When they arrived at their location, the men were thrilled the very strong vampire was still out.
"He's going to be fucking pissed when he wakes up," Marcus said when the unloaded him.
"Well, fucking may be one thing he's doing," Maura teased. They all glanced at each other and smiled. They knew their Queen all too well. She loved her men but most of all, she loved the man who'd died. Her sickness was taking over, however, and that was disturbing them. All of the things she attempted failed. Their King, Dryden, had been dead for a month now. She was attempting to piece together other dead men and use the blood of virginal women in a ritual to bring him back. She failed each time and each time she was more crushed. His body was in suspended animation in a tank tucked away in a dark basement. Marcus, who secretly loved Maura, knew she would never succeed but her pain overtook her sense of reason and stability and he kept quiet for now.
"What shall we do with him? He must be tucked away from the sun when he sleeps," Marcus reminded her.
"Yes, yes, but let's put him in a cage for holding for now, he can't break through metal. Even vampires have their limits," Maura told them with the wave of a hand. She told them she would be in her chambers and to get her when he came around.
"Yes, my Queen," they all bowed. When they finished placing Henry downstairs, Marcus stood looking at the crumpled man for a moment.
"Wonder what's it like, to never be in the sun, never have children, outlive your.." he stopped at the last sentence and finished with, "well, we can ask him questions later."
Marcus shot a look at the blue tinged tank that held Dryden. Dryden had been his best friend. They'd all lived a wonderful life, travelling and enjoying their abilities largely unnoticed. Maura was deeply in love with him and upon his sudden death, she was totally lost and drifted closer to insanity. She insisted on preserving him until she could perfect the formula for reanimation on others before trying it on him. Marcus had done his best to deter her but it did no good, she shooed him away every time he tried to reason with her. Now, she knew for sure that this vampire held the key, or so she thought.
Marcus ran his hand along the tank and ordered the two men to leave him. Once they were gone, he talked to Dryden.
"I'm so sorry, I know you must want to move on, what can I do? How can I convince her you will never return?"
Marcus was jerked away from his conversation with, "Unplug him, he will die and move on."
He whirled to see that Henry had awakened, "So, you are okay. I'll go notify the Queen."
Henry's hands wrapped around the bars so tightly his knuckles lost all color and appeared transparent, "You will let me out of here," he tried his vampire persuasion.
Marcus stood definitely, "That will not work here. This place," he held his hands up, "is bespelled. No one can see it and no magic but hers works here."
"I'm not magic, I'm vampire," Henry was sweating and angry.
"Yes, yes, we know. That's why you are here, to study you and to learn from you," Marcus told him.
Henry growled and shook at the bars which were strong and unmoving.
"Now, let me get her and she will explain or do.." Marcus sighed, "whatever it is she wants to do."
Henry didn't like that last line, it sounded a little too ominous. He hoped his Vicki would find it before it was too late.
But would she be able to?
**
As soon as Mike arrived, Vicki jumped in and told Mike to put a rush on it.
"Vicki, could I get a thanks maybe?"
"Thanks… better? Now can we go?" she said hurriedly.
"Ever the sweet grateful Vicki," Mike sighed. He put his light on his roof without siren and headed out of the city. Once out of town, he no longer needed the light and turned it off.
"You think it's that obvious and that's where they are?" Mike asked while they hunted the address.
"Yeah, why not?"
"Seems to me nothing is that easy or that obvious," Mike told her.
"Really. Like, that address matching the one in my investigation?" Vicki pointed. Even with her bad vision, she could see the numbers clearly marked on the mailbox.
Mike shook his head, he hated it when she was right. They turned into the long driveway that would take them to the large older looking farmhouse. It was white, two-story and quite unassuming.
"You sure this is the place?" Mike asked.
"Yes, I am, now let's see what we can find," Vicki nearly jumped out of the car as it was rolling.
"Damn her!" Mike muttered as he rushed to put his car in park and undo his seatbelt. Vicki debated on whether to knock on the door or just peep inside to see what she could see. The former seemed better since her vision was a hindrance, especially at night. She had to find Henry! She had given all of herself to him just last night, they couldn't lose that. That thought not only upset her but pissed her off. When she finally broke down and opened her heart, here they were hoping to save him from imminent death.
As she was thinking, "just my luck" she realized she would need more than luck…