Bloodborne Awakened (Borne of Blood Book 1) Read online

  “Don’t choose with your mind, Jessie. Close your eyes, keep them closed, and then choose.”

  I did as constructed, reached down and clasped hold of what felt like two cold metal handles. It was only when I opened my eyes that I realized I had physically moved down a few steps. I frowned in confusion as I picked up the two daggers and held them in my hands.

  “Those are your weapons. Now you fight.” Gordan clapped his hands together. “This is going to be good.”

  Oh, I’m going to die.

  “I—I don’t know how to use these!” My voice shrilled. I looked from Gordon to Jacob, who had already moved to the center of the room, and appeared to be patiently waiting on me.

  My breath froze as I watched him slowly walked toward me. His long, smooth strides, and that swagger—my knees felt weak, and suddenly I felt as if I wanted to scream, or perhaps jump up and down. I was so confused—my emotions were everywhere. Jacob’s demeanor was nothing but short of sexy. I knew if hell were as hot as they said it was, I’d probably be there stoking the fiery furnace with the thoughts that raced through my mind.

  “Your mind must be free for you to see. You must fight with spirit, not flesh,” Gordon continued as he walked around behind me.

  My eyes were already fixed forward, but I couldn’t say much for my weak knees. My heart thumped so loud I barely heard what Gordon spoke against my ear. He clasped his hands on either side of my head, and immediately my body jolted, then arched backward. It felt as if a thousand bolts of electric swiftly whipped through my body at once, hitting every nerve in its wake. I opened my mouth to scream, but nothing came out. When he released me, I dropped slowly to my knees while still clutching both daggers in each hand.

  Little tingle, hell.

  I felt every nerve in my body as it came alive, sizzled around, and through each of my muscles. The tingling sensation continued up my spine and finally around my brain. My brain felt like it had been given a massive dose of oxygen. I clasped the daggers tightly, then twirled them in my hands. They felt good, like they were a part of me—all came together in one mind, one body, and one soul. I snapped my head up and looked forward at Jacob, who stood approximately twenty feet before me.

  “Ready yourselves!” Gordon commanded.

  If there was anything I could say about Jacob at this point, it would be that he had to be the hottest male I’d ever seen before, be it in movies or real life. And he was just my style and taste.

  Whatever this change was that happened to me, I felt like a fully charged battery and ready for battle. I almost wanted to say some corny jacked up sentence like, “Bitch, I know how to fight.” But that wouldn’t accurately describe how I felt.

  Jacob posed himself ready for battle with a katana sword. In response to his gesture, I twirled the blades in my hands. It was an odd feeling, but I loved it! I was so pumped—

  “FIGHT!” Gordon yelled.

  A sinister smile crept on Jacob’s face as he twirled the katana in his right hand. “I hope you’ve got enough faith to sustain you, little girl,” he teased.

  “Jessie, let your mind go—feel the energy within you. Let it guide you.”

  I closed my eyes to shut out the world around me and focus only on this so-called energy that moved inside me. Yes, I felt it—stirring and moving within me like two waves crashing around me. The image that came to mind was DNA strands, that was what I imagined the energy to look like. I inhaled a deep breath and let it out—it was as though this force breathed with me. I knew I connected with it as it felt powerful and soft at the same time. In the moment, I felt invincible, as though nothing could stop me.

  “Let’s dance, little boy,” I teased back as I charged toward him.

  We met in the middle like two mighty titans; steel to steel, our weapons clashed as sparks flew. Jacob’s sword came down, and without thought I brought up the daggers and crossed them in a V shape which blocked his blade. The look on his face was not surprise, but delight, as he gave me a shove backward and chuckled.

  “Gotta do better than that, Jessie.” He shot me a sly wink and grinned.

  I lifted my brow. “Oh, I’m just getting started.”

  The adrenaline that coursed through my veins exhilarated me on levels unimaginable. I took a step back, then raised my left hand over my head with the blade pointed at him. My actions were calculated as I held the other dagger in front of me, guarding my chest with my right hand. This would be easy.

  Jacob swiftly raised his left arm and twisted his body around. I watched carefully and cautiously for his next move. There it was, the flash of light against the blade of his sword as it came low around my legs. In an effortless movement, I gave a jump, leaned to the right, and placed my hand on the ground just as the blade slipped by. Swiftly, I lifted my foot and cartwheeled over the blade as it passed by my foot. It was as though my body had become poetry in motion. Every effort was fluid like water, and easy without thought.

  Immediately, I resumed my stance as Jacob continued through with a sweeping motion. His arm extended outward, holding the sword firmly in his grasp as he twirled around and brought the blade toward my side. I flicked my dagger up against his sword, blocking the blade and using the strength from my hip to help me push his sword away. The steel clashed again, and sparks flew. We both froze.

  In that last step, my face was only inches from his face, with the dagger in my left hand twisted backward and lined perfectly against Jacob’s neck.

  “STOP!” Gordon shouted.

  Jacob’s eyes met mine, and to my surprise, they were not the brown eyes I’d seen before but crystal-clear blue instead. My breath had become a bit erratic, not from the exercise but from being this close to Jacob. His smell, the exotic tones of spices, florals, and a woodland musk, drew me into the point I was a bit lightheaded. My eyes traveled down his face to his lips, and lingered there a little too long. All I could think about was kissing those lips, perhaps wrapping my arm around his neck, and—

  “I, uhm—” Jacob licked his lips, then swallowed hard.

  Gordon clapped his hands together, breaking my close attention to Jacob’s lips. I lowered my eyes and took a step back. I wasn’t sure what had come over me, but when I looked up in his eyes, I couldn’t apologize for what I felt. The last thing I wanted was to make either of us uncomfortable.

  “You—” I pointed to him with the dagger “—have got some explaining to do. Those eyes.”

  He chuckled and shot me his lady-killer smile, the one that made me want to agree to anything. I knew there was some connection with Bloodbornes and their eyes, but I didn’t know what just yet.

  “And that’s a wrap.” Gordon walked over Jacob and me. “I believe we’ve seen enough for today. You did very well, Jessie.”

  “Thank you—I guess.” My gaze shifted from Gordon to Jacob. “I’ve never done anything like that in my life.”

  Gordon chuckled. “I find that hard to believe.” He peered closer into my face. “There’s definitely something hidden inside there, and I’d wager from a very, very long time ago. I haven’t seen moves like that in ages.”

  My cheeks burned again. “Honestly, this is the first time I’ve held a weapon in my hands. Are you saying those weren’t your fighting skills?”

  Gordon lifted his brows. “Seriously?” He shook his head. “No. I expected you to re-enact my memories and move accordingly. But you acted entirely on your own. I believe I opened a channel or something for you, but yeah—you’ve got skills.”

  “Jessie,” Jacob gently touched my arm, “I believe my brother is talking about your repressed memories from your past lives. You wouldn’t have been able to beat me if you didn’t know how to move. That last move was a signature move from a skilled assassin.”

  My gaze drifted from Jacob and back to Gordon. “Are you saying that I can fight like this now? Or is your Mojo going to wear off?”

  “I don’t know. We’ve never come across this before. Most Bloodbornes, even the ones that go o
n to become High Guards, don’t fight like this.” He nodded his head and folded his arms across his chest. “You’re definitely special, in a good way.”

  “Special, now that’s a word I’ve never been described as.” I chuckled. “Maybe that’s why Mia seems to have a problem with me.”

  Both Jacob and Gordon laughed, but in some way, an uneasiness swept over me, like they were hiding some family secret that I just found. Especially since they shared a silent glance between them.

  Jacob gently nudged my arm. “Come on, I’ll take you to the Garden.”

  I handed the daggers to Gordon, then gave him a smile and wave before I left with Jacob. Many questions loomed over my mind, most of which revolved around this new me. However, one sore subject remained unanswered.

  As we walked, I shot Jacob a quick glance. “What’s really up with Mia? I mean, she acts as though she doesn’t like me, for whatever reason.”

  Jacob kept his head forward as he drew his brows together as if I’d hit a sensitive issue. “Mia is, I believe, jealous of you.” He glanced down in my direction, then turned his attention back forward. “Mia’s story is a bit sad and ironic. She trained hard and was probably one of the best warriors we had. She pushed herself each day, and Gordon helped train her. But we all knew that she didn’t have what it took to be a High Guard. It had always been her dream. Then one day, we went out hunting, and—just like that—Mia missed one fatal step. She was bitten by a demon, and the venom had taken a hard toll on her. We almost lost her, but she returned.”

  I tilted my head to the side and drew my brows together. “I thought you said demon venom won’t kill Bloodbornes?”

  Jacob glanced down at me, then back up again. “It doesn’t. We know something is different with the demons, but we’re not exactly sure. Possibly a mutation, or something—I don’t know.”

  “So, what happened next? I mean was that what made her so—bitchy?”

  Jacob shook his head and gave me a quick glance again. “No. She entered the competition upon graduation, and that fatal step she missed during that one battle cost her points, and she was defeated. She took it hard. I mean—it was the turning point where her focus changed to become an Herbalist. It’s a long way from a warrior, but she has exceeded in making leaps and bounds when it comes to healing and medicine. Her applications have been proven to be a great benefit to us all.”

  “It’s her way of staying in battle.” I finally understood Mia’s frustration. Of course, it wasn’t with me. I was only a reflection of what she’d hoped to be, and ironically, the failure of her dreams. In her way, she still managed to help in their battles by saving the people who were warriors.

  Perhaps, I would give her a pass on her behavior, and maybe one day, she might find a way to heal herself from the pain she felt. I inhaled deeply and released the breath slowly, because even I knew failure was only the next step to success. As I looked up to Jacob, then back toward the doors that lead outside, I was pretty sure I would face many new challenges in this life. I only hoped that if I failed, I would not give up, but try again.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  ∆

  Much to my dismay, Gordon didn’t give me the test results immediately. According to Jacob, Gordon needed to discuss the results with the Elders before administering my placement among the Bloodborne. Their government, well, as I understood, was somewhat of a monarchy. During my wait, Jacob continued my tour of the place, and we ended up in the beautiful outdoor garden spot. It reminded me so much of the Greek gardens, with their tall pillars, stone benches, and beautifully carved water fountain in the center. The cascading water created an atmosphere of pure serenity. Fragrant, soft pink and white petalled flowers grew in vines along the pillars, which added to its paradise appearance.

  “So tell me, tell me about the eye thing. I noticed yesterday that my eyes glowed a bright blue, and today yours turned blue—but they’re brown again.” We both sat down on the stone bench, beside the elegant water fountain.

  “The physical appearance, the white hair, blue eyes, as I mentioned before, are evidence that a Bloodborne has been Awakened. I suppose you could say that your spirit or very soul has connected with energy in all things around us. This is what it means to be Awakened.”

  “But your eyes glowed.” I paused and frowned a little in my confusion. “Your hair.”

  He chuckled. “Oh, okay. Well, I’m not fully Awakened as you.”

  At first, I thought I was a bit special, then I remembered the process I went through to be Awakened. My heart dropped as I looked deep into Jacob’s eyes. “Does everyone have to die and come back to be Awakened? I mean it sounds like those vampire stories.”

  “No, Jessie. A person doesn’t have to die to become Awakened.” He chuckled again. “You really need to get your thoughts away from those old stories about vampires. Most are not true.”

  “Vampires are real?” I sat upright in my excitement.

  “Oh, dear.” He shook his head. “You know, that’s a story we’ll discuss much later. But to answer you, no, vampires don’t exist like you believe. So don’t get the wrong impression.”

  Jacob sucked in a deep breath and filled me in on many details concerning their governing body. He explained that his father was considered noble blood and his mother, of course, was the daughter of the Bloodborne King.

  “You’re a prince?”

  “Well, yes.” A slight red hue kissed his cheeks. “I guess you could say I am. Don’t hold it against me.”

  I laughed. “Okay, then so does that mean you’ll be king one day?”

  “In maybe a hundred years, unless something happens to my Grandfather.”

  “A hundred years?” I nearly lost my breath.

  “Jessie, Bloodbornes are immortal in some ways and mortal in others. Our physical bodies, the same energy that connects us to everything, is what sustains our life force. We can live for around four hundred or more years. My mom looks to be around late thirties, but she’s actually one hundred and ten years old.”

  “How old are you? I mean, I’m not into old men—that’s just creepy,” I teased, but I was serious. Even though he appeared to be around my age, I didn’t like the fact that he could possibly be a hundred years old or so. Then, as soon as I realized what I’d say, I blushed. Well, if Jacob hadn’t known that I was interested in him, he most certainly did now.

  “Oh, I see now.” He laughed and gave me a broad, approving smile. “For your information, I am sixteen. My mom decided to wait later in her life before she had children.”

  It turned out that Awakened Bloodbornes aged very slowly, which was why Karina could still have children even after being over a hundred years old. Another interesting fact, their average physical lifespan was four hundred years. That was a long time to be with the same person, but as per Jacob, the Bloodbornes mated for life.

  “So when do you think we’ll know the results?” I couldn’t fight the anxious feelings any longer. The not-knowing part was killing me.

  Jacob chuckled. “Are you worried?”

  I shook my head. “I don’t know, I think it’s just the whole waiting thing. Ya know? I feel like I’m waiting to find out if I have some type of serious disease or not.” I released a long sigh. For the first time since everything, all the previous events had finally caught up with me. “It’s just—” I paused to collect my thoughts and fight the pain that gnawed at my heart. “My world is never going to be the same again. I feel lost.”

  Jacob took my hand in his and held it gently. “You’re not lost, Jessie.” He placed my hand on his chest, where I felt his heart beating steadily. “As long as my heart beats, you will never be alone. I can never replace everyone in your life, or even the life you’ve left behind. I can, however, welcome you into my world, and let you know you are connected to a great number of people who will help and support you.”

  Part of me thought he was being just a bit corny, but the other side of me totally loved it. His words seemed sincere, and I
hoped things would work well for me. Jacob’s world was beautiful and elaborate, but part of me still longed for my family and friends. I knew there was no going back to my old life, and for whatever it was worth—I had to see this new life through.

  “Thank you.” My voice came out almost a whisper.

  Jacob brought my hand to his lips and placed a kiss on it before letting it go. He was seriously a bit old-fashioned, but a girl could get used to this. My previous days had not been full of laughter as they were now. Everyone around me, aside from Mia, seemed cheerful and happy. Maybe one day I could talk to Mia, and we could work out the differences.

  I spent the rest of the day with Jacob as we completed my tour of the Sanctuary. The last spot was the Great Hall of Elders, as they called it. It was a large room, where there were seven Victorian-era chairs. The red velvet type, with gold trim. Those were where the Elders sat. A few steps down and in front, there was a long table with chairs, much like a courtroom. Jacob explained to me that this was where the Elders met and conducted their business.

  A large painting that hung on the wall to my right caught my attention, and I moved closer to inspect it. The oil painting portrayed two men who stood facing one another with swords drawn. One man, equal in height to the other, had a dragon tattoo on his neck, and behind him, in the bluish-grey clouds, lingered a black dragon. The opposing man had no visible markings, just his sword and behind him, high in the clouds, was a winged angel. The amazing thing I noticed, both men had white hair and those same crystal-like blue eyes.

  “Who are they? It looks like a heaven and hell scene—dragons and angels?” I pointed to the skies behind the two men.

  “This painting represents the history of Bloodbornes. The two men represent the split of the two tribes originally placed on earth to protect the Claybornes. The man on the left with the dragon took with him the dragons of the land to war against demons. The angel represents the one who gifted the two men with the Awakening, which would be passed down through their generations to protect the Claybornes.”