Frozen Memories: Heirs of Ethra

The Vast Covens

“The District of Vast Covens,” Adanis announced as we ventured further into the hamlet where the vampires of Ethra took resident.

I was so astonished by the vast attraction of this numerous hamlet, I was rendered speechless by the view. By the sound of Maxandria’s gasp, I sensed that she felt the same.

One couldn’t be sure of how far the district of the Vast Covens stretched, but in the distance looking forward-what I knew had to have been miles, there seemed an invisible line across the sky separating the moonlit night of the vampire district from the exuberant sky on the other side of it.

“Beautiful, is it not?”

The voice next to my ear, startled my attention. I glanced at Adanis, who stood on the right side of me whereas Max was on the other. Still filled with amazement, I returned my captivated gaze back to the view.

“What is this?” I asked. “The sky is-”

“In a constant state of moonlight,” Adanis finished. “You see, the vampire race are sensitive to the sun’s exuberance. This part of Ethra was created specifically to accommodate their vulnerability.”

We walked further into the hamlet, my eyes now zeroing in on the surroundings of us. “That is quite the weakness,” Max pointed out. “If someone wanted to declare war on them, I’d guess it wouldn’t be too hard to gain the upperhand.”

Adanis glanced at Max, an amused expression fell across his mouth before his eyes returned to the front of him. “Just like a guardian…always finding the blindspots…the weakness that surround you and then thinking of ways to use it in battle.”

“I don’t want no parts of a battle, elfie.” Max said. “But I also can’t help noticing the obvious.” The words left her lips just as whimsical looking child peeked around a tree. 

The child was a small boy, his hair extremely dark and perfectly untidy, if that could make sense. His eyes were equally as dark as the shag on his head. With his little fangs slightly elongated, I found myself mesmerized by his perfection. I took a step closer.

“Salam, küçük olan.” Hello, little one, I said to the young child, the words flowing from my lips as naturally as if I knew that he’d understand me.

“Salam,” The young boy said to me, his voice barely above a whisper. He was reluctant in speaking before he finally graced me with a returned greeting. 

“You are here alone?” I continued to speak in the language, hoping that I was easy to comprehend. The little boy seemed reluctant to answer me, and then slowly nodded. I started to ask his name before immediately following with a shake of his head. “Who is here with you?” I asked him.

He tilted his head against the rich brown bark of the tree. Upon closer observation of the trunk on the tree, I noticed deep, dark lines running along the length of the tree, the deep and pulsating red, resembling that of a vein.

“Babam.” The little boy said to me. “

I quickly returned my attention to the young boy. “Are you hunting?” I asked. 

“Yığmaq.: Gathering, the young boy replied and looked at the tree.

Needless to say, I was slightly confused. I found myself glancing at Adanis. I didn’t want to interrogate the boy and I feared that further questioning would feel as though that was exactly what I’d begun to do.

“What kind of trees are these?” Max asked before I could.

“Kan Zuhaitza.” Adanis touched the tree and then looked at the young lad that stood before us. “Blood trees, in your English language, is what I presume you’d call it.” 

Adanis proceeded forward, leaving the young boy behind. I reluctantly followed, but not before I knew that he would not be there alone. Barely moments later, a man appeared from behind the boy, staring at me-not glaringly nor fearfully. 

Just as quickly as he appeared, did seemingly quizzical father and son vampire disappeared from next to the Kan Zuhaitza. It was only after this that I continued forward with Max, Adanis and his guard.

“I assume that the trees are their food source.” 

“They are.” Adanis kept forward as he answered my assumption. “The Kan course with fresh blood-”

“Blood?” Max’s expression seemed to find this hard to believe. 

“Trees are life,” Adanis remarked. “They live…just as we do, only their life force is forever connected to the root…the stem that keeps their lives going. As our Ethra provides them with life, they do the same for us-or the vampires, I should say, in this case.” 

“That’s…actually pretty cool,” Max complimented as she continued to look around.

“It is quite brilliant, actually.” I agreed as I watched the trees that literally coursed with life.My eyes traveled up the length of the tree and was marveled by the leaves that were a green so dark that it looked like a shiny hue of black that transitioned into pulsating red. The pattern of the pulsation almost mimicked that of a light show. It was quite a beautiful place.

“Aren’t you weary of the vampires having access to your kingdom?” Max asked.

“Apparently Max’s question was…intriguing enough to grant the great dark elven prince pause. He turned around and simply stared at her curiously before answering. “No, guardian…I am not weary in the least.Why do you ask?”

Both Max and I glanced at one another quizzically, no doubt, us both wondering why this question granted him such pause. And then Max finally clarified why she inquired about such a thing.

“In my world…Earth-the vampires, well, their preference is usually high-end. The more unique, the better.” Max stared at the prince with curiosity evident in her eyes. “With you being a dark elf I guess it’s hard not to assume that they wouldn’t want a taste of yours.”

Adanis chuckled, it seemed that he found this bit of information quite comical. However, I was forced to disagree, as I too could not help wondering why he felt so confident with such easy access to his home. “At the risk of appearing naive, I have to agree with Max, prince Adanis.” I spoke to him, interceding his chortle. “Unfortunately, I have been a target of such attacks.”

The towering dark elf stared down at me. “Well, that makes sense, considering you are who you say you are.” Adanis then turned on his heels and kept on forward. 

When his continuation of the conversation took a pause that wore down my patience, I initiated further on the subject myself. “Well, can you better elaborate on why that is? I’d like to understand.”

He exhaled. “Every species of Ethra is a predator of some kind-carnivorous, if you will. Each species acquires a certain taste. So, in part, your guardian’s information of the world’s take on vampires is true…however,” He stopped next to a blood tree. “These trees, while look the same, do not taste the same. So the vampires do not necessarily lack in flavor.”

It was obvious that there was something that prince Adanis was holding back as he said this. “And yet, I sense a ‘but’ coming on,” Max beat me to the punch.

Adanis did not respond immediately to this which led us to believe that Max’s assumption was true.  His dark eyes settled on me. “Why do I sense that your look does not bode well for me, particularly?”

“Hm,” He seemed to find humor in what I’d said. “Well, to be fair, I do not think that things would bode well for your guardian either.” Adanis said to me. “I mean, guardians are a rarity after all.” The prince continued forward. 

“Can you explain that?” Max impatiently pressed. 

“Simply put, your blood is of high value around here, and to be honest, so is the princess’s. Especially the princess.” He added. “Nymph blood is…well, let us say, a universal craving.” 

“That would have been nice to know before you led us here,” Max snapped angrily. “You knowingly placed her in danger-”

“I did no such thing,” Adanis retorted, his irritation apparent. “Princess, I’d appreciate you keeping your guardian in check, or I will be forced to.”

“Is that a threat, loverboy?” Max hissed.

“Hey, enough!” I fussed. “Both of you!” I glared at Max. “Calm down,” I then tended my angered stare on the prince. “Do you really think that I’d allow you to do that? You do not rule me or what you deem mine. Do you understand, prince?” 

His masculine jaw tightened, and he kept forward a few more feet, “We’re here,” He finally announced.

At the end of the grove of trees stood a mountain of what seemed to be granite stone. Every few away from one another were openings-triangular in shape and noticeably deep from the ground up. It was a civilization right there within the mountain.

“Benum amir!” My prince, someone excitedly called from a distance. 

It was a young woman and a man-both almost indescribably beautiful. They bowed to Adanis before asking, to what did they owe the pleasure. All the while stealing subtle glances toward me and Max.

“We wish to speak to your district chief.” 

“Uh-as you wish, sire!” They quickly turned and disappeared immediately.

While we stood there in wait, my mind began to wander about the others-whether they were alive…whether they were alright. And then sudden guilt hit me as I had realized that through all this time I had not even found them yet. Visiting the Vast Covens district was a step in the right direction, but what if it was a futile one? 

Despite, the prince’s adamant declarations of betrothal to me, and the murdering of his guard to suit me, I still did not let my guard down. I still did not fully trust that he was a prince of his word and for some reason being here…so close to at the very least finding Keyvah and Amorah, I still had a foreboding and paranoid feeling in the pit of my stomach, Why? Was it just nervousness? I certainly hoped so.

“You alright?” 

Max’s voice took me out of my storm of thoughts. “Yes,” I tried putting on a confident smile for her. She did not need to know how fearful I was that this was some sort of an elaborate trap to get us both killed.

“You know I know you, right?” She asked, stepping closer to me so as to lower her voice a little. “You’re concerned.” My silence was all the confirmation that my best friend seemed to need. “Wouldn’t you be?” I let slip before I could think better of it.

She chuckled half-heartedly. “I wouldn’t be me if I weren’t concerned.” Max replied as she looked forward. “But whatever happens next.” My friend looked at me, nudging me gently. “We will tackle this together, got it, Frosty?”

I was so glad that Max was who I had gotten stuck with in this new place. Our optimism and support of one another bounced off of eachother. I needed someone who could be strong and see the light where sometimes I could not. I nodded. “You’re right.” I took a deep breath. “We will tackle this together.” I agreed as we stood there in silence of what was to come.

“Mina?...Max?” 

While Max and I had started our conversation expressing our apprehension, we only mildly noticed that someone had approached to speak with the prince. We hadn’t bothered to figure out who it was. At least, not until I heard that voice.

“Is that…” 

My words veered off as I heard her obnoxiously pushing past the prince and his guard. When I finally saw her face, my eyes went wide in relief. 

Though she was standing there and though the prince had assured me that they’d be alright, some distrusting part of me thought that I’d never see any of my friends again outside of Max. So seeing that familiar friendly face gave me a shot of relief that thought would never be felt. 

I gasped. “Amorah!”