The Prophecy
Meeting Daniel

I knew this time would come: Danielstanding in front of me. But I didn’t know I would be backed up into a corner.I thought I was going to surprise Daniel, not the other way around. But there Istood, like a deer caught in the headlights. I didn’t know what to do. Icouldn’t run, I couldn’t hide, I couldn’t even flirt my way out of this one.Alex was locked up and powerless; even if he wanted to, he couldn’t help menow. My only hope was that Marcus and the others would replace us. How could Ifight Daniel like this? I wasn’t prepared. I had no weapons except for the onesmall blade in my hand and even that was getting heavy.

Daniel was leaning against the wallwith one foot crossing the other and both arms folded. His long blonde hairdraped over his shoulders and his eyes were now a lighter shade of black. Didhis eyes ever change color? He looked very muscular; I could see every strongvein in his folded arms. He wore all black, all the way down to his boots. Hisbuttoned shirt was open halfway down and silver necklaces draped around hisneck and fell to his hairless chest. His cheekbones and powerful jaw line wereperfectly constructed, and his lips crested seamlessly. I now could see thathis skin was darker than any other vampire I had come across.

He was beautiful, I must say. Evenbreathtaking. If I didn’t know better, I would have thought he was one of God’screations, not a product of the Devil. I couldn’t believe that Lucifer couldmake such a statuesque being. When he spoke, he had so much authority and powerin each little word that anybody around him had to take notice. I could see whypeople bowed at his feet; they felt they were in the presence of the All MightyGod himself. If it wasn’t for the hate I had for him, I would be on myknees.

The Devil saw fit to make him soalluring and so beautiful that he could attract the attention of his victims,pull them into his hold, and keep them there until he no longer had a use forthem. From the little time I spent in the club, and just by standing in frontof him now, I could see just how much women wanted to be with him. They flockedaround him hoping he would turn and look at them, if only once. He was flawless.

I stood frozen in that moment withnothing but fear to keep me from running. My body wouldn’t move and my eyeswere locked onto his beautiful form. I knew I would have to face him, I justdidn’t realize it would be so soon and so helplessly. The world that I thoughtwould spin forever had suddenly stopped, as if waiting for his next demand.

Alex grabbed my hand and squeezedit tight. It seemed that he knew all the emotions that were running through meand everything I was thinking. He knew how scared I was. But even his touchcouldn’t get me to me move. And even if I could have, there was nowhere for meto run. There were no windows in this dungeon and Daniel was blocking my onlyway out. Daniel just stared at us and smiled. All I could do was wait to seewhat he would do next. He knew he had my attention and he used that against me.

“Isn’t this typical,” he said as helooked at Alex. “Falling in love with the one you vowed to protect. Yousurprise me, Alexander. I thought I disciplined you better than this. I thoughtI trained you to be heartless and apathetic to those around you. Wow. You hadeven me fooled.”

“Well then, my mission was asuccess,” Alex whispered.

“How long have you been plottingagainst me? Has it been twenty-five years or has it been longer?”

“I don’t know. It’s all a blur. Youknow, the years just disappear after a time. I wanted you to think you couldcontrol me, you cold-hearted bastard.”

“Oh?” Daniel raised hiseyebrow.

“When I realized that what you werefeeding us was nothing but a lie I recognized where my alliances really stood.”Alex’s voice was fierce; it even frightened me for a second.

Daniel stood there and smiled atAlex, as if unmoved. But I wanted to believe that Alex’s words were like adagger in his heart and every word was a deeper twist of that knife. He trainedthis man for years and knew how strong he was. This had to hurt him.

“What did you think? That you wouldbe able to keep her from my grasp? That the two of you would replace a way to killme? And then what? Run off under the moonlight? Ugh. You really make me sick.”Daniel pushed himself off the wall and stood in the middle of the room.

“All the more reason to do it,”Alex said.

“And you.” Daniel turned to look atme. I clenched my body more tightly, ready for any attack. “Trinity, whose futuremighty deeds were foretold to me in an ancient prophecy, stands before me.” Hesmiled.

“Yes.” I wanted to sound strong.

“I can hardly keep my excitementunder control. This is such an honor to stand in your presence. You’ve come along way from where I last saw you in person. The last time I saw you, you weredropping your young Sierra off at school. Yeah, you had a busy day thatafternoon. Showing me your routine without even knowing it, you made it so easyfor us to keep a track on you.”

I held my breath as Alex squeezedmy hand tighter. I wanted to jump at Daniel after he spoke my daughter’s name.But I had to remain calm or else he’d see that he was hurting me with just hiswords.

“But you disappoint me, too. You’rekind of not living up to the hype. Did you think that you were going to take meby surprise tonight, swoop under my radar and attack when you thought I wasmost vulnerable?”

I brought my hands down to my side,dropping my knife. “Well, that was the plan.” I didn’t want him to think I was scared to stand up to him; I didn’twant him to see my weakness.

“Tsk tsk. Apparently you’re stillnot getting it. Clearly all the teachings that you have been given haven’t beengood enough. Either that or you’re just hardheaded. So I will try and explainit to you as simply as I can. What you haven’t understood is that I seeeverything you see and I feel everything you feel.” He tapped his forehead withhis finger. “Connected, remember? When you tracked me, I knew you were doingit. I only let you see what I wanted you to see. Did you not think I didn’twant you to replace me? Ha, it only made my job that much easier.”

His mockery was infuriating me. Ilooked over at Alex who was staring at Daniel with repugnance. I could tell hewanted to throw Daniel to the ground and rip his head off more than I did.

I wanted to be in that cell withAlex, sheltered away from Daniel by the prison bars.

“My mind got tired runningeverywhere with you. You’ve gone to so many places I was beginning to getdizzy. I wanted to rest, for God sake. I knew you would try to replace me the wayI was replaceing you. So I let you in. Trust me, you’re not that special.”

Daniel stopped talking. Three menwalked around the corner, with Marcus, Jessup and Cyrus firmly in their graspand another man had my book under his arm. My heart dropped to my stomach. Thiswas a trap and I had led everybody right into it. I knew when I gave Marcus andthe others their way out they should have taken it. They hadn’t been strongenough to fight Daniel’s army of vampires.

I gasped. “No,” I mumbled under mybreath.

Daniel laughed. “What did youthink? That they would be able to get around me undetected? I have meneverywhere who would do anything for me. If you thought hard enough you wouldhave seen this coming.

“Who did you think would be the oneto stop me? You? Did you really think you were smart enough to pull this off?I’ve had years of practice, you’re going on what – a couple of months? You’reso foolish.” He couldn’t help but smile. “Put them into separate cells. Thebook and the girl come with me.”

I was forced to follow Daniel intohis room. I walked away, hearing Alex yelling and shaking the bars behind me.The minute I walked through the door, I was pushed onto the couch. I slid tothe middle and crossed my legs. I didn’t want him to see my terror or feel myfear. I waited for him to speak. I knewhe had a lot to say and I wanted to be the gracious guest that just listened.

“Have a seat. You might want to getcomfortable.” He smirked. “This might take awhile.” He pulled a zippo and apack of cigarettes out from his shirt pocket. He put the cigarette to his lipsand lit it. The smell of the tobacco made my stomach twist. “But who knows. Youmight enjoy it.” A big white cloud of smoke came out of his mouth.

“Comfortable for what? Thebeginning of my death? You’re a little ambitious, aren’t you?” I saidsarcastically.

He walked gracefully to his bed andlay down on his stomach, facing me. “Such a funny girl. I don’t plan on killingyou just yet. I plan on talking to you first. You know, get to know you alittle. I’ve waited years to meet you. I want to do this right before I takesuch a drastic step.” He took another drag from his cigarette. “Maybe, ifyou’re good, I’ll want to keep you around. You’re so much prettier than most ofthe girls I keep here. God knows you could kick their asses if you wanted to.”

I cut him off. “So that’s how youplan to kill me? Torture me to death with your conversation? Please. Just killme now.” I tried to be rude.

“You might want to bite yourtongue, Trinity. You may be beautiful – and trust me, I do have patience – butyou’re wearing it thin.” He turned over.

“So then what do you want to talkabout Daniel?” I said with exhaustion in my voice.

“Hmmm. I want to discuss our past.I’m sure you’ve been given a meaningless explanation of who I am and whatyou’re here to do.”

I crossed my legs in the otherdirection and then folded my arms. “From what I’ve read and what I see beforeme, I think the legends of you are true.”

“Awe. The famous book of Ismenia.”He quickly got up and grabbed my family’s legacy. His cigarette was hangingfrom his mouth. He crossed the room and gently placed the book into the emptyglass bookcase. “I’ve been waiting to see this book for centuries – ever since I knew she started writing it. Iknew I would see it someday so I had this case built for it. Pretty, isn’t it?”

“I guess.”

“I’ve been dying to read all thatmy beloved sister said about me. It must be very melodramatic. She always had away of embellishing the truth.” He commanded an overwhelming presence as hemoved across the room. I only stared and listened. I couldn’t move.

“I’d say it has a lot of truth toit.”

He smiled and closed his eyes,maybe to remember his sister. “It was hard on me when my mother killed her. Notbecause I cared – hell, I was after hertoo – but because I wanted to be the one to carry it out. She really crossed aline with our father and I just couldn’t accept that.”

I wanted to jump off the couch andshout at him. I wanted to defend Ismenia and all that came before me. But mydesparate hunger for the knowledge that he held was stronger than my urge toyell. I sat quietly, watching his every move, absorbing all he knew, separatinghis lies from my truth. It was actually insulting for him to think that I wouldbelieve him, especially after what he put me through.

He sat on the edge of his bed andcrossed his legs, excited to tell his tale. “Do you know how long I searchedfor Ismenia?” he asked peacefully.

I shook my head slowly, not takingmy eyes off his. “No.”

He chuckled softly. “Longer than Ihad patience for. But when the time finally came and I knew exactly where she’dbe, I told my mother like a good son does. But she told me the time wasn’tright and led me away. She told me I had more important things to do.”

“That’s why you’re angry?Seriously?”

“Do you even understand what it waslike, hunting for years without end, just for the chance to kill somebody?” Heyelled.

“I kind of have an idea.” Ishrugged my shoulders.

“Yeah, well you wouldn’t understandthe anger I felt when I found out my chance was gone! Lilith made it herpersonal mission to get to Ismenia first, all because she wanted to prove herloyalty to my father. She gave me tasks that were on the other side of theworld hoping it would keep me away and that maybe I would forget. But really,how could somebody forget the things that she did? Yeah, I didn’t forget. Andwhen I kill you I will begin my hunt for her.”

“Oh, and I thought you said youmight let me live,” I said cynically.

He smiled a sardonic smile. “Kind of poetic, isn’t it. I’ll be the one tokill the woman we both have so much hatred for.”

“Then why do you need me, Daniel?Why am I so important?” I begged to know.

“You’re really not trying to wormyour way out like this are you? By begging? I’ve waited so long for this. Comeon. Have a little dignity.”

“Fine. Then just be man enough totell me why I am so damn important.” I wanted to shout, but I remained calm.

He had a smile that seemed like itwould never leave his face. “After all this time you still haven’t figured itout. You’re God’s gift to this world. You should feel special. Not many peoplecan say that about themselves when it is actually true.”

“Well.” I paused and rolled myeyes. “I don’t.”

“God created you in His own perfectimage, granting you the almighty strength, the strength that was given to me.He gave you enough power to kill me. I mean, that alone should be reason enoughto kill you. I can’t let somebody else out there have the same power as me.After all, what kind of leader would I be if I let that happen?”

“You call yourself a leader?” Iquestioned.

“Are you going to let me finish?”

“Continue.”

“But God didn’t realize that you’rethe yin to my yang. I thought it was Ismenia at first, until I heard theprophecy… The Almighty Good versus the Damned Evil. We can’t both exist in thisrealm at once and I have chosen you to leave it first.

“The Devil knew what he was doingthe day he came across a scornful Lilith. He knew how powerful he could createher and all that came out of her. He wants to be King of this world and heknows that God has too many followers. You see, there are too many people outthere that believe in God and the heavens above. They believe there’s somethingwaiting for them after they die so they will fight to the very end to defendthat. The Devil can’t compete with something so strong.

“He needed power to defend himself,power that no mortal could ever possess. So he created us, his own army ofvampires, to take the lives of all God’s creatures. Ismenia couldn’t handle it;the human side of her heart outweighed the frozen side. She was weak. Ourmother knew it the day Ismenia gave birth. She saw it in her eyes: the lovethat only a human mother could have.”

I was looking away when he lookedat me. When he stopped speaking I looked over at him. “Oh, I’m sorry. Were youreferring to Ismenia or me when you were talking about a mother’s love?”

He chuckled under his breath. Hestood up and started pacing. “When Ismenia turned away from us, only I was leftto carry out our father’s missions. You could only imagine how betrayed he feltwhen she left. And to him, the cost of betrayal is death.” He knelt down a fewfeet in front of me and looked at me, hypnotizing me with his eyes. He wasclose enough for me to kick, but I was so lost in his words, I couldn’t do it.

“And then there’s you. God, you arebeautiful.” He ran his fingers down the side of my face. I turned my head awayfrom his hand. “My father never expected God to create such a lethal force –God’s own personal shield.” He stood up and sat next to me on the couch. Iunconsciously moved away. I didn’t want to feel his energy next to me. We mayhave held the same power but that didn’t stop me from fearing him.

“You were hidden well. I went tothe church that had raised you, but by the time I got there, what’s her name –Sister Rose? – had already gotten rid of you.”

The mention of her name drew mecloser to him. Please tell me he didn’t do anything to that nice woman. “Youdidn’t…?” I couldn’t replace it in myself to finish the question.

“I didn’t know who she was, didyou? Mmm, yeah. She was your aunt. She swore to protect you until she couldreplace a family that was right for you. But when I found her, even after thetorture I inflicted upon her, she still wouldn’t talk. So I had to do what Ihad to do.”

My Aunt. I now knew what became ofSister Rose… and actually now she was ‘Aunt’ Rose. He killed her for helpingme. I couldn’t believe she was my aunt. Another family member that he stolefrom me. At least I had the time to get to know her even if I didn’t know wewere related.

“I thought I would never replace you.I couldn’t track you when you were mortal. That proved to be an obstaclebecause our minds weren’t linked yet. But then you had a child. Such a foolishdecision. After that it was only a matter of time.”

He made me listen to his horribleperversions that were once my life. He made it seem like having a child,unaware of the damage it would cause, was my sin. After all, you can’t hide achild. If I had known, I would have ended my life before the damage could bedone.

“You shouldn’t be so hard onyourself, Trinity. Your death will come,” he said, reading my thoughts.

“Why was my daughter taken and notleft for dead?” I whispered.

“It wasn’t by my hands that she wasmade immortal. I may be a bastard, but I would never make a child immortal.They’re just too much of a headache.”

“Then who ordered it?” I demanded.

“Lilith had served her purpose andshe knew her death was imminent, so she grabbed your precious Sierra to starther own war – against you or God – Ireally don’t understand her thinking. But Lilith’s death will be handledaccordingly.”

I was done listening to him. “Thenyou should know that I am as strongas you – maybe stronger,” I said. “I’m not going to lie down and let you killme, no matter what you think. I will fight you. I will replace my daughter. And Iwill kill Lilith.”

“Your confidence is captivating butI’m afraid I’m getting bored and the time has come for me to carry out my prophecy. It would be easier for younot to fight this.” He stood up and walked to the edge of the bed.

“You and Gerviase are one and thesame; you’re both out of your damn mind!” I stood up.

“Trinity, death is your destiny.” He crouched down andbarred his fangs. “The Devil sent me here to kill all of you.” The wordsbellowed from his mouth.

I pulled back my lips, showing myteeth. “And God sent me here to save them!”