Vampires Don't Sparkle: Deathless Book 3

by Chris Fox

  Steve scrambled away from Jordan, finally pulling himself to his feet at the base of one of the columns lining the room. He clutched his severed stump with his remaining hand, but Trevor knew it would only be a minute or two before the limb regrew. They had the advantage, but only for a few moments. He had to find a way to capitalize on it, but what the hell could he do?

  Be wary, my host. A new danger approaches.

  Trevor rolled into a crouch next to a column, studying the darkness. There was no sign of Irakesh, and both Jordan and Steve were recovering in different corners of the room. He sensed nothing, so what had caused his risen to speak?

  The head of a massive scythe erupted from Jordan’s chest. The haft shone gold, very much like the sunsteel sword Liz wielded. The two-foot-long curved blade at the end was also gold, but had an enormous ruby set into the center. It gleamed cruelly for a moment, then it wrenched loose from Jordan’s chest. Jordan’s furry form collapsed to the ground, eyes glazed. He was totally unresponsive, possibly unconscious. What the hell had done that?

  Trevor kept perfectly still, waiting to see if the attacker revealed himself again. If he did, his likely target would be Steve, as he was the only visible person in the room. So Trevor watched him, waiting to see what would happen. A few moments later, the same golden scythe burst from Steve’s throat. He reached up to free himself; the axe jerked. The motion slammed Steve’s body into the column next to him with so much force all three remaining limbs shattered. His broken body tumbled to the ground, unmoving.

  It was a damn good thing Trevor neither breathed nor had a heartbeat. Either would have given him away. He stood there next to the pillar, waiting. Long moments passed, then a rolling wave of green energy burst from the center of the room. It came from the strangest figure Trevor had ever seen, much like a werewolf but with the head of a jackal. It wore golden armor, but he didn’t have time to see more before the energy burned his eyes from his face.

  He fell to the ground screaming, praying for the pain to end.

  Chapter 11- Stabilizing the Nexus

  Blair stared dumbly at the light bridge as the white light faded. All four figures had been whisked to wherever the bridge had taken them. If his theories about the glyph over the door matched the hologram’s claims, then that meant all four had just light walked to Africa. They were now in the stronghold of the enemy, locked in a fight for their lives.

  Take caution, Ka-Dun, his beast rumbled. You seek to protect your pack, but if you follow blindly you may share their fate. That would deliver not one, but two access keys into the hands of your enemies.

  The beast wasn’t wrong, but Blair still took a step towards the light bridge. Either he acted decisively and followed, or he accepted the fact that Trevor and Jordan were lost. They’d need an Ark Lord to guide them back to the Nexus, and there was no way they could coerce Steve to do that.

  “I have to go after them,” he decided, hurrying towards the light bridge.

  “That is inadvisable,” buzzed a cheery voice. Blair spun to find the hologram hovering not far from the doorway. Oddly, there were no gems projecting the light that formed the strange green figure. Somehow it had manifested on its own.

  “Inadvisable why?” he asked, stepping onto the light bridge.

  “Inadvisable, because as previously mentioned the Nexus is doomed unless you forge a conduit to the Ark of the Redwood,” the alien said—Blair couldn’t think of it as anything else, since it very much resembled the little green men that had so bedeviled Fox Mulder. “If you leave, the ocean will destroy this place. This act will isolate all seven great Arks. They will no longer have a shared connection, and light walking between them will be impossible.”

  “Yeah, I’m not sure I’m willing to buy what you’re selling,” Blair replied, taking several cautious steps toward the hologram. “It seems awfully convenient that this place is suddenly in trouble, right at this precise moment. Why now? Hasn’t it stood for millions of years?” The anthropologist in him was intensely curious. He’d always dreamed of discovering a lost culture, but an entirely lost species that had, in many ways, exceeded their own? That was beyond incredible. Yet he wasn’t willing to let his enthusiasm override his caution. This thing had its own agenda.

  “Indeed,” the hologram said, giving a jerky little nod. Its tone remained unfailingly cheerful. “The Nexus was created after the fifth Ark, four point eight million years ago. It has stood the entire time, though its location has moved several times since its creation.”

  “So why is it suddenly in trouble now?”

  “The problem began nine millennia ago when the conduit to the First Ark was severed,” It explained, cocking its head to the side. “Until that time the Nexus was always sustained by a steady flow of energy, which kept it safe during the intervals when the sun produced less energy. Once the conduit was severed, the Nexus began losing power, and this process has continued until the present day. This process has greatly accelerated over the last few years, because several groups have used the light bridge to enter and leave. Doing so costs enormous power, and has taxed the Nexus to its final limits.”

  Blair closed his eyes, considering. “So this place ran off its own battery, and the First Ark recharged that battery. Since that connection is severed you need a new one. Basically I have to jump start the Nexus using the Ark of the Redwood. Is that about right?”

  “Precisely,” It said. Blair opened his eyes, staring down at the cheerful little alien. “Your arrival is quiet fortunate. So far as I know the Ark of the Redwood is the only one with reserves large enough to sustain the Nexus.”

  “How much power will that take from the Ark?” Blair asked.

  “Approximately 63% of the Ark’s current power capacity will be required to sustain the Nexus. This percentage will drop as other Arks come on line and establish their own conduits,” It explained, blinking once.

  “You said the connection to the First Ark was severed. Who severed it?” Blair asked, changing gears. He wasn’t sure whether to cooperate with this thing yet, but at the very least he could learn as much as possible. Assuming it was telling the truth.

  “I do not know,” the hologram said, somehow managing to look troubled. “At first I suspected the progeny of the Builders, but they are unable to access the Arks or the Nexus.”

  “That doesn’t make sense,” Blair said, running his fingers through his hair as he considered the hologram’s words. “If the Builders created this place, why wouldn’t they or their progeny be able to use it?”

  “They lost access through my own intervention,” the hologram said, giving what sounded like a sigh. “I helped shape the helixes of the progenitors of what you know as the Deathless, as well as those of your own sub-species. Your Ka, the entity you address as the Beast, is a shard of my existence. A copy, if you will. That is the reason for the name, as I am called Ka.”

  Blair was silent for a long moment, the revelation shocking. Ka was the Egyptian word for spirit, and he already knew that ancient Egypt possessed many markers that had to hail from an earlier civilization. It all made sense. Ka had been created by whoever or whatever the Builders were. Isis, the Mother, had somehow met Ka. Possibly right after the brief memory she’d shared with him. He’d witnessed her discovery of the First Ark, and it was quite possible that she’d met Ka inside.

  He didn’t let that derail him, though. As momentous as this new information was, he still needed to know who had intentionally cut this place off, and why. “So you helped Isis create the deathless. Why did that block the Builders and their progeny from using the Arks?”

  “Isis used the Primary Access Key to modify each of the Arks as they were discovered,” Ka explained. “She created secondary access keys like the one you possess. Prior to the creation of these keys anyone could use an Ark. Once the keys were created they became the only method to control the Arks. Since the keys are bonded to your DNA only a hominid with the mutagen Isis and I engineered can control an Ark. This proh
ibits the Builders or the progeny from seizing control.”

  Blair had about fifty million questions. Why would Ka help humans take control of the Arks? Why did it seem to be working against its creators? He stifled that line of logic, focusing on the current problem. “So if the Builders didn’t sever the conduit, then who did? And why?”

  “The identity of the saboteur is unknown,” Ka said, heaving a very human sigh. “As for motive, there can be only one. They sought the destruction of the Nexus.”

  “You’ve been here monitoring things the entire time?” he asked.

  “I have only been in the Nexus for a very brief interval,” Ka said, cocking its head. “I returned mere hours ago, as soon as I sensed the flow of power from your Ark. Before that I’d been shunted to the Ark on the continent south of yours, colloquially called the Mother’s Ark.”

  “Did you meet the Mother?” Blair asked, shooting to his feet.

  “Assuredly,” Ka said, nodding rapidly.

  “And?” Blair asked.

  “And what?” Ka asked, blinking rapidly. Another head cock.

  “And what did the two of you discuss? When was this? Is she all right?” Blair asked, all in a rush. This thing was maddening to deal with, like a computer program. It took exacting precision to talk to, and he’d never had the patience to do that. Not with computers anyway. What he wouldn’t give to have Trevor back here, even for five minutes.

  “We discussed little, unfortunately. Her Ark was also out of power, and I could not sustain myself there. I was shunted into backup systems until I was able to manifest here,” Ka explained. “Our brief conversation occurred approximately seventeen days ago. At that time she appeared in perfect health.”

  “Okay,” Blair said, beginning to pace. He studied the hieroglyphs lining the walls. Part of him wanted to begin recording them, but he knew there were more important things to deal with. “Let’s focus on creating this conduit, then. Is there any way for me to automate the flow of energy from my Ark, so this place doesn’t collapse? How can I do that if I can’t return there?”

  “Yes, such a feat is possible. I can guide you through the proper sequence, though you will need to grant me access to the systems in the Ark of the Redwood,” Ka explained.

  Blair hesitated. This thing seemed benevolent, but could it be trusted?

  “Before you decide, you should know that you are no longer alone in the Nexus.”

  Chapter 12- Set

  Set swept into the central chamber, backhanding a demon that got too close. The blow shattered its horned face, sending the ebony creature sprawling to the floor near one of the lesser obelisks. Other demons took note, pouncing on their doomed companion the moment they were certain Set wouldn’t visit the same fate upon them. He smiled grimly behind his dark armor, pleased at the palpable aura of fear his servants exuded.

  His steps slowed as he approached the black throne at the base of the central obelisk, which pulsed with its own inner light. He’d not yet allowed the Ark to surface, so power was drawn exclusively from the Well, deep within the earth. Unlike the other great Arks, his had an endless supply of power, keeping it well-fueled during the long ages when the other Ark Lords slumbered. That had allowed him to grow in both power and knowledge, and when he confronted his enemies they’d find he’d greatly eclipsed their limited abilities.

  Particularly in light of the powers bestowed upon him by his new masters. That term galled him, chafing like a collar. It was difficult acknowledging another as master, but the fact that these beings had created the Arks made swallowing such a bitter pill easier. They had immense strength, and if he wished to one day rule this world he would need to learn everything they had to teach.

  “What troubles you, my husband?” Nephthys hissed from the shadows.

  He glanced in her direction, noting the glittering red eyes in the darkness. Even she was wary of approaching him, though she stood higher than all others. “The Nexus should have fallen by now, crushed by the ocean.”

  “It has not?” Nephthys said, stepping into the faint light exuded by the central obelisk. Her features were hidden behind a truly horrifying helm, one he himself had designed. It closely mirrored his own, and he longed for the day when his irritating brother quailed at the sight of them. Osiris would recognize the power in the corrupted metal, and know despair.

  “It has not,” he snapped, turning from her to face the central obelisk. Her penchant for stating the obvious wore on him. “Someone or something must have forged another conduit, which I find most troubling.”

  “Osiris?” she asked, voice quavering at the name—rightly so. His brother’s name often sent Set into a rage, and who could blame him? He’d suffered countless injustices at the hands of his brother.

  “Possibly,” Set replied, sitting upon the black throne at the base of the obelisk. “Yet I do not think so. A conduit would require an Ark, and I robbed my brother of his. Either he has found an ally, or there is a new player on the board. Either way my spies will soon know the truth of it.”

  Set waved a hand, dismissing his wife. She crept back into the shadows, which writhed with the forms of many other servants. All were careful not to approach the light. The room was silent, save for the crunching and slurping that came from the corpse of the demon he’d slain.

  Chapter 13- Intruder

  “Can you show me a map of the Nexus?” Blair asked, wolfish ears twitching as he sought some sound of the intruder Ka had mentioned.

  “Of course, Ka-Dun,” Ka answered, gesturing with a translucent four-fingered hand. A second hologram sprung to life, hovering in the air not far from the construct. It showed a top-down view of the Nexus, which was much, much larger than Blair would have assumed.

  The few corridors he’d explored were just the topmost section. They radiated out from the room where he stood, seven spokes connecting to light bridges that linked the entire Ark network. Below that level were a number of thin passages that connected to outlying structures.

  Most of those outlying structures were pyramids, and there were perhaps a dozen of various sizes. If he used this room for scale, at least a few were the size of the great Arks, large enough to contain an entire city. The Nexus could house a million people. Maybe more. Just what the hell had the Builders been like?

  A red dot appeared near one of the light bridges. It was advancing up the hallway, coming for this room. Blair sank into a combat crouch, prowling to the edge of the room. He lurked near the door, trying to remain as silent as possible. The red dot was coming closer, but wouldn’t reach him for another minute or more.

  “Ka, when the intruder reaches this room, I want you to engage them in conversation,” Blair rumbled, as close to a whisper as he could manage in wolf form.

  “Assuredly, Ka-Dun,” Ka said, as cheerfully as it had said everything else.

  The next forty or fifty seconds took years to elapse. Blair watched the dot grow closer, and when it was close enough he focused his attention on the corridor where the figure would emerge. He heard nothing. Whatever it was made no noise.

  “Greetings, Ka-Ken,” Ka said, causing Blair to jump even though he’d been waiting for it.

  The instant a silver figure emerged from the corridor, Blair leapt, blurring as fast as he ever had. Time slowed, Ka’s too-wide mouth moving so slowly it might have been frozen. Blair extended both sets of claws, opening his jaws as he came down at the figure’s throat. He had time to register that it was a female werewolf, and that she looked familiar.

  Then she blurred, faster than he could perceive. A fist tightened around his throat, and he was jerked like a rag doll. The figure dragged his face close to her own, and he read death in her eyes. He dropped his blur and went limp, quite proud he’d managed to avoid wetting himself this time.

  “Hello, Ka-Dun,” Isis said in a low growl. “I’m pleased to see that-”

  Something golden flashed. It blurred, not nearly as fast as the Mother had, but still a blur. The figure barreled into him
, and Blair felt teeth sink into his crotch. He gave a panicked yelp, struggling in the Mother’s grasp as something chewed on a part of his body he’d very much not like chewed on.

  “Yukon, no,” the Mother growled.

  Yukon stopped immediately, releasing Blair’s crotch and backing away. He gave Blair a single growl, then turned those big brown eyes on Isis. He started wagging his tail, suddenly a harmless golden retriever—a golden the size of a North American wolf. Jesus. He was twice the size he’d been when Blair had seen him last.

  Isis relaxed her grip, and Blair tumbled to the floor. He caught himself awkwardly, scrambling back to his feet and backing away a step or two. After gaining control of the Ark of the Redwood he’d felt incredibly powerful, yet beside Isis he was still just a whelp.

  “I’m, uh, sorry about that,” Blair explained sheepishly, giving her a shrug and a grin. “I didn’t know who to expect.”

  “I was in on the ruse,” Ka interrupted, cocking its head. “I thought it might be interesting to see how the Ka-Dun fared against you. Not well, it seems.”

  “Be silent, Ka,” Isis snarled, giving Ka a baleful stare. “You’ve done quite enough damage. Don’t think I trust you in the slightest, and I’ll see that my progeny is aware of your deceitful nature as well. Do not speak unless one of us queries you directly for information.”

  Ka opened its mouth to speak, then closed it. The hologram gave a brief nod, lapsing into silence.

  Isis turned back to Blair. “I must know all that has transpired since last we met. Mindshare with me.”

  “Of course,” Blair said, though with quite a bit of trepidation. It wasn’t just that he was embarrassed by some of what had transpired. There were memories he’d rather not visit.

  Isis stretched out a furry hand, resting it on his forehead. There was a dizzying rush of vertigo, then he floated in darkness. Before him stretched a sea of glittering jewels, each playing a memory just like a different channel on TV. A moment later Isis appeared within his mind, this time in human form.