🪻《The Nephilims of Corinth》🪻

🥀 Continuation of Clodette's Narration:

While I was falling down the cliff, the only thing that remained on my mind was Claudius' mischievous grin but even I was falling to my death, I wasn't resentful. He could never hurt me, he was my only friend. I close my eyes and braced myself for impact;

"It will hurt" I thought to myself but to my surprise I fell face-down on a field of daffodils. I stretched my arms around the soft flowers and pulled myself up, they were beautiful, I picked one daffodil and blew it. I looked up and realize that my fall wasn't even high enough to kill me, it was just the fog playing a trick on me.

Claudius came from behind me, and pulled my hand "Come on!" as he laughed loudly.

We ran hand in hand further into the forest when a big fog enveloped us and I halted, alarmed by the sudden change of the surroundings. Claudius tugged my hand, urging me to continue. "It's okay" he reassured me. I gripped his hand and continued into the dark fog until we saw a huge Stonehenge, there was not only one but several!

The Stonehenge were perfectly aligned like walls of the city! We walked closer to it, I looked all the way up but the misty fog covered the tip. Claudius, without hesitation touched the stone, it immediately gleamed! A comfortable azure light traced the odd lines revealing strange shapes and characters that I've never seen before, the characters gleamed brightly and the ground suddenly began to shake as the two Stonehenge in the middle parted slowly!

"Only the blood of the moon-eyed can open the walls" Claudius explained as he showed me his bloodied hand.

When did he cut his palm? Claudius sheathed his dagger and urged me to enter the pathway.

The misty fog wasn't created by nature but of magic, it covered the whole village, hid it from the outside world and was never seen for generations. The magic was conjured by the most powerful of them all, the weavers. Claudius told me that most moon-eyed living there were not from the bloodline of Wicca, but offsprings of ordinary angels whom they called the fallen.

There were also humans living with them with attributes to magic which were called mageia or magic-users. In modern world, they were called witches or warlocks. The moon-eyed taught them how to weave spells and brew potions, the most talented of them were trained to be weavers but it was rare. There were also the shapeshifters these were people with a unique ability to transform themselves into wolves, Claudius told me not to associate them with werewolves since werewolves were empty-headed monsters!

So he says. I laughed at his notion about werewolves, he wasn't fond of them.

There was also a higher being whom they called "exalted one", born with Wicca's blood, they were separated from the rest of the villagers and they reside in the megalithic palace in the center of the village, they were protected by their chosen protector since their blood was most sacred.

Claudius was a protector, he was chosen for his strong attribute to magic weaving. He could conjure the ten knots of magic, he showed me his arms full of strange symbols tattooed on his skin. He was very proud of his position! While we were walking through the village I couldn't help myself from gawking around.

The road was mostly made by huge blocks which were neatly constructed, the symmetrical cottages formed a circular shape around the village courtyard, were a mixture of terracotta clay and black stone blocks, creating a concrete wall with thatched roof; This structure will make the inner house warmer during winter and cooler during summer.

The village was civilized, they had built an aqueduct bringing freshwater to a reservoir that was powered by a rare crystal called "Purpurite" a beautiful purple elemental stone that was more transparent to opaque, which believed to harmonize with elemental magic and had spiritual and healing properties. It provided magic energy to the fire rune symbol to sterilize the water, then the heated water will pass through the metal pipes providing clean water to each households.

They also built open bathhouses where several villagers could leisurely bathe! There were healers or shamans, builders as well as blacksmiths. The villagers also planted vegetation, orchards and raised domesticated animals providing food for the whole village. During the dry season, the water from the reservoir could also be used to water the rice fields through a system of channels and sluices.

They even have carriages made of lithium plates furthermore, the inner part was embedded with soft cushions, they didn't use horses to pull the carriages instead they use the purpurite crystal to supply horsepower.

However, they mostly used another way of transportation, they use the purpurite crystal to create a teleportation device, it was a large star-crossed platform with four large obelisks in all corners embedded with rune symbols, the purpurite crystal will provide a magical energy to the symbols enabling it to open a warp portal that linked two points in space and stabilizing it!

They could transport any object to any destination as long as their chosen destination also have a transportation rune.

Moreover, they also invented a communication device! The small purpurite crystals were embedded with magic symbols that created a unique frequency that enable the users to communicate freely with each other in a secure and efficient transmission no matter the distance.

The village didn't use candles or incandescent light bulbs in chandeliers instead they use energy crystals that drew geomantic and elemental energies which provided them with clean light.

My eyes widened at the magnificent village, it was a whole league of its own. No wonder my father spend years in looking for this place.

In the center of the village stood the megalithic palace. The palace was composed of five interconnected palaces with large platforms, it was built with at least three floors high, that had twenty doors and four patios. The palace was painted in viridescent with a touch of azure, hieroglyphics were carved on the pillars and were painted in gold. There were several wisteria trees surrounded it, bringing mild sweet fragrance in the air.

Women and men lived in equal footing here, no prejudice, no inequality or discrimination! They exercised love for all genders, so men could love men, women could love women and vice versa. Though there was equality, the village was governed by a particular bloodline, whom they call Dominion. Dominions were mostly descendants of Wicca and held great prowess, Claudius belonged to this bloodline.

Claudius and I strode along the road where several children played gleefully with each other, one child came running with his hands raised up in the air shooting vibrant colors in the sky. It was so beautiful!

Claudius and I walked deeper into the village and stopped at the village center where several men wearing white and red tunics discussing among themselves, Claudius whispered softly to my ear, he told me that these people were astrológos or in a modern word "astronomers", they were discussing the exact date and time the blood moon will appear.

Claudius pointed to the sky "The stars will tell us the exact date." Then he reverted his gaze to me "The blood moon mostly occur every century."

Among the crowd of astronomers; A tall, black haired man spotted us. He smiled gleefully and strode closer to where Claudius and I were standing, he introduced himself as Tobias, the village chieftain.

Tobias was tall and not very muscular, his face was save unlined except for a crease on his forehead. He had pale skin, a long black hair which was braided and silver eyes that could pierce your soul.

"So you are my son's friend" He spoke.

Son?! I turned to Claudius, who was grinning from ear to ear. "Ah yes" I stuttered.

"Cold-blood, are you?" Tobias titled his head, examining my face. I nodded, Tobias smiled "If you are my son's friend then you must be trustworthy even if you are one of the cold bloods."

I looked down unable to meet his gaze but Claudius wrapped his arm around my shoulder and said: "She is!" He looked at me with a smile , "very trustworthy!"

Tobias' smile widened and turn his gaze to me. "I had a friend once, he was a cold blood too. You remind me of him"

"What happened to him?" I curiously asked him.

"Another time for that story." He patted my shoulder gently and reverted his attention to Claudius;

"You should invite your friend inside our home," Tobias looked around. "The villagers are beginning to take notice that your friend isn't human."

The villagers were eyeing me suspiciously, their azure and silver eyes watching my every move! I pulled my hood tightly and followed Claudius into the palace. We walked along a seemingly long hallway with several soapstone fire pots stood aflame, illuminating the path.  When a stomping sound echoed the hallway, a young boy came running toward us!

His long black hair was silky, swaying behind him, his skin so pale but not dull. He was wearing a pale blue chiton with a white himation covering his body, a golden wreath sat tightly on his head and a single silver earring with an alexandrite crystal embedded on it, dangling on his right ear as he ran. He sprung up as Claudius caught and held him tightly, the boy's cheeks flushed with merriment!

"Amadeus!"

"Brother!"

Amadeus grinned happily in Claudius' arms as he clung on his neck. He turned to me and his smile faded, "Who is this?" he asked.

"This is my friend, Clodette Berenice of House Ambrogia." He replied as he let the boy down.

"Ambrogia." Amadeus let the words rolled out his mouth. He looked at me distastefully, his intense scrutinizing gaze upon me and sent shivers through my spine.

"Yes, Nice to meet you." I managed to squeeze out a greeting.

"Cold-blood!" Amadeus shouted, alarmingly. He hurriedly hid behind Claudius, his huge golden eyes cautiously stared at me.

"Young Lord!" A woman came running, calling him urgently. "There you are! you shouldn't wander around!"

When the woman saw Claudius she immediately bowed low. "Welcome back, my lord!"

"Tia, you can take Amadeus to his chambers." Claudius spoke calmly as he tried to pull Amadeus away but the poor child clung to him tightly.

"But I want to stay with you!" Amadeus whined.

"Today, I want to show Clodette around, maybe tomorrow?" Claudius persuaded him.

Amadeus turned to me and clicked his tongue. My eyes widened at his ungentlemanly behavior! "It is almost midnight, why is she here?"

Claudius patted his head while laughing. "You know cold bloods can only come out at night."

He urged Amadeus to go with his handmaiden, after awhile Amadeus conceded and took Tia's hand as she whisked him away. I continued to stare at Amadeus, he was a beautiful child! too beautiful, I wondered why was his eyes different from the others, the moon eyed people were distinguished by the color of their eyes, it was either azure or silver but never golden.

"He is the exalted one," Claudius spoke as though he could read my mind. "He is to become the next Seraphim. He was chosen by the spirits as their vessel and he is to call upon them during the blood moon."

"You don't sound happy." I stared at his face.

Claudius' eyes lingered at Amadeus' retreating back. "He is but thirteen years old despite this he has already been given a huge responsibility" Claudius shook his head. "The moment he was born, we all know it is him"

He stared at me. "The one who will conquer death, grant life and judge humanity."

After several days of visiting the village, I grew accustomed to their bizarre technology and magic. Amadeus, who was wary of me began to open up, he was such a cute child! He was mischievous but I couldn't deny he was a prodigy! His ability set him apart from the other moon-eyed children that was why he was overprotected by the villagers however he wasn't a prisoner, he could leisurely play with other children if he wanted to but he was too preoccupied with his studies.

I discovered that Amadeus had the ability to see visions, a premonition; but it wasn't always accurate as Claudius said the future could change because people could change their destiny.

Amadeus loved to talk about magic! His golden eyes would lit up! He told me everything that was to learn about magic even 'black magic' which he called sorcery. Sorcery was different from energy magic which came from elemental crystals and spiritual energy, sorcery was derived from darkness, it was a curse power given by Hecate, goddess of witchcraft.

And having to use such magic was taboo in their village. If anyone used such power, their spiritual energy will be sealed forever!

The people were not wary of me anymore, the children would clung on me as Claudius and I walked around the village, the village seamstresses would occasionally asked me to change my clothes, apparently they find my clothes uncomfortable!

So today, I gave in to them, they clothed me with a cream colored chiton and a golden sash that hugged my waist tightly, they placed a crimson himation over my chiton and fastened it with a golden feather pin, the little moon-eyed girls braided my hair and decorated several magnolias on them. Claudius gave me his wreath, he told me it will look better on me than on him.

It was an ideal Utopia, men didn't quarrel instead they 'discuss' their argument and find a resolution. Women didn't envy but encouraged each other, how lovely would it be if the world would follow their example but I know it won't happen.

I know it won't happen because the world is full of prejudice and strife.

The Corinthian weather was always in favor of the vampires, it was mostly cloudy or gloomy, so I was leisurely sitting by the river while Claudius was trying to catch some fish before dinner, several men joined him when Amadeus strode closer to us.

"He wouldn't catch anything if he stand like that." I spoke absentmindedly.

"He is better at that than you think." Amadeus' soothing voice came from behind me. I spun around to look at him, his golden eyes were watching Claudius.

"You really like your brother."

"Yes," he sat next to me "I want to be just like him!"

"You will be."  I encouraged him.

We continued to watch Claudius in silence, after an eternity of stillness Amadeus looked at me and held out his hand, gesturing for mine. I hesitantly placed my hand on his and he turned it over to look at my palm, his finger traced the lines on my skin as he spoke:

"Your life won't be an easy one, many problems will be ahead of you."

He traced another line and I shuddered from his light touches, he was quite a unique boy. Whenever our eyes met he quickly avoided it with his ears flushed.

"What is it?" I asked him. He curled his lips and after a brief hesitation he spoke;

"You and —" He spoke softly.  I waited for him to continue so I urged him to speak but his eyes kept lingering on Claudius.

"Do you believe in reincarnation?" He suddenly asked as he stared back at me. I furrowed my brow asking him to speak more. "In an ancient scripture, it says we passed through many lifetimes but when two souls are intertwined they will continue to find one another through space and time," he took a deep breath. "Your soul is intertwined with a Nephilim."

After Amadeus spoke, my eyes darted immediately to Claudius! Does this mean that no matter how the world was turned upside down, Claudius and I will find each other through reincarnation?

It was fate that we have met each other and it was destiny that we would remained by each other's lives, right?

—But it took me a century to realize that Claudius was simply a bridge to find the one I am truly destined for.

🪻《Author's Note 》🪻

Hey lovely People🥀

I hope you enjoyed this chapter, Clodette's backstory is beginning to unravel and soon Claude's connection to Claudius will be revealed. So, stay tuned!

🪷| Glossary:

Seraphim: An angelic being that belonged to the highest ninefold celestial hierarchy.
Megalift: A huge stone that forms a prehistoric monument.
Thatched roof: A roof made of hay and straw.
Purpurite: is a beautiful purple stone that believed to release stress and calm the nerves, it also have healing properties (heals wounds, cuts and bruises) and offers psychic protection.
Alexandrite: A precious gem more expensive than a diamond and has a dramatic color change, it is often describe as "Emerald by day and Ruby by night"
Soapstone: A stone that has the ability to absorb heat, hold heat, and radiate heat.

🪻Questions of the day:

What do you think of the village?
Do you think Claudius reincarnated to find Clodette once more?
Do you guys believe in reincarnation? 

What are your thoughts? Please comment below and don't forget to vote!

Love, Julia 🌹