Concordia, Eleven Hundred Years AgoThaelen kept his hand on Gera’s shoulder as the weeping Beupraxia’s head was shaved. She had fought, jerking her head away several times, causing the razor to slip. The vampire removing her hair had immediately healed the wounds, but the spilled blood dyed her scalp in shades of red and white. The fight had gone from her, and she sat, her fingers stroking over the strands of her long, shorn hair that had fallen into her lap as it had been cut from her head.Without the abundance of her hair around her face, her bone structure was stark, and the healed scars on her cheeks florid. Her experiences as a captive had hollowed her cheeks and sunk her eyes. Thaelen had branded her face with the intention of stripping her beauty from her, but beauty was a fragile thing, he thought, and already that beauty had been fading under the duress of her circumstances.Isolte and Caerin stood to Thaelen’s side, and he glanced down at Isolte to see that she wept, silen

Havermouth, Three Weeks BeforeTalen woke at just past midday, his body protesting. He had long chosen to live nocturnally, and his body clock was fighting to adjust to the new sleep schedule.It had been tempting to stay with Morgana, to spend all of the day with her, however he did not want to take over her life completely. He also needed to sort out the complication of the tattoo artist and explore the possibility that Morgana was not as human as she appeared.If she were human, the more that he was with her the more likely it was that she would notice the differences between him and a human man – such as the fact that he did not eat food – and, despite his suspicion that Morgana wasn’t human, he had to proceed as if she were until he knew otherwise.If Morgana were supernatural, it would make it much easier to reveal his true nature, and the nature of their connection, however either way, he wanted to give her time and space, for her to recognize what they had between them and to

Havermouth, Three Weeks BeforeMorgana watched him over the rim of her champagne glass as he released his hair from its bun, shaking it out around his shoulders and using his fingers to settle it into place. Her eyes followed his fingers as he began to unbutton his shirt and so he took his time, easing open the center seam, enjoying her pleasure in his body, turning as he shrugged out of the shirt, tensing his back muscles to display them for her as he draped the fabric over the back of the chair.“I like this view as much as the front one,” she crooned.He toed out of his boots as he released his belt. “Hmm,” he flicked an amused look over his shoulder as his jeans sagged off his hips. He left them on, the top button undone and the fly straining to contain his erection and took a sip of champagne as he walked over to the armoire.He took a moment to admire the workmanship of the cupboard. It has been a spontaneous addition to his purchase, but he was pleased with it – it was both bea

Havermouth, Three Weeks Before“This is outrageous,” Heath snarled at the soldiers who wrestled him into the back of the 4WD. “I am the mayor!” He did not honestly expect the title to make a difference to his treatment, however the longer he upheld the role of outraged human mayor, the longer he could delay, the more chance he had at escape – and there was the chance that he could seed just enough doubt in the minds of the soldiers that they would let him go.They ignored his protestations.“Hey!” He cried out when he saw the 4WD containing Cameron turn off. “Where are you taking my friend?”“Shut the f-k up. Honestly,” the soldier in the front seat twisted in his seat. “You were always such a f-king loudmouth, Heath.”“F-king Guy,” Heath’s jaw dropped. He recognized Guy Barnham’s voice although his face was hidden behind the visor and helmet of the Van Helsing soldier. “What the f-k are you doing working for the NES?”“Drop the bullshit,” Guy sighed and turned to face the front. “Whe

Havermouth, Present Time“In our history, there is a story of great queen, Inora,” Sparrow said softly. “It is said that she was a devoted mother, above all else, and loved her son, more than life itself. Inora began life as a slave, stolen from her people before she was old enough to remember their ways. She was raised amongst her captors, and when she became a beautiful young woman, a powerful lord chose her as his second wife.“However, Inora knew that she was destined for more, her son was destined for more. When the neighboring kingdom visited with word of a new god, one who was above all others, the True God and Only God, The One God, she knew that was what she had been born for – to bring the savior, the One God to the heathens of her adopted country. And so, she rose against her barbarian husband and sister-wife and prevailed, raising her son from second son to king.“But there was another, a pretender king, unblessed by the One God, who sought to dethrone her, and he had witc