Entwined With the Dark Read online

  Entwined With The Dark

  Book Seven in the Kindred Series

  By Nicola Claire

  Copyright © 2013, Nicola Claire

  All Rights Reserved

  ISBN: 978-0-473-23567-3

  nicolaclairebooks.blogspot.com

  This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places and incidents are products of the writer's imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locales or organisations is entirely coincidental.

  All rights are reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission from the author.

  Cover Art by Nicola Claire & Minette Hanekom

  Image credit: 123RF Stock Photo

  Image # 10171115

  Font credit: Last Soundtrack "EpoXY histoRy"

  My special thanks to Minette of Red Cherry Graphic Design for her expertise, unfailing support and precious time, making the Kindred Series look as sexy as it deserves.

  More books by Nicola Claire:

  Kindred Series

  Kindred

  Blood Life Seeker

  Forbidden Drink

  Giver of Light

  Dancing Dragon

  Shadow's Light

  Entwined With The Dark

  Kiss Of The Dragon (Late 2013)

  Mixed Blessing Mystery Series

  Mixed Blessing

  Sweet Seduction Series

  Sweet Seduction Sacrifice

  Sweet Seduction Serenade

  Sweet Seduction Shadow (Late 2013)

  Elemental Awakening Series

  The Tempting Touch Of Fire (Late 2013)

  For: My wonderful group of

  supporters.

  T, U, & J - for grabbing hold of any new book I write

  and eagerly reading & critiquing them.

  L - for her continued support and encouragement.

  T - for his fine tuning, sound boarding & clever making.

  And my Facebook and Twitter buddies -

  for comments and messages that

  make it all worthwhile.

  Thanks guys,

  you're the best!

  Definitions

  Accord – A blood binding agreement, often between two parties of equal power; cannot be broken.

  Álfheimr – (Fey) Faerie. Home to the Fey.

  Alliance – A word of honour agreement; has varying degrees of binding, some alliances cannot be broken.

  Bjóða – (Fey) A challenge.

  Bjórr – (Fey) Fey beer.

  Blood Bond – A binding connection between master and servant, requiring the exchange of blood to seal. It can only be broken by someone more powerful than the master who created it. A blood bond establishes a close relationship between the blood bonded. The master provides safety and protection, the servant offers obedience and loyalty.

  Bond – The connection between joined kindred Nosferatu and Nosferatin; reflects the emotional and psychological relationship. Enables both parties to find each other over distance; to perform whatever is required to get to that person, overcoming any obstacle; to direct thoughts to each other; to feed off the life force of each other. It is always an equal exchange.

  Ceannard - (Gaelic) Leader of the Dragon shape shifters.

  Command – A directive given by a Master vampire to one of his line. It requires Sanguis Vitam in order to enforce obedience. It cannot be ignored.

  Dökkálfa – (Fey) The Dark Fey.

  Dream Walk – A Nosferatin power, enabling the Nosferatin to appear in a different location. The Dream Walker is invisible, cannot be sensed or smelled, and only heard if they talk when in this realm. They can, however, interact and be harmed. The only exception to a Dream Walker's invisibility is another Nosferatin. Two Dream Walks in a 24 hour period results in prolonged unconsciousness once the Dream Walker returns to their body. A very rare power.

  Dùthaich - (Gaelic) Territory. Region of land belonging to a particular family of Nathair-Sgiathach, or dragon shape shifters.

  Elska – (Fey) Literally love. An elska is a mœðr. A member of the fey can only ever have one elska in their lives. They are in tune with the Light or ljós within their matched fairy and potentially will become their one true love.

  Fīfrildi – (Fey) A type of winged fairy. Yellow Dökkálfa Fey.

  Final death – The true death of a Nosferatu. There can be no survival from the final death.

  Glaze – The ability to influence another. It requires direct eye contact and Sanguis Vitam to insert the influence. Usually a Nosferatu skill, allowing a vampire to influence a human.

  Grey Lords – The Dökkálfa law keepers.

  Herald – The Nosferatin who recognises the Prophesy. It is the Herald's responsibility to acknowledge the Sanguis Vitam Cupitor and thereby initiate the Prophesy.

  Hapū – (Maori) Tribe; sub-tribe – e.g. the Westside Hapū of Taniwha is the local Auckland sub-tribe of New Zealand Taniwha.

  Hyrða – (Fey) Fairy guards. Green Dökkálfa Fey.

  Iunctio – (Latin). The Nosferatu connection and governing power. All vampires are connected to one another via this supernatural information exchange highway; enabling sharing of rules, locations of safe havens and hot spots to avoid. It is powered by both Nosferatu and Nosferatin Sanguis Vitam, but is operated by the Nosferatu in Paris. There are twelve members of the Iunctio council, headed by the Champion. The Iunctio is tasked with policing all supernaturals throughout the world.

  Joining – The marriage of a kindred Nosferatu with a kindred Nosferatin. Upon joining the Nosferatu will double their Sanguis Vitam and the Nosferatin will come into their powers, but for the Nosferatin, their powers will only manifest after reaching maturity; the age of 25. The joining will also make the Nosferatin immortal. A symbiotic relationship, should one member of the joining die, the other will too. Without a joining, the Nosferatin would die one month passed their 25th birthday. The joining also increases the power of the Iunctio and Nosferatu as a whole.

  Kaitiaki – (Maori) New Zealand Shape Shifter (Taniwha) name for Nosferatin. Meaning protective guardian of people and places.

  Kindred – A Nosferatu or Nosferatin sacred match, a suitable partner for a joining. To be a kindred there must exist a connection between the Nosferatu and Nosferatin; only those suitably compatible will be kindred to the other.

  Kvángask – (Fey) A marriage ceremony between elska. Involves a public sharing of silver, sustenance and bodies.

  Line – The family of a master vampire, all members of which have been turned by the master, or accepted via blood bond into the fold.

  Ljós – (Fey) Light.

  Ljósálfar – (Fey) The Light Fey.

  Lux Lucis Tribuo – (Latin) The Giver of Light. The third part of the Prophesy. The Lux Lucis Tribuo is charged with balancing the Dark in Dark vampires out with their Light.

  Master – A Nosferatu with the highest level of Sanguis Vitam. There are five levels of Master, from level five – the lowest on the Sanguis Vitam scale, to level one – the highest on the Sanguis Vitam scale. Only level one Masters can head a line of their own. Some Nosferatu may never become Masters.

  Master of the City – A level one Master in control of a territory; a city.

  Mœðr – (Fey) Mother or mate. A human capable of parenting fey offspring.

  Nathair-Sgiathach - (Gaelic) Winged Serpent, the Dragon shape shifters native to the British Isles.

  Norm – A human unaware of the supernaturals who walk the Earth. They also do not have any supernatural abilities themselves.

  Nosferatin – (Nosferat–een) - A vampire hunter by birth. Nosferatin were once of
the same ilk as Nosferatu, descendants from the same ancestors, or God. The Nosferatin broke off and turned towards the Light. Their sole purpose is to bring the Nosferatu back from the Dark, this can include dispatching them, bringing them the final death, when they cannot be saved. They are now a mix of human and Nosferatin genetics.

  Nosferatu – A vampire. The Nosferatu turned towards the Dark, when their kin, the Nosferatin turned towards the Light. They require blood to survive and can be harmed by UV exposure and silver. They do not need to breathe or have a heart beat. They are considered the undead.

  Prohibitum Bibere – (Latin) The Forbidden Drink. The second part of the Prophesy. The Prohibitum Bibere is a siren to the Dark vampires throughout the world, calling their Darkness towards the Light.

  Pull – The Nosferatin sense of evil. Guides a hunter to a Dark vampire; sometimes, but not always a rogue, who is about to feed off an innocent.

  Rākaunui – (Maori) Full Moon.

  Rogue – A vampire no longer controlled by a master, full of evil and Darkness, feeding indiscriminately and uncontrolled.

  Sanguis Vitam – (Latin) The Blood Life or life force of a Nosferatu. It represents the power they possess. There are varying degrees of Sanguis Vitam.

  Sanguis Vitam Cupitor – (Latin) The Blood Life Seeker. The first part of the Prophesy. The Sanguis Vitam Cupitor can sense and find all Dark vampires throughout the world.

  Síðastr Portal – (Fey) A one-way portal that perpetually remains open despite the closure of other portals to Álfheimr. It allows access from Earth to Álfheimr.

  Sigillum – (Latin) A permanent mark of possession.

  Starkad – (Fey) The Ljósálfar law keepers.

  Taniwha – (Maori) New Zealand Shape Shifter. Dangerous, predatory beings. The Taniwha have an alliance with the Nosferatins.

  Taufr – (Fey) Talisman. A charmed amulet or object.

  Teaghlach - (Gaelic) Shape shifter pack or family.

  Tego Texi Tectum – (Latin) To cover, protect and shield. Referring to a vampire power of guarding and sheltering themselves and others from certain magical powers.

  Turned – The action of changing a human into a vampire.

  Umskipti – (Fey) Changeling. A member of the fey used to replace human children who were identified as mœðr. The changeling takes on the form of the stolen child and fools the human parents until adulthood, when they simply disappear. Fey stole human children to improve fertility in Álfheimr. The stolen human child is raised in Faerie as one of their own to breed fey.

  Vampyre – Old term for vampire; used rarely in modern language.

  Vinr – (Fey) Vanguard. The first of the fey to cross a portal. Their job is to ensure it is safe for other fey to follow.

  Light and Dark are intertwined,

  Never to be parted.

  Dark will call to our kind,

  Light has already started.

  Fey Prophesy

  Chapter 1

  London

  The twang of a dagger embedding deep into the wall two inches from my right ear sent adrenaline coursing through me. As if there hadn't already been enough! I didn't have time to glare at the culprit before stale, rotten, hot breath washed over my face and a grimy, long-nailed hand grabbed me by the collar of my jacket and threw me across the room.

  I landed hard, but not as hard as the boot to my ribs which followed. I jumped up and back as quickly as a cat getting attacked by a water hose. I think I may have hissed like one too, but despite my feline grace the rogue was coming in for a second attempt at throttling me. I already had bruises around my throat from his last attack, I was determined not to suffer that indignity again.

  I struck out a hand and forced him back with my Light, but it wasn't nearly as impressive as it sounds. Although having seen Avery just last night to reinforce the joining, I was already beginning to tire. Two days too soon. I shouldn't have been suffering from weakness yet, but my state of mind wasn't helping. I really believe attitude had a lot to do with my current predicament. Attitude and Arthur Pencarrow.

  I didn't take that thought through to completion before the rogue pounced again. Spittle from his slack mouth splattered across my face, my hands came up to his chest and held his fangs away from my neck, but shaking was beginning to make an appearance in my limbs. I'm strong, but my strength was failing me. I muttered a few choice curses under my breath and then watched in horror as another silver dagger flashed through the dim moonlight in the factory we were in.

  The knife glanced off the rogue's shoulder and I had to twist my face away suddenly or wear the sharp edge across my cheek.

  "Do you mind!" I shouted above the roar of anger from the rogue.

  "I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" came the whimpering reply.

  "If you're going to take out the vampire, don't throw a knife when I'm so close! Stake the bastard!" The woman couldn't throw straight for shit.

  "I... I... I can't," came Marie's stuttering reply.

  I rolled over with the rogue, ignoring my partner's pathetic excuses, trying to get the upper hand. The rogue decided he didn't want to let me, so continued to roll us over until he was on top. The consequent battle for supremacy meant we rolled half a dozen times until we hit the far wall, neither of us gaining an inch on the other.

  For a slavering, crazy, fanger he was pretty good.

  But I am better.

  Another bolt of Light, a groan at the corresponding washed-out feeling, and he was flying through the air and landing with a satisfying crunch against a pillar. I wasn't so quick to my feet this time, but determination mixed with stubbornness has its advantages. I made it upright in time to see the rogue advancing on Marie. Who promptly threw her stake then shrieked and bolted in the other direction.

  Bloody hell, why me? I didn't ask for this. I am too busy fulfilling my roles as the Prophesied to play babysitter to a newbie Nosferatin with confidence issues. But, London had rules. Rules Arthur Pencarrow insisted I adhere to. I was having difficulty seeing it his way. Especially at times like this. Maybe I was being a little too precious. I have quite a reputation, I'd like to think it hadn't gone to my head though. But, it's hard not to feel self-important when you are the Prophesied. The one Nosferatin destined to balance the Dark with the Light.

  I took a few steps towards them, realised I'd be too late and so shouted, "Hey, fanger! Pick on someone your own size!" Which, in itself, was a laugh. Marie’s about my size, five foot four inches, trim and fit, and the fanger was twice that.

  He turned slowly, like a clockwork robot, his movements jerky but precise. I had a bad feeling he was just holding on to his sanity. Any minute now he'd go ballistic. I needed to put an end to this now.

  He growled, low and long. I held my breath, fingered my stake and muttered encouragingly under my breath, "Come on, come on."

  Then he flashed to the stairwell and headed up to the next floor.

  "Damn!" I started running after him determined not to let him get away. The destruction he could cause on a busy London night would be phenomenal. I couldn't see where Marie had gone, but it wasn't anywhere near the vampire. And I knew, it wouldn't be anywhere near where I needed her either.

  Once again I questioned why my life had to be so bloody difficult. I hated this. I hated having to hunt in teams as per Arthur's instructions or London's rules. I knew why Arthur had teamed me with Marie though. Apart from being the only other female Nosferatin currently based in London, he felt I may have been able to help Marie come out of her shell. That was debatable, from tonight's experience. And to think, I could have had this hunt over and done with half an hour ago, if not for the distraction and total incompetence of Marie. Hell, I could have been working on my To Kill List, which currently consisted of the Fairy Queen of the Dökkálfa and the Champion of the Iunctio. But instead I was chasing a rogue in a dingy abandoned factory, bruised and battered, and huffing like an old lady from exhaustion.

  I was so going to make this rogue pay. Then I'd have words
with Arthur Pencarrow, self appointed leader of the London Nosferatins.

  I skidded to a stop on the first floor and took in the rogue down the far end, cornered. No exits - if you discounted the barred, dirty windows. The only way out was past me and I wasn't going to let him even reach the stairwell, let alone use it again. I could have used Marie's help, it would have been enough for her to block this exit, she wouldn't have had to get close to the vamp again. But right now Marie was hiding in a curled up ball of enormous fear, with a new potential life-long damaged psyche, courtesy of this evening's events. While I battled the rogue on the first floor alone.

  That was OK, I liked to handle things alone. I'd deal with Marie's phobias later. First the rogue.

  In a flash I was in front of him, my stake grazing the side of his face as he hurled himself at me, fangs down, red glow to his eyes. I had no idea what colour they used to be, they'd bled all natural hues and gone straight for frightful blood red. He was both hungry - having had his dinner disturbed - and quite clearly mad. Most rogues don't make it to that bat-shit crazy stage, they get dealt with by a hunter like me before then, but this one had most definitely slipped through the cracks. He'd bypassed blood-lusted and deadly, and gone straight for utterly insane. That ballistic I'd been fearing, had arrived.

  Not a problem, he'd officially met his match, I had my game face back on. I didn't plan on toying with him, it was not my usual style. Although I have been known to take longer than necessary in the past to slide the stake home, those episodes had been under strained circumstances. I'd come a long way since then. I watched him gather his balance as he flew past my stake and then I spun out in pursuit before his momentum had stopped. Spin fighting is something I was attempting to teach Marie. So far it had elicited only bruises for her and a headache for me. I wondered whether poor scaredy-cat Marie had any natural balance at all.