Free Vampires Realm Prophecy 01 - Child of Light by F E Heaton Page A

that he was bringing adventure to his door.
    Valentine looked up to see the building opposite him. It looked exactly as he remembered it. The imposing façade was just one of many along the broad road. Its honey-coloured sandstone was smooth and without the fancy carvings that adorned many of the other buildings in Oxford. The small turrets at the top of the building were the only extravagance. Their roofs were covered in deep brown tiles that blended with the warm stone. His eyes strayed to the sky above him and the clouds that were beginning to gather.
    Stepping up to the arched wooden door, he knocked and then took a step back. He waited to see if anyone would answer.
    He glanced at Prophecy where she was looking around her, taking in the new scenery. Everything here was lighter than Prague. This city didn’t have the same air of darkness as his. He’d always felt as though he was safer here than anywhere on the planet. Oxford had a low number of vampires and Mathias was the only one of them who belonged to a pure bloodline.
    He knocked again and ignored the feeling of apprehension that began to settle in his stomach.
    Mathias would answer. He was probably just reluctant to leave his books.
    When Prophecy shifted from foot to foot and gave him a look that showed him that she was as worried as he felt, he went to knock again.
    The door swung open.

Chapter 7
    Valentine smiled when the door opened to reveal a dimly lit hall and then his friend. Mathias looked exactly as he remembered, his appearance that of a slim, dark-haired librarian in his late forties hiding what he really was. He supposed that Mathias spent so much time with books that he could easily qualify as a librarian, but his friend had always preferred the label of scribe. When Prophecy shifted behind him, he looked over his shoulder at her. She was standing with him directly between herself and Mathias, and was huddled up, her arms wrapped tightly around her and her hair partly obscuring her face. She looked pale. She’d need to eat something soon or the Hunger would drive her insane.
    “It’s been a long time, Valentine.” The well-spoken voice of Mathias roused Valentine from his perusal of her and he returned his attention to his friend.
    “Too long, and unfortunately the circumstances surrounding my visit are dire to say the very least.”
    “You’d best come in then,” Mathias said and Valentine went to follow him into the house but the old scribe paused just inside the door. He didn’t look around as he spoke. “Tell her not to worry. I’m not going to hurt her.”
    Valentine looked back at Prophecy who had remained standing in the same spot.
    “He’s an Aurorea.” Her voice was quiet and he could hear the mistrust in it. The last thing he needed was her making a scene in front of his old friend. She should have known that Mathias would be one of his bloodline.
    He walked back down the steps to her.
    “It’s safe. Mathias may be my kin, but he has no interest in reporting to Kalinor.”
    She looked up at him through her hair and kept her eyes fixed on his for a brief moment before moving past him towards the door.
    Turning on the spot, he followed her up the steps and into the building. He looked out into the street as he closed the heavy door, checking that no one had seen them enter, and then went to find Mathias.
    He didn’t need to look behind him to know that Prophecy was following. He could feel her. All he had to do was reach out with his senses the tiniest amount and she was there. He kept them locked on her as he walked, leading her deeper into the house. All of the corridors were dimly lit by low burning lamps on the walls and on tables around the rooms.
    “You really should start using this modern invention called electricity,” he remarked as he found Mathias pawing over a stack of books.
    Mathias removed his glasses and looked around him.
    The room was lit more brightly than the others they had passed through, but the