Serenity From The Opsona Journey Series

A deep sorrow beat in my chest instead of the steady thump of my heart, each beat set in a rhythm that drove the sadness deeper until there was nothing left but agony. This feeling would become a part of me, but I would never be able to fully adjust to it. Nothing could rival this emotion as I stared out over the Tentusa Valley. It wasn’t the same anymore. It would never be the same, nor would I.

The first moment I stood at the top of the valley with my master by my side seemed like a life-time ago, a violent storm welcoming us from the grand lake. Subtle winds that would soon turn brutal lashing at my long raven locks, and cooling my unnatural olive complexion for a vampire. But that's not really what I was, vampire was an easy way to classify me and now I knew the truth off it as I stood there once again. A gentle breeze a phantom reminder of that day when I approached the Tentusa Valley as a loyal warrior to my Lord. A Vamdire General ready to serve her master, and now I look upon the land like I should. A heart-broken goddess that has fallen from the heavenly planes. A warrior defeated after a life-time of battle.

Tears filled the corners of my eyes and spilled over into endless silent streams, when was the last time I cried in sorrow like this?

When had tears fallen so freely from my eyes because I lost something I couldn’t protect?

These tears were different than the ones I shed in anger or pain, and they seemed more unending like the emotional agony that was steeling my breath. A part of me was missing, I felt incomplete and empty…bottomlessly empty.

The gentle breeze that welcomed me at the beginning of this journey into the valley now greeted me once again. No longer powerful and gusting from the storm I brought down upon it, but weaker and solemn. Mimicking my silent pain and whispering a soft apology. The land was weeping too and suddenly I could remember the last time heartache stilled me like this.

I was twelve and my whole world had been taken away, stolen by Vondorian and his twisted world. As a prisoner of the vampires I gazed out of my tower cell into the darkening night. Black hills of deep green stretched on for miles until meeting an ominous forest. Mountains formed on every boarder enclosing the vampire cities and keeping them shadowed in twilight.

Even in all my sorrow and despair I stood silent as I stared out into the awe inspiring terrain. I had never seen a more darkly stunning place, a wonder trapped in the depravity of darkness and I would never see anything that could match it. A twilighted beauty hidden in shadow and I grew to love it. The sorrow fading from my young heart as the years turned into decades, and then I no longer thought about the family Vondorian murdered. I didn’t have a feeling left for them. Even now as I looked over where they once lived not a twinge of emotion sparked in my chest, but this new loss was not the same. Time couldn’t heal this, and I didn’t want it to.

I never wanted rid of this sorrow. I never wanted this feeling to fade. No matter how painful it was I could never let go... I would never let go of... him, my mate. His crest seared into my flesh where we sealed our nefarious souls together. What started as an alliance of necessity grew deeper even at my denial, but now he's gone and I can deny it no longer. Our bond... I was his mysterious raven beauty, and he my powerful demon warrior.

I would hold onto the memory of him and the agony it brought until my last breath. Which I hoped would be soon, if death would finally show me mercy.

© J.N. Sheats

Excerpt from The Opsona Journey Series