The Vampire Touch 2: Into the Uknown

by Sarah J. Stone

  “The council will not stand for this,” someone calls out.

  I take a piece of paper with council approval from my pocket. “Pass it around. You see, the thing about this war is that the council has stepped back and let me do what is necessary. In times of war, the king must do as he needs in order to bring his people to victory. You, Alan Crane, are truly not one to speak about council approval when you have sired seven hundred and forty-eight new vampires in the span of this year alone, when the yearly limit is no more than thirty per sector as well as having the necessary approval from the council. I have bypassed these issues, saying that I have allowed the order so that I can gain more troops. You see, you have stepped into a game I have been playing for many years, good sir. A game that you will not win by trying to overpower me to take the seat. Tactless. I have eyes and ears everywhere as you will all soon come to realize. I have remained civil as long as I can. This changes now to show that you have been offered a finger and you have taken the hand. Those who suffer under what your peers have created, my apologies, but it is a worldwide edict.”

  No one says anything. Good. Then they have accepted what is going to happen. I click my fingers, and from the door leading in, a few of my guards enter, each one holding a few envelopes. They place the envelope on the table beside its corresponding leader.

  “Inside, you will find the number of soldiers, sirelings, and money you owe the crown. These numbers are accurate to a difference of five on either side. Now, because we are in wartime, the restrictions on siring new vampires will be removed as I have said to the council. However, from now on, I expect well-trained vampires to come to me. You wouldn’t want to see your king die, now would you?” I sip the last of the chalice’s contents and rise to leave the room. Hamish takes leave second and Brooke third. Then, they all pile out.

  It’s good to be king.

  Chapter Eight: Mason

  Mount Umbra has always been a beautiful place of magic and pestilence. Even before the witches and warlocks found themselves a little pack to run in, they have been coming here for years to feed off the power the mountain has to offer. Little do they know, it is I who supply them their power. Mount Umbra has been my prison for an eternity. Feeding the prisoners I have captured to the mountain, many succumbing to death, forever having the souls of the dead clinging to the ethereal coil.

  How wonderful.

  It is where I kept Madison. It is where the ones I trust to guard my interests live and die. Mount Umbra is an eternal cesspool of creation and death.

  “You know they’re not going to take kindly to you coming in for a visit, right?” the all too familiar man in black speaks.

  “Why’s that? It’s only been a decade.”

  My mirror image steps out ahead of me and looks down. “You forget your abilities in magic, Mason. We do not. Do you remember why you created the prison in the first place?”

  “I do admit, I can’t recall.”

  “It was to house the dark magic you so heavily safeguarded. With the new millennium came the same old shift in your personality. Another one added to our horde and another one taking over your body. You became a civilized gun for hire. One hundred and seventeen years. Can’t be long now before you slip away again.” I take the time to listen to this. After all, he is me, and he has a point. “On a mountain sits a boxer, waiting for his turn. His turn? The return of a pirate. You may have forgotten, but we do not. We still live and breathe and watch and wait. You are not alone, Mason, but you are not with us. Not yet.”

  “How often have we had this conversation?” I ask, pulling from my pocket a piece of gold.

  “Only once. You are my successor, as I was Vellum’s, as he was Tobias’. There is no true one, you see. We are merely more connected than you are with them.” I rub the amulet and throw it into the clearing. Ankh has given it his divine blessings. This magic is highly disapproved of among the supernatural communities, as it gives the user far more than what they bargain for. I am lucky. I have long forgone the madness of power.

  The piece of gold glides through the air, and as it does so, it illuminates the traps that the witches have set around their coven. They are all trying to stay safe, and so am I.

  “Then why not show me the way to understanding your connection instead of having them come out one by one to possess me?”

  “That’s why I’m here. There’s a traveler.” A traveler. Interesting, I haven’t heard of the travelers in years. Another race that has nearly been wiped clean, entering and leaving bodies as they so choose. I think back. I don’t remember all too much about them. I must have Ankh find out more.

  “And what about this traveler?”

  “That is all for now, Mason. It seems you have alerted the coven. Go speak with them now.”

  I hear the barking of dogs and the screams of alerted sentries. As the piece of gold strikes something in the distance, it flies back toward me, again illuminating the various wards. None will be a life and death harm, and so I don’t mind stepping through. I run. My speed has no end as I come into the witches’ circle. A few scrapes to my suit is all the witches were able to get on me.

  “Who are you?” One of them asks, sensing the power I command. I hear the fear in his voice.

  “No one to concern yourself with,” I reply, stepping onward. A spear gets raised in front of me. “You, my portly friend, would not like to do that.”

  The short, fat man that holds the spear, quivering as he stands his ground. I smile. I take the coin out of my pocket; the fear turns to awe.

  “This is a coin taken from the Forsaken themselves. The power it wields will greatly benefit its owner and the coven. Now, I understand this is the only one, but do you really think that will last long? So, the coin goes to whoever brings me to the coven heads. Venice and Atticus.”

  “And what if we come to you ourselves? Does that mean we get the coin?” a large man says, walking out through a door. He stands taller than I. So much taller that I need to arch my neck as he walks toward me. A giant. His wide frame is large enough to take two of me. His hand is the size of my head.

  “Atticus, I presume.” I flick the coin over to him. He catches it. “Heads or tails?”

  “Heads.”

  I smile. “A gambling man? Always a pleasant thing to find.” Then I hear him again. The specter. My former self.

  “Giants have not walked the earth for years. Be careful.”

  I shrug it off. “Tales, I take the coin. Heads, you get a second.” I pull the second from my pocket and roll it between my fingers. Atticus opens his massive hand and shows his call. “Heads it is.”

  “Now, hand it over,” he demands.

  “No, no. This one is for her.” I flick the coin to a woman dressed in rags, and she catches it.

  “A leader at the forefront. Respectable,” I say, turning to the witch. I have already sensed her power. She was one of the first on alert as my coin flew through the air.

  “An Ancient vampire among the witches. Whatever have we done to earn the honor?”

  “I’ve been gone a while. You’ve spurred up in my absence. I would just like to come and welcome you into the fold. Discuss business. Allegiance. If I should charm or threaten. You know, the usual.” The last comment has my attention returning to the big one. He’s not afraid of me. I’m surprised, and at the same time, not.

  “You have nothing to fear, vampire–”

  “Call me Mason. I insist,” I cut her off. “Shall we take this meeting indoors where we have some privacy?”

  “No. Whatever you would like to say to us, you can say to the coven,” Atticus speaks again. A well-spoken giant. Not something I can say I was used to back in the days when they walked freely. Then again, the world has moved on.

  “Then we will speak freely, indeed. What made you decide to form a coven?” I get straight to the point. “Greed? Power?”

  “Neither. We were tired of having to run and hide. We are not slaves. We have as much right as the vampi
res to walk this world, do we not? So, why should we bow down when it is you that merely wants to run the show? And you Ancient, why do you come to us? Deliver more of your king’s threats?”

  “I may share the title of vampire, but Daffyd is most certainly not my king. I do believe I have everything I wanted then. Just needed to make sure we were all on the same path, you see. I have to protect my best interests. I’m sure, as a coven on its own, you understand.”

  I turn around and start walking. The giant’s hand wraps around my waist and pulls me back, holding me in place a while. “You have not been excused,” he says.

  “To remain civil, I will not do anything about this, giant. I think you forget, though, how sweet the taste of your blood is to us. After all, we are the ones that wiped you out.” A wicked grin grows across my face, the sparkle in my eye and the flash of my fangs.

  “No threats are necessary, boys. Tell me one thing though, Mason,” when Venice speaks, Atticus releases me, “how did you get through my traps without even a true scratch? Many of these are to keep vampires at bay, after all...”

  “A magician never reveals his secrets,” I reply.

  Then I am gone.

  Chapter Nine: Madison

  Returning home. Not something I understand, really. Not the same way others would. I mean, the only real understanding I have of getting back home was in the state of a dream.

  My dreams were always very vivid on the matter. The faint remembrance of hot chocolate, the warm, soothing hug of my mother, and the nod of my father’s head. No words shared.

  Now? I imagine it differently. The tears that will be welling up in their eyes as I make my way up the stairs. The soft touch of my mother’s hand on my cheek. The family hug we will share. My father’s stubble grazing my cheek. I will be crying, like them. They won’t know this new girl, and I won’t know those old people, but still, the fond, familiar sensation of love will cling to us.

  This is all I could think about on the plane ride across the water. Jack seemed peculiarly off on the journey here. Even more when we drove to my home. I stand outside the wooden door. It’s red. I always remember it being brown. A wreath decorates the knocker.

  All I have to do now is press the button. My finger is on it, but I know that once I push there is no going back. They will come out, and I will return to a life that is not my own. A life that has nothing to do with vampires, gods, and the rest of them.

  Ding dong.

  I take the plunge.

  It doesn’t take long for a young girl – no older than I was when abducted – to come open the door. Her soft smile, a ghost of my past. She has her life ahead of her. How cruel fate can be sometimes.

  “Hello.” She smiles. “Are you here to see my mommy?”

  This question strikes me hard. I’m not sure if I can see a resemblance in her. Not sure if she holds any of my family’s traits. Still, I consider the option. They abandoned me for another. A sister. Could I have a sister?

  “Yes,” I say softly. “And your dad, too.”

  “My daddy’s not around anymore. He was in an accident.” This grips me tight. My father, dead? A car accident? Could it be?

  “But I’ll go and get her for you.” The young girl leaves the door open and runs through the house. I wait. Jack waits. He is ever silent. It unsettles me. A few seconds lapse. A black-haired woman emerges from the door leading to the living room.

  “Hello,” she says softly. “Can I help you?”

  This is not my mother.

  I turn to face Jack. He knows something that he’s not sharing.

  “No, sorry, ma’am.” I smile. She returns one. “I’m sorry for your loss.”

  The smile fades, but her eyes tell more than her features could. She’s welcomed my affections, but there is nothing more to say. I turn around and walk toward the car.

  “Tell me what’s going on. Where is my family?”

  “I thought it would be easier if we came here. I don’t know why,” Jack replies and drops his head.

  “Where is my family?” I speak softly but with great determination.

  “They are dead. When the supernatural world first blended with the humans, Daffyd thought they were the ones protecting you. He had them killed. I’m sorry, Madison.”

  I guess there was no other way for him to put it. If he couldn’t bring it up until now. There was no way he would be able to sugarcoat any of it.

  For the moment, I stay strong. I want to break down, but that won’t do right now. That’s for later when I’m alone.

  Stay strong.

  “Then I want in,” I say.

  “In on what?”

  “You know what I mean. I deserve my retribution.” He cocks a brow.

  “I don’t think you know what you’re actually asking.”

  “I don’t care. You should have known something was going to happen to them, and you did nothing. You were tasked to save me? Well, I’m fine. What I choose to do now is my own.” I shrug. “I want in. I will do this alone if you will not help me.”

  “Fine, you’re in.” Jack walks alongside me all the way to the car and opens my door for me. He walks around. In this brief moment of being alone, it sets in. I am an orphan. “But then you have to go to training. I have just the person to show you the ropes.”

  “I want you to train me,” I reply.

  “Can’t exactly do that.”

  “Why not?” I feel my temper rising.

  “Because unlike you and her – the one that will be teaching you, that is – I’m not a witch. Or warlock, rather.” I can see in the way he speaks he’s confused to my reaction of the whole situation.

  There should be no confusion, though. After all, I haven’t known the man and woman known as Mother and Father for ten years. They are distant memories. The more I wonder, the more I think of whether or not I actually miss them? Does this actually hurt me? Will I actually mourn for them in my own time?

  The answer seems to sway toward no.

  How fickle life is.

  “When do you want to return to America?”

  “As soon as possible. I want training to begin immediately. I’ve got a lot to catch up on.”

  Chapter Ten: Drakka

  “There’s an Ancient here.” A man stumbles into my office with a terrified expression on his face. He’s been a good worker for me since I opened my business. Since I got the shifters to stick together. We’ve taken the docks. A profitable business, it seems, and best of all, we fly so far under the radar of both the Agency and the rest of the supernatural communities that there’s no need to even stress.

  A shadow organization.

  “An Ancient? What do you mean? There hasn’t been an Ancient around in years.” Not since Mason left. Wait, could it be? “Send him in.”

  The man rushes out. I prepare for the worst. Ancient Vampires, in my experience, only bring trouble. As a matter of fact, I haven’t even heard of another Ancient since the day Mason disappeared. So, if it’s true, well, maybe Daffyd’s going to be looking for round two…

  Or maybe just his lieutenant’s teeth.

  Either way, he’s not going to get it.

  “This way, sir,” I hear the same man stammer as he leads the vampire through my nightclub. The closer they come, the more nervous I become, but as the thin, tall figure skulks through the door, a wide grin takes my face.

  “Hello,” he says calmly.

  “Good evening,” I reply.

  “Drakka, is it?”

  “Indeed, and you’re Mason.”

  Pleasant. I’m not dead yet either, so I don’t see why there will be any arguments to follow.

  “I know you probably don’t know why I’m here. Simply put, I’m just here to touch basis and make sure that we are all on the same path,” he announces.

  “And what path is that, exactly?”

  His hand slides into his pocket. I’m not sure if I said something wrong, but rather than being upset, he pulls an amulet from it, walking closer
in a slow, steady step before putting it down in front of me.

  “The path of staying out of trouble,” he adds, taking a seat in front of me.

  “I’ve never been much one for the trouble, mister.”

  “I can tell.” It goes silent for a second, and the man who led Mason into my office has left. Scared, probably. I don’t blame him. I’m on the edge of my seat with every second that passes. “Quite the nice business you’ve set up for yourself here. I’m impressed,” he lazily drawls on.

  “Thanks.” For some reason, I have a feeling he’s going to ask for something in return of that amulet.

  “I can see you have quite the neat little empire running here between blurred lines…” An awkward smile grows on my face. “I know you also think I’m going to ask you for a cut, and I really don’t want anything to do with it. Whatever you’ve done, you’ve taken ten years to accomplish. That’s your own business, but I just want to make sure you don’t go in the wrong direction. I’m not threatening you, but if you do, I will kill you, Drakka, and I will watch the empire I see you’ve built burn.”

  “Well, that took a dark turn,” I try to make a joke to lessen the tension. For a moment, Mason seems distracted, and I leave him to his distraction.

  “You will see me again in a few days because I have a few things to discuss with you. If I don’t return, well, that will just be to your benefit.” Mason stands up.

  “And this?” I ask as I pick up the amulet.

  “Call that a peace offering.”

  He leaves without another word.

  Chapter Eleven: Victor

  “Are you sure we should be doing this, sir?” Robert asks me. He’s always been far too concerned with what is right and wrong instead of what is best and beneficial.

  “No,” I admit honestly.

  “Then why are we doing it?”

  “It’s been two hundred years, and I’ve got a lot of catching up to do,” I reply, and carry on walking through the woods. “After all, this is my land, if you’ve forgotten.”