The Bite of Vengeance

by Connor Wolf

  He and Maria had been the first vampires, turned by the Devil himself. The fact that he had been turned in order to destroy religion didn’t bother him. Together they had searched all over the world and infected many people. These vampires, who were weaker, served Roconn and Maria as loyal subjects. Over the years, Roconn and Maria had become vampire royalty and all who opposed them had their heads torn from their bodies.

  The two of them sat on solid gold thrones, stone-like, at the end of the hall. Their bodies looked pale and gaunt. The only other furniture was six plain, wooden, benches which stood to one side, used only by the council during court sessions. Roconn wore a long robe which closed around the chest. It was embroidered with golden stitching in the shape of two vampire teeth. Maria’s robe was almost identical. Hers was more feminine, giving the impression that she was wearing a dress.

  ‘It is time; bring in our guests.’

  Though Roconn’s voice was but a whisper, a tall, wide man appeared as if from nowhere, acknowledging his order with a nod. The man was dressed in an exquisite suit and had a goatee on his chin. He strolled with confidence towards two huge wooden doors with thick metal locks, pulling them open.

  At once a line of twelve cardinals, dressed in crimson clothing, filed in along red carpets that adorned the stone floor, behind them. The sound of the door slamming shut reverberated through the hall. The twelve cardinals walked towards the thrones and bowed deeply. A short man, whose face was hidden in shadow, spoke first.

  ‘My lord, we have received word of a priest who is held in high esteem. He loves to travel, and will be arriving in a little under three hours. He is under the impression that a miracle has been witnessed. I’m sure you will conduct your business with him once he has arrived, my lord.’

  Maria noticed another cardinal, beside her feet, shuffle nervously and start to shake.

  ‘Naturally. This information is most useful. I’m sure he will be of great help to our cause,’ Roconn responded.

  ‘You may return to your posts. Inform me of any activity. I trust that anyone who learns of our plan will be…taken care of?’ He looked triumphant when the cardinal spoke.

  ‘Of course, my lord.’

  Maria stared at the quivering cardinal. None of the others had shifted an inch. They remained motionless as Maria spoke.

  ‘You!’ she snapped, pointing to a cardinal.

  ‘Y-y-yes your highness?’ the cardinal replied.

  Even without looking, he knew that she was addressing him.

  ‘What’s wrong? Do you not wish to serve us any longer? You know full well the price of treachery I’m sure,’ said Maria, a wry smile playing around the corners of her mouth.

  ‘Of course, your highness. M-m-may I speak my mind?’

  ‘Please do.’

  He stood up, facing Maria. The other cardinals looked at him and gasped.

  ‘Traitor!’ another whispered.

  Roconn was not taken aback at the sudden dismissal of authority. In fact, he looked pleased.

  ‘Well?’ said Maria.

  The cardinal spoke at once, and from the tone of his voice, it was clear he had been wishing to say this for a while.

  ‘You force us to risk our lives and our afterlives for you! You have no respect for anyone’s lives but your own. You are arrogant, pretending you are royal, and for what? You depend upon us to help you. Without us, you are nothing, and you treat us like dirt. I demand respect!’

  Anger was evident on his face, which was a deep shade of purple. His high-set blue eyes stared without fear upon Maria and Roconn. For a moment, his cleanly shaven face looked hopeful that he might be given all he desired. The other cardinals seemed to think this too, because two of them stood, joining him in his demand for respect. The remaining cardinals all looked shocked, sinking back into their bow as if they wished nothing more than to serve.

  Maria, who was smiling, had not moved a muscle during his rage.

  ‘You want respect, do you?’ she whispered sweetly.

  The three cardinals now looked put out by her genuine friendliness.

  ‘Yes! You claim to grant us a gift greater than any the Lord could give us. No gift is worth this risk!’

  Maria looked at Roconn, who gave a small nod. She turned back to face the three cardinals and rose slowly from her throne. They retreated a few paces as she began creeping towards them. Then, in a split second, she flew towards the cardinal who had spoken, and grabbed him around his neck. She held him against the wooden doors with her stone-like arm, so that his feet were off the ground.

  ‘Respect is earned, not demanded,’ she whispered, still smiling.

  The cardinal looked terrified and immediately started to recite the Lord’s Prayer. ‘Our Father, who art in heaven-’

  ‘Enough!’ shouted Maria.

  Her voice rang through room, creating a dense silence. Then, she bit him, injecting him with venom. It killed him instantly.

  Her eyes filled with power as she drank, until not a drop of blood was left in his body. At this point she turned away from him, blood now running down her chin, and let the body fall to the concrete floor with a thud. Roconn smiled at Maria, who returned it warmly. He then faced the other two cardinals, both of whom were now quivering with fear at the sight of the fat, dead cardinal. Roconn stood slowly and, just like Maria, rushed at them, holding them by their necks. They squirmed, suspended in mid-air, gasping for breath as Roconn leant in a little and whispered to them.

  ‘This is what you wanted? I could have given you my power. But no, your impatience could not be kept under control. You brought this upon yourselves.’

  ‘Please! No, my lord! Won’t- happen- again.’ stammered a choking cardinal.

  ‘I know it won’t,’ replied Roconn.

  With this, he threw them both at the wall in front of him. Their heads made a sickening crunch before landing in a heap on the floor, blood spilling from their noses and mouths, and a look of terror on their faces.

  Roconn addressed the remaining cardinals. ‘Now, if you do not have any more queries, you may leave.’

  They got up at once and went towards the wooden doors. These were being held open by the strange man who, at Roconn’s words, had once again appeared out of nowhere. The cardinals each said a word of thanks, and bowed to both Maria and Roconn, before exiting. Not one of them paid the three, dead, cardinals any notice. The doors swung shut behind them. The strange man had gone again, leaving Maria and Roconn alone in the hall.

  They walked, almost in unison, towards the two dead bodies. Roconn bent down and sank his fangs deep into one of the cardinals’ carotid arteries. At once he began to feel stronger. The warm blood was thick and it tasted good. It soothed the burning in his throat in the same way a glass of crisp, chilled water would relieve a parched man in the desert. He drank more and more until he was sucking nothing but air. Roconn could feel the power flowing into his iron muscles. The blood of a human was very satisfying. He stood up, blood started to trickle down his chin.

  ‘You may dispose of the bodies, Reyjak. I saved one for you,’ added Roconn.

  He spoke, seemingly, to thin air. But as he turned around, there stood the mysterious man named Reyjak. Now his face could be seen from the light of a nearby sconce, he looked impressive. Reyjak was muscular, and had a bit of stubble on his face. It suited him, giving him the look of a very powerful man. When he spoke, his voice sounded deep and intimidating, yet full of respect for Roconn. He was fully aware of the extent of Roconn’s power, and knew he was not to be trifled with, especially so soon after feeding.

  ‘Thank you, my lord. It will be dealt with at once.’

  ‘Good. The priest will be here soon and I wish to give him a warm welcome,’ said Roconn, smiling at his wife.

  ‘I agree my love. I trust you will give him a bite to eat after his long journey. Soon the priest will discover more than a miracle here. He will discover a gift unlike any other.’

  ‘Yes, of course dear,’ said Roconn.
/>
  The priest arrived on time, just as the cardinal had predicted. Roconn made a mental note to have a few small riches sent to the cardinal for services to his cause. Suddenly, a loud banging interrupted his thoughts and Reyjak reappeared out of nowhere. It was a skill only he seemed to have mastered.

  ‘My lord, the priest has arrived. What shall I do with him?’ he asked at once.

  ‘Nothing, leave him to me and tell all the other council members not to approach the hall. We have…business to attend to,’ Roconn replied.

  Reyjak gave him an inquisitive look, but when it was not answered, he simply said, ‘Yes, my lord,’ and disappeared.

  Roconn strolled towards the front doors and noticed that Reyjak seemed to have swept the bodies away as he had departed. This reminded Roconn of how and where he had found his loyal servant. It had been a cold winter night thirteen years after his own transformation. Reyjak was outside a stable. Roconn had been following him for five nights and learnt that Reyjak had no home, nor any family, and slept in the stables. Roconn found out, by means of bribery, Reyjak worked away his days carrying heavy logs in exchange for food and water. Roconn was not unkind, despite his vendetta against God. He was still a humble man at heart and as such approached Reyjak just as the snow was starting to fall. Reyjak started to shiver in the haystack in which he had made his bed. A dirty cloth was shaped around his large muscular torso and he had appeared to have made himself a pair of shorts.

  Roconn had planned to feed on him, but when he approached the man, saw the way he laid there, and took pity on him. Roconn approached him, at which, the man spoke to him.

  ‘Yes sir? How can I help?’

  Already, Roconn could see this was a loyal man, one that would gladly assist in any way he could. This man would make a useful vampire, and it was in this moment that Roconn had the idea to create a clan. This would ensure that vampires would not only survive, but thrive as well, for he and Maria were the only ones in existence. Roconn knew almost instinctively how to change him.

  ‘Hello Reyjak, you are a hard worker. You deserve a better existence than this disappointing, mortal, life. I can give you a home, a family, and anything you desire, even immortality, in exchange for a new life. All I would require is your total loyalty and obedience. So, will you accept my offer?’

  Reyjak looked completely bewildered and at a loss for words. As if to try and convince him, the wind grew stronger until it howled. The snow fell thicker until it was almost a blizzard. Roconn, his cloak billowing, remained silent whilst Reyjak contemplated the mysterious man and his ridiculous offer.

  ‘Err, okay, how does this work?’ he replied at last.

  Reyjak didn’t see Roconn’s face relax a fraction. Roconn already knew that Reyjak would become the third vampire; more powerful than any other he would turn.

  ‘Sleep and you will awake as a new vampire. Before you go outside during daylight hours, know this; you will have certain weaknesses. Sunlight will be your biggest one and you will undoubtedly burn to death. Fire has the same effect, but it takes longer.’

  Reyjak obviously thought this was a joke. Nevertheless he went to sleep as obediently as a loyal dog.

  He awoke the next morning, he took one step into the sunlight, his foot started to burn; he withdrew it immediately. After lifting one of the stacks of straw, with ease, he had come to the conclusion it had not been a joke, he was indeed immortal, just like the strange, cloaked man had said he would be. Reyjak was impressed at his new body which was stronger and undoubtedly faster. Reyjak would not forget this generosity. He vowed to fulfil the agreed condition of this new life, or un-life, and would serve his master faithfully. It was all rather confusing, but, soon he discovered that he was quick, and after returning to, and demonstrating to Roconn, he was also quicker than him too, but not as powerful, and he would not dare to cross the man who would soon become something like a father to him. A father who gave him everything he had desired for so long, more than Reyjak had seen his whole life.

  Reyjak stayed with Roconn during the daylight hours, preferring to keep out of his way at night, but soon, they accepted him as one of their own and he would share an enormous castle with Roconn and Maria. They named it ‘Castle Blackmoor’. Maria was always warm and friendly to Reyjak, and had become a motherly figure towards him. It wasn’t until years later that he found out how the two vampires had been created. He felt deep, sincere sympathy towards Roconn and Maria for having their children taken from them. Now, Reyjak understood and agreed with Roconn’s reason for vengeance.

  Over time Reyjak had been chosen to turn numerous people, who were like himself, into vampires, becoming their master just as Roconn was his. Roconn and Maria had recruited and turned a dozen people themselves. These recruits formed a council, of which Reyjak was a high ranking member, outranking all but Roconn and Maria. They weren’t as devoted to the other members as they were to Reyjak, but they still gave all the recruits a new life.

  Around two hundred years after Reyjak was transformed, a clan of two-hundred strong had been created. All were completely devoted to their rulers. In their eyes, their rulers were royalty. This was how Roconn and Maria became vampire king and queen. And their word was law.

  Roconn snapped back to the present as another three bangs sounded on the doors. The sound of an old man’s voice followed.

  ‘I am High Priest and a personal friend and advisor to the Pope himself! I demand you let me in!’

  Maria appeared at Roconn’s right shoulder and whispered,

  ‘A feisty one isn’t he? We will give him a few basic lessons on manners when standing before the clan rulers.’

  Roconn merely chuckled and swung open the two, heavy, wooden doors. Before him stood an old, balding man. His wrinkled face was almost entirely obscured by a large quantity of bushy, grey, facial hair. This made him look as though his head was on upside down! He wore a familiar set of black robes with a white collar around his neck. In his right hand, he held an intricately detailed cane. The priest gave Maria and Roconn a surprised look before arranging his face into what was supposed to be a smile. Instead, it turned into a lopsided snarl.

  ‘Welcome to our home. You arrived in good time, we have just finished…dinner,’ Roconn announced.

  ‘Yes, yes,’ said the priest impatiently.

  ‘I have been sent here by an anonymous cardinal who claims to have seen a miracle right here in your…home,’ he added, looking at the place with distrust.

  ‘Yes Father, you were correctly informed. Follow me.’

  At once, Roconn turned on his heel and marched back down the long hall, Maria and the priest at his feet. The doors slammed shut behind them and Roconn distinctly heard the words

  ‘crazy place,’ muttered behind him.

  For a priest, he did not seem overjoyed at the thought of seeing a miracle. Perhaps it was the building, for it had the look of a large, derelict castle on the outside. A place where, Roconn was sure, the priest did not expect to find any miracles.

  ‘Over here, Father,’ said Roconn, who had turned to see a puzzled look on his face.

  Roconn led Maria and the priest towards a door behind the two golden thrones. At first it seemed not to be there, rather, blending in with the stonework. Roconn, on the other hand, knew where this door led, for he had been there for information numerous times.

  He grabbed a rough piece of stone that jutted out from the wall, gave it a pull and the door swung open, admitting them inside. The priest gasped in horror at the sight. A great square room, about the size of the council hall, lay behind the door. A vast number of sharp and hooked tools littered a bloody workbench. Rags of deep crimson covered the floor. Dozens of coffins were placed row upon row against a part of the walls. Many thorny crowns could be seen covering wooden benches. But, the most horrific sight was that decaying corpses had been nailed through the hands and feet into the stone wall, with their arms stretched out on either side. Each one, the priest noticed, was naked, save for a thin p
iece of cloth around the waist and a thorny crown on their head.

  ‘What have you done? Who are you? I demand you explain yourself!’ screeched the terrified priest.

  ‘I am Roconn, and this is my wife, Maria. We are the most ancient and powerful vampires in existence. We are the creatures and followers of the Devil.’

  The priest looked mortified. He was speechless with shock, continuously opening his mouth and closing it again.

  ‘You are going to be most delicious, Father,’ said Maria with a smile that showed her fangs.

  Roconn chuckled in agreement. Knowing there was nothing for it, the priest attempted to escape by bolting for the exit. Maria saw him run and, as quick as a flash, pounced like a lion. She landed on top of the priest, pushing him face first into the stone floor. His front teeth smashed, and blood flowed from his mouth as he let out a howl of agony. Maria fluttered her eyelids as the smell filled her nostrils.

  Roconn strode over to them. He gave Maria a triumphant look before speaking to the priest with as much warmth as a follower of the Devil, and a follower of God, would be expected to give. Maria leaped from the floor to Roconn’s side.

  ‘Follow me.’

  ‘Please, no! Please, let me go!’ begged the priest whilst trying to stem the flow of blood with his sleeve.

  As the priest walked towards the door (with Maria’s hand on his shoulder, pushing him forwards) he noticed two pools of blood by the wall. He gasped and inhaled the blood he had tried, and failed, to stop from flowing. He choked, and spat a mouthful of it on to the floor. Once inside the torture chamber, Roconn closed the door.

  ‘Don’t want the others getting jealous,’ he explained.

  Maria laughed.

  ‘No, this one is for us.’

  Roconn dragged the priest toward a table covered with serrated blades and rusty nails and threw him at the wall with a sickening crunch that filled the room. The priest howled in pain and looked at his arm. It was now bent at an unnatural angle.