Chapters 1 & 2
Chapter 1
“Come on Thorn, faster.”
Thorn concentrated as his wings buzzed loudly behind him. He looked up at his friends leading in front. “I’m trying Spark, I’m trying.”
“Try harder, you nut. If you want to keep hanging with us, you’re going to have to step up your game!”
The three elf-fairies, or ‘Elfies’ as they called themselves, worked their way through the narrow tunnel as it turned one way to another, the darkness around them trying to fool them, but the glow from their wings showing them the way. Spark, the tallest of the three smiled to Droplet as they glided in front of Thorn. Droplet was faster than Spark but held back knowing that the egos of young Elfie males, despite being predictable, could often be unbearable at the best of times, let alone when beaten by a girl. Spark was no slow Elf-Fairy however and was captain of the Speed Hunt team back at the school. Thorn took the honour of being the slow one, but what he lacked in speed he made up in strength, something that was doing him no favours at that moment in time.
“Thorny, if you want to get on the hunt team, you need to go faster. You can’t stay on the wrestling team all your life. There’s no money in that!” Droplet shook her head in sympathy as Thorn’s determined face turned red with concentration.
She’s right. Speed up wings. Speed up. Thorn looked ahead as Spark and Droplet turned out of the small, familiar tunnel and into a much larger one. “The Underground tunnel” he said out aloud. “Cool.”
“Thorn, this is where it gets dangerous.” Droplet smiled as she shouted. “You need to keep your wits about you!”
“He’ll be okay,” Spark added. “So long as he doesn’t let the Thing get him.”
The Thing thought Thorn. He had seen it numerous times from afar. A big mechanical transporter the humans used. What did they call it? The Tube? That was it. What a strange name. He chuckled to himself as he followed the two ahead of him. He knew father would be angry if he found out that they were in human domain. The Council would not be pleased either. At that moment however, he simply did not care. He was in the underground tunnel, and more than that, he was where the humans took the Tube. The big Tube, all scary with its’ bright lights and roaring sound, shaking the tunnel as it travelled through it. He was excited by the danger. A far cry from wrestling he thought. Thorn continued to fire-up his wings, determined to catch up to at least Spark. His wings grew brighter the faster he pushed himself. But he was too deep in his thoughts, and too concerned about what was ahead of him to realise what was behind him.
The white light almost shone through him, lighting the way ahead of him. Thorn did not notice the rumble of the tracks below him, or the roar in the tunnel around him, but he saw the brightness and felt the heat of the lights behind him. He turned his head and saw the tube in the distance behind him, charging in speed, determined to splat them in no more than a few minutes. “The Thing!” he cried. “Guys, Tube behind!” Thorn started to panic. He needed speed at this exact moment and speed was the one thing he was just not good at.
“Already on it!” Spark and Droplet immediately slowed their pace and fell back to Thorn. Droplet winked at Thorn when she saw his worried face. “We weren’t going to leave you behind. Hold on.” Both hooked Thorn’s arms with their own and pulled him with them, quickening their pace, trying to out run the tube charging behind them. But there was no way they could out run the mechanical dragon rumbling towards them. And they knew it. It roared with anger behind them, closing in on them, no mercy, no remorse, just the focused need to get to its destination on time and to hell with anything in its way.
Spark looked around desperately. It was as if the Tube had taken on a life of its own, that it was no longer a machine, but was now a monster hunting them, wanting to destroy them. Where could they hide? Would under the tracks be safer? Perhaps a hole in the wall? The Tube was getting closer and louder. The tracks seemed a bad idea and there were no holes or cracks in sight. Spark did not want to give up. “Droplet, look for a hole, a crack, something!”
“Got it!” Droplet looked around, her wings glowing intensely as they flapped wildly, gleaming from the energy she was using. She wished Snapdragon was with them. He had eyes like a hawk, and an almost supernatural ability to navigate around unfamiliar surroundings. He was also the most annoying Elfie she knew, other than Rue, but he sure would have helped right now. She looked around but could see nothing. Every dark shadow on the wall could either have been a hole, or a trick from the Tube’s lights. Droplet wanted to panic. She had out run tubes before but this was a new tunnel. She had not mapped the area yet. She was unprepared. She cursed herself. She knew she shouldn’t have listened to Spark. It would be fun he told her. She hated herself for listening to him, and hated herself for doing it simply because of her feelings towards him. Whenever she did anything without preparation, she found herself in trouble. She needed to take control. She needed to focus. She couldn’t fail. The Tube was getting closer. And then they saw it.
In the distance ahead of them was the Platform. This was where the Tube would stop and where the humans travelled to. She turned to Spark. He looked back at her having seen it as well. She screamed at him. “It’s our only shot, Spark.”
“Let’s do it. Hold on Thorn.”
Thorn closed his eyes as Spark and Droplet charged forward. They were gasping for air as they pushed themselves faster than they thought possible. They had never seen their wings glow so bright, or move so quickly, and they had never felt so free. The Tube howled behind them. It was close and they could feel the heat from its lights almost touch them. Faster guysthought Thorn. Just a little bit more. Spark and Droplet screamed in pain as the glow from their wings burned into their backs, almost lighting up the walls around them. The platform was at reach, and the Tube began to slow down. It was the break they needed. The tunnel wall to their left turned from dark to light as the three elf-fairies took a sharp turn, slamming into the tiled wall of the platform.
They were safe.
Spark collided into the wall and landed onto the platform first, followed by Thorn with Droplet landing on the both of them. All three lay breathing heavily, gasping for air, exhausted and yet exhilarated. Spark was the first to speak. “That was amazing.”
“I think I’ve wet myself.”
“Ah Thorn, disgusting.” Droplet immediately rolled off Thorn. “That is sick.”
Thorn giggled. “That scared the dung out of me.”
Spark started laughing. “Bloody brilliant though.”
“You idiot, Spark. I knew I shouldn’t have listed to you.” Droplet lightly punched Spark in the shoulder. “Idiot.”
Spark simply smiled. “Who wants to do it again?”
The three of them laughed unaware that someone was watching them from the other end of platform, someone who, unlike the humans, could see them. He watched with a keen interest. He could not believe the luck fate had handed to him.
A result the creature said to himself.Leader Ruiz will be pleased. Very pleased indeed.
Chapter Two
The creature pushed past the doormen of the club and entered the dance floor. Lights danced to the beat of the music, flashing in and out as the tunes ravaged the punters on the floor.
The vampires were everywhere.
The creature revelled in the sight. They no longer hid in clandestine castles or old estates unseen by the humans. They now lived amongst them, building clubs and bars, apartment blocks and offices, all for their own kind. They were now organised, the clans working together rather than against each other. Unity was the best form of survival. There were too many enemies in the world who threatened them but they knew that united, the vampires were unstoppable. Sure, there were power plays and politics, jealousies and differences of opinion, but that kept them on their toes. It stopped them from becoming complacent.
He looked around and saw the few humans that were allowed in, scattered around the club. They had no idea of where they were. They had no idea that they were flirting with evil. That they were simply, food. They thought they had been allowed to enter one of the most exclusive clubs in town but in reality, they had traded a few moments of pleasure for a lifetime of torment. He eyed a young woman, no more than twenty. She danced seductively with a younger looking vampire, the creature he knew as Jacob. Jacob was a model before he was turned, twenty years ago. He was handsome with a Californian jaw line. He may not have kept the human golden tan, but his blue eyes still sparkled, hypnotising any he desired. The young woman was his focus right now. She moved closer to him as he held her, both swaying to the haunting ethnic beat played by the DJ. She had no idea of what was about to happen. The creature imagined the human woman had figured out her evening perfectly. She would dance with this new stranger and perhaps they would kiss, perhaps they would do more. She would take him home maybe, or perhaps she would say goodbye at the end of the night, taking his number, so that they could meet again. Maybe fall in love. Maybe get married and have children.
And then the creature smiled.
He knew exactly what would happen. The young looking vampire would seduce the woman on the dance floor. His movements guided by the music would hold her to him. He would kiss her gently and tell her she was the most beautiful woman he had ever met. He would touch her skin and make her feel like no man ever had. He would escort her outside to the car park, suggesting that he take her home and that nothing would happen because he respected her, and that he wanted to take things slowly. She was special. But in that car park, he would hold her, kiss her and then rip into her neck, tearing out her flesh before taking in her blood. That was to be her reality tonight. It was what made vampires beautiful. The creature felt pride watching the young Jacob seduce the woman. He had turned the boy. He had trained him. He had done a good job.
The creature moved through the dance floor and headed into a back room. The sounds of the music immediately numbed when the door of the back room slammed shut behind him. “Is Leader Ruiz in?” he asked the vampire soldier standing before him.
“Yes, General Khan.” The soldier opened another door letting Khan in. Khan descended narrow stairs into the basement. Another vampire at the foot of the stairs bowed slightly before opening a second door, which revealed further steps heading down. At the bottom of these stairs, stood a third door. Khan pushed open this door and walked through, into a grand room, home to his Leader.
The room he entered was dimly lit by a series of low-light chandeliers. It was a big room, with huge paintings adorning the walls, framed in gold and silver. Although sparsely furnished, the room shouted opulence, with old oak tables covered with gold plates, and platinum cutlery. Antiquities from around the world held their place on tables or cabinets. The general walked past the valuable pieces, smiling at the conquests of his old friend. Khan stopped in front of a large mirror and peered into it. It had been nearly four hundred years since he saw his own reflection and he wondered briefly how he had changed. He remembered that he was handsome, but more than that, he could not recall. Despite vampires having no reflection, for reasons he still couldn’t fathom, he often looked into a mirror trying to imagine what he looked like now. Others had thought it a foolish endeavour, he saw it as a reminder of what he had become, and of what he will always remain. A creature of the night; a vampire.
“Still looking at mirrors, my friend?” Leader Ruiz stared at him from the leather armchair he was sitting on and smiled. He wore a white shirt with black formal trousers, both tailored to perfection. “Khan, I missed you today. Come, feast with me. Give me the company of your conversation. I believe dinner is to be served shortly. Raw steak. Nice and bloody. It is being carved as we speak.”
“Thank you but unfortunately, I must decline. I have come only to give you news.”
Khan looked at his leader, Salvador Ruiz. The man before him was a true warrior and a vampire from birth. Khan himself was over four hundred years in age and ranked as one of the oldest vampires in the world. He was respected by all clan members for his courage and strength, cunning and natural warrior instincts. He had survived world wars and riots, plague and disease, racism and intolerance, and was his leader’s top soldier. The Sovereign, the ruler of all vampires had once said that he wished all his warriors were like Khan: loyal, respectful and viciously evil. Khan was a credit to his species.
Salvador Ruiz however, was a true immortal. To be turned into a vampire was a gift, but to be born a vampire was to be blessed by evil itself. Salvador often remarked that Satan was not his superior but more an equal and that he could be as powerful, if not more so, than the Lord of the underworld. Evil did not create him, he would say; evil was him. He was respected by his clan and his peers but had yet to find favour with the Sovereign, the true origin of vampire evil.
Ruiz took a sip of the red wine resting by his side. “News? What news?”
“I was scouting the Underground this evening. I wanted to make sure that what the Dealer had said was correct. Wanted to make sure he wasn’t playing his usual games.”
“And?” The leader leaned forward from his chair. “Did you see anything?”
“Yes. Even though I was surrounded by human blood, as soon as I saw them, I was under their spell. I knew that the blood of Man held no power over me anymore. It was as if the human juice was no longer important, that it became some vile syrup with nothing to entice, nothing to savour. The blood I wanted called to me instantly. I was intoxicated before I even saw them.”
“Who? Who did you see?”
“The elf-fairies; three of them. They were on the platform, no more than a few inches in height. The pathetic humans couldn’t see them but I? I was entranced by them. I wanted to take them at that moment and it took all my will to stop myself, such was the power of their blood.” Khan licked his lips. “I saw them disappear back into the tunnel from where they obviously came. The Dealer is telling the truth. We must hunt. We must hunt now.”
Ruiz leaned back into his chair. “I have tasted their blood. It is indeed magical. In our possession, our clan will be more powerful than ever. It will secure us prestige. I will be assured a place within the Sovereign’s Trust Council.”
Khan didn’t care for vampire politics. His allegiance was to his leader and the clan, and the matters of others didn’t concern him. He did his leader’s bidding, and that was all.
The vampires followed a hierarchy. Ordinary vampires were normally collected into clans. Generals like Khan, who took orders from their respective leaders, such as Ruiz, controlled these clans. The leaders themselves were members of a Council who reported to the Sovereign. The Sovereign divided the Council into two: the War Council and the Trust Council. The War Council merely followed orders and concentrated on matters of security and violence. The Trust Council, of which there were only three members, advised the Sovereign and as everyone knows, it is the advisers who have the power, for they shape policy, they design the plan. Khan had no time for politics. But if his leader gained power through Khan’s actions, then he would do all to satisfy his friend. “Shall I make the necessary arrangements, Leader?”
Ruiz touched his own lips with his fingers. “It is a wondrous wine, their blood. Yes, commence the arrangements. Your best soldiers will be needed, and contact the warlocks for their magic. We must begin immediately if we are to do this properly.”
“And what of the Dealer? I do not trust him.”
“Yes, the Dealer has his own agenda. He would not be the Dealer if he did not. But he will prove valuable if he joins us on the hunt. And should he do something unwise? Well, I will deal with him on my own. Now, if you are sure you will not dine with me, I will bid you a good evening my friend. You have done well, as you always do.”
Khan walked forward and took hold of Ruiz’s hand. He kissed it gently, in respect and service, before stepping back. He turned and left Ruiz to ponder his own thoughts.
The leader smiled to himself. Things were going to plan, although he had not told Khan about the map nor had he mentioned his conversation with the Dealer. He had kept that secret. The dealer was clear about this. No one should know about the map. If he wanted the power, Ruiz had to ensure that no one knew. The Dealer was focused about his plans, and was vocal about where Ruiz would fit in the scheme of things. They would find the prize and share the power.
But Ruiz was in no mood to share. If Ruiz wanted to lead the Trust Council, possibly even eliminate the Sovereign, he needed the treasure for himself. To Hell with the Sovereign and his foolish Council he thought to himself. The map was for him and for him only. He would follow the map and then, with prize in hand, take the Dealer’s life. The treasure would be his and his alone.
“elf-fairies” he said out aloud, shaking his head. It was indeed a marvellous world with new and wonderful delights. Those little, innocent elf-fairies; he would take great pleasure in drinking their blood; great pleasure in taking their freedom; great pleasure in destroying their very civilisation. Evil has never felt so good he thought to himself. And never felt as right as it does now. The leader chuckled to himself. “Life is good,” he said to no one. “But death is so much better.”
