by Devin Morgan
Seeing the meeting was at an end, they gathered their things to leave. Sebastian broke the silence. “Have any of you seen King Khansu? I do not remember the last time he was seen in public.”
“No, even with the threat of war I have not seen him. Not since I was condemned during my trial for the murder of Cardinal Woolsey and Queen Katherine in the Boleyn affair and that was hundreds of years ago.” Aris turned to Richard and Gabriela. “Have either of you seen him? The Queen has been present several times, but she is always alone.”
The couple shook their heads ‘no.’ Richard answered for them both. “Not since the trial is true for us as well. It seems he has completely withdrawn from public life. I have heard it told that he is retreating into a trance of seclusion, perhaps never to return. They say his melancholy is so great because he longs for his own planet and his own society, so he withdraws from this one. We know so little of their way of life and he has been on earth for so many millennia. Is it any wonder he longs for his home?
“But what for us? Since our kind came into being there has always been a Queen and a King. What now for the Catacombs?”
Aris stood. “What now for the Catacombs is war. We must prepare for the future, but live in the present. Presently, my friends, there is a coven of evil, twisted vampires that want to wipe us off the face of the earth. I suggest we look at the weapons at our disposal for the coming battle and worry about our King when we are assured of continuing to have a kingdom.”
Richard nodded in agreement. “So we meet at dawn to survey the arsenal.”
The four friends quietly moved toward the door and out into the corridor.
Jane brought Sarah’s breakfast and chatted pleasantly with her while she ate. The Immortal spent time with Sarah whenever she could. It gave her a great deal of pleasure to be in the company of a human. Sarah was the first human Jane had known since her changing and she waited patiently as her new friend showered and dressed for her day above ground with Aris.
It had not been Jane’s choice to be made Immortal. It was not a choice she would have made. She would rather have died a human death when the time was upon her, but she had been unconscious and the Council made the decision for her. Her only memory of any of the events of the day of her changing was the early morning. She remembered preparing to ride out with the Queen for a hunt at dawn. She mounted her beautiful white stallion and sipped from the warmed wine in the stirrup cup to take the chill from her bones. The spices in the wine had a strong flavor, but she recalled it was warm and welcome in the early morning fog.
She recollected the sound of the trumpets as the Queen arrived and all the courtiers mounted their horses. Essex, the Queen’s young favorite, had maneuvered his huge black stallion next to hers in an attempt to join her in conversation. It was then her head began to swim and her vision blurred. She wondered if there had been something added to the wine she drank. That was her last rational thought as a human.
The rest of the day was lived as if in a dream. She knew Essex was involved. She could remember him tearing at her clothes, the smell of wine on his breath and the stink of his sweat as he wrestled with her. She had no recall of why they fought or what the outcome had been. She could remember she felt as if she moved in a heavy black shadow as she tried to run.
Her next memory was the agony and the ecstasy of the changing, her heightened awareness as she gazed around the room at her first sight of the members of the Council, her first sight as an Immortal. Her new eyes saw a different world. She could see the individual hairs on the head of Bartholomew as he stood above her. His long eyelashes shaded his eyes and cast shadows on his cheekbones. She marveled at his thick lips, his perfect skin without flaw or wrinkle. His first words to her sounded like music to her ears. “You are safe with us in the Catacombs. No one will ever harm you again.” For the moment she was glad to be alive and out of pain. But those feelings of joy were only momentary. As she became more aware of what she had become, she longed for her human life, for human death.
“Jane?” Sarah entered the sitting room to find her friend deep in thought. “What shall we do this morning while Aris is with the commanders?”
“Whatever is your pleasure. When will he be joining us?”
“We have a lunch appointment with the owner of the gallery showing his paintings. At the moment he is with Richard and Sebastian. They’re doing a weapons check and preparing to send them to Spain so I would think we have an hour or so of girl time.”
Puzzled, Jane asked, “Girl time?”
Laughing, Sarah explained. “Time for just the ladies to be alone and talk of lady things.”
“I understand.” Jane stared at her new friend for a silent moment then spoke. “Sarah, may I share something with you?” Jane stood, moving closer to the human.
“Of course.” Sarah took her hands, leading her back to sit once again on the sofa. “What is it?”
“I have never spoken of my feelings to anyone, not since being brought to the Catacombs. I know the Immortals here love their society. I know it is an honor to be a part of it. In recent centuries, all of them have been changed at their own desire; my case is very different.”
“Yes?”
“I was torn and dying when my wolf brought me here. I have no memory of the journey or even where the wolf came from. That time is all a blur somewhere inside my mind. I have tried desperately for centuries to remember, yet I cannot. I know the story of you and Aris, how he came to you through someone who you had placed in a hypnotic state.
“Sarah, do you think you could hypnotize me? Do you think it would help me to remember?”
“I don’t know, Jane, but I am more than willing to try.” She hesitated. “I’ve never hypnotized an Immortal vampire before, but you’re still half human so I don’t see why it wouldn’t work.” Sarah glanced at her watch. “Aris will be here before long; we really don’t have a lot of time left alone together right now. Let’s plan for tomorrow rather than just an hour today. How about we do a session in the morning right after breakfast?”
“Thank you.” Jane was silent for a moment, deep in thought. “I feel nervous, but I must know what happened. I am willing to do whatever is necessary to find out.”
“Alright, tomorrow then.”
Jane rose and left the chambers, the white wolf following at her heels.
The huge room was empty except for the three Immortals and several narrow wooden crates containing weaponry. Richard held a perfectly crafted stiletto in his hands, checking its balance and weight. Aris watched his friends as they practiced with the unfamiliar weapons of destruction.
Light bounced from the shining blade as Richard made tentative thrusts at an invisible enemy. He noticed ancient runes carved into the metal. “Aris, what are these symbols?” He handed the knife to his commander.
“These are the runes Queen Akira etched into every blade.” He ran his fingers over the delicate carving. “They are engraved through a process only the Queen knows.”
“What power do the runes give?”
“The runes cause the weapon to release quickly and easily from the heart of the enemy. When impaled, the vampire heart locks onto the stake and it is nearly impossible to remove. Akira used the ancient science so the blade will slide out easily, saving time and hopefully the lives of our soldiers.”
Richard took the weapon back from Aris and gingerly ran his finger over the edge of the blade. “The edge is not sharp.”
“Only the point. A direct hit to the heart is the only way to make a kill. There is no reason for the edges to be sharpened.” Motioning his friend to place it back in its carrying chest, he nodded. “All is as it should be.”
“As it should be? The thought of impaling one of our own kind, eliminating them for all time, is that as it should be?”
“Richard, I understand. To kill when we have spent centuries finding ways to live without taking life. To wittingly kill when we have fought the beast that lives within each one of us and won.
To become less than what we have strived to become. War. You question how we are able turn our backs on our own integrity, our honor. How can we become like human beings who kill without mercy? But remember, our war is not a human battle. Humans fight wars for power. It is greed that drives them. Greed for money, for material goods, for land that belongs only to the earth, not to any man. The battle in Spain is for our society and for the society of humans that lives above ground. Without this fight, both ways of life will be lost forever.”
A sound behind them caused the three to turn quickly. Gabriela joined them with fresh information from their spies in Spain. “Bartholomew received additional news from Alexi late last night. It is most certain that the Spanish King and Queen must reconcile to have any chance of victory. She is unable to control her faction at all; Esteban keeps killing and burning his own soldiers and DeMarco is left without enough vampires to win a war with us alone without having to fight Mariska as well. The Council believes the royal couple’s mutual desire to rule the Catacombs will bring them back together. We must move as quickly as possible. If Queen Mariska returns to DeMarco, we will have them all in a single location. If we strike before her army is settled, we will have surprise as well as distraction on our side.”
“We will soon be ready.” Aris closed the open containers. “Our Immortals are now well trained and prepared to travel. A few more weapons drills and they will be expert.”
“Aris?” Gabriela spoke. “What about Sarah? What will happen to her while we are away.” She hesitated. “What will happen to her if we are defeated?”
“She will stay in the protection of the Catacombs while we travel. And never fear, we will not be defeated.” He spoke with great conviction even though a heavy seed of doubt lay hidden deep in his heart.
“I only hope he is right,” thought a concerned Gabriela as she turned with her comrades to leave the room.
“Aris, may I have a word?” Kitsuko hurried from behind to join the three commanders as they walked down the corridor.
“Yes, of course.” He motioned to Gabriela and Richard to continue on to the Sanguinaria. “I will meet with you in a bit.” He waved then turned his attention to the small woman standing at his side.
Kitsuko was truly lovely, her long black hair pulled tightly off her face and braided into a thick plait hanging to her waist. She was dressed in a soft white shirt tied at the waist with a black belt and tight white pants. Her features were refined, her flashing black eyes demanding total attention of any who spoke with her.
“How can I help you?”
“If you have a moment, I would like to show you a few new defensive movements that I have developed for your troops. Sebastian suggested that we spend some time together on the training floor.” Kitsuko had not been able to get Aris out of her thoughts. She longed to spend time with him alone and Sebastian’s recommendation gave her the perfect opportunity.
“Now would be the perfect time. Let me contact my friends to tell them I will not be joining them. I will meet you in the training pavilion in just a few moments.”
“Splendid.” Kitsuko smiled to herself as she walked away.
The pavilion was empty except for Kitsuko working out and the sound of Aris’ boots echoing off the wooden floor as he entered. Thoroughly focusing she moved rapidly through a fighting form. As he watched her work, he was still amazed by her speed. Even with his Immortal vision, it was difficult to fully recognize what she was doing as she spun and twisted to evade an imaginary opponent. Impressed, he watched her silently.
Coming to rest, she noticed him and laughed at the look of surprise on his face. “Aris. How long have you been standing there?”
“Just long enough to be grateful you are helping in training our soldiers. How did you become so accomplished in martial arts?”
Laughing, she answered. “I have been practicing for many centuries. I was taught the skill from monks in the Himalayas many hundreds of years ago. My small size added to my speed and agility and rapidly I became a master.”
“Were you human or Immortal?”
“At that time, I was human. My skill was so great that I was honored and asked to join a cult of fighting monks of the highest caliber. I was told these warriors had the amazing ability to defy gravity and to live eternally. They were a group of the earliest Immortals. I joyfully agreed and was changed.”
“Defy gravity? I am an Immortal and I cannot defy gravity?”
“Watch.” Backing away from him a short distance, she closed her eyes, took a deep breath and as she jumped over him as if he were a blade of grass, uttered a strange guttural incantation. Landing lightly on her feet, she leaped again this time to a height of more than fifty feet to reclaim the spot from which she began.
Astonished, he stood with his mouth gaping open. “Amazing. Your skills are most useful.”
Her eyes locked on his as she smiled a slow seductive smile. “Ah Aris,” she stepped closer to him. He could smell the fragrance of Jasmine that surrounded her. “I have many skills.” She laid her small hand on his arm and he was shocked at the desire that swelled inside of him. She knew her touch had stirred him and she waited for him to reply.
“I must, I must go,” he stammered shocked at his physical response to her. “I must meet my friends.” He turned, hurrying from her presence.
She laughed out loud as he left the pavilion.
Walking toward the Sanquinaria, Aris held a silent dialog inside his head. “What was that? I love Sarah and only Sarah. I have not desired a woman for centuries, not since I knew my Elizabeth. How could I have been so stirred by another?” He shook his head to clear his mind. He cautioned himself out loud. “How is not important, my man. You must stay far away from that small piece of dynamite.” His thoughts were determined. “I will never stray from my beloved and I have no intention of allowing myself to be tempted.” He quickened his pace, yet he couldn’t rid himself of the vision of her black, erotic eyes.
“How did it go?” Sebastian spoke as he filled an empty goblet from the pitcher resting on the table.
Aris sat and before speaking, lifted the goblet to drink all of the liquid in it. Feeling refreshed and once again in control of himself, he spoke. “It went well. She is blindingly fast and greatly skilled. She will prove to be a pronounced asset to our army.”
“I felt the same. Richard worked with her earlier today and he, too, was impressed.”
“Yes, both Gabriela and I have spent time with her on the training floor. She is not only accomplished, she has an ability to teach that is rare. In a very short time both Gabriela and I were able to jump to great heights and spin like tops to avoid contact with the enemy. Kitsuko can teach us skills we do not now possess to avoid the impalers of the enemy.”
“We will need all the skill she can share and more.” A look of concern spread over Aris’ face. “Unfortunately, right now the Spanish army and our army are evenly matched in numbers. At this point, our only advantage is our connected society. I believe we will win, but at what cost? With these new fighting skills, perhaps many more of our peace-loving Immortals will walk away unscathed.”
“To victory.” Richard spoke as he raised his goblet.
Joining him, his comrades spoke with one voice. “To victory.”
CHAPTER 16
The taxi stopped in the circular driveway in front of an enormous home just outside London. Aris scanned the area carefully before they left the taxi and he took Sarah’s arm as they walked toward the large brass-plated door. He tapped the knocker several times. They waited patiently until, at last, the door opened.
A very lean, well-dressed butler stood before them. He stepped aside to welcome them into a huge foyer with a pristine white marble floor and an elegant, curved staircase leading to an upstairs gallery. A long oak side table filled the wall opposite the doorway. On it rested a vase half as tall as Sarah. The fragrance of the colorful flowers in the vase greeted them as they stepped inside.
“Please, this
way.” He gestured toward two ornately carved double doors with brass knobs. “Sir Reginald will be with you in just a moment.” He turned to lead them into a lovely sitting room. Towering narrow windows opening onto a perfect green lawn filled one entire wall. An even higher ceiling topped a dark wooden floor covered in hand-crafted silk carpets in floral patterns of soft muted colors. The furniture was French and expensive.
“May I pour you tea?” Aris nodded yes. The servant tipped the blue and white teapot and steaming dark liquid spilled into two matching China cups. “Cream?”
“No, thank you.” The attendant raised one eyebrow at the uncivilized way the Americans chose to drink their tea. Handing the cups to the guests, he spoke. “May I bring you anything else?”
“No, thank you.” Aris, sipped his tea as the butler left the room and shut the double doors behind him.
“An actual British drawing room.” Sarah laughed. “I would never have imagined I’d be invited to lunch in a house such as this. And served by an authentic, disdainful butler.”
“Yes, he did seem quite put out.”
“Aris, I didn’t know Reginald Clinton was a ‘Sir.’”
“That he is. I doubt if I would have gotten the notice of the royal house if he were not.”
The doors opened again and John Marshal, their friend and patron from the states, was led into the room. He spoke with the authority of someone who felt at home in this great house. “That will be all Geofrey.” The servant tipped his head as he left the room, once more closing the doors behind him.
“So, how are you two enjoying your visit to the British Empire?” John’s blue eyes sparkled as he spoke.
“It’s been enlightening, to say the least.” Sarah glanced at Aris with a wink and a knowing smile.
“Well, I must say, Aris, your art certainly has taken the Brits by storm.”
The doors burst open and Reginald Clinton entered laughing. “I hear you have sent my man into a tailspin by drinking your tea black. He is such a traditionalist that he can become unbearable. Please forgive his churlish attitude. It goes with the post.” He hugged John, kissing his cheek then moving away.