CHAPTER SIX: THE VAMPIRES OF LONDRES
There were four vampires, the heads of three Clans, gathered around a table in a mansion in the largest city of the Sixth Dimension, a meeting that had never before occurred.
Claude Dubreuil stood, in front of a wine-red curtain covering a window, a fluted half-full glass in his hand, attempting to dominate the scene. He appeared in his early twenties, a tall, pale young man, slightly effeminate and very elegant. He had been Turned some two hundred years ago, and by various betrayals, deft manoeuvring, and sheer luck had risen to become the head of one of the three powerful vampire-Clans of the Twelve Dimensions. The conference was in his territory, and he expected that the other three would show him due respect.
Wilhelm and Helga von Krupp sat next to each other, just touching. Wilhelm was a stockily built man who appeared in his late fifties, though most guessed he'd passed his third century since his Turning. He wore a large sword hung over his back, and looked like he knew how to use it. His wife also carried a blade, hanging from a shabby leather swordbelt that looked like it had seen much use, and wore a long dark coat that contrasted with her fair hair. She looked some years younger than her husband, in her early thirties perhaps, although she'd actually been Turned not long after him. They had both been guardsmen in the city of Helmsbad, once, dedicated to upholding law and order in their city; their dedication now was to their Clan. Claude Dubreuil thought of them both as painfully middle-class, devoted to each other and their ridiculous ideals. Even so, he'd crossed swords with them before—metaphorically speaking of course, one would have to be either a fool or a prodigy to do so literally—and had found that the code of honour they possessed only increased their strength and determination.
The third figure sat silently, his face seemingly carved of granite, his enormous body thoroughly filling the largest chair Claude possessed. His name was Mr. Wang, and his origins were unknown, though he was rumoured to be far older than any other vampire in that room. He was an important figure not only to the vampires but to the Manchurian underworld that spread across most of the larger cities; it was well known that to cross him meant death. Behind Mr. Wang stood a female vampire, wearing traditional Manchurian costume, her head respectfully bowed, silent as she always was: his devoted bodyguard, known as Kitten. The nature of the relationship between her and Mr. Wang was unknown; they were rumoured to be anything from relatives to lovers to simply servant and master.
"Gentlemen, and lady," Claude said, acknowledging Helga's presence. He ignored Kitten; she was only a bodyguard after all, regardless of ability. "I requested the pleasure of your company in order to discuss an issue relevant to us all."
"We are busy people," Wilhelm von Krupp said. "Perhaps our host would like to get to the point."
"Very well." Claude nodded curtly. "The Blood Crystal is in the hands of the Atmos rebels, and is gathering power from them."
"An artefact of your clan, is that correct?" Wilhelm rapped out.
"An artefact that once belonged to my clan," Claude corrected. "Made by the original Drakul himself, in the old stronghold of the Fourth Dimension. A place of power. The powers of the Blood Crystal will only benefit all of us."
"Just how will this benefit be accomplished?" asked Helga smoothly. She was more diplomatic than her husband, Claude knew, but their purpose was invariably identical.
"Used by the weak, it has the power to compel minds. Used by the strong, it has powers that will completely dominate those we choose. In the hands of vampires, its properties mean that it will benefit our entire race. With this awesome weapon and with the combined strengths of our three clans, we vampires will no longer be bound to the shadows. This world should be ours."
He motioned to the curtained window.
"Those that wander there are human sheep. They may be numerous, but once the Blood Crystal has gathered power and returned to its rightful place in my clan, I will have the power to control as many of them as I wish."
"You were mortal once," Helga said softly. "As were we all."
"That was a long time ago. I have greater power now. Are you with me, or against me?"
"It seems you do not need us, young man." Mr. Wang spoke for the first time, in heavily-accented English. It was said that he used the accent as a device both to show pride in his nationality and to encourage his enemies to underestimate him. Claude Dubreuil had no intention of doing the latter. "Gather your powers. We will be waiting."
"We still retain…powerful enemies," Claude said. "The only way that I—that we—can win will be by alliance and cooperation. While we were promised a fair place under the sorcerer Lord Fear, that is all in the past, and we must continue our struggle for survival." His words contrasted with the elaborately appointed room. "And I have received news that the Lightning Knights are stepping up their anti-vampire crusade."
"You have encouraged the Lightning Knights to attack you," Wilhelm said. "And we all are feeling the effects."
Claude laughed. "That is part of my plan," he said. "Distract the Knights here, now, from our real strategy. Keep them distracted. We then gain the Blood Crystal, made powerful by the spirits of the Atmos, and take what we want. Control whom we want, other than those of our own race. Have I made myself clear to you, my fellow vampires?"
Wilhelm and Helga exchanged a wordless glance.
"Abundantly so," Helga said.
"We accept a provisional alliance against the Lightning Knights, because they are a threat to us all," her husband added. "But we will wait for results from you before committing to further agreements. And we will send a representative to the Atmos."
"So far the Lightning Knights have given my people little trouble." Mr. Wang fixed a steely glare on Claude, and the other vampire could not help but take a step back. "I expect results, young Dubreuil. Betray me and expect to die."
Claude's glance shifted momentarily to Kitten, but she hadn't moved. He nodded.
"I thank you for your consideration," he said. "I accept your terms and await further communications." He gestured to the door.
A vampire clad in a butler's outfit appeared.
"Please, escort our esteemed guests to the door," Claude announced. "This interview is over."
The von Krupps rose together with dignity, and left the room without once turning back. Mr. Wang made an elaborate gesture, and for an instant darkness covered the room. When light returned again, Claude noticed that both Mr. Wang and Kitten had disappeared completely.
A cheap parlour trick, he told himself. And it is said that he is too weighty to move himself, though I would not like to depend on that rumour.
Claude Dubreuil called for his second-in-command, a man called Etienne Parry, said to have eyes as black and devilish as his long-dead heart, with an appetite for slaughter and torture unparalleled by even Dubreuil's own, and began to work on his plans for the defeat of the Lightning Knights, among other enemies.