Alterverse

by Keith B Darrell

  Alaric genuflected. “Thank you, Goddess. I seek one more boon.”

  Quinn whispered to Ursula, “Boy, he sure likes to push his luck, doesn’t he?”

  Nemesis cocked her head, giving Alaric a puzzled look. “What else do you desire?”

  “The location of my parents. They were abducted by the Dark Gods and I plan to free them.”

  Nemesis sighed. “I honestly do not know, young warlock. Affairs such as that would most likely have been handled by Julian Ward, or his sister Angelique. But I doubt they’ll be forthcoming with the information you seek.”

  Asmodeus stepped up to Alaric and placed his arm around the boy. “That will be a battle for another day. Right now we must rest and heal our wounds.” He whispered into Alaric’s ear, “We’ll find Lucifer, I promise.”

  Asabi located a faerie spot and opened a portal back to Las Vegas. The team followed her through it and the portal sealed behind them. The emere smiled at Alaric. “We’ve secured Hypnos and the Oneiroi’s forbearance and the blessing of Nemesis. We’ve also defeated the Serpent Cult and the Keres. Not a bad start.”

  Alaric nodded. “An auspicious start. The Resistance is in its early days… But they’re good days.”

  Síofra grinned. “Ya, taeday was actually a good craic.” The changeling pointed to a sack of snake skin. “Plus, I’ll be treating myself tae a new purse and shoes.”

  Kaya smiled. She seldom saw the usually dour changeling this happy. She wished her best friend’s happiness would last for a long time.

  Sharon Mordecai and Pandora Pennyworth looked up simultaneously as the door to their office opened and a familiar figure entered the Nightstalkers, Inc. lobby. “Artemus!” Sharon exclaimed. “What brings you here?”

  The boy vampire made himself comfortable in one of the leather chairs that was slightly too large for him. “I wish to retain your services.”

  “Our services?” Pandora asked.

  “My dear friend and longtime companion Natasa was murdered. I found her staked body in my home but I have no clue as to her assailant. You specialize in finding clues and tracking people who do not wish to be found. I want you to find out who killed Natasa.”

  Pandora scrunched her nose. “We’re bounty hunters, not detectives.”

  “Then, consider it a bounty. I’ve amassed great wealth over the centuries and I can easily pay your expenses, no matter where this quest takes you. I simply want you to discover the person or persons responsible for her destruction and then I shall deal with them.”

  “You think there may be more than one killer?” Sharon asked. “Why would anyone wish to kill Natasa?”

  “I don’t know that either,” Artemus said. “The answer to that question might reveal the killer or killers. But once you’ve uncovered the murderer’s identity I’ll seek vengeance for Natasa… And I’ll drink deeply of the killer’s blood, and that of any others aiding the murderer.”

  Chapter Twelve

  In the center of the lobby of the London headquarters of the Nosferatu Lords stood a three-story atrium, built around a giant oak tree whose winding arborescent branches stretched and snaked like ramiferous tentacles. The cross-section of branches and leaves created an arborous foyer, providing shade from the moonlight reflecting from distant coruscating stars that would otherwise shine through the glass-paneled ceiling. Its inclusion in the architecture was not for aesthetics but rather as a reminder that the eternal existence of vampires could be cut short by something as prosaic and ubiquitous as a sharpened wooden branch.

  Sir William adjusted his monocle, focusing his vision on one of the sinuous limbs of the great oak. The stout vampire cleared his throat and addressed his guest. “Had I known you were coming, I would have arranged a more suitable welcome.”

  Amadi offered his host a polite smile. “That’s quite kind of you, but completely unnecessary,” the African Nosferatu Lord said. “I’m only in London on a brief visit to facilitate one of my investments. However, it didn’t seem proper to visit your city without stopping to pay my respects.”

  “I hope you’ll take advantage of all the amenities we have to offer. There’s an excellent bar – The Crimson Cocktail – on the second floor with a copious selection of every blood type imaginable, including a secret reserve of blood bottled at the beheadings of various members of the royal family over the centuries. We have a gymnasium on the first floor if you’d like a spot of exercise.” He pointed toward an alcove. “We even have a gift shop here on the ground floor should you wish to bring a bit of Merry Olde England back to the jungles of Africa.”

  “You have a lovely complex here, Sir William.” Amadi pointed to the illuminated panel above the elevator. “I see your lift descends to the basement. What’s down there?”

  Sir William’s countenance expressed a momentary lapse in composure. “Oh, nothing that you would find of interest: storage closets and the generator that powers the complex. Did I mention the holographic cinema on the second floor? State-of-the-art, and a smashing sound system to boot.”

  “I look forward to exploring the complex, although I’ll be returning home this evening now that I’ve wrapped up my financial affairs.”

  “I wish I had the afternoon free but I’m committed to meetings all day.” Sir William summoned a younger female vampire. “Piper here will be more than happy to show you around in my stead.” Sir William gave a perfunctory nod and walked off, leaving Amadi with Piper.

  The perky younger vampire smiled at the dark-skinned visitor. “You must be thirsty after your long trip; would you like to begin your tour at the blood bar?”

  “Thank you, but no. I had lunch at the airport… Two stewardesses I met as they were waiting to board a plane.” Amadi pressed the call button for the elevator. “Besides, in my experience, it’s always more interesting to work one’s way up from the bottom.” The elevator doors opened and he stepped inside, followed by Piper.

  Piper watched Amadi press the basement button, her mouth gaping into a small rictus. “Oh, you don’t want to go down there. That area’s restricted.”

  “Restricted? That implies only a few are allowed access. Whom besides your Nosferatu Lord Sir William would that elite coterie include?”

  “Only about a dozen individuals. Nigel, Edwina, Rowena… I’m sure their names are meaningless to you.”

  “You’re correct, of course. I haven’t met any of them. Are you on the list?”

  “Yes, but—”

  “Then we should have no difficulty entering a restricted area.”

  “But you haven’t been cleared for access, sir.”

  “As I said, I believe in climbing up from the bottom. That’s how I became a Nosferatu Lord in charge of an entire continent’s vampires. There are relatively few Nosferatu Lords but the one characteristic we share is we’re all equal in power and authority. If Sir William and some minor functionaries on his staff may access the building’s basement, then surely another Nosferatu Lord may, too.”

  The elevator door opened and Amadi stepped into the basement. Piper followed nervously. Her eyes darted to a concrete stairway ahead and she wondered whether she should seek help to detour Amadi. “Sir, I think it would be best if we secured Sir William’s consent first. Despite what you say, I think he would be unhappy with me if I didn’t…”

  “How thoughtless of me,” Amadi said. “I certainly don’t wish to put you in a difficult position. I’ll make sure Sir William realizes you tried to stop me and that you are entirely blameless. And I sincerely regret causing any pain.”

  Piper relaxed, believing she had persuaded Amadi to return upstairs with her. “I appreciate your cooperation, but it’s just a minor contretemps; you haven’t caused any pain.”

  “Not yet, at least.” Amadi quickly slammed Piper’s head into the concrete wall. The female vampire slid down to the basement floor where she lay unconscious. “I am truly sorry, but Sir William will see you attempted to stop me and were simply overpowered.” The black vampire raced d
own the corridor with the grace and speed of a panther from his native Africa, inspecting every nook and cranny of the basement until he came to a small alcove. The archway was blocked by cast-iron bars, behind which was a small cell. The woman inside rose from her cot and approached the bars. “I assume you’re Samantha Twitch?” he asked.

  Samantha studied the stranger’s face. “I haven’t seen you before. I thought I knew all my jailers. Don’t tell me this is Nigel’s day off?”

  “My name is Amadi. I come from Africa but we don’t have time for extended introductions. When Piper regains consciousness she’ll alert the entire complex and we need to be long gone by then.” Amadi gripped two of the iron bars and pulled on them with all his strength but he was unable to budge them.

  “You’re trying to free me? What sort of trick is this?”

  “No trick. My grandmother’s a powerful bokor in Africa who understands well the ways of magic. I learned from her we’re in the Age of Magic, in which the forces of Order and Chaos will clash again. The fall of the Dark Gods will will usher in a new world order and witchcraft is what will bring that about. I also learned at the recent Conference of Nosferatu Lords that you were being imprisoned here because Julian Ward fears you could be instrumental in their downfall. Ugghh.” He strained against the bars to no effect. “What I don’t understand is why he hasn’t simply killed you if he deems you that much of a threat.”

  “Those bars are enchanted. You won’t be able to pry them apart.”

  “Enchanted?”

  “Mordred used one of his mother’s spells; otherwise I would’ve escaped on the first day.”

  Amadi slammed his fist against the bars. “I have the strength of fifty men; I can uproot a tree or toss a lion into the air. This is mere metal, and yet… Bah! I despise magic.”

  “You said Piper was unconscious? She may have recovered. You should leave while you still can.”

  “It’s too late. Once they learn of my betrayal, there will be no place for me to go. I’ll be unable to return to Africa. I must find a way to free you before Piper summons help.”

  A cloud of billowing white smoke filled the basement and as it cleared six figures were visible standing at its center. Samantha recognized the Braxton brothers – Alastair, Ezra, and Tobias – and her elder sister Drusilla, but she was surprised to see her parents Matilda and Phineas Twitch accompanying them.

  “The Calvary has arrived,” Ezra said. “Allow me to dispatch this vampire guard and we’ll liberate you from your confinement.” He raised his hand to cast a spell on Amadi.

  “Stop!” Samantha cried out from behind the bars. “He’s not a guard; he’s a friend. He’s also trying to free me.”

  Drusilla eyed Amadi suspiciously. “Is that true, bloodsucker?”

  “Yes, but my people will be here soon to stop us. There’s no door and I was unable to pry open the bars.”

  Alastair waved his arm at the bars and uttered an incantation, to no avail. “That’s odd. Those bars should have disintegrated.”

  “Mordred used one of Morgana’s enchantments from her grimoire,” Samantha said. “The bars are impenetrable and the binding spell has sapped my powers.”

  “Alastair, take your brothers and stand guard so we’re not interrupted by any of our fanged friend’s fellow suckers,” Drusilla said. The Braxton brothers nodded and took positions several yards away.

  “Where’s Emma?” Samantha asked.

  “Safe,” Drusilla replied. “I didn’t think it advisable to risk bringing her. We’ll find a way to get you out of here without her.”

  “A wise precaution. Mordred told me the Dark Gods are hunting for her and you. They want to kill you both to prevent Hecate from forming.”

  Phineas looked inside the small, sparse cell. “How dare they do this to my daughter. Why, I’ll bring down the entire building.”

  “No, Father,” Samantha said. “There are hundreds of vampires in the London complex and many are decent people like Amadi. Harming them’s not the answer. We don’t want to earn the enmity of an entire race or species.”

  Drusilla sneered. “That’s your weakness, Samantha. You’ve always been too merciful.” She ran her long, sharp fingernail beneath the underside of Amadi’s chin. “Mercy is a highly overrated characteristic and it takes all the fun out of life.”

  “The vampires are individuals just as we are, and as such they are as different from each other as we sisters are,” Samantha said. “Now stop frightening Amadi and get me out of this cell.”

  Drusilla turned her attention to the iron bars and uttered an arcane spell. She made a moue. “It looks like Mordred’s been practicing. If I had the grimoire, I’d be able to find a more powerful spell to break the enchantment.”

  “Step aside, daughter.” Matilda Twitch approached the cell. “Your father and I are old school. As children, we memorized entire grimoires. Morgana le Fay may have been a sorceress supreme but her son Mordred is a pale imitation.”

  Samantha frowned. “Mordred always boasts that he’s the most powerful warlock in the world.”

  Matilda cracked a crooked smile. “After all that time as his lover, you never noticed his oversized ego?”

  “Harrumph!” Phineas snorted. “That whippersnapper, the world’s most powerful warlock? For Goddess’ sake, he was turned into a cat for three centuries by a warlock who wasn’t even smart enough to flee Salem. Mordred couldn’t even break that spell himself; he’d still be prowling back alleys eating out of garbage cans if you hadn’t helped him reverse that enchantment.”

  Matilda gestured toward the iron bars and uttered an incantation. The cast-iron bars disintegrated, leaving a patina of dust on the floor of the archway.

  “I hear footsteps coming down the stairway,” Ezra called out.

  “The elevator is descending,” Tobias shouted.

  “We should prepare to leave at once,” Alastair said, “unless you prefer a confrontation with the vampires.”

  “The rest of you go home,” Phineas said, rolling up his sleeves. “I’d like a few words with that rascal Mordred, after I finish with these bloodsucking leeches.”

  “Phineas Twitch!” Matilda exclaimed. “You come right back here. You heard what Samantha said. Most of these vampires are just doing what they’re told. It’s the Dark Gods whom we should be fighting, not their lackeys.”

  “Merely following orders is no excuse.” Phineas saw the look on his cantankerous wife’s face and knew better than to argue with her. “Very well. Tomorrow’s another day.” The pugnacious elder warlock rejoined the others. “I’ll cast a spell to take us back to the cabin.”

  “Wait!” Drusilla exclaimed. “The Dark Gods will merely send the Shadow People or the Nagá serpent cult, or even the Netherspawn to the cabin after us. We must take the battle to them. It’s time for Hecate to form. Take us to Emma.”

  Phineas nodded. “Where is she?”

  “In a secret location with other young witches and warlocks,” Alastair said.

  Drusilla leaned in and whispered into her father’s ear.

  “I can find that.” Phineas intoned an incantation and they vanished, as the elevator doors opened disgorging a half-dozen vampires, joined by another dozen charging down the stairs, into the empty basement.

  The Twitches, the Braxton brothers, and Amadi rematerialized in the cave sheltering the children. Their sudden appearance startled Tad, who ushered the children behind him. “So, you’ve found us.” He picked up a stick from the ground. “I’ll skewer the first of you bloodsuckers that takes one step toward the kids.”

  “Relax, boy,” Phineas said. “We’re not vampires, although I like your style. We’re here to see my daughter, Emma.”

  Tad lowered his weapon. “You’re Emma’s father?”

  “Phineas Twitch, at your service. And this delightful harridan is Emma’s mother, Matilda.”

  Matilda shot her husband a sharp glance. “Lend me that stick and I’ll show you what a harridan I am.”

/>   The changeling grinned. “I’m Tad, Emma’s boyfriend. I had no idea her parents were so… Colorful.”

  “Where is our daughter?” Matilda asked, her eyes scanning the cave and the gathered children.

  “She’s not here,” Tad replied. “She left me in charge of the kids when she learned her nephew was in danger.”

  Samantha’s face flushed. “Alaric’s in danger? How? Where is he?”

  “I don’t know,” Tad said. “She learned he was leading the Resistance against the Dark Gods and she rushed off to find him.”

  “Foolish child,” Drusilla said. “Now we’re unable to form the Hecate.”

  “Is that all you’re concerned about?” Samantha asked angrily. “Your nephew’s life is in danger. My son thinks he can fight the Dark Gods.”

  “We’ll all fight the Dark Gods and we’ll defeat them,” Drusilla said. “But we need Emma to do that.”

  “But we don’t know where Alaric and Emma are,” Samantha said. “Even if they’re together, they could be anywhere in the world, or in any of the realms.”

  Matilda grasped Samantha’s hand and squeezed it. “We’ll find them both. I won’t let any harm come to my daughter or my grandson.” She turned to her husband. “Phineas, take the others back to the cabin and come up with a plan.”

  “What about you?” Phineas asked.

  “Someone has to look after these children properly. Imagine leaving small children in the care of a changeling. I intend to have a long talk with Emma when I see her.” She glanced at Tad. “No offense; I’m sure you did the best you could within the limitations of your species.” She looked back at Phineas. “Take the changeling with you and find out what supplies they need here, and then send him back with them.”