‘…That is not what I asked.’
Voltan hesitated. ‘I...I understand the logic of the argument put forward by Drameer and his insistence that we must change to survive but…’
‘...But sometimes it does not fit with the vampire way?’ Karick stated quietly.
Voltan dropped to one knee, his response barely audible, ‘No, my Lord.’
Karick stood then and crossed the room to where Voltan still knelt placing a hand on his friends shoulder. ‘Sometimes I think that maybe our nature is too strong for us to change,’ he paused, ‘…and if that is true and it ultimately means the end of us all…then so be it.’
In the abandoned churchyard in Brooklyn, Megan sat alone with her thoughts. Confused about how she felt when suddenly her head rocketed round as a low call went up. Across from her on top of a building a watchman was signalling. In one fluid motion she was up, clambering over the debris and walls, she scrambled into the derelict building and charged up the remains of the concrete stairwell bursting out onto the shattered roof to join the watchman. Grabbing the binoculars that he offered her she saw in the distance the remnants of the resistance, as they trudged towards the encampment. She scanned them all, her heart in her mouth. She breathed a small sigh of relief when she picked out Jake, but her heart froze as she continued to scan the remaining faces and couldn’t find her Father.
Chapter 14
Why it’s Never Wise to Count Chickens too soon
Outside the United Nations Building the vampire guard looked up. Something was coming down the flag lined avenue. In the distance he could see a horse, its rider desperately trying to hold on, as he inexpertly tried to aim the beast in roughly the right direction. As the rider neared, the guard could see it was Mayor Cooper, puce in the face and breathing heavily. As he grew nearer still Mayor Cooper attempted to stop the horse as the guard stepped in front of it. Spooked, the horse reared, dumping the Mayor unceremoniously on the ground with a heavy thud. In one swift motion the vampire guard grabbed the reigns bringing the horse to its knees. Blood seeped through Cooper’s jacket, covering his shoulder.
‘I...I need to speak with Karick immediately.’ The Mayor moaned.
A face swam into Cooper’s vision and the Mayor’s eyes widened
‘Overlord Karick,’ the vampire growled as he sniffed at the scent of the blood absently.
Shortly after, the doors to Karick’s office swung majestically open as Cooper was dragged through. Karick sat in the centre of the room with Voltan.
‘Overlord Karick I…’ stuttered the Mayor
‘Kneel,’ roared Karick, his voice reverberating around the room.
‘Wha…’ began the Mayor, but he never finished the sentence as he was unceremoniously pushed to the ground by the vampire guard.
‘Speak,’ continued Karick with an icy indifference.
Behind the Mayor, the vampire guard licked the blood from his fingers and his eyes glazed once more. Then realising what he was doing and pulling himself together he stepped smartly back. Around the edge of the office, watching from the shadows were a dozen red eyes.
‘What is it Cooper,’ spat Karick and the Mayor knew something was wrong. Karick had always been reasonable, always measured, but there was something different tonight.
‘I said what is it?’ Karick repeated.
I, well... what I mean is…’ cooper’s mouth was dry and the room swam in front of him. He felt weak from the loss of blood and he tried to focus on the vampire sitting before him.
‘I know Tolon is dead. Did you succeed in destroying the resistance?’ asked Karick in the mounting silence
‘No. I...We were ambushed at the old Brooklyn naval yard. Lord Tolon fought bravely, but even with our forces, everyone was killed.’
‘Everyone,’ whispered Karick, a tone of mock confusion in his voice.
Mayor Cooper looked around, suddenly feeling very, very alone. ‘All but...’
‘All but you,’ Karick finished the sentence for him.
Feeling any sense of hope slipping away, Cooper simply nodded. In front of him Karick slowly stood and strode to where Cooper was kneeling.
‘Please…’ began Cooper, but his voice betrayed him. He knew it was futile. He looked up into the eyes of Karick and saw something different, something he didn’t like and something that froze him to his very core. He had often seen Rodan angry, but this was somehow worse, much worse.
‘The Council must be informed of the Mayor’s failure,’ Karick stated not looking at the cowering figure at his feet, ‘Oh and Voltan?’
‘Yes my Lord.’
‘Clear up this mess.’
‘What mes…’ Voltan began, slightly confused, when suddenly Karick’s hand closed over the Mayor’s large skull and two hundred and eighty pounds of screaming fat was lifted into the air. Karick growled and bared his teeth. Blood splattered the walls and the vampire guard behind.
‘At once Sire,’ responded Voltan with a bow.
Inside the Crypt in Brooklyn, what remained of the council sat listening to Max as he replayed the battle.
‘There was confusion everywhere. But I knew we had to stand firm. We’d taken the Mayor’s men, that part was easy.’ He looked from one face to the other. ‘The vampire dogs were unstoppable. I knew there was only one way.’ He paused, soaking up the attention. ‘...kill the vampire.’
‘What about my father?’ Megan asked, in a hoarse whisper.
Max threw her a brief glance, hesitated.
‘He didn’t make it.’
Megan squeezed her eyes tightly shut and ran from the room. Behind her an uneasy silence hung in the air, broken by Jake.
‘Nathan was a friend. I promised to look after him.’ Jake spoke quietly, partly to himself.’
‘Look, I’m sorry,’ muttered Max, ‘he was a causality of the war, it was survival of the fittest out there.’
Jake’s fist squeezed tight, his nails biting deep into his palm. Jake shook his head as he stood in silence. Max watched him cross the floor to the heavy door of the crypt.
‘What’s wrong bro?’ shouted Max after him, ‘don’t like the fact that your younger brother saved your life, stood against a vampire...and won?’
‘And at what cost, how many lives?’
‘Like I said… casualties of war. Look bro, it’s been twenty years since one of those things was killed. Twenty years too long if you ask me.’
Jake stopped in the doorway and spoke without turning, ‘…and look what happened then.’
Behind him a red flush rose in Max’s cheeks as anger flooded through him, he went to stand, but Lano, sensing the danger, grabbed his shoulder. Max shrugged Lano’s grip off, but sat back down.
‘Yeah, just look at what happened then!’ he spat.
Jake paused momentarily, a dark silence filling the room. Then he continued through the door, to find Megan. As the heavy door swung closed behind him, he could hear Max continue his story.
‘Anyway it came up behind me, I could hear it breathing, could smell its breath. Jake was unconscious, so I spun and BAM.’ Max’s voice died as Jake slammed the door behind him.
It was sometime after the remains of the Mayor had been cleaned up by the ever attentive Voltan that Karick looked up as the doors to the room banged open. He raised his eyebrows as Rodan entered, shadowed by Kadir, his enormous bodyguard.
‘What is the meaning of this intrusion, Rodan,’ Karick asked, his voice level, but his eyes narrowing as he stood.
‘Overlord Karick, I have heard some disturbing news,’ Rodan spoke with a sneer.
‘Yes?’ Karick replied carefully with one eyebrow raised, ‘and..?’
‘It appears that the Mayor has failed and one of…’ Rodan suddenly hesitated, realising for the first time that Karick wasn’t alone and Voltan stood directly behind him. Without missing a beat his tone changed, with some of the criticism dissolving, replaced by mock concern, ‘...our own has been slain.’
‘You say true…unfortu
nately,’ conceded Karick.
‘I feel that the council should be called into emergency session, things have obviously taken a turn for the worse.’
‘I do not think the council needs to be worried by this matter quite yet.’
Rodan considered this, glanced briefly towards Voltan before turning back to Karick.
‘I disagree. The Queen has asked that I personally take charge of this mess. I have assembled an attack party, it leaves within the hour.’
On this he turned, his coat tails kicking out. Voltan began to move but was stopped by a brief shake of Karick’s head. Instead he stepped back as a smiling Rodan walked passed him and into the hallway, Kadir winked at Voltan as he joined his Master. The door thudded shut behind him.
‘You should have…’ Voltan hissed, but Karick held up his hand. He stared out of the large window, watching Voltan’s reflection in the smeary glass.
‘No my friend, it appears Drameer was right after all. It seems we have been truly outmanoeuvred.’
Outside of the room Rodan strutted down the corridor, smiling to himself with Kadir following, then, as Keermit appeared from out the shadows, he paused turning to his vast bodyguard.
‘Kadir, if you wouldn't mind?’
Kadir frowned, looking between Rodan and Keermit, a flicker of mistrust crossing his face, then he grunted and nodding once before he turned to leave.
Rodan watched him go. Once out of earshot he faced Keermit.
‘Are all the arrangements made?’ he whispered.
‘Yes my Lord,’ she replied with an evil grin, ‘just as you requested.’
‘Then I believe this will be the beginning of the end for our dear Overlord Karick.’
Chapter 15
The True Cost
Outside the church, Jake stared into the distance without seeing. Behind him he heard Max, still bragging and laughing as he walked with the others towards the old church hall that had long been their general meeting hall. As the laughter died away, Jake heard the soft sound of footsteps. He looked round.
‘Hey Megan’ he managed as she joined him, sitting close. She laid her head gently on his shoulder, ‘How are you doing? He asked, then shook his head, ‘Stupid question, I’m sorry.’
‘Don’t be. It wasn’t your fault.’ For a moment Jake could only hear the sound of her breathing.
‘I promised Trent I’d keep him safe.’
She looked up and put her finger to his lips. For a few seconds she said nothing and all he could feel was the soft tickle of her breath on his neck.
‘Jake. I’m only going to say this once more; understand? It wasn’t your fault. We all know the risks, especially my Father.’
Jake closed his eyes as if by doing so it would take away the pain that he felt.
‘So many dead,’ he said, ‘including your Father, I just can’t believe it.’ He looked down at Megan as he fought back the need to scream and the silent tears that so wanted to roll down his face. ‘He was a good, decent man.’ He paused, thinking, ‘you know, after Nathan and Trent saved us and we found out about our parents, Max didn’t talk to me for weeks. One night, Nathan found me alone in the church yard and asked me why I was crying.’
Megan looked up again, could see the pain etched on Jake’s face.
‘When I told him that I was upset because Max had accused me of killing our parents, he sat down and looked me in the eye and told me that I wasn’t to blame and that one day Max would understand that too. I asked him how long before he’d forgive me, and he just said it will happen when the time is right. I told him I thought it was already too late.’
He glanced down, staring at her beautiful face and felt his breath rush from him, as if suddenly realising for the first time how achingly beautiful she actually was. As soon as the thought hit him he tried to thrust it far from his mind.
Clearing his throat he continued, ‘Your Father just smiled at me and said; if the time’s right how can it ever be too late…’ Jake risked another glance at Megan, felt his head swim. ‘… And the weird thing is… I’m still waiting, still trusting in what he said. That was the power of the man, I suppose,’
‘He thought a great deal of you too, Jake.’ Megan’s voice was soft and gentle and Jake saw the silent tears as they rolled down her pretty face. Megan hesitated before she asked the next question, wiping the tears away with the back of her hand.
‘Jake? What has Max started?’
Jake shook his head, looked down at Megan and again his breath caught in his throat as she tilted her head towards him slightly, searching his face. Then she gently cupped his chin in her hands and their eyes locked. Slowly, Megan pressed her lips to Jake’s. Jake could feel the soft warmth of her lips and looked deep into her eyes, and then returned her kiss, hard. He felt lost, he felt it should feel wrong, but it didn’t. Instead it felt both completely right and the only thing that mattered in the world.
Suddenly he pulled back, he looked distraught. At first Megan thought she had made a mistake, then she realised he was looking over her shoulder, his eyes widened. She turned to look and saw the angry, flickering flames in the distance, coming from the direction of the Brooklyn naval yard.
‘What is it?’ she asked, concern flooding her face. Then realisation dawned, ‘Oh no’ she whispered.
In the old naval yard, fires from the derelict buildings roared high into the air to dance with the screams that came from within. Zidtool stood next to a horse drawn cart that had been piled high with lengths of wood. Some pieces over fifteen feet long, others seven or eight. He watched impassively as people ran in all directions, until they were smashed to the ground by the half-lings. He glanced to his right at two vampires who were dragging a man by his legs towards him. All around figures scattered into the shadows, desperate to escape as the flames grew higher and higher, many finding an alternative to eth flames that was even worse.
As the vampires drew closer to Zidtool he dipped his head to look down at the man who had been dragged to him at his request. It was Eddy, his face covered in fear. Zidtool nodded once and Eddy was dragged unceremoniously to his feet.
‘So I hear you are the one in charge here. Is that so?’
Eddy didn’t reply, which didn’t seem to faze Zidtool at all.
‘Whatever.’ He shrugged. ‘What’s your name?’
‘Eddy.’
‘Okay Eddy,’ Zidtool whispered, his voice high but with an icy cold edge, ‘listen very carefully. You have one chance, and once chance only. Do you understand?’ He didn’t wait for a response, expecting not to get one anyway. ‘Eddy, where are the other humans, the...’ A scream died in the distance with its owner. Zidtool raised an eyebrow, ‘...where are the resistance who helped you?’ he finished.
Eddy, his eyes wide, shook his head.
‘I don’t know, honestly I…’
‘Oh well,’ Zidtool shrugged and walked away. Behind him, Eddy’s scream cut through the night, as the two vampires ripped him in two.
Zidtool approached the entrance to the main building where Eddy and his community had lived. Only one gate now remained, half hanging from the high wall. Zidtool roared, pulling the gate from its hinges he hurled it across the courtyard, before he shouted a command in his high, coarse voice that carried into the night.
‘Hear me and hear me well. If you value your lives you will tell me what I want to know, and tell me now… You have five minutes, if you don’t…’
The remaining statement was never finished as two men charged at him from one side. In a blur Zidtool slashed one of them across their face with his thin, silver blade. The other was stopped in his tracks as Zidtool’s hand exploded through his back.
Silhouetted against the burning building, Zidtool carefully wiped his arm as the figure fell lifeless to the floor as three half-lings converged on the fallen bodies.
Inside the general meeting hall of the resistance the sound of laughter and cheering seeped out through the sandbags that failed to completely dampen the
sound, and bled into the cold night air.
Max stood, waving a bottle of beer in the air.
‘… And then: Bam!’ He jerked the bottle round quickly, sending liquid flying across the room. Suddenly in his peripheral vision he noticed a figure standing silently in the doorway. It was his brother. Max slowed, thinking that something about his brother seemed different.
‘Beer bro?’ He asked cautiously and held the bottle aloft. The general chatter subsided as others also saw that there was something clearly wrong. Jake crossed the floor, his eyes never leaving his brother’s face. Behind him, standing in the doorway stood Megan, tears streaked her face.
Max sensed the danger but reacted too late as Jake punched him hard in the face. Max crashed through a chair and hit the ground hard.
‘That was for Nathan and all the others that weren’t so lucky.’ Jake’s words were icy cold as he turned his back on Max who was wiping blood from his lip, his head swimming in pain. Jake faced the rest of the room.
‘I need a dozen men, fully armed.’ No one moved. In the corner, behind Jake, Lano stooped for a piece of the broken chair. ‘I said we need a dozen men. The vampires have attacked the Naval Yard at Vinegar Hill. It’s on fire.’
Max wiped blood from his lip and stared at the red liquid on his fingers. Looking up at Jake he began to climb to his feet. Twenty pairs of eyes watched, unable to look away.
Jake turned to his brother. ‘Stay down,’ he said simply.
Ignoring him, Max stood. Again he wiped a trail of blood from his lip, glanced to Lano. It happened at once, Max swung the bottle as Jake ducked; his counter punch hit Max in the ribs, then in one fluid motion Jake span as Lano swung the broken chair leg. Jake palmed it away, hitting Lano with a vicious combination that dropped him like a stone. As he turned back he was hit by Max from the side.
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