Title: The Certeri a.k.a. Book One of the Odin Trilogy

Author: Emma Peterson

Date: 10. March. 2008

Disclaimer: All characters belong to me and have been the result of years of research, sketching and writing. So please don’t steal.

Summary: The first Book of a Trilogy about fantastic beings this book is about a group of siblings - vampires - known to many as the Certeri’s or “the others.”

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Act. 1 - Prologue

The Slayer stared over the ledge and watched the shadows play out beneath her. She waited until the screaming girl got closer to her to even pull back her trench coat to reveal the heavy arsenal. She took a deep breath in as the other two shadows pounced on the girl and took her down with them. Her gargled scream was her only reply.

The Slayer jumped down from the balcony and unhooked the silver sexton’s ax and the silver stake.

“Hey - sorry to interrupt -”

The skin across the girl’s neck made a stretching sound as it tore within the vampire’s grasp.

“But I really can’t let you get away with attacking innocent girls in the park.”

A sharp snap ensued from their bite making a ray of blood fly into the air.

Finally the vampires turned and hissed back at the Slayer, smiling with pride, and covered in blood.

The girl was left behind as they charged for their newest prey, refusing to even notice the battle stance that the Slayer was now occupying. As one approached faster than the other, the Slayer swung her ax, decapitating him in one swift blow. And going along with the sheer force of her momentum continued turning as the second approached. Steadying her back to him, she gripped the stake with both hands and thrust it upwards into the vampire’s chest.

The first one’s head rolled by.

With the sound of vibrating metal echoing into the distance she took one step, then another, closer to the girl who was still lying motionless on the cold marble floor.

Now came the hardest part, because if they’re not dead -

The girl shot up onto her hands and feet, knees bent; the resulting image striking the Slayer as some, almost, mutated bloody animal, rather than a newly created vampire. The girl’s head whipped around and with cold, bloodshot eyes stared back at her newfound enemy.

They’re undead . . .

The Slayer held up the stake with it’s crimson tint dripping to the ground like too much paint on a brush. The girl didn’t even hesitate, and blindly through herself onto it. A small phlegm of blood spat out of her mouth.

And as she stood there dying, drifting away, the Slayer noticed a hint of sadness that almost looked human within her eyes.

The transformation had barely begun, of course she’d still be able to show some human emotion, the Slayer contemplated. But no matter, the transformation had begun, and nothing would have been able to stop it.

Nothing, except for her.

The other vampires were beginning to burn and turn into ash around them. Little flecks of dust, rising around, creating the reverse effect of a snow-like atmosphere. Finally the girl reached up her hand, touched the stake, and took her last breath.

The Slayer closed her eyes, a sense of regret taking over, her brows furrowed together in both anger and disappointment.

Though she had killed so many vampires, it never seemed enough - she had just as much of a killing frenzy for them, as they had a hunger frenzy for blood. She opened her eyes, and with her foot pushing against the young woman, pulled out the stake.

For a moment, the young woman remained upright, the gapping hole in her chest outlining the frame of the Slayer’s face from a distance. Then she too joined her comrades and fell down beside them, beginning to steam from the self cremation, as the Slayer shook with fear.

Fear of having to kill yet another person she knew.

She through her head back and screamed into the air. Blood and ash mingling together at her feet and rising quickly to accompany her roar.