The boisterous sounds of construction went on around me. A few months ago this part of the blue district was the most desolate and empty. Now so many people have chosen to make their home here. They all wanted to be close to their new leader.

I was not really their leader, I was more like a figure head. And as much as they chose to follow, their previous leaders were not quite ready to relinquish their hold over power. After all both the dark elves and vampires were a race that desired power greatly.

My abilities as a weaver was no longer a secret. To be honest I did not see much of a reason to keep it confidential anymore. It gave them hope, and for the past few weeks since my seven month long coma, both the leaders of the dark elves and vampires have spared no expenses in rapidly increasing and improving my abilities.

But there was just some things that couldn’t be rushed. Though we were running out of time and options. The explosion that put me in a coma collapsed the hour long tunnel to the pit. As such the pit was cut off from the rest of the dancing caves of Noxis Nyx. Food was in limited supply, but thankfully there was enough to last every dark elf and gnome another year or two. But after that things would get a little difficult. The vampires did not have much of a problem as their dark elf companions were more than happy to provide blood for their survival.

It was inspiring how pain and suffering had brought this two great races together. Usually there would have been just a partnership for mutual benefits. But there was genuine goodness and goodwill between the two of them.

They were not free from their own fair share if internal strife and political machinations. They still had disagreements even to the point of a fight and even death. But both races had melded in such a way, that they were no longer two separate entities but one huge race. I had rough estimations that in about another two thousand years, as far as the people in this prison was concerned. There would be no full blooded vampire or dark elf. They would all be half breeds of both races. At that point they might need to be called something else.

We were trapped, and completely cut off from any other way to the outside world. But the pit was vastly unexplored and there were rumors of other creatures living deep within the darkness. Teluna has been reunited with his mother. Though I have tried everything possible to avoid the woman since I woke up.

She was beautiful, so much so that Xaseah’s allure would pale in comparison to hers. Somehow she and that old lady who had helped clean my face when I was spat on by… ur…. What’s his name again…..um I don’t remember, but I am pretty sure it was the werewolf with the awesome goatee.

Both women have been relegated as my caretakers and maids?, they helped take care of Cassie and me, during my seven month coma. Nisi, however has improved with her manipulation over the earth, so much so that she could now shape and control metal. Her talents were greatly appreciated by the almost three thousand gnomes that were stuck here in the pit and cut of from their warren located in other parts of the dancing caves. She was now being taught engineering, though she would not be as capable of working metal as a dwarven blacksmith, she could and will create amazing things that will bring great honor to her name and her people, at least that’s what she tells me.

Teluna has had limited growth, well he couldn’t be blamed for that seeing as he just reunited with his mother. I figured the poor boy needed a break from a lot of things that has been going on. Also he was treated like royalty now, Teluna was the only vampire, apart from Cassie who was not encumbered or bound by the seal. They both had special existences as they had access to something our people have longed for; for two thousand years. The amount of vampires or dark elves who remember what it was like to have access to the system, were very old, most of them do not even show themselves in public anymore. Both races were long lived, and could almost be considered immortal. But the seal has been draining their essence, their very life for so long, that the average life expectancy of a vampire or dark elf has been cut drastically short.

It was all up to me now to find away around that. As for me, I spent my days avoiding Teluna’s mother, Soren's big mouth, the leaders of both races who have been desperately trying to restructure their hierarchy, ranks and power ladder around the new and by popular demand, leader of both races. While keeping much of their control over their people, or at least having some sort of leverage over me. To bad the new leader always ends up busy anytime they come visiting.

With all that in mind, I had chosen to focus on the best way to increase my abilities fast. I had no time to play politics, and I was no use to any body at this stage of my strength. But there has been rapid increase in my abilities. I can now use single word weaves indefinitely and can draw power from the different sources to power my runes.

Both races were long lived, and it was quite amazing what you can find when you go searching among the dusty old books owned by a lot of the elders of both races. My understanding of weaving had reached a new high, and I was able to understand the ranking of power used for weavers and learn how to progress to the next level.

There are three main power levels for a weaver, and each of this levels have a specific number of circles that need to be filled with soul power before a weaver could proceed to the next. Starting from the base of the spine was the lumbar level with five circles or conduits. I was currently maxed out on this level for reasons I can’t explain other than my strange connection to Soren, and the fact that I have been through a lot of life harrowing experiences that has forced me to grow beyond the person I once was.

The next level is the thoracic level with the most circles and conduits of all three levels. It had twelve, and each one after the other was infinitely bigger and would improve a weavers abilities in leaps and bounds after it is filled.

And finally the level of the masters, the cervical level with seven circles. When each circle is filled, a natural ability will be granted by the way. Some get control over the elements, invisibility, the ability to eat a lot. It could be anything as epic as the ability to create moons or as stupid as always having your teeth shiny white. The only thing known was that it was a random occurrence based on the judgment of the way. But those abilities has never made a weaver any less terrifying or dangerous. The books I had read gave vague whispers of a fourth level, but it was mostly passed aside as the unproven ramblings of mad men.

With the books aside, I spent most of the day meditating and planning my next move. It was a hunch, but I think mental stress, or exercises, reading, and using calculations in that gods forsaken subject called mathematics helped increase my mental energy in a slow and steady rate. It was now even more powerful than my soul energy, as I can now use my mental energy to affect reality. Strictly speaking I could move things with my mind.

Of course it was not that great, I can’t move anything heavier or wider than fifteen inch long and ten inch in diameter vase. And even then I end up exhausting myself to the point where I bleed from my eyes, ears, and nose. I doubt a human would have been able to handle such training without constant healing.

Things seemed to be changing for the better, even with the impending crisis of lack of food, everyone seems to be happy. Well everyone but me. To a vampire or dark elf, time passes very quickly, and without the regular dosage of Ionite to the prisoners, a lot of them have begun to rediscover their natural racial abilities. The part of them that could not be shackled by the obstruction of their access to the way. Everyone seemed busy this days,

But I was still drowning in a wave of pressure. I now had a massive responsibility, and this people needed me to give and show them the path to the way, the path to freedom. Not to mention, I had no idea how much time we have. The tunnel to the pit might be collapsed, but out jailors could very well at this minute be digging and searching for us. There was just so much to do, and so little time. Too little.

*******************************************

I really did not want to be here. The amount of scrutiny was exhausting and very uncomfortable. Being stared at by 300 dark elf priestesses and twenty vampire elders did not sit right with me. I had the distinct feeling that they were looking at me like I was some sort of meat.

“You should relax. You’ve done this before and believe me when I tell you. You’re a natural.”

Soren’s words of comfort did little to alleviate my nervousness, in fact it only increased it. I could not help but wish Asare was here, he has been missing since the whole revolt and no body knew whether he was dead or alive. Of course the dude had a penchant for always giving half answers and truths, and unfortunately for me Soren who should be the only other person with information about my past was keeping quiet.

Apparently he felt that knowing things about my past will only stunt my growth and be less helpful than I expect it to be. That answer drove me mad, it only made me want to find out even more what my past was like. To many things did not make sense. I heard someone clear his throat and my attention was drawn to the center of the tower.

We were currently in the white district. The place was really neat and beautiful, well as beautiful as the part of a prison specifically built to cater for the nobles might be. I had only been here once, during the time of my first meeting with Xaseah. But even then I couldn’t see much of the place.

We were all sitting in a tower that has been completely repurposed as a huge assembly hall. The seats were all arranged in a circular formation while a raised podium was standing right at the middle. And on that podium was an old vampire, well he looked old, with all his grey hair and thick long beard. He carried with him an aura that bespoke of someone you would call a gentleman. Though he did have a rather stern expression.

“Greeting to you all, my fellow elders, our esteemed priestesses and mostly to you. Lord Kael our respected leader elect. To finally be in your presence, it is such a great honor.”

He spoke with such eloquence it enhanced his looks. He was wearing a dusty old coat, over his old but clean grey cotton clothes that were the norm for all prisoners. He could be wearing something better if he chose, but as far as I understand I was made to know that most of the leaders vowed to never wear anything better looking than their fellow brothers and sisters who still suffered in the lower districts.

I gave him a nod as an answer, and smiled a little. My smile did little to shake his calm composure but his eyes noticeably brightened.

“we’re here today to discuss and implement a structure and hierarchy of power. I guess you might say we’re here to make a government.”

He paused and looked around the assembly hall, at the twenty vampire elders and three hundred elf priestesses, one weaver, which is me a divine lion that did not look anything divine at the moment considering Soren was currently licking Cassie for all he was worth, while the little girl studied the whiskers and horns on his face and head like it was some sort of important project. Teluna sat beside me, and his mother and the old lady who was now my caretaker were sitting behind me as retainers.

“My lord Kael, you have been missing from a series of meetings we have had since you woke up from your coma, as such we have not been properly introduced. My name is Mars, Elder vampire if the first house of Vaughan.”

Then he gave a bow with such flourish it seemed almost unnatural. I stifled a shudder as I came to realize something. Mars was a good talker, and an even better asskisser. But as such a man like him would be very hard to read, and will always have an ulterior motive, forget the fact that he looks like a nice grandpa.

“my lord Kael, in our meetings we have all come to the express agreement that both the dark elf and vampire races will need to become truly one to survive. But should only one member of either race rule, it would not seat well with the people. As such we have come up with a solution, and it will vastly depend on you and your daughter.”

At the mention of Cassie I couldn’t help but sit up and narrow my eyes, my sudden movements were caught onto by every body here and it was quite obvious to them all that anything that had to do with Cassie will leave me worried. Then I heard Soren send a message to my mind.

“be calm, don’t show them any weakness. Of course with Cassie its already to late. They now know, to get to you they have to go through her, but its not to late. A little vulnerability is good, but not to much.”

It was hard to do what he said, but I was able to straighten my face. I brought the full power of my gaze unto Mars. Of all people I knew how unsettling it was to be stared at with those blood red eyes of a vampire. It was creepy.

“moving on, my lord Kael, you will be the first Vampire king in two thousand years, but also the first king ever of the dark elves. But to keep things simple. You will have to choose a queen from the three hundred priestesses, who will serve as the[Mina ta seil] the high queen, first mother and religious leader if our people. Until such a time when young Cassie has reached the age of Maturity.

And then it would be up to Cassie and her descendants to serve as the first mother and high priestesses for as long as our government will stand. But after Cassie takes over, her role becomes strictly that of a religious leader and shall intercede on our behalf to the Gods. As for you, when you have chosen you dark elf bride, you would also be expected to have a maximum of twelve concubines and a minimum of four. That is make sure your line survives and the legacy in your blood continue for generations to come. Below your seat of power a council of twelve will be made. It would be a mixture of both vampires and dark elves, and its leaders will pass on authority down their line from father or mother to child.

This council will have different ministers to help you in the running of our kingdom. The pit is a huge place. And if we don’t leave, then we are quite determined to make this place our home, even though it has been a prison for so long. As such below the council of twelve various other positions will be made available. There will be governors to maintain control over the districts as our people go through growth, and then generals for our army. The governors will be voted in by the people themselves, as they would be the voice of your people, it would be up to them to make sure the needs, suggestions and questions of your people reach your ears.

Other positions will be filled, but for now those are trivial details. In all honesty all that is needed right now is for lord Kael to make a date for your coronation. Though I would advice you to pick your bride as soon as possible. We need to present a united front for our people. Because as you well know we will be experiencing a food crisis in two short years, we need to bring order and stability to our people… fast”

With his part done he bowed his head, and left the podium. Then every head in the assembly turned to me. The final decision rested on my shoulders. I was not so foolish to think that any of this people here wanted me to be their king. The common folk maybe, but not those who have sat on their limited and twisted notion of a seat of power. But this was in their nature, and even as prisoners they found a way to make a caste system or a system of hierarchy.

But at the moment I held to much power, not to mention they have been prisoners for so long, and now a chance to be free has presented itself. But they needed an image, a figure to rally behind. They needed a puppet they could control and twist to their own desires. Fortunately for them, I met all those criteria.

I had the ears of their subjects, and I held the keys to their shackles. Their freedom and the path they needed to tread back to the way could only be revealed and opened by me. So being king was as generous an offer they could give, though Mars was right and order needed to be established quickly. But even I know this position that was being handed to me was filled with traps; as they say uneasy lies the head that wears the crown.

But they have thought of every possible angle, and felt that they have it covered. But all this was just under the impression that our jailors left us alone. But even I knew that was impossible. As a race we were much too powerful, and they knew we were patient, smart, wise. And no matter how long it took we will come for payback.

As such I needed to get all this people on the same page as soon as possible. I really had no time for a political cold war, or secret machinations and back deals. I needed them all to think the same, act the same and work together for a common goal. As such I needed to keep them satisfied, I needed to keep them happy so that this does not all come crumbling down. At least for now.

I was no idiot or self righteous braggart who would say he did not want the throne(even if he was just ruling over a prison) and that he was not worthy of the position. The thing is I knew I was worthy of this position, the only other people who could match that criteria were Teluna and Cassie. Which means should I refuse, both kids will have a hard life and will become pawns in the games of this power hungry group of people.

They needed an outsider to do this, and I fitted it well. There has not been a turned vampire in seven hundred years, at least not one that was left alive when discovered. But there was me, I was a variable, a very powerful variable that even their enemies did not see coming.

I was a weapon that needed directions, but I was a weapon with my own mind, my own will. They will try to control me, yes they will. But this was a game I was more than ready to accommodate them for, but I still had more important things to do than play castle with a bunch of up starts.

I got up an my way down to the podium, I stood at the very middle and made my self to look as nonchalant and uninterested as possible. I looked at all of them, one by one. I let a message hang in my eyes as I looked at them. I was dangerous, I knew it and they knew it. And I wanted them to know I knew what game they were trying to play. And then I gave them my answer.

“I accept.”

After all who wouldn’t like to be a KING.