by Lauren Hodge
have unpleasant tidings.”
Duncan steps back and Edson takes his place in front of the group. His face is a mask of decorum. I know he takes the responsibility of successful missions to heart; this will not be easy for him.
“Your Majesty, we were dispatched to assess possible Dacian involvement regarding errant vampires in Toronto, Canada. We pursued and confronted a group of four women in a very remote area, based on intelligence provided by the North American prefect and Francisco. Our orders were to do nothing until the prefect determined if this coven was of Dacian affiliation. After questioning one in the group, Duncan issued the order to seize what appeared to be the group’s leader.”
I ask, “How did you ascertain which one was the leader?”
Edson glances at Duncan, and the prefect answers me. “She was protective over the others, and they deferred to her in subtle ways.”
Sabine says, “A female leader? That is not Dacian at all.”
Duncan answers, “I do not think they are Dacian.”
“Clearly, since you issued the order to attack,” I reply.
Edson says, “We advanced toward the criminal but were physically barred from apprehending her.”
Priam leans forward. “How?”
“I, along with Francisco, Ismet, and the prefect’s assistant, were physically repelled. We do not understand how, but one moment we were standing together, and the next we were flying over the trees. We crashed into the forest several kilometers away.”
“Flying?” Priam repeats.
That does not seem possible. Is this some trick of the mind? Verus says, “If you would permit me, Priam, I believe we may better understand the events should I read him.”
Edson flinches. Such an invasion into one’s life is hardly desirable, and under any other circumstances, I would object. But the fact remains that these are not normal circumstances. Then an idea occurs to me.
I say, “Verus need not invade anyone’s privacy, not when the Queen is present.”
Visible signs of Edson’s relief are only detectable to one who has trained him.
Sabine asks, “Duncan, may I?”
“Of course, Majesty.”
Verus is not pleased.
With one touch of Edson’s ring, Sabine closes her eyes, taking in the visual history his ring has seen. “Two of them caused the flight. They move their arms and most of the Detachment is launched skyward. But that is not all, is it, Duncan?”
“No. The smallest one wields a terrible power.”
Verus grows impatient. “I want to see.”
Duncan’s jaw drops as he gasps.
Priam asks, “What is it, old friend?”
Duncan stares at Verus. “The one with a braid in her hair, she said the same thing. She forced me to watch Alton’s execution, saying he wants to see.”
Verus is almost out of his seat. “Priam, I think—”
Duncan cuts him off. “I agree Verus reading me is in the best interest of the investigation.”
I have not had many dealings with the North American prefect, but he just gained my respect. Not many would offer their memories up to Verus for the greater good.
Priam stands and approaches the Detachment. “Thank you for your report. If there is nothing else, you are dismissed. Ismet, I shall grieve the loss of your brother.”
Ismet is stoic. “Thank you, High King.”
The Detachment leaves, and then Priam motions for our bodyguards to depart as well. When the door scrapes shut, Priam says to Duncan, “Thank you for your care in this matter.”
Duncan approaches my fellow prince. Verus greedily touches his outstretched hand, closes his eyes, and processes the memories of an entire lifetime. While Verus sorts, the prefect says, “They sent me with a message; I was spared to carry it. The group’s leader says that they are beyond the power of the Noricum and that I was to leave and never return.”
Verus scoffs. “You think them a rogue clan? They know of my ability and awaited your arrival. Their supposed ignorance is a charade. There is no corner of the earth where the name of Noricum is unknown. They deceived you, nothing more.”
Duncan steps back. “I respectfully disagree. Dacians would never protect women and children, yet that is the only pattern I could decipher from their feeding habits.”
Priam says to Duncan, “Thank you for your insight,” then is quiet like he always is when weighing out options. “Verus, what say ye?”
“In addition to the two repellants, one only touches you and paralysis ensues immediately.”
Sabine adds, “It is more than paralysis.”
Verus says, “It is hard to describe. The smallest one touched him and his body was struck comatose. Then, a translucent replica of himself stood next to his body. If there is such a thing as ghosts, Duncan was one.”
How can so few possess so many abilities? It took centuries to gather the most powerful among our kind into one place. I have never heard of a vampire moving people with their minds, and what is this terrible new ghost-making ability? If these are the Dacians, where are Cothelas and Draco?
Verus continues, “Only the Dacians would openly flout our laws. The protection of women and children Duncan mentions can be merely a diversion to hide their signatures.”
Priam asks Verus, “What would you have us do?”
He answers, “We have the capabilities. Bring them to heel.”
Verus overlooks some crucial items. I say, “If I may?” Priam waves me on. “I agree with Duncan and do not believe they are Dacian. From the information offered, it seems they possess two mind movers and one ghost-maker. With such powerful gifts, where is Cothelas? It would be an amateur mistake to leave such powerful vampires outside of his control, and the Dacians are not unpracticed. You and I both know, with weapons of that magnitude, Cothelas would not let them out of his spell, not for an instant.”
Priam looks to Sabine. She says, “In my opinion, they are not Dacian, even though I believe they are related. I saw what looks to be a female leader, which is decidedly not Dacian. The situation warrants further inquiry. I would be happy to go and investigate if My Lord deems it prudent.”
Priam says, “Thank you all for your counsel. The possibility of these rebels being Dacian is high, and that gives me reason enough for pause. If we are to seek them out again, it must be with more information about the current state of Dacian affairs than we have now. We have taken a casualty. This will not happen again.”
I am glad he is showing restraint, despite Verus’s wishes.
Priam looks toward my fellow prince. “Verus, take some human women; wipe their memory clean. Place them in the path of the Romanian sex slave trade to see if the Dacians are selling to vampires. Make sure Ismet sees them before they depart so we can track them.”
Verus replies, “As you command.”
“Duncan,” Priam calls.
“Majesty?”
“Return to Toronto and create a public health emergency like you did in New Mexico with the hantavirus in the early nineteen-nineties. Pick something communicable through the population, but tailor it to the human food profile of this Dacian coven. It will account publically for the unauthorized deaths. We do not want the Dacians to risk exposure, and this grants us time to investigate without them becoming suspicious, if they are not involved.”
Duncan says, “I will use meningitis outbreaks in liquor establishments known to be frequented by those who seek to purchase women. It grows rapidly yet is hard for epidemiologists to quantify.”
Priam says, “Very good, Duncan. Lucius?”
“Yes?”
“Have Verus and Sabine brief you at length concerning the abilities of this new threat. I want tactical attack and defense plans before we pursue contact.”
“You will have preliminary battle simulations within the day.”
He nods. “Sabine, if you would be so—”
She interrupts, “I will go speak with Ismet. It will mean more coming from me.”
A small smile graces his face, one reserved for his Socious. Sabine rises and kisses Duncan on the cheek. “See me before you leave.” Then she heads for the door. I quickly follow her; the death of Ismet’s brother will be difficult, and with this new threat, we will need him. Sabine speaks without breaking her stride down the hall. “If they are not Dacian, where they have come from and what do they want?”
“I would leave that speculation to vampires with talents, such as Verus and yourself. His experience with the general population will provide answers much more quickly than I could produce theories.”
“And that is one of many reasons your opinion is valued. Although you will not speculate on their agenda, I will speculate on their ancestry.”
Sabine is just as much a pragmatist as I am but with a more skilled tongue. Her theories are of more interest than my own.
Opening a bulky castle door for my Queen, we continue the long walk to console the grieving. “What about their ancestry?”
She waits for me to close the door behind us before descending a stone staircase. “They all have the same red hair.”
“Which means what?”
“Red hair is a recessive genetic trait. They must have ancestors without mixed heritage to have it manifest in all four women. They were found at an isolated cabin with no others but have been excessively reckless. For such noticeable women to hide for long would be impossible. Neither I nor anyone Verus has read has ever seen them before.”
Her theory raises more questions than answers. “That would make me think they are more likely Dacians than not. The Socious killers are the only group of vampires on earth we do not govern