A loud howl split the silence.
Orteih sat up, concern clearly etched on his fair face, "One of
the watchers," He murmured.
Rachael pushed her long midnight black hair behind her ear and stood. "They never howl unless it's something important," She stated. "and no one else is even out here to do anything about it. We'd best go see what he found and report it to Lord Dashias after the graduating ceremony."
The duo made their way down the watchtower, crumbling mortar between bricks making great handholds. They got to the base of the tower and were met by a ferocious looking wolf. He was black as night and all they could see of him were his eyes and a small white patch on his tail.
"Hello Blade," Rachael said, patting his head, "Having a good night?"
He made some subtle movements many would have taken as agitation, but to Rachael and Orteih, they made perfect sense.
'We have a problem.' He signed 'There is no sign for them, follow me.'
He took off in the direction of the forest, Rachael and Orteih close on his tail. They had almost made it to the edge of the forest when a young elf appeared.
"What's up Elbaen?" Orteih asked, a bit to brightly.
His green eyes regarded them thoughtfully. Then at last he spoke, "Lord Dashias has instructed me to take you to his rooms where he will return after the graduating ceremony." He stopped the questions with a hand, " I do not know why but I do know where. Follow me."
Orteih noticed nothing but the blond hair of Elbaen as his mind whirred. Why did Lord Dashias want them? It couldn't be that they had skipped the graduating ceremony, for they had done that many times. Before he knew it they were standing in front of a nondescript building one wouldn't see if he hadn't known it was there. Oretih turned to ask Elbaen if he had gotten lost, but their escort was nowhere to be found.
"Come on." Rachael whispered, starting up the faded stone walkway.
Once inside they could tell that the outside was a ploy to keep any nosy students from coming upon it uninvited. It was brightly colored and there were paintings of battles, and Lord's and Ladies long past. As they stood, letting their eyes adjust to the light, a servant came bustling over. Ushering them to a couch he offered them drinks. When they didn't respond, he left them to think.
After a while, Blade came over to put his head in Rachael's lap and she began absently stroking his head. By this time Orteih was no longer thinking, just staring at the opposite wall. Suddenly, they were no longer alone. All five Lord's and Ladies appeared in front of them. Rachael and Orteih jumped and bowed.
"Come." Was all Dashias said.
They were led into a side room where Lord's Dashias, Garulain, Nacaltear and Ladies Hatill and Senadl took seats along the back wall. Rachael and Orteih remained standing.
Before they could even begin to think of what to say Lord Dashias spoke up, " Thank you for leaving your stargazing to join us." He said knowingly.
"We are not here to get you in trouble however," Interjected Garulain. "As a matter of fact I did the same."
Garulain was a head shorter than Dashias, had a good natured look permanently etched on his face and had had his hair dyed midnight black at one point.
"As much as I hate to interrupt what I am sure would be a very interesting tale we have more important matters to discuss." Lady Hatill said sternly.
She was of medium height and had a kind look but could be stern and her golden eyes that seemed to glow were framed by silver hair.
"As no doubt Blade already knows, we are currently besieged by vampires. Since they are strongest at night and most here are mere novices we cannot risk an open fight." Informed Lady Senadl.
"Then why would you need us?" Asked Rachael, though she dreaded the answer.
They looked at each other as if silently debating who should be the bearer of bad news.
When they turned back toward her Lord Dashias spoke, "Because it is you, Rachael, that they want." Saying this brought back memories that she had tried for years to suppress.
She had been upstairs reading when she heard a small noise from downstairs. She closed her book and headed to the hall. She had seen a strange shadow and hid in her armoire. Not a second to soon it seemed for just as she replaced the false back, a female vampire had opened her armoire and threw out all her clothes. She noted the vampire's yellow eyes that lacked both white and pupil and her green medium length hair. She had also noted that she was short and
had black skin. She was brought back to the present when she realized Orteih was speaking.
"-could they possibly want her?" he demanded.
"The same reason they wanted me fourteen years ago." Rachael whispered.
"Wait a minute." He said as comprehension dawned on his face. "Fourteen years ago? That's when you arrived. Aikanaro! How could they have found you?"
"Who knows?" whispered Lady Hatill and Rachael simultaneously.
"The point is we are in a bit of a predicament." Lord Dashias said bringing their attention to the current situation.
"Ah yes." Murmured Lord Nacaltear, he spoke so soft that you would have to listen closely to hear him, "The vampires have telepathically demanded that we surrender you, Rachael.
"That does not mean we are willing to, for we are not. What it does is give you a choice. You can stay and fight, stay and hide or run."
Lady Senadl spoke up, " I would suggest the latter and to bring someone who you can get along with without wasting pointless time arguing."
Lord Dashias broke in here, "If you would get some essentials from your room and then meet us back here, we will have had time to gather some supplies that you will undoubtably need." Signaling the disscussion at an end with a nod, Emilia and Orteih, with Blade in tow, left.
Along the way back to Emilia'a room Orteih's mind was whirring, 'Why would they want her?, How did they find her?' It took a while for it to register that they were no longer the only one's out. It seemed the Graduation Ceremony was over. It also seemed that many of them have heard about the vampires.
When they reached Rachael's room, Orteih and Blade waited outside.
Kinda long I know.
