Sins Among Royals

Noah took the book from his father and headed towards.the cells beneath the castle. Taking the scenic route he walked along the same corridor Indie and Amber had just hours before.

A gentle smile crossed his lips as he picked up the faint scent of his mate. She’d walked the route he had? He couldn’t help but smile at the thought. He was happy knowing that she hadn’t been too shy in at least showing herself around a small part of the castle.

Stepping out into the open grassy area outside he soon lost her scent as he looked down at the large, thick leather diary cradled beneath his arm.

He frowned.

What in the hell was Ebony up to? Pressing forward he arrived at the little guard booth and noticed the two men straighten immediately at the sight of him.

Noah noticed that as he passed neither of them dared glance in his direction. They were trained to man the booth and help if anyone tried escaping from the cells. Walking towards the stairs he noted that the man at the bottom straightened at his presence too. Usually the guards weren’t so obvious, usually they were a little more lax. He couldn’t help but wonder if something serious had taken place.

Pausing for a moment he looked out towards the river at the bottom of the hill. A frown furrowed his brow quickly, “there is nowhere to walk along the river,” he thought back to what Amber had told him. The closest place to run along the river was on the far side of town.

Shaking his head and shrugging his shoulders Noah pushed the thought from his mind. Maybe he just misheard or misunderstood what they meant. He had been in a hurry after all.

By the time he reached the bottom of the stairs the burly guard had the door held open and waiting. Noah nodded his head slightly at both as he headed towards the silver door at the vampire beyond.

“Master Noah!” Andrew greeted him excitedly as he wiped his mouth and placed the pouch of blood he had been sipping, down on the counter. “What pleasant surprise!” Andrew had never made it a secret that he was attracted to Noah and had made it clear in the past that if Noah was human then Andrew would have claimed him for himself many years ago.

Standing from his seat Andrew leaned against his desk in a seductive manner. Having seen Indie just hours before Andrew had a thought set in his mind that he still had a chance at wooing his protector.

Noah couldn’t help but grin. The attention was flattering and even though he’d informed Andrew many times before that he rather enjoyed females Andrew seemed certain that one day Noah would be his. In an entirely playful manner. “How may I be of assistance today Master?” Andrew grinned as Noah placed the diary on his desk.

“I need to know if you can read what’s inside,” Noah became a little more serious. If Andrew couldn’t read it then they would never find out what Ebony and Raif were doing and why Rogan had been locked in the basement.

“Of course Master!” Andrew reached out for the book but recoiled instantly as his skin touched the leather cover. Pulling his hand up to his chest he hissed and glared at Noah, “what is this!” Never before had Andrew felt such pain. “I haven’t felt this kind of pain since I died!” He cried out as he tentatively reached for the book again. Andrew let his hand hover over the cover carefully. He didn’t know why his skin burned whole touching it.

“It’s Ebony’s diary. It was found in the basement of her home.” Noah stepped towards it as Andrew pulled his hand away. Opening the leather cover Noah revealed the writing that had stumped both him and his father.

“Where did you get this?” Andrew gasped as his eyes fell upon the ancient language. “I have not seen this kind of writing in centuries.” shoving Noah to the side gently Andrew held his hand above the page and followed the words with his suspicious gaze. “Where did you get this!” He asked firmly.

“What does it say?” Noah asked gently as he saw the concern in Andrew’s eyes. For a vampire he was a gentle soul but Noah knew the man had a long, dark past.

“Master Noah,” Andrew began as he looked up the man that had given him everything in a time of need. “This is a resurrection spell.....whoever wrote this plans to resurrect a great and powerful evil.” Andrew frowned as he read on, “flip the page,” he demanded as Noah complied.

All was silent between them as Noah flicked through the entire diary. Andrew read word for word and did not like what he saw.

“It is a sinister plan.” He concluded as Noah closed the cover quickly. “Come the next full moon the person that wrote this book intends to destroy everything you and your family hold dear.”

“What!” Noah gasped as his head spun. “What does it say?” He pressed the old vampire for answers.

“Well now just let me think,” he responded quickly, “it doesn’t exactly translate to English easily.” It had also been many hundreds of years since reading the language that Andrew needed to sit and write it all down. “Just give me a couple of minutes,” while Andrew scribbled away on the paper Noah paced around the room. He was acutely aware that Medea was in the hall beyond the second silver door but he had no desire to go visiting at this time.

Becoming lost in his thoughts Noah realised just how much he had to deal with. He had to find Raif and Ebony, his mother was dying which was no doubt killing his father. Rogan had not died as Noah had been lead to believe. So much of what he thought he knew, so much of his life, he now realised, was a lie.

He now realised that there was one thing, one person in his life that was more real than the rest of his life put together.

“Master Noah?” Andrew called quickly as he stared up at the concerned on his face. What was he thinking that made him look so disheartened? “I’m done....would you like to see?”

Before Andrew had even finished his sentence Noah was standing at his side staring down at the paper intensely.

To bring an end to the oppression and serve myself things must be done to ensure my success.

Andrew worked from memory. He did not want to touch the diar again and tried desperately to think of why it would have caused him so much pain.

Noah began reading what Andrew had written out loud. It all seemed so unrealistic to him. “One,” he began slowly. “Lure Raif away from Lori and deceive her into taking Rogan as a mate. What.” Noah frowned as he read. “What does that even mean. Lori and Rogan are mates.”

He cast his glance towards Andrew who looked a little distressed. “Open the diary again,” he demanded gently and stood,staring over Noah’s shoulder as he flipped slowly through the pages. “There, that one. Stop.” He demanded again as a page filled with what looked like scribbles and lines caught his attention. One side held a page that didn’t belong. Sucking in a deep breath Andrew reached out and touched the crumpled piece of paper that had caught his attention.

It clearly didn’t belong in the book. While the other pages in the book were a very crisp white, the one that Andrew had noticed the first time was almost yellow and the writing was much different to the rest.

Noah cautioned Andrew but the vampire reached for the page anyway and when his hand came into contact with the aged bit of paper Noah was more than surprised when he didn’t recoil in pain.

Grasping the paper between his fingers Andrew’s frown deepened.

“How can you touch that without burning?” Noah questioned him quickly.

Taking the piece of paper and sitting back in his seat Andrew shook his head, “I can touch it cause I was the one that wrote it.”

Almost instantly it became too much for both men as Noah slammed the book shut in anger. “What the hell is going on! Why is my sister writing in this language that hasn’t been seen in hundreds of years and why the hell does she have a page written by you!”

Andrew sat silently for as long as he could.

“Answer me,” Noah demanded quickly. “I have given you everything you have ever desired and protected you from much more. What is going on?” He couldn’t hide his suspicion or his concern as he sat staring at the vampire who averted his gaze. “Andrew I will not repeat myself.” Noah warned quickly.

Standing from his seat Andrew paced around the room but it was not at a speed that was human or even werewolf. It was at a speed that was uniquely vampire. All Noah saw was an indistinct shadow that largely blended in with the walls of the room.

He was not intimidated by the speed at which Andrew moved but he did know htat the immortal being only moved that quickly when he was extremely nervous.

“Please don’t be mad at me Master, I did not think anything of your sisters questions.” Andrew began as he slowed to a normal pace before speeding off again. The pouch of blood disappeared from his desk and when he slowed to a normal pace again Noah noticed that he had drained it completely of its contents. “Shortly after your father named Lori his successor I received a visit from your sister. At first I thought it was strange because I was under that she disliked me,” Andrew spoke quickly as he paced about at a normal speed.

“She absolutely hated you,” Noah added as Andrew gave a bitter scoff.

“Well I know that now, if I had of known that sooner I wouldn’t have said a thing.” He responded with a hint of annoyance to the tone of his voice.

“What kind of things did she ask you?” Noah pressed him firmly again for answers.

Andrew had to think carefully about what he said. He had trouble recalling the exact day but he did remember it. “She came to me asking about my past. She wanted to know if there was anyone more powerful than me, where I came from, when I was made, who made me..” He trailed off quickly, “I didn’t think anything of it of it because they were very similar to the questions you first asked of me.” Andrew stopped in the middle of the room and held the paper up so that Noah could see, “I have no recollection of telling her about this however.”

Noah squinted hard as he tried to make out the writing on the paper, “I will need you to recall as much as you can as quickly as you can.”

“Of course Master,” Andrew bowed as he returned to his desk quickly. “Is there anything else I can help you with Master Noah?” Andrew asked very carefully.

With a sneaky smile on his lips Noah nodded, “yes actually.” He began slowly as he looked up at Andrew and frowned. “You might tell me what Indie and Amber were doing here?”

If Andrew could have grown paler he would have. “I uh well,” he tried and failed. “I wasn’t expecting them at all but they came to see Medea. I don’t know what they asked of her but they were quick.”

Much to the vampires surprise his master chuckled, “alright Andrew. Thank you for your time. Have someone deliver your notes to me as soon as it is convenient.” with a nod of his head Noah turned and left with the diary tucked back under his arm. He felt both concern and dread.

His visit with Andrew had answered some questions bit it also left him with so many more as he stepped back out to the castle grounds. With a deep and heavy sigh he shook his head feeling more than a little hopeless.