Wulf's Redemption (Borne Vampires Book 3)

by W. M. Petzler

  No! It couldn’t be….

  Alex focused on Kai’s whereabouts, easily finding her since giving her his blood. At least she had the good sense to stay close to the manor. He went to where she slept and stared at the slight disturbance in the ground. Kai was a profiler; she could see things he couldn’t remember or didn’t want to willingly. Besides, she needed to know the truth about him and the Wolf of Magdeburg. He wanted her to know everything. Opening the soil beside Kai’s grave, he floated down into it and did something he swore he’d never to do again with another vampire and connected with Kai.

  “Dream with me,” he whispered to her before he shut down.

  Chapter Nine

  January 27, 1819, in the Harz Mountains,

  “Bong … bong … bong….”

  The twelfth hour.

  Deep and resonant, the huge bells belonging to the church announced midnight. Distance did not deter their persistence as the metallic echoes reached where he and Breber stood at the edge of the doorway leading inside the lodge.

  The quiet followed afterward set Alex’s nerves on edge, until a woman begun to sing a lullaby. Lilting and entrancing, her voice was like a siren’s song, and he found he desired to enter the lodge. Shaking his head, he broke the compulsion she was attempting to use on him. Breber walked past him, his eyes glazed over. Alex stabbed his sword into the hard ground and grabbed Breber’s arm and shook him hard until he blinked and was able to focus on him.

  Resolve stiffened Breber and he gave him the nod to lead. Uneasy at what awaited them within, Alex tightened his grip on his ow pistol and entered the cabin. Sitting before a fire blazing away in the pit dug into the dirt floor, a woman sat on a wooden chair. A dirty blanket covered her body and was drawn over her head. Breber aimed his pistol at her.

  “Woman, drop the blanket, slowly rise to your feet, and face us,” Breber commanded, keeping his eyes trained on her.

  A giggle escaped her. Slowly, she stood and the blanket slid to the floor, exposing her long, curling silver-blonde hair. She turned around. He and Breber gasped. Blood dripped down Lisle’s delicate chin, staining the front of her white night rail. In her pale arms, she held the squirming infant close to her bosom. Her blue eyes twinkled in amusement at their shock.

  “Ah, gentlemen, you have finally found me out.”

  Breber gazed upon her in confusion and horror. “Lisle, you are responsible for taking the children?”

  “Much more than that, dearest husband, so much more.” The infant screamed at the top of its lung. Lisle snarled at it, exposing her fangs. She leaned down to feed.

  Alex was on her, snatching the baby out of her arms as he shoved Lisle hard away from them. She screamed, falling backward into the fire. Jumping away to a safe distance, he held the frightened babe to his chest, shielding it within his arms as Lisle’s night rail caught fire. Breber rushed to save her, halted by Alex’s restraining hand.

  “No! She is Damned. You cannot save her.”

  Strands of her long hair caught on fire, igniting in flashing sparks. From the other side of the chamber the wall exploded, sending shards of broken wood and plaster raining upon him and the humans. Aldric shot forward and grabbed Lisle, dragging her outside. Alex thrust the child into Breber’s arms.

  “Take the babe to its mother and gather men and bring them back. Go!” he yelled, shoving the stunned man out the door. “We need their aid!”

  “Lisle is-is a vampyre! A child-murdering vampyre! Why has your brother rescued her?”

  Grim, Alex replied, “I do not know. I will hold them here while you bring men back. Then, we shall escort them back to Magdeburg and judge them.”

  My own brother is involved!

  The wailing babe snapped Breber into action. “I shall strive to be swift!” He ran out the lodge, cradling the infant close to his chest.

  With a heavy heart, Alex proceeded cautiously across the chamber, his pistol held ready to fire. Peering out the destroyed wall, he carefully stepped outside and found Aldric hovering protectively over the snarling, snapping monstrosity who once resembled a beauteous lady. He stared in revulsion at the transformed Lisle. Never in his life had he viewed a demon vampyre and was quite certain he never wished to again.

  Rows upon rows of sharp teeth filled her mouth as her lower jaw extended. Drool dripped down the front of her blood-soaked night rail. Half her head was burned and blackened where the snow had quenched the flames. Fingers elongated and curled like claws, Lisle snarled as she tried to strike him, stayed by Aldric’s restraining hand. The awful, rotting smell of a corpse emanating from her, nearly made him physically sick.

  Lisle was a monster, and his brother maintained his protective stance over her, why?

  Alex demanded hoarsely, “What have you done, Aldric?”

  Holding his hands out helplessly, Aldric pleaded with him, “Please, Alex, you must understand. I … I am clueless how turning Lisle made her a demon. She wanted so badly to be one of us. I could no longer deny her passionate request.”

  “You broke the First Law for her? For a woman who cuckolded her husband with other men, myself included?”

  Aldric’s chin jerked up defiantly. “Lisle loves me, Alex. I want her to be with me forever.”

  “Fourteen innocent children are dead because of her, Aldric. She fed on them! Their torn and broken corpses are burning in yon lodge! How can you love something vile as her?”

  Tears rolled down Aldric’s cheeks. “I know what she has done. Yet, I love her still.”

  He had no choice. The growling creature at Aldric’s feet had to be put out of her misery. Aiming for Lisle’s heart, he said with grim determination, “Forgive me, brother. Lisle must die.”

  “No!” Aldric screamed, running at him. Before he could tackle him, a shadow leapt on top of his brother, sending Aldric sprawling face first in the snow.

  Searching for the cause, Alex drew back as a tall man stepped forward, a long broadsword resting casually on his shoulder. Aiming his pistol at the stranger, he demanded, “Who are you?”

  “Easy, my lord, I am not your enemy. I hunt the woman and am set to destroy her.”

  “Are you a Slayer?”

  “That I be, my lord.”

  Lisle let out a guttural roar and jumped to her feet, crouching into a defensive stance as the Slayer took the hilt of his sword in both hands and advanced upon her. “No, Slayer,” she hissed at him, slurring her words past a mouthful of teeth. “I leave the world on my own terms.” Lisle ran and dove inside the burning lodge, her screams of pain deafening.

  “That is the first time I’ve witnessed a demon take its own life. Interesting.” The Slayer reached to take hold of Aldric by the back of his coat. In a flash, Alex was beside him, pressing the muzzle of his pistol against the side of his head, halting him.

  “Touch my brother again and I promise I will blow your brains out.” The Slayer slowly backed away. “Where are you attempting to take him?”

  “He broke the First Law. He must be judged.”

  “Then Aldric shall be judged by his peers, not by a Slayer I’ve never met.”

  “I do not waste the Church’s time when I have evidence a vampyre has broken one of our laws.”

  “We are taking my brother back to Wulf Manor where he will be tried by Archbishop Arturo.”

  The Slayer glared at him, dropping into a fighting stance. “I don’t take orders from a fledgling.”

  “Really do not care how you feel about me. I’m taking my brother back to Wulf Manor.”

  The vampyre made to rush him, skidding to a halt when the sound of rifles’ hammers were drawn back to set to fire. Exiting the woods, Herrick and the gypsies surrounded the Slayer.

  “My thanks, Herrick, for your timely appearance. Can you hold him till I get Aldric home?”

  “Aye, my lord. Make haste. The big fellow is pretty steamed at being caught like a novice by a passel of mere humans.”

  The Slayer snarled in response, exposing his fangs.r />
  Holstering his gun, Alex hefted the unconscious Aldric over his shoulder. He leapt in the air, holding tight his brother, and sped faster than he’d ever flown in his life. The Slayer would not wait long to give chase. Shots fired and shouts warning him the Slayer had escaped the gypsies and the big brute wasn’t right behind him. Faster and faster he flew until he saw the manor. Alex dropped out of the sky and nearly dropped his brother, managed to gain his footing, and ran up the steps. Kicking open the doors, he ignored the soldiers as they aimed their rifles at him, making his way to his father’s study. There, the old bastard sat with the Archbishop. Two guards were positioned behind the elderly priest. They drew their swords and stood ready to defend the Archbishop.

  “You knew,” Alex accused his father, “didn’t you? That Lisle was Undead, and that she had been created by Aldric.”

  Calmly, Ulrich sat back in his expensive, leather chair. “Honestly, I thought it was you responsible for the mess the stupid bitch made.”

  “Sorry, Father,” Alex sneered, “to disappoint you. Your Grace, you are here to pass judgment on us?”

  “I am. Before we get to the judging part, I need ask you and Aldric questions. Since you are holding your brother, did Aldric convert Lisle Breber to vampirism?” The elderly priest solemnly clasped his hands on the desk. There was shrewd intelligence in his faded eyes and something else, perhaps sympathy for his and his brother’s plight.

  “I am uncertain as I have also lain with Lisle Breber.” The second the words left his mouth, Alex knew he’d given Ulrich what he wanted to hear.

  “There, Your Grace, is your proof! Both my sons are Damned!” Ulrich moaned and laminated his loss. “Both my sons!”

  To Alex’s surprise, the Archbishop commanded, “Leave us, Ulrich.”

  Ulrich sounded more like a petulant child than a general, “Why? What have I done?”

  “You are annoying me. The Slayer you arranged to murder your own child stands in the foyer. Inform him to await my instructions.” Ulrich rose from his chair, his eyes mere slits in his rage. Calmly, the priest warned, “Disobey me, Ulrich, and I will judge you, instead of your sons. Understood?”

  Paling at the threat, Ulrich straightened his shoulders and stormed out the study, refusing to look upon his sons. The door slammed behind him. The Archbishop watched as he gently set his brother down on the floor.

  “I know what you are about, Alex. To incur doubt, you seek to spare your brother’s life. I must be honest with you, the Elders are very upset about the killing of the innocent babes, and so am I. Justice must be met. The humans who lost their children deserve to have their loved ones avenged.”

  “Your Grace, justice has been served this night. Lisle Breber is dead. She was directly responsible for the murders, admitted to the killings by her own lips before Magistrate Breber and myself.”

  “At least with her death, it solves one of the problems brought before me. The issue of who is responsible for converting her stands. I must know who turned her.” Lifting his hand before Alex could open his mouth to reply, he cautioned, “I pray you think carefully upon your answer before sharing it with me. Did Aldric turn Lisle?”

  Cold sweat broke out on his forehead. If he answered yes, then Aldric would be slain, if he failed to reply, they both would be put to death. His hesitation brought a great sigh of disappointment from the elderly priest.

  “Very well,” he said, rising to his feet. “Alexander, relinquish your weapons to my men.” Once he handed them his gun and knife in his boot, the priest ordered, “Stay here. I shall return shortly.” The guards preceded the Archbishop. The priest quietly closed the door shut behind him.

  Alex sat down beside Aldric, who opened his eyes. “Why, Alex? Why did you not condemn me?”

  “Because, you stupid fool, you are my brother. If they cannot glean the truth out of us, they will be forced to drop the matter.”

  “You think they will?”

  “Archbishop Arturo is a good man and can be reasoned with. I put my faith in him.”

  An hour later, the return of the old priest was met with false hope. He signaled his men to bind him and Aldric with shackles and heavy iron chains. They were escorted out of the study and led to ballroom, which had been transformed into a makeshift courtroom. Archbishop Arturo sat behind a table placed for his use, and he was upset. Hope faded and Alex knew their fate was sealed.

  Archbishop Arturo sat back in his chair and said in a loud voice, “Alexander and Aldric Wulf, you are hereby sentenced to face the dawn. You will be taken out into the woods and exposed to the sun until your bodies have turned to ash. May God have mercy upon you and your souls.”

  Ulrich, accompanied by the Slayer, shouted over the wailing of his grieving wife, “Why the sun? We have a Slayer who will perform the deed of execution.”

  Slamming his hands flat on the table, the Archbishop snarled, “Hear me, Ulrich Wulf, for I say it only once, you are just as guilty as the boys, here, of not adhering to the ways of a true Borne. I know your secrets and will take them to my grave due to the sworn oath I took to bear witness to your confessions. I judge Alex and Aldric as I see fit. They will face the sun together, for all they ever had was each other. Men, take the prisoners to the cells fashioned for their deaths.”

  Twenty of the Archbishop’s men assembled in front of Alex and his brother. The sun? They were to be burned alive, not beheaded mercifully? Hatred surged inside him in violent waves, directed not at the priest but at his father.

  Alex sneered at Ulrich, “Well, old man, you finally have your wish. Both your sons are officially condemned. I place a curse on you and yonder bitch who gave birth to us. May nothing except pain accommodate your long years walking the earth. Everything you touch will turn to shit and nothing you do will aid your guilty conscience in false witnessing against me and Aldric. Rot in your immortality, you fucking bastard!”

  Ulrich drew himself into a righteous indignity. He opened his mouth to retort, held his tongue when the Archbishop pushed back his chair and rose to his feet with the aid of his bodyguards.

  “Ulrich,” the priest ordered, “you and your men will stay at Wulf Manor. My men will ensure my orders are carried out.”

  “Your Grace, I have the right….” Ulrich was cut short by the blade held to his throat by one of the Archbishop’s bodyguard.

  “The right to what?” the priest snarled. “The right to watch your only sons burn to ash? Watch yourself, Ulrich, or I just might sentence you to a justified death for being a cold, heartless bastard we both know you are!”

  Without looking at his mother as she cried loudly, rocking back and forth, as he and Aldric were led away. Outside in the courtyard, an iron-caged cart awaited them. He and Aldric exchanged a quick look before they were ordered into the cage. The door slammed shut and the rattle of keys locking it sealed their fate. Resigned to his fate, Alex took a seat on the cold, metal floor. Aldric scanned the courtyard.

  “What seek you, Aldric?” he asked him when the cart jerked as the horses pulling it stepped out at the clucking of the driver.

  “Where are Herrick and the others?”

  “They should have been back by now.” Alex jumped to his feet, searching for any sign of the gypsies, seeing only the assembled mercenaries who gawked at the procession of the Archbishop’s men escorting their employer’s sons away.

  “Back from where?”

  “They saved our asses from being executed at the lodge, keeping the Slayer at bay while I brought you here, where I thought we would face a fair trial.”

  Rolling his eyes, Aldric replied, “Should have let him behead us, a lot less painful than facing the sun.”

  He silently agreed. “Mayhap Herrick and his people had the good sense to run from this place as we should have done sooner.”

  Aldric snarled, his fangs long, “Father had better not have injured them. They were only doing their duty to us.”

  “Ulrich cannot hunt them because the Archbishop would never a
llow it.”

  “Are you so certain? Were you not convinced the Archbishop would declare us innocent?” Aldric mockingly held out his shackled wrists.

  Casting a sarcastic remark back at Aldric, “We aren’t innocent, remember?”

  That deflated Aldric’s anger.

  The cart moved at a snail’s pace through the knee deep, snow-covered road. Half-way between Wulf Manor and Magdeburg, the driver halted the horses. The guard with the keys reined his horse closer to the cage and unlocked the wagon’s door. He motioned them to come out. Urging them at sword point to walk into the dark forest, three others accompanied him as he escorted him and Aldric to where they would face the sun. Trudging through the heavy snow drifts, they travelled further and further into the woods. The midnight-blue sky was beginning to lighten on the eastern horizon. To his horror, he saw two cages the Archbishop had ordered them to die in. Without a word spoken to them, the guard in charge urged them to walk inside the cages and locked the doors behind them with a large key.

  “Vampyres, you are met with Archbishop Arturo’s verdict. May God have mercy upon your souls.” He signaled to his men and they rode back to the road.

  “Alex?” Aldric cocked his head to the side, staring after the guards.

  “Yes?”

  “The man said souls.”

  “He did, didn’t he? As did the Archbishop!”

  “What the hell is going on? We should have been executed by sword, not burned alive. That is the law of the Borne.”

  “Something odd is afoot here.”

  From behind their cages, they heard the approach of horses. Turning to see who was coming, Alex recognized the magnificent blacks used to pull the Wulf family’s carriage. They were being ridden toward them. Saber and Aldric’s horse were led alongside them.

  From under a thick fur hat, Herrick grinned at them. “Gentlemen, ready to leave?”

  “How did you know we were here?” Alex asked as the gypsies broke the locks on the doors.