Vengeance in Blood (Book 2): Tribulations

by Thomas A. Watson

  The arms like the body were very muscular, and the hands had very long claws. Next to the drawing of the werewolf was a drawing of a regular man. All over the page were lines drawn to the werewolf with strange characters drawn on them. “I’m taking these squiggly characters are a language?” he asked, and Tiffany nodded. “Is the picture of the man to show the size difference?”

  “Yes,” Tiffany said. “When they stand up, werewolves are three or four feet taller than an average man and weigh twice as much. If you notice, their arms are out of proportion in length to their body. This gives them the ability to run on all fours.”

  Kenneth felt a shiver run up his spine. “Yeah, noticed that, but the mouth still holds my attention,” Kenneth admitted, handing the book back.

  Not even looking up from her computer, Besseta said, “The damn mouth seemed bigger to me when I saw one up close.”

  Taking the book back, Tiffany nodded. “I’m not going to argue on that.”

  Picking his pen back up, Kenneth started making notes. “Do werewolves have Leagues?” he asked.

  “No, they live in loose packs,” Tiffany told him, closing the book.

  “Are there more werewolves than vampires?” he asked.

  Gently caressing Bonnie, Tiffany nodded. “Yes, I would say at least twice as many?”

  “Do they live a long time?” Kenneth asked.

  “Yes, they have a prolonged life as we do. Unlike most vampires, when a werewolf changes someone, they stay around and care for them. That’s where I got the idea from to care for the ones going through change,” Tiffany answered. “But you should know werewolves kill each other off fairly regularly in battles of dominance.”

  “And they only change on a full moon, right?” Kenneth asked.

  A grin split Tiffany’s face as she chuckled. “No,” she said, and Kenneth felt this was breaking the rules. “They can change at will and even in daylight, but like us, the sun’s UV light greatly decreases their strength. Unlike vampires and incubi, werewolves tend to stay close to each other like a pack. From what I’ve gathered, the rumor of the full moon came about from the pack hunting together on the full moon.”

  With his pen rapidly moving across the page, Kenneth asked, “What about their strength in human form?”

  “In their human form, they are just as strong as us, but after the change, they are much stronger than us. The one advantage we have is if you hurt a werewolf in human form, they must change to heal. Unlike the movie I saw once, this takes longer than a blink of an eye.” When Tiffany saw Kenneth’s pen stop, she continued. “It takes almost fifteen minutes for the change to take place—turning into the wolf or turning back to a human. This I know for a fact having seen it in Romania.”

  Throwing his pen down, Kenneth looked up. “The next thing you’re going to say is Dracula was real.”

  “Oh yes he was,” Tiffany said, nodding with a straight face. “At that time, the area he was in was ruled by another League that ruled the area known as Asia Minor. Those are the countries around the Mediterranean Sea. With many kings gathering armies, the League ruled Dracula had to die to protect the secret.”

  Feeling totally lost, Kenneth picked up his pen. “This is going to take a while,” he mumbled. “Have werewolves and vampires ever worked together?”

  Hearing that stunned Tiffany and made Besseta chuckle. “Not unless they were controlled by the incubi or succubi,” Tiffany muttered. Shaking her head and gathering her thoughts, she cleared her throat. “Werewolves only trust those in their pack, and it’s a bonding trust that they will die for. Other werewolves are viewed as outsiders, but they will still communicate and even fight for them. See, they are clannish and trust, to some degree, others like them.”

  Watching Kenneth slowly nod in understanding, Tiffany continued as Besseta closed her laptop to listen. “Vampires aren’t like that,” she told him. “We are never in large groups. The Leagues are the largest concentration of vampires. Not just the five who sit and govern but also those around them who protect and are commanded by the League. An average League will have close to thirty vampires close at hand.”

  “Well that’s quite a few,” Kenneth mumbled, writing.

  “In southern Mexico, I know for a fact there is pack of werewolves that is over a hundred,” Tiffany told Kenneth, making him jerk his head up. “And that is just one pack,” she clarified. “There are two packs here in America and one in Canada. I’m sure the ones here are bigger, but I haven’t seen them with my own eyes.”

  Setting down his pen and notebook, Kenneth sat back. “Just how big an area does a pack control?”

  “The pack on the west coast controls from Alaska down several hundred miles into Mexico across to Missouri,” Tiffany told him. The color drained from Kenneth’s face.

  “So they do have structure of leadership and defined area?” Besseta asked.

  “No, not really,” Tiffany answered. “That one pack is made up of many smaller packs scattered across their territory. The pack I spotted in Mexico was actually one pack.”

  Jumping up, Kenneth walked toward the kitchen. “Then we are damn lucky they haven’t taken over the world,” he announced.

  “If they weren’t always killing each other in their own packs, trying to advance in rank, they would pose a problem,” Tiffany admitted. “Now as I’ve pointed out, vampires don’t really gather in groups. It seems we don’t trust each other. We like to make a claim to an area and don’t want to share what’s in it.”

  “You mean the people in it, don’t you?” Kenneth called from the kitchen.

  Thinking before she answered, Tiffany said, “Well, kind of, but like any animal, and that includes humans, vampires want their own territory. I can say there have been more armies gathered throughout history to wipe out werewolves than vampires. Packs get so large they start killing on a large scale. I’m sure you can see modern instances of this, but it’s reported as genocide or civil war.”

  Walking back in with a cup of coffee, Kenneth sat back down. “Yeah, I’m starting to see much more now,” he admitted. “Okay, so werewolves and vampires don’t like each other.”

  Besseta leaned over. “Baby, let’s clear something up now before you go further,” she told him. “We, and I mean vampires, run away screaming like children from werewolves. They like to eat us.”

  Kenneth raised his eyebrows. “Well yeah, that would put a damper on a working relationship,” he admitted. “Do they attack vampires while they are in human form?”

  “Not usually,” Tiffany replied. “I’m sure if we made them mad they would, but usually, they just stay away from us and we them. When I’ve tried to talk to them, I usually had to follow them and try to ask questions. Unfortunately, that makes them mad, and they change, and I have to take steps to get away.”

  Not liking the fact even Tiffany avoided werewolves once they changed made Kenneth nervous. “Okay,” he said, letting out a long breath. “So werewolves don’t openly declare war on vampires?”

  “Not since our two groups lived on the same island, Tepe,” Tiffany responded. “But there, the incubi and succubi kept the peace, or should I say kept their livestock and warriors from killing each other. From the scrolls I’ve read, our two groups have fought since the beginning, and on the lost island, it was the edimmu or vampires that started most wars of conquest over the werewolves. I’m still reading them, so I haven’t found out why.”

  Reaching over, Besseta grabbed Tiffany’s hand. “Tiffany, just how many of these scrolls do you have?”

  “Oh, I don’t know. I guess a few thousand,” she said, shocking Besseta and Kenneth. “I took as many as I could from the Alexandria library before the Romans burnt it down. I also have several hundred from the Babylonian library.”

  Taking a sip of coffee, Kenneth leaned over. “You took a lot of scrolls from the Alexandria library that just recorded history of this lost island?” he asked Tiffany as he just stared at Besseta, stunned.

  “Of course
not,” Tiffany said. “I didn’t know what was on them when I took them. I just wanted to save what I could. For a week as the Romans fought, I took as many scrolls and tablets as I could. I wanted to intervene in that war, knowing what the Romans were planning, but the one with me wouldn’t allow it,” she finished in a low voice.

  Seeing Tiffany’s reaction, Kenneth quickly asked, “I’m sorry, but can you tell me of the incubi and succubi?”

  Looking up and smiling, Tiffany asked, “What of them?”

  “From what you’ve already told me,” Kenneth said then looked over at Besseta, “well us, I characterize them as devious more so than werewolves or vampires. From what you’ve told me so far today, I gather vampires are in general more intelligent than werewolves, but incubi and succubi are more so.”

  Slowly, Tiffany shook her head. “First, don’t think werewolves aren’t intelligent; that would be a grave mistake,” she warned. “To me, they are smarter as a whole than vampires because they keep their secret much better. Don’t judge other vampires by myself or little Besseta; we aren’t the norm. Most other vampires can read and write several languages, but it’s only because they’ve been around so long. They don’t actively study.”

  “Huh,” Besseta let out a scoff. “I don’t study compared to you, Tiffany.”

  Looking over at Besseta, Tiffany squeezed her hand. “If it wasn’t for your ‘quest,’ you would probably study more than me,” Tiffany replied, and Besseta just shook her head.

  Interrupting, Kenneth asked, “So what of the incubi and succubi?”

  Confused, Tiffany furrowed her brows. “Are they smart? Is that what you’re asking me?” Tiffany asked.

  “Basically,” Kenneth admitted. Looking away, Tiffany thought for a few minutes.

  As Kenneth took another sip of his coffee, Tiffany looked back at him. “From what I’ve read about them and what I learned from the incubus I talked to, I would have to say as a group, they are the smartest.”

  Letting go of Tiffany’s hand, Besseta walked over and sat down beside Kenneth. “Kenneth, what are you getting at?” she asked. “You’re not asking questions about the lifestyle and history of the groups. It almost seems like you’re asking about psych profiles.”

  Before Kenneth answered, Tiffany gave Besseta a confused look. “Psych profiles?” she asked.

  “How each group acts and our intelligence level,” Besseta answered, not looking away from Kenneth.

  “Why would I do that?” Kenneth asked with a grin.

  Closing her eyes, Besseta shook her head. “I don’t know. That’s why I asked.”

  With a slight shrug, Kenneth smiled. “Well, at least you caught on to my line of questioning,” he said.

  “I’ll go and get dressed if you don’t start talking,” Besseta warned. Seeing a look of horror cross Kenneth’s face, Tiffany giggled.

  “No reason to be rash,” Kenneth quickly said. “I think someone or a group of someones are behind this power play.”

  “Why?” Tiffany asked.

  “This whole Manu Fortis is way too organized against vampires,” Kenneth told her.

  Shaking her head, Tiffany pointed out, “No, if it was any group other than humans, they would know our weaknesses and have much more information about us.”

  With a smile, Kenneth just looked at her. “What, and give up knowledge they have and become the center of attention?” he asked. “Why not give just enough information to start the quest and guide the war from the sidelines? When the war is over, those that control the ruling class will be the ones in command.”

  “The incubi and succubi,” Tiffany gasped.

  “That’s what I think,” Kenneth agreed. “Vampires present the only logical target. Werewolves have numbers and will fight together on larger scales. Since yesterday, I’ve thought about all the men and women behind the scenes in history and think this isn’t the first time this has been tried.”

  Letting out a gasp, Besseta jumped up. “If they control vampires and werewolves, they control humans.”

  “Yep,” Kenneth agreed. “Now I’m taking a lot on assumption, but on this lost island, there had to be some allegiance between the many succubi and incubi.”

  Not buying that, Tiffany spoke up. “There is where I disagree,” she said. “They may have had small treaties or such, but they each think they are the sole reason for creation.”

  “Hold on, Tiffany,” Besseta said and sat back down beside Kenneth. “Not counting history, what makes you think succubi or incubi are behind this war?”

  “I think there are several of each,” Kenneth admitted. “I believe they are controlling this board of the Strong Hands from the sidelines.”

  “If they were, this board wouldn’t need to put bombs in the vampires to control them,” Tiffany pointed out. “They, the incubi and succubi, only have to touch a vampire or anyone to gain utter control. Why go through all the trouble of this ruse?”

  Setting his coffee down, Kenneth just grinned at Tiffany. “What did you just say that would justify this ruse?” he asked.

  Looking over at Besseta, Tiffany said, “I think your husband is trying to give me a headache.”

  “No, if he wanted to give you a headache, he would. There would be no try,” Besseta corrected. “He can argue the horns off a buffalo.”

  “Hey, I’m sitting right here,” Kenneth protested. “Guys, what human would follow someone or something they knew could take away their sense of self with just a touch?” he asked. “Think about that. You see this person controlling others like worker bees, not leading them. You will have no life once they take you if you even know how they did it. Humans wouldn’t. They want to believe they are in control, and I believe vampires would as well.”

  Shocked, Tiffany mumbled several words in several languages that Kenneth was taking as swear words. “Whoa,” Besseta exclaimed, falling back on the couch. “They would only need to take over a few people to do this.”

  “Exactly,” Kenneth smiled, “and I’m sure one or more vampires.”

  Jerking her head, Besseta looked at him. “So you really think someone in the League is with them?” she asked.

  “If not a member, they have someone close to a member,” Kenneth told her.

  Putting her hands over her face, Besseta answered, “Well, I could think of several that would fit that description.”

  “Is Maliki over the League?” Kenneth asked.

  “He is the senior member, so I guess that would be yes,” Besseta answered. “But I can’t see him coming under control of a succubus or incubus,” she said with certainty.

  Confused, Kenneth asked, “Why do you say that?”

  Finally able to shake the shock off, Tiffany answered, “Because he’s killed three,” and Besseta nodded in agreement.

  Hearing that, Kenneth looked back and forth from Besseta and Tiffany, waiting for more. When neither said anything, he asked, “So how does that exclude him?”

  “Kenneth, he’s killed them, so he takes precautions,” Tiffany said, waving her hands. “Why do you think stories evolved of vampires sleeping in coffins and dark caves? We started sleeping where it would be hard to get to us without waking us up. They can only take control of you easily when you’re asleep.”

  “What if he was already under an incubus or succubus when he killed the others?” Kenneth asked, and both the girls gasped. “Tiffany, you said so yourself incubi and succubi fight amongst themselves. Why not use a puppet to kill your competition?”

  Not convinced, Besseta sat up. “His thoughts don’t come out like someone who is—” she stopped for a loss of words.

  “Controlled,” Kenneth offered.

  “Okay, controlled,” Besseta accepted. “He’s just like everyone else thinking freely.”

  Tiffany nodded. “Yes, if one was controlled, they don’t think of themselves anymore. I can be certain they would think of the one who was controlling them and care more for their wellbeing.”

  “Fair enough,” Kenn
eth said. “I just don’t want either of you crossing someone off the list until we can prove it.” They both nodded understanding. “Besseta, you said you knew of several vampires that are around the League that could run the show from the sidelines,” Kenneth reminded her.

  “Yes, each member has at least one advisor, I guess you could call them,” Besseta responded.

  “Who was Maliki’s?” Kenneth asked.

  She gave him an evil smile. “William,” Besseta hissed.

  “Oh.” Kenneth nodded, getting up. “Well, we can cross him off. I saw him up close, and he was only worried about himself.”

  “What happened to the boot licker?” Tiffany asked, looking at Besseta for answers.

  Walking to the kitchen, Kenneth called over his shoulder, “He tried to chase and kill us, but Besseta talked him out of it.”

  Leaning over the coffee table, Tiffany whispered, “I told you when you cut off William’s hands we should’ve just chased him down and ripped his head off.”

  “We had someplace to be, Tiffany,” Besseta reminded her.

  “Well, if those stupid twisted cross people would’ve quit sending those metal machines—”

  “They were Nazis, and those were called tanks,” Besseta interrupted.

  “They all wore that stupid Hindu twisted cross,” Tiffany huffed. “And those ‘tanks’ were becoming a pain.”

  “Yes, that’s why we really needed to leave,” Besseta told her. “When you made one crush down to the size of a garbage can, they just started shooting everywhere.”

  Regretfully, Tiffany nodded. “Yes, poor Daniel,” she sighed.

  “He was a pain,” Besseta said, putting her feet up on the coffee table.

  “What happened?” Kenneth asked, coming back with another cup of coffee.

  “There were many of these metal…tanks we ran into,” Tiffany started and waited until Kenneth sat down to continue. “We were going to destroy a camp of the Nazis,” Tiffany huffed at Besseta. “Well, there were more than I could count quickly, and with the tanks was an army, and they just started shooting in every direction. Daniel was a member of our group, and a tank shot him with its big gun, and Daniel just disappeared in a mist. It was a lucky shot, but he was still gone.”