by Greg Hair
“Yes,” began Nicholas, “two Consuls have been chosen. Ryker and, oh, who was it?” His claws extended once more. “Oh, yes, Landon.” Petros’s head came off with one swipe, rolling across the floor as his body collapsed. “I hate vampires.” Nicholas burst into his complete werewolf form and watched Jamie and Tsukiko back away to their respective corners of the room.
Blood sprayed in every nook and crevice, a fountain of red, spewing from each vampire. Not one fanged Senator was left standing. The Senators that were left, those few werewolves that had journeyed thousands of miles from Venice to Scotland, slinked back, like abused dogs cowering at the very sight of their master.
Nicholas shifted to his nude, human form.
“Everyone but Jamie is excused.” No one needed a second invitation to leave, not even Tsukiko. Nicholas closed the double doors behind her as she left the room.
“Something you must learn as a leader,” he began, “is that plans should not be made in stone, but in clay, so that you can reshape them when external forces invade.
Adaptability is key, therefore, we have a new plan. We can use Landon’s ascension to our advantage. Ryker’s, as well.” He suddenly noticed the hesitation in Jamie’s eyes, watching move from him to the door. “You need not fear me. Son.” Nicholas motioned for Jamie to take a seat and the teen obeyed.
“We are going to make you the single ruler. Yes, Landon’s ascension plays into our hands more than they could ever have imagined. As Consul, if Landon dies without an heir, like Seamus, a replacement is elected. If, however, there is an heir, that person immediately gains the seat and the powers that come with it. You are that heir to the throne, my dear prince. Do you see? Do you see how everything, all that I teach you, falls into place?
“Then, once you are Consul Werewolf, we will kill Ryker. Being a vampire, he will have no heir. We will then kill all remaining Senators so that no other Consuls may be elected. Power will be consolidated.”
Nicholas walked over to Petros’s head.
“I asked you earlier, my friend, if you realized what you had done. Clearly, you did not understand what you were doing.” He bent down, caressing the lifeless cheeks.
“Thank you, my friend. Perhaps I was a little rough on you, but it would have happened anyway. You may have had a longer life being a vampire, but you would still be alive now if you had been a werewolf.”
Nicholas stood, opened the double doors and exited, passing Serinda on his way out and leaving Jamie alone in the bloodied dining room.
Opening his chamber door, Nicholas found Tsukiko, standing by his four-poster bed, wearing black, see-through lingerie. She wore nothing underneath. The sapphire navel ring on her flat stomach, and the blue-jeweled anklet, sparkled in the candlelight.
He gazed upon her as he crossed the room, the alluring werewolf, the woman that many had considered the most beautiful at Burghausen.
Nicholas smiled, walking over to pour a glass of red wine. He sipped the wine as he neared Tsukiko, handing the glass to her. Her dark eyes smiled back at him as she took the glass and began to drink.
Suddenly, Nicholas back-handed Tsukiko, knocking her across the bed, onto the floor, and catching the wineglass before it shattered.
“What the hell are you doing in my room?” he asked calmly.
Tsukiko struggled to get up. “Nothing. I-I just thought…”
“That was your mistake. You thought. You are not to think, only to do. As you’re told. Did you really think you could come in here and seduce me, using sex to put yourself in a position above Jamie? That may have worked on everyone else at Burghausen, but it doesn’t work on me.”
“I’m sorry,” she said, covering her eye and cheek with her hand.
“You were a prostitute when I found you on the streets of Tokyo and you still are, only now it’s for power or information, not money. Now leave my room, whore, and don’t try this again. There’s no point in me using someone who’s already been used by so many others. At least, not in this way.”
Tsukiko turned her back, not letting Nicholas see the tears and emotional pain he caused, and left his chamber, continuing down the hall until she came to the main entrance and left the castle.
She soon entered a small pub in Dalmally, a tiny village laying a couple of miles down the road from Kilchurn Castle. What bruises that had been left by Nicholas had since disappeared, healed following a transformation on the road.
The pub, containing only several men and no women, fell silent as the young, beautiful Japanese woman, wearing only lingerie, entered. She felt their eyes move up and down and across her body, from her barefeet to her high cheekbones, black hair, and dark eyes. She figured that, even if anyone were going to call the police, which she could tell that they weren’t, a village this small probably didn’t a police station, anyway.
“Can I get you something, miss?” the bartender asked a strong, thick Scottish brogue.
“Yes,” she said. “A man.”
The first to jump up was a strapping, young redhead, about twenty years of age, who was nearly knocked down by the hard, congratulatory pats on the back he received as he snaked his way around the tables to her.
“Where are you going, young William. She said a man, not a boy,” said the bartender, joined by a chorus of laughter.
“He’ll be a man soon enough,” said another. Another round of laughter.
“A virgin?” she asked the young man as he stopped in front of her.
“Tell her, Billy Boy,” the bartender yelled.
“Yes,” he responded, trying to deepen his voice and appear less shy.
“Even better.” Tsukiko smiled and took his hand, leading him out the pub, and farther down the road, outside the village, to a hidden spot off the road.
“How did you know this was here?” William asked. “Have you been here before?
I can’t see a thing.”
She said nothing and kept her back to him so he couldn’t see her glowing red eyes leading them in the dark. Slowly, the moon came out from behind the clouds as Tsukiko disrobed William, lying him down in the grass and straddling him.
Tsukiko looked toward the heavens, her flaming eyes helping her to see details of the moon better than the average person’s. She felt William edging closer to ejaculation, and slowed down. Her nails ran over his nipples, cutting them, and dug deep into his chest.
Knowing he wouldn’t last nearly as long as she needed him to, she sped up, her hair whipping about. William arched his back and let out a deep moan, then relaxed.
Tsukiko stayed where she was.
“Well?” she asked.
“That was…incredible.” William breathed heavily.
“Good. Now we need to talk about payment.”
“Payment? I don’t understand.”
“Well, as someone so kindly pointed out to me earlier, it seems that I haven’t left my prostitution days as far behind me as I thought. Therefore, payment is required.” William began reaching for his pants, rummaging for his wallet.
“No, no, honey,” she said, pulling his hand back. “I don’t want your money.”
“Then what do you want? What seems fair?”
“Fair? That’s a good way of putting it. Since I gave you flesh, it seems to me that, what’s fair is flesh for flesh.”
“I’m sorry. I still don’t understand.”
Tsukiko smiled, then, still straddling William, burst into wolf form. Her young lover tried to scream, but it was too late. Tsukiko’s anger with Nicholas consumed young Billy Boy, there in the dark, just outside Dalmally village.
Chapter 22
Jamie knocked on Bianca’s heavy, wooden chamber door. His newfound cocksure attitude was like wine for someone who always lacked confidence. He was the One. The Chosen One. Nicholas said so. He could practically do anything he wanted. Jamie was learning from The Prince. Now, he only needed to apply what he was learning.
“Jamie,” Bianca said, surprised. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.” He rested his hand on hers, standing in a contrapposto position, as she held the door open. “Let’s take a walk.”
Her half smile faded. “I don’t understand.”
“It’s okay. I promise. You have my word.” He grasped her hand and pulled her gently out the door, letting it close softly.
Jamie led her out of Kilchurn Castle and around the edge of Loch Awe. A fog crept across the loch, blanketing the valley. Still, they were able to see through their reddened vision.
Making their way to a small, nearby wood, Jamie escorted Bianca around a large tree to a pre-placed blanket.
“What’s this?” she asked.
“I know you’ve had feelings for me for some time,” he said. “That’s why you stayed even after the children were sent to Germany. I’ve felt them, too, but I’ve been unable to show you until now.” He saw that she was anchored to every word. “I want to be with you. I know you want to be with me. We don’t have to be alone anymore.” Jamie held both of her hands to his chest, backing her up to the edge of the plaid blanket. He gently led her down to the ground, lying Bianca on her back.
“I love you,” he said. “I will always love you.”
“I love you, too, Jamie.” Tears rolled down, dropping to the blanket. There the werewolves lay in the mist. It was the first time for each.
Returning to the castle soon after, Jamie opened the door for Bianca, walking her down the corridor to her room. He saw her smile stretch from ear to ear. He held a different kind of grin as he glanced again at the spot on the blanket that marked Bianca’s entry into womanhood.
Opening her door, and turning back to him, she leaned in for a kiss. He hugged her.
“Thanks,” he said. “I’ll talk to you tomorrow, okay?”
“You do love me, right?”
“Of course.” Jamie ran his palm across her cheek and walked away. He heard the door finally close as he neared the corner at the end of the long hall.
Entering the Great Hall of the castle, Jamie found Nicholas and Serinda waiting for him.
“Was it good for you?” she asked.
“I guess so,” he said, furrowing his brow.
“I know where you can find better.”
“You’ve done well,” Nicholas said. “But Bianca is not the one for you.
Remember, it’s all about tactical advantage.”
“What do you mean?”
“What he means,” began Serinda, “is that there’s someone else that can help you accomplish your goals. A winning situation for everyone. Well, almost everyone. My sister should not be here.”
“With Serinda by your side,” said Nicholas, “vampires will rally around her, thereby supporting you.”
“But you’re with Gabriel.” Jamie’s heart raced. He’d always wanted Serinda.
“I’m with the one that matters,” she said, walking over, laying her hand on his chest, and running it down, over his stomach, to his waist. “Always.” Jamie felt faint as the blood rushed from his head to his genitals. Serinda’s hand continued down to the front of his pants, rubbing the bulge that covered his erection. He understood.
“Not yet,” she whispered, drawing her hand back. “But soon.” Jamie, eyes closed, swayed where he stood.
“How will we get Bianca out of here?” asked Jamie. “And Gabriel won’t just break up with you.”
“Let me worry about him,” Serinda said.
“All in good time,” said Nicholas. “I’ll see to it that she leaves. Just as I’ve seen to it that Landon is about to find himself on the run.” Before Jamie could ask what Nicholas meant, Tsukiko walked in through the main entrance. Just as when she left, she wore nothing more than a transparent negligee.
“Where have you been?” asked Nicholas, watching her as she walked past everyone and continue down the hall. “Have you been out in public like that?”
“I went out for a bite,” she said, entering her room and closing her door.
“Excuse me,” Nicholas said to Jamie and Serinda. “It’s been a long day. I suggest both of you retire to your chambers and get some rest.” Nicholas followed Tsukiko to her room.
“Where have you been?” he again asked, closing her door behind him.
“I already told you,” she said, leaning back against the foot of her bed, legs crossed.
“I hope you haven’t done anything to jeopardize our position here, our relatively unknown presence, or there will be consequences. What is it you are trying to prove?”
“I’m not trying to prove anything.”
“You knew from the beginning that Jamie was the one to rise, not you. You also know that I will not allow anything, or anyone, to distract me from my goals. I am resolute in my objective.”
“You don’t care at all about the way you treat me do you?” she asked, uncrossing her legs, and walking toward him.
Nicholas reached his hand out to touch her face, gently caressing it. “Let me tell you something.” His hand moved to her chin and enclosed around it. “And be certain that you listen carefully.” His grasp tightened as his nails extended into her cheeks. Tsukiko, shaking from the pain, put both her hands to his one, vainly attempting to loosen his grip.
“I know you will do nothing. I know that you will take whatever I give you. How do I know this? Because you’ve already proven that you will. You have done everything I have asked, no matter how I’ve treated you. And why? Because you want the power that’s going to come with being at my side when all of this is finished. I know that you care more about power than anything else.” Blood gushed as his claws penetrated her gums. Tsukiko quietly screamed in pain.
“Ever since I found you on the streets, powerless against your pimps, your customers, then turning you, helping you see the kind of power that comes with our kind, you have craved nothing else. I know that, even if I angered you so much that you turned to Landon and the others, they wouldn’t have you—not after you betrayed them and killed the former Consuls, not to mention the majority of those at Burghausen.
“No one trusts you—except me. And I trust you, because I know you. I know you will do nothing except what I tell you to do. I own you.” Nicholas released his grip and Tsukiko dropped to the floor. She quickly changed, then transformed back, healed.
“Now, are we finished here?” he asked.
“Yes,” she said, sobbing.
“Good.” He smiled warmly at her. “Now get some sleep. Breakfast will be early in the morning.” He exited the room, leaving Tsukiko on the cold floor.
Chapter 23
Landon lay on the hotel room bed, watching television as LillyAnna tended to him. It wasn’t easy getting to The Marshall House after his ascension.
They had waited in the tunnel under the Pirates’ House from the morning of the ascension until that night. Actually, it was the early morning hours when they finally emerged, a naked man and a woman, darting from shadow to shadow, running the still dark streets of downtown Savannah. The pair scaled the wall and entered through an open window on the top floor, into an unused room.
“What was it like?” asked LillyAnna, massaging his legs.
“Terrifying. I couldn’t breathe and I felt like I was being cooked.”
“You said it was God. How do you know?”
“Different reasons. What else, or who else, could cause that whole scene? I saw Ryker and he was going through something similar. I say it was terrifying, but I never truly felt like I was in danger, even when I couldn’t breathe. It just would have been nice to breathe. And there was the voice.”
“Voice? God spoke to you? What did He, or She, say?” Her hands moved up to his arms.
“It wasn’t really a voice, not like what we call voice. That’s just the only word I can think of to describe it. I didn’t hear anything. There was no sound at all. It was more like, well, what I imagine a Vulcan mind meld to be like. It was in my head, telling me, but not speaking, that everything was okay.”
“It’s all weird,” sai
d LillyAnna. “I mean, being a werewolf with vampire friends is weird enough, but now this.”
“I don’t think I’m supposed to be telling you any of this, actually. The process of ascension is a secret that only the Consuls know, and I never heard of Joseph or Seamus sharing it.”
“Speaking of them,” began LillyAnna, “you said they gave up their powers. How could they just give them up? Why and how does that work?”
“I think they wanted me and Ryker to have them. I think they passed the torch, but I don’t know why. Maybe it’s connected to Nicholas and everything that’s going on. I don’t know. We’ll probably never know. As far as how it works, I think you just choose to relinquish them. That’s the feeling I get.”
The conversation was suddenly broken by the southern drawl of a local newsman interrupting the current broadcast for breaking news.
“Acting on an anonymous tip, numerous bodies have been discovered in an abandoned tunnel system under New York’s Central Park, as well as one female body in the park above. One of the bodies appears to be that of serial killer Jerry McClursky. The New York police believe his DNA will match that of a knife found at the Seattle crime scene.” A sketch of Landon appeared on the screen.
“Local authorities are now looking for this man who they believe may be in the Savannah area. He is thought to have been working with McClursky during the nationwide crime spree and may be connected to the slayings of the multiple victims found today. If you see him, do not approach. He is considered armed and dangerous.
Contact the local police department as soon as possible. We now return you to our previously scheduled program.”
“Paige,” whispered Landon.
“Oh my God.”
They looked at each other with dread, then jumped off the bed and gathered the few belongings they had.
“I need to go,” said Landon.
“I know. Why do you think I’m getting our stuff together?”
“No. I mean alone.”
“Oh, no. You’re not doing this again. I’m going with you.”
“No. This is different. I’m on the run, now. I can travel faster alone. You need to get back to Ryker and the others. Listen, I don’t know how I know this, but don’t go to Burghausen. I’m not sure why, but I don’t think it’s there anymore, at least not the way it used to be. Go to Venice, Italy. That’s where they are, at least that’s what I was shown, and I think that’s what the visions meant.