by RT Lucas
Alicia mumbled, “Angel skanks” under her breath as she listened entranced by Shuggie’s story. “So you can fly?”
Shuggie’s laugh was unexpected, but he couldn’t help himself. “Naw youngling, ah cannae fly.” As his laugh settled, he explained, “Uriel passed on his corrupted angel an vampire blood tae me. He hud discovered ah way tae survive an thrive by drinking others blood, an he taught meh everythin’ ah needed tae know. Fur a thousand years ah walked the night fighting’ for Uriel’s immortal army – endin’ the lives o’ humans who were marked tae become angels when they died. Ah hud mah fill o’ it, youngling – ah couldnae kill innocents any mare. Uriel wisnae a savior – he wis evil an deranged. So, ah severed mah links wi’ Uriel an made mah way alone in the world.” Shuggie frowned at that thought as scenes of bloody massacres cascaded over his skin. “After meh, Uriel began tae make others by draining the hosts an feedin’ them his own blood. In turn those sub–species vampires accursed others – usually against their will. But ah wis his first ‘made’ in his image. Although, he did tell meh once he had a bairn that the demoness hud borne. He didnae like talkin’ aboot that though” he mused. Brought back to the conversation, Shuggie added, “So unlike most o’ the other vampires – present company excepted – ah am made from the Original vampire – an kin dae many things the others cannae. We will huv tae wait tae see wit hus passed tae Teodora. Ah’ve never changed anyone afore.”
Alicia’s brown eyes were huge in wonder as she absorbed what Shuggie’s was telling her. “You are more special than me, look at you Hugh – all I can do is flash away.” Alicia laughed as she turned her head and removed her hand from Shuggie’s to tenderly move a strand of fallen hair away from Teodora’s eye. “She’s going to be epic when she wakes up.”
Shuggie was in full agreement and about to say so when he felt a searing pain in his chest. Pulling the t-shirt off, he looked down. His eyes bulged as he traced over his heart – his tattoo had formed, a perfect image of Teodora’s face on his skin, but although his other ink was swirling lazily over his sculpted body, this image remained intact. “Teodora….” Pulling back the covers to reveal Teodora’s svelte, naked body, he couldn’t see any markings on her skin. He gingerly turned her on her side and as Alicia gasped, he looked around and seen the most intricate tattoo on Teodora’s shoulder blades. “Wings?” he looked quickly to Alicia for confirmation.
Dumbfounded at what she saw, Alicia’s head nodded slowly as she rose to her feet and walked around to stand beside Shuggie. “Told you she was going to be epic.” Alicia kissed his cheek and headed out of the bay this was their private time to be alone. As she walked away she let out a squeal, “Ziggy! That tickles you little monster.”
Just as he didn’t notice Alicia arriving, Shuggie didn’t realise she had left. He was still awestruck. “Mah soul tae your soul, for’er an always, Teodora.” The ink on his body was the manifestation of his soul, gifted to him by the Fallen Angel Uriel – to keep with him the story of his life. And now Teodora was not only a part of it, but shared it with him. “Ye huv taken oan the angel part o’ me…” and damn, didn’t that just make his pride burst as he lay his ‘angel’ back down, to resume his devoted bedside vigil.
CHAPTER FORTY TWO
Mabel was in a good mood. She had been scrying over her bowl of fresh mortal blood, searching for the Little Carberletti. It was her main pastime and for all these years since she had clawed her way out of her grave, she had never caught a glimpse or heard a whisper about her. Until now. Now there were whispers of the Carberletti name being carried in the wind every few days, which meant that she was getting close to locating her.
Mabel was distracted by the shuffle and drag of footsteps approaching her. She sighed and waved her hand over the scrying bowl to make the images disappear, then whipped her head round to see two of her pathetic minions cowering before her. Hissing an order for the room to be emptied, she turned her attentions to them. “Well? I haven’t got all night. What did you find out?” Then she sneered, “Or did you come back empty handed like your many predecessors? Surely you don’t need reminded of what fate befell them after they disappointed me. Do you?” Mabel smiled too sweetly as she pushed into their minds visions and screams of faceless sorcerers who she had shown no mercy in their ‘failure’. Kicking one of the minions in the chest, Mabel cackled, watching him fall to the floor with an ungracious thud, “Making your Queen repeat herself will only stretch out your punishments”
Mabel sat back on her throne made of human bones and leaned back, her gaze was focussed straight ahead. “And that is the only advice I shall ever give for free.” She crossed her legs and began inspecting her immaculately manicured nails, listening to the inane babbling and snivelling of her minions. With a tired tone she announced “I have heard these excuses a million times from a million different mouths. Always the same. So boring! My orders were simple. Beyond simple. And the incompetence of my subjects – astounding. Sometimes I wonder, truly wonder why on earth I bother. Ah, the responsibilities of overthrowing those in my way lying so heavy on one as beautiful as I! My only ambition – even as a child growing up after having slaughtered my rivals to take the throne” In her defense, she thought to herself – she had always been told that she would inherit the throne, so the timing and manner by which she did so was merely a technicality.
She wanted the lifeblood that would transform her into the most powerful hybrid ever to exist. And once that was achieved? Nothing would stop her from colonising the hordes of humans – a never-ending food supply and an army of loyal slaves to attend to her every whim. It was such a simple plan. So why wasn’t it working?!
Focussing back on the incompetence of her minions, Mabel’s attention was piqued when she heard them speak the name. “Say that again.” Leaning forward as her nails scored the armrests of her grotesque throne. The minion stuttered and repeated the words
“Th...the...there have been rumours your Majesty that a Carberletti was responsible for a series of raids on mafia families, culminating in an execution of a full family line. This Carberletti was reported to be either in Mexico, or Italy – we don’t have the precise details yet. He has been clever in covering his tracks,” the minion hesitantly added, “it also seems that he has been in recent contact with the scientist you had informed us about – Doctor Valdez.” Then he quieted down, unsure whether this information was good or bad – no one could read Mabel’s moods.
Mabel smirked. It was so provincial of her minions to automatically assume that the young Carberletti was male. Males were of no use to her – she had drowned or snapped the heads off of any sons she had borne. The only useful sex was the female – everyone knew that! And although it was barely of interest to her about the scientist, she knew that it would be information that Tony would just adore to know. So too would be the whereabouts of the Little Carberletti – he was as hell-bent on finding the diminutive deceiver as much as she was. So, Mabel mused, my nemesis is close!
The last time they had ‘met’ did not end amicably to say the least. In fact, it had taken Mabel damn well near nine decades to heal from her injuries and claw her way out of that grave she had been imprisoned in. Nine arduous decades of agonies and solitude. Mabel drummed her fingers on the armrests as she thought quickly. “She’s planning something, I can feel it in my blood!” Fixing her gaze back to the cowering minions she screamed, “I want to know what the little Carberletti is up to and I want to know where. What the hell are you waiting for? I gave you an order.” Mabel stood up, her eyes turning from brown to red “I gave all of you an order!”
Mabel regained her composure and sat back down, talking to herself as her bony hands raked through her long matted hair. “Come out, come out, wherever you are! Little Carberletti...I can sense you...Can you feel me coming for you? Will you beg me when you realise that I will kill all whom you cherish, whom you love? What will your last thought be when I rip your pretty little throat out with my bare hands and tear your beatin
g heart from your chest?” She chuckled at that last thought, and decided to scry at her blood bowl, concentrating on Mexico and Italy.
After a few hours, she caught the merest glimpse of a shadow and overheard parts of a conversation which confirmed her suspicions. “I have you in my sights now, little Carberletti – yes, Mabel has you now…tick tock!”
“I know something you don’t know, doo dah doo dah…” Mabel was skipping around the entrails of her ‘former’ minions, clapping her hands and singing in a high pitched screech. “...I know something you don’t know, oh da–doo dah day!” She was having a celebration massacre and thanks to her latest recruitment drive in the homeless centre that had just opened up outside Bucharest, she had ingested a few too many mortal alcoholics’ bloods – which was making her deliciously dizzy and giddy with the information that she had learned.
Mabel had forgotten about Tony stealing the Warriors’ sword from her – she had bigger things on her agenda now. Picking up a length of intestines that nearly tripped her up, she wound each end in her hands and started to use them as a skipping rope as she sang, keeping to the same tune. “Tony wants what Mabel knows, doo dah doo dah. Mabel won’t tell if he shows, oh-dah-doo dah day…”
“What the fuck?” Tony stood with a look of utter astonishment on his hardened face. “You are a fucking whack job Precious”
He was leaning against her throne watching her skipping about in her usual delirious state of mind, it was times like this he had to evaluate why he worked with her.
“Mabel.”
Pouting, Mabel stopped singing but forgot she was still skipping and tripped over the intestines, barrelling into Tony’s stomach. Backing away and rubbing her head she frowned. “That’s my name...don’t wear it up,” then clutched her stomach as another bout of indigestion hit her. “What do you want?” she whined.
“It’s don’t wear it out you stupid cunt.” Tony shifted to sit in the throne kicking his long legs in front of him. “You and I need to talk bitch, Carberletti being the topic”
Waving her hands dismissively at him Mabel screeched, “Get your filthy Nurse Mariners off of my throne!” Then shrugged, picking a thread on her top. “Carberletti...Carberletti. Nope, nothing to discuss,” she lied, grinning mischievously to herself.
“You are stupid as well as psychotic you know that?” Tony launched himself from her throne, his hands gripping around her slender throat as he pinned against the wall. “Do not fucking lie to me cunt, tell me what you know.”
A rare moment of clarity reared up in Mabel and her voice came booming out of the human corpse she wore as her skin. “Remember whom you address, sorcerer.” Her eyes were swirling crimson, and there was a harsh wind blowing in the room which seemed to come from out of nowhere.
Tony loosened his grip, setting Mabel to her feet carefully. She may be a psychotic, crazy bitch, but when she was sane, he knew when to draw the line and show her respect. She was capable of ending him, and he knew it.
“My apologies Precious, now will you share what you know?” He eyed her closely.
Like the switching of a light, Mabel’s crazy had returned. She inclined her head to one side regarding Tony, confusion on her face. “Tony!” A crooked smile forming on her dead lips. “I was just thinking about you!” She clapped her hands together three times, jumping on the spot. “I have information,” she whispered, eyes darting left and right, “about you-know-who!”
“And there is one of her alter egos,” Tony mumbled to himself as he took her hand and sat her on her Throne. How the hell did she become so deranged?! “Tell me my precious, what information do you have for me today, tell me and I will reward you well.” He was lying, Tony gave no one anything apart from torture and death.
Mabel’s eyes went wide and she grinned letting her serrated incisor fangs show. “A reward? For me?! Oh Mabel is happy!!” And she truly was for that one instant. Standing stock still again she peered at Tony. “Don’t tell anyone I told you – pinkie swear.” She held out her hand, her pinkie finger straight and her face expectant of him.
Tony rolled his dark brown eyes as he reluctantly wrapped his pinkie around the one that was offered, jerking Mable forward closer to him. Bending down to her height to whisper in her ear, “No one will hear it from me Precious.” He was treating her with kid gloves, she was in full blown insanity mode but the switch to the lethal hybrid she was could be flipped at any moment.
As her stomach cramped, Mabel wrapped her arms around her and nodded, satisfied he would not tell. “Well…the Little Carberletti is out in the open! Yes she is!” She frowned, trying to remember something – something important. “Malta ...nonono ….Madrid…” None of those sounded right. It took her a few seconds before declaring, “Mexico! Or Italy!” Nodding to herself, “Yes, Italy or Mexico – and Tony….” Her sing song voice was back. “She was saying her name – yes she was! Mabel heard it in the blood!” She was sinking back into full madness again. “Doctor Who….Doctor Doctor...Doctor Valdez!” before humming show tunes under her breath, unaware that Tony was in front of her.
Tony’s eyes shot up, boring right into Mable as he processed her ramblings in his head. The Sanguis-solis was alive and on the radar once more. The more he mused the more it clicked into place. Mabel had mentioned both Italy and Mexico, of course Mexico being where Belcastro was taken down and whispers had reached him that a ‘Carberltti’ had been done…well hadn’t it just been by one of them, his voice was low and deadly.
“So she is taking after her father? She’s not going to have time for fucking mafia games, when I get her she will be the diamond to complete my crown…What the fuck do you mean Valdez is alive?”
By now, Mabel was giving a rousing rendition of “Oklahoma” complete with jazz hands, and was way past being able to answer any more of Tony’s questions – she was indulging in her insanity and it could be days or weeks before she resurfaced again.
Tony knew she was too far gone and stormed out of her castle, out into the grounds where he could flash back to his institute, he had much to do. Alicia was alive, his best surgeon, was alive and with the sword of Subject Ultimo having resurfaced he was walking amongst them too…His world domination was getting closer and he would rule the mortal and Supernatural earth as his own!
CHAPTER FORTY THREE
Teodora lay still as she thought to herself, ‘What day was it? What time was it? And how long had she been floating in and out of consciousness?’ It had in fact only been twenty four hours but felt like months to her. Deciding to try and move her body again, she lifted her arm, unaware that it moved at a surreal pace and ended up banging into her face, her voice was croaked, “Oh gosh”
“Easy lass.” Shuggie put the sponge back in the basin of water as he finished washing her body, smiling as he saw her open her eyes and move. “Dae ye want anything?” His voice was soothing as he covered her with a fresh blanket.
“Warrior? Shuggah is that you?” Teodora’s throat was like sandpaper as she slowly opened her eyes, the lights of the room were blinding. “Oh gosh this is heaven yes?”
Shuggie sat, staring at Teodora for a moment. “Yer eyes, lassie – they’re…ah fuck they’re bonnie.” She had the most stunning metallic blue irises that shimmered so subtly, and the whites of her eyes were like pure crystal. Seeing her blink at the brightness of the artificial lights, he willed them to dim down. “This isnae heaven, yer alive, wi’ me. Yer immortal now, Teodora.” Reaching over to cup her face as he rubbed his thumb over her lips.
Diamond-like tears fell from Teodora’s eyes as she felt Shuggie’s touch on her skin, not wanting to lose the contact she lay still. “Water, may I have a glass of water, Warrior?” She wanted to say so much but her mouth was dry and on the verge of being sore.
Without a word, Shuggie sat behind Teodora, gently lifting her up to rest her back against his chest. Summoning a cool glass of highland spring water from his castle, he held it for her as she sipped. “Dinnae guzzle it, there’s p
lenty more.” His other hand pressed over her forehead as he kissed her bare shoulder. “Ah love ye so damn much, Teodora…” his voice cracking ever so slightly, as he thought of how close he came to losing her.
As their skin touched, Teodora lay her head back to lean against Shuggie’s chest and images of how he changed her flooded her mind making her sob harder. “Oh gosh Warrior, I am so sorry yes? I love you so much and did not want to ever lose you please forgive me for my actions?” Her voice was pleading as her mind saw the intimacy of how Shuggie saved her life, giving her immortality.