The Ultimate Vampire Resource and Directory

‘ “Witches!” yell frantic commoners, as their houses are engulfed in flames. “There are witches amongst us!”

Two girls stand alone in the center of the town, one comforting the other. The fires are put out and the townspeople crowd around the two girls, pointing accusingly at them. “Witches!”

A priest steps out of the crowd, his face covered in sweat and soot. “Ye were not singed from the flames, yet ye were surrounded by fire. The Gods tried to warn us. Ye two are the cause. Therefore, ye must be witches!”

The eldest of the two sisters looks up at everyone gathered around them, her red eyes flashing with anger. “We are not witches!”…’



“Freya! Freya, wake up!” Panic was in the girl’s voice as she gently shook her sister.

“Mmmm…What is it?” Freya opens her eyes a little, and blinks a few times. The shrubbery around her has grown a lot during the day.

“What were you dreaming about!? One minute the ground’s bare, and the next,” the elder girl looked at the greenery, “there’s all this.”

Freya sighed. “I was dreaming about the fire, Rachel. The plants must have grown because I was scared.” Freya sits up and looks at her sister. “Ye know I have yet to control this power.”

Rachel shook her head as she remembered that fateful night; the one that had gotten them exhiled. “Oh Freya,” she embraced her sister, hoping to comfort her. “I know child. I know.”

Freya relaxes in her sister’s arms. “We have to get going, don’t we?” She looked at her sister’s face, her dark purple eyes showing worry and intelligence.

Rachel nodded solemnly. “Yes, sister. We do.”

Freya pulled away from her sister and stood up. “Then lets go. We have far to go, and the night only lasts so long.”



The makeshift camp was large, considering many of the warriors had chosen to set up tents. As the others slept, one knight slipped away from the encampment. As he went through the wooded area, something caught his attention. His red eyes scanned the area, trained to catch even the smallest disturbance in the area. He could have sworn he’d heard voices. Female voices.

Walking a little further, he came out in a clearing. His eyes widened at the sight of two women staring back at him. “Ye should not be out this late at night. It is not safe.”

Rachel looked the man up and down, noticing his sword and the crest of a knight. He was a tall man with weathered and tanned skin. His hair was short, but the color was undistinguishable in the darkness of the night. His red eyes were sharp and alert. “We know what lurks here. We are safe from them as long as we do not anger or endanger them. Ye should do the same.”

The knight looked at the woman who had spoken, slightly stunned by her response. The woman seemed to be the elder of the two. Her complexion was darker than that of the other girl, but still very light. Her hair was definitely black, but it was not the style you’d expect of a woman. It was short – maybe down to her lower jaw – and spiky. Her red eyes were alert and she seemed to want him to leave. “I will heed ye warning. But ye two must go home.”

Freya stepped out from behind her sister and quietly replied, “We are home.”

The knight’s eyes widened. “Ye are the exhiled two. Are ye not?”

Freya winced at the reminder and Rachel put her hand on her sister’s shoulder. “We are. My name is Rachel Carr. And this,” she indicated to her sister with a nod of her head, “is my sister, Freya Carr. We were exhiled on charges that are false. If ye do not mind, I think we should know ye name, sir.”

The night nodded, respecting Rachel for her strength. “My name is Sir Lancelot du Lac. I am a knight for the kingdom of Bright Haven.”



The screech of an angry hawk pierced the night sky. The knight suddenly fell to his knees, a cry of shock and pain coming out of his mouth. The hawk’s talons were deep in one of Lancelot’s unarmored shoulders. The hawk, letting out a cry of triumph, took to the sky and headed back to her nest.

Freya ran to the knights side, aware of the depth of the wound and the blood on his chest. “Sir Lancelot!”

The knight looked at the youngest girl. “Lady Freya, leave me here. The wound is deep; there are no healers around that can heal such a wound.”

A tear fell down Freya’s cheek. “I can heal you,” she said as she looked at her sister. “You just have to let me.”

Rachel came up behind her sister, her breathing shallow and her eyes wide with shock. “She can. Like me, my sister has an ability. She can control nature and she is an excellent healer.”

The knight looked up in disbelief. “Abilities? And what are ye abilities, Lady Rachel?”

Rachel blinked, not used to having the title of ‘Lady’ put before her name. “I can control and create fire.”

Lancelot nodded, adjusting to the realization. “Alright, Lady Freya. You can heal me.”

Freya sighed in relief. “Lay back and relax. Ye should not feel anything.” When the knight laid back, she began to heal him. She closed her eyes and laid her hand on the wound. A warm, glowing light shone around Freya’s hand as she concentrated on healing her new friend.

When the glowing vanished and the heat died away, Freya removed her hand to reveal a faint scar from the talons. The knights eyes shone with appreciation and relief. “Thank ye, my Lady.”

Freya nodded and fell back, exhausted. “Ye are welcome.”

Rachel caught her sister and held her up. “Sleep, Freya. Sleep.” She turned her attention to Lancelot. “And why do ye call us with the title of ‘Lady’ before our names?”

Sir Lancelot smiled. “The symbols on ye foreheads are those of our royal families back at Bright Haven. Tell me, do ye remember ye parents names?”

Rachel slowly shook her head. “No. They died when we were still very young. We were adopted and raised by people who then took us to Isari – the kingdom in which ye’s is fighting, I do believe.”

The knight nodded solemnly, “Ye are correct, my lady. Lady Melina Shield – Crown Princess Sapphire’s mother – put the two kingdoms at war. She manipulated us and, therefore, is the cause of our feud.”

Rachel nodded and braided her sleeping sister’s hair. “I see. So what does our mother have to do with this?” she asked as she looked into the knights red eyes.

“Ye mother was the heir to the House of Gryfalcon. And, she was the leading competitor for the throne. Lady Melina had her assassinated to kill the competition for her daughter, Sapphire – and therefore, was banished.”

Rachel’s red eyes glinted with anger. “And Sapphire is not Crown Princess!”

The knight, slightly shocked by her response, sighed. “That is just how things are run in competition for the throne. The best person in the King’s eyes is chosen.”



The sun rode high in the sky by the time the warriors stepped foot on the battlefield. Rachel and Freya had been asked to ride with them by Sir Lancelot du Lac, out of gratitude for healing his injuries. The sight that met them was horrifying – bodies from both kingdoms lay on the ground, while those left living fought with swords, daggers, and arrows.

Freya turned away from the violence, unable to stand the sight of so many dead and injured people. “Why? Why do they fight like this?” The terror in the young woman’s voice was true and from her heart.

Rachel hugged her sister, to comfort her and to comfort herself. “Rivalries cause chaos. Chaos leads to misjudgment and war.” As she watched the fighting continue, her anger began to build.

Lancelot, standing beside them, shook his head. “True, Lady Rachel. This fighting is unguided.” He looked at her with sadness in his eyes. “That is why we must aid them. Their loss is great, and we are here to help them and win.”

Freya and Rachel both looked at their friend, terrified. “Ye cannot go out there! Their numbers are greater than this group of warriors. They will kill ye!” Freya’s eyes were brimmed with tears as she protested.

Rachel held her sister close to her. “If ye must go, then go. We will be here if ye need help. Just look in the shadows, and there we will be.”

The knight nodded. “Thank ye for understanding, Lady Rachel. And Lady Freya,” he put his callused hand on the young girls shoulder, “we will not lose.”

Freya watched as he mounted his horse and the warriors followed him into battle. “Be careful, my friend.” she whispered as they turned and stepped into the shadows of the woods.



The battle was intense as Lancelot and his troops joined the weakened warriors of Bright Haven. Isari was well known for its harsh defense and well-trained warriors. Arrows shot past him, striking the ground. He drew his sword and went into battle with their rival kingdom.

Men of both kingdoms fell around him, some by his own sword. Daggers were thrown with excellent aim, and arrows hit their marks. The losses would grow in number if this went on too much longer.

Suddenly, Lancelot was off of his horse and pain shot through his body. An arrow lay lodged in his left shoulder, about where the scare from the hawk was.



Rachel and Freya watched in horror as Lancelot fell from his horse. A cry tore from Freya’s throat as she rushed towards her injured friend. Rachel followed her sister out of the shadows, but not towards Lancelot. Rachel was headed for the center of the battle.

“Stop!” cried Rachel, her anger unleashing. Flames engulfed her body as the warriors stopped their attacks to look at her in shock. No one told them what to do – especially to stop a battle.

An outraged warrior ran towards Rachel, his sword up and ready to strike. Rachel glared at him, her red eyes showing her anger; the man dropped his sword and stood looking at it as if it were poison. The handle was glowing red from immense heat.



Lancelot was surprised when Freya pulled the arrow out of his shoulder. “What are ye doing here? Ye are not safe.”

Freya threw the arrow aside and put her hand on his bleeding shoulder. “What do you think I’m doing? I’m healing ye, now stay still.” Her hand began to glow, as she channeled her energy. The shouted command from her sister startled her and she looked up to see Rachel engulfed in fire.

Lancelot stared at Rachel, amazed. “Fire manipulation. She wasn’t lying when she said she could create and control fire!” His voice was high and full of awe.

Freya laughed. “Of course not! We would never lie about anything.”



The warriors dropped their swords, daggers, and bows as they realized this woman’s ability. The marking on her forehead was what caused part of the retreat.

Suddenly, the crowd parted and Crown Princess Sapphire and Crown Prince Chad rode forward to meet Rachel. Rachel stepped back and the flames died down.

Sapphire looked the woman up and down before speaking. “Who are ye? Ye bear the crest of the House Gryfalcon.”

Rachel stiffened. “My name is Rachel Carr. My sister, Freya Carr, is tending an injured soldier.”

Chad spoke this time. “Carr? As in the heiress to the House Gryfalcons daughters?”

Rachel nodded. “Yes.”

The Crown Princess seemed offended. “Do ye know who ye are speaking to?”

Rachel nodded, a slight smile on her face. “Yes, I do. Ye are the Crown Princess to the throne of Bright Haven, Sapphire.”

Sapphire seemed shocked. Her dark blue eyes were wide and her breathing was becoming shallow.

Chad smiled – a warm, friendly guesture. “Then ye know who I am. Lady Rachel, would ye and ye sister like to come to our kingdom? The place of heir to the House of Gryfalcon is still empty. Since ye are the eldest of the two, and ye are the daughter of the deceased heir, ye can take ye rightful place.”

Rachel looked at Freya, and smiled when her sister nodded her answer. Looking back at Sapphire and Chad, she replied: “I would like to, yes. Thank ye for allowing me to take my rightful place amongst my Royal House.” Thanks for Sir Lancelot’s teachings, Rachel felt comfortable with the situation of claiming her right.



At the dinner in honor of their arrival, Rachel and Freya were seated at the table reserved for members of the Great House, Gryfalcon. Rachel was dressed in a long flowing white gown rimmed with red ribbon. Her black hair was left down; although, it still appeared spiky. Freya was dressed in a long flowing black gown rimmed with dark purple ribbon. The sleeves of both gowns were flared out with ribbon lining them.

Rachel smiled at her sister as Chad and Sapphire stood to speak.

Sapphires warrior-like posture made her look elegant in her dark blue gown as she began to speak. “During the final battle of the war between Bright Haven and Isari, we received a gift. The daughters of the heiress to the House of Gryfalcon.” Her soft voice carried over the hushed crowd. “Freya Carr, the youngest of the two, has the amazing abilities of plant growth and healing. Her sister, Rachel Carr, has the ability of fire manipulation. Rachel has decided that she is going to step into the place of her mother and become the heiress to the House of Gryfalcon. From now on, Lady Rachel and Lady Freya are to be treated as their ranks entitle.”

Rachel smiled again as their titles became official. She had become the heiress of her family house. They were finally at home.