The Vampires of Soldiers Cove: Progeny

by Jessica MacIntyre

  “Friends, neighbours,” he began. “I, Ely Johnson, the leader of the neighbouring vampire tribe of Chapel Island, have been called upon to officiate this challenge for the leadership of your clan. I do solemnly swear before you that I have no vested interest in the outcome of this fight and as such will be able to make a decision, objectively and fairly. If anyone here has a reason to question my judgement or question my impartiality in some way they must speak now.”

  Or forever hold your peace, I added in my head. Nobody said a word.

  “Very well,” he said. “Your silence is taken as acceptance and I will make my judgements accordingly.”

  He picked up the swords again and turned to stand, facing the door he had just entered the arena through and held them out, handle first, toward two more cloaked figures that walked toward him with just as much solemnity as he had shown. Both Angus and Duncan lowered their hoods. “Remove your cloaks,” Ely said. Both of them complied and a dark haired young female collected them before disappearing back through the door. I had never seen her before but whoever she was she seemed anxious to leave the arena floor. I couldn’t say I blamed her.

  “Each of you, take your sword and raise it high.” They did. “Angus, do you swear to honorably hold and use your blade in the name of leadership?”

  Angus had a fierce look of determination on his face. He had obviously been psyching himself up for this fight. “I do,” he declared.

  “And do you, Duncan, swear to honorably hold and us your blade, also in the name of leadership?”

  Duncan seemed to have a much more casual approach to the question and declared matter-of-factly, “I do.”

  “Let the clan bear witness to the fact that these terms have been agreed upon by both the current leader and the challenger. Whomever strikes the blade cleanly through the heart of the other in this place, on this night, shall be the leader of the clan of Soldiers Cove and surrogate guardian to any and all whom the previous leader has created by blood. Now, take your marks.”

  Duncan and Angus moved to opposite sides of the floor, each of them now with sword in hand and turned to face each other from a distance. Ely stood dead center and raised his hands once more. “Let a good and fair fight be witnessed on this night, and may the next period of leadership for this clan be a time of benevolence and peace for all.” He backed away toward the far wall and after a few more tense moments shouted, “Begin.”

  Having never witnessed this ritual before I wasn’t sure what to expect. It seemed with the formal, ceremonial like beginning that perhaps there would be a period of quiet. Perhaps they would circle each other a few times and think about a strategy or possibly share a nod of respect. There was none of that however because the moment Ely shouted, ‘begin’, Duncan and Angus flew at each other like two caged animals who’d been dying to kill each other for years. It was easy to see why Ely had gotten as far away from them as possible.

  The swords clanged together and came apart so fast and hard that sparks were literally flying off them. One could easily be pierced accidentally if they were standing too close. I was thankful we were all on a raised platform and well out of the way.

  Holly was right when she said Duncan and Angus were evenly matched. Together they parried and shuffled, as if in fast forward, for a good two to three minutes before Duncan got a foothold between Angus’s legs and shoved him forward. Angus hit the hard packed dirt with such force that a cloud of dust rose around him as his body took most of the blow. Duncan raised his sword getting reading to strike the final blow through his heart and the entire clan sat forward, almost in unison, as they prepared to watch the fight come to a quick end. It wasn’t to be however, because at the last moment Angus rolled over out of the way and when Duncan brought down his sword, instead of finding the flesh of Angus’ chest, all it found was empty ground.

  In the fraction of a second it took Duncan to pull his weapon from the earth Angus was situated behind him, sword raised to strike. I clutched my hand over my heart and leapt to my feet, preparing for the worst. I felt my chest tighten and my lungs seize up. I couldn’t breathe, or move, or scream. I wanted to cry out. I wanted to tell him I loved him, or help him in some way. I had so assumed he’d win that I hadn’t said a final goodbye. It was occurring to me now that perhaps I should have because there was a real likelihood that it could be too late.

  My fears weren’t realized however because Duncan gave Angus a jab to the solar plexus, knocking him down and retrieving his sword at the same time.

  Gavin was standing beside me, his hand on my shoulder now, both of us leaning forward over the barrier. “It’s happening so fast,” I whispered without looking at him. “Duncan almost died down there. How can we let this happen? We have to call it off somehow.”

  He squeezed. “He won’t lose, Rachel. Duncan is going to win.”

  I knew he was only trying to comfort me but for some reason his reassurance only made me angry. Wasn’t he watching? Didn’t he see what just almost happened? Was he blind? I wanted to scream at him but I felt as though if I took my eyes off the fight that it would be over and the next time I looked Duncan would be nothing but a pile of ash.

  The fight intensified now. Both men’s eyes were black as coal and their fangs protruded from their mouths as they each took turns making long, loud animalistic snarls at one another. It was akin to a dog fight. Vicious and cruel as the swords swung wildly once again, spilling blood across the dark floor.

  Duncan flew forward and backed Angus into a stone pillar, cornering him. “This is it,” Gavin said so low that only I could hear him. Hoping he was right I clenched my fists, my jaw. My entire body was wound as tightly as a spring that was ready to pop. Angus knew he was cornered and for a moment seemed to resign himself to his fate. He lowered his sword to his side and Duncan took a step forward, ready to end his opponent’s long existence.

  Angus’ resignation turned out to be false. As Duncan came upon him he swung upwards, connecting with Duncan’s sword hand and severing it, the blade falling to the ground as the torn appendage turned to ash. I barely had time to process what happened before I heard myself scream. There was no way Duncan could get to the sword in time. My scream unintentionally distracted Angus and he looked up into the stands, making eye contact with me.

  Running purely on impulse now I felt myself falling toward the fight. Somewhere in the distance Gavin was screaming my name. On some level I knew it was wrong, but I was running on nothing but adrenalin and fear now. Duncan was on the ground, his hand regenerating itself, his sword beside him, defenseless.

  I went straight for it and with speed and accuracy picked it up and swiftly thrust it straight through Angus’ heart. The old vampire was so shocked he had no time to react. His eyes met mine as his form turned to ash and then disintegrated in a pile right there in front of me. His sword landed in the dirt with a thump and I fell to my knees beside Duncan.

  Angus was dead, and I had killed him.

  Chapter Thirty one

  After a few moments of stunned silence the clan erupted into an angry roar. I looked up to see a large argument break out between clan members, none of which I could hear because for a moment it seemed like all the sound in the world had been turned off. I watched in muted silence while people screamed and raised their hands to one another in fury and shock. A moment later there was a thumping on the ground as someone’s heavy footsteps moved toward me. Too stunned to look up I simply lowered my head to the ground, pressing myself into the earth.

  A pair of strong familiar arms lifted me up and Gavin was there, turning me to face him. He was speaking but for the time being it seemed I had lost the ability to hear. He was mouthing my name but I couldn’t bring myself to respond. Duncan appeared behind him, his brow drawn down with worry and disapproval. Violently he shook me and all at once the floodgates opened and sound filtered back into the room. I barely had time to take in what was going on when I felt myself being led away, into the door Ely, Angus and Duncan
had come from earlier. Gavin and Duncan walked behind me as Ely took the lead down a long and narrow tunnel.

  The way was pitch black but my vampire eyes adjusted and we all walked in silence until we got to a small room that was outfitted with a simple table and chairs. “Stay here,” Ely said. “I need some time.”

  Duncan paced and rubbed his forehead as Gavin pulled two chairs close together and motioned for me to sit down. He pulled me close to him. Nobody spoke for a very long time.

  At last Duncan sat down with us and folded his hands on top of the table. “You shouldn’t have done that,” he said finally.

  “You were going to die,” I said. “I couldn’t let that happen.”

  He reached out and took my hand, squeezing it in his. “I know. I’m not saying I wouldn’t have done the same. I understand. But now they may kill us both.”

  “They wouldn’t dare,” Gavin said, his voice hardening. “After everything she’s done for the clan. They’d all be dead and their loved ones, human and vampire alike, would be as well. They owe her.”

  “Be that as it may, it’s in Ely’s hands now,” Duncan said.

  “Ely’s group of vampires would have been in just as much trouble as our clan would have been. He owes her too.”

  “Gavin,” I said taking a deep breath. “Samuel and his revenant army are years in the past. And besides, he has to be impartial. He has to do what he thinks is best for the clan. I don’t think someone like me could be anointed as leader. I haven’t even been a vampire for a full decade yet.”

  He lowered his eyes and squeezed my hand. The truth in what I was saying cut him to the quick and I could feel his fear. I could also feel something else. Something stirred in the pit of my stomach just then, a sick, hollow feeling that thrummed and spread all the way up to my chest. I doubled over taken by surprise.

  “It’s starting,” Duncan said.

  The edges of my vision darkened until the scope of it had severely narrowed… and then I heard them. The murmuring cries of the desperate, the agonized hum of the lost, the ones whom Angus had created were feeling his loss on the most primal level a vampire can be called on and their blood cried out in horror, cried out in anguish, cried out to me. I closed my eyes trying to block them out the way I had learned to block out people’s thoughts over the years, but it was no good. This was different. I didn’t just hear them, I felt their deep, sorrowful loss echoing through me from across all the oceans of the world. Vampires who were now sick and misplaced, many of whom would try to make their way home for guidance. A service I wasn’t sure I could provide even if Ely let me live long enough to do it.

  Gavin bit down on his arm and held it out to me. “Drink,” he said. I did. After taking his blood for a few moments I felt a bit steadier, but not by much. My thoughts then turned to Gavin and my children, to Leiv and Alexander.

  “You should go,” I said to them. “Both of you. Go. Now. Get the children and Alex and Leiv and get as far away from here as you can. Everyone’s too preoccupied with what just happened to stop you. This might be your only chance.”

  Both of them stood there, staring at me with questioning eyes. “Now!” I demanded. “Every second you waste could mean your lives and the lives of our children. I can’t protect them or my progeny any more. You both have to do it for me.”

  “But, Rachel,” Gavin said. “You’re my progeny, and more than that, you’re my wife and your Duncan’s child. We can’t leave you.”

  I took his face in my hands. Although his voice was strong and steady I could feel his body tremble with fear and uncertainty. I put my lips close to his ear and whispered softly to him. “You know this is what needs to happen. If by some miracle things turn out ok I can always call you back here. Please, just go, for me. They’ll kill Ryan if you don’t.”

  His large blue eyes reddened and filled with tears and he pressed his forehead against mine. I can’t leave you, Rachel he said telepathically.

  This is goodbye. I transmitted back.

  “No, it can’t be,” he whispered. “Not like this.”

  Duncan placed his hand on Gavin’s shoulder and turned him round to face him. “You know she speaks the truth. We have to take our own to safety. The children can’t defend themselves. They’ll be killed.”

  I knew Gavin well enough to know that no matter how strong his love for me was that he’d never let that happen. He nodded and drew me close to him, wrapping his arms tightly around me for what could very well be the last time. “I love you, both of you. Get out of here right now before it’s too late.”

  With that Duncan grabbed Gavin by the shoulder and flitted to the door. They disappeared through the opening and I heard another door at the end of the hallway clang open and shut with great force. They were gone. I closed the door to the room and sat alone at the table to await Ely’s decision.

  Chapter Thirty two

  I sat in the small windowless room for what seemed like hours. The blood Gavin had given me before he left had quashed the calls of those who were now orphans somewhat, but after a time I could feel it again and I knew it wouldn’t be long before I was overwhelmed with their cries. I was already feeling their desperation at the loss of their maker. Although I had no way to know the exact count, Margie had been right, it numbered in the hundreds. It indeed seemed irresponsible of someone to create so many offspring now. Angus had been much too prolific and perhaps he knew that, perhaps it had been the reason he’d refused to turn me, making Gavin do it instead.

  After a time I tried to establish a mental connection with Gavin, but it proved to be impossible. A great hum and vibration shook my body as the thoughts of the orphans overtook me once again. I stood, stumbling to the corner of the room and placed my palms against the cool stone, the physical pain now causing my knees to buckle. I slid down the wall, my face to the dark stone and began to sob. Even during the many years of horrible mental illness, when I’d stayed completely isolated from the world, unable to control the voices or go out among people, I had not felt this alone. I wanted someone, anyone, to come to me at that moment, but I knew that everyone who could comfort me would, hopefully, be far away by now. I tried once again to reach out to Gavin but a sharp agonizing pain spiked my chest and I stopped the attempt almost as soon as I’d begun it.

  Without realizing it someone else had entered the room. A pair of soft motherly arms slid around me and I was no longer alone. My eyes, sensitive to the light, couldn’t see who was there but an open wrist was offered to me. It was the smell of blood, vampire blood, and I realized someone had come to feed me. I drank heavily, relying only on my sense of smell and touch for the time being until my vision sharpened again and I felt close to normal. When I looked up Margie was sitting with me. She rubbed her wrist as the wound closed and then stroked my hair as I lay my head against her chest. I wanted to speak to her, to thank her, to talk to her about how worried I was about Gavin and the children.

  I opened my mouth to speak, but she quieted me with a whisper. “Save your strength. Just rest here for a bit. I’ll stay with you until Ely returns. He’s gone into seclusion and the others are waiting in the arena for a decision.”

  “How long?” I croaked.

  “It could be hours or it could be days. There’s really no way to know and nobody will talk to Ely until he comes out on his own. Until then everyone will just stay where they are for however long that is.”

  “Gavin…” I said, my eyes beginning to close. I fought to stay awake but I could feel myself being pulled down into the darkness.

  “They got away. They’re gone.”

  With a sigh of relief I put my head on Margie’s shoulder and let myself be pulled under. If they got away at least they had a chance.

  ***

  Sometime later I was awakened to the sound of an opening door. It took me a moment to realize where I was and then the awful reality of the situation dawned on me once again as I awoke from a blissfully forgetful sleep. Margie, who had been holding me in the
same position for god knows how long, removed her arm from around my shoulders and helped me stand. After having blood and sleep I felt stronger and stood to face a solemn looking Ely who loomed before us, arms crossed.

  “I need to speak to her alone,” he said to Margie. She nodded and kissed me on the cheek before exiting. Ely waited for the door to shut behind her before speaking. “Sit,” he said. I did and he took the seat across from me. I folded my hands on the table prepared to hear what he had to say.

  He looked at me wordlessly for a long time and the two of us stared at one another, our eyes locked. I hadn’t noticed how handsome he was before now. He was tall and muscular, his dark skin the color of rich mahogany and his deep brown eyes, large and expressive, were the stuff of legends. Long dark hair flowed down his back, tied now in a ponytail. The corners of his mouth curled up in a tiny smile. “Well, you’ve certainly made my job more difficult today.”

  “I didn’t mean to,” I said.

  “I know. Duncan is your blood. As much as others will criticize you for your actions there are few among them who wouldn’t have had the instinct to do the same, myself included.” He sat back in his chair, his demeanor becoming more formal. “Rachel Landry,” he said, “you don’t shrink from a challenge do you?”

  I had never thought of myself that way. “What do you mean?”

  “Well, look at it this way. Most of the vampires in this clan have lived relatively quiet lives. They’ve clicked along happily never really taking too many risks or getting involved in the running of things. Nothing wrong with that. That’s why these little groups in small communities exist. If we wanted complication and heavy politics and constant violence we’d live in the city, but I dare say you found that out for yourself a few years back didn’t you?”

  “Yes,” I said, remembering my time with Christina in Halifax. “City vampires and country vampires are different creatures.”

  He smirked, “The city mouse and the country mouse. What kind of creature are you, Rachel?”