Glossary of Terms, Characters, and Historical Events or Locations
Terms-
Algula-
Vampires who were originally settled in what is now the Middle East. They are even tempered on a day-to-day basis, but in a fight they are ruthless and deadly, and they possess psychic abilities. All family members can share telepathic thoughts with one another, and once bonded, mates use this technique to enhance their love and desires. Each family possesses something unique, different from the others. The Royal Family is known for their ability to teleport from place to place. Once their powers mature, they can carry objects and people as well. Other abilities families can possess are magik (the ability to control the basic elements), flight, mental shielding, and freezing. Some abilities are recessive and can only be triggered by a traumatic event. These abilities are rarer and can be deadly to the recipient. They are as follows: mind control, blood control (ability to control the flow in one’s body), gravitational pulls, and emotional control.
Ghul-
Algula warrior who serves The Royal Family, sworn to protect the innocent and maintain the peace in the community. They are born into service, passed down from abb to son. Ghuls are the heroes of the population and honored at every public event. The leader of the Ghuls is Nasir.
Nexus-
Algula term for marriage. It's when two people come together and form a union. A ritual is performed; it can be done alone or in front of individuals. For royalty, it is best to have that ritual performed in front of witnesses in the event that the lineage is challenged. The male Algula will say the following line: “(Insert female’s name), I take your hand and pledge to you my devotion, my service, my fealty. Forever I shall be faithful, and forever we shall remain.” Once this is said he will take her hand and expose her wrist. He will score her vein with his fangs then pour wax from his designated candle onto it. The female Algula will say the following line: “(Insert male’s name), I take your hand and pledge to you my service, my loyalty, my life. Forever I shall be yours, and forever I shall please you.” She will then expose his wrist, score his vein, and apply her wax to his wrist. The woman will then take the ceremonial knife and cut her wrist where the wax and skin have formed, and then the male will do the same. They then press their wrists together, bonding the two of them. Typically the ceremonial candles represent something from the people or families that are being joined, either their personalities, lineage, or magik traits. Once the nexus has been performed, it cannot be undone, except after one of the parties has died.
Raheel Ritual -
The ritual performed for a member of the Ghul and/or their spouse at their passing. It's the second highest form of respect that a priest can lay on a family in the time of mourning, and is reserved for those families who have fought to protect the Royal Family.
Hayah Kayema
- An experimental medicine the Algula have created to assist their females with their pregnancies. It's administered as a suppository, and will help the uterus accept the embryo and the body keep the pregnancy. It is still not 100% effective.
Abb
- The formal use of the word 'Father'
Baba
- The informal use of the word 'Dad'
Omm
- The formal use of the word 'Mother'
Mama
- The informal use of the word 'Mom'
Gedi
- Grandfather
Siti
– Grandmother
Ebn'
- Son
Bent
- Daughter
Hafeeda
-Granddaughter
Hafeed
-Grandson
Akh
- Brother
Okht
- Sister
Amm
- Uncle
Amma
- Aunt
Bent Amm
- Niece on Father’s side
Ebn' Amm
- Nephew on Father’s side
Bent Amma
- Niece on Mother’s side
Ebn' Amma
- Nephew on Mother’s side
Bent Amty
- Female cousin from Father’s side
Eben Amty
- Male cousin from Father’s side
Shebeen
- Godfather
Shebeena
- Godmother
az-zaġāyah or assegai
- A pole weapon typically used for throwing or hurling. It's a lightweight spear or javelin typically with an iron tip at the end of some type of hard, wooden handle. This was the primary weapon used during the Islamic Conquest (ranging from 634-750) and then later used well into the 20th century in the Middle East.
Emir
- A military Commander
Characters -
Hashim Khaled
- King of the Algula, his name means destroyer of evil, with his family name meaning eternal. It was first recorded that his reign started around 4000 B.C. While under his rule, his subjects enjoyed peace and prosperity, their lands flourished with crops, and their people were wealthy. He possessed the ability to fly and control the earth. His eyes turned a shade of yellow when using his powers. He bonded to Afaf in 3850 B.C. He died around the year 500 A.D. They had two children, twins, son Haydar and daughter Ikram.
Afaf Khoury
- Queen of the Algula, her name means pure and loving. Her omm was a servant of the kings, and she grew up playing in his fields. She and Hashim first met at the river, where Afaf injured her leg and Hashim helped her home. The two courted for two months before he took her as his mate. She possessed the ability to control fire. She was the most cherished treasure Hashim ever laid eyes on when they met. She died in the year 1273 A.D. Her dying wish was for her two children to mend their ties, but that day never came. She had fiery red hair and creamy, white skin. Her beauty was unmatched in her time. They say her hair was as soft as silk and she smelled of lilac. Her lips were full, her eyes sultry gray.
Haydar
- Prince of the Algula, his name means lion. He has a bad temper and no patience. He goes about his business with no care of his actions and lacks the control necessary to maintain peace. It is unknown who was born first, he or his sister, but he feels he is the rightful ruler of the Algula because he is male. His abb’s final betrayal of him, crowning Ikram as queen, sealed his fate. He is forever compelled to fight an uphill battle until the day he dies. He possesses his omm's ability to control fire. When his emotions take control of him, his eyes turn a shade of violet. He has the ability to control the elements as his omm did. He was born in the year 423 B.C. He was bonded to Sarah.
Ikram-
Queen of the Algula her name means generosity and hospitality. She was a loving ruler who tried to honor her abb’s memory by ruling in a fair and just way. She worried about her brother and the death he left behind in his wake. She possessed the ability to teleport and control minds. She controlled the element of earth. Her eyes turned shades of green when her emotions took control. She was born in the year 423 B.C. She was crowned queen around 500 A.D. She was bonded to Tamman in 700 B.C. They had a son, Zayn, and a daughter, Nikole. They settled in the mountains of Lebanon where they ruled. The city is present day called Zahle, Lebanon.
Tamman Kadin
- King of the Algula. His name means strength. His family name means confidence. He was the son of a Ghul who was in favor with King Hashim. The king allowed Tamman to bond with Ikram in 700 B.C. because his nobility and strength would serve his descendants well. He and his wife, Ikram, were killed during the invasion of Zahle in 1777 A.D. He possessed the ability to control earth. His eyes turned green when using his power.
Zayn
- King of the Algula, his name means beauty. He is most loyal to his sister and is very protective of her. He works with his people to rebuild their community and repair the destruction his amm created. He has long, black, straight hair, is 6'7”, and has yellow eyes. Built of all muscles, he looks like a fierce warrior. When he stares at you, you feel him touching your soul. He possesses the ability to control water. When he is angry, his eyes change to a rare yellow shade. It’s the only warning you will have that he is going to attack. He was born in 1015 A.D. He officially took over the throne in 1890 A.D. He is not bonded to anyone.
Nikole-
Princess of the Algula, her name is derived from Nikolas, meaning victory of the people. She fights for virtue and honor whenever she can. She possesses the ability to control fire. Her eyes shift to violet when she gets worked up with any emotion. She is battling to control her emotions to become a better fighter. She is learning to fight from Nasir in order to protect herself and her brother. She was born 1170 A.D. She is not bonded to anyone.
Nasir
- Emir of the Ghul, his name means protector. He swore loyalty to King Tamman and promised to always look after Zayn and Nikole. He swore his allegiance to protect the Royal Family to King Tamman and Queen Ikram in 377 A.D. He helped Zayn and Nikole flee during the attacks and is teaching them how to maintain an army and rule a kingdom.
Leigh
- General, daughter of Haydar and Sarah. She has worked for her abb for the last 800 years. She was born in 1212A.D. and has been her abb’s go to person for the last 700 of those years. She moved up in the ranks by viciously killing her competition in every combat she was a part of. She has the ability to control the earth. Her eyes flare green when she is emotionally stressed. Leigh is known as the Black Death because she has the ability to take out entire cities in a matter of weeks. Some say she is responsible for all the deaths in 1348-1350 when she was training and proving herself to Haydar. She is 5’10” with long legs, red hair, and olive skin and is cut like a rock. She is not bonded to anyone
Adara Malak
- Daughter of Ghazi, a Ghul in Zayn's trusted army, she and Nikole met one night at Club Impact while they were both hunting the same human male; they became friends and often hang out together. She is the only close friend Nikole has, the closest thing to a sister. They have been running around together for about twenty years. She is 5'10” with long, black hair and a nice, olive skin-tone. She has the ability to control water. Her eyes turn a shade of yellow when she is using her skills. She keeps her emotions under control and is not bonded to anyone
Alec Palermo
- A former medical tech for the king’s Ghul when they lived in their homeland of Zahle. During the invasion of their homeland, his wife and child died as a direct result of Haydar’s actions. He fled to The New World along with the remaining Algula. He was born in 1375 A.D. He is 6’1” tall with blonde hair and has the ability to control fire. He is no longer bonded to anyone.
Derrik
- Mercenary, son of Haydar and Sarah. He worked for his abb for hundreds of years, helping carry out the tasks that he thought his abb wasn’t man enough to follow through with. He had extraordinary strength and speed. He could control the wind, but had not mastered the art of controlling the air supply around him. He was born around 1350 A.D. and killed for his abb for 600 years. He was 6’1” with dark hair and a muscular build. He was not bonded to anyone.
Dominic
- Mercenary, son of Haydar and Sarah. He worked for his abb for the last three centuries. He assisted Derrik on most of the missions over that time. He was after his brother’s position in the ranks for the last two centuries. He was born in 1578 A.D. He could control the element of fire, but had not been instructed how to self-generate it because the only living relative that has this skill is Nikole. His eyes changed to violet when his emotions started to flare, but unlike Nikole, they did not stay that way, because he could not maintain the control necessary to keep the elements. He resented everything that Derrik was and hid his lineage from the world. He didn’t want anyone to know who he was. He was 6’0” with dark hair, muscles, and olive skin. He was not bonded to anyone.
Hamza
- Leader of Haydar’s rebel forces. His name means strong and steadfast, which his personality and characteristics reflect. He was in control of the military rebellion from 1700 to 2012; his first major assault was on the city the Royal Family lived at in 1777. He was 5’9” and 300 pounds of pure muscle. He was the most ruthless of all of Haydar’s men, known for his sadistic torturing skills. He devoted his life to Haydar and cared about no one else.