The Vampire's Prisoner (Tales of Vampires Book 2)

by Zara Novak

  “Imagine our surprise when Igo and I were paying a visit to our old friend Hurst. We arrived just in time to see Ruth here murder your friend in cold blood.”

  Edmund shook his head, seemingly disappointed with the girl.

  “She murdered that girl you were keeping at your house too. We went back and found her dead in the basement. It seems she is rather out of control.”

  Edmund’s face whitened and he stared at Ruth, who had now dropped her eyes to the floor. “Is that true?” He growled. “Did you kill those people?!”

  “I’m sorry Edmund.” Ruth said in a low and sympathetic voice. “I couldn’t control myself.”

  Blinking slowly, Edmund dropped his own eyes to the floor. “Unbelievable.”

  “Her sister may have wronged your people.” Ansel spoke. “But Kat has done nothing. Let her go, leave her be.”

  “On the contrary Mr. Draco,” Cairo whispered, “She did murder one of our own, back in Dead Rest. Remember?”

  Ansel cursed himself. “Regardless, she was just defending herself. Let her go, don’t hold her accountable for a situation that I placed her in.”

  “I’m afraid that’s not an option Mr. Draco.” Cairo said in a dry laugh. “Now I’ve finally got these girls back, there’s no chance I’ll be letting them go soon.”

  Everyone paused at this statement, even Igo Kasper. The whole room froze in confusion, waiting with bated breath for Cairo’s explanation.

  “Oh silly me.” A yellow toothed grin spread across Cairo’s face. “Did I forget to mention that? You probably don’t recognize me like this… one second.”

  Cairo turned around to face the wall of prisoners.

  “Now’s our chance.” Edmund whispered. “I’ll walk around the left side. You walk around the right. We’ll get to the side and ambush him.”

  Ansel nodded and they both slowly stalked around the edge of the room until they were just in front of Cairo, off to the side. Everyone stood transfixed at the old man in the center. Even his scar faced henchman, Igo Kasper, hadn’t noticed Edmund and Ansel creeping around to their side of the room.

  “Don’t look at it Kat!” Ruth said in distress. “It’s a trick, it’s just some wicked trick!”

  “Now, now Ruth. Don’t ruin the surprise for your sister.” Cairo’s voice was deep and regal now, a complete contrast to the usual whisper that slithered from his withered lips.

  Ansel watched in horror as the old man’s face twisted and morphed again. The cheeks fleshed out, the grey paper skin turned into a healthy pink. He transformed into a handsome dark haired man that was thirty years his junior. Ansel stared at the face, wondering where he knew it from. Then he placed it to the vision he had seen in Kat’s memory. He was the man he had seen drinking from the maid in the room.

  He was -

  Kat’s face twisted in an expression of wordless shock and horror. Cairo’s face illuminated in a picture of evil amusement. He stepped forward a new man, with his hands held firmly behind his back.

  “What’s the matter Kat?” Cairo chuckled in a deep and velvet voice. “Aren’t you glad to see your father?”

  28. Kat

  “You are not my father!” Ruth screamed beside Kat. “That man is not our father!”

  Kat stared in horror as she watched the living ghost of her father walk towards them with a satisfied grin. He was as vivid as the day she had last seen him. The day that she had watched him murder their house keeper.

  “What is the meaning of this…” Kat stammered. “How can this be possible?”

  “Oh come now Kat.” Her father chuckled in his old familiar voice. “Don’t pretend to be that dense. You were the only one who knew what I was. You were the only one who ever had living proof. Don’t you remember? You were only a girl when you found me… drinking from Rosalind.”

  Kat’s body shivered with repugnant chills as the images flashed through her mind once more.

  “You were dead.” She said, disbelieving. “I saw them take you out in a body bag.”

  “That was all for show I’m afraid my dear.” Kat’s father tapped to the badge on his suit jacket. “All arranged by the society who took me in. As you girls know, I was a very gifted physician in my mortal life, highly sought after the world over. It’s how I kept our family in a lap of luxury, it’s how that alcoholic spinster you call a mother has managed to never work a day in her life.”

  “At least she was there.” Ruth hissed through her teeth. “Where were you?”

  Kat’s father walked slowly up to Ruth and slapped his hand across her face, stunning her into silence.

  “I’m getting to that part dear, please do not interrupt!”

  He turned on his heels with a self satisfied smile and continued to pace in front of the girls with his hands behind his back.

  “It turns out my gifts in life were noticed by a higher kind. I was approached by a woman, a most peculiar woman the likes of which I’d never seen before. Pale, slender, elegant, intelligent… an unbelievable mind of history. She approached me under the guise of a job offer for a private company. Her offer effectively quadrupled what I was earning. I said I’d think about it and then the woman came back two nights later.”

  Cairo stared into the distance as he recalled.

  “She came back and I took the job, but then she informed me of the catch. She told me I’d have to become a vampire.” A whimsical expression passed over his face. “I remember laughing in her face at the time, I thought she was mad. She showed me irrevocable proof, and it wasn’t long until I was convinced… I was enticed. She turned me, and then my transformation began.”

  “We all noticed.” Ruth said while struggling against her chains. “You thought you kept it so well hidden, but it was obvious that you were no longer my father. You were just this… this thing.”

  “Much like the thing you’ve been gallivanting with over there hmm?” Kat’s father turned on his heels and nodded at Ansel.

  “He’s not like you.” Kat spat. “He’s different. He’s a good man.”

  “He’s a vampire.” Kat’s father said with finality. “There will come a day when you die at his hand.”

  “You don’t know what you’re talking about old man.” Ansel hissed.

  “Silence!”

  Cairo held a hand up in the air until all attention was on him again.

  “I faked my death and the Circle escorted me to their headquarters. I was accepted as one of them, deemed useful and elite for my abilities for medicine. It wasn’t until my vampire powers matured that I discovered I belonged to another strain of vampire altogether. I possessed one of those rare powers that only graces a few of us.”

  Cairo paused and a satisfied smile passed over his face once more. “I had the power to transform.”

  Kat shook her head and clenched her jaw.

  “Using my power I adopted the guise of an elderly and frail man. I forgot my mortal name and adopted one a new: Cairo Inai. Using the element of surprise I slowly rose through the ranks of the Red Circle, slowly gaining power until I became the man you see today. Using the image of the old man, many assumed me weak, and I took an advantage over them. It was all to my credit. It was all to advance.”

  This time it was Igo Kasper, Cairo’s scar faced henchmen who stepped forward.

  “I’ve worked with you for ten years.” Igo said in a disbelieving whisper. “I thought that the old man was your real form… you lied to me. You lied to all of us.”

  Cairo swathed a hand through the air. “You are just a pawn in my ascension to power. You do not matter Igo. I pay you to do, not to think.”

  The cold and callous remark seemed to hit Igo Kasper like a dagger. Kat peeled her eyes from him and back to her father.

  “So there you are girls. Daddy is very much alive, and he is a vampire. Much like his baby girl Ruth it would now appear.” Cairo turned and placed his attention on Ansel and Edmund, who were stood just behind him.

  “You will sacrifice yourselves gen
tlemen, or the women you love will die. Hold your hands up above your head and push your chest out. Igo will take care of you.”

  Ansel and Edmund remained frozen for a moment. They looked at each other and then lifted their arms.

  “No Ansel!” Kat shouted. “Don’t do it! He’ll kill us all!”

  “I can’t risk losing you Kat.” Ansel said gravely. “Unfortunately he’s got the upper hand. I love you. I’m sorry it has to end like this.”

  “No!” Kat sobbed. “No!”

  “Silence!” Cairo roared. “Igo, come here!”

  Igo scurried silently to Cairo’s side and took the stake waiting in his hand. “Kill these idiots and then prepare the women to return to the Red Circle.” Cairo glanced down at his watch. “We only have ten minutes left on the gateway. If we’re not quick, we’ll be trapped here for another three months.”

  Igo took a step towards Ansel and Edmund, who waited patiently with their hands above their heads. Igo’s back was to Kat, but she could see from where she was standing that he was deciding who to kill first.

  “Hurry up!” Cairo snapped. “Come on!”

  “Yes master.” Igo said dully. Igo raised the stake in his right hand and turned toward Edmund.

  The prospect of watching her maker die finally seemed to stun Ruth into emotion, the next outburst coming from her. “Edmund no!” Ruth roared. “Don’t kill him you bastard!”

  “I’m sorry honey.” Cairo looked back at Ruth with a manic grin. “But I’m your daddy… and I don’t approve of the idiots that either of you are courting. They must die I’m afraid.” Cairo turned back to watch the impending execution, while Ruth roared her dismay.

  “You were a good bounty hunter Edmund Volks.” Igo Kasper said as he lifted the stake back. “I only wish you could have been a better vampire.”

  “Just do it already you fucking prick.” Edmund spat. “I’m tired of looking at your ugly face.”

  Igo pulled his fist back, tightened his grip and thrust forward. As he punched forward with the sharp silver, he took two steps toward Edmund and passed through his body as if he were a ghost. Everyone stared at Igo in confusion.

  “What the fuck…” Edmund opened one eye and peered behind him at the man that had just ran through solid matter. “…just happened?”

  “You look a little shocked Cairo.” Igo said with a mocking laugh. “Did you think you were the only one who kept their powers hidden?”

  Kat watched as another Igo Kasper appeared from nowhere and plunged a silver stake through the back of Cairo Inai.

  The room fell silent, the only sound the shocked gasp of Cairo Inai.

  Cairo stumbled forward, staring down at his chest in horror. He turned on the copy of Igo that had stabbed him, wide eyed and confused. “You… you bastard! You treacherous bastard! How?!”

  Kat’s eyes flicked to the image of Igo Kasper that had ran through Edmund. The image walked back across the floor and rejoined with it’s host like a flickering image.

  “Duality.” Igo said in a smug tone. “I can project images of myself. Did you never wonder how I got so much done?”

  “But… why!” Cairo said in a choking gasp. “Why betray me!?”

  “Quite simply I was tired of being your lapdog.” Igo stepped forward and plucked the Warden badge off Cairo’s blazer. “And I figured it was time for a promotion.” Igo pulled the stake out of his master’s chest and Cairo burst into a fountain of violent crimson flame.

  “Goodbye old man.”

  The room watched in silence as they attempted to gauge what would happen next.

  “Now.” Igo said as he settled his eyes on the men. “There is the question of what to do with you two idiots.”

  Rubago was the first to break the silence. The witch walked forward freely, somehow having broke her chains. “I think it’s time we drew this to a close, don’t you Warden Kasper?”

  Igo turned and looked at the witch in shock. “But, how did you escape your bindings?!”

  “You never bind a witch in metal honey.” Rubago brushed a hand down the hook nosed vampires face. “At least throw some salt on the ground first.”

  “Step back witch. You are not allowed to interfere. We all know how the rules work.”

  “There are no rules.” Rubago said firmly. “Only balance. And my job is to maintain it.”

  The witch moved her hands through the air silently, tracing the figure of two red circles. Kat watched in amazement, as the wall opened up to the side of them, revealing a large and glowing doorway, stood on the top of three marble steps.

  “There is your gateway back to the Red Keep. It will close in three minutes. After that I can’t open it again for three turns of the moon. There is no other way for you return Igo, it’s up to you if you want to miss it or not.”

  “I still have time to kill these idiots.”

  “Vampires are sacred creatures.” Rubago paused and looked the vampire up and down. “No matter how repulsive. Too many have died today, mostly at the hands of your precious Red Circle. If you kill anymore then I will be forced to kill you too.”

  Igo hissed like a child having their toy taken away. His eyes passed over Kat and Ruth and he scowled. “I will take the girls for my personal harem then!”

  He started towards the girls and Rubago shot out a hand, moving Kat and Ruth out the way of the man. She guided them through the air, untied their chains and set them down between Ansel and Edmund. Ansel wrapped his arms around Kat at once.

  “You will do no such thing. The hearts of these girls have already made their choice. They both contain something more powerful than you could understand… They will not be wasted on the likes of you.”

  Igo’s face twisted into a fiery grimace while he threw his tantrum. His whole body shook with rage, and he pushed his frustration out in a roar. “Fine! I don’t want these whores anyway!”

  Igo stormed towards the glowing doorway, turned on his heels and a dark smile passed over his face. “Oh Ansel, Edmund?”

  The male vampires looked up at Igo, while keeping a tight hold of the girls next to them.

  “What do you want you bastard?” Ansel growled. “Why don’t you get out of here before I change my mind and kill you myself?”

  A thin lipped smile flashed over Igo’s face. “I’d like to see you try Draco. I just thought I’d mention that this is not the last time we will be seeing each other. You’re safe here with this witch protecting you. But next time we see each other… you’re both dead. Consider yourselves both on the register for the Red Circle. Your death warrant has been signed.”

  Igo flicked a hand through the greasy mop of dark hair on his head and took another step closer to the portal. “And as for those girls…” His eyes flicked between Kat and Ruth.

  “The gateway closes in thirty seconds Kasper.” Rubago said coldly. “I’d cut your speech short and run through if you don’t want to be stranded here. I won’t stop these vampires from killing you if you hang about any longer than you have to.”

  Igo sneered at the witch and took another step closer. “Very well, I was only going to say… as for the girls…”

  The image of Igo dissipated into the air and everyone stared at the fading cloud in confusion.

  Kat turned her head suddenly at the sound of Ruth shrieking from her left. The real version of Igo had burst forth from behind them, and snatched Ruth from Edmund’s grasp.

  “I always preferred brunettes anyway!”

  Igo burst across the floor toward the portal with a manic cackle, holding Ruth tight in his arms.

  “Ruth, no!” Edmund soared after the vampire, an arm outstretched to try and grab Ruth.

  “Edmund! Help!” Ruth shouted while struggling against Igo’s grasp.

  Igo disappeared through the portal carrying Ruth. The gateway closed a split second later, vanishing from the air and leaving nothing but a blank space. Edmund whistled through the air and crashed into the wall behind it.

  “No!” He shouted
furiously. “No! Open it!” He roared. Edmund flew back in front of Rubago and pointed at the blank space. “Open the gateway again!”

  Rubago shook her head, trembling. “I can’t.” She closed her eyes slowly. “Gateways to the Red Keep can only be opened once every three moons.”

  “No!” Realization passed over Edmund’s face. “Open it, open it now!”

  “It’s over buddy.” Ansel placed a hand on Edmund’s shoulder, trying to calm the raging giant. “We’ll have to wait.”

  Edmund sunk to his knees, defeated and breathless. “She can’t be… he took her… he…”

  “He’s a weasel.” Rubago said. “I should have seen that coming.”

  “What good are either of you?!” Edmund snapped, looking up at Kat and Ruth. “I thought you were cognizant!”

  “The magic required to open the gateway is incredibly strong. It blocks our cognizance Edmund.” Rubago explained calmly.

  “Is there nothing we can do?” Ansel asked, looking down at the face of his tortured friend.

  “I’m afraid not.” Rubago said reluctantly. “The opening and closing of the gateways is tied to the phases of the moon. You would be asking me to move planets through the sky. Such a thing is impossible.”

  “But what about my sister?” Kat said. “That monster took her. We can’t just let him take her prisoner!”

  Rubago’s eyes twinkled with mysterious sadness. She glanced at something in an unknown distance, then turned her eyes back on the room. She turned her eyes on Ansel.

  “You were a prisoner once were you not Ansel? Kept by your own coven?”

  “Tortured.” Ansel said. “They were going to kill me.”

  “And that is how you met my sister. Azu. Before she died.”

  Ansel’s face flickered with wonder. “But how did you…”

  “We know all.” Rubago said with a reassuring smile. “Or… most of it anyway. Azu told me that you found her. She told me that you offered to free her. To do so would have been a very bad thing. I had love for my sister, but she was dangerous.”

  Rubago turned to Edmund, who was still crumpled on the floor, wordless. She crouched in front of him and lifted his chin up with a finger. “Look at me Edmund Volks. I have spoken with my sister. She has read to me the pages from which your life is written.”