Part 1 - The Mark Of Kane

They say a picture can say a thousand words. A moment of a memory frozen in time seemingly forever, for others to see and ponder over. To question who those pictured were, and what was happening in that snippet of time. Some imagine something valiant and brave; others have wild guesses so far from the truth. Something seemingly ordinary could become so important down the line. Just like the blood contracts King Kane made almost two decades ago...

In the countryside of England, the Tudor mansion, often shrouded in mystery was alive with life once more. Two well dressed men stepped from the gold trimmed, floor to ceiling length mirror that stood in the corner of the living room. As they stepped from the watery glass, their attire changed from medieval to modern. The swords attached to their hips became modern day technology of phones and tablets.

One of the men stood just over six foot, his short brown hair well kept. His sea blue eyes full of wonder as he looked around the mansion, the same mansion his father once said kings had lived. The other stood a little smaller, with thick shoulder length brunette hair and a shadow of a beard upon his cheeks. He seemed excited for the task they'd been given by Wyatt, one of the King's council men.

The brothers had been given the assignment to retrieve the seven women their late mother, Queen Crystal had foreseen coming long ago. Seven seemingly ordinary mundane women. On the carved wooden sideboard lay seven photos, appearing as if by magic. Each photo of one of the seven women, on the back of each, written in the old Grishian language was information about each of the women. Home and work address, name, and contact information.

"I'll retrieve these three" spoke Lucian, the younger of the two brothers. As he spoke, he flicked his thick chocolate hair over his shoulder, before picking up three photos. Echo Rovia – Evie Devitt – Maggie Finch. He looked over them carefully, quickly seeing Maggie was closest to his current location.

"Wyatt said he sent Finnick to retrieve Echo" voiced Valentine, his voice smooth as he looked to his little brother. He could recall being confused by the comment, but knew Wyatt wouldn't have said it, if it wasn't important. Yet what surprised him more was, the idea of his short-tempered youngest brother, being sent to the mundane world. "Finnick came here yesterday. Wyatt said Echo would be difficult to convince" added the older Prince, running a hand through his short brunette hair, as his sea blue eyes roamed the room looking for something to distract him.

"Mercedes then" simply responded Lucian nodding. His attention turning to the photos, as if to memorize their beauty. Valentine merely nodded, turning his attention to the photos of Jessica Moore, Katherine Monroe and Mira Leaver. Already he predicted Mira would be difficult, seeing it stated she was from a loathed wealthy family.

Without another word, both brothers, left the Tudor mansion. Heading in different directions to begin their work on, retrieving the women. Both curious when Finnick had arrived and where he was now. The thought of their short-tempered brother watching from a distance and trying to work out a plan brought a chuckle to both men. Both brothers aware the Mark of Kane would begin to burn soon and thrust would start the journey for the seven women in question.

Elsewhere in the small town near the Welsh border, a midnight haired man in his mid-forties, hung silver birthday banners. A smile on his lips as he did so. Today was his only child's twenty-first birthday. It had been just the two of them, since his wife Isabelle, died in a car accident seventeen years prior. As if on instinct Lucas turned to the picture of his late wife, still to this day he missed her.

"Morning papa" came the sweet voice of Lucas's princess. The middle-aged man turned with a bright smile on his lips, walking over to his silver eyed daughter, wrapping her in a loving embrace and placing a soft kiss to her hairline. Ignoring the burning pain coming from his right forearm. The living room of the town house decorated with birthday balloons and banners, a cake on the kitchen counter. On the breakfast table, Lucas laid out pancakes and fruit. Echo smiled brightly to her father, placing a gentle kiss on her hiss cheek.

"Happy birthday Princess" cheerily spoke Lucas, walking with his daughter to the breakfast table. Once again ignoring the burning pain in his forearm. As silence fell over the pair, the two enjoyed the breakfast, before having to go their separate ways. Lucas would be off to the garage he owned, and Echo would be off for her double shift at the restaurant/bar, she worked at.

"What's that?" asked Echo, noticing the mark on her father's forearm. A weird symbol that appeared to be glowing with how red it was. As Echo wracked her memory, she couldn't seem to remember seeing it before. It was almost as if the mark had come out of nowhere or it was something her father had gotten on his best friend's bachelor party and forgotten about.

Lucas merely looked down to his forearm, seeing how red and raw it had become in the hours since it had started to burn. He knew what it was, he knew what it meant, just as he could recall when he had gotten it. Yet he couldn't bring himself to tell his precious daughter the truth. Instead, he simply shook away the intruding thoughts on what was to come, put a smile on and covered the burning red mark with his left hand.

"Nothing, just an old tattoo I got in my college days. I recently got it redone" remarked Lucas, his dark eyes screaming his words weren't true. Yet none the less Echo simply nodded, sensing something was off or being hidden, but she didn't want to push the subject. "Tomorrow me and you are going on a shopping spree, get you that leather jacket you've been looking at for months" he added, as if trying to change the subject completely.

As if time had sped up, it was time for their workday to start. Once again Lucas wished his daughter Happy Birthday, before she left for the day. Despite the cloudy sky, Echo decided to walk to work. A bright smile on her lips, even when the breeze blew her curly midnight hair in her face. As she steadily walked, Echo checked her phone, noticing the notifications from social media apps and messages. She suspected most were birthday messages.

"Sorry" quickly said Echo, when she bumped into someone. "I wasn't looking where I was going" admitted the midnight haired woman, a warm and welcoming smile on her lips. The man she'd bumped into seemed surprised, his sea blue eyes scanning over her, as if to check for any injuries. He simply nodded as if to accept her apology, holding an arm out to help her back to her feet. "I'm Echo" spoke Echo, choosing to introduce herself to the stranger before her.

"Finnick" responded the black-haired man, a kind smile appearing on his chiseled features. Upon pulling her to her feet, he shook her hand. "Happy birthday" added Finnick before walking away, leaving a confused Echo in his wake. She tried to recall if she'd come across him before but was sure she'd remember someone like him. Yet she questioned more, how he knew it was her birthday day, she'd kept hold of her phone when she stumbled over, and she had nothing on her that could have hinted towards it. No badge or sash that would make it obvious.

The rest of the walk was quiet, Echo's attention being on the path in front of her, as if to avoid bumping into anyone else. Yet none the less she had the feeling of being followed, but when she looked back no one was there. Nothing suspicious, just an empty street, a few cars driving the opposite way and a few leaves being blown towards her by the wind. None the less Echo picked up the pace, her instincts telling her something was wrong, just as her mind began to try and find connections to her papa's odd behaviour lately. It was almost as if he knew something was about to happen.

In Grisha, the Vampire King, Kane. Walked the halls leading to the council chamber with authority. Those he passed stopped what they were doing, to bow in respect. Something the king barely noticed, plus the aging man had other things on his mind. Upon reaching the door to the chamber, he wasting little time throwing it open. Causing the iron decorated door to clatter against the stone walls of the tower. The three men inside hardly phased by the display, instead they simply bowed their heads slightly, in respect for the king and friend. The wooden table the three sat around seemed as if it hadn't been used for years. Carved from an old tree, the stump had cobwebs woven over it, with the top having a thick layer of dust. The strolls upon it, had been discolored with time, some parts torn from the lack of care.

"Has everything been readied for the arrival of the Princesses?" asked Kane, his voice deep and commanding respect, yet there were also hints of care there. As if he wanted everything to be perfect for when the women in question finally arrived. In a rare act, Kane nodded in respect to each of the three men before taking a seat at the head of the table, the chair decorated in jewels and lined with gold, as if a throne from a forgotten era.

"Everything is set my king" responded Brandon, the man with his face painted black and white. His forest green eyes standing out more. He knew the princes had been prepping their kingdoms, ready to host one of the princesses each. Lucian had gone out of his way to change the 4th Kingdom of Dale for the better, thrust continuing the path of redemption he had put himself on many moons ago. Whereas Alexander had done little to change the 1st Kingdom of Heiress, believing there was little wrong, and nothing had to be done, to allow the princess he would be hosting to be comfortable.

"The boat had been readied too. They won't be waiting when they arrive through the portal" announced Marcus, to the left of the king. As per usual, the majority of his face hidden beneath the shadow of his hooded cloak. Only his dark stringy hair, stern thin lips and the tip of his square nose were visible. "Rooms here in the palace have also been readied for them" added the tallest man, his voice strong yet peaceful, as if he knew what the arrival of the princesses truly meant.

"The 7th Princess, not like the others. Train her to be the warrioress she truly is" cryptically spoke Bray, from the opposite side of the dusty table to the king. His icy eyes with a far away look to them. Little orbs of light floating around him, as he chuckled. It was no secret Bray could see past and future events. His words normally holding snippets of information or clues. Yet Brandon could only grin upon hearing Bray's words, he'd watched each of the women grow since the contracts had been made. He'd watched as each matured into the princesses they truly were, how different they were from the other. Yet he knew for sure Echo was something else, she had a calming aura about her and never seemed be far from mischief.

"And the 6th Princess?" questioned Brandon, an ire of curiosity ringing in his voice. Like Echo he knew Evie would be good for the prince, she was set to stay with. Just as he would happily predict both women together could take the vampire kingdoms by storm. "Evie and Echo grew up together, keeping them close would be wise" noted the black and white-faced man, his green eyes scanning the room, yet he knew question would soon turn to the 1st Princess, the woman set to stay in Heiress with Prince Alexander.

"Keep an eye on Mira Leaver too" spoke Kane, knowing she too was special and would play a key roll in saving his only daughter Princess Morgana and Bray across the table from him. The king had kept on eye on the spread of Dragon Sickness. Noticing it effected both Morcarian and Shades with a connection to magic alike. The more he thought about the sickness spreading, the more he felt guilt. Knowing he was the reason the sickness had began in the first place, when he'd killed the last High Seeker centuries before hand. His attempt at avenging his beautiful late wife, Queen Crystal.

Without another world Kane, stood to his feet and headed for the door. Knowing when the seven princesses arrived, Grisha, particularly the Vampire Kingdoms would be launched into unknown regions. Bray had hinted as much over the weeks, speaking of the ancient Morcarian Legend, of the hero to rise again. Just as he had mentioned love returning to Grisha and the Midnight Star. A new king would rise to take the place of the old, for both Vampire and Morcarian.

"Whom will be our new king? Wyatt" asked Marcus, sensing Bray had long since seen the answer to the mystery. All whom knew Alexander, knew he seen himself as the next king. His heir of entitlement and his belief it was given, since he was the eldest child. Yet the 1st Prince seemed to be ignoring he was missing two important things. Respect for other and the love of the people.

"So many possibilities" uttered Wyatt in response, his messy dreadlocks falling over his face, like a veil, parting him from others. "Each of the king's children face a journey of their own, one walks the path of betrayal. The Shadow War looms in the distance. Peace will be reached when Grisha is united under the leadership of the most unexpected son" whispered Wyatt, as if his words were a secret, not meant to be shared with any other. He looked to both Marcus and Brandon, still appearing as if his mind was elsewhere. "Vampires, Shades and Morcarians will be united again when the seven sins have been overcome" quickly added Bray. Ending with a chuckle that could send shivers down anyone's spine. Often did appear as if his visions sent him insane.

"I'll keep a close watch on the princes" voiced Marcus, dread appeared to be ringing in his voice. He knew the journey ahead would be dangerous, yet he found himself with the rare feeling of fear for what was to come. The Midnight Star would only give Morcarians, their strength back. Although that wasn't what he feared, instead it was the morals on the Midnight Star and what she could do.

"And I shall keep watch over the girls until they arrive. Some rogue Morcarian warriors have been tracking some of them" announced Brandon, as if looking for a reason to leave the council chamber, as if the walls themselves were full of ghosts of his past. Bray merely nodded to both ancient vampires, his eyes following them as they left the circular room, likely to return to their own chambers.

"When love returns to Grisha, the hero will rise again" whispered Wyatt, as he looked around the empty room, seeing the portraits of Lucifer the first vampire king and his wife Queen Morales. The portrait of Queen Crystal the opposite side. Even now Wyatt could recall how the era Lucifer had ruled, had ended. The Morcarian Wars bringing out the worst in the vampire king and had divided Grisha, to this very day. Kane and Crystal had done their best to fix what was broken but knew they could only do so much. They trusted fate would correct the wrongs to have been committed. "Your son will take his rightful place one day, my dear Tara" added Wyatt in the same whispered tone, this time walking to the portrait of the woman next to Queen Crystal. The Morcarian Earth Druid, someone Kane had held in high respects, even now centuries after her death, he honored her by raising her only child as his own.