Vampires Realm Prophecy 01 - Child of Light

have made her feel safe.
    She stepped up to the door and then jumped back as it opened before she reached it.
    She stared into the icy eyes of the short witch. The witch poked her head out of the door and looked both ways up the alley.
    “Alone?” she said.
    Prophecy nodded and willed her nerves not to show. She could do this. All she had to do was go in, retrieve the key and get back to the hotel. It was simple and nothing to be scared of.
    When the witch ushered her in, she didn’t hesitate. She strode past her and up the stairs, not slowing down until she was in the circular chamber at the top. She looked at the two other witches as they paused at their work to glance at her.
    “She is here,” the tall witch said.
    “She is alone,” the short witch added.
    “Why alone?” the youngest one said with a questioning frown.
    “Valentine was hurt. It was my fault. When I went to help him, I found I had strength that I’ve never had before. Do you know why?” Prophecy watched them exchange knowing looks and then followed them when they intimated for her to come into the other room. She didn’t want to go in there again, but she got the feeling they weren’t going to answer any of her questions until she did.
    She sat down on a low bench while they gathered around the table they’d laid her on before. The fur blanket was gone now. There was nothing on it except a small wooden box.
    “There is strength in your blood.”
    “A strength that you call.” The second one smiled at her.
    “Whenever your heart fears.”
    “My heart fears? Fears what?” She frowned, not understanding what they were saying. She wished they would tell her straight, not confuse her mind with their riddles.
    “We do not know.” The first one picked up the box.
    “Your blood is pure.”
    “Powerful.”
    She kept her eyes on the box as the witches carried it over to her and then peered inside when the youngest one opened it. There was some kind of jewellery sitting nestled in amongst the plush purple velvet lining.
    “The key?” She looked up at them and they all nodded. “This is the key to the prophecy? How will this help us translate it?”
    They smiled.
    “It will unlock what it is supposed to unlock.” The tall witch moved the box closer to her.
    “It is a key.” The short one picked up the object.
    “A key you must wear.” The youngest one held her hand out.
    Prophecy wasn’t sure what she was supposed to do so she just looked up at them, hoping they’d give her more information.
    “Which hand is strongest?”
    “Which do you write with?”
    “Fight with?”
    She held up her left hand and they smiled again.
    “Perfect,” the tall one said.
    “Wear the amulet on your right.” The short witch took her hand and slipped each ring onto her fingers before shutting the clasp around her wrist.
    “Like your mother.” The youngest witch smiled broadly.
    “My mother? You keep mentioning my mother. Did you know her? Am I like her as you said before?” She looked at the amulet they had placed on her. “Has she worn this?”
    “It was hers to keep.”
    “To protect.”
    “Until death.”
    She swallowed hard. “She’s dead then. That’s what you’re telling me. My mother is dead?”
    They nodded. She stared at the amulet. A ring fitted on each of her fingers and her thumb. There were strange silvery twisted threads of what might have been metal running from each one. On the back of her hand, they joined and formed an intricate star before attaching to the solid bracelet around her wrist. On her palm, all the threads met to support a dark purple stone. It shone in the icy blue light, and when she looked closely, she swore she could see movement in its clear depths. She flipped her hand over. It was exactly opposite the star. She remembered the night she’d been here last and the marks the witches had been drawing. All stars.
    She looked up at them and was about to open her mouth to ask more questions about her mother when they spoke.
    “You have memories locked inside,” the tall witch said and she remembered what Valentine had said about her memories and Arkalus.
    “They will give you answers.”
    “They’ll find their way out in time.”
    “How do I use this? What does it do?” She held her hand up.
    The tall witch looked at the other two and they both nodded several times. She got the feeling they were talking to each other without speaking again and she wondered what it was about. Her question had