Trying her very best to appear calm and collected, Katherine paused for another moment before speaking. “I heard whisperings, sir. It is the talk of the town after all. Although, they would not speak another word once they realised that I was eavesdropping. It seems that outsiders are seldom welcome in these parts.”
Leaning forwards on his skeletal throne, Alexander flashed another wicked smile, the tendrils on his head pulling tight as the umbilical cord stretched. “Would you like to see them? They are all still here, you see. Each and every one of them, to a certain extent… Men, women and children. They are my walls, my ceilings and my floors; my furniture and my endless store of fresh blood. Does that terrify you? Do you wish to scream and run away in fear?”
Katherine shook her head slowly, her eyes locking with Alexander's as she found herself unable to look away. “No thank you, good sir.” she said, managing to keep her composure. “I would rather get back to the subject of my learning.”
Alexander sat back on his chair once more, resting his hands on the arms of his eerie throne. “Ah, but they are part of what I have to teach you. Mortals are our tools, our food and our slaves; nothing more.”
The many uses of the human cattle were something that Katherine had already learned throughout the years, and so Alexander's words hadn't come as a surprise to her at all. All he had done was steal the basic knowledge that all vampires were given and take it to the extreme. It was in that very moment that she began to truly understand him.
The fiend had a flair for the dramatic and a theatrical streak that he used to inspire dread. Through that fear he could dominate a weak willed individual, using it to warp their mind and sway them under his control. However, Katherine was far from weak willed, and the trick hadn't worked on her for as long as the fiend would have liked. She wasn't scared anymore and had already learned her first lesson, one that she hoped would be the first of many.
Speaking with a level of confidence that took her host by surprise, Katherine started to make her demands. “Teach me everything and do not hold back. Show me your ways. Do not leave anything out, I want to know it all.”
Alexander was taken aback by her boldness. He raised a hand to his chin again, stroking the protruding spikes as he considered her words. He was somber now, the smile fading from his face entirely, leaving him absent of emotion. “It will not be easy for you, do you understand that? True freedom takes time and patience. It will be a most painful and gruelling experience, I can promise you that. You may beg for release, or to become my next work of art should you fail.”
Displaying a wide grin of her own, Katherine answered quickly. “I never expected it to be easy.”
The fiend appeared to frown with suspicion, but it was difficult to tell with his bizarre facial features. “I am an exile among our people. My methods are considered by most to be heretical, and my King banished me from my homeland long ago. They have since done their best to forget that I exist. Tell me, child... How is it that you came to learn of me?”
Katherine's grin changed back to her usual forced, polite smile. “My maker, the Gentleman, spoke of you on occasion. He told me stories of your experiments and said that I should seek you out one day, so here I am.”
Chuckling in a way that caused his tendrils to quiver, Alexander's eyes lit up. “Ah, yes. We were friends once, brothers even; although the fool actually believed in the power of names. He never did share his true name with anyone, myself included… But I respect his wish to remain anonymous. We all have our secrets, and some are better left undiscovered, yes?”
Katherine simply nodded, a serious expression replacing her smile. “I am sorry to say that he is no longer with us…”
She lowered her head with respect for the man who had remade her as an immortal being, whereas Alexander’s unblinking gaze bored holes into her skull. He almost hissed as he spoke. “I know. I heard that his own child betrayed him…” Katherine looked directly into Alexander's eyes as he continued to speak. “His blood has made you strong, I can sense it in you. I must admit that I am impressed... I did not think that old fossil could ever be killed. Did you come for my blood as well?”
Adjusting her posture to sit upright, Katherine smiled wider than ever before. “Oh no. I would not dream of it...” She could tell from Alexander's wide eyed expression that he now felt the same fear that he instilled in others. He was unable to find his words, instead gawking at Katherine as her smile slipped into a sly grin. “I am ready, sir. Shall we begin?”
**********
Alice had seen more than she ever wanted to, the stuff that nightmares are made of. Whoever Alexander was, he had a strange power over flesh and used it to further his own perverse form of existence. The events in the old manor had been a turning point for Katherine, a place in time where the final vestiges of her humanity were wiped out and the rise of the Blood Queen had begun. The things that she had witnessed within the basement had clearly changed her for the worse, transforming her into something greater than a mere immortal being with aspirations beyond her station. She had become something far more malevolent; something truly evil.
Whatever had happened beneath the manor and however long Katherine had stayed there, something else had occurred other than the loss of her remaining innocence. She had unlocked her hidden potential, gaining untold power in the process that she had yet to reveal. If she had studied under the tutelage of Alexander, then it was likely that she too had the ability to bend flesh and bone to her will. There was no telling what else she had learned deep beneath the surface, the true extent of the secrets that her teacher held still a mystery.
Alice wondered if any clues had been left behind, preserved under the manor for well over a century. It was possible that Alexander still lurked down there, his tortured creations keeping him fed throughout the years. However, she seriously doubted that Katherine had left him alive, having made her hatred of the elders quite clear. After all, it sounded as though she had already dispatched her own maker and so she probably wouldn't have any qualms about killing another. In her eyes, the ancient ones were dinosaurs whose time had come to an end. They were abominations that had to be destroyed.
It looked as though the manor was Alice's best chance of finding out how to defeat Katherine and rescue Sam, but she knew that visiting such a place wasn't without its risks. Alexander wasn't the only potential danger that they could find there, as the shambling creatures in the darkness may still be guarding the iron door. There was no guarantee that she could even enter Alexander's sanctum upon her arrival, as the mystical properties controlling the mechanism could prove to be a challenge for one even as strong as Matty. However, Alice had to see the place for herself, she had to know more about what had gone down there. It had taken months of aimless wandering, but they finally had a goal and it was all thanks to the memories held within the Blood Queen's corrupted mind.
Chapter Nine: A Captive Audience
Sam was tired of travelling. He had grown tired of the endless journey across the United States with his friends that had lasted for months, and now the path north into Canada was just as long and gruelling. At least the end was finally in sight, although he was now further away from those that he cared about than ever before.
Unfortunately, Sam was still the captive of a group of vampires with whom he was completely unfamiliar. They had treated him somewhat better since presenting him to their former queen, but the she-wolf named Rahna still prodded and poked him on occasion like he was her own personal plaything. From what he could tell from listening in on the pack's conversations, they were nearly at their final destination, and as exhausted as he was, everything would all be over one way or another. Either he would see Katherine lying dead at his feet, or he himself would perish before the deed was done.
Sam didn't want to hurt anyone, but Katherine just kept coming and he could only run for so long. As long as she was alive, his friends were in danger. He didn't give a damn about himself or what happened to him, but he c
ared about what happened to Alice more than anything else left in the world. His only hope was that no one else would be caught in the crossfire this time, the ghosts of his past still haunting his every waking moment. He didn't want history to repeat itself, he just couldn't let that happen. If any more innocents were hurt, he wouldn't be able to live with the guilt this time.
The journey came with its own share of distractions that helped Sam take his mind off future events, at least for the time being. There was a great deal of mystery surrounding Renita Marquette, the former queen of Calgary, and Sam had done all that he could to discover more about her, but Sir Philippe Chevalier blocked his every attempt. The knight made sure that no one could approach her, except for Vincent who he had little to no control over.
It was clear that the brothers were at odds, but their queen favoured them both with equal amounts of affection. Each brother barely tolerated the other at her behest, but would have sooner torn each other apart. Were anything to happen to her, their temporary allegiance would surely collapse and the rival siblings would reignite their age old war.
The only time that Sam had seen Renita remove her mask, he went out of his way to get a sneak peek of her face. Unfortunately, she had kept her back to him for most of their brief encounter, the long locks of her hair blocking his view. The only glimpse that he managed to get didn't give much away, as her features were obscured by shadows. She was a true enigma, with even her most loyal subjects rarely having a chance to lay their eyes upon her. Sam wondered how they knew that she was the same woman who had once ruled Calgary. Perhaps her voice was just that distinct, or maybe she had a particularly unique aura that identified her, not that he was good at picking up on such things. Whoever she was, she commanded the respect of those that followed her and all those present worshipped her as royalty.
The queen travelled in a separate vehicle to Sam, with only the Lion Knight for company; whereas he was still trapped amongst the boisterous wolves in Vincent's beaten up station wagon, sitting quietly and keeping to himself as they joked around in between stops. He was forced to share crowded motel rooms with them during the day, sleeping on dirty carpets as Renita and her handsome guardian stayed in a room of their very own.
The segregation only served to increase Sam's sense of curiosity, a feeling that was now so strong that it was slowly eating away at him. He desperately wanted to know all that he could about the queen and why she had left Calgary behind. How did Katherine manage to steal the throne from her and why didn't she want to take her crown back? There were so many questions and not enough answers to fill in the gaps.
An unexpected opportunity finally arose when Sir Chevalier came to collect Sam from his motel room just after nightfall. Vincent and his pack had already begun to load up the cars for the final leg of the journey, the long night ahead of them allowing plenty of time to make it deep into the province of Alberta in which Calgary sat proudly. The heavy cloud cover blocked out the stars, leaving the exterior of the motel in darkness other than the unnatural red glow of the vacancy sign and the humming strip lighting that illuminated the sidewalk adjacent to the building. A cool, late evening breeze moved in from the mountains, letting them know that winter was well on its way. There wasn't any snow on the ground quite yet, but in those parts the weather was known to change at the drop of a hat.
Sir Chevalier darkened the doorway, his lofty, yet lean figure towering over Sam who had always been quite average in height. The Lion Knight's suit was creased and a little dirty, but otherwise quite stylish, his flawless skin looking pale under the blue hue of the fluorescent lights. He stood tall and proud, a man of honour who would do everything that he could to protect the woman to whom he had sworn fealty.
"Bonsoir, Monsieur." Sir Chevalier's accent was distinguished and French in origin, although it had likely faded a little over his long years away from his homeland. He bowed at the waist, his expression stern, blue eyes unblinking. "The queen requests your presence."
"Really? She wants to see me?" Sam said with obvious surprise in his voice. He had expected to see Vincent or Rahna when he opened the door, not the well dressed knight.
"Oui, Monsieur. She asked for you personally." Sir Chevalier seemed a little annoyed by the fact. It was as if he was going through the motions and had been instructed to remain polite despite his personal feelings on the matter.
Without another word, the knight turned to lead Sam towards another room just a few doors down. It looked identical to the one that he had stayed in, the outside walls thick with multiple layers of paint that had been splattered over the concrete and windows as if it was done in a hurry. Making just enough space for Sam to enter, the tall gentleman stepped to one side and twisted the battered handle, pushing the door open as he glared with untrusting eyes.
"Entrer, s'il vous plaît. The queen is expecting you." Sir Chevalier almost grimaced as the words passed his lips. He clearly wasn't comfortable allowing a stranger access to his queen, but he couldn't defy her wishes. A direct order from Renita Marquette was one that he had to follow without question, such was the depth of his loyalty.
Sam peered into the dimly lit room, the layout a mirrored replica of the one that he himself had stayed in. He wanted to take a moment to gather his thoughts, but a disgruntled murmur from the tall knight forced him into motion. Stepping through the threshold, he felt his nerves getting the best of him, his stomach tightening into a knot. He hadn't felt this way in a long time, the anticipation of an audience with the queen taking over.
Countless questions raced through Sam's mind, causing him to wonder why he had been summoned in the first place and what the queen could possibly want with someone like him. For all he knew, he may have just been lured to his doom, his continued existence of little consequence to one such as her, although he seriously doubted that to be the case. This meeting had to be something to do with Katherine Louviere and the part that he played as a direct descendant of her bloodline.
As the door closed behind him, Sam's eyes searched for Queen Marquette in the shadows, his heightened senses dulled through lack of use. The curtains were drawn and the bed itself didn't appear to have been slept in; that or someone had taken the time to make it, tucking the sheets back in after use. Only a single table lamp was lit, its light turned yellow by the stained fabric of its shade. The place was deathly quiet, the only sound coming from the creaking radiator as scalding hot water bubbled away inside. The television was off, unlike the one in his room that had been blaring all day, the wolves enjoying the background noise as they sprawled themselves out across the furniture.
It wasn't long before Sam laid eyes upon the chipped porcelain mask of Queen Renita Marquette herself, the woman's true appearance still shrouded in secrecy. She waited patiently in the far corner next to the bathroom, a simple armchair for a throne. Her hands were resting in her lap as she watched him approach, biding her time before addressing him directly.
"Samuel Mitchell, was it? Please do come in." Renita's voice was surprisingly calm and mellow, her tone more welcoming than Sam had expected.
"Thanks." He replied, not sounding so sure of himself. "But… you… you can call me Sam." He knew that his words came awkwardly, his tongue stumbling through the conversation as if he had forgotten how to speak.
"Very well, Sam." The empty eyes of the mask followed him until he stopped just shy of the foot of the bed. She seemed to sense his unease, her head tilting to one side as she continued to observe him. "You know, there really is no reason for you to be afraid."
"I'm not…" Sam lied, his nervousness having quickly turned into fear the moment he had entered the room. It was an awful feeling that rose from his very core.
The queen chuckled, her mask betraying no expression from beneath. "Yes, you are. I can sense it in you." She gestured towards the bed, her voice full of amusement. "Come, take a seat. I sincerely promise that I won't bite."
Sam did as he was told, moving to perch himself upon the corner as he tried
not to trip over his clumsy feet. He didn't feel comfortable there, so close to a woman who both intrigued and terrified him at the same time. There was no doubt that she was a fearsome predator, her very nature meant to hunt and kill; however, this disciplined mind was also in complete control of her instincts, keeping the beast inside of her at bay as she bound it with her remaining humanity.
It was Queen Marquette who spoke next, her porcelain face still lacking emotion. "A little bird told me that you're counted amongst the Forsaken. Is that true?" She sounded completely serious now, the pleasant conversation taking a turn down a more dangerous path.
Sam didn't know what to say. The fact that she already knew what he was had caught him unaware and he wondered what would happen if he answered. He had been told about those who were cursed with thin blood like himself, those who lacked the true power of full blooded vampires and how they were despised as outcasts in their society. The Forsaken were hunted down and killed at every opportunity, yet here he was having a polite conversation with a former high ranking member of their hierarchy. Struggling to form a response he simply nodded, his words escaping him this time.
Renita leaned forwards, her head inclined to one side as the black holes of her eyes remained unblinking. "That does explain your peculiar scent…" She paused for a moment as she contemplated in silence, the seconds in between sentences drawing out much longer than they should. "And you're certain that Katherine Louviere is your maker?"
"Y… y… yes." Sam stuttered. He couldn't tell whether or not the queen was displeased with his response as he looked back at her with panic in his eyes.
What seemed like an eternity passed before Renita nodded her approval. It looked as though she had accepted Sam's answer and strangely hadn't called for him to be put to death as of yet. She instead slid forwards in her chair, balancing herself on the edge of it as she continued to question him further. “So you are her deepest, darkest secret? Katherine Louviere's ultimate shame?”
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