Title Yet Unknown

Chapter 1
The Guardian

Kellan Fayden hesitated. This decision could either save her or damn her, but either way, she needed help. The door across the alley where she hid wrapped in shadow was wooden, warped with time and rusted at the hinges, but behind that archway was the key to it all. All Kellan’s problems leading up to this point bought her here, to this alley in the middle of the night, the rain drenching the rats that raced along the gutters. The stench of poverty and violence echoed in these bricked streets, the forbidden streets of New York City and the home to this desolate back-end bar. Affront this alley-way building stretching up three stories was Banana Joes, a bar filled with drunks and brothel women heady for income through their garters. In the back, where Kellan stood masked in the stretching shadows for lack of streetlights, was this plain wooden door. But it was not plain, Kellan’s senses told her that much, and all her homework she’d done on the F.O.G. organization led her to the realization that help awaited her, if she could pass the magick weaves and vampiric enchantment that protected the organization’s true nature and intent from the human world. Though now that seemed useless, as the whole species of humans knew of the vampire world now that they’d been forcefully revealed by a jealous human, James CardRoy.
Kellan shook off that notion immediately, threw all its contents into the back of her mind where it could not threaten her. That was over and done with, and it was the very reason she was seeking help from the vampire-oriented organization, F.O.G.
She expelled the air in her lungs swiftly, more habitual than necessity. The vampiric blood running in her veins made it merely a prop, to take in oxygen and expel it at carbon dioxide. Now the prop and act wasn’t to hide among the humans, it was to make them feel more comfortable in her presence. This was it, the decision she danced around for months, and the one deal-breaker that set her decision in stone was just in her black jacket pocket, wrapped in blue lace. Her fingers delved into her pocket and clutched the parchment wrapped as a scroll, the scent drifting off of it from her pocket and into her senses. Her nose cringed at the musky, wild scent, and clenched her jaw.
Kellan took a step out from under her cover and into the rain, striding across the alley and into the cover of the back-end tavern door. The weave covering the entrance was heavily laced with magick, reaching out at her and testing her. The door shimmered, its form wavering before she clutched the handle and pushed.
A fresh swirl of magick enveloped her in warm arms and thrust her into the Veil, the other plane for vampires. The Veil’s only real role was to give vampires their own place to be to get away from the human world or hide certain aspects of it. This particular section was to hold the F.O.G.’s headquarters and grant only those with no mal intent entry.
The weave sent her to the F.O.G.’s base, a large room filled with black marble and white silk curtains with gold tassels hanging from the high ceiling. A single mahogany desk stood concealing a female vampire. Her straight, jet-black hair hung at her earlobes and her bangs covered her thin brows. The perfect shine to her skin shone even brighter in the white light illuminating the room. Kellan approached the desk and opened her mouth but the secretary beat her to it.
“Kellan Fayden, you would like to register for a High Guardian with the most experience and best recordation at F.O.G.” Her eyes slowly peered up from her bangs, eyes that shone the future’s secrets in their depths. “And payment is not a problem.”
Kellan nodded, smart enough not to quarrel with a fortune-teller. “You know what I need.”
The secretary nodded and closed her eyes, mentally calling for assistance. The rune-engraved door opened and Kellan stepped through and into an entirely new room. The walls were filled with compartments for scrolls and books. An armory stood high on the far wall, a lit display of shinning steel and weapons. The last wall was stacked high with viles of different liquids with several different abilities. Behind a large dark-wooded desk sat an ancient, on of a rare series of the older generation of vampires. His coal-black hair hung low to his waist, a rune holding it to the nape of his neck. His glowing brown eyes peeked up from his scroll and he stood, smiling warmly and welcoming her with a gentle voice.
“Ah, Lady Kellan, I’ve been waiting for you for some time now. My name is Nova Alturas; I am the Knight Guardian Orderly here. I have the perfect assortment of Guardians selected for your decision.” There were no seats before his desk because vampires could stand for years and never need to sit, so instead she stood before him as he reached for a scroll in his desk. The scroll held a list of names; written in possibly the worst script Kellan had ever seen.
“How did you know what I’m after, I realize that your secretary is a Teller, but no future is set.” That meaning that any power dealing with the future was incomplete, because no one and nothing was set in stone and everything changed continuously. All these pointed to the fact that Nova had a list of people she’d want to pick from when he couldn’t possibly know what exactly she needed protection from. His brown eyes caught her brilliant green ones from over the scroll and she finished her sentence. “You have yet to ask what it is I’m wanting protection from.”
His lips turned up a smile, the pure whites of his teeth shinning as bright as the steel on his walls. “I am the Orderly over all security for the vampire species,” He set down the scroll and sat on the edge of the desk, crossing his legs and his hands resting on his knee. “I know all and expect all.” His brown eyes were wiser than any she’d ever encountered; he was without a doubt the oldest vampire she’d ever met. His strength was self-bound and tightly controlled within himself, waving tidal waves all slipped into smaller confines within his perfect control. He was highly admirable, even though he knew it and let it inflate his ego.
She nodded, placing her hands behind the small of her back. “So you know who I am.”
He dipped his head slowly, the smile unfading.
Kellan sighed, her head falling and her hair draping around her face. “And you know who’s after me, and why I need this.”
Again he dipped his head, “Of course I do, but that doesn’t mean I won’t deny you your Guardian as every other organization has.”
So he did know everything. “You’ve followed my every move.”
He shrugged casually as if they weren’t discussing the aspects of the most tragic part of her immortal life. “I know that you applied at seven different agencies before finally coming to me; you have changed your residential address over thirty-seven times since you’ve begun running and you’ve gone to forty different vampire Lords and asked for their kin’s help.” His smile widened.
“That crosses on stalking.”
“That’s what you call an anticipated case, my dear.” He stood and regathered his scroll, standing high over her. “You only come to me because no one else will help the woman single-handedly to blame for the entire species of our kind revealed to the human world.” His smile broadened. “And I’m the best.”
She studied him a moment, unsure of his intention. Perhaps like the rest of their species, he wanted vengeance in some form for her worldwide mistake; maybe he was so eager to hire one of his best Guardians, in order for them to be an assassin to Kellan. Or maybe he was being true, perhaps he truly didn’t care what she’d been responsible for.
He waved his scroll at her with his smile still warmly in place. He seemed to be reading her, as she was he. “Have no worries, I’ve always thought that we should show our faces to those who dare to walk the shadow-lined streets at night. We should not be hiding from our co-species on this earth.”
“So you believe that vampires should be revealed to humans either way.” He nodded. “And this is coming from an ancient whom runs an underground vampire facility hidden from even the vampire world.”
He gave a throaty, truly enjoying laugh. “Yes, serendipitous isn’t it? Now, let’s narrow this list; what exactly are you looking for?”
As long as he already knew what was happening, then she was all right with getting down to business. She no more liked being here asking, no, begging for help from an ancient vampire who could very well be sealing her doom. But though ancients were known for their ability to hoodwink even the uncanniest vampires, Nova seemed to be truly honest about his views against his own species. “I want your strongest, most magically skilled, most experienced Guardian you have. I want the best and the most promised you have and-“
“And payment isn’t a problem. Yes, I’ve heard your desperation plea.”
She sighed. Curiosity was slowly abounding her control, what would she receive in reply to her call for help? Would he be helpful enough to save her life from all those who oppose her existence? Or would her Guardian be in for more than even centuries of experience could handle?
Nova smiled slowly, repeating her words to him and oddly putting down his scroll of names. “Strongest, magicked, experienced…most promising…” His voice trailed off to himself. “I believe you’re treading upon prophetical Guardians here, Lady Fayden.”
“No, please, I don’t want a prophecy, I want a-“
“You’re afraid of prophetical Guardians?” His tone questioned her hypocrisy. “Do you not remember your own prophecies set just before the revelation of the species? Those months before, when Tellers and gypsies for miles away contacted you, and told you what was to come?”
“It’s not that I have a lack of faith in prophecies, but I don’t wish to rely on them that which had condemned me before.”
He nodded, “I could understand where you could feel such, but you can’t let that stand in the way. I know exactly what you need, and she is perfect for this situation.”
Kellan’s nose cringed, “She?”
Nova’s return smile was slightly wicked, his secret one that Kellan wished to find out sooner rather than later. His eyes danced with mischief, whatever this Guardian was to Nova, she was something either highly admired or respected, or a complete inside joke between Nova and his Guardian. “You worry, and that would be a mistake, I know this Guardian better than I know myself, she’s been with me for a long time and I would never higher anyone more trusted with such a case.”
“Why am I starting to sound like a client to a personal investigator?”
Nova gave a throaty laugh and magick danced in the dark depths of his eyes, his thought-summon brought the door to Kellan’s left opening and a tall, regal, armed Guardian stepped in. Her swirling masses of dark-chocolate ringlets hung to her waist, the luminescence of her shinning skin illuminated the room next to the flickering sconces of candles and the hanging golden chandelier above the desk. The dark leathers and shinning steel enforced her dangerous appeal over her feminine curves. “Lady Fayden, I’d like to introduce you to Knight Captain and Forsaken Guardian, Charmeyene va’l Sevaan.”
Kellan stifled an awed look. A Forsaken Guardian rank, a vampire whose methods had been established by the Order as too effective and reckless for the likings of vampires, on their way to becoming a liability for the elderly ancients and their way of life. Most Forsaken Guardians had been expelled or banished rather than exterminated, though most chose the final path than to walk alone pretending to be human, walking among them never to use their magick or blades again. Some Forsaken had been saved by the F.O.G. to be ‘recycled’ as leashed assassins under control but few actually could be saved by their savage instincts. Though this woman seemed in control and posed with experience, Kellan felt the demon just under the surface crouched in the shadows ready to strike.
“A Forsaken Guardian?” Even though it was legal, the Order stood highly against it, even feared those whose abilities had become so great and lethal. Was she even safe from her own Guardian? “What insurance do you have that I will be safe? That this is not your way of a guillotine for my own throat?” Her fangs lengthened to threaten him with a low hiss. She was incapable of saving herself from the past, but she was certainly not going down easily from that which she’d asked for help. Everything about the Forsaken Guardian threatened her, how would she even bring her in public? Where human’s instincts would go off so much that they’d pass out in the streets at the sight of such a terrifying sight?
Nova faced his palms up, stepping in between himself and the Guardian whose eyes flared with a building flow of magick. “Lady Fayden, please, for the sake of her control, shield your magick, seal your venom. I am not using her against you; she is exactly what you need from your threat. I know it seems a trick but I’ll need a pinch of your trust to ensure your safety.”
“A pinch is far too much to be given to the likes of a Forsaken.”
“Please, give her more credit than her title. She’s earned much more respect than what the Orderly has placed upon her head.” Nova kept himself between the two, Charmeyene’s eyes narrowed a moment on Nova from the back, like she’d picked up on something Kellan hadn’t about the ancient, but quickly dismissed it and returned her eyes to Kellan. The power of that gaze nearly froze her in her spot, enchantment. She shook it off and kept her gaze on Nova. His eyes swallowed Kellan whole and his voice softened to a begging whisper. “Give her a chance.”





Chapter 2
The Chance

Kellan sat more comfortable on the chaise along the wall; Nova behind his desk and the Forsaken standing still as a statue behind him, her eyes still brilliantly infused with magick. Kellan had come to an agreement with Nova, she would give the Forsaken a chance for the alliance with Nova and any help she would ever need from the F.O.G., more than even the most powerful vampire Lords had gotten. Nova was a civil ancient, not odd for his age but he was strangely honorable in everything he did.
“I need you to blood sign your contract here below my signature.” She took the quill and did so after slicing a gash in her palm. She was bound with him by blood to their agreement, no matter of magick or lies could destroy that pact, and it was in vampire blood and magick’s ruling to disable any possibility of forgery or foul on either side.
She turned the scroll back around, handing the quill back to Nova. He finished filling out the bottom and sealed it away on his wall of shelved scrolls, other pacts and agreements the F.O.G. made though she knew that with magick, the wall filed out to fill enough for millions of rooms of shelved scrolls. Nova crossed the room to the wall of viles, runes and charms and surveyed a case of medallions. Sequentially, he chose one on a magick-laced silver chain and closed the case. He recrossed the room and sat back down, the Guardian’s stance never moving and her eyes never leaving the blank area on the far wall.
“The contract states that beyond your Guardian, have you any need for assistance, contacts, help, or any affiliation of any kind, the F.O.G. is to provide you with anything and everything no questions asked. Any number of utilities, equipment, or treatment is yours at hand should you need it.” He held forth the medallion; a half-dollar sized encased stone gleaming onyx, high-powered with magick. The silver around the stone was encrusted with a Celtic knotting and inside the stone a light glowed like molten gold. Lights dazzled just below the black, glassy surface of the stone, ready for use. “This is a soul-stone medallion. It is bound to your Guardian; her soul is encased in the stone for your observation and care. Should she die, the magick inside the stone will die along with her, the magick will fade, and your control over her will be exempt.”
Kellan stopped him, her wintry palms on the desk. “Wait a moment.” She tried to gather the information pouring through her mind. Though vampires could think, speak, and react ten times faster than humans, she still had the misunderstanding tendency of a human. “What power over her? Why do I need this stone? She’s not going to die.”
Nova nodded, a mere dip of his head, his face stern and stoic. “It is in the contract that the Guardian take any and all risks with your life above their own, the charge is utmost in their loyal duty and should death be required to ensure the charge’s safety and life span.” Nova’s deep brown eyes held hers. “The charge has the ability of order over his or her Guardian to ensure the Guardian follows any and all instructions set by the charge. You need this stone to seal your bond with your Guardian as well as keep an eye on her status. It is your duty to ensure that you at least keep a tender eye on her ability to function and should something happen, contact the F.O.G. and allow us to assist them.”
She sat back on the chair, narrowing her eyes at him. Things were pulling together now, elements were tying to one another so that pistons fired off in her mind and she thought faster and realization sank in with a slow fear. “Guardians are ordered to…die? For just a job with someone they don’t know?”
“It is their right, besides their duty. To die on the job or in the line of fire is the greatest honor a charge can do a Guardian.” A frown drowned the glint in his eyes. “Va’l Sevaan has yet to experience such a gift.” The chocolate depths gazed off past Kellan for a moment and then refocused slowly into the present.
Kellan glanced at the Forsaken’s too-powerful eyes staring off into space over her head and quirked her lips. “Well obviously.”
Nova handed her the medallion silently until her eyes met his. Something in the depths of his ancient, sorrowful eyes burned a hole into her, left a gap ready for filling in her. Though what would fill that whole, she didn’t yet know. Nova turned slightly, his chin inclining to Charmeyene. “Va’l Sevaan, would you please give us a moment?”
Without a word, the Guardian left, taking her intimidating presence with her. Once alone, Nova sat back in his chair, a new look crossed his century-worn face. He was agonized, but the source of the agony was unclear. Nothing that happened could have been a catalyst, so what was darkening the ancient’s expression? The shadows sinking into his eyes sunk ships of concern for him in Kellan.
“Lady Kellan,” His voice was softer, calming. “I would like to ask you for a personal favor, something I have not done and do not do so often.”
She leaned forward. “I owe you at least that much, you’ve done so much for me already. What can I do for you?”
His eyes dazed off at the door where Charmeyene had left through, Kellan saw the glint of magic as he sent up a privacy seal to ensure the Guardian heard nothing. “Charmeyene is a very close friend, has been for hundreds of years. I’ve watched her slip slowly into darkness and when the shadows owned her soul, the Order stated her Forsaken and too close on the edge. I talked her into joining the F.O.G. as I had just begun it.”
Kellan gasped. “She’s been a Forsaken since the beginning of the F.O.G.?”
He kept his frown and tried to smother the deepening one coming on. “Yes, she is the eldest living Forsaken today.”
She was on the edge of her chair now, awing at the possibilities. “But at the beginning of the F.O.G.? You started this organization near the beginning of the 12th century!”
He nodded slowly. She gaped. Forsaken didn’t live long after their souls had been completely contaminated, the darkness swallowed them whole after so long. But since the 12th century? It was unheard of, how had a Forsaken lasted so long? And without the vampire world knowing of such a thing. “How is that possible? And why doesn’t the vampire society know of her? Does the Order know?”
Nova shook his head. “No one knows but the Order and myself, and now you of course. It’s been kept a secret because not only would the popularity of such a miracle draw spectators and too much attention on a job, every power-seeking vampire would be after her for a key to surviving so long, not to mention the possibilities laying in her fingertips.”
“Her magick.” She concluded.
Nova nodded. “She and I are close, more close than I or she cares to realize. She’s been through enough, sacrificed enough and I’ve become her own Guardian.” His gaze caught hers. “Watch over her, for me. She needs someone to look after, to show her limits because she gives none for herself… and it’s going to kill her someday.”



Chapter 3
The Plan

Upon leaving the F.O.G., Kellan took her new Guardian and set out of New York and on to what Charmeyene called, “something incomprehensible even to those looking for you.’ They reached Ohio and continued south from there. They reached Columbus and started east before reaching their final destination.