Caleb walked into Mace’s room while he stuffed different things into his backpack for the journey ahead.
“I’ll make sure to tell the school that a family emergency came up.” Caleb said as he watched him pack.
“Don’t bother I won’t be going back there anyway.”
“Just in case I’ll still do it, you may decide you want to come back here or the guild headmaster may demand you continue high school in New York in which case you will need the paper transfers from Kelly High.” Caleb said matter of factly.
“Do what you want Caleb you always do anyway.” Mace snapped.
“What’s with your bad attitude towards me lately?” Caleb asked looking him in the eye.
With a sigh Mace tossed his backpack on the bed. “You know what my problem with you is Caleb?”
“I wish you’d tell me.”
“You’re my best friend, you always have been but the way you have been acting lately with the extra missions and how dangerous they have been getting you are going to get yourself killed and the worst part of it was that you shut me and Lydia out.” He answered.
“I…I’m sorry.” Caleb said losing the will to argue. “I have kind of been on a bender of sorts.”
“Why though? I know it’s got to be more than trying to live up to what your dad wanted.” Mace pointed out.
“You’re right Mace it is more than just that for a long time now I have wanted revenge, revenge for my mother, for our ancestors and friends. The hate has just been building in me and now it feels like if I don’t release the anger it will explode at the wrong time and place.” Caleb said unable to meet his eyes.
“You’re not the only one who feels like that Caleb ya know?” Mace questioned.
“I hadn’t thought about it to tell you the truth, I’ve been so caught up in my own problems I haven’t been much of a friend to you guys.”
“Live and learn my friend.” He said patting Caleb on the back.
“Are you still planning on leaving to get help?”
“Everything else aside I still think it’s the best thing to do, I wish you and Lydia would reconsider and come with me.” He answered grabbing the backpack.
“We’ll hold the fort until you get back.” Caleb answered still firm in his decision as well.
“You better.” He smiled pushing Caleb through the door.
“Which begs the question Mace do you want us to tell Lucas you have accepted the deal or do you want to try and make it through on your own?” Caleb asked.
“Why not do both?” He smiled wickedly.
“Meaning?”
“I say we tell him I have taken the deal then you can go to the edge of the boundary in a cloak pretending to be me, meanwhile I will take a completely different route out of the boundary. By the time they figure out what is going on I’ll be long gone.” Mace explained.
“The old bait and switch one of your fathers first lessons to us.” Caleb smiled.
“And one of my favorites.” Mace added.
“Sounds good to me, well I better get to the sanctuary the hour is just about up.” Caleb said walking off down the hall.
When he walked into the room Lydia was there all dressed up in her black boots, leather black pants that hugged her wonderful shape and a tight brown leather shirt that matched the outfit extenuating her breasts and flat belly. Her long brown hair hung in a loose pony tail down her back and her black eyes scanned everything like those of a bird of prey which Caleb guessed she kind of was.
“Did you change his mind?” She questioned tapping her foot on the floor.
“Hardly.” Caleb sighed. “You’re a little over dressed aren’t you? Unless of course you have changed your mind and are planning on going with him.” He laughed until she flung a backpack of her own onto the floor in front of her.
“I have changed my mind and I want you to come with us.” She said with a pleading look.
“I can’t…or rather, I won’t.” Caleb answered sitting back in the large arm chair.
“Staying here by yourself is suicide.” She reasoned.
“That’s a matter of opinion.” He said flatly laying back. “Now if you’ll excuse me I have an appointment to keep.”
“You’re as stubborn as Mace!” She said stomping out of the room.
Caleb ignored her as he let part of his consciousness drift out of his body to the ethereal plane, once there he could see everything in a different light it was the world hidden behind reality but he had little time to appreciate it. The pull to the phantom reach sped him across time and space to where meetings and negotiations of the supernatural took place, as the shadow of himself floated to a stop in the circle he saw Lucas posed and regal as usual waiting for him.
“There was a debate on whether or not you would actually show up.” Lucas smiled showing his fangs.
“Which way did you bet?”
“Some people owe me money.” He answered with another smile. “So little one what have you and the other kids decided?”
“Mace is taking your offer to leave unencumbered by your clan and any other clans associated with your group assuming you keep your word.” Caleb answered with a sneer. “He is ready to leave as soon as we conclude our discussion here, he will take the western road, agreed?”
“Dear sweet Caleb you cut me to the quick, of course I will hold to my word of our not attacking, you wound me that you would think I wasn’t truthful or that I would break my word.” He frowned looking really hurt.
“I’ve had experience dealing with your clans in the past.” Caleb reminded him.
“Ah yes, how are those wounds healing?”
“They’re fine.” He said grinding his teeth. “So we have a deal?”
“We do, are you and Lydia sure that you won’t reconsider my other offers? It would be a shame for you to die not when our leadership has so many plans that could include you.”
“I’ll see you again Lucas but next time it will be at the end of my blade.” Caleb answered floating away back to his body.
“We will see Caleb, we shall see.” Lucas said returning to his own body.
“What news from the meeting Lucas?” A figure questions from the shadows.
“Caleb and Lydia have refused to leave only Mace has taken the offer.” Lucas answered while bowing deeply.
“I had expected Caleb to stay, Lydia I wasn’t sure about but I knew Mace would want to go for help.”
“Caleb said Mace will take the western road out of Passion Falls.” Lucas added. “He expects us to keep our word and none of the clans to attack that are aligned with us.”
“And we shall honor that promise.” The man grinned.
“But sir would it not be better to wipe even one of them out while we have the chance?” Lucas frowned.
In a flash the other vampire crossed the room hitting Lucas so hard that he flew into a wall taking most of it down when he hit.
“Do not question my orders, we keep our word above all else.”
“Yes master Ked.” Lucas said out of breath as he held his chest.
“Our new leader will be awake soon and I want this ugly business wrapped up before he rises.” Ked demanded. “Now leave and flood the woods on the eastern and western road with the forest trolls, they are part of no clan and little more than beasts. Mind wipe them and imprint for them to capture anyone they find and bring them back here before the night is over.”
“Why the eastern road?” Lucas asked.
“Because I believe they will try something called the bait and switch now stop questioning me and do as you have been told.”
“As you wish my lord.” Growled Lucas heading off down a hallway towards an area filled with cages.
One by one Lucas’ mind controlled fifty different trolls that foamed at the mouth ready and waiting to hunt.
“Go forth and do my will creatures of the night.” Lucas laughed flinging open the cage doors and watching them flood into the forest.
; The three teenagers walked out of the mansion they called home ready for the long night ahead.
“Are you sure I can’t talk you guys out of this?” Caleb questioned as he hugged them both.
“Are you sure we can’t talk you into it?” Mace laughed.
“I’m afraid not Mace, but never fear my child I will always be with you.” He answered making his voice sound like a man from a movie.
“Say that again when we are out there running for our lives.” He frowned.
“You guys will be fine, until I see you again be safe.” Caleb said running to the west entrance while the other ran in the opposite direction.
It only took Caleb five minutes to sprint all the way to the end of the western road at the barrier edge but it still felt like it took too long, when he saw Lucas waiting at the border he slowed his pace hoping to buy his friends even more time.
“Come Mace let us get you to the other side of our territory and then…” He suddenly stopped when the wind changed as he sniffed the air. “Caleb, either you have changed your mind or you are hoping to trick me.”
“Damn I should have masked my scent!” Thought Caleb mentally kicking himself for forgetting the detail. “No point in hiding now.”
“You really have no faith in my word do you?” Smiled Lucas as Caleb pulled back his hood.
Right then two trolls ran out from behind a nearby tree hitting the barrier with a shriek as it damaged them so much they both fell to their knees once on the other side where Caleb pulled out his soul blade and absorbed both of their entire essences in a single stab to both of them.
“I’m sorry you were saying?” Asked Caleb.
“These creatures are not part of any clan so still I have kept my word which is more than I can say for you Caleb. So where exactly is Mace? The eastern road perhaps?”
“I wasn’t told.” He lied.
“I’m sure you weren’t but in any case we will keep our word hopefully they will make the trip without any…complications, after all, the road through these lands can be fraught with danger.” Lucas smiled before running back at a super speed through the forest that made him look like a blur.