Chapter 1 Midnight Darkness

The blood dripped fast and hard, and Gael Sierra raised a brow as he watched the performance. No doubt it was an amateur vampire, and the young human below was just a little teen, but the bright red blood was making him hungry.

More than the display of agility, he knew it was a test for himself, a test of his control and his ability to live like a human.

He didn't see the need to live like a human and before he could stop himself, he was in front of the vampire, and one small contact pushed the latter off.

"Gael." It was the silent caution his father almost always used.

Gael steeled his back as he licked his lips, then turned away. The blood was out of his sight, and he managed to walk gracefully to his father.

"You have a more important task than that," his father, Alexander said.

Gael nodded and with one last glance at the blood, he followed his father.

"You are the only one who we can send to the red witches colony. They have been repelling any other attempt the minute they sense us.They will never be able to smell you out, and you should be able to make contact if you are careful and discreet," Alexander said, and leaned back.

Gael raised his eyebrows. "What should I do to them?"

"Offer them a peace gift. Think about what it is yourself," Alexander said. "How well you execute this will determine how fast your coming of age ceremony will be. You also know, that the crown Prince's seat has been empty on paper although we all know tis you. So do this, come back like the vampire prince you are."

Gael nodded and bowed his head. "I will not let midnight darkness down."

Alexander nodded and dismissed him, and Gael vanished from his sight.

The preparation for the journey was pretty easy, and Gael set out to the east of Las Vegas. It was a trail he had never been to before, but was still able to follow quite easily. Once he got to the colony, he was welcomed by a witch.

The witch, as opposed to the image of them that he had in mind, was young and extremely beautiful, with a dark red hair she held up in a bun, and a flowing beautiful black dress that swayed in the wind along with the strands that had escaped from the bun.

"Greetings, visitor. Who do you seek?" she asked, her head held up.

He had never met anyone who was arrogant in his presence. It did intrigue him, and a small smile graced his red lips.

"I have come to meet the head witch. I have brought a message." he replied, gauging her. He let his eyes shamelessly down to her neck, her carotid pumping fresh, beautifully red blood.

She met his eyes, and fixed it with hers, so he couldn't look down without her seeing him.

"Come with me," she said after a few minutes, and he followed, his hand clasped behind his back, and the single half vampire he had brought with him carrying the luggage.

The colony was pretty much a giant circle of houses that closed in on each other, allowing spaces between them and a grand hall in the middle. It was unlike his sophisticated city, and it brought a small smirk to his lips.

"You seem to have found a lot of things to laugh about," the red haired witch said, and she turned to Gael.

She had a deep accent, and it only made him smile more.

"Your city is indeed as beautiful as I have heard, and the guide the heavens have given me too." He gave her his best charming smile, one that showed nothing of the fangs that could pop underneath.

She smiled, clearly not offended by his clear admiration of her. "Well, you are lucky. Come."

She seemed more pleasurable now, and he followed to the largest house. It had an eerie feel to it, and he stopped at the door as opposed to his guide who went in.

He watched her as she turned to him, and he flashed her a smile. "Is it not disrespectful of me to go in without the owner?"

The witch giggled and he knew he had her where he needed her. He smiled again, then set his right foot forward, not quite meeting the threshold of the house, but showing her, quite falsely, that he could.

"Oh, please. Do come in. I am her daughter, and you would not be disrespecting me in anyway."

Gael nodded. He sure was lucky, and set his right foot over the threshold. It was safe, and he made his way in, his smile small.

She took him to the large room where another witch sat in the midst of an arrangement of candles. Her long red hair was just like his guide's and the strands touched the floor on which she sat.

Once Gael was in front of her, she opened her eyes, her pitch black eyes meeting his dark, beautiful red ones. She slowly turned to her daughter and waved the eager teen away, and Gael faced the woman.

"What do you need to see me for?" She asked directly.

"I happen to be in the tradition of greetings, sorceress."

She gave a small laugh. "Are you here to speak in the language of peace? Are you here to bring havoc?"

Gael was silent for a while. "I brought a gift instead. A gift of secrecy and harmony, and then a more physical gift."

She raised her brow as Gael's escort opened up the box, revealing the light green jade. She observed it, and the small tinge of greed that mixed with the reflection of the precious jewelry in her eyes gave Gael satisfaction.

She looked back up to him, then leaned back. "What does the crown prince of midnight darkness want from a small colony of witches like us?"

Gael laughed and stretched his legs, his hands holding up behind him. "You know me. It's an honor."