A Shade of Vampire 64: A Camp of Savages

by Bella Forrest

  “These are from the Draenir’s archives,” Ta’Zan said.

  “You teach your Perfects about the Draenir?” I asked, changing the subject.

  He nodded once. “They must know their past, so they don’t repeat it. All the footage they have is carefully curated. Films, operas, dance recitals… various cultural activities in which the Draenir engaged, prior to their extinction. You’re avoiding my inquiry, Sofia.”

  “You didn’t ask me a question,” I said. “I’m not avoiding anything.”

  He sighed, then picked up the pace and led me up the stairs, all the way to the top of the coliseum. The moment I set foot on the roof level, my breath was snatched by the sheer beauty of the island surrounding us. Undulating shades of black and dark green defined the jungle around us. Bluish hues outlined the jungle treetops, while the night sky stretched above, riddled with trillions of stars—tiny white dots sprinkled over a layer of dark blue.

  The ocean twinkled in the distance, everywhere I turned to look. It seemed surreal, trembling under the sapphire moonlight and casting its foamy waves against the white sands of the island’s shoreline. The tide was high at this hour.

  “Tell me about you and Derek,” Ta’Zan said, as we settled on a small bench overlooking the western part of the island. Coliseums popped up in the distance throughout the archipelago, each surrounded by thick jungles and a wide strip of white sand. “You’ve been together for how long now?”

  I shrugged. “I think ninety or so years. We lost track at some point, given that we’re looking at an eternity together. Well, were looking. Things have changed now. Maybe I should’ve kept track a little better,” I replied.

  “There’s nothing that stops you from living a full and decent life here, forever, Sofia,” Ta’Zan said. “All you have to do is obey the rules and not rise against me. It’s quite simple.”

  I couldn’t help but chuckle. “Tell me something, Ta’Zan. If someone came in, right now, and put you in a cage, would you be okay with that? Would you simply obey their rules and do as you’re told?”

  He thought about it for a while, a bitter smile settling on his face. “I wouldn’t.”

  “So, then, how do you expect me or any of my people to do the same, when you’ve crammed us in a cage and are eager to invade our world, on top of that?” I asked.

  “The circumstances are rather different,” Ta’Zan said. “I’m doing this for the good of my people, to bring the entire universe to a higher level of existence, to stop wars and—”

  “We’re doing the same thing. Only without all the mass killings and genocide that you seem so eager to engage in.”

  “How did you and Derek meet?” Ta’Zan asked, changing the subject.

  I didn’t insist. My freedom wasn’t the reason he’d brought me up here. If I was going to walk away with any kind of useful intel, I first had to give him something and not irk him. Arguing about different ideologies was not going to get me anywhere, not with a guy who was hell-bent on “cleansing” the universe.

  “Let’s just say we were off to a rough start,” I replied. “His brother kidnapped and delivered me to Derek for his blood-drinking pleasure… It’s complicated.”

  “I like complicated,” he retorted with a smirk.

  “The place we call home wasn’t always the haven it is today,” I said. “It was once a place of darkness, despair, and bloodshed. Vampires used to hunt humans and bring them back, drinking blood from them at their leisure. I was one of those humans, and I was part of Derek’s harem. It took a lot of hard work to get things to change. In the end, love won.”

  “What was he like?”

  “Honestly? He was always the person you see here today, minus the experience. That’s what made him into who he really is. The potential was already there.”

  “You’re being vague, Sofia,” Ta’Zan replied.

  I huffed with frustration. “What do you want me to tell you? He’s ambitious and relentless. He’s fierce. He’s a fighter. He will go to the end of the world and beyond to save the people he loves. He overcame his addiction for blood. He put himself through plenty of trials and tribulations for our sake… for mine… for our family. Derek Novak is one of the greatest individuals to ever set foot in this universe. And he’s my husband. I could go on—”

  “Don’t,” Ta’Zan grumbled. “It sounds like propaganda. It’s boring. I’m not interested in your feelings about him. I don’t comprehend the emotional attachment you have to one another. Reproduction is necessary for the survival of any species, but this entire soulmate thing is pure garbage. The result of overloaded chemicals in one’s body. It’s ephemeral. You will both outlive your love for one another, and it’s not what I want to know, Sofia.”

  “Okay!” I snapped. “What do you want to know, then? Come on, ask a specific question.”

  Ta’Zan seemed impressed, his eyebrow widely arched. I had a feeling there were few in this coliseum who didn’t quiver before him, and who stood up to him, seemingly fearless. To be honest, I was quaking in my boots, too, but if there was one thing I’d learned since day one in the old Shade, it was that fear drew the predators closer. It could kill.

  “What makes Derek tick?” he asked plainly.

  I kind of knew what he meant, and it was a tough question. Not because I didn’t want to answer it, though. I just had to pick my words carefully. I didn’t want to give Ta’Zan any hint of weakness where my husband was concerned. There was too much at stake here.

  He didn’t rush me. He waited patiently as I composed my reply, my gaze wandering around the coliseum. Perfect guards navigated the top side in groups of two. In the distance, they flashed across the sky, zapping from one diamond stronghold to another. They were definitely coming into their own, establishing their own rhythm and flow as a civilization. The more organized they were, the more dangerous they became—on top of the world-breaking peril they already represented.

  “Derek is different from most creatures you’ve probably encountered,” I said. “There was a series of events that led him to become the person he was when I first met him—hidden beneath all the darkness and gloom.”

  Ta’Zan ate up every word, as if I was telling him the most interesting bedtime story. I decided to stick mostly to the earlier parts of Derek's history, figuring that information would be the most harmless. I recounted how his mother had been killed by a vampire when he was a human teenager, which led him to become a hunter, and then eventually a vampire himself. I described how he discovered and founded The Shade. I’d already told Ta’Zan how we met, but I went on to tell him about how we worked to make the island a brighter place, not just for vampires and humans, but for all species.

  At the end of my story, Ta’Zan’s expression changed—from interested to… disappointed. What I was telling him didn’t seem to fit the narrative he’d constructed in his head, as far as Derek was concerned. Perhaps Ta’Zan was hoping that Derek had some kind of cold and dark side that he could drill into, to get his approval for his actions. I was beginning to think that Ta’Zan was still in desperate need of validation, and he couldn’t get it from the creatures he’d made.

  Derek and I were sort of creators ourselves, though we’d chosen the natural path, not the petri dish. Looking at things from this point of view, it didn’t strike me as odd that Ta’Zan would seek to get closer to Derek, to form some kind of link, to earn his approval or praise. It had to be stemming from his subconscious, though. Ta’Zan would never have openly requested Derek’s feedback.

  It hit me then that Ta’Zan was trying to find Derek’s soft spots, ways in which he could get closer to my husband and establish the rapport he most likely desired. It was just a theory, but it made a whole lot of sense.

  However, I hadn’t given Ta’Zan anything palpable to work with. I smiled.

  “You’re still not satisfied,” I said.

  “Am I that transparent?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.

  I shook my head. “Not really, no. But I�
�m good at reading people, in general,” I replied, trying to soothe his ego. As much as he tried to maintain a cool façade, Ta’Zan showed all the symptoms of a genius suffering from underappreciation. He’d created a deadly force that could wipe out an entire universe, yet he still sought praise.

  “That you clearly are,” Ta’Zan said, then got up.

  I stood as well, quietly waiting for him to lead the way wherever he wanted to take me next. I mirrored his position, keeping my hands behind my back. Harper had taught me this trick, after Neraka. Since she couldn’t read daemons’ and Maras’ emotions, she’d had to focus on body language and ways to use it against her enemies. The girl was definitely on to something, because Ta’Zan seemed to relax a little bit more in my presence.

  “You like Derek a lot,” I murmured, walking by his side as we toured the top level of the coliseum. I had to give Ta’Zan credit: the fresh air was already working wonders on my brain. Being out in the open filled me with vibrant energy. “I suppose that’s why you want to know more about him. And by more, I mean stuff that he won’t tell you himself.”

  Ta’Zan grinned. “You’re quite observant, indeed.”

  “But you’re still an enemy. Derek would never open up to you in a way you’d like,” I said. “I’m sorry, Ta’Zan. I doubt you’ll get what you’re looking for with me. I would never betray my husband.”

  “You shouldn’t think of me as your enemy. I’ve repeatedly specified that it’s a very narrow way of looking at this.”

  “As long as we’re locked up, as long as you’re hunting our children, our friends, and our people… as long as you’re determined to destroy our worlds, you will always be our enemy,” I replied softly. “Don’t take this the wrong way, but that’s just how things are. It’s how the universe functions.”

  “I intend to fix that.”

  “You cannot, Ta’Zan. You are not God. You’re a creator, but you do not have what it takes to change an entire universe. You may not see it now, but the day will come when you will. On that day, if I’m still breathing, you’ll be more than welcome to come talk to me.”

  Ta’Zan stopped on the edge, overlooking the eastern side of the endless archipelago. It was dark and quiet over there, with just a few twinkling lights inside the diamond coliseums. The Perfects had finally gone to sleep.

  I glanced down to my side and saw the prison dome beneath. I could recognize most of the people in there, by their height and frame, mostly, including my husband and Amal, who were talking. The diamond glass distorted most of the visual, though, and dozens of our people flanked them so the guards surrounding the hall on the outside didn’t spot her. I figured it had to be a good and fruitful chat for her to still be down there.

  “Finding out Derek’s soft spots won’t get you closer to him,” I continued, then resumed the walk. I wanted to get him away from that side, fearing he might peek down and notice Amal, too. I didn’t know how good his eyesight was, and I didn’t want to risk it. He followed me, and we both headed for a set of stairs leading to the lower levels. “You’ll have to tell him what you want. Be straightforward about it.”

  “You think that will work?” Ta’Zan asked.

  I was stunned to hear him sound as insecure as he did. But I kept my face straight and my awe to myself. I couldn’t understand why he was showing me this side of him, but I welcomed it. It offered new insight into the self-proclaimed new ruler of the universe.

  “Derek appreciates honesty, not subterfuge. Perhaps if you leave the world domination chat aside and just talk to him about hybrids and biological aspects of your work, in general, you might get what you want from him. Derek is, first and foremost, the ruler of his world, and its defender. Your genetic supremacy doesn’t make anyone prone to opening up.”

  Ta’Zan stopped in front of the stairs, then turned to face me. “Why are you helping me?”

  “Is this considered help?” I replied. “I’m merely telling you what makes Derek tick. It’s what you wanted to know, isn’t it?”

  He chuckled, shaking his head as he descended the stairs. I stayed close behind him, examining his tall figure. There were toned muscles beneath the gray silk tunic, which matched the color of his hair. I wondered if the shade was a sign of aging or simply his natural color. Ta’Zan carried himself with great poise and dignity, and the Perfects emulated him in their postures.

  “Thank you, Sofia,” he said as we reached the bottom of the stairs. “I appreciate your input.”

  “I take it you think that you and Derek are kindred spirits of some kind?” I asked.

  About ten yards away from where we’d stopped again, there were two Faulties cleaning the diamond floor slabs with cloths and water, laboriously wiping every inch, edge, and corner at impressive speed. A Perfect came out from one of the nearby rooms.

  I kept my head turned to look at Ta’Zan as we continued to walk down the hallway, but frequently glanced over my shoulder to observe the oncoming interaction between the Perfect and the Faulties. I could tell from the look on the Perfect’s face that he was up to no good.

  “I venture to say that, yes,” Ta’Zan replied, staring ahead. “We’ve both built our worlds practically from scratch and against all odds. Granted, the methods vary, but, at the end of the day, yes. I think Derek and I have a lot in common.”

  I could’ve easily contradicted him on this one, but I was still sticking to my ego-brushing tactic. Besides, things were heating up behind us, as the emerging Perfect deliberately kicked the water bucket and one of the Faulties as he passed by them. He then proceeded to berate them.

  “Typical Faulty crap. Can’t keep your things in order,” he hissed.

  “You… You knocked it over!” the other Faulty said, while the first got back up on his knees and gawked at the thin sheet of soapy water expanding across the diamond floor. Tears came up to his eyes. He’d probably been working for hours to polish these surfaces.

  “You watch your mouth, freak!” The Perfect towered over the both of them, his fists balled and his posture quite threatening.

  Something clicked inside the first Faulty. The physical aggression must’ve been the drop that filled the glass. He shot to his feet and punched the Perfect right in the face. None of the three involved had seen it coming, not even the puncher. He looked almost as stunned as the Perfect, who’d been caught unprepared. Hell, no one had expected a Faulty to hit back.

  The Perfect, however, was unhinged. He pummeled both Faulties, savagely punching and kicking them against the wall. My stomach tightened into a ball. I gripped Ta’Zan’s arm—he hadn’t even heard or seen the entire incident. He didn’t seem to observe such details.

  He stared at me for a second, then looked back and spotted the bloody brawl.

  I couldn’t do anything because of my shock collar, though I would’ve given anything to be able to rip that Perfect to shreds and glaze those diamond floors in crimson.

  “You have to do something,” I murmured.

  “What would you want me to do?” he asked, his tone flat and calm.

  “What do you mean?” I asked. “Are you okay with your children fighting? I sure as hell wouldn’t be, especially if I’d spent all this time boasting about how much I love them all!”

  The corner of his mouth twitched. “You make a fair point.”

  “You protected Isda from Abaddon. I know you have it in you,” I said. “You can’t let your Perfects commit random acts of cruelty. It beats the very purpose of Perfection.”

  “I’m well aware of that, Sofia. I simply don’t have the patience to micromanage them. There are supervisors in charge to handle that,” he replied.

  “Well, nobody’s here now!”

  “Actually, he’s a supervisor,” Ta’Zan said, slightly amused as he pointed at the Perfect responsible for the entire fight. He then raised his voice. “Marael!”

  The Perfect froze, his foot lodged against the first Faulty’s stomach. The other was lying flat on his back, panting and coughing as
he held his side. The Perfect had beaten them both into a pulp, already.

  When Ta’Zan called out your name at such a high volume, trouble was most certainly afoot.

  Sofia

  Dread stiffened the Perfect’s figure.

  Ta’Zan walked over to the three creatures. I stayed close, my hands behind my back as I continued to mirror his pose.

  The Faulties were bruised and bleeding but managed to help each other up. The Perfect stood straight and speechless, his gaze fixed on Ta’Zan. Judging by the look on his face, he hadn’t expected Ta’Zan to intervene.

  “Father,” the Perfect croaked. I could almost smell the fear on him.

  “Marael, what are you doing?” Ta’Zan asked, keeping his tone low and calm.

  “Sorry, was that a rhetorical question?” I grumbled, frowning as I watched the two Faulties tremble before Ta’Zan. Even with the beating they’d taken, even though they were the victims, they still seemed afraid. The one who’d gotten kicked, however, seemed a lot more alert, even angry and close to the boiling point.

  Ta’Zan gave me a brief glance, enough to render me silent. He then shifted his focus back to Marael. “Answer my question, please.”

  “These oafs were in my way,” Marael said, trying to justify himself.

  “My son, that is no reason to hurt them like this,” Ta’Zan replied.

  “They talked back—” Marael spoke, but the first Faulty cut him off, visibly distraught.

  “He taunted us. He mocked us. We were just doing our jobs, cleaning the floors. He could’ve gone around us, but he chose to attack us!” he blurted, shaking like a leaf.

  “You mind your tone with me!” Marael snapped, gritting his teeth.

  “No! I’m tired of this crap! We’re not animals for you to torment!” the first Faulty growled. “We’re children of Ta’Zan, too! We’re not animals! You don’t poke and prod us! You don’t push and kick us around and practically spit on us! This has to stop!”

  “We have rights! We have dreams and aspirations. We’re loyal. We obey, and we help as much and as well as we can,” the second Faulty chimed in, encouraged by the first’s outburst.