Wingless and Damned

Wingless and Damned

Book one in

The Damned Series

By

Dawn White

Published by

Nevermore Press

Copyright Dawn White 2014

Published by Nevermore Press at Smashwords

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then you should return it to Smashwords.com

Acknowledgments

To my wonderful husband who has believed in me with every endeavor I have ever set out to accomplish, love you.

To my beautiful daughters who made it quite interesting to write some pivotal love scenes. Love you, ladies!

To the best daddy in the world, please don’t read this book. I love you!

Last but certainly not least, Claudy Conn, my favorite author, who taught me the ins and outs on everything publishing!

Prologue

Eleusis West Attica Greece 1700 BC

As Aison flies as fast as he can, he still can’t get close enough to see if the visions he saw on Mt. Olympus were real. Landing with a loud thud on the thick grey stones, Aison tries to push his way through the crowd who is chanting Hades, which has gathered around a wooden funeral pyre. As the final obstacle that is keeping him from viewing the pyre is removed, he collapses to his knees hands on his chest, devastated at the sight of his beloved Kora lying limp at the center of the burning pyre. When he reaches the fire, it is quickly distinguished by his desperation. He grasps her in his arms and weeps into her thick curly ebony hair. When Aison searches her honey eyes for any sign of life, he is lost in the clouded version that they have become.. Seeing the lividity of her once golden skin, he lays her gently down on the wood, he is already as angry as he could possibly ever be, when the red and blue fire rages up around him . Aison steps through the all consuming fire, as it furies towards him it terrifies the electrified crowd into shriller chants.Once he reaches the other side of the fire he decides to turn around to get one final look at Kora only to be met with the sight of the fire engulfing her already charred body, when he turns his gaze to the crowd his eyes are the color of rivers of blood he decrees to them when he is angry.

You have soiled my Beloved to appease a god that would have you rotting in the darkest pits of the underworld! I will make it my immortal mission to cause each and every one of you the anguish you have caused me! I will make as many evil beasts as I can, and we will destroy you! The blood of your innocent shall cleanse my immortal soul!

Forces unseen begin to pull him skyward as he glares at the witnesses to the carnage of his most beloved. Zeus warned him about falling in love with a mortal! When he gets his wits about him, he sets out on his journey to make as many monstrosities as he possibly can. All noble traits and empathy he once possessed for the mortals are continuously consumed by the hatred he now felt. Becoming a monster of immense proportions only to turn his hatred into a sire of five other originalstrigoi to own the deepest darkest corners of this hell we call earth.

1810 Adirondacks Whiteface Mountain Range

Upstate New York

There is blood, and the overwhelming smell of crimson liquid that seems to pour out of every puncture wound that the wolves caused the youngster. Augustin you need to lay still and do as I say. Your body was ravaged by the pack of wolves that attacked you. I am going to put these cold compresses on you while I send for your father, I said nodding my head at Augustin’s older sister, Milicent. She runs off at a swift pace to get her father who happens to be one of the nomadic Neuri tribe leaders. Once Milicent has departed , I massage my pine root mixture into the worst of Augustin’s injuries in his calf. As the medicine seeps into his system, he starts to regain his composure. I look up as I hear a thunderous sound of bark breaking from pine trees being pushed aside. As Harland and Milicent bust into the clearing, pine needles from the forest floor sweep over Augustin from their abrupt stop. Harland rushes to his son’s side, takes his small hand into his own, and with tears in his dark brown eyes says, He is, only seven years old he must survive this onslaught, I can’t lose my youngest child. Is there any way he will survive this Ciarra?

I have put a paste containing medicine in his wound, I believe he will make it but it will be touch and go. He will need to be brought to my shelter in order for me to watch over him tonight. We will know his fate in the morning.

Harland lightly enfolds Augustin into his strong broad arms, carefully walking him through the forest of spruce, pine and many other needled trees surrounding the base of the mountain range.

I hold the leather door flap open for Harland to place the ailing boy next to the fire.. I clear my throat as I rub the side of my head knowing the information I’m about to say to him is going to cause both of us more stress than we previously had.

Harland, I am new to this, and the only reason I am the medicine woman is because our original medicine woman died of a fever last winter. I was still training, and washer Apprentice. Under her supervision I would have no reservation to believe your boy would survive. All I can say is I’m going to do everything in my power to save your youngest child. Make sure you also pray to the tribal ancestors, I said hoping he would take my advice and pray to our spirit guides.

Harland exits my shelter in haste wanting to get this night over with as quickly as possible.

During the hours of darkness, I replaced Augustin’s dressings, and kept a fever that was threatening to take him away at bay. When the early morning hours of dawn begin to streak the darkened sky, I feel the windy rush of the leather flap being pushed aside, only to have Harland standing in my makeshift home. Rubbing my eyes I motion to Augustin, who is resting peacefully next to the burning fire.

Harland takes his damaged son into his strong arms and rocks him back and forth slowly.

Feeling elated by Augustin having survived such a brutal attack, at my hands; the hands of a mere apprentice. He survived because of me I thought with joy.

Chapter 1

My name is Ciarra and as medicine woman for the Neuri tribe, I work with my tribal ancestors or spirit guides and nature to keep the balance and peace within our tribe. So far, my job hasn’t been easy.

As I stand at the head of the fire, the tribe leader and members congregate around the fire pit in the center of the camp, seeking the safety they feel in the warmth emanating from fire. My mind and body have grown weary from worrying over what could happen as a result of tonight’s upcoming events. Five of our innocents were taken today by the dreaded Strigoi. These blood-stealing monsters take our innocents from their resting places every two centuries, or that’s what our legends tell us anyway.

I ask for advice from the tribal ancestors regarding the dilemma we have found ourselves in, and the quick council with my spirit guides reminded me that there are always unknown consequences when one casts a spell of this magnitude. My spirit guides have provided a spell for me to twist to ensure the survival of the Neuri Tribe. As I talk with them, my heart races, knowing this simple transformation spell, if done wrong, will have dire consequences. The only way to beat the Strigoi is to fight fang with fang, so to speak.

Twelve of the strongest men in the tribe have volunteered to be the ones turned into werewolves, by spell. I begin twisting a spell which was once considered to be a curse; it was a simple transformation spell.When I finish the spell, no one will be able to recognize the men. However, to be honest, I have no idea how to change them back.

I watch nervously as the beautiful, naked men of the Neuri tribe stand shoulder to shoulder as they begin to painfully transform into what seem to be mindless beasts. As the Neuri, men writhe in pain and agony, my spirit guides begin chanting in an unknown language, calming the men. My expressive arm movements while talking to the men seems to draw them in closer, in order to hear me. I give the men instructions to hunt the Strigoi down. These monsters will come for your families very soon. The women and children run for their makeshift homes, as the formerly human beasts head for the unforgiving dark woods. Once they are in the darkness of the woods, I hear thunderous roars, and realize that it is the newly turned beasts communicating with each other.

My top priority is to find a spell which will transform them back to their former selves.

The spirits from beyond advise me, "A spell has not yet been written to transform them back."

My confusion transforms into terror, as I become fully aware of the consequences of my meddling with nature. At this point, it is far too late to do anything about it. The damage is done.

Kimi, the Neuri tribe leader’s mate, steps into the light of the fire as I gather my thoughts. Her distended belly shows that she is about to give birth to her child . All the women of the tribe follow, and question her regarding the true severity of the circumstances we had found ourselves in. I interrupt, cutting off the women's chatter to explain to the tribal women I really did not know, , what the beasts transformation back to men would entail or even how long it would last, Kimi is clearly terror-stricken. I am trying to be as gentle as possible, I lay Kimi on the ground motioning for the tribal women to help her. Following my suggestion, the women in the tribe take her back to her home, to her resting place, so she may sleep off the terror that is paralyzing her, and surrounding the rest of the camp. I gather my herbs and mixing bowls and make my way to my makeshift home as well.

* * * *

As soon as my head hits my pillow, one of my spirit guides tells me to run. Death is coming if I didn’t. IGather my meager belongings, and slowly try to sneak out of the camp undetected. As soon as I pass the tree line, I can see movement out of the corner of my eye. The motion is so fast I think that I might be imagining it.

Run, another of my spirit guides urges me. It’s not only my imagination then.

I run toward camp yelling, They are coming! The Strigoi are coming! The words just left my mouth when I begin to feel a prickling alarm inching down my spine. In a terrifying whoosh, my feet are lifted from the ground. I cannot help but shriek as I get farther and farther from the ground. Tears are stinging my eyes as I am thrown over the trees at a frightening speed. I start to try and break free of my captor’s strong embrace.

A male voice, in a strange foreign accent, says, Stop moving or I will drop you! I am not going to hurt you!

I am lulled into submission with his words.

I do not know what has come over me. I can still think, Stop and shriek but the words fail to reach my lips. What is wrong with me?

My spirit guide is telling me, "The Strigoi are very old and very powerful. They can make you do anything they wish