CIAN

A weird stirring awakens me.

My eyes pop open and I lay in my coffin, still as death, while I try to figure out who or what has dared to disturb my slumber.

I’m not even sure how long I’ve been sleeping. A day? A century? A millennium? When last I’d closed my eyes, it was to escape the endless days and nights of boredom, off despair, and of no hope of ever gaining that which I truly desire and deserve: full rule of my father’s kingdom.

Reaching my hand up, I slowly raise the lid to my coffin and sit up. Gazing around, it looks like the same dusty, old room where I last retired, in the Castle Dundorie Undercroft.

I don’t see spiderwebs, at least no more than usual, so I’ve either been asleep for a short time or one of my vampires has been taking care of the place while I’ve been away.

My muscles are stiff as I climb out, a weakness thanks to the human half of my body. I remember how my father, King Dumnorix, who was a full vampire, never seemed to have stiff muscles or aches and pains.

But it doesn’t bother me, because almost as soon as I feel them, my vampire blood zips through my body, healing, repairing, and replenishing my muscles, so the discomfort goes away rather quickly.

Unfortunately, that just makes me hungrier, and my stomach growls. Another weakness of my human half. I require both human food and blood to support my body.

Walking over to the refrigerator in the corner, I open it and am pleased to see several fresh bags of blood plus some fruit and cheese.

Granted, it’s not a lot, but blood will sustain me a lot longer than regular food. Grabbing two bags and an apple from the refrigerator, I walk over to my large, wooden antique desk and sit down.

The first bag of blood goes down easily, and I feel my strength coming back. Pink returns to my skin, and warmth spreads through me.

While I’m pale compared to most people, the blood gives me some color. Plus, the humans here in Ireland tend to be pale anyway, since there aren't a lot of sunny days.

After I finish the second bag of blood and eat half the apple, it dawns on me that the strange feeling I’d had, the one that woke me, has not dimmed.

If anything, it’s stronger now that I’m fed and fully awake. My eyes round with surprise as I concentrate and recognize it for what it is.

The power of The Di’an Dulaine.

Excitement thumps in my chest even as doubt tries to clamp it down. I’d know that crackle of power anywhere. Even though it’s been centuries since the last time I felt it, it’s not something anyone would soon forget.

Still, I can’t believe it’s true. How can it be? The goddess has been gone for hundreds of years. I’d given up any hope of the prophecy being fulfilled. With The Di’an Dulaine gone, where would we find a priestess?

Only a priestess of her blood can fulfill the prophecy. But belief and followers of the goddess disappeared a long time ago, which is how her power dwindled. If no one believes in her, she ceases to exist.

Now, though, something, or someone, is awakening The Di’an Dulaine. Oh, she’s nowhere near full power yet, but enough for me to sense her.

And finally, for the first time in I don’t know how long, some excitement breaches this dull existence.

Reaching to the pull rope on the wall behind me, I give it a good yank. Even though I understand and even adhere to modern-day conveniences, I still like to keep some of the old ways, too. Especially here in the undercroft. My home.

The rope is part of a system that, when I was young, used to lead to the servants’ quarters. Certain ropes would ring specific bells, so the staff member needed for a particular task was alerted.

It works the same way now, for the most part. I don’t have several pull ropes working, just one main one that goes directly to my assistant, Finn Campbell. Finn has been with me for about two hundred years and is my right-hand man.

While I wait for Finn, I pace the room. What does this mean? Is the goddess truly awakening, and if she is, does that mean a priestess from her bloodline is here?

My heart starts thundering again, and excitement rushes through my veins. It’s been so long since I’ve found anything to stir my interest.

For centuries, my half-brother Ronan and I have battled each other. Never to the death, like that first time so long ago. Subsequent fights had provided me with distraction, and something to look forward to.

But even that grew tiresome, because we knew neither one of us would win, and neither one of us would risk actually killing the other again.

That was about four hundred years ago. To ease my boredom, I started feeding on people who would come to the castle, but that didn’t appease me for long, either.

Finally, after a century of roaming the halls and feeding on my guests, I decided to try something different. I had my castle renovated into a university dedicated to studying Irish history, anthropology, historical arts, and culture.

I’d hoped that, by stirring up ancient Irish lore, someone would take an interest in The Di’an Dulaine, and she would come back. But that didn’t happen.

Until now.

“Sire?”

Finn stands in the doorway, a tray with a pot of hot tea, a cup, and biscuits in his hands.

“How long have I been asleep?” I ask as he comes further into the room and places the tray on my desk.

“Not long this time. Just under a year.”

I nod and walk over to my desk. Pouring a cup of tea, I sip it with a thoughtful frown. “I can smell humans up in the castle proper. It’s still a little early for classes to start, right?”

“Yes, but there are some students who arrived for a special program. So, they’re getting settled in and beginning their studies.”

“I need a list of names of all the students in the castle now,” I tell him, forming a plan. One of the women has to be the priestess from the prophecy.

Someone has to be bringing The Du’an Dulaine back, and since I’m feeling it so strongly, I can only assume that person is here now.

I hope to all the gods and goddesses that it is the priestess from the prophecy. And to begin my search, Finn will get me a list of all the students presently in the castle.

“Just the women,” I add when Finn nods. No sense in getting the male names, since only a woman can be a priestess.

When Finn leaves to do my bidding, I walk over to the window and peer outside. Since I’ve made my home beneath the castle, there’s not a lot to see.

It’s dark, so night has fallen, and it’s raining. The green lawn sits near the top of the window, so when people walk by, I mostly just see feet and ankles.

However, looking into the distance, I can see more. All is quiet right now, so the new students must be getting settled into their dorm rooms.

Anticipation gives me more energy than I’ve had in decades. I put a hand over my chest, surprised at how hard my heart is thumping.

Closing my eyes, I drink in the feeling, smiling. Finally, there’s something worth living for. Finally, the prophecy may just be coming true.

After all these centuries of thinking I was doomed to walk the Earth for eternity, with no hope of ever running the kingdom on my own, there is finally hope.

Sure, I’ve been a king for Dundorie, but only a half-king. Of course, I’ve ruled over my vampires and the villagers who support me, but none of that is good enough. I was born to be king, and here’s my chance.

I sneer at the reminder. Ronan and I share the throne, unfortunately, but now, I can change that forever.

Without thinking about what I’m doing, I start to reach out to my brother through our mind-link. After all, he’s the only one in the entire world who can fully appreciate what the return of The Di’an Dulaine means.

Just before the link is opened, I slam it shut. What am I thinking? I can’t tell him about the possible return of the goddess.

What if he doesn’t know, yet? Then I’d just be giving him a heads-up and taking away my advantage. Since he isn’t allowed in the castle, he might not feel the goddess’s power.

And as much as I want to share this exciting news with someone who understands its importance, telling my brother would be a big mistake.