Blood Red Moon: Worlds of Fire

Copyright © 2021 by Deborah A. Bailey

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Deborah A. Bailey/Bright Street Books

https://dbaileycoach.com/brightbooks

Publisher’s Note: This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are a product of the author’s imagination. Locales and public names are sometimes used for atmospheric purposes. Any resemblance to actual people, living or dead, or to businesses, companies, events, institutions, or locales is completely coincidental.

Cover Design by Deborah A. Bailey

Map by Sonja Hutchinson (sonja hutchinson.com)

Worlds of Fire: Blood Red Moon/ Deborah A. Bailey.—1st ed.

Thanks to Kelli A. Wilkins and June Diehl for their valuable feedback.

And, as always, thank you to my mom, Ruth Bailey, who always believed in me.

Map of Laline Province

Part 1 Awakening

I n Order to Rise from its Own Ashes, A Phoenix Must First Burn – Octavia E Butler

1 Caught

Iheard the voices first.

Two men in conversation. Talking about me. 

One voice was familiar. Deep, with a slight rasp that grated and triggered something inside me at the same time. Not fear. Anticipation.

Finally, you've found her. Heavy footsteps made the floorboards creak in response.

And I've waited for her all those years. The familiar voice again.

You need to punish him. He separated you two. Why let him survive?

He's probably dead already. It's been centuries.

He went into the future. You were the one waiting, Derek. He's probably still in our old world killing the rest of our people.

This was Derek, the Vampire Lord. The one I'd been searching for. Most of the other vampires had been caught, except him. 

Wait—what had the other one said? Centuries? The future? Was he insane? I was 30. But vampires and shifters had different lifespans. He had to be confused. Or lying.

I felt the bed move. Someone was sitting next to me. He's been stopped. They all have. The entire nest will be destroyed.

The Guild killed my family, the other man said. And your people too, Derek.

They've been dealt with, Kai. I promise you, Derek said. The Wolf Pack went after them.

Last thing I remembered was running into an alley to escape Derek and the wolf shifters I'd been following. They'd turned the tables. I went from tracking to being pursued.

They were the enemies of the Guild. That's why the Guild Master had selected me. He'd found me on the streets. An orphan. He'd given me purpose to find vampires and shifters. I was the Seeker, and it was my job to track them down.

My mistake had been to duck into that side street. I'd never been in that part of the city before. I thought the alley would lead someplace I could hide. But after that, everything had gone dark.

The bed creaked again. Something touched my forehead. I gritted my teeth to keep from brushing it away. As far as they knew I was still out. Let them think that. If they revealed their plans I could figure out what to do next.

Did you check for magic? They've probably done something to her. Kai was insistent.

Silence, other than their breathing. Suppose there were more than two of them? There was no way to be sure unless I opened my eyes. But one thing I did know was I was resting on a soft surface, and something was covering me. And even worse, I was naked. Funny how you can tell when you've got nothing on.

Shit. I'd let myself be lured into a trap. So much for my vampire tracking skills. Nothing in my Guild training had prepared me for this scenario.

Fingertips grazed my forehead again, then trailed down my face and rested on my shoulder. 

His touch was fire. I was happy for the covering and at the same time I wouldn't have minded if he'd slid his hand under it. Vampires had that kind of power over humans. The power to make us want them. To hunger for them as they hungered for our blood.

I'd been taught that. I'd never understood it before. Now I did.

You can leave us, Kai, Derek said. We'll talk later.

She won't be happy when she wakes up, Kai said. They changed her. Isn't that what you told me? She won't know who you are.

I've waited this long. I can be patient.

Footsteps. Then the sound of the door closing. Silence again. But, not for long.

You can open your eyes now.

Of course, he'd known. Vampires had awareness beyond human senses.

He was standing next to the bed, wearing a charcoal-colored pullover shirt and matching pants. Sleeves rolled up to reveal tats circling his wrists. Nothing particular, just the outline of flames without color.

I'd seen pictures of him. Studied the description the Guild Master had given me. Talked about him with the other members of our group. Tall, muscular and physically intimidating. His charisma that, they said, drew in unsuspecting humans.

Dark hair that could be curly when he let it grow to his shoulders. But usually he kept it cut short, though it was full and lush. His eyes that we speculated were hazel or perhaps some ever-changing combination of brown, green and grey. At the moment they were mesmerizing, almost startling against his tan complexion. Olive undertones...warm and natural coloring...far from what I'd expected from a vampire lord who haunted the darkness.

I took my time searching his face for the evil magic I'd been warned of. His angular features gave him a look of authority. The dark hair of his goatee was a few days or so away from a full beard. And his lips...his lips were slightly upturned. Like he'd found something that amused him, and he wasn't going to share it with me.

He looked too human and unthreatening. Not a frightening, fanged creature, as I'd expected. Just an intensely attractive man.

I apologize for the portal trip. Travelers react in different ways.

One attempt to sit up sent me slumping back down again. You expect me to believe I'm in a different world?

You are. A similar one, but different, he replied. One of many similar worlds.

Like I was going to believe that. Where am I and how did I get here?

This is one of my homes. And this is my bedroom, he said. As I said, you came through a portal. With me.

The fact that I was in a bedroom was obvious. I pulled the sheet up to my neck. What do you plan to do with me? Where are my clothes?

Kai will burn them with dragon fire, Derek said. They had toxic magic on them from the other world.

You're not serious. I don’t use magic. That much was true. The Guild taught magic but only the most basic spells. Nothing to use in a physical confrontation. My real value had been in my ability to detect vampires and shifters. That was why the Guild Master had called me The Seeker. No matter how good they were at hiding themselves in a crowd, I could find them. In this case, unfortunately my ability had worked a little too well.

Usually, the Guild Master would decide what to do with the vampires and shifters we found—along with their human supporters. In the past few months our enemies had gained the upper hand. And the Guild Master? He'd disappeared almost a year ago, leaving us without his guidance.

Some said he'd betrayed us. But I didn't want to believe that. The Guild had taken me in and given me protection. What else did I have?

I've been looking for you for...quite some time. I'm not going to hurt you.

You wanted to kill me like the others. You're the Vampire Lord. We had to go into hiding because of you...and those—

Evil creatures? Derek shook his head. The Guild is a den of murderers. And your Guild Master destroyed a lot of lives over the centuries. You're not one of them and never have been.

You're lying. That's what vampires do. They lie. I swung my legs over the edge of the bed. Give me my clothes. I'm getting out of here.

You can't go back through the portal. It's closed. Permanently. He folded his arms across his chest. This world is your home now.

What a sarcastic, smug ass. You and the wolf shifters were chasing me. But it was a trap.

You have nothing to fear from me.

I'm here with no clothes in your bedroom and you say I don't have anything to be afraid of?

I already told you what I did with your clothes.

Why didn't you kill me?

I don't want you dead. Derek walked across the room and sat in one of the pair of grey, upholstered chairs.

Why are you sitting over there? The oversized bedroom with its antique furnishings was certainly befitting of a vampire lord. Carved wood. Plush upholstery. Dark walls. A perfect lair for someone like him.

My room in the Guild house had been cramped, barely fitting a bed and chair. Plain with no decoration. Compared to that, this room was luxurious.

It's best I keep my distance for the moment. He ran his hand through his hair but couldn’t quite do it without trembling.

Why is your hand shaking? Are you sick?

His expression softened, but he regained his composure quickly.  It's been so long since we were together like this. I imagined this would be a different conversation, he said.

When were we ever together? I jumped up. You brought me here to kill me. Like all the others.

What others? I'm not a predator, he said.

Derek glanced down at my bare legs, then up again. I'd only managed to keep my top half covered with the sheet. Maybe not the best time to be concerned with modesty. It wasn't like he hadn't already seen everything. But even so, I hated being so vulnerable and so alone.

He stood up and approached the bed. The Guild is not what you think it is. And I'm not what you've been taught.

You're evil. I stepped back and bumped up against the bed.

No, I'm not, Derek said. I want to release you from the magic that's trapped you.

He was twisting my words and my thoughts. Making me doubt myself. I don't believe you. I want to leave here now.

He sighed. I had never thought he was capable of being weary. Not like humans could be.

When he spoke again, his words were a whisper. As light as air. We've been connected all along, Avani. We knew each other before the Guild existed.

That name was familiar to me and yet, I'd never heard it before. Why did you call me that? I asked. That's not the name the Guild Master gave me. He called me Lyra.

Your name was in the book I took with me when I escaped. But I knew your name before that.

What are you talking about? What book? I don't understand what you're saying.

Silence. He simply stared at me. Apprehension melted away as we faced each other. It was as though he were undressing me again. Removing the layers that protected me.

We were together a long time ago, he said. And we will be again. I can tell you more...if you'll let me.

This had to be more vampire bullshit. Tell me how to get back through that portal. I staggered, then braced myself against the bed. My stomach dropped like I was falling into a pit.

His expression darkened. I'd hoped the heart magic had faded—the portal must've triggered it. We have to work fast.

I've never heard of heart magic. You've done something to me.

The Guild Master must've put the poison into your heart, he said. I need you to trust me, Avani.

Trust him? But then the pain forced me to drop to my knees. Like a knife in my chest, it cut through me without pity. What's happening?

He grasped my arm. You're dying. Let me help you.

Tell me where the portal is. I gasped out the words as the knife cut deeper. Relentless. Shortening my breath with each wound. Tell me.

I need your permission first. I can't help you if you don't give it, he pleaded.

His look told me everything. Vampires had no magic of their own. If he was going to work against magic there was only one way.

He pulled me into his arms. Please, Avani, he said. Please.

If he'd wanted to end me, he could've done it already. The Guild taught us to be prepared to die for our beliefs. But saying that and actually experiencing it were different things.

Help me. All I could manage was a whisper and even that took effort.

Derek responded by picking me up and carrying me into the bathroom. As we entered, wall sconces illuminated the room in a soft gold-tinged glow. Shimmering stone walls gave it a warmth the bedroom hadn't had. In spite of my discomfort, the colors calmed me.

I thought we were heading for the shower enclosure, but instead he walked to a half-open door to the right. He kicked it open, and we entered. This room was painted in soft grey tones, like the bedroom. There was only a sink and a large tub. Derek set me in the tub then turned on the water.   

At first the cold marble made me flinch when I leaned back against it. But the water covered my legs and warmed me, submerging my lower body.

How long had it been since I'd been in a tub? I usually took showers since I'd shared a bathroom with others in our group. We'd had nothing of our own, really. Even clothing had been shared and handed down. The Guild Master had emphasized that we were a family. We would always need each other because no one else could be trusted.

He hadn't lived in any of the Guild houses. He'd said he didn’t want us to be in danger because of him. Powerful people feared him, and he needed to have a separate place. I'd heard that it was a large house behind gates. He was an important person.

You're thinking about the Guild, aren't you? They don’t deserve your thoughts, or anything else. Derek was standing next to the tub, undressing.

How had he known? Could he read my thoughts? Another thing I'd heard that vampires could do. As if in response the stabbing pain increased, like something within me was fighting to get out. Each stab cut deeper and deeper and I doubled over.

The water was shut off. I felt pressure on my back, moving me forward. Then splashing as Derek joined me in the tub. He sat and braced his legs on either side of me. He put his arms around me, holding on as I shivered.  

His presence surrounded me like the water. A vampire. My enemy. A dangerous predator who I'd been taught to fear and hate.

Derek pulled my hair back and bared my neck. Soon he would sink his teeth into me to save me. Or he would have his revenge for what we'd done to his people. Maybe that had been his plan all along. I'd be less trouble dead.

In the cooling water, his touch melted me as he glided his tongue over my neck. The pain in my chest slowly subsided. Not gone but not dominant anymore. My body was becoming attuned to him. My gasps of pain lessening as my breathing matched his. In and out. In and out. Steady. Deliberate.

The Seeker and the Vampire Lord. Finally, together at last. But not in the way I'd always thought we'd be.

2 Once Bitten

Derek pressed three fingers against my chest. And now, I'm going to free you of the Guild's control.

I was trembling. I couldn't help it. We'd always known we could be caught and killed. But this was different. Whoever had placed that magic inside me had wanted me dead.

One arm around me, he caressed my arm with his free hand, trailing it down so that his fingers entwined with mine. Then he dug his teeth into me. Deep. Sinking into my flesh and sinew with little effort.

At first I was numb. Like when you cut yourself, then for that second you feel nothing. But, you know the pain is coming. Tense up preparing for it. I'd been taught by the Guild that this was the worst thing that could happen. I would be, as far as they were concerned, no longer human.

My heart pounded as I gasped for breath, my senses were on fire, igniting my nerve endings. Struggling against the intrusion I kicked out, splashing water over the side of the tub. I might have cried out. I don't know for sure.

Then, there was an end to the pain. Just like that. No gradual tapering. It ended and euphoria engulfed me. Faintly I was still aware of Derek's touch as he consumed my blood. My life force. Drawing it in like a man starving for what he needed to survive.

Faces of people I didn't recognize flashed in front of me. They spoke to me, calling me, Avani. I saw a city with earth-colored buildings trimmed with gold that glittered in the sun. Mosaics and sculptures and fountains...blossoming flowers and lush green trees and waterfalls. Winged creatures flew above me, while the far-off sound of laughter floated on a breeze.

The faces faded in and out, faster and faster. Then I saw the face of the Guild Master. Dark hair streaked with white, cold blue eyes. His face morphed and stretched and became other faces. Younger and older, different features and colors and then, those faces disappeared too.

One last vision appeared. A man approached, partially in shadow. He called out to me. I ran to him. Then I saw who it was. Derek. Slightly younger. Happier. Smiling. But before we could embrace, an arrow pierced my chest and I fell. He cried my name, Avani! But darkness took me before I could respond.

Voices echoed around me. I couldn’t see their faces.

Put her with the others.

Round up the vampires and the shifters you find.

Track down the ones who escaped.

As the visions and voices faded, I came back to myself. I was in the tub in Derek's arms. But now the water was pink, and underneath our hands were still clasped.  

Is it over? I asked.

Yes, he replied.

What now? I felt like I was waking from a dream. Drowsy and unsure.

He released my hand. Scoot up a moment.

I did. He got up and left me alone in the