Chapter 14
Central Park
Four Blackhawk helicopters remained hovering twenty feet off the ground as the one in the middle landed gracefully on the shiny, wet asphalt, sending spray spiraling around the base. Damaskinos' glyph was painted on the sides of each in red.
"Send the others off," Udokeir said with a wave of his hand, and placing the black velvet hood back over his head. A pale man wearing black army fatigues gave the pilot issues to command the other Blackhawks drop off their units to various locations around Manhattan.
The four remaining suspended choppers fled in different, opposite directions without a sound, though the force from their propellers was quite violent. Three vampires exited the grounded Blackhawk with Udokeir, including Tashum, his Pureblood apprentice.
"And contrary to what Damaskinos has ordered, I'd like the Daywalker taken alive," Udokeir said coolly through misty rain. And the vampire nearest Udokeir, strapping his M-16 to his shoulder, radioed to the other Blackhawks, instructing them not to kill, only contain, the Daywalker. The other vampire pet, as Udokeir so affectionately referred to them, walked to Udokeir's other side, and waited for instructions.
"I can take care of myself, pet. You know what you two have to do," Udokeir said to the timid undead soldier.
"Sorry, sir, I just thought that I could show you around, I uh, used to live here in New York. I figured..." the pet tried to say, but Udokeir just looked at him, stunned.
"Thank you, pet, but spare me. I'm not here as a tourist. I think I can find my way around, don't you think?"
"Right, ok," the pet said as he looked at the other, and headed into the darkness of the park.
***
The motorcycle came to a skidding, tire-screeching stop, and the ignition was flicked off, as was the cigarette out of his mouth. He kicked the sidestand down, and walked closer to the sidewalk of the deserted street.
"Well what do we have here?" he said as he watched four helicopters silently lift-off and fly away in separate directions. Another chopper sat in the middle, and while people exited it, the lights were switched off.
***
"But sir, the Statue of Liberty, the resurrected World Trade Center, there is so much to see," said the vampire behind Udokeir sarcastically. The rain glinted on his tattooed forehead and light blue eyes.
With something that could be considered a chuckle, "Tashum, your humor, it touches my heart. And unless you want my sword to pierce yours, I'd start looking for the Daywalker."
"Well if you put it that way, Udo. I'll be sure to radio you if and when I find Blade," Tashum said with a wink and a smile before speeding off into the fog between trees.
"And do remember what I said, Tashum. Alive."
Udokeir looked around. He didn't know where to start. Maybe he should've kept the pet after all. For all he knew, Blade wasn't even in Manhattan any longer. He spotted a small group of the undead at the edge of the street, looking on curiously as the helicopters fled in all directions, and then their focus was turned to the extravagantly dressed Udokeir. He then clenched his arms behind his back and casually walked to the on looking vampires.
***
He flicked another cigarette into his mouth and lit it, and then putting the Zippo back into a jacket pocket. He walked along the street in the darkness strafing the hooded vampire. Some of the vampires backed away some as the man walked up to them. Some tried to look tough, but they were scared nonetheless. The hooded vampire began speaking to them, in the ancient tongue, but he couldn't make out the conversation. He needed to get closer.
***
"Vampires, and you don't speak our language. That's pitiful. The Daywalker, have any of you seen him?" Udokeir said in English with his eyes hidden behind the hood.
"No, but we heard he's around here. He freed a bunch of human slaves earlier. I guess he's on another crusade," said one of the vampires.
"You guess he's on another crusade, do you? Hmm."
"What are you looking for him for? He's probably dead now," said another vampire as she tried to look under the hood to see his face.
"That's what I'm here to see to. That he stays dead this time," Udokeir said to the young female vampire who tried again to see under the hood. She was beautiful, and he quaintly licked his lips. He was hungry.
"Why are you wearing a hood?" she asked.
"Where do you keep your food?" Udokeir ignored her question, but silently said something to the female: I want you. She was beautiful; he no longer cared where they kept their human blood.
"Hey, food's scarce, man. Gonna have to find your own," before he could finish, the hooded vampire was on top of the female. His lust was primal and animalistic as he tore the flesh from her jugular. Blood poured from the wound and dripped off his chin. The two male vampires tried to stop Udokeir, but that was futile; with a wave of his hand, the two men were stopped in their tracks, arms outstretched, frozen.
As the last of the blood was drained from her, the limp, dead body was dropped from his arms and landed with a fleshy thud. Her hollow body cracked and the skin receded in a gray, almost stone-like appearance. Udokeir stomped on her torso and the body exploded in gray ashes.
The two frozen vampires stared on in disgust and fright. Udokeir removed his rapier blade from its satchel. He stared at the edge a moment, and looked up at the two with a smile.
"I want you to help me, spread the word to all vampires. I'm calling Blade out. I want him here," Udokeir said, letting go of his telekinetic grip on their bodies. The two scared vampires ran in the opposite direction after a nod.
***
Well he heard that. The hooded vampire wants Blade too. With a swig of the #7, he wiped his mouth and began to walk over to his bike. While walking, he looked back over to the hooded vampire, and he saw him too under the hood. He removed his hood to get a better look, and turned his way. He began to walk slowly in his direction.
He dropped the bottle of whiskey back into his jacket and reached for his keys. After flicking the bike on, he noticed a shiny glint in the dark fog. In an instant he grabbed at a bag on the side of his Yamaha and removed his sword: a steel-hilted Agincourt. It was just enough time as the hooded vampire was in the air and bringing it down in front of his face. His cigarette was cut down the middle in front of his face the side.
He brought his sword up to block it and with a kick, he sent the hooded vampire back enough for him to get off of the bike.
"Well. If it isn't the legendary Hannibal King: Vampire hunter extraordinaire," Udokeir claimed triumphantly.
"Sorry I can't introduce you so flatteringly," King said as he spit out the mini-cigarette from his mouth.
"But it is ok, for it doesn't matter who I am. You'll not live long enough to remember it..." Udokeir said arrogantly.
"You are as arrogant as you look," King said as he brought the medieval blade down in front of Udokeir who all too easily blocked the slash.
"Still playing the pitiful quasi-human part, King?" Udokeir asked sardonically.
After becoming infected with vampirism by Deacon Frost, King has struggled to keep his thirst at bay. He refuses to feed from human, at least live ones. But now, more than ever, the hunger for blood was rising in his mind.
"You gonna keep talking, or do you wanna piece of me?"
"King, don't you realize we have won? We are the dominant species; we rule and are no longer hiding in the shadows. Why can't you join us? What is left for you to accomplish?"
"I'd still like to take off your head."
Udokeir smiled, and realized he would not kill the hunter—yet. He may be of more use to him alive. Blade would surely come to save his friend.
"Ok, King. If that's how you want things," Udokeir said before a fury of swings.
King could only parry so many of the attacks. He was cut in the stomach, deep. He clutched the wound, now only using one hand to defend himself. It was only moments now. Another swing and the sword was knocked from his sweaty hand.
Udokeir kicked Hannibal King in the face, and unconsciousness settled in as he heard laughter.