Prologue

P R O L O U G E:

She ran swiftly through the steadily darkening woods, having lost track of time in the outer lands surrounded by woods, Ivana's heart grew cold as she changed her form without a break in her pace.

Ivana watched with a sickened heart as the sun moved below the horizon, covering several kilometers on her paws, she could faintly smell the night creatures lurking around.

Ivana swallowed a sob back as she remembered the Rule of her kingdom: Any immortals that were still on the contaminated lands by Sun Down wouldn't have access to the kingdom. This was a way to ensure the security of the Witches and other immortals accommodated by the witching kingdom.

"Father", Ivana called out desperately.

The hills that demarcate her kingdom boundaries came into her sight, and the clouds that protect the kingdom from night crawlers were descending and shrouding the entrance, hiding it from view.

Mind telepathy serves as a form of communication between the covens, but a limit has been placed due to the distance, her father, the king of Sororiah, the most powerful sorcerer can not be able to communicate with her over such a long distance through mind telepathy.

She seems to be alone this time, Ivana thought with a sob, as the sun dropped below the horizon. The Kingdom of Sororiah disappeared from view, as the ancient charms protecting the kingdom from night crawlers kicked into place. Her sharp ear picked up the sound of whistling wind, she knew the creatures were starting to come out of their caves, she cursed herself for losing track of time.

She was hunting for the blackroot plant, used for making rune tattoos, it took a lot of strength and magic searching for those, and she had nearly exhausted her mana supply. She changed back into her human form and cast an invisibility spell on herself, but she knew that was temporary as the vampire's sense of smell was second only to her werewolf's own. She comforted herself with the knowledge that her mixed werewolf/witch blood, is poisonous to vampires.

"That only matters to the sane vampire", her skin crawled as this thought came to her mind, "the ones driven crazy by bloodlust wouldn't mind having a taste, as witches' blood intoxicates the night crawlers".

Whirling around, Ivana elongated her claws and wrapped them in blue flames, she turned to the snarl she heard behind.

One of the vampires had crept up behind her, while she was lost in thought, with a sickened heart, she noticed the bloodred eyes of the crazed vampire.

"Well, well, well", drawled the vampire, "what do we have here?"

She slashed his face with her claws without a second thought, gauging deep wounds, covered with blue flames on his face. He jumped back with a shriek, she cursed herself for not taking him out at once, now the shriek would only bring out more Night Crawlers, which would lead to her doom.

Desperately she called out her magic from deep within and directed it toward the hills bordering the kingdom of Sororiah, with the hope of sending a call of help. She watched as the bubble of magic disappeared between the clouds.

Knowing that nothing could get in the kingdom after being covered by the clouds of protection, she had hope that her father will be able to help her in time.