Chapter 9 ∣  Dark Magic

-Maverick

"Orion!" The scream almost catching in my throat when I see one of the very few people that care about me, fall to his knees. When the blood spear pierces through his stomach, I lose control, not able to hold onto this ability for more than a few seconds. The blood liquidizes, dripping to the floor along with the few droplets from Orion's lips, trickling down and off his chin, spattering the floor.

My eyes search him, his body hunched over while he holds his balance on one knee, slowly lifting the other up.

"Orion!" I cry again, "Orion?" I ask this time, the hunter-vampire rising to his feet, his blood red eyes somewhat glassy. In front of his chest, his hands manipulate the blood, gasping when I notice the wound is slowly sealing itself off.

Standing quietly and looking in awe at what he is doing, I didn't notice Cristela standing at the entrance to the room, her arms crossed in front of her. My eyes lift away from Orion, staring at Cristela who appears to not be angry whatsoever, instead, she sighs heavily. She is disappointed, but then again, that is all I ever do...

...I let people down.

It makes Orion chuckle, watching the fear on my face for his life. I glance away from Cristela and gaze up at him. His wound had healed completely shut, no mark is left behind. The blood staining his clothes, but the red glow from his eyes dissipates, leaving behind the luminescent white irises.

"Y-You-" I stammer.

"Blood magic," Orion states, Cristela walking slowly toward where the two of us stand, "isn't just used as a lethal weapon. As your mother so kindly taught me by saving my life, it also has the power to repair serious wounds," Orion pauses, seeing the intrigue in my eyes, "but, remember this very carefully Maverick. It can only heal those who are still alive. Unfortunately, unless the person is a compatible hunter or mortal, turning them will not save them. There is only so much a pureblood vampire can do...when they want to save a life," he eyes Cristela with his last statement.

I nod, absorbing the knowledge he has to offer. Hopefully, I remember everything he is teaching me. Hopefully, it will help save the lives of those closest to me...I don't want those I love being hurt.

"Orion," Cristela's voice finally fills the air, letting the tension die away, "Erebus and Isabella are here. They had something to speak to you about."

I gasp, my eyes brightening when I ask, "Is-"

She cuts me off, smiling at me and saying, "Yes, Rook is here as well. Go see your friend!"

Cristela doesn't need to tell me twice, running to the entrance when I stop suddenly. Turning around, I look at Orion with his permission, as I don't want to be rude with his training.

Orion nods and says, "Go on. Have some fun, just keep out of the deeper parts of the forest."

Grinning, I nod and turn back around, flying out the doors and up to the main level of the house, running out the front doors. There, standing near one of the trees, the white-haired, citrine amber-eyed friend of mine returns my grin, watching as I don't stop until I'm right in front of him.

"Hey!" I exclaim, and he smirks at me.

"So, my father was right, you were sent away," Rook kicks at the ground with his shoe, his hands in his pockets.

I sigh, so, the news really does travel that fast. I wonder how many other covens know how much of a disappointment I am?

"Yea..."

"Is it because of what happened with that rogue vampire?" Rook arches a brow, his voice growing quiet when his eyes gaze off behind me. I turn my body sideways, noticing what he does, Orion and Cristela having passed down the driveway, entering their home where I am sure Erebus and Isabella are waiting for him.

I'm silent, waiting for the adults to be fully out of earshot, the door to the house closing behind them.

"Well?" Rook prods.

Sighing, I say, "Yea...it's all Lucette's fault. It always is."

"Well, it wasn't really all her fault," Rook is defending her. Standing beneath the tree, Rook nods to the very large one at the edge of the forest. Catching on, I follow him, getting out of earshot and eyesight of the hunters is going to be a blessing. They are always watching me, waiting for me to mess up.

At least they haven't seen what I had done to Orion. I'm sure they wouldn't have hesitated to attack me, more than likely aiming to end my life.

Once we reach the base of the tree trunk, Rook crouches and then shoots up into the air, grabbing one of the many branches. While he hoists himself up into the tree, I mimic him, leaving the snowy grass behind, climbing up higher and higher into the tree.

It isn't long before we are straddling one of the top branches, staring at each other, sitting at least thirty feet off the ground.

"Why does your father hate you so much?" Rook asks, picking at the bark on the branch, his eyes avoiding mine.

"Apparently," I've grown tired of being told this story, now I'm telling someone else, "I almost killed my mother and if she hadn't given me her blood magic, I would have."

"You weren't even born yet..." Rook's voice is unsure, "...how can he hold a grudge, let alone, you accountable? It's not like you knew what you were doing," he pauses for a moment, "did you?"

I growl angrily, "Of course not! Now how about my question."

Rook looks surprised and asks, "What? I'm not hiding anything."

"Sure," I roll my eyes, "then I guess my eyes were seeing something then? What was that...that brief...well...I don't know...shimmer?"

"Shimmer?" Rook appears to be confused, "What are you talking about?"

I narrow my eyes, "I don't know what you did...but I saw some type of shimmer for a split second around you and Lucette on Halloween night. When she was attacked and Arlynn told you to protect her. You were murmuring something..."

"I have no idea what you are talking about," Rook glances away, but I see it.

"Rook!" I glower at him, hitting his shoulder and making him look back at me. He isn't angry, just caught off guard by my question. I don't think he expected anyone to see what he had done...but I'm sure Lucette would have seen something as well.

Is she hiding his secret?

"Fine!" Rook throws his hands in the air. "But you have to promise. Promise you won't say anything to anyone...only my parents know about this."

"Know about what, exactly?" Curiosity threads my voice, but I see the spark in his eyes. He wants to tell someone but isn't allowed. I'm giving him the opportunity and it looks like he greatly appreciates it.

Rook breathes in deeply, making sure we are out of eyesight, the canopy of the tree hides us well, but he can't be too careful.

"I-I," Rook can't form the words, looking down at his hands.

"What is it?" I poke him, but he brushes me off, his eyes holding a hint of sorrow.

Rook states, "I have dark magic."

"Dark magic?" That's a first, I'd only ever heard of blood magic, but that is normally reserved as a trait inherited by certain hunters. The only reason I have it is thanks to my grandmother who muddled the blood lines between hunters and vampires.

"Well, that's really only part of it..." Rook's voice trails off, the leaves rustling and in the next moment, the air shifts behind him.

"Rook, what are you doing?" It's Erebus, standing on the tree limb. Rook gulps, his eyes locking onto mine and I see the fear of being caught lingering deep within them, his father looming right behind him.

His heart is beating fast and it reminds me of when my father gets angry with me. Though, what follows is much different. Rook turns on the branch, looking up into his father's eyes.

Erebus is one of the very first vampires...and his power is intense. It was through Erebus and his human slave, Saphira, that they created the first crossbreed between a pureblood vampire and a human, resulting in Gage, the very first hunter. Well, that's what the vampires ended up referring to them as since they have vampiric blood, but their humanity is well preserved and cared deeply for the rest of humanity.

It doesn't surprise me, that something else was passed down through Erebus to Rook. As Gage wasn't a pureblood, Rook is and apparently, he inherited a different trait, unlike the blood magic passed down through select hunters.

"I was going to tell Maverick..." Rook's voice is quiet.

"You already told him enough. What would other vampires think, knowing you are different from them and not in the way they are used to with hunters?" Erebus is kind as he speaks with Rook, in a way a father should.

Rook says, "He understands what it's like to be different."

"You are the only one like yourself," Erebus states, "but yes, that is very true." He sighs, looking from his son and then staring at me, "we should go inside."

"Can I-" Rook is cut off.

Erebus replies, "Yes, but inside. We have other things to discuss," he looks to me and sighs, "matters that concern yourself, Maverick."

What did I do now?!?!

Published on Amazon as an ebook and paperback.

The Rogue Pureblood Vampire by K. A. Young.

If you don't have a Kindle and can't purchase the book off Amazon, you are more than welcome to join my Patreon page and receive downloadable PDFs under the Pack Tracker Tier.

Please click on the link on my bio.

https://www.patreon.com/SerenityR0se