The Anatomy of Vampires: Volume 1

by Alistair Vlain

  The Witch turned, eyeing me expectantly and clapped her hands twice, snapping me from my stupefied state.

  “Yes. Right,” I blinked, shaking my head. “I’m here on a quest for knowledge, you see. My wife. She’s recently—”

  “Fallen to the darkness,” the Witched cooed as she waved her hand mystically through the air. She took a few more slow steps toward me.

  I frowned. “Yes. But, how did you—”

  “I am a Seer. I See things,” she explained, stopping so her nose was nearly touching where mine would be had I not still been invisible.

  “As do I.”

  “This is no joking matter!” She snapped.

  I could see the shimmering flecks of indigo in her silver-colored irises. They gave her away, for from a distance, she looked like any ordinary mad woman, her hair a frazzled, lovely mess about her thin face. I then noticed the many ornaments hanging from her neck, all done in different metals, stones, and shapes. I gathered they each had a function of their own, but there was no need to pry about them.

  “Each Witch specializes in one of the thirteen fields of sorcery. Some heal. Others potion-make. I See.”

  “I see,” I repeated and she slapped me hard, clear across the face. I looked back at her wide eyes, filled with insanity and I knew I had to choose my words more carefully. “My apologies. So, you must know why I am here, then. Is that the real reason why you are helping me?”

  “Yes.” She stepped back, though still not taking her gaze off of me, and clasped her hands over her lips. “Your poor, dear wife. She’s in good hands, however. She is being cared for by a Phaser, no less.” She turned, walking toward the fireplace. Lifting her hand, she waved it through the air again, causing a small black cauldron in the corner to whiz through the room until it landed, swinging, on a hook above the flames.

  “A what?”

  “A Phaser. A creature that appears human, but can shape shift at their will. They possess great strength, though not much power beyond that,” she continued with her back toward me, though I could see her pull her fist up in a plucking sort of motion before I heard the distinct sound of water filling a basin somewhere. “Have a seat.” She gestured then to one of the velvet-covered armchairs.

  It was dusty, but I sat myself down anyway. I was growing wearier by the moment and I figured I was already quite a mess. “How many…types of you are there? In the Occult?”

  “Many,” she whispered. “And we are finding new types every day. We’ve got races, just like your world does. And our own wildlife. And species.” Twirling her wrist, a teacup and saucer then danced through the room toward her, and she took it, bringing up the now simmering cauldron with the other hand. I watched in wonderment, utterly fascinated. Each moment, more and more questions aroused, but I knew this would be a quick visit. “Tea?”

  “Yes, please.”

  “Fine!” She shouted, tossing the filled cup at me. Amazing, its contents did not spill as I caught it. I was surprised to see a small biscuit had joined in on the saucer. “But you are to finish it quickly, and then I must take you back.”

  “Sure,” I nodded. Not all Witches I’d met were this bonkers. But none were this talented either. “What is your name, by the way?”

  “Elda,” she muttered, busied with pouring her own cup of tea. She took her own seat and I watched as a small, silver spoon stirred her tea by itself.

  “And your fireplace…it’s—”

  “Alive. Yes. This is Eros. My husband.”

  I nearly choked on the last bit. Elda rested her chin atop her fist and side-glanced at the fireplace bitterly. “I’m sorry. Perhaps it is none of my business, but I don’t understand.”

  “It’s not for you to understand.” She sipped at her tea and I knew I’d somehow mistakenly stumbled over a raw nerve. “Let’s just say his passions were a bit too fiery for his own good!” She shot the fireplace a look again, and the flames abruptly fizzled out to nothing but silver smoke. “He’s a tad touchy now that his mouth is made of bricks. Aren’t you, Eros?”

  Again, the hearth spit a slew of smoke into the air. I coughed, waving it out of my face.

  “Well, there you go!” She shouted at it. “You’ve let our marital issues disrupt our house guest! And now he’s uncomfortable!”

  “No, no!” I shook my head. “No, it’s quite all right.” I saw her eyes fill with tears and I knew I needed to stop her. If I didn’t get my main question answered now, I probably never would. “What I was really hoping to find out was about the alliances to the Regime.”

  She gasped, clutching her chest as if I’d said something forbidden. “The Regime is comprised of nothing but double-crossing, corrupt, lying bullies.”

  “Much like our governments then,” I snorted, attempting to make a joke, but she neglected to crack a smile, only scowling at me like I was crazy. I cleared my throat. “Right. I’ve heard the Wizards are not too partial to the dark sides of the Occult.”

  Elda nodded frantically. “Yes. It is said the Occult is comprised of two parts, the light and the dark, thereby creating balance. One cannot exist without the other. Vladislov and his followers seem to think otherwise.”

  “But the Wizards…they are not simply male Witches?”

  “Oh no!” She looked insulted. “Heavens, no! They are the eldest and most powerful Elves. The chosen ones. There are only four. No dear, we have male Witches.” She snickered like I’d missed something obvious.

  I nodded.

  “But I believe there is no true light and dark. All beings are more complex than that. There are good people who do bad things. There are bad people who do good things.”

  “I believe the same thing.”

  “It’s all part of the Regime and their brainwashing schemes. It’s all a conspiracy, if you ask me. Divide and conquer. They turn us on each other so we are made weaker and easier to control.” She wrapped her arms around herself and shivered.

  “So, what of the Vampires? Do they fit this negative stigma cast upon them?” I dared not take out my notebook. She was crazy enough. She might have destroyed it. Instead, I did my best to keep a mental accounting of all she’d said.

  “No. Not all, anyway. There are the bad ones—the ones who’ve gone mad with power and bloodlust. But at the end of the day, they are still only human.” She snorted. “Some of us choose to help them.”

  “Are there races who show allegiance to the darker side of things?”

  “Well, yes. The Vampires are considered dark, of course. With Witches, it tends to go either way. Same as Phasers. Elves are considered light, and therefore most of them shun the Vampires completely.”

  “I understand.”

  “Good. I foresee something big coming. Something great. The two sides will clash. I am answering your questions because I expect this knowledge to get out. And not just to magic kind. I believe the mortals must get involved at some point, lest they all perish. There needs to be balance, Alistair.” I didn’t remember telling her my name. “This uprising will come well after your time. But you must continue your search for knowledge. You must publish what you know. If I can make but a small difference, talking to you was worth risking my position. My life.” Elda abruptly stood and dashed for the door. “Now, before I am caught by the others, let’s get you out of here.”

  I stood also, but there was still more I wanted to know. “Who? Who are the others?”

  “Hush! We cannot speak of them aloud. They will know.”

  “I don’t understand.”

  “It’s not for you to understand. I’ve said enough.”

  Before I knew it, she was grabbing at my arm and pulling me out through the door.

  “But what is this place?”

  “A school,” she shot quickly.

  “A school?”

  “Yes, now hush!”

  “You live in a school?”

  “I’m a resident professor.”

  She flung open the front door where we’d entered, a puff of dus
t flying out around us. She made me go first, shoving me so harshly through the threshold, I had no time to ask her anything else. Instead, I’d found I’d swallowed some of the dust, and coughed and hacked, fighting desperately to regain my breath.

  “Wait!” I continued to choke, reaching out for her.

  But after a few moments of repeated violent swallowing and attempts to catch my breath, I opened my eyes and found she was gone. Once again, I was surrounded by nothing but forest. The world-weary city square was nothing but a memory, and I realized then the dust had somehow transported me back to safe ground.

  That night was as mysterious and filled with intrigue as it was enlightening for me. Elda provided so many answers, but it seemed each one branched into many new questions. The Vampires are being ostracized and outcast by those who rule. That much, we know. For some reason, the Regime both fears and hates the Vampire kind. Is it because they are made from mortals? Is it a threat against Law One? Is it because, they fear the power of the night? I think yes to all. But as long as other races of the Occult are there to assist their dark friends, the Vampires will always be lurking in the shadows. As long as the gray area still exists between the light and the dark, the Vampires will remain a threat to whoever oppresses their society.

  As it stands, I fear for my wife’s existence. I pray she keeps her head low, for now. I, being but a lowly human, am the least powerful in this great endeavor. But perhaps, my limitations will work to my advantage. Just like the invisibility potion, perhaps the lack of magic in my blood will allow me to move undetected about the Occult Cities, under the nose of the Regime. Perhaps, through these texts, I’ll be able to reveal the hidden truths.

  Chapter Five

  Vampires Versus Elves

  “Since the advent of life on Earth, there has been the existence of good and evil. Light and dark. However, sometimes, it is difficult to detect which is which.”

  ~Baba Yaga, the most infamous of Spellcasters

  I believe it goes without saying there is a massive divide in the magical society. It has revealed itself as the very topic of this volume, and is such because it is the very subject propelling my studies.

  The Seer I spoke to in the Irish Occult City provided information that allowed me to rest easy, even for a short time. My wife was safe. She was being looked after by a creature called a ‘Phaser’. But how long would it last? How much time would go by before the tumultuous feelings between Elf and Vampire would go on unchecked? One thing I know from my mortal life, was despite mankind’s best efforts, there was little to do with acceptance. Little to do with understanding. Race. Religion. Nationality. Social class. We differ. We war. And so, that was exactly what I expected of the magical folk. Eventually, I know the Elves are going to take action. The divided can only coexist in fear of one another for so long before a catalyst occurs. As I write this, their world is waiting. An eerie calm is very much present now.

  Unfortunately, I’ve not been able to come across an Elf I thought would speak to me candidly. From what I understand, they are all secretive about their true thoughts on the Regime and its intentions with the dark kind. However, there was one individual blood-drinker who sought me one evening.

  As I sat alone with my thoughts and my journal one autumn night, outside of a quiet, city café, I peered up and noticed a man standing stock still just beyond the reach of the nearest streetlamp. It was purposeful. He probably did not want me to notice him there. He was probably trying to collect himself before he came to speak with me. But there is something about a Vampire’s gaze. It is something I believe we, humans, can inherently feel with our sixth sense. It is as age-old an idea as predator and prey. His silhouette stayed frozen there in the night, and I knew the only thing he sought from me…was my help.

  Gently, I put down my pen, making no abrupt movements. Vampires dislike attention, I’ve come to find. They’d much rather move through their existence undetected, for the most part. It is a solemn need of theirs to distance themselves from life and humanity, perhaps because it saddens them to realize they will never have it again.

  People moved about the main road. It was only very early in the evening. All of London’s boutiques and restaurants were still open. Horses pulled their buggies along the roads. Women carted armfuls of parcels home, some accompanied by either friends or husbands. I narrowed my eyes at the cursed man in shadow, noticing he was wearing a hat, but that was about the only detail I could make out in the darkness of the unlit street. I knew he was one of them because of how unnaturally still he was. To anyone paying enough attention, it would have been unnerving. He was like a stone carved into the shape of a man. And I could tell he was looking at me. I could feel his enchanted gaze piercing my skull. Slowly, I nodded my head, allowing him to proceed when ready.

  He did, taking careful, human-paced steps toward me in his mission to pull off the façade. He kept is gaze lowered, and his collar turned up high around the lower half of his face. He moved with an elegant walking stick in his gloved right hand. The lip of his bowler also did something to guard anyone from noticing the unnatural shade of his eyes.

  Finally, he reached my table and I gestured silently for him to take a seat. He nodded and did so.

  “A very pleasant evening,” I commented, my gaze still cast on the thriving streets before us. I did my best to keep my tone low and even. They—the Vampires—had a lust for fear. They could smell it, and it whets their appetite for blood. I inhaled and exhaled, doing my best to maintain calm thoughts to keep my pulse from speeding.

  “Tis,” he agreed, the depth of his enchanted voice bristling the hairs on the back of my neck. “Very pleasant.”

  I detected an accent of sorts. Was it Italian? In the event someone was listening, I did not ask him any curious questions, deciding very quickly to let the charade make it seem like we knew each other. I’d never had a Vampire or anyone from the Occult come to me before. Word of my studies must have gotten around.

  “My friend,” he began again, resting both of his hands atop the silver ball of his cane. “Firstly, I wish to thank you for your efforts.”

  I nodded. “It is most certainly a labor of love.”

  “I understand.”

  I side-glanced at him in time to catch his gaze brush quickly across the messy scrawls of my handwriting.

  “You are correct,” he said. “There will come a time when our society will find itself in great peril. The Elves—the Regime—will never be an ally to the dark.” I watched his hand move gracefully to his breast pocket, plucking a parchment envelope from it, and sliding it across the table to me. “Read this when you are completely alone,” he instructed.

  “Aye.” Very quickly, I stowed the paper away in my briefcase.

  “I’ve come to tell you we have been watching you.”

  “Who?” I had to ask. “Who is ‘we’?”

  “You will find out when you read the document I’ve given you,” he whispered. “You will have our gratitude. And our respect. Two things we do not easily bestow. I have come to warn you. The word is spreading quickly of your plans to reveal their secrets.”

  “What should I do?”

  “Read the letter, but only when you feel you have completed your studies and collected all the information you can. Be sure you are alone when at last you open it. Only then, will you fully understand. Upon the completion of your studies, you must open that letter.”

  “Why?” I leaned back in my seat and reached for my notebook. “What will become of my interviews? My studies?” I demanded. I would not go through all of this trouble, just to have the truth destroyed by those living in fear.

  “Read the letter when you are finished,” he said again, and I could almost detect a smile behind his words. The Vampire reached across the table, placing his gloved hand on mine. “You will die. It is inevitable.”

  I gulped.

  “Your wife, too, will die. But not for many years to come.”

  “How do you know?” I could
feel my pulse increase then, my breathing becoming erratic. I needed to stay calm.

  “The Fates have made it so. But do not be afraid. Dying for justice is a great honor. Your work will not be in vain.” He started to get up.

  “When?”

  “Watch the daylight, my friend,” he said again, holding onto his bowler, a gust of wind blundering by. “And do not be afraid.” Finally, he offered me a fanged smile.

  I said nothing more to him and watched him retreat to the other side of the street. Another horse-drawn carriage trotted by, eclipsing my vision of him for but a brief moment, and as it turned the corner, he was gone. In mere seconds, the other side of the street was empty, and he was nowhere to be found.

  I have to admit, though his advice was to not fear what was inevitably going to happen, I did not read his letter for months. Instead, I went on about my studies. I took my notes. I asked my questions. But the entire time, I did so with the strange cursed man present in the back of my mind.

  One piece of his advice, I did follow, however. I remained very cautious of the day and of the Elves. Over time, I came to find out the whereabouts of many of the world’s hidden Occult Cities. And as I ventured, there were even a few instances when I spotted an Elf from a distance. But I never dared approach. I never dared ask questions. For if I did, I knew what the answer would be. I knew what my fate would be. It was there—vivid in the words the Vampire spoke to me that night. Anybody who was an ally of the night was a sure enemy of the day. Anybody who worked to assist the Vampires, worked to maim the Elves. And they knew of me. They were watching me. They were all watching me.

  And soon…death was going to find me.

  Chapter Six

  Vampire/Human Relationships

  “True love never dies.” ~Vlad Dracul

  It was about a month after receiving the strange letter. And it was a rare moment I did not think about the Vampire’s warnings. Wary at every turn, it was like my gaze was constantly fixed over my shoulder. Also, I must note the strange burning beginning at the side of my throat. At first, it was only very slight, but through the weeks it began to worsen. “You will die. It is inevitable.” Those were his exact words. But when? When would I die? And how? Would it be for my snooping? Would I find my demise at the hands of some ungodly creature? “Watch the daylight,” he had said. “Do not be afraid.”