Vampires Realm Prophecy 01 - Child of Light

Prophecy moved to the window, not hearing the things that Mia was saying. Opening it, she pushed the shutters out of the way and watched Valentine and Dmitri walking along the road towards the woods. When they started to get lost from view, she leaned forwards, craning her neck so she could watch them until the very last moment.
    Her eyes moved to rest on the distance in the direction of the castle. It was too dark to see it now. The moon was high in the sky but it did nothing to light the world. The street below her was deserted. Clearly the people of this village did know of vampires. They were wise not to be out when darkness had fully fallen.
    She listened to Mia cross the room and sit down. Turning her back to the window, she frowned.
    “How long have you known Valentine?”
    “A long time,” Mia replied and placed her hand on the seat beside her. “Come and sit for a while, Prophecy.”
    Prophecy glanced at the window again and then did as instructed. Sitting on the couch beside Mia, she waited for her to properly answer her question.
    Mia adjusted the skirt of her black silk dress, smoothing any wrinkles out, and then sighed.
    “Valentine has always been like a brother to me, even when the law made him see me as nothing more than a contact.” Mia paused when Prophecy frowned at her, not hiding her confusion about the laws and the questions that were forming inside her. “I know what you are thinking but there is nothing forbidden about contacting another bloodline to retrieve information needed by your own. The law only forbids relationships and closeness between bloodlines. That is why the Creator Day masquerade is always held in high regard. The bloodlines love the chance to shed the law for one night. I could not live with just one night of freedom, and I believe that neither can you.”
    “I can’t. The laws are ridiculous. I wish someone would abolish them,” Prophecy said, trying to hide how stupid she felt for forgetting the laws. Everything seemed illegal these days.
    “Every walk of life must have laws to govern it. We are no different. Without the law, there would be pandemonium. They work for the majority of the population and most can live with them. There is only a small percentage that cannot.”
    “I suppose.” Prophecy removed her boots and curled up on the seat. Staring at the window, she thought about Valentine. “So you were just his contact then? That is how he treated you?”
    “At first, yes, but over time he became more accustomed to my company. After I had committed my sin with Dmitri, he told me that he would continue our tentative friendship and he would not turn me over to the Law Keepers.”
    Prophecy’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Never.”
    Mia smiled. “I was as surprised as you. To have Valentine openly disobey the law for my sake made me realise that he valued the friendship we had and that a part of him was not so loyal to the upholding of the law. When he contacted me to arrange our rendezvous at the masquerade, I knew in my heart the reason was because he had feelings for you. I cannot remember what excuse he used as the reason that he was helping you. I only remember that I did not believe it.”
    Prophecy stared at the fire while she thought about what Mia had said. Valentine did indeed have feelings for her, feelings that she shared. She started when Mia placed her hand over hers where it rested on her knee. Looking up into Mia’s dark eyes, she found them smiling at her.
    “I am glad that someone has opened his eyes for him. Valentine has too much heart to be a Law Keeper.”
    Prophecy smiled and placed her hand over Mia’s. “I know. I’m glad too.”
    A distant howl sliced through the silence and Prophecy’s eyes immediately shot to the window. She frowned and stood, walking over to it and staring out into the night.
    “Valentine will come back,” Mia said.
    Prophecy’s frown remained in place. “I don’t doubt it.”
    “Yet you still worry about him.” Mia paused and Prophecy nodded, her eyes scanning over the trees in a vain hope of pinpointing where Valentine and Dmitri were. “Valentine is experienced and they are only hunting animals. Dmitri will sport with him a while. They will hunt each other to sharpen their senses and skills before the battle tomorrow.”
    She stared at one particular spot in the forest and reached out with her senses, trying to feel Valentine.
    When she couldn’t sense anything, she let her eyes wander their