Chapter 19: Chapter 19

Chapter 19: Ancient Artifices

Lancelot’s P.O.V:

The call came just as I was about to head out to work. A mental ‘knock’ asking for permission to enter my mind. Since we were dimensions apart, it was the only way of communication. So I locked the door, sat down on my bed, and closed my eyes, concentrating on the fine fabric that was the link to the other mind. It didn’t take long to reach the other end.

“Lance?”

I opened my eyes to the darkness of the void. The darkness was everywhere, spread in every direction, but that didn’t bother me. The darkness wasn’t claustrophobic as was known to be predominant in Shadowland, the incomplete direction that had never had a chance to form because the makers had died halfway through making it. The most important fact was that the inhabitants in this space were illuminated from within so we could see each other.

“Miaka.” I smiled at my little sister, the one who’d brought us all together. The sister with whom I am bound by blood.

“How are you?” She asked with voice laced with concern. “I’m so sorry I couldn’t visit you at the hospital. I wanted to come but Jay wouldn’t let me.”

“It’s okay dear,” I soothed her with my words since one of the biggest advantages of this space was that no one could touch each other. It prevented us from attacking one another no matter how annoying the other parties got. “I’m fine now. But we never got to discuss what you wanted to ask me.”

“Oh, that!” Miaka looked at me through her lashes, a guilty blush covering her cheeks. “Ace told me to convince you about your new Scribt….”

I sighed. “Of course, he did. Are you sure you’re supposed to even know what a Scribt is?”

Miaka gave me a wide eyed stare, the black stones in her golden gown glittering in the darkness. “I’m the Demon King, I’m supposed to know about every creature that inhabits the other ten dimensions.”

I noticed that Miaka did not mention Shadowland, the so-called half dimension. The main reason for that was no one knew a thing about Shadowland. Those who had dared to venture into those lands have never come back.

“Is that all you wanted to talk to me about?” I asked, feeling strangely anxious about getting back to Anna. I didn’t trust Melinda one bit and now that Anna’s ex was here, she could very subtly put thoughts in his head that might cause Anna harm.

“Actually there is something else I wanted to talk to you about.” The serious tone in her voice made me remember that Miaka was not just our little sister, but also the woman who ruled over millions of demons. “It’s about ancient artifices.”

“Ancient artifices?” I asked frowning. “Like the Arctic Blade?” I named the object that was used to destroy the Ancient that had woken up after thousands of years of sleep and had nearly killed my brother Erick’s bride.

Miaka nodded her head. “We all know that there were five Ancients in total. With Tuhin now permanently taken care of, we still have four more to go and no idea which dimension they might appear in.”

“But have you considered the possibility that the artifice that might be hidden in one dimension might not even be related to an Ancient?” I asked.

“That and the fact that an artifice received from one dimension might even be useful to kill an Ancient belonging to another dimension.” Miaka told me. “There are millions of possibilities out there, Lance, but we need to start somewhere. Maybe if I could get a list of all the artifices or at least a gist of a legend somewhere that can be traced back to an Ancient…”

“And what do you plan on doing with that information? You’re certainly not discussing it with the rest of us, are you?” That could be catastrophic! What if those legends trace back to something we could use to destroy each other?

No! If that happens, then the Dark Council would have been created for nothing.

“It’s alright, Lance. I won’t share the details with anyone. I have a repository as a mind; I’ll just store it somewhere in there so that no one can reach it. Moreover, you already know that I can’t be compelled by anyone, so the data will be safe with me.” Miaka told me.

I felt myself breathe a sigh of relief at that news. “Alright. I’ll let you know once I find anything.” I reassured her.

“Oh, and Lance?” She said just as I was about to terminate the connection that led me to this plane. “If you need anything at all, remember that you have an elder brother who would do anything for you.”

With that, the darkness fell away and I opened my eyes to the brightness of my room.

It took a while for me to get used to the light, but once I did, I rushed to the door and nearly bumped into Anna, who was standing right outside, one little fist raised in the motion of knocking on the door.

“Anaya?” I asked frowning as I looked down at her heart shaped face, her dark hair once again pulled back into that tight knot on top of her head. For once, I was glad that she hadn’t put her glasses back on, so I could see her eyes properly.

“Sorry.” She lowered her hand and a saw a blush creep up her cheeks. It made me wonder how far that color went. Did it cover her breasts, or did it go further down? I grit my teeth together as I felt a tightening in my loin. I couldn’t let my mind wonder to such territories; not now, not ever.

“What are you doing here? I thought you’d be downstairs getting the crew ready for work.” I asked her, pulling back the sleeves of my shirt.

“I was,” she told me curtly. “That is until her bitchiness send me off to find you since she needed to discuss arrangements with you.” The sourness in her tone told me everything I needed to know.

“Her bitchiness?” I raised an eyebrow at her and watched with pleasure as her cheeks reddened further.

“Forget I even said that! I am so sorry! You’ve employed her with so much money and if she found out I badmouthed her, she’ll leave us for good…” Her eyes were wide as she spoke to me fiercely, that was until she saw me smirk. “You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?”

“Very much. Now, let’s get this over with.” I told her and we both went out the door, getting ready to face ‘her bitchiness.’

Unknown P.O.V:

“Where is he?” I grit out through clenched teeth as the hooligans who called themselves hunters, stood in front of me with their heads bowed.

“We don’t know boss, he left this morning with his Secretary.” One of them answered with his head still bowed.

“Then find that son of a bitch!” I roared, punching my fist on the wooden table in front of me hard enough that it left a nice little indent. “I don’t care if you have to fly to the heavens or dig your way to Hell; I want Lancelot Eustis found by any means possible!”

“Yes, Sir!” They saluted me and ran off like the little sissies they were. But they’ll do their job, of that much I was sure. They had to if they wanted to live.

Hunters operated with a strict code of honor, but all that honor will be for nothing if I couldn’t find her! All these years I had stayed away from her because of her own safety, but everything will be in vain if I couldn’t protect her! They will kill her; I can already see that happening. But I’ll never let that happen.

If it ultimately comes down to that someday, and I pray to God that it doesn’t, then I’ll set their little world on fire and watch them burn with utter glee.

A bullet mixed with those sacred herbs wasn’t enough to kill him, but fire? No immortal could ever survive fire, and this time, I’m willing to let them all burn to ashes.

Author's Note: So, if you're confused by these parts, it relates to the first book in The Dark Council Series, The Vampire's Bride. Both The Vampire's Bride and The Incubus's Secretary are now published on Amazon and the second book is a different,, never before read version of this book itself. So, if you are interested, please go to Amazon and type Anna Kendra and check out my other published books! Enjoy!