Chapter VIII

An Unwelcome Visitor

When Malachi arrived back at Ziodec he headed straight for Amelia's room, in his right hand was his trusty cane that he had cherished for fifty years, in his left was the head of Kraven, he noticed the look of fear in the faces of the Ziodec employees as he passed them. As he entered Amelia's room he was taken aback by what he saw. Amelia was out of bed, dressed in a black silk robe she was sat at a small table sipping a glass of blood. She had heard Malachi approaching and cast her eyes towards the doorway. Her hair was tied back in a loose pony tail, exposing some of the injuries she had sustained during the lycan attack. Malachi stopped at the doorway bowed his head and casually threw Kraven's severed head onto the table at which Amelia was sat.

Amelia inspected the head, and poked at it with her finger "nice work." She said.

"I wish I could take credit for it my Lady" he responded dryly,

"What do you mean?" Asked Amelia with a raised eyebrow

"My Lady I have some bad news" Said Malachi

"I'm listening" said a clearly anxious Amelia.

Malachi hesitated for a moment trying to find the right words "They're all dead my lady, the entire coven."

"What..?" Asked Amelia

"When my men and I arrived at the mansion it was burned out, completely gutted, there were no survivors, the entire coven mutilated and dead, Kraven and his men had already been massacred."

Amelia had a look of horror on her face a tear slowly rolled down her cheek "All of them?" she choked.

"I'm sorry my lady" Malachi pleaded.

"You must be mistaken!" She spoke through gritted teeth "That coven made up half of our number! And I'm supposed to believe that they're all gone?" She got up from her chair and threw it against the wall, she walked up to Malachi and only centimeters from his face began to bark orders at him. "You are to take as many men as you need and kill every lycan in this country, do you understand me? I don't want any of them left alive"

"My lady I don't think it was the Lycans" Malachi stated being careful to avoid eye contact with her.

"What are you talking about?" She demanded.

"The only Lycan body was in the throne room, he was in human form and unarmed, you know if it had been a lycan attack there would be more bodies, and there is no way they could have killed all of them." Malachi watched as Amelia composed herself and began thinking "There's something else my Lady."

"What now?" She snapped at him

"Markus's coffin was empty; we found no sign of him." Malachi's head was hung in shame; he felt he had failed Amelia, something he was not accustomed to doing. He was expecting to be chastised for his failure, instead he noticed a look of realization come over Amelia's face, she looked afraid. "My Lady?" he asked.

"I want you to gather all of the Vampire's in this facility I wish to address them. Find out where Nina and our reinforcements are." She turned her back to Malachi and placed a hand on her forehead."

"I'll do it now" He said as he turned to leave the room.

"And find me something to wear!" She called after him.

As Malachi walked from his mistresses room a great deal of disturbing thoughts were racing through his mind, why did Amelia want to meet with everyone, what thought had occurred to her that made her so afraid. He hated to see her like this; he just hoped she had a plan, a way to put this terrible mess right.

Meanwhile Amelia was pacing up and down in her room, she had her fists clenched and allowed her fangs to become elongated. She stopped pacing and rested her head against the wall. "Markus!" She hissed

………………………………………………………………………………………………

Hungary- 1201

Amelia stood alone in a great stone room; the ancestral palace had been in her family for generations. Following the death of her Father she had become ruler of her family's territories, however her power came with a great burden. Her army had been suffering defeats from an unknown and seemingly undefeatable enemy; these wild beasts were tearing through her territory and killing her subjects. There were also the political problems she faced, being a young woman, it was hard to gain acceptance from the warlords who controlled the territory around her. The only reason her territory had not been swallowed up by the other kingdoms was the fact that Viktor, the ruler of the lands to the North of her was honoring an alliance he made with her father. She preyed for an end to the violence, however her faith was failing, she felt God had abandoned her. Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of a mans voice. "Princess Amelia." The man spoke.

"What is it" she asked the man in armor standing in the huge doorway.

"There is an army marching on the castle Princess" He reported

"Whose Army?" She asked nervously

"Viktor is at its head Princess."

"Viktor?" She said in disbelief

"Yes Princess, and Markus Corvinus is riding at his side."

"When will they arrive?" Amelia asked

"Several days princess, they only march at night, they shelter during daylight hours."

"I see." She said coldly.

Amelia sat in a room with a frail old man, Viktor's army was only a few hours away.

"Why is Viktor doing this Eli?" She asked him.

"I do not know princess" was the old mans response "Maybe he has found a more desirable alliance with Corvinus."

"What does that mean for us?" She asked

"It means you will have to except Markus's marriage proposal, and allow him claim your territory."

"I don't want to" She snapped

"Princess you must have a husband!" The old man snapped and began to cough.

"Princess" A voice interrupted "Viktor is at the gate."

"Tell him I will speak with him" She told her soldier.

Amelia sat on her throne flanked by men wielding crossbows, her ancient looking viceroy Eli stood hunched behind her throne, Viktor, Markus and their bodyguards were stood in front of her.

"Why all the security Princess?" Viktor asked Amelia pointing to the bowmen surrounding her.

"Why have you come here with an Army Lord Viktor?" She replied.

"I have an offer for you Princess." Said Viktor

"And what would that be?" Interrupted Eli

"As I'm sure you are aware.." Viktor began "There is a new threat to our lands, a plague of Beasts rampaging through our territories. I need your help to stop it, you and your army combined with my forces, and Markus's knowledge of the beast we can stop them. Will you stand with me Princess, as your Father did?"

Markus then stepped forward and added to Viktor's emotive speech "I can guarantee the sovereignty of your lands, my Princess; I can bring peace and security to your people."

Amelia considered what had been said, she cast her glance towards Markus "If I were to join you, I will not be bound by any ideas of marriage. This alliance would be one of convenience; I am not accepting your proposal. I reserve the right to choose a husband when I see fit."

Markus hung his head in rejection "Of course" He conceded.

Amelia continued "Say I do except this alliance, what happens when our enemy is defeated, elements of your army will still be in my lands, and the son of Corvinus will have a new opportunity to build a power base, and pursue his ambitious infatuation with me." She stopped and sighed "Viktor, the alliance you and my father formed is beneficial to us both, and will be honored. However I do not see what Markus can offer me or my men."

Viktor smiled, and held out his arms in friendship "Immortality" he whispered.

Malachi and Dimitri stood waiting for Amelia to emerge. She was having a shower and getting changed ready to address the Vampires at Ziodec.

"These are trying times" muttered Dimitri

"Tell me about it" Malachi responded

"What do you think Amelia wants to talk ab…"

"sshh" Malachi interrupted him "Did you hear that?"

"Hear What?" Asked Dimitri, just then there was a thud at the other end of the corridor. "What was that? He asked Malachi, then another thud.

"Get behind me" Malachi told Dimitri as he clenched his fist around his cane, just then the door at the end of the corridor, where the noises had come from began to open. The door opened and a single figure stepped through. He wasn't particularly tall however his stature commanded respect, he had red hair tied back in a pony tail and a matching beard. He wore a dirty khaki over coat over a black skirt like garment, and his piercing blue eyes stared a hole through the two Vampires at the other end of the corridor.

"Lord Markus" exclaimed Dimitri as he dropped to a knee

"Markus?" Spat Malachi in disbelief, he sank to his knee out of respect for the elder "My Lord I thought you were dead"

"Who are you?" Demanded Markus

"My name is Malachi my Lord, I'm Amelia's chief of security"

"Amelia?" whispered Markus

"Are you okay my Lord?" asked Dimitri

"Yes Dimitri" said Markus with a sinister tone "Where is Amelia?"

Malachi rose to his feet "why do you want to know my Lord?"

"Its her turn to sleep, my turn to rule" he hissed

"I don't think she's going to want to give up power my Lord, not until these events are sorted"

"Its her turn to sleep" Markus repeated with a sense of malice in his voice.

"How did you get in here without encountering the guards my Lord?" asked Malachi coldly

Markus smiled as two large, pointed black limbs protruded from his back, they stretched out with incompressible speed towards the two Vampires, Malachi deflected one of the limbs with his cane, however one of the jet black spears impaled Dimitri. Malachi displayed his fangs and hissed, charging towards the attacking elder. He delivered a spinning kick to Markus's face, and much to his surprise the younger Vampire was able to match the elder move for move, he was even able to best him at one point driving the handle of his cane into the elders face, he unsheathed his blade and began to attack wildly, and in doing so was able to do something no one had been able to do before, except Viktor, Malachi was able to topple Markus.

Markus quickly jumped back to his feet, and the two Vampires stared each other down, then much to the shock and alarm of Malachi, Markus underwent a disturbing transformation, he grew in height, his muscle mass seemed to increase, his skin took on the same black leathery complexion as the two limbs that he used to impale Dimitri, but perhaps most alarming was the change that occurred in his face, his hair disappeared and his features became bat-like.

"What the fuck" Malachi muttered under his breath.

The two men stared at each other, Malachi, clearly distressed by his opponent's transformation. He began to hiss and snarl at Markus until the elder charged at him. Malachi attacked him with everything he had, fists, feet and fangs. Markus however was through playing games, he began a sickening assault on Malachi, bouncing the Vampire off of walls, slicing at him with his claws, and attempting to break every bone in his body. Malachi lay at Markus's feet, the elder placed his talon like foot on his opponents chest, he raised one of the black spear-like limbs high above his head, and was poised to drive its point through the heart of the fallen warrior, that was until he was distracted by something, a scent, and a voice he had not experienced for two hundred years.

"Hello Markus" Said Amelia sweetly.