The Overture of Fear & Passion (The Daemonica Symphony Series Book 1) Read online

The woman shook her head, “She told me you were smart, but you sure are slow.” She sighed.

  “Livingstone is in Romania. I assume you will want to go, now that you’ve seen for yourself that this is all real. That’s if you can even get in, he usually doesn’t like to have too many guests at once. Although, I’m sure your grandmother’s connections can probably hook you up.” Juliet had lost focus after the mention of ‘Livingstone’. She was beginning to get a headache from the overload of information.

  The woman pushed away from the table and began to leave, Peter moved to follow her.

  “No, please, I can show myself out. It was lovely to meet you.” And without another word she turned and left.

  Beatriz finished her coffee and got up as well, “I am so glad I called in sick for this. Get up, Juliet. I’m taking you shopping. You’re going to need new clothes for your trip.”

  Chapter Six

  The luggage carousel chugged to life with a low grumble, beginning its sluggish journey through the arrival's hall. Juliet had been one of the first to disembark the red eye flight into Suceava and waited in near solitude for her bags to arrive.

  Despite its late departure, she hadn’t slept a wink on the flight, too nervous and excited by her destination. The flight itself had been uneventful, the food forgettable and the fellow passengers quiet. She’d been so lost in thought that she quickly lost track of time and before she knew it, they were beginning their descent.

  She was beaten to the carousel by only one other passenger; a hooded figure whose body language screamed at her to keep her distance. She collected her suitcase as it arrived, lifting it easily despite its significant weight and followed the instructions that she had been emailed, looking for a man holding a sign for ‘Livingstone’.

  She smiled when she spotted him, even without the sign he would have caught her eye. His strawberry blond hair and matching scruffy beard looked innocent enough but paired with his huge size and the scowl on his face, she couldn’t help but hesitate briefly before taking a deep breath and heading straight for the intimidating escort.

  THE SOOTHING MOTION of the bus and the delicate smell of pine and fir floating through an open window lulled Juliet into a deep state of relaxation.

  The Viking-impersonator-one-man-welcome-committee was now driving her and the other silent passenger through the moonlit Carpathian mountainside. She’d considered introducing herself to the hooded stranger, but the high-volume bass thumping out of his hidden headphones saved her the bother. She noticed heavily tattooed forearms partially revealed beneath pushed up sleeves. A red ‘Ace’ standing out amongst the black lines.

  She looked out at the black night and darkened trees as they rode in silence. Reflecting on the strangeness of the hooded stranger and the silent driver as well as the events of the week that lead up to her departure.

  Within hours of making the decision that she would go to Romania, a text message had arrived on her phone, congratulating her on her acceptance into the ‘initiation’ program at Livingstone. An email followed which included instructions on how and when to get there and even included a boarding pass for her flight.

  Beatriz had hardly left her side the entire week, taking her shopping and to a salon while insisting on paying for everything. A year apart would be unendurable, she had moaned, and Juliet had been unable to say no to any of her requests.

  Peter on the other hand had made himself scarce and Juliet assumed he was off drinking but didn’t bother questioning him. She still wasn’t convinced that any of this was real, but Beatriz insisted that even if it was all just some elaborate prank, what did she have to lose? It wasn’t like she had a job or boyfriend keeping her in Paris.

  When it had come time to say goodbye at the airport, she’d struggled with mixed emotions. Beatriz had openly cried, hugging and kissing Juliet’s cheeks and lapsing into Portuguese to express how much she was going to miss her. She’d hugged her father awkwardly and she’d been troubled by the smell of beer that clung to him. She knew it must be bad for him to resort to drinking what he usually referred to as ‘ass water’. She’d waved goodbye as she rode up the escalator, with her violin case tucked under her arm and her head full of worries.

  A SHUFFLING SOUND and the increased volume of music brought her attention back to the present as ‘Ace’ removed his headphones and turned his hidden face towards the window. She looked out into the distance, wondering what had caught his attention.

  At first, she saw only the same starry sky as before but then, escaping from its hiding place behind the silhouette of mountains something else appeared, so quickly that she thought she had imagined it, a twinkle and then a flicker of light.

  Juliet held her breath as they drew close enough for her to make out the turrets and arches of a magnificent castle. She was not by any means a connoisseur of historical architecture, but as they turned onto an impressive drive, she looked up at the softly lit structure and tried to guess its age. It was at least a few hundred years old and radiated the romance and splendour of the early renaissance. So much for this being some humble countryside home, Geneviève had definitely undersold this place, she thought to herself.

  Her view was cut off when they pulled up to a large, iron gate and the driver growled at them from over his shoulder.

  “Off wi’ ye” he grumbled, releasing the automatic door. Juliet muttered a quiet thank you as she followed ‘Ace’ off the bus. He responded with a nod before the bus began to pull away and Juliet only just managed to plant her feet on the ground before it took off, the door closing behind her.

  She didn’t have time to consider the reason for his bad mood before a small cough announced the presence of someone on the other side of the gate. Without the light of the bus headlights, she only had dim moonlight to rely on and couldn’t make out any more than the figure’s silhouette through the iron bars. Did these people have superior night vision and was she just expected to wander around blindly?

  “Hello.” A smooth voice called as the heavy gate was pulled open.

  “My name is Ash, and I am very pleased to welcome you, please if you will follow me, the entrance is just this way.” Ash’s voice helped to lead her in the right direction as she made her way along the dark path. She wanted to pull out her phone and use it as a torch, but since ‘Ace’ and Ash seemed to be capable of getting by without light, she decided against it. After more than a decade of being the new kid at school, she’d learned quickly that it was safer to blend in.

  “Don’t worry about your bags.” Ash said, “They’ll be placed in your rooms before you get there. For now, we’ll head to the main hall where you’re expected for a quick introduction and then you’ll be dismissed for the night.” Juliet had a million questions and hope this introduction would be followed by a Q&A.

  As they rounded a corner, she came face to face with the castle entrance. Large wood and wrought iron doors swung open by unseen hands and warm gold light burst forth from within. Juliet blinked rapidly a few times, forcing her eyes to adjust to the sudden brightness. Ash shook hands with a man in a three-piece suit standing in the doorway.

  “This is Doctor Livingstone.” Ash said, introducing the silhouetted figure.

  “He will meet you in the main hall in just a few moments. If you would please go ahead, it’s just up these stairs and to the left. Help yourself to some refreshments.” As the pair moved aside to let her and ‘Ace’ past, Juliet approached and was struck by Ash’s stunning bone structure which was accentuated by thick, but neat eyebrows and almond shaped eyes. She couldn’t help but notice that Ash’s beautiful, long, blond hair was remarkably similar to her own and Ash seemed to take special notice of Juliet’s similar hair and winked at her so subtly that Juliet wondered if she had imagined it.

  She quickly moved on and passed the doctor; his prominent lips and broad nose complimented his handsome face and his warm smile seemed genuine, but Juliet could tell by the set of his broad shoulders that he was the kind of man who poss
essed significant strength and should not be trifled with. The two were polar opposites in appearances but equally stunning in their beauty.

  She hurried along after ‘Ace’ and found herself entering an enormous room. The ceiling was three stories high and adorned with extravagant wooden panelling and dazzling chandeliers that illuminated the entire space. The walls and ceilings were decorated with renaissance paintings that would be quite at home in the Louvre or Versailles, and at one end of the hall was a small staircase leading onto a dais, adorned by marble columns and an elaborate archway.

  The extravagance of the room completely distracted her from the ten strangers that were gathered, apparently more interested in their own conversation than in the new arrivals.

  The detail in the wrought iron work alone was such a thing of beauty that Juliet caught herself reaching out her hand to touch it. She looked around nervously and shoved her hands into her pockets, wishing she still had her violin case to give her something to hold onto.

  She spotted ‘Ace’; his face still hidden by the dark shadow of his hood. He turned away just as she noticed him, and felt her cheeks burn with embarrassment. Nice one Juliet, way to make everyone here think you’re a complete nutter.

  She quickly scanned the room, her eyes landing on the table of champagne glasses and fruit platters. Thank God, she thought as she hastily picked up a glass and strawberry, happy to have something to occupy her treacherous hands.

  A tinkling sound drew her attention to Doctor Livingstone, who was lightly tapping a glass at the head of the room. The small crowd grew quiet as they turned their attention to the dais.

  “Thank you kindly for your patience. Now that our guests have arrived, I’m happy to formally welcome you Livingstone Manor.”

  He paused for a moment before continuing.

  “There are less than two hours left until sunrise so I will keep this brief. You will have many questions, I’m sure. That is in fact the entire purpose of our program. To ensure that those who come here, leave with as many answers as we can give them. For over five hundred years, Livingstone has played host to generations of initiates, who like you, wished to facilitate a dialogue of knowledge. That we might not only teach those who come here, but also learn from them. It is through our shared goals, our innate and mutual desire to be free in this world to live without fear of the unknown and to be safe from persecution, that allows the collaboration of those who come here.”

  “We lived in the shadows for so long that many had forgotten how to be part of humanity. Without the skills required to assimilate, our kind began to die off, falling prey to human and non-human factions alike. It took almost becoming extinct for all five factions to form an alliance. But while we might refer to you as ‘students’, make no mistake, this is not a school. There are no assignments, no ‘pop quizzes’” His mouth turned up in a sneer before he continued.

  “The only test you will face here is the one that meets you when you leave. The test of assimilation, the test of taking everything we have to offer you and using it to your advantage. The ultimate test is survival.”

  Juliet was shocked, from what little she had learned about this place, she hadn’t known what to expect, but this was far crazier than anything she could have predicted.

  “My advice to you now is this; embrace the chance to forge alliances; the men and women standing around you tonight may become your closest friends and trusted comrades. And while I would love to end things there, I must make one last humble request; Livingstone is a place of knowledge and as such we foster a culture of peace and non-violence.” The smile on his face changed to one of menace as his brow lowered.

  “Anyone caught committing an act of violence against another within these walls will be severely dealt with. I guarantee that at least one person here will think that they are above this rule. Let me assure you; you are not. Unless you wish to discover the meaning of the word dread, you will show this house and everyone within it, the respect they deserve.” His narrowed eyes relaxed as the smile returned to his face.

  “Now, as dawn approaches, you will shortly be ushered to your rooms.” He checked his watch.

  “In the meantime, please enjoy a refreshment, introduce yourselves to one another and make the most of the rest of your evening.”

  Juliet stared ahead; eyes unseeing as she tried to make sense of the doctor’s words. The small crowd around her clearly suffered none of the same befuddlement and applauded politely as the doctor left the dais. Juliet was still struggling to regain focus when she noticed a red-haired girl speaking to her.

  “I’m sorry, what?” she stuttered, the girl only rolled her dazzling green eyes and laughed.

  “I said, what faction are you?”

  Juliet stared at her, not sure if she was hearing her correctly. The doctor had mentioned factions, but Juliet had no idea what the term meant.

  She seemed to take pity, “I can tell you’re not a Witch. Are you a Demon or a Shifter?”

  Juliet’s mouth opened and closed again, she wondered if she was having a stroke. She knew she should answer with ‘Demon’, but the girl’s thick Irish accent and the doctor’s speech had left a fog in her brain.

  “Do ye ‘ave yer pass?” She asked, seeming to understand that Juliet might be having trouble with dialogue at the moment. Juliet quickly nodded, finally understanding at least one of her questions.

  She reached into her back pocket and pulled out the small black card that that had arrived in her mailbox only a few days ago and was already beginning to fray after so many hours of Juliet’s manhandling. The girl took the card and looked over it.

  “Juliet Vassilios; Daemonica, Spiritus.” she pointed at the symbols on the card below her name, “See, the encircled pentagram and the spiral.” Juliet looked again at the symbols that she had stared at for almost the entire flight until her vision had blurred and she’d finally given up on trying to decode the mysterious message.

  “Fiona Kelly” she introduced, holding out her hand.

  “Wiccan class meself, it’s a delight to meet you, Juliet.”

  Juliet was slowly managing to regain her composure, the fog in her head finally beginning to clear.

  “Come wid me love; I’ll introduce you to a few o’ de fellas.” Juliet smiled as Fiona led her over to a small cluster of people and began introducing them one by one.

  There was Sean, who was tall with a brown beard and kind, hazel eyes. Next to him was Eric, whose perfectly trimmed facial hair suited his handsome face. His ebony complexion was a stark contrast with Clarissa’s pale glow. She was also much shorter and was almost at risk of falling out of the tight corsetry that made Juliet’s breathing constrict just to look at it. Her purple lips turned into a smirk as Juliet was introduced, while everyone else smiled, nodding in welcome. Fiona didn’t mention what ‘class’ each of them were, and Juliet wasn’t sure if it was polite to ask. She wasn’t sure what questions she could ask at all. Sean was the first to break the ice.

  “Juliet,” he said, another Irish accent tickling her eardrums, “Please, help settle an argument for us.”

  Juliet smiled, glad to be included so quickly in the discussion.

  “Eric ‘ere dinks Vampires are de stronger faction.”

  “You know I’m right, Sean.” Eric said, brushing Sean’s arm aside.

  “Leave the girl outta this, we don’t even know what class she is. Although, by the smell of ‘er I’d say Demon.”

  Juliet didn’t know if she should be offended by the reference to her smell, but the way Eric’s eyes were scanning her from head to toe, it seemed to be more of a compliment than an insult. All the same, Juliet was still digesting his comment before she could reply.

  “Yer dreamin’ leech. Us shifters can change into creatures dat will give you puny little kiddos nightmares.” Sean argued. Eric’s London accent seemed to get thicker as he raised his voice to argue with Sean.

  “Yeah, but that’s just it. You ‘ave to change. You’re still at
your weakest in your ‘uman form. While Vampires ‘ave access to their power all the time.”

  “Oh, but never mind dat yer useless in daylight.” Sean countered sarcastically. Eric looked at Juliet as if inviting her to share her opinion. She was desperate to avoid embarrassing herself any more than she already had with Fiona and tried to think quickly of a response that wouldn’t offend either man, without giving away her own ignorance.

  “You both make very good points, I’m not sure I could say which, if any faction is truly stronger than another. Isn’t strength subjective after all.”

  Clarissa laughed at her response, “Are you some poli’s daughter?” She asked.

  “I’m sorry?” Juliet replied, with a blink of her eyes.

  “That was the best question dodge I’ve ‘eard all year, give the girl a sticker.”

  Fiona tsked at Clarissa and Juliet got the impression that the girl was trying to goad her into an argument.

  “And what do you think, Clarissa?” Juliet asked wanting to turn the tables and avoid attention, but before Clarissa could answer, a voice from behind Juliet interrupted.

  “Don’t bother asking her.” He said, “All Vampires think they’re the superior faction.” Clarissa’s face turned sour and Juliet turned to smile at her saviour. She was surprised to see ‘Ace’. Juliet nearly sighed aloud as she took in his beautiful features, finally unobstructed by his hood. He seemed taller up close and there was something strangely familiar about him that she couldn’t quite put her finger on. He had a perfectly chiselled nose, slightly turned up at the end and his eyes were the prettiest shade of green she’d ever seen on a man. He smiled back at her; his mouth tilted to one side. He returned his attention back to the group and introduced himself.

  “Niko” he said as he extended a hand first to Sean and then Eric.

  “’Ow’s it goin’?” Sean greeted cheerily, introducing himself and then the others.

  “So where are you guys from?” Niko asked.