The Dark Door - Ch.1 The Meeting

- CHAPTER ONE -1

The Meeting
2

“Young Lord, you appear troubled. Pray tell, what is on your mind?” 3

Allan continued to stare out the window at the pouring rain, chin resting on his palm. It had been a month today since he’d killed James… His eyes blurred.4

“Young Lord, what is the matter?”5

Allan ignored him for another minute, then forced himself to turn and face him. Standing in front of the desk, staring at Allan, was a horse-sized raven.6

“Yes, sanar?” Allan asked. 7

The raven sighed. “Class is adjourned, Young Lord.”8

“What?” Allan’s hand dove into his pants pocket and pulled out a gold pocket watch with a magnificent phoenix made of flames intricately carved onto the front. He flipped it open. For several long minutes, he stared at it. It had been given to him four years ago when he had become Door Guardian, but he still couldn’t tell time with it. He did know, however, that the dial was telling him the wrong shadow setting for it to be time for his lesson to be over.9

“Um…Elkon,” Allan said, dropping the formal title and adopting the raven’s name, “are you sure my lessons are over?”10

“When my only pupil fails to pay attention, the lesson is lost, is it not?” Elkon replied.11

“Sorry, Elkon,” Allan said. “It’s just…”12

He leaned over and glanced back out the castle window at the town below. Even though it was pouring, the streets were still alive with activity. People were bustling around with no protection from the rain save their cloaks and an occasional wide-rimmed hat. They were sharing drinks, and singing so loudly in the bars and pubs that, if Allan listen carefully, he could hear them all the way up there on the seventh floor.13

“I understand, Young Lord. You have had much to be getting on with as of late. It matters not; my lesson was nothing new.” Elkon turned to the young boy playing solitaire in the corner of the room by the door. He cleared his throat. The boy jumped, then scrambled to his feet and raced to the chalkboard to erase it. 14

“So, what was the lesson about?” Allan asked.15

“Just review.”16

“Fine,” Allan said. He stood up and stuffed his hands into his pockets, then walked over to the window to rest his forehead against the cold glass. He could see light streaming through windows below. There were several young boys running through the streets, passing out drinks and running between the few taverns scattered through the area. Soon the jumbled words of innumerable songs began to disappear and a single song rose up sung by hundreds below. 17

Allan became uncomfortably aware that Elkon was still staring at him—perhaps waiting for him say more. 18

“Young Lord?” Elkon said. “What is troubling you?”19

“Nothing,” Allan said, trying to keep the irritation out of his voice. Snapping at Elkon would only make things worse. 20

“It is not nothing, Young Lord. …Do you still think of your friend?”21

Anger flared up in Allan. He spun around, eyes flashing. “Of course I do! What, do you think I’d just forget? He was like—and I ki—” He shoved his hands back into his pockets and resolutely turned his back on Elkon. 22

There was a moment of silence, then Elkon heaved a heavy sigh. 23

“Forgive me, Young Lord. It is…hard…sometimes. We…demons…do not feel the same as you humans do.”24

“Of course you don’t,” Allan snapped. “You could kill your own family and not even flinch.”25

“This is true of some, but not of all,” Elkon said. “How are things in your homerealm?”26

“Fine. No one knows what I did…well, except maybe my mother, but I didn’t tell her; I think Daniel might have, though…”27

“And the boy’s parents?” 28

Allan swallowed thickly before replying, his throat dry. “They’re…they’re f… they’ll be okay…eventually. It’s really hard for them…they feel responsible…being tricked and all. They wonder how they could have been so stupid as to have been led away from the camp thinking they heard each other’s voices…”29

“Kazon is an excellent master of voice manipulation. They would have nothing to be ashamed of if they knew. Better people have fallen for it. I, in fact, fell for it once and ended up with a bucket of white paint on my head. By the way, you would not have happened to have supplied him with that, would you?” 30

Allan ignored the question. “Yeah, but they don’t know, and even if they did, it wouldn’t make them feel any better. How can you suggest it would?”31

“I did not. I merely stated that they should not be ashamed of having been tricked.”32

“I don’t see the difference, but whatever…” 33

Elkon sighed. “I understand your pain. I, too, lost someone I cared deeply about, and… Perhaps you should take a walk about the castle. Clear your head.”34

Allan didn’t need to be told twice. He strode out of the room, brushing past Elkon’s hired help, and quickly descended the nearby staircase. He came out on the floor below, heading straight past the open classroom door for another staircase, but for some reason, he stopped and looked back out the window.35

People were still singing in the streets. He strained his ears to try and make out the words.36


“…Damraz drew his sword
Cut off his head
The river ran red
Old Zanran was dead!”37


A sudden shout made Allan jump.38

“Aryan! Karnalaz tam buezcmas—”39

Allan paused. A tall, lanky girl with long, thin hair was standing in front of her teacher, who was reprimanding her harshly. For what, Allan couldn’t tell; the teacher was speaking too rapidly in Razinian. 40

The girl’s eyes flicked toward the door, and, for a moment their eyes locked. A scowl flickered across her face. Allan forced himself not to look away…not to blink…to hold his head a little higher…41

The girl blinked and turned back to her teacher.42

Allan moved closer to the door to peer inside the classroom, hoping for another fight, but the ones that had noticed him carefully avoided his eyes.43

“Donahue!”44

Allan’s gaze snapped to the teacher. 45

“Get in here,” she said sternly. 46

Allan shuffled into the classroom, uncomfortably aware of the glares he was receiving. Most of all, he was painfully aware of his uniform: his nice leather vest, his long-sleeved cream-colored silk shirt, his black dress pants and his leather shoes as well as the gold chain of his watch which was hanging out of his pocket in full view of the class. In contrast, they were wearing plain gray clothes and sneakers with varying degrees of wear and tear. 47

“What are you doing out of class?” the teacher snapped. 48

“I couldn’t concentrate so Elkon let me out,” he replied, shrugging. A grim satisfaction filled him at the sight of the ugly scowl that crossed her face.49

“Showing favoritism, is he? That’s unacceptable! I’ll tell Lord Daniel about this, that’s for sure.” 50

“Go ahead,” Allan said. He knew that Daniel would do nothing more than make an amused comment to Elkon. Even though he burned with hatred at the mention of that traitor, he felt savage pleasure at knowing Daniel well enough to be able to so confidently challenge her.51

The teacher’s hand clamped onto his arm in a vice-like grip. “Why you ungrateful, rude, ignorant little brat—”52

A cobra-like hissing filled Allan’s mind and spilled out of his mouth. The woman instantly let go, and Allan spun around and strode out of the class without another word. He practically ran down the staircase until he finally came to the second floor, breathing heavily, and took off down the hallway. He wasn’t sure where he was going, but outside sounded like a good place to be. What he would do once he was out there, he’d worry about later. 53

“Guardian Donahue!” 54

Allan stopped and turned around. Walking toward him was a man distinctly Egyptian with a purple cape fluttering out behind him. 55

“Pharaoh Akhom,” Allan said, bowing at the waist, one arm behind his back, the other across his waist. “What business brings you here?”56

“You mean you don’t know?” Pharaoh Akhom replied, brushing his copper hair out of his eyes. 57

“Know what?” Allan asked suspiciously. 58

“About the meeting, of course! All the Kingdom Rulers are gathering here today and are bringing nobles. Lord Daniel didn’t tell you about it?” 59

“No, he did not.” Anger boiled up inside him. Daniel hid a meeting from him? 60

“Hm…interesting. Well, if you care to join me, I don’t believe that Lord Daniel would mind your presence. In fact, I’ll bet anything he’ll be relieved. It must have slipped his mind to tell you.” 61

“Of course…” 62

Pharaoh Akhom flashed Allan a kind smile before turning down another hallway. Allan fell into step slightly behind the Pharaoh, but Pharaoh Akhom glanced back at him and shook his head. 63

“Come. Walk beside me. We’re equals.” 64

Allan smiled. “Thank you, but we are not. You rule a Kingdom. I rule nothing.”65

“Ah, but you protect something of great value, and Lord Daniel thinks highly of you. We are equals.” Pharaoh Akhom gave him another kind smile, but there was a look in his eyes that told Allan he shouldn’t argue the point. 66

Allan quickened his pace ever so slightly so that he walked directly beside the Pharaoh. Pharaoh Akhom gave him a satisfied nod, and they continued on their way in silence until they approached the meeting room.67

Pharaoh Akhom laughed. “I see Sorceress Goodwill decided to leave her hole in the woods for a change!” 68

Allan tried to manage a smile, but couldn’t. If Sorceress Goodwill felt the need toleave the cabin she’d been living in for two years, just how serious a problem were they discussing?69

“Pharaoh Akhom…just what is this meeting about exactly?” 70

“Vampires. They’ve been leaving their forest and attacking humans—werewolves, Shadowcasters, Realm Walkers, witches and wizards… Goodwill! A moment if you would!”71

Sorceress Goodwill, a tiny old women with a cane, turned around to glare up at them. “Oh. It’s you.”72

“You say that like it’s a bad thing,” Pharaoh Akhom replied. “I merely had something I wanted to discuss. Now, about the new regulation on—”73

“I don’t know anything about new regulations. I suggest you speak with the Council.”74

“I’ve tried, but they’re very slippery people.”75

“They are here today; talk with them about it afterward.”76

“Well, yes, I would except they have a way of talking about anything and everything other than what you want to. Which is why I wanted to speak with you about it. Now—”77

“I’m going to tell you again, I don’t know anything about new regulations. I left my duties with them.” Goodwill cast a glance in Allan’s direction. “Tidy your hair.”78

Allan automatically tried to comb his hair with his fingers.79

“Now, now, Goodwill, he’s fine,” Pharaoh Ahkom said. “Leave him be.”80

Sorceress Goodwill studied Allan with a scrutinizing gaze. “Hm. The least he could do is dress properly.”81

Like I need that shoved in my face, Allan thought, as he glanced at the door to watch people disappear into the meeting room, all of them dressed in fancy robes or clothes depending on their culture. Pharaoh Akhom was wearing a cream-colored silk shirt with a shimmering Eye of Horus elegantly weaved on the front, and sleek pants. Gold rings decorated his fingers; there were three gold earrings on each ear, and he had a gold band on each wrist. His deep purple cape was also silk.82

Sorceress Goodwill was wearing a simpler outfit, a midnight blue robe made of silk, but she, too, wore ornate jewelry, opal rings, an opal necklace, and opal earrings. Just knowing how much those pieces of jewelry must have cost left Allan feeling inadequate, never mind the leather handle on her nice mahogany cane or the gold, diamond decorated chain that clasped her fine cloak together.83

Even in his best formal clothes, the ones that Daniel had had specially made for him, Allan always felt underdressed when compared to the Kingdom Rulers. However, his best formal clothing was on par with the nobles so he fit in. Now, though, he didn’t have that.84

Goodwill was giving him a stern look. “Well? Why aren’t you dressed properly?”85

“I just came from class,” Allan said flatly. “No time to change.”86

Sorceress Goodwill frowned. “Don’t use that tone with a superior. You may be on informal terms with Lord Daniel, but you’ll remember your place.”87

Allan clenched his fists. “And that would be?”88

“A necessity,” she replied. “And I doubt even that. I don’t see why the Dark Door can’t be put in the care of one of the Rulers or the nobles. Why someone with no other political standing? You are not in this Realm most of the time; gone for days at a time even. What good are you?”89

Allan clenched his fists tighter.90

“Goodwill!” Akhom snapped. “Hold your tongue!”91

“Don’t tell me to hold my tongue! I am fifty nine years your senior, if you care to remember, and if anyone will be issuing orders, it will be me.” Sorceress Goodwill gripped her cane tightly, giving Akhom a challenging look.92

Akhom’s jaw was clenched tightly, and it was obvious he wanted to say something.93

Finally, Allan spoke: “I think they’re waiting for us.”94

“They can wait another moment,” Sorceress Goodwill said. “I want to ask Pharaoh Akhom what he thinks your purpose is. There was once a need for a protector. But no one tries to destroy that Door anymore. Why are you needed?” 95

Allan’s blood instantly began to boil. No one tries to destroy it, huh? You bitter old hag, I just had to kill James over that damn Door—all because your sister had a vision. Don’t you dare tell me no one tries to destroy that Door. He bit his tongue to keep these thoughts from exploding out of him. He wouldn’t give her that satisfaction. 96

Instead, he brushed past her and followed the Werewolf nobles inside where they went off to the left, and Allan headed straight to the far end of the room, where Daniel, a tall man with long black hair and ebony eyes, sat on a bench similar to a juror’s stand. Sitting next to him was Kazon, who looked younger only by few years with bright red eyes that were surveying the room. He appeared to be rapidly taking stock of who was here and who had yet to come with every person that entered the door.97

When Kazon caught sight of Allan quickly approaching, he brushed a lock of jet black hair out of his eyes and leaned back in his chair. Allan jumped the stairs up to the raised stand and roughly pushed passed Daniel, waited for Kazon to stand so that he could respectfully pass, then slumped into a chair next to Kazon, glaring out across the room.98

There were five other benches, all exactly like this one. They were in the one on the far end of the room, with two benches to their left (the nearest for the Werewolves, the farthest for Witches), two to their right (the nearest for the Shadowcasters, the farthest for the Razinians) and the one directly across from them and the door was for the Vampires. The Vampires’ bench was completely empty from where it stood, cast in shadow.99

“Allan,” Daniel said calmly, “I wasn’t expecting you.”100

“Why didn’t you tell me there was a meeting?” Allan demanded.101

“You had lessons,” Daniel said. “And this doesn’t concern you.”102

“I always come to the large meetings,” Allan said, "regardless of lessons. And this is much bigger than most meetings. Even the nobles are here! What’s going on? Pharaoh Akhom said that vampires were leaving their forest.”103

“Here’s right,” Daniel said with a nod. 104

Allan looked around. “Just how many vampires have been leaving the forest?”105

“A…quite a few,” Daniel said. 106

“Tch.” Kazon smiled sardonically, fiddling with his thick chain bracelet. “A few is an understatement. About twenty different groups have been counted already.”107

“Twenty—” Allan stared at him in shock, as his brain quickly did the math. There were usually three to four vampires in a group. If there were only three vampires in each group, twenty groups—that was sixty vampires—usually only five vampires left the forest a year. 108

“Yes, they’ve all been counted in the last four weeks,” Kazon said, anticipating Allan’s next question. 109

“Are you sure?” Allan asked. 110

“Yes. I’m sure.”111

Allan sat back in his chair, his mind reeling. 112

Kazon turned to Daniel, who was standing to watch the room’s occupants. “How soon until the meeting starts?”
“Another minute,” Daniel said. “The Vampire King and Queen have yet to make an appearance.”113

Kazon shook his head. Then, resting his right ankle on his left knee, he leaned closer to Allan. “Do you see the young man among the Council?” he murmured. 114

Allan leaned to his left, almost bumping heads with Kazon to see properly around the Werewolf bench. There was a gangly young man—around twenty-six, Allan thought—with a thin face, keen eyes and dirty blond hair who looked a little more self-important than he should. Allan noticed that the rest of Council, comprised of men and women middle-aged and older, didn't look happy about the new addition.115

“That’s Matthew Banks,” Kazon continued. “He was just voted to the Council two weeks ago. Apparently, he’s supposed to be a powerful wizard—a prodigy, even, which makes it a terrible tragedy that he hasn’t got the brains to go with the brawn—anyway, he’s worked his way through the ranks very quickly so people have got a lot of misplaced confidence in him. He’s eager for power, but if you ask me, he’s relatively harmless.”116

“Relative to what?”117

“A cabiablo.”118

“…Thanks. That’s very helpful,” Allan said, a bit angrily, as he sat back in his chair. Cabiablos were horse-like creatures with black eyes, pearly fangs and raven wings; their hooves were as hard as diamonds. They were very dangerous creatures, but generally lived in captivity, used as cart animals or ridden on journeys. Allan had yet to see one in the wild, and, although he knew they were very dangerous, he had been told that it was only when provoked—unless you were unlucky enough to come across a rather ill-tempered one.119

A soon-to-be-corrupt official was something Allan didn’t need added to his plate of worries. 120

Kazon laughed softly. “Don’t worry; he’s harmless—completely. Or, rather, if he’s not, the second he pulls something he will be—permanently. I’ll make sure of it myself. Either way, don’t worry about it.”121

Allan sighed, frustrated. “But I have to be, don’t you understand? Anything and everything could be a danger to the Dark Door should someone get a stupid idea. I have to be aware of everything that’s going on. And I really don’t need this. …How much would it cost for you to off him for me?”122

“I’m not an assassin, Allan. Ask someone else.” 123

“Right.” 124

Kazon turned to Daniel. “Maybe they won’t show, the vampires. It wouldn’t be anything new.”125

“As much as I hate to admit it, that is a good possibility.” Daniel sighed. “Alright. We might as well start the meeting now. Another minute more won’t make a difference.” Just as he opened his mouth to call for attention, a deathly quiet fell over the room.126

Standing in the doorway, casually taking off brown ratty cloaks and draping them over the arms of their nobles were the King and Queen Vampires. Their pale skin seemed to glow in the dim light from the torches that lined the walls. 127

“Dracul…Emma…you’re late,” Daniel said.128

“Hm. So we are,” Emma said, looking thoroughly unconcerned. She walked with a languid grace to the bench for the vampires and sat down, Dracul quickly following. Their four nobles sat down behind them, their faces hidden in the shadows created by their hoods. 129

For a moment, no one said anything. 130

Then the Werewolf King said, “Dracul…do you care to explain why your vampires have been leaving the forest? Or why they are attacking my people?”131

“It’s not just yours, Adolph,” Daniel said quickly. “I ask you to keep that in mind.”132

The Werewolf King sniffed, but said nothing as he continued to stare at Dracul with piercing yellow eyes. Dracul leaned back in his chair. 133

“Honestly, I don’t know why the vampires are leaving the forest. Personally, I don’t care. How does it affect me?”134

“Because,” King Adolph snarled, “I’ll rip you in half as a compromise.”135

“Adolph,” Daniel snapped. 136

“Oh, don’t pretend you’d care, Lord Daniel!” King Adolph growled. “He’s almost as bad as Nazareth!” A murmur of agreement ran through the room.137

Allan looked around, startled. He hadn’t even noticed the Demon King’s absence. Although that wasn’t surprising considering it was so commonplace that it was expected of Nazareth not to show.138

“May we please stay on track? Dracul, I know that you have at least a suspicion as to why the vampires are leaving,” Daniel said, looking annoyed at having to play peacemaker. 139

“A suspicion? Well, yes, of course. I have those all the time,” Dracul said flippantly. 140

Daniel pounded his hands on the railing, black lightning exploding out in all directions. Allan nearly flipped over in his chair in an effort not to get hit. As he righted himself, he saw the Werewolf King and Queen cautiously straighten back up and Sorceress Goodwill was surrounded by a shimmering water-like dome, her mahogany wand clutched tightly in her hand.141

Dracul paled. “There have been rumors that a strange man has been entering the forest. Speaking with different groups…”142

“What does he look like?” Daniel demanded.143

Dracul turned in his seat to speak quietly with his nobles before turning back to face Daniel. “All we know is that he has brown hair and green eyes.”144

Allan’s heart wrenched as an image of James came to mind, and his vision blurred. He lowered his head, closing his eyes.145

“Are you alright?” Kazon whispered.146

“I’m fine,” Allan said. 147

The room had broken into conversation. So many people were speaking at once that it was impossible to make out what anyone was saying. It seemed as if this meeting had already become a lost cause. In any case Allan had no desire to stay any longer.148

He had half-risen from his seat, eyes on the now-closed door when he saw the knob start to jiggle. Curious, he sat back down to watch. The knob sort of half-turned, then quickly rotated back into place as if the person on the other side had lost their grip. It did this several more times, punctuated by frequent frustrated rattling of the knob. Finally, after about roughly five minutes, the door opened a crack.149

A leathery wing pushed it open. Tucking its wings tightly to its body, the creature stepped inside and then unfurled them. Allan’s mouth dropped open as the creature was followed by another of its kind.150

They were both male; that much Allan could tell from their torsos. But other than that… Where their arms should have been, were instead large bat wings that connected to the body all down the side until they reached the hip. The creatures’ faces had pushed in noses. Their long, shaggy hair was soaked from rain, and water ran down their faces in rivulets. They were both wearing pants made of a flimsy material with two cloth hooks, one on each side of the waist. With their feet bare, Allan noticed their toes were long, thin and bony. 151

By this time, most had realized the entrance of the creatures.152

Pharaoh Akhom stood up. “Why are they here? Were they invited?”153

The two creatures swung their heads around to look at him, their eyes pale. Pharaoh Akhom flinched at their blank gaze and sat back down. 154

“No, they weren’t.” Daniel placed his hands on the railing in front of him, and leaned forward. Allan jumped about a foot in the air when Daniel began to speak gutturally in a language Allan had never heard before.155

The two creatures seemed to understand it, though, because they started speaking at once, each one stumbling over the words, and looking as though speech was incredibly difficult.156

“Forget it,” said a slow, hoarse voice from out in the hall. “Do not strain yourselves with speech. I will speak to him.” 157

The entire room became tense and still as, with great difficulty, another one of the creatures entered the room. This one was taller and much older than the other two with long white hair, strands of which were falling into his eyes, mostly concealing them. His wing span, too, Allan noticed, was much larger than the other ones. Allan didn’t doubt that if he spread his wings to their full length, it would cover most of the room.158

“Dark Lord Daniel,” he said, staring vaguely in front of him. 159

“Bathos,” Daniel replied. “What brings you here?”160

“We heard of the vampires and the man. It is a pity you did not invite us.” Bathos’ wings twitched, and an amused smile curled the ends of his lips. “We have heard much of this man.”161

“Have you? Do you know what he is planning?” Daniel said smoothly. 162

“Revenge. Or so that is what we have heard.” Bathos spoke slowly and carefully as if weighing his words. “We have heard he plans to give the vampires their rightful glory. The glory they had hundreds of years ago in their homerealm as creatures to be feared…creatures that only the bravest—or the most moronic—of men would dare to hunt. Certainly not creatures to be oppressed, forced to live in a single forest and drink nothing but donated blood from plastic bags and cups.”163

Allan’s gaze turned to Dracul and Emma, while others glanced at them more discreetly. Dracul look as though he was torn between agreeing with the unknown man’s words and thinking that vampires should remain in the forest. Allan certainly knew Dracul to be an intelligent man, and, as such, Dracul would know that—while the unknown man’s words sounded incredibly tempting—to leave the forest and attack humans would mean a swift end to the vampiric race. Emma, on the other hand, though just as intelligent as her counterpart (and perhaps at times more so), looked enthralled at the prospect of regaining that long lost glory of old. 164

A ripple of unease ran through the room.165

“Do you have any information on why he would want those things? What is his motive for giving the vampires back their ‘former glory?’ Is he a vampire himself?” Pharaoh Akhom asked. 166

“Ahhhhh…his motives…we do not know. It is certain though that he is no vampire. My scouts have seen him leaving the forest…” Bathos smiled wryly. “And since we all know that I could not, I must take them at their word.” He looked up, and his hair moved away from his eyes. They were milky-white: he was blind.167

“Do you know anything else about him?” King Adolph asked.168

Bathos slowly turned his head in the general direction of his escorts. He spoke softly. They shook their heads, then jumped and hurriedly stammered and stumbled over their words once again.169

After a moment, Bathos returned to looking in Daniel’s general direction. “No. We do not.”170

Daniel sighed heavily. He turned to King Adolph. “We’ll need several of your finest people patrolling the edges of Casa de la Singe Frate, and Sorceress Goodwill, if you would be so kind as to help—”171

“Wait just a minute!” Dracul exclaimed, rising from his chair. “You can’t just assign patrol to the forest! That’s my Kingdom, and my responsibility!”172

“Seeing as how earlier you made it quite clear that you don’t care about the current problem, I am forced to remove that power from your hands,” Daniel replied. 173

174

“I’m a Kingdom Ruler! I demand to be treated with respect! You can’t just go around allowing—ordering!—other Kingdoms to intrude on mine!” 175

Allan cringed, as Daniel slapped his hands on the railing again, but this time, thankfully, no lightning came lancing out. “You forget,” Daniel said with thinly veiled anger, “that I am the Ruler of Kardon Obsco. The land may be divided into sections—or kingdoms, if you’d rather—but I am still the ruler. You rule under me, and you will not forget your place. Am I understood?”176

Dracul nodded reluctantly; Emma looked vaguely amused. 177

“I think you’d also best remember that I am the only thing currently standing in the way of the destruction of your race. You are safe only because I protect you. Should I lift that protection…” Daniel trailed off with a pointed look at Dracul and Emma.178

“Yes, yes, alright, I understand.” Dracul stood up and grabbed his cloak from the arms of a noble behind him. “If you don’t mind, I think I’ll leave. This discussion has gone on long enough, and we’re barely any closer to solving the problem than we were before... I don’t think there’s any more to do be done here…”179

Bathos chuckled. “Just like a vampire to run away when things begin to get uncomfortable.”180

“What was that?” Dracul snapped. 181

“Everyone knows that vampires are cowards; that is why there are none of your species left in your homerealm. It would only be natural for their leader to be the biggest coward of them all.” 182

Emma’s hand wrapped around Dracul’s arm like a vice, glaring at him. Silently, he opened the door with his other arm and followed her out of the room, their nobles trailing behind them. 183

Bathos smiled wryly. “Of course he denies…but does not correct…” He seemed to be talking to himself.184

“Bathos, would some of your men aid us in our search?” Daniel asked. 185

“Why, yes, of course,” Bathos said, “so long as my people are protected when entering new Kingdoms. So long have vampires been cut off from the world that—curiously—people think they can fly. Do you still bother with that thing called school?”186

At that last comment, Daniel growled softly and promptly said, “A notification will be made immediately.”187

“I expect it will.” Bathos, who was using his wings to support him as well as his legs, dipped his head in what Allan assumed was a bow, then clumsily turned around and, after a brief struggle with his large wings and the narrow door, left the room with the other two creatures.188

The door shut.189

“Can we trust the Kamorians?” asked Walter Ryans, an elder in the Council. “They have never offered help before. Why would they now?”190

“They’re up to something,” Matthew Banks cut in self-importantly and obviously eager to make an amazing impression. “The question is, what are they up to? Now, I believe they’re after power—”191

“Don’t be a fool,” Kazon snapped. He had a sort of vacant look on his face that told Allan his mind was moving a mile-a-minute, assessing every idea that came to mind, rejecting the ridiculous and storing the likely away for consideration. “They’re not after power; they don’t want it. They’ve never wanted it.”192

“Oh? Then what do you think they’re after?” Matthew Banks said coolly. 193

Kazon was silent for a moment, staring at the ceiling. “Their forest,” he said, eyes refocusing on Matthew. “If the attacks don’t stop, people will enact a counter attack. They’ll either disrupt the Kamorians by storming the forest, possibly attacking them as well, or, at worst, in an effort to destroy as many vampires as possible, they’ll burn the forest down. The Kamorians are just trying to protect their home.” 194

“I don’t think—” Matthew began.195

“I agree,” Walter Ryans cut in. “Those are my thoughts exactly. But we all know how deceiving appearances can be. Does anyone else have any thoughts?” Here he gave Matthew a pointed look which clearly stated he was to be silent.196

“Personally, I don’t care much about the Kamorians,” King Adolph said. “They’re relatively small in number, and interested only in their own people. I believe they are in this only for their own self-preservation.”197

“They are miles from my Kingdom,” Pharaoh Akhom said simply. “Therefore, I have no judgment.”198

Allan glanced at Matthew, who looked like he’d swallowed a lemon.199

“Very well, then,” Daniel said. “Is there anything else anyone wished to discuss? …Very well, then. King Adolph, Sorceress Goodwill, I expect—”200

“I resigned,” Sorceress Goodwill said irritably. “You will ‘expect’ me to do nothing.” 201

“Fine, then, I expect King Adolph and the Council to get their best warriors and scouts patrolling the forest’s edge as soon as possible. Pharaoh Akhom, I realize you are nowhere near as close as they are, but if you could possibly spare a few of your own, it would be greatly appreciated.” 202

“I’ll see what I can do.”203

“Thank you.” The room filled with noise as everyone began to leave. Daniel turned to Allan. “Now, Allan, there’s something I need to speak to you about—”204

Allan suddenly, unexplainably, felt like a caged animal. He knew that Daniel wanted to talk about James, and desperate to get away, he jumped the railing and hurried out of the room.205

“Allan!” 206

Allan squeezed between two Council members and into the hallway, running down the wide corridor, until he came to the nearby Realm Room and, with a stern look at the guards which caused them to move, entered. Once inside, he took a moment to clear his mind and focus on the task at hand. He looked around the bare stone room, and watched a woman wave a hand slowly through the air in front of her, and watched the universe thin until he could begin to see through it; there was a warm, cozy room on the other side. It quickly came into clarity as if a part of the universe had just disappeared altogether to be replaced by part of another one. 207

The woman clasped the hand of her young son and walked through, turning around and closing the portal; the universe seemed to slowly reestablish itself. 208

Allan remembered the first time he had seen a portal; Daniel had opened it in this very room to a large snowy wood and had allowed Allan to examine it—to walk around behind it and wonder at the fact that it couldn’t be seen from the other side.209

“It’s like a window,” Daniel had said when Allan asked about it. “If you’re inside a house and you look through a window, you see what’s on the outside of the house. If you were to be outside the house, looking through the window, you would see inside the house. Likewise, you can only see through one side into the Realm you’re not in, be that Kardon Obsco or the Earth Realm.” 210

Allan realized now that that hadn’t been a completely accurate description, but it was the closest Allan had heard.211

He closed his eyes, let out a deep breath, shaking out his arms and set his mind to the task at hand. He had to be completely focused, or he’d do nothing at all. Raising his hand, he pictured where he wanted to go and slowly waved his hand through the air; he felt as if part of the universe were shifting to align with the picture in his head, although he saw no change in the air in front of him to indicate any kind of ‘shift’ in the universe; then it began to thin again and he held it for a moment, semi-transparent, staring out from a sidewalk to a busy street with a graveyard on the opposite side. Since it was busy, Allan closed the partially-open portal and moved it back a few yards between two buildings. He opened it fully and stepped through; waving his hand back over the portal, he watched the universe thicken again until the room in Kardon Obsco was no longer visible. Allan turned around and headed for the sidewalk, sitting down on a bench and staring across the road at the graveyard.212

Ever since James’s death, it had become almost habit for Allan sit on this bench practically every day and just stare at the part of the graveyard where Allan knew James’s tombstone to be. The last time he had actually been inside was for James’s funeral; he remembered with a stab of pain and overwhelming guilt how Mrs. Harrison had hugged him and thanked him for coming and told him that it meant a lot to her because James had looked up to him. Allan felt a bitter taste in his mouth.213

He wished he could just stand up and go over and stand at James’s tombstone instead of just sitting over here and staring, but he couldn’t. He kept thinking about it, but he just couldn’t make himself stand, and the one time he had been able to get to his feet, he had just stood there for about a minute before walking away.214

Allan sighed heavily, got to his feet and made his way home.215