Bloodliner

by Robert T. Jeschonek

  "What is it?" said Mavis.

  "Nectar," said Stanza. "Like Nicolo wrote on the wall. Nectar of the gods."

  Arthur dug in, caking up his fingers and licking them clean with gusto. "Delicious."

  Jonah swiped one fingertip through the under-altar goop and inspected it. "Some kind of mold?" He looked sideways at Stanza. "Are you getting us stoned?"

  "It's the doorway Nicolo wrote about." Stanza took another helping and stepped aside. "It's a doorway through time."

  "You mean this will send us back?" Mavis still hadn't taken a taste.

  "Only your astral form. Your spirit, your mind," said Stanza. "Your physical body stays here."

  "Why doesn't that make me feel better?" Jonah sniffed the substance on his fingertip. It smelled a little like cinnamon...and a lot like a moldy basement.

  Just then, Stanza's eyes flickered. Her legs seemed to weaken, and she caught herself on the corner of the altar. "Hurry up, everyone. I'm starting to fade."

  Jonah didn't want to do it, but he felt like he didn't have a choice. Nervously, he stuck out his tongue and barely licked his dirty fingertip. When he took a second lick, the flavor jumped out at him. Moldy basement.

  "How do we know where we'll end up?" he said.

  "I was planning to direct the trip," said Stanza, "but if you'd rather drift all alone into God knows where and when, be my guest!" With that, she stumbled over to a wall and sank down to the floor.

  Reluctantly, Jonah scrubbed more mold from the altar and licked it from his fingers. With Arthur's gentle encouragement, Mavis gingerly managed a few licks of her own. Then, they all sat on the floor in a circle with Stanza.

  "Trust me," said Stanza. "I've done this before. Now give me your hands." She reached for Jonah and Mavis on either side of her.

  When Jonah and Mavis hesitated, Stanza resolved the matter by force, lashing out like a striking cobra to grab their hands. "Now focus on the circle," she said. "Focus on me. I'll do the driving."

  As Stanza closed her eyes and swayed from side to side, Jonah started to worry that he'd be left behind. He had yet to feel the effects of the drug, though Stanza and Arthur looked like they were well underway. Mavis had a funny look on her face, too.

  Maybe the nectar affected everyone differently. Maybe Jonah had a higher tolerance and needed another dose.

  Would it hurt if I broke the circle just for a second?

  Jonah was about to make a run for another taste of the mold when it finally hit him. Suddenly, the room around him flared with fiery red light...then went pitch-black. Jonah had a sense of lurching motion—pitching and swooping through space on a roller-coaster, then spinning in two directions at once at ridiculous speeds.

  He thought he heard someone scream. Then, with a sudden jolt, the motion stopped. Looking around, Jonah wondered where he was.

  He and the others, still holding hands, sat on the floor in a low-ceilinged room at night. Moonlight streamed through the sheer curtains on two catty-corner windows.

  The room was small, maybe twenty-five feet across. There was an ivory bench under each window, piled with cushions.

  The walls were covered with painted images, bursting with rich colors and bold red borders. The antlers of a deer—Jonah counted twelve points—hung on a plaque above the doorway.

  And along the far wall, Jonah saw a familiar piece of furniture. It was draped in white cloth and heaped with apples and bunches of grain, but he still recognized it. And finally realized where he was.

  It's the altar. I'm in the same building in Herculaneum. And everything's different.

  *****

  Chapter 48

  "Am I dead?" said Mavis as she reached out and put her hand through the altar.

  "Not dead," said Stanza. "And it's temporary. It'll wear off in a few hours."

  Mavis shoved her arm through a wall up to her elbow. "Tell me I'm not a ghost."

  "More like a soul," said Stanza. "A disembodied consciousness."

  "I knew I shouldn't've eaten that mold," said Mavis.

  Please God, don't let me be dead.

  Even as Mavis prayed, she knew in her heart she hadn't died. She knew because her vision of the future had not come true yet, the vision she'd seen while drowning after escaping Lyonesse.

  The vision in which she'd seen herself as a vampire.

  Now there's a comforting thought. I know I'm not dead because I haven't become a bloodsucking creature of the night yet.

  "We're still in Herculaneum," said Jonah, who was walking slowly around the room, staring at everything. "It's the same temple, but it's the way it used to be."

  Stanza nodded. "We've gone back in time. This is Herculaneum at its height."

  "Before the volcano erupted," said Jonah.

  "Before a lot of things," said Stanza.

  Just then, Mavis heard voices nearby and stuck her head through the wall. In the room on the other side, lit by candlelight, she saw a young woman talking to an old man with a crooked cane. Both of them were draped in white robes.

  And they looked right at her.

  Mavis' eyes flew wide open, and she jerked herself back out of the wall.

  "They saw me!" She toned her voice down to a panicked whisper. "I thought we were invisible!"

  Stanza looked annoyed. "Who told you that?"

  "I just assumed!" said Mavis. "Can they touch us, too? Can they hurt us?"

  Stanza peeked through the doorway. "No," she said. "These people can't hurt us."

  "Hello?" said the old man from the other room. "Who is it? Who's in there?"

  Jonah whispered to Stanza. "How can we understand what he's saying? Isn't he speaking ancient Latin?"

  "It's the nectar." Stanza pointed to the side of her head. "It expands your mind. Puts you in tune with your environment."

  Arthur stepped up, put his arm around Mavis' shoulder, and winked at her. As a disembodied spirit, he no longer wore giant wraparound sunglasses. "We're royalty!" he said, raising his voice for the old man. "We come in friendship."

  "Magicians, is more like it," said the old man. "Show yourselves."

  Arthur grinned at Mavis, then squared his shoulders and stormed through the wall. "Who's in charge here?" he said, voice booming.

  Stanza followed him through the wall, and Jonah eased through the doorway. Mavis hung back, then took a deep breath and crossed the threshold after Jonah.

  "Why don't you fetch the master of the temple?" the old man said to the woman who stood beside him. "I'll entertain these guests."

  The woman's long brown hair swung over her back as she turned and rushed out of the room. Her robes billowed around a corner, and she was gone.

  "Now then," said the old man. "My name is Paetus. What brings you to our place of worship?"

  "I am Arthur Britannicus." Arthur stepped back and patted Stanza's shoulder. "My squire, Stanza Miracolo, will explain our purpose."

  "We are searching for a man like us." To illustrate, Stanza passed her hand through a bronze bust atop a marble stand. "His name is Nicolo."

  Paetus shook his head. He didn't look surprised by Stanza's intangible stunt. "I cannot help you."

  Stanza frowned. "You haven't seen him? We heard he was coming this way."

  The old man shrugged.

  "Then perhaps you can help us in another way," said Stanza. "We're looking for information on a family named Borgia."

  "Do you mean Borka?" The old man frowned. "Bursa? Origus?"

  "Borgia," said Stanza.

  Just then, Mavis heard a sound like distant thunder.

  Then, she heard it again. Getting closer.

  She felt a surge of panic.

  Is the volcano erupting? Is this the last day of Herculaneum?

  Jonah must have had the same thought, for he met her gaze with a wide-eyed look of terror.

  Boom. Boom. Boom.

  "What's that?" said Jonah.

  The old man cupped a hand behind his ear and listened intently. A smile curled across his f
ace.

  "Just what we've been waiting for," he said.

  "What do you mean?" said Mavis.

  The thundering booms got closer. Mavis felt the ground shake and saw urns vibrate on tables and window ledges. A bronze shield slid off the wall and clattered to the floor, followed by the two spears that had been crossed above it.

  Paetus opened his mouth wide and hissed. His fangs glistened in the candlelight.

  "My master has returned," he said, shouting over the deafening booms. "And he has been expecting you."

  *****

  Chapter 49

  Though Jonah had been told that he couldn't be hurt in his astral form, he instinctively stepped back when the hulking newcomer plowed into the room.

  Though the man was closer to five feet tall than six, he bulged with huge masses of perfectly defined muscle. His body strained against the light brown, knee-length animal skin he wore, complete with the face and mane of a lion strapped over his left shoulder.

  "These are the ones?" His voice sounded like it was blasting through a bullhorn.

  "Yes, master," said Paetus.

  The muscleman howled and tossed his head. Sweat flew from the tight curls of his black hair, and spit sprayed from his thick purple lips.

  "I was warned about you," he said, black olive eyes glowering under a clenched-fist brow. His huge wedge of a nose knotted like rope as he snarled and glared at Arthur. "And I will destroy you."

  Jonah took another step back. Is that who I think it is?

  The muscleman stomped up to Arthur and squared off chest-to-chest with him. "Aren't you going to plead for mercy?"

  "There's been a mistake," Arthur said calmly. "Let me explain."

  Without warning, the muscleman planted his massive paws on Arthur's upper arms, picked him up, and heaved him across the room like a sack of dog food.

  Jonah whirled to face Stanza. "I thought you said they couldn't hurt us!"

  "I said those other people couldn't," said Stanza. "He can."

  "What?" said Mavis. "Why?"

  "I am a god!" roared the muscleman. "I am the founder and king eternal of this great city!

  "I am Hercules!"

  *****

  Chapter 50

  Mavis wasn't all that surprised when the muscleman claimed to be a Greek god. If I can meet up with King Arthur, why not Hercules, too?

  "I know why you're here!" Hercules bellowed so loud that the veins on his sweaty bronze forehead jumped out. So did the cords of his muscle-packed neck. "And I won't allow you to violate sacred Vesuvius!"

  With that, Hercules grabbed hold of Jonah's shoulder. Jonah looked like he still couldn't believe the god could touch him in his astral form.

  "Bony whelp!" roared Hercules. "You're not fit to pick my teeth with!"

  Then, suddenly, Arthur leaped across the room and bashed Hercules in the head with his clasped hands.

  Hercules let go of Jonah and wobbled in place for a moment. Without hesitating, Arthur shoved Jonah out of the way through a wall.

  Stanza tried to do the same with Mavis, grabbing her by the arm and pushing her toward a wall...but Mavis wouldn't cooperate. She shook off Stanza's grip.

  I won't leave him.

  As Arthur looked in her direction, Hercules took a wild swing at him. The punch clipped Arthur's shoulder, pitching him forward. Arthur rode the impact, letting it spin him around to face his opponent. "We have no intention of violating Vesuvius."

  "Liar!" Hercules swung another punch, which missed...then caught Arthur with the edge of a sudden backhand. "You wish to make the sacred mountain breathe fire!"

  Arthur stumbled from the backhand. "We don't have that kind of power," he said, deflecting Hercules' next blow with a sweep of his forearm, "and we wouldn't use it if we did."

  "Ha!" Hercules charged forward, catching Arthur around the waist. "He told me you were liars!"

  "He who?" said Arthur.

  Hercules strained to dump his opponent to the floor. Arthur stayed on his feet but could not break Hercules' hold from his midsection.

  "My own flesh and blood!" said Hercules. "My descendant, Borgia!"

  Just then, Hercules shifted his weight hard to one side and brought down Arthur. Hercules dropped on top of him, pressing Arthur's astral form halfway through the marble floor.

  "I am the lord of Vesuvius!" said Hercules as he pinned Arthur with one hand and pounded him in the face with the other. "All who seek to ruin her and obliterate this noble city of Herculaneum will answer to me!"

  I have to help Arthur.

  Even as she had the thought, Mavis wasn't sure what she could do. In a battle of brute force between legendary titans, she had little to offer. On the other hand, she didn't think it was possible for her to die here. She still hadn't seen her vision come true, the one in which she became a vampire.

  So what do I have to lose?

  Taking a deep breath, Mavis edged along the wall toward the action. Stanza saw her, but instead of trying to stop her, she spoke up to distract Hercules.

  "Borgia lied!" she said. "We are not your enemies!"

  Hercules roared like an animal and chucked a fist across Arthur's face, spraying the floor with black blood. "Then my city will not be destroyed? Vesuvius will not explode?"

  "If those things happen," said Stanza, "it will not be because of us."

  For the first time since storming into the house, Hercules took a good look at Stanza...and his expression changed. His scowl deepened, became a look of searching disbelief. "Helen? Is that you?"

  Stanza nodded. "It's been a while, my friend."

  "An eternity." Hercules gazed at her wonderingly. "And yet, I think often of Troy."

  "As do I," said Stanza.

  Suddenly, Hercules' face reverted to a scowl. "But why are you in league with these enemies? They must have deceived you!"

  "No, Hercules," said Stanza.

  "I'm sorry," said Hercules, "but you must be stopped! I cannot allow you to destroy my city!"

  Almost there. As Hercules continued to talk, Mavis eased up behind him. Just as she was working up the courage to move, though, Paetus leaped in front of her, hissing. He lunged...and passed right through her astral form. His head thumped against the wall, and he slumped to the floor.

  I guess he's not a god.

  Hercules turned at the sound.

  This is it. Do it.

  And Mavis charged.

  Howling, she ran three steps and threw herself on top of Hercules. With one hand holding down Arthur and the other choking him, Hercules didn't have a hand free to swat her away.

  Now what?

  "Off me, woman!" Hercules tried bucking her loose.

  Mavis kept her arms wrapped tightly around his neck. His thrashing tossed her body back and forth like a kite on a line, but she didn't let go.

  Then, with one great guttural shout, Hercules reached back and ripped her free. He pitched her over his head, and she landed on her back on the floor. The next thing Mavis knew, he was looming over her.

  "You want my attention?" Hercules snarled, his lips curling away from his bright white teeth.

  And that was when Mavis knew how bizarre things had truly become. That was when she was finally surprised.

  That was when she saw Hercules' fangs.

  "Well, you've got it," said Hercules, just before he went for her throat.

  *****

  Chapter 51

  Mavis screamed as Hercules the vampire lunged for her throat.

  Is this what leads to my vision? If a vampire who's also a god bites my astral form in ancient Rome, will that make me a vampire?

  For the moment, at least, she didn't get an answer.

  Before Hercules could make contact, Arthur heaved him up and away from her. As Hercules crashed into furniture across the room, Arthur bolted after him, drawing Excalibur from its scabbard on the way.

  Arthur swung his sword overhead as he charged, but when he brought it down, Hercules lashed up a wooden club from his be
lt and stopped it.

  The two men struggled for long moments in a stalemate. One gained an inch, then lost it...but neither was able to disarm or upend the other.

  "Yield!" Hercules snapped out the word through tightly clenched teeth.

  "You yield!" Arthur shook and sweated from the strain but did not buckle.

  Mavis got up from the floor and took a step toward the battle of wills. She wondered how much longer it could last, and who would triumph in the end.

  If Hercules wins in the state he's in, we're in serious trouble.

  That was when she decided to provide a distraction.

  "Hercules!" She took a step closer to the struggling men. "What if Borgia lied about being your flesh and blood?"

  "Impossible!" Hercules didn't waver or break eye contact with Arthur as he spoke. "I am a god! I can see the fire of my blood in a man's heart just as clearly as you can see a drop of wine on a sheepskin!"

  Suddenly, Stanza stepped up beside Mavis. "Then look here," she said. "Tell us what you see."

  She gestured at Mavis.

  Hercules threw a glance in her direction, then returned his gaze to Arthur...then glanced back at Mavis again.

  His scowl deepened.

  "This is a trick," he said, continuing to struggle with Arthur.

  "Then explain this." Stanza turned and waved for Jonah, who had reentered the room. "What do you see, Hercules?"

  Jonah stepped up beside Stanza, and Hercules looked at him, too.

  "You see your blood, don't you?" said Stanza. "They're your descendants."

  Hercules kept straining to push Excalibur toward Arthur. He applied a sudden burst of energy and gained several inches, but Arthur pressed him back and made gains of his own.

  "Which descendant do I believe?" said Hercules.