CHAPTER FIVE - REVELRY BEFORE BLOODSHED
What a fabulous ball it would all be. If it wasn't for the sinister reputation of the mysterious and normally reclusive host, that was. It was like Gatsby.....if Gatsby had been a murdering relic of the Imperialist days on Haiti. The large decorous sitting room of Murder Legendre was full of costumes and revelry. Legendre had specifically invited many of the socialites and the prominent of the island.
"This really is very lovely of you to have us in like this." Loretta was saying through gritted teeth. "After all you must be very busy."
"Not at all." The distinguished European man said with what seemed a customary nobility. "It's always my pleasure to have such charming and......lovely guests." He was quite a handsome older gentleman, Loretta noted. But his piercing eyes probably kept the Anna Nicole wannabes away.
"To be honest, we had thought this plantation was deserted" Loretta giggled, as though tipsy. "We heard that the owner had died or moved out a long time ago and left it a rundown mess." She looked around the room, towards the staircase. "Oooh, you don't have ghosts here do you?"
Loretta could tell that Murder Legendre very much wanted to glare at her. He resisted the urge though and allowed a dignified chuckle. "My dear, you are mistaken. I have been here for longer than you can know." He shrugged. "Still, I have been quiet on the island social scene of late." He purred at his guest. "A mistake I plan to make up for verrrrrryyyyy sooooon!" A pirate and a Amazon Princess began to vie for their host's attention and Loretta wandered off again. She put on the glittery face mask that Drusilla had given her. If she could just blend into the crowd, maybe the host wouldn't notice her slip away.
The plantation had clearly not appeared deserted of course. As Mr Ahmed had told Django, the sugarcane production had continued to prosper. The way the workers in the field moved around, it was very clear that there were no living among them. Not that they seemed to be troubled by the sloppiness that affected Django and Dru's own workers of course.
****
Django was warily looking around him. He was well armed for the night of course. No telling what this creep would have in his home, besides zombies. Django felt some comfort from the Smith & Wessons and bushwhacker knife strapped to his holster, beneath the trenchcoat. No telling how many of those present were loyal subjects of Legendre's little reign. Django looked around for his Drusilla. There she was. Dancing with what Django assumed wasn't really a demon at all. That hula skirt! Django cursed fate for making him have to keep his mind on less pleasant business tonight. If we can do this right, Django was telling himself, I can have many more nights to see my Dru in a hula skirt.
Django felt the air turn fetid around him. He turned instinctively and saw those blazing eyes of his host. "I'm so glad to see that you could come." Murder Legendre offered. "You are one of the new entrepreneurs of the island, are you not? One of the ones who recently took over a hotel and plantation, under....curious circumstances?"
Django noticed Loretta slip out from the party as Legendre was talking. Clever girl. He would have to keep Legendre busy for a while and then later, perhaps try and do the same. "You seem to have a very singular taste." Django smiled charmingly at the man who had tormented his girl and lived, so far. "This room could almost have been designed by Boris Karloff."
Murder Legendre definitely stiffened here and almost spilled his cognac. "Oh you think so?" he spluttered in annoyance. "That cocksucker! I shall have to get the decorators in by first sunlight!" Legendre realised he was being goaded of course and attempted to laugh it off. "Sorry, my young friend, but my family traditions are long and proud. I don't like to see Hollywood trivialise our great heritage for pulp entertainment."
Drusilla didn't seem to notice her host's bad mood though. She came up behind the two men and overhearing Django's comment, started faking bats wings with her arms and fluttering all over Django. "Grrr! I am The Ghoul! I want to eat you love!" Django noted Legendre trying to bury his foul mood, as he began to turn on the charm for the other guest.
"So you are the lovely Drusilla that everyone talks about?" the Hungarian kissed the vampire's hand. Drusilla's flesh seemed to crawl to her. The memory of their previous meeting, in her head, was too horribly flesh. "I have heard promising things about your hotel venture. But, sad to say there has been less favourable gossip about your zombie workers."
"Our zombies are very silly." Drusilla pouted. "They're not at all like your fabulous specimens. Can't say I like the big house though. It's filled with cobwebs and secret pacts that you won't share."
"I'm sorry if my tastes in living do not please you." Legendre let his feathers ruffle a bit. Emphasis on living of course.
****
Loretta had successfully slipped off. She was exploring some of the other rooms about the big old house. She wasn't really expecting it to be easy of course. This moth in the jar that Django spoke of would probably be safely locked away, considering it's importance to Legendre's deeds. Still, they would have to get started somewhere. Oh this looks interesting, Loretta thought as she spied a dusty old chest at the corner of a spare bedroom. As she fiddled with the lock, she did not hear the soft bare footsteps approaching from behind. Or see the knife pointed towards her back.
****
"It takes time and great skill to learn how to cultivate good zombies." Legendre grinned. "Certainly it is not a career path that just anyone can pick up." He turned all his attention purely to Drusilla now. "Perhaps my dear Drusilla could benefit from my years of experience on this front. I'm sure I could satisfy her..... Beyond compare!" He bent to kiss Drusilla's hand once more but she disgustedly pulled away and growled with indignation. She didn't like this horrid man using her to annoy Django like this.
Django coughed and got the attention of his host. "It occurs to me" he began in a casual tone, "that your set up is quite curious here. I mean here you've been for who knows how long, raising zombies and spells and such. Amassing such an impressive pantheon of folktales in the process. All the time in the world to get it just right." Django paused for effect. "And yet along comes my Drusilla of course. And after just a few weeks of running a hotel and playing around with some Voodoo, she's managed to have you all worried and perceiving her as a threat. You? The mighty Murder Legendre?" Django shrugged it off. "Just seems funny, that's all."
"I'm so glad that we can skip the pleasantries and foolish games now." Legendre leered. "Now please, go on with your story."
Django began to raise his voice in challenge, not caring whether the costumed guests overheard over the so called revelry. "Well it occurs to me that.....That the Emperor has no spells! Just a few tired old parlour tricks that he's probably exhausted already!"
Django expected Legendre to stiffen with rage and insult here. Instead he chuckled ominously "So, you impotent buffoons seek to test my power! Very well." Legendre turned his attention to the other partygoers and began to address everyone in general. Django and Drusilla looked to each other warily, ready for whatever was to come. "Ladies and gentlemen! Your attention for a moment!" Legendre clapped his hands as the revelry began to die down and heads turned in his direction.
****
Loretta was rummaging through old trinkets in the chest. Was it all really just junk? Or was something more valuable mixed in with it all? Loretta's "spider sense" tingled just in time and she dodged aside, just as an assailant with a knife thrust clumsily at her and crashed against the wall. Loretta's eyes filled with horror and emotion as she got a glimpse at the silent assailant. "Janet!"
Loretta's dead sister turned herself slowly round and began stumbling towards her target again. It was such a hideous sight for Loretta. In life her sister had been so athletic and graceful. What would she make of this crude and clumsy thing she had become. "Janet, you don't really want to hurt me." Loretta tried to reason. "It's Murder Legendre! The spooky man! Don't let him do this to you love. You don't want to stab your sister." Loretta stepped aside as Undead Janet surged forward yet again and got tangled up in a coat stand.
Loretta took the revolver she'd brought for protection from her purse. She didn't want to shoot her sister, even although she was clearly already lost. But there was no telling if all the clattering about would bring more zombies on the scene or not. "Oh Janet!" she sobbed.
****
Murder Legendre was addressing his audience of costumed island socialites. "As you are all very much aware, I have been quiet and reclusive for quite some time. Indeed many of you will have entertained the notion that I had passed on or that my standing on Haiti affairs had waned somewhat." Legendre began to glare now as he looked around his guests. "Indeed the younger and more naive of you may have decided that I was just a myth, a long forgotten phantom."
"However, it should be clear to you now that this is not so. But do not mistake my hospitality for a weak attempt at canvassing favours or reminding you all who I am." Legendre was hitting full stride here. Most of the gathered here, seemed a little on edge. This was no has been or wasting recluse who now addressed them. There was something bold and decisive at work. "My friends you have come here out of curiosity. To see the sleepy legend and prod it with a stick. But this is no vapid celebration or hark to past glory that you have come to witness."
Murder Legendre chuckled, in a way that made the skin crawl and want to run from the place. "I chose my guest list from the rich and prominent of Haiti for a reason. Your lack of faith in me has displeased me. For this, I must make an example to all of Haiti. The fools must know never to underestimate me again. That is why I have brought you here..... To your deaths!"
Gasps came from many of those present. The flames in Legendre's eyes reminded those gathered of all the stories of The Zombie Master who no one dared cross. Drusilla began to groan to herself. She was sensing something awful. She and Django had not expected this. They knew the madman would have something planned for their visit, but they had not counted on something of this scale, planned for the whole party. Drusilla whimpered and held herself as though in throes of indigestion. Django put his arm around her to steady her, looking around the room as he did. "They come! They come!" Drusilla shook her head with trepidation.
Legendre grinned with glee. A strange skittering sound began to be heard around the room. Coming from all directions. An unnerving sound that grated on the nerves. "My friends, though it is true that I have been quiet for some time, do not think that I have been completely idle." He looked to Django and Drusilla here. "Some of you may have noticed a curious flaw among some of the zombies of late. A taste for human flesh, previously unheard of among zombies of Haiti. I have noticed it too. A cultural memory from some of the hokum American movies no doubt, brought over by incomers. Cultural corrosion. I however, have found a use for this matter. An experiment!"
Legendre threw his arms in the air, his head back and laughed. "I have built myself a secret army. A new race of zombie. Carnivorous in nature. Parasites!" He allowed for the horror of this to sink in.
Django had been looking around for more weapons. He grabbed a ceremonial axe from the wall and handed it to Drusilla. "Just because, love." Django quipped about his gift.
"Ooooh!" Drusilla cooed at her new toy. Lovely! She was steeling herself though, for whatever was about to come crashing through every door and window. Dru wasn't about to let anything happen to her Django. Quickly, she pecked him on the cheek, before the inevitable onslaught which would follow. Django brought his Smith & Wessons out now, as he continued to cradle his Drusilla.
"My guests." Murder Legendre pretended to lament. "Prepare to be astounded! Let the buffet begin!"
And with that, Legendre's army of carnivorous zombies were crashing through windows, bursting through doors and charging down the staircase from all directions. They looked like rotting, skeletal insects and had filthy talons and teeth filed to sharp points. They moved swiftly and ruthlessly, leaping onto running, screaming victims and tearing them down. Partygoers were fleeing wildly but the zombies were coming at them from all directions.
Some of the guests seemed to form into a tight circle in the corner. There seemed nowhere to run to escape the carnivores who were tearing the fleeing socialites down, like a pack of vultures. This was where Django and Dru decided to make their stand too. Django was shooting at the zombies. He quickly found out that shooting them in the head was the best way to keep them down. Aiming wouldn't always have been an allowable luxury in the heat of the moment however, if it wasn't for Dru's protective tactics. Drusilla morphed into predatory mode and was quick to attack any zombies who came near Django, while he reloaded. Legendre was watching, quite safe of course, with a pleased expression. Drusilla used a moment's respite to glare at him.
Django knew he would be running out of bullets fast and it would soon be bushwhacker knife time. He didn't like the idea of helplessly watching other humans being torn limb from limb by the pets of his own loathed enemy. If only his and Dru's teamwork methods could somehow catch on, maybe everyone would have more chance of surviving this.
How romantic Django's gift of the axe was, Drusilla thought as she pummelled the zombies over the head with it, with satisfying splats. She found to her joy that decapitation potential was an added feature, with this particular model. Django was trying to find other weapons to hand. Some of the other guests picked up on his example. "Take this!" Django ordered to one such guest, tossing him a ornamental wall sword as he fired at a leaping zombie in mid air.
Elsewhere in the room, a young guest was being pulled down as he tried to grab the sword from a suit of armour on display. Four zombies tore into him. One girl had leapt for the chandelier and was kicking out with desperation as the pack rounded on her.
Django's tactic to try and get the others organised into helping the fight seemed to be working to an extent. Certainly some of the silly mortals seemed to be living past their five second life expectancy. Drusilla realised of course, that Django's humanity played a part in it also, but so long as it was helping their own cause too, Drusilla didn't let the fact bother her. "You're trying to save people aren't you Django?" Dru teased her brave knight. "I shall have to spank you for it, afterwards." Drusilla swung round and lopped off a carnivore's head, following quickly with a head splitting crackdown on the next one. "Cover me love, I'm going after Evil Eyes!" Dru sweetly told her companion in carnage.
"Anything for my girl." Django grunted affectionately as he threw a spear at a zombie coming down the stairs. The former demon hunter emptied his last rounds on some of the charging fiends as Drusilla ran across the room, eyes and senses seeking out her prey.
****
Loretta screamed as two of the carnivore zombies ran into the room and went straight for her poor Janet. Not minding that the flesh had been dead for weeks possibly, they began tearing away at her. Loretta saw that all that was left of her dear sister was about to be truly gone now. Angrily and self protectively, she fired her revolver. Enough shots eventually brought the two carnivores down but by that time, Janet's body was an inhuman mess of bite marks and tears. Loretta patted the head of her dead sister and said her last goodbye, swiftly moving to the door before more of those things came in.
****
Drusilla had found her nemesis. Furiously she swung her axe in vicious arcs against Murder Legendre's head. Somehow he always seemed to dodge away. Drusilla growled with frustration. She just wanted to end all this madness as quickly and definitively as possible. "Grrr! I'm going to dice you up, you nasty tyrant!"
"But I haven't even told you the best part of my plan." Legendre beamed effortlessly at this foolish vampire child who tried to swat him. "This night is about far more than just making an example of a few complacent landowners and wealthy children. I am even now preparing my greatest feat yet. A display of power that shall shake Haiti to it's very core! Tonight I shall summon a beast from the ocean depths with the power to wreak havoc on all who doubt me. And I shall be the one who pulls the strings on everyone's fate!"
"No!" Drusilla whispered with realisation. "Not my pet! He listens to me sing for him. I won't let you take him from me!" She swung again with frustration. The axe caught Legendre in a moment of careless glee, slicing down his middle. With surprising strength and speed he grabbed the axe from a stunned Drusilla and hit her with the handle, sending her across the room.
"My dear." Legendre commiserated as his wound healed completely, both halves of his body sealing completely up anew. "Did you really think you could come along and take control of anything in Haiti?" He gripped the axe firmly and broke it in two, throwing the pieces away with disinterest. "I shall look forward to seeing you again." Murder Legendre grinned in triumph. "My darling vampire bride!" And with a brief but dizzying spin of his evening cloak, he vanished from in a puff of smoke.
****
Django saw Loretta being grabbed by one of the carnivores, as she ran into the bedlam from wherever she had been exploring. She flailed around to get the thing off her back but it got it's teeth into her shoulder. Django leapt the space between them and swung the ornamental sword, that the last owner had now dropped due to overwhelming numbers, at the thing's head. "Did you find the moth then?" he asked Loretta.
The girl shook her head. "No. Just Janet! She's truly dead now. Those things got her."
Django had no time to comfort her on the understandably upsetting news of course. So they even eat other zombies, he thought grimly. A carnivore leapt across the room at Django. He elbowed it in the face, knocking it's jawbone askew. It slashed him across the midriff with it's talons however, forcing a grunt of pain from the ex demon hunter. Luckily Loretta was on hand to cave the brute's head in with a lamp stand.
"Django!" Drusilla frantically came up to her lover, tugging at his sleeve. "We have to get out of here and find some sort of transport. You won't believe what he's going to do next." She shook with indignation. "We have to get to the beach. He's going to use my pet to take over Haiti. My poor squid that I've been singing to at night!"
Django grabbed his frightened bunny in his arms. "Like hell he is Dru! Not while he has me to go through!" Django had said it with such resolve that Drusilla wished she had time to kiss him for it. "Let's get after him then, pet!"
What a fabulous ball it would all be. If it wasn't for the sinister reputation of the mysterious and normally reclusive host, that was. It was like Gatsby.....if Gatsby had been a murdering relic of the Imperialist days on Haiti. The large decorous sitting room of Murder Legendre was full of costumes and revelry. Legendre had specifically invited many of the socialites and the prominent of the island.
"This really is very lovely of you to have us in like this." Loretta was saying through gritted teeth. "After all you must be very busy."
"Not at all." The distinguished European man said with what seemed a customary nobility. "It's always my pleasure to have such charming and......lovely guests." He was quite a handsome older gentleman, Loretta noted. But his piercing eyes probably kept the Anna Nicole wannabes away.
"To be honest, we had thought this plantation was deserted" Loretta giggled, as though tipsy. "We heard that the owner had died or moved out a long time ago and left it a rundown mess." She looked around the room, towards the staircase. "Oooh, you don't have ghosts here do you?"
Loretta could tell that Murder Legendre very much wanted to glare at her. He resisted the urge though and allowed a dignified chuckle. "My dear, you are mistaken. I have been here for longer than you can know." He shrugged. "Still, I have been quiet on the island social scene of late." He purred at his guest. "A mistake I plan to make up for verrrrrryyyyy sooooon!" A pirate and a Amazon Princess began to vie for their host's attention and Loretta wandered off again. She put on the glittery face mask that Drusilla had given her. If she could just blend into the crowd, maybe the host wouldn't notice her slip away.
The plantation had clearly not appeared deserted of course. As Mr Ahmed had told Django, the sugarcane production had continued to prosper. The way the workers in the field moved around, it was very clear that there were no living among them. Not that they seemed to be troubled by the sloppiness that affected Django and Dru's own workers of course.
****
Django was warily looking around him. He was well armed for the night of course. No telling what this creep would have in his home, besides zombies. Django felt some comfort from the Smith & Wessons and bushwhacker knife strapped to his holster, beneath the trenchcoat. No telling how many of those present were loyal subjects of Legendre's little reign. Django looked around for his Drusilla. There she was. Dancing with what Django assumed wasn't really a demon at all. That hula skirt! Django cursed fate for making him have to keep his mind on less pleasant business tonight. If we can do this right, Django was telling himself, I can have many more nights to see my Dru in a hula skirt.
Django felt the air turn fetid around him. He turned instinctively and saw those blazing eyes of his host. "I'm so glad to see that you could come." Murder Legendre offered. "You are one of the new entrepreneurs of the island, are you not? One of the ones who recently took over a hotel and plantation, under....curious circumstances?"
Django noticed Loretta slip out from the party as Legendre was talking. Clever girl. He would have to keep Legendre busy for a while and then later, perhaps try and do the same. "You seem to have a very singular taste." Django smiled charmingly at the man who had tormented his girl and lived, so far. "This room could almost have been designed by Boris Karloff."
Murder Legendre definitely stiffened here and almost spilled his cognac. "Oh you think so?" he spluttered in annoyance. "That cocksucker! I shall have to get the decorators in by first sunlight!" Legendre realised he was being goaded of course and attempted to laugh it off. "Sorry, my young friend, but my family traditions are long and proud. I don't like to see Hollywood trivialise our great heritage for pulp entertainment."
Drusilla didn't seem to notice her host's bad mood though. She came up behind the two men and overhearing Django's comment, started faking bats wings with her arms and fluttering all over Django. "Grrr! I am The Ghoul! I want to eat you love!" Django noted Legendre trying to bury his foul mood, as he began to turn on the charm for the other guest.
"So you are the lovely Drusilla that everyone talks about?" the Hungarian kissed the vampire's hand. Drusilla's flesh seemed to crawl to her. The memory of their previous meeting, in her head, was too horribly flesh. "I have heard promising things about your hotel venture. But, sad to say there has been less favourable gossip about your zombie workers."
"Our zombies are very silly." Drusilla pouted. "They're not at all like your fabulous specimens. Can't say I like the big house though. It's filled with cobwebs and secret pacts that you won't share."
"I'm sorry if my tastes in living do not please you." Legendre let his feathers ruffle a bit. Emphasis on living of course.
****
Loretta had successfully slipped off. She was exploring some of the other rooms about the big old house. She wasn't really expecting it to be easy of course. This moth in the jar that Django spoke of would probably be safely locked away, considering it's importance to Legendre's deeds. Still, they would have to get started somewhere. Oh this looks interesting, Loretta thought as she spied a dusty old chest at the corner of a spare bedroom. As she fiddled with the lock, she did not hear the soft bare footsteps approaching from behind. Or see the knife pointed towards her back.
****
"It takes time and great skill to learn how to cultivate good zombies." Legendre grinned. "Certainly it is not a career path that just anyone can pick up." He turned all his attention purely to Drusilla now. "Perhaps my dear Drusilla could benefit from my years of experience on this front. I'm sure I could satisfy her..... Beyond compare!" He bent to kiss Drusilla's hand once more but she disgustedly pulled away and growled with indignation. She didn't like this horrid man using her to annoy Django like this.
Django coughed and got the attention of his host. "It occurs to me" he began in a casual tone, "that your set up is quite curious here. I mean here you've been for who knows how long, raising zombies and spells and such. Amassing such an impressive pantheon of folktales in the process. All the time in the world to get it just right." Django paused for effect. "And yet along comes my Drusilla of course. And after just a few weeks of running a hotel and playing around with some Voodoo, she's managed to have you all worried and perceiving her as a threat. You? The mighty Murder Legendre?" Django shrugged it off. "Just seems funny, that's all."
"I'm so glad that we can skip the pleasantries and foolish games now." Legendre leered. "Now please, go on with your story."
Django began to raise his voice in challenge, not caring whether the costumed guests overheard over the so called revelry. "Well it occurs to me that.....That the Emperor has no spells! Just a few tired old parlour tricks that he's probably exhausted already!"
Django expected Legendre to stiffen with rage and insult here. Instead he chuckled ominously "So, you impotent buffoons seek to test my power! Very well." Legendre turned his attention to the other partygoers and began to address everyone in general. Django and Drusilla looked to each other warily, ready for whatever was to come. "Ladies and gentlemen! Your attention for a moment!" Legendre clapped his hands as the revelry began to die down and heads turned in his direction.
****
Loretta was rummaging through old trinkets in the chest. Was it all really just junk? Or was something more valuable mixed in with it all? Loretta's "spider sense" tingled just in time and she dodged aside, just as an assailant with a knife thrust clumsily at her and crashed against the wall. Loretta's eyes filled with horror and emotion as she got a glimpse at the silent assailant. "Janet!"
Loretta's dead sister turned herself slowly round and began stumbling towards her target again. It was such a hideous sight for Loretta. In life her sister had been so athletic and graceful. What would she make of this crude and clumsy thing she had become. "Janet, you don't really want to hurt me." Loretta tried to reason. "It's Murder Legendre! The spooky man! Don't let him do this to you love. You don't want to stab your sister." Loretta stepped aside as Undead Janet surged forward yet again and got tangled up in a coat stand.
Loretta took the revolver she'd brought for protection from her purse. She didn't want to shoot her sister, even although she was clearly already lost. But there was no telling if all the clattering about would bring more zombies on the scene or not. "Oh Janet!" she sobbed.
****
Murder Legendre was addressing his audience of costumed island socialites. "As you are all very much aware, I have been quiet and reclusive for quite some time. Indeed many of you will have entertained the notion that I had passed on or that my standing on Haiti affairs had waned somewhat." Legendre began to glare now as he looked around his guests. "Indeed the younger and more naive of you may have decided that I was just a myth, a long forgotten phantom."
"However, it should be clear to you now that this is not so. But do not mistake my hospitality for a weak attempt at canvassing favours or reminding you all who I am." Legendre was hitting full stride here. Most of the gathered here, seemed a little on edge. This was no has been or wasting recluse who now addressed them. There was something bold and decisive at work. "My friends you have come here out of curiosity. To see the sleepy legend and prod it with a stick. But this is no vapid celebration or hark to past glory that you have come to witness."
Murder Legendre chuckled, in a way that made the skin crawl and want to run from the place. "I chose my guest list from the rich and prominent of Haiti for a reason. Your lack of faith in me has displeased me. For this, I must make an example to all of Haiti. The fools must know never to underestimate me again. That is why I have brought you here..... To your deaths!"
Gasps came from many of those present. The flames in Legendre's eyes reminded those gathered of all the stories of The Zombie Master who no one dared cross. Drusilla began to groan to herself. She was sensing something awful. She and Django had not expected this. They knew the madman would have something planned for their visit, but they had not counted on something of this scale, planned for the whole party. Drusilla whimpered and held herself as though in throes of indigestion. Django put his arm around her to steady her, looking around the room as he did. "They come! They come!" Drusilla shook her head with trepidation.
Legendre grinned with glee. A strange skittering sound began to be heard around the room. Coming from all directions. An unnerving sound that grated on the nerves. "My friends, though it is true that I have been quiet for some time, do not think that I have been completely idle." He looked to Django and Drusilla here. "Some of you may have noticed a curious flaw among some of the zombies of late. A taste for human flesh, previously unheard of among zombies of Haiti. I have noticed it too. A cultural memory from some of the hokum American movies no doubt, brought over by incomers. Cultural corrosion. I however, have found a use for this matter. An experiment!"
Legendre threw his arms in the air, his head back and laughed. "I have built myself a secret army. A new race of zombie. Carnivorous in nature. Parasites!" He allowed for the horror of this to sink in.
Django had been looking around for more weapons. He grabbed a ceremonial axe from the wall and handed it to Drusilla. "Just because, love." Django quipped about his gift.
"Ooooh!" Drusilla cooed at her new toy. Lovely! She was steeling herself though, for whatever was about to come crashing through every door and window. Dru wasn't about to let anything happen to her Django. Quickly, she pecked him on the cheek, before the inevitable onslaught which would follow. Django brought his Smith & Wessons out now, as he continued to cradle his Drusilla.
"My guests." Murder Legendre pretended to lament. "Prepare to be astounded! Let the buffet begin!"
And with that, Legendre's army of carnivorous zombies were crashing through windows, bursting through doors and charging down the staircase from all directions. They looked like rotting, skeletal insects and had filthy talons and teeth filed to sharp points. They moved swiftly and ruthlessly, leaping onto running, screaming victims and tearing them down. Partygoers were fleeing wildly but the zombies were coming at them from all directions.
Some of the guests seemed to form into a tight circle in the corner. There seemed nowhere to run to escape the carnivores who were tearing the fleeing socialites down, like a pack of vultures. This was where Django and Dru decided to make their stand too. Django was shooting at the zombies. He quickly found out that shooting them in the head was the best way to keep them down. Aiming wouldn't always have been an allowable luxury in the heat of the moment however, if it wasn't for Dru's protective tactics. Drusilla morphed into predatory mode and was quick to attack any zombies who came near Django, while he reloaded. Legendre was watching, quite safe of course, with a pleased expression. Drusilla used a moment's respite to glare at him.
Django knew he would be running out of bullets fast and it would soon be bushwhacker knife time. He didn't like the idea of helplessly watching other humans being torn limb from limb by the pets of his own loathed enemy. If only his and Dru's teamwork methods could somehow catch on, maybe everyone would have more chance of surviving this.
How romantic Django's gift of the axe was, Drusilla thought as she pummelled the zombies over the head with it, with satisfying splats. She found to her joy that decapitation potential was an added feature, with this particular model. Django was trying to find other weapons to hand. Some of the other guests picked up on his example. "Take this!" Django ordered to one such guest, tossing him a ornamental wall sword as he fired at a leaping zombie in mid air.
Elsewhere in the room, a young guest was being pulled down as he tried to grab the sword from a suit of armour on display. Four zombies tore into him. One girl had leapt for the chandelier and was kicking out with desperation as the pack rounded on her.
Django's tactic to try and get the others organised into helping the fight seemed to be working to an extent. Certainly some of the silly mortals seemed to be living past their five second life expectancy. Drusilla realised of course, that Django's humanity played a part in it also, but so long as it was helping their own cause too, Drusilla didn't let the fact bother her. "You're trying to save people aren't you Django?" Dru teased her brave knight. "I shall have to spank you for it, afterwards." Drusilla swung round and lopped off a carnivore's head, following quickly with a head splitting crackdown on the next one. "Cover me love, I'm going after Evil Eyes!" Dru sweetly told her companion in carnage.
"Anything for my girl." Django grunted affectionately as he threw a spear at a zombie coming down the stairs. The former demon hunter emptied his last rounds on some of the charging fiends as Drusilla ran across the room, eyes and senses seeking out her prey.
****
Loretta screamed as two of the carnivore zombies ran into the room and went straight for her poor Janet. Not minding that the flesh had been dead for weeks possibly, they began tearing away at her. Loretta saw that all that was left of her dear sister was about to be truly gone now. Angrily and self protectively, she fired her revolver. Enough shots eventually brought the two carnivores down but by that time, Janet's body was an inhuman mess of bite marks and tears. Loretta patted the head of her dead sister and said her last goodbye, swiftly moving to the door before more of those things came in.
****
Drusilla had found her nemesis. Furiously she swung her axe in vicious arcs against Murder Legendre's head. Somehow he always seemed to dodge away. Drusilla growled with frustration. She just wanted to end all this madness as quickly and definitively as possible. "Grrr! I'm going to dice you up, you nasty tyrant!"
"But I haven't even told you the best part of my plan." Legendre beamed effortlessly at this foolish vampire child who tried to swat him. "This night is about far more than just making an example of a few complacent landowners and wealthy children. I am even now preparing my greatest feat yet. A display of power that shall shake Haiti to it's very core! Tonight I shall summon a beast from the ocean depths with the power to wreak havoc on all who doubt me. And I shall be the one who pulls the strings on everyone's fate!"
"No!" Drusilla whispered with realisation. "Not my pet! He listens to me sing for him. I won't let you take him from me!" She swung again with frustration. The axe caught Legendre in a moment of careless glee, slicing down his middle. With surprising strength and speed he grabbed the axe from a stunned Drusilla and hit her with the handle, sending her across the room.
"My dear." Legendre commiserated as his wound healed completely, both halves of his body sealing completely up anew. "Did you really think you could come along and take control of anything in Haiti?" He gripped the axe firmly and broke it in two, throwing the pieces away with disinterest. "I shall look forward to seeing you again." Murder Legendre grinned in triumph. "My darling vampire bride!" And with a brief but dizzying spin of his evening cloak, he vanished from in a puff of smoke.
****
Django saw Loretta being grabbed by one of the carnivores, as she ran into the bedlam from wherever she had been exploring. She flailed around to get the thing off her back but it got it's teeth into her shoulder. Django leapt the space between them and swung the ornamental sword, that the last owner had now dropped due to overwhelming numbers, at the thing's head. "Did you find the moth then?" he asked Loretta.
The girl shook her head. "No. Just Janet! She's truly dead now. Those things got her."
Django had no time to comfort her on the understandably upsetting news of course. So they even eat other zombies, he thought grimly. A carnivore leapt across the room at Django. He elbowed it in the face, knocking it's jawbone askew. It slashed him across the midriff with it's talons however, forcing a grunt of pain from the ex demon hunter. Luckily Loretta was on hand to cave the brute's head in with a lamp stand.
"Django!" Drusilla frantically came up to her lover, tugging at his sleeve. "We have to get out of here and find some sort of transport. You won't believe what he's going to do next." She shook with indignation. "We have to get to the beach. He's going to use my pet to take over Haiti. My poor squid that I've been singing to at night!"
Django grabbed his frightened bunny in his arms. "Like hell he is Dru! Not while he has me to go through!" Django had said it with such resolve that Drusilla wished she had time to kiss him for it. "Let's get after him then, pet!"