Chapter 103: Doubts and Shadows

Book 3, Chapter 2 - Doubts and Shadows

Boots crunched down on hardened snow. Owls hooted from distant branches. Wind howled through the evergreen forest.

Silence did not exist when the sun set. Not for Karine. Everything was much clearer then. Every sound, every smell, everything her eyes touched. She could accurately see detailed lines within the bark of a pine hundreds of feet before her. Could count the feathers of a golden eyed owl over twice that distance. Could hear the footsteps of her hunter echoing through an unmoving pine forest.

Those were the loudest.

Karine sucked in a breath, her mouth going dry. Her heart slowed. Tendrils of her golden hair danced with a gentle breeze. She quickly tied it at the back, taking a soft retreating step, pressing her back against a thick tree trunk. The length of her black dress brushed her ankles. She left not a mark upon the snow with her high heels —snow deep enough to reach her shins had she stepped with force. The crunching noise grew louder.

He was close now.

Karine swallowed, standing perfectly still. The sound stopped. But the beating heart didn't. She could hear the hunter's heart beat against his chest as if it wanted to burst out. It was nearly as loud as his exhausted breaths. He was no doubt breathing through his mouth.

A harsh wind whistled past. Loose grains of snow glided across the white forest floor like a camouflaged snake. Karine used the opportunity to shuffle ever so slightly, peeking her head around the trunk. She could see her hunter's breaths coming out in a puff of clouds. A long line had been carved into the snow to mark the path he'd taken. Karine darted to the nearest tree, covering the dozen feet distance in a single lunge. Her hunter turned his head, frowning. Her movements likely sounded no different to him than the wind. And she left not a mark on the snow.

The owl hooted again, causing the hunter to once more turn his head. He stood still, as if listening to something. Her own heart, Karine realized. She once again pressed her back to a tree and softened her breaths, slowing her heart to a faint tap like a droplet of water falling into the sea. It should have gone unnoticed, but the crunching began again. Karine prepared to lunge to another tree, but her hunter got between her and her destination. His bright hair stuck to the sides of his now sweaty head. His blue eyes twinkled with delight, and a wide grin revealed a pair of developing fangs. For an eleven year old, Jack had a terribly charming face.

But of course he did. Beauty was a common trait in the Malkieri family.

“Found you!” the boy exclaimed.

“Doesn't count,” Karine countered, crossing her arms. “You didn't count all the way to ten. I could hear you even from a half mile away.” He pouted. An oh so adorable face. She wanted to squeeze him in her arms right then.

“That's not fair!” he complained, shaking fists up and down as children so often do. “You ran a half mile before I could even count to ten.”

She shrugged, undoing her hair. “You'll probably be capable of the same someday.”

“No I won't. I'm a half-blood. You'll always be stronger than me.”

Right. A half-breed. Jackrin was her half-brother. He had a human mother. Human . Despicable, filthy, humans. Treacherous and cowardly humans. And Jack carried half their blood in his veins. But he was too adorable to hate. Too joyful.

Still …

Karine swallowed her feelings. It wasn't her decision. It was her father, Drayca Malkieri's decision. Even after humans had killed her mother, King Drayca gave humans another chance. He mingled with them. Helped them. Attempted to prove to them that Vampires weren't evil. And he also loved one particular human; Sarah Winters. Jack's mother.

It seemed to be working. The humans cooperated with Drayca more often. He spoke of the progress he'd made with the nearby village. But Karine couldn't trust them. Not after they'd taken her mother. They even isolated Sarah and Jack, forcing them to live miles away from the village and much closer to the base of the Kal'Kar Mountains. Jack wasn't allowed to play with the other village children. They called him names and threw stones at him. He couldn't play with Vampire children either. Vampires still harbored much hate for humans despite their king attempting to mend the broken relationship between the two races.

“Karine?”

Karine realized she'd been staring into Jack's sea blue eyes. She shook her head, setting her own prejudice aside. He was her adorable half-brother. “Go on now, it's your turn to hide!” Her own beloved brother from whose skin she could smell the filthy yet sweet blood of humans…

“No! I want to play a different game. You always find me as soon as you finish counting!” he cried, pouting again, lips curled downwards.

So cute… He was a bit short for his age. He likely just hadn't hit his growth period yet. Karine smiled, showing him her full set of ice white teeth and fangs. She picked him up and placed him on her shoulders. “Then let's go exploring to the deep of the woods.”

He rested his soft hands on her head. “But ma said to be home soon.”

“Don't you want to know how fast your big sis can go?” she asked. Her legs moved before he could answer. She held on to his shins to make sure he wouldn't fall off. Jack began laughing as she weaved between the trees, her surroundings going by her like a blur. Vampires had increased physical abilities come nightfall.

Karine ran until her legs began to ache, smiling at the melody of her half-brother's laughter. She set him down, bending over with her hands resting on her knees as she exhaled out puffs through her mouth.

“How do you do that?” Jack asked.

“Do… what…?” she breathed.

“That,” he said, pointing down the way they came. “Step on snow with heels but not leave a single mark. You aren't even sinking into snow right now.” Those sapphire eyes twinkled with jealousy.

She smiled. Treading lightly had become a habit for her. Every Vampire warrior knew how to do it. “You can do it too. Just takes a bit of practice. Father's best warriors can run on water.”

Jack hummed, awkwardly stepping away from her, very clearly trying to not sink into snow. She watched as he got farther and farther, the frustration evident in his distorting hums. His figure began to shrink as he strayed a fair distance away. Karine kept her eyes on him at all times. And her ears focused on his heart.

A heart that pumped part human blood.

She let out a sigh. Shadows on the forest floor danced as their creators swayed with the night breeze. A half human… The smell of Jack's virgin blood wouldn't leave her nose. Human blood smelled the sweetest. Tasted the best as well. It was a vital part of Vampire nutrition. They couldn't live without it. That was why humans feared them and labelled them darkspawn. Drayca was trying to change that, offering his strength and superior knowledge in return for blood given out of free will.

Karine had no interest in biting Jack. Vampire blood was poisonous to Vampires. But the smell of his human half constantly reminded her that he was part human. Part vile and treacherous. Adorable though he may be, the memory of her dead mother wouldn't leave her.

But the king's will was absolute.

Except father loves a human woman. Karine worried that his love for one was forcing him to extend his hand to the rest. Was blinding him from seeing humans for what they truly were; Livestock that deserved no remorse. Gone were the days of past alliances and friendships. Such times had not existed since the fall of the Flame Bearers centuries past.

A sudden roar stole Karine's attention. Jack was sitting on his rear, half his body submerged in snow. Before him, a great black bear stood on its hind legs, towering over its would be meal. Jack's whimpers rang clear in Karine's ears. He was strong enough to beat the bear by himself. But he was only eleven. He still had the mentality of a child. She watched him squirm backwards as the bear went down on all fours and snarled, drool dripping from bared fangs.

The world around Karine disappeared as she rushed to her half-brother's aid. Her leg snapped forward, the pointed tip of her heels striking the massive bear in the jaw. Its head jerked to the side with a sharp crack and the body slid a few feet in the snow before colliding with a tree trunk. Something warm wrapped itself around Karine's leg, dragging her foot into the snow. Jack, still on his rear, cried into her thigh. She shook her head, caressing his. She pulled him to his feet and then approached the dead bear. Karine slit the bear's throat open with her sharp nails. Hot blood spilled onto her hand. Its scent filled her nostrils. She knelt before the bear, pressing her mouth to the slit, taking a long, and refreshing drink. If human blood could be likened to aged wine, animal blood was akin to sweet juices of varying fruits.

“Eww that’s gross,” the boy complained.

She turned to him, frowning, blood rolling down her chin. “Gross how? Come try some. It doesn't compare to a virgin human's blood but a fresh animal is quite palatable.”

“No way. That’s gross,” Jack said, cringing.

Karine's eyes narrowed. She took another drink before standing up. “You're making it sound like you never had blood before, Jack.”

“From a cup. Not from an animal itself. That's… really weird. You're weird. And gross.”

She wondered if he was trying to agitate her or was legitimately disturbed. She cupped her hands before the flowing blood, letting it fill up. “Then will you drink from your sister's hands?”

Jack blinked as if considering the offer. He finally approached and dipped his pink lips into her hands, sipping till it was all gone. She froze as he held her wrists and licked each individual finger of hers clean. A red mess surrounded his mouth. Karine rustled his hair.

“Let's get you home,” she said. “Sarah's going to be worried.”

Jack bobbed his head in a nod. He almost seemed to be wearing shining lipstick. Karine shook her head once more, kneeling before him and wiping his mouth with the edge of her long black dress as if she were his mother.

***

“We're home!” Jack declared as he marched through the door of the small wooden house, staining its floors with his wet boots.

Karine trailed in after him, closing the door behind her and admiring the warmth of the homestead. She inhaled a deep breath. The scent of sweet blood clashed with that of baked goods. Jack's mother rounded a corner, a tray of steaming blueberry muffins in her hands. She set them down on a table, smiling. Her bright locks were kept over one shoulder. A blue apron hung around her neck, veiling the plain white dress beneath them.

Karine bit her lip. Twelve years. She'd known Sarah for twelve years and had received nothing but kindness from her. A woman only a handful of years her elder. Her appearance bore a strange resemblance to Karine's late mother. But none of that had been enough to conquer her prejudice. She couldn't see past Sarah's race. Her humanity. Lingering doubts remained at the edge of Karine's thoughts. Her gaze settled upon Sarah's pale neck. A primal desire within her screamed at her to rip that throat apart with her teeth. To rip apart the imposter bearing her mother's face. Fingers twitched as the imagination of sticking her hands through Sarah's chest—

“Hot,” Jack squealed, dropping a muffin on the table, a line of steam rising from his mouth wherein a piece of dampening muffin lay. He exhaled, juggling the food with his tongue.

Karine walked to the table, heels clacking. She sat beside him and picked up a muffin of her own, biting into it. Sweetness caressed her tongue. A taste different to blood. But beautiful all the same. Sarah was an expert baker. If only sugar had provided the same nutrients as blood . Karine found herself looking at Sarah's neck again, fingers flexing.

“There's a cup by the pantry, doll” Sarah said, holding that bright smile. “I've had it chilled.”

Why? Karine wanted to ask. She stuffed the whole muffin in her mouth, uncaring for the blistering heat, and walked to the pantry as Jack blew on his own muffin, gathering two more closer to himself with his free hand. A silver cup filled to the brim with red had been left by a block of cheese. Sarah's blood. Specks of green floated atop. Crushed rosemary. Karine frowned. She really didn't understand Jack's mother. She rarely spoke to Sarah, only ever being cold to her. And yet the woman went out of her way to garnish her own blood for Karine. Who garnishes blood?

She took a sip, the rosemary enhancing the sweet, nectar like taste in the strangest ways possible. The aftertaste of blueberry mingled with that of blood. Karine shivered in delight as the chilled red quenched her thirst. She returned to the living room, taking small sips at a time as if drinking tea. Sarah brought out a marinated lamb leg and hung it over the cooking fire.

“When's da coming back?” Karine asked, head turned away. So long as she wasn't looking at the human woman, thoughts of violence did not surface.

“I'm not sure,” Sarah replied. “Drayca didn't say how long he would be gone this time. He's been at the village for two days already. He usually doesn't spend longer than thre —Jack! Stop this instant. You'll get black teeth if you eat so much sugar!” Sarah let out a sudden gasp, her smile turning into a scowl. “You didn't wipe your boots before you came inside? There's snow everywhere!”

Karine looked at her half-brother. His adorable cheeks were puffed, mouth full of pastries. Crumbs littered his shirt and floor. He wiped sticky fingers against his trousers, chewing vigorously, and eyebrows drooping down in guilt. Not a single muffin of the dozen Sarah had made remained on the table.

Sarah marched over to her son. Jack, using his superior abilities, darted passed her and hid behind Karine's leg, still chewing. Sarah put her hands on her hips. “Get over hear this instant!”

Karine went down on one knee to embrace her brother when the door to the house swung open. A blast of cold air swallowed the indoor warmth. A man ducked inside, his height higher than the door itself. Silky white hair reached down to his shoulders and a fully buttoned white coat stopped just below his knees.

“Drayca?” Sarah asked.

Karine frowned, rising to her feet. This man wasn't her father. He smelled different. He walked towards the light, revealing himself. A twisted expression of hatred marked his face. Sarah took a step back.

The man glanced at everyone in the room. His eyes stopped at Karine and that twisted expression disappeared. He went down on one knee in an instant. “Queen Karine…”

Karine frowned. It was one of father's warriors. He had a thin scimitar at his waist. Queen? “What is it?”

“That… his majesty, King Drayca, is no more. He… his remains were found at the human village. The humans. They've killed him,” the man finished, voice seething with rage. He lifted his head, a hateful glare settling on Sarah.

Dead? Her father? By humans? Karine swallowed, teeth clenching and hands curling. Her sharp nails dug into her own hands. The taste of Sarah's blood still lingered on her tongue. The woman let out a gasp, hands covering her mouth. Karine's gaze fell upon her stepmother, hatred overwhelming her. She pushed aside her half-brother, all her doubts overcoming the fragile thoughts of kinship. Jack cried out. Sarah turned around. Karine bared her fangs, the silver cup slipping away from her fingers. She lunged towards Sarah and picked her up with one hand before the silver cup struck the floors. Her fingers curled around the woman's throat.

Humans .

Sarah struggled, kicking with her feet, opening her mouth in an attempt to plead.

Disgusting, treacherous humans.

Why had she ever trusted them? Why had her father ever given them another chance? This woman… she'd bewitched him. That was the only explanation Karine could come up with.

Vile and cowardly humans …

Behind her, Jack began to wail.