireplace and shelves along all the walls, containing hundreds of books my father had acquired over the years. He had built everything in the house himself, the furniture was modest but fit my father’s personality, simple yet unique.

It took you quite a time to get here, Angel, he observed. What is it that has you so distracted? he asked as he set out glasses and plates of food around the small table. His piercing gaze never left me as he moved back and forth from the counter to the table placing items and rearranging them. I could never hide anything from my father as his senses were acutely aware of my feelings and emotions.

My father, to anyone, especially me appeared very intimidating. He stood very tall, towering over most humans and vampires alike. His hair was long, straight and jet black, his eyes so dark they appeared blacker. His aging, now beginning to advance, due to the fact that he no longer fed, made him appear as a man in his late 50’s or early 60’s. To me, he looked very much defined and mature. To the female humans and vampires he looked distinctively handsome and beautiful for his age. His most defined physical feature however was his burly body type. Definitely not a vamp one would want to pick a fight with, I mused.

Sorry, father, I picked up an interesting scent. I explained as I made my way further into the kitchen, I smiled at him happily and he returned it seemingly interested in the source of my chipper mood. I attempted to track the source but some humans came across me.

An unfamiliar scent? he questioned curiously. Explain it to me. He pressed.

Not too unfamiliar, I replied as I took my seat at the table. I watched him as he poured me some of his homemade wine, when he was done; I grabbed the glass to take a sip. Definitely a vampire, but different, I continued. Very alluring, like. I can’t explain it exactly, but I was instantly attracted to it, and I don’t know.. ..I feel compelled to find it, the source of it I mean.

I stole a glance at his facial expression as I began to eat the bread he placed in front of me. His features were scrunched together in what I thought for a moment might be concern, but in an instant, he relaxed.

And what of the humans that discovered you? Any problems? he inquired, taking the seat across from me at the table and beginning to fill his plate with assorted food he had prepared.

Vampires, unlike humans could only eat natural foods, fresh fruits and vegetables, grains and dairy products. Meat was not a food group for us, it wasn’t that it was bad for us but most vamps detested it, something humans found ironic. We would drink blood from humans or each other but had a strong distaste for the flesh of animals. The reasoning is the bacteria in dead animal flesh that vamps could sense, made the idea of eating in very undesirable. Most vamps grew their own food and went to markets to attain the rest. Preservatives added to packaged food also tasted terrible to us. This is because of our heightened senses. We, as vampires could taste the additives, where as humans couldn’t.

My head snapped up to glare suspiciously at my father, he knew something about that scent, I was sure of it, but for some reason was trying to change the subject. It was not the usual behaviour of my father, which aroused my curiosity. Something he must have detected, because he concentrated on his food and avoided my gaze.

No problems, I said swiftly. Just a couple of dangerously curious teenage boys, one who has never seen a vampire before and one who is most likely a venom junkie. Looking for a quick thrill, I guess. My eyes narrowed on him. What of the scent, father? What do you suppose it is? Why do you think it attracts me like it does? I pressured.

He sighed deeply, seemingly flustered.

Because you are just like your mother, he replied hotly. Everything unknown or possibly dangerous attracts you, and you feel the need to pursue it. He placed his eating utensils down hard on the table and focused his gaze on me. My advice is to not bother with it, just ignore it and leave it alone. He shot me a stern look, telling me he had said his piece and that was that.

Slightly taken aback I leaned back in my seat and stared wide eyed at my father noting his tone and uncomfortable demeanour. My father usually never spoke to me in such a harsh speech. He also never spoke ill of my mother, not even in the slightest way. I had never met my mother vampire, apparently she had died the same night as my birth, after that my father had brought me back here, to his cabin, deep in the woods to be raised, but I could always see the love he felt for her in his eyes whenever he spoke of her, which was hardly at all, I never pushed the subject, never being able to endure the tragedy that played in his dark eyes at the mere mention of her.

My body tensed slightly then, as a thought passed through my mind. Back in my father’s day when a vamp mated, they mated for life, so if one died the other was left to live the rest of his or her life in solitude, much like how my father lived now. I suddenly felt guilty, he was probably just being over protective, and I was all he had, all that was left of her. Of course any dangerous or reckless behaviour on my part would give him cause to worry and lash out.

I sat silently for a moment, pushing around my food for a bit, contemplating on pressing the subject further. My father stared at me from across the table. His breathing was deep and I could tell he was searching for the right words to say next. I held my breath in anticipation, and tried to prepare myself for what was coming. I had no idea, but I could feel that it was distressing for him.

Finally he sighed deeply and took a sip of his wine. I straightened up in my chair, preparing myself for whatever he had to say. He set his wine glass down gently and ran his finger along it, taking another deep breath. His face was full with repressed emotion. He didn’t want to tell me what he was about to, but knew, as I was the stubborn child, I wouldn’t allow him not to. I contemplated the reasoning in my mind but could come up with no answers. My father had never tried to withhold information from me before. To him, knowledge was the key to survival. His actions now aroused my curiosity to great lengths, and I suddenly realized I was holding my breath, waiting for him to speak. As I let the breath out, he finally did.

My sweet child, he began softly. I have picked up the scent too, probably so have a few others, though not all of them. There are only a few that can detect the difference from a distance.

Difference? I asked meekly as my curiosity peaked.

The difference between our kind, and the Royals. he tripped

slightly over the last word and I let out a small gasp.

The Royals, as we called them, also known as the pure-bloods, were a completely different type of vampire from my father and me. My father and I, were, to the Royals, known as mutts, that’s what they called us. I always winced at the word. Officially we were known as half-breeds though the term made no sense to me. All of the new living vampires were part human, but the royals considered us to be too human and not enough vampire. However the humans did not distinguish between the two breeds; to them we were all vampires. All of us, monsters; it made no difference to them how pure our blood was. To the Royals, however we were the weaker breed.

The pure-bloods were the first to be created. They were half un-dead vampire and half human. They had retained all the beauty and the strength of the un-dead, plus the special gifts, of certain special abilities, which we as the mutts were not trusted with the knowledge of.

When the new species of the living vampire was created there had been enough separate bloodlines and enough children created that they could mate with each other. Two pure-blooded vampires bred to make more like themselves. Children just like them, with the same beauty, the same strengths, and of course the same special abilities given to Michael and his brothers, which had been passed along to them, they claimed, by the creator himself.

However Michael then encouraged some of his children to go out and mate with more human females. A ploy thought of by him, to increase the population of his new children. The sad and utterly devastating possible consequences from this new word had never crossed his mind.

Once the new vampires started mating with the humans, the vampire gene, though still dominating, had diminished. The new breed, as the result of the new vampires and humans breeding had lost the special abilities that the first children, the pure-bloods had retained. Though we still had strengths and beauty, and the power to take a human pet, it all paled next to the original first born vampires.

There was a separation of the two new types of vampires. The pure-bloods not only refused to keep mating with humans but they refused to mate with us, for fear of tainting their bloodlines. They feared for their future children, believing if not made as strong as they were, they would indefinitely perish in the world with the humans. They then began to call us the horrendous nickname mutt, and looked down upon us and urged Michael and his other two brothers to keep creating new children, so that their bloodlines and their new children would all remain as strong as they were.

Michael agreed to this, but his love for the new mixed blood vampires was not in the least diminished and his heart went out to them, but in an attempt to keep the peace and prevent fighting among his new children he then put it on Jonas, his brother to take the mixed breed to a new land, to teach them of themselves and how to survive, and if they so wished that they could continue to mate with humans. Even though the vampire gene was slightly less powerful in the new breed, it was still there. These are our children, he had said and they are just like us, though they are weaker, it only means they need more of our love and attention.

Jonas, being the most compassionate of the three remaining un-dead vampires, agreed, and the new land he took all the mutts to was the North American continent. It was by our breed, the so called weaker breed, that the population of the vampires grew so vastly that when we were finally discovered neither the human nor the holy man could overtake us. This, however, didn’t seem to matter to the Royals. To them they were still the stronger, the more powerful, the pure-blood of the new race and we were the pitiful result in a lapse of judgment by our First Fathers, in an effort to secure our place in this world.

There were not many of the pure blood families left now, compared to us anyways. The First Fathers had stopped producing new children years ago, and most of them resided in Europe, although a few who have strayed from their covens are sometimes known to come to North America and live among us. They are the ones who take pleasure in taking mutts as pets, for as their power is greater than ours, it makes it possible.

I winced at the thought of all this, a Royal, here in my tiny village, or even somewhere around it. I could only imagine how demeaning it would feel to be taken as a pet by one of your own. I shuddered at the thought of how close I had actually come to one. How attractive their scent was to me. My father had taught me about the Royals when I was younger. How dangerous they were, how much they looked down on us, as if we were not of the same kind as them, a genetic experiment gone wrong. How they thought we shouldn’t even exist, and weren’t true vampires like them.

Then my thoughts returned back to when I was traveling through the forest, and I, like several times before picked up on the exotic scent. The smell had been so intoxicating, so inviting.

I had wanted nothing more than to find the vampire who was the source. I had fantasized about him, believing he was a vampire like me, never considering the idea that I might be tracking a Royal. I often thought of him as being my life-mate and how we would fall utterly and madly in love with one another. The realization that I had almost fallen for a Royal frightened me now. Even more frightening was the excitement that it had given me these past few weeks as I had followed it. Though, I was well aware of the danger, the thought of meeting him still, of him embracing me, touching me with love and devotion. thrilled me.

I felt my father’s hand graze my arm. His touch was a loving one, without words his pheromones told me to feel comforted. He must think the thought of a Royal close to us was frightening to me, and though he was right to a point if he knew my true thoughts, he might be frightened himself. Suddenly another thought occurred to me, as I recapped my father’s earlier words.

Why is it only certain vampires can pick up the scent of a Royal and others can’t? I asked in a small voice, holding on to the hope that there was a certain fateful destiny as to why his scent was so captivating to me.

Any vampire can smell the difference once they are close, my father answered, unknowingly bursting my fantasy bubble. But to pick them up from such a distance, you would have had to have met one before.

But I have never met one before. I argued.

You have, my Angel. He said softly only you don’t remember you were very young, only a mere three days old.

I stared at my father in bewilderment. I had assumed since he disliked them so much that he never went near them. He smirked at my look of astonishment.

Aye, most of the Royals are bad news, he began to explain. But not all of them, some are here because they disagree with the ways of their coven. I do know one, though I have not spoken to him in years. Before we parted ways, he met you, he held you, and your mind must have unconsciously held onto his scent. I don’t blame you, he continued shrugging off the topic. The scent of a royal is quite exquisite. It is something not easily forgotten.

I pondered on his words for a few moments. My heart flipped with a sudden possibility.

Did he ever mate with one of us? I asked hopefully, my words making my father scowl.

No, Angel. he answered sharply. But it’s not always their fault, it’s forbidden in their covens. The Royals are proud of their strong bloodlines; under no circumstances is a Royal from the direct line of one of the First Fathers aloud to breed with a human or one of us. He realized his voice was becoming harsh and took a breath to calm himself. He chose not to mate; instead he took a human pet. He continued. "If she is still alive then she is still with him, he loved her very deeply, but will never, for her own protection and his ever dare to breed with her."

My heart sank and my shoulders slumped. How magical would have it been if this Royal I picked up on was to be my future mate. I suddenly felt embarrassed. What I silly idea, I told myself. As if I was any match to a beautiful Royal female vampire. Not to mention my father’s friend had chosen not to mate at all, rather than break the word of his coven and take