It still needs work...

REALM TRINITY

Tousling her sheets Alisandra sat up and looked around her sparse room. She was sure she had heard something. She pulled her coffee colored hair out of her blue eyes and rose from her bed. She slipped on an olive robe that complimented her fair skin. She made her way to the room next to hers. She gently pushed open the door and stepped into a world of dolls and bright colors. Leaning against the frame of the door she smiled at the small child sleeping soundly in the bed in front of her. Alisandra sat on the edge of the bed and caressed her daughter’s sherry colored hair. She saw that the girl was holding a photo of her dead father. She sighed a tear rolling down her cheek. She quickly rubbed it away. Alisandra was torn from her thoughts by an ear ringing shriek. She stood and strode out of the room to the front door. She pressed her hands against the cold metal and slid open a small peep hole. Her heart dropped as she saw a wall of dark winged bats dive as if torpedoes at her. She could hear the cries of her neighbors, muffled by the thick walls off the house. Alisandra forced her fear down and she turned to her daughter’s room. She seized her frightened child who had just awakened. She was attempting to take refuge under her violet sheets. The girl clung to her mother’s long hair. Alisandra looked at the panic in her daughters pale green eyes, reminding her of the girl’s father. She glanced fervently, trying to get her bearings on what was best to do. Setting her jaw, she stared at her fidgeting daughter.

“Shh it’s alright honey. Mommy will always protect you” Alisandra comforted her terrified child, while running her hand through her daughter’s choppy hair.

“I want you to take your mommy’s favorite cross, you know the silver one daddy gave me, and hide in your special little cove in the basement.” She commanded to her now calm and apparently confident child.

“Alright Mommy.” Elizabeth whimpered betraying the fear she was attempting to quell.

Alisandra watched her petite daughter descend the narrow steps to the haven hidden in the cobweb-infested basement. The moment she was no longer, visible Alisandra leapt to the door, slamming the coarse titanium bolts and latches. In a final effort she pushed her heavy antique table against the blockaded door. She grimaced as the screech of the metal floor penetrated her fragile ears. It was of no consequence and she knew it, if a vampire wished to get into her home it would succeed, but she prayed to the lord it would deter those leeches or at least slow them down even just the littlest bit.

While she was pacing in her fluorescent-lit kitchen, she could hear the sound of her neighbors’ steel and titanium doors being forced in.

She glanced at a picture frame made of honey shaded bamboo it appeared to be floating on the smooth subtly lit wall. Inside it was happiness, a day at the museum, her husband smiled at her with those eyes that could always make her blush. Elizabeth was only three at the time she was still so happy. The moment of nostalgia was ripped from her as she heard a scream from her neighbor’s lawn. It was Mrs. Bakersfield, the local yoga instructor.

Alisandra grabbed a large crystal vile containing precious holy water and doused the door with it, as well as the entryway to the basement. She emptied the last bit of it into her body hoping that if it sucked her dry she could still succeed in killing it. Abruptly the door began to tremble. One was trying to get in.

Alisandra reached for a stake and a small but fatally sharp dagger. She was prepared to fight to the death of her or her unlucky opponents she had to defend her precious daughter. The vampires may have succeeded in stealing her husband, but they would not acquire her daughter as another sickening trophy.

Her enormous door fell, splintering the table beneath it. It landed inches from her exposed feet. The house had been breached. Three of them stood egotistically before her. Fear and anger surged inside of her petite frame. A full grown and well-built man like my beloved Bryan could not even take three and survive. Alisandra thought to herself fear slinking its way into her mind.

A lump of terror lodged itself in her taut throat. She wasn’t a man though she chastised herself, she was a full-grown well-built woman protecting her offspring, and she could take them.

“Hello darling,” taunted the leech standing front and center. He was apparently the most important of these three. He had dark wine like eyes with a suggestion of an evil greed for power and domination of all, even his own, and hair that flowed as if the wind was dancing in its blackened tendrils though there wasn’t any wind this humid night.

The one situated to the left and behind him had vibrant ivy green eyes similar to the one located beside him. The one to the left had a pink protruding scar accenting his sculpted chin and sunken cheeks. This one was not the highest in rank, but he did not care, he enjoyed it. He relished torturing his victims draining them leisurely and not using his hypnotic powers to entrance the weak minded. This was not just a nice escapade it was dinner and entertainment.

The one who had spoken previously strode towards her. She immediately tensed and was ready to pounce. She would have to allow her animal instincts to gain control. He made a motion fleet as a coyote in her direction, but not fleet enough. She succeeded in ducking his swing and pulling his feet out from beneath him. He hit the floor with a shuddering thud that likely echoed to little Elizabeth‘s ears. Alisandra had just missed a blow to her head capable of knocking her into unconsciousness. He was back up on his feet in a second and the look of sickening pleasure left his ghastly face; he was fuming.

“My darling, you hurt me.” he spat while brushing his stray hairs from his face and straightening his charcoal trench coat.

She threw a punch towards the vampire that had slipped quietly behind her; it was the one from the right. He dodged it in time to avoid what for him was simply a slight annoyance. The one with the scar stepped in and delivered a painful blow to her stomach. Collapsing from the loss of air, the frightened mother pulled herself up and leaned against the wall.

“What is that stench?” inquired the frightening one with the scar.

“Holy water.” responded the leader as he pulled his hand back from a puddle on the floor. “The house is drenched in it,” he stated with amusement. “You’re not as dumb as you look my darling,” he laughed

“I am not your darling!” she shouted as she angrily staked the quiet one from the right.

It was now her and two vampires. They looked taken aback; she had succeeded in killing one of their own. Then the mood changed as the leader’s eyes transformed from the subtle burgundy to a vibrant fire red.

“You will pay for that little one. No one gets away with killing one of my own.” He whispered with unmistakable fury.

He dove for her and they locked into an epic battle. A mother protecting her young from a predator. She clawed at his fiery eyes as he struggled to get her pinned to the cool iron floor. He succeeded after only a few short minutes.

He gazed at her with triumphant lust through the hair, which had fallen like a veil in his pallored face. He leaned towards her appetizing neck, his ivory fangs so close to her fair skin. His blissful snack averted when her left foot found his stomach and she kicked him off her shaking body. He slammed against the wall, the wooden coat rack going through his nearly non-existent heart.

Now it was a badly bloodied Alisandra and the green eyed one with the pink scar. She watched his eyes scan her figure gauging if he could win. In a blink of an eye, he flew at her, obviously having decided he could take her. He kicked her in her ribcage with enough force to break two ribs and shatter another. The scream of intense pain she made filled the night air. She was in distressing pain, but she had to keep fighting. He paced around her as Alisandra wiggled fervently on her floor. She picked herself up and had just gained her balance when he took a knife off her onyx counter and dug it into her thigh all the while he had a sickening, devilish grin on his taut face. He wrenched it out and licked off the deep crimson till the knife shone eerily once again. The holy water did not faze him, it didn’t work. She thought to herself, the hope she had been clinging to was ripped from her heart.

She reached for a small statue of Jesus off her granite end table and smashed it into his head. He growled with pain and hit her across her head. He then stabbed the knife into her other thigh that was attempting to assist in her standing.

Alisandra’s world began to swim all around her. She felt the vampire’s teeth pierce her velvety skin; unexpectedly he ripped his teeth out and let her drop to the floor smashing her limp head against it. His ears seemed to almost pop up, he had heard something. “What had he heard?” Alisandra asked herself. “ELIZABETH!” she screeched. With hidden strength, she picked herself off the ground and stumbled down the stairs he had just descended. She came upon a horrifying sight his fangs were closing in on her squirming daughter‘s thin neck.

“Drop the kid!” she gasped. He turned and looked at her drooping figure looming in the doorway.

“I couldn’t figure out why you were fighting us with such ferocity. That is until I heard this little dear’s whimpers. Poor little pet was so frightened she couldn’t keep quiet.” the vampire cooed in a nauseating singsong voice, as he released his grip on Elizabeth’s nightdress.

He strode towards Alisandra to meet his gut with her dagger. She immediately tore it out and stabbed the dagger into his broad throat pushing him to the musty concrete basement floor. She put all hundred pounds of her weight into partially decapitating the convulsing vampire. Though only partial, the decapitation seemed to do its job. She collapsed at the side of her whimpering daughter and wrapped her bruised and blood smeared arms around her. She wept with pain and a mother’s joy until she slipped into unconsciousness as her daughter cried her name.

Once she reached the other side her loving husband and her, other late family members greeted her and welcomed her into bliss.

All this was being played out, like a movie, in a scrying dish. The scene of death faded away and the dish of water became only water again. The owner of the dish was a young gypsy named Ashley

“Your mother was a strong woman to fight off three vampires,” she told the now twenty-year-old Elizabeth. “I do wonder how you survived the night; you would think the other vampires would have come to see to their dead.”

“Maybe my mother hadn’t truly left me yet. Maybe she was still there protecting me. They say a mother’s love never dies,” Elizabeth said with a half-hearted smile.

“Are you sure what you saw was true?” asked a shaky Elizabeth.

“Yes, the dish doesn’t lie.” she replied. “On another note, how have things been going with your research?” Ashley asked Elizabeth.

“Well. We have found the hiding spot of the vampires. It’s in another realm and that is why we could never find them before. We are just trying to figure out how to access it,” divulged Elizabeth.

“You are telling me some very important information. Why?” Asked Ashley.

“It is very important and if the vampires find out what we know they will kill those who know about it to stop it from spreading. Therefore, I am telling everyone so it can’t be stopped. You already knew that though,” Elizabeth said as she stood up to leave. “Have a nice day.”

“You too.” What a smart girl, Ashley thought to herself. She will go places. Important places. She stood and began to put her devices away. She looked at a deck of cards that was a gift from a friend. They were similar to tarot cards except you threw them and how they landed foretold the future. Ashley had been reading up on how to use them in her spare time and decided it was time to use them.

“Spirits I ask for your assistance in the telling of Elizabeth Grant’s future.” chanted Ashley. She tossed the cards into the air and stepped back to watch them fall. The Gypsy sat and began to decipher the future. “Let us see what is in store for you, Elizabeth,” she muttered to herself. “We have a trip to a distant place, probably the other realm. She will see much death on her journey there. Alliances will be made as well as enemies. She will grow in strength and power.

What does this say? Oh my, this can’t be right.” The cards had spelled run or die amongst the others from the deck. The frightened gypsy leapt to her feet and flew out of her back door into the woods just as dusk began to set.

Chapter 2

“Open up Madame Gypsy. We would like to hear our fortunes,” jeered a band of lowly ranked vampires as they pounded upon her door. They quickly became impatient and kicked it down. The vampires filed into her small store one by one until one of them, Justin, came upon the cards.

“You guys, she isn’t here, she must have predicted us coming and fled,” shouted Justin from within the fortune room. He smelt the air until he picked up her scent and he sprinted towards the woods, the rest of them trailing not too far behind.

* * *

“Elizabeth!” shouted Eric one of the two scientists whom she was working with. He and Miranda stopped to talk to her on their way out.

“Great news. We may have found the coordinates to the rift. We are going to go and check it out tomorrow but first we need to get military assistance.” Miranda, Elizabeth‘s co-worker, rambled excitedly to Elizabeth.

“We haven’t needed a team before. Why do we need one this time?” Elizabeth asked as they walked down the stark white hallways to the world outside.

“We may not be able to open it for awhile after we test it so we need a team of military officials to accompany us. Liz, you were right about there being three realms. They are connected in a triangular shape. There are two rifts. One to the realm of the vampires and another to a different realm. This other realm appears to be like our realm but older, much older,” whispered Eric with slightly annoying enthusiasm.

“Why not send a probe in?” Elizabeth asked in an obvious tone. “No troops and no one will be in danger; it sounds perfect to me.”

“Like I said, if we open the rift it may take awhile to get it back open,” Eric reminded Elizabeth.

“A long time,” chimed in Miranda with a sigh.

“How long?” asked Elizabeth

“It could be up to ten years.” Miranda said.

“How are we going to get back if it takes ten years to open?” asked Elizabeth as she covered her eyes from the bright sunlight.

“We theorize that the portal’s energy will be fine on the other side. See, the energy from our portal will be transferred to the other portal giving it the energy to be operational,” yammered Miranda.

“Okay, and how do we operate the portal?” asked Elizabeth as she opened the door to her car.

“Remember the machine you made from those plans your father had left you, the one you didn’t quite know what it was for? Well it should work perfectly. It will harness the energy and tear the rift open enough for us to get through,” Eric stated as Elizabeth climbed into her car.

“So let’s head to the military base. You have your passes right?” asked Elizabeth.

“Yeah. See you there,” chirped Miranda as Elizabeth shut her door and drove in the direction of the base.

Chapter 3

“ID please?” asked the guard at the gates of the base.

As Elizabeth searched through her bag for her ID, it occurred to her that this could be twenty times more dangerous than their normal missions were. While she pondered further on this thought, she handed the guard her ID. He handed it back and motioned for the gate to be opened. She looked up as a wall of barbed wire pulled back, then the wall of concrete, and last a wall of titanium infused with diamond particles. She drove forward steadily. On her left, she saw the soldiers doing their basic everyday routine. Miranda’s car was parked right next to an empty space in which Elizabeth parked her car. Elizabeth walked inside the briefing room to see the general and several other people, sadly General Dobinson, whom she felt was a perverted creep, was going with them on the mission.

“Hello Elizabeth. Now that everyone is here, we can discuss this portal theory. Now you claim to have found a portal to the vampire realm. I am correct am I not?” questioned General Dobinson.

“Well, actually, we don’t know where the portal leads. We think that it leads to another realm. The environment doesn’t seem to be sustainable for vampires. For one thing it has daylight and large deposits of silver and we all know the vampires cannot stand silver,” Eric informed the General.

“In fact the portal leads to a realm composited of the same materials as ours except it seems much older,” added Miranda

“So you didn’t find the vampires?” asked General Dobinson frustration flickering in his sapphire blue eyes.

“Well, not really. We don’t know what we have found.” Eric mumbled.

“Then this meeting is adjourned. Call me when you find the vampires,” snarled the General.

“Wait! We may have found a way to reach the vampires through this realm.” Elizabeth interjected.

“Go on,” commanded the General.

Elizabeth stood up from her chair and walked towards the dry erase board.

“My theory is there are three realms linked in a triangular shape. Now, we have been unable to locate the entrance to the vampire realm, but we could travel through this other realm into the vampire realm. In an attack such as this, we would have the element of surprise. It will be dangerous, but I am tired of them attacking us and we aren‘t fighting back. Are you on board or not?” Elizabeth said.

“One question. Why can’t we find the vampire realm from here?” asked the clever General Dobinson.

“They could have it cloaked with spells and enchantments,” suggested Miranda.

“Okay. When do you want a team ready by and who would you want for this?” asked the General.

“Well, we would want people that didn’t have a family because we may be gone for years. They will need to be creative, quick thinking and mentally stable. Oh, and they will need to be ready by dawn,” Eric informed him.

“I can do that for you. Meeting adjourned. I will see you tomorrow,” concluded the general. He left and walked into his office to speak with his assistant.

“Carl G. he doesn’t have any family,” said Cheryl the general’s assistant.

“Ok and neither does Dustin C, “Added the general

“We still need seven more people. We could use Kate L,” suggested Cheryl.

“No, she is going to be on maternity leave next week, remember.”

“Well there is Sandrah; she is new, but no family and her scores have been rather high.” Cheryl whispered.

“No. You know how I feel about her; she is a fucking half blood. She has the blood of those leeches running through her cold veins. Never!” the General shouted. After a pause, he began to sift through the papers again. “Now let’s see, David doesn’t have a family, just a girlfriend.

Chapter 4

“I can’t believe you are pregnant Alison! Did you tell David yet?” chirped Lisa.

“No, I was planning to tell him tonight. I hope he doesn’t freak out,” said a nervous looking Alison as she was fiddling with a strand of her long colored hair.

“You’re kidding me, right? David will quit his job and sell his kick ass car for a mini van. He will do anything for your baby,” Lisa told her

“But he loves his job. He would never quit,” she said

“He is going to love that child more,” Lisa, told her with a smile. “He’s going to be a great father. You should be happy. Listen I have to go, but call me and tell me how it goes. Don’t worry this is a wonderful gift,” consoled Lisa.

“Yeah, you’re right. Wish me luck?” responded Alison.

“You don’t need it. Good night.” Lisa picked up her purse and left after unbolting the door and then relocking it from the outside.

Alison jumped when the phone rang, it was David. “God help me. Hi honey, are you going to be home soon?” asked Alison.

“Yes and I have some big news so wait up,” he told her “See you in a bit.” Alison hung up the phone and collapsed onto the couch. “I doubt his news is bigger than mine,” she sighed,

“Well guess I should make dinner, dinners are good to set the mood for big news. Yes, I will make dinner.”

An hour and two plates of spaghetti later David walked through the doorway.

“Hi honey,” greeted Alison to the father to be, David. She wrapped her arms around him and planted a kiss on his lips. “Sit down and tell me your big news over a plate of spaghetti,” suggested Alison.

“Well, tomorrow I am going on my first mission. They may have found where the vampires have been hiding and they have chosen a few others and me to go. The money I am going to make from is so immense that I could retire. Then, think about it, I will be in the history books. I just can’t believe it. I will be able to make the world a better place for you and the family we have always wanted. It’s a dream come true,” rambled David.

“This is, um, fantastic. How long will you be gone?” asked a ghastly pale Alison.

“Well that’s the catch, I don’t know, it could be years or months. We really don’t know. Alison, I was hoping I could ask you something. When I come back, will you marry me? I love you so much. I want nothing more than to have a family with you in a safe vampire free world,” said David on one knee.

“Of course,” answered a now only slightly pale Alison. “Of course, honey.”

Chapter 5

“Hmm?” questioned Carl G as he answered his phone at two o’clock in the morning.

“Carl, you have been assigned to an important mission you will report to the briefing room at four o’clock am. If you have a significant other, I recommend you tell them good-bye and break it off as we may be gone for decades. Over and out,” Cheryl hurriedly informed him.

“Yes ma’m!” he responded as he climbed out of bed and attempted to rub the sleep from his eyes “briefing room at four o’clock.”

“See you there,” Cheryl said as she ended the phone call. She set down the phone and picked up the phone book to reach the others. On the other end, Carl turned the phone off, began his daily exercise routine and hopped into the shower an hour later. The hot water pounding on his face helped to finish waking him up. He turned the nozzle and hoped out of the shower. Suddenly, his eyes dilated and he grabbed his pants slipping them on as quickly as possible.

He had heard the sound of light footsteps in his bedroom. It was most likely an assassination attempt; he was the best General Dobinson had, and the leeches had sent teams out to kill him before. He pushed his bedroom door open and quickly grabbed his dagger off his dresser; he looked up.

“Hello,” whispered a woman who was hidden in the shadows of his room. Quickly Carl looked around the room to find the rest of the team.

“I’m the only one here. Well, besides you.” whispered the voice “Relax, I don’t bite.” she said as she slithered from his bed and made her way behind him.

For some reason, Carl couldn’t think clearly. He knew something was wrong, but he couldn’t put his finger on it. Suddenly he felt a soft hand on his chest. He turned around and the fog in his mind cleared away instantly. The light from the bathroom glinted on two fangs protruding from her soft mouth. However, as quickly as it dispersed, the fog came creeping back. He fought hard to push it away.

“Get the hell out of my mind leech!” he screamed at her setting the fog temporarily at bay.

He clutched the dagger and jabbed it in her direction. The only thing it came near was a long braid of blond hair. Carl collapsed to the ground from a kick in the ribs. He recovered and they engaged into battle.

“Why did they send one puny girl to try to kill me?” he asked her as he went in for the attack.

“I’m the best. That’s why,” she hissed as she threw him into the wall.

She grabbed his neck and stuck her fangs into it. After draining him dry, his limp body dropped to the floor. She wiped the blood from her mouth and chuckled, “Maybe I do bite.”

The vampire walked out the front door, but not before setting the place ablaze. She stepped back to admire her work. “Because I’m the god dam best that’s why,” she growled to herself as she lit a cigarette from the flames of Carl’s home, she stood there admiring the flames.

“What a pathetic creature,” she thought to herself as she stomped on the butt of the cigarette and morphed into a bat. Flying in the air, she let out the tell tale shriek of her kind. All would know this was her doing.

Chapter 6

General Dobinson was ripped from his sleep by a screech that echoed through out the night. He immediately grabbed his weapons and readied himself for a possible battle. “Those damn leeches must’ve found out about our plan. I swear they have someone on the inside. I bet it’s that wench Kate.” he grumbled to his empty room as he grabbed his keys. The general ran into his car and called Cheryl on his cell phone. “Cheryl can you find out where the vampire attacked?” the General asked her.

“Sir, I believe she attacked Carl. His house has been burned to the ground. He’s dead.” Cheryl confessed as she brushed a strand of red hair out of her eyes.

“Shit! They finally got him, the poor bastard. Cheryl can you please find me a replacement.” the exhausted General asked her.

“Anyone in particular, sir?” Cheryl asked him.

“No. Just find me someone,” he told her.

“Yes sir. Good bye.” Cheryl concluded.

“Bye.” the General grunted as he turned the phone off and pulled in front of Carl’s house. Or where his house should have been. The general stepped on the soft grass and surveyed the land. A small cigarette butt caught his eyes. He walked over and picked it up. “Carl doesn’t smoke,” the general whispered to himself. He put the cigarette to his nose attempting to discern who had put it there. He stiffened and closed his eyes.

“Erica.” the general sighed. Memories floating through his mind. Combat practice. Erica was the best. Her only faults were that she smoked and that she was slightly reckless. Only with her own life of course never with anyone else’s. The general threw the cigarette towards the fire. His face, hardened with the ruts of life peered into the fire. He walked towards his car. He couldn’t be late for the briefing. It wouldn’t do for the general to be late. He took one deep breath and turned the key. Thoughts raced through his mind as he drove back to the main building. I wonder whom Cheryl picked the general thought to himself. He parked next to a red suburban.

“What is Kate doing here?” the general wondered aloud “Cheryl!” he growled. As the general walked into the office he realized he had no choice, Kate had to come with him. He walked in and surveyed the room some one besides Carl was missing.

“Where is David?” Dobinson asked the room full of people. Before anyone could respond, the sound of footsteps could be heard down the hallway.

“Sorry I’m late. I heard about Carl and drove by to say a prayer.” David explained as he walked in, four minutes late.

“Just sit down,” he commanded gruffly. “Now Elizabeth, Miranda, and Eric will you please brief my soldiers on what we will be getting ourselves into.”

“Certainly,” Eric stated as he stood up. “I would like you to draw your attention to the screen.” As Eric filled in the soldiers Elizabeth observed the people she would be working with, some just seemed so young to her. She saw most seemed to be excited and interested in the mission. She also noticed Miranda eyeing up Eric. “How cute geek and geekette.” she muttered under her breath. As Eric finished explaining, they grabbed their gear and filed out of the room. They were heading to the rift “I hope this doesn‘t go bad.” Elizabeth sighed.

Chapter 7

“So basically if I flip this switch the rift should tear open and we should be able to walk through. Then we will be in another realm. Now when you pass through the rift, you must not travel too far ahead,” Elizabeth told the crowd of soldiers and scientists around her. “Well here it goes!” she shouted as she flipped the switch.

There was an immediate flash of light and a sound resembling what one would think a nuclear bomb would sound like. Everyone ducked and shielded themselves from the ball of energy that was slowly opening into what looked like a portal. Soon the noise ceased as did the flashes of light. All that they were left with was a faint glow and a 6 foot 9 inches gap in the forest.

As Elizabeth peeked into the gap, she saw such beauty that her icy heart thawed a great deal. She could see galaxies and stars, and by her feet was what looked like a trail of smoke. Yet she knew it was solid. With a slight smile, she stepped onto it and walked through. Everyone else followed her, in understanding silence.

***

A panting Esmerelda looked up and saw the young woman Elizabeth disappear into a ball of white light and the military force following her. She sighed and looked up to the sky, “I know what I must do.” And she too walked into the portal. As it closed behind her, the vampire Justin caught a glimpse of the light and dove to avoid it. He, like most of his kind, had evolved to withstand small amounts of sunlight, but this light was not sunlight, it was something else that contained more power than the sun.

“What the fuck?” he shouted while dusting the grass from his jeans. He came out from behind the tree he was hiding. A look of confusion crossed his face when he simply saw a tall oak where seconds before the ball of light stood.

“Yo man, do you have her?” screamed Deric as he spotted Justin a ways up ahead.

“No! Her scent is gone right at the oak,” Justin responded. “I think the humans have found a new weapon. It’s like sunlight but, but whiter and stronger. I mean look at my skin it looks like it’s been sun burned,” babbled the clearly shaken leech.

“What do you mean? The humans are too stupid to have converged energy that way. They are just cattle, man! You’ve gone off the deep end!” Deric argued.

“Then how did her scent just disappear?” Justin shouted. “The light it, it was like…” Justin spluttered.

“Like what, man?” Deric asked the still blabbering Justin.

“The portal! The fucking portal! It had to be another portal. We need to get back to our city and talk to Maksha. I think we have a serious problem,” Justin said, as he looked Deric squarely in the eye. “We have to warn the others. The humans have found Trinity.”

Chapter 8

Light the color of rubies danced on the face of the seductively beautiful Nioletin. She glided through the corridor stopping before two, large oak doors, embellished with a gold form of hieroglyphics. Two robust guards glared at the teenage boy who was accompanied by Nioletin. After a slight nod from her, they opened the doors to Maksha’s quarters.

Justin’s eyes widened as he saw his high king Maksha. Maksha had sharply chiseled features accompanied by emerald like eyes. He was at least a head taller than Justin was. He was dressed in black linen slacks and his chest completely bare. Justin stood at attention as Maksha sent away the woman who he had been preparing to feed off. She whimpered slightly and glowered at Justin for having stolen her chance at this honor.

“I have been informed that you have information for me concerning the cattle,” stated Maksha as he began to peel a light green apple.

“Yes, sir. I saw the humans at a portal like ours. The only difference was the light. This light was brighter your majesty. It burned me a bit and I quickly dove out of the way,” stated a fumbling Justin.

“Why didn’t you stop them from entering the portal?” asked Maksha the only hint of his anger the tighter grip he had on the handle of his paring knife.

“There were too many of them sir. It was their military,” Justin said in an attempt to defend himself. “They would have killed me.”

“I see. So you didn’t kill the cattle that had left there designated area because you were frightened.” Maksha said in a calm monotone voice.

Nioletin who had been standing several feet back walked out and returned with in seconds with a young maid who was holding a rag and a bucket in her small hands. Just as the petite girl lifted her head. Maksha raised his hand and gestured towards Justin. The paring knife found its way into Justin’s still heart. He gasped for air confusion crossed his face as he fell to his knees and saw the blood swell around him. Nioletin waved her hand to signify that she wanted the little girl to clean up the blood and the body. The girl went right to work.

“My lord. Would you like me to call a meeting of your counselors?” asked Nioletin as she began giving his muscular shoulders a massage. “What lies in the realm that the humans entered my majesty?” She questioned.

“I believe they entered a realm more ancient than our own. I think they entered the realm of the creators. Realm Trinity.” said Maksha as he pulled her to him “I have not had a woman’s company in a while, would you allow me to satisfy my hunger,” he asked with lust in his eyes.

“I will send Trebajin in to help you with that you can feed on her as well, her blood is especially sweet,” she said as she pushed his arms from her waist and rose. She glided out silently leaving him with hunger flickering in his eyes. He did not care that she was pledged to his brother, he wanted her golden body for himself. He pondered how to win her over while waiting for Trebajin. He sighed and resigned himself to the attractive blond Nioletin had sent him.

Chapter 9

“Mark!” Screamed a nineteen-year-old blond. She was dressed in simple movable green pants and a white beater that clung to her well-built frame. Her sapphire blue eyes frantically scanned the wooded horizon.

“Mark Dobinson! Where are you?” She shouted pleadingly as her eyes spotted the orange sun now barely hanging over the tops of the red and gold-decked trees. She dropped to the crunchy leaf swathed ground and removed a small silver bladed dagger that had been concealed in her boot. With her left hand, she pulled her long hair back expertly into a braid. She glanced around once more and pulled out a dog tag necklace from with in her shirt that read her name, Erica Dobinson.

“If that little brat isn’t dead I’m killing him myself.” Erica muttered to herself as she sprinted into the darkening woods. She ran to a large oak that he loved to play at. She stopped after fifteen minutes of searching to think more clearly.

“I hope I find him before the sun sets.” she whispered, concern sweeping her face as she noticed the darkening sky.

* * *

“So, Mark, are you sure you aren’t too scared to stay in the woods after dark? Asked a hauntingly pale face from the shadows of the autumn trees.

“No. My sister told me to never be afraid of the dark. Fearing it gives the monsters that live in it more power. Besides I know Erica would never let anything bad happen to me, she is a great sister and super tough,” said the smiling eight-year-old boy as he played sword fight with a stick he found on the woods’ floor.

“You really look up to your older sister don’t you?” The shadowed face asked as he shifted hinting at slight nervousness.

“Well of course I do she is the strongest and fastest and most smartest person ever. She is doing better in the military than our older brother and he’s twenty-six.” Mark explained. He sat down on a log and admired his newfound “Excalibur”.

“I know I’ve seen her in practice, she is very strong. Did you know only one person has been able to disarm her?” questioned the face as he settled himself next to the boy, his dark wavy hair acting like a curtain over his face.

“No, I didn’t know she was that strong,” whispered the boy with pure wonder on his round face.

“Oh yes, she is very strong. Would you like to know who that person is? The only person strong enough to defeat your sister?” the man asked, a smile creeping unto his inhumanly pale face.

“Yeah tell me!” Mark said and he leaned in to hear the reply.

“Me!” he said to the boy.

“Well that isn’t fair Rouks. You have a natural advantage. You’re a vampire. You’re immortal.” Mark complained with a frown.

“Incorrect. I’m only a half blood which means I’m only a little stronger than a normal human and I can walk in the light unlike vampires.” Rouks said with an unusually white smile. He heard a slight rustle and barred his fangs in the direction of the sound.

“Mark!” shouted a relieved Erica as she scooped him up in her arms and shed a tear of relief. “How could you do that? How could you go into the woods by yourself and at night?” Erica shouted at the boy squirming to get out of her tight grasp.

“I didn’t go by myself,” Mark told his sister as she set him down. “I came with Rouks he was telling me all about how strong you are, and the differences between half bloods and humans and vampires.” Mark explained confidently to his sister.

Erica quickly turned herself to face the shadow she knew Rouks would be hiding in. Her senses became immediately alert; she could feel the presence of eight other individuals.

“How are you Erica?” asked Rouks as he stepped out of the shadows.

“Fine.” she responded through clenched teeth. She was fully aware that the sun had set and she was miles from any other humans.

“You look pale. Have the pigs not been satisfying you lately?” she asked coldly as she took stock of her situation. She had never trusted Rouks being a half blood and all. Now it appeared she was right to be suspicious of him. She pulled Mark to her side.

“No, they haven’t. That is how I stumbled across my friends, I am sure you have noticed them by now. They are the ones surrounding us right now.

Mark’s eyes widened as he began to grasp the situation. He may have put himself and his sister in danger. He moved closer to Erica and tightened his hold on the stick still in his small hand.

“What do you want?” asked Erica. She knew she would have to do what he said with Mark here. She couldn’t risk putting him in anymore danger.

“Simple, for you to come on a little walk with us and we will leave the kid alone.” Rouks said with a frightening smile that revealed his abnormal fangs.

“You promise my brother will be okay?” she asked even though she knew Rouks would never hurt him. He would hurt her, but never would he harm Mark.

“I promise. Now shall we go?” he said as he extended his smooth hand to her.

“Wait! Erica don’t go!” shrieked Mark. Erica bent and kissed him on the forehead. “I have to go, but here is my dagger I want you to run home and tell Mom and Dad what has happened.” She said as she handed the dagger to him and wrapped her shaking arms tightly around him. “Now go!” she commanded.

Mark ran in the direction of town and did not look back, he was sure he could get help for his sister.

“You know he won’t be bringing you help, not in time anyways?” asked Rouks.

“Of course I know that, but he doesn’t.” she growled as she walked past his extended hand.

* * *

Mark Dobinson awoke from his dreams of the past, by someone calling for him. He learned later that the vampires jumped his sister. She had succeeded in killing several before Rouks knocked her unconscious and turned her. It had taken them years to make her fully one of their own. They did eventually strip her of all her humanity. Erica had essentially died then to protect a naïve boy, Mark He was now no longer a young Mark but an older General Dobinson. He was seeking his revenge by leading a team of his best into the realm of the vampires, Sankoush de Mak, Vampiric for, Plain of Darkness. That night was the end of Erica Dobinson, but the beginning of the General Dobinson. Father was right, no story truly ever ends. It just gains new characters and new paths. The general thought to himself.

“Let’s get moving! I want out of here by five hundred hours,” he commanded to his team all groggy from dreams of their own, “We’ve got some leeches to exterminate.

Chapter 10

Trebajin kissed the caramel forehead of her king Maksha as she raised her naked body from the crimson chaise lounge. She pulled her light simple dress over her milky skin and walked to the heavy doors. Trebajin glanced back and smiled as she saw him begin to wake and search for her warm comforting body. He would wonder why she had left. He was used to having to send the women away from his bed; not wake up without one to hold. She knew he slept better with a woman in his arms, she also knew depriving him of this tonight would make him want her more. Perhaps someday he would change her into one of his own instead of having her as his human slave.

She went through the door and walked down the long corridor with these thoughts and others crossing her mind. The only reason he wanted Nioletin was that he could not have her. Yes, she was beautiful, but no more than most in Maksha’s court. Vampires were beautiful in general. They normally only turned attractive humans and immortality does a lot for one’s features.

Trebajin entered her dreary chambers and prepared a bath for herself. She added her magick glamour oils that would make her skin glow as if she were of the elvish kind. She once again dropped her linen dress, but this time she stepped into steaming scented water.

“Ahh. How relaxing after a night of hard work. Very hard.” she laughed to herself as she scrubbed her fair body.

After Trebajin finished bathing, she rose from the bath and wrapped her self in a cotton towel. She braided her hair and pulled on her dinner dress. A pale green that complimented her skin tone well. The shape of the dress accentuated her best attributes yet it covered almost all of her body including her neck. She admired herself in her antique mirror she had been given as a gift from a vampire that looted it from a human’s home. When she was finished, she strode from her room to the kitchens to help serve dinner.

“Alexis! You are covered in dirt and blood! Go to my room I still have water in my bath and clean yourself. You can not serve Maksha looking like that.” she chided her young sister and apprentice who had previously cleaned up the body of Justin.

Trebajin sent the girl away and began to observe the meal the chefs had prepared. Although vampires are sustained by blood, they do still enjoy the taste of a fine meal. She observed roasted goose and ham as well as trays of grapes and other hard to obtain fruits. Apple cider and wine were held in crystal pitchers. She picked up both pitchers and made her way to the dinning hall.

As she entered, she bowed her head to Nioletin and Nioletin’s promised husband Stephened. She turned and performed a full bow “Your majesty.” Trebajin lifted her head and met his hungry eyes. My God is this man unquenchable or something, we went for hours last night and he looks like he hasn’t fucked for a century. She could feel his eyes lower to her breasts and quickly look away.

“I would like some cider please.” Nioletin said calmly as if she was not aware of the way both Maksha and his brother looked at Trebajin’s fully covered figure. Trebajin knew she was walking on eggshells so she bowed deeply to Nioletin and tried to play on her ego. “Yes my lady, I do love your dress. The embroidery is simply exquisite. It must have cost you a fortune.” she complemented as she poured the golden cider into her crystal glass.

“Thank you. It was a gift from Maksha, our king.” Nioletin said warmly as she looked upon the seemingly nervous human. “I believe Maksha and Sephened would like some wine,” she said smugly to Trebajin. After she finished serving them their drinks, she returned to the kitchens where she released her white-knuckle grasp from the pitchers. “I hate that Bitch,” she muttered inaudibly.

Chapter 11

“I hate it when he uses the term leech.” Sandrah muttered to Cheryl. They were trekking with the rest of the team up a steep hill. The sunlight shinning unusually bright and the colors of the landscape were abnormally defined

“Oh, he just has a bad history with vampires.” defended Cheryl. “His sister was taken by a half-blood when he was young.”

“I know, but… Ugh. Not all vampires are bad and all humans aren’t good.” Sandrah whispered angrily.

“Well that would be a good argument, if he would listen. Mark is dreadfully stubborn. He wasn’t even going to have you come along but, well you know.” Cheryl informed a fuming Sandrah.

They continued surveying the landscape searching for signs of human or human like life. Eric was holding an electronic gadget to survey concentrations of energy while Miranda was recording information on the landscape.

“I can’t believe how many deposits of silver I’ve found.” Miranda shouted to Elizabeth who was recording the various types of plant life in this new land.

“Well make sure to take some samples. It could have different properties than our silver.” Elizabeth suggested to Miranda as she closed a small container and placed it in her bag.

“You had better hurry up or the general will flip.” David shouted to the three scientists that had fallen behind while conducting their research.

Miranda finished taking her sample and with Eric and Elizabeth, she hurried into the woods and stopped breathless next to David. “Why are we moving so quickly? We could find information about this realm as an alternate home if we keep on the path of destroying our own.” Miranda asked between heavy gasps.

“We need to find the vampires, and our world is perfectly fine. I know you scientists worry about global warming, but any normal person knows that it isn’t going to happen. Like my car is actually going to destroy my home.” David told her, laughing at the idea of his indestructible home frying.

“You are such an idiot.” Eric sighed as he cast a worried gaze towards Miranda. He knew that she was anemic and that if she didn’t get some iron she would likely pass out. She was not used to so much physical activity. “Miranda, are you alright?” He asked as he placed his surprisingly strong hand on her sagging shoulders. Concern flooding his soft hazel eyes.

“I’ll be alright if I can get something to eat.” she responded in a rather monotone voice.

David looked at her and began walking towards the General. “I think we should take a break the scientist Miranda isn’t looking very good she needs to eat.” He whispered to the tense man. Dobinson turned to Cheryl who turned on her compact PDA to access Miranda’s health information.

“Okay, it appears that Miranda is borderline anemic and may be prone to fatigue, easy bruising, and being excessively pale. Basically she needs more iron which she can get from eating foods high in iron such as liver or certain cereals.” Cheryl read aloud as the General sighed and resigned himself to losing an hour of daylight.

“Fine. We will be taking an hour break. Only an hour, you will eat, rest, and take a piss if you must.” Mark Dobinson boomed to his troops.

“Make sure, what’s her name, eats something healthy. We can’t have her hindering us,” he whispered to Cheryl and David.

“Yes sir!” they replied in unison. Cheryl pulled a REM from her bag and walked over to Miranda, Eric and Elizabeth. “You should eat this one it has liver which is high in iron,” said Cheryl with little compassion to Miranda who was hunched over.

“Thanks.” she whispered meekly. She tore open the package and began eating ravishingly. Cheryl moved towards Elizabeth who was sitting with her knees up looking at a piece of paper. She was obviously crunching numbers. Elizabeth’s small hand started to move as if it was searching for something. Cheryl saw a map of their realm a foot from her hand and picked it up and gave it to her.

“Thanks.” Elizabeth muttered her eyes never leaving the paper. Cheryl watched as her hands flew from the paper to a calculator in her lap. “Ha! I think I’ve got it!” She shouted. Elizabeth quickly stood up and showed her work to Eric and Miranda who murmured in agreement.

“What have you got?” the general asked her as he strode in her direction.

“I think I found the location of the third realm. If my calculations are correct it should be 300 miles north west of that ridge just ahead.” Elizabeth informed them with a large triumphant smile on her face.

“Well get something to eat and we’ll head that direction in a half an hour.” Mark said lightly.

Current Mood: exhausted