Blood Queen

by David Horrocks

  Sure, the gift of unlife that Katherine's maker had bestowed upon her had taken her sickness away, but he had also been an oppressive master. He wasn't physically abusive as such, but one who had slowly broken their spirits down as the years went by. To an outsider, he was as his name suggested, the perfect gentleman. However, in private he was a control freak who refused to take his hands off the reigns. As his creations, Katherine and Shani had shared a bond as strong as that which only sisters could have, their love for each other more powerful than any force known to man. The relationship was a closely guarded secret witnessed by no other; their feelings left undisclosed to the outside world.

  Unable to physically overpower their maker, Katherine and Shani had worked together to defeat him through cunning and guile alone. They knew that he would have never let them go, not willingly, leaving them with little choice but to kill him to obtain their freedom. It had been a simple matter once they put their minds to it, trapping the Gentleman within his horse drawn carriage while he was asleep and using their combined powers to control the driver. They instructed the hypnotised mortal to ride out into the meadows, opening the window shades to let in the morning sun.

  In the end, there had been no chance of escape for the dusty old vampire, with the nearest shelter too far for even someone of his unnatural speed. His final death had been assured, the proof of which was the pile of ash left behind. The desperate act had solidified the women's friendship and formed a bond that would never be broken. After all, it was the first time that they had both been truly free.

  Originating from a far away land, Shani had never revealed her origins; however, the Gentleman often spoke about his expeditions to Egypt, so it was a safe bet that she hailed from somewhere around those parts. It wasn't clear whether she had been born a mute or if that was something that had occurred later in life, but it may have been one of the reasons that Katherine trusted her implicitly. After all, it was difficult to betray a secret when you weren't able to talk. In addition to that, the exotic beauty was a skilled assassin whose talents had never been called into question, her undeniable grace and skill in combat a truly wondrous sight to behold. But now Shani was gone, and Katherine would never lay eyes upon her again. A part of her had died along with her friend, another fragment of her shattered soul that she would never be able to recover.

  As her thoughts drifted back to the untimely death of her companion and confidant, Katherine began to plot her revenge. There had been a pattern to the attacks so far, a certain level of arrogance that made it clear what her enemies were trying to achieve. The wretched creature in the basement was the first to go, his bond with her now severed; which is why she had sent Shani to protect Renée's body in the first place. Unfortunately, the outcome hadn't gone the way that either of them had expected. Whoever had the audacity to seek out those hidden sites had managed to overpower the assassin and somehow knew about Katherine's mystic fonts of power.

  The ancient and forbidden rituals had made Katherine strong, but now that two of them had been destroyed, she felt as though she had been drained and left empty. There were still other locations that had so far remained hidden, but there was no telling if and when they would be found. Katherine had purposely kept the relics separate from each other so that her enemies remained unaware of their existence, but perhaps it was time to bring them to one central location within her reach. Somewhere that she could guard them from those who wished to do her harm.

  The more Katherine thought about what had happened, the more furious she became. Her rage continued to boil until her bloody tears of sorrow dried up, leaving nothing behind but pure hatred. Not only was her personal source of power under threat, but her enemies had slipped into her city and murdered one of her most influential subjects right under her nose. To top it all off, she had been told that the culprits had escaped into the woodlands and had somehow managed to evade her patrols. After all she had done to secure her kingdom, there shouldn't have been anyone left to defy her. That meant that this had to be the work of someone who had prior knowledge of the city and its surrounding areas. Someone who had fled before her coronation and evaded the subsequent purge.

  There were very few suspects left, but one stood out above all others; the former queen and her remaining allies. To make matters worse, someone else was conspiring against Katherine, killing her oldest and dearest friend in the process. The very thought of multiple groups trying to usurp her throne was simply preposterous. This abhorrent behaviour and blatant disregard for her authority could not be allowed to continue. She couldn't let these slights against her go unpunished, which meant that anyone who stood against her had to be made to pay for all the losses that she had endured. In due time, they would all be made to suffer.

  Fortunately for Katherine, she still had some loyal supporters who had not yet been harmed. Nadia was far away on important diplomatic business and was out of the line of fire for the time being, which meant that she was unlikely to meet the same fate as Shani. She was more than capable of taking care of herself, not that the assassin wasn't, but the difference was that no one expected such ferocity from a well mannered socialite. She was the only one of Katherine's progeny who hadn't turned against her, the only one that she could trust to carry out her wishes. Out of all of them, Nadia was the one who had surrendered willingly, giving herself over without hesitation to be remade anew.

  Katherine and Nadia had been together since the Great War, their chance meeting coming as a welcome surprise. As the only daughter of a Russian General, she had grown bored of a life of luxury until Katherine gave her purpose. Although Nadia was sadistic in the manner in which she kept herself entertained and revelled in bloodshed more often than not, she had an undeniable talent for spy work and had served her maker faithfully for a little over a century. The pair had grown quite close in that time; not quite as close as Katherine was with Shani, but close enough for it to mean something.

  After everything that had happened, if Nadia was ever lost to her… Well there was no telling what Katherine would do. She certainly wouldn't sit around feeling stricken by grief, and those who had committed such an act would experience unimaginable levels of pain. They would be submitted to countless tortures beyond comprehension, and forced into an existence of perpetual agony until they begged for a death that would forever be denied to them.

  The city of Calgary was the seat of power for the vampire elite in Alberta, and as their queen, everything within it was under Katherine's control. She ruled from the shadows, the mortals that inhabited it nothing more than puppets who danced to her entrancing song. Everything from the banks to the police were hers to do with as she pleased, even if those within the organisations were unaware of who was actually pulling the strings. They were the former assets of rivals who had been disposed of, everything that they had ever owned now within her possession.

  Not all of Katherine's power had been gained through physical prowess or magic rituals, in fact her true strength had come as a result of political maneuvering and careful investments. It wasn't possible to ascend through the ranks of the vampire hierarchy using brute force alone, but having the ability to back up your claims certainly had an advantage. All those immortals who resided within the city limits knew to fear their queen, and those who didn't were more likely stupid or ill informed than brave.

  As opposed to Renita Marquette, Katherine didn't believe in wasting valuable resources. Unlike her predecessor, she wasn't one for killing the Forsaken who resided within her borders, at least the ones who weren't embarrassing descendants of her own bloodline. It was clear that squandering their potential, however limited that might be, was a foolish decision that would have deprived her of a useful tool. After all, they were surprisingly effortless to manipulate, especially for someone so experienced in the craft. The weak minded peons were easily inspired by the false belief that they were important members of vampire society. It was a simple matter to brainwash them, converting their increasing number into expe
ndable foot soldiers who would fight for queen and kingdom when commanded.

  The issues that had previously plagued the city had been resolved within a few months of Katherine's rule, the plan itself just a small part of a great scheme that she had implemented. After all, she couldn't trust anyone else to deal with such a problem, not without twisting it to suit their own ends. This was one of those things that she had to do herself, the skills that her maker had taught her by proxy coming into play.

  There was an inkling in the back of Katherine's mind, something that caused her to question the loyalty of all those who claimed to serve her. It had begun to occur to her that neither Vincent, nor his pack, had checked in for a while, which was odd for someone who was usually so reliable. The last time she had heard from him, he was somewhere deep within the United States and hot on Alice's trail. Surely a hunter of his caliber should have cornered his quarry by now, yet he had strangely gone silent and fallen off the grid.

  Even Morgana's magic had failed to locate the old wolf, causing Katherine to believe that either Vincent had turned against her, or the witch was hiding his location for reasons yet unknown. Could it be that they were both moving against her? Perhaps they were plotting to take the throne for themselves. If that were the case, then surely one of them must have murdered Shani, not that they would ever dare to admit it.

  Paranoia had plagued Katherine's mind in recent nights, causing her to blur the line between what was fact and what was merely a figment of her imagination. But what if none of it was in her head? It might just be the case that all of it was true and that nothing had been invented in her mind at all. Maybe both the wolf and the witch were involved in the death of her beloved friend, neither acting alone but as a single unit who wanted nothing more than to see her fall. That would mean that they were coming for her next.

  For all Katherine knew, it could already be too late, the sinister plans of traitors already set in motion before she had the time to act. Had she been outplayed? It was hard for her to believe, but it wasn't beyond the realm of possibility. Despite the image of herself that she liked to present, Katherine wasn't infallible, nor was she an omnipotent being who could see all the dangers along her chosen path. She still had the same weaknesses as the rest of her kind, those same vulnerabilities that were impossible to transcend no matter how much she willed it. Perhaps she had to be the one to set the trap first, so that she wouldn't be the one to be caught in it.

  A sudden knock at the door drew Katherine's attention away from the mirror and the paranoid delusions that threatened to override rational thought. She took a moment to straighten the creases in her dress and wipe away the dried tears before moving to position herself in an armchair on the opposite end of the modest sized room, keeping her back to the wall in order to make it difficult for anyone to creep up from behind.

  "Yes? Who is it?" Katherine called out with her usual level of self confidence, her tone full of the authority of her station.

  "I am here as requested, my queen." came the muffled reply from just beyond the varnished wood, the voice barely more than a raised whisper.

  Katherine had almost forgotten about the meeting that she had scheduled, but she was prepared for it nonetheless. "Enter!" she commanded as she straightened her posture and adopted the elegant poise expected of a monarch.

  The gilded handle slowly turned, allowing the door to swing open and reveal the traditional crimson robes of the red witch, Morgana. Her skeletal figure seemed to glide across the polished marble tiles as she entered the room, the door gently closing behind her as if it had a mind of its own. She stopped just shy of where Katherine was sitting, bowing her head with respect before breaking the silence. "What is it that you require of me?"

  Katherine eyed up the witch with suspicion, making a point to take her time before responding. "Do you bring news of the hunt?" She feigned a smile, not wanting to give herself away too soon.

  "Not yet, your majesty. I have so far been unable to locate either Vincent or your children, but I will redouble my efforts if it pleases you." Morgana's face was hidden behind her raven black hair, the expression beneath a complete mystery. Her tone gave no clue as to whether or not she was being truthful, but Katherine's instincts were rarely ever wrong. Even if the witch hadn't betrayed her directly, she was up to something and couldn't be trusted in the slightest. She had previously sought to take the throne from Renita Marquette and had failed miserably, but that didn't mean that she wouldn't make a second attempt.

  "Make sure that you do." Katherine eventually said with reserved skepticism. "What of the asylum and its inhabitants?"

  "There was nothing left but ash." Morgana eerily whispered.

  "And there's still no clue as to who set the fire?" Katherine asked pointedly.

  "None, my queen." the whisper confirmed. "Whoever they were, they left no sign of their passing."

  As the conversation continued, Katherine began to wonder how long the charade would last. The witch couldn't keep her actions hidden indefinitely and would eventually slip up. It didn't matter if her mistake came in the next few days or years into the future, she would eventually show her true colours and Katherine would be waiting. As a being who had lived for centuries, patience had become more than just a virtue; it was a necessity.

  A dark eye peered out from between the black strands of Morgana's hair, its stare wide and unflinching. "Was there something else that you required?"

  Katherine wanted nothing more than to snarl and bear her fangs, but she somehow managed to keep her fake smile in place. "Not at this time, no. Be sure to inform me if and when you discover anything of use."

  Morgana bowed deeply, bending at the waist. "Your wish is my command."

  There was a hint of sarcasm so slight that it would have been missed by most, but it didn't escape Katherine's attention. She inclined her head as the witch turned to leave, making sure to keep the woman within her sight right up until the door closed and she was alone once more.

  "I'll have to be careful with that one…" Katherine muttered under her breath, not realising that she had spoken out loud.

  On nights like this, it almost seemed as though Katherine was a prisoner within her own castle. She had to remain on her guard at all times and couldn't leave the palace grounds for long, as her absence would allow her enemies to sneak in through the cracks if they hadn't already. It was in these moments that she knew that she would miss Shani the most.

  The assassin's existence had given Katherine a peace of mind that no other could offer, the protection and comfort that she provided sadly no longer present. She would continue to mourn the loss of her friend behind closed doors, but in public she had to maintain the facade that both her subjects and her enemies had come to expect. She had to stay strong in the face of danger, no matter what it might be. The Blood Queen had to remain unshakable.

  In that brief moment of clarity, it suddenly occurred to Katherine where her enemies would strike next; a location right in the heart of her precious city. It was an old building that had been left abandoned for far too long, a place that had played a pivotal role in her takeover. If they aimed to take away her power, then that would be the next logical step in their campaign, a fact that she would twist to her advantage in order to gain the upper hand. Instead of chasing down her foes and hunting them across the entire continent, she could lure them right to her front doorstep. There was no need to wear herself out and run herself ragged when she could bring the fight to her. This was her chance to get her enemies exactly where she wanted and discover their true identities in the process. Whoever was coming for her, she would be ready for them.

  Chapter Seventeen: A Crack in the Mirror

  Blood. Blood everywhere.

  It seeped into the fabric of the furniture and dripped onto the hardwood floor, causing the surface to be slippery underfoot. It wasn't Katherine's blood, for she had no cuts or open wounds as far as she could see. From what she could tell, she was physically fine, but mentally
? Well that was another story entirely.

  The sight in front of Katherine was almost too much for her to take in, as the white walls were decorated crimson and the closed drapes too, the random smears and splatters forming strange shapes with no sense of pattern or order. She had no idea where she was at first, her mind struggling to focus on what had happened and how she had gotten there. It was difficult for her to think, her fangs were drawn but her hunger oddly satisfied. It was almost as if she had recently fed, but she had no recollection of the act, just the knowledge that the beast inside of her had taken control for the briefest of moments.

  It was clear from Katherine's surroundings that she was in someone's bedroom, the silk sheets, painted dressers and tall wardrobe made that much obvious. However, what she didn't know was who the bedroom belonged to. It certainly wasn't hers and was not one that she recognised either, not that she made a habit of frequenting such places anymore. That was a part of her past that she had left behind and something that she was more than happy to forget.

  As Katherine's eyes searched the room, she tried to find clues as to fill in the blanks. She saw a full length mirror standing in the corner of the room, its glass cracked into large shards that still clung to the frame. It was yet another sign that something awful had occurred there, but her fragmented memories were a complicated puzzle that was almost impossible to piece together.

  Katherine caught sight of her reflection upon the broken surface of the mirror, her pale visage appearing unnatural and misshapen under the dim lamp light. There were small scratches upon her face and forearms, but nothing deep enough to cause discomfort. Her dress had been torn at the shoulders and one side was hanging by a thread, with just enough material left to protect her modesty. The corset and dress were damp in places, the stains standing out a shade deeper than the expensive green cloth. Disheveled hair hung loosely from her head in several places, as if it had been pulled free, with the rest still held in place by a variety of different clips and pins. It looked as though her lipstick had been smudged too, but on closer inspection it wasn't the same colour of red that she usually wore, but something much, much darker.