Loyalty

by Charles E Yallowitz

  “Why bring this up with me?”

  “Because I doubt Mab is the one responsible.”

  “Careful what you say, Kenneth, because I’m not in the mood for accusations.”

  “And I am not in the mood for lies.”

  “Even if they’re for your own good?”

  “I find that excuse is only used by the cowardly and disloyal.”

  Eyes flickering with red, Clyde grabs Decker by the neck and lifts him with one hand. He smacks the incoming axe to the side, but does not do anything more than stare at the dwarf. With a diffusing sigh, the Dawn Fang regains his control and gently puts his friend down. Leaning against a tree, Clyde wishes the sun was out in order to help reveal the truth instead of having to think of another test. He considers using words, but gets a sense that the dwarf will not let him finish a sentence unless he has been driven into a state of mind-numbing awe. Remembering the dead mortal, he moves so fast that he disappears for a second and reappears against another tree with the slice of cake. Removing the dirt-covered sections leaves the vampire with a single bite, which he tosses into his mouth and devours in as exaggerated a method as he can think without feeling embarrassed. The display has no effect on Decker and it takes a moment for Clyde to realize the problem.

  “Do you really think I would make an illusion of that?” he bluntly asks. Seeing a spark of annoyance in the soldier’s eyes, he rubs his eyes and gives in to the inevitable. “Fine, but let me try to explain. I came out of the ground different. Gregorio believes that the Great Cataclysm altered my execution to the point where the holy magic did the opposite. I can eat food, most of my organs work, I’m more powerful than most other vampires, and I keep my powers in the sunlight. The downside is that I can’t cast spells and sometimes it feels like magic hurts me more than it should. My illusions are more of an innate ability now, which we still haven’t figured out. Let’s see what else. Been hiding my heartbeat with my magic and I can still get energy from blood, so eating doesn’t seem to be a necessity for survival.”

  “You’re forgetting to explain Mab’s changes,” Decker states when it is clear nothing else will be said. The flood of new and unexpected information makes his head spin, so he sips from a flask of alcohol-infused blood. “I thought there was something strange, but I didn’t imagine all of that. Not sure what I wanted to hear beyond the truth. I’m still angry at you, but I’m willing to listen longer if you’re waiting for me to give you permission.”

  “I wasn’t, but I’m still not sure how much I should share,” Clyde admits, pausing when he hears a twig snap. Scanning the forest, he spots a deer that he scares away by creating the illusion of a roaring bear. “When we were separated at Lord Shallis’s castle, Mab was hit by a holy blast and badly injured. I got us out, but ran into this hunter with a stupid name. She was very hungry due to her injuries and ended up attacking me when my guard was down. My blood turned her into whatever I am, which is how she can do the shadow travel and claws. Gregorio ran some tests that proved I was the cause and not anything else. Won’t work if you drink from her, so I guess I’m some new breed of vampire who can transform others. Since you want everything, Xavier found out as we were escaping Nyte. He wanted me to go on without him because I could be some great key to us winning the war or something.”

  “And you thought keeping this from your friends was the wisest decision?” the soldier asks with an edge to his voice. Cracking his knuckles, Decker feels his temper rise once more to the point where he wants to throw a punch. “I know what you’re going to say because I’ve been in this position before. Better for me to be kept ignorant because I might tell the wrong person and reveal your secret. That’s very insulting, Clyde. I’ve never betrayed the gang even if only you and Mab considered me a true member. Whenever you did something that Lord Tempest would not approve of, I kept my mouth shut. You could have taken me aside and talked to me about this.”

  “Leave it alone, Decker.”

  “I refuse to be lied to!”

  “You don’t have a right to every aspect of my life.”

  “I do when it impacts our entire society.”

  “Why do people keep exaggerating this?”

  “Stop being such a child and realize what this means.”

  “Back off because you’re already getting a little too pushy for me.”

  “All I want is the truth and to be let in on what is happening.”

  Clyde throws a punch at the tree behind Decker, the ancient birch getting uprooted and sent flying by the blow. Having shown his full power, the vampire hisses and remains with his arm an inch from his friend’s head. Stepping away, he watches the dwarf slowly turn to see the path of smashed trees that runs for a quarter of a mile. He feels like he is drowning beneath a wave of frustration that began with Gregorio’s comments about him being a vampiric savior and have been enhanced by Xavier’s desire for him to escape the siege. Letting the intoxicating emotion fuel his actions, he pulls an empty vial from his pocket and bites off the tip of his thumb. Pouring blood into the container, he corks it before healing the wound in the blink of an eye. When Decker turns around, the Dawn Fang dangles the odd gift in front of the soldier’s face, but pulls away when the dwarf tries to take it.

  “If you truly want to understand my decision then all you have to do is drink this and become what I am,” Clyde explains, his words cold and threatening. Dropping it into the dwarf’s hand, he walks away and leaves an illusion of his voice behind. “I apologize for keeping this a secret, but this was never about the gang. These changes happened to me and then Mab, which means it’s personal. We’ve both said our piece and now you have to make a decision. The gang is going to be rebuilt, so whatever we were in the past no longer exists. Even after this, I’d like for you to be a part of it, but I know that’s asking a lot given the situation. It’s your choice if you want to return for the meeting or leave now. No matter what you choose, old friend, I’ll understand and not think any less of you.”

  Decker holds the vial of blood in his palm, the red ichor catching the beams of light that are peeking over the horizon. He remains standing among the trees as the sun’s warmth saps his strength. The dwarf takes a slow step towards the Scrumptious Siren, but immediately moves back to where he started.

  *****

  “And that’s pretty much what happened,” Mab says as Clyde enters the extravagant bedroom. Perched on a plush chair, she waits for him to take a seat, but scowls when he is about to sit on the bed next to Chastity. “Saved you a spot over in the corner, our dear savior. Anyway, we’re both sorry that we didn’t tell any of you sooner. When it was only Clyde, we thought it best to only tell Gregorio who could give us some answers. Now I’m a Dawn Fang too, which makes things more complicated. I hope everyone realizes that the two of us are putting a lot of trust in you four . . . or is it five?”

  “Hopefully, we’ll find out soon,” Clyde replies as he goes to sit on an uncomfortable wooden stool. Giving up on the flimsy seat, he stands and paces between a heart-shaped display of cushions and a rack adorned with various whips. “Decker knows what’s going on, but he’s angry about being kept in the dark. So, I told him the decision to remain part of the gang is his and left him outside. The same thing goes for all of you, including Chastity. Don’t argue that point, Mab, because we need an information network to stay ahead of our enemies. The situation can get very messy once the council makes its first move, so you can bow out whenever you want.”

  A raspy cough bursts from Luther as he sits up in the bed, his injured arm wrapped in blood-soaked rags and a sleeve to protect the sheets. Chastity tries to ease the forest tracker back down, but he gently pushes her away and gets to his feet. He nods when he meets Titus’s gaze, the old friends knowing that they are thinking the same thing. Luther hesitates for a moment when he considers that it should be the Vengeance Hounds’ leader who speaks on their behalf. He is about to gesture for the other warrior to talk when Bob stands up and takes in a large, exagg
erated breath that balloons out his chest. Darting across the room, the injured vampire knocks the elf into the wall and keeps him pressed face first against the perfumed stone. Ignoring their friends’ whistles and calls for them to stop, the pair continue pushing against each other.

  “I believe the three of us are in, but we’ll hold off on that blood offer Mab made,” Titus explains, signaling for his companions to settle down. Hearing a low growl come from Clyde, he gets up and puts a giant hand on his sister’s head. “Don’t get angry at her. I asked if we were expected to become Dawn Fangs too. She said no, but the choice is up to us. Maybe later on when things have either settled or gone out of control. Best to have a few agents who can mix in with the old-world vampires for now. We might not be close to the council, but we can keep an ear out for other dangers. I can already hear you giggling about my giant carcass being used as a spy, Chastity.”

  Bob slips out of Luther’s grasp and steals Titus’s chair along with a goblet of blood that he had been eyeing. “You aren’t known for stealth, but that’s why you have the two of us. I can talk to all the horses for information. Once I give them their favorite treat, they’ll tell me whatever I want to know. By the way, how bad is the situation? We never got to hear about all the stuff that Clyde is supposed to hear too. Now he’s here, so I want to know what’s going on. I was promised a story.”

  “I do enjoy having an audience,” Chastity announces with a smile. She snaps her fingers to create glowing orbs around her body and hops onto the bed to swing around one of the polished posts. “Where to even start with the chaos you people have dragged me into? The good news that arrived right before your visit is that Nyte is still standing and the Duragians have been driven away. Lady Sylvan rallied those who escaped to rush the castle and overtake the invaders who were already dealing with Lord Tempest and Kai Stavros. Some of you will have to return to help with the repairs because there are fears about traitors within the great city. Titus, Luther, Bob, and Decker are being searched for since they couldn’t be found nearby. Thankfully, the chaos has killed the belief that Clyde and Mab defected to the council. I’ve already started spreading a few rumors that hinted at all of you being so injured that you’ve gone into hiding in various towns while staying on the move. It’s difficult to push that since it’s so close to the last time the two of you were taken out of action, but I’ll do my best. Now, the bad news is that Luther is right about the council. They want Clyde for dinner, but it isn’t because of your powers. There’s an old execution method for traitorous vampires and that’s devouring, which is supposed to return their gift to the people. They really wanted to go archaic for you. Still, it wouldn’t surprise me to learn that they’ve heard about the possibility of you being different. I don’t know how they would have discovered your secret. Gregorio is the only other person who knows besides us and, regardless of his political neutrality, he’d never turn on one of his children. The only possibility I can think of is that someone on the council has been scrying on him and he’s become too complacent to notice.”

  “Sounds like all good news to me,” Clyde says while helping Luther to the bed. Feeling the man’s forehead, he frowns at how it is unnaturally hot to the touch. “I think there was something else in the spell that got you. Possibly burning from the inside, which is taking a long time because it wasn’t a direct hit and we’ve been giving you plenty of blood. If possible, I’d like Titus and Bob to stay here until you’re better. Use this as a reason for being underground instead of going back to Nyte. As for my situation, we have the advantage since the council doesn’t know I’m aware of their plans. Mab and I have to do some research in Gods’ Voice. I’m curious about the Great Cataclysm and there’s a Knowledge Temple there. Apparently, the main Library of Gar is no longer easily accessible, so that’s the next best place to get information. Any questions?”

  An awkward silence slowly comes over the room and nobody is able to look directly at anyone else. The idea that they will simply accept what has been revealed and move on does not sit well with most of the gang. For Clyde and Mab, the lack of curiosity makes their skin crawl and they begin to shift uncomfortably in their seats. Only Luther remains calm due to a relaxing mist that falls from the curtains around the bed. Shouts from the bar draw their attention to the door, but a loud thud cuts off the noise and replaces it with a round of drunken singing in honor of whoever prevented the fight. The gang waits to see if anyone comes bursting into the private room, each one reaching for a weapon or getting ready to pounce. Minutes pass before they return to avoiding eye contact and focusing on their own thoughts.

  “I want to be a Dawn Fang,” Chastity says while sauntering over to Clyde. She places her hands on his legs and licks her lips, but stops short of biting the man. “Titus only spoke for the boys, which means the offer is still on the table for me. A little mouse told me that Gregorio has become one, so it isn’t like there are only two of you. Just imagine what I can uncover with such power and the ability to work more openly during the day. Give me one little taste and I’ll be even further in your debt. Don’t look so uncomfortable, darling, since you’ve been my savior ever since you granted me my freedom.”

  “I vote against this,” Mab blurts out from the shadows. She rises between the two vampires and practically sits in Clyde’s lap while remaining chest to chest with Chastity. “You’re in the business of trading information. What makes you think we’ll trust you completely? I mean, you could sell us out if the price is right. Not that you’ve done it before, but there’s a first time for everything. Besides, you like showing off. Last thing we need is you riding one of your toys in the sunlight and them realizing you’re still at full strength. Not to mention, you might not be able to do all of your tricks without your magic.”

  “I’ve always been good at adapting to changes.”

  “Not to mention sleeping with anything that looks in your direction.”

  “Are we really going to fall into such pathetic insults?”

  “Fine. I say no because I still don’t like you.”

  “Then, it’s a good thing you don’t make the final decision.”

  Both women look at Clyde, who stands with Mab in his arms and places her next to the hostess. “You’re the one who made the offer to everyone, so don’t complain when the person you have a grudge against says yes. If this is what you want, Chastity, then we’ll do it once you close the tavern. I don’t want anyone wandering in at a bad time. Mab and I will stay here for a day to help you get used to the changes. In fact, you two will work together with me watching because I don’t want you bickering when it counts. At the very least, I want you to trust each other enough to be in the same gang. There will be no traitors among us. Whatever you want to do to put this behind you will-”

  “I say we practice our powers on him,” Chastity states with a wicked grin. Putting an arm around Mab’s shoulders, she reaches out to run a finger along Clyde’s chest. “You were the third party in our little misunderstanding, which means you need to be punished too. Nothing fatal or permanent since I doubt my powers will be destructive. I’ve always been a creature of happiness and pleasure. Once we have some fun with you, the thief and I can find a way to get along during some private sessions.”

  “You had me until that last part, which makes me feel dirty,” Mab mutters while using a shadow to move across the room. A laugh from Titus causes her to throw the nearest object at her brother, the aromatic statue hitting him in the head. “One day to get her jiggly carcass into shape and then we’re out of here. Not that I don’t enjoy the idea of staying in a bakery since I can eat the food, but I don’t want anyone thinking I forgot about our history. You want to get back on my good side? Then, you better work your way there and I mean really hard . . . Oh, stop chuckling, Bob.”

  With a loud creak, the door swings open and everyone turns to watch Decker quietly walk into the room. Nodding to the others, the frowning dwarf heads for Clyde and takes the man by the wrist. A loud s
lap echoes in the air as he clasps his old friend’s hand and squeezes until his fingers turn white. Forcing himself to look the Dawn Fang in the eye, the soldier gives him three firm shakes that would rip a mortal’s arm out of its socket. Sighing and staring at the floor, Decker gives a salute before going back into the tavern. A minute later, a powerful slam of the front door shakes the entire building and the goblins screech in fright.

  “What just happened?” Titus asks as he walks to a window.

  “Looks like it was four after all,” Clyde whispers while holding up a vial of blood.

  11

  Stephanie mutters to herself as she floats on her back in a pool of blood taken from the dead invaders. Pinpricks of pain ripple across her naked body, which remains rigid and tense due to her trance. The ritualist’s eyes are pure white and roll in their sockets, the direction changing every minute as she adjusts her scrying. Sitting near the edge of the large bathing area, Xavier and Nadia tend to their wounds. Empty bottles from their personal stock are scattered about the cold floor, the gorging having helped them reduce their injuries to a few ugly burns and deep gashes. Whenever their mood sours, the nobles hurl minor attack spells at one of the many enchanted mirrors that have been put on the back wall. Previously used to communicate with the council, the Lord and Lady of Nyte have agreed to break contact under the guise of the Duragians destroying the meeting chamber. The idea of having to get their house in order before settling their business with the other nobles makes the exhausted pair irritable to the point that their fangs remain exposed. Wanting to see how the repairs are going, Xavier casts a spell to turn the ceiling into a portal that shows the entire city. He whistles for Lou to come closer, the obedient vampire moving slowly because of his charred leg. Writing down new orders, the nobleman pours a bottle of ogre blood on the bodyguard’s injury to help him heal within minutes. With a grunt of thanks, the bare-chested servant moves as quickly as he can to deliver the messages. Accepting that there is nothing else he can do, Xavier erases the portal and goes back to watching Stephanie float from one end of the pool to the other.