I bit down on my bottom lip nervously. The idea of repelling down into the pitch-black cavern far below made me uneasy. The scout and Contessa had already reached the bottom and had radioed up it was clear. No Moon Worshipper coven had placed guards to their temple. According to intelligence, the site boasted cave wall paintings of the moon goddess and her story of "blessing" those who followed her.

It was only going to be a recon mission to photograph and analyze the site with a minimal threat level. And it was the only reason Mum and Father had permitted me to go, with the accompaniment of Thaddeus and Contessa.

"Alright, just grip the brake slowly on your way down," a man in hiking gear instructed from the ground in front of me. His red hair peeked out from under his cap, matching the red scruff that traced along his jaw line. He began to double-check my harness around my waist. When he touched my inner thigh to tighten the strap, Thaddeus cleared his throat loudly.

"That's close enough, Brian."

I smirked as the redhead immediately dropped his hands. "It's fine. He's just being overprotective," I countered, reaching down to adjust the harness myself.

Brian blushed. "Sorry, m'lady," he answered quickly.

I looked up just in time to see Thaddeus roll his eyes, holding back the comment he wanted to make in response. He pulled on his own straps before grabbing his lead. "I'm going to start down. Eris, I want you to descend slowly. No wild dropping down for the hell of an adrenaline rush. I promised your mother to return you unscathed."

I laughed as I slipped on a climber's glove and pulled on the lead. "Don't worry, I don't plan on cherry-bombing into the unknown," I teased. I pulled on all of my nylon straps to be sure they were good and tight. "See you down there," I answered, saluting the man as he backed over the edge. I didn't want to glance down to watch. I preferred to simply take a leap of faith, so to speak, and watch the night sky become further away.

"Okay, testing, testing," Brian spoke into his radio. "Hear me, Thad?"

"Loud and clear," the voice on the other end responded.

"Awesome. Delconré, you hearing me?"

Contessa's voice crackled through the receiver, "There's a little static, but I hear you."

The French-American had flown over from the West Coast two nights previous, promising my parents that she would act as a captain of my security detail in the field. With Elizabeth's approval, she'd joined us in Dublin. I had been happy to see another familiar face on the road beyond Thaddeus.

"Cool. Eris is comin' down." Brian turned away from his folding table of gadgets and radio equipment to check my rope and pulley one last time. "Nervous?" he asked for the umpteenth time since we had set out from the local coven.

"Nah, not really." I grinned at him when his face went slack and his eyebrows rose in surprise.

The redhead quickly regained himself and cleared his throat. "Well, hopefully there won't be any crazy stuff tonight," he answered. "It's pretty abandoned down there."

I clipped my radio onto the side of the harness's waist strap. "You and me both. Not a combat guy?"

"No, I'm a lab rat. I'm happy doing intelligence work and being the tech guy," Brian said, distracted as he clipped a light stick onto my belt and flipped it on. "So, when you go over the side, just back down carefully. The tow will give you slack as you go, like a really tight bungee cord."

I nodded, stepping up to the edge. "Almost sounds like you need to live a little more," I teased, turning to put my back to the cliff face.

The man laughed. "This coming from the twenty-one year-old."

I grinned and then kicked off in a jump. I held my breath as I dropped downward quickly. Using my gloved hand, I squeezed the rope to swing into the rocks, my boots making contact before I pushed off again to continue the descent. I kicked off a second time, gracefully swinging out from the rocks. I released my tightened grip on the rope and let my body pick up speed, staring up at the cliff edge as the top and the stars drifted further away. My pulse quickened before I squeezed the lead again to slow my momentum. My feet hit the rocks once more.

"Eris, slow it down," came Thaddeus's voice from the radio. Of course he was watching my descent.

I smirked and pressed a button on my walkie-talkie. "Can't let a girl live a little, can you?" I answered before releasing the 'talk' button on the receiver. Shaking my head, I pushed off to continue going down a little slower. I looked over my shoulder to check out the dark shapes that made the rock formations along the shore, splashes of white around them and deep thundering noises betraying the activity of the ocean waves. I could make out the statues that waited on either side of a dark hole directly below me, marking the entrance.

Once at the mouth of the cavern's roof, I slowly floated down into the darkness, my light stick making me feel like a firefly from its greenish-yellow glow. Below, two blue and one white light twinkled up at me.

"Almost there," came Contessa's voice from the floor of the cave.

Finally, the harness loosened as my feet touched down and the rope became slack. "That's a long way down," I said, looking around at the trickling and damp walls of the cave. Water chimed as it found a puddle, echoed by the ocean waves mumbling against the outer rocks.

Thaddeus chuckled, his head shaking. "According to the intel, this was used in the time of Vikings and Saxons. You remember your lessons?"

Of course, this would be educational.

"Yes," I answered, walking over to a wall and holding the fairy light up to the multi-colored rockface. "Vikings valued the ocean and considered it a dangerous environment. If one were capable of crossing the seas, then you were blessed by the gods and fortunate." I ran my bare fingers along the smooth surface that had been polished by the water. "Dad's ancestors were Vikings. He said in those days, to die at sea was considered an honorable death," I added. I turned to look at Contessa's fading light as she went back into the caves to scout out the location one more time. Thaddeus was waiting for me patiently.

I began to unhook my lead, ready to follow them to the primitive paintings that had been found at the back of the cavern.

"Leave that on, just in case," Thaddeus said, pointing at the rope, making me frown. "If I have to get you out of here quickly, I don't want to have to worry about getting your harness hooked up so you can be pulled up safely."

I sighed, annoyed. This was a near-zero threat level condition; I didn't need to be fussed over. And I could take care of myself. He had made sure of that in recent months, and so had my parents.

Thaddeus nodded his head at me before clicking his radio. "Hey, Brian, give Eris's crank plenty of slack. I'm leaving her hooked up."

Static sounded for a moment and then the man answered, "Not a problem. She's on loose-line. Just buzz me when you're ready to come up."

"Ten-four. Keep me posted on conditions up top," my mentor responded. "Alright, bambina, let's go cave-diving."

I nodded, pulling my lead and following him after Contessa's and Dominic's, the other scout, path of tracker lights in the cave. I peeked at the little holes and rock formations curiously as I walked. I was careful to keep my feet dry, my eyes now adjusted to the dark caverns. Thaddeus continued to walk a few steps ahead of me, his hand resting on his pistol. I wanted to sass him about his paranoia, but refrained.

"Thad, when do you think we'll be ready to go to the States again?" I asked, changing the subject.

"I don't think your mother will be ready to travel until your sibling is born," Thaddeus answered. "It'll be better for her health if we wait."

"Then maybe you can let me begin taking over some of her affairs with the Capitol while she prepares for her maternity leave," I suggested. "Even if I'm never accepted, I could be happy doing her job. I already know her system."

"You'll be accepted, Eris. I'm sure of it," Contessa interjected from up ahead of us.

"You have your studies and already work with the London staff. You can leave the Capitol business to your mother and I."

Once again, I wanted to roll my eyes. It was time I handled more than just help my mother keep reports and budgets filed. I felt I should learn the proper duties and responsibilities of her position. If I was crowned, I would have to understand how everything worked. And my first order of business would be to let my mother retire from both divisions and let her train the next generation. She had been a civil servant for centuries.

Hopping over a puddle, I sighed. "Then at least teach me the job, just in case?" I asked, hoping he'd give in.

Logic: my mother's favorite weapon.

The man glanced down at me and took in my expression. He sighed and continued down the jagged path. "I'll get you acquainted with your mother's tasks, and that's it. I agree with Ranelle when she says she wants you to be carefree while you can." He paused to look over his shoulder to gauge how far into the caverns we were from the dim streams of starlight at the mouth. "But, it will only be an introduction course, so don't expect the secrets of the Capitol just yet," he said calmly. "Brian, can I get a report on up-top conditions?" he added into his radio.

"Nothing going on up here," came the static-filled response.

I sighed again, waiting patiently at the mouth of a lower cavern as Contessa and Dominic dropped down into it. "I'd also love to get back to the States for a few weeks after Mum's had the baby," I said calmly. I missed my brother. It had been too long and I was hoping to see him soon. With the huge time difference, talking on the phone was near impossible and it left me only with the option to send text messages when our schedules didn't line up to talk to one another. I hadn't seen him since his wedding.

Thaddeus smiled at me. "We'll see. Alright, pull yourself some extra slack and take the jump carefully. I'll hold your rope."

I nodded, yanking on the lead a few times and wrapping a couple lengths around my forearm before handing the furthest end to him. "Okay, Tess, coming down."

"Jump straight down where the floor is even," the blonde answered.

I nodded, took a breath, and hopped off the edge to land just beyond Contessa's light. I moved out of the way as Thaddeus dropped into the cavern. I gave a little tug on my rope before turning to see the sloping floor and walls that were painted with symbols and murals, illuminated by a myriad of glow sticks and lanterns that had been tossed along the bases of the walls. "Bloody hell," I whispered.

Contessa nodded, holding her light close to one wall. "Lots of depictions of moon cycles for time."

Dominic, the other scout, was busy taking photos of the images. He ran his hand through his dark hair absently. "From what I've seen in other artwork, yellow was mostly used to show the difference between night and day. Blue was, obviously, for water; red for blood; and black normally signifies death. Most of the earliest work done by Shadow Stalkers uses the same color schemes. It's not often we see all of the colors used in one work." He took a few more pictures.

I listened intently, running my fingers along the smooth stone's painting. Behind me, Thaddeus was murmuring details to himself as he jotted them down for his reports on a small pad of paper. Contessa started scouting the rocky rooms silently once more. I glanced in Dominic's direction and then stepped back. On a far wall that made up the largest mural, figures representing people were all grouped together under a full moon. Around the edges were thick black marks, engulfing them. White lines were scribbled amongst the throng. The moonlight. But my eyes kept going back to the black.

I backed away as far as possible until my head hit the wall behind me on the opposite side of the cavern. I frowned, taking in the figures as my eyes adjusted to the darkness. A black silhouette stood beside a white one, both placed beneath the drawing of a full moon. The white drawing had what appeared to be a crown upon its head, standing taller than its darker counterpart. I tipped my head to the side, beginning to depict the differences between the dark masses and white masses that made up what looked like two separate populations. Red scribbles at their feet seemed to point towards blood. Above the battle, the moon made its waxing and waning phases, meaning a passage of time.

"Hey, Dom, have you gotten a wide shot?"

The shutter snapped twice. "No, I've been trying to get all of these symbols. Why?"

"I think it's the prophecy," I answered as I looked at the thick black lines that formed arms encircling the people, a head painted just below the moon. It was a non-descript profile, but all in black.

"The prophecy?" Dominic asked as he, too, backed up.

"I'm not sure... But look at it," I answered.

Suddenly Thaddeus was at my other side. He stared at the wall. "It looks like a possibility."

"I thought Moon Worshippers don't want to unite us?" I asked hesitantly.

I had been told that Moon Worshippers were too rebellious, too bloodthirsty, too demanding for power. They didn't want order amongst vampire-kind, yet they wanted to rule over humans and any few supernatural species left in the world.

But what if they want that, plus a monarch of their own?

Dominic cleared his throat uneasily. "Maybe they want their own leader?" he said, stating what I had already begun to wonder to myself. The photographer moved up close and began to take more pictures, including the hands and blurred faces of the two figures.

Static suddenly sounded on the radios. "Hey, guys, I've got some activity up here. Couple sets of headlights. Probably just locals out for a thrill. Hang tight."

"Ten-four. I'm coming your way just in case," Contessa answered. She nodded to Thaddeus before taking a running leap up to the upper level, and I heard her jog back to the mouth of the cavern.

I glanced at my mentor as he flipped the leather strap on his holster open for a fast draw. My eyes flicked down quickly to my knives hidden within my combat boot.

"What's going on?" Thaddeus's words jarred me. He was facing the opening to the upper level, one hand still on the gun.

"I'm being hauled up now," came Contessa's voice. "Brian, you're too quiet. What's going on?"

"Yeah, it's just some kids out rough-riding," Brian responded. "We're all good."

Thaddeus sighed. "All right. Tess, go the rest of the way up and scout out the surround again. I don't want any surprises."

White noise crackled in the space for a moment and then the French-American's feminine voice chimed over the line, "Ten-four, boss."

I sighed in relief. It had already been a long night. And I didn't want to feel on edge until I was safely back within the manor walls in London. I went back to staring at the murals. Suddenly, I realized there were no sounds of a shutter clicking...

"Dom?" I called out, turning to look for him. He was nowhere to be seen in the dim light.

Thaddeus suddenly turned around, his hand going right back to the holster. "Dominic?"

I pulled my fairy light off my belt and tossed it into the dark outside the circle that had been illuminated. It clinked across the rocks into the other room. The dark-haired vampire was gone.

"Open channels, now," Thaddeus commanded before drawing his pistol. "Brian, now!"

There was a loud mix of static as the radios opened up. Gunfire rang out from the receivers. A strong hand snatched my ponytail and hauled me upward. I shrieked as pain caught the nerves of my scalp and raced down my neck into my ears and face.

Thaddeus turned fast, reaching for me. A single shot rang out and caught his shoulder. He was propelled back from the strength of the trajectory.

"Thad!" I screamed, my feet kicking blindly. I grabbed for the hand holding my hair and gripped the attached wrist. "Thad!"

Thaddeus's head hit the wall behind him as he slumped to the ground. His injured arm hung uselessly, dark red blood pooling on his chest. He was breathing hard, his other hand reaching for the dropped handgun.

"I'm coming, Eris!" came Contessa's voice over the radio. "Goddamn it! Cover me, Brian!"

I fought back another yelp as a strong forearm wrapped around my neck and pressed against my throat. My body banged against the mouth of the cave opening before I found my feet. I continued to struggle, gripping my nails into the exposed skin, working to tuck my chin so I could use my teeth to my advantage. I continued to stumble backwards and shoved my weight into the body behind me.

Below, Thaddeus yelled, "Haul her up! Pull the line!"

I pushed my chin down hard enough for my mouth to reach skin. I sunk my small fangs in, my nails tightening.

"Shit! Damn little bitch!" Dominic snarled, throwing me into the wall across from us.

My harness suddenly yanked on my hips and I took the breakaway by running back towards the entrance. Despite my youth, I had practiced what vampire speed I had. I pushed off each foot as hard as possible, my breath coming faster.

"Get back here! I'll shoot you, Eris Mezdor! Don't think I won't!" Dominic screamed after me, cussing over his bite wound. I began to run faster, feeling my vampire ability kick in, my body weaving to be a harder target.

Outside, it was a new moon, giving me an advantage. Suddenly a gunshot made a loud bang, and I had to hold back another gasp of fear. The sounds above coming from the radio mirrored the echoes of the shot Dominic fired. The chaos of cursing from both my party and the enemy continued filling my ears.

With one hand, I yanked on my receiver. Once it was free, I tossed it into an adjoining cavern with the hopes he would follow the sound. I kept up my sprint for the surface. Almost to the subterranean opening, the line suddenly became slack.

"Eris, stop or Thaddeus dies! Come out, you little bitch!" Dominic yelled.

I slowed to a halt. I couldn't live with that consequence. Turning around, I planted my feet, standing beneath the opening and the stars above where gunfire was still in play. I slipped one knife free and held its hilt edge between my fingers to keep it concealed, the blade resting flat against the palm of my hand.

"Okay, Dom. No games. I know what you're after. Leave Thaddeus alone and alive, as well as Tess and Brian, and you get me. Radio your mates to leave them be and I'll come with you," I called out.

From back in the cave of murals, I heard Thaddeus's distant voice: "Eris, no! Run!"

I gulped and stood my ground.

Dominic came into sight, his revolver pointed at me. "Smart girl. I can't make any promises for Contessa and Brian, but I'll leave your tutor alive. However, if he tries something stupid, his life is over. Another wooden bullet to the chest, just a little lower, and straight to the heart is all it'll take. Another Winslow will bite the dust."

I inhaled slowly, fighting to keep myself from trembling. "Fine. I'm right here."