"This is what she is after," he said.
"What is it?" Myles asked as touched the ancient leather cover.
"It is the one of twelve diaries of the first vampires called the Order of Twelve. We have never opened it. Inside are reportedly magic spells, daily journals, and rituals. What you are touching was written by one of the twelve vampires that helped to create the council," Larry said.
"Why haven't we opened it?" David asked.
"More importantly," Myles asked, "Why do we have it?"
Father Kinney cleared his throat. "I will answer the second question and I will let Larry answer the first. We have it because we are sworn to protect these ancient tomes. As each member of the Order of Twelve was vanquished, we, the council, searched their lairs. In each lair, we discovered their diaries that they had penned as per Lord Blackraven's orders."
"Lord Blackraven?" Myles asked.
"Yes, Lord Blackraven is considered the very first vampire. He was a cleric who had forsaken his calling and created his own cult. This same cult, which contained eleven other members, was forsaken and cursed by God to forever walk the Earth. However, Satan took them into his evil domain and made them into vampires to feed on the blood of humans. As they learned their new powers, Lord Blackraven, who had declared himself the King of the Undead, ordered them to note their findings for future generations," Larry stated.
"And the council was created to defend the world against this new evil," David added.
Larry nodded. "Correct. As the good Father stated, as the council warriors, destroyed each member of the Order of Twelve, they found their diaries. As they defeated and killed each member, they continued to find the tomes. Fearing that they were instructions for their evil minions, the tomes were locked and hidden away. When the vampires learned of their existence by torturing council warriors or worse turning one of the council warriors into their undead army, they began to hunt down these tomes. The tomes were scattered throughout the world. The location of the other tomes is such a deeply guarded secret, that the council doesn't even know where they are hidden. Only those in possession of the tomes know of their location," Larry said.
"It still doesn't answer my question to why we haven't opened it," David said.
"Legend," Larry said.
"Legend?" Myles asked.
"Yes, the legend states that the pages are written from the vampire's very own blood. There is a story that one of the tomes was opened on September 12, 1812. Hordes of vampires, including Mikhaeli Lanaova, descended on the city," Larry said.
"What happened?" David inquired.
Father Kinney blessed himself before answering. "They burned the city to the ground."
"The vampires?" David asked.
"No, the politicians secretly ordered it," Father Kinney stated.
"On September 14, 1812?" Myles asked.
Larry nodded. "Very astute."
"September 14, 1812. September 14, 1812. September 14, 1812," David repeated quickly until an expression of realization appeared on his face. "The Fire of Moscow?"
"Again, very astute," Larry said.
"You've got to be kidding me?" David asked incredulously.
"No, we are not kidding. History states that the Fire of Moscow started on September 14, 1812 and raged until September 18th. Over three quarters of the city was destroyed in the blaze. Legend has it that the fires were started by retreating Russian forces to prevent Moscow from being controlled by invading French forces led by Napoleon. Some others believe that the fire wasn't deliberately set and that the fire was a result of an accident. It was just a small fire that rapidly spread in the heat of the summer. Vampires were feeding within the city. Their population would only continue to grow as they sired more vampires. However, the fire was a result of several small fires being started by both the French and the Russian forces. Each small fire was a home where vampires were hiding during the daylight hours. The fire trapped the vampires inside and the home was burned to the ground. Don't you find it odd that in a great fire, such as this one, that no new fires were reported during the evening hours? " Larry asked.
"That is highly unusual, but they didn't have the great information mediums that we have today," Myles said.
"Yes, but they had pens and paper. They didn't want the world to know that the Fire of Moscow was done to prevent the entire city and probably the entire country from becoming a nest of vampires. Vampire bodies, as you have learned during your time with Christopher, do not respond very well to fire. By torching the city, the vampire bodies burned along with the buildings," Larry said.
"However, this vampire queen survived," Myles added.
"Yes and she took the tome with her," Father Kinney said.
"Do we know how she survived?" David asked.
"No, but we are assuming that she seduced someone into hiding her or she was able to hide in a place that they had least expected it," Larry said.
"Where?" David asked.
"You've already witnessed it," Larry replied.
"Huh?" David asked. "By kicking someone's ass?"
Myles tapped David on the arm. "Where are we?"
"I know! I know!" David protested. "We are in a church. I'm s… We are in a church!"
"Correct," Father Kinney said. "She can walk on consecrated ground whereas most vampires cannot."
"How is this possible?" Myles asked.
"Does it really matter?" Larry retorted. "She can and apparently she can train others to walk on consecrated ground as well. Most vampires, thankfully, cannot. She has conquered the vampire fear of holy ground."
"She leapt away from your cross," David said.
"It wasn't the cross that stopped her, it was the silver," Father Kinney said.
"So she hid in the church that contained the tome?" Myles asked.
"It is highly possible, but we don't know for certain. I would assume that she seduced someone into giving her the tome as she hid in the safety of their home. We would have to do further research. However, according to the council archives," Larry answered, "She appears to be a class of vampire that we thought was a legend."
"And that would be?" Myles inquired.
"A greater vampire. She isn't affected by all of the traditional methods for slaying vampires. According to the legend, she might even be able to walk during the day. If she is able to withstand the power of the Lord, then it means that her powers could become limitless. From what I have read about her in the council archives, she is getting stronger with each sighting," Larry answered.
"What does that mean for us?" Myles asked.
"It means that the stories about the tomes are true. There are magic spells or instructions on how to increase their powers. Since she is getting stronger, it appears that she might be in possession of more than one tome, but I am not certain," Larry said.
"Are the tomes always held in churches?" Myles inquired.
"More than likely, yes, but no one knows unless they are in possession of one of the tomes," Father Kinney stated.
"We could do an internet search through the newspapers of the world for any church robberies or accidents," David pondered. "It might give us an idea of what we are facing and it might help us to keep the other tomes out of her hands."
The two elders' faces immediately became ashen. They glanced at each other.
"Did I say something wrong?" David asked.
"No," Father Kinney replied, "Your logic is very sound."
"Then what is the problem?"
"In order to defeat someone with her abilities, we will need to get Christopher back," Father Kinney said.
David nodded. "I understand that, but I still don't see the problem."
Father Kinney leaned forward and his tone was very serious. "There is only one way to assure that we get Christopher back."
"And that is?"
Father Kinney tapped the ancient vampire book. "We have to give her this tome."
Silence.
CHAPTER 7
Late
r that day…
Razor still held onto his groin as he stumbled through the hallways of their modern lair. Above ground, the vampire lair was an example of lavish modern architecture. The hundred room mansion was nestled in the great Rocky Mountains. Despite being closer to the sun, the vampires had the mansion built deep within a thick forest. A passerby wouldn't even know that the home existed due to the lush, thick foliage.
The exterior of the castle was a modern day miracle of brilliant architectural design. Massive white pillars supported the front of the building to create an awe inspiring sight. Large, triple paned windows adorned the north and south sides of the structure. The east and west sides of the building were devoid of any clear views of the outside to prevent the harmful sunlight from completely penetrating the vampire stronghold. Despite the beautiful exterior, the foundation was the architectural miracle.
During one of Mikhaeli's many voyages over the centuries, she had discovered an Irish castle at the beginning of the twentieth century. She had approached the castle and she had demanded to speak to the owner. The owner was a pompous Englishman, who had deemed her inferior because of her Russian accent, had refused to speak with her. He had told his servants that she was beneath him. Mikhaeli humbly walked away.
Later that night, she returned to speak with him again. Instead of waiting for his servants, she let herself in through an open window since his servants had invited her in during her previous visit. She had awakened the rotund man in his lavish bedroom. She told him to sign over the deed to the land to her or he would forever regret his decision. He demanded to know how she had managed to get into his bedroom and then he demanded that she immediately leave his presence. Mikhaeli smiled sweetly and left. Moments later, screams could be heard throughout the castle. She returned with fresh blood dripping from her fangs. She threw a still beating heart onto his bed and told him that he would share a similar fate if he did not hand over the deed within the next minute. She had killed all of his servants and even his guards.
The rotund man sweated profusely as he opened his hidden safe. Mikhaeli sucked the blood out of the heart as she waited impatiently. After a minute, his trembling hands had opened the safe. He turned around and she was standing behind him. She had backed him to the wall. The frightened man pressed his back against the wall. Her intoxicating stare met his frightened eyes. She licked a tear from his cheek as she took the deed from his hand. She placed the paper inside her leather tunic. She made sure that his eyes followed her every move. She looked at him sweetly.
With her high-heeled boots, they were the same height. Her eyes met his frightened stare. She leaned in. Her lips brushed his quivering lips. He closed his eyes. It was the last thing that he saw. She had grabbed the safe door and she had slammed it into his head repeatedly until his head had exploded. She emptied the safe of all its money and jewels. Before she left the room, she licked some of the remnants of his head from the nightstand.
Days later, she proved ownership of the castle and took over the land. However, she wasn't staying in Ireland. She had already purchased land in Colorado. She had her minions bring Chinese slaves to America. She had them dig deep into the Colorado soil. When their job was completed, she had her minions feast on their tired bodies. Once the dig had been completed, she recruited desperate Irishmen, who wanted to immigrate to America, to tear down her castle. She, along with the immigrants and their families, placed the castle on large luxury liners and they sailed to the New World.
After arriving in America, the immigrants transported the castle to Colorado. Day and night the immigrants rebuilt the castle in the soil of the Rocky Mountain state. When the castle was completed, they built a mansion fitting of her wealth and the era above the castle foundation. The work was completed quickly and in complete secrecy. No one was permitted to speak to anyone because she valued her privacy. Also, their promised lands and new start in America would be taken away and she would have had them deported back to their impoverished lives in Ireland. However, it was all a lie. When the work was completed, she and her minions feasted on the workers, their wives and their children.
Every decade since the completion of her American home, Mikhaeli hired workers to remodel the home to fit the current era. As in the past, the workers would mysteriously vanish. When the authorities would inquire into their disappearance, Mikhaeli would produce letters, always in the missing person's own handwriting, thanking her for allowing them to work for her. Every letter always detailed how the monies that she had provided would allow them to start over in a new state or sometimes a new country.
Razor, as he walked the halls of the dungeon level of the castle, was still amazed by her ability to manipulate people. Though he was not pleased with his recent treatment, she was still his queen. Her beauty allowed her to seduce men to do her bidding. Despite his pain, he was about to do her bidding again as he entered the ancient cell that held their prisoner.
Christopher Heart was shackled to the wall. He had been stripped of everything except for his jeans. His shoulders sagged. His arms were numb due to the lack of blood flow. His face was pale. His eyes were tired. They had not allowed him to sleep. If he dozed off, a vampire would immediately enter his room and punch him in the stomach. Bruises covered his body. He could barely lift his head to acknowledge the evil presence in his cell.
"Wake up," Razor growled as another vampire rolled in a cart.
The second vampire left without speaking. The cart was covered with a sheet. No odors other than the evil stench of the undead creature in front of him told Chris that they had not brought him a meal. He had heard of the vampire who was covered in scars. His name was Razor and his brutality was legendary. Chris knew that his day wasn't going to get any better. He decided not to acknowledge the vampire.
"Cat got your tongue?" Razor teased as he approached his prisoner.
Chris refused to speak, but his eyes never left his soon-to-be tormentor.
"Hmmm," Razor said as he reached out and grabbed Christopher's face with his right hand, "A little on the shy side."
He pushed Chris' head into the ancient stone wall. Stars filled his vision. Before he could focus, Razor punched him in the stomach. He was glad that he didn't have anything in his stomach because in his fatigued, weakened state, he would have vomited. The vampire laughed.
"Don't die yet," he ordered. "We have much to discuss."
"You'll get nothing out of me," Chris stated.
"Oh you will talk. You council warriors believe that you are mighty and powerful, but you are just a weak human. In five minutes, you will beg me to stop and tell me everything that I want to hear."
"Guess again," Chris answered.
Razor shrugged his shoulders. He removed his jacket and tossed it aside. "I am ever the opportunist so I will offer you one chance to tell me where the tome is located and I will kill you quickly…"
Chris spat in his face.
Razor ripped the sheet from the cart and he used it to wipe his face. "Now that wasn't necessary, now was it? Very well, as you can see, we can do this the hard way," he said as he nodded to his tools on the cart.
As per his name, the cart was covered with various razor sharp implements. His favorites, shaving razors, were lined along the cart like dutiful soldiers awaiting their next command. Razor picked up the first blade on the cart and he caressed it in his hand. He walked to Chris who showed no emotion or fear. He placed the tip of the blade on Chris' chest. He pressed barely hard enough for the tip to bite into his flesh. A small red line formed as he worked his way across his left pectoral muscle.
"Is there anything more beautiful than the blade? A perfectly honed piece of steel that can render one speechless or barely break the skin, but I digress," he said as he pulled the blade away, "As I have discovered new tools."
He returned the blade back to the cart. He admired the small trickle of blood as it eased its way down his prisoner's muscular body. He looked Chris in the eye and smiled. He snapped his fingers
and the second vampire returned with another cart. This time it was already uncovered. It was a car battery and jumper cables. The vampire smiled.
"Now this is where the fun begins," Razor said with a hint of glee in his voice.
Chris remained motionless. He looked straight ahead and did not acknowledge Razor. The disfigured vampire hooked the jumper cables to the battery. He wheeled the cart closer to Chris who refused to divert his eyes. The second vampire nodded to his leader. Razor dismissed him with a wave. He picked up the black jumper cable and he connected it to the restraints. Chris closed his eyes and prepared himself for the pain that was about to follow.
Razor did not speak. He connected the red cable to the metal restraints and Chris' entire body began to shake. He refused to scream. Pain shot through every part of his body. Razor walked to the battery and unhooked the red cable from its terminal. Chris slumped in his restraints. He panted. Stars blurred his vision. His entire body was numb from the pain. Black burns encircled his wrists. He was ready for the end.
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