Nightwalker Fan Fiction ❯ End of All Hope ❯ The Missing Lord ( Chapter 2 )

Chapter 2—The Missing Lord

“So you checked everywhere?”

The scout trembled at his master's cold voice, wishing that he hadn't been the unlucky one that had drawn the short straw to deliver the unfavorable information.

“We checked the entire vicinity, my lord. There was no trace of Lord Tatsuhiko. The building was completely destroyed.”

The vampire scout shifted as his master's golden eyes seemed to pierce into his soul, “I want you to take the others and get back out, and I don't want to see any of your faces again, until you bring me some useful news. Do you understand me?”

The lowly creature of the night only nodded rapidly, anxious to be released and out from under his master's icy gaze. “Your word is law, my lord.”

“Well, what are you waiting for?”

The vampire quickly left the room, relieved that he was able to escape his master unscathed. He knew the rest of the scouting party wouldn't be happy to be sent back into human territory, but none of them would defy the orders. He just hoped they found the one they sought, and that it would preferably be sooner than later…

Cain turned away from the common vampire that had just left and turned back to look out the window of his castle. A sick feeling of worry that had been going through him for months, settled back into his stomach as he looked out into the night.

Oh, Shido…

Ever since this war with the humans had started months ago, Cain worried constantly about the welfare of his childe out in Japan. The more he thought about it, he wondered to himself why he hadn't done something more to ensure his mate's life.

I should have just taken him home by force. His pride would be hurt, but at least I would know that he was safe within the protection of my walls and my rooms, rather than wandering somewhere out there, at the mercy of those filthy humans.

He had sent scouts out in search of his mate, but so far they could find not a single trace of his lovely Shido. They all probably thought it was a fool's errand and that he was already dead. However, Cain knew differently.

He was Shido's master, his creator. If his young one were truly dead, he would have felt it. No, his mate was still out there somewhere, and until he was returned to the safety of his arms, he would not stop looking. His only regret was that he could not search for his childe himself.

With the war on, as well as the issue of protection for the new Empire, he had his hands full with politics and meetings, with keeping his own territory and court, as well as the Empire's borders that needed to be protected. There were thoughts of expanding them all the way across Western Europe as well, so they wouldn't be boxed in on two sides by their enemies. Even thought it would be a rough fight, he believed that it could be done. He had to make sure his beloved still had a safe home to come back to, even though the constant bureaucracy was driving him out of his mind…

Cain stood still, gazing out into the night, and the lands of his region, his thoughts continuing to be firmly centered upon his delightful, yet frustratingly willful childe, when a knock came to the door.

He could already sense who it was, and wondered why the young vampire had decided to come. He could only think of one subject to which this particular nightwalker would make the long journey. Did he have some idea as to where Shido was?

“Come, Gwyn.”

The youthful master vampire entered the room silently, his long black hair was tied back at the nape of his neck and continued to flow down his back. It accented his pale skin and blue eyes, his tall stature and stenciled features reflected his northern European origins.

The male wore loose black garments in the tradition of his Norse relatives, a gold ring upon his right ring finger. The ring carried the crest of the northern court in Cain's lands. The ring not only symbolized that he was part of Raphael's—Cain's 1st Lieutenant's—court, but he was also Raphael's mate and therefore protected by both his and his lieutenant's authority.

Gwyn bowed before his senior and waited for Cain to address him.

The blond looked over his shoulder at the vampire, “So, why have you traveled so far from your mate's province, Gwyn?”

The brunette looked up at him, “My lord, I have come to ask if there is any news concerning Lord Shido?”

Cain turned to him fully and sighed, “No news as of yet. Every minute he is out there alone and unprotected, it is a closer possibility that those wretched humans will capture him, or worse. Everyday, the situation keeps getting worse.”

Gwyn stood as the other nodded his permission, “If I may sir, can I ask your allowance to go out and search for him…my lord?”

The High Lord turned to him in surprise, “I already have my own mate lost out there. I'm not going to risk the mate of my First Lieutenant. Have you approached Raphael about this?”

Gwyn's face gained a placating look that usually earned him, anyone's direct attention. “Please hear me out, my lord! Raphael already understands what Shido's absence has been doing to you. And with the war with the mortals now upon us, it is vital that he returns to us and to you, sir! We need you in this perilous time, and I am willing to risk my life to achieve our goals.”

The ancient vampire turned away from the young master of the north, even though he knew there was truth in his words. For a century he had tried to survive, but without his mate by his side, he would never be able to be whole again. However, he knew there were other reasons that Gwyn was making this plea. “Why don't you get to the heart of the matter? You were Shido's best friend since you were fledglings; I know you are also very worried about him. However, I cannot let you risk yourself out there. I have sent out a retrieval team to look for Shido at this very moment, and I can assure you that this matter will not go unresolved.”

Cain felt his fangs lengthen in response to his building anger, “I will either bring him home, or make certain his death is avenged.”

Gwyn looked away in exasperated defeat. Cain was right in that even though he was worried about his High Lord's health and the security of the Empire, he was even more concerned with whether his comrade was alive or dead.

He had been grief-stricken when Shido had disappeared over a century ago, and the entire territory had felt the effects of Cain's wrath. After the initial rage had cooled down, the High Lord would leave for months at a time, leaving the territory in the hands of his four lieutenants. This included, his own mate, 1st Lt. Raphael of the North, 2nd Lt. Cyrus of the East, 3rd Lt. Falcon of the South, and 4th Lt. Genesis of the West. They all were all trusted master vampires that Cain had appointed to rule under him. But there was only so much they could do without Cain's authority and leadership.

However, Gwyn could truly care less about politics. He was only a master de facto, which wasn't a very strong rank on one's own. He had achieved the rank of master because his mate was one, but he was a master in name only. In essence, he was only a common vampire, and common vampires didn't need to get involved with the affairs of their sires.

He and Shido had both been common vampires—later to be given higher ranks via their mates—and the two had become fast friends when they met in Cain's court. While both of their masters were very territorial of them, the two had approved of their friendship since the two were of the same rank and approximately the same age.

He smiled inwardly as he remembered the many days and adventures the two had spent together, hunting together, playing together, and of course, the more intimate and sensual activities that encompasses a vampiric friendship.

Now while he trusted Cain's retrieval team to do their jobs, it had been months without any results, and he possessed powers that none of the others had. Even before he had been reborn as a vampire, he had had the power of psychometry. As a psychometrist, he could obtain details, and practically a whole story about another person through physical contact with their body or with their possessions, most likely going through the whole tale from that person's point of view.

This was an intensely rare and costly ability for vampires, and an almost nonexistent one for humans. It required severe control and strength, and Gwyn suffered continuously for it. However, there were times when his powers proved to be an asset. He knew that he would be able to find Shido if he was given a chance, but both his masters seemed to be too overprotective…

“Sir, I may only be a master in name, and a common vampire by nature, but I can defend myself and fight with the best of them in battle. I am sure Lord Shido is the same. I know he is still alive out there. If you only give me a chance, you know my powers will give me the advantage and bring him home sooner rather than later.”

Cain had to admit that the boy had determination and resilience on his side, and that his psychometric powers could prove valuable in the search.

“I'll give the team another week to accomplish their job. If they have not found Shido by then, you may go and search him out. However, I want Raphael to place two of his best to go with you. Is that understood?”

Gwyn exhaled a silent sight of relief. Raph had already made it plain before he left, that if Cain allowed him to go out in search, he would not be going unescorted. He would be patient and hope and pray for his dear friend's safety, until he could go after the rebellious male himself.

“Thank you my Lord Cain, I promise that when the time comes I will find him.”

Cain nodded and watched the younger vampire disappear from the room in a hazing mist.

Seeing Gwyn, brought fresh memories of his lost mate back to his heavy heart. Going back to his own private chambers, he pushed open a set of curtains that revealed what had once been Shido's rooms. The suite had been miraculously up kept yet untouched ever since his little one had foolishly run away all those nights ago.

Walking up to a large chest that stood on the vanity, he quietly opened it and fingered through the jewels and trinkets kept inside, until he found a single gold ring that matched the one Gwyn wore. The only difference was the fact that the crest was his own, and the style was more antique and elaborate.

A ghost of a smile appeared on his lips, “Come home, beloved. I await your return. And I beg of you, please stay safe until I find you.”

He then thought of the ruthless humans and their barbarous and vicious acts of cruelty they had committed against his kind. And they have the nerve to call us “monsters”!

His lovely mate was lost in their world, his life now in constant danger. Who knew what those wretched monsters would do to him if he was captured. The dreaming vision that Shido was, even with his strength and endurance, he wouldn't be able to last a month in one of their concentration camps.

His hand gripped forcefully around the signet ring, as he thought of his Shido in mortal slaughterers' grip. “If anyone hurts you, touches your soft skin, or draws your succulent blood…they will not escape my fury, and vengeance will be mine and mine alone. For death shall visit that person for the final time, whether he be vampire or human, mortal or immortal—as payment for touching what is mine…”