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“Yes, Ramedes wouldn’t attack, except they belong to her. They will not want to harm us except to get the children.”

“What is so special about the twins?” Nathan asked loudly.

“They are marked,” Pal answered shortly as Nathan drew a deep breath.

“Then shouldn’t we—” Ami began.

“No! They are mine,” Pal said firmly. “Dawn is close, we must find somewhere to rest.”

We found a cave that would hide us from the sun. We stayed awake talking, except for Ami and Nathan, who slept to heal themselves. Healing was always best done when the body rested, and although we were immortal, it was no different for us. That night, there would be seven fit Vam’pirs to protect the children.

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Not a lot is known about Ramedes. I’ve know more today about the cult, but back then, the cult was shrouded in mystery.

Ramedes was actually an immortal woman. She was from a race as little known as Kaltos and Har’ches. The civilisation was as immortal as we were, and they called themselves the Viscerov. Vam’pirs lacked knowledge of their origins and the true Viscerov population.

Honestly, I didn’t think Viscerovs were prolific, or else more information would exist. Viscerovs were an intensely private people much like us.

They were a tall people, golden-skinned and white-haired. Their eyes were the strangest part and the most compelling; they were yellow, yellow with white irises.I’ve wondered through the centuries whether they can see as well as us and mortals.

Ramedes settled in Egypt sometime in the distant past. Like us, Ramedes fell into the role of a God. I had never met her, nor had any of the others, but we had heard rumours. Inka and I had briefly crossed the cult’s path, but we hadn’t set eyes on Ramedes herself. Ramedes had a cult worship going on. Her strength and cunning were evident, yet her character remained largely unknown.

The fact Ramedes wanted the children frightened me. For immortals usually made it a rule not to fight one another. I was scared by the uncertainty of Ramedes’ possible reaction. But we were not alone now, and the children’s safety would be hard fought for.

I cursed under my breath. Why, damn it, did Pal and Mera have to take marked children into their midst?

Then I looked at Pal and Mera’s faces, and my shoulders straighten in determination. Regardless of markings, Ramedes wouldn’t possess the twins.

I did not fully understand what marked meant. I believed that it was one of two things. The first was that Rahmon and Kit would be sacrificed to Ramedes to keep her favour. The idea of their deaths was unacceptable.

The second idea was that the children would be taken into the cult and taught to obey and worship Ramedes. Along with the possibility that they may still be sacrificed. In truth, we clutched at straws. Nobody understood what Ramedes was or what marked truly meant.To my deepest sorrow, I would find out later, and it is something that I would always regret knowing.

The next night, we resumed our journey. Rome was our destination, for we had never heard of Ramedes leaving Egypt.

The worshipers of Ramedes had powers given to them by her. They moved fast and could travel during the day. Unlike us, though, they needed to rest, whereas we couldn’t face the sun of Egypt. Basically, we were pretty well balanced and hopefully, we’d stay ahead of them.

The cultists were clever, and that was another reason that we feared them slightly. The man that I had fought had the strength of a thousand-year-old vampire. Clearly, we did have good reason to worry, although the fear was fading now that we were seven strong.

Several times, we sensed them not far behind, but we kept ahead.

If we didn’t have the children, we could’ve transported ourselves, but we did not know what running that fast might do to them.

During the night, we had all acquired weapons, and we felt better about ourselves.

Ami and Nathan talked quietly, and they wondered just what the hell they were doing here. Nonetheless, a Vam’pir would always answer a call from help from one of their own kind.

We’d never turn our backs on each other, or so I believed.

I know different now, but at that time, we’d answer no matter what we were doing. We would never quit until we finished what we set out to accomplish. Ami, Li’zel and Nathan would stay. They might moan, but they wouldn’t leave. Once in Rome, we would be safe, and Li’zel, Ami, and Nathan could return to their lives.

Two thousand years ago, it was unheard of for us to desert one another. However, as time goes by, circumstances evolve, and things are no longer as they used to be.

Do I sound bitter? It’s not my intention, but that’s life.

Though, at the time, I mistakenly believed that nothing would ever separate the Vam’pirs. Yet I was erroneous, so verywrong. Nothing comes easy, I’d learnt that the hard way. No matter how long you live, life always manages to surprise you. Even with immortals, it twists and turns in ways unexpected.

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