XIV - Marlowe

It's been decades since we heard from Arung, the man Anne had asked to help us. The man was a mystery even though I hadn't even met him. Anne had warned us that Arung was someone we did not want to get close to or piss off. That he was a dangerous demon that could survive off of eating his own clones. That his magic was just as dangerous as Beau's.

I was broken from my thoughts when a raven landed on my desk. It had two letters. One from the Alpha King, the other was with a seal I didn't recognize, but it had been written in Beau's blood. I opened that later, letting out a sigh of relief when I recognized the handwriting.

Marlowe,

I am sorry that I haven't been completely truthful with you, but it's for the best. One of these days I will tell you, but right now you need to start packing. The Stripe you are to be accepted in is one of the ones that is looking for a Beta during the trials. I wish you the best of luck. Tell the others that Arung and I are safe, that we got a lot of people away from Thomas.

Beau

I broke the Alpha Kings seal on the other letter and read it. I had two days to get my affairs in order. I walked out of my room and down the stairs to where Anne, Bridget, Edward, and the crew were. They were all eating supper. Bridget was the first to notice me.

"It is time?" She asked, as she nodded at the letter.

"I have less than two days to get to the Amazons." I told them. "Beau also sent a letter, she and Arung are safe, a lot of people are now safe from Thomas." I informed them, as I sat down at the empty chair and Anne passed me a plate of bloodied meat.

"Well we will travel with you there, before we split. Bridget, Edward, and I are going to go back to Salem, there's some things we need to deal with there." Anne informed.

I looked at the crew.

"We are actually heading to the jungles of Batavia." Richard, the Vampire told us. "The Voivode ordered it, said I could bring the crew with me. He needs our help looking for this rare plant that supposedly grows there."

They all had somewhere to go. To be honest I worried about the crew. They didn't let us know much about their personal lives, but we knew they had them. After supper, I packed what I was told to pack, before I let the others take everything else for safe keeping. Then we travelled through the shadows, spending the nights out under the stars.

When we got to the Amazons, there were already plenty of men and women there. Almost all the Royals were there. One of the fake Vlads were there. So far I've met 20 of them. The Vampires were really protective of their king, but only those closest to him have ever really seen what he truly looked like; Supposedly, anyway.

I wished the others a good journey before I walked over to where the tigers stood. They all looked at me and glared.

"Wrong group, Vampire." One growled.

"I'm half, I could join either." I growled. "Good luck with the forests, you're going to need it."

"Like you won't?" Another hissed.

"I've lived in each of the forests for over 30 years. I know my way around." I told them, before a crow landed on the rock in front of us, and stared at us, before I knelt down and picked up the letter and pouch it had. It was from the Vampire King and Beau.

Take a taste, Marlowe. You already know what your future holds, just not the Stripe. Tell the others with you they also have a chance either as Beta, Gamma, or Theta. Oh and while you're at it, get these items in large quantities.

I looked at the list of ingredients and it was a lot.

Beau wanted these. The powder in the pouch is to help your healing, not that you won't need it being half Vampire, but give it to the other tigers as well, if they'll take it.

Vlad Tepes, Voivode and King of Vampires.

Beau Oaklee, Conduit to the Fates and the girl  who will bring you back to life just to kick your ass and kill you, if you do end up dying.

"How'd you meet the Conduit?"

I looked at the group of tigers that were now looking at me.

"Received a letter meant for someone else, but I went to the location mentioned since I was running from some Skinwalkers I had stolen from."

They just nodded, before we all licked our ring fingers and dipped it in the pouch.

"If this ends up killing us, I will kill her."

The crow turned into Beau and she crossed her arms.

"I will gladly welcome it, now if you'll excuse me I have to go back before the others find out Arung used a clone to let me get a few hours away." She said, before she placed a kiss on my nose. "Good luck to all of you."