Constantine made one last stop to his favorite tavern on the fisherman’s quarters. The owner, Horatio, was an old associates of Constantine’s who still believed in freedom for people. They met in the alley behind the tavern, where Horatio sat on the ground next to Constantine, both with a glass of Horatio’s finest wine.
“Constantine, you know I would join you in this. But these old bones wouldn’t last a day in battle, not against those monsters.” Horatio took a sip of his wine.
“I know, old friend, and I’m not asking you to join us. I just need to find some able bodies.” Constantine dipped his claw in the glass and stirred the wine.
“You are only looking for able bodies?” Horatio asked.
“What do you mean?” Constantine glanced up at his friend.
“Normally you are looking for the cream of the crop, but if it’s only able bodies you need, I might know where you can find some.” Horatio winked at his friend and this time took a gulp of his wine.
“Am I going to like these men?” Constantine asked.
“They are good men, just rough, misunderstood, and not afraid to hold their ground. You offer them a nice wager and hot meals, and you, my friend, will have an army.” Horatio looked around the rooftops of the nearby buildings. “You are going to need them Constantine. The bloodsuckers are multiplying rapidly, and because of the lack of control by the empire, the vampires are becoming bolder by the day.”
“Where can I find them?” Constantine took a sip of his wine.
“A small tavern by the port is one of their normal spots. Just be careful my friend. You won’t be the only one recruiting them.” Horatio stood and headed inside the tavern.
Constantine took another lick from his glass before taking off. He watched the shadows move in the alley and realized he was being watched. If Constantine’s only option to save humanity was to recruit a bunch of miscreants, then he better be quick about it. Before the shadows were able to close in. Sprinting down the alley, he moved as fast as a jaguar on a hunt. Not even vampires could keep up with him.
Chapter 7
Constantine had spent most of the night talking to as many people as he could. He was passed out on the living room table by the time Sergius woke up. Sergius tip-toed to the table Constantine was sleeping on and leaned down.
“If you don’t want to lose that hand, I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” Constantine hissed, his eyes still closed.
“You were snoring, so how could you possibly have heard me coming?” Sergius dropped into the chair next to Constantine, his bottom lip extended in a pout.
“Sergius, it isn’t not your fault. I have extremely good hearing. To me, you sound like a small elephant moving through a glass shop.” Constantine rolled over and stretched.
“Thank you for letting me down gently.” Sergius joined Constantine, reaching his arms over his head and yawning. “Did you made it in last night?”
“Right before dawn, but it was long night. I’m surprised you stayed in all night.” Constantine turned to look at Sergius.
“Did you have people spy on me?” Sergius asked.
“Not people, but they did keep an eye on you for your safety.” Constantine stood on the table and looked around the room.
“Of course it was for my safety. Any word on Marie?” Sergius pulled his legs up to his chest and took slow breaths.
“None. It’s like the earth swallowed her whole. I have all four-legged spies searching the city,” Constantine told him. “That’s all we can do now. In the meantime, we have work. It’s going to be another long night. We have a meeting this evening.”
“Who are we meeting?” Sergius asked.
“A bunch of tough men who are willing to fight.” Constantine smiled wickedly.
“Are they trustworthy?” Sergius started biting his nails, rocking back and forth.
“I have no idea, but we might not have a lot of choice here,” Constantine replied. “If they join our cause, we will find out the true nature of their character.”
“I hope you know what you are doing.” Sergius looked around the room. “What do we do in the mean time?”
“Breakfast would be a great start.” Constantine leap from the table. “We have a few visits to do before our meeting this evening.”
“Guess we will start with breakfast then.” Sergius followed Constantine out of the room and towards the kitchen.
***-***
It was a moonless night, and the darkness reached across the city like millions of hands grabbing everything. Sergius and Constantine crossed the streets of Rome on their way to the port. They avoided congested areas, staying close to the shadows. Sergius was busy looking over his shoulder, tripping over his own feet on several occasions. Constantine stayed low to the ground, moving quickly around corners and open areas. They arrived at a large building near the water. The front of the building was locked, so they entered the building from the back.
A small run-down door was ajar. Constantine went in first, slithering his way through the small space. Sergius waited by the door, keeping watch on the surrounding building.
“All clear,” Constantine whispered to Sergius.
Without replying back, Sergius pushed his way inside and shut the door as much as he could. The inside of the building smelled of mildew. The only light in the room came from a small candle on top of a table in the center of the room. Sergius found Constantine underneath the table struggling to open a small box.
“Do you need help?” Sergius asked, kneeling next to Constantine.
“We need a few more candles. We don’t want to scare away our potential army.” Constantine pushed the box towards Sergius.
Sergius pulled the lid off the box and grabbed a handful of candles. He lit the candles and spread them around the room. The additional light made the room look less menacing. It was still not welcoming, but at least it looked functional. Constantine turned to face the door, ears fully extended.
“What is it?” Sergius turned in the same direction.
“Someone is coming.” Constantine crawled toward the door.
“Constantine, we are here.” Nico rushed towards the light, a young man with dark blond hair keeping pace with him.
“What are you two doing here?” Sergius asked first.
“That is a very good question.” Constantine joined the trio.
“We are here to help,” Nico announced. “Linus and I are experts in gathering information.”
“That is great. Too bad we need fighters,” Constantine told the young men who were beaming with joy.
“We don’t have time for this. You two need to go before people get here.” Sergius grabbed both Nico and Linus by the arm.
“Too late for that, Sergius. Our visitors are here.” Constantine pointed in the opposite direction. “Everyone get behind the table and let me do the talking.”
Sergius dragged Nico and Linus with him, while Constantine maneuvered himself on the table next to the candle and got comfortable. As he adjusted his tail, two large men came into view. They were over six feet tall with biceps bigger than a normal person’s head. Constantine waited motionless as the men came nearer.
“This is a small crowd,” one of the men with brown hair spoke first.
“You are early,” Constantine replied softly. “But don’t fear, a few more are right behind you.”
The two men turned around to watch several more enter the building. The new arrivals were just as big as the first, with more muscles and weapons everywhere. In a short time, over thirty men gathered around Constantine, all the men looking at each other without talking.
“Not a bad turn out for such a short notice,” Constantine announced. “Welcome to the party.”
“I heard the rumors but didn’t believe it.” One of the men in the back shook his head. “A talking cat. Never thought I’d see the day.”
“Did you also hear this cat can rip your throat apart if you betray him?” Constantine stood atop the table, claws fully e
xtended and canines showing.
“They mentioned that, yes,” another replied with a chuckle.
“We were promised a fortune if we join your little crew,” a smaller man with thick brown hair stepped forward. “Is that true?”
“What’s your name?” Constantine asked.
“Julius,” the man replied, facing Constantine.
“Julius, the pay is more than you will make in a year, but survival rate is low,” Constantine told the crowd. “This job is not for everyone.”
“Or you can join us and rule the world,” a male spoke from behind the crowd.
The group turned to face the man, who was flanked by two others. The speaker was tall with jet black hair, a perfect complexion, and he wore an officer’s uniforms. His companions had similar uniforms, but one had straight brown hair while his companion’s hair was curly. Constantine stood at the edge of the table, ready to leap. Sergius covered his friends with his body.
“What makes you think we want to join the legion?” Julius asked, and the crowd laughed.
“Who said we are legionaries? Jet Black smiled at Julius, making sure his teeth were visible to the group. The group gasped as the fangs glistened in the light.
“What do you guys offer?” Julius asked, his voice no more than a soft whisper.
“Immortality, power, riches...” Jet Black answered.
“Death,” Constantine interrupted him. “Don’t forget death and damnation. And your soul will be lost for all eternity.”
“Do I look dead to you?” Jet Black laughed at Constantine. “The talking cat offers you money, but I offer you the world.”
“All you have to do is let them nibble on your neck, take your life, and you give up your free will forever,” Constantine purred in a condescending tone.
The group of men turned to looked at the vampires, then their eyes fell on Constantine again.
“Yes, my friends, your will is part of the deal,” Constantine clarified for the crowd. “You will forever have a master you report to and do his work. Good luck ruling the world.”
“Or we just walk away,” one of the men in the group said and marched towards the door.
“You will choose a side,” Curly growled, stepping in front of the man.
The man pushed past the vampire, and the creature tossed the man five foot in the air and he landed against a wall. Half of the group pulled weapons from their togas and charged the three vampires. Within seconds, five men were dead, shredded to pieces, and the remaining were limping or missing appendages.
“Join us or prepare to die,” Jet Black ordered the crowd.
“Oh, I hate when my guests are mistreated.” With a swift swing of Sergius’ scythe, Death cut Curly in half from behind.
The vampire erupted into dust as Death walked through it. The men pulled back, dragging their wounded with them. Jet Black and his friend faced Death, teeth bared and claws extended.
“You know the deal, you do not take a life without their permission.” Death pointed the scythe at the two vampires.
“You are the famous Death? I was expecting something more frightening.” Jet Black laughed.
“Who needs to be frightening when I will be the last thing you will ever see?” Death moved with lightning speed toward the vampires.
Before the vampires could move, Death ripped Jet Black’s head off with his bare hands, and his companion was impaled to the ground with the scythe. Death casually wiped his hands off as the vampires disintegrated into dust.
“You are late,” Constantine told Death as he sat back on the table.
“I had deliveries to make,” Death replied. “Speaking of that, Sergius, would you please gather our friends over there. I will be with them shortly.”
“Of course Death.” Sergius ran towards the dead bodies.
The crowd watched silently. As Sergius approached one of the bodies, the man’s ghost appeared.
“By the gods, what is this sorcery?” one of the men screamed.
“Oh please, it’s your soul you fool,” Constantine shouted back. “That’s what you will be giving up to the vampires. When you die your second death, there will be nothing left but dust. They will be going home now.”
Whispers and murmurs spread around the group. Some of the men’s complexions changed to a light shade of green, while a few threw up on themselves.
“Unlike the vampires, we will not force you to join us.” Death crossed the room and stood next to Constantine. “These are dangerous times, and you are free to choose. But if you choose their side, let me warn you, a war is coming. If you cross us, we will hunt you down.”
“Can you offer us your abilities?” Julius stepped forward and asked. “We all saw it, and we are no match for those beasts this way. If you can’t make us their equals, we are all as good as dead.”
“That’s an idea,” Death replied, crossing his arms over his chest.
“When you decide, you let us know.” Julius walked over to one of the dead and picked him up by the shoulder. “We have people to bury now. Please take care of their souls.”
Without waiting for Death’s response, the group picked up their dead and left the building. Sergius stood to the far side with the five souls. He spoke in soft voices with the dead as Death and Constantine watched.
“Are you sure you two want to join this?” Constantine asked Nico and Linus, who were huddled in the corner.
“War is coming whether we want it or not. I don’t think we have a choice,” Nico answered, wiping his tears with his sleeves.
“It’s going to be a bloody one, Constantine, so we need to be ready,” Death told his friend in a quiet voice. “I will meet you back at the cottage after I deliver these men.”
Constantine nodded and watched Death take charge of the souls. He gathered them like lost sheep in the night. Constantine took a deep breath and sprang down from the table.
“We need to get back home,” Constantine announced to the living. “I’m sure their master was watching that episode and more will be coming.”
Death disappeared with the souls and Sergius joined Constantine, Linus, and Nico.
“Death said we need to hurry home,” Sergius informed Constantine.
“I completely agreed, so let’s go.” Constantine led the way out of the building as fast as the men could follow.
The three young men followed closely behind, occasionally looking over their shoulders. The streets were still dark, but the air felt sticky and humid. The group picked up their speed across the port.
Chapter 8
Death was already in the living room when Constantine and Sergius walked in. Constantine was the first one to spot Death leaning against the window in the dark room as he held Sergius’ scythe. Sergius lit a few candles while Constantine strolled over to Death.
“I thought we were over you moping around in corners,” Constantine whispered to his old friend.
“Not moping this time, more like plotting.” Death chuckled, still staring outside. “If I hadn’t arrived, it would have been a massacre. They killed five of the toughest men in the city in less than a blink.”
“But you made it,” Constantine answered.
Death pushed himself away from the window, dragging the scythe with him. He leaned the weapon on one of the chairs and sat down. Sergius remained standing, while Constantine made himself comfortable across the table from Death.
“I hope you don’t mind that I borrowed your scythe, Sergius,” Death whispered.
“Not at all, it comes in handy,” Sergius replied, fidgeting with his hands.
“War is imminent, now, and I can’t be everywhere at all times.” Death ran his hands through his hair. “Julius was right. If I can’t make the humans as strong as the vampires, this is going to be a slaughter.”
“I don’t like where this is going.” Constantine stood from his chair and hopped on the table to be closer to Death.
“What if we gave them selected powers?” Death faced Constantine befo
re continuing. “Give them the strength, agility, and speed of vampires with my powers to kill them.”
“Is that even possible?” Sergius asked, taking a seat in the chair Constantine had vacated.
“It has never been done before,” Death replied.
“But is it safe?” Constantine asked.
“You survived.” Death winked at Constantine.
“Not the same and you know it.” Constantine rolled his eyes at Death. “We share a life force. You would be giving them unlimited powers with no constraint. Humans have a way of being power hungry and reckless, no offense Sergius.”
“None taken. You are right.” Sergius sucked in long breath. “Humans with that kind of power and without the limitation the vampires have could be extremely dangerous.”
“Sounds like restrictions would be in order.” Death stood from his chair and started pacing. “Long life but still able to die. That’s the balance of nature.”
“You are serious about this?” Constantine covered his face with his paws. “This could end badly.”
“Our current situation is already bad. People are being changed all the time, most against their wishes. Other areas are just being killed. We need to stop them.” Death halted his pacing to stare at Constantine.
“You have a point.” Constantine resigned himself and sat on the table, shaking his head. “What’s the plan?
“Guess we need to start making an army—an army of Reapers.” Death slowly walked over to the chair and grabbed the scythe.
“Reapers?” Constantine looked behind him towards Sergius, who just shrugged.
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