Prologue
1777, Rome, Italy
Brey
“Brey, come have a look at this.” A voice called.
“What is it now?” Brey protested.
“This holds far more significance than anything else present.” He concentrated on his brushstrokes, unearthing a lost treasure. Once a myth, but now a proven fact. He had lost track of time, and the darkening sky was beyond his sight.
“Brey. J Harris!”
“Seems like something needs my immediate attention. Will you take over for me for just a second?” He requested, facing his assistant. Each person had a lamp to illuminate the cave. He made his way towards the voice.
“Diane, what is so urgent you must pull me away from my precious?”
“I thought I was your precious”. Diane objected.
“A slip of the tongue. You’re my first precious; everything else is just fighting for the rest of me,” he responded, smiling.
“Okay. These markings on this tablet sound like a warning, ” she said, admiring the engravings but fearful of their meaning.
“Well, what does it say?” He asked.
“If it’s a treasure you seek, beware what hides in the mist. Danger doesn’t lurk at every turn. It’s hanging out, waiting for fear and horror to show up. Stare...” Diane replied, frowning as Brey Interjected.
“Blah blah blah. We’ve seen this a thousand times, and we’ll see it a thousand more. There’s nothing in the mist, the night, or this cave. Those are just words written to derail the week from getting any treasure.” He responded playfully, but he was dead serious.
Diane stuck out her lower lip in a false pout. “Moment of truth.” She muttered with a playful grimace, but her seriousness returned quickly.
“Just lift the book gently. Nothing will happen.” He assured her, planting a gentle kiss on her lips.
The book was thicker and lighter than she imagined. She leniently lifted the book from its resting place with ease, and her eyes slightly squinted. She had done this many times before, but never against such a firm warning.
They slowly walked away from that spot, book, backpack, and lamp in hand. The chest that Brey and Masimba were working on also lifted easily, though a bit heavier. Brey did the honours, but this time sounds were coming from the resting place of the book. Crackling sounds, as if stones were banging against each other. Like clockwork, the sound moved from the altar to the ground they stood on, then to the walls. They all froze for a moment. The mood changed when the crackling stopped and something moved to their left.
They all glanced in that direction.
“What was that? Did y’all see that?” Diane whispered.
There it was, again to their right and back to the left. Running their heads like they were watching a tennis match, the figure popped up again to their right. The shadow dove into the area of the altar and out again. It was human, yet faster; playing hide and seek. Scared but curious, the assistant went forward.
“Come out into the light, whoever you are! I have a gun!” He croaked, his voice scratching his mouth dry.
A low, sharp laugh echoed in the cave. That gave chills to all of them. They all turned to run. The assistant had something holding him firmly, preventing his escape.
“Tizai!” Masimba yelled out, not recognizing his voice as fear gripped his core.
The second vampire blasted Masimba, throwing him to the cave ceiling, and killing him instantly. Diane and Brey were almost at the cave entrance; a man appeared before them, then two more behind. They both stopped, four feet apart, motionless, and fearful for their lives. A fourth person appeared behind the first, a woman. Brey knew immediately who was in charge. She had a commanding presence and authority over all.
“The book and the chest, if you don’t mind,” she demanded.
“No way, get your treasure.” Diane replied.
The woman gave a signal to her companion. Almost lightning-fast, he nudged Diane, grabbing the book and stabbing her in the chest at the same time. Her cry of pain echoed in the cave as she fell to the floor. The man moved just as fast as his commander. Brey rushed forward to catch Diane’s head before it hit the jagged ground. His cry echoed in the cave as well.
“Diane! Stay with me.”
She was coughing blood. He held her close, trying to stop the bleeding. She could feel her life force sleeping away. Each moment that passed took more of her breath, and more blood flowed out from her wound.
“Brey!” She coughed out blood. “Run,” she whispered.
Brey held her as he shook his head. She was becoming limp.
She mastered the strength she had left and lifted her hand to touch his face. “I’ll see you on the other...” She took her last breath.
“Diane! Diane! ” He held her even tighter.
Brey looked up at the four people now standing at the entrance. He got up to his feet, fists cocked and ready to fire.
“We needed these two alive, you idiots,” the commander snapped, jabbing the heart of the idiot. The idiot staggered backward before bursting into flames and quickly into ash.
Brey could not believe what he was seeing. He didn’t care. Anger, hurt, and adrenaline-fueled his fist flying forward. He caught one guy with a straight right, knocking him down. The commander parried the left hook. She quickly spun him around and sank her teeth into his neck. An excruciating pain issued from the base of his neck. He tried getting her off his back, but she was too strong.
He felt himself growing weak, slipping away into darkness; his blood drained. He slumped to the ground; nothing was there to cradle him as he fell.
“If you survive this, we will meet again.” The commander mused, “Be strong. I know you can make it.”
His eyes fluttered open, and he crawled to his beloved, his energy dwindling. The three figures became blurry.
“Kill me!” He spoke.
“Fight! Live!” The commander said the three shadows were gone. Brey reached for his neck with his left and for his love with the right. Pain surged through his body, and darkness took over.
