Deep in the dark dungeons of Castle Zlenka, someone stirred. She got up from her straw bed and walked to the barred shaft that led to the surface. It was dark up there. That meant he would probably visit again. He was her hated husband. And he had imprisoned her more than twenty-five years ago because she wouldn't sacrifice her firstborn to his mad vampire goddess. That and he feared her powers and her betrayal. Instead, he found a way to steal and drain them. She sat and felt the air blowing down to her. She missed the night air, and the spring even more since her escape attempt. She had actually made it out before her recapture. She had seen the stars again and the moon. She felt stronger now. Maybe strong enough to cast a spell that could help her out of her hell. Her name was Angela Gaelich, wife to the outcast Balthazar Gaelich and his most hated enemy. They had met long ago and fallen in love. Oh, how she had loved him at first. But his mad ambition was all he cared about, not his wife or his children could stand before that. He wanted to be king in Yadessa and to bring back the old traditions of the vampire. To make them feared again as the superior race on Keanna. As time went by, Angela saw her husband for what he was. Evil, pure and simple. All his plot to overthrow Valkar and the sacrifices. All for nothing she thought. Balthazar would make a terrible leader. He didn't care about people, just what they could do for him. He used people until they were used up. And sometimes, that meant death.The union between Balthazar and Angela was never strong. She loved him, but he always seemed to be watching her. Probing her powers. He asked her many times about her parents when she couldn't answer, he always got upset. What was it that he wanted to know? Who were her parents? She needed no answer for these questions and the more he asked, he more distant they became. Then she began to become afraid of him when he took a great interest in her pregnancy. Angela thought it was because he wanted the child, or that he was proud to become a parent. But she later found out that wasn't why.
Many years ago while sleeping, she had learned how to astral project. She couldn't do it for long, but as time went by, she got better at it. At first, she couldn't go far from her body, but as she progressed, she learned to connect to those close to her. While pregnant, she began to follow Balthazar when she could, and that was the beginning of the hate for her husband. One night when she was in her eighth month, her curiosity got the better of her. Balthazar had spent the day away. He wouldn't tell her where he had been and he was getting angrier every time she asked. This had been going on all during her pregnancy. She was worried that his absence had something to do with the baby, so she went to sleep and sent her astral self after him. In a deserted village, there was a forgotten temple. The temple was dedicated to the death goddess Balthazar worshipped. He never told her its name, but she knew he was devoted to this goddess. She followed him down into the depths of the temple to the altar room. There she found him with the rest his cult of bloodsuckers. As she came closer to the altar, she saw three young children chained down. They were screaming for there lives. All around them, the cult chanted. Above the altar, she could see a glow. It was the presence of the goddess. From behind the altar dressed in black robes, Balthazar came out holding a long iron athame. As he approached the chanting became louder. Once at the altar, Balthazar began his ritual. He called out to his goddess to accept the gift he was about to bestow on it. Just before he slit the throats and beheaded the children he mentioned his promise to give the goddess his firstborn. Angela recoiled at that and fled back to her body. Now she knew why he was so interested in the baby. Now she knew what she had to do. She had to get away from him before she gave birth. There was no way she would let touch her child, ever.
From that day on, Angela didn't want her husband anywhere near her or her baby. And since Yadessa was a male-dominated society, she had to find a way to get away or get rid of him. This meant to intrigue. There weren't many people in their household she could trust. That meant, she had to do it herself, and she would have to be careful. She knew what Balthazar would do if he caught her. There was only one thing she knew that would condemn her husband.
For years children and adults had been disappearing from Yadessa. No one knew where they were going. But Angela did. They were going into the temple and never coming out. She had to connect him to that temple and all the bloody things that happened there.
One night as the baby's birth date came closer, she had an idea. Late one night, King Valkar sat in his study going over an agreement he had made with a coven of white witches. He had appointed them lands where they could safely live, he heard his name being called out.
[ VALKAR.]
He stopped and looked around, there was no one there. He bent back to his business and he heard it again.
[KING VALKAR!]
" Who calls?" He asked standing up and pushing back his chair. In front of him, the air began to shimmer. A form started to become clearer. It was a beautiful woman standing before him. But not really there, she was transparent.
" What magic is this?" He asked.
[Sire, I don't have much time.] She said. [ You are my only hope to save myself and my baby. Please you must listen.]
" Then just come to me." He said. " I'll listen."
[ I cant. I'm trapped here in bed. My baby is due anytime now and her father will kill her when she is born.]
" Where are you." He said. " I will come now. I promise you protection here in the castle."
[ Thank you, your highness. But there is much more you should know. I am the Lady Angela Gaelich, married to Balthazar Gaelich.]
" I know him." King Valkar sat back down. " He's one of the council members. He opposes me very harshly."
[ Sire, he is a nightmare in our midst.] She told him. [ He's the reason for all the disappearances for all these years. He has been sacrificing them to his goddess. Men, women, and children. He plans to sacrifice our own child.]
In shock, Valkar jumped back to his feet. He couldn't believe this. Balthazar was a harsh man. But he never seemed evil at all. Valkar knew many were missing, at last count, there were over a hundred missing. If this was true, he needed proof.
" Can you prove any of this?"
[ I can show you what I've seen.] She said. [ Will that be enough?]
" Show me," Valkar told her. In his mind, she projected a picture of the temple they were using. Then she showed him the scene with the three children. In shock, he watched as Balthazar behead the children. Valkar's anger was such that if Balthazar stood before him, he would have ripped him apart.
" GUARDS!!" he yelled.
He strode over to the bell he used to call for assistance and pulled it again and again and again.
" Lady Angela, I'm coming for you now." He said. " We will take to the winds in minutes. Just hold on."
[ Hurry Majesty.] She told him as she faded away. [ He is here and I will give birth tonight.]
Into his study ran the captain of the palace guards with his sword ready. He had never heard his king ring an alarm. He thought maybe he was in danger.
" How can I help you, sire?"
" I want the troops ready to fly in two minutes, we have work to do now."
As Angela lay in her bed with the contractions coming faster and faster. She knew Valkar wouldn't be there in time. Not before the baby was born. There was no way she could run and the midwife Balthazar had left with her would take the baby the instant it was born. She knew her magic was the only thing left to her. The midwife opened the drapes and let the room be bathed in moonlight. The second it hit her she felt its strength. She knew she had time for one spell. But what could she do? Who could she trust? There was only one other that was kind to her. One other that cared enough to help her. Arcturus, Balthazar's brother. She knew Balthazar hated him and Arcturus would never help him. They despised each other.
[Arturus, I need your help.] She sent.
[ Angela? What's wrong?] He answered.
[ I don't have time to tell you everything. I'm sending you the baby. Hide her from her father. He plans to sacrifice her. Will you help me save my baby?]
[ Of course, I'll protect her with my life. I promise you that.] He swore.
[ That is my blood oath.]
[ Be ready, she will be here soon.]
[ I'll be waiting, always.]
As she lay there, sweat running down her face. The pain was almost unbearable. She gathered her power and spoke her incantation.
BY THE LIGHT OF THE MOON AND THE FIRST BREATHES OF MY CHILD.
I CALL UPON THE POWERS AT MY CONTROL TO PROTECT MY CHILD.
TAKE HER TO THE ONE THAT SWORE TO AID TO KEEP IT SAFE AND PROTECT IT.
ONE DAY WE WILL BE TOGETHER THAT I PROMISE.
GO MY CHILD AND BE SAFE. I LOVE YOU.
With her eyes wide opened in shock, the midwife watched as Angela's belly began to glow brighter and brighter. Then there was a flash and Angela fell back to relax in the bed with a smile. The midwife ran from the room to inform her master of what had happened, she knew he would be angry. Angela hadn't even had the chance to see the baby. But she didn't care, she knew it would be safe. Balthazar could do with her what he wanted, but he wouldn't hurt her baby.
Arcturus sat in his study dressed to travel. He knew Balthazar would come here looking for the baby so he was ready to go. Sitting in his most comfortable chair he waited. Then there was a flash of light and a beautiful baby girl was in his lap. He smiled it her as she slept.
[ Angel, She's so beautiful.] Arcturus sent feeling love for his new niece. [ She looks like you. I will keep her safe. Farewell, If the gods wish, we will meet again.]
[ Thank you.] She sent back. [ Now you must go, Goodbye Arcturus. Be safe, both of you.]
Arcturus got up and found a blanket to wrap her. It was cold out, so he enchanted the blanket to keep her warm. Then he left his house on his journey to get her somewhere safe. As he rode the moon shined a path for him. He didn't know it, but nothing could hurt this baby in the moonlight. The night would always keep her safe.
Weak as she was, Angela tried to get to her feet. She took a few steps towards the door and collapsed on the floor. She couldn't make it. Her only hope was Valkar arriving before Balthazar could kill her. She tried to go over all the protection spells she could think of. If she could hold him there, maybe there was still a chance to live. From below, she heard a shriek. That had to be Balthazar, the midwife had found him. She could hear him climbing the stairs to her. Angela began to laugh, it didn't matter. She had won. Peace began to come over her as he came through the door.
"What have you done?" He screamed at her, his eyes bulging with anger. She smiled back at him and gave him a confused look.
" What do you mean?" She said. " I fell out of bed."
"WHERE IS THE BABY?" He reached down and grabbed her. He pulled her to face him.
" She's gone." She told him. " Far away where you can never find."
" WHERE?" He shook her.
" I don't know." She said. " I don't care. Wherever it is, it's safe. That's all I need to know."
" You'll pay for this!!" He said as he released her and she fell to the floor. He raised his hand to hit her.
[ Balthazar!!] He heard. [ Valkar comes with an army. We must flee!]
He looked down on her with such hate. He knew she had done this. He called out to men waiting downstairs. They came running.
" The baby's safe from me." He said. "But you aren't. Take her, we go!"
Angela laughed in triumph as they carried her away into the night.
King Valkar didn't make it in time to save her. But he did find the temple and evidence that everything she told him was true. They caught many members of Balthazar's cult and saw the proof of his evil deeds. A room is full of the skeletal bodies of there victims. Valkar had the temple burned to the ground. Then and there he swore to search for Angela and the baby until he found them.
[ Don't worry about us.] He heard. [ My baby is safe and I don't matter. Reign well Valkar.]
[ But you do matter.] He told her. [Stay alive Lady Angela, I will find you someday.]
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