by Jodie Pierce
“You did that on purpose,” she accused him.
“Countess, you need to be able to do more than just fly while flying. What if you are attacked while flying? You are a sitting duck,” he said.
“Ok, I’ll keep trying,” she said. He kept lunging at her, and she kept falling. She even tried swinging at him, but she still ended up on the ground.
“Countess, you put up an excellent fight. Let’s give it a couple days and try again,” Alexos suggested.
“No,” she said sternly. “Same time, same place tomorrow,” she said and stalked away. She was not mad at Alexos. She was mad at herself for not being able to do it.
When she returned to her room that evening, she put on a blindfold and started practicing sword fighting moves. She knew she was better than she had proven out there, tonight. She practiced until the moves became automatic, and she didn’t have to think or concentrate on them. She had done them before with Kendra, so it didn’t take long to remember them. This left her free to concentrate on her flying.
The next evening, Alexos met her in the backyard and looked uneasy.
“Countess, are you sure you want to go through with this?” he asked.
“Absolutely,” she replied confidently. They both rose up into the air, and Alexos started the assault on the Countess. To his surprise, she was fighting back and staying in the air. He knew she had been practicing, and it paid off. He descended.
“Excellent!” he exclaimed.
“Thank you,” she said modestly.
“Well...I have taught you everything I can. I think it is now time for my departure,” Alexos said.
“But...wait,” said the Countess. “Don’t you find me attractive?” she asked. “All men find me attractive,” she said, hurt.
“Very much so, but you have a man directly under your nose that is strong and loves you unconditionally. I could not betray the Count that way. Plus, I like my current lifestyle,” he chuckled. The Countess was hurt, but she had been reading his mind, and she had expected this.
“I figured; however, I have one final plan for the ‘Others’ that I am in need of your assistance, should you be interested,” she stated mysteriously.
“Any plan to knock them down, and you can count me in for the adventure,” Alexos smiled, those beautifully perfect, white teeth of his showing.
Chapter Twenty-Four
“Absolutely not!” shouted the Count as he pounded his fist onto his desk. The three of them were in his study, and the Countess had just revealed her plan to them. “I will not have those people in my castle, or even on my grounds, with the Countess as bait for the ‘Others’, just so we can ‘cleanse the race’,” he yelled. Whose harebrained idea was this, anyway?” he bellowed.
“It was mine!” the Countess shouted back. “It’s the only way it will work. Alexos can create devices to cuff their ankles as soon as they touch the ground, so they can’t get away. We can use Lizzy as the messenger, telling them that I’m coming to join them, and we’re having a ball in my castle to celebrate,” she said.
“It will never work,” the Count said flatly. “They won’t believe you.”
“They will believe me, because it’s what they want and what they want to believe. Plus, I’m going to send a letter with Lizzy,” she said sadly. She hated to use Lizzy, but she was one of the “Others”, after all.
“Are you sure you can come up with a device to keep them here no matter where they land?” the Count asked Alexos.
“Yes, actually it’s already in use. I just need to mass produce it,” Alexos replied. “It’s a really neat idea, actually. It’s like the skeleton reaching out of the grave to grab the ankle of the person standing on it.” Alexos laughed, but the Count ignored him.
“Countess, what if this goes wrong? All these years of protection will be wasted,” the Count said.
“Count, I have the panic room, and if I would have been evil in this life, it would have been much worse. Please, just trust me,” she pleaded. “I’ll go write the letter, and I want to be the one to free Lizzy, so it looks like I’m sneaking her out. Ok?” she asked. The guys nodded.
The Countess went down into her bed chamber and sat at her desk staring into space for a long time, thinking of what to say in the letter. The guys were right that it would be a giant risk, but it was one that needed to be taken. She took out a pen and paper and started to write:
Dear Others,
I know this has been a long time coming, but Alexos (whom I have chosen as my King) and I wish to join forces with you. We wish to rule the world with the strong fist it needs, and stop those humans and others who get in our way. It is only through evil planning and destruction that this can be accomplished. My previous Count has been disposed of, so please join Alexos and Your Queen in welcoming us to your side in a ball at my castle on 31 July.
Evilly Yours,
Ancient One
The Count took the Countess down to where the chamber was located. He showed her how to open the door and disappeared. They agreed he and Alexos would stay in the study until the Countess came to tell them Lizzy had gone. She waited for the coast to be clear and opened the chamber door. The door creaked slowly open as it was heavy and made of steel. Luckily, vampire eyes don’t need to adjust to the darkness, and the Countess spotted Lizzy immediately, huddled in a corner.
“Lizzy. Oh, my precious Lizzy. What have they done to you?” the Countess asked. Lizzy just shook her head like she didn’t believe what she was seeing. “I have been scouring the castle, looking for you, Sweetie, and I finally found you,” the Countess said.
“My Queen?” Lizzy asked timidly.
“Yes, Sweetie. It’s me. You are not imagining me,” the Countess said. Lizzy jumped up and hugged the Countess and just sobbed and sobbed.
“They just took me away,” she said between sobs. “I wanted to see you.”
“I know. I was devastated when they took you from me, Lizzy. That mean old Count,” the Countess added.
“Don’t you love him?” Lizzy looked up at the Countess, surprised.
“No, Lizzy. You were right about so many things. He is weak, and I can’t stand him, so I’m getting rid of him. I found a strong man to be my King. His name is Alexos,” the Countess said. “Together, we can join the ‘Others’ and rule the world the way it should be,” the Countess finished.
“Wow! I can’t wait to tell the ‘Others’!” she squealed.
“Shhhh. Keep your voice down. I still have to get rid of the Count, and the servants don’t know yet, but my King is here! I wrote the ‘Others’ a letter explaining all this. I need you to deliver it to them. Do you think you can do that?” asked the Countess.
“Sure. Just get me out of here,” said Lizzy.
“Ok. Quiet as a mouse, take my hand and follow me,” the Countess said. She led Lizzy through the castle undetected and to the backyard.
“I will get this to them right away. Thank you for rescuing me,” Lizzy said before hugging the Countess and flying off into the night air. The Countess went back into the house and opened the study door, and the two guys inside jumped.
“It is done. There’s no turning back, now,” the Countess declared and closed the door.
Chapter Twenty-Five
The next evening, the Countess found the guys in the study, looking at some mechanical shackle devices.
“I need to taste the blood from each of you,” she said flatly.
“Countess,” said the Count. “You made me, so you know I am pure.”
“After Kendra’s betrayal, I know nothing. You too, Alexos,” she said. Both men looked at each other, bit their index fingers, and held them out to the Countess. She tasted each one, and after she was satisfied, she left the room and closed the door behind her.
“Guess Kendra’s betrayal hit her harder than we guessed,” Alexos suggested and went back to messing with the shackles. The Count knew the Countess. If Kendra survived this plan by some miracle, the Countess would torture
her. She could be a very cold person when she wanted to be. She had proven this in the past.
“The shackles are ready,” Alexos was saying, and that pulled the Count back to the present. “Now, they just need the spell from the Countess,” he said, looking nervous. “I hope she’s been studying her spell book.”
“I’m sure she’ll be fine,” consoled the Count, but he was not so sure himself.
Two days to the party, and the Countess and Alexos flew to the dress shop to find something new for the occasion. The shop was buzzing about her new King, and as they surrounded him to question him, the Countess slipped behind the curtain.
“So, ye go evil, anyway,” the Jamaican woman said sadly.
“Well...I’d like you to be at the ball to see,” the Countess invited.
“No way me want to be with dem nasty tings,” said the woman.
“There’ll be a surprise,” said the Countess.
“Ye tink I don’t know dah?” she asked. I know what ye plannin’. Bout time, too. Just matter if me want to see it or not,” she said.
“I’ll make it worth your while for all your kindness,” the Countess said and got up and left, this time leaving the woman staring after her.
When she came back, Alexos looked relieved. The sales associates squealed and started finding dresses for the Countess. She and Alexos sat in the chairs, turning one after another down. None of them seemed special enough. Finally, the shopkeeper came up and said, “Girls, leave us. Go in the back, and do inventory or something,” and waved them off. She smiled at the Countess. “I have been saving this dress for you for a long time. I had hoped it would be for a special event with the Count,” she whispered and shot an apologetic look at Alexos, “but I think it’s what you’re looking for. Come, take my hand, and follow me,” she said, like it was some giant secret.
The two woman went into the shopkeeper’s office, and then, into her design room behind that. There stood, on a mannequin, the most exquisite dress the Countess had ever seen in her entire life. It was light purple, velvet, form-fitting, and floor length. It was, of course, slit up both sides, had spaghetti straps, a shelf bra, and around the naval and abs, a giant heart was cut out and removed from the dress. The back was low cut, but it had the flaps of material on either side from the straps to the bottom, and there was a small, three-inch train.
“Try it on, sweetheart. I made it in your size,” the shopkeeper encouraged. As the Countess turned around, there were tears in her eyes.
“It’s the most amazing dress I’ve ever seen,” she said.
“I designed it just for you. I think by now, after all these years, I’d like to think I know your tastes,” the shopkeeper replied with a smile.
“You are so kind. I would be honored to try it on,” the Countess said.
“I’ll step out, but you must promise to come out and let me see you in it,” she said.
“I will. What is your name?” the Countess asked. The shopkeeper seemed taken aback.
“Delores,” she replied.
“I will, Delores, if you promise to come to my ball on 31 July,” the Countess invited.
“I’d be honored,” Delores replied and was gone.
The Countess put the dress on. How Delores got the measurements so perfect without her sitting for it was amazing. She particularly liked the cutout heart at the navel. It was about three inches, so it showed off her abs and navel and was perfect in every way. She made her way to the front of the store to show it off.
“I knew it would be perfect for you,” Delores jumped for joy.
Alexos came up, hugged her, and whispered, “The Count is a lucky guy,” and backed away smiling, unable to keep his eyes off her. Delores called out to the sales girls. When they came out, they ooh’d and ahh’d over the dress. The Countess was very pleased. She told Delores to gather some jewelry and shoes, and she’d be ready to go. She thanked her over and over and didn’t want to take the dress off for wrapping, but she knew she had to. She made Alexos promise not to tell the Count about the dress before the event.
When they returned to the castle, the Count was in a panic.
“So much to do, and you are off dress shopping? You have a hundred dresses!” he yelled.
“This is a special occasion!” she yelled back.
“Count, all that needs to be done is the spell for the shackles,” Alexos interrupted.
“You encouraged this shopping!” the Count raged.
“You wouldn’t want her going alone, would you?” he shot back.
“Fine. Countess, please just do the stupid spell, so I can relax for a few hours before the ‘Others’ start arriving tomorrow. Please.” the Count begged.
“Well...the shackle spell goes with the invisibility spell, so I have to do them at the same time,” the Countess said.
“How long does it last?” the Count sounded exasperated.
“Until I undo it,” she said.
“Oh. Then, do it now, in case they try to sneak in early. Please.” he said.
“Ok. I’m going to the tower,” the Countess replied.
“Why the tower?” asked the Count.
“It’s the highest point, and I can see everything,” she stated as she stalked away. Once at the top of the tower, she closed her eyes, held out her hands, and said:
For all of you to be unseen
And be shackled at the ankles,
Let no other powers
Supersede my own.
Until I am again on my tower
And are ready for you to be shown
You will be seen when I say the words,
“Let you all now cower!”
She then flew down, back to the Count and Alexos, and informed them it was ready.
The following evening, the Count agreed to stay in the study and watch the monitors, since the ‘Others’ thought he was supposed to be gone. It would freak him out every time he would see someone about to land and then go invisible. At least he knew the spell the Countess used was working. He was still worried something would go terribly wrong. The study door opened, and there stood the Countess in her new, purple gown.
“I wanted you to be the first to see the gown, in case something happened to it. Delores said she made it just for us,” the Countess said as she closed the door behind her. The Count started to get out of his seat, but she pushed him back down. She slowly twirled around.
“Do you like the full view?” she asked.
“Countess, is this one of your games? Please, be honest.” he asked. The Countess straddled him in the chair and kissed him deeply and passionately. It was the way she used to kiss him a long time ago. Centuries ago, when she made him and actually loved him.
“Does that answer your question?” she asked. It had. He knew she meant that kiss. “Alexos reminded me of just how much you love me, and it got me thinking of how much I love you, too. I don’t want to be without you anymore, Dear. Let’s do this tonight, and tomorrow we can escape, together. Somewhere alone and quiet, where we can start over,” she said.
“Sounds good to me, Love,” he cooed. With that, she got up and headed for the door. As she opened it, he said, “I love the dress.” She smiled and closed the door behind her.
She met Alexos in the parlor, and they walked up to the tower at about 3:00 A.M. The tension inside and outside was very high. The Countess, for the first time, started to feel nerves in the pit of her stomach.
“That’s natural,” Alexos said. “One of my abilities is I can feel what others feel,” he shrugged his shoulders.
“Oh,” was all she could manage without the fear of vomiting right there. As they reached the tower, she looked over and her confidence gained. She yelled, “Let you all now cower!”
Hundreds of vampires came into sight, and the moonlight behind the Countess reflected a red haze coming off the crowd. No doubt they fed before coming here tonight, so they would be at their strongest. Most were upset by the shackles, but when they saw the Countess and Alexos,
they began to cheer. They covered the entire yard. There was no place to put the fire she had planned. When Alexos felt this, he put his hand out and started moving people to either side, so there was a space in the center. He was like Moses, parting the Red Sea. The crowd didn’t care they were being shuffled around. They continued to chant, calling him their King. When he was done, the Countess had the room she needed for her next spell:
For those of you with tainted blood,
And your faithful servants, too.
May you perish into the great fire,
And harm me no more.
Thus, our race shall be purified once again,
And we can start anew.
The Countess cast a fire ball from her hand into the center of them, and Alexos released the buttons on the shackles. Most of the vampires flew into the fire, but the Countess could still hear them laughing from inside of it. She took out the bloodstone from between her breasts, the one the Jamaican woman had given her so long ago, and threw it into the fire. Instantly, the laughter was gone, the fire went out, and only ashes were left in a pile on the ground. Now, for the final spell:
May the wind of this great Earth
Scatter these ashes to all four corners.
So that no two pieces of the same are together.
So that this evil may never reign down upon us, again.
The wind lifted up the entire pile of ashes and started to separate it in the sky, and they flew away in silence. A shrill scream broke the silence.
“Mommy, no!” It was Lizzy.
Chapter Twenty-Six
The Countess flew down immediately to Lizzy.
“What’s wrong, Lizzy?” she asked.
“Mommy’s gone,” Lizzy said between sobs.
“Who was Mommy, Sweetie?” the Countess asked.
“Angelina,” Lizzy sobbed. It was another unforeseen knife in her chest. The Countess had not planned on this.
“Do you know how you came to be?” she asked Lizzy.
“Mommy was nine months pregnant with me when she was bitten. After she turned, they cut me out of her belly, but they were unsure if I had turned, too. Mommy begged them to give me a chance to grow up and see if I had the vampire blood in me or could be a ‘normal’, little girl. I started out like any little girl; however, at eight years old, I stopped growing, and I wouldn’t eat. It was when I had a classmate over and bit her wrist and started sucking her blood they knew the bloodlust was inside me, and I was a vampire,” she continued to sob.