Druids are masters of nature. Once they had the power to execute judgment on the immortals who broke the rules. They disbanded years ago, and that power fell to the angels.
“My name is Keane.” He unstraps the boot from his foot and bends it. “Aye, that’s better now. Thank you for your help.” With a sigh, he turns to look at the man he has been dreading meeting. “I was on my way to meet you tonight, Sebastian Fourie.”
If Sebastian is shocked by this news, he does not show it. “I need you to hear me out. At one time, I was a member of the Hunter’s Guild. While on the trail of what I thought was a demon, in the Cliffs of Moher, I came across a creature I had only heard of in stories. Heavy with babe and in the throes of her labor. I made a choice, and I betrayed everything I’d been taught and trained for. When I held the newborn baby girl in my hands and watched her take her first breath, I knew that it was the right choice.”
“This child you speak of, is she The Herald?” Vorn demands.
“Aye, but she is more than that.” Keane’s eyes look into Sebastian’s and he can see the resemblance in his height and bone structure, even in the eye shape. “Her mother made me promise to hide the babe until the time was right. To protect her from those that hunted her and keep her safe.”
Sebastian stares into the blue eyes of the human in front of him and his still heart feels as if it wants to jump from his chest. “Did she give you her name?” His voice is barely a whisper.
“Aye, she did. Lailah…” in a flash the bloodlust takes Sebastian and he seizes Keane by his throat, lifting him from the floor. Before Vorn can piece together what is happening, Sebastian sinks his razor-sharp fangs into his throat and takes from his essence, every image, every memory and every thought Keane has ever had.
Blood red tears streak down Sebastian’s cheek as he sees Lailah begging for Keane’s help. He watches his daughter fight her way into this world, and his beloved nurse their child for the first time. In the back of his mind, he knows he is taking too much blood, but his rage has taken hold of his mind. The fury at losing her and now this?
Keane does not fight back, instead, he opens his mind and floods Sebastian with the images, giving him what he needs to understand. He watches Anya grow from infant to woman and cherishes every second. Vorn is watching and beating on Sebastian, trying to pull him from the old man’s throat. His skin is turning gray from the blood loss, he won’t last much longer.
A whispered spell and Vorn steps back, holding a sword with the tip of the blade dipped in sunlight. He swings slicing the top of Sebastian’s shoulder. A scream of pain explodes from Sebastian and he releases Keane’s throat and turns to greet his enemy. Red eyes in the midst of a feeding frenzy, meet the green eyes of the Drow.
“You’re killing him, Sebastian. Don’t force me to hurt you.”
Sebastian’s shoulder is already healing, “The blood of a Druid is strong and powerful. I bet the blood of a Drow is much the same. Shall I find out?” He taunts, dropping Keane to the floor.
“No…” Keane whispers, “Lailah…”
Just the sound of her name on his lips has Sebastian turning back around to finish what he started. “Don’t speak her name. You let her die!” Vorn moves fast, placing himself and his sword in front of Keane’s weak body.
“Lailah gave me no choice. The Twelve were hunting her. Her only thought was to protect your child,” Keane gasps out. Vorn stares at Sebastian and begins to put things together.
“Your child?” He asks in shock. “The Herald is your daughter?”
“You took them both from me,” rage fades replaced by sorrow. “All I had left was a letter, she never mentioned a baby.” A baby, he moves to the fireplace mantle and takes a picture of her as a little girl. Her dark hair blows around beautiful eyes. He can see the resemblance in his daughter, and it brings him a sense of peace.
Sensing the danger is passed for the moment, Vorn drops to help Keane. He lifts him and carries him to the couch. His heart is stuttering from blood loss, but when he goes to heal him Keane uses his magic to block him. “Damn it, let me help you.” Vorn snarls.
“No, he must know all the truth,” Keane pleads for understanding.
Vorn turns to Sebastian. “We need him alive,” he barks. “How will it look to your daughter if you kill him?”
“Aye, she’ll kick your ass first, and then ask questions. Anya is a wee bit of a tornado, like her mother.” Keane laughs and starts to cough.
“Let him heal you,” Sebastian hisses.
Too weak to fight back, Keane releases his magic and waits for his body to strengthen. Vorn heals him and whispers, “You need to drink.” He retrieves a glass of juice and forces him to drink it.
“He’s lost too much blood. Sebastian, he needs blood.” Vorn glares at him and shakes his head in disgust.
“Shall I cut you then, and let him taste the blood of a dark elf?” Sebastian wonders as he stares at the images of his child. He sifts through the memories and slows it freezing on the image of Lailah holding his daughter.
“She was magnificent, Sebastian. The Twelve judged her and found her guilty and their sentence was death. To both the mother and the child. Lailah did not think I could fight back against
