by Sean Stone
“You want me to go down there, where all the sorcerers are?” I must have misunderstood him. He wouldn’t really suggest that I walk into certain death.
“You’ll be shielded by me and Clara won’t risk hurting you. Not yet. She still hopes she can win you to her side. Go on. Show her that you will not be trifled with,” he said. He didn’t wait for me to reply. He waved his hand before me and then I was gone, teleporting through space against my will. I materialised in the midst of the battle ground with all the vampires who were fighting for me. Clara stood before me, an invisible shield separating us. There were bodies strewn about me. Mainly sorcerers, but some vampires had perished too.
“Eddie,” Clara said, taken aback.
“Surprised to see me?” I said, my anger was returning to me now. I tried to control it. My position down here was precarious. Nick had already told me that his shield would not stand if all of them attacked.
“How did you do this?” she asked, her eyes narrowed suspiciously.
“You have no idea what I’m capable of,” I replied viciously.
“We can still fix this, Eddie. Come inside and—”
I cut her off with a sharp laugh. “Oh, no. I’m never going in there again.” I pointed up at the angry red building. “And I will never trust you again. I am going home and I’m taking my friends with me.” I indicated the foreign vampires whom I’d never before seen in my life. “I strongly advise you not to try and stop me.”
Clara looked at me despairingly but made no move to intersect my departure. The sorcerers cleared a path as I led the vampires back up the hill to where the others were waiting. Nick was gone by the time I returned.
“He’ll find you later,” Gabe explained. I hadn’t gotten the chance to address the claim that he was my grandfather. It didn’t matter, he was going to find me later, so I could bring it up then. “Come on,” Gabe said softly and then led me down to where the cars waited.
Chapter Twenty-Two
We got back to the vampire house and Alison saw our guests through to the main room at the back. I headed to the bathroom to relieve myself. Whilst in there I cleaned myself up. There was still blood all over my hands and my clothes were a bit of a mess. I washed myself and straightened out my attire. I wouldn’t normally be that bothered by my appearance, but I needed to stall. I needed to find a way out of the deal Gabe had made. I couldn’t give them a stake with which they could kill Aldric. My relationship with him was shaky at best, this would tip him over the edge and I could hardly blame him. Did I really need to honour Gabe’s promise? It wasn’t my promise. But if I refused then it would be telling everyone that Gabe did not represent me which would cause problems with the factions who Gabe mediated. Fuck. I was going to have to give them the stake. Maybe I could give them a fake stake. Aldric would probably kill them before they got close enough to use it anyway. He was going to be so heavily guarded they didn’t stand a chance. He’d kill them before they ever found out it was a fake. But what if he didn’t? What if they came up with a flawless plan. If they planned meticulously enough they could pull it off. They could even have an inside man. And if word got out that I went back on a deal made by my representative it would ruin my reputation. The factions would never trust me and I’d lose all control of my town. I was going to have to make the stake. I would just have to hope they did kill Aldric. That would stop him from seeking revenge. But then word would get out that I’d betrayed someone I had a truce with. There was no way of winning.
I slammed my fist into the mirror and the glass broke sending cracks cobwebbing out across the surface. Fresh cuts opened up on my knuckles. I left them for a moment, letting the pain pulse before I healed myself. I would make the stake, but I would also warn Aldric. Maybe I could make him understand that I had no choice. It was the best I could do with the situation I’d inherited.
I opened the bathroom door and stepped into the hallway. Gabe was waiting. He’d tidied himself up too and was now looking far more like himself. He looked at me apologetically.
“Don’t worry about it. You did what you thought was best and you got me out. I appreciate it,” I said, giving him a thank you nod. He gave me a small smile.
“You all ready to go in?” he asked.
“Yes. Oh, where’s Sabrina?” I said as I remembered that she was Clara’s mole. She needed to be dealt with as soon as.
“Inside I think.” He gestured to the back room. “Why?”
“She was leaking information to Clara. I’m going to need you to detain her as soon as I finish up with the other vampires.”
Gabe was shaking his head in disagreement. Was he actually going to refuse an instruction? “Eddie, I know her. She wouldn’t do this. I think you’re mistaken.”
“Clara told me herself. Sabrina was the one guarding me when I was taken. She was the only one who knew that I was going to try and contact Nick. It’s the only way Clara could have found out,” I told him. I’d had plenty of time to think it over whilst I was locked up and there was no doubt in my mind that Clara was telling the truth.
Gabe’s face twisted in discomfort as he tried to find a defence for his friend, but clearly he couldn’t come up with one. “Okay,” he nodded. “I’ll tell the others.” He pulled out his phone and starting typing a text. I waited impatiently. I wanted this evening over with. Too much had happened and I just wanted to go to bed where I could forget it all for a few hours before having to deal with it all over again in the morning.
“All done,” Gabe said with another nod. I led the way into the room.
Only three of Aldric’s detractors had come back to the house. Two men and an exceptionally tall woman stood in the centre of the room. They were coated in dried blood but it didn’t seem to bother them. The shorter of the two men wore clothes that were so tattered he might as well not be wearing them. Actually, scrap that, I don’t want a naked bloody man in front of me. My own vampires were standing around the edges of the room. Charlene and Marty were on the doors. Sharon and Alison were each at one of the other three walls. Nick had joined us and was standing in the corner at the head of the room, leaning on the wall nonchalantly as if he was just here for the lols. His presence made me more alert, more nervous. I looked away from him, trying to forget that he was there.
“We’ve got a bit of business to attend to,” I said, as the doors closed behind me. I noticed Gabe by my shoulder. He probably wasn’t going to drift too far away from me for a while after tonight.
“We have fulfilled our end. Now you provide one stake,” the woman said in a heavy Russian accent.
“Yes, Gabe explained the deal to me,” I said regretfully. “I’m not happy about it. I don’t suppose there’s any room for renegotiation?”
I heard Nick snort from the corner and threw a quick glance his way. I wondered what he would do if he were in my place. Judging from the stories he’d probably just kill them all.
“There is not,” the woman said sternly.
“Alright then. Gabe, do we have a stake?” I asked.
“We brought our own,” the taller man said. He was English and had a slight Cockney accent. He pulled an ash wood stake out of his back pocket and handed it to me. “No offence.”
“None taken,” I replied as I took the stake. I pumped my magic into the wood and everyone watched as green light flowed throw the cracks. When I handed it back the man snatched it greedily and clutched it in both hands like I’d just handed him solid gold.
The three of them nodded almost in unison and then they all left without so much as a goodbye. Rude. Once the doors closed I looked at Gabe. He blinked and a dejected looked took his face for just a second. “Go on,” he told the others. Nick straightened up with intrigue, knowing he was about to witness some bonus content. Sabrina realised she’d been rumbled too late. As Sharon and Alison walked towards her she darted for the door, but Gabe intercepted her. She almost got by him, but his slender fingers entwined in her dark hair and he hauled her onto her arse. She la
nded like a Saturday night drunk and screamed.
“What are you doing? I haven’t done anything wrong!” she yelled.
“Methinks the lady doth protest too much,” said Charlene.
“Why run?” I asked, looking down at her resentfully. Right then she knew that she was done.
“I’m sorry. I’m sorry, okay? I just… I was scared!” she said, looking around for some help. “Gabe, please. Please. Help me. Clara said she’d look after me.”
“Look after you from what?” Gabe asked. It upset me to see how hurt he was by her betrayal. She hadn’t just betrayed me, she’d betrayed us all.
“Aldric,” she said as if it was obvious.
“Eddie protects us from Aldric,” Gabe argued. “You sold Clara our secrets and helped her kidnap him for something he already gave you?”
“Oh, please,” she scoffed. “He can’t protect us from anything. Clara can.”
“Clara didn’t fare too well tonight and yet here I stand victorious,” I said, my nastier tone breaking through.
“Dumb luck,” she said derisively. Nick laughed.
“Stand her up,” I ordered. Alison and Sharon hauled her to her feet. “What oh what to do with you,” I pondered.
“I know that what she has done is heinous, but may I request banishment for her?” Gabe said. Even now he was trying to protect his people. I considered it. Banishment seemed fair enough. She hadn’t cost me much, only a few hours of my time. She hadn’t acted maliciously, just stupidly. She was scared and didn’t realise that she was already safe. Stripping her of that safety was a fitting punishment.
“May I speak?” Nick said, stepping out of the corner. Gabe looked over apprehensively.
“Sure. You are the guest of honour,” I said and invited him to take the floor.
“Thank you,” he replied courteously as he walked over to Sabrina. As he spoke he walked around her slowly, like a predator circling his prey. “Banishment may seem fitting enough at first glance. However, her plan was to leave Maidstone anyway. She was going to go to Cedarstone to join Clara. Should you banish her, you would only be enabling her plan. You would be giving her exactly what she wants. You might even give her the chance to feed Clara further secrets about how you operate. No, for a betrayal of this magnitude — a betrayal which almost resulted in you spending the rest of your life in a cage — only death will provide justice.” He stopped and stood right behind her. She looked at me pleadingly, too afraid to turn to look at Nick.
“That is not justice,” said Gabe. “That’s revenge.”
I thought about what both men advised. I found myself wanting to impress Nick, my grandfather. I wanted his approval. And I wanted revenge. “Revenge is fitting,” I said quietly. “Execute her.”
“Might I make another suggestion?” Nick said before anyone else could argue.
I nodded.
“Yes, please do,” Gabe said sarcastically.
“It was you she wronged. It should be you to carry out the sentence,” said Nick. “A betrayal is a crime against the heart. Personally, I would tear hers out.”
That seemed a little extreme to me. Thankfully, it wasn’t something I could do anyway. “Not being a vampire, I can’t go around tearing out hearts,” I replied.
“Nonsense. Channel your magic to increase your strength and then punch through her ribcage. I’ve done it hundreds of times,” he said. He touched his finger to her heart and she froze on the spot. Her face slackened as his paralysis spell took hold. “I’ll hold her for you. Go on, grandson, take your revenge.”
And there it was. The admission that I hadn’t yet asked for. I was his descendant. He was family. Hearing him call me grandson sent a buzz through me. I stepped forwards, trying to avoid Gabe’s look of disapproval. I called up my magic and increased my strength. The other vampires backed away. Sharon even turned away. Maybe I wanted to feel kingly, maybe I wanted to impress Nick, but I decided to pronounce the sentence like a king of old. “Sabrina Denvers, for your crime of treason I sentence you to death.”
Then my fist smashed through her ribs. I felt them crack as my hand shoved the bones roughly aside. The bones tore at my flesh but I barely noticed. My fingers moved through mush and as they enclosed around her firm yet squidgy heart she let out a tiny gasp. Right in that moment my anger subsided and I felt only pity. But I could not relent. That would show weakness. Her heart beat rapidly in my palm and I felt bilious. I snatched my hand back, tearing her heart free. Blood splattered over my shoes and the floor. As her dead body greyed and rotted I let the heart drop to the floor. My eyes met Nick’s and in his gaze I saw pride.
Chapter Twenty-Three
“I need to…” I lifted my mobile to indicate I was going to make a call and then turned away from Nick. I had to use my left hand because my right was covered with blood. “Gabe… hanky?” I asked, showing him my bloody hand. He produced a white linen from his inside pocket and held it out silently. He wouldn’t usually have needed prompting. He was unhappy because of how I’d executed Sabrina. Truth be told I wasn’t thrilled myself. I’d only done that to impress Nick and now that the buzz of having achieved that had waned I was realising how barbaric the whole thing was. I should have let Gabe handle it. Clara would never have done something like that. But then my days of wondering how Clara did things were done. It was Clara’s fault that Sabrina had been sentenced to death in the first place.
I wiped up my hand and dropped the hanky on the floor. My sleeve was still coated in blood almost to the elbow but there was nothing I could do about that. I walked away from the group, pulled up Aldric’s details and hit call. He answered on the fourth ring.
“Edward, what can I do for you this evening?” he said in a velvet voice. This was not going to go well.
“I’ve got a bit of bad news,” I said. Might as well just bite the bullet and repair the damage after. He waited silently for me to continue. “So, I got kidnapped by Clara and a few of your enemies came into town and my guys made a deal with them to rescue me.”
More silence.
“They did their end, so I had to honour mine. I gave them a stake.”
This time his silence was agonising. It stretched on for eons. Several times I wanted to break it, but I really didn’t know what to say. Then finally he spoke.
“You will die screaming.” He ended the call. All things considered that went rather well. I put my phone away and turned back to face the others. “Definitely gonna need extra security from here on out,” I said with false cheeriness.
“Rubbish,” Nick said, stepping forwards. “No blood of mine needs to fear a bunch of dark-dwelling blood-suckers. You have my protection. For tonight at least. Come, have dinner with me and let’s talk things through.”
“Technically, Aldric isn’t a dark-dweller, but sure. Dinner sounds good. Let me get changed.”
Gabe provided me with a set of his clothes. They weren’t what I’d normally wear. I like casual stuff like jeans or chinos. Gabe only seemed to wear proper suit trousers. I was thankful that he owned a long sleeve t-shirt and I wasn’t forced to wear a shirt.
I told Gabe to meet me back at my place and then me and Nick left. He didn’t teleport us anywhere this time, we walked. That was fine with me even though I’d got used to teleporting now. I wondered if I could get him to teach me how to do it. I’m not sure it’s something I could even learn to do, I imagined it took an awful lot of power. We walked into town and I expected him to take us to a fairly nice restaurant, maybe the Embankment. I’ve always wanted to go to the river restaurant but never actually got around to it. Tonight was not the night either. To my incredible surprise he took me to a kebab shop on Union Street where he bought each of us a meat and chips. He didn’t actually pay for it, instead he made the poor bloke believe that we had paid in full. Nick even seemed to have some kind of vampire-like compulsion ability.
We walked down the road to the little graveyard that lay at the end of an alleyway and sat down on a bench to eat.
I was looking at John Larkin’s grave and wondering who he’d been, whilst stuffing the meat into my mouth. I wondered how the graveyard even ended up here. There was some company head office in the yard and the nearest church was on the other side of a carpark.
“They probably moved the graves in order to build the carpark,” Nick said, looking at me keenly.
“Can you read my mind?” I asked in horror. I tried to think back to all the things I’d thought around him. Had he read something I wouldn’t want him to?
“No.” He shook his head. “I saw you looking around and assumed that was what you were wondering. I was wondering the same thing.” He gave me a half smile which I returned. I was relieved that my thoughts had not been compromised.
“Thanks for helping to rescue me,” I said. I figured I should probably throw that in at some point before he got offended by my bad manners.
“You’re welcome. I could hardly let you rot in one of Clara’s cages,” he replied. He was sitting with his kebab in his lap, looking out across the car park as if it was some sort of nice landscape. This is Maidstone, there’s not much to look at.
“Because you need me.” I was a popular guy these days. Being fought over by the warlocks and the witches. If only I had some sort of value to Aldric, but now he only wanted me dead. I suppose he did still want me technically.
“No. Your ability makes you incredibly useful. With you on side it would accelerate my plans. My plans will happen either way. I rescued you because you are my family.” He closed his Styrofoam box and placed it down on the floor at his feet with all the discarded larger cans. He turned to face me, his arm resting over the back of the bench. His eyes were mesmerising, and I wondered if this was some kind of compulsion. I brought up a shield just in case, but I felt no resistance and assumed he wasn’t doing anything. He just had naturally entrancing eyes. “I only found out about your existence a few months ago. Until then I believed I was alone in the world. Then I discovered that was not so. I knew that I needed to seek you out. I needed to know you. I want you by my side not because of your usefulness but because of your blood. I hope that that is enough to make you want to be by my side too.” He turned back to the car park, a longing look in his eyes. “After all, you are like me. Alone. We’re all we have.”
