by Al K. Line
"Where Father?"
"I have no bloody clue. Gone. Ashes floating around the city. Now, I'll say it once more. Move out of my fucking way."
The three men spread out so they had more room to move their arms, and I knew what was coming. They wanted space to fight, believing they'd teach me a lesson. These were not Mikalus' children, I could sense that. Tasius wasn't talking literally about them all being his kids. Maybe some were, but these dudes were just grunts, youngsters, mid-thirties or so. Still dangerous, but stupid with it. What was Tasius thinking bringing men like this with him and letting them act up? Maybe they did things differently wherever they came from, but they had a lot to learn about annoyed wizards without their comfy clothes on.
"Everything okay, Arthur?" asked Nohr.
"Yeah, these dickheads were just moving out of my way, weren't you?"
"They do look like dickheads," agreed Valera, who'd sidled up to my left. I had them down now—Nohr had one eyebrow whiter than the other, not that either men were exactly absent of gray.
"Haha, look at these three. They look like bags you get in hippy shop." The three men laughed and I guess we made a strange sight. No reason to be a bully though.
I'd been bullied as a child but I never let them defeat me, always stood my ground. Even when I went home bloodied and bruised and my parents grunted from the sofa as I searched for food, anything to eat, I never succumbed to the intimidation, let my situation beat me. I was, and would always be, Arthur Salzman, and he bowed down before no man.
Ridicule was nothing, intimidation was something else. And these guys were using ridicule as a form of intimidation, like they were better than me, than us, because we looked different. Which we did, compared to them. Three vampires oozing power, one lanky wizard and two Pygmies wearing sacks, but I knew my friends and I knew you underestimated them at your peril.
"You heard Arthur. Move your pale asses before I move them for you."
The men suddenly turned serious and the guy in the middle stepped forward and got right up in Valera's face.
"What you say, little man?" He poked Valera in the sternum with a long nail, expecting Valera to be pushed back, to complain about the pain. Valera held his ground.
"Touch me again and I'll kill you," warned Valera. He meant it. Us wizards didn't let anyone screw with us.
"And then I'll kill one of your buddies, and Nohr will kill the other one."
"No fair! I wanted to beat the crap out of two," said Nohr, eyes sparkling. My friends were old and they were out of the loop for most action, passed over by the younger crowd, and had had their fill of adventure during their younger days, but they missed it, and being involved in this would have lifted their spirits immensely. All of that is to say, they were itching for a fight, reliving the glory days.
"Don't threaten us, wizards. We vampires, you weak humans."
"Blimey, he sounds like the Count off Sesame Street," said Nohr, laughing.
"Right? He does, doesn't he?" I chortled, then frowned as I caught the hand of the man as he tried to poke Nohr again.
"You were warned. Don't push it. Just let me past and go about your business."
The three men seemed to consider this for a moment, but they were so obvious it was comical. Each adjusted his stance, ready to attack, and expected us to just remain still and be surprised. Even in my dazed state, I could read them easily.
"What seems to be the problem?" asked Tasius, coming between us.
"Your buddies here got in my way on purpose, now they're trying to bully us. I don't like it."
"Move aside," ordered Tasius.
"He has it coming. He killed Father, the First. Him and friends annoy me."
"I said stand aside." The men stared at Tasius, there was clearly no love lost between them, and they remained where they were. "I am warning you. Move. Now."
"If they want to fight then let them," I said. "But you should have better control over your people, Tasius."
"They are not my people. They came because they heard of Father, but they are not mine. They are not like me. Merely vampires, not his kin."
Tasius stepped aside, the room was silent, all eyes on us.
"Ready?" I asked Valera and Nohr.
They nodded. We got busy killing vampires.
Odd, But Whatever
In unison, the three men drew tiny, finely filigreed silver boxes from the pockets of their faded jeans. They took a sharp snort then snapped the lids closed. Strange time for snuff, or coke, or whatever it was, but different strokes and all that.
The faint sound echoed around the factory floor, drawing gasps from the new vamps, confused looks from the rest of us.
Tasius snapped something in a language I knew wasn't modern and the men paled, which I'd believed impossible. Then their blood rose. Their eyes darkened to black obsidian as their teeth punched down hard and fast, causing their lips to bleed. Something I'd witnessed before and they should have found a solution to by now.
We fanned out as they prepared to attack, and never one to wait while the other guy readied to fight, I turned around so my back was to them, bent over, and wobbled my ass.
The room erupted with laughter, and while I peeked through my legs and saw their faces redden and confusion and embarrassment mask anger for a moment, Valera and Nohr let loose. It was such an old move, I'd thought I'd never be able to use it again. My buddies knew it well, had done it countless times over the years, and often regaled me with the tales of their adventures. I knew they'd appreciate it.
Nohr pulled out a length of smooth wood more like a club than a wand, yet not quite a full staff, and the sigils he'd carved before I was born flared deepest orange then erupted with otherworldly fire born of years of patient practice in the arts. Valera made do with a hand, finger down, wrist exposed, as if taunting the vampires or like Spidey ready to spin his web. But this was no web he spun, instead focused energy invisible to the eye that would hit like a freight train.
I pulled Wand from his sleeping place and he jolted awake with glee, more than willing, and hopefully able, to deal with the guy in the middle. Without word or warning, as my will shunted fading energy down my arm and into him, he activated. Wand spat a single, intense hole, an absence of anything, not anti-matter, not a black hole, not any of those things, but something I still didn't understand yet knew was the deadliest magic I could muster. This was it for me, my one chance before I needed utter rest.
Our attack was timed to perfection. Fire, non-matter, and forceful energy made by the rapid stirring of air molecules hit the men before they had a chance to recover from their humiliation.
My target remained motionless as a tiny black dot slapped him square in the forehead. For a moment nothing happened. Then he screamed and clutched at his head, freaking out big-style as the hole grew and his fingers sank inside his skull. There were appreciative gasps from the crowd but this wasn't over.
Nohr's target erupted in flames that engulfed him from head to toe, but it wasn't hot and it burned nothing else. The man screamed in agony as he burned, and although vampires could regenerate, this guy had no chance to recover as the fire intensified and chewed deep down into his bone until he was burning from the inside out, no chance of escape.
Valera's mark sprang, but was hit by the full effect of air so solidified it was like a wrecking ball slamming into him. Everyone groaned at the crunch of bone as the man's ribcage collapsed. His lungs were punctured, his chest caved in, and his heart exploded along with his head.
In unison, they died. One fell with his body so flattened he looked like a pancake, another dropped still burning, then turned to ash as the fire died, and the third keeled over backward with no sign of ever having had a head.
Silence. Beautiful silence.
"Anyone else want to fuck with the wizards?" shouted Nohr, stealing my line. I let him have it as he didn't get as much action as me.
Nobody spoke, then the strangest thing happened.
The new vampir
es moved forward, eager looks on their faces. Each one scooped a handful of the ash from their fallen comrade and placed some in small silver boxes of all description. Lids snapped shut, vampires retreated, and showing no sign of interest, I nodded to the guys, whispered, "Wait outside," and then looked up to see Ivan staring down impatiently.
"Coming," I said chirpily. I couldn't wait to get changed, the damn cloth made my bits feel like I had a cheese grater between my legs.
Feeling Myself Again
I entered without knocking, having to keep up appearances. And with Ivan and the three top-level council members all staring at me impatiently I said, "I have to get out of these clothes." Without invitation, I moved to the filing cabinet and rummaged around for my vacuum-sealed bag. There were clothes for Vicky, packs for several other people Ivan dealt with often, and numerous packs in several sizes in case his goons needed a change of clothes and the office was the best place for it. Ivan had his own drawer, which was fair enough.
I stripped, feeling the relief instantly, then put on new underwear, old faded jeans but still with a long, discreet side pocket for Wand who I slipped in with a silent thank you, and then pulled a clone of a favorite sweater over my head. What can I say? I like familiarity.
Feeling like The Hat again, I put said hat on my head, tilted her at a nice inviting angle, closed the drawer with a nudge of my knee, which really hurt, then turned and said, "So, what the fuck is happening?" before I slumped into a chair and sighed.
It had, without doubt, been a shitty couple of days.
"Make yourself at home," said Ivan with a sigh of his own before he settled behind his desk in his expensive chair and crossed his legs.
"Sorry, but I'm not feeling well."
"Didn't stop you showing off down there."
"They had it coming, and I wasn't in the mood."
"So, you're alive?"
"Looks like it. Not that I feel it. Is everyone okay? George, Penelope, your sister?" I asked pointedly.
"Everyone is fine. This has been rather sudden, but we've had time to prepare now. Penelope and George are at your home, safe and sound, Vicky is at hers. Everything is as it should be."
"Except?"
"Except for the fact Cerberus kidnapped you and one of the most worrying vampires in Europe, then tortured you. Plus, Tasius is here, which was problematic anyway. Now, it's a bloody nightmare."
"But you saved him and me. Thank you."
"My pleasure, for you I mean. I would have happily left Tasius right where he was."
The Second, the man who ran most vampire business for Ivan, tutted. Ivan turned to face him while the other men remained quiet.
"What?" he snapped. "The man is a liability. He's stuck in the past, thinks we have Mikalus when we don't, and he brought these fools with him. And I do not like their addiction. These ash addicts are too strange, too obsessed. It stinks of religion. You know my thoughts on religion."
"As do we all," said the Second. "And we agree. Religion has caused us nothing but trouble through the years. But tread carefully."
"I intend to." Ivan took a manila file from his aide, a slender woman with a short blond bob haircut I still hadn't been properly introduced to. He nodded thanks and she retreated to his side. He pulled out several sheets of paper and read them while I waited, getting annoyed about being treated like a lackey.
"So, your release went smoothly?" he asked, seemingly reading a report on what had just gone down. That was efficiency for you.
"I guess. I was out of it for a day and a half apparently, then your people, and these new guys, and my buddies, came to get me. The place was like a bomb site, we had a bit of bother with a helicopter, but we got away and here I am."
"Yes, here you are. Arthur, this is a serious business, please stay out of it."
"Stay out of what? This guy, Tasius, came to my house, then we got kidnapped. Then I was tortured, now I'm here. What is happening? And don't tell me it's none of my business. It's definitely my business. What gives?"
"Cerberus have always wanted the ashes of Mikalus, the First. You know what happened there. Tasius and his men believe Mikalus to be more than he is, was. That he would come for them when the time was right and lead them. Which, to be fair, he intended to do. To return home and seek out his children, those addicted to the ash. But he died before that happened."
"Okay, so why does Tasius think I have Mikalus' ashes? And why did Cerberus take us?"
"It's complicated."
"Enlighten me. Right now." I was getting seriously annoyed with Ivan. He was keeping secrets, but this involved me so I needed to know.
"Tasius and his men find solace and power from the ash of the fallen. They have come for Mikalus. Carmichael must have heard, and wished to discover for himself where the ashes were. He took you both as he assumed you had them."
"This makes no sense. Carmichael was in the room when you scattered the ashes. We all saw Mikalus die, and what came after. It was the three of us, why would he bother with Tasius when he knows he's on a fool's errand?"
"Maybe he believes Tasius is in tune with the ash."
"That's what Tasius told me. That he knows Mikalus isn't scattered. But we three know different, so what gives?"
Ivan glanced away for a second and my heart sank.
"Tell me you didn't? Please, tell me you didn't trick us somehow?"
Ivan glared at me defiantly.
Uh-oh.
Honesty
"You don't get to sit there all put out," I growled. "I don't care who you are, what power you have. We go back to when things were very different, where this all started. You owe me the truth."
"As you wish."
"Can we talk openly?" I asked, glancing at his aide then the other council members.
"They already know." Ivan didn't sound happy about it, and by the looks of the others, they weren't either. They remained loyal but Ivan was treading a fine line. Things had been better than ever once Mikalus was out of the picture, his rule far from exceeding expectations, and everyone had flourished under Ivan's guidance and the powers instilled in this newly formed vampire council. This would have come as quite a blow, and a shock, to them.
"Who knows about this?"
"Just us in this room."
"And nobody's writing happy songs about how overjoyed they are?"
"They will follow me."
"That wasn't the question," I snapped, annoyed by his evasiveness.
"Ask them. They are free to speak without fear of recrimination."
"That's very gracious of you." I turned to the Second. "What do you think about this? About Ivan tricking everyone and holding on to Mikalus' ashes?"
The Second raised an eyebrow to question Ivan; he nodded for him to go ahead.
"It is unfortunate. Father was from a different time and had ideas many of us had concerns about. He wished to expand our kind to numbers we believed unnecessary, the maximum number we have always been told could be achieved. He wished to become involved in matters we have always remained apart from."
"He wanted power, and he wanted you to enslave humanity, you mean?"
"I wasn't privy to all his thoughts, but yes, he wished to move us in a direction many believed unsafe for our kind, for our future."
"So you don't want him back? You aren't pissed with Ivan for helping destroy him? With me?"
"At first, yes. But things are better now, much better. Ivan's rule is total but fair, and we are becoming what we should have always been. Father broke his word of honor though, and that is unforgivable. We are nothing without our word and our honor."
"You got that right."
I turned back to Ivan. "So, are you a man of your word, Ivan?"
"I am." Ivan frowned, shocked at my question.
"But you have his ashes? He could be resurrected again? By anyone? You do remember that Carmichael is a bloody vampire too? That he could bring Mikalus back? It would be carnage even if they have very different objectives. What if Ca
rmichael resurrects Mikalus and gets him onside? It would be an all-out war between the vampires. Many would follow Mikalus, and then we'd have vampire against vampire, who knows how many trying to stop us having artifacts, helping Cerberus. Cerberus would gain power, destroy us all. What the hell were you thinking?"
"Call it a moment of weakness." Ivan uncrossed his legs then recrossed them before glancing at the door.
"You're nervous. You did this and now you're paying the price. These other vampires found out, can feel Mikalus is still there, waiting to return, and you're worried this will set off a war that will wipe you all out or leave you subjugated by Cerberus. You know the magical community won't stand for it. If everyone finds out you're responsible for giving his ashes to Cerberus and they use it in God knows what fashion, turn vampires against other magic users, then it will be your fault. Damn, I thought I was in trouble for giving him to you guys to begin with, but that's nothing compared to if Cerberus get their hands on the original vampire and his followers jump ship."
"No need to tell me what I already know." Ivan uncrossed his legs once more then leaned forward, hands on the desk. "I will deal with this. These men from the east are a problem, but I will deal with them. This is a minor hiccup in an otherwise quiet time in our history. The problem will be solved."
Ivan seemed certain, and his words sounded confident, but his body language told a different story. He was worried as hell and I waited for what was to come. There was definitely more to this, a lot more.
For several seconds we sat staring at each other, Ivan deciding what he could, or should, tell me. I surrendered to the pain as the poison flushed through my system, slowly dissipating as what little magic remained did its best to speed the process along.
"What have you done?" I asked, certain I wouldn't like the answer and would be better off not knowing. But it was too late for that. I was involved, and this would be a major headache, so I had to know what I was dealing with.
"I may have done something rather foolish," said Ivan, glancing at the others in the room.
