Loud and Clear

[Dragging the stone slowly down the length of my blade, my lip curls into a sneer listening to the lessers squabbling behind me.] Can you two not shut yer traps? Ye’ whine like females. It’ll be your end. You and the rest of your forsaken kind. [The stench of them still burned my nostrils, there was no getting used to the foul odor of powder and decay, no matter how long I’d been entrenched in their camp. I chuffed a laugh at that. Their ‘camp’ was naught but a rotting cabin in the last bit of forest left in this new world. The Great Camp had spanned acres, was filled with the raucous shouting of my men, fighting and fucking indistinguishable in the flickering light of a dozen fires, the air scented with sweat-soaked leather and roasting meat. That was a place from where I could lead a battle. Not this vermin-infested crate. “You think you can do better, vampire? How come there’s so many of us and so few of you?” The lesser spat the question at me and I paused the stone in my hand to take to my feet, crossing the room in two short strides to stand toe to toe with the abomination and raising my dagger, the tip of the blade pressed to the lesser’s still chest] There are more of you because I do not have my brothers at my back. [digging the blade’s tip into his chest, lip tugging up seeing the bloom of black blood spreading on his shirt.]  But, once this business of my young is done, I’ll be remedying that. We’ll be coming for ye’. And these numbers that yer so proud of will be naught but a story our females will tell the young to get them to quiet for bed. So what say you we make haste in the task so you and I can settle this discussion with fewer words, eh? [His teeth bared in a grimace, hatred pooling in his eyes as he took a step back, brushing the sting of my dagger from his chest as if brushing away a spider web. “Let’s do that, you fanged, fuck. But, remember who brought you back. I doubt the boss will take too kindly to you biting the hand that fed you. Learn your place, vampire. You’re a prop. A Trojan horse. You’re job is to take out the pair of WMDs you spawned and then you’re getting dropped right back in the hot box where you should have been from the time you hit the fucking floor. Some master race. Taken out by your own daughter. I hope your new balls drop before you catch up with them. As much as I want to annihilate the brotherhood, watching your own kids cap you again would just be too sweet to miss.” Turning back to the other, who stood watching, bristling, my eyes dropping in a split-second glance to where his fingers itched at the handle of his weapon.] Draw it, ye sorry fuck. Draw it and we’ll cull some of yer herd right now. [“All in time, vampire. When you do what you were brought here to do.” He strode away, the stiffening of his shoulders saying it was more retreat than dismissal.] All in time, indeed. And sooner than you’d like, I think. [A low growl built in my throat. The pallid vermin was right. This was taking far too long and my patience was wearing thin. My messages were being lost in a cavalcade of bodies on the Caldwell streets that I had naught to do with. These humans murdered their own in droves. So preoccupied with carving out their own piece of this festering cesspool that they stood oblivious at the power that was there for the taking with the right strategy. That would be of use to me. When my blade had sent my young back to their bitch mahmen, I’d begin anew. There’d been signs. My men were here. The tracks they left were nearly imperceptible but unmistakable. It pleased me to see the bastards had gone forth with what the training at my camp had provided, teeth cut in my raiding parties in the Old Country now being used to gnaw away at the crumbling hierarchy the Blind King sought to solidify. Sightless fool. Politics wasn’t the way of the warrior and it wasn’t so very long ago my dagger knew the taste of gentlemale blood. Caldwell was ripe for the picking. Pivoting on my heel, heavy boots creaking the splintered floorboards beneath them, I slammed through the flimsy door, warping its hinges and scattered myself to the wind, in the direction of the city lights, coming to form in the alley I’d been favoring behind the row of brothels-posed-as-pubs that lined Trade Street. Eyes keenly scanning for tonight’s sacrificial lamb, a grin pulled at my lips finding the female drunkenly trying to rake the chocolate tresses from her face as she poured herself out of a doorway brimming with barely clad patrons. Jerking my jacket into place to hide the scabbard at my hip, I sauntered up and caught her arm as she tripped on her own feet and nearly hit the pavement. She blinked up in surprise, a sultry smile curving her mouth when she saw his face. ] Allow me to help you home. Someone so beautiful ought not walk these streets alone at night. [She nodded and leaned into him, the scent of her blooming and flavored with liquor flaring his nostrils even as his hand crept to the dagger at his side and guided her into the alley. He’d be sure that Vishous got the message this time. He and his murdering sister.]

Ghosts of the Past

Bloodletter:

That ‘un was a screamer, aye? [Sick humor twisted my lips into a sneer that would have sent the whelps at camp scurrying back to hide ‘neath their mahmens’ skirts. I paused over the sink to study my new reflection in the grime-smeared mirror, the water from the tap running crimson as I held my hands beneath. I’d not yet grown accustomed to the face staring back at me, though the eyes were still mine own.  I’d not bother with such trivialities but the constant searching eyes of the human population made it necessary to blend in as much as possible, lest my ‘messages’ be found ‘fore my quarry could receive them. “He wasn’t the only one…” I’d heard the Forelesser mumble though he stood well away from me, unable to yet stomach being close. Just as well, were he near me now, I’d have garroted him with his own entrails for his words. Eyes narrowing to pin him with a withering stare, I stalked across the room, smirking as he backed away until he flattened against the wall, his powdery stench stinging my nostrils. I towered over him, the not-so-subtle jab at the payment the Omega had taken out of this body forcing a shudder from me, nightmarish flashes of the rutting I’d endured raising bile into my throat. Swallowing back, I bared lethal canines at the pale abomination ‘fore me.] Perhaps ye’d have the stones to repeat yerself, ye’ rank bastard. [Pulling my dagger from its scabbard, I bring it under the Forelesser’s chin, digging into his flesh and tilting his dead eyes to mine.] I thought not. Let’s be clear here, ye’ dribble of horse piss. Ye’ may grab yer ankles for yer master as often as ye’d like but, until he returns, yer mine to command and make no mistake, I’ll bury my blade in yer empty heart in a second and not skip a step in my mission. Now, has the last been found? [He nodded, a small twitch of the head in acknowledgement as he cleared his throat and pushed the blade away with a disgusted look. “It has. Caldwell PD showed up before the body even cooled. Though I don’t understand the point of castrating him.” I grinned evilly at that, the cries of the male had warmed my heart as I’d used the pliers to tear away the delicate tissue ‘tween his legs and watching him bleed out onto the oil-slicked asphalt. The body count had risen, the slaughter of the human females unfortunate enough to bare semblance to my offspring’s beloved shellan now joined by the tattered remains of civilian males caught too easily while passing nights in the human taverns that lined Trade.] Tis’ the same favor I granted Vishous on his transformation. More than that, ye don’t need to understand, lesser. Ye’ need to do as yer told and wait. @JodisVishous will see it and he will come calling. [Satisfied with the way he slumped as I stepped back, I turned and plodded back to the window, staring through the splintered glass pane into the night. Vishous would soon start following the trail of carcasses to me and if he was as intelligent as rumors bade me believe, he’d come alone, without the Brotherhood at his flanks. When he found me, it would be on my terms and I would have my vengeance. Grinning to myself at the things I would do while my young cried out to his cursed mother, I slid my dagger back into place and spoke low, keenly watching the shadows dance in the streetlights below.] I’m comin’ fer ye’, Vishous. You and yours. And this time, I’ll not be stopped. 

Vishous:

The giggles and soft babbles of my young, Sahv, echoed through the tunnels of the mansion as four of us made our way back to the Pit to enjoy the last hours of the day with our mates. A cheerful Sahv smacked my cheek to get my attention with his tiny growls, “dadda’s” , and “mama’s” which earned him winning smiles at First Meal with the rest of the brotherhood and our family. Keeping my hand on the bouncy young I chuckled and softly set him on his feet, helping him walk the last few feet to the door of the Pit. After the gruesome find a few days ago in patrol with the cop I had finally started to relax, the Old Language symbol carved into the female’s skin was beyond weird but as far as I knew it could’ve been a slashing by a disturbed stalker, and, as shitty as it may sound, that was no more my jurisdiction than vampires were to Caldwell’s finest. Chaotic chatter filled the air until we passed security to settle into the living room of our place, the cop instantly parking his ass on the couch with Sahv hot on his heels to get some sorely needed uncle time, Jodi following after him to make sure nothing happened, I couldn’t help but grin. This was what I had been missing when I was tied up in hell, pun intended. Marissa joined the cop on the couch and I settled on the loveseat. Scratching my goatee, I contented myself with watching the scene before me until my female shoved today’s newspaper in my face to avoid having our boy eat it. Chuckling, I straightened the paper earning the evil eye of my female who was trying to hide her smile. Quite badly, if I may say so myself. My eyes fell on today’s headline and the humor drained from my features going unnoticed by everyone else still watching Sahv’s antics. Sitting up straight, I reread the headline one more time before I got into details. Clearing my throat, I looked around and masked the worry that had flared to life with this little revelation. Fuck. Me. Running. Excusing myself from the small gathering, I headed to my office, waving off the concerned stares from both my partner and my female. I didn’t have anything but a bad feeling that made my skin crawl and I wouldn’t worry them with gut instinct, no… this was just a very bad coincidence and there was no need to put them on alert. Especially not my very pregnant shellan. She’d been through enough and I was not risking her or the young she carried. Taking a deep breath I shoved the newspaper to one side of my desk as I parked my ass on the chair in front of my Four Toys. Firing the tower of circuits to life, I keyed my way through the back door I’d created in CPD’s security wall with a self-satisfied smile. They’re encryption was laughable, I should just set up my own password. The amusement was short lived and I sobered as the files popped open on the screen. This wasn’t good. In fact, this was Orwellian double-fucking-plus ungood. “STRANGE SERIES OF DEATHS CONTINUE…. The police have yet to release an official statement regarding the strange mass murders of victims of both sexes in the Caldwell area... The body count has risen in the Trade Street killings… With no visible correlation between the victims save the symbol cut into the bodies, the police are no closer to finding the perpetrator of these heinous crimes…” Reaching for one of my blunts, I lit it up and continue to study the uncut reports from the Caldwell police. Apparently, the cops have had a very busy past couple of weeks, this latest.. a prostitute I was sorry to say had serviced me in the past, had been number four in a rash of deaths that left the Caldy PD scratching their heads and locking their doors. Pictures of the corpses, their faces contorted in shock and horror, splashed over the files, their bodies dumped like garbage in the back alleys of the Caldwell bar district. Holding the blunt between my fingers, I went over the details of the first three murders, given that the first one I had a up-close-and-personal with the last victim, I wanted to familiarize myself with the others. Investigators had come to the conclusion that the victims had been used in a sort of ritual, given that all the bodies had been drained dry and used as a canvas, assuming that the mark cut into their graying flesh was the killer’s signature. Wrong, assholes. Blowing out a cloud of smoke, I studied each and every picture taken from each crime scene. Examining autopsy photos and the scant evidence the killer had left behind, It was clear as fucking day what the women had in common… I saw it every night when I woke up. All brunettes, dark eyed and fair-skinned, curvy and in their late twenties or early thirties. A sick feeling set in the pit stomach. Every one of them, so like my shellan and every one marred with a ‘V’. No other identifying factors, clothes ripped to shreds, and with rough gashes on the side of their necks. Fuck. This had all the earmarks of a civilian going around town with a taste of brunettes and yet, something nagged at me. We’d found lessers dumping that body, not a vamp. Or, perhaps we’d been wrong? Had they found a vampire feeding and hauled ass before they could take him out?? If so, how was he calm enough to dematerialize without me or Butch noticing? Had the lessers gotten rid of him before we caught up to them? For all we knew there could’ve been more around the area when we got those two fuckers a couple of blocks over. I pinched the bridge of my nose, head aching with the possibilities sparked by what was displayed on the screens. Something wasn’t fitting. The lessening Society was all over this and that settled it firmly in the “Shit WE have to deal with” side of the ledger. Fantastic, true. The family of those poor females would never get closure if this was passed on to our side of the law. Shaking my head, I flipped on through the files to find the other murders the article had been talking about, coming into a few dead ends with other minor crimes before I hit the big one. The slasher was apparently a believer in equal opportunity, males had been dropping like flies on this end too. Digging a little more, the details had my blood running cold in my veins, the shock enough to make me crush the bud of my blunt on the ashtray when my mouth went absolutely dry. Detectives had not seen any relation between these murders and those of the women, because although they held no similarities other than their timeframes being enough for the murderer to commit both. However, the men had been castrated and had their thighs savaged with sliced designs, probably while the victims had been alive.- Fuck. Me –hoarse words falling from my lips, I rubbed my knuckles against the inside thigh of my leathers. Way too close for comfort. As my female liked to say, shit just got real. I was reporting both of these to Wrath and with or without his permission I would keep an eye the streets around Trade. With a shaky hand I reached for the bottle of Goose, the only liquid allowed in my office, for emergencies such as this. The pieces were coming together and they pointed at one thing. The killer wanted me to see his handiwork. Uncapping the vodka, I took a swig and sighed at the burn I felt in my throat, resting the bottle against my leg and raking a gloved hand through my hair. Something worse than me was stalking Caldwell now. I had a bad feeling and we all know how well those pan out. Sweet Fade, there’s was no sleep written in my near future. Carrying the bottle with me, I stood and turned from the grisly reports and crossed to the window, looking out at the glowing aura that marked the lights of downtown. Something was out there trying to get my attention- You have it now, fucker.

Rebirth

Simpering fool. [I snorted a vaporous growl, watching Hhavoc with steely eyes. I’d stalked this miserable whelp for more than a century and he had yet to grow a backbone. I’d found some small amusement in his dreams, nocturnal forays into a past that still haunted him.] That’s not all that’s haunting ye, is it boy? [My voice registered with the male to prick his ears and snap his head around, searching the darkness like a prey animal. The pop and crackle of skyborne explosives had him on edge already, skittering around his filth-strewn apartment like a cockroach. With a scornful laugh, I wave off the foggy form of a nearly depleted spirit, a young male, Stephan, I’d heard his mahmen wail once. He’d refused to leave her side in death and find his peace in the Fade, reducing him a barely visible column of smoke hovering at my shoulder.] Begone from me ye pathetic half-wit, I’ve no more use for ye that I’ve use for tits on a boar. [‘Twas true, I’d no interest in these milling wisps that roamed the InBetween and the Other Side as ghosts. A fruitless growl built in my chest. I’d had life. Purpose. Power. Respected and feared by the males who’d trained under the iron fist of my command. And many had reason to fear. Like this sniveling bastard. Hhavoc had been a favorite whipping boy amongst the others, who taunted him mercilessly. I’d encouraged the brutal ridicule in the dim hope of hardening him into a worthy soldier. Until he’d been bested in his first fight out of transition by the creature I’d sired on the Virgin Scribe. Little maggot had rolled over like a bitch in heat for Vishous upon his loss, the consent of his defeat too willingly given while I’d watched him mounted and taken like the females.  The white-eyed devil I’d begotten on the bitch had been my last thought when the female appeared, she who was so like him as to be none but his twin, speaking aloud that single word. His name. Vishous. The years since my end had festered outrage to murderous calculation, honed to single minded purpose. Vengeance. Watching and waiting, I’d conserved my strength and sought a way out. A path back to garner retribution on the creatures I’d seeded in the Scribe’s conniving womb. The rising growl burst free, once more frightening Hhavoc into a jerked turn of his body toward the sound, the motion sending the contents of his rat-eaten nightstand to the floor and scattering them across the yellowed linoleum, my gaze pinpointing on the glinting tip of a dagger, half-hidden my an empty bottle of cheap liquor. That was why I’d found him. Though he’d cowered from me in life, the male had still kept the burnt remains of my blade from that night, the only thing that seemed to have survived being razed by the she-demon’s unholy fire. Hhavoc scrambled to grab the dagger and stood, tucking it into his jacket and running out the door of his rathole apartment like his hair was on fire and his ass was catching, not slowing until he’d reached the buzzing neon lights of Trade Street. I followed close by, my smoky voice a buzzing drone in his ear] Aye, boy. Get back to yer tavern and try to drink me away again. That’s done well by ye’ so far. [laughing darkly, I kept on his heel as he rounded a corner, nearly colliding with what I could only assume was a female. My time shadowing this pissant had gifted me sights I’d not imagined in the Old Country, the line between male and female amongst the humans blended in a blur of slashed crimson lips and darkened eyes. Painted whores, the lot of them.] But, yer not lookin’ at them, are ye? It’s the males yer after. Always were. I should have had you tending the fires with the females, not wielding iron, ye’ sad waste of flesh. [My own senses hovering on a razor’s edge, I mapped the alley, marking shadows and alcoves instinctively as cover while the booming thunder of fireworks filled the air. Hhavoc gripped the hilt of my dagger beneath his jacket and kept moving, my ruthless barbs silenced at a change in the air, raucous laughter and drunken fights silenced as the rows of taverns were lost to damp alleys nestled between the great monoliths that made up this city. Hackles raised at the close quarters, I barked a string of curses at the male’s back.] Yer set fer an ambush, ye’ damned fool! [I’d no sooner gotten the words out when the stench of powder filled the alley and Hhavoc ran like a spooked horse, bolting at the thunder of boots echoing off of the crumbling brick. Gliding noiselessly through the garbage piles he tripped through, I scanned his path, centuries of instinct untamped by death as my eyes lifted skyward.] Aye, boy! They’ve got the high ground! [“Wrong way, asswipe.” It was too late. The male was beyond hearing me, his chin cranking up at the lesser who’d spoken, stumbling to pull the dagger free when the two flanking him darted out of the shadows, pale monsters of muscle launched at the hapless moron. I searched through the slashing limbs for sight of my dagger, having no care for the fate of its current owner until I moved closer to the fight and the glow of my arm dimmed, drained by something that had me instantly on alert. “Wait.” The word was greasy smoke on entrails, the voice the stuff of nightmares. I crouch back into the shadows, translucent fangs bared at the hooded evil approaching. “Not yet.” The Omega stopped short of the trio, hovering above the darkening puddle of Hhavoc’s blood, turning to face me, the showering sparks overhead lighting him in a grotesque rainbow. “You’re known to me, vampire. My sister’s stud horse, I believe? Come.” Boney finger crooked to coax me into the alley way, my gaze darting between the daemon and the gore-streaked glint of my dagger holding me in place. “Come. I’ve use for you.”] I’ve none for ye’, ye’ rancid bastard! [He laughed, a sound that would have made my skin crawl were it still covering me and I swore, searching the alley for a way out. With my body.. my blade, my horse and my soldiers, I could fight but, like this? I was helpless as a babe and the idea sent my fury boiling over. “I can offer you that which you’ve wanted for years, Bloodletter.”] What know ye’ of my wants, daemon? Get back to your sickly minions. I’ve no more to say. [“Revenge, vampire. You want revenge and I’m offering it.” He grinned, extending a finger to the male on the filthy concrete, Hhavoc’s breaths shallowing by the second as thick crimson bubbled up from his wounds. “But, my offer is on a timer. I’d say he’s got perhaps three minutes.” The lessers watched terrified and transfixed as I thought it over. Already dead, I had no purpose…no reason not to fade into nothing as I’d watched so many others do… save retribution. In that instant, an eternity of penance in Dhund was fair barter for a chance to complete a task that my own bastards had failed, blind vengeance winning over centuries of defending the race in that single moment.] I’m listenin’. [Floating out of the shadows, I force myself nearer even as I felt the energy leeched from me. “I’ll give you his body.” The enunciated ‘s’ sounded like the hiss of escaping steam and I could hear the disgust as the Omega went on. “A chance to rid me of the abominations you helped her bring about. Your answer now, vampire. Going once.. going twice…”] Aye! Fuck, aye, I’ll do it. [The lessers were yet retreating and I was certain if it were possible they’d have melted into the brickwork.] What would ye’ have me do? [In a fluid rush of robes, the Omega punched into Hhavoc’s chest and drew back, the male’s heart still swelling in his boney hand with the ebbing pulse of life at the moment I’m sucked into a sickening vortex of black and slammed into the ground, peeling open my eyes and squinting against the gap-toothed light of broken street lanterns. “Get off your ass and go kill your young, vampire. That’s what I’d have you do. Failure will reap.. unpleasant consequences.” He turned toward the cowering lessers, the stilled heart now encased in a porcelain jar, skeletal hand stretching out to thrust it toward his minions. “Obey him. And do not fail me in this. My sister’s offspring must die.” Gone in an instant, I got to my feet, trembling limbs moving with coltish awkwardness to raise Havoc’s body from the floor, a plan already coming into place as I stooped to retrieve my dagger from the gore-splattered concrete and dragging it over my thigh to clean the blade, scowling in distaste at the cheap denim coverings. They would offer no armor. That had to be remedied. Hearing the shouts and blaring horns from the taverns heralding the coming of midnight, I took a breath of frigid air and let out a self-satisfied growl. A new year, a new body… a new opportunity to take back the reins and shift the axis of power in my favor. I move my gaze to the lessers still huddled against the wall.] Come, ye’ pasty bastards. I’ve work for ye’. [A dark grin twisted the lips of my new face, steel grey eyes glinting with the rain of light overhead. Shoulders squared, I tested my grip around the hilt of my blade.] Yer to tell me all ye know of the brotherhood. And of the warrior Vishous.