Blood Reign

by Harvey W. McCarthy

  The vampire managed to nod again.

  She dropped him. "Now get the fuck out of my room!" she ordered.

  The vampire gathered himself. He reached in his jacket and handed her a copy of the morning newspaper. She saw the burn marks on his hands where he had to expose himself to the sunlight in order to retrieve it. He had impressed her. She hissed when she took it from him. He darted out the door. She smirked and closed it behind him. She licked his blood from her fingers as she strolled back to her desk.

  "Mmmm," she moaned, "I forgot how tasty he could be. Now, where was I before I was so rudely interrupted?"

  She dropped the folded newspaper on her desk. She picked up the tome and she leaned back in her chair. Her margarita had melted slightly but the blood was still fresh. It tickled her tongue. The sensation made her feel warm inside. She had the rush of scaring one of her underlings to the point of pure fear. She had threatened him and the so-called Master Michaels. She felt absolutely wonderful.

  She took another sip of her margarita. She opened her tome and removed the silk bookmark. She draped it around her neck. The silk felt wonderful against her skin. She moaned. However, she quickly snapped out of her moment. She had to get to work. She had studied very hard over the years to master the vampire language and all of its dialects. She removed a notepad from her ancient desk that she had liberated from a now deceased antiques dealer from the turn of the twentieth century. She found one of her expensive pens and she

  turned the notepad to a clean page. She focused, and she began to read:

  The Daily Observances of Forlon the Morbid: Member of the Order of Twelve.

  "Could these assholes be anymore pompous?" she muttered. "What kind of bullshit name is Forlon the Morbid? Why couldn't they have a sexy name like Michelle? Anyway…"

  She continued reading:

  September 5, 1666

  London, England

  As decreed by Lord Blackraven, I continue with my daily observances. Over the past four days, I have watched the city burn. The conflagration continues to rage and sweep through the city. Despite being a potential risk to my own existence, the fire is absolutely beautiful.

  As beautiful as the fire may seem the glorious screams of agony makes my spine shiver with excitement. Just moments ago, from my perch on the roof of the Palace at Whitehall, I watched some inhabitant of the slums run through the streets screaming. His body was lovely orange hue. Though it saddened me that I could not feast on his body, watching his skin burn was thoroughly enjoyable. I have not had this much fun since I butchered an entire council cavalry.

  Before, I get lost in my own reverie; I must confess that this fire was my creation. During the weeks prior to the start of the conflagration, I lowered myself to feast on those who inhabit their slums. While their blood was tainted with their lower class, the resulting horrors unleashed on them made lowering myself briefly worth my personal degradation. I feasted on and turned an entire family. After they rose, I sent them forth to feast on then men, women, and even children of the slums. I had ordered them to continue raising more vampires as we were going to take over the entire city and eventually the island.

  Those poor simple fools were looking for a better life. I used and manipulated them just as their own aristocracy has done for centuries. Unlike their aristocracy, I destroyed their lives within a matter of days. It took the aristocracy, the pompous fools that they are, years of manipulation to create the poor and the resulting slums. However, what happened next was my greatest achievement of all.

  I could have been satisfied knowing that I probably could have controlled London within a matter of weeks. My slum army was growing and I could soon use them to overthrow the council garrison that was not so secretly stationed within the city. Why else would vampires have fled a city where they could easily feast on the people in the slums? Their rulers were going to turn a blind eye until the vampires dared to, as they called it, infect one of their own. A little charm and a little wealth can go a long way in seducing a wife of one of the rich nobles. When I sent her forth to increase our numbers in the slums, my plan was complete.

  Being of a wealthy background, it was easy to infiltrate their ranks. I told the thick-headed guard at the gate that I had traveled from the south to speak to Sir Thomas Bloodworth. Being the city mayor, he wouldn't speak to me unless I had the proper "credentials." Those credentials being enough money to bribe him to speak with me. I should have killed him on sight but that would have ruined my plan. After proving my worth with a bag of gold coins, he permitted my audience.

  When I saw the pompous fool, I informed him that my carriage had the misfortune of traveling through the city slums. He, of course, apologized for the inconvenience that was caused, but I told him that was the least of my worries. When I explained that I had escaped with my life as the slums had become overrun by vampires, he immediately blanched. When I said one of the vampires was a member of his own aristocracy, he blanched again. If I hadn't known better, I would have sworn that he was a vampire as he was so delightfully pale.

  I had been waiting many months to test my theory which is why I am making this notation. During a moment where I was enjoying a young woman whose services were easily bought, I requested that she do something out of the ordinary. She refused. I stared deeply into her eyes and again I made my request. She flinched. The longer I stared into her eyes, I could almost see into her mind. I could see that she did want to do it. I asked again, but this time I made it a command. She agreed. I must say that it was better than I had expected. However, I needed to test my theory on someone a little less willing.

  I approached Sir Bloodworth with my concerns. Thomas, as I prefer to call him, didn't want believe that there were vampires in London. I almost laughed since I was a vampire standing directly in front of him. I told him that I had proof and that he should contact the Council of the Light. When I mentioned their precious council, he blanched again. He told me that I should never speak of that name in open public. It was then I had my chance to use my power.

  I noticed that Sir Bloodworth, excuse me, Thomas, didn't want to contact the council. He told me that they were pressuring him and he wanted to use his authority to its fullest. He was willing I just need to give him a little encouragement. I told him that his men could take care of the vampire problem. He inquired to how. I told him that vampires couldn't stand fire because they burned like a dry forest. He couldn't envision burning any buildings. I looked into his eyes and commanded that he burn the city. He asked how it could be done.

  The next part was my favorite. While walking through the slums, I discovered a very foul and disgusting bakery on Pudding Lane. The food was as foul and disgusting as those people who shopped at the location. I told Thomas that due to the conditions of the building and the social standing of its owner, he could easily blame the fire on him. The owner, if he survived, would be thrown in prison thusly making the moment that much more enjoyable. Alas, I believe that the owner perished in the fire.

  When the fire began to rage out of control, his soldiers requested to build firebreaks. I told him that we needed to discuss the matter in private. Again, I commanded him to be hesitant. I planted the suggestion that the firebreaks would create refuges for the vampires. If he was going to eliminate the vampires, he was going to have to delay the creation of the firebreaks. The soldiers protested because St. Paul's Cathedral was in peril, but, alas, Thomas did as commanded.

  As the fire wanes, I must admit that my plan went better than I could have ever dreamed. Those who I had sired and who they had sired are dead. Their bodies burned to ash. However, my ultimate goal, the destruction of the council fortifications, went better than I could ever have imagined. The last report from Sir Bloodworth's own militia stated that eighty-seven churches, including St. Paul's Cathedral, burned. The cathedral, the council's fortification in London, burned to the ground and many of its warriors died trying to protect their secrets. Oh what a glorious week it has been!

&n
bsp; I close this passage as it is time to leave London. I will leave Sir Thomas to answer for his sins. I wish I could stay and enjoy them, but I must see if this power will work on a King. I think France needs a war.

  I must find the tome of Lord Visigoth as he said that he had developed his own abilities with the mind. He said he could "cast humans away with a thought." Alas, he perished and the council has tome. Maybe I shall make that my quest after I return from France.

  Forlon

  Mikhaeli smiled. She sipped the remaining few drops of her margarita. She couldn't wait to try this new power. The last passage of his pompous backslapping entry had caught her attention. She had a chance to possess the tome of Lord Visigoth but it had slipped through her fingers. She got close to it but they had prevented her from retrieving it and it was lost forever. She placed the tome on top of the newspaper. She emptied the glass and placed it on her desk.

  She stretched. Several of her joints popped. It felt good to have the release. She thought of Master Michaels, as he called himself, and she giggled. He needed to know his place. He had expected her to go running to him to see what was so important. However, she had better things on her mind.

  "I think that I will try out my new Jacuzzi," she said with a smile. "It's good to be the queen."

  She laughed evilly.

  CHAPTER 12

  "Holy shit!" David exclaimed.

  Larry tiredly turned his attention to his friend. They had been working the entire day. After they had closed up their respective stores for the day, David had moved back over to the antique bookstore. The sun had set many hours ago and David continued to surf the web while Larry continually flipped through their archived books. Both men had filled a letter size notepad with their research and they were each working on a second notepad. However, Larry had realized why he had recruited Myles and David. His young apprentice was still rapidly working away whereas Larry was rapidly tiring. He was too old to help Chris like he did in the past, but he continued onward. They couldn't let their friend and ally down.

  "I am assuming that you aren't surfing for Megan Fox pictures. If you are then why aren't you sharing?" Larry asked.

  "No, I just found another reference to a church disaster," David said as he completely missed Larry's joke.

  Larry rolled his eyes. "Okay, we can cross-reference it with some of the last recorded dates of the council possessed tomes."

  "I would have preferred the Megan Fox pictures," Chris said from the archway that connected the two stores.

  "Me too," Larry said.

  David jumped when he heard Chris' voice. He still was not completely comfortable with his friend being a member of the undead. He had to constantly remind himself that he wasn't one of his enemies. He fought vampires with the same vigor, if not more, as the council warriors. However, the idea of Chris drinking human blood disturbed him greatly or that Chris could snap and attack one of his allies. David shivered.

  "Relax geek boy," Chris said, "I'm not going to eat you today."

  David blanched and Larry giggled. "Don't worry, David," Larry teased. "He hasn't eaten anyone this week."

  Chris almost commented, but he decided to change the topic. "Okay, since we've made David uneasy, let's get focused. Since I can see that you have been both working feverishly between your Megan Fox sessions, tell me what you know."

  Larry cleared his throat. "I'll start off. From our research, I can find eleven documented battles or occurrences where the council has recorded ownership of a tome of the Order of Twelve."

  "Let me guess, the tome of Lord Blackraven isn't accounted for," Chris stated.

  Both researchers nodded. "Yes," Larry said, "There is no documented record of the council ever being in possession of his tome."

  "That doesn't surprise me," Chris said. "I am going to assume that Lord Blackraven's tome was indeed found because I am also going to assume that you did find recorded evidence of his death."

  "Yes, it is documented in the council archives," Larry stated.

  "However," Chris said as he cleared his throat, "According to council history, he was the last of the Order of Twelve to perish. His tome would contain knowledge envied by all other vampires. I seriously doubt that if you added all the knowledge of the other tomes together that you wouldn't come close to matching the amount of information contained within his tome. According to legend, he noted everything including how they were turned into vampires."

  "I have read that myself, but why wouldn't the council ever document finding it?" Larry asked

  "I am going to assume again. Did you find references to great disasters or church robberies?" Chris asked.

  David nodded. "Yes, they are all over the internet and Larry even has several ancient ones documented from the council archives."

  "And because they are documented, what does that tell you?" Chris asked David as Larry smiled.

  "Why does this suddenly feel like one of your classes?" David asked Larry.

  "Because it basically is one of my classes," Larry answered. "Unlike one of my classes, we are living the history as we speak. In my classes, we theorized about what had happened in the past. We researched ancient documents and sometimes we even came up with plausible explanations to why something happened or what could have actually happened, but it wasn't completely documented. In this case, we are trying to change the course of history by using our training."

  "However, you still haven't answered my question," Chris stated.

  David looked at the ceiling and began to think. He should know the answer to the question. "The disasters are documented because the tomes were discovered…" His voice trailed off as he realized where Chris was headed with his line of thinking. "If they document where Lord Blackraven's tome is located, then there is a chance that it could be discovered."

  "Yes and I will assume again that you will confirm what I have already suspected, she already holds several tomes in her possession," Chris said.

  Larry cleared his throat. "I guess that I will start by detailing what I have discovered. The council was very meticulous about documenting their possession of the tomes. Originally, they did list the location of each tome until the vampire attacks started. The most obvious one confirms the story that Father Kinney told us. The tome of Dorian Mordant, a former Spanish priest who is only referred to as 'Father,' was opened in Moscow in September of 1812.

  "The tome, which was taken from Mordant in the early eighteen hundreds, was transferred to Moscow to hide it from any vampire looking to read its powerful words. However, Mordant had placed a spell on the tome that if it was opened by a human that it would become a beacon to lead vampires to its location. A council leader, who was too curious for his own good, opened the tome in hopes that he could read it. It was virtually a mystical chumming of the waters so to speak. They ended up burning Moscow nearly to the ground because the city had become overrun by vampires.

  "History states that the Russians burned the city to prevent its capture by Napoleon and his army. However, according to my research, Napoleon was in contact with the council. He originally had been set forth to conquer vampire lands but he lost his way. When he reached Moscow, he learned of the vampire infestation and that his army was needed to liberate the city of its evil populace. Napoleon knew that he did not have the available forces to conquer Moscow and defeat the vampires. He, instead, suggested that they burn the city and then kill any vampires that survived. Unfortunately, when the fire was stopped and the vampires were eliminated, the tome of Dorian Mordant had disappeared from its secure vault underneath The Trinity Lavra of Saint Sergius. The vault was open and several monks were found dead in a nearby military barracks. They had moved the tome from the church to the alleged security of the barracks. Red lipstick on the cheek on one of the monks indicated that their visitor had been a female. The legend of Mikhaeli Lanaova, our vampire queen, began after the Fire of Moscow."

  "And she only became more powerful," Chris stated. "Do we have any idea of how many of
tomes that she owns?"

  "I have cross-referenced the information that Larry has discovered with historical references found on the internet. Over the last two hundred years, there have been eight known church-related disasters: Either a city fire or a specific church fire or robbery. Adding in the recent church robbery that we personally witnessed, I would say that she has nine tomes in her possession," David stated.

  "And we know that she has Visigoth's tome…"

  "Actually," Larry stated as he interrupted his long-time friend, "I don't believe that she has Visigoth's tome."

  Chris shook his head. "I know that you are mistaken. I have witnessed four vampires walk on consecrated grounds. David and I both witnessed three of them recently. The first vampire to do it was…"

  "Visigoth. Yes, I know," Larry stated as he finished Chris' story. "However, my research indicates that she lost possession of the tome."

  "Care to share?" Chris asked.

  "Yeah, he's been teasing me with this story all day," David added.