by R. J. Wolf
Donovan grinned as he considered Safron and patted his shoulders. “I was in shock when Richard called. Certainly, my older brother would never leave his charge and enter the fray with the rest of us heathen. However would the family name continue?”
Safron remained stone-faced. “I was in shock as well,” he replied and cast an accusing stare toward Richard. “So, how long has it been, Donovan?”
Donovan smiled. “Too long, brother. I thought you’d forgotten all about me. When father died, I was certain I’d hear from you then.” Donovan paused and looked toward Richard. “To lose a father alone…I wouldn’t wish that on anyone.”
“He was my father,” Safron growled.
“Mine too,” Donovan replied in an elevated tone.
“Wait,” Marcel said and held his hands out. “What is the history here?”
Donovan laughed. “You didn’t know? Safron is vampire royalty. I am but his brother by making. Never quite blood enough, for him.”
Safron bit back his response and took a forceful breath. “Why is he here, Richard?”
“Because we need him, Safron. So, whatever you two need to tell each other, I suggest you get on with it.”
Safron looked back at Donovan and frowned. “Of all the vampires that you could’ve called.”
Donovan cut his eyes. “Richard, what is it you need from me. I won’t sit here and relitigate the past. He chose honor, I chose the world. Yet, we find ourselves both here now. Spare me your judgement, brother.”
“You could’ve chose the pactiza,” Marcel added. “Legions would’ve supported you over Lewis.”
“As Richard tells me, the pactiza is no more. I think I chose right.”
Howard stumbled between them with another bottle of champagne. “So tense,” he slurred. “Drink more. Drink me.”
“Sit down, Howard before you fall and hurt yourself,” Richard warned.
Safron shook his head and turned toward Donovan. “Apparently we need you. Your clan. Can you even call it a coven? All seven of your devout followers.”
“So, you’ve been keeping tabs on me. Good to know, brother. But things have changed quite a bit. My coven now sits at over four hundred vampires with alliances throughout the underworld. Lycan, witch, warlock, even elves consider themselves allies with the Bloodline.”
“Oh, you’ve given your little coven a name. How cute,” Safron jested.
“Mock me all you want, brother. But while you’ve hid away for centuries, I’ve brought our species together and done more for the name than you could ever hope. Why can’t you just accept me?”
Safron lowered his head and tightened his jaw. He knew his anger was misplaced. As the eldest son, Safron never had a choice. His stewardship at the hotel was all but guaranteed. But that didn’t stop him from despising his brother for the freedom that he always wanted himself.
Donovan lowered his guard a bit as if he could read Safron’s mind. “I never had a choice in the matter, Safron. Neither did you. And for that, I’m sorry. We were robbed a lifetime of memories that we should’ve built together.” He paused then smiled. “But we’re immortals, and until this world fades into the sunset there will always be opportunity for reconciliation.”
Safron smiled slightly and nodded his head.
“It is that grim reality that brings us here,” Richard interrupted. “The sun may very well be fading on this world as we speak.”
No one replied. Several moments of silence loomed with the thump of electronic dance music pulsing in the background. Howard swallowed then spoke in the most serious tone Richard had ever heard. “When you say this world, you mean everyone, don’t you?”
Richard nodded. “That wouldn’t be an exaggeration. Our fates are intertwined, my friend.”
“That’s a bold statement,” Donovan said as his face wrinkled with concern.
“He’s kept his movements hidden but certainly you’ve heard the whispers of Langston’s aspirations.”
“Langston,” Donovan repeated. Marcel trembled at the mention of his name and grabbed a drink from the table. “That kiss ass,” Donovan continued. “His talent nor his power have never lived up to his…aspirations.”
Richard grinned. “What have you heard?”
“Nothing more than the usual. Langston is recruiting. Langston is always recruiting.”
Marcel shook his head and curled the corner of his mouth. “I thought you told him about the pactiza?”
“He did,” Donovan replied. “It’s sad that they’ve fallen from power but what does this have to do with Langston?”
“Fallen from power? Langston slaughtered them all. Him and his pet elf, Olivia.”
“I may have not told him everything,” Richard added. “It was a lot to say in a phone call.”
“Well, say it now, Richard. Is this true?”
“Unfortunately, it is. Langston has brought back the order.”
“Impossible!”
“There’s an inferni involved. Rabelial, trapped beyond the shade. He’s trying to bring him back.”
Donovan’s jaw dropped and he covered his mouth. He sat with the new information for a beat then turned back to Richard with an incredulous face. “That…that can’t be. They’re extinct.”
“It seems they’re not. I can’t pretend to know much. Most of this is shrouded in legend and we can only make assumptions from what we think we know. But this much is true, Langston is recruiting and destroying anyone that doesn’t join him, and he won’t stop until he brings Rabelial back.”
Donovan took a small breath and rubbed his hand across his head. “And you think he will proposition me next?”
“I don’t know what he will do. He’s gone to almost all of the vampire covens in LA. Before long he’ll have rallied most of the magical creatures across the country. We must band together now, or all that we hold dear will be lost.”
“But Langston. How could he ever? Ascending to the council of five was more than I ever thought he could. Who is he to rebirth the order?”
“Donovan,” Marcel said grimly. “Do you remember the stories they used to tell?”
“Fantasy. Nothing more than trivial stories told to bolster a pathetic man’s hope for fame.”
“And yet here we are. Fantasy did not ruin the oldest vampire coven in existence. Fantasy did not snatch the life from Lewis and leave me for dead. No, Donovan. Langston is much more than fantasy. He’s a fucking demigod!”
Richard stared at Marcel and tightened his face. He’d suspected it for some time but now that it was said aloud there was no taking it back. The Eternal Order of the Inferni had been raised and they were being led by a demigod.
Donovan frowned. “That changes things.”
“Does it?” Richard replied and raised his eyebrows.
“Indeed, it does. The Bloodline will join you.”
Richard’s face morphed into a wide smile and he grabbed Donovan’s hand and shook it. “Thank you,” he said simply.
“Don’t mention it. So, how does all of this work?”
“Well, apparently we have some kind of inferni of our own, Eric Strange. He’s with a druid now, heading to Hilyrah.”
“Get off me!” someone shouted as a man stumbled into the table and fell across Howard’s lap. He was a redhead with freckles and a goatee. He winced, exposing his fangs as he sat up and wobbled.
“Oh goodie,” Howard said and clapped his hands. “All this talk of doom and gloom was killing the vibe. Drinks for our new friend.”
“Sorry, sorry,” the man slurred and stumbled to his feet. Richard flashed him a look and the man shrank and scurried away.
“No fun,” Howard complained.
“I have to make some phone calls,” Donovan said as the drunk vampire stumbled back toward the dance floor. “How do I reach you?”
Richard turned to face him. “Make your calls, Donovan. We’ll be right here.”
CHAPTER 11
THE NOMADIC SCROLLS
The vampire rose to her feet with
all the drama of a high school prom. She smiled then rubbed the side of her face and licked the traces of blood off her finger. “Save this one for me. I like the defiant type,” she crooned and stared at Theo.
“Of course, Sofia,” one of the vampires replied.
The other vampires stood up and started to move forward. All three were emaciated with feral guises and wide, jittering eyes. They fanned out and Theo tightened his grip on the sword and clenched his jaw. “Immortals, huh?” he said with a grin.
Gary smiled and crossed his arms. He wasn’t one to miss the chance for a fight with some vampires that’d gone off the reservation but vampire hunting was literally Theo’s job. It was about time he earned his keep.
The closest to Theo lashed out with blinding speed. He raked his nails through the air, coming within an inch of Theo’s throat. Theo staggered back then swiped his sword and the vampires hand fell to the floor.
“My hand!” the tousled man roared. Blood squirted onto the floor as he reeled in pain. “He cut off my hand.”
Before the man could utter another word, Theo swung his sword like he was trying to return a serve from Serena Williams. The screaming blade sliced through the vampire’s neck. A wave of crimson sprayed through the air and he fell dead, next to his severed head. “Defiance, right?” Theo turned to Sofia and asked.
The other two vampires had just started to approach when Theo turned on them. He kicked one in the chest and knocked him back into the wall. The other snarled and leapt into the air with fury written all over his face.
Theo sidestepped his advance and slashed him across the back with his sword. He spun around him then set the tip of his blade on the vampire’s neck. “Any last words?” he asked.
The zero that was lying on the ground started to come to and Sofia grabbed her. She wrapped her arm around her throat and barked, “Enough!”
Theo paused and wrinkled the corner of his mouth. His eyes flickered from Sofia to the other vampires then back to the zero. He sniffed then lunged forward and pushed his sword through the vampire’s neck.
“No!” Sofia roared.
The words had just left her lips when Theo crossed the room and impaled the other vampire to the wall. With a strained face, he yanked his sword back and cleaned the blood off with his pants. “Do not fear the shadows, for we are born in them. Do not shun the dark, for our footsteps light the way,” he said as he started toward her.
Sofia cringed and tightened her grip. “Another step, hunter and I’ll tear her throat out.
“Do not wade into the fray gently, ours is a history of violence and struggle. Do not yield, surrender does not run in our blood.”
“I mean it hunter. I will spill her life all over the floor. Don’t take another step!” Sofia screeched with a cracking voice.
“Do not fear death, for our lives are merely the currency for immortal glory,” Theo finished then moved faster than the blink of an eye. His sword split Sofia’s head in two and he corralled the zero with his other hand, catching her before she fell.
As Sofia’s body toppled over, Theo gently laid the woman down and sighed. “Shh,” he whispered. “It’s okay, it won’t hurt much longer.”
The woman looked up at him with a faint smile. Her eyes focused for a minute then her face went slack and her body fell limp. Theo let her head rest on the floor then stood up and turned to face Gary. “I could smell the death on her. There was nothing we could do.”
“What are you?” Chandler asked as he looked up from the floor where he’d taken a seat.
“You know what I am.”
“I know you’re a hunter but I thought you were human. There was nothing human about that.”
Theo smiled. “I am a hunter but I’m not exactly human. It’s a complicated.”
“Well, now that you’ve killed everything in sight, uncomplicate it for me.”
Gary grumbled and walked a few paces. “We don’t have time for a magic history lesson, especially for a supposed magical historian.”
“I’ll guess I’ll explain it when we get out of here, Chandler,” Theo said and offered him a hand. He took it and pulled himself to his feet with a muffled groan. “You sure everything is okay with you?” Theo asked.
“I’m fine damn it!” Chandler snapped back with more venom than he meant.
“This way, gentlemen,” Gary called. He left the study and entered back into the cavern through a door at the back of the room. He stopped in the middle of the hall and listened for a moment. “Sounds clear,” he said. “The records room isn’t far from here.”
“Oh, now you remember everything.”
“Actually, now I do.” Gary walked a little faster as he trotted ahead of them. Chandler stumbled behind like he was drunk and Theo lingered in the back keeping a watchful eye out for more sprites.
“You know,” Theo called out to Gary. “This is really just busy work. Your brother thinks he has it all figured out.”
Gary smiled. “Richard always thinks he’s got it figure out. That’s exactly why this isn’t busy work.”
“What’s the story with you guys anyway?”
“What do you mean?”
“He’s a vampire, you hate vampires. Seems like a web of family drama to me.”
“Just watch our back and shut up.”
Theo shrugged and kept walking. They continued on in the dark for another half hour before Gary stopped and started feeling around the craggy walls. He knew he was close. He could feel the magic pulling at him like a magnet.
“Did you find it?” Theo asked as he caught up.
“I found something. Now, be quiet,” Gary replied.
“I think I’m gonna take a seat,” Chandler announced. “My feet are killing me.” He took a heavy breath then looked back to Theo. “Did you, um…did you bring some water? I’m feeling a little dehydrated.”
“No, Chandler. No, I don’t have water for you. What the hell is wrong with you, man?”
“I found it,” Gary suddenly announced. “Stand back.” He swirled his hands in front of him and started to mumbled an incantation. The air shimmered with power and a slight vibration thrummed through the walls.
Chandler took a few steps back and bumped into Theo. He frowned then jumped as a thunderous boom filled the cavern. The wall next to Gary fell away, revealing a large dome-shaped room that didn’t fit with the structure around it.
“What is this?” Theo asked as he slowly moved closer to Gary.
“It’s the records room,” Gary replied and stepped inside. “Now, hurry, before it closes.”
Theo and Chandler followed him into the room just as the wall reappeared. Theo knocked his hand against the rocks and shook his head. “Magic is so trippy,” he said with a grin.
The room was at least three stories high. The ceiling was made of glass and outside a full moon shined light down onto the stone floor. Theo glared in disbelief, certain that they were still several meters underground. “How?” he asked simply. “This doesn’t make any sense.”
“Don’t try to make it make sense. It’ll only confuse you more.”
Theo nodded and continued to look around the room. The place was a treasure trove of magic. Tables with ancient books grimoires thrown about all over them. Shelves stuffed full of ancient weapons and powerful artifacts. It looked like some kind of wizard flea market.
“How do we find these scrolls?” Chandler asked in an exhausted tone.
“This way,” Gary replied. He headed deeper into the room down an aisle of books that ended with a row of wooden chests. “It’s supposed to be alphabetically indexed but you know, magic and all.” He mumbled a summoning spell and flicked his hand. Four of the chests opened and a bundle of scrolls flew out. Gary snagged them from the air and held them out to Chandler. “We’ll go through them later. Put them in the bag and let’s get the hell out of here.”
CHAPTER 12
DITCH THE WITCH
Zoey glared back at Shanna and bit her tongue. She had a map o
f the stars in one hand and a copy of the Hollywood Reporter in the other. “Can we leave yet?” she finally said, trying to sound as polite as she could.
Shanna smiled then turned back to the doorman. “Ferris, you see my friend,” she pleaded. “Come on, help us out.” She twirled her hair with her finger and leaned into his chest.
“They’re really cracking down on us, Shanna. I’m not trying to get into any trouble.”
“You won’t. I swear, I won’t mention your name at all. It’s not like we’re trying to break in or anything. She’s just a huge fan and wants to see where the man lives.”
Ferris groaned then dug into his pocket. He pulled out a wrinkled piece of paper then grabbed a pen. “Shanna, you’re gonna owe me for this.”
“Of course.”
“I don’t know where the guy lives. But this is Daniel Dupree’s number. He’s an actor, not a very good one but he’s done some films with your guy and should be able to put you in touch with him. Tell him I sent you and I’m calling in that favor he owes me. He’ll understand.”
Shanna smiled and kissed him on the cheek. “You’re the best, Ferris.” Then she ran off to join Zoey.
“You done begging zeroes for help?”
“It’s good to know people sometimes, Zoey. It can make things easier.”
Zoey chuckled in a sadistic tone. “I could’ve pulled every ounce of knowledge out of his little egg-shaped head. I don’t need to know him at all.”
“Low profile, Zoey. Anyway, let’s go. I need to make a phone call.”
Zoey tossed the paper and the map onto the sidewalk and followed after Shanna. They walked down the sidewalk for a few then tucked into a small pizza diner. Shanna headed to the counter and ordered a slice of pizza and a coke then turned back toward Zoey. “You want anything?”
“I thought you were gonna make a call?”
“I am but I’m gonna eat first.”
“Fine,” Zoey snapped. “I’ll take a coffee.”
Shanna gave her a strange look but didn’t argue. Zoey took a seat near the window and stared outside as she watched the zeroes pass by. They were always so oblivious, so blind to everything around them.
