The Rule of Three

The Rule of Three

The Halls of Dusk

Night is eternal in Luna’s domain, and the children prefer it that way. The clouds surrounding the city glow with the power of her energy, pulsating through the castle, illuminating all within it. The table, thick and stone, is surrounded by the Rulers of Eternal Night, the order ordained by the goddess long ago. Their faces represent all she loves, and she stands at the head of the table memorizing her beloved order. She’s much too wound up to join others in sitting on her throne and remains standing, cast in the silver haze of light, her smile as bright as the moon beyond the skylights above her.

“I called upon you in great haste and for that. I apologize. As you know, our children are in dire straits, and we are in an upheaval.”

The six members look to one another, nodding in agreement as The Father of Night steps from the shadows, his dark light overcasting the silvery brilliance of the room. They eye him in surprise, for he rarely shows up to the meetings, because the few times he did, he radiated a tragic nothingness, causing consternation among them. Luna’s chosen child doesn’t spare any of them a glance, even as they bow their heads, honoring him with respect. The moon goddess meets his pale, eerie eyes and beams, her lack of fear of him not surprising to those who do find him intimidating. The child’s love for The Mother is legendary. To hurt her wouldn’t be unlike hurting himself.

Her opalescent stare moves from him to the faces who remain silent, curious as to her plan. Since the modern breeds, the mortals, took over the ancient realm, they’ve been forced to dwell in the shadows of their new dominion. The transition caused issues amongst their people, for now they are dying, losing themselves to the curse of infertility and desolation. For centuries they worked together, all past transgressions forgotten for the sake of survival. Luna has spent this time in a depression, leaving them alone and struggling. So indeed, they were surprised to be summoned to her grand castle.

Surprised and hopeful.

“I am also sorry for leaving you alone during these periods of crisis. I know many of you have spent this time struggling to keep the children alive, and it hasn’t been easy. But I can say my hiatus has not been in vain, my darlings, for I’ve found the answers we have been seeking for so long.”

Gasps of astonishment circle the room, and hesitant smiles touch many lips. Was she mad? Each member sought answers but came up with nothing. Could The Mother have, somehow, discovered some unturned rock they missed? Was it possible?

Luna’s long silver hair spills around her curvaceous form as she places her hands on the Great Table, her gaze meeting the stares of every representative in the room.

“We still have missing children, lost in the mortal realms alone. They must come home and find mates along the way. Fertile soil has yet to be uncovered. I must admit to you all this won’t bode easy. This will prove quite a battle to save the children. But it’s our only hope. Are you willing to fight alongside me?”

They nod, quick to offer their loyalty to this endeavor.

She raises her pale brows, eyeing the male aspect of the vampire, his dark gaze never leaving her face as he grips his mate’s delicate hand in his lap.

“And you, Cain? Are you willing to do all it may take to save our children of the night?”

His thick, black brows furrow in confusion. “Mother! Why would you question me? Haven’t I proven my loyalty since you found me so long ago?”

She tilts her head and pushes from the table, linking her long fingers behind her back as she moves around the room towards him.

“You gave me many shows of loyalty, Cain, and I’ve always found myself blessed to have brought you into my family. But I’ve never asked you to do anything outside of your personal principles as I am about to now.”

Cain glances at his mate before eyeing The Mother with apprehension. “What is it you wish of me? You need only ask.”

Luna gives a loving smile onto Cain before stroking his long black hair, a misty shimmering light leaving brief tracers in the soft strands.

“Before I can present my plan to you all, we must discuss the immortals still bound to the mortal realms. Including the Shades, Cain. After we bond them, and bring them into our dominion, then we can work on the next plan on repopulating our children. We must reunify the neglected vampires with their people. Those left behind are untouched by infertility and remain fruitful. We need them.”

Cain stares at her in open astonishment. “The Shades are outlaws of the vampire, Mother! They broke Order Laws and are now criminals!”

Luna leans back from Cain, crossing her arms over ample chest, an expression of eerie calm superimposing itself on her beautiful face. “Criminals? What sort of criminals are these children? Are any of them the Ted Bundy of immortals, Cain? The Jim Jones of vampires?”

Cain shifts in his seat, his discomfort obvious. “No. I ash any vampire who commits such atrocities, Mother, as per your orders. Their crimes were not ash worthy, of course, but they still shouldn’t be trusted. Especially in the reunification and rebuilding of our people.”

“I’ve studied these immortals, Cain. I’ve searched their souls and found reason to believe you’re incorrect in this. They each did what they thought was right during their times. I believe they need forgiveness and a second chance. But they must not be given such beauty without some tests, wouldn’t you agree? They should verify their loyalty to the cause.

“I don’t understand, Mother. Loyalty to who else?”

“Well, if they have loyalties to love, then they’ll find loyalty to their people. Now is the chance to give them completion and an opportunity to rebuild their belief in us.”

Cain scoffs and his mate, Lilith tugs at his arm, her shining dark eyes meeting his gaze and holding it. “Cain, you slaughtered your brother, and your god didn’t forgive you, abandoning you in the darkness. How did that feel? Your actions were justified to you, but your side of the story was never told. You’re hated by people who don’t even know you. If not for Luna’s love, you would still be lost in the same Hell she found you in. Do you not carry any empathy for the children, also lost? The Mother is right. Those Shades didn’t commit atrocities worthy of eternal punishment.”

Cain remains silent for so long the other members of The Order shift in anticipation. Cain is the stubborn member of the mystic circle, more disciplined and principled. Would he bend in this? Or would he decline, forcing Luna’s hand? With a blank expression he turns his attention to The Mother, his tone flat, his broad shoulders stiff.

“I will remove the veil from the well for whoever is summoned, as I should. But the Calling must stand, Mother. The only way they can leave the veils of Shade is if summoned by their names. It must be by their mates.”

Luna scoffs. “Can we get more complicated? Okay, fine. Challenge accepted. But you will treat them as our children upon their release, Cain. Once their tests of loyalty are completed and they pass, you will open the door for them to the new world.”

Cain glances at his grinning wife, her pale features glowing under the bright light of the looming Luna. The vampire king isn’t the most loving of masters, but for his bride, he would do his best.

“Indeed, but the test to check their rehabilitation will involve difficulty. We must push them to their limit and beyond, Mother. They must prove themselves, as you said, and not be treated with kid gloves.”

Luna returns to the head of the table, her sheer white dress moving like ivory liquid along her silver flesh.

“Was I easy on you, Cain? Was I easy on any of you while testing your ability to lead my children? I won’t treat them any different. If they fail, they will return to dwelling as Shades. Are those terms acceptable?”

Nobody in the room doubts how difficult The Mother can play and most feel sympathy for the Shades in question. They will have nothing handed to them and will experience their emotions stretched beyond anything they ever experienced before.

Luna looks to the dark one who stands beside her, quietly observing, his black dreadlocks hanging around his beautiful face, his mahogany skin shimmering under her bright hue. He would start the trials, for only he had the constitution to walk on the mortal plain. The species smells of greed, death and sickness, the sound of their planet dying with loud, suffering moans causing grief in The Mother and any other immortal who has the misfortune to hear it. Only he can block it all out, for it’s his job to dwell in the highest and lowest of places.

With understanding in his gaze, he turns away, blanketing his attention onto Cain, who bows his head once more to the night. “I will release the veil for the first chosen at once, Father.”

Death never speaks unless he has something to say, so he turns his strange eyes ahead and strides from the room as if going to battle.

“The Trials will begin,” Luna murmurs to The Order, who nod in agreement. She can only hope everything works as it should. If it succeeds, then her children will become plentiful once more.