“Ah,” Michael replied as his eyes wandered over the living room they were standing in. The room was homey. Hand painted landscapes hung on the walls and small potted candles gave off a scent of freshly baked apple pie. The blue-checkered furniture, although well used, made the room appear comfortable and inviting.
“Don’t take that as weakness. I’m not apologizing. In my opinion, keeping those things about us that are innately human is essential. We are only monsters if we choose that path.” Big Jon brought his arms out in a gesture that encompassed the room. “We are all of like mind here. I, and my band of misfits, live by a higher set of values than most of our persuasion.”
Jon took a seat in a large over-stuffed chair, motioning for Michael to do the same.
“So I’ve been told. That is why I am here.” Michael said as he sat on the sofa.
Big Jon leaned forward, placing his elbows on his knees. “You’ve been told? By whom exactly? We do not accept travelers here readily.”
“Would you believe my friend William, who has recently met your wife?”
Jon was all ears then. His wife had been dead for two hundred years. “I think you’d better explain yourself.”
Michael breathed in deeply and began to explain from the beginning, how he’d acquired the information.
Big Jon listened patiently, never interrupting to ask questions or to comment. When Michael finished, he sat brooding over what he’d heard. After a few moments, he smiled and let out a bellowing laugh. “I’ve always felt her. Strange isn’t it? Somehow, I’ve always felt she was near. And the children too you say?”
Michael nodded.
“Remarkable.” Big Jon paused as if considering what he would say next. He looked around the room searching the faces of the few in his clan that were gathered and then began to tell a tale of his own.
Not one in this clan of vampires had been turned by anyone among them. They were all nomads, never staying with any other clan for very long until they had met up with each other. The nest had heard rumors of Michael’s tale already, and had made their own plans to fight. For them, the trouble had been how to get information to the Council to let them know that they were available and willing.
“I have information for you as well. Although the renegades do not hold the Fortress proper, the lands surrounding it are inaccessible. I dispatched five of my best fighters to aid the Council. Only one of them returned, and he was barely alive when he arrived. One hundred miles from the fortress, they ran into a roving nest of vampires. They were questioned and set free, only to be ambushed two hours later by a pack of the Unnamed. It was a slaughter.”
Michael kept his expression stoic, refusing to show the anger and fear resonating throughout him. His fingers tapped nervously on the arm of the couch.
Coming against the Unnamed was difficult for even a thoroughly trained elder vampire. Those numbers? Impossible. He was lucky to have gotten away.
“He had no idea of the pack’s size, Michael. Only that in the midst of the battle, they were everywhere.” Jon stood up, walked to the large picture window, and stared into the night. “Each of us are in grave danger. They are not exclusively in opposition to you. Anyone that refuses to stand with them is against them. Any against them, die.”
“Unfortunately for them, we are not all of the same mind.” Michael’s mouth slipped into a sneer.
Jon read the look of challenge on his face and once again let out a bellowing laugh. “That we are not, my friend. We could do some damage before it’s all over.”
“We could do more than that with some help.” Michael smiled.
For two days, they talked and planned until they had finally come to an agreement. Michael would bring the girls to stay here with this coven, and the three of them would train the others to fight.
Michael returned to the coven with Liz and Angie that evening. It was strange for the girls in the beginning because most of the nest were men, and older. Not in vampire years, just older in permanent ages. Both girls had a hard time finding their niche and fitting in at first. But as the days moved on and training began, the other vampires developed a special respect for the girls and their fighting skills. Michael was an excellent teacher and soon every last one of them was deadly.
Vampires have always been particularly vicious fighters. But being a vampire assassin required expertise that overrode base anger and strength. Pure instinct would not suffice. A high level of perception and continuous awareness of one’s surroundings, as well as weapons mastery, were needed. These things are rather difficult to teach, especially to thirsty vampires. Jonathon’s control over his clan kept everyone in line and learning. They were almost ready to take on the renegades when William came back from the fortress with a message.
Michael and Big Jon were meeting with the leaders of several nests that they had happened upon when William appeared before them. Even for a ghost, his face looked pale and drawn. “What’s wrong?” Michael demanded.
“I don’t know how to tell you this. It’s not good. It’s not good at all.” William replied.
“Speak up man. We don’t have all night.” Big Jon interjected.
Angie burst through the closed door yelling, “William, what’s going on? Something is wrong I can feel it!”
William looked briefly at the floor before meeting her eyes. “The fortress is overrun. The Council has fled and the Eldest's body has been taken away.”
“Where is my Mother?” Angie asked softly.
“And my Father, what of him?” Michael questioned.
William’s somber face answered their questions before he could speak. Angie dropped to the floor and let out a piercing wail. William knelt down and placed his hand over her head as if to touch her. “They are not dead,” he said as he raised his eyes to Michael’s. “They are missing. No one seems to know their location.”
“The other spirits at the fortress have no information?” Big Jon asked.
William looked away as shame covered his face. “They will not help. They want no part of this.”
Michael looked grim. His words held venom as he spoke. “Then there is no friend left at the fortress.” He turned to the group of leaders that now stood around the table. “It is up to us now. We fight or we die.”
Tiberius, the oldest of those gathered, and leader of one of the larger clans, remained in his seat. Turned in the prime of his life, he retained the appearance of a man in his mid thirties. Dirty blond hair framed dark unblinking eyes ablaze with alarm. His baritone voice resounded with wisdom as he spoke. “How can this be? The fortress is impenetrable. It would be impossible for renegades to reach the chambers of the Eldest.”
“Impossible from the outside, Tiberius, but not from within.” Michael answered as Liz sped through the doorway. She hastily moved to where Angie sat in a catatonic state and pulled her up from the floor. Liz intruded into Michael’s chaotic thoughts for a moment before leaving. “What can I do?”
“Take care of her. This will be a long night.”
“Do you--”
Michael cut her off. “Not now, darling. I am fine. Take care of Angie and inform those outside.”
As she left the room, she heard him say, “Is this enough? Must the renegades arrive at the doors of your nests for you to take action?”
The vampire leaders remained silent as Michael’s enraged gaze momentarily rested on each of them. His fist slammed onto the table top with a deafening blow, rending it in half. “There will be blood to pay for this night’s deed. If you are against me then take your leave, but know those of you that leave will die if we ever cross swords.”
Chapter Eight
All Dressed Up and No Place to Go
Completely deflated, Michael had no idea what to do without any leadership in place at the fortress. The clan leaders spent hours huddled in private, trying to develop a strategy to bring down the renegades. Liz kept the others occupied with training. All these weeks of practicing and prepar
ing, and the war was over before they’d even had a chance to fight.
Sitting alone by the fire, the rhythmic clangs and thwacks from those training lulled Liz into a meditative state. She felt the loss of Michael as if he had left the enclave. An unexpected pressure on her shoulder caused her to jump.
“Sorry, didn't mean to startle you.” William said.
“Is it my turn to take over?”
“No, I'm just bored. They're all doing quite well. Except that new guy, he's horrible.” William laughed as he plopped down beside her.
“Hmmm.” Liz watched the flames, engrossed in her own thoughts.
“So did you know that last night Angie and Marion got into a huge fight?” His eyes twinkled with mirth.
Liz answered, “Uh huh,” remaining transfixed on the fire.
Shaking his head and smiling, he continued. “Yeah it was over me. Marion tried to have her way with me last night and Angie came to my rescue.”
“Hmmm.”
He shoved hard pushing Liz off the log. “You're not even listening to me!” he laughed.
Stunned and blinking, Liz stared at him. “Hey!”
William cocked an eyebrow, turned his head to the side, and smiled. “Did you even hear what I said?”
“I'm sorry. What were you telling me? Wait a minute, how did you do that?”
William laughed. “Depending on the mass of the object, I can move things. You don't have much mass.”
Liz turned, leaned against the log, and continued watching the fire. “What were you telling me?”
“It's not important I just wanted to see if you were listening. You are nearly in the same condition as Angie.”
She picked up a small pebble and tossed it into the fire. “Athena was everything to her. It's not unexpected she would react this way.”
“Oh I know why she's acting this way, question is why are you?”
Liz sighed and found another pebble to skip into the fire. “It's complicated.”
“No it isn't.”
Shaking her head, Liz turned to look at him. “What do you want, Will?”
“I want us to win this battle.”
“Well apparently you're a little late in the wanting.”
William shook his head and smiled. “If there's one thing I've learned, it's that it is never too late to do anything. Or did you forget who you're talking to? Now what's on your mind?”
“Me? Nothing.”
“Uh huh, and General Lee was my Daddy.”
“Really it's nothing. I'm just feeling sorry for myself.” She sighed again and met his eyes. “Okay, it's everything. There. Feel better now?”
Leaning forward, he rested his elbows on his knees and waited.
Looking at him now, it was hard to believe he wasn't alive. He looked like an average man sitting there. “I never see Michael. I have no idea what to do for Angie. I'm having to train all the others, most of whom don't even like me. I have no clue who I am anymore, and like that's not enough, I miss my family and home.”
“Liz, everyone misses their family. Most of those around here hasn't seen hide nor hair of a family member in a hundred years or better. And Angie will work herself through this. She just needs some time.” He slid down to sit beside her and continued. “I wish you could see what I see when I look at you. Your aura is different from any I've ever seen, especially vampires. Have you bothered to tell Michael any of this?”
Shaking her head, she relaxed against the log once again. “I hear him all the time now, but he can't hear me unless I want him too.”
“And you're not sharing your thoughts for what reason exactly?”
“He's got enough to handle. He doesn't need my whining. Besides, it would just upset him.”
“All right, Lizzy, pick yourself up and dust off. These are your people now, and they need you.”
“Yeah, Lizzy Borden.” She scoffed.
“No, Busy Lizzy. Too busy to be feeling all sad and mopey. Now put a smile on your face and get to it.”
Exhaling roughly, the uncertainty left her eyes and was replaced with determination. “You're right. I'm being a baby.” Standing, she flashed him a smile and headed off toward the training vampires.
“Go get ‘em, girl.” William called after her as he began to dematerialize.
***
“We have to feed the masses. The thirst is making everyone irrational.” Big Jon said.
“I know, but I don't know what to do about it. This area is simply not large enough to sustain us.” Michael replied.
Both men surveyed a new group of trainees. Every so often, one would give in to the thirst and begin fighting like a maniac. They had already stopped the class several times to allow heads to cool. “Hey! Keep hold of your minds.” Michael yelled at two fighters who were getting carried away.
“It's going to be like this until we resolve this situation.” Big Jon said moving into to quell the squabble. Sliding his sword out of its sheath, he brought it over his head and slammed it down hard against the two wooden swords locked in combat. The wood splintered, leaving the fighters holding nothing but handles. “What part of keep your heads did you not understand?”
Panting, both stared at him.
“Take a break. Hunt in the woods and get back here and get to work.”
The smaller of the two spat, “Hunt for what? Squirrels and rabbits? How do expect us to survive on that?”
“I expect you to do what you're told or leave.” He ordered.
Movement in his peripheral vision caught Michael’s attention. Liz waved, making her way to the house with two rabbits in her hands. Smiling, he motioned for her to join him. “Have a nice hunt?”
“I guess.” Then raising the rabbits said, “For Angie. She won't go herself.”
He slipped one arm around her waist pulling her to him. After gently kissing her, he said, “She's lucky to have you. I wish she'd get over this pouting spell and kick it in gear.”
Liz pushed away. “You're too hard on her. She's just a kid.”
“A three hundred year old kid?”
“It is not her fault her mind is stuck in teenage mode. Athena should have thought about that before changing her.”
Stepping back, he crossed his arms. “Teenagers back then were considered adults. Athena babies the girl too much.”
Rabbits wriggling in her hands, averted her attention for a moment. “How can you say that? Half the time you act like you don't even like her.”
“Well, that's just ridiculous. She's like a younger sister to me.”
She exhaled with a “Humphf” and turned to leave.
Big Jon returned shaking his head. “Evening, Liz.”
“Hi, Jon. What's up?”
Glancing at her hands he said, “You should get those conies inside before one of the trainee’s see them.”
Michael’s eyes became vacant as several voices entered his mind at once.
“You better get out here.”
“There's a fire and women, human women.”
“No, not humans, witches!”
“Michael, what do you want us to do?”
Meeting Jon's surprised gaze, he answered, “Where are they, and how many?”
Micah, big Jon’s lieutenant, replied, “A whole coven. Thirteen! They are in the clearing, south of the house. Are you coming?”
“And because things aren't tough enough around here--” Big Jon said.
“Come on. We might as well get this over with.” He answered and they headed toward the clearing.
Liz grabbed Michael's arm. “What's going on?”
“Witches have arrived. Going to check it out now.”
“Witches? Are you kidding?”
“I wish. It'll be all right, I'll be back in a few.”
“I'm coming with you!”
“No, you're not. Stay put. I'll be right back.” He said as he trotted off toward the trees. “Get in the house, I'll keep you informed.”
“You'll do more than that. I'm watching with you.” She answered.
All were amazed that witches would knowingly come this close to a large nest of vampires. Mortal enemies, most vampires feared witches, and all witches hated vampires. A real witch, not those make believe want-to-be witches, but real witches with real powers could stop a vampire in its tracks with the right spell. Certain spells would control them and they are the only beings on the planet who could do that. A vampire cannot glamour a witch. Nor could they digest a witch’s blood. It is poison to them. Thirteen witches outside a nest was true cause for alarm.
Sneaking up to the outskirts of the fire, but still encased in darkness, Michael had a bird’s eye view. Big Jon and several of the others waited farther back ready to join him if needed. The women chanted as they danced around the roaring fire. Small spell bags hung from trees enclosing the clearing. In unison, they stopped and turned to face him.
“You may enter,” said an old woman who appeared to be the leader. Scrawny with a protruding, crooked nose, loose grey hair swung about her as she undulated in strange rhythmic movements. Her leathered skin added an unnecessary touch of authenticity. She was the epitome of storybook witches. Her eyes had a fearsome crazed look about them.
Michael hesitated before stepping into the firelight.
“We have been waiting for hours young man. Don’t you know that it is rude to keep an old woman waiting that long? Don’t stand there lollygagging! Get in here and sit down, we have important business to discuss. Tell your friends in the forest that three more may enter; the rest are to leave. Oh, and I want the girl here. Now.” The old woman motioned to the surrounding woods as she barked out orders.
Michael turned and toward the trees and nodded. Immediately, Big Jon and Micah stepped into the light as well.
“To which girl are you referring?” Michael asked innocently.
“Don’t play stupid with me, boy,” the old witch snarled. “Send someone for the girl now.”
The other witches gathered behind her. Each faced a different direction and scanned the forest as if waiting for an attack. Although they had initiated this meeting, they seemed uneasy and watchful. As Michael was about to claim ignorance of who she could possibly be referring to, Liz entered the clearing.