Blood Queen

by David Horrocks

  Closer akin to a thick ooze than either water or sewage, the mysterious substance began to cover Katherine from head to toe. Her elaborate clothing soaked it up with ease, increasing in weight with every drop until it became too uncomfortable for her to ignore. She tried her best not to let her thoughts linger too much on what was happening, but the intensity of the odour made it impossible to forget.

  Attempting to think of something else, anything else other than what was covering the curls of her long brown hair; Katherine tried her best to focus on the descent. It was then that she realised the stairs were unusually long and that they seemed to be going on forever. She had been making her way down them for quite some time and was almost certain that she should have reached the bottom by now. Beginning to understand that this was no ordinary basement, she was soon to discover that the sheer depth was just the tip of the iceberg.

  Katherine heard a faint heartbeat that grew a little louder with each step, but it wasn't her own, it couldn't have been. Her heart hadn't beaten at all in a very long time, so unless she had suddenly become mortal again, this heartbeat belonged to someone or something else that was still living. The sound soon reached a level that made it impossibly loud for a normal human, her concern beginning to grow as she realised that this had to be something else entirely. In a similar way to the voice that had spoken to her in the entryway, the persistent beats appeared to be originating from the walls themselves.

  The manor could have been haunted, but everything seemed a little too weird and out of the ordinary to be the fault of a simple ghost. Katherine felt as though she had climbed in through the mouth of a giant creature and was crawling deeper into its gut, a place where she would be slowly digested until she was nothing more than a soupy mess.

  What would have once been an incapacitating fear was now replaced by an overwhelming curiosity and thirst for ancient knowledge. That thirst dominated Katherine's mind and pushed her past any terror that she was experiencing, causing her to reach out to place a hand against the nearest wall. As she brushed her fingers along its surface, she found that it was soft, warm and slightly sticky to the touch. The wall itself seemed to react to her presence, quivering in response, and yet she didn't pull her hand away, instead choosing to examine it further.

  The very walls themselves were part of a living, breathing organism of gargantuan proportions. As disturbing a thought as it was that a creature of that magnitude could reside beneath the manor unnoticed, it wasn't yet clear whether or not it was friendly or even sentient. For all Katherine knew, she could be walking to her doom, however the main question in her mind was what came first; the manor or the impossibly large being that lurked below.

  The ceiling and walls may have been made of flesh, but the floor remained somewhat solid, as if it had been formed from cartilage or some other type of osseous matter. It made Katherine uncomfortable to think that she could be walking on top of the poor creature’s skeleton and she felt pity for it, but any regrets that she might have wouldn't halt her progress. As she continued downwards, the stairwell began to pulsate with every beat of the heart. It grew louder and then louder still, remaining steady like a beating drum, the same drum that she had heard upon entering the hatch.

  Veins and arteries ran along the walls like pipes, distributing blood throughout as nerve endings acted like wires sending electrical impulses to what was presumably the creature's brain. Katherine could smell the precious vitae flowing through the viscous membrane, which to her surprise had the potent scent of a life force that could nourish her for centuries if she so desired.

  The near endless steps finally gave way to flat ground which let Katherine know that she had reached the basement itself, or whatever she should call it. She could still feel the creature around her, but the narrow stairway had now opened up into a much larger space. Stopping at the base of the final step, it took a second for her eyes to adjust after straining to see in the dark, but she wasn't quite ready for the horrors that awaited her there.

  At the far end of the cavernous room, Katherine could see a faint flicker of light as a pair of iron braziers burned with an orange light. Just behind them lay a large metal door set into a stone wall, its shape seeming to shimmer between the ever dancing flames. The constant heartbeat of the stairwell behind her could still be heard as it kept a strange and unnatural rhythm with the crackling of fire.

  As if those noises weren't peculiar enough, Katherine could hear something else moving just out of sight, somewhere in the impenetrable darkness; a darkness that even her supernatural sight was still unable to pierce. However, it wasn't just one being that skulked down there in the dark recesses of the manor, but multiple bodies that were unidentifiable in nature. They groaned and wailed to each other, as if they had not yet detected the stranger in their presence. Whatever they were, they shuffled back and forth, dragging their feet across the ground as they lumbered around the edges of the cavern.

  Freezing on the spot, Katherine was unsure as to whether she should proceed so boldly. As much as she craved power, her survival far outweighed any potential gains. Jaded by former experiences, she thought that she was ready for anything, but it may have been an overestimation on her part. She had believed that she had already seen the worst that both humanity and vampire kind had to offer, and was sure that there was nothing left in existence that could phase her. Apparently she was wrong.

  Appearing from nowhere, the same unusual voice that Katherine had heard in the manor upstairs offered words of warning. “If you stray from the path, they will come for you. Make your way towards the door. Only the light will keep them at bay.”

  As if on command, a roar bellowed out from one corner of the room, causing Katherine's body to tense. She wanted to proceed, but the prospect of heading toward the flames caused something inside of her to stir. It was well known that vampires were scared to death of fire. As one of the few things in existence that could destroy them completely, its close proximity triggered something primal that caused the beast inside to reel in terror. Only sheer willpower could overcome that fear, which was thankfully something that Katherine had in boundless supply. However, on occasion, even one as headstrong as her might struggle against their base instincts.

  The voice spoke again, this time with a modicum of annoyance. “Quickly now! I have no patience for stragglers!”

  Once again Katherine followed the instructions without further hesitation, making a beeline for the door. She had to fight against her own sensibilities, as her mind desperately screamed at her to flee in the opposite direction. Suddenly alerted to the stranger's presence in their midst, something behind her screeched and lurched into action. Whatever it was, it lunged wildly and was barely a hair's breadth away from grabbing at her dress as she powered towards the door. Quickening her muscles with a concentrated burst of her powerful blood, Katherine didn't even think to look back; instead her focus remained on the fire and the door just beyond it.

  Within a few seconds, Katherine had reached the door, skirting past the open flames of the brazier as she tried to push the thought of them from her mind. She did her best to ignore the heat, desperately pulling at the metal ring that acted as a handle. Unfortunately, it refused to budge even an inch. The entrance to the chamber was either locked or mystically sealed, leaving it impassable even for someone with her increased strength. It looked as though there was no escape from the monsters in the basement, which meant that she had surely made the worst mistake of her entire existence. She should have never trusted the disembodied voice of someone who may or may not have wanted her dead for trespassing in their territory.

  Katherine rested her hands against the surface of the door, leaving her back to the room as she closed her eyes and waited for it all to be over; but strangely enough, after a few gruelling moments passed by, nothing had come for her. The monster that had almost caught her had already retreated back into the dark, the screeching ceasing altogether. Now all she could hear was distant moans at the far e
dges of the room, the crackling of fire and the incessant heartbeat that refused to quit.

  Remembering the words that had been spoken to her, Katherine realised that she was safe there between the flames of the braziers. It was ironic that the fire she believed was so dangerous, those flames that could burn her to ash, were the barrier that protected her from certain death. The light that the braziers provided had shielded her from the monsters in the basement and they would offer her a safe haven for as long as they lasted. Unsure of how long the fires would burn or how much time the relative safety they offered would actually last, Katherine opened her eyes and worked on studying the door that waited before her. She didn't dare to face the room behind her or the beings that dwelled within.

  In a similar fashion to the hatch that had led her to the basement, this door was adorned with all manner of mystical runes that Katherine was unfortunately unable to interpret. That was where the similarities ended however, as this one was made from cast iron instead of wood and didn't need to be reinforced by metal bars. It also seemed to be lacking any form of locks, with the large central ring standing out as the only way to operate it. With no obvious mechanism to keep the doorway shut, it should have been possible for Katherine to open it, and yet she couldn't get it to budge. Perhaps the door itself was far too thick and heavy for one even as strong as herself.

  With few other options available, Katherine decided to use the large ring as a knocker, lifting it away from the door and letting it fall with a bang. The creatures behind her hissed at the sound, but they didn't attempt to approach the fire. It seemed that they had the same fear of the flames as her, but they thankfully didn't possess the mental fortitude required to overcome it.

  With no answer coming from the other side, Katherine used the knocker again to make certain that she was heard. As soon as it struck iron a third time, the same unusual voice responded. This time it replied with a tone that was much calmer than before, but with a commanding presence that took her by surprise. “Enter, should you wish it. However, know now that there will be no turning back henceforth.”

  Before Katherine could speak, the door rumbled inwards. It moved back into the wall before sliding off to the side, metal scraping against stone as its sheer weight struggled against the hidden mechanism that had held it in place.

  Katherine’s determination rose to the surface once more. She clenched her fists and gritted her teeth, ready to step through the opening and into the now familiar darkness on the other side. She didn't know what lay in wait ahead of her, but she was sure that she didn't want to go back. She had already come too far to give up now and despite her new-found insecurities, she wasn't quite ready to leave.

  A second or two passed before Katherine found herself stepping over the threshold and into the unknown. It oddly felt as though she belonged there, a welcoming aura beckoning her inside. She lifted the front of her skirt, allowing herself to take a big stride into the empty space between the stonework and away from the warmth of the fires. In that moment she knew that the voice was right, there was no turning back; her decision was final.

  “Why are you here?” The ancient voice echoed in the dark, leaving Katherine with no clue as to where it was coming from.

  The iron door had slammed shut behind her and Katherine quickly realised that she was trapped within the lair of the one whom she had been seeking. The man's strange accent boomed with the authority of the ages and she found herself powerless to resist.

  “Alexander? I… I came to learn from you, sir.” Sounding uncharacteristically timid, Katherine struggled to find the self confidence that kept her in control of her emotions.

  “No, you did not. What is your real reason for coming here?” The cold words caused her to stop and think. There was no hiding the truth from someone as old and powerful as Alexander, not yet.

  “I came to…” Katherine stopped herself from lying again, instead deciding to be truthful. “I want to be free from the oppression of the elders, to be independent and choose my own path. I want to learn how to resist their control.”

  A flicker of amusement could be heard in the booming response. “You want to be strong enough to resist me.”

  Katherine’s spine tingled. Alexander seemed to know more about her motives than she cared to admit to herself. She simply nodded, her own voice failing her this time.

  A faint glow that began in the centre of the room started to expand outwards until it formed a perfect circle of light that allowed Katherine to lay eyes upon her host for the first time since her arrival. Within the circle's perimeter sat a red robed man, barely identifiable as someone who had formerly been human. Alexander was far from the mortal he had once been, with an outward appearance that closely mirrored the beast inside. He was alien and unsettling, with a greenish grey hue to his flawlessly smooth skin and red pupils that stared out from eyes as black as night. He seemed to be smiling, his rows of ivory teeth visible from across the room. They were pointed like fangs, protruding from a mouth lined by thin, dark lips.

  “Approach, child. To be truthful, I have been expecting you for quite some time.” Alexander bowed his head in greeting. “I have eyes and ears all around these parts. You will find that very little escapes my attention.” From his skeletal throne, he gestured towards a simple wooden chair directly across from his own. “Please, sit.” His talon-like fingers stretched out, long nails almost as black as his eyes ending in razor sharp points.

  Without thinking, Katherine slowly began to approach the chair that was offered, her own eyes still focused upon the ancient being before her. She studied his face, noting a distinct lack of any and all hair. Long ridges formed rows across the top of his head, beginning just above his brow and leading towards the back where they separated into tendrils that were tied into a twisted ponytail of sorts. Similar boney ridges took the place of eyebrows and joined to the bridge of his nose which was still vaguely human in appearance, albeit elegantly narrow.

  Alexander was unperturbed by Katherine's lingering gaze. “Do not be afraid, child, for I wish you no harm. You are a welcome and honoured guest in my ‘humble’ abode.”

  It was clear to Katherine that Alexander had no intention of blending in with the mortal world. He considered himself to have ascended past the weaknesses of humankind, firmly believing that he was the next step in evolution and that he was superior to them in every single way. This was the creature that went bump in the night, a grotesque fiend that terrified even the most hardy of vampires. He was a renegade who steered away from the politics of elders, wanting nothing to do with them or their eternal bickering. Alexander was a true horror, endlessly wandering the eternal night, feared and shunned by all.

  Sitting down on the chair across from her host, Katherine clasped her hands together and placed them gently in her lap. She was unable to take her eyes off him and couldn't remember the last time that she had blinked. Her mind had been dominated by those older and more powerful than herself before, so she knew that she wasn't the one in control, and for that reason she hated him. One day, once she had gleaned all the knowledge that she could from him, she would get the upper hand and he would cease to be of use.

  Alexander seemed to study Katherine for a few moments in uncomfortable silence before moving to stroke a pair of spikes that protruded from his vile chin like some unholy beard. As he tilted his head to one side, she could see that the tendrils were attached to the back of his chair, acting as some form of umbilical cord that linked him to it.

  Katherine pondered for a moment as they sat there quietly, speculating whether the cord was what bound the fiend to his surroundings or if it was what he used to sustain his unlife. It couldn't be easy for him to feed this far underground, nor would he have been welcomed upon the surface, so the latter theory was sound. Or perhaps it performed both tasks, acting as both his method of control and a form of nourishment. Maybe Alexander had a symbiotic relationship with the giant creature and the manor above, but Katherine doubted that. It woul
d certainly explain his unique control over his surroundings, but he was the type of being that desired control, not harmony.

  Alexander licked his lips, the red pupils of his eyes glistening as he spoke. “I am not quite what you expected, am I?”

  Katherine finally managed to blink and found that her words came easily to her now, only wavering for the slightest of moments. “I did not know what to expect…”

  She glanced at the fiend’s throne, confirming in her own mind that it was indeed crafted from bone. She wasn't sure if it had been constructed from the remains of one person or several of them, but she was certain that they were in fact human in origin. There were femurs, ribs and even something that looked like a spinal column that led up to his tendrils. All manner of cartilage and bone formed the rest of the chair’s structure, with muscles and ligaments filling the gaps in between.

  Noticing his guest’s distracted gaze, Alexander tapped his spindly fingers upon the arm of his chair, which too had been made from the arm bones of an unlucky mortal or two. He seemed to grin even wider as he wet his lips once more. “I see that you are admiring my handiwork. You see, I am an artist of sorts. I crafted everything here with my own two hands. All this and so much more.”

  Raising a hand to gesture at the room around him, his smile disappeared from his face and was soon replaced by a look of morbid curiosity. “The very walls are a living tapestry of my own design. Were you told the tale of the lord of the manor who vanished without a trace? Of his family and his servants, or the countless travellers who wander into the woods and are never heard from again?”

  Alexander stared at Katherine, unflinching as he awaited her response. Her theory that she had been within the belly of a gargantuan beast was shattered, and she could now see the truth laid bare before her. It wasn't one being that surrounded her, but countless unfortunate souls that had been woven together into a single organism. It hadn’t been one heartbeat that she had heard, but dozens of them synchronised in their workings.