Sharpe's League Chapter 03
BlueNeutrino: Not the same Elisabeth and Darcy from Pride and Prejudice and Zombies but a couple with similar attributes who underwent the events of Jane Austen's original story.
Chapter 03 Fire with Fire
It was night time in France and the cold mist of death descended on Napoleon's Imperial court. Everybody in the Palace had noticed the change in there Emperor. They noticed he had new cruel pale features on his face and the fact that there Emperor slept through the day. Everyone down to the common servants had noticed the change in there Emperor coincided with the arrival of Draculva, Napoleon's new best friend. The mysterious stranger seemed to be the epicentre of the new dark mood which had taken the palace. Draculva was present at every meeting that Napoleon was in; including the secret meetings the Emperor had with his the chief of secret police Fouché. Napoleon currently sat in one of the Palaces many state rooms with Fouché waiting for the arrival of Draculva so that they could begin the meeting. There was one other person in the room, standing back straight with Fouché near the fireplace while there Emperor sat in a comfy armchair. The man was bald with expensive pair of spectacles sat on his pug nose. His eyes were extremely grey and intelligent but showed a great impatience. The man was known and hated by many as Pierre Ducos.
Fouché frustrated about being kept waiting by someone who wasn't the Emperor, let known his displeasure.
"Your Highness, the presence of the Carpatenican is unnecessary. Let us begin our meeting" said Fouché.
Napoleon gave his chief of the secret police a dirty look.
"Prince Draculva is a man of great wisdom and experience. His counsel will greatly benefit France in her endeavours" ordered Napoleon, his once blue eyes flashed blood red in anger.
"As you say Majesty" retorted a very disgruntled Fouché.
"Yes I do. Need I remind who is Emperor, Fouché" snarled Napoleon.
There was the small creak as the light green double door opened to admit Draculva into the Emperor's state room. The doors shut behind him and Draculva strolled forward, making no more noise than a ghost and stood on the Emperor's right hand side. This was the first time Ducos had seen Draculva face to face and had to say that the Carpatenican terrified him. On the surface the man was just another pale face in a cloak but his eyes told a different story.
They were twin pieces of coal that each burned with a fierce intensity and when the twin orbs were turned on him, they seemed to pierce his very soul. Ducos was left with no doubt that he was staring into the face of evil, a predator among men.
Fouché seemed to show no fear at the evil in front of him, either in a show of strength or stupidity. The chief of Napoleons secret police gave the pale face Transylvanian a dirty look. Draculva replied with a smile that showed off his sharp fangs.
"Your Majesty recent intelligent dispatches from our agents in England, have brought to light a threat to France" started Fouché.
Napoleon snorted in derision.
"Really Fouché, the Empire is being attacked on all sides, of course there are threats to France" complained Napoleon.
Patently Fouché continued.
"More precisely a threat to France's expedition to Prospero's Isle, the English are planning to launch a counter expedition with the intent purpose of thwarting France" explained Fouché.
Draculva chuckled, a cold sound which chilled Fouché and Ducos to the bone.
"I shall be with the French expedition, the English will stand little to no chance against me" boasted Draculva.
"The British have taken precautions against your involvement. They have reformed the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen" retorted Fouché.
"Ha, they place there hope in a band of sideshow freaks and drunken beggars to do their dirty work" scoffed Napoleon.
Every man in the room knew of the League and there reputation in England.
"We laugh at the British and at the League at our own peril, my Emperor. They have placed a creditable leader in charge of the new League. A British Officer, Major Richard Sharpe" said Ducos, speaking up for the first time.
Napoleon frowned in thought.
"Sharpe, haven't have heard that name before. It sounds familiar" commented Napoleon.
"I have sent you reports about this man. He has been a constant thorn in my side, ruining my best laid plans" mourned Duco.
"He must be remarkable man" said Draculva sarcastically.
"Hah remarkable, the man's an animal in an officers uniform. The only reason he foiled my plans is just dumb luck" complained Duco.
Napoleon snapped his fingers, recognition and realization in his eyes.
"No animal could have taken one of my Imperial Eagles or killed a Colonel of my Imperial Guard, only a soldier. Your intelligence reports weren't all I have heard of this Sharpe. I have heard many stories about this man from my Generals. Major Richard Sharpe of the South Essex has often been described as a brilliant soldier, brilliant but wayward" said Napoleon, with some admiration.
Napoleon as a rule, always had admiration for soldiers, especially the lucky ones.
Fouché began again
"I think we can all agree that Sharpe has a habit of ruining French plans. You might not be enough Draculva to stop Sharpe and his freaks. Maybe this time we should gather a group of our own freaks. I purpose we bring together the Les Hommes Mysterieux"
XXXX
Professor Holmes pulled out his pocket watch and checked the time on the beautiful carved clock face.
"Not long now Major Sharpe. We shall be at the Darcy estate, Pemberley in ten minutes" stated Holmes.
The Professor closed the lid of his pocket watch and stared at Sharpe across the rattling carriage. After their meeting at Montagu House, Pumphrey had insisted the League go to Pemberley to seek the Darcy's assistance. These Darcy's were supposedly England's greatest authority on the all things arcane and undead, making them invaluable. Sharpe didn't like the idea of begging the assistance of some wealthily landowner. Neither did he like that Holmes delaying the trip from London to Pemberley so he could pick up some equipment from his laboratory. Admittedly the reprieve had allowed Harper to hire a carriage to get his Spanish Wife Isabella and child to his cousin house. Harper sensing his officer's unease spoke up.
"What's the matter sir" asked Harper?
"I don't like it Pat. We are walking into a trap and we're doing it in the dark. The devil himself could be waiting at Pemberley and we wouldn't know until we have tripped over him" complained Sharpe.
The Professor shook his head.
"Major, we know very little information to conjecture about the future. Yes the Devil may be waiting for us, but equally an angel could be waiting. Jumping to conclusions or relying too much on instinct will lead us astray. Only reason will deliver us from evil and the facts are in my favour. The Darcy's are both experts in the said field and Lord Ruthven is just one man, even if he may have supernatural ability. Even if events turn out as dire as you describe, the odds are in our favour. We have Adam, the Woodwoman and Carwin in the carriage behind us and my equipment from London. We shall see we win the day" argued Holmes.
Sharpe scowled at Holmes.
Bugger your reason. I know that something is waiting for us at Pemberley. An I not looking forward to fighting it" growled Sharpe.
Holmes opened his mouth to retort but his words caught in his throat. A blood curdling scream had interrupted the Professor. The scream of the carriage driver alerted the carriages occupants to the danger they faced. The drivers scream was followed by the screams of the horses. Their deaths caused the carriage to slow and then stop. Sharpe and Harper didn't linger in the carriage; they opened the carriage door and bounded out with Professor Holmes on their heels. The scene outside was something out of nightmares. The horses still in there leather harnesses, were on the ground dead, their throats slit. The carriage driver had suffered an even worse fate. He was sitting on the carriage seat with the horse reins still in his hands and eyes filled with absolute terror. He was dead, his heart, lungs and even his stomach of his body had been removed from his body. They had been thrown to the ground leaving them scattered around the place like garbage one might find in the gutter. In front of Sharpe, Holmes and Harper stood a pale skin woman with hair as black as the night before the dawn. She wore a thin wool dress that showed off her curvy youthfully figure. This woman of the night had sharp nails on her hands that could rip a man's throat out. These talons were dripping with blood that was not hers, although the men's focus was not drawn to this, but to her red hypnotic eyes. They seemed to draw the will to move from their bodies and leaving weak. Vulnerable for this predator of the night to feast upon there flesh without fear of a fight. The woman gave a large hungry grin and started to stalk towards her prey, talons outstretched.
References
Fouché was Napoleon's actually chief of his secret police and intelligence gathering expert.
Pierre Ducos is one of Sharpe's archenemies in Bernard Cornwell's Sharpe Series.
The Carpatenican is a reference to Castle Dracula in the Carpathian Mountains.
The reference to the eyes that burned like coal is a direct reference to Bram Stokers Dracula.
In Alan Moore's series League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, the League is often considered a bit of a joke by foreign governments. Even though they have a tendency to save the world.
Pierre Ducos thinks of Sharpe as an animal after an incident written in Sharpe's Honour. Where Sharpe takes out a room full of men with a metal telescope shard and Ducos only just escapes.
Imperial Eagle is a reference to Sharpe's Eagle.
Killing a Colonel of the Imperial Guard (Colonel Philippe Leroux) is a reference to the events of Sharpe's Sword.
Les Hommes Mysterieux is a reference to the French version of the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. Translated, Les Hommes Mysterieux means The Mysterious Men.
More Vampire references taken from Dracula.