Vampires Realm Prophecy 01 - Child of Light

been horrible. It was one reaction he could live without but it seemed the human mind didn’t forget the instinct, just as it didn’t forget to make you breathe until you were nearing five centuries old, and even then he knew some vampires that still kept up the pretence in public so they didn’t draw attention to themselves. Although he could stop himself from breathing, it was still an automatic reaction for him and he couldn’t control it for long. He wondered if Prophecy could control her breathing.
    Stepping out into the square, the cool night air washed over him, carrying away his nausea. He closed his eyes and exhaled a sigh of relief.
    “Why... what did that?” Her voice trembled and he looked at her. She was stood clutching her stomach, her skin still drained of colour.
    “Werewolf, possibly two by the looks of things. The curator was not alone. Whatever killed him, killed another two men at the same time.” He felt concerned when she went a little paler and swallowed hard. “The question I would like answered is who sent the werewolves and how did they know we were going to see that man.”
    “You think they know we’re here?” She looked around them at the empty square.
    “They know, or at least someone does, and that someone did not want us discovering the location of the scroll. It is safe to say that somebody knows what we are up to and they are willing to go to any length to stop us.”
    “But who?” she said. His brows met briefly in a frown. She seemed to see straight through his eyes and into his thoughts. “Arkalus wouldn’t. At least I don’t think he would.”
    “You place a lot of faith in someone who has combined forces with my lord to hunt you down and kill you,” he said, walking away without bothering to check if she was following.
    He hated the way he felt whenever she mentioned her family’s Chosen Son. It gave him an overwhelming desire to hit something, or someone, possibly Arkalus himself.
    “We need to contact Mathias. Surely he’ll know of another source of information about the second half of the scroll?” she said, catching up with him as he headed towards the bridge over the canal.
    “We need to get back to the hotel in one piece first.” He caught hold of her arm when she slowed down and frowned at him.
    He scanned their surroundings for potential trouble and was only mildly reassured when he couldn’t detect anything.
    Their contact was dead but the werewolves that had disembowelled and played with the three men in the apartment were very much alive. If their master was clever, they would have been ordered not to stray far from the bodies so they could catch Prophecy and himself when they arrived.
    Leaving the square in the opposite direction to which they’d entered it, he led Prophecy into the maze of narrow alleys at the heart of Venice.
    They needed some answers and he knew where he might be able to get them. He glanced at Prophecy. She was walking beside him, her eyes darting down each alley they passed. He’d have to tell her his plan, but he was going to have to find the right way to break it to her.
    She wasn’t going to like it one bit.

Chapter 18
    They wove through the streets of Venice, trying to leave a trail that would be hard to follow as they made their way back to the hotel. Prophecy could feel Valentine looking at her as she walked next to him with her hand still pressed against her stomach. She felt better, but the images of what she’d seen were haunting her still.
    She slowed as they walked over a large bridge that crossed one of the canals. The bridge was old and packed with tourists. In the centre of it were little stores selling souvenirs and she looked at them, taking her mind off the dead curator. She came to a halt when she saw the Grand Canal stretched out in front of her. The lights of the buildings along its length were reflected in the water and made it sparkle as the surface rippled in the wake of the boats.
    It was breathtaking.
    Narrow boats passed by below her, the tourists onboard them waving up at the people on the bridge. She looked at them. Everything here seemed so peaceful and relaxing.
    “Prophecy?”
    She turned her head and found Valentine watching her with concern visible in his clear green eyes.
    She hesitated for a moment, struggling with the words she wanted to say and then finding the strength when he took a step towards her.
    “Can we stay out a while? Just, I don’t think I can go back yet... I