“Last time we met … my … oh I remember! You were with the Hospitallers, disguised as a leper so you could go out in the day swaddled in bandages to fight the Saracen. The Leper Knight they called him! He was a sight to see, Lelith.”
His mirth took on a darker tone. “Do not think that I have forgotten the fall of Acre, I still owe you for that little inconvenience, but that happened so long ago, and it could be easily forgiven. It was a different era after all and we all make mistakes.”
Marcus finally said something. “We have friends outside. People know we are here. If anything happens to us, the doors of your little club will come crashing down and then you’ll really have a fight on your hands.”
Zagesi ran his tongue over one long fang as if contemplating the situation and pursed his lips. “No. I do not think so.”
He made a gesture and Lelith stepped forward, picked up a remote control from the table, and changed the channel on one of the screens from the snuff film to something else.
Now they looked at a security feed from one of the external cameras. Alex could just make out the last of the police cruisers pulling away.
“You see the police are going to be far too busy suppressing the violence springing from random vampire attacks and the inevitable reprisals. A rather large riot should be well under way by now. I think the authorities shall be spread too thin to care about two missing officers for quite some time. That is all going off rather well, I think.”
Marcus ground his teeth. “You are not so powerful that I cannot overcome this stripling girl and be at your throat in moments.”
“Yes, perhaps. Lelith may be stronger than you give her credit for. Perhaps your partner might actually be able to do something with his popgun. Again, I do not think so. You were never one to behave rashly. You are going to have to play things my way this time, Marcus. We are long past the stage for posturing and threats. Your little investigation is quite impotent. No matter what it is you think you know.
“Is that why you have come? Because you thought you could actually prevent something from happening? Marcus, you are slipping. Do you not recognize a wrap party when you see one?”
Alex’s mind was working again. You could never believe anything a vampire said. They’d tell the truth so that it sounded like a lie and lie so that it sounded like the truth. While the makeshift club scene might indeed be some kind of celebration, there was no way the plan was as complete as Zagesi was making it out to be. All those pallets of blood product throughout the club told a different story. At least, he hoped so.
“I am afraid I have given you the wrong idea. I did not let you stroll in here with your bluster and daring simply for the entertainment, though I assure you, you two have provided a notable, if short, diversion. No, Marcus. As I have said, there are few enough of us Ancients left. We are only mere days away from, well, I do not want to give away too much. Come. I have an offer to make, and one which I doubt you should wish to refuse.”
Zagesi stepped toward the door and opened it. He made a gesture that Marcus should head out first. “Let us leave these children to their conversation and we can speak on more adult matters.”
As Marcus crossed in front of Alex on his way out, their eyes briefly met. Marcus’s expression was unreadable. He walked out and Zagesi followed, closing the door behind him and leaving Alex alone with Lelith.
Alex finally sat on one of the couches. After being without sunlight since early morning, he wasn’t going to get the drop on an oldblood, let alone on Lelith. Zagesi was right. He still had his sidearm, but this was no youngblood he’d be shooting at. He might be able to clear the holster before she’d be on him. Better to play things cool, for a few more minutes in any case.
Lelith walked over to the intercom set near the couch and hit the key. “Can we get a special party favor sent to Suite D, please?”
“Immediately, Mistress,” the voice on the intercom answered.
Lelith turned her attention to Alex and smiled. “Did Master Scaevola offer to turn you if you accompanied him on this fool’s errand? How sick are you?”
“Sick enough to follow him into this joint, lady.” Alex affected a small chuckle.
“I thought so. You smell of death. Your disease is probably farther along than you think. It’s the only explanation for your stupidity. Master Scaevola still has an excellent chance of walking away from this, and even making a profit. You had to know you would not be coming back out.”
Alex smiled. “Actually, I thought this was going to be a pretty standard raid. You know, we’d come in, look around, ruffle some feathers … pad our pocketbooks a little and be on our way.”
“You must know that isn’t going to happen now.”
“Eh. Probably not.”
“I have to hand it to you. You have made excellent progress coming to terms with your death. I can sense no fear coming from you. You’re very calm for someone in your situation.”
“Well, I’ve met a lot of dangerous vampires in my day. And let me tell you, Lelith, you aren’t the worst by far. No offense.”
“None taken.”
“Also, I might know a thing or two you don’t. Ever considered that?”
Lelith laughed. “You must be very confident in Master Scaevola’s ability to protect you. Would you like to see what is happening? Would you like to see your master sell you down the river?”
She’d charged that last comment with racial overtones for his benefit.
She changed the channel on the televisions. They showed a top-down view of a similar-looking room. He could see Zagesi and Marcus sitting on opposite couches across from one another. Lelith turned up the volume.
Zagesi was speaking. “—everything will change. It is perhaps only a month away and I will restore the natural order of things. Think of it, Marcus, we Ancients with legions of youngbloods to serve and lead, swelling our numbers with each and every attack! The saps will not take it lying down. We can use experienced military commanders such as yourself.”
“I would need to know more. Forgive me if I do not take you at your word,” Marcus answered.
“In due time, in due time. After you accept my offer.”
The door to the other room opened and Yevgeny entered holding a goblet similar to the one Zagesi had.
“Thank you, Yevgeny. Now, Marcus, shall we drink a toast to a new member of the Confraternity of Admah?”
Alex still felt he should know that name. But the memory did not come.
On the screens, Yevgeny held the goblet out, waiting for Marcus to reach for it.
“I am sorry, but no. I will not abandon centuries of my affiliations and beliefs on your empty promises. You must know this. We Ancients are anything but fickle.”
“True. Still, you cannot say I did not ask.” Zagesi made a gesture. Some kind of prearranged signal. Yevgeny tossed the contents of the goblet into Marcus’s face.
On the monitor screens, it looked like blood to Alex. Marcus reacted as if it was acid. He fell to the ground clutching his face and writhed on the floor, his legs kicking out spasmodically in agony. That goblet had probably had some silver in it or something. Yevgeny and Zagesi made a quick exit.
“What the fuck?” Alex shot to his feet.
“He should have taken the deal. Now his chances are quickly matching up to yours.” Lelith smiled. Alex could see her fangs extending. It must have been from the thrill of a well-executed plan, because he knew there was no way he was appetizing enough for her to feed on him.
“Here comes the best part!” She redirected his attention to the screens.
The door to the room reopened briefly. A thin, pale girl in her teens was thrust inside, the door locked behind her. She had long dark hair and wore gauzy bits of netting and garters. There were calculated applications of body paint that accentuated her beauty but still left all the interesting parts exposed. She struggled vainly with the door and then noticed Marcus and tried to hide in the far corner of the room.
A
lex could see that Marcus was recovering from whatever had happened to him. He noticed the girl. She screamed. In less than a second, he was across the room. He ripped her throat out, gorging himself on her blood. He was deep in the throes of a blood frenzy.
“What the hell did you do to him?”
Lelith laughed. The door to the room opened. She stopped and bowed deeply as Zagesi and Yevgeny entered the room. Zagesi took one look at the screens and seemed disappointed.
“Oh, I missed it! It works faster than I had expected on someone with Marcus’s constitution. You see, Yevgeny, I told you it would work on Ancients. With this footage in our possession, well, we should not need to worry about Master Scaevola for some time. His own guilt and his own people will deal with him. Now, what to do with you?”
Alex felt Zagesi’s gaze upon him. He was asserting his Ancient presence, trying to get Alex to feel fear. That way he could get some measure of pleasure when he had Yevgeny or Lelith rip him apart. Alex was betting Lelith wouldn’t want to get any gore on that dress. That left Yevgeny.
Alex answered, “Um, you could let me go?” He laughed.
Zagesi laughed with him.
Alex leaned back on the couch and looked at his watch.
Any second now.
“You’ll forgive me if I don’t get up. I’ve had a rough day thanks to you yahoos.”
“Oh, you must mean my little diversion with ‘Abraham.’ Yes, well, credit where credit is due, that was actually Lelith’s idea. Yevgeny here thought Abraham had outlived his usefulness, but Lelith managed to squeeze just a little bit more out of him. You see, it isn’t very hard to affect the unbalanced minds of those predisposed to suggestion. With normal minds, it just takes a little longer. I just sent out a few whispers into the ether, no need to bend them to my will just yet, and let nature take its course.”
So that was what Alex had been feeling all week. Somehow, using a process he didn’t understand, Zagesi was ramping up the tensions throughout the entire city.
On the monitor screens, the sounds of Marcus’s kill were becoming distracting. “Lelith, turn that down, will you.” Lelith came out of her bow and turned the volume down.
Zagesi admired the screens. “‘The brain may devise laws for the blood, but a hot temper leaps o’er a cold decree.’”
“The Merchant of Venice.” Alex identified Zagesi’s quote.
Zagesi was taken aback. “My my. You are full of surprises. Perhaps that is why Marcus would subject himself to such a terrible scent. Always nice to meet a fellow fan of the Bard. Do you know this one? ‘O what schemes what schemes do the vampyrs dream?’”
Alex stalled. “You’ve got me there.”
“I am not surprised. It is from a lost play.”
“Oh? Love’s Labour’s Won?” Alex asked.
“Alas, no. I fear that play is truly lost. It is from a play called The London Visitor. I commissioned it from him and I maintain the only copy to be had. If we had more time, or had met under different circumstances, I might even be inclined to let you read it. Alas.”
“Story of my life, pal. So you actually knew Shakespeare?”
“As a matter of fact, I did. Yes. I take it from your demonstrated knowledge that you are not simply a casual fan,” Zagesi said.
“I’m a big fan of Henry the Fourth, both parts. And Henry the Fifth, of course.”
“Of course.”
“The whole being outnumbered five to one at Agincourt. Underdogs winning and all that. I’m sure you can see the appeal.” Alex continued to stall, hoping Marcus could recover. On her side of the room, Lelith grew impatient. Good.
“I certainly can, particularly in your present situation,” Zagesi said, clearly amused.
“Oh this? I’ve been in worse pickles. I’ll have something to tell you about that in a moment. But, first you have to answer a question for me.”
“Have to?” Zagesi seemed genuinely taken aback.
“Well, consider it a favor from one fan of the Bard to another. And I promise it is not about my situation, but it is about Shakespeare.”
Zagesi looked intrigued and gestured for Alex to go on.
“You know that turn of phrase about the ‘school of night’ in Love’s Labour’s Lost?”
Zagesi nodded.
Alex continued, “Is that really a hint that Shakespeare didn’t write his plays, that it was Marlowe or Bacon and a bunch of others!”
Zagesi genuinely laughed. “No, my boy. Utter nonsense. Each and every play was penned by William himself. That I promise you. As a point of fact, that phrase is an allusion to more obvious actors particularly of concern to you in your current predicament.”
“Ah. Good to know. Thanks.”
“I believe you said you had something else to say?”
“What?” Alex made a show of trying to search his thoughts. “Oh yes. Now I remember. You only get away with this kind of nonsense, with all your schemes, because you expect the rest of the players, all of society in fact, to play by the rules, while you don’t. But I’m curious as to what you’re going to do when you run into someone with absolutely zero shits left to give? I’m about to present you, and Lelith here, with a singular opportunity of finding out firsthand.”
Zagesi still looked amused.
Until a whistling sound broke the silence.
Zagesi looked perplexed.
It was Alex’s phone. The jaunty whistling ring tone repeated. That was what he’d been waiting for. The Rubicon was ready. It wasn’t a great plan—in fact, it was a terrible plan—but Alex hoped it would be enough.
“What do you have there?” Zagesi asked.
“Me? Oh, no need for alarm.” Alex pulled the phone out of his pocket. “Just a phone. And you’re really going to want me to take this call.”
Zagesi and Lelith laughed.
“I’m glad you find it funny. Lelith, can you pull up the security feed from the entrance garage? There’s a good girl.”
Alex enjoyed pushing her buttons.
All signs of mirth drained from her face, replaced by hatred and rage. She looked to Zagesi and he nodded. She changed the channel on the screen they were watching. They all could see the Explorer parked at the base of the entrance ramp.
The phone rang again. Alex whistled along this time. Walk like an Egyptian.
He stopped to speak. “Now, that really isn’t optimum placement, but I assure you there’s enough explosive in that vehicle to have us finishing this conversation on the far side of the underworld, if you catch my meaning. Anyone touches the vehicle and it’ll trip the mercury switches and we’re talking to the boatman.”
The phone rang again.
“So, I’m going to answer this. And I’m going to input a code. And if I don’t enter that code every fifteen seconds, kablooey. I have half a mind just to let it go off. So no fucking around.”
He exaggerated the part about the code. Instead of every fifteen seconds, as he’d said, it was really more like every fifteen minutes. The part about the mercury switches was complete bullshit, but Alex hoped they wouldn’t notice.
“You’re bluffing,” Lelith snarled through clenched teeth.
“Am I? You’re the one who can smell fear. What do you smell?”
The phone rang again.
“One more and it goes to a voice mailbox that I’ll never get to check. I’m terminal. How about you?”
Zagesi growled. “Answer it.”
Alex flicked the phone on and punched in the six-digit code. He couldn’t disarm the device remotely. This just put it in snooze mode. He held his breath and hoped he’d entered the code correctly.
Ten seconds later, they were all still there.
Zagesi snapped his head in the direction of the Russian bouncer. “Yevgeny.” The large vampire bounded out of the room.
Alex playacted at entering another code into the phone. On the screen, they could see the club security detail surrounding the Explorer. One man looked in the rear and spoke into a radio.
>
Alex continued, “So now, here’s what’s going to happen. I’m going to walk out of here. Fetch my master and then we’re going to disarm the bomb and drive away. Everybody lives to fight another day.”
“You must be joking.” Lelith was incredulous.
“Tell you what, Zags. Lelith seems to think I’m not telling the truth. Do you also think I’m bluffing?”
Zagesi seethed. “There’s something about you. Something I’ve never felt before. You have nerves of steel. I will grant you that.”
Alex kept playacting at entering codes into the phone. “You know what? We’ll make it more sporting. Since you answered my question about Shakespeare…” Menkaure searched his mind for the correct words and then spoke haltingly in Akkadian. “We were never ones to know fear from your ilk, savage. Forgive me if we have difficulty shaping words in your barbarian tongue.”
Zagesi was stunned. He responded in Akkadian, “Who are you? Name yourself.”
Lelith interrupted. “What is happening?”
Alex turned his attention to her. “Quiet. Grown-ups are talking.”
She fumed and made a move toward him. Zagesi moved with lightning speed and snatched her back.
“Good reflexes. You just saved her life. May she not be as lucky next time.” Menkaure switched back to Akkadian. “We need not identify ourselves. It is you who are the usurper. Lich King indeed. There is one who is worthy of that title…”
Alex backed up to the door and used his free hand to touch his heart and then his lips in the Assyrian gesture of farewell.
“But he’s not from Assyria. It’s been real. Oh and remember, one false move and…” He waved the phone at them.
He snapped the door open and let himself out. He expected to feel the vampire’s grip on him at any moment. Lelith’s eyes tried to bore holes into him as he slammed the door shut.
36
9:38 P.M.
Now he just had to figure out how to get Marcus out of a blood frenzy. Nothing came to mind. Also, more security would be coming any second. Zagesi’s only motivation was to get some answers to the enigma Menkaure posed. Hopefully, he’d be arrogant enough to watch every step on the security monitor. The longer he stayed watching the less he’d be doing. If Alex had been in Zagesi’s shoes, he’d be trying to get out.
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