The Hunted (10 page)

“Thank you.” It was a weak statement but all I could think of. Marie was my last connection to my lost love and it would destroy me if Set took her as well.

“I’ll be fine now, Silver, trust me. Drake has strengthened me and the feed has helped. You need to drink too. I didn’t know Set could be...
is
such an evil abomination. He has many fooled many into thinking he is the only way the vampires can survive. His greed and lust for power will destroy us all. There is nothing more dangerous than a crazed Ancient vampire.”

Drake had yet to rest so I forced him to lie down while Marie and I cleaned ourselves up as best we could with limited supplies. I managed to drain two bags of blood before I abated my thirst. My heart sank at the thought of Set forcing my beloved Clan to follow him or be tortured.

I had to go back and face him. Somehow, I needed to contact the remaining Ancients and ask for their help.

“Akita!” I said aloud. “Why didn’t I think of this before?”

“Ancient Queen Akita was the one who made you her first blood? She made you Queen?” Marie asked.

I nodded in acknowledgment. Queen Akita had gone to rest as many Ancients do once they give up their reign. She made me who and what I was. She believed in me and loved me more than any other I had ever known. I had not recently sought her out but with Marie’s help, perhaps she would hear me. We had to try.

“Are you up for a challenge Marie?” I asked.

The young fledgling rubbed her arms and slowly walked toward me with her arms outstretched. “Take my hands, Silver. I know what you want to do. Let’s try.”

We stood together, joined hand to hand almost as lovers but with much more purpose. I closed my eyes as I sought out to join the mind of the Ancient Queen Akita. Marie’s breathing changed from smooth to rapid and shallow as she concentrated on the task at hand. Very slowly, an image began to form. It was seemingly only a shadow within a fine mist but I could feel that both Marie and I were touching the same consciousness.

I felt a more solid presence emerging in my mind. It was beloved Queen Akita and the scent of her enveloped me like an embrace. The Ancient Queen’s voice was thin sounding, almost frail.

I am here my love. I know what it is you seek but I am uncertain as to whether I can help you. Set is very powerful and very old. His mind is not whole and he has no moral code. Even for a vampire he is particularly brutal. I know you are empty with Andrew gone and the Clan is losing itself. You are right to return to your people. Trust your instincts and use Set’s weakness against him. You have more support within the Clan than you realize, my love. I am tired and must continue my rest. You are never far from my heart. Trust yourself and those with you now. I love you now and always.

With that, she was gone. Marie and I stood close and were clenching onto one another’s hands. My heart and mind were empty and a desperate loneliness overtook me.

“Don’t be sad, Silver,” Marie said softy as she reached up with one tiny hand and stroked my cheek. “I don’t think I have ever felt such love between women before; such a bond.”

“Love is love no matter whose heart it fills, Marie. Now what do I do?”

Marie looked thoughtfully at me and smiled. A brilliant smile that gave me a glimmer of hope in the darkness of all my doubts. “Do what she asked of you. You were Queen for hundreds of years for a reason, Silver. Take back your power and own it. It will be the last thing that Set will ever expect.”

“She is right you know.” Drake interrupted in a sleepy voice. “He will send scouts out to search for us, not expecting us to return to him. Marie and I can shield your mind, Silver. We can help you do this. I feel partially responsible so I want to help, if you will accept my help that is.”

A sudden sense of calm and purpose washed over me. I knew what I needed to do and if I had to die to put all these wrongs right, then so be it.

“Alright then,” I said brightly. “Let’s do this and of course I accept your help, Drake. We all need each other’s talents right now. I did not reign over the Vampire Clans for well over two hundred years for nothing. I did learn a thing or two in that time and I did personally design that compound.”

Drake jumped to his feet and rushed to my side, lifting me off my feet in a strong embrace. He placed me back on the floor softly, smiled at me, and then turned to Marie. “Shall we do this? We have to get our Queen back to her rightful place and rid the world of the pestilence Set has placed upon it. He must not survive. I will be glad once I can toss his bones into the flames of hell and scatter his ashes to the wind!”

Chapter Thirteen

I should have realized the travel back was easy, too easy in fact. The three of us came upon the compound like bandits in the night. The entire trip was uneventful and we specifically went above ground to face whomever Set sent to try and block our way.

Neither Drake nor Marie gave any indication as to what hid in the dense trees ahead of us. Perhaps because they were so focused on Set himself that they failed to detect a band of his minions hiding in the dark for us.

In a blink of an eye, a dozen fledgling vampires strode toward us, coming out of every corner and shadow with dazzling speed.

“Shit!” I exclaimed, barely having time to jump out of the way of clenched hands and gnashing fangs. Drake exploded like a vampire possessed. He knocked more than one fledgling to the ground with a swift punch to the back of the head. Any that dared get closer to him, he rewarded by tearing open their throats and ripping out their hearts with a flick of his blade.

I drew back my dagger and drove it deep and sure into the chests of several young vampires. The ones that remained were like demons possessed, never retreating. One got close enough to hiss, “Bitch” into my ear as he tried to clamp his fangs into my neck. Marie jumped onto his back and ripped his jugular vein clean from his throat with one hand.

A particularly large vampire male came charging at Drake, lunging high into the air above him with hopes to land on and overpower him long enough to rip the lifeblood from him. Drake had other plans as his blade swung through the air, removing the vampire’s head clean from his neck before his feet hit the ground.

Finally, every one of the fledglings lay broken and bleeding in a heap in the ground. None remained alive and to make certain of that fact, we cut the remaining heads of each one cleanly off their bodies.

“Was that it?” I panted. “Set could not have assumed these alone would kill us?”

“If he did, he is certainly insane,” Marie replied as she tried in vain to wipe the blood from her hands and face with a corner of her torn, stained, white dress.

“Silver, think about it,” Drake said firmly. “This was just a distraction. Something is going on in the compound and we need to hurry to get to the root of it. These are dead. We can burn them later.”

We had wasted precious minutes fighting these unfortunate souls while Set was taking control of the Clans. I had to gather up the warrior maiden within and face this monster before any more vampire or human blood spilled.

Cautiously, we approached the compound, emerging from the darkness like dark angels ready for the fight. As I walked inside, I strained to hear any sound or movement.

Silence.

“Courtyard,” I whispered. “I think they may be in the courtyard.”

Drake raised one eyebrow and looked at me. “How do you know?”

“I don’t, not for sure,” I relied quietly. “It’s just a feeling I have. My gut is burning with it.”

My warrior has returned.
It was simple statement meant only for me and I smiled as Queen Akita’s voice rang in my ear.
Your confidence is restored my love.

Marie rushed to the back exit, ready for a fight.

“Wait,” I said. “We have the element of surprise. If I am to reclaim my throne, I must do it as a Queen would. I want to end this as quickly as you do Marie. Vengeance will be mine, but on my terms and not Set’s.”

I led both Drake and Marie to what was formally my bedchamber. Everything was just as I left it. I opened the large closet to see all my gowns and ceremonial dresses hanging as I had left them.

I had always hated relying on appearances but tonight I needed to appear as strong and in control as I had ever been.

I told Marie to take her pick of clean clothing. Drake seemed content to just wash his hands and face. Any blood apparent on his dark clothing had long since dried and was not readily visible. As for myself, I washed quickly and dressed in red leather from head to toe. From bustier to boots, I was clad in blood red. With my silver hair in a smooth braid down my back, I was as regal and as ominous looking as I was going to get. I could only hope my heart would be as confident as I looked on the outside.

“Wow, look at you! Welcome back, Queen Silver.” Drake whistled and grinned broadly.

“Dressed to impress,” Marie said. “You will be hard to miss.”

“That’s the intention, Marie. Whoever remains loyal to the Clans has to know I am back and ready to take control from Set. I can’t allow this monster to do anymore damage. The only option is to kill him. Besides that, I need to ensure that Andrew’s death was not for naught.”

A small smile resurfaced on my lips as I thought of how valiantly Andrew had died. I missed him and would not let him down.

I turned and looked at both Marie and Drake. “You have both been through a lot,” I said quietly. “I don’t expect either of you to go any further. This is my fight now.”

“Like hell,” Drake replied emphatically. “We are all part of the Clans now and it is our duty to stand by our Queen. I have a lot to do penance for. I know Marie feels the same. We will fight by your side tonight and as long as we draw breath.”

“Thank you,” I said. “No sense in delaying any longer.”

We moved quickly and silently back up to the main floor and headed toward the courtyard at the back of the compound. The closer we got, the more feelings of terror flooded through me, but it was not my own fear I was feeling.

“Silver,” Marie whispered. “Set knows we are here.”

I nodded and glanced upward to see Drake wink at me before we made the last few steps to the large terrace that allowed a full view of the courtyard below. To my amazement, below me stood rows and rows of humans in various states of undress. Fledglings were feeding from them, allowed to bond. It was a mass of undulating bodies but there was no sound, no cries of outrage or fear. It was as if they were all deaf and dumb to what was occurring around them.

I was horrified! I had been hearing this unconscious noise deep within me for some time. So far, they were ignoring our presence and I had not physically seen Set. All three of us were on edge, tense and ready for the inevitable fight.

A quick movement from just beyond my line of sight caught my attention. Show yourself you coward, I thought.

“It’s not him,” Drake said. “I noticed it too but it’s not Set. It’s a female vampire. Perhaps a rogue or a scout?”

After an indeterminable period of watching the scene below, I could not see or feel any other presence. I needed to make my own presence known.

“Where is the great leader? Where is Set hiding? Has he left you all to fend for yourselves?” I shouted in a loud and strong voice.

It was an odd sight to see vampire and human alike stop, turn as one body, and stare up at me from below.

“What is wrong with them?” Marie whispered.

It was as I suspected. Set was controlling them, just as a Queen Bee did with her hive. They no longer were capable of individual thought; no will of their own. The situation was incredibly dangerous.

Drake stood behind me. His large frame was a comfort to me as I decided how to play this out. He surveyed the area and placed a hand on my shoulder. “Movement again over to the left,” he said. “Shall I investigate further?”

“Nice to see you again.”

I jumped back into Drake’s chest as Set appeared out of thin air and landed directly in front of me. A low, menacing growl emanated from my throat as I drew my dagger and bared my fangs.

I held my left arm out to stop Marie from charging on the Ancient vampire. So far, he had yet to make any move toward us other than to surprise us with his presence.

The grin that spread from ear to ear proved to me that Set thought all of this was a joke, an amusement to him. He truly did not believe anyone could harm him.

“So you have decided to join me? Rule by my side? How wonderful!” Set spread his arms wide and jumped to the banister, balancing precariously on its edge. Contrary to popular belief, vampires could leap vast distances but none of us has yet learned to fly.

“Do you see, my loves?” He was speaking to the minions below. All of whom had gathered together with their arms raised in the air in some grand, grotesque salute. “I told you that together we will take over the world and become the most powerful Clan to rule the world since the doomed Toltecs.”

“You really don’t get it do you, Set?” I asked. I was clenching my dagger so tightly in my fist that my nails had begun to draw blood, which flowed in rivulets down my wrist to my forearm. “You are dooming all these to the same fate. Stop this now before you destroy every one of us. By joining all human and vampires together into one master race, there will soon be no food, no blood; and as you well know, we cannot feed on one another for long before we extinguish ourselves. You all must see that.” I shouted down to the crowd.