Age of Vampyre Series Box Set

by Sophia North

  "MEOW?"

  Vlad peered down. "Leo?"

  He must be hallucinating from the pain.

  The black and white preened and head butted his leg.

  No, not hallucinating. Leo was really there, which could only mean...Stonehaven. He was back in Scotland. Fancy that.

  "Hey, little fella. I'm glad to see you too," he said to his furry friend. "Quick question: what the fuck is your mistress playing at? Faking death is a bit over the top, even for her."

  Leo meowed as if in agreement. But what could he do? He loved his mistress terribly. Even though she could be batty at times and cost him his life. Twice.

  Sauntering away, Leo checked out the perimeter. Things didn't look good. His new vamp friend would need all the help he could get to escape this noose.

  Returning to the chained vamp, the tuxedo sprang onto the wooden beam Vlad was crucified on. Strutting along, he came over to purr in Vlad's ear.

  "Not now, Leo. I need free of these fucking chains. No chance you could help a vamp out? What the fuck am I saying? You're a cat! Not Alfred."

  Leo looked insulted. He reared back, his pug nose raised indignantly, and marched to where Vlad's chained wrist rested. Then he started to lick at one of the thick silver links.

  Vlad watched in amazement as Leo’s tender ministrations disintegrated the chains that bound him. That was some lick he had.

  Freed, he bent down to gather the black and white in his arms. Scratching him beneath his black-splotched chin, he crooned, "Good boy." Leo lifted his head to receive his full adoration, revealing a small pouch attached to his collar.

  "And what do we have here?" Inside was a small rolled missive. Vlad gave Leo one last rub behind his ear before setting him down in order to read the message.

  Viking! Don't make me come in there. I may be old, but there is still some fight left in me. Fulfil your destiny and save my granddaughter. Leo will show you the way. Follow his lead. Essie

  Wonderful. He had destiny and a cat as reinforcements against a demented body snatching vamp and his Rat army. No worries there, he was sorted!

  Leo, back at his leg purring, started circling him. Then poof! A decanter of something appeared on the floor beside him, with the words ‘Drink Me’ on the label.

  After the magical act he'd performed with the chains, Vlad was not overly surprised by Leo's encore. The cat may not be a Shifter, but his supernatural pedigree could no longer be in doubt.

  Popping the cork, Vlad saluted the black and white before tipping the bottle's contents down his throat. Fresh blood and from the taste, an excellent vintage. Cheers, for the donation, Essie.

  Instantly healing, Vlad paused when something rather unexpected started to happen. Staring down at his lower body, Vlad watched in fascination as he slowly began to fade from existence. He should have known something labelled in homage to fucked up fiction was going to have consequences. The blood he'd imbibed did more than just heal him, it now made him invisible.

  Scanning for a way out, the flickering torches embedded in the walls revealed he was in a cave. But this wasn't a normal cave, no this one was rather special. Hewn in a perfect circle, it's walls were decorated in some of the most amazing art Vlad had ever seen.

  Scenes depicting Viking ships with their Dragon headed bows, entwined with intricate Celtic symbols told the tales of legends lost long ago. Amongst the mythical depictions another theme became rather prevalent. The importance of red-haired women.

  The beautifully preserved faces of past Dragons were flawlessly captured throughout the circular chamber. It was like seeing Penny reflected everywhere. She'd certainly come from a long line of great beauty and grace.

  Leo gave a sharp meow, demanding Vlad's attention. Torn from his admiration, Vlad was about to snap 'hold your horses, I'm coming' when the little pug-nosed tuxedo walked right through an enormous iron door in front of him.

  The cat was proving to be more useful than expected. Thank fuck for magic.

  With a final scan of the magnificent cave, Vlad went through the door moments later. His Dragon needed him.

  The narrow carved corridor he'd entered was pitch black. His vamp night vision did not work in places devoid of light completely. Deciding to go back and retrieve a torch to help guide him, Vlad's attempt to re-enter the chamber was met by an immovable force. Namely that of an iron door he could no longer pass through. Looked like his new invisibility was a one-way ticket through solid objects.

  A distinctive 'ching, ching' at his feet meant the return of you-know-who and his jingly collar.

  "I can't see shit, Leo. You need to lead the way."

  His clanging along did the job nicely. It wasn't long before they were at their next portal.

  Pressing his ear against the roughened surface of the door, Vlad listened intently. It sounded like they were in an occupied fortress. Vlad could hear the scurrying of feet on patrol and the clang of metal - possibly knives or guns being loaded. But it was the smell of the fresh sea air and knowledge of his location that led to his conclusion they were in Dunnottar Castle.

  Slipping into the hallway on the other side of the door, Vlad stayed close to the wall as he inched his way along. Reaching a corner, he quickly peered round it.

  The Rats were on patrol in human form and a group of six were marching towards him. With his back firmly pressed against the wall, the group turned the corner in perfect formation and walked right past him, totally unaware of his presence.

  Invisibility had its perks.

  Moving quickly with Leo through the castle, Vlad caught sight of the moon rising over the battlements. It's full face indicated little time had passed since he and Penny had been taken from Wentmore.

  Haan's taunts about his intentions with Penny unpleasantly resurfaced in him and upped the urgency he felt at his need to find her. Thank fuck he'd consumed her blood, and she his, somehow the combination was creating an incredibly strong beacon. His course through the fortress was being led by his sense of her proximity. She was close, he could feel it. If only the fortress wasn't quite so large and crawling with a Rat army. His invisibility served him well on his own, but he had no fucking clue how he was going to escape with Penny. Especially without any back-up other than a black and white cat.

  Leo's nudging stopped Vlad from getting too lost in thought. He peered up at Vlad with his big golden eyes and blinked 'Follow me', in Morse code.

  Vlad did a double-take. No fucking way, but knew in his gut it meant exactly what he suspected.

  Leo again disappeared through a wall, his skinny tail crooking like a beckoning finger at him was the last thing Vlad saw before he disappeared completely. Left with little choice, thanks to Essie's demand to follow Leo, Vlad went through as well and came face-to-face with whom he expected to find. Godfrey.

  "Vlad! I'm so happy to see you," the giant signed energetically, his baby-faced grin almost breathtakingly naive.

  Vlad wasn't fooled.

  "Shit, does this mean I am visible again? I'd hate to have wasted my upper hand on the likes of you," he said him tersely, his tone making it clear he was not particularly happy to see him. He'd become rather pissed off with his new best mates while chained. Their tight-ass natures about the truth had been under review as he hung around waiting for a miracle to happen. They hadn't come out very well following the analysis. Their secrets and lies may end up costing him the thing he cherished most. Penny.

  Godfrey looked crestfallen by Vlad's lack of warmth. "Only to me. And Mariam," he replied, with lacklustre gestures before pointing behind Vlad's left shoulder.

  There in the corner stood the female vamp in question. "We meet again, Elder Barath," she said, inclining her head. "Well done for completing your mission. Essie sends her best."

  Yes, there it was. The conclusion he'd reached about her and Godfrey whilst hanging from his perch. Their arrogant manner at always acting like they knew more than he did about what was unfolding. Undoubtedly they did in some instances, but their co
nstant superiority really pissed him off. There was shit he knew that they obviously didn't. Like the possibility Penny might be pregnant with his child and what Haan's plans were if it turned out to be fact.

  "Fuck you. And fuck Essie too. I'm tired of feeling like a puppet. If you'd been more up-front with me from the beginning, none of this shite would have happened."

  Mariam wasn't cowed by his outburst. "Elder Barath, forgive me, but the lack of transparency you appear to be most upset about, resulted from your parameters not mine."

  Before he could accuse her of anything, she opened her mouth and played back his words. In his own voice.

  "Right, let's do this...Mariam, why don't you give me the highlights? Because, quite frankly, I see little point in running through a bunch of information which will only obscure what's pertinent."

  Finished with her freaky replay, Mariam continued. "The highlights have changed since then, Elder Barath," she remarked. "Are you ready for more pertinent information? Or would you rather lose both Penny and your child to Haan?"

  Yup, she was arrogant alright. But in this instance, he bit his tongue. As grating as her attitude may be, Vlad also had to concede Mariam was right.

  He had shut her down that night in Godfrey's chambers. He’d arrogantly believed he knew better than she by insisting on only being told about the relevant highlights for that moment in time.

  Yet, it was her nonchalant declaration about Penny being with child that delivered the final one-two punch. She shouldn't have known, and yet, she did. If that didn't have him bowing down to her superior wisdom, what would?

  "Fuck, alright. I'm listening."

  Chapter Thirty-Seven

  VLAD STOOD AT THE TOP of the tower where he and Penny had made love for the first time. The sea breeze tousled his shoulder-length blonde locks, as he used his Watcher abilities by magnifying his vision in order to assess what Haan was planning. The fortress was teeming with at least a legion of Rats moving into some sort of strange formation that led to the distant stone circle.

  Focusing on it, he saw two pyres had been placed in the centre of the stones, along with some sort of ceremonial altar between them. Snapping back his vision, he jumped through the open roof into the room below.

  "We're fucked. Haan's rat minions are everywhere and there's too many for the three of us to over-power their forces. And it looks like they are moving forward with Haan's plans for a ritual. They've set up two pyres in the stone circle," he said bluntly to the tower room's occupants. Only Leo protested with a quick succession of meows, as if to say, ‘don't lose faith’.

  Mariam paced the room. Her light dove grey cloak swirled sharply at each heel turn she executed. Her beautiful face was creased in concentration. "I must be missing something. You say Darius managed to come through and speak to you? The real Darius?"

  Vlad sighed. She'd asked that same question for what felt like the thousandth time. "Yes, Mariam. He is still in there. But claimed to have no way of gaining back full control from Haan. So again I ask, why the fuck is this so important? Did you not just hear me say that Haan's moving forward with his fucked-up ritual. Focus, for fuck's sake, Mariam."

  Mariam scowled at him before muttering under her breath that she must be missing something, as she continued to pace. Haan should not be able to have such a strong hold on Darius that he struggled to suppress his alter ego. Vlad's claim that Haan's confession about having Anton as his Underling was never his true aim just wasn't possible.

  Her brother, Wilhalf, was never wrong and he'd been convinced Anton was the real deal. This Polidori brothers idea had to be nonsense. Wilhalf would have known if there was any truth to it.

  "Darius may still be of assistance. Until Haan completes the binding ritual, there is a chance he may be able to regain control and help us," she explained.

  Her continued obsession with Darius didn't help Vlad's current disposition. All he could think about was Haan's boasts about what he intended to do during the ritual to Penny.

  The words alone had left him with a taste for vengeance. Nuclear explosions would occur if the sick fuck dared to try bring his plan to fruition.

  Fully aware he'd most likely be killed in the process of rescuing Penny, Vlad reconciled his lost life with a singular mantra. As long as Haan died before laying a finger on Penny, he didn't fucking care what happened to him. Hell's fury would be a pitiful sizzle in comparison when it came to Vlad protecting his family.

  Family. The preparations taking place on the grounds of the castle left no doubt in his mind that Penny was indeed pregnant. Haan had made it perfectly clear, Vlad's role would be terminated once she was with child and his fucked-up ritual could be performed.

  "So, what's the P.O.A.? Thus far, you've spent more time worrying about that cunt Darius than rescuing Penny," Vlad snapped impatiently. "From my perspective, he's long gone and not worth saving. He lied about being Alessio's bastard for centuries, so excuse the fuck out of me for questioning his motives. Perhaps, you'd like to divulge more about this attachment you seem to have towards Darius."

  Mariam remained tight-lipped, her blue eyes glowering in anger. She didn't appreciate what Vlad was implying, even if there was a kernel of truth to it. Her attachment to Darius Winters was not up for discussion.

  In the end it was Godfrey who brokered the truce between the two warring parties by applying his fist to Vlad's face. He'd taken exception with Vlad's tone towards Mariam.

  Things were about to get out of hand when Mariam put a stop to it by suspending them both in mid-air, frozen and unable to inflict any further damage on each other.

  "Cease this nonsense. We need to work together, if we are to have any chance at thwarting Haan's plans," she informed them sternly. "Vlad's correct. Darius cannot be counted upon, and if his destruction is required to save Penny, so be it. Her future existence is of paramount importance. She cannot be sacrificed. Especially now she is with child."

  Relieved to hear her finally agree with him, Vlad stiffly responded. "Capital. Now release me!"

  Mariam lowered the two vamps to the floor, but wisely kept the force field in place. "If Haan intends to copulate with Penny as part of the ritual, why the two pyres? In fact, why pyres at all? It doesn't seem possible to fornicate with someone tied to a post."

  The reason for her continued force field quickly became evident. "Fuck it. I know exactly where Penny is and I'm going to get her. Mariam prepare to knock, knock, knock our way the fuck outta here," Vlad declared, the image of Penny being violated while tied to a post pushing him over the edge. Attempting to storm off, he muttered, "What the fuck?", when he couldn't move.

  Cocking her head to one side, Mariam listened carefully to what the night winds carried. "I think they are about to start the ritual. And...yes, I hear an old woman. She's...cursing in Gaelic. Esmeralda!" Levitating through the hole in the roof, Mariam peered intently at the stone circle. "They've bound her to one of the pyres. I...I can't read her thoughts, they are jumbled with rage and almost nonsensical. She keeps calling out Rahu and Keto, although why she believes the nodes of the moon are relevant is anyone's guess."

  Vlad didn't need to guess, he knew the reason. They related to the Dragon's Curse.

  "Release me!" Vlad bellowed, and with a click of her fingers, he was free.

  In a single bound, he joined her on the rooftop. "This can't be," he exclaimed. "What is Essie trying to tell us?"

  Mariam quirked a delicate brow in question at him. "Your guess is as good as mine - as I have explained already, I do not see the link...wait, how could I be so foolish as to have forgotten? Rahu and Keto are also known as the Head and Tail of the Dragon."

  "Haan did say he wanted to have two of the same bloodline to provide the anchors for breaking the curse," Vlad added. "Claimed blood pairings are the strongest. He must intend to kill Esmeralda too. The sick fucking cunt!"

  "Interesting. I've read about anchors, but very little about the advantages of bloodlines. Also, given the date, I sho
uld have seen his intentions sooner," Mariam mused.

  Vlad looked at her confused.

  "It's Easter Sunday. A clever choice to bring about one's resurrection on, wouldn't you say?" she clarified.

  Vlad watched Essie tied to a pyre. Her head had slumped forward, the long locks of her once glorious red hair, now pure white, flowed in the wind. She looked defeated. Until the drumming started. At that, her head rose and her stance grew defiant.

  "We need a fucking plan, now!" Vlad roared. The ceremony had begun.

  "It's risky," Mariam warned. Vlad shot her a deathly stare. Risk meant nothing when it came to saving Penny. "Very well, listen carefully. You too, Leo. It's time for the lion to steal the show."

  THE ROUTE TO THE STONE circle was lit by hundreds of troops holding flaming torches. Lined in perfect formation, the Rat Army wore black uniforms with the insignia of their race, a Rat head, embroidered on the upper right arm of their long coats in bright red, surrounded by intricately interwoven clawed feet. The fact the tallest of the crew was no more than five-five, didn't detract from the insidiousness of their presence. Above, the moonlit night added an additional sense of foreboding to the ritualistic atmosphere, along with the pounding of drums.

  Penny slowly descended the stairs from the fortress, her long cloak trailing behind, its heaviness creating a soft swish with each step she took. Her heart pounded loudly, matching the rhythm of the drums that had started pounding the moment she reached the staircase.

  Dazed from the news that she was supposedly pregnant, by Vlad no less, Penny knew it was ridiculous to believe some devotee's claim, who was so obviously eager to please his Master. Not to mention the other little niggling problem that ran along with it. If she really was with child, surely it would be the fastest conception ever. Okay, she may be over egging its importance a tad. The Immaculate one was arguably also a strong contender.

  But why would the wretched creature lie? Haan would be very displeased to discover she wasn't, in fact, pregnant. He was hosting one hell of a ritual to come out on the other end empty-handed. And no sycophant would seek to be the cause of such an oversight. Especially not with a Master as powerful as Haan.