by J. Morgan
There were things to be done. D'brea had patiently watched the trio of interlopers ever since they had entered her tomb. Unlike the pitiful example of manhood from the other night, she had gleaned much from their minds. There was still more she must know to prepare her for this new world she had awakened into.
D'brea knew she was in the twenty-first century. From the woman, the scientific advances of this modern world filtered into her mind. Cars, airplanes, DNA, an endless list of the things humans had discovered while she slumbered. Some she knew of from old, but the names were different. Most of it had been magic to those she once ruled over. To her it had been nothing more than simply the nature of things. Now, these truths were so commonplace most humans took them for granted.
Their attitude disturbed her. To take nature for granted was an unspeakable crime. The gift of life and its bounty was no small thing. Seeing these modern men disregard its importance shocked her. Her long slumber had dulled her to the stupidity of humans.
The one called Truehart was easy to manipulate. The knowledge dredged from his mind was mundane, yet interesting. The thing called Internet was most intriguing. To be able to communicate with the entire world from the safety of one's home was exciting in itself. You could even see tiny images of people you would never see in the flesh. And television—the idea was so impossible she almost couldn't believe it to be true. Whole segments of society did nothing except watch continuing drivel for hours upon end. As far as she could see, this television was no different from the Internet. It tore humans from the natural order of things. D'brea would relish the experience of seeing both of them first hand, but could not see the attraction of losing oneself in the want of it.
Time would tell. She was a fickle creature. D'brea knew this about herself. Though she could not remember ever being human, the woman knew she was as prone to the same distractions as they were. Perhaps for a time she would indulge in some harmless experimentation. That would be for later. Now, a more pressing engagement presented itself.
The one called Breathred was a stone wall. Except for his purity, D'brea had been unable to delve into his mind as she had the others. Only glimpses of surface thoughts floated in the forefront of his mind. The remainder was locked away behind a screen of loosely assembled safeguards. Instead of being infuriated, D'brea was content to pry what she could from him.
Oh, wasn't that cute. He was trying to look brave. At least he wasn't running around screaming. She couldn't stand loud noises coming from a man. It upset her cosmic balance.
"Release my friends from your fiendish embrace, creature of the night,” Breathred shouted. She wondered if he realized melodrama would get him nowhere.
"Freeing them would not be prudent at this time. I wish to converse with you alone first,” D'brea cooed.
"What are you doing to them?” Breathred asked.
"Nothing at the moment."
"Then, why aren't they moving?"
"Because I have suspended time around them, so we could talk. Weren't you listening? I'm sure I told you before,” D'brea said confused.
"Well, you didn't. How do I know you're not sucking their blood?"
"Because, I'm not. My body is still resting, there in the coffin. This is just my astral body.” D'brea was starting to get a headache from dealing with this fool. What did she have to do? Give this guy diagrams and a full lecture on being an undead spirit? “Now look, this is getting us nowhere. I see men have gotten no smarter since I went to sleep. I knew I should have tried talking to the woman first."
"So, you're not sucking their blood?"
"No,” she answered curtly. She was leeching a fraction of their life force to reinforce her dwindling power, but saw no sense in telling him. It would just set him off again. “What say I slip into something a little bit more form fitting, and we can talk?"
"You can do that?"
"Not really, but I can do a fair imitation of a ghost.” As long as I suck enough energy from your friends.
"Say, how come you can speak English?” he asked, as she shimmered into being across from him.
"Is that what this language is called? How quaint. I simply pulled it from your minds. An easy thing for one with my powers.” D'brea sidled up beside him. He hastily shuffled away. “Still afraid of me, I see."
"I tend to be leery of vampires, especially ones who have been asleep for three thousand years. So, why don't you just tell me what you want?"
"Dear boy, my list of wants could take up most of the night. Unfortunately, we don't have that much time."
"Why not?"
"Because my children are coming for me,” D'brea said, turning toward the closed door.
* * * *
Lewis staggered toward the truck. He had been wrong. Being a vampire did nothing to stop it from hurting. The vampire felt like he had been shoved through a meat grinder instead of a busted windshield. With all the cuts on his body, he was lucky vampire blood clotted quickly, or he would be a bloodless corpse waiting for a fat squirrel to come along.
From the looks of it, the truck had fared better than him. The impact had only dented the front bumper and busted out the windshield. Lewis could see cracks in the side windows and a ripple in the left side fender, but nothing more to indicate major damage. Hell, he might even be able to drive this sucker back home, as long as the frame wasn't bent or the drive shaft wasn't warped. Even if they were, Lewis could still make the truck limp back to the road, if he didn't try any fancy driving.
Now, his only problem was finding Leopold. Reaching the truck, he peered through the cracked window. Leopold wasn't in the cab. There was no sign of blood either. The seat belt wasn't torn, so Leopold must have walked away after the crash. Knowing Leopold, the old vampire hadn't gone far. It was just a matter of finding him. Or not finding, whichever turned out to be easiest. Lewis rounded the corner of the vehicle and slammed right into Leopold.
"Lewis, are you trying to kill me?"
"Not that I know of, but I'll let you know when I start."
"See that you do. I hope you know your ineffectual driving has cost me my new frock coat.” He lifted a torn sleeve to illustrate his point.
"Sorry, boss,” Lewis said, not caring if Leopold believed him or not. None of this would have happened if they had just left the truck back at the campgrounds like he wanted to do.
"So how far from the dig site do you think, we are?"
"Not far.” Lewis looked for a landmark. He saw a stone outcropping he recognized from their last flight to the camp. “I think the dig is right over that rise. We should be there inside an hour."
"Good, it's a little past eight o'clock. That will give us nine hours to get the Mother and to get back under cover before the sun rises. I just hope this truck will run after all the damage you've done to it."
"It'll run,” Lewis assured him.
"I'm glad you think so. Now, get your gear together. I will deal with your inadequacies when we get back home."
Lewis snorted a less than favorable flurry of words under his breath, as Leopold took off. He wasn't vindictive by nature, but Leopold tended to bring out those tendencies in him. For now he was content with the knowledge those new suede pumps Leopold just bought weren't going to make it to the next season. Leo's ire over his ruined couture in itself was worth the discomfort of wet socks and soggy toes.
* * * *
Luna felt her heart stop yet again. The feed from the tomb was gone. One minute Breathred was talking to thin air, then nothing but static. For one brief second Luna could have sworn she had seen a woman standing in front of him. Luna could have dismissed it as a figment of her imagination, but she wasn't one to imagine drop dead gorgeous women talking to her man.
It could only mean one thing—the Mother was awake. More than that, she was awake and putting the moves on Breathred. One second was all it took for Luna to recognize a skank when she saw one. The fact the skank in question was the three thousand year old Mother of the entire vampire race made no dif
ference. This was about propriety and Breathred was her property, which marked him as off limits to everything from Catholic school girls to decrepit, dried up vampire skanks.
"Easily, get the feed back up,” Luna hissed.
"I'm trying to, but it was cut from the sender. All I'm getting is dead air.” Jessica slapped the keyboard in frustration. “If you think you can do better, be my guest."
"I can...” Luna began then closed her mouth. Easily was right. If the feed was cut off from the camera itself, there was nothing any of them could do. Feeling bad about her outburst, she turned to Easily. “I'm sorry, Jessica. It's just I can't stand the thought of Breathred alone in there."
"It's okay. I know how you feel. I would give anything to go rushing in there and help them,” Jessica smiled weakly and patted the girl on the hand.
"Thank you,” Luna smiled back.
"For what?"
"For understanding."
"Well, buy me a hanky. Look, you two may be fine with sitting here and mopping up each other's tears, but I'm not. My buddy's trapped with some undead cow from hell and I'm going to do something about it,” Stud said, his face a mask of pain and defiance. “So, excuse me while I go save his ass."
"And how do you plan on doing that? Turn into King Kong and bash the door down?” Easily snapped, giving him a mock monkey face and beating her chest with her balled up fists.
"Kiss my ass, bitch.” Stud jumped from his seat. “You've been nothing but trouble since I first saw you. So, you can keep your smart remarks to yourself."
"I'll tell you something, you dirty little shit thrower. I have had enough of you.” Jessica slowly rose to her feet.
"Bring it on, you blonde-haired hoochie."
"Stop it, both of you. This fighting isn't going to save Breathred or the others,” Luna turned to Jessica. “Look, he's right. We have to do something. There's another walkie-talkie on the table. You stay here and monitor the radio, while Stud and I see if there isn't some way we can get the door to the tomb back open."
"Ms. Walking Batch I don't think you should do that,” a voice called from the doorway.
Luna whipped her head around to see Leopold and Lewis standing in the tent's open flap. She reached down and put her hand on Stud's head to hold him in place. He tried to pull away, but she held him firmly. This was no time for the chimp to go off half-cocked.
Leopold swirled into the tent with a flourish. Even soaked to the bone by snow and wearing torn and muddy clothes, the vamp acted like he owned the world. Luna wished she could say she was surprised to see him. In fact she'd been wondering why he hadn't showed up before now. The thought didn't make the sinking feeling in her gut any better. It was obvious this wasn't a pleasure visit. From the looks of him, all the cards were fixing to be put on the table.
"Mr. Chambris du Portus, what a pleasant surprise.” Luna gave him her best fake smile.
"You can cut the horse manure, Ms. Walking Batch. I think we're past the silly games and pretenses. You know what I'm here for, so let's just get down to it. Shall we?” Leopold gave a smile in answer to her own, but his voice was cold and hard.
"Look here Froggy, you can shove...” Stud got out, before Luna clapped her hand over his mouth.
"I think what he was trying to say was, we don't know what you mean,” Luna said, trying to keep the struggling Stud in hand.
"Please, don't insult either one of our intelligences. This little game is over, and I do so hate to have these scenes drag on. Now, shut up and do what I say.” Leopold motioned for Lewis to come forward. “Lewis, would you be so kind as to see the nice lady and her monkey back to their chairs? I would hate for them to come to any harm."
"What makes you think you can tell us what to do?” Stud asked.
"Because as you very well know by now, I'm a vampire and if you don't, I'll snap your neck and suck you dry until you are nothing more than a sock monkey dangling from my hand."
"As long as we're clear on your plans, I'll do it. But don't expect me to like it."
"You, as well, my dear,” Leopold said to Luna.
Luna growled low in the back of her throat, but did as the vampire demanded. He had them at a disadvantage at the moment, but it wouldn't be the case for long, if she had anything to say about it.
"Good, now that we're all comfy. I think it's time to find out what's been going on. You know all the juicy gossip. Who's sleeping with whom? Who is feeling springtime fresh? I want it all. Especially the part where you tell me how to get to the Mother,” Leopold said, taking an empty chair next to Dr. Easily.
"We ain't telling you shit, fang boy.” Stud gave the vampire a smug sneer before Lewis slapped the side of his head. Stud jerked his head up and gave the vamp a nose thumb. “Hey, itty bitty pimpin'. You touch me again, and I'm going to shove your hand so far up your ass your sphincter will think its going steady with your tonsils."
"Such a nasty brute you are, Mr. Chimp. Lewis, leave the poor thing alone before it gives you rabies or some other monkey illness. You know how unsanitary they are, and me without my wet wipes,” Leopold warned.
"I still ain't telling you shit,” Stud said, making chomping noises at Lewis, who had backed out of biting distance.
"I never thought you would, but I was never one to walk blindly into the lion's den, so to speak.” Leopold demonstrated a condescending flip of the hand. With a knowing smirk he faced Jessica. “Then again, I wasn't speaking to you. Was I, Doctor Easily?"
Luna shot from her chair, narrowly missing Stud as he eased his head around to join her to glare at the woman behind the monitor. The smug look on the bitch's face was the last straw. She'd known that skank was trouble from day one and now had proof. She should have thrown her ass in the fire when she had the chance. Well, that was one bitch slap she wouldn't let slip through her hands a second time. Miss Thang and the vamp squad would screw up sooner or later and when they did, she was going to be there. And God help them when it happened.
[Back to Table of Contents]
Forty Five
If your check hasn't cleared, don't expect to find out what happens next.
Let me see if I got this straight. Chambris du Portus is on his way, if he isn't here already. Luna and Stud are all that's left out there to face him and there isn't much I can do to help them cooped up in here, Breathred thought. Was there anything I missed? Nope, I think I got it all.
"You seem to have covered everything. I see I've upset you,” D'brea said, a little worried for his grip on what passed for sanity. “I can see this Chambris Portus worries you, as does the fate of your friends."
"No, but how can you be sure they're coming? Wait a minute. You read my mind!"
"Reading your thoughts is a simple matter, but you were mumbling them out loud to yourself while you were thinking.” Yep, his sanity was going bye bye.
"Well, for your information that was a private conversation, so stop eavesdropping. Before you even try reading my mind, it isn't polite to go traipsing around in someone's mind."
"Why, you got dirty thoughts you're trying to hide?” D'brea peered into his eyes just to be sure. It'd been awhile since she'd seen a really good dirty thought, and a virgin's at that.
"No! Can we get back to the other vampires and how you know they're coming?"
"Even in this distant generation, I can sense my offspring. I had hoped my great grandchildren would be smarter than the firstborn, but from the looks of these two I might as well have been pissing in the wind for all the good that did,” she chuckled. “You can't pick your family, that's for damn sure."
"But aren't vampires—you know—made, not born?"
"Don't try to get all philosophical with me. It's a real buzz kill,” D'brea snapped. “I really like this new language. I'm gleaning such delightful things from your mind."
The language was so flowing and descriptive. D'brea had been picking up loose thoughts for the past century and also been receiving something called radio transmissions, especially old tel
evision ones. Until these three had entered her tomb, she hadn't been sure what they were. D'brea now knew the basis of her speech had come from a program called Designing Women and another, newer one, called Reba. She had no idea this form of speech was not the norm for the entire world, but liked it nonetheless. One day she hoped to meet this Suzanne Sugarbaker. D'brea was sure they were sisters from another mother.
What else had changed while she slept? She had picked up a vague picture from the female of men dancing with no clothes on. Now, that was something worth looking into, because in her time men didn't have muscles like those. She wasn't sure what six-pack abs were, but damn if it wouldn't be fun finding out.
"Did you know you're drooling?” Breathred asked.
"Sorry, Hon. Forgot you were there. Now, what was I saying?"
"Your children are coming and they're not too smart."
"Yes, that's it. So, if it's all the same to you, I'd rather not be here when they come,” she said, twisting a ghostly strand of hair.
"But why? I'd think you'd want to be freed,” Breathred said in surprise.
"I do. It's just I'd rather not be freed by them. They're the reason I locked myself up in here in the first place. Always hounding me. Always so needy. It's all my fault, you see. Back then all I made were male vampires. I had these grand ideas of harems full of men at my disposal whenever I felt the urge to do the hanky-panky. A big frigging mistake let me tell you.” D'brea laughed.
"It was?” Breathred asked in between fits of blushing.
"Sure as hell was. Men might be good eye candy, but quite frankly the lot of them are dumb as bricks. No offense."
"None taken. I'm not sure if I should be offended or not, but since you're probably reading my thoughts anyway would you please spare me an in-depth explanation?"
"Sure thing, Hon. Anyway, that's where all this talk of calling me the Mother came from. They wanted somebody to nurse them, baby them, tell them when to pick up their loincloths and lust after in their pathetic little dreams. So, finally I decided to say to hell with it and go to sleep. After wiping their asses for a hundred years I was ready for a nap.” D'brea sighed.