The Dark Gifts Birthright (17 page)

Filled with foreboding, Minerva immediately
set about reading tea leaves and doing prophetic incantations as
she searched for the source. She pulled out her rune stones, and
used some of the oldest and most dangerous magic. There was
nothing. No clues. No ideas. Just nothing. She had one last thing
she could try, but it would take forty-eight hours to prepare, and
it was dangerous. She would have to conjure a portal.

“You want us to stand by and wait while you
accomplish this task, Minerva. It's just a dream. We can't just
drop everything.” Michael said.

“I'm not proposing that you do. We have no
idea why this is happening. Don't you think it would be prudent to
find the source? Have you ever heard of such a thing happening
before?”

“No, but it could be a fluke. Some residual
offset to having an extremely talented psychic in our midst. I
agree that it's strange and unusual, but I also believe that our
time would be better spent preparing to fight.” He answered.

Covering her face with her hands, she shook
her head. “Listen to me. I understand the importance of the other
things we are doing, but mark my words…this is happening for a
reason. Someone is trying to tell us something. We need to know who
that someone is and why they are interacting with us in this way.”
Then squaring her shoulders, she placed her hands on her hips. “I
would think you, of all people, would like to know who has that
sort of access to your thoughts and mind.”

Taking a few moments to ponder her words, he
finally answered. “You're right. A few days won't make any
difference right now. What must be done?”

Although she had won, Minerva did not smile
as she explained what was necessary to invoke the spell. “Portal
magic is serious business and sometimes even deadly. Everything has
to be just right. Even the alignment of the stars needs to be
perfect. The proper alignment happens for a brief minute each
night. If it is opened too soon, we could die. If open too long,
same consequence. If not opened properly, it could explode and
everything in the near vicinity would die.”

“You're not giving me much reason to be
confident about your proposal.”

“I told you it was dangerous. Asking a portal
is the only solution I can think of. Believe me, if I could think
of something that wouldn't potentially blow my head off, I'd try
it.”

Minerva silently wiped her damp hands on her
long skirt as Michael thought. He watched her nervous reaction and
knew he was under reacting to the situation. At this stage of the
game, it was important to know who they were dealing with, and how
they were entering so many minds at once. “Fine. Do what you
must.”

She nodded and left to begin the arduous
process of working the spell.

Preparations for the portal opening took
longer than originally anticipated. Four days later, they were
ready to begin. Each of those days, the vampires had the same
dream. Each of those days, the entire lot woke up anxious and
afraid. When it was almost time to work the magic, Minerva called
in Michael and the others.

“You must remain still and quiet. There can
be no talking or movement during the opening. Not one leaf is to be
disturbed. This portal should go directly to the source of the
dream. We will be able to see and hear what is going on there,
likewise whoever or whatever is there, will be able to see and hear
us as well. If we are lucky and do not draw attention to ourselves,
we can close it without being noticed.”

“Minerva, are you sure this is going to
work?” Michael asked.

“No. I haven’t opened a portal before. It is
forbidden magic used only by dark witches.” She wiped sweat from
her brow and rubbed her hands on the old white apron she was
wearing. “We have no other option, Michael. If we are to find the
source and meaning of the dream, it must be done. To enter into war
and not have such knowledge would be signing our own death
warrants. Now hush, there isn’t much time left.”

Soft chanting filled the air, gradually
growing louder. Flames from the roaring fire shot higher and higher
as it intensified. Bursts of blues and greens colored the flames as
Minerva threw in the various magical ingredients. Around them, the
air grew still as if the forest held its breath in anticipation of
what would happen next.

Hair on arms and necks began to rise as if
charged by an electric current. Slivers of blue lightning zipped
back and forth around the blazing fire, turning it blue, until the
fire itself seemed to have turned to water. In the center, a small
blue ball flickered and grew, giving the impression of a large oval
mirror. As the witches reached the high point of their chant, a
loud bang reverberated through the clearing. Then total
silence.

Minerva asked the portal to show her the
source of the dream. A shadow appeared in the flames. First, dark
and hazy like a shadow on the wall, then it became clearer and took
on color like a television screen being tuned in. It was a woman.
Blood spatters dotted her angry face. She was gorgeous. Flowing
dark hair, pale, almost crystalline skin, she looked like a goddess
of old. Her eyes glowed with the red embers of a long burning fire.
She gazed directly upon them as if she knew each of them were
there.

“Where is my daughter?” A furious voice came
out of the blue limpid flames. “Do you have my child or are you
just wasting my time?”

Minerva answered the woman, “We dare not
waste your time. We are searching for answers. We have all had a
dream and are searching the source.”

“Have you harmed the girl?”

Minerva glanced at Michael and looked back at
the woman. “I’m sure I don’t know what you are talking about.”

The woman took one look around the circle and
promptly stepped through the portal. There was another loud bang
and the portal closed. Even Minerva was unnerved; no one had known
that a portal could be used to travel. In fact, as far as Minerva
knew it had never been used that way before! But there the woman
stood, beautiful, majestic and full of wrath. Even the vampires
were fearful.

Liz and Angie had remained at the house with
Jenna, keeping tabs on what was happening with Michael
telepathically. When the woman stepped through and the portal
closed, Jenna became agitated. She clapped her hands, jumped up and
down, and squealed, “Mommy! It’s my Mommy!”

Liz was astounded. “That woman in the woods
is your mother?”

“That’s my Mommy. I knew she would find me.”
Jenna smiled.

Liz picked her up and headed for the
clearing.

The woman silently stared into each of the
vampires’ eyes, probing their minds. No one said a word. Even
Michael could find nothing to say. There was a great sense of
anticipation that grew with each passing second. When Liz appeared
with little Jenna in her arms, the woman finally uttered one
solitary sound. A groan. Just a faint groan, but in that sound was
the release of all the terror and fear of a mother that had thought
her child gone forever.

Jenna was out of Liz’s arms and into her
mother’s before anyone could blink. Entwined, they laughed and
cried. Tears of blood flowed down the woman’s cheeks. They spoke so
rapidly to each other that their conversation made no sense to
those watching. Everyone in attendance felt the emotions flowing
from these two that so loved each other. The woman looked at Liz
and then at Michael mouthing the words, “thank you.”

At that point, conversation started buzzing.
Everyone asked questions and made observations. Everyone, except
Minerva. She stood silent. Knowing that what was to come would be
life changing for everyone there. Possibly, everyone in the world.
What had just happened was not only improbable, it was supposed to
be impossible. That step through the portal should have killed the
vampire mother. She must have her own very strong magic to have
lived through that, and vampires were not supposed to have magic at
all. So Minerva simply stood silent and waited.

Seeing their leader quiet and motionless, the
other witches hushed and waited with her. Eventually, conversation
ebbed, and all stood silently waiting for the woman to speak.
Several minutes passed before the vampire mother spoke, and just as
Minerva thought, her words changed everything.

Chapter Ten

A Finger In A Hole Does Not

Stop A Dam From Breaking

“I am Cassiopeia. You may call me Cassy or
Cass if you prefer. My daughter seems very well taken care of, and
I thank you. I must admit, I never considered the possibility of
her being protected by vampires. I am equally surprised to find not
only vampires, but witches here as well.” She looked at Minerva,
smiled, and said, “I know you, although you don’t remember me. You
do your great-grandmother proud, child. The last time I saw you,
you were an infant. It’s been many long years since I had a friend
like her.”

Then to everyone’s amazement, she walked up
to Liz and kissed her on the cheek. “It seems that Jenna has grown
fond of you, Liz. You are all throughout her mind and thoughts. You
and this one,” nodding to Angie, “have won her heart. She is not
quick to love and is an astonishing judge of character. You must be
extraordinary people.” Jenna balanced on her hip, she turned to
face Michael. Her face became cold and somber. “I know you as well,
Michael. You, who have been the bane of our race and the hand of
the Council, will now be our savior.”

Cass placed Jenna on the ground and patted
the top of her head. “The time has come, my friends. A battle must
be fought; we cannot afford to wait any longer. There is a house
nearby, yes?” The crowd murmured in agreement. “Then let us retire
somewhere with more comfort. We have many things to discuss.”

The group returned to the house and made
themselves comfortable around a new bonfire. Chairs and makeshift
stools were brought out to accommodate those gathered. Everyone
found a seat and waited for the new arrival to speak.

Cass took a moment to pull her thoughts
together and began. “I am the oldest living among us. I began my
second life thousands of years ago. Even the Eldest is junior to
me. Several thousand years ago, I decided that I would be more.
More than monster. More than human. Once that decision was made, I
had no choice but to go into hiding.”

The vampires murmured in approval of her
decision.

“When the Council united, I should have taken
command. I had no use for vampire ways. New or old. I have spent
countless centuries meddling in the affairs of men, and have helped
in places where no mortal hope would abide. Command is that last
thing I wanted. Not then and not now. Once again, I have no choice.
I suppose this has always been my destiny. And like it or not, I
must come forward now and try to put right what my absence has
created.” Exhaling, she searched the faces in the crowd. Enthralled
with her story, they watched silently.

“Are you hungry? We don't have much, but you
are welcome to some,” Liz said.

“Yes, thank you. I've spent these last few
days searching for Jenna and haven't fed.”

Liz raced to fetch her a glass of warm blood.
A voice from the back called out, “What of Jenna? How did she come
to have vampire talents?”

“Vampire talents?” She laughed, thought for a
moment, and continued, “Well I suppose it's natural for you to
think that. Her ability has nothing to do with vampire talents. All
mortals have psychic ability, most just don't realize it.”

“Here you are, I hope it's warm enough.” Liz
handed her a large glass.

“Thank you.” She paused and drained the glass
quickly. As they watched, her hair began to shine, brown eyes
glowed brighter, and exhaustion faded from her face. “As I was
saying, they all have the ability, they just don't know it. I'll
start at the beginning. I met Dan, Jenna’s father, when she was
just seven weeks old. I had been working as a nurse in a
pediatrics' ward. Jenna's mother died during child birth, and he
was alone with the sick baby. Pneumonia had set in her lungs. Over
the few days she was there, he and I became close. They needed me,
although I needed them much more. It didn't take long for us to
fall in love.”

Gasps escaped those listening.

Cass smiled and nodded. “Yes, I said love.
Don't you see? We are not monsters. We can be whoever or however we
choose. The darkness inside you does not have to own you. Those of
you here already know that or you wouldn't be here.”

Many heads wagged in agreement.

“I refuse to release my humanity. I will not
allow it.” Turning, she gazed into Liz's eyes. “I am not the only
one to see or feel this need.”

Liz smiled shyly before looking at her
feet.

“That doesn't explain Jenna's...oddity.”
Minerva said.

“Right. It is simple. From that first day in
the hospital, I went into her mind. At first she communicated with
visual impressions and emotion, then after awhile, with words. She
could speak internally with full sentences before she learned to
pronounce words. We've never had her tested, but she is a brilliant
child. Her mind is capable of comprehending so much more than most
grown mortals. She inspires me. Mortals like Jenna are why we must
fight and regain control. I believe they are evolving. After
thousands of years of watching and interacting with them, they are
finding their true potential. We cannot allow this advancement to
be interrupted.”

As Cass told them her history, they listened
with rapt attention. She had visited nearly every civilization on
the planet. Each held a place for her in their histories. Two
peculiar pieces of information shook the crowd to the core. She
could walk among men during the day. Vampires die in sunlight. They
burst into flames if they are in it too long. But this woman could
walk around in the sun all day long.