Blood Queen

by David Horrocks

  Everyone had gathered to await the queen's next command, but she barely even acknowledged their presence. Sir Chevalier stood over her, as if to make sure that her reunion remained uninterrupted, but no one dared to get close. Even Vincent kept his distance, seemingly out of respect more than anything else as he rested against the far wall. Sam and Rahna stayed by the entryway, neither making as much as a murmur as the queen began to weep for her friend. The cavern soon echoed with cries of misery, with none foolish enough to disturb Queen Marquette as tears of blood escaped the dark holes of her mask.

  Sam wished that he had stayed outside with Max keeping watch. Each crimson teardrop, every cry of anguish made him feel as though he was intruding on a personal moment that he had no right to be part of. He would have given almost anything to escape that uncomfortable situation, the constant sobbing making him wish that he could be just about anywhere else. He felt pity for Renita and the heartbreak that she was going through, even though he knew that she wouldn't feel an ounce of it for him if the roles were reversed. However, despite how she had treated him, her display of emotions was proof that there was still humanity left within her despite her advanced years. It was those same emotions that gave Sam some semblance of hope for his own future.

  A good few minutes passed before Vincent voiced his concerns, Sam's own thoughts occupied by his own morality. "My queen… I don't wish to interrupt, but Katherine's men could be searching for us as we speak."

  "Let them come!" Sir Chevalier snarled, far less distinguished than his usual manner. From the way he was acting, it was easy to see that he was indeed Vincent's brother.

  "No…" Renita whispered, her voice so quiet that it could barely be heard, and yet all those present took notice. "Vincent speaks the truth. We should advance our plans before it's too late."

  "Of course, ma reine." The knight quickly answered with a slight bow before he shot a glance towards his sibling. "Let us prepare."

  Vincent nodded his agreement, turning towards Sam and Rahna. "Wait outside. We have sensitive matters to discuss."

  Rahna inclined her head and left without hesitation, but Sam hadn't been paying his full attention. It took him a few moments to realise that the command had been meant for him too until the large man began to growl. Panicking a little, he almost slipped on a rock as he clumsily made his retreat, heading back outside and into the snowstorm that was now in full swing.

  As Sam emerged from the cave's opening, hidden behind a pile of fallen rocks, he was hit by a gust of wind that whistled past with a cloud of snowflakes in tow. He was soon almost up to his knees in a thick blanket of snow that was rising by the minute, the blizzard refusing to let up as it covered every inch of the forest. Never in his entire life had he seen so much of it, a truly wondrous sight to behold, with the pure white surfaces shining like a bright light in the darkness. He couldn't find the words to describe how he felt, stepping into a world that was beautiful, yet cold and unfamiliar to him.

  Max was perched upon a nearby boulder, his eyes trained on the tree line as he kept a lookout for any potential dangers. He looked a little out of place in nothing but a t-shirt and ripped jeans, his pale feet bare as they dangled off the edge of the rock. Rahna stood just to his right, wearing the same red leather jacket as always, her dark skin standing out against the white backdrop. They were both unusually quiet and almost motionless; silent sentinels keeping watch amidst the ongoing storm.

  Sam waded over to them, leaving ruts in the deep snow. It was strange how it didn't seem to melt on his clothes, his body temperature matching his surroundings and preserving every flake. It was an old human response of his to raise the hood of his sweatshirt to cover himself up, something that was no longer a requirement for his survival. He tightened it around his face with a pull of the strings, making himself as snug as he felt he needed to be.

  Standing on the opposite side of the boulder to Rahna, Sam used it as a barrier to keep his distance from her. It wasn't that he was scared of her any more, it was just that he didn't feel like getting picked on right now.

  "Have you seen anything?" Sam curiously enquired, his voice drowned out by the wind.

  Fortunately, Max had sensitive ears and still heard the question, shaking his head in response as he stared out into the night.

  "The storm should let up in an hour!" Rahna called over, not too loudly, but with just enough volume that he could hear. She pointed up towards the dark sky above them, drawing Sam's attention upwards, but he couldn't see a break in the clouds.

  Sam found it fascinating how they could predict the weather by observing changing patterns that were invisible to him, as if it were second nature to them. These vampires had survived for years in the wilderness and their abilities reflected the fact. Even though he wasn't part of the pack, he was beginning to feel as though he was no longer an outsider, or at least that was the illusion that he was under.

  A minute or two of reflective silence followed as all three of them took in the sights and sounds of nature. Sam didn't miss the bright lights and the incessant noise of Miami. He had always been a small town boy and was more at home away from the crowds than he ever was among them. Alice had always been the same way, although she was a country girl at heart and was happier away from civilisation altogether. Sam knew that she had enjoyed being on the road with him and Matty despite the reasons for it, and part of him missed those simpler times as well. Sure, he had been a third wheel for most of it, but had since come to realise that it was those special times with friends that he really had to cherish. It was those types of memories, the ones that he had shared with Christie too, that he would remember until the day that his spirit was finally set free of its immortal shell.

  Focusing on more recent events, Sam recalled how the beast inside him had reeled in terror as St Mary's Asylum had been put to the torch, the building returning to normal following the death of its caretaker. As flames burst from the windows, sending smoke billowing into the sky, he had been helpless to rescue the feral girl still trapped inside. Sam hadn't even realised that she was still in there until it was far too late, and there was nothing that he could have done to save her.

  The fire had confirmed the fact that there were monsters on both sides of the conflict, there was no denying that. Vincent had claimed that the girl's death was a mercy, fully believing that no one should be forced to exist in such a tormented state. It was an alien way of thinking that left Sam feeling bewildered, but he surmised that those who had lived for so long saw death in a different way to those who had barely lived at all.

  Beginning to wonder what was going on inside the cave, Sam peered over his shoulder in the direction of the entrance. He had been told that it was an old hideaway the wolves had once used as a storage dump for various supplies that they had already broken in to. Its existence was known only to a select few, the location a well kept secret that the pack had never shared outside of their number until now. The cave may have been small in size, but it was shelter from the winter storms and would keep them concealed from Katherine as long as they remained nearby.

  As for their vehicles, those were safely camouflaged underneath a placement of branches and leaves just a short walk away, with a fresh layer of snow on top for good measure. There would be no chance of anyone stumbling across them, unless they knew exactly what they were looking for.

  It wasn't much longer before both Vincent and Sir Chevalier emerged from the cave, neither of them arguing for a change. Their tall forms strode out from behind the rocks as they walked side by side, seemingly deep in discussion.

  "So, what's next?" Vincent enquired, having dressed down into just his pants as if he were preparing to shift into his wolf form.

  Sir Chevalier remained fully clothed in his usual attire, his long blond hair hanging loose around his shoulders. His serious expression was as expected, his hands animated as he spoke. "Prepare for something a little more dangerous... It is time to up the ante."

  Vincent flashed h
is fangs, but it was difficult to tell if he was annoyed or simply grinning. "More than the asylum? What are you getting us into, Phillipe?" His predatory gait made it plainly obvious that he was a deadly hunter preparing for a hunt.

  "You shall see soon enough, mon frere. You shall see." The Lion Knight let slip a sly smile that Sam wasn't even sure that he saw. It had to be a figment of his imagination, as the pair of them couldn't possibly be getting along.

  As the brothers neared the group, Chevalier fixed his gaze upon Sam, a scowl of disgust returning almost instantly. "You!" He projected his voice, assuming his usual aristocratic stance that commanded respect.

  "Y… y… yes, Sir Ch…" Sam wasn't sure why he stuttered, but the knight's imposing presence must have had something to do with it. Both Rahna and Max stayed out of the conversation, knowing full well that they shouldn't speak unless addressed first.

  "Spit it out, boy! What do you have to say?" The man stood over him now, causing Sam to crane his neck as he tried to meet his gaze.

  "About wh… what?" The question itself was confusing, and Sam wasn't sure as to what context it had been implied.

  Chevalier huffed at him. "What is your opinion on the night's events?"

  Sam swallowed air, his mouth lacking any moisture to wet his lips. "We shouldn't have set fire to the asylum…" He paused for a moment, expecting to be berated for voicing his opinion, but surprisingly nothing happened. "The flames acted as a beacon that alerted them to our presence here."

  Vincent grunted his disapproval, but his brother nodded in agreement. “It was a fool's endeavour, of that I am sure, but still necessary nonetheless. Katherine now knows that we are here and it will not be long before she finds us."

  Sam was surprised that someone actually agreed with him, to the point that he was left speechless.

  "We need to act soon." Vincent confirmed, looking unrepentant for his past actions.

  Sir Chevalier's full attention was still locked on Sam, his blue eyes piercing through any defenses. "By the way, the queen wishes to have a word with you. I would advise that you do not keep her waiting."

  Both brothers were staring at Sam now, as if they were waiting to see how he would react. Doing his best to seem calm, he struggled with a mass of chaotic thoughts as his mind was full to bursting.

  "I'll go and see her then." Sam inclined his head in the same manner as he had witnessed both Rahna and Max doing in the past and proceeded towards the cave once more, making a point not to glance back to see what they were up to. He presumed that they had all turned to watch him go, but did his best not to notice, or failing that, at least give them the impression that he wasn't feeling nervous; which was of course a blatant lie.

  Sam had seen that vampires often tried their best to mask their emotions, a lesson that he had so far been slow to learn. Perhaps it would take a little time to get a grasp of the basics, never mind master the art.

  The queen's mask looked menacing under the dim light of the oil lamps, her porcelain expression seeming to change with every shifting shadow. The cave was far from the type of place that anyone would expect to find royalty, yet here she was, slumming it out of choice rather than by necessity. She could have chosen to stay within the safer climate of the south, but had made the journey north when she didn't even have to.

  Even though their previous encounter hadn't ended well, Sam wasn't scared to be alone with Queen Marquette, not anymore. He had seen a softer side to her, a side that genuinely cared for someone else other than herself, and it made her less of a monster in his eyes. There was no such thing as black and white in their dark world, just so many shades of grey that it often became difficult to tell right from wrong.

  The queen stood still in the centre of the small cavern, her hands clasped together in front of her waist as she patiently waited for Sam to approach. Behind her, Antoinette's withered body had been moved and carefully placed upon a bedroll by the back wall furthest from the entrance, her unintelligible mutterings still audible as she stirred. She had been tucked in under a thick blanket despite her having no need to keep warm, perhaps in an effort to make her feel comfortable in those bleak surroundings.

  "I've been informed that you were the one who found my precious Antoinette." Renita said softly, her voice filling the cavern with a surprising warmth. "Please know that I truly appreciate what you've done for her and for myself. Your presence here has been a boon."

  Sam felt more welcome than he had expected, although he was still wary of who the woman was and what she could do to his mind. "I'm glad that I could help." he said with a slight smile. "Katherine is as much my enemy as she is yours."

  The queen nodded slowly, her eyes glinting through the black holes of her cracked mask. "The enemy of my enemy is indeed my friend. Perhaps we should see that you're treated fairly from now on, despite your flawed… heritage."

  Unsure as to whether her last comment had been intended as a compliment or an insult, Sam chose to simply ignore it altogether. "I'm going to be honest with you… I don't want anyone to die on either side. The only person who should be made to pay is Katherine"

  There was a slight pause as Renita's gaze lingered upon his face, as if she was studying him with care. The solemn words that followed came as a grim warning of what the future might hold. "You may need to prepare yourself for the worst, as not everyone under her rule serves her because they're afraid. Although they are few in number, some of her supporters actually believe in their 'Blood Queen' and will fight to the last. It would be foolish of us to expect them all to lay down their arms."

  Sam forced a sigh, his voice full of determination as he spoke. "I know… I'm not that naive, but you can't expect me to kill everyone that gets in our way. At least some of them should be given a chance to surrender. Every death comes with consequences, and I can't keep making the same mistakes that I've made in the past."

  Queen Marquette seemed to ponder his meaning for a few moments, her head tilting to one side as she saw him from a new angle. "I see... There is conviction in your words, Samuel. If Katherine gave you anything, it was a sense of purpose; even if that purpose was to have a hand in her downfall."

  "Then I'm glad that we understand each other." Sam replied with a single nod.

  "Yes, but understand this… Katherine Louviere will die through whatever means possible. We cannot afford to hold back." This was Queen Renita Marquette's vow, and it was easy to tell from her tone that she was deadly serious.

  Sam didn't know what to expect in the coming nights, but he knew that he had to prepare himself. Whatever happened, he refused to let any more innocents get caught in the crossfire. He couldn't let the horrors that occurred in Miami ever happen again. If he had to stand in the line of fire and play the protector, then that is exactly what he would have to do. If there was a way to end the cycle without anyone else dying, then he would do his best to find it. After all, Katherine Louviere was the only one who had to die and even the thought of that brought him nothing but sadness. It was his own burden to bear, no one else's, and the only person that he could rely on to do the right thing was himself.

  Chapter Sixteen: In the Seat of Power

  Katherine was deep in thought as she sat comfortably within the parlour of her newly refurbished estate, a massive manor that had been tailored to suit her needs. It was an edifice of grandiose luxury situated within the heart of Eau Claire, an upmarket neighbourhood located immediately north of downtown Calgary. She had liberated it from the former queen and since stripped it of all its gaudy decorations, transforming the building into the epitome of modern class and style. Some had called it vanity, but Katherine believed that the updated design gave her a tactical advantage in social engagements. It meant that she was finally afforded the respect that she deserved and that she couldn't be dismissed as a mere pretender to a throne that she had worked so hard to earn. Where Renita had often held court within the lofty heights of the Calgary Tower, Katherine remained exclusively within the manor, opting to
keep her feet firmly planted on the ground instead of the old monarch who had lost her head in the clouds.

  It was rare for Katherine to experience emotion these nights, especially those of sadness, and yet there she was staring at her own reflection in a mirror, crimson smears down each cheek. Shani was one of the strongest vampires that she ever had the pleasure of knowing, so it shouldn't have been possible for her to be defeated so easily, and yet Katherine had felt her death the very moment that it had occurred, as if she had been the one who died.

  Katherine could cope with the news of Harold Fletcher's death, as he may have been a valuable asset over the last few years, but like all others he could be replaced. Her confidence in his abilities had already faltered due to the reports of patients going missing from his asylum without his apparent knowledge. His supposed ignorance of the situation had caused her to seriously doubt his competence, raising suspicions that he had been acting against her all along. It also didn't help that he reminded her of someone from her past. Someone whom she wanted to forget.

  Shani on the other hand was precious to Katherine. She knew that it was of widespread belief that she didn't care for anyone or anything other than herself, but that had been by design and was actually far from the truth. The two of them had shared a deep connection that spanned centuries, far longer than most, their loyalty to each other an eternal promise that couldn't be broken. If it wasn't for Shani, they would both still be slaves to their maker; the man known only as the Gentleman.