The Vampire War

by Eric S. Brown

  The monster was leaking green blood from numerous wounds, and what was left of its arms were next to useless. That didn’t stop it from trying to take him out, though. The monster opened its mouth, spraying a geyser of scalding acid at the Cerebus. Hank banked the ship hard to the right, narrowly avoiding it, as he came in on his attack run at the monster. He corrected the ship’s course, locking onto the monster with its upper-hull-placed missile launchers.

  One missile flew from each side of the Cerebus. They weren’t ordinary missiles, however; they were tipped with implosion warheads. The missiles struck the monster in its wounded chest. They didn’t explode, but rather imploded, sucking the monster, the air around it, and the part of the street that it stood on into nothingness with them. And just like that, the monster was gone.

  The cops and emergency responders who had just arrived on the scene gawked at the last snaps and crackles of the energy generated by such a large-scale implosion. Hank laughed as he activated the Cerebus’ cloak and vanished from their sight as well. He set a course for Psi-Mechs, Inc.’s new base and punched the ship’s engines to maximum thrust.

  * * * * *

  Chapter 3

  Ringer flew through the air, telekinetically dragging the cage that held Katherine Grimm behind him. Carrying the cage at the speed he was traveling wasn’t easy, and he knew it had to be worse for Katherine inside it. Although his flight carried him away from the scene of the battle before the local authorities arrived, he still needed to get out of the sky.

  “Hank? Are you out there?” Ringer asked over his comm.

  “Inbound,” Hank assured him. “Got held up slaying a monster.”

  Under normal circumstances, Ringer would have laughed at the tele-mechanic’s words, though he knew they were true.

  Ahead of Ringer, the Cerebus shimmered into being as it approached, dropping its cloak. The ship opened its bay doors as Ringer altered his path to swing around toward its rear. He moved the cage holding Katherine Grimm into the ship and then flew in after it. The ship’s bay doors clanged shut in his wake.

  Landing near the cage, Ringer took a good look at Katherine for the first time. She was a pale shadow of her former self. Her months of captivity had not been kind. Her skin was sickly white, much more so than usual. Unhealed bruises covered large portions of her body. She wore only a stained white tank top and panties. Once well-toned, muscular, and strong, Katherine was those things no longer. The amount of weight she’d lost was staggering. Her eyes were sunken and matted to her head by what appeared to be her own blood.

  “Took you long enough to get me out,” Katherine chided him as she gave him a weak smile.

  Hank came bounding into the hangar bay with them. Ringer’s head snapped around. “Who’s flying this thing?”

  The tele-mechanic looked insulted. “Auto pilot, buddy. Now how about we focus on getting her out of that cage?”

  “Right,” Ringer agreed. The cage was made of enchanted metal, but Ringer figured he could still force its door open. Concentrating, he focused his will on it. Ringer’s power had reached a point where it was rare he had to strain to accomplish most things he wanted to do. The door, though, challenged him. Ringer grunted, applying all the strength his tired mind could muster. The door rattled, shaking violently, until it finally snapped open.

  “Oh, thank God,” Katherine Grimm breathed as she came staggering out of the cage. “I’m free. I’m actually free again.”

  Hank met her, wrapping a blanket around her. “It’s good to have you back, boss.” Turning to Ringer, he added, “We need to get her back to base ASAP. She needs be checked over both physically and psychically.”

  “I’m fine,” Katherine Grimm protested.

  “No, you’re not,” Ringer told her firmly.

  Katherine sighed, not feeling like pressing the issue. “So where’s this new base?”

  “We’ve taken over a warehouse on the edge of Negan city,” Hank answered. “It’s not as large as the one we had in Alaska, but it doesn’t need to be.”

  “I see,” Katherine said quietly, her voice little louder than a whisper. She didn’t know exactly how many of the company’s personnel had perished in the assault on the Alaskan base, but she was sure there couldn’t be many left alive.

  As if reading her mind, though she knew he couldn’t, Ringer said, “We’ve recruited some new people, even a new psychic, but we’ve intentionally kept our numbers small this time.”

  “You’ll like the place,” Hank promised. “I’ve turned it into a high-tech fortress of sorts.”

  “Did it have to be another warehouse though?” Katherine half-joked. “I think I’ve had enough of those for this life already.”

  “Donald’s fine,” Ringer said.

  “You knew that was going to be my next question, huh?” Katherine smiled.

  “Surprised it wasn’t your first,” Ringer admitted.

  As close as Katherine and her adopted son were, she still put the company and its war with the vampires as top priority in her life when push came to shove.

  “Why wasn’t he with you when…?” Katherine started.

  “When we rescued you? Donald didn’t want to be there. He had a vision that things would go badly for everyone if he was,” Ringer shrugged. “He refused to take command when you were captured, too. He passed that off to me.”

  “Really?” Katherine asked with a hint of pride in her voice.

  “Really,” Ringer assured her. “We never could have stopped that worm creature without him, either. He was the one who took it out in the end.”

  “With some help from Eddie,” Hank reminded Ringer.

  “Go get some blood into your system,” Ringer ordered her, “and some rest, too. There’s no doubt you need both.”

  The blood Ringer referred to wasn’t human blood. Katherine had never tasted the life of another human. In all her years as a half-human, half-vampire, she’d resisted doing so because not only would it make her change complete, but it would also damn her very soul. Instead she fed on a synthetic, blood-like compound mixed with the blood of animals. It was enough to slake her hunger and keep her partially-undead body functioning. Glancing at the bruises on her arms, she knew Ringer was right.

  “I brought some along just in case we actually found you this go ‘round.” Hank grinned. “Follow me, and we’ll get you fixed up straight away.”

  “Thank you, Hank.” Katherine Grimm smiled and followed Hank out of the Cerebus’ small hangar bay.

  Ringer hung back. He knew Katherine wouldn’t eat and rest with him nearby. She’d be consumed instead by all the other questions she was likely dying to ask about the company and its current state. He was glad she was finally back with them, but there was still much to do before he’d be passing the leadership of Psi-Mechs, Inc. into her hands again. God only knew what Mavet and his vampires had done to her during the time they’d held her. She could still be a danger to them without even knowing it, and Ringer wanted to be dang sure Katherine was really herself before doing anything rash, despite the emotions he felt on her return.

  Activating his personal comm, Ringer hailed Donald back at base. “We’ve got your mother, Donald, and we’re headed home.”

  There was a pause before Donald replied. “Thank you Ringer. I’ll make sure things are ready here for your arrival.”

  * * * * *

  Chapter 4

  The Cerebus touched down atop the warehouse that served as Psi-Mechs, Inc.’s new base. Its cloak remained in place until the warehouse’s own visual and psychic cloak enveloped the ship. Katherine had already regained much of her strength, and her wounds had healed from the blood she’d consumed during the flight. She was almost her old self as Ringer and Hank accompanied her down the Cerebus’ ramp to where Donald was waiting.

  Seeing Donald, Katherine ran to him, embracing him and pulling him tight to her.

  “Donald, I’m…” she began but was too choked up to say more.

  “It’s okay,
Mother,” Donald told her. “I love you, too.”

  Katherine Grimm jerked back from her son to look into his eyes. The Donald she’d known for so many years was gone. He’d become a man in her long absence. Pride and sadness mingled within her as she looked him over again as if for the first time. How could she have missed so much in such a short span of time?

  “I believe everyone is eager to have you back at the helm of the company, Mother,” Donald said without emotion.

  “I wouldn’t be so sure about that, Donald.” Katherine did her best to smile. “It looks like you’ve been doing a pretty good job in my absence.”

  “Katherine,” Ringer said, “you know there are still some things that need to be checked out before Donald can hand everything over to you again.”

  “I wrote the protocols, Ringer. I know what’s coming.” Katherine frowned.

  “Good.” Ringer nodded. “I just wanted us all to be clear on that.”

  “But first, I believe some recovery time is in order,” Donald said. “My mother needs both blood and rest. We can start her screening tomorrow, unless you suspect there’s a reason we shouldn’t wait, Ringer.”

  “Nope. I’m good with that.” Ringer smiled at Katherine. “I really can’t tell you how glad I am you’re back.”

  “There she is!” Scott called out as he and several other of Psi-mech Inc.’s key staff approached.

  Scott came up to Katherine and embraced her. She flinched at the unexpected contact. Scott blushed and backed away as Tonya and Eddie hugged her next. Even Richard hugged her. She looked uncomfortable throughout.

  “Sorry,” Richard whispered to her as he pulled away. He said louder, “You changed my life, Ms. Grimm. I think all of us here are in your debt in one way or another.”

  “I wouldn’t say that,” Eddie snorted from behind him.

  Katherine grinned at the psycho-porter. “You never change, do you?”

  Eddie’s laughter was loud. “You got that right. Someone has to stay cynical around here.”

  “How many did we lose during the attack in Alaska?” Katherine asked. It was a question she didn’t really want to ask but needed to, for the sake of her soul.

  The jubilant mood of the group turned dark in an instant.

  “Most everyone, Mother,” Donald answered. He quickly added, “We’ve replaced them with new staff so the company can continue to function as it needs to with Mavet out there.”

  Katherine shuddered at the mention of the vampire god’s name. Her knees went weak beneath her, but through sheer willpower, she managed not to show it.

  “Do we know any more about what Mavet has planned?” Katherine asked.

  Ringer shook his head. “No. In truth, we were hoping you might know something about that.”

  “I don’t,” Katherine answered, too quickly for her own liking. “At least I don’t think I do.”

  “You’ve been through a lot, Ms. Grimm,” Tonya said. “Don’t worry about stuff like that right now. You and I can work on that tomorrow during your screening.”

  “Right.” Katherine sighed.

  “Now if everyone could please go back to your work, my mother needs rest,” Donald said politely, though it was clear his words were an order.

  “Catch ya soon,” Hank told her before he and Scott disappeared together, heading toward what looked to be the new Psi-mech hangar.

  The others broke up as well, leaving only Ringer, Tonya, and Donald still with her.

  “Richard seems to have come into his own,” Katherine commented, mostly for lack of anything else to say.

  “He’s coming along nicely,” Ringer said with a nod. “Needs to be more sure of himself, though.”

  “I’d say that’s a problem we all face, Ringer.” Katherine frowned. “Not just Richard.”

  “Be that as it may, Mother,” Donald cut in, “Ringer will take you to your quarters, and our new medic will be by shortly with blood for you.”

  “New medic?” Katherine raised an eyebrow.

  “Her name is Selah,” Ringer told her. “She’s the redhead you saw…”

  “Kicking vampire butt in the warehouse,” Katherine finished for him.

  Ringer looked surprised.

  “If there’s one thing in this world I’m an expert on, Ringer, it’s people with psi-powers. That girl has to be a psycho-metabolist like Mercy was,” Katherine said and instantly regretted bringing up Ringer’s loss.

  Ringer’s expression was pained, but he held it together. “Not really like Mercy,” he said.

  “Selah’s powers are far more centered on herself than others,” Donald explained. “Though yes, she is a psycho-metabolist.”

  Katherine gave Ringer an “I told you so” grin, trying to snap him out of the sudden funk she’d put him in. When that didn’t work, she said, “Mercy was one of a kind, Ringer. She’ll never really be replaced here.”

  Ringer didn’t answer, he only nodded.

  “Mother…” Donald urged, gesturing for Ringer to take her on to her quarters.

  “I’m going, I’m going!” Katherine laughed, then said to Ringer, “Is he like this with everyone now?”

  “Worse.” Ringer managed a weak grin.

  Katherine followed Ringer to an elevator that led down to the deeper parts of the new base.

  * * * * *

  Chapter 5

  “What do you mean Katherine Grimm got away?” Mavet growled as he rose from his throne. The god vampire’s footsteps echoed in the vast hall of his court as he moved down from his throne to its main floor. The throne room itself was buried in the deep heart of a high mountain in North Carolina. Mavet had moved his home there after the cleansing of the original Psi-Mechs, Inc. base and the battle of New York. The hall was lit only by a few sparse torches that lined its walls. It had been one of his trusted master vampires that had spoken. All of Mavet’s most powerful followers filled the throne room: Elick, master of the small cult of dark mages now in his service; Joseph, an alpha werewolf of the highest order; Nazar, a demon from the depths of Hell itself; and the oldest of his vampires, who watched as Mavet stood in front his throne staring down at Haggin.

  Haggin swallowed hard. “The warehouse where she was being held was attacked just before she could be moved, my lord.”

  “Attacked?” Mavet raged. “By whom?”

  “The telekinetic human, Ringer, and others from what remains of the company known as Psi-Mechs, Inc.,” Haggin answered.

  Mavet’s eyes burned red.

  “It’s well known that they’ve been searching for her since we first took her into our possession in Alaska, my lord,” Haggin stammered.

  “And Archibald was unable to stop them from reclaiming her?” Mavet snapped.

  “The dark mage is dead,” Haggin said. “He and everyone else who was present there.”

  Elick hissed beneath the hood that cloaked his features in shadow.

  “Archibald was powerful,” Elick murmured.

  “Be silent,” Mavet warned Elick. “I wasn’t addressing you, Elick.”

  Twin glows of purple light flashed within the shadows of Elick’s hood, but the dark mage did as he was bidden, saying nothing more.

  “We destroyed the machines the humans used in their attempt to equal us in power when their Alaskan base was dealt with,” Mavet snarled. “We broke them there, or so I was led to believe.”

  “We did, master,” Haggin assured him. “Their forces were diminished greatly in Alaska. Only a handful escaped.”

  “Clearly they have built more, then.” Mavet sighed. “The warehouse where Katherine Grimm was held was guarded by dozens of our kind, Haggin, an elder such as yourself among them, with one of Elick’s mages there in support of them.”

  “The one called Ringer was there, my lord,” Haggin told him. “You yourself have said…”

  Haggin stopped, realizing now was not the time to remind Mavet that there were those in the world who could still challenge his level of power. Regretting what he’d
said already, Haggin tried desperately to veer away from it. “The psycho-porter and others were there, too. It would appear that more of their most powerful psychics escaped Alaska than we had believed.”

  “And all this time they’ve gone unnoticed?” Mavet demanded.

  “No, my lord,” Haggin answered, continuing to dig his own grave. “I mean…until now, we haven’t been engaged by them in force. It seemed that…”

  “It seemed?” Mavet coldly repeated Haggin’s words.

  “Many of us felt that they could no longer be a real threat to you and your master plan,” Haggin whimpered. “They’re only humans after all, my lord.”

  Mavet snapped. The vampire god’s eyes flared an even brighter shade of red as he moved in a blur toward Haggin. His right hand plunged into Haggin’s chest, ripping the ancient vampire’s heart out of it. His left removed Haggin’s head from his shoulders with a violent jerk that splattered those closest to the two of them with stale, black blood. Haggin’s headless corpse collapsed to the floor of the throne room at Mavet’s feet with a gaping hole torn through its ribs. Mavet clutched Haggin’s head by its hair, letting it dangle at his side as he brought the elder vampire’s heart to his lips and took a bite out of it. Mavet spat the mouthful of heart muscle onto the floor.

  “I surround myself with fools!” Mavet roared, his voice shaking the walls of the throne room. “This affront cannot go unanswered!”

  Mavet whirled on Elick. The dark mage retreated a step from the presence of the god vampire as Mavet’s eye fell on him. “Can you locate Ringer and the others with him, Elick?”

  “I believe I can, lord Mavet,” Elick answered, “but it will take time. Their technology and psychics mask them well.”