Book of Curses (The Renning Chronicles) (13 page)

I wasn't sure how long we rode in the darkness before I saw a tall building, in the distance. It just grew bigger and bigger as we rode on, the moons rigid glare illuminated it enough for us all to see how massively large it was.

“What is that?” I asked aloud, staring at it.

It was a big building, the closer we got the more I realized it was a castle of sorts. It was gorgeous with the moon beating down on it. I couldn't help but stare in awe.

“Royalty’s home?” Dolphus said, in a tone that sounded like he wasn't even sure himself.

“That, is the home of the vampires, behind it within the walls is their town, you’ll see.” Eyloff said to all three of us, his eyes turned yellow and were practically glowing in the darkness around us.

“Are vampire’s here - Vicious?” I turned to look at the two of them. I let the worry show that time. Cause truth be told, I didn't want to be a blood pack for some ravenous vampire.

“Some are; some are all too human, other’s live to kill. This goes for all creatures here.” Dolphus spoke slowly, in a low quiet voice while answering me. It sounded like he was trying to keep quiet, more than anything though.

“That makes me feel so - so much better.” I whispered to myself, watching as the house kept growing in size. The darkness was edging away from it a bit. A lustrous glow of lights in a few of the windows was the only real light we had, as we finally got to the gates.

I stared at them; they were black iron, like something you'd see in front of an old mansion, but these had strange designs intertwined within them that I couldn't see in the dark. Eyloff made his horse move faster, and I followed after him, as we slipping through the gates.

****
*

“Halt!” A voice boomed. A man jumped down from what looked like the roof, gracefully landing on the ground before he moved forward. I winced from the impact, expecting him to die instead of land like he did.

Looking up, I saw three others emerging and following him towards us. One walked in front of all the others, their leader I guessed from the way he looked over us, then smiled. I stared down at him while petting Fire's mane slowly, trying to calm her down a bit as I felt her starting to fidget.

Tom looked over at me, and I looked back at him before returning my attention to the four men below us. I was a bit confused by their whole demeanor. One was smiling; one was glaring at us, and the other two looked calm. It was
strange
and a bit unnerving when they didn't speak.

“Two wolves and two humans.” The one in front said, smirking at all four of us. “What a strange group. What are your reasons for being here?”

“The chosen.” Eyloff said blandly, riding up closer to the group of men and staring straight down at them. “Unless you’re out to doom us all, I’d let us through.”

“We’re their guardians from the earth region.” Dolphus quickly added in a singsong voice that even made me raise an eyebrow. Really, how gay could he make himself sound sometimes, one minute he's a blood-
thirsty wolf
, the next he's like something off of Bravo.

“The chosen aye? Very well come on, Fang go get Talon and Nixon.” The one in front said quickly, looking back at someone.

“Why me?” The one named Fang growled at the man, he seemed rather pissed at being told do this.

“Just do it, Lore.”

Fang growled something, then took off towards the giant house. We followed in the same direction until we were at the doors, stopping our horses we dismounted from them. I gave Fire a final pat, smiled at her and followed the others into the building.

My eyes burned and watered as soon as I was inside, and the bright light hit me. I followed the men the best I could through my blurry eyesight, before I rubbed the tears away. Watching as the room changed from blinding light, to wooden walls lined with small tables that held either roses or books on them.

That's when my dream hit home. I didn't just dream; I had a premonition; I dreamed about this place, that
meant
those people in my dream could very well be real. The floor was black stone just like I
remembered;
it was glimmering from the reflection of the lighting within the rooms. I could see myself in the tiles as we kept walking.

We made our way down dozens of halls. They all looked exactly the same to me. I looked over at Tom, who looked back at me and gave me a questioning look; he seemed about as confused as I was about this place. When we finally stopped we were met by predatory glances from men in black clothes and blank faces, all but those piercing eyes.

“King Valdis and Queen Vespera will see you now.” One of them said to us, in unison they all moved away from the doors and pushed them open for us. I stared inside before actually moving my legs.

We walked inside of the huge room slowly, looking from one side to the other. Tom walked ahead of me slowly. Dolphus and Eyloff were behind us as we steadily made our way up to the King and Queen, who sat silently on their thrones. The looks they gave us made me want to recoil, but I held my ground and just looked at them.

The queen sat on her throne with a grace that I can't even start explaining. She was dressed in a long pristine, white gown that clung to her body, her long, ebony black hair hung in
wavy
locks that fell to one side of her long swan-like neck. Her red lips looked strange against the contrast of her pale milky-white skin. She almost reminded me of that actress from the movie Transformers, Megan something.

I shook my head and ignored that though, before I looked over at the king. He was in a black suit that seemed to be tailored to perfection. His white-blonde hair fell over his face hiding his ice-blue eyes from everyone. He smiled slowly at us, and I actually felt a pang of fear from within when I saw his fangs pressed against his bottom lip.

“Welcome, chosen
heroes
." He spoke slowly to us. He had a strange accent that hung on his words. “Tell me how far you are in your Journey?”

“Not very far…” I replied quickly, looking straight at him.

“You’re our second region.” Tom added from beside me, when I looked at him, he stood just like I did. Staring straight at the two of them, not breaking eye contact as he spoke.

“Oh! Well then you have much to learn still!” He said, laughing softly.

“Earth and now Darkness regions?” The queen piped up, speaking to us.

“Yes.” Eyloff answered her, when I looked over he had a scowl upon his face.

“Lycan, we will treat you with as much kindness as you treat us. I’d stop scowling at me like that.” She smiled slowly. She spoke with a small voice, but it was edged with authority and power.

Eyloff looked down at the floor after that. I turned my head and looked back to the King and Queen, meeting their gazes. 

“Humans, we must have a word with you. Guardians, wait outside in the hall for them.” The King said to them, shooing them away with his hand.

Eyloff and Dolphus walked out of the room slowly; I looked back just in time to see Dolphus noticeably pushing Eyloff out the door. There was a grumble, and then they were both out of the room.

Tom looked at me uncertainly, before smiling slowly and looking back towards the King and Queen. My own eyes followed his and looked up at the man and woman, other than their ghostly paleness; they looked like a young couple in their early twenties. Even though that was just a symbol of their age when they were changed. God only knew how old they actually were.

“My children, what are your names?” Vespera asked us. She looked from me to Tom smiling at us. 

“I’m Raine Renning…” I answered, looking up at her.

“Thomas Renning.” Tom answered, smiling brightly at her.

“Lovely names, are either of you skilled at fighting?” The King asked us.

I shook my head slowly; I was if you thought about the street fighting from dealing with mom's friends. However, I couldn't handle a sword for the life of me.  “I don’t; Tom has some, but I doubt it’s anything that can compare to the fighting here.”

“Pity, we’ll have Talon and Layre help with your practice then, maybe even Fang.” Vespera smiled brightly, clapping her hands together as if she was pleased about this. That only made me wonder what we got ourselves into even more.

“Do you know anything of what you’re expected to do?” Valdis looked at us seriously. The question even sounded serious this time.

“No Sir.” Tom replied to the King, frowning. “Other than kill gods, which seems a hard enough task…”

“Nixon and General Talon will help you both with that as well then, Nickel also; he's excellent on these subjects.” He smiled at us. “When you’re on your own, Talon and Nixon will be with; Raine was it?”

“Yes.”

“Then
Layre
and Nickel will be with you Thomas, though I think Nickel will need to disappear sometimes, so he’ll change with Fang.” Vespera said to him, smiling a bright smile. They didn't seem as… threatening now. “We will do everything in our power to help you with your skills.”

“Protection will be a necessary thing. Even though we'd know of enemies while they were a day away.” Vespera smiled as well before shifting her gaze toward the back of the room and quickly scanning it.

“Guards? Bring in General Talon Wolff and Nixon Lane, call for Layre Rocklin, Fang Lore and Nickel VanLouise.” Valdis called out to them, nodding his head.

“Yes your majesty.” A girl replied in a quick manner, there were several footsteps and then the echo of an opening door and the click as it closed. 

Fang from
earlier
appeared across the room, walking to us accompanied by four others. Eyloff and Dolphus followed along, and I noticed how ecstatic Dolphus suddenly looked when he looked over a few of the guards by the door. I rolled my eyes and let out a sigh as I watched them coming closer.

“General Talon, we have a job for you and your four companions.” Vespera started to speak, looking from him to each of the others. “In the mid-day, you are to take Nixon and Fang and practice fighting skills with these two, in the mornings Layre and Nickel along with you, will help them learn what they need to know.”

“Yes, your highness.” One of the boys spoke
up
, answering to Vespera.

“Nixon, Talon, you are to accompany Raine, guard her room at night as well.” Valdis smiled to them, pointing to me and nodding his head.

“Layre, Nickel and Fang you are to accompany Thomas, Fang and Nickel you’ll do shifts.”

“What! Why do I have to do this lame-ass shit?” Fang shouted; his eyes darkened, and he glared at Tom.

“Yes Milady.” Another boy said, turning his head and looking at Fang as if he was a total imbecile.