A Moonlit Night - The Complete Saga (13 page)

Amanda looked upon the valley, from the place
that had once given her so much joy. A tear streamed down her eye
as she watched the helpless people below cry out in agony, their
voices screaming out to her for help. She wanted to assist them, to
hold back the darkness that was ravaging their land; but, her
people would not allow that, maintaining hope that righteousness
would prevail.

“I can see them. I can see the people dying,”
said Amanda, pointing to a large brushfire down in the vale. She
could see several tribesmen being slaughtered by a marauding troll.
“This is our fault, Lars… the people need our help!”

“Our help is the reason this is happening,”
replied Lars, his steady hand giving her little comfort in these
dreary times. “We have to believe that balance will be restored. I
know you feel strongly, my love. My heart goes out to them as well,
but under what circumstances is genocide justified?”

Of course Lars was right, but it still didn’t
make the sight of watching helpless people murdered by beings far
superior to them, any easier to bear. Just like the tribesmen down
below, she was powerless to stop the evil from casting its shroud
across the valley, and then to the rest of the world.

In time, their creations rebelled; fearing
that the summoners would one day take away the power that was given
to them. All of the paranormal races joined together, in defiance
of their makers. The summoners were culled by their own creations,
as helpless as the humans that they once turned their back on.
Wherever the summoners turned, the monsters followed close behind;
they were an ageless race, killed by the very life that they had
created.

“Faster, they’re coming closer!” shouted
Lars, following Amanda close behind as the fled up a high mountain
pass. The monsters were fast approaching, tearing and clawing at
the heels of Lars. Werewolves and vampires joined the hunt, setting
aside centuries of hatred to complete a common goal.

“We’re not going to make it,” continued Lars,
pushing Amanda forward. “You have to go on without me. I can hold
them off!”

“No, I will not leave you!” yelled Amanda,
turning around with her arms extended, desperately trying to grasp
Lars. It was no use; Lars had already turned around to face his
aggressors.

“You have to leave!” Lars bellowed. “Please,
don’t let my sacrifice by in vain!”

A blinding white light beamed out from Lars,
engulfing the whole mountain pass. Amanda covered her eyes,
catching quick glimpses of the monsters burning with all of Lars’
fury.

For the second time in Amanda’s endless life,
she shed a tear for the one loved. Sobbing, she turned away and
continued up the mountain; each stride harder to handle than the
last.

The war started out of ignorance, and it was
finished with hate. The summoners could have ended the war before
it began, but then they would have been no better than the monsters
that had consumed them. They all died, except your mother. She
survived, hidden in the shadows of a slowly dying world. The
summoners were quickly forgotten, their divinity now nothing more
than a whisper, an echo in the fabric of time. Amata Gemeti will
stop at nothing to see this war re-ignited, until the final
summoner breathes her last breath. Her mother imbued you with all
of her power, in hopes that you would be the one to bring peace to
this world.

Chapter Eight

“Leave me, my children,” hissed Amata,
sitting atop the fallen Korolev’s throne. “Search the building for
any survivors… and destroy them.”

The youngling vampires stormed out of the
council chambers, in search of a greater feast.

Perched on the throne she so deeply coveted,
her boney fingers tapped loudly on the metal armrests, trying to
steady her rapidly beating heart. She needed them to fear her, to
trust that being on her side was the only side worth being on.

“William, bring in my family,” said Amata,
motioning to the door. The newborns were merely pawns, and now it
was time for the rest of her clan to assume the positions that so
rightfully deserved. Survive of the fittest, Amata kept repeating
in her head, attempting to relieve herself of the thoughts of
treason, festering around in her brain.

The mountainous man returned from the dark
corridor, with the rest of her family following close behind.
Unlike the filthy and disease infested newborns, they were stately
and bred from the finest stock; vampire royalty, in every sense of
the word.

“House Gemeti, please take the seats that
should have been yours since birth,” said Amata, her voice booming
across the room. “For far too long, we had to stand by and watch
the old, gluttonous vampires rule our council; vampires born of a
different time… a fallen time. It was not I, who murdered these
eldest of vampires. Their lack of forethought and narrow-minded
views delivered them to their fate… I only sped up the
process.”

“I want you to all know that I have a plan,”
Amata continued. “The summoner’s days are finally numbered, and
with her blood I will cement our position atop the other paranormal
races. My witches have insisted they have found a way to draw the
summoner’s blood, and with it we will change our very existence. We
will combine the paranormal races, unshackling ourselves from the
burdens of past hate and bigotry. What I am talking about, is the
next step in our evolution.”

The crowd began to whisper amongst
themselves, completely thrown off by the latest development. Their
voices were hushed with the raise of Amata’s hand. She leaned
forward on the throne, and said, “But before any of that can begin…
I need you all to deal with the newborn vampires. Kill them all…
their purpose has been served.”

Chapter Nine

Standing in front of the Johansson’s country
home, the survivors all listened closely to Xander’s story. He had
recounted for them, the details of the summoner’s plight. They
deliberated their situation, each deciding on the course of action
that suited them best.

“You can’t honestly be considering his
proposal,” said Tyler, completely bewildered by the turn of
events.

“What other choice do I have?” Emily asked.
“I’m not leaving to run away… I’m leaving to meet this head on. I
just need to get far away from the people I love to do that. I hope
you can understand.”

“Y—you’re actually going to leave, I can’t
believe it,” Tyler stuttered.

Emily brushed her hand against his face, his
sadness touching her heart. She looked him in the eye, and said,
“Julia and I were best friends since before I can remember. I
remember when she first introduced you to me. You were such a
pompous jerk back then, but she fell so deeply in love with you. I
miss her so much, Tyler, and it is for her that I leave—.”

“And I’m leaving, too,” interrupted Steven,
limping forward.

“I think not,” said Emily, looking back
sternly at her wounded brother.

“Not with you, sister,” Steven replied,
looking over to the vampire hunter. “I would like to go with
Samuel… that is, if the Hunter’s Guild will have me.”

Samuel was stunned, clearly not expecting
Steven to be so ready to throw himself into harm’s way, after
nearly losing his life. Steven didn’t look crazy, and he didn’t
carrying himself around like a man looking for trouble; no, there
was something about him that Samuel liked, something that reminded
him of himself at that age.

“Well, it’s not usually accepted,” said
Samuel, scratching his chin. “Though, the overseer does owe me a
favor. All right, if that is what you desire, I believe I can make
that happen.”

“I’m tired of being afraid,” Steven said.
“Emily, you want me to be okay with the fact that you’re going to
run off, to god knows where, and take part in a battle you knew
nothing about a few weeks ago. If you want my blessing, you will
have to accept the fact that, as your brother, I will make sure I
am able to protect you. I believe the Hunter’s Guild will allow me
to do that.”

A tear ran down Steven’s cheek, the situation
deeply emotional for the usually steadfast older brother. Wiping
the moistness from his eyes, he returned his gaze towards Emily,
and said, “I’m tired feeling helpless… unable to save the only
person in this world that I still have left. I need you, Emily, and
I’ve never going to let you head into danger without me.”

The cold breeze rushed against them, a
reminder of what it felt to feel alive; something they could all
collectively agree was in their best interest.

“I hate to ruin the moment, but we really
must be going,” Xander said. “If Amata Gemeti is involved, her
response will be swift and fierce. We must depart immediately, so
that their witches cannot track our position.”

“So that’s it,” Tyler said. “You’re all
really going to leave and there’s nothing I can do to stop
you.”

“Fear not, Tyler,” said Emily, more sure of
herself than she had ever been before, with a confidence in her
eyes that made Tyler feel like everything really would be all
right. “Neither Heaven nor Hell could keep me from coming home to
my family.”

The End

House
Franson

Chapter One

Dear Brother,

It has been over a month since we last saw
one another, and I hope that your time at the Hunter’s Guild has
been well spent. Samuel’s kept me updated on your progress and it
warms my heart to see that you’ve fallen in love with something. He
says that you’re his star pupil and at the top of the class. I
couldn’t be more proud of you, or your accomplishments.

House Franson, as the people around here
call it, is isolated and dreary. Few of the denizens of this castle
even speak to me, the rest simply avoid me or hush to a whisper
when I draw near. Regardless of the vampires ill-regard for common
courtesy, I find strength in the knowledge my time here has
purpose. Every day Xander and I get a little closer to finding the
elusive Temple of Prometheus, where this misbegotten war will
finally see closure.

My powers have grown considerably since the
awakening on the front steps of our house. It should give me
comfort, but I feel that every step I take towards my summoner
heritage moves me one step farther the humanity that I hold so
dear. I miss you, dear brother, and can’t wait until I see you
again.

It’s been hard not having you by my side,
but I know it’s for the best. Autumn is almost upon us and with it
comes a breath of fresh air in our search for unraveling this
mystery that has befallen us. I promise to see us through this,
brother, so that we will one day return home, and live the lives
our parents always intended. Take care, Steven, I hope to see you
again soon.

Your loving sister,

Emily

“A month,” Steven whispered to himself as he
sat in his bunk, “She wrote of autumn…”

He was in disbelief, and looked out the
window towards the snow covered hills and frozen lake— nothing out
of the ordinary for the middle of December. Unless their distance
involved time dilation, the letter arrived over three months too
late. These questions only fueled his desire to see himself far
from this place and take up arms by his sister’s side.

A crimson stone was tucked into the envelope,
a hidden souvenir from his sister that sparkled with untold wonder
and intrigue. He couldn’t place his finger on it, but there was
something familiar about the stone, a myriad of emotions that rose
higher with every passing second that he held it within his
grasp.

“Steven,” a voice spoke to him, resonating
from the stone itself, “Come to me…”

Unprepared for what he heard, Steven quickly
stashed the stone back into the envelope and tucked it into his
pocket. He grabbed his duffel bag, already packed and filled with
all that remained of his former life, a life that he so carelessly
ran away from. He was trying to help his sister, he kept telling
himself, but those thoughts were of little comfort when he realized
that she was a world away.

Steven stood in silence for a moment and took
reflection of the life he was leaving behind. He made many new
friends and would be sad to see their friendships dissolved, but
there were more important things in life than what he wanted. Like
his sister’s safety, and the danger that Emily was now shrouded in.
She needed him, even if she didn’t realize it yet.

He slinked out the dorm room and made sure to
not make the slightest of noises while he opened the door and left
them behind. They were all well trained and their senses would have
alerted them to his plans, a motion he couldn’t allow to come to
pass. They were his friends, or at least they used to be.

The Hunter’s Guild was a massive testament to
their way of life, with over six hundred years of rich history
behind these ancient stone walls. It was a fortress, meant for
defense from otherworldly adversaries.

He carried himself down one of the exterior
staircases with a quickened pace as his eyes darted between the
turrets and covered parapet walkways. It was eerily quiet tonight,
with not a single lookout atop the walls, or guards manning the
gate. It was almost as if his departure was predestined, a thought
that gave Steven little reassurance.

“I hope you’re not thinking of hitting up the
local bar,” a voice bellowed from behind Steven, “It’s past curfew
and your instructor would make your life miserable, if he were to
find out. There’s nothing worse than running ten kilometers when
you’re hung over. Trust me— my instructor did it to me when I was
your age.”

Steven recognized the voice and promptly
turned to greet his instructor, and closest friend, Samuel. He was
the one person the dejected trainee didn’t want to see; the one
person that could stop him from achieving his goals.

“Although I can now see that drinks are of
little concern to your troubled mind,” Samuel said as he pointed to
the bag Steven carried by his side. He walked up to his student
with a depressed look, the sting from a betrayal that cut right to
the bone. “I’ve grown accustomed to your presence… and the thought
of you leaving us weakens my resolve to see this class
finished.”