Daughters Of Pierce

One

5 years before the Fall of Darkness:

    Dominion has always been the one we have to keep a close eye on. The rebellious baby sister of the house of Pierce. Katherian is as usual on guard duty when Dom had once again slipped away during an important diplomatic event. When she was informed that Edwardian was of course nowhere to be found, she had to slip out herself to find Dom.

    "Philip," she greeted as she walked over to our brother who has been doing what the daughters of Pierce were supposed to be doing. Showing the houses Vampires were the superior species still. 

    "Please, do not do this to me again. Do I have to remind you that we aren't the heirs of the House of Lamia? How does it make any sense that the Prince and Princess of the House of Incubi do their vampire responsibilities?" he ranted, she smiled at him.

    "Would you like to be the one to look for our little sister then?" 

    "Hell no. Go, I will cover for Dom and E again. Father will not be pleased," he sighed pinching the bridge of his nose. It's something he had picked up from father.

    "Thank you, brother. I'll try to be quick,"

    "Yeah right," he laughed and went back to what he had been doing.

    She started at the usual taverns and moved on to blood saloons. When she started to lose hope of finding her, she heard the ill voices of the ones she usually got into trouble with. Walking into the saloon, she saw the place had been damaged. No doubt Dominion had gotten into a fight with an angel again. 

    Splinters of wood and shards of glass decorated the Saloon floors and tables, what was left anyway. An angel is sitting at the far end of the room nursing a bloody nose. She looked up at Kat and motioned the man at her side to inform her what had happened here.

    "The other angel left the barrier. Your sister followed. If human force..." the man began.

    "I know I'll bring them back," Katherian growled not liking being told what to do by someone with no status.

    Being a hybrid is a lot like being stuck between two worlds. Pulling in from both sides is easy. As soon as she stepped out of the saloon she began to run towards the barrier. As she broke through she extended her wings. Wings that the daughters of Pierce had inherited from father, the incubus king. 

    Outside of the barrier, the scent of immortals was easier to track among the scents of the mortal. Catching up to the two girls is an easy task out here. It's why it's so dangerous for our kind to leave the barrier in the first place. We'd be easy bait for those who know what they're looking for.

    In the middle of the clearing, the two fought with nothing held back. Outside of the barrier of Darkness is the only place where power surges can't be traced. The only problem with leaving the barrier is Human Force and hunters. 

    Katherian came down pushing both girls apart with force. The two were propelled away from one another before crashing through the trees causing the inhabitants of the trees to flee from the loud thunderous snapping of their impact. They were both surprised at the sudden interference.

    "Go home, angel. I am sure Michael will want a word with you," she growled at the young angel.

    "King Michael to you, abomination," the angel seethed before spitting blood at Kat's feet.

    "There are two hybrids here now," Kat snapped back. Dominion tried to get passed her. "Enough Dom. Philip is waiting for us,"

    "I'll see you around, abomination," the angel sneered as she took flight.

    "Are you out of your bloody mind, Dom?" Katherian growled. Kat closed her eyes placing her hand on the ground getting rid of any evidence of their battle. The trees, as well as the ground and the vegetation of the open field, were mended in seconds. Kat sighed before taking Dominion by her hand back towards the barrier. "Do you know what tonight is?"

    "Yeah, the blood moon ball," she chastised rolling her eyes.    

    "Edwardian isn't here. She has business somewhere else. You were supposed to take her place as a vampire Princess. You made me come out here and Philip is covering for the two of you yet again. Father needed you there tonight,"

    "I did not ask you to come to get me, Kat. And we are not required to do s**t for father. Edwardian is the next queen, she should be the one present, not me,"

    "Edwardian is the next queen, Dom. She has a bunch of other s**t to do since mother died. The least we could do is help a little. You running off is becoming a burden to us all, it doesn't help us in the slightest. Not just that either, you can easily start a war by killing that girl. Is that what you want to kill her so as a tribute, we are forced to publicly execute you to prevent a m******e?"

    "I just wanted a drink," Dominion admitted.

    "You do not have to explain anything to me, Dom. This is not how we're supposed to behave. Father is angry. Philip will be behind him and Edwardian isn't here to save your ass this time. I have to go down to the council to pick up some things for father. We can go home after that," Dom nodded.

    When they finally arrived at Pierce Manor, Philip stood at the door waiting for them. It's just a little before dawn. The look on his face indicates that he is beyond upset. Father had given him a piece of his mind already. That's obvious. He didn't even smile at his sisters as they walked toward him. He motioned them to follow as he began to walk to the throne room where father awaited them.

    "Any word on Edwardian?" Katherian asked handing the packages they had gotten on the way here to her personal maiden.

    "Whispers are that she found the wolf pack that attacked the Human Force quarters down south," he answered begrudgingly.

    "What's up your ass?" Dominion asked rudely. 

    In an instant, Philip had her pinned against the wall by her throat. It is very uncommon for him to lose his composure like this. He is usually the level headed one. The one that keeps the rest of us from tearing each other apart. It's the incubus in him. He hardly gives into it the way Edwardian and Dom do. 

    "It would be best if you paid me a little more respect. You are causing trouble and guess who has to pay for it? I want her to stake your moronic little heart when she returns and I will hand her the stake myself. Father is beyond angry and if you don't come up with a good f*****g excuse I'll kill you myself," he growled inches away from her neck.

    "Philip, calm down," Katherian urged making him step back to compose himself. 

    It surprised her that he would snap like this. It's usually him that kept the peace. Edwardian is usually the one who loses her head in moments like this. Had he fully given into his instincts her would have bitten her. He would have completely made her submit. Edwardian has done it to all of us more than we care to admit. Watching Philip lose it like this is just as bad as watching Edwardian lose it.

    Dominion fixed her gown as best she could as they approached closer to the throne room. Katherian can easily tell that he had scared the hell out of her. She hadn't liked the way he had treated her. Their baby sister had been frightened, but he was right. She needs to stop being like this. The House of Lamia needs to be better than this as future leaders and she owed this to everyone as a Daughter of Pierce to be above it all.

    "f**k," he growled before he opened the door, running a hand through his hair, and then popping his neck. 

    "What aren't you telling us?" Katherian asked.

    "Robiel is here," he spat with distaste before pushing open the two doors.

    "The fourth prince of the House of Fallen?" Dominion asked panicked. Angels are known to be merciless. This one in particular. He's young, but he's taken to his position within his house ranks. 

    Father sat at his Throne with a fowl angered look on his face as we all entered. Robiel stood with the angel from earlier close behind him. The two of them standing to the right of the room waiting for us to take our place for what comes next. Father is dressed in a loose white robe. His leather trousers peak out from under the robe. His feet are bare. He had been awakened for this, which means everyone will be getting hell this morning. 

    "Step forward, Dominion," father's voice boomed over the entire throne room, even his guards flinched. Katherian got chills all over her body. Angry is an understatement.

    Katherian began to look for something to take away the sense of fear that threatened to overwhelm her. Her eyes landed on Robiel. Robiel had always intrigued her. Like most angels, he is beautiful in ways that held no words worthy. In his battle form, she had been rendered speechless and a bit breathless. Maybe it was his dark brown hair or the way he looked demonic with those fiery red eyes of his. Maybe the way his creamy pale skin stretched over his well-kept body. It's probably those heavenly wings that counter her bat-like demonic flaps that materialize from her back.

    "Father," Dominion greeted stepping forward ending Kat's thoughts and fears.

    Katherian finally recognized the girl. Doniel Chambers the angel that had referred to her as an abomination. The sixteenth angel princess. She looks nothing like Robiel chambers. Her bright red hair and bright emerald green eyes make her look chalky white. Whereas, Robiel's darker, sharper features are a little more intimidating. He looks like he knows war.

    Dominion makes the angel look like an innocent little girl with her beast-like anger issues. This little girl pretty much shouts breakable, but that's the thing about some angels. They look pretty and harmless until they snap and bring forth the wrath the creator had given them with his grace.

    "Speak boy," father demanded in a less threatening voice. Robiel came forward taking his place next to Dom.

    "King Edmund, I am Robiel Chambers and this is my halo Doniel. We have come here to settle a conflict between her and Princess Dominion. It has come to our attention that the two have publicly fought and have left the safety of the barrier to prevent power surge location," he sighed. Halo is what they call their kin. "We wish to solve this before it becomes a bigger problem for my father,"

    Katherian admires the way he seems so confident in the way he speaks to father, but she saw his body betray him every time he made small movements. He trembled a bit and that makes her want to laugh but she held back any sign of wanting to show any emotion. Especially now that Dominion will be getting it. Now that they are all to be scolded for not preventing any of this. For not teaching Dom properly.

    "What were the terms?" father asked.

    "That is why we are here," Robiel answered looking over at his cousin. He pushed her forward.

    Doniel has no control of herself like her cousin does. She began to shake and ultimately begin to cry. The tears of fear easily rolled down her face as her heartbeat began to beat faster and faster. Dominion and Philip looked away with a smirk. 

    "Kat," Philip called out looking over at her.

    Katherian gave him a nod as she reached out with her mind and into the girl's head. She began to calm the girl down until she stopped crying and began to take deep breaths. The girl finally calmed down enough to arrange a response in her head. Katherian pulled back coming out of her hectic emotions. She shook the slight lightheaded feeling she gets every time she has to manipulate strong minds, especially one of an angel.

    "King Edmund, our fighting began a little over two weeks ago," the girl admitted. Longer than that but the first fist fight had taken place two weeks ago.

    "Why?"

    "Princess Dominion called my sister a human banger and spit in her face,"

    Dominion snickered pleased with a response. Katherian sent a glare her way. She is standing in front of father and she dares think her actions were justified. 

    "Why would the princess do that Don?" Robiel asked annoyed with his cousin. 

    "Because Mariel called her a hybrid abomination,"

    Katherian, Philip, and Dominion all winced knowing all too well that, that is the perfect thing to say to any one of us. Edwardian had sent a few to the healers, they all have for that same exact reason. There came a day when we all just stopped going out altogether. We created our own place to go out for a drink of bourbon so that altercations like this would no longer be a problem. When the House of Lamia and the House of Incubi were united, children were produced from this union. The other houses were quick to show just how much they disagreed with the abominations that had been created. 

    "Dominion?" father asked.

    "She speaks the truth," Dom admitted her head held high. It is the only admirable thing about Dom. No matter how bad she is scolded or beaten she takes it with her pride fully intact. It's why she's Edwardian's favorite. Whys he was chosen to second the heir of the House of Lamia. 

    "This is not the first time this has happened, Dominion," father added.

    "I know," Dom admitted looking over to him. 

    "Where did these fights take place?" he asked with what seems to be amusement in his voice.

    "Celestial's," Doniel answered in a low whisper. Her head lowered submissively, she didn't dare look up. What happened to the pride she used in the clearing?

    "The both of you are banned from there," father disciplined without looking at her. His sight fixated on Dominion.

    "Father," Dominion began to protest.

    "Enough Dominion," he shouted sending that wave of fear through everyone again. "You have caused me and your sisters enough trouble already. We can not be following you close behind every time you walk out of here alone. We have bigger things to take care of. Until I find a suitable punishment for you or you are needed as a Daughter of Pierce you are not allowed to leave the mansion. Do you understand?"

    "Yes, father," she seethed through gritted teeth before looking away. She never lowered her head the way the angel did. Vampires are like that.

    "I hope that keeping my daughter prisoner here, will be enough for your father to live in happily heaven with the rest of you fallen," father hissed shifting his anger towards Robiel. "You may go now. This audience request is over Prince Robiel. Send my regards to Michael and Abbadon will you,"

    The two angels walked out with the three of us behind them. Philip and Dominion went up to their rooms as fast as they could leaving Katherian alone with the angels. She pushed the door open for them to leave when they got to the exit. Doniel took flight instantly and without hesitation.

    "Princess Katherian..." Robiel began before he walked out.

    "Don't," she growled cutting him off. "My sisters, my brother, and I are used to being treated like scraps by all of you purebloods. You and your siblings the purest mated all under one name. We don't need your pity Prince Roniel,"

    "Robiel," he corrected her with a sigh.

    "Whatever. You got what you came for. Now go home," she spat angrily.

    He didn't push the matter, but it was obvious that he wasn't done with her yet. The hurt in his eyes made him leave. Why would her words matter to him so much? Katherian growled and slammed the door shut. Guilt came over her.

    Not being able to go out is not fair for any of us. They had not been banned or forbidden to go out even when they had done so much worse than leave the barrier to fight. Hell, they didn't hide the fact that they fought often, the three of them had been arrested for the tongues of those who spit at what the four of them are. What I once had been.

    "You shouldn't lose yourself like that. Edwardian would disapprove your highness," she looked up to see Edwardian's best friend's brother, General Armadian Sterling.

    "Hello, Armadian please excuse my outbreak. We are cursed freely at the top of everyone's lungs. Yet, we are the ones wronging them for defending ourselves," she vented a little trying to keep herself from getting sentimental.

    "Dom is a wild one. Just like Edwardian. I was there. Dom had told the girl several times to back off. She did you proud. I promise," she smiled at his words.

    "Avaira is probably with E. You know those two are joined at the hip. Would you like me to arrange a room for you or will you be leaving?"

    "Actually I have a place of my own closer to the guardian quarters. Generals are to always be on stand by," she nodded.

    "I will let them know when they arrive tomorrow night. They are both in the southern region," he chuckled.

    "She found them?" he asked raising his hand to scratch his chin. Ever since she could remember he and Edwardian did that when they were pleased about something. 

    "That's the word," she confirmed.

    "I'll be back tomorrow evening then. I'll see you then," she nodded as she watched as he yanked the door open from where she had slammed it shut. He chuckled. Warmth flooded her face with embarrassment. "You Pierce girls are all the same,"

    "Kat was that the General?" she heard father just at the door was shut. She turned to face him.

    "Yes, father. He was looking for Avaira and Edwardian. I believe he just got back from Excaliber," she informed standing straighter, her hands entwined behind her. 

    "You think I was too harsh on her?" he asked with a guilty expression on his face.

    "A little," she nodded not looking up at him. The fear he had unleashed on them still lingered over her skin.

    "I know it is unfair for all of you, Kat, but you all have to understand what we all are. I know the four of you have a hard time, especially after Cassian's death. Edwardian is next in line so is Philip you are his princess as Dom is Edwardian's. This behavior is no longer acceptable,"

    "I understand father,"

    "Try to make your sister see this," he urged, placing a hand on her cheek. The gesture seemed like an act of fondness. Yet, Katherian wondered what the real meaning behind it was. He never touched one of us like this before. At least, not since mother's death.

    "Yes, father," she agreed, bowing without any further questions.

    "You may go to your quarters. The sun is upon us,"

    She took a full flit rushing up the stairs not stopping until she was in front of her chamber door. She pushed it open by pressing her forehead against it. Once alone her thoughts always went back to the days when she was sent away to the camps. The memories of everything she was forced to do within the camps still haunt her. The only place she feels safe is inside her coffin.

    This is something that haunts her the most. The memories of the Camps. Katherian had spent six years there. The camps serve as the ideal military and combat training facilities. This is where all future leaders and soldiers are sent. No one escapes them. Everyone started at the lowest rank, fledglings and ranked up depending on their skills, leadership, and organization.

    I hadn't made it to the camps. I was murdered right before Edwardian and Philip came home the eve of their establishments as the heirs of our households once they had completed the camps. I was twenty-six when I was plunged into the in-between. When I opened my eyes, I was trapped. No one sees me. Occasionally my siblings hear me. It all depends on who's frequency I'm in. This is our life. My name is Cassian Pierce and I'm dead.