Chapter 30
“Blood Prophecy?” asked Logan.
“Brady is helping in exchange for something from the gods?” asked Remy.
“Is that why you agreed to do it?” growled Carson, his gaze shifting from Oracle to Brady. “Because you can name your price and the gods will pay it?”
Brady bristled at Carson’s insinuation. “For your information, I specifically stated to Oracle that the gods should wait to see if I was successful in saving the Ruler of Magic Realm before offering anything.”
Remy laid a hand on Carson’s arm to keep him from responding. If the gods had offered Brady a substantial gift in exchange for helping him with the Witches’ Governing Council, then he and his brothers were facing far worse trouble than his mate believed. Turning to Oracle, he asked, “Is that true?”
“Yes…and it is also true Brady refused to accept anything up front.”
“My decision to help you,” explained Brady, “wasn’t based on what the gods were willing to give me but on my desire to rescue low level magic users currently suffering under the Witches’ Council oppression and to prevent others from becoming ensnared.” He paused, looking at his mate for a moment before continuing. “I’m sure all of you are aware of my lack of magic, which never bothered me before, but now I have a mate and no way to protect him. When Lucius believed his life would be forfeited, I seized upon the only tool I had to save him and I will always do everything in my power…little that I have…to make sure my mate never suffers again.”
“As I would do for my mate,” Carson murmured, embarrassed at his behavior. “I’m sorry, Brady, for assuming the worst. Remy has told me I’m a bit over protective of him and the boys and it seems he’s right. But finding out what the gods are willing to do just to gain your agreement to help Remy…well, I now realize the danger he’s facing is way beyond anything I imagined.”
“You aren’t alone in this, bro,” Logan said. “Remy and you have the entire Blackwood Pack behind you. We stand as one.”
“Thanks,” Carson said, drawing his mate to him. “We’re grateful for that.”
Turning to Oracle, Logan asked, “Getting back to the Blood Prophecy…what is it and why does it have anything to do with Brady and Lucius?”
“I will explain in a moment, but first...” Oracle turned to Lucius, giving him a reassuring smile before asking, “Do you remember what happened after Valerian bit you?”
Frowning, Lucius thought back to that time, trying to part the fog in his mind surrounding those weeks after his encounter with the vampire. But no matter how hard he tried, only random bits and pieces surfaced and they made no sense. “Not a lot…mainly I just remember the pain I was in. Why?”
Nodding, Oracle said, “As I expected.”
“I’m not sure I understand,” Brady said. “Other than the pain caused by his body adjusting to be a vampire, are you implying something else happened during that time?”
“Yes, there was more done to Lucius and apparently it was done without his knowledge,” replied Oracle. “Let me start from the beginning. Shortly after vampires appeared on earth, a very old Shaman issued a prophecy about a creature who would have the blood of a demon, a witch and a vampire, each conveying their respective powers. It was an intriguing idea to many, especially if they could gain control of this novel entity. Some searched for the creature while others tried to breed it, but regardless of the effort put forth, all failed. As time marched on, the Blood Prophecy, as it was called, faded from memory; witches and vampires faced other issues as their numbers grew.
“Hundreds of years passed without mention of the prophecy until one day, as Valerian was traveling through a forest, he came upon a small cottage, the home of a very old vampire who invited him to dinner. It was then Valerian learned of the Blood Prophecy. It piqued his interest and he spent the rest of the evening fascinated by everything he learned about it.”
“I’ve never heard of it,” Brady murmured, frowning slightly. “Where can I read about this prophecy?”
“It was never written down,” Oracle replied.
“Hmm…are you sure?” asked Brady. “Even oral histories are eventually recorded on paper…mainly to preserve them so future generations can learn about them.”
“That is true…but unfortunately, not in this case,” Oracle said, before continuing. “From that moment on, Valerian became obsessed with it even though the old vampire regarded it as nothing more than a tall tale.”
“I agree with the old vampire,” said Brady. “I suppose a witch and a vampire could have offspring who’d have the blood of both of them, but demon blood? I can’t imagine how that could ever happen.”
“It cannot, Brady,” Oracle said. “Numerous matings of vampires and witches occurred back then but none of them produced children. Neither the gods nor the Fates would allow a child to be produced from that particular pairing. After Valerian returned to his home in Spain, he discussed his discovery with Zeidan and Xavier.”
“Who are Zeidan and Xavier?” asked Remy.
“They were the other vampires that I had to obey,” Lucius said softly.
“They died at the same time Valerian did,” Logan added.
“Glad to hear that,” Remy muttered.
“Oracle, please go on,” Brady said.
“Well, after reviewing the different attempts that failed to create the creature, it was determined a new approach would have to be found. So Valerian put Xavier in charge of the new project and assigned Strix, a witch who used black magic, to help him.”
