The Path of Destiny

Hear now the story of the life of Saraya the greatest of the trackers.

For all her life Saraya knew she was different.  She was a tracker, one who was good but she was also abused in many ways.

Her parents were cold to the world and uncaring about the daughter they had.  For them only a son was a good thing as he would carry on the family name.

Her looks weren’t right either for her parents liking.  Her hair didn’t grow longer than her shoulders and was straight while her mother had long and wavy hair that touched her waist.  They hated that she didn’t look as womanly as she should.

She had been neglected for so long that she never knew what loving parents were.  Her mother was almost mute and did whatever her father said.  When she was 17 her father forced her into marriage with a man almost as old he was.

Her husband was a despicable man who beat her when she wasn’t doing as he told her to.  He also forced her to have asany children as she could.  They ended up with 14 kids throughout their years together. 

She was constantly abused through most of her life.  She had to protect her children from the monster of her husband.  He was even worse than anyone she had met before and that was saying something.  He even sold her off to the highest bidder for her services in housework and child rearing.  It was a sad and lonely life.

Her husband grew more cruel as the days went by.  He was involved in so many illegal activities, mostly dealing with a world she had never known.  He was dealing in stolen magical artefacts as well as slavery of weaker mages.

——

She was now in her late 30s and had already had her 14 kids.  She had been married since she was 17 so over 20 years.  During that time she had learned a lot about the magical community and had her contacts now as well.

Even with having all those children she was still very skinny her face was unblemished from age lines.  Her eyes were dark brown and while you wouldn’t say she was a gorgeous lady but she was good looking.  Her face was slightly ovalish and her hair was still black and stubbornly straight.

She could hear arguing in the next room.  Her husband was arguing with the most handsome person she had ever seen.  He had sandy blonde hair and hazel eyes.  His cheekbones were high and his nose was fairly small.  The man was gorgeous.

“You have been selling my people into slavery.  We of the fang don’t take kindly to that.  “

Her husband stammered “I would never do that Samir”

“Enough” he barked “I have seen the truth you will be punished.  You can’t sell my people as slavea to the highest bidder.  I hear the heartbeat of another in here and she is listening in.”

Samir was swarthy and reached his clawed fingers out and grabbed Saraya.  “Listening in and being the bride of this idiotic man who has betrayed my kind and our trust we had in him.”

He pulled her close “This is but a taste of what could happen.” He but down on her neck making sure he didn’t drain her of blood.  She cried out in pain.  He then released her and let her fall to the floor as she was sobbing.  “This is just a warning, if you do anything again expect that this one will be mine.”

Samir then left out the door smiling with his evil pointed teeth showing.  The husband looked at his wife “You stupid whore.  How dare you interfere.” he bawled up his fists and beat her.

———

It had been 6 months and Saraya was always in fear of Samir returning. She has two little pinprick scars on the left side of her neck.  She wore colourful scarves just to hide that as well as hide other bruises from the beatings her husband gave her.

She heard the knock on the door she opened it and the swarthy looking vampire who was her biggest nightmare was standing there “My lord Samir.  To what do we owe the pleasure of your company?”. She said in fake sweetness.

He pushed his way in “Your husband we’re is he”

She shrugged “You don’t know or you don’t care.  I can smell the blood that has dried on your person.  So it isn’t punishment to take you from him.”

He started to look around when her husband came out.  “You took my child so in recompense I take something of yours.”. He then slammed his fist into the man’s stomach, he dropped to the ground gasping.  He then pulled over Saraya and bit her, draining her.  He then opened his own vein and fed her his blood.  She would be one with him.

He let her go.  “This isn’t over either.  Your children will also be mine.  But your wife is currently all I need.  Rise daughter”. He growled.

Saraya slowly rose she was pale and with the dark hair it made it even more pronounced on her.  She walked over to her husband “With my death we are no longer married.  However you have been a very evil man.  For that”. She reached over and grabbed him by the neck and squeezed breaking his neck and crushing his windpipe.  “You die”. She said fake sweetly.  “Master, where to now?”

He laughed.  Samir wasn’t one that would take kindly to quick deaths but at least she had ended it.  He would reach her the hard way to end life.  “We go back to my palace where I will teach you our ways.  Your children will join us as well.”

She nodded “Yes Sire.  We will make a great family.”

———–

It had been 3 months since Saraya had been changed as well as killed her husband.  From what she had found out was that they hadn’t figured out who had killed him and they thought she had been taken.

Of course she had been taken.  She was happier than she had ever been even if she didn’t like Samir at all.  He was training her as his sire had trained him which was ruthless aggression.

He constantly made sure she was being aggressive, even threatening to kill her children.  She already had plans to change her children to make her true family.

It would be years if not decades or even centuries before she could break free from Samir. Samir wasn’t one to give up on anything including someone who he never wanted but was a way to try and get even with a person who betrayed him.

She could easily hate him and she did all it took was looking at her scar were he had bit her a few months before turning her.  She still blamed her husband, which is why she killed him.  The kids didn’t know yet that she was alive.

She tried to become positive but her life had not been that way and she became cold and bitter just like her mother and father. 

Samir was amazing at fighting but he should have been as Ibrahim was a trained Assassin.  She was a slow learner when it came to fighting and hoped she would improve soon.

She wasn’t fond of training but his techniques of pain by biting worked well and she began to improve.

——-

Ibrahim hadn’t been to his son’s castle in nearly 50 years.  It wasn’t that he had an aversion to it but he disliked the middle east with a passion.  It was stifling the way they lived and he preferred to live in a less stressful life where men and women could be themselves.

The last time was because of a legal issue and this time it was because of his latest conquest the tracker.  He was dying to meet Saraya and was hoping to offer her a position with his sub cadre.  A true tracker, one hadn’t been found in at least 4 centuries. The fact that his son found her was miraculous, it would help both of them to become better than they were.

Samiir was not as powerful as he wanted but he was able to find some of the best people to make vampires.  It was a gift that he wished was shared by himself.  The one problem that he had with Samir was that he was ruthlessand never thought of the consequences.

This lady had a huge family, she would be missed by them as well as they would be looking for her.  Even though they moved back to the Middle East it was still a risk. 

He entered the area in the dark of night knowing that he would find the people at home.   He used his power and pushed through the wards that allowed the castle gates to open.  They allowed his entry and then closed.

As he entered he saw a lady who was wearing a black hijab which was unusual as most wouldn’t wear it in their home especially as they didn’t know someone was coming.  He was not anticipating this as it still wasn’t common.

Ibrahim, while not in control of the cadre, his sire Vilhanos didn’t watch things quite as clearly and allowed his people to do what they must and to take on the jobs.  Of course Ibrahim had tried to ensure that he was always following what was best for the cadre and bringing in a tracker was needed.

He walked up to the lady and bowed deeper than normal “Good evening Lady.  Who do I have honour or addressing?”. He asked jovially.

She bowed back as well “Hello Elder.  I am Saraya.  Welcome to the home of my master.  Who am I addressing?”

He nodded slightly “Please take me to Samir.  You, my dear, may call me Ibrahim son of Vilhanos.”

She didn’t seem shocked as well; she probably didn’t know what those names were.  He knew that this lady would be the best or the worst.  He could feel her mind tasting his aura so this is how she could track people.  She would get their mental signature and then track using that aspect.

He followed the lady realising that Samir was using the ancient customs even in his hole to control this woman.  She had a sour look to her face and be could detect that there was great anger linking her to her old life and this new life.  He was think if it would be worth it to bring this lady to the Assassins sect.

He was a very minor empath but his true strength lays in his ability to scary great distances.  He could sense her unease but he also could sense her intrigue.

She opened the door at the end of the hall and entered having him following her in.  “Saraya if you would please excuse us for now, however later I would love to speak to you in great detail”

Saraya nodded and left.  “So Samir you stole this person from her husband and she killed him.  You know she has a family that is searching for her.  Her children are trying to find her and will stop at nothing to bring their mother home either alive or dead.”

He nodded “She is mine and will remain that way for a long time.  I don’t think she will ever be powerful enough to break away from me.  Her kids will be mine as well eventually.  For now I am using them as a way to control her.  She will be as good as broken to my will.”

“Oh my child breaking is not the only way to assist and controlling someone is not the way.  Each of our children must be able to have free will or they will never be able to grow and be what we need them to be.”

He glared “You can’t be serious I will do as I will.  You can’t control me and you know it.  I am more powerful than even you can imagine.”

He laughed “You are nothing Samir.  You will yield or you will have to face the consequences.”

Samir smiled evilly “Too bad”. He drew a dagger and began a pattern that would allow him to kill his sire.  A powerful fighter he was and would always be.

Saraya watched from a hidden alcove.  She saw her master draw a dagger and start the dance of blades that he had not had a loss with.  She watched as her grandsire drew a dagger as well but he didn’t move in the way of the dance.  She drew a second dagger using the two weapon technique.

She could see as he moved in a crouch style allowing himself to circle to the left keeping the blade hand of Samir at bay.

They started to swing the blades with increasing speed as sparks flew off of the metal as it connected time and again.  Saraya could see that her master was not the equal of Ibrahim.  As they battled she saw mistakes being made and finally Ibrahim was able to get past and cut off the head of Samir. 

He glanced down at the body of his child.  “Saraya I know you are there come out here and talk now.”

She slowly entered the room no longer wearing the Hijab showing short dark hair.  “Master” she said dropping to her knee and showing the respect her original master demanded.  “I serve at your pleasure.  Whatever is your desire”

He glanced at her “I do not require your fealty.  You are free now and are able to make your own choices of what you want.  It could be creating your own family here or joining me in the Assassin Sect.  You are strong and will succeed. “

Saraya had never had a choice before.  Everyone else chose for her so this was unique.  “Family or Assassin Sect.  If I have a choice I want it all, both of the choices are what I want.”

Ibrahim just nodded “ You have the right of choice I shan’t try and convince you otherwise.  However doing both will be tough.  As a present this castle is now yours and we will begin training you in the way of the Assassin.  Be prepared I will return periodically.”

It was time for the assassins to enter into the light and she would be one who would assist with that.  She would lead the way and become the best of the Assassin Sect.