Loyalty

by Charles E Yallowitz

  “If you fall then you must climb,” a voice says from the shadows.

  “Where am I?” Mab asks, the question having been on her tongue since she woke up.

  “A world between worlds that everything holds a door to. Although, not everyone has the key. How did you get the key?”

  “I don’t know . . . I don’t feel like myself.”

  “Well, you don’t belong here.”

  “How do I get home?”

  “You deserve to be in the light, so go there. Best do it before he gets you.”

  Mab turns around in time to catch a three-headed serpent barreling towards her, its fan-like tail propelling it like an arrow. All of the mouths open and blackened gums stretch to push its jagged teeth closer to the shining snack. For the first time, the vampire notices that she is bathed in a white light and a thin tether is connected to her chest. Flying out of reach of the creature, Mab focuses on the cord while weaving from side to side in the hopes of losing the ravenous predator. Smaller beasts are devoured if they wander into the monster’s path, but the distractions do nothing to slow it down. Feeling its cold breath on her legs, the vampire whirls around and punches the central head with all of her strength. She is surprised at the echoing impact and how the serpent’s nose crumples like a fragile piece of paper. The remaining mouths lance out at Mab, who moves fast enough to practically vanish and reappears several yards away. Teeth are sent floating through the shadowy world as the creature’s maws collide and its barbed tongues get tangled. Shaking its heads, the predator backs away as if preparing for a charge, but it is abruptly yanked deep into the darkness by a hungrier beast below.

  A cacophony of roars and bellows erupt from around Mab, who does her best to move by alternating between flying and swimming. Waves of cold rush over her and she can smell putrid breath from the monsters that are converging on her location. Having no other ideas, the vampire reaches for one of the distant pinpricks of light and finds that she can hook it with one of her claws. Getting another nail inside the tiny opening, Mab tries to enlarge it while the swarm of predators comes into focus. It is not until she focuses entirely on escaping that a full-sized portal emerges, the white energy becoming a swirling black that is a shade lighter than the void. She jams her hand into the gateway and nearly screams when someone on the other side grabs her wrist. A distant roar causes the creatures to stop as Mab is pulled out of the shadowy realm that exists beneath Windemere’s surface.

  7

  “I finished the report,” Kai states as he walks into the throne room. The spymaster squeezes between Decker and Titus to hurry up the stairs and hand a scroll to his masters. “Only half of our forces escaped and Lord Shallis’s death has been confirmed. The rest of the council believes it was an attack by the Duragians, which is straining their alliance. Only one mortal survived the ordeal, but he vanished from the hospital within hours of being found. All other enemies were killed on the castle grounds or in the nearby forest. I should point out that the bodies were discovered in a clearing that was created by the battle. Stephanie is sleeping off her trance, but she said that there are no signs of Clyde or Mab being dead. It is more likely that they are the ones responsible for the slaughter.”

  Xavier holds up his hand to stop Kai from continuing and waves for the disheveled man to leave the room. After handing the report to Nadia, the nobleman pours himself a glass of blood and takes a drink. Whispering a spell, he floats the bottle to the two warriors who have been standing quietly for several hours. The crimson liquid winds out of the container to become two delicious orbs that hover next to the vampires. Lacking a cup, Decker leans forward to coax the meal into his mouth and slurps it down in seconds. Worried about his sister, Titus has trouble finding his appetite, but forces himself to do the same as his companion. The fresh food helps them heal the burns and cuts on their bodies, which still release puffs of smoke when they relax in a pair of wooden chairs.

  “I do not know where to even start,” Xavier finally says, the bottle returning to the table next to him. Taking his wife’s hand, he kisses her knuckles to help clear his mind with a faint wave of bliss. “The mission was a success since Lord Shallis is gone, the alliance is in danger, most of the freelance hunters have been killed, and nobody is openly blaming us. Yet, I cannot help, but wonder why the Duragians were there in the first place. They obviously knew about our planned assault. Lou is busy softening up a few prisoners to find out if we have traitors in Nyte, but it will be some time before they are ready for Kai. Do either of you have an explanation?”

  “It is worrisome that Clyde and Mab disappeared after this incident,” Nadia interjects, wincing at the sudden pressure on her fingers. Knowing that she is treading on a sensitive subject, she puts on her best smile and bows her head. “I am not saying either of them betrayed us. Over the last few weeks, all of you have been true friends and indispensable agents in this war. The tide has been turning in our favor thanks to the gang’s efforts. My statement is simply that others may perceive their absence as guilt or fear that they have been killed. Both would be severe blows to Nyte’s morale.”

  “With all due respect, I find both options ridiculous,” Titus declares, getting to his feet. His temper still flaring from being forced to retreat, he grips the arm of his chair and accidentally crushes it into splinters. “My apologies for that, but I’m worried about my sister. That doesn’t mean I think she’s dead because I know Mab is tougher than she looks. If she’s with Clyde then she’s safe. I’ve never seen them lose when they’re together. As far as guilt goes, it wouldn’t make any sense for them to set an army of Duragians on themselves. When Clyde broke out of the castle keep, all of the enemies went after him. That was strange, but he appeared with enough noise that one would have expected to see Ram the War God standing in the rubble. I believe they created a distraction to help the rest of us escape.”

  Nadia is about to speak when Xavier clears his throat and asks, “Do you have any clue as to what happened? All scrying has been blocked because of the amount of death and holy magic in the area. The spirits need to settle before we can use such magic, but that might not show us anything considering how much time has passed. I know I am asking a lot of you and that I typically dissuade my soldiers from imagining scenarios. That is better left to the leadership. Yet, you two know Clyde and Mab the best and were there. I would have brought Bob and Luther here as well if they were not standing guard against retaliation.”

  “The true answer is probably the simplest, Lord Tempest,” Decker explains, standing to join his friend. Stroking his beard, the dwarf gathers his thoughts to avoid saying something that will undermine his fragile theory. “The enemy remained in the castle while we retreated, which is why we didn’t run into any patrols. It also means that none of us were around to fight in the forest. That second slaughter had to be done by Clyde and Mab. They are alive, but could have been injured enough to go into hiding. It might be a few days before they can return since all attempts to feed will attract attention. The Duragians must have already sent investigators and begun searching the surrounding areas, which is how they have that one survivor. Clyde and Mab are experts at eluding capture and have even been known to deceive scrying spells with their magic.”

  “Do you know where they could be hiding, Kenneth?”

  “Sorry, but the gang never had a lair in that region.”

  “Take your best guess.”

  “I refuse because it will be wrong and lead to a waste of resources.”

  “He does have a point, dear,” Nadia whispers into her husband’s ear. Leading Xavier down the stairs, she lets go of his hand to take each of the two warriors by the wrist. “We apologize for anything that we said, which may have come off as offensive and accusatory. Please understand that we are just as worried about them as you are. After all, Clyde is my brood brother. Mab and I might not always get along, but I would never wish her harm. If you hear anything from them, let us know and we will do the same. Hopefully, Kenn
eth is right and they are only in hiding. As he said, that is one of their strengths.”

  Sensing that they are being dismissed, Titus and Decker bow their heads while backing towards the door. Once alone in the throne room, the Lord and Lady of Nyte snap their fingers to create a phantasmal orchestra. Not wanting to be disturbed, they erase the entrance and all of the windows before they start to dance together. Furniture floats to the ceiling to give them more space, every wooden leg sprouting a candle to act like oddly shaped chandeliers. The music helps the couple relax as spend two songs doing nothing more than waltzing and staring into each other’s eyes. With Nadia being a foot taller and more forceful than Xavier, the vampiric orc easily takes the lead whenever she wants her husband to change the pace. For the most part, Lord Tempest maintains control and moves her with a power that one would not expect from such a slender, angelic-looking man.

  “They were telling the truth,” Xavier says during the third song. Sliding his hand to his wife’s back, he dips her low and levitates above her for a moment. “Kenneth would not hold back such information and Titus has no reason to lie. I truly wish it was something more sinister because they were going to be our keys to victory. To think they have gone missing or might have been killed worries me. It could mean that our enemies have someone or something that is more powerful than we imagined.”

  “Yes, but Clyde was never a true warrior,” Nadia states, allowing herself to be spun. With a smirk, she flips her husband over her hand and helps him gracefully land on his toes. “Even with his newfound power, his habits are that of a thief and prankster. If he has been backed into a corner then I believe he will slip into the shadows until it is safe to emerge. Mab is the same, so there is no reason to think otherwise. If it was any of our other allies then we would have reason to be suspicious or consider the worst.”

  Xavier stops and has the orchestra disappear, but he continues to gently hold his wife in his arms. “You truly are the only one who keeps me sane and prevents me from making mistakes. I will give them another week before I send people to find them. Kai and Stephanie will continue watching for signs of activity. If those two can defeat that many enemies in one fight then I would not be surprised if another massacre happens soon. Now, what shall we do to distract ourselves?”

  “Whatever it is, my dear, I believe it should start with a kiss.”

  *****

  The tavern patrons try not to stare at Clyde and Mab, who have taken a small table in the corner. While they had planned to blend in, the vast array of food they have ordered has gained them a few sideways glances and whispers. Plates of ribs, two roasted chickens, mugs of ale, and three towers of pastries sit between the vampires, who can barely see each other. The situation is made even more comical with the way Mab greedily devours her food and wipes her mouth on the billowing sleeves of her stolen, dark brown dress. Clyde is calmer and brings less attention by nibbling at the same cookie for several minutes at a time. It is only when he considers that his companion might devour everything in the tavern that he starts to eat faster, his focus switching to the ribs. The charming bartender keeps an eye on the unfamiliar travelers, but they cannot tell if it is out of curiosity or their presence is making him nervous. The owner’s interest, as well as that of the mortal patrons, is finally broken when Mab unleashes an echoing burp that rattles the windows.

  “After all these years, I never realized how much I missed this stuff,” she says while reaching for a recently arrived steak. She spears it on her fork and takes a large bite that makes her stomach gurgle. “I think my body is burning this stuff up so fast to stabilize my healing organs. Did you go through this in the ground? Probably not since you were surprised to eat food when we were at Gregorio’s. Though, I wouldn’t be surprised if you had the urges. Not sure what that shadow thing was or why I can’t turn invisible, but the claws are now possible without casting. Please tell me you’re not going to eat that piece of cake because I smell cinnamon and rhubarb.”

  “You’re lucky I’m masking our conversation,” Clyde replies before tossing the woman a napkin instead of the dessert. He takes a bite of the cake and licks his lips, her childish scowl worth eating a food he does not enjoy. “We really need to go underground and figure this out before we return to Nyte. You’re like me now, which puts my . . . our secret more at risk. Try to tone it down, Mab. It’s only a heartbeat and real food. Keep this up and we’ll find out if we put on weight like mortals. Think you can burgle while being the size of an ogre and the shape of a watermelon? Are you eating the bones?”

  “Titus and I always liked getting at the marrow when we were kids,” Mab replies, her teeth crunching on a rib. Spitting out the shards, she is about to go back to her steak when she feels a pain in her stomach. “Something doesn’t feel right. What if eating too much food makes me completely mortal or I caught a disease in that shadow world? Have you ever felt this when you’ve eaten food?”

  “It’s either gas or you have to go to the bathroom,” he answers while jerking his thumb at a sign for the toilets. A look of disgust is on the woman’s face, so he shrugs and leans back in his chair. “A working stomach means you get the whole package. If you want to tempt fate then go right ahead. That would certainly help us pretend to be mortals by getting kicked out of the only place that has an open room.”

  Clutching her aching gut, Mab slides off her chair and disappears into the shadow of her chair. Clyde is quick to create an illusion of her drunkenly searching the floor for an olive, the decoy muttering about a pet cat that she named after the tasty treat. The fake repeatedly bangs her head on the underside of the table, which leads to a slurred rant that always ends with a dainty hiccup. Watching the shadows for signs of the real Mab’s return, he notices a group of men and women who are watching from the second floor. They are not wearing anything that makes them stand out and appear to be nothing more than farmers resting after a long day at work. Yet, Clyde can see how there is always one person keeping an eye on him and the faint smell of dry blood is drifting from their direction. He is so busy thinking about the mortals that he nearly misses Mab’s hand slipping out of the shadows. Having the illusion cover her climbing back into the chair, he waits until she is settled before erasing the decoy.

  “I don’t like that part of being whatever it is we are,” Mab bluntly states. She goes back to her food at a slower pace, but her manners continue to remind everyone of a child who is trying to embarrass her parents. “So, I was thinking of something while I was gone and holding my breath. We need to find a way to do a real test of our abilities. Being able to function in sunlight is great and I like these new tricks, but we keep stumbling into our abilities. The war can wait for a few days while we experiment.”

  “As much as I agree, we’re still trying to keep this a secret,” Clyde reminds his excited companion. Hiding his amusement at her adorable expressions, he moves a tower of cookies to make it more difficult for the mortals to see his face. “We should go to Gregorio’s and figure things out with him around. I don’t want to be my usual reckless self this time because this is dangerous. My killing all those people while you were in my shadow has created more rumors than my little lie can handle. They aren’t saying that a vampire did it, but the locals are afraid of some kind of monster. Using our abilities around here would only make the situation worse and mortals tend to blame outsiders first.”

  “Then, we just have to be careful,” the burglar insists, her fangs on the verge of showing. A delicious scent catches her attention and she spots a pie that she claims by hurling a diamond sphere at the bartender. “See? If I wasn’t controlling myself then that would have gone right through his head instead of bouncing off. My point is that we can only figure this out through action. We’ve already discovered that we’re stronger, quicker, and heal faster than before, but you’re still on a level above me. The two of us can use spells without casting, but there are some that we can’t seem to pull off any more. Maybe there’s a problem with our auras.
”

  “There’s an easy way to figure that out.”

  “Which is?”

  “Visit Gregorio and talk to him.”

  “Why are you such a fun sucker on this?”

  “Because you bit me, changed into whatever I am, and want to go on a killing spree.”

  “I never said killing.”

  “Then, what?”

  “Some kind of crime spree that involves me doing some long overdue bauble snatching?”

  “Okay, that does sound like fun right about now.”

  The table is bathed in shadows and the vampires notice that nobody else in the tavern is talking. Surrounding them are the mortals from the second floor, all of them brazenly showing that they are armed. A petite woman holds open a large sack while two dwarves go about pushing the food inside. Mab is about to reveal her claws and attack when Clyde kicks her under the table, the glancing blow enough to spin her chair. The startled thieves watch her more carefully, but she remains seated with her arms crossed. The woman goes to take the burglar’s hydra-skin jacket from a hook on the wall, which prompts Mab to stand. Again, she is stopped by her partner clearing his throat and signaling that they have to avoid a public fight. Her face is flushed with anger as the local gang parts to let a halfling through, the red-haired thief hopping onto the table and snatching Clyde’s necklace.

  “Ugly design, but I’m sure I can sell it,” the one-eyed mortal says in a voice that is surprisingly deep. Walking over to Mab, he gets close enough for her to smell his breath, but moves when he realizes that she is not wearing any jewelry. “You two have been throwing a lot of money around this town. Rodillen is fairly young, so we have an economic problem that I hope you can help us with. Specifically, you can make a donation for all of the poor widows and orphans who are suffering from the most recent Day of Darkness. The undead were really ravenous this year.”