Caressed by Shadows(2)
Shape-shifters: A species that appear human but can take the form of an animal. Also known as Weres. They separate themselves by animal type and live in packs/tribes. Africa, Asia South America, and some parts of North America are split up amongst the different factions. Generally live in small groups and amongst people. They share much of their territory with the Outcast Society. War is popular within their communities and peace is always short lived. One cannot be changed into a Shape-shifter. They can breed with humans, producing Half-Breeds.
Shaw Priestess: Gifted witches who show great promise for strength. They are trained by Shaman and are highly respected within their otherworldly community. They are Seers, able to look into the future. They are assistance to Shaman and are members of his bloodline. Priestesses are pure of blood, meaning their blood, if given to a human, can grant immortality.
Shaw Witches: A peaceful tribe of witches possessing great magical power.
Soul Shattering: When a human is on the verge of death and receives vampire blood, the transition from human to vampire begins. The blood is poisonous to a human; it eats away at the soul and conscious until the next full moon. Once the full moon rises, the transition begins; excruciating pain claims the victim as their body begins to morph into that of a vampire. At this point, the soul is weak and splinters under the pressure. In most cases, the soul dies and the human does not survive the transition. If the soul does not die, it is forever shattered – in pieces. The human will awake a vampire possessing little humanity. They retain their memories and some of their emotions, though their conscious is almost non-existent. However, there is a way around Soul Shattering. When the human is being given the vampire’s blood, the vampire can press their hand over the human’s heart, thereby creating a shield around the soul, protecting it from the poison. A vampire is stronger if they possess their whole soul.
The Red Order: Witches, who have very little magical power but possess great physical strength, they are the hunters of vampires. Also known as the Red Order Hunters.
Transition: The process by which a human is transformed into a vampire. The human must be near death from blood loss and receive a vampire’s blood. Upon the next full moon, the change from human to vampire takes place. It is an agonizing event and most do not survive. Males dominate the vampire race because, for one reason or another, female’s bodies do not absorb the vampire’s poisonous blood well and often die when the blood first enters their system.
Validus Clan: Created by Imbrasus. They claim Eastern Europe, beginning with the Czech Republic and advancing East, with the exception of Russia. Reigning monarch: Hadrian Lucretius.
Voidukas Clan: The smallest of the vampire clans, created by Uro. Their territory consists of: Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Germany, Denmark, and Switzerland. Reigning monarch: Sonya Rebane.
Volkov Clan: Formed by the pureblood Dimitri. Territory belonging to this clan is Northern Europe and Russia. He created this Clan to give refuge to vampires over the years trying to escape persecution, slavery, and tyrannical rulers of their own Clans. Reigning monarch: Dimitri Arsov.
Prologue
Tallinn, Estonia
A Month Ago
The humans knew nothing of the world they lived in, blissfully ignorant of the creatures that surrounded them: vampires, shape-shifters and witches. Each appeared to be nodifferent than their mortal counter parts. Falcon was one of those creatures, a vampire. His lungs expanded, filling with useless oxygen and his heart beat with a steady pulse that heated his flesh and colored his cheeks. Oh, yes, his kind could blend in seamlessly amongst their prey, their victims easily seduced by their otherworldly allure.
Falcon stood before the windows of the hotel’s small yet respectable library watching the people of Tallinn rushed by in waves five stories below.
They did not know that every full moon shifters took the shape of their animal spirits, some seemingly normal humans morphed into jaguars, others into bears, eagles, or lions. The list went on and on, every shifter was a predator.
Then there were the witches. A sect of the realm of darkness separated into two factions, the powerful and peaceful Shaw and the bloodthirsty Red Order, hunters bent on ridding the world of vampires.
The sunlight beat through the glass, blanketing him in its warmth. He absently rubbed the surface of the medallion he wore around his neck, its magic protecting him from the deadly rays of the sun. Only exceptionally strong and gifted vampires could withstand the light, the rest perished—burning and quickly turning to ash.
Clueless, simple mortals, he thought. They believed monsters like him only existed in books and movies.
A smile tugged at his lips as he thought back to the time he believed vampires were nothing but stories fabricated to frighten children. It was so long ago.