Agramon | Maria Christine

Agramon

Dark Fantasy, Love Story, Revelation Cliffhanger

(preview of forthcoming novella)

Chapter 1

“Are you quite certain that our secret is safe? That her encounter with the family was too brief to utter a word, and that she hasn’t slinked off in the night to reveal our plan to a living thing?”

“Yes, Sorceress,” said Devlin.

His words were spoken softly and were ill-received by the dominating woman who stood above him.

“How can you be so sure?” she spat.

He lifted his eyes wearily from the floor and look up into her beautiful but loathsome face. “My wife will not betray you, nor will I. Why do you not trust us, after all this time?” he asked.

His question was met with a grip around his throat, her razor-sharp nails splitting his skin. “Because I don’t trust wolves,” she snarled through gritted teeth. “And there is comfort in trust. I don’t want you to feel comfortable. I want you on your toes.”

As the moon began to lower into the western sky, Devlin, finally away from the lair of the sorceress, Arophene, began to change into his animal form. He’d been unable to transform while in her presence. His emotions turned to rage and he ran hard and fast to his wife who waited nervously for his arrival.

He was watchful, using his keen senses of hearing and smell to tell him whether he was alone. He knew that he was not. But when he neared his home, the scents and sounds had faded away. He returned to his human form and took a last look around before walking through the door.

His wife hurried to greet him, elated he had returned to her. Her face was washed with relief, but her eyes told how she had worried. “Devlin, you’re all right—” she said in haste before seeing the five small wounds on his neck.

Before she could cry out, Devlin took his wife gently by the shoulders and gazed into her eyes. “I am all right, Luna. I promise you. But this can’t go on,” he said in a hushed voice. “I must tell Lord LaVius the truth.”

Luna stood back quickly. “Never say that again,” she said with a start. “You mustn’t!”

“He must be warned,” said Devlin. “He will understand.”

“He is the dark lord!” said Luna. Her voice was forceful but as quiet as possible. She couldn’t risk being heard.

“He is keeper and protector of our world,” said Devlin. “The deeds required of him would make any man seem dark.”

“He is not just any man,” said Luna. “He’s a soultaker. There will be no escaping the consequences of our betrayals if anyone learns of them.”

“But Arophene has our son,” said Devlin.

“That is why we must do as she says,” said Luna. “We cannot risk his life. Devlin, please think about what you are suggesting!”

Devlin assured his wife that he would speak no more of it tonight and took her into his arms to calm her. He knew that she was right, but it didn’t ease the degrading feeling in his heart. If he could, he would end this betrayal against the emperor and beg him to help save his son.

“The carriage was not just overturned,” said a guard to Domnina. “It was hardly recognizable. It’s been torn wholly apart. No one is there to be found, not even the driver, Carrick. Word has been sent to the girl’s parents as Lord LaVius instructed.”

Domnina pondered this. She dismissed the man and went deep into thought. “Decio,” she said aloud. “It couldn’t be. He was tested so. It isn’t possible.”

“No, it is not,” said LaVius, upon entering the candlelit room. “We both know it is Elena.” He caressed his wife’s face with his hands and stared lovingly into her eyes.

“Yes,” said Domnina. “She is both vampire and agramon; a dangerous combination that we’d hoped would never be a problem for the girl.”

LaVius pulled Domnina close and she laid her head on his chest. “I thought she’d be protected by her mother’s blood,” she said, sliding her arms around him and holding him tight. “I am afraid this will not end well. Her bloodthirst and rage will be uncontrollable,” she lamented. “She must be captured and—”

LaVius finished for her, “dealt with as necessary. However, disagreeable.”

His wife was less firm in her conviction. With some effort she was able to reply, “Yes.”

“Domnina, there is more to this than a girl stricken with a violent affliction,” warned LaVius.

Domnina raised her head and looked into his eyes. “What do you mean?” she asked.

“Half a dozen agramon didn’t appear out of the ethers,” he said.

Domnina had been preoccupied with family matters and with healing after having been attacked. She’d never thought further about the agramon until now. “You’re right LaVius. What

will we do?”

“You will stay here,” he said, taking her hand and leading her to the balcony. “Govern your realm as usual. Be watchful and aware.”

The balcony was high in the castle; and from where they stood, they could see beyond the vast forests and to the distant sea of dark hills and mountain silhouettes. This time, when Domnina looked into her husband’s eyes, she saw memories. Memories of the fields of lavender that reside among those hills and mountains; and of the valleys and meadows where they’ve ridden their horses together and made love under the blue skies and blazing sun. The image in his eyes then changed. She saw dark clouds and lightning, and they were together on a distant plane. It was memory of long ago. They were escorting souls to an outer world known as Darkness; a realm between the first and final dimensions; where some souls go before they begin again.

“You’re going to see my father.”

“Yes,” said LaVius. “And also, to the Gaiamne, to discuss many things.”

Domnina knew the wisdom in this. The Gaiamne dwelled in a different outer world than her father; a neutral plane. They served as council to all keepers and as guardians of knowledge and history.

LaVius and Domnina kissed. Passion and love burned inside them. Each second, their bodies filled with rapture; a constant reminder that their own souls were bound to one another for eternity. Before leaving her embrace, he whispered, “I’ll return to you, my love.”

“Quickly,” said Domnina, letting her fingers trail down his chest.

When he turned to go, she stopped him. “What about Elena?”

“The hounds will find her,” he replied.

####

Follow me at IG for updates.

Hardcover planned for release in 2026.