The Darkening (Dawn of Ascension) (24 page)

cadroen
n.
(Term from an ancient language.) The name for the hair clasp that holds back the ritual long hair of a Warrior of the Blood.

catch skin vb.
When a blade draws blood.

Central pr.n.
The office of the current administration that tracks movement of
death vampires
in both the second dimension and on
Mortal Earth
for the purpose of alerting the
Warriors of the Blood
and the
Militia Warriors
to illegal activities.

Command Center pr. n.
Headquarters for the Allied Ascender Forces, currently at Endelle’s Palace, Thorne’s base of operations.

the darkening n.
An area of
nether-space
that can be found during meditations and/or with strong preternatural darkening capabilities. Such abilities enable the
ascender
to move into nether-space and remain there or to use nether-space in order to be two places at once.

the darkening grid n.
A grid built centuries ago, by powerful Third Earth entities, that spans Second and Third Earth for the purpose of travel, transport, and access to Second Earth. The crossing of the dimensional boundary that allows access to a Lower Dimension, makes the grid highly illegal in the multiple-dimension arena.

darkening grid monitor n.
A Third Earth specialist who tracks movement on the inter-dimensional darkening grid.

death vampire n.
Any
vampire
, male or female, who partakes of
dying blood
automatically becomes a death vampire. Death vampires can have, but are not limited to, the following characteristics: remarkably increased physical strength, an increasingly porcelain complexion true of all ethnicities so that death vampires have a long-term reputation of looking very similar, a faint bluing of the porcelain complexion, increasing beauty of face, the ability to enthrall, the blackening of
wings
over a period of time. Though death vampires are not gender-specific, most are male. See
vampire.

dimensional worlds n.
Eleven thousand years ago, the first
ascender
, Luchianne, made the difficult transition from
Mortal Earth
to what became known as Second Earth. In the early millennia four more dimensions were discovered, Luchianne always leading the way. Each dimension’s ascenders exhibited expanding preternatural power before ascension. Upper dimensions are generally closed off to the dimension or dimensions below.
See off-dimension

duhuro
n. (
Term from an ancient language.) A word of respect which in the old language combines the spiritual offices of both servant and master. To call someone
duhuro
is to offer a profound compliment suggesting great worth.

dying blood n.
Blood extracted from a mortal or an
ascender
at the point of death. This blood is highly addictive in nature. There is no known treatment for anyone who partakes of dying blood. The results of ingesting dying blood include, but are not limited to: increased physical, mental, or preternatural power, a sense of extreme euphoria, a deep sense of well-being, a sense of omnipotence and fearlessness, the taking in of the preternatural powers of the host body, etc. If dying blood is not taken on a regular basis, extreme abdominal cramps result without ceasing. Note: currently there is an antidote not for the addiction of dying blood itself but for the various results of ingesting dying blood. This means that a
death vampire
who drinks dying blood then partakes of the antidote will not show the usual physical side effects of ingesting dying blood; no whitening or faint bluing of the skin, no beautifying of features, no blackening of the
wings
, etc.

effetne
n. (
Term from an ancient language.) An expression, an intense form of supplication to the gods, an abasement of self, and of self-will.

folding v.
Slang for dematerialization, since some believe that one does not actually dematerialize self or objects but rather one ‘folds space’ to move self or objects from one place to another. There is much scientific debate on this subject since at present neither theory can be proved.

grayle
n.
(Term from an ancient language.) The name for a misty power that only Third Ascenders possess. This power has two facets: a potent stream capable of taking life and a battling form that increases folding speed, levitation capacity, and physical power.
Grayle
is most often found among warriors.

grid n.
The technology used by Central that allows for the tracking of
death vampires
primarily at the
Borderlands
on both
Mortal Earth
and Second Earth. Death vampires by nature carry a strong, trackable signal, unlike normal
vampires
. See
Central
.

Guardian of Ascension pr. n.
A prestigious title and rank at present given only to those
Warriors of the Blood
who also serve to guard powerful
ascendiates
during their
rite of ascension
. In millennia past Guardians of Ascension were also those powerful ascenders who offered themselves in unique and powerful service to Second Society.

High Administrator pr. n.
The designation given to a leader of a Second Earth
Territory
.

identified sword n.
A sword made by Second Earth metallurgy that has the preternatural capacity to become identified to a single ascender. The identification process involves holding the sword by the grip for several continuous seconds. The identification of a sword to a single ascender means that only that person can touch or hold the sword. If anyone else tries to take possession of the sword, other than the owner, that person will die.

Militia Warrior pr. n.
One of hundreds of thousands of warriors who serve Second Earth society as a policing force for the usual civic crimes and as a battling force, in squads only, to fight against the continual depredations of
death vampires
on both
Mortal Earth
and Second Earth.

millennial adjustment n.
The phenomenon of time taking on a more fluid aspect with the passing of centuries.

mind-engagement n.
The ability to penetrate another mind and experience the thoughts and memories of the other person
.
The ability to receive another mind and allow that person to experience one’s thoughts and memories. These abilities must be present in order to complete the
breh-hedden.

mist n.
A preternatural creation designed to confuse the mind and thereby hide things or people. Most mortals and ascenders are unable to see mist. The powerful ascender, however is capable of seeing mist, which usually appears like an intricate mesh, or a cloud, or a web-like covering.

Mortal Earth pr. n
The name for First Earth or the current modern world known simply as earth.

nether-space n.
The unknowable, unmappable regions of space. The space between dimensions is considered nether-space as well as the space found in
the darkening.

off-dimension n.
An expression referring to an ascender not being on his or her prime resident plant, e.g., an ascender from Second Earth who goes rogue and lives on Mortal Earth would be considered
off-dimension
.

pretty-boy n.
Slang for
death vampire
, since most death vampires are male.

preternatural voyeurism n.
The ability to ‘open a window’ with the power of the mind in order to see people and events happening elsewhere in real time. Two of the limits of preternatural voyeurism are: the voyeur must usually know the person or place and if the voyeur is engaged in darkening work, it is very difficult to make use of preternatural voyeurism at the same time.

royle
n.
(Term from an ancient language.) The literal translation is: a benevolent wind. More loosely translated,
royle
refers to the specific quality of having the capacity to create a state of benevolence, of good-will, within an entire people or culture. See
royle adj.

royle adj
.
(Term from an ancient language.) This term is generally used to describe a specific coloration of wings: cream with three narrow bands at the outer tips of the wings when in full-span. The bands are always burnished gold, amethyst, and black. Because Luchianne, the first ascender and first vampire, had this coloration on her wings, anyone, therefore, whose wings matched Luchianne’s was said to have
royle
wings. Having
royle
wings was considered a tremendous gift, holding great promise for the world.

Seer pr. n.
An
ascender
gifted with the preternatural ability to ride the future streams and report on future events.

Seers Fortress pr. n.
Seers
have traditionally been gathered into compounds designed to provide a highly peaceful environment, thereby enhancing the
Seer
’s ability to ride the future streams. The information gathered at a Seers Fortress benefits the local
High Administrator
. Some believe that the term
fortress
emerged as a protest to the prison-like conditions the
Seers
often have to endure.

spectacle n.
The name given to events of gigantic proportion that include but are not limited to: trained squadrons of DNA altered geese, swans and ducks, ascenders with the specialized and dangerous skills of flight performance, intricate and often massive light and fireworks displays, as well as various forms of music.

Supreme High Administrator pr. n.
The ruler of Second Earth. See
High Administrator
.

Territory pr. n.
For the purpose of governance, Second Earth is divided up into groups of countries called Territories. Because the total population of Second Earth is only one percent of
Mortal Earth
, Territories were established as a simpler means of administering Second Society law. See
High Administrator
.

 Trough pr. n.
A slang term for a dimensional pathway. See
Borderlands
.

Twoling pr. n.
Anyone born on Second Earth is a Twoling.

vampire n.
The natural state of the
ascended
human. Every ascender is a vampire. The qualities of being a vampire include but are not limited to: immortality, the use of fangs to take blood, the use of fangs to release potent chemicals, increased physical power, increased preternatural ability, etc. Luchianne created the word
vampire
upon her
ascension
to Second Earth to identify in one word the totality of the changes she experienced upon that
ascension
. From the first, the taking of blood was viewed as an act of reverence and bonding, not as a means of death. The
Mortal Earth
myths surrounding the word
vampire
for the most part personify the Second Earth
death vampire.
See
death vampire
.

Warriors of the Blood pr. n.
An elite fighting unit of usually seven powerful warriors, each with phenomenal preternatural ability and capable of battling several
death vampires
at any one time.

What-Bee pr. n.
Slang for Warrior of the Blood, as in WOTB.

wings n.
All
ascenders
eventually produce wings from wing-locks. Wing-lock is the term used to describe the apertures on the
ascender
’s back from which the feathers and attending mesh-like superstructure emerge. Mounting wings involves a hormonal rush that some liken to sexual release. Flight is one of the finest experiences of ascended life. Wings can be held in a variety of positions including but not limited to: full-mount, close mount, aggressive mount, etc. Wings emerge over a period of time from one year to several hundred years. Wings can, but do not always, begin small in one decade then grow larger in later decades.

wrecker n.
A warrior who serves to patrol the Third Earth
darkening grid
and destroy specific targets. Wreckers use identified, short-barrel shot-guns, with explosive cartridges, to bust through the darkening grid walls. Breaking up the grid walls shortens any distance through the grid. Grid monitors direct their paths.

y pro nai-y-stae
n. (
Term from an ancient language.) The loose translation is,
you may stay for an eternity.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Caris Roane is the award-winning author of six published novels for St. Martin’s Press and almost fifty published novels and novellas writing Regency Romance as Valerie King.

The third installment of the Dawn of Ascension Novella Series,
RAPTURE’S EDGE,
releases in the spring of 2013.