by Greg Hair
“It’s Catalina. I mean, it’s Landon. I mean—“
“Calm down,” Annelise said. “Take a second to breathe, then tell us.”
Connor took a couple deep breaths, then tried again.
“Catalina just called from Mexico. Landon’s on his way to Kentucky. Nicholas called Cat’s phone using Celeste’s. Cat said that Landon just left, and he’s heading to Louisville to meet Nicholas. She thinks it’s a trap.”
“And I agree,” said Ryker, standing from his chair.
“What are we going to do?”
“We’re going to Louisville. Sorry,” said the Dane, turning to his wife. “We’re gonna have to reschedule this date.”
The bright lights of Paris, bringing Ryker out of his inner trance, illuminated the way to the entrance of the catacombs, though, of course, the vampires needed no illumination.
“I’m sure there’ll be other vampires who may have something to share,” Ryker said. “This is the only stop we can make, though. After this quick bite, we have to get moving again, and not stop until we reach Kilchurn Castle.”
“Alessandro understands. Yes he does.”
Entering the dimly lit subterranean, the pair found that Ryker’s guess had been right. A Parisian vampire paused his feeding as the travelers approached. Speaking in French, Ryker introduced himself and his companion.
“And you seek nourishment?” asked the Parisian.
“We do,” said Ryker.
“Alessandro did not know you speak French,” asked the Italian in English.
“Your time on the island has caused you to forget a great many things, I think, my friend. Like the capacity of a vampire’s brain.”
“Why do you not seek food above?” the Frenchman asked, in English. “I will speak in English so that everyone understands.”
“Thank you. We are in a great hurry,” said Ryker, “and knew of the famed hospitality of the French.”
“You are in luck, then, my weary travelers. As we have plenty tonight, and are accommodating other guests, from the United Kingdom.”
The Parisian motioned to small group, three vampires, feeding in a dark corner behind him.
“A hundred thanks,” Ryker said. He and Alessandro approached the meal being offered by the French—a young man, in his early twenties.
“He wishes to be turned,” said the Parisian. “So I will accommodate after dinner. By the way, I am Jacques.”
Ryker and Alessandro, their eyes blue, fangs extended, each chose an arm, and fed. The thousands of skulls of long dead Parisians watched from their perch. Blood dripping from his mouth, Ryker looked toward the other travelers.
“So,” he began, “you’re from the UK?”
“Yes,” said a member of the group, not looking up from his meal.
“What brings you to Paris?”
“We are looking for other vampires, and werewolves, to join our cause. Actually, it is another’s cause, but one we fully support. We have asked our gracious host, Jacques here, if he is interested.”
“Yes, they inquired,” said the Frenchman, “but I have no interest in such things.”
Ryker watched the other vampire look slyly over at Jacques, then turn away when he noticed the Dane looking at him. Ryker’s intuition spoke.
“For whose cause is it that you seek recruitment?” asked the Dane. “And what’s your name?”
“Blake is my name. And, you probably haven’t heard of him, but soon, everyone across the globe will know the name Nicholas.”
Ryker felt Alessandro stop feeding. The Dane looked at the Italian, then back toward the small group.
“Nicholas, you say,” said Ryker.
“Yes. He’s looking for recruits. Actually, kid calling himself a king, is. We saw their video and decided to join, then we were sent from their castle in Scotland to look for others who may want to be a part of his scheme.”
“I have heard of this Nicholas. And I’ve heard of the kid. Jamie’s his name. I wonder, was anyone else there?”
“Only a woman.”
“A woman?” asked Alessandro, sounding almost panicked. “What did she look like?”
Ryker nudged Alessandro, hoping to calm him down.
“Japanese,” said Blake. “Do you know her?”
“Maybe,” said Ryker. “Anyone else? A blonde woman, perhaps?”
“No. No one else. Since you have heard of Nicholas, and Jamie, would you like to go to Scotland and meet them? I’m sure they would love to have you there.”
“Oh, I’m sure,” said Ryker, with slightly more than a hint of sarcasm. “But, we are not interested in joining Nicholas’ cause. You mentioned a video. What video?”
“It’s not important now,” said Blake. “It’s just unfortunate that you’re not interested, because we have other instructions, as well.”
He stood, followed by his two companions, and encircled Ryker, Alessandro, and Jacques.
“I see,” said Ryker.
“What is this?” asked Jacques.
“I do believe they mean to kill us. I believe that’s the other part of their instructions. Kill those who will not join. What they have neglected to do, though,” said Ryker, rising, “is learn who we are. Know thy enemy, young vampire.”
“Please, enlighten us, before we kill you.”
“Yes,” grinned Ryker, “before you kill us. We are looking for my wife, the blonde vampire I spoke of. We are heading north, to Scotland. We go to Scotland because Nicholas is holding my wife hostage.”
“What is her name?” asked the Parisian.
“Who are you?” asked the other.
“Her name is Annelise. I am Ryker, and this is Alessandro. And we are those whom Nicholas is recruiting against.”
“Annelise,” said Jacques. “I—“
“You are with the one they call Landon Murphy?”
“Yes. I am his co-Consul. And you have picked the wrong place to stop for a snack.”
“Alessandro agrees with Ryker. Oh yes. Wrong place, wrong time.”
“What’s wrong with him?” asked Blake. “Is he special? How does that happen to a vampire?”
“Yes, he is special,” Ryker said, smiling. “It’s funny how people use the word ‘special’ as a derogatory term, when, in fact, those that are, special, have more strength than you can possibly imagine. Tell you what; I’ll sit this one out.”
Ryker sat back down, next to Jacques.
“What are you doing?” asked the Frenchman, standing. “We need to fight.”
“Sit down,” Ryker said, reaching up and pulling the Parisian back to the floor, next to the young man waiting, in a zombie-like trance through everything that was happening, to be turned. “It’ll be okay. I promise.”
Alessandro stood between his friends and the other three vampires.
“Alessandro wants you to know that he does not enjoy what he must do.”
“You may be strong,” said Blake, “but there’s three of us. Let’s see what you got.”
Alessandro’s eyes blazed blue, like the lower part of a flame, as his fangs grew. Before Blake’s friends could make a move, Alessandro moved behind one and, using that vampire’s hand, removed the heart of the other. Alessandro then grabbed the former vamp’s head and spun it like a top, eventually wobbling to and fro, before finally falling off. The headless body stood, still.
“Oh, fuck,” said Blake.
The young vampire turned, ready to run for the exit, when countless skulls flew from their vantage points, pummeling Blake. One final skull struck the back of his head with such force, that his own head flew off and was replaced by the flying cranium. There, on the neck where Blake’s face once rested, sat a new, fleshless head.
“Well, Jacques, they can’t say I didn’t warn ‘em,” said Ryker. “Thank you for your graciousness. We need to get back on the road, now.”
“Very true, indeed about the warning. But, please, you cannot leave, yet. I need to tell you that you do not realize how Fortune has smile
d on you today.”
“What do you mean?”
“Your wife,” began the Parisian, “she is no longer in Scotland.”
Ryker felt his knees buckle.
“Annelise? What do you know of her? Please, tell me. Why did you not mention this until now?”
“I did not know who you were until you said her name.”
“Please, speak quickly. What do you know?”
“Calm, my friend. She lives. She has been freed from her imprisonment. I do not know how, but she has been freed. An underground network is moving her south. Word has been traveling that, should anyone come upon you, to let you know what has happened.”
“Where is she? Please, hurry.”
“At this point, she is probably in Germany. She is being moved to the one location she keeps mentioning, though, no one knows why, since the place has been destroyed.”
“Burghausen,” whispered Ryker. “She’s going to Burghausen?”
“Yes. She is probably near there, now. You must double back.”
“How do I know you speak the truth? This could be a ruse to get me off the path to Kilchurn, giving Nicholas time to—“
“I assure you,” said Jacques, “on my word as a proud Frenchman, she lives and is in Germany. I am asking you trust what I say. Please, there is a network of people trying to reunite you two, trying to help you. Please, do not let that be for naught. You must go to Burghausen.”
Ryker stood there, studying Jacques, looking for any sign that would reveal the vampire’s ill intentions.
“Alessandro believes him, yes he does.”
“As do I, Alessandro. We’re going to Germany, my Italian friend. Thank you, Jacques. Thank you for everything. Should you ever need anything, we are based now in Venice, on the island of Poveglia.”
“Yes,” nodded Jacques. “Now, please, hurry. They may already be waiting for you.”
Ryker shook Jacques’ hand, then led Alessandro back out the Catacombs, up to the streets of Paris, and out the city.
Chapter 14: Requiem
Tsukiko sat at the table in Kilchurn’s Great Hall, watching the number of views for the wedding video increase before her eyes. She kept quiet, never turning around or speaking. She heard Nicholas approach behind her. She tensed up.
“What’s the matter?” he asked, placing his hand on her shoulder. “You’re as stiff as a dead vampire. You still upset about what I did to you in the ubliet, when you interrupted?”
She said nothing, only shrugged her shoulders.
“I’m sorry about that. I just lost my cool for a minute. You know I would never intentionally hurt you, right?”
Tsukiko continued to keep quiet as he sat down beside her. She felt her skin crawl.
“You’re the only one that I’ve always been able to count on,” he said, raising his to her cheek, turning her head toward him. “The only one I can trust not to fail me.”
She trembled on the inside.
“That’s why you need not fear me,” he said. “I know I can be harsh, but it’s for your own good. Sometimes, you just need a little help realigning yourself with my wishes. That’s all.”
He lowered his hand to hers, pausing her work on the computer.
“It’s like when a dog,” he continued, “needs obedience training. The master that teaches the animal is simply doing what he must in order to make his pet acceptable. And the dog is happy to be trained by its master, for the beast knows that he less than his master. The dog is appreciative of its master, which is why they are still so loyal to their human.
“No matter what the master does, the dog is happy to have someone controlling it. It is much like the slaves of the old American South who continued to remain faithful to their masters, and continue the work, when they would receive obedience training.”
Nicholas paused, and looked down at the computer screen.
“I see that our video is receiving a lot of traffic,” he continued. “No doubt Landon has seen it by now. You’ve done well, Tsukiko. I shall have to reward you for all that you do here.”
Tsukiko sat there motionless, saying nothing, staring at him.
Finally, Nicholas got up, and walked toward the ubliet. Nervously she waited.
“Annelise?”
Tsukiko remained quiet as he continued to call for the vampire.
“Annelise.” The name echoed out of the dark pit in the small room where the Danish blonde had been previously held.
What seemed like an eternity to Tsukiko passed, the seconds feeling like years.
“Annelise!” Nicholas suddenly screamed, sending Tsukiko jumping inches off her seat.
The heavy footsteps approaching sent shivers across her body.
“Have you seen Annelise?” he asked, his breath rate increasing with each beat of her heart.
“No,” she said.
She breathed a light, slight sigh of relief as he headed toward the Kilchurn’s exit. Then he stopped.
“Wait a minute,” he said, turning back around. “Come here.”
“Why?”
“I want to ask you again.”
“So just ask me. It’ll still be the same answer.”
“No. I don’t mean verbally.”
Nicholas ripped the clothes from his body as he shifted into the large, black mass. He lumbered toward her chair, his head heavenward, then lowered it. Pressing his great nostrils into her torso, he paused.
His massive arm suddenly pounded against her chest, sending her flying into the far wall. He down shifted.
“Her scent is all over your fucking arms! What did you do with her? Where is she?”
Before she could give any sort of answer, he transformed again.
She felt his razor claws reach into her stomach, grip from the inside, and lift her toward the ceiling. She flew, over the table on which her laptop sat, in what seemed like slow-motion, giving her time to assess her situation and decide what move to make.
If I shift, I stand a chance of surviving; it’ll also make things worse by pissing him off more. He’ll think I’m trying to stand up to him. No, best that I don’t change.
The impact of Tsukiko hitting the gray block wall, shook the entire corner of the castle. Flakes of cinder crumbled and fell from the imprint like ash to the body below.
The hulking werewolf approached, tossing the table and computer like they were miniature versions from a doll house. The beast grabbed her by the hair. The tips of his claws scraped her skull. Tsukiko felt like her scalp would rip away from her head at any moment.
Threads of black hair came out as Nicholas pulled her down the hall, her soft white skin sliding along the cold castle floor. The big black werewolf grunted and groaned, like it wanted to tell her that what he was doing hurt him more than her. She knew different, though. She knew it didn’t hurt him. She knew he enjoyed it.
Suddenly, he dropped her head to the ground. Probably, she thought, because he’s losing his grip on me due to the decreasing amount of hair still attached to my head. And she was right.
Letting go of what little hair he had, Nicholas grabbed her by the jaw, and again began pulling. She didn’t struggle. That’s what he wants. I’m not going to give him what he wants.
She felt her journey down the long hall come to an end, as they entered the ubliet. Nicholas reverted back to human form.
“Look, Tsukiko,” he said, picking her up off the floor by her throat, and turning her toward the empty chains that hung from the ceiling. “She was here and now, as you can now plainly see, she is not. Where is she?”
“Not here.”
“I know that!” He slammed her back down to the floor. “I just said that. I don’t want to hear what I already know; tell me what I don’t know! Where is she?”
“Don’t worry. I’ll kill her the next time I see her.”
“You won’t get that chance.”
Nicholas started kicking, each succeeding strike hurting more than the previous. She felt organs cave, and bones break. Su
ddenly, she felt his lower claws burst through her flesh and into her stomach, as the mighty kick from the now changed Nicholas sent he flying like a soccer ball into the nearest, where she rebounded and bounced into the dark pit.
Waiting below were dozens of spikes, a mass acupuncture for the falling victim, and the impaled cadaver of the Scottish teen.
As she lay there, on all points, the weight of her body started to slowly slide the dead teen, then herself, down the pikes.
“Stop!” another familiar voiced echoed down to, and around, Tsukiko’s ears. “What the hell are you doing?”
Tsukiko heard shuffling, then saw Serinda’s face peer over the pit’s ledge.
“Stay out of this,” said Nicholas, “it’s no concern of yours.”
“As loyal as she’s been to you,” the vampire said, lowering a chain into the hole on which she could slide down, “you treat her like this?”
“Not that I need to explain anything to you, but she freed Annelise. I’m not going to take that lightly.”
“As your queen,” she said, beginning her descent, “I don’t want to see you treat women this way.”
“Let’s get this straight right now.” Nicholas reached over and pulled Serinda toward him. “You are not my queen. I bow to no man, and even less to a woman.” He let go, and she continued her slide down.
Tsukiko heard Nicholas leave in a huff as Serinda grabbed hold of her. The pain was worse being pulled off the spikes, than being thrust upon them.
Moments later, lying again on the cold floor, having shifted to heal, then changed back to human form, Tsukiko gave Serinda a warning.
“You need to watch your back. You’ve actually pissed him off more than I have.”
“I’m not afraid of him, Tsukiko. Jamie wouldn’t let anything happen to me. If Nicholas ever lay a hand on me, it’ll be the last time he does it.
“Let me ask you something,” she continued, “I know you have your honor and all that, but, I think there’s more to why you stay with someone who does these things to you. Are you in love with Nicholas?”
“Love? I don’t know what love is. And I never will. I have slept with many men, mostly at Burghausen, which is common knowledge, but I have never loved any of them. I did have affections for Nicholas, at one point, but now, it’s mostly…he’s my home. The only one I have.”