Duet in Blood

by J. P. Bowie

  “Guards!” Angelo screamed. “Get them—kill them all!”

  “Stay here,” Marcus hissed at me, pushing me back a step or two. He, Roger and the other vampires flew from our hiding place into the Hall, swooping down on the guards and knocking them flat on their backs. While the vampires kept the guards busy, Marcus zoomed across to where Joseph stood, bound and helpless. He picked him up in his arms then flew back to where I stood watching the action, my mouth slack with awe.

  “Untie him, quickly,” Marcus barked at me then flew off again.

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  “Marcus,” Joseph yelled after him. “The sun!”

  As I untied the knots on the ropes that bound Joseph’s hands, I glanced up at the topmost window set high in the walls of the Great Hall. The glass was beginning to glow with the first light of day. In a moment or two, the hall would be ablaze with sunlight, and the vampires would have to retreat—but to where? We couldn’t run outside, and to go underground would run us into a trap.

  He crushed me to him in a brief embrace, then yelled at the top of his voice. “Marcus, the dungeons!”

  “There’s a way out down there?” I asked him.

  “There’s always a way out,” he replied, taking my hand and leading me to large

  wooden door set in the wall behind us. He pushed at it, but it didn’t budge. My heart sank as I saw the surprised expression on his face.

  “Locked. But how?” he muttered. Marcus, Roger and the other vampires crowded

  around us thinking Joseph was leading them to safety. “The door’s locked.”

  “That hasn’t stopped you before,” Marcus said, grabbing the handle. The door

  remained stubbornly closed.

  “Marcus…” Roger tugged on his shirtsleeve. “I don’t mean to be an alarmist, but the sun…”

  We all gazed with horror as the sun’s rays spread across the floor of the Great Hall, filling the farthermost corners with a light that should have been a welcome sight, but instead was going to bring a fiery death to all my new friends.

  “The Dark Forces,” Marcus muttered. “They have locked the door with their newfound magic.” Both he and Joseph took turns trying to break down the door, but it withstood even their combined supernatural strength.

  The vampires moved back into the temporary safety of the stairwell, but it would only be a matter of seconds before the light found even this sheltered place. I wrapped my arms around Joseph and pressed my face to his. He stroked my hair and kissed my forehead.

  “Micah,” he whispered. “The sun will not harm you. There is no reason for you to stay here with the rest of us.”

  “I am not leaving you, Joseph,” I said. “Where would I go without you? You think Angelo would let me live?”

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  I mean, if I was going to die, I would rather it was with Joseph than at the hands of that demon Angelo. I couldn’t even guess what nasty stuff he’d throw at me out of spite.

  In the Hall came the manic sounds of Angelo’s laughter as he waited for the vampires to combust. His cackling was cut short suddenly and replaced by a howl of surprise. I gasped as the light in the Great Hall began to grow dim, then darkness fell over us.

  “What’s happening?”

  Joseph stepped out of the shadowed stairwell. “The sun is gone. There is a great black cloud at the windows.”

  As we stood stock still with surprise, candles and torches flared into life, illuminating the Great Hall’s walls and beamed roof.

  “So,” Marcus murmured, almost to himself. “The game continues.”

  “What d’you mean?” I asked.

  “Darius and his Dark Forces are not yet finished with us. They barred our escape route then hid the sun’s rays with a cloud. They mean us to fight to the death with Angelo and his men. I don’t think they actually care who wins.”

  “But they evened our chances,” Joseph pointed out. “They could have let us burn.”

  “They might still,” Marcus said grimly. “But let us worry about that later. Now we fight!” He zoomed off again, Roger and his friends hot on his tail. Joseph hesitated, and I knew he didn’t want to leave me alone. I ran to where an unconscious guard lay on the ground and picked up his sword. It weighed a ton, but I managed to wave it around a bit.

  “Go, Joseph,” I yelled. “I’ll be all right.”

  “Micah, brave as you are, you have never wielded a sword in your life, and now is not the time to start.” He grabbed me in his arms and flew straight up at the ceiling.

  “Whoa,” I yelled, hanging on tight. We hovered over the struggling mob below, then he sat me on a wooden ledge.

  “There,” he said, smiling at me. “You’ll be safe there. Don’t move!”

  As if.

  I watched him dive down to join in the fray. My naked warrior, dealing knockout

  punches from above. What a sight. Seemed to me that Angelo’s guards were just no match for the vampires. Their speed and ability to lift the guards high in the air then drop them on their heads was proving to be just too demoralising for Angelo’s men. All the while, Angelo DUET IN BLOOD

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  was leaping about, waving his arms, exhorting his men to ‘Slay them! Leave not one alive!’

  But I couldn’t see one vampire in any kind of trouble.

  Andre’s girlfriend, Melissa, was delivering karate chops to two of the guards, while Andre himself flew straight into one of the stone walls, a guard under each arm, their heads being used as a sort of battering ram. Ouch! In no time, Angelo was the only bad guy standing, his men sprawled about him in various positions of agony.

  Okay, Joseph, it’s over. Come get me down from here, please.

  But it wasn’t over yet. They’re ba-ack…

  I watched the outline of the black wraiths I’d seen before materialise in the middle of the Hall. Angelo shouted in triumph as the Dark Forces appeared.

  “Now you are finished, Marcus,” he yelled, almost jumping up and down with glee.

  “You, and all your cohorts—and especially you, Joseph. All of you are doomed!”

  If this hadn’t been so serious, it would have been hilarious. I mean, there he was hamming it up like some terrible actor in an awful horror movie. Even the worst Hollywood director would have told him to tone it down. But as hammy as he was, I knew that he was also lethal, and if the Dark Forces had decided to play dirty with Marcus, it really was all over for us. From my vantage point, way up high, I watched as Angelo approached the sinister, smoky images. He bowed low to them then pointed at Marcus.

  “Surely now, Masters,” he simpered. “Surely now, you see the wickedness and

  treachery of the vampire hordes. They are not to be trusted. I offered this one…” He pointed at Joseph. “I offered him the chance to rule with me under your auspices. He betrayed me to his friends—those who would be the orchestrators of your demise, if they could but succeed in their vile plans to end your reign.”

  Marcus stepped forward. “If the Dark Forces are your allies, ask them why they left the time portal open long enough for us to follow you here.”

  “To lure you into their trap, of course,” Angelo sneered.

  “What trap? We have defeated your men,” Marcus said mildly. “Look around you. You are the vanquished one. You stand alone, surrounded by your enemies. Perhaps that’s the trap you spoke of? If so, you are well and truly caught.”

  Good one, Marcus, I thought. Let’s hope you’re right.

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  A sinister laugh echoed through the Great Hall, sending rivers of goose bumps all over my skin. One of the wraiths extended a cloaked arm.

  “Well said, Marcus.” Its voice was like the grinding of a rusty wheel. “But not quite correct.”

  Oh, what now?

  “You are all caugh
t in our trap,” the wraith continued. “With one thought, I could banish the clouds that darken this hall, and you and your friends would perish

  immediately.” It turned towards Angelo. “With the wave of a finger, I could reduce you to a puddle of black slush. But we are not without mercy, so it has been decided that the winner of the duel we will now witness shall be the one to walk free.”

  “And if I win this duel, my friends will also go free?” Marcus asked.

  “Your vampire friends will also go free, yes. But it is not you who will fight Angelo to the death. Joseph must be the one. He has the most to gain—and the most to lose.”

  I almost fell of my perch with shock. How much longer would this nightmare go on?

  Now Joseph had to fight a crazy demon to get us out of here? I had no doubt that my man was capable of defending himself in a fight—I’d just seen him do it. But Angelo was vile, evil and full of tricks.

  “Joseph!” I yelled. “Get me down from here!” I gulped as every face below was turned upward to stare at me sitting on a ledge high above their heads.

  “I wondered where you were,” Roger shouted.

  “Stay there, Micah,” Joseph said. “Until this is over.”

  “Oh, the pretty mortal,” Angelo sneered, lifting his hand in my direction. “Come down, and watch your lover die at my hands.”

  A force surrounded me and lifted me from the ledge. For a moment, I was suspended above the crowd then sent spiralling at breakneck speed towards the ground. Just before I thought I would be splattered all over the place, strong arms caught and held me. Joseph’s beautiful face was pressed to mine as he carried me to where Marcus and Roger stood.

  “What a touching scenario.” Angelo’s carping voice cut through the air like a dull knife through bone. Joseph’s body tensed as he held me close to his chest. He kissed my cheek, then lowering me to the ground, he released me from his arms.

  “Joseph,” I whispered. “Don’t do this, please. That guy won’t fight fair, I know it.”

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  “I know it also,” he said quietly. “Don’t worry. I am prepared for that.”

  “Come now,” the wraith said. “We tire of this. Angelo, as your adversary is naked, so must you be.” In an instant, Angelo’s cloak and long robe disappeared, and he stood naked before us, all eyes immediately taking in his mutilated penis.

  “Ouch,” Roger murmured, glancing at me. “That must have been some blow-job!”

  Angelo’s face burned with shame and outrage. Well, as Marcus has said a dozen times, you can’t trust the Dark Forces.

  “There must be no magic used against Joseph, Angelo. Joseph, you cannot use your ability to fly. Now, weapons of choice?” the wraith asked.

  “The gladius,” Joseph said, holding out his hand. Magically, a short wide-bladed sword appeared in his hand.

  “Angelo?”

  “A silver javelin,” he rasped, and he too was immediately armed with his weapon of choice.

  I didn’t like this. A javelin against a sword—a long, stabbing or throwing spear against a short, have-to-get-close-to-use-it sword seemed to me to be bad odds. Joseph sliced the air several times, weighing the sword and getting the feel of its balance. It sure looked like he knew what he was doing.

  Everyone spread out in a giant circle, the two combatants facing off in the middle. My heart pounded so hard, I was sure everyone in the room could hear it drumming. I felt sick to my stomach. What if he didn’t come out of this alive? Oh, dear God. Wait, do vampires believe in God?

  “Why a silver javelin?” I asked Roger.

  “An ordinary spear would only slow Joseph down,” he explained. “But a silver one could kill him—if he gets hit.”

  I flinched as Angelo brought the javelin up to his shoulder and threw it straight at Joseph’s heart. I almost screamed with delight as Joseph’s sword deflected the spear and sent it soaring into the air.

  Yeah…what now, Angelo? I gaped as the javelin appeared back in his hand. I knew it! I knew that creep wouldn’t fight fair.

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  “Don’t worry,” Marcus murmured, close to my ear. “Joseph would have given him

  back his weapon anyway.”

  Of course, he would. Gentleman Joseph. Rules of conduct, even in vampire worlds.

  Now Angelo was keeping Joseph at bay, holding his spear in front of him, making short stabbing thrusts aimed at Joseph’s torso. A fine layer of perspiration covered Joseph’s smooth skin, and the muscles in his thighs and calves rippled as he stood, balanced on his toes, poised to strike should Angelo reveal any weakness. It was hard to say if they were equally matched.

  Joseph was all style, a trained swordsman, while Angelo appeared clumsy, moving

  with awkward steps, swiping his spear from side to side, trying to drive back Joseph. I had a feeling though, that this was part of Angelo’s ruse…to look like he didn’t know what he was doing. I prayed Joseph wouldn’t be fooled by it.

  Now Joseph went on the attack, his sword cutting close to Angelo’s body, causing the demon to stumble backwards and almost fall. He yelled out stream of words in some strange language that I didn’t need a translator for. ‘Fuck you’ is the same in any language. Joseph pressed his attack, driving Angelo across the Great Hall, until he backed into Jean-Claude who pushed him away, almost into Joseph’s arms. Angelo screamed with rage, ran a few steps, turned and threw his javelin. It struck Joseph in the shoulder, and I started towards him as I saw the stunned look on his face.

  Marcus grabbed my arm. “You cannot help him,” he said through gritted teeth. “He must do this alone.”

  “But the spear—”

  “The silver will drain his strength, but he must not have help from any of us.”

  I shot him an angry look. “So, you’ll just stand by and watch him die?”

  Marcus held my eyes in a steady gaze. “Micah, Joseph knows what he must do. If we interfere, Angelo will win and all will be lost. I know your heart is with Joseph, as are ours.”

  Roger put his arm round my shoulders and pulled me close. “Joseph’s the man,” he whispered. “He won’t go down easy.”

  Fine, but what about now? I thought, watching Joseph try to pull the javelin from his shoulder. I saw the agony in his eyes, and I felt it along with him. Oh, Joseph…I love you. You must live! You promised we’d go to Paris, together!

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  He turned and stared at me for a moment, then with a mighty tug, he pulled the javelin free, hefted it into his right hand and threw it straight at Angelo’s heart. It would have been the demon’s end if he hadn’t used magic to deflect the javelin and send it spinning into his own hand.

  “Bastard,” I yelled. “You cheating bastard!”

  Angelo’s eyes glowed with an unearthly burning light as he hurled the javelin at Joseph with all his power. I closed my eyes, unable to see it strike my man. I opened them again really fast as I heard the gasp of shock from everyone around me. The javelin was poised in mid-air, an inch from Joseph’s chest, and hung there still vibrating from the powerful throw.

  “We said no magic!” The hideous scraping voice of the taller wraith now made even more hideous by his anger resonated around the Great Hall. The javelin fell to the ground with a loud clang. “Joseph, you are the winner of this combat. Angelo, you will approach us.”

  I ran to meet Joseph as he slowly walked towards us, his hand pressed to the wound in his shoulder. Why hadn’t it already healed? I wondered. Didn’t vampires always heal quickly?

  “The silver in the javelin has stopped the wound from closing,” he said, answering my unasked question. He looked paler than usual, and I looked to Marcus for help.

  “Damn you both!” Angelo screeched, gesturing wildly. A ball of fire appeared in his hands, and he threw it at the two wraiths. It exploded
in front of them, sending chunks of stone and clouds of billowing smoke everywhere. Not wanting to get caught in the crossfire, the vampires scattered, gathering around us to watch what must surely be the end of Angelo.

  But when the smoke cleared, the wraiths were gone, and Angelo screamed in triumph, wrapping his scarlet cloak around him, hiding this disfigured wiener from us. “Now, vampires, you will all die. Your protectors have fled, leaving you at my mercy—of which, I have none! I will remove the cloud that obscures the sun, and you, Marcus, and you, Joseph will be the first—”

  He broke off, his mouth sagging with dismay as the wraiths reappeared—only this

  time, they had company, lots of company. I counted at least twelve of them, hovering near Angelo in all their sinister murkiness.

  “My…my lords…” Angelo threw himself down on the ground in front of them.

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  “Don’t think that’s gonna work this time,” Roger muttered.

  “Stand Angelo and accept your punishment.” The wraith that spoke moved closer to the terrified demon. He struggled to his feet, shaking with fear. But even then, he was not to be trusted. A quick movement of his hand, and a surge of energy enveloped him, a kind of force field, making it impossible for the Dark Forces to reach him—or so he thought.

  At a signal from the leading wraith, two others closed in on Angelo. As I watched with fascination, each wraith moved closer and closer to the demon, who now stared at them, terror in his eyes.

  “They’re ingesting the energy,” Marcus murmured. “Angelo cannot stop them.”

  With the energy field dissolved, Angelo was helpless in the grip of the two wraiths who now dragged him to their leader.

  “Goodbye, Angelo.” Roger sounded quite cheerful.

  I was worried about Joseph. He didn’t look well, and he was leaning on me for support.

  I wished that whatever the Dark Forces were going to do to Angelo, they’d do it in a hurry.