by Brandon Hale
“Why do you care?” Ellie said. “Seriously. She cut off your damn head and imprisoned you for years. Why are you helping?”
“Do you want to chat,” Travis said, “or do you want to save your friend?” He looked at Scott. “You ready, Howler?”
Scott nodded. “Let’s do this. And don’t call me Howler.”
Chapter 22
Elizabeth
Lily sat in the back of the car as they rode toward the coast. They’d been on the road for about an hour or so. Isaac sat beside her in the back seat. Oliver sat in the front passenger seat. A Topian Lily didn’t know was driving.
“We’re almost there,” Oliver said. “You’ll love Elizabeth.”
So, Lily thought, that’s her name. Elizabeth. “Somehow,” she said out loud, “I doubt that.”
“If you think Travis is an interesting fella,” Oliver said, “Elizabeth will blow you away. Next to her, Travis is downright boring.”
“Wonderful,” Lily said.
“Coming up on Allhallows, sir,” the driver said. “We’ll be at the coast in a few minutes.”
They drove through a small Topian township, then came to the coast. Eventually, the road left the beach and stretched out over the ocean. They rode above the water for about a half-mile until they finally reached their destination.
The place was huge. Standing on a platform just above the ocean’s surface, it was basically a large castle. As wide as a city block and several stories high, it looked almost mythological. Like some mystical castle in a fantasy novel.
“Cassius had this place built,” Oliver said. “It was his private residence. Now, it belongs to Elizabeth.”
“So you admit you know Cassius,” Lily said.
“I think the time for pretense has passed,” Oliver said. “Of course I know Cassius.”
“Where is he?” Lily asked. “I can’t believe he would approve of what you’re doing.”
“I don’t know where he is,” Oliver said. “The last time I saw him, he was running toward the forest. Hopefully, he’s werewolf food by now. Cassius was useful for a while, but he got too caught up in his own myth. He started to actually believe he could build a perfect world.”
“I take it you don’t live under such a delusion,” Lily said.
“Of course I don’t,” Oliver said. “Cassius’s little world was far from perfect. It was one big compromise. I’m not a fan of compromise.”
Lily looked at Isaac. “I gotta say, I’m disappointed you’re part of this. I knew your president was full of shit, but I actually believed you were legit.”
Isaac remained silent.
The car pulled to a stop in the parking lot in front of the castle. Several guards roamed the grounds.
“They’re all vampires,” Oliver said. “None of that Topian nonsense here.”
“Good,” Lily said. “It’ll make killing them that much easier.”
Oliver laughed. “There’s that attitude I heard so much about. I love it. Normally, I love seeing someone like you lose all hope. With you, though, I think it’ll make me a little sad.”
They ushered Lily from the car to the castle. When they entered through the castle’s giant front doors, Lily looked at the first room in awe. The room was monstrously large. Balconies hung above the first floor on all sides. A giant staircase stood in the center of the room. Dozens of doors lined the walls.
“It’s spectacular, no?” Oliver said. “Cassius certainly has a flair for the dramatic.” He pointed toward a door to the right. “Elizabeth is this way.”
The door turned out to be an elevator. They stepped inside and Oliver said, “Holding Room Two.” The elevator began to move. Lily could tell they were going down.
Lily looked at Isaac. “So all your promises,” she said, “meant nothing. It was just bullshit to get me to surrender. I should’ve let Travis kill you.”
Isaac didn’t answer.
“You’re worse than Oliver,” Lily went on. “He’s evil. He is what he is. But you… you have a choice. And you chose to align yourself with the monsters. You’ve betrayed your city and everything it stands for.”
“Life’s full of disappointments,” Isaac said. “I’m surprised you didn’t learn that lesson when your daddy ate your mommy.”
Oliver laughed as the elevator door slid open.
“Killing you is going to feel good,” Lily said as they stepped from the elevator… into a dungeon.
That was really the only word Lily could think of to describe it. The room was lit by torches lined along gray stone walls. Between the torches, humans hung from chains. Dozens of humans. Some looked dead, others looked unconscious, and some were awake and terrified.
A bathtub sat in the center of the room. A woman sat in the tub. She looked at Lily and smiled. “Hello, love.” The tub was filled with what appeared to be blood.
The woman was literally bathing in blood.
“Lily,” Oliver said, “I’d like to introduce you to Elizabeth. She’s about to change the world.”
Elizabeth laughed as she climbed from the tub. The blood from the tub covered most of her naked body. “Bathing in blood isn’t nearly as fun as it looks.” She spoke with an accent Lily didn’t recognize. “It coagulates so quickly.”
Despite the blood dripping from her body, she was a beautiful vampire. Perhaps the most beautiful Lily had ever seen. Her skin was white and perfect. Her hair was long, dark, and wavy. She was curvaceous but certainly not fat. Her eyes were dark and powerful.
She strolled up to Oliver and placed a bloody hand on his face. “Oliver, my child, you understate our importance. We’re not going to change the world.” She looked at Lily and winked. “We’re going to destroy it.”
“What is it with you people?” Lily said. “I’ve never met a vampire who wasn’t melodramatic. You’re either taking over the world or you’re destroying it. Really, it’s getting boring.”
“Boring?” Elizabeth said. “I would have thought you’d find it terrifying. After all, you keep allowing it to happen. Cassius took over the world. Travis came very close to destroying it. You’re very confident for someone who fails over and over and over again.”
“You have fat thighs,” Lily said.
Elizabeth laughed, then turned to Oliver and said, “Chain her to the wall.”
“So that’s it?” Lily asked. “You went through all this just to chain me to a wall? I really expected more.”
“Oh, there’s more,” Elizabeth said. “Much more. Your evolution is at hand. Everything you are is about to change, Lily Baxter.”
Something about the quiet confidence in Elizabeth’s voice unnerved Lily. “I’ve been through big changes before,” Lily said. “Take off my gloves and I’ll show you.”
Oliver and Isaac pulled Lily to a wall and cuffed her to a chain hanging between two torches. “I don’t know what you’re planning,” Lily said, “but you’re wasting your time. I’m obsolete. The world doesn’t need me anymore. Killing me won’t change anything.”
“Oh, honey,” Elizabeth said, “I don’t plan to kill you. I thought I made that clear. I plan to change you.”
“Change me?” Lily said. “Into what?”
Elizabeth smiled. “Into one of us.”
“That’s not possible,” Lily said.
“Lily, Lily, Lily,” Elizabeth said. “You of all people should know, with enough determination, anything is possible.”
Chapter 23
Making Waves
The yacht floated lazily on the water. Albert Franklin stood on the deck, sipping a glass of blood. They were about ten miles from the shore of Allhallows. The ocean air felt wonderful.
Albert’s girlfriend, Marion, walked up to him and kissed him on the cheek. “Thank you for this,” she said. “I really needed to get away.”
“Me too,” Albert said. “With everything going on in the capital city, the people of Allhallows are getting very nervous. They’re sure it’s going to spread to us. I needed a break.”
�
��Can’t blame them for coming to you about it,” Marion said. “You are the mayor, after all.”
“Yeah,” Albert said, “but it gets overwhelming after a while.”
Marion looked around the deck. “Good thing you own this yacht. It’s a perfect way to get away from it all.”
“It is lovely,” Albert said. “Nothing clears my mind like going out to sea.”
“I must admit,” Marion said, “I was surprised you could afford a boat like this. It’s quite luxurious. And quite large.”
“It was a gift,” Albert said, “from the Topian who built that mansion on the coast. I streamlined his permits for him. This was his way of saying thanks.”
“The life of a politician,” Marion said. “Must be nice.”
“Being mayor has its perks, I suppose.”
“How long are we staying out here?” Marion asked.
“We’ve got plenty of blood in the cooler,” Albert said. “When do you go back to work?”
“I’m off for the rest of the week,” Marion said.
“My wife is staying with her family this week,” Albert said. “I suppose we can stay out here for another day at least.”
Marion smiled. “Wonderful.”
A small plane passed overhead.
“Damn,” Albert said. “That thing’s flying too low. If they’re not careful, they’ll hit one of the taller boats.”
The plane made a wide circle then flew back toward the yacht.
“Uh,” Marion said, “it’s coming back. And I think it’s even lower this time.”
When the plane passed over them the second time, it was so low that both Albert and Marion instinctively ducked as it flew by.
Two figures dropped from the plane and landed on the yacht’s rear deck.
“Who the hell are you?” Albert yelled as he and Marion ran toward the back of the boat.
As the figures walked toward him, Albert realized it was actually three people, not two. Two Topians and a human. Apparently, one of the Topians had been carrying the human when they fell.
“What’s going on here?” Albert said. “This is a private yacht.”
“Yeah,” the man in front said. He was a particularly scruffy looking Topian. “It’s our private yacht now.”
“Pirates?” Marion said. “There are pirates out here?”
“Nonsense,” Albert said. “Do you people have any idea who I am?”
“I’m hoping you’re a professional swimmer,” the lead Topian said as he pulled out a crossbow.
“You’re throwing us overboard?” Albert asked.
“Aye, matey!” the scruffy Topian said. “Ye be walkin the plank!” The human laughed. The other Topian – a much more clean-cut man – just shook his head.
“There’s a lifeboat,” Marion said. “Can we just use the lifeboat?”
“I guess,” Scruffy said. “If you want to be a bore about the whole thing.”
***
Jesse and Carl watched as Albert and Marion rowed away in their lifeboat.
“Do you think they’ll be okay?” Carl asked.
“Yeah,” Jesse said. “They’re not human. A few days at sea won’t kill em. They have blankets and a cooler full of blood.”
“So what now?” Carl asked.
“Hopefully,” Jesse said, “Cooper will be able to reach your friends. More than anything, we need information.”
“Speaking of,” Carl said as he looked around the deck, “where is that breather?”
“Breather?” Jesse said. “So you’ve been undead for, what, a few weeks and now you’re using hipster lingo?”
“Just trying to acclimate to my new condition,” Carl said.
“Well,” Jesse said, “stop acclimating. It’s annoying.”
“Where’s Cooper?” Carl said. “That’s all I was asking.”
“I saw him go into the ship’s cabin,” Jesse said. “I’m guessing he’s trying to reach your friends.”
“I’m not sure it’s appropriate to call them my friends,” Carl said. “Not anymore.”
“Don’t be an idiot,” Jesse said. “I saw you guys fighting together at that lake. That kind of bond isn’t broken easily. Trust me, this is something I know a lot about.”
“I’m a vampire,” Carl said. “Semantics aside, that’s what I am. And the Day Soldiers kill vampires.”
“Doesn’t matter,” Jesse said. “Nothing is stronger than the bond between soldiers. Nothing.”
“I hope you’re right,” Carl said.
Jesse slapped him on the shoulder. “I know I’m right. Now, come on. Let’s check on Cooper.”
***
“Scott?” Cooper said into his communicator. “Thank God! Where are you?”
“Just outside London,” Scott replied. “We’re headed toward the coast. Where are you?”
Cooper looked at the ship’s instruments. “I have no idea,” he said. “I’ve never driven a boat before. I know we’re in the ocean, but that’s about it.”
Carl and Jesse stepped into the cabin. Jesse looked at the instruments. “We’re about ten miles off the coast, coming up on the mouth of the River Thames.”
“Did you hear that?” Cooper asked.
“Got it,” Scott said. “Hang tight. I’ll try and get our destination from Travis.”
Cooper looked at Jesse. “Did he just say Travis?”
Jesse shook his head. “When it comes to that guy, you people are idiots. Why do you keep working with him?”
“Hey,” Cooper said, “you’re preaching to the choir. I totally agree with you.”
***
“Just tell me!” Scott yelled. “Damn!”
“If I tell you,” Travis said, “you’ll try to stop me. I can’t allow that. Whether you admit it or not, you need me.”
“We have backup, Travis,” Scott said. “We need them! Stop wasting time and tell me where we’re going.”
Travis looked at Grung. “Give me your word you won’t attack me if I tell you. Your promise just has to last until Lily is safe. After that, you can go back to business as usual.”
“Why are you asking me?” Grung said. He pointed at Scott. “He’s in charge.”
“He’ll break a promise,” Travis said. “You won’t. Not even to me.”
Grung looked at Scott. Scott nodded.
“Okay,” Grung said. “You have a deal. I give you my word.”
Travis grinned. “I really missed you guys.”
“Travis,” Scott said, “where is Lily?”
***
“Scott,” Cooper said, “you there, boss?”
“I bet he’s dead,” Jesse said. “Travis is probably lapping up his blood as we speak. Really, you people are the stupidest—”
“Shut up,” Carl said. “Geeze.”
“Sorry,” Jesse said. “I just think he’s got some kind of mind control over your entire organization.”
“Yeah,” Carl said. “We get it. We keep trusting the bad guy.”
“He’s not the bad guy,” Jesse said. “He’s batshit crazy. There’s a difference. At least you can predict what a bad guy is gonna do. Trusting him is just… well, it’s stupid.”
“He’s helped on occasion,” Carl said.
“Like that time he turned you into a vampire?” Jesse said.
“You suck.”
“Guys, you there?” It was Scott’s voice coming through on Cooper’s communicator.
“We’re here,” Cooper said. “Whatcha got?”
“We’re headed to the beach near a village called Allhallows,” Scott said. “How close are you?”
Jesse looked at the yacht’s instruments. “Not far at all. Ten miles, tops.”
“Great,” Scott said. “Get there as soon as you can.”
“We looking for something specific?” Cooper asked.
“A floating castle,” Scott said.
Cooper blinked a few times, then said, “I think I heard you wrong. Did you say a flying castle?”
“Float
ing, not flying,” Scott said. “Technically, it’s on a giant platform supported by legs that stretch into the ocean, but it’ll look like it’s floating on the water. From what Travis is saying, you can’t miss it.”
“Okay,” Cooper said. “We’re on our way.”
“See ya there,” Scott said. “I’m out.”
Cooper looked at Jesse. “You know how to drive this thing?”
“More or less,” Jesse said.
Cooper pointed toward the corner of the room. “Is that a bucket of paint?”
Carl looked at the small bucket. “Yeah,” he said. “Red paint. Looks like the owner was planning to redecorate. Why?”
Cooper grinned. “While Jesse’s driving us to the show, what do you say we give this boat a new name?”
Chapter 24
Bleeding the World
Lily stood against the wall, her arms held above her head by the chains. The other humans in the room just stared at her with emotionless eyes. Lily assumed they were relieved to see Elizabeth’s attention was on someone new.
Elizabeth stood in front of Lily. She was now wearing a long black dress. She hadn’t bothered to wash off the blood, so her skin was stained red in several places.
Oliver and Isaac stood behind her.
“Here’s what I don’t get,” Lily said. “If you’re such a scary badass, why have we never met? I’ve been fighting vampires for the better part of two decades, yet I’ve never even heard of you.”
Elizabeth chuckled. “That, my dear, is because I was betrayed by one of my own children. A vampire named Arcas imprisoned me before the war. I suppose I should respect his actions. He knew I would not support his plan.”
“Arcas?” Lily said with a defiant grin. “I know him. Now that I think about it, I killed him.”
“Yes,” Elizabeth said, still smiling, “you did.”
“Is that what this is about?” Lily asked. “Is this some kind of revenge thing? You’re all mad because I killed some vampire you made?”
“Not at all,” Elizabeth said. “Like I said, Arcas betrayed me before he ever started his war. He knew I wanted something different to happen, so he drove a stake into my heart and imprisoned me in a tomb in Hungary.”