Page 2 of Vampire's Promise
“They are beneath you, Kian. You should put your mind to more useful things.” She patted his chest, flashing deep blue eyes at him.
“And what do you think is more useful?”
“You need to act like the king you will one day be.”
“Don’t you think that learning more about what lies out there is what a smart king would do?”
“I suppose you are right, but other immortals can’t be of concern to us. We are gods, therefore more powerful than them.”
He shook his head. “You are not thinking. Who do you think rules them if not other gods or goddesses?”
A frown came over her pretty face. “You think the stories are true, then?”
He thought they deserved an investigation. Ever since he was a small boy, there had been whispers of the sleeping goddess. She was so ancient that no one even knew her true age. It was said her husband had gone mad, and she had been forced to kill him. The pain of it sent her into an eternal slumber. It was also said she had four sons, and they had been involved in a war that had torn their universe apart. Some thought the gods had perished, while others speculated they had started over in another world. Was this mortal realm their doing? If that were true, then did that mean he was a descendant of the sleeping goddess? Everything inside him said the answers he needed would be found by going on this quest.
“I think the stories have merit. Don’t you?”
“I’ve never given it much thought, but I understand your concern. If there are other gods out there, then you certainly should make them bend their knee to you as their king.”
Diara was clueless. He was no king if his true mother was mortal. Sure, Netasis claimed herself to be the queen over all in their world, but she was not his birth mother and even if she were, if the stories about an ancient sleeping goddess were true, it stood to reasonthatgoddess might be their true queen. Something in his gut told him there was so much he didn’t know and a lot here the gods refused to speak of. If the story of his parents were correct, was the goddess of destruction the one who killed his real mother then tore him from her womb? To what end? He had to have answers.
“Does your mother know of this plan?”
Figures she would ask that question. He’d known Diara since they were children and she was forever getting him into trouble. Time to pull his so-called rank on her. “No, and I forbid you to speak of this to anyone, including her.”
Her eyes flashed from blue to near black so quickly anyone other than a god wouldn’t notice. Diara didn’t like being told what to do. “You forbid me?” The air thickened with power around her.
If she wanted to press this matter, then he was going to use everything at his disposal. “As your prince, I forbid you.”
She shoved her hands on her curvy hips “Your mother is queen and her word law, not yours.”
Of course, she would use that card. In an effort to squash this rebellion right now, he pulled out his big guns. “You would disobey me and yet still expect me to marry you?”
She gasped. “Do you mean to marry me? You have been so hesitant on the matter.”
“I promise nothing right now but thwarting my authority will not endear you to me. Consider this a chance to prove yourworth.” He disliked sounding harsh, but that was the one thing the gods and goddesses understood. He decided while he was pushing her, he might as well go all the way. “And you will stay here. At least until I know this realm is safe for you.” His last words seemed to appease her.
“It pleases me you think of my safety. Very well, I will obey, Prince Kian.” She smiled, then kissed him on the cheek. “But you must promise to tell me everything upon your return.”
“I promise.” She might not like what he had to say once he came back. If he ever came back. If the story held any truth and he was simply a demigod, Diara, as well as the other gods and goddesses, would look down their noses at him. Oh sure, there were other demigods here, but their mother or father were also immortal. To be half mortal would place him in grave danger as well as remove him from the throne his mother hoped he would one day sit upon. Then there was this sense of something he longed for… Someone other than his father was in this other world and everything in him needed to find this soul.
CHAPTER TWO
Kian walked the empty temple;the only sound was his own bare feet slapping the marble floor. When he entered the large room of worship, he stood inside the doorway and took a breath. The room was a spectacular sight, no matter how many times he entered it. He scanned the carvings adorning the thick stone walls and when his gaze landed on Ra, he swallowed his unease. The walls told a story that was beyond ancient. Ra was their true king. The supreme lord of all living and dead and even though it was thought he had transcended into another spiritual realm, he was still the god of gods and Kian had never entered this temple for anything more than to honor his king. Today… Today he sought something much, much more.
Quietly he made his way farther into the coolness of the room, the doors closed behind him with a hushed snap, and the air inside lightened. It was as if the temple knew his true intent and waited with bated breath to see if Kian would bring down the god’s ire or have his request granted. He approached the altar and knelt on the cool marble. Tilting his head back, he stared up and faced the large black and gold statue of Ra. At the god’s feet was a bowl made of gold which was meant to hold offerings. Normally, he would leave flowers, herbs and fruit as agift to the god while he prayed, but not today. Taking in a sharp breath, he allowed his fangs to drop. Biting his wrist, he held it over the bowl and watched the blood drip at a fast pace until his wound healed. Hoping it was enough, he placed his hands in his lap and opened his mind.
“I seek guidance,” he spoke softly, as there was no reason to yell.
The room was so quiet his ears ached. Would he be honored with a response? So far, he was met with nothing more than dead air. Had he offered enough? Was he even worthy of the presence of such a supreme being? He had a vision only the night before that showed him in this exact position and had thought it meant he was to come here. Maybe he had been mistaken. He was about to get up and leave when a breeze blew across his skin. The room was without windows and built of thick stone, so there was no way any wind could enter. He continued to stare at the statue.
“My lord?” Then something happened that nearly made his heart stop. The statue morphed. Grew into a life of its own and the massive falcon's head bent and stared at him through golden eyes. The beak opened and the god before him spoke.
“Child. What do you seek from me?”
“I seek knowledge of who I am.”
This time, the god bent further and studied him. “You will not find such knowledge here, son of mortals.”
