Rise of the Vampire Queen

Chapter Four

A gray tint filled the sky as Dionysus, Annabeth and Grover arrived in the town they saw on the video feed.

The three of them walked around carefully, looking from left to right. From the streets riddled with debris, car, vans, vendors, to an empty boardwalk, there was no one. But it was weird that there were no vampires around either.

Annabeth always wanted to come to the boardwalk. She would look up pictures on her phone and always saw the smiling faces of kids and families with cotton candy hot dogs with a dog beside them as they looked around at the various stores. But now all she saw were abandoned stories and not a single hint of laughter in the air. Where were all the people she wondered and why she did she have a bad feeling in the pit of her stomach?

The board walk was quiet too quiet and Dionysus didn't like it one bit. He wandered further, noticed the empty streets, cars and buildings. As he looked inside a few of the restaurants, he noticed that food was out all over the tables and floor with a mixture of a familiar red liquid he hoped he would never have to see again. Shaking his head, he focused on looking for the people and where the vampires could hide. Sighing, he looked around some more and he saw Grover's eyes looking further down the boardwalk.

Walking over to him with Annabeth right beside him, the three of them noticed a Ferris wheel spinning in the distance. He noticed how all the lights were lit up with the music playing.

"I'm not sure to be scared or not, but that's weird." Grover said.

"Just be on alert because that sick feeling in the pit of my stomach just got worse. "Annabeth said.

Dionysus remained silent as he moved toward the Carnival. Annabeth and Grover kept their mouths shut as they followed him. The closer they got, Annabeth nudged Grover upon seeing someone at the ticket booth. Yet, when they looked at Dionysus, his eyes narrowed.

Reaching the ticket booth, a woman with long black hair with red eyes wearing a red and white pine stripe jacket and bowed lightly to Dionysus.

"Three tickets," the woman said as she headed one ticket to Dionysus. She turned to Grover and Annabeth, but Dionysus snatched them from her. He glared at the woman with a light red tint in his eyes. The woman backed away and pressed the button. The metal door open as the three of them walked in side.

The moment the three entered, a familiar metallic scent touched a whiff past Dionysus' nose. No doubt the same red liquid flourished in this place… blood it wasn't from animal, it was human. A sigh escaped his lips as he stopped. Annabeth and Grover bumped into him. Glancing back at the two of them, he noticed their eyes wandering all over, especially to the food vendors. From pizza, hotdogs, popcorn, funnel cake and Cotton candy all seem to have a smiling person inside motioning for them to come closer. Their eyes were as red as the woman in the ticket booth.

"Listen up" Dionysus said,

"Annabeth and Grover's bodies jerk to attention as if being pulled out of a trance.

"We are among vampires now; they will do anything and everything to get you a lone so stay together and be on guard at all times."

"Yes, sir," Annabeth and Grover said in unison.

Dionysus nodded as he looked at the Ferris wheel. The metallic smell lingered in the air. He wondered why the others hadn't smelled it yet, but he had a feeling they would soon.

The three of them continued walking past the food vendors towards the games and rides. A knot formed even tighter in Annabeth stomach as the smell of blood hit her. Looking around, she saw a dart game. The vampiric owner of the game revealed his fangs. He pointed to the various cat and dog pushes that line the walls, then pointed to a man and woman who were tied to a massive dark board that spins around and around, their screams muffled but a rag in their mouths.

Beside the dart game was a soccer ball game. The balls had spikes on the front of them, and each goal had a man and woman tied to the goals. Their mouths gagged as tears streamed down their faces.

Pulling her eyes away from the games, she and Grover looked to the rides instead, but it wasn't any better. From the bumper cars to the tea cups any humans they spotted were tied to their seat and gagged, their screams muffled, but they could feel their feel as tears streamed down their faces. Annabeth stared at a ride called the Wave swinger that spins faster and faster. Annabeth bit her lip as rags dropped from the ride. As the human's blood-curdling screams caused her to shiver. She wanted to do nothing but run over, free the people and attack the vampires, but with only three of them and dozens of them, she wouldn't get far.

Pulling herself away, Annabeth turned to Grover, who stared at a vortex roller coaster called shark escape. Screams echoed from the rides as well, along with blood dripping from the rails. This prompted Grover to move forward, but Annabeth pulled him away as they continued following Dionysus.

Dionysus, Annabeth, and Grover Finally get to the Ferris wheel in the back. They stop a few feet away, as four vampires stood in front of the Ferris wheel. They had on black leather jackets with matching color pants. One was a bit more muscular than the other vampires they had seen. One even looked as if he would rip out of his jacket.

The man from the ticket booth appeared she pulled the lever and the Ferris wheel stopped. Walking over to the cart, she opened the door and out walked Percy. Beside was a woman with black hair and blue eyes. They step aside as a woman with long brown hair wearing a long, flowing white dress. Dionysus' eyes remained fixed on the woman who smiled at him.

"Hello it's nice to see you in person," the woman said, looking directly at Dionysus.

Dionysus' eyes lit up the moment he under what she meant.

"Its you…"

The woman smiled as she walked down the steps of the Ferris wheel with Percy and Elizabeth on either side of her.

"Yes, my name is Natalia. The woman to the right is Elizabeth, your child." The woman said as the teenage girl bowed slightly.

Dionysus looked at her for a moment, then over at Percy. He looked to Annabeth, who was being held back by Grover, which only made Natalia's smile grew wider.

"I have taken excellent care of sweet Percy. He has proven himself time and time again," Natalia said, walking toward Dionysus.

The moment she was a few inches away from him, both Annabeth and Grover stood in front of him, prompting Natalia to chuckle.

"Oh, how sweet the hybrids think they can protect you."

Snapping her fingers, Natalia stepped back as one vampire grab Annabeth while the other pulled Grover away. They struggled to get free, but the two vampires' grip only grew tightened.

Dionysus grit his teeth, but the moment Natalia moved with inches from his lips, her crimson red eyes glowed. His tense face lessen the moment she reached a hand up and gently caressed his cheek.

"Mr. D!" Grover screamed.

"Please snap out of it!" Annabeth screamed.

But Dionysus could no longer hear their voices, for them seem so distant now as Natalia put her lips to his ear.

"A queen needs her king." she whispered. "I miss you, lovely."

Pulling away, Dionysus' eyes flickered between brown and red as a low growl escaped his throat. Holding his head, Dionysus dropped to his knees as parts of his skin were turned red.

Annabeth and Grover continued, struggling to get free shouting at Dionysus. Natalia laughed at her victory close at hand, when her head snapped to one of her men holding Annabeth, shaking violently before turning to dust. Look to the other one holding Grover. The man did the same and the moment he turned to dust, there stood a woman with silver hair holding a dryad bone steak. Natalia snarled at the woman, which only made the woman smile.

"You!"

"Hiya, old hag," the woman said before punching the woman in the face.

Stumbling backwards, the other vampires hissed and crouched down, baring their fangs.

Annabeth and Grover smiled as they noticed who the woman was as they stood beside her.

"Celeste, thank you

"Yeah, thanks a bunch!"

"Don't thank me yet. Here they come."

Pulling out their weapons, Annabeth, Grover, and Celeste charged forward.

Looking up, a smile spread across Dionysus' lips the moment he saw Celeste. He looked down at his hand, noticing one arm was red and scaly while the other was still normal. He was coming if he wanted him to or not.

Pushing himself off the ground, a vampire ran past him, only for Dionysus to pick him up and slam him down on the ground. Celeste glanced over at Dionysus, but Natalia punch her in the face, knocking her off her feet. But she kicked her feet,knocking her down as well. Natalia rolled away as Celeste made her over to Dionysus.

Slamming another vampire into the ground, Celeste handed him a stake, and he rammed it into his heart. Looking back at her, Celeste sighed, punching him in the arm. She winced, but he couldn't help but notice her glassy eyes.

"Fool… you should have called me." Celeste said.

"I know… but I am glad you're here." Dionysus said, wincing as more of his body was turning red.

Celeste sighed as she raised her hands up to touch his face, only from him to take a hold of it, shaking his head.

"Cel…" Dionysus choked out.

"It's happening all over again, isn't it?"

"I'm afraid so..."

The two stared at each other for a few moments before they turned to Natalia, who was behind Percy. She gave them both a menacing look as she squeezed Percy's shoulders.

"Percy,"

"Yes, my queen?"

"Wash them away."

Percy's eyes glisten as a red aura formed around Percy his as the water all around them churned and within seconds a massive wave growing taller moved close to the pier. Celeste and Dionysus looked at each other. Dionysus was fully into a reddish demon with curled horns, his shirt completely gone, exposing his chest. Celeste ran toward Annabeth and Grover as the massive wave was almost upon them. Grabbing a hold of their hand, Celeste looked back at Dionysus who now stood beside Natalia and the moment the wave touches down the three of disappeared.

Percy's eyes returned to normal as the water receded. Natalia patted Percy on the head before leaning on Bacchus shoulder. Jeffery appeared with more vampires cheering as Bacchus held Natalia close.

"Welcome back, my love," Natalia said.

Bacchus looked at Natalia and smiled as she kissed him on the lips. The king of vampires has returned. It was finally time for them to own the night and soon the world.