Exsanguination

by DeDanaan, Sean

  He shook his head.

  “Because the option is not available as it’s almost impossible. I could put a bullet in my head and, at worst, be dazed for a moment. Immortality can be an enormously heavy weight to bear.”

  Susan interrupted. “But weren’t a great many constables turned without much consultation?”

  Vanessa nodded. “That was war and there were few options in the matter. I’d like to point out, since that time, many in the police department have asked to be turned.”

  “And how was the determination made as to who would be made vampires and who wouldn’t?”

  “I left those decisions largely to Detective Chief Inspector Fallow,” she gave the camera a slight smile. “I hope he won’t be in any trouble over it. He’s a very nice person.”

  “Is he a vampire?”

  Vanessa shook her head. “If he was, I wouldn’t consider exposing that to anyone. I’m sure there are many who are turned and choose to keep such a thing private.

  A man’s hand went up in the audience and Vanessa gestured in his direction.

  “There have been stories and anecdotes going around describing the attitudes of some vampires as being anti-human. In fact, the term ‘human’ in some places is being used as a derogatory expression. How do you respond to that?”

  Her brow furrowed.

  “Some newly turned vampires find the powers that they suddenly have are psychologically overwhelming and they will tend to look down their noses at species they see as inferior to them. Older vampires typically don’t demonstrate this sort of behaviour as they tend to take their abilities for granted. That said, I will see that the entire community is made aware that this sort of behaviour is unacceptable. Thank you for bringing it to my attention.”

  Susan spoke up. “Do you see the possibility of another war, of sorts, between vampires and humans?”

  “I certainly hope that doesn’t happen. I would much rather see advancements in cooperation between our species. Although I realize that there will be isolated incidents where we are attacked by religious fanatics and such, it would be my wish that those will gradually disappear. Confused and overly zealous churchgoers have a long tradition of seeing devils and demons around every corner and have a tendency to group us in with those mythological characters. When such events occur, you should be prepared to see very violent reprisals. As my Phillip would put it, those people need to cool their jets.”

  Another man stood.

  “I studied ancient history for some time and was always fascinated by Hatshepsut. What do you know of her?”

  Vanessa nodded. “Many in the audience may be unfamiliar with her. She ruled about fifteen hundred BC and was quite a builder. She ruled well but don’t be fooled by her statues and tales of her beauty. Hatshepsut was an unsightly woman and wouldn’t have turned any heads. Cleopatra? Now there was a beauty.”

  “Well,” Susan interjected, “If Hatshepsut was known for building, what would you be known for?”

  “Something for which my husband was erroneously credited. He was already dead when it happened.”

  “What was it?”

  “I united the upper and lower kingdoms.”

  Susan frowned. “Sounds impressive but what does it mean?”

  “Originally, there were two Egyptian kingdoms. The upper and the lower, geographically speaking. Once united, it brought about the beginning of the Egyptian civilization.”

  “Wow,” Susan whispered, “that’s amazing!”

  “Hard work is more like it,” Vanessa grinned.

  “And you gave it up for your son?”

  “It was time,” she shrugged, “so I died and was buried in a primitive pyramid – a mastaba.”

  “You died?”

  “Not really. Someone else claimed that privilege. When I began to hear about the looting of tombs, I beat the raiders to the punch and cleaned mine out. It’s all at home now.”

  “Wait a minute,” Susan shook her head in confusion. “You raided your own tomb?”

  “I wasn’t about to leave the treasure and my sarcophagus to thieves, Susan.”

  “Wow,” she whispered, “so once a queen and now you rule the vampires?”

  Vanessa nodded. “Some four million of them.”

  “There are that many?” she looked shocked.

  “Worldwide, yes, and more every day. Now that we’re out of the closet, so to speak, we are less hesitant about turning.”

  “And you weren’t elected or anything?”

  She chuckled and shook her head. “That’s not how our society is structured. I rule because I am the oldest and most powerful.”

  “No vampire has ever challenged you?”

  “And lived to tell the tale? No.”

  XXXIX

  The following afternoon, Vanessa announced that the ballroom would have cots installed and be a makeshift clinic for terminal humans.

  “We’re going to need staff,” she pointed out as she sat in her gothic office. “We need people to verify referrals, vampires to turn them and volunteers for initial feeding of the newly turned. We’ll also need vampires to volunteer for euthanizing terminal cases who want to go that way.”

  “Tall order,” Azar reflected.

  “That’s why you have people under you, my dear. Interview and hire. Pull some from the police for initial feedings. Most, I would think, would like a break from snacking to enjoy a full belly.”

  “Do you think the authorities will get worked up over the euthanasia issue?”

  “Let them. It’s vampire business and they’d be wise to look the other way.”

  Azar nodded and Vanessa stood.

  “I’ve got to go to the dining room and do what Phillip is calling ‘vampire therapy’. Jack is sending over several men who were turned during the conflict who are having difficulty adjusting. It’s something I never anticipated but there it is.”

  Azar laughed. “Vampire therapy! What next?”

  “Mmm. What are our saturation levels?”

  “Let me look,” she picked up her tablet. “Police forty percent, military about the same, Parliament about fifty.”

  Vanessa nodded. “Good. We’re getting there. I’d like to see seventy-five or more across the board in critical areas.”

  “It shouldn’t be long.”

  “It’s a huge undertaking,” she sighed, “and I’ll be glad to have you at my side.”

  Azar nodded seriously. “You have my complete loyalty.”

  “I never doubted that.”

  Vanessa left Azar in the office and went downstairs to the drawing room where, as was usual, everyone had gathered. Phillip immediately piped up.

  “I have a question for you.”

  Vanessa chuckled. “Do you ever run out of them?”

  “Every once in a while I notice a vampire who has double fangs on each side and, on one occasion, saw one who had lower fangs as well as upper ones. How is that?”

  “The first is an uncommon aberration,” she nodded. “The second is rare. No one knows what causes them – they just occur when the human is turned.”

  “I thought you knew everything,” he responded with a cocky attitude.

  She shot him a crooked smile. “Maybe I just don’t think you should know.”

  Phillip shot her a sour look.

  “I need all of your help. I’m redecorating the drawing room. Owen? Mildred? The two of you can handle the lighter pieces.”

  “Redecorating?” Nikki cocked her head and Vanessa nodded.

  “Ancient Egyptian. I want to bring my tomb contents down here.”

  Some of them looked confused and she gave a short explanation of what the pieces were and how she came by them. The project wrapped up an hour later and Azar entered the room.

  Vanessa shifted the sarcophagus slightly. “Little known vampire fact. Over the thousands of years, there have been several Egyptian priests who were vampires.”

  “Really?” Nikki said and Vanessa nodded.

  �
��As was Jesus,” Azar said lightly and the room went silent.

  Phillip stared at her. “I don’t believe that!”

  She grinned at him. “That was a pretty big rock blocking his tomb. Do you think someone levitated it?”

  Everyone in the drawing room stared at her. Toady was trembling, looking horrified.

  “Think about it. He rolled it away and then went up in the air to heaven, the tale says. Then he started blinking in to visit his followers and disappearing,” she nodded. “It’s true. The man was one of us.”

  “And where did you hear this?” Nikki’s brow furrowed.

  “My dears,” she spread her arms, “all of you know that I’m middle-eastern,” she held up a hand. “I didn’t turn him but I was there when he came out of his resting place. I saw it.”

  “And how do we know you’re telling the truth?” Phillip asked.

  “Because I’ve no reason to lie and that,” she pointed at him, “was offensive,” her face was serious.

  Robert brought about a dozen constables in from the front door. Jack was among them.

  “These folks need your help, Vanessa.”

  As she led them into the dining room and Robert brought them drinks, Jack looked at Azar.

  “You know you have about thirty loons out in front of the gates walking around with signs saying the end times are here. The rapture is coming. All that sort of thing. Should I run them off?”

  “I thought I heard some noises out there but, no, it keeps them busy doing something besides trying to blow us up.”

  “My Lady?” Toady ventured timidly.

  “What is it?” she raised her eyebrows.

  “Is it really true? What you said?”

  Azar sighed and gave him a sympathetic look. “Yes, Toady.”

  “But how can it be?”

  “Some things are what they are even if the facts cause you pain.”

  Crushed, his shoulders slumped and he stared at the floor.

  Phillip approached her and spoke softly. “Can I ask you a large favour, Azar?”

  “Of course,” she shrugged.

  “He is probably one of the most tormented people I’ve ever seen in my life. Would you consider going a little easier on him? I know you may have a hard time fathoming this but it actually pains me to see what he’s going through. He’s just a kid.”

  Azar sighed. “I suppose he’s getting close to being unhinged,” she nodded. “As a favour to you, Phillip.”

  “Thanks, Azar,” he smiled.

  Three hours later, the dining room emptied out, the individuals looking much more comfortable exiting than they did when they entered.

  “That wasn’t all that bad but it felt a bit odd. I had to convince them that they weren’t monsters,” Vanessa shook her head as her phone rang. She answered.

  After a few moments, she responded. “And you’re who?”

  Pause.

  “I see. Well, if you’d like to come over now, you’re more than welcome to,” she ended the call.

  Phillip gave her a puzzled look. “Company?”

  She nodded. “A small delegation, local I would guess, of the Ministry of State of Antiquities.”

  “Uh oh,” he frowned, “I’ve heard that they’re quite jealous of what they consider their historical artefacts. England had to return a bunch of things to them.”

  “Really? Well, the man said they’d like to have a look at what I have. In any case, they seemed rather eager and are on their way. No worries.”

  “Is the sarcophagus empty?” Azar asked.

  Vanessa shook her head. “Occupied by a nameless slave in my stead. I was going to bury her in the cemetery on the estate but haven’t gotten to it yet.”

  Phillip sat back in the large, stuffed chair and laced his fingers behind his head. “Oh, I can’t wait to see this go down.”

  Nikki sniggered.

  An hour later, a group of well-dressed men arrived and were shown into the drawing room. They looked about, wide-eyed at an ostentatious display of Egyptian artefacts. Vanessa acted the proper hostess.

  “Here,” she tapped an eighteen-inch statue with her finger, “I am in solid gold.”

  One of them looked at her as if she was slightly mad. She walked to the sarcophagus and stood next to it. “A very good likeness I’m told,” she opened it to reveal the ancient corpse and smiled. “Obviously not me.”

  The man who seemed to be the leader of the group smiled ingratiatingly at her.

  “When would it be convenient for our people to crate all of these things up for shipment?”

  Phillip grinned and snorted softly. “Here it comes,” he whispered to Azar.

  “You propose to take my property?” Vanessa’s eyebrows shot up. “I think not!”

  “Madam, these are Egyptian antiquities and, so, are the properties of the Egyptian government.”

  She shook her head. “I suspect you have been living in a bubble for the last several months. These items were taken by me from my tomb to prevent their falling into the hands of looters. Now you propose to loot my drawing room?”

  “Your tomb? Madam, these items are ancient and you, obviously, are not.”

  She looked at him coldly, locking eyes with his. They began to glow red. “I am Neithhotep, Queen and Pharaoh, foremost among women, ruler of Egypt, wife of Narmer and mother of Horus Aha. The sun rises and sets at my will. Show the respect you know is due your Pharaoh.”

  The man slowly dropped to his knees and then into a prostrate position with his arms outstretched. The other members of the delegation watched in shock as he kissed the ground at her feet.

  “Wow,” Nikki whispered, her eyes wide.

  “Leave my exalted or be destroyed,” Vanessa said with finality.

  The man’s companions had to support and stead him as they left. After the front door slammed shut, she turned to the group in the drawing room and smiled.

  “There! That’s taken care of!”

  Phillip shook his head, confused. “Obviously I’m impressed but you never told him to do that. I would have heard you.”

  She poured a glass of whiskey. “I didn’t have to. I was reasonably sure he knew what the customs were thousands of years ago with regard to how commoners were expected to behave in the presence of a pharaoh. When I commanded him to show proper respect, that’s what came to his mind.”

  Nikki grinned. “In any case, I have a feeling you’re going to get a phone call in the not too distant future.”

  “Probably,” she laughed. “Are you getting any business on your interspecies dating site?”

  “You wouldn’t believe it. I’m just glad that Owen has most of it automated.”

  “I thought you were screening people.”

  “Kind of. He’s got it set up to react to keywords. Someone types in the wrong kind of thing and it pops up in reports. Based on what I see so far, I can make some interesting predictions though.”

  “How’s that?”

  “Traffic is so heavy that I think, more and more, humans are going to come to realize that dating and sex with a vampire is a lot more rewarding than with another human. That’s going to smooth out a lot of rough spots in relations between us and them.”

  Vanessa nodded. “That would be good.”

  “It seems that there is a greater number of humans wanting to be fed on than vampires looking for snacks

  “Since our people are, effectively sterile, I predict the human birth rate is going to start plummeting in a year or so.”

  Azar responded to Vanessa’s querying look with a smile.

  “I suspect we may not have to worry about population caps.”

  “Huh?” Phillip said.

  Vanessa shrugged. “We pretty much have a glut of humans and this will address capping their population growth. Think about it, Phillip, there are places in the world where people are starving and food supplies are pretty much static.”

  Phillip frowned, not sure if he liked the idea.

  “Oh
boy,” Nikki spoke again.

  “What?” Azar asked as Toady sat down at her feet and she stroked the top of his head.

  “I’m looking at the forums that I started. You know what those are?”

  Azar shook her head.

  “Kind of like electronic message boards. People can post and reply to messages. People talk about Vanessa all the time and, up until very recently, she was almost always called The Dark Countess.”

  “I kind of like that,” Vanessa smiled.

  “Yeah well we’re getting bleed over from people who watched Susan’s show and now you’re being referred to as Queen Neithhotep.”

  Phillip chuckled. “So you weren’t interested in standing for Parliament but Queen is ok?”

  Vanessa poured a drink and sat down next to him, patting his thigh. “There’s an enormous difference between the two, darling. Just ask Queen Elizabeth. That said, I’m not completely unaccustomed to ruling.”

  He tapped his glass against hers. “You should write a letter to the Egyptian president demanding you be reinstated as Pharaoh.”

  She laughed. “I don’t think you’d like that sort of thing, what with sacrificing slaves and such.”

  “Oh, you didn’t really do that.”

  “When I,” she made air quotes, “died, a hundred were sacrificed and laid to rest near my tomb.”

  His brow furrowed and he looked upset. “Why do people do that kind of shit?”

  “I don’t think they do it anymore, darling.”

  He sighed.

  A couple of weeks passed without any violence or other problems and they began getting their first patients in the ballroom. Nikki and her father found themselves giving counselling to relatives of Alzheimer patients who were beyond the point of making decisions for themselves. As they were turned by hypodermic, the changes were dramatic and both patients and families were thrilled with the results.

  Vanessa made it clear to the authorities that they would not be permitted to oversee or inspect the premises, citing ‘vampire business’ despite the rumours that euthanasia was being practised occasionally.

  Protests calmed considerably after she ordered that they were not to be responded to with violence except in extreme circumstances. Constables, instead, were to show their fangs and change their eyes. It seemed to have the desired effect.