“Herald of what? I don’t understand any of this. Who was my father?” Running her hands through her damp hair she leaps up from the bed to pace in frustration.
“I know I am botching this, but you must understand that your mother said to protect you and hide the book. That is precisely what I have done. When she fell in love with your father it was forbidden for two immortals of different races to reproduce. A child of an Angel and a Vampire… who knows what kind of powers or abilities she would have. A contract was placed on both of them, the angel and the vampire.”
“Okay, who is he, and who are the Hunters?”
“We are members of the Hunter’s Guild, also called the Dalkhu Sharur. We track and destroy immortals who prey on humans. Your father’s name was Sebastian Fourie. He was a natural born vampire of ancient lineage.”
“What do you mean, we, Da?” Anya freezes and stares at him in surprise.
“When the order came through with a bounty on his head, we were all surprised. Not all vampires are evil, and the Fourie family are the Ancients in charge of the archives. They track and record all vampire history. To kill Sebastian would mean war.”
“You were a hunter?” She whispers to him. Keane nods his head.
“I was a demon hunter, and no, I didn’t kill them. Let me finish. It was my job to hunt down and eliminate the threat to humanity, but your mother was no threat. When she found out that she was pregnant, she left a note with Sebastian, breaking up with him, but she didn’t tell him about you. She hoped that by leaving, the order to kill Sebastian would be cancelled and she was right. But the angels were not so forgiving. After I brought you home, I kept tabs on Sebastian, but Anya he doesn’t know about you. Your mother made me promise to keep you from him.”
“Why? If he isn’t evil, as you say, then why did you keep me a secret?”
“Because of the Twelve. Anya your Mother was hunted and slaughtered by the Guardians of the Gates. Twelve archangels placed or stationed on earth to protect the portals.” Keane takes a drink of water and continues.
“There are four such gates. Some lead to heaven and others through dimensions and time. Your mother was a traveler. An angel, gifted by heaven, to travel amongst these dimensions to fulfill her purpose.” He leans forward and stares at her. “You were her purpose.”
“This is crazy! You expect me to believe that an Angel and a Vampire fell in love and were condemned for it? It’s a beautiful, tragic story, but why kill her? How would a child be a threat?” Flashes of her visit to the club blaze through her mind. Her unnatural strength, speed, sight, and of course her new found taste for blood. Immortal blood. Anya’s eyes widen with shock.
Keane waits, allowing some of the information to sink in. “Anya, the book will explain more. I want you to take it and go to Sebastian. He doesn’t know about you, but I believe he will be the only one who can protect you.”
“Protect me, from what?”
“Not what, Anya, who. The Twelve will come for you, and I have grown too old and weak to protect you,” he drops his head in shame.
“No, Da.” She walks over to her father and grips his hand. “I am not the one who should be afraid. I will not be so easily destroyed. In the club today, I… I attacked them. One vampire, he turned human, while another turned to dust beneath my bite. If I am a vampire, why would that happen?” She wonders.
“I knew I was right!” He swings his legs over the side of the bed being careful of his cast. “Anya the book speaks about a Herald who will return balance to the world. Your gifts must first be unlocked. When the vampire bit you, he released that side. Now, we need your other gifts to be unbound.”
“What the hell does that mean? I have to find an Angel and get him to bite me?” A semi hysterical laugh breaks out and her father laughs with her.
“I doubt that daughter, but whatever it takes. Now go help Christian.”
“I’m off.” Anya walks towards the door and turns back, “I love you, Da.”
Keane’s eyes fill with unshed tears. “I love you too, be careful.”
Chapter 8
Christian pushes his way through the lawn equipment inside Katie’s shed, looking for a shovel. “Angels, demons, and fairies. What the hell have I gotten myself into?” He grumbles. Katie’s shed is a mess of soil, pots, and tools. Hanging on the wall behind the lawn mower is a shovel. “Finally,” he lifts it from the wall and walks towards the door. A noise outside stops him in his tracks.
Drawing his service revolver, he quietly leans the shovel against the wall and peeks out of the gap in the doorway. All the color drains from Christian’s face as he watches a large angel land in the garden. The wind from his granite colored wings batters the flowers, flattening them, but it is what he holds in his arms that horrify him.
“Katie?” He whispers. She is screaming and fighting him with all of her strength.
“Release me, you monster! You killed him, oh God… you killed him,” she sobs and struggles.
“Cease that incessant wailing, woman. Morgan is immortal!” He tosses Katie to the hard earth and growls as he leans close revealing vampire teeth. Katie managed to shake off his spell and woke up furious and slightly hysterical. His angelic eyes are now solid black and his silver wings once magnificent are burnt
