by J A Cummings
The ingredients had to boil together for several hours. They found cards and played penny-ante poker, and Grendel took them all to the cleaners. His poker face was absolute, and Rowena was convinced that her familiar was counting cards. In any event, it made the time pass.
The liquid in the cauldron finally boiled down until it all fit into a retort, and she assembled the distilling equipment. The steam was caught and rendered into a honey-colored liquid that dripped slowly into a glass jar. The bottom of the jar had strips of paper on which she had written the names of every one of Julia’s slaves, omitting only Mario’s name.
The last of the potion was distilled just before dawn.
“Who drinks it?” Grendel asked.
“This is meant to transfer the shackles from the one who holds it to the one who wishes to be freed,” Imptah said. “So that means that Lucius gets to be the one.”
He looked sickened. “Crocodile dung and my own…” He swallowed. “But I can’t consume anything but blood without becoming ill.”
“Nothing?” Rowena asked.
“No.”
“What happens?”
Grendel answered. “I’ve seen this. Projectile vomiting. Very nasty.”
Lucius nodded.
Rowena took the glass jar. “And if I drink it?”
“Then the ownership of the chains will pass to you.”
The vampire sighed. “Well.. better to be a slave to someone I love, I suppose.”
She looked up at Imptah. “And if I possess those chains, but choose to release them? Will they go free then?”
The mummy nodded. “I believe so, yes.”
“Okay, then.” Rowena smiled at Lucius, then at Heinrich. “Bottoms up.”
She slammed the potion like she would a shot of whiskey, and she swallowed it all in one gulp. The taste was bitter and horrible, and she grimaced. Almost instantly, her gut began to burn painfully, and she put the glass jar back onto the tabletop.
“Oh….” she moaned. “This is not good.”
Her wards snapped, shattering as a set of five glowing chains burst into the room, flying like missiles aimed directly at her heart. They struck her hard and plucked her from her feet, suspending her in midair as they wrapped around and through her. Lucius fell to his knees before her, the chains around his wrists glowing brilliantly in the visible spectrum, no longer hidden from all but OtherSight. Rowena shook and shuddered as the chains attached themselves to her soul. The light vanished as the chains took hold, and she fell to the floor, gasping.
Grendel rushed to her, reaching her just before Heinrich. Lucius was immobile, prostrating himself before his new mistress. Rowena struggled to sit up, and Heinrich supported her with a strong arm around her shoulders.
“Release,” she croaked. “I release all slaves. You are free.”
The light returned, and she jerked as five slave chains ripped free. Their passage caused her great pain, and she wailed like a woman in childbirth as each of the slaves was released.
Lucius was the last to be set free, and the chain snapped back on him with an audible crack. He tumbled head over heels across the floor, landing with his back against the wall. His eyes flashed open, glowing red with uncontrollable blood lust.
Grendel stood over Rowena, who had curled onto her side. “You stay away from her!” the grimalkin ordered.
Lucius dragged himself up onto his feet and wavered there, battling with himself. Nineteen hundred years of vampiric power that had been withheld from him burned its way into his soul. He wanted to tear the bungalow apart. He could smell Rowena’s blood, and Grendel’s, and even the dessicated stuff in Imptah’s veins sang to him. Heinrich was a ghost, but his heart was strong and good, and Lucius focused in on him.
“Yes,” the horseman said, opening his arms. “Come to me.”
The vampire flew across the room to seize the Hessian officer in his arms. He contended only briefly with the lack of neck, finding enough purchase in the remaining stump to sink in his greedy fangs. Heinrich grabbed hold of Lucius, holding him tightly to prevent him from turning toward someone else.
Lucius drank.
The power in Heinrich that kept him alive, the power that allowed him to be physical despite his ghosthood, slaked the monstrous thirst. A thousand years of wanting was fed and comforted. The vampire regained his strength and his power along with his freedom, and after his feeding was complete, he regained himself.
Rowena was sitting up on the floor, leaning against her familiar with her arms around the grimalkin’s neck. Imptah stood behind her, ready to defend her if necessary. Lucius released his hold on Heinrich, who patted him on the shoulder.
“No harm done,” the Headless Horseman reassured.
Lucius turned to face Rowena, and their eyes met. He smiled, his fangs gleaming.
“It worked,” he gasped. “I’m free.”
She went to him, and they embraced.
Heinrich sat down on the floor and leaned his back against the kitchen cupboard. “That,” he announced, “was exhausting.”
Epilogue
Julia and Mario left together the next night. The ancient vampire, no longer fed and sustained by the power of her minions, was diminished and dependent on the incubus for his assistance. He was solicitous as he helped her onto the plane.
From the terminal, Lucius and Rowena watched her go. Grendel sat on a nearby seat, watching through the window while Heinrich stroked his thick grey fur.
“I can’t believe it’s over,” Lucius said, kissing his witch’s curls.
“Over?” she objected. “Hardly. It’s just beginning. We have the Louvre to break into and a mummy to resurrect.”
“And we need to rebuild your store,” Grendel reminded her.
“And find a house and stable where we all can live.” Heinrich shrugged. “Can’t forget Wotan.”
“Oh, no,” she smiled. “I would never forget Wotan.”
Lucius moved to stand behind her, his arms wrapped around her shoulders. Julia’s plane taxied away from the gate, and they watched it lift off into the night.
“Lots to do,” the vampire nodded. “But first… we all have a resort to enjoy, and there’s another ball tomorrow night. I wonder if a certain lovely lady might wish to join us for the dancing?”
“Us?” she teased.
Heinrich rose and clicked his heels, bowing to her. “Mr. Lucius Marcellus and Lieutenant Heinrich Schultz beg the honor of your presence for this weekend’s masqued ball.”
Rowena giggled and curtsied. “I accept.”
“Wonderful!” the horseman said. “I look forward to it.”
The grimalkin licked his paw and washed behind his ear. “And just like that,” he said. “We’re one big, happy monster family.”
The End
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