The Crusades were set to be the biggest massacre of its time for the church, until a strange visitor offered to help and win their battles and the pope agrees - but with a condition. Two hundred years later and with the wars still raging, the church make a deadly mistake, they recruit a secret army to hunt down all that are kindred and kill them. When the vampires hear of their betrayal, they end their help and watch as the Christians are beaten into retreat. At the same time, Phillippe de Grosnez, a vampire Captain, stumbles into a cave and finds a long lost vampire artefact, the Book of Cain. Made at the time of the very first vampire, Cain - the book is known to hold the names of each kindred soul and many magical incantations - including one to give life. But in the midst of battle, Phillippe falls in love. She's beautiful and brave and hates the sight of him. Arianne Plemont learns to love Phillippe and after the vampires leave the Crusades and head back to the Elysium (the vampire community) they vow to decipher the book and teach from it and to guard the book with their lives. Years pass and they are married and they approach the vampire council to plead with them to give them their own child, a pureblood. Rachel is born among a fanfare befitting royalty and the youngster brings new life into the community. A few weeks before her Embrace (the start of her vampire life), a handsome ancient vampire arrives. Max seduces the young girl; he is so charming and courteous that she even defies her parents to be with him. On her 16th birthday and after the ceremony of Embrace, Max sneaks into the temple and steals the book and sets a fire to hide his treachery and escapes after killing three guards. When the discovery is made they send guards to find Max but he has disappeared. Philippe and Arianne are held responsible and are banished from the Elysium and their powers taken as punishment. But after an intervention by another council member, they are allowed to stay until Rachel can say goodbye. Rachel pleads with the council but they will not overturn their decision and all three decide to leave. Rachel promises to find Max and the book and restore their name... and the hunt begins.