The Immortalized Heart (Book 2 Original version)
The Nightraven Lineage

The cold wind that brushes across her cheek did notbother as it did when she was human. Two years has gone by and nothing haschanged, everything is as she left it. Over the mountaintop she rested, takingin the rising sun; a welcoming light. Once Kira loathed the world of light andall who basked in it, but her time with Emily helped her see the beauty in allshades. Among those of the town, Kira stood out--a white-haired woman withsunglasses does tend to draw attention.

She walked thru town slowly, wanting totake in the sights and sounds she overlooked as a child. Across the streetanother walked, but the presence of a new face caught the corner of her eye.She had not realized until the last moment, the woman who walked across thestreet was entirely different--Kira Nightraven. Her disbelieve swayed hercourse to where had a horn not sounded she would have walked right in front ofthe car. Looking again Kira was gone, no she was behind, having pulled thestrayed from death's grip.

Jessica graduated two years ago and now was asophomore in community college because despite hating this small town, shefound she could not bear to leave it. This shitty town tied her down, no, it toldto her to stay, like there was something she needed to do before she left. Itgravitated around Kira's disappearance--half the town fell into depression andthere were no answers to be found. People asked around, but the person known asKira had been whipped from all memory and record and from the school Jessicawas the only one who did not act as if Kira never existed.

"Its been a while, Jess." Jessica jumped,Kira had changed a lot; she was not the same person. Questions racked hermind--'where have you been?'; 'why doesn't anyone remember you?'; 'Why did youcome back?' Kira gave a light smile; someone remembers her, that was a relief.By the time Jessica could speak, Kira already was gone, once again vanishingwith the wind.

Eon greeted his tree by climbing and jumping betweenbranches and weaving in and of of patches of sunlight. This is where they met,where they spent their time together and now this is where they would depart.Kira knew the ferret would not be safe if he remained with her and besides,this was his home and she only took him from it and forced him somewhere else.Up the hill, to the right past the twin tree one would replace themselves on themain road to the mansion at the top of the mountain.

None were alarmed at theheavy atmosphere, but only one awaited at the gate. His arms were crossed asthe old man stood by the opened entry; he warned he would kill her if she evermade the queen cry, but things have changed since then and old words don't holdup as they used to. Wolfgang felt no need to invite Kira inside, this was herhome, this was their home and the only thing preventing her return was herself.In the library they sat quietly, sipping tea a commenting every-so-often when afamiliar face entered the room.

"I know you, you're not here to stay; you wantsomething then you'll leave just as always." Wolfgang huffs touching thetip of his sword's handle.

It is as the captain of the guard said and Kira feltno remorse in admitting such. She could not afford to regret her decision, Kiraknew she had to live with the consequences of her choices. If her choices meanther suffering for Eona's happiness than so be it, it would be a cost she wouldgladly accept. Wolfgang commended Kira for coming when the queen was not here.The bastard child of Catherine knew at least how to keep her distance. Nowhowever was not the time to dwell on relationships or emotions, but to look tothe future so there would be time to dwell.

"You know about the history of the Nightravensbetter than anyone else. I need to know where the Book of the Moon is."

Wolfgang answered sharply, "The hunters haveit."

One would believe that would be the end of theirconversation, but Kira was not about to leave empty-handed and the old dog knewsuch. Instead he would indulge her thirst for knowledge with a history lesson.She was right, aside from Eona herself, Wolfgang knew more about the Nightravenfamily than even Alucard. He began with a simple statement, one he knew wouldbind Kira to her true purpose: whether it be as a tool or by her own violation:

"You will never betray her."

Amelia Nightraven founded the Nation. Her origins werea mystery because records of the time before the nation were thought to havebeen destroyed during the 'Great Collapse' of the first Reign. Known for theresponsibility of uniting the vampire population, the Pureblood also createdthe first laws regarding the relationship between humans and immortals. It wasa time ravaged by human conflict and eventually all common knowledge of theimmortal's existence vanished and they became little more than myth andfantasy.

Amelia, who witnessed the fall of the First Reign, wanted a peace tobe created, but from the shadows therefore humans could gradually grow toaccept vampires. Wars waged on without hesitation and humans who were so frailthey could never hope to stand against the Great White produced weapons and themeans to end each other and themselves. Amelia Nightraven had a daughter by thename of Carmela Nightraven and continued to strive toward her dream of apeaceful world.

She never saw that dream fulfilled for in her long life, afterthe shock of losing both her family and her husband the Pureblood lost her willto live and claimed her own life. From there her only daughter and heir Carmelaascended the throne and attempted a different approach than her predecessor.She sought to control humans from the shadows, manipulating their own systemsagainst them and making the world safer for vampires rather than allow thehumans to gain 'equal' ground, capable of overthrowing vampire kind.

TheNightraven family only knew tragedy for shortly after Eona was born Carmela toolost her life, having also never seen the family dream accomplished. Eona wasdifferent than her predecessors, she did not inherit 'Amelia's Will' like hermother and chose a different path, wanting to change the fate of the Nightravenfamily. She wanted there to be a bridge between humans and vampires and just asshe wished one had appeared.

A human who only knew the life of a vampire slavecould be brought up to understand vampires from the human perspective. Thathuman she raised carefully, knowing that one day her use would come and allthat was necessary was to give her the knowledge to unite the two sides inpeaceful ways, starting with the very humans who seek to kill vampires. Theyears passed and rather than raising a tool Eona saw the human as a person; afriend; rather than understand a species that wasn't her own, she understoodEona and her kin as her family.

For Eona who hardly understood the idea offamily, it was something new and exciting in a long boring life. She thought toplay along. Gradually however as the young girl grew and progressively venturedout from her dependence of Eona's side, the Pureblood became to feel an emotionshe had never known before: fear. Fear of losing her precious bird; fear of thechild no longer needing her; fear that someone else would take her away. Thatfear morphed into a longing and then became and uncontrollable desire to foreverclip the bird's wings.

Her throat responded to this desire and before thePureblood realized it, she had reach for the girl's neck. In the last momentshe snapped her hand back and then in an instant withdrew from the girl, nowfearing that rather than clip wings she would crush the bird. However when herbird willingly wondered back into the cage the door slammed shut and locked.

Kira sipped her tea after the story concluded,contemplating her next thoughts. Wolfgang's words were true--she would notbetray Eona, no matter what whether Kira does its willingly or not herexistence is for the queen's sake. In this twisted world that was her fate, oneany person could have received, but she was the 'one' who did. A series ofcircumstance and coincidences not destiny had intertwined the two. Though Kiraknew that to be reality she maintained the conscious that there were parts ofher choices that were hers solely, un-dictated by the ideology of herupbringing; the power of her soul perhaps. In the face of all those odds Kirachose to take on the role of self-sacrifice on her own--she has always had thehabit of taking on things as such.

What difference does it make to any, they donot see the world as she does, therefore they cannot comprehend herchoices...not even Eona can. Wolfgang silently watched Kira's expressions. Onceshe would have been flustered, wanting to replace a means that everyone couldsucceed at, however she is not the same Kira and now she sees the world and allthose in it as a fly on the wall. Should he pity her because she is a humanthrown into this fate or because she is a vampire who feels as a mortal does?Kira doesn't want pity, she doesn't want sympathy--what does she want?

"It seems anyone who bears the Nightraven namewill always suffer tragedy." The old knight huffed moving his gaze tothe numerous books on the shelves.

She said nothing for a time, only starred out thewindow to the shadows of a free's leaves. Its true, the Nightraven name iscursed, cursed by those who caused Amelia to flee after the collapse.Nonetheless she was only a step closer to the origin of that curse and itsomehow surrounded the 'Ancestors' of the First Reign. Natas, Amelia, they weremembers, but how big of a family? Were they siblings? Lovers? Parents?Grandparents? They had a relationship and that curse follows that entirefamily...Alucard, Nightraven, Kira; holding the power of Natas...it felt likethe bloodline was being reunited somehow or someone held a different agenda.The half-blood set her tea down and leaned forward, starring at the creases ofher palms.

"I'm tired of not being able to anything." Kira admitted, "I'vealways been protected by someone whether it be Eona or Emily and forwhat?"

Wolfgang responded, "Love makes one do insane things--you'll come to understand that one day soon."

The statement caught her off guard and confused her, but she decided not to pursue it with a question. Kira clamped her hands together then brought themapart, kindling a tiny flame between them. Anyone who is near her suffers, acurse not by her doing, but by being a human in a vampire's world--the strongare hurt to protect the weak. She did not mind being hurt, she could handle it,but if Eona was hurt then Kira would truly break. She was selfish. How can shebe hurt and be okay with it, but others could not, even if it was to share thatpain? Wolfgang hated Kira for this, she was trying to take Eona's choice fromher, thinking it was best for her when its up to the queen to decide forherself.

"I just want her to have a happy life...even if that means I'm not in it."

Wolfgang sighed, "You have an annoying delusion of what you deem as the correct course of action to be the only correct one. Eona and you know eachother, have laughed and cried--that bond cannot be undone or taken back. Thepast cannot change so cease trying."

Kira smiles lightly, "I'm not trying to changethe past, I'm trying to change the future."