Exsanguination

by DeDanaan, Sean

  Glass in hand, he frowned at Vanessa. “What’s all this bloody hierarchy stuff?”

  She shrugged. “It’s never really talked about much, it’s simply understood. The oldest and strongest is at the top, resolving problems and, often, giving orders. I pass mine to Antoine and he gives instructions to the community at large. On the rare occasion, I need to give orders to vampire leaders in any given district or country, I do so and they comply. Most vampires instinctively know their place in the hierarchy.”

  He put his drink down on a table and pressed his palms against his forehead. “If I could get a headache, I sure as hell would have one now,” he raised his head to look at her. “So if I give one of my men an order and you contravene it?”

  She looked at him sympathetically. “I can’t imagine a situation when I would do that, Jack. I trust you completely.”

  “But if . . .” he persisted.

  “I won’t deal in hypotheticals, Jack.”

  “So this means I’m answerable to you?”

  Her brow furrowed. “Jack, have I ever given you an order? Told you to do something or not do something?”

  “No.”

  “Have I ever criticized your actions?”

  “No.”

  “Have I ever told or suggested to you that you should go around your commissioner to do something?”

  He sighed. “No.”

  “Then let’s discontinue this line of conversation, shall we?”

  Jack nodded, still feeling a bit uncomfortable with this new revelation.

  “I think it’s time we hit the streets. Antoine and a good number of his group will be taking the underground tonight,” Vanessa looked around. “Arm up, everyone.”

  “I’m ready,” Nikki grinned as she slapped the guns on her thighs.

  Vanessa walked to a corner of the drawing room, slung a quiver of arrows over her shoulder and picked up a longbow.

  Phillip smiled at her. “You’re kidding, right?”

  She shook her head and pulled an arrow from the quiver. “The head is silver and it’s made in such a way that, if a lycan tries to pull it out, the shaft doesn’t remain connected to the head,” she nocked the arrow, drew the bow back to its maximum extent and then eased it back to its normal tension.

  Miles away, in his apartment, constable Jason Williams pushed the needle into the vein in his arm and drew out dark red blood. Holding the syringe up before his eyes, his look was hopeful. He could save his wife, now in hospital, dying of cancer. Leaving his apartment, he hailed a cab. Exiting at the front doors of the hospital, He made his way through the corridors. Near the door to his wife’s room, he was stopped by her doctor.

  “Mr Williams,” the man had the look of someone bearing the worst of news, “I’m sorry but your wife has passed on.”

  The words shattered him and he turned to look at the door. “Can I?”

  “Of course. Go ahead,” the doctor said sympathetically.

  Jason sat at her bedside, holding her hand. Tears ran down his cheeks. If only he’d been there a half an hour earlier! His hand went to the pocket of his jacket and he fingered the syringe. Maybe it could still work? He wondered, suddenly feeling a bit of hope.

  Pulling the hospital gown down from his wife’s chest, he pushed the needle in, hoping to get as close to her heart as he possibly could. Moments passed and she began to twitch and her eyes opened. She looked at him.

  “Jason!” she whispered hoarsely. “What happened?”

  Still tearful, he smiled. “You’re going to be fine, darling. You’re going to be just fine,” he patted her hand and kissed her cheek. “I’m going to get Dr Patel.”

  He found the doctor at the end of the hall. “Dr Patel! My wife! She’s alive!”

  Giving the constable a sad look, he shook his head. “That’s impossible, constable.”

  “She is, I tell you!”

  At that instant, there was a woman’s scream from behind him. He turned quickly to see a nurse running toward him, blood running down the front of her blouse. There was another scream from further in the hallway. He ran toward the sound.

  His wife, her back to him, turned around and looked at him, her eyes wild and yellow. There was blood on her face. With a snarl, she was on him.

  XXX

  Phillip sat in front of the hearth in the drawing room, deep in thought, his brow creased.

  “What is it, darling?” Vanessa rested a hand on his shoulder.

  “How many vampires are in the London metro area at this point?”

  “I couldn’t say, exactly. As more and more are turned, I would suppose about twenty thousand at the least.”

  “Turning needs to stop,” he nodded slowly.

  She cocked her head. “Why?”

  “Mathematics. London has about fourteen million people. Of those, less than ten million are over twenty-one and under seventy-five,” he stood and poured two drinks, handing one to Vanessa.

  “I’ve done a bit of research and have discovered that, on no census document is there a classification for Goth but it wouldn’t be unreasonable to put the number at about fifty-thousand or half of one percent. Although a good number of vampires today are in the police force and have either understanding wives or girlfriends, the numbers are giving me cause for concern. If we keep going as we have been, will reach a point in the not too distant future when we might exceed the available willing donors and begin to feed on the unwilling.”

  Vanessa shrugged. “I don’t have a significant problem with that. In fact, the night you and I met, I had just fed on an unwilling human. He’s none the worse for wear, I suspect.”

  “And, of course, it was never reported or noticed. That’s fine but what happens when there are a hundred or even a thousand feedings a night on those who wouldn’t wish it? Johnny comes home from work and finds puncture marks on his wife’s neck. That sort of thing happens often enough and anti-vampire sentiment starts becoming noticeable throughout the population at large. Quite frankly, I’d be surprised if it hasn’t started already.”

  Vanessa thought for a moment. “I think you’re overlooking an important behaviour pattern among humans,” she smiled slightly. “They are, especially in this day and age, by far and large, a hedonistic species. It’s a tendency that I’ve seen over many millennia. Once people’s time and efforts were not consumed by gathering food, staying warm and shelter, humans turned to more relaxed, pleasurable activities in their free time.”

  “And your point?”

  “I believe, with the exposure that Susan gave the act on video, there are a whole lot of humans who are not Goth or such, who find the idea quite alluring. As more and more people decide to try it out, it’s going to spread like wildfire. An office worker, when arriving home and having a couple of glasses of wine with a friend, enter a conversation of ‘what would it really be like . . .’ and, the next thing you know, they’re at a club, looking for our people.”

  “I hadn’t thought about it like that,” he frowned.

  Vanessa smiled. “I doubt there will ever be a shortage of donors.”

  Her mobile rang. It was a short call.

  A short time into the call, Vanessa ended it.

  “We need to visit Jack. Apparently, there’s a problem.”

  A short time later, Phillip and Vanessa walked into Jack’s office and sat down.

  “Is it a vampire problem?” she asked.

  “Possibly but, if so, only indirectly. Watch this video.”

  Both Vanessa and Phillip both shook their heads as the surveillance video completed.

  “A constable tried to save his wife by injecting her with his blood. Problem is that she was already dead when he did it, and not due to being drained or bitten,” Jack sighed. “Any ideas on what happened?”

  Vanessa frowned and slowly shook her head.

  “I have a hunch,” Phillip said.

  “I’m all ears,” Jack responded.

  “The infusion of his blood reanimated his wife’s co
rpse. Did she bite anyone?”

  Vanessa stared at Phillip as Jack replied. “Three people but it wasn’t serious. They were treated and released.”

  Phillip looked at him intensely. “You need to get those people back, Jack, and quickly. They need to be under lock and key. Only send vampires to do the job – preferably ones who have a love of horror movies. They’ll know what needs to be done.”

  “I don’t get it,” Jack shook his head.

  “Your policeman, through his actions, may have created a zombie.”

  “That’s ridiculous!”

  “Do as he says, Jack,” Vanessa spoke softly.

  Phillip frowned. “Where is the first – the woman brought back by her husband?”

  “At the hospital, in restraints. She seems quite mad and vicious to boot.”

  “Let’s head over there. I need to make sure – to know what we’re dealing with.”

  As they entered the hospital room, Phillip approached the woman. She was struggling and snarling, foaming at the mouth. Her eyes were yellow. He rested his hand on her chest.

  “No heartbeat, Jack. This thing is dead – animated and dangerous, but dead,” he turned to the detective.

  “If the ones who were bitten display the same symptoms, they will bite and try to eat living humans. It will become a plague. Ultimately there will be no humans left and you can’t feed off of these things. As I said, it’s dead.”

  Jack’s mobile rang. He put it up to his ear as Phillip left the room. Outside the door, he tapped a nurse on the shoulder and spoke softly to her. She appeared momentarily confused but nodded and left.

  Jack took a deep breath. “Each of the three that were bitten were still in their homes but are beginning to act the same way as . . . this,” he gestured to the restrained woman. Apparently, your advice on who to send was good. All three are completely dead now – shot through the head.”

  “That’s a relief!” Phillip sighed.

  Vanessa had her mobile out.

  “Antoine, spread the word to all council members. No one is to give a shot of our blood to anyone who is already dead unless they were drained by one of us. It creates . . . zombies. I will personally destroy any individual who violates this order.”

  Pause.

  “Thank you, Antoine,” she nodded and put the phone away.

  The nurse returned and, still appearing befuddled, handed Phillip a crowbar. Without hesitation, he jammed it through the dead woman’s skull and it ceased moving. The nurse looked horrified and Phillip grabbed her by the shoulders.

  “Does this building have any sort of incinerator?”

  She nodded, dazed.

  “Whoever handles this thing should wear protective gear. Get it to the incinerator and completely destroy it. Do you understand me?”

  “Yes,” she whispered, eyes wide.

  Vanessa looked at Jack. “You need to find out if anyone else may have been bitten or even nipped by this thing.”

  “I’m on it,” he left the room.

  Phillip put his arm around Vanessa’s shoulders. “If we got ahead of this problem soon enough, we’ll be damned lucky. It would have meant the end of everything if we hadn’t.”

  “It’s all you, darling. If not for your awareness, it might have been the last of both humans and vampires,” she smiled.

  “Nonetheless, it drives home how vulnerable we are. You know what would make me happy?”

  She smiled. “I know a lot of things that make you happy. “Yes, you do,” he chuckled, “but what I want to see is some pharma corporation develop synthetic blood or maybe cloned blood. It might not be as good as a fresh feeding but it might suffice in a pinch.”

  “Well, darling, if there’s money to be made from it, someone will certainly do it.”

  “I hope so.”

  Jack popped back in the room. “I spoke with the people who managed to get this one secured. No one bitten or scratched – just a few pulled muscles.”

  “Thank heaven for that,” Phillip sighed.

  Vanessa looked at him with relief. “So it’s safe to say we’ve averted a catastrophe?”

  “It appears so,” he sighed. “It would have meant the extinction of humans, vampires, and werewolves. The effects would have, ultimately, been world-wide.”

  They returned to the house within the hour and John approached his son with a whisper. “I’ve paid off both yours and your sister’s credit cards. I’m hesitant to tell her, but now you know. Just a head’s up – I got you a boost on yours.”

  Phillip smiled. “You’re the best ever, dad and it’s just in time.”

  John chuckled. “I suspected as much. Just don’t tell your mother about it.”

  His son turned to Vanessa. “I’ve got to go out for a bit. I’m taking Nikki with me.”

  “And leaving me behind?” her eyebrows went up. “What are you about?”

  “It’s a secret,” he winked and grinned at her as he grabbed Nikki’s arm. “C’mon.”

  As the two climbed into the Escalade, Nikki looked at her brother with a grin. “What’s up?”

  “You’re going to help me pick something out for Vanessa.”

  He found a jewellery store in the west end that had a large selection and wandered around the counters.

  “You’re buying her a ring, aren’t you?” Nikki giggled. “What kind are you looking for?”

  “I’m not looking anymore. I found it!” he pointed to his choice under the glass.

  “Oh my God, Phil! It’s beautiful and it couldn’t be any more perfect!” she exclaimed as she looked at the large, radiant cut ruby surrounded by ten diamonds.

  “Excuse me. I’d like to see this, please,” he pointed as a saleswoman walked up. She opened the case and handed it to him. As he looked at it, turning it this way and that, the woman spoke.

  “Wait! I know you! You’re the vampire on the tele!”

  He smiled at her, showing his canines.

  “And you’re his sister!”

  “I am,” Nikki grinned, “and this is going to be his lady’s engagement ring.”

  “Can you resize it now?” Phillip asked.

  “Absolutely!” she looked around and then leaned forward in a conspiratorial manner. “And you, sir, are going to have the employee discount,” she nodded. “What size should it be?”

  “This size,” he drew another ring from his pocket and then laid his credit card on the counter.

  She slid the ring down on a mandrel and nodded. “In a jiffy,” she passed the ring back to him and took his credit card.

  “Where’d you get the other ring?”

  “I’ve seen Vanessa wear it on occasion and it looked like it fit perfectly, so I lifted it.”

  “And now you’re paying with a dead credit card? How does that work?”

  He shook his head with a grin. “Resurrected.”

  Nikki gave him a suspicious look.

  An hour later they were back at Smythe House, Phillip looking much like the cat that ate the canary. Everyone was in the drawing room and he walked directly up to Vanessa who was seated on the loveseat.

  “Now, I can do this properly,” his expression became serious as he dropped to one knee.

  “Vanessa, love of my life,” he reached into his pocket, “will you do me the honour of becoming my wife?” he opened the box containing the ring. “Red for the blood we share and diamonds to symbolize eternity.”

  Her jaw dropped and she gasped as he took it out and reached for her hand. Sliding it on her ring finger, he looked at her.

  “Without reservation, Phillip, darling,” she smiled at him, lovingly and then looked at the ring. “I’ve never seen anything quite as beautiful!” she stood, lifted him to his feet, and wrapped her arms around him, kissing him deeply. Everyone applauded.

  “Well,” Mildred exclaimed, “it looks like I have a wedding to plan!”

  “Not tonight, though,” Vanessa said. “We are having a dinner for an honoured guest – the vampire who is ov
er all of mainland Europe.”

  “Wow,” Phillip’s eyebrows went up. “You know, you should have titles – all of you elders. You’re like royalty,” he shrugged. “Even organized crime has them. The Capo, the Don . . . that sort of thing.”

  Vanessa laughed. “Well, you can’t call me Queen. Someone has already beat me to that title. I think her name is Elizabeth this time around.”

  “Modify it. How about the ‘Vampire Queen of Britain’?”

  Vanessa was obviously amused by this whole line of conversation. “Oh, how about ‘Top Fang’?”

  “No, I’m serious!”

  She chuckled. “I know you are, darling. Tell you what I’ll do. I’ll discuss it with our guest.”

  “Fair enough,” he nodded as he heard the distant clatter of plates and silver being set in the dining room. “Sounds like you’re going all out.”

  Vanessa nodded. “A get together with someone who is within two thousand years of my age is rather unusual.”

  “Older or younger,” he frowned.

  “Younger, darling,” she gave him a reassuring smile and then looked at her ring. “You’ve no idea how much I love this.”

  “So,” Nikki spoke, “Is anyone else coming to the dinner party?”

  “I’ve invited Antoine,” Vanessa nodded.

  “I’d really like to know how this whole hierarchy thing works. How the council is made up and all of that stuff.”

  “It’s not very complicated, really. It consists of the oldest in Ireland, Scotland, Wales, and, in England, it breaks down by major areas. For example, the Yorkshire area, the west of England, a couple of others and, of course, London. Antoine is over London.”

  “Not you?” Nikki frowned.

  Vanessa shook her head. “I’m over all the others, including Antoine. He also conveys information to those in the other countries and within England.”

  “Wait, are you saying you’re over the ones in charge of various countries and such?”

  “It’s not something I make a big deal over but . . . yes, I am.”