Ancient Blood, Lisa Logue [snow like ashes series .txt] 📗

Surely it would take more than visions of the past to convince anyone and I didn’t have much to show. It was next to impossible.

A knock at the door shook me from my thoughts and I opened it to find a truly breathtaking young man. He was maybe a few human years older than I, with short dark hair, muscular jaw, piercing green eyes, and olive skin that caused him to glow. I forgot to breathe.

“Miss Celina Deluca?” he asked in an Italian accent; it took all of me not to swoon.

“Yes, and you are?” I asked steeling myself against the door.

“Josepi Gallo. I am a friend to your aunt Rosalinda. She asked if I would accompany you to lunch this afternoon. I feel it is rude to not introduce myself. If it is a bad time, I can come back. I do not mean to disturb,” he bowed his head and smiled crookedly through his full lips.

“No, no please come in. I’m sorry I was under the impression that Rosalinda was having me meet with others who had participated or witnessed the wars,” I waved him in and shut the door tightly behind me.

“Ah, yes. Those were a terrible time, no? I was young, as a vampire anyway. It is not something any of us like to discuss. However, I do have information about our high priestess. She was my mentor. I’ve studied her teachings for centuries; one of the few I imagine.”

“You knew Calinka?! How exciting! No one ever speaks of her. I had no idea that she taught either. I assumed she was employed by the senators to keep the peace, but I never imagined, “I was stunned and sat hard onto my chair. My heart was racing as I looked at the man with excitement pouring from my face.

“Her teachings were held in secret. She would frequent the Church and held small circles there. She would explain to us that her powers were only used to protect and that she could show us all how to channel also. Her first piece of advice was to embrace The Spirit and from there our possibilities were endless,” he chuckled.

“How is that possible? Vampires have been removed from the Church for a very long time,” I furrowed my brow trying to remember when I’d last set foot in Church.

“Ah, most do not practice anymore due to our blending with the impure of The Underworld. There are churches for us. Mostly they are in the last places you would think to look,” he smiled again and his eyes dazzled me. I smiled in response.

“Would you take me? I haven’t been in so long.”

“When would you like to go?” he asked in a whisper.

“As soon as I can. I have questions about so many things. I’ve began to see visions. Some feel more like memories, or what some might call déjà vu. I feel as though I’m seeing things that I’ve seen before only I can’t pinpoint where. It’s very unnerving. I know that I have affinities for certain things, but I can never really grasp it. It’s almost like I’m both in this world and the next; one foot in and one out.”

“We shall go after sundown. Be sure to dress in something that makes travelling easy and do not bring weapons. If we seem hostile to the congregation we could be killed on site. I will warn you that this will be quite dangerous. If any of the patrol happen to find us it is considered treasonous,” he raises his brow and I nod.

“I am no stranger to punishment Josepi. If I am who they think I am I may not live long enough to see this through,” I say with a tight smile. He nods at my words and sees himself out.

With the possibility of an uprising, the senators have ordered patrols after dark and proposed a curfew among the coven. We are allowed to leave, but only if we are accompanied by another and within the boundaries of our territory. Should we breach the lines of another coven, it could be considered treason or at the least trespassing. Since many have shown unrest at the senators for not reaching an agreement, congregating for anything other than sanctioned events or family meals can be considered high treason and all parties as sentenced to the true death as conspirators. It is barbaric, but I suppose if I had lived through the Wars it wouldn’t seem so.

Readying for the luncheon was difficult after seeing Josepi. Not only did he know Calinka, he could teach me! No more dusty scrolls and reciting histories everyone already knew. Could I embrace it? Am I meant to lead us?
Slithering blackness caught my eye, snaking its way from the ceiling. Disgusting demon. Snapping my fingers, the demon hissed and froze. I approached it slowly, reciting the incantation over and over until its inky black blood began to ooze.

“Picked the wrong place to go this time,” I blinked my eyes and a gust of wind carried the ashes of the demon away. Satisfied, I went back to washing and changing for the luncheon.

The simplest task of removing the demon made me feel like I held control. Periodically, I’d catch myself toying with the idea of being able to actually defeat The Underworld and become her. I knew better most of the time. Still, I am not one to believe in coincidences. There is a reason why I see the things I see, know the spells I know, remember things I shouldn’t and feel the incredibly overwhelming force churning within. I needed answers.
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Publication Date: 08-02-2011

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