The Turning

Darkness, didn’t seem to be so dark. Leonard couldn’t recall his location, the sounds of the owl’s making their call in the night rang in his ears and the pleasant sounds of the leaves on the trees ruffling in the wind woke him from his dark slumber, opening his eyes he saw he was lying on the bed that he and Annette always shared, the surroundings the same, but the smell that lingered was that of someone’s personal blood bath. Leonard heard the ripping of flesh and a scream of pain.

The TrueBlood got to his feet rushing to the source of the sounds and unpleasant aroma, he saw none other than Mikhail of The Folterer and Annette’s cousin, feasting on the blood of the now dead victim. Leonard looked at Mikhail who threw the body of the young man to the ground, “Lord Shepherd, my cousin sent me to check on your injuries, due to the attacks of the Slayers. How are you feeling?”

Leonard looked at the younger vampire that had once followed him during his time in The Courts, now an executioner for The Folterer, Leonard stated, “I’m fine, where is Annette?”

“You don’t remember?” Mikhail looked at the Trueblood who stood looking at him, “Lord Shepherd, Annette and the rest of your family are waiting for your recovery from The Hybrid Slayer attacks, that were summoned once you and the rest entered the walls of the village, Annette is now the leader of her clan, however, there were battles Prince Gabriel was injured while in battle, but due to some Trueblood’s that were hidden Raven Blackhart and Everett Hayes unleashed some sort of monster from the ground, a beast of fire and ice, but immune to the Hybrid’s attacks,  Raven and Everett are your younger brother’s my Lord, they have agreed along with the rest of the Shepherd Clan that we throw our difference aside and unite for this task to deal with The Courts, in order to keep The Folterer from stepping in and making the decision that will probably resolve in more blood shed than we would really want to see.”

The dark haired vampire looked at the young man lying in a puddle of blood, “And this guy? Is he sent here from The Courts?”

“ Well, not really The Courts as much as the Slayers. His targets were two twins beautiful young women it would seem that Lilliana Rochelle and Juliana Michelle have come in contact with the Slayers, not the welcoming way. Their bloodlines alone would make them targets due to their heritage.” Mikhail smirked as he mentioned the twin sisters.

“Lilliana and Juliana? If the French know about this war I’m sure The Folterer are aware of the news since The Folterer and Clara were born and founded on the lands.” Leonard looked at Mikhail.

The smirk on Mikhail’s face was washed away, the looks of confusion now on his face,“The French lands? Lord Shepherd, are you not aware that Juliana and Lilliana are born from you and Annette? The child you thought you lost was not one but two beautiful girls, a rare find they are human, though born of TrueBlood and Hybrid vampire.”

Leonard looked at the ground, “That is rare, are they members of The Shepherd’s Clan or The Folterer-”

Mikhail raised his hand stopping the older man, “You can relax sir, they have been under my watch for the past eighteen years. Though, I have raised them I don’t allow them to call me father, they are aware of Annette as well as you. As for belonging to any groups, they are to my knowledge unknown to either group, The Courts are even ignorant of them being more than human.”

“I want to see my family, but, first I must speak to Clara.” Leonard stated walking passing Mikhail. The younger vampire grabbed his arm causing him to stop.

“Lord Shepherd, now is not the best time to seek Lady Salvatore, she is no longer in Italy. That is what Everett and Raven stated, she has disappeared leaving The Courts to seek another leader, no one knows where she went, I fear if she is on French Grounds then she will involve The Folterer, she is after all our leader. I’m sorry to report, but this little incident dealing with The Court’s, The Folterer are already aware of it and have been even before you were.” Mikhail looked at the ground not wanting to look Leonard in the eyes, “Lady Salvatore, has been aware of The Court’s rampage for a year. It was she that ordered myself and my partner Graceona to spy on the vampires as well as humans to make sure everything stayed hidden and that no humans were harmed.” Mikhail finally looked at the TrueBlood, “When a human is harmed that is when we were ordered to step in, so far The Courts have been the cause of three turnings and one destruction. Lady Salvatore as ordered we attack and take whatever measures we see fit, if The Courts acts continue, Lady Salvatore has ordered and written that an all out war shall break out, in Italy where she has placed the command that we burn their castles and take over the land to prevent this incident in the future.”

Leonard looked at Mikhail, “A war, what is she thinking? She would be breaking her own rules!”

“Lord Shepherd, Lady Salvatore knows what needs to be done, you know as well as she does, as much as The Courts wish for humans to think that people are missing or destroyed in horrid ways, they will start a riot, a panic. Lady Salvatore is well aware of this as well as any of her followers, this is something that can’t and will not go unpunished, I am not her personal executioner for placing my emotions before my orders, I have long lost my emotions and have embraced the monster that I have become, it was either that or go mentally insane and step in the sun three days after I was turned. Was it not you that stated years ago that, ‘To achieve power you must throw dreams away or parish in the hands of your enemy, or myself for I shall not tolerate weakness amongst my warriors, leave now because those who stay shall gain power and those who leave shall wither away as the flower would without sunlight?”

Leonard looked from Mikhail getting from the younger vampires grip, “I know what I said, you don’t have to tell me, I was there. I done as I was instructed and I am not pleased with results, children create silliness that adults must remedy, I’m 700 years old Mikhail,” Leonard glared at the young vampire, “Perhaps you too shall understand once you gain something that you would protect, or die over. I am fighting this war, but I shall not assist in the aftermath, I shall join The Folterer as I promised Clara, I owe her that if not more. She has protected those I love when I was unable to, but I will not go against my family.”

Mikhail shook his head sighing, “No one desires for you to leave your family or go against them, all we ask for is assistance, your family has been handed the opportunity to join The Folterer, on my request and Graceona’s, Lady Clara hand picked you herself. Even her own lover Scott, who is the last of his kin a Telekinetic Slayer has not been given the chance to be welcomed in the group and he himself, when angered could destroy many vampires, as well kill them when he is calm.” Mikhail extended his hand, “Lord Shepherd, you were always someone I looked up. This is a dream come true, since my years as a young vampire, I wanted to show you that all your teachings were never in vain, and this is my chance, to fight along-side you is a dream come true, please just this once throw your innocence to the side, unlock that cold-hearted, ruthless, killer you were back in the dungeon’s of The Castle’s, be that man you were under Lord Salvatore’s reign,” Mikhail smirked challenging the man in front of him, “If you care about your family that is, I question your loyalty to the mother of your beautiful twins, you were always the master manipulator, br-” Mikhail was interrupted by Leonard who punched him sending him into the entertainment system.

Before Mikhail found his footing Leonard had him lifted by the collar of his shirt a dagger at his throat and a grin, “Don’t test me Mikhail, I have seen what you can and can’t do, I would hate to tell Annette the reason you met with eternal death, I hide myself for this reason, if it were my desire I would wipe The Courts, The Folterer, and any group that dare harm my family off the map and out of everyone’s concerns, but why should I put forth effort and exposing myself when I have so many other’s that would do the tasks for me, master manipulator, you forget that I have all I need to turn heads and also break bones, have you also forgotten that I always am awaiting the opportunities to put those back in line when they so ignorantly step out of line.”

Mikhail smirked, “I dare you to put your threat into action, unless you are afraid. I don’t think you are man enough to do that.”

Leonard sat Mikhail on his own feet who looked at him, Leonard slammed him through the wall, “When you wake up, you know where to find me.”

Leonard left the unconscious Mikhail leaving the home, rubbing his temple Leonard closed his eyes taking deep breathes, “Foolish, brat what has he done!”

Leonard held his head as the anger clawed rapidly to the surface. Leonard sat down leaning against a building. He could feel his insanity kick in with every moment that passed, he lay his head on his knees closing his eyes.

Darkness once again took over.