Chosen: Book 1 in the Ancients of Light series (24 page)

Kaitriana brushed off Kendrick’s reaching
hand irritably, “
Lorcan
is the Warrior of
Light. Do you not find it odd that this ‘foul blend’ is the most
powerful warrior in the Realm?
He
bows to
no one, not even Myrrdyn.” She was done with the games and
purposefully curled her upper lip back to expose her lengthening
fangs. Pinning the male witch with a flickering dark gaze, she
snapped, “If Lorcan is incapable of fulfilling the Prophecy then
you have prematurely given hope back to your people. I am no longer
Witch but a foul mixture as well, you pompous fool.”

Kat purposively tapped a nail against one of
her fangs with her sarcastic taunt, “If
your
beliefs are true, I cannot fulfill
your
Prophecy. Tis a shame that your Seers did not
advise you of such before you created such a spectacle, wouldn’t
you agree?”

Lorcan experienced great satisfaction over
his little lass placing ownership of the Prophecy squarely back on
the Witch. More notable was that this time she excluded herself
from that grouping. The way that Kat was handling herself and her
sudden apparent acceptance of her Vampire nature pleased him more
than he could have anticipated.

He barely had time to appreciate the import
of such before Kendrick howled at him, enraged, “What the hell have
you done to her? You transitioned her to destroy the magic of the
Chosen, to kill the Prophecy!” Kendrick drew the broadsword at his
hip.

In response to hearing Kendrick’s disparaging
remarks and the aggression the witch was now exhibiting, Lorcan had
finally had enough and moved his hand to his weapon. He was
stepping around Kaitriana and readying to put a blade to the fool’s
throat when she moved quickly to intercept the witch. Blue light
fully encircled both hands and she raised them in Kendrick’s
direction before Lorcan had chance to murder him over his offense.
She was biting the words off in her irritation, “Lorcan did not
do
this to me, Kendrick. I must insist
that you conduct yourself with a modicum of respect given that you
and your group currently occupy Lorcan’s land.”

Kendrick broke off abruptly upon witnessing
the light. The crowd had noticed her magic as well based upon the
general murmur that swept through them. He tempered his tone lest
he fall victim to the power that was quickly becoming a story of
legend in the Realm, “Kat, you are Vampire and yet you have magic
in you?” At her plain nod he resheathed his sword, his expression
baffled, “How is this possible?”

As she sensed his immediate threat to her
vampire was over, she quelled the light in her hands. Shrugging
delicately, she offered only, “It is what I am Kendrick.” Waving
her hand towards the group she commanded, “Disperse this gathering,
send them back to their homes. If Lorcan is agreeable, you may
enter and I will answer your queries.” She looked back to Lorcan
seeking his approval.

Kendrick argued, “The Warrior Caste,
your
Caste
,
needs bear witness to this, Kaitriana. If
you are still of magic then you remain our responsibility and the
Caste shall determine the best course in this. I will send the
others away but the Warrior Caste stays.”

Lorcan and his Elite all caught the slight
stiffening in her posture and the slow intake of breath. Her anger
was readily apparent in the simmering darkness in her eyes. When
Kat centered her full attention on Kendrick he too took note of the
change of color and frowned over it. His frown deepened over the
deadly authoritative tone of her answer, “You, dear Kendrick,
occupy
my
seat at the head of the Warrior
Caste…
my seat…
by birth
and
by right. Be mindful of it, else I may be inclined
to hand you your head and assume my place.”

The reports of the magnitude of her power
when she had taken down Rhydach’s holding were inconceivable, so
she was undoubtedly strong enough to make good on her threat.
Kendrick softened his response, “Kaitriana, be reasonable. What
will Myrrdyn say of this? You must come with us and we will fix
this. You are not in your right mind. With the magic in all of the
Castes, there must be a cure for you.”

Kendrick’s words confirmed Lorcan’s earlier
concerns. With her blood being mixed with the Vampire, the Witch
would deem her a lesser being. Kaitriana would no longer be
heralded her as their champion. For this reason, regardless of her
powers, Lorcan also believed that her part in the Prophecy had been
destroyed. She would be rejected since she was a mixture of the
species rather than being accepted as the one to unite the two
Factions to bring the end to the Dark.

Lorcan had seen enough of the badgering of
his female. He interjected, “Kendrick, she does require a cure.” He
added the next, more for the benefit of his people than conveying
any fact, “She is fully Vampire, the Witch power merely lingers.
Her power can be tamed; it will diminish if she reins it in and
gives herself over to her Vampire nature. Kat has chosen to stay
with me and in doing so she is relinquishing her kinship with the
Witch faction. This is as it must be. There is no need for her to
return to your Caste. ”

Both males’ claims had her brows shooting
skyward.
She
wasn’t in her right mind? She
was so incredulous over the blind ignorance of the two that she
almost laughed. Her gaze fell on Lorcan and then Kendrick; these
two warriors should have been her strongest allies and both were
failing her. That neither could understand that her blending made
her more capable of uniting the factions, not less, was her
frustration. Kat believed herself equally both species; she would
not be forced to choose one over the other but would remain loyal
to each. Calmly, though her eyes now bespoke of a deep wound, she
gave her attention first to her male, “We discussed this Lorcan, I
am
the Chosen.”

At his unblinking stare, she shrugged away
and separated herself from him by a few paces. Kat gazed back and
forth between the two men. The hostility of her tone warned against
interruption from either, “I am
not
broken; there is
nothing
wrong with me. I
am a perfect blend of the strongest traits from each species. I am
complete and formed the way that was destined, else I would not
exist. Why does each of you want to
fix
me? That
you
are incapable of embracing me
for what I am is the very reason there is a rift within the Light.
Your
mindsets
are what require fixing.
You
are what is broken.” Kaitriana kicked
at the ground and shrieked in her fury, “
I
am
amazing
and you arrogant asses are too
feeble minded to realize it!”

Lorcan’s expression was thunderous as he
strode in her direction. Her hand rose to ward him off, her eyes
blazing, “Figure it out Lorcan. When you can love me because I am a
witch and not in spite of it, I will give you back a place in my
heart.”

Before he could respond, she pinned Kendrick
with a sinister look, “And when you Kendrick, and all of the Witch,
can accept the dual nature of your Chosen, I will offer my strength
to you.” Her gaze swept to encompass the beings of both factions on
the surrounding grounds. She had lost her faith and trust in all of
them.

Kaitriana’s voice elevated to reach all in
witness, “Until then, I have no need to be bothered by the presence
of any of you. Until your minds are no longer plagued by the
ignorance that sets you from one another, I have no role in the
Light for either Faction.”

Lightning split the sky; she was quickly
reaching a lethal state in her rage. Recognizing the dangerous
escalation in her power, Kat shadowed away without sparing a glance
for either leader. A tremendous bolt of light scorched the ground,
marking her exit.

Less than a minute later, Lilly strode to the
center of the small group at the gate and leaned over to inspect
the burnt ground. She then stepped up to the still dumbfounded
Lorcan and Kendrick. Disgust full on her face, she dropped her
hands to her hips and rolled her eyes at them as she chided, “No
ruby slippers here, just a lot of supernatural jackasses.” She
shadowed away, amused over their disbelieving faces and the din of
the chaos that had erupted in the wake of Kat’s magnificent
departure.

CHAPTER 23

Her return to Laverock and the chamber that
her grandfather had prepared for her so long ago felt natural and
offered a comforting haven from the strain that had been placed on
her since her awakening. Kaitriana knew she was adequately
protected from the searching of both the Witch and the Vampire, as
she had been for the five hundred years of her slumber.

She was startled to find herself not alone
when she appeared in her bedroom. Her grandfather was seated in the
single chair before the hearth. A fire blazed, as though the
ancient Sorcerer had anticipated her homecoming this night. Kat
realized that was in fact the case when he turned to her in
greeting with no surprise on his face.

Serenely, Myrrdyn folded his hands in his lap
as he gave her an appraising look, “Welcome home, my little
witch.”

Kaitriana gazed at him soberly for a moment
before demanding, “Where have you been? Why did you leave me to
face this without your support?”

A slow smile took his wizened old face and he
responded simply as if the answer should be quite obvious to her,
“Because the journey is yours Kaitriana, not mine.” Appearing
artfully baffled, he questioned, “And by
this
do you mean the awakening of the glorious
creature you have become, Lorcan, or the meeting of the Witch?”

Her head ached. Kaitriana knew it was partly
due to the stress of the night and partly to hunger; she had not
taken Lorcan’s vein before the incident at the gates. Sinking
slowly to perch on the edge of the bed, she uttered woefully in
defeat, “
All
of it?”

Myrrdyn pushed himself from his seat with
surprising swiftness for one of his ancient years. Pausing before
her, he pressed the cup that he had waiting at her bedside table
into her hands. “You needed to establish yourself alone, Kaitriana,
before any interference from your old grandfather,” he took the
spot next to her. Continuing, he patted her knee in comfort as she
drew the glass to her lips, “You cannot be what you are destined to
be if you have me telling you how to be it. Your destiny is your
path alone and you will find your way. You have a good start.”

At her doubting look, he laughed heartily and
gave her another pat, “Your words tonight have already begun to
play in the minds of those that have part in helping you fulfill
your role. It will bring them to you. You have always been an
exceptionally brilliant girl.” Myrrdyn eyed her, pursing his lips
before adding, “Of course, the delivery of your message could have
been more diplomatic, child.”

The memory of Lorcan’s expression during her
tirade washed over her and Kaitriana winced in reflection, “I do
not think it will bring
all
of them to me.
Your visions obviously did not show you Lorcan’s reaction. He is
likely more inclined to strangle me than help me.”

Myrrdyn understood full well where her
thoughts were and circled an arm around her shoulders, pulling her
to him, “All of them will come to you….eventually.” His voice held
hint of an impending lecture, “However, if you had let the Warrior
know that it was his blood and not that of his enemy that brought
you forth, he would be drawn to you more than he already is.”

Her hands grasped the cup tighter when she
lowered it from her lips, her tone defensive, “I do not know for
certain that it was his blood. Your belief is based on nothing more
than idle talk between two Darks. Darks are notoriously devious and
matched in that only by their stupidity.”

He smiled over her words. His grandchild held
strong opinions and had no hesitation in voicing them. His look was
grave as he patiently explained, “They had no reason to be
deceitful because they knew not that you were awake. As far as
their stupidity, that is neither here nor there. The two knew the
importance of the vial; it had been given to them directly by their
Dark lord. Rhydach acquired that blood himself over a millennium
ago while engaged in battle directly opposite Lorcan. He would have
slain your Warrior that night but for the intervention by a great
and powerful sorcerer.” Myrrdyn winked at her playfully which
brought a smile to her lips.

“Lorcan had been gravely injured and Rhydach
availed himself of the opportunity to obtain a sampling of blood.
Rhydach had long had the intention of collecting it. I would not be
surprised if that particular battle had not been orchestrated for
that sole purpose. Of course, I am the Sorcerer of Light so I am
really never surprised by anything, am I?” Myrrdyn felt the
movement of her shoulders before the wonderful sound of her
laughter erupted. He had been waiting centuries to enjoy her
beautiful spirit once more.

Shaking her head at him, she gave him an
admonishing look before she leaned up to press an affectionate kiss
on his cheek, “Your magnificent powers are exceeded only by your
glorious arrogance, Grandpapa.”

The moment brought warmth to his heart and he
hugged her close as her merriment subsided. After acknowledging her
assessment, he gave her the remainder of the tale, “When Lorcan was
but a couple of centuries into his transitioned form, Rhydach
witnessed an incredible display of magic from the Warrior of Light.
In the midst of a heated battle, when many had fallen, Lorcan
unleashed a light from his hands. I do not believe it was
intentional but that Lorcan was so enraged he was unable to keep
the magic bound as he normally does. He destroyed over fifty of
Rhydach’s finest guard in the space of seconds.”