Dominant Species

by Guy Pettengell

  Jake stared down at the little girl’s hand in his, thinking how small and cold it was and how much she reminded him of his little sister. His mind raced against his will as he wondered whether his sister was even still alive. Then, looking into the little girl’s scared, but trusting dark brown eyes, he bent forward and picked her up.

  ‘You’re safe now, okay? I promise,’ he whispered.

  As he lifted her into his arms her eyes closed and she rested her head on his shoulder. He crossed to where Megan was waiting, clutching the girl tightly in his arms. Then, with one final look at the death and carnage that lay all around, he signalled that they should move off. With some measure of relief the others followed in absolute silence.

  In the great assembly hall the chanting had reached a crescendo. The Queen stood centre stage as the sound soared around her. Then she raised her hand and slowly the chanting subsided.

  ‘Today we start a new journey. Together we move forward and reassert the power of the vampire.’ Her Eyes swept the auditorium. ‘Overlord Karick, if you please.’

  Karick bowed, got up from where he sat with both Voltan and Drameer and turned to the audience. ‘I call this council formally into session.’ He looked at the faces of the various vampires, wondering how many supported him, ‘I wanted to address you today as there has been some disturbing news. As you may be aware...’ He paused, glanced up. One vampire remained standing. ‘I said the council is in session.’

  The vampire didn’t move. As Karick fixed his gaze he realized that it was Rodan’s bodyguard, Kadir. ‘Kadir, as your Overlord, when I speak, nobody stands.’ Still the vampire didn’t move and realisation suddenly dawned, leaving Karick only one option – to ask the obvious question.

  ‘So you challenge me?’

  Kadir growled. Slamming his fist into his chest he crashed down the steps as Karick moved to the edge of the podium and towards his potential attacker. A whisper of excitement whipped around the auditorium.

  Kadir jumped onto the platform, landing with a dull thud. They stood only two feet apart; Kadir a full six inches taller and a whole lot heavier than Karick. But Karick didn’t flinch, his eyes set with a steely determination. Kadir turned to the Queen and bowed his head, bringing it within an inch of Karick’s face, still Karick didn’t move.

  ‘Your majesty, it is my right as a Council member to challenge Overlord Karick.’

  The Queen surveyed the assembled vampire council, one shapely eyebrow raised in surprise. ‘Has it really come to this?’ she finally asked with a voice like silk.

  Kadir bowed again.

  ‘So be it.’ She stated in a flat, matter of fact tone, ‘you are of course aware of the rules?’

  Kadir growled again and faced Karick. Karick could feel Kadir’s breath hot on his face.

  It was Karick’s turn to face the Queen, ‘My Lady,’ he said simply.

  Karick turned back, looked directly into Kadir’s face, the edge of his mouth creased into a smile. Although Kadir dwarfed him, Karick remained utterly unfazed.

  ‘On what grounds do you challenge me, Kadir?’ His gaze flashed briefly to the auditorium and to Rodan, who was simply watching with a smirk on his face.

  ‘My challenge is two-fold. Firstly that you are too weak to lead and secondly that you advise the Queen badly, stopping her from fulfilling our true destiny. The council knows this; I know this, so I challenge you. It is time for a new counsel to the Queen.’

  ‘You?’ whispered Karick with a flicker of a smile.

  Kadir hesitated, ‘A new counsel to the Queen will be chosen, under vampire Law when I am successful in defeating you.’

  ‘I see.’ Responded Karick with an amused tone, then he smiled, glanced once more at Rodan, before turning back to face Kadir. ‘And you are prepared to stake your life on this?’

  This was stated in such a matter of fact tone that it brought a brief, but deep flutter of concern to Kadir’s face. Karick turned away and pulled off his jacket, ‘so be it.’

  Taking his chance Kadir bellowed behind him and dived at Karick, who span, spiralling away from him, watching as Kadir soared past. As he did, Karick slammed his fist hard into the back of Kadir’s neck, before continuing in one smooth motion to remove his jacket.

  Kadir crashed onto the floor, dazed. Karick carefully folded his jacket and nonchalantly tossed it to Voltan, who took the opportunity to glance into the audience, directly at Rodan, whose smile had already disappeared.

  An angry Kadir clambered to his feet. Swaying slightly from the blow, he shook his head, re-focused. A piercing roar erupted as he charged headlong toward Karick like an express train. Karick dropped his head to one side in a quizzical manner as Kadir quickly closed. Then Kadir was on him, but...

  Karick barely seemed to move as Kadir was thrown to the ground again.

  Kadir span on all fours as Karick somersaulted gracefully over Kadir’s head landing behind him. In a panic Kadir span again, this time right into the path of Karick’s foot as it crashed into his face.

  Blood dripped onto the floor and thirty pairs of eyes focused on it immediately. Drameer leaned toward Voltan.

  ‘What’s he waiting for? He could take him anytime he wants.’

  ‘Isn’t it obvious?’ replied Voltan, a curl of a smile on his lips. Drameer watched Karick as he twisted away from another of Kadir’s massive lunges. He caught Kadir on the side of the head dropping him like a stone, the podium vibrating under their feet. He turned back to Voltan.

  ‘No, Voltan, it’s not. Kadir hasn’t got a hope in hell.’

  Voltan nodded and said simply, ‘I know that. You know that. But Karick is waiting until Kadir knows it too.’

  Drameer’s gaze turned back to the fight. Kadir crouched, watching Karick. Fear had finally replaced the certainty that was once in his eyes. Voltan leaned toward Drameer.

  ‘You know what? Kadir may be a little slow on the uptake, but I think he’s finally got it.’

  Now Karick moved. His face showed no emotion as he closed on Kadir; his hands were a blur as he hit Kadir with a shower of fearsome blows. Kadir hardly saw them land, but he certainly felt them. He staggered back, crashed down heavily on one knee. His eyes moved to the audience, desperately trying to seek out Rodan, his master. His face was covered in confusion. In the audience, Rodan avoided his stare, although whether it was from guilt or something else was difficult to judge.

  ‘It could end here if you yield,’ Karick whispered into Kadir’s ear, throwing him a lifeline.

  Kadir heard the words offered by Karick, but shook his head. Vampire pride had kicked in. He staggered to his feet and opened his hands. He roared once and attacked with all the ferocity he could muster.

  Karick struck just one more time, his hand penetrating Kadir’s chest ripping his very heart from his body. Kadir was toe to toe with Karick. The look of confusion turned to pain before he finally slumped to the ground, dead. Karick turned to the assembled vampires, then to the Queen. He raised Kadir’s heart into the air and screamed as only a vampire could.

  Ten minutes later Karick was wiping the remains of Kadir’s blood from his arm as Voltan stared out of the window, dim light flickering across his face. Karick watched him carefully.

  ‘What concerns you Voltan?’

  Voltan turned, lost in thought, ‘Nothing my Lord.’

  ‘How many centuries have we known each other my friend?’

  Voltan smiled, ‘Too many.’

  ‘So, I’ll ask again. What concerns you?’

  Kadir was working for Rodan.

  ‘Of course, so?’

  ‘You know he won’t stop, don’t you?’

  Karick joined Voltan discarding the blood soaked cloth on the floor. ‘Do you think that bothers me?’

  ‘No…. but I think it should.’

  ‘Why? I showed strength today, strength is something that vampires understand, that’s what you said yourself. It will buy us time, if nothing else. You worry too much.’ He slapped Voltan on his ba
ck, turned to walk away.

  ‘Do you think Rodan expected Kadir to win?’

  Karick hesitated, and spoke without turning, ‘What do you mean?’

  ‘Both Rodan and I have seen you fight before. It might have been many years ago, yet...’

  Karick turned towards his friend, ‘your point?’

  ‘Neither of us could have forgotten.’

  ‘Go on.’

  Voltan shrugged, ‘There must be more.’

  ‘Then we shall stay vigilant my friend.’

  Chapter 17

  Jake Prepares for War

  The resistance approached their stronghold, Jake leading the way, still carrying the little girl. Just behind him Megan trailed in silence, her head down. The others followed helping the survivors when they needed it.

  The watchmen waved them in. Trent was waiting, alone. He watched as Jake and Megan closed, the little girl asleep in Jake’s arms.

  Somewhere deep beneath New York City, in a dark corridor, Rodan and Keermit descended a flight of stairs in silence. At the base there was a corridor, at the end of which there was a doorway, on either side two female vampire guards stood, beautiful but Rodan also knew, even more deadly.

  Rodan breathed the stale air as he walked towards the door at the end of the corridor with Keermit trailing a few steps behind. The two guards moved slightly to one side. Rodan knocked once and a voice, icy cold, came from within.

  ‘Come.’

  Heavy bolts slid back as they entered. Inside Keermit could just make out a reclined figure on a large four-poster bed. Four hand maidens, all vampires, busied themselves as Keermit, her mouth slightly open, knelt, her voice a strangled whisper of admiration.

  ‘My Queen.’

  ‘My child.’ The Queen’s eyes flicked to Rodan, then back to Keermit.

  ‘And for what do I owe this...’ She licked her lips, trying words in her head, a twitch of a snarl as she spat the next word, ‘...pleasure?’

  ‘My Queen, are you not pleased to see me?’ queried Rodan, surprised. Rodan was suddenly aware of four pairs of eyes watching his every movement. It was clear to Keermit, from his caution that they posed a far greater threat than he would care to admit.

  ‘I suppose it depends on why you are here,’ whispered the Queen

  Still kneeling, Keermit glanced up at Rodan, then back to the Queen.

  ‘My Queen we - ’

  Rodan silenced her with a sharp slap across her face, the sound echoing in the large, dark room. A trickle of blood ran down Keermit’s cheek as she bowed her head.

  ‘I said you were not to speak in the presence of the Queen,’ hissed Rodan, and then he turned to the Queen. ‘I apologize for her impudence, your Highness.’

  Keermit’s eyes stayed focused on the floor. Rodan went to continue but the Queen held up a long, slender finger. She then turned slightly and spoke to Keermit,

  ‘Rise, my child.’

  Rodan was clearly angry, but managed to smile anyway.

  ‘So my child, what do you want to say?’ the Queen asked with interest.

  Keermit hesitated, but only for a second before almost spluttering out her words. ‘We can deliver you the rest of the resistance...alive, your highness,’ She spoke the words quickly, fearful of being cut short by Rodan again, but this time his hands did not move as the Queen listened intently, one eyebrow raised.

  ‘And in return?’

  ‘Name me as Overlord,’ replied Rodan.

  The Queen glanced back to Rodan.

  ‘And pray, why would I do that?’

  ‘Because,’ Keermit answered for him, ‘by doing so, you will avert a vampire war.’

  Rodan’s head span toward Keermit but he controlled his rage and smiled at her instead.

  ‘Keermit, would you kindly wait outside. Please?’

  Keermit’s eyes locked onto the Queen’s for a second. The Queen smiled and then nodded. Keermit bowed and left, a smiled flashed across her face as she heard the Queen’s words behind her as the door closed.

  ‘Keermit… such a lovely name.’

  Kathryn turned as she heard the door to her apartment open, her initial smile on seeing Drameer disappeared as soon as she caught the look on his face.

  ‘What’s wrong?’ she asked.

  ‘Everything; Karick was challenged and the Queen has asked Rodan to lead a search and destroy party to find the resistance.’

  ‘Here, sit. Tell me everything.’

  Deep beneath the church in the crypt, Jake sat at the stone tomb, across from Trent and a handful of men. His younger brother was noticeable by his absence.

  ‘Okay now what? asked Lano.

  ‘We’re going to need to prepare for a War,’ replied Jake, in a matter of fact tone. ‘No human is safe anymore. We’ve finally managed to prove that we’re a threat. Now we’re going to need to fight, just to survive.’

  ‘What do you have in mind?’ asked Trent in his usual saw-cut voice.

  Lano cleared his throat. Jake pinned him with a stare. Lano’s gaze faltered, his eyes still black and swollen, dropped to the table. ‘But how can we fight them?’ he mumbled.

  Jake’s eyes narrowed. Lano tried to meet his stare, and failed dismally.

  ‘Don’t you think it’s a little late to ask that particular question now?’ he replied softly.

  Lano shifted forward, his eyes still lowered.

  ‘Can’t we hide?’

  ‘We might have had that choice once, but not anymore. If Max wanted a fight...well it looks like he’s got one. In fact I think he’s got the mother of them all.’

  Jake looked back at the others. Silence weighed heavy in the dank chamber as Jake carefully looked from one face to the other. Out of the corner of his eye he was aware that Trent was scrutinising him and it made him feel uneasy.

  Finally Trent broke the silence, ‘I think Jake’s right,’ he growled. ‘So who’s in agreement?’

  One by one the hands raised including, in the end, Lano.

  ‘Okay then I suggest we go get some sleep… we’ll need it.

  As the men got up, Trent’s pale blue eyes focused on Jake.

  ‘Have you got a moment, Son?’

  Outside the crypt, Trent and Jake walked side by side in silence. They reached the edge of the graveyard before Trent spoke.

  ‘What aren’t you telling me, Jake?’

  ‘I don’t know what you mean.’

  ‘Son, I’ve known you for over twenty years now, so don’t try and bull-shit me, okay?’

  Jake was clearly stung by Trent’s tone, but closed his eyes and sighed.

  ‘I’m sorry, Sir. Look, the vampire’s won’t rest until we’re all dead.’

  ‘I know… you said so.’ He paused, ‘and you know this for certain, because?’

  Jake suddenly felt exhausted, nodding he pulled a piece of blood stained and dog-eared paper from out of his pocket. ‘This was pinned to one of the bodies in the Naval Yard… he hesitated, to Eddy’s body.’ He forced an image of Eddie, burnt torn in two and twisted from his mind and handed the piece of paper to Trent who unfolded it carefully.

  Trent stared straight at Jake, ‘and you didn’t think to tell the others?’

  Jake took the paper back from Trent’s hand and slowly shook his head.

  ‘Why, what difference would it make? They want us nailed to a cross, end of story.’ He carefully folded the paper and replaced it into his pocket. ‘Thanks to Max, there’s no way back now.’

  Trent stared straight into Jake’s eyes, his blue eyes burning brightly. ‘So what do you have in mind?’

  ‘I don’t know. But one thing’s for sure, if we do nothing…’ He looked across the graveyard. ‘...We have no chance at all.’

  Trent nodded. ‘There is one last thing then.’

  Jake waited.

  ‘If we’re going to fight, we’re going to need everyone.’ Jake went to turn away but Trent grabbed his arm, hard. ‘And I mean everyone,’ he finished, ‘I think now is the time to deal wit
h it, Son, don’t you?’

  Chapter 18

  Jake and Max face their Demons

  Kathryn slid along Madison Avenue as quietly as she could, the air seemed even colder than normal and her breath was clearly visible in front of her. There were only a few people around and so she made good progress. She stopped near the old derelict Starbucks, just down from St. Patrick’s church on the opposite side of the street, the glass front now missing, but the proud green sign still jutted out defiantly.

  She looked across the road towards the old church. She thought she heard a noise and froze, holding her breath. She glanced round, but there was nothing, only a heavy silence and the sound of her own heart thumping in her chest. A light, cold breeze caressed her face, and then it was suddenly replaced by a gloved hand. She could smell the old leather that stopped her from crying out. Her eyes widened in fear.

  ‘It’s okay Kathryn, it’s me,’ whispered Father Matthew urgently in her ear, ‘what are you doing way down here?’

  Kathryn relaxed as Father Matthew slowly removed his hand.

  ‘Thank the Lord Father,’ gasped Kathryn as the hand was withdrawn.

  ‘I do, daily, Kathryn, I do daily. Now, what is it my child?’

  ‘I need to speak to you. Something terrible is going to happen.’

  Father Matthew frowned, then without another word he quickly glanced both ways and guided her across the street and up the wide steps that led into the heart of St. Patrick’s church.

  Inside he led her towards a small vestibule near the back. The air was warm and there was the scent of incense burning somewhere at the back of the building. Candles burned on both sides of the church, bringing an immediate sense of calm. On one wall hung a large image of a crucified Jesus, head tilted seemingly observing all that went on below.

  Rows of chairs were set up to act as makeshift pews. At the end was a stone carved pulpit; on it an old bible lay open. Kathryn’s eyes scanned the magnificent church, realising how long it had been since she’d attended a service.