A/N: I don't own anyone but my OC's but I wished I owned the rest…..*sighs*…..
Alessa strolled from car to car taking in the sight of the perfectly stacked crypts that towered over her. Beautiful silent sentinels that each housed a member of their growing army. The stone pillars housed the original generation, the line that would give birth to the extinction of humanity. She paused in the center of the car and slowly closed her eyes. Her remaining senses filled the void her sight created.
I can hear them….
Her lips curled into a dark grin.
They can sense me…..
Alessa's eyelids fluttered open and her hands stretched out brushing the fronts of the surprisingly smooth sides. Each one she made contact with the inhabitant within responded.
Alessa….
Our Queen was right in selecting you…..
We will follow you…..
We serve you…..
The hybrid stopped just before the door and twirled around coming face to face with a familiar. He was one of Black Hat's fiercest but most loyal minion.
"Yes, what is it?" She inwardly groaned as her walk amongst the vampires was therapeutic for her soul.
"Master requests your presence," the blue skinned creature gently spoke.
"Alright," she sighed regrettably. The rest of her stroll would have to wait for another time.
I will return my kin…..
Alessa reassured the vampires before closing the door behind her.
Black Hat poured over the maps on the table when the light rapping forced his attention away from the desk.
"Lessa," his face brightened as she entered. "I apologize for pulling you from your explorations."
"Quite alright," she waved his apology off. "What are you doing?"
"These maps," his hand waved over the various maps that overlapped one another smothering the warped surface of the desk. "Reveal all of the reservations, towns, and outposts throughout the Wastelands."
"What about any…..other settlements?"
The liquid gold burned then narrowed to two deadly daggers. Her anger was raging stronger than ever since the encounter with Markus. Good, let that fire burn in her slender body because she would need it for later.
"They are scattered but the agents of the Church that reside out here will also be in these towns as well."
Alessa simply nodded and examined the map that was sprawled out over the rest. The spheres of red indicated outposts or towns while those in black indicated the remaining reservations. Sola Mira was off in the distance which served as their advantage. So long as the vampire menace was considered obsolete, they were free to carry on without the meddling Church.
"How can we remain invisible to the humans without those needling bastards getting any ideas?"
Black Hat stopped and lifted his head to see the questioning look Alessa cast towards him. She did have a point: Never underestimate the Church even now as the Wars had been long since ceased.
"We stay in the deepest reaches of the Wastelands," he shuffled the maps around until the one he sought emerged. "There are many of these settlements which will serve to keep us replenished until the time is right."
"But do they know not to go into a bloody orgy? You and I both know how vampires work and think. Instinct drives them not reasoning."
"Of course I do," he smiled thinly. "I have thought of that."
"Enlighten me then," she leaned forward over the desk, low enough for low swoop of her shirt to offer up a little treat for her mate. Of course Alessa wasn't doing it on purpose as she was focused on going after the humans.
"We can make it appear as if it were bandits or vagrants that attacked the towns. It would not be that difficult to accomplish."
"I like it," she grinned. Alessa had seen what the gangs of thieves and scavengers could do to a pathetic little settlement. They wandered the Wastelands taking what they wanted at will. Some would take only what was needed to survive while others thrived on carnage. The Church was turned off to this as in their eyes those wretched souls were in God's hands and whatever punishment was handed down was justified in their twisted logic.
"Once we have allowed the vampires to gorge themselves we will return to Sola Mira where the hive will be rebuilt as they breed more of our kin."
"And no one will bother us?"
Black Hat lightly chuckled. "As far as the humans are concerned all of the hives were liquidated after the Wars."
"Yet Sola Mira survived."
"Correct," he nodded. "After that day, the Queen entrusted me to continue on with the plan."
"To bring the Church to its knees….." Alessa sighed happily. "But I get Orleas!"
"There was never a question of the matter," Black Hat stood to meet her level. "The Queen is aware of your afflictions and it has been made clear the clergy are ours."
"Excellent," she clapped her hands together. "It would be a travesty if we didn't get them. I want to make them suffer before ripping their hearts out."
"A woman after my own…..heart?" He raised an amused eyebrow with an equally amused smile.
"Funny," Alessa groaned and rolled her eyes.
Hicks walked through the double doors to the waiting clergy. He dropped to one knee and removed his hat, placing it against his chest.
"Thank you for seeing me," he scanned the row of unreadable faces.
"What is your problem my son?" Orleas's voice boomed across the cathedral style ceiling. Father Chamberlain watched the young man as he rose to his feet and took a deep nervous breath.
"My name is Hicks and I'm the Sheriff of Augustine. A few days ago my girl, I mean my friend went missing from her home. I think it was a vamp attack."
The clergy's voices rumbled like waves over a rocky cliff as the mention of their long defeated foes had life breathed into it. Chamberlain raised an eyebrow at his accusation while Orleas chuckled at this theory.
"Vampires? My boy we locked the vampires away or killed them. Perhaps you are mistaken and it was of her own free will that she abandoned her residence."
"No," Hicks pursed his lips and tightly shook his head. He could feel his anger rising at the aloof attitude the elder clergy displayed before him. "Alessa wouldn't do that."
"What makes you so certain of this?" Father Chamberlain spoke up.
"She was content out there away from all of this. She wouldn't leave it; not for anything or anyone."
"Then perhaps bandits came along in the night."
"There was one set of footprints aside from hers. It wasn't bandits! There were no tire tracks no other indication of more than one individual!"
Hicks was growing thoroughly disgusted by the blatant arrogance Orleas continued to flaunt. Just because he was locked away in this polluted shit hole he so easily turned a blind eye to the plight of those in the Wastelands. Well may he choke on the very pretentiousness that he spews!
"Well the Church is not concerned with matters in the Wastelands, Sheriff. You are dismissed."
Chamberlain watched as the young man shoved his hat on his head and stormed out of the hall. The chilled rings of ice had fixed on Orleas before turning away towards the doors. Orleas continued to laugh at the young man even as he was now absent from their presence.
"Vampires," he snorted. "The young man has no idea."
While a couple other members of the clergy chimed in with their own added mockery, Chamberlain was deathly quiet. Alessa…..
That name sounded familiar but where had he heard it? Surely he couldn't be referring to….
No, that would be preposterous. Alessandra had died from infection after the Wars. Her body had been incinerated and ashes contained. He knew as he had overseen the grisly task along with the countless other warriors who had fallen during and after the Wars. Perhaps it was another girl with the same name to which he was seeking.
The blades sang as they sliced through the air.
Alessa had been practicing with the Katana blades as a way to keep her mind preoccupied during the journey. The comfortable weight of the ancient blades were like extensions of her arms as they conducted fluid control motions over beside and around her body. It was like she never stopped using them. Her foot stomped down as the other lunged forward in sync with the swords thrusting out in two sharp stabs.
Black Hat was leaning against the wall, watching her move with the poise and grace of a cat. Her face was etched in deep concentration and he knew she was imagining the clergy falling beneath her with their blood coating her blades. To him it was a beautifully orchestrated dance of silver and flesh, creating the exotic creature that moved before him. He observed the ripples of her arms and chest as the tiny fibers worked as one to carry out her silent demands. Her movements mimicked his as her slender form blurred then focused on the other side of the car.
"Very impressive," he pushed off the wood panels and started towards her. Alessa smiled as he slid the powerful but also attentive hands along her face and drew her mouth to his. Her body charged as it absorbed his emotions into her. The genuine sentiments made her heart swell as the tender connection broke away.
"Thanks," she replaced the blades in the scabbards. "I suppose it's like riding a bike: One never forgets how."
"Your body's trajectory is sharper than before."
"You know, you know an awful lot about me. Did you stalk me when you were human?"
Black Hat was silent but his eyes betrayed him.
"You did know me when I was human."
"Not personally," he admitted. "But I knew of you. You were one of the very rare breeds."
"Okay, I'm not a horse," she stood with her hands on her hips. Her lips were jutted out in a faux pout.
"What I meant was your powers were greater."
"I was one of the secret weapons that sealed the final blow against the vampires."
Poison laced the tip of her tongue like a bitter herb, leaving a vile taste in her mouth.
"I helped in destroying one of the remaining Queens. I exterminated the Guardians allowing for the others to swoop in and slaughter her like livestock. I heard her crying and screams in my head as the blades ripped through her flesh, shedding her blood on the floor of the hive. Those same mournful echoes followed me beyond the Wars, reminding me that I was a murderer."
"Lessa," Black Hat pulled her by the hips until she was pressed against him. "That wasn't your fault. You were a puppet."
"Doesn't mean I didn't harbor some guilt over my role in it….."
"Shhhh," his index finger pushed against her lips. Alessa leaned in softly kissing the single digit. "You cannot dwell on the past as it is gone, written and never to be changed. But the future remains within our control, Lessa."
Alessa closed her eyes and gradually nodded in agreement.
"Avenge the Queen who fell before you…"
"You're right," her eyes flashed open displaying the deep citrine rings. "The blood of the clergy will atone for my sins."
"And they will," his voice dropped to a low whisper. "Now show me what else you can do."
"How about I show you when we reach town? It's more fun when you're with friends…."
The wicked grin flashed across her mouth showing off the ivory daggers.
"I agree," Black Hat nodded. "It's always better with friends…."
The girl can bounce back can't she?
