Chapter 23: Beautiful
You see me rise again
You will feel me fly again.
You're so wonderful.
I will be there by your side.
-Poloroid
"Could she honestly?" Victoria asked, yanking a shot gun out of the rack and slipping into the holster slung across her back. Despite being slightly disoriented after the attack, Amelia immediately ordered every Clan member to meet up at the labs. The large armored truck arrived shortly after, providing them with fresh supplies and ammunition. By the time all available Clan members showed up, the junk yard buzzed with activity. In some small clusters, they cleaned and checked their weapons; in others, they shared the news about Selene, Michael and Nyssa.
The feeling of excitement, anticipation, and feral energy flowed through everyone of them. They knew this was it: a full scale assault on the castle and everyone of them readied themselves for what would be a major turning point in the war.
Anna sighed, stepping down out of the truck and to the side so others could go in. Brushing a few wet strands of hair out of her face, she gazed at the cloudy sky as the snow continued to fall. "I don't think she could. She's very small and even though she's a hybrid, Marcus and William are far out of her league in strength." She shrugged, watching as Victoria jumped down next to her; she accepted two clips of UV bullets and shoved them in her belt. "She might get lucky and get to Selene and Michael. The three of them would be force to be reckoned with."
"If they are alive," Victoria mumbled, noticing the look on the faces of those around her that heard the statement. There was no confirmation of their leaders' continued existence and most of them doubted that Marcus would keep them alive long after Nyssa's supposed death. But since there was no sign or effort by the Coven to make the grand announcement all of them assumed would accompany their executions, the hope remained that they lived.
The two started toward a small group gathered near another transport truck when all of their radios crackled alive. "All squad leaders report to the main lab," Thomas' voice sounded more dangerous somehow, but it was most likely just the transmission itself. Fifteen or so moved through the crowd of about a hundred, including Anna and Victoria. It was as they came to the doorway that Anna glanced back before going down the steps with a shake of her head, nerves building up in her stomach as they made their way toward the trucks.
"Okay, so we'll be at the very top of the ridge, squads two and three will take up the rest of the space between the plateau and the hill. Once everyone is in position, we'll move out. The castle is down the mountainside and three miles in. The snow is expected to slow up by the time we get up there."
"What about the roads?" Kelley asked, looking at the small GSP screen perched atop the dashboard of the truck.
Thomas shook his head, "We sent up our own trucks to clear the roads and the local officials will be making their rounds up there about twenty minutes before we arrive. It should be pretty clear by then." He tapped her shoulder before stepping back and down to the ground. "Keep in contact and have your scanner on. The coven isn't exactly the best at covering their radio transmissions. Have your men on the look out for any sign of Nyssa. We want her safe, not in the midst of battle." With a curt nod and soft smile, she shut the door to the cab and started the engine.
Turning around, he went to walk but instead ran right into Victoria. Stumbling back a step, he quickly recovered and grabbed her arm as she almost fell backward as well. When they returned to stable standing positions, an awkward silence set right in. Even in the dark night sky and the random streaks of light from headlights, he focused his eyes to stare right into hers.
"We could die tonight," she blurted out, her voice making her sound almost out of breath.
"Yeah." Thomas punched himself internally. How much more like a love-struck teen would like to appear tonight, dumbass?
"So...I wanted to say that...If we do, or you do, or I do die, that I...I um..." she looked away for a second at the growing mounds of snow resting on the trash heaps. With a swift glance back, she saw the hopeful and curious expression in his face. A cold gust of wind and snow stung at her cheek as she tried to find a way to say what she wanted. Thomas felt his heart sinking slightly with each second passing, the nearly three hundred year old organ pounding horribly as he waited. He almost began to say something when she gave an exasperated growl.
"Fuck it,"she said loudly, rolling her eyes.
Not exactly knowing how it happened, but not really caring, Thomas found himself being kissed quite passionately, Victoria's arms wrapped around his neck and pulling his slightly taller form down to her height. After his initial shock, he pulled her as close as he could, their armor and weapons making it difficult to get as near as he wanted. In his minds eye, he saw her in the black tank top and jeans she wore the first time they met at the Clan house in the US. Their kiss at the airport was too short; here and now, it was perfect.
"Everyone ready?" a voice over the radio called, breaking the moment. Standing still for a second, Victoria gave him a loving look and he pulled his walkie talkie off his belt.
"We're good." Parting, Victoria bolted to the passenger side of the truck cab where Anna sat waiting. As she adjusted herself in the seat, she glanced through the slot into the trailer portion to see everyone sitting there quietly, staring up at her with smirks. Confused, she looked at Anna, and her soft face hardened at the vampire's wicked grin.
"What?" she asked. Anna only smiled and threw the truck into gear.
"I fear I am awake only a short while and have already been defeated."
"My lord, you are not defeated. Just click on the symbol there and...viola." William leaned forward before moving back with satisfaction as the screen flashed a pop-up reading 'COMPLETE!'
"This isn't too hard," he commented, moving the mouse around to click on other program icons.
"No, but it is hard not to get frustrated with these blasted things. One tiny problem can freeze the whole system and leave you with a headache." William looked up, studying the beautiful dark copper curls set against the palest skin he ever saw. A long, ruby red dress exposed a decent amount of her cleavage and hugged her curves in the most alluring way.
"What is your name?" he asked, still studying her body. "You never told me."
"Lakelann, my lord," she said with a small bow.
"Lakelann," he rolled off his tongue, watching as she shivered at his voice. "It is a very beautiful name."
"Thank you." He rose from his chair and walked across the room to one of the windows. The snow fell harder now, thick, chunky flakes tumbling down onto the accumulated mounds below. He watched only for a few moments before refocusing his eyes on his reflection. Black silk dripped off his arms, the button down shirt giving him a sophisticated and modern look despite his physique. He was built like a man of his age, large, broad shoulders, thick muscles, hair long and restrained with a simple strap of black leather, and a course, red beard that Marcus insisted he trim down to his face. At first glance, no one would think him different from the castle of vampires, or even guess who he was.
"Tell me, Lakelann. What do you think of this war?" he inquired, returning to the desk for his glass of chilled blood. The vampire blushed slightly, shaking her head as she sat in a chair opposite his position.
"I am no warrior, my lord. I only know what I am told."
"Then from what you are told, what do you think?"
She cleared her throat softly, looking up into piercing green eyes that made her shake slightly. "I believe the war will be over soon. That they have lost too many of their troops to successfully wage war any longer. That we will soon be through with this...mess." Quickly, she turned her eyes down in a shy manner, a stark contrast to the thoughts running through her mind at the moment.
William humphed, moving around to sit in the chair next to her, the laptop still opened and blaring light. "Well, it will take me a while to figure this out seeing as my niece and brother seemed to have very little experience with technology." Lakelann gave him a curious look and he continued, "Nyssa's blood brought me back and Marcus gave me a drink of his to updated me on history as he saw it. Unfortunately, the most he interacted with...these things was looking at maps and layouts. I will have to figure the rest out myself." He smiled thoughtfully. "My brother has my best interests in mind, just not enough current knowledge to render me independent."
"I...could help you, my lord. If it would please you," she offered, those thoughts bubbling up into actions.
"Of course. I would be most grateful," he told her with a soft, but knowing smile. "Where should we begin?"
Lakelann let a wicked glimmer in her eyes as she rose up out of her chair. Shutting the laptop, she stood before him and quickly untied the single lace holding the dress closed. The material fluttered down off her elegant arms to reveal her lack of garments beneath. "The Elders may not have the knowledge of technology in their blood," she started, watching as he drank in the sight of her bare flesh with raised eyebrows. Moving forward, she straddled his lap, resting her hands lightly on his shoulders and leaning in to whisper, "But I do."
A soft moan escaped her lips as he wrapped his arms about her waist, pulling her closer. Once settled in his embrace, he kissed her passionately, sucking her tongue into his mouth briefly before trailing kisses down her cheek and neck. She arched her back, pressing her bare breasts into him and exposing her neck to his wandering lips. Her nails dug into his back as he clamped down viciously on the throbbing pulse in her neck.
The steady, heavy throb would not cease. No, Michael wouldn't let it; at least, he didn't want it to. Self-inflicted punishment, he deemed at this moment, was not only necessary, but vital. The headache started after he roused from the extreme doses of tranquilizers the Dealers pumped into him.
Now, he lay chained to the floor, his arms and legs bound down by titanium cuffs and thick iron links that criss-crossed over his back and legs. He could barely lift his head under the restraints; they pinned him like that so they could dose him hourly with a strong but less harsh medication. Biting, rough swirls in the concrete imprinted themselves into Michael's face, a mixture of oddly soothing comfort and tiny nicks from a dull razor blade occurring anytime he moved or breathed.
The pain did fade for a while, but returned with full force as he thought about Nyssa.
Nyssa. Nyssa. Princess, I'm so sorry. Nyssa, forgive me, forgive me. I can never be forgiven. I let them take you and hurt you. Too long, it took far to long to get you back. I'm sorry, I'm so sorry. Please, please, I'm so sorry.
He welcomed the pain, the feel of the cuffs cutting into his wrists as he balled his hands in a powerful anguish that threatened to undo him entirely. That smell, that distinct smell of his baby, his child, his daughter, burning inside of the furnace lingered in his nostrils, cutting with a jagged and rusty blade into his memories. Nothing else would come to him as he searched in vain for the few precious moments he had with his only child. They eluded him, punishing him for his failure to save her, to be a good father, to be a good man.
He opened his eyes, looking about the barren cell with disinterested gaze, and focusing on some invisible object somewhere in the corner. The voices of the Dealers reached him but did not compute. Every once in a while, they would toss a profanity or taunt his way, but he didn't care. Their voices seemed muted, almost lulling him back into a drug-assisted dreamless sleep. Instead, he laid their awake, a single tear falling from his eye for losing his beautiful child.
Somewhere, lost in the crystal clear replay of waking to one horrid scent, another one cut through. Blinking several times, he thought it was some past memory playing tricks on him. Lifting his head slightly, he took a deep, silent breath. The musky smell of stone walls, the stench of the Dealers, a coppery whiff of his own blood on the floor...and that scent.
Within his chest, he felt a pull on his heart. A building ache that grew in intensity with each breath he took. The scent began to fade, but the feeling grew stronger. His blood suddenly pumped harder and faster through his weakened muscles and veins, fueling him to stay awake and fight against the drugs. But as fast as the scent arrived, it left, leaving him curious and alert.
And his heart continued to pound relentlessly, some animal instinct sparking a distant hope.
"Too long, dear God, far too long." Marcus grunted a laugh at Erika's weak voice, her body still shaking as he held her close. Tracing his fingers down her neck, he watched her eyes roll up as they dusted the still healing bite wound. He kissed her temple, pulling her close and letting her cuddle into his arms.
"My apologies for the extensive...time lapse." He smiled at her high pitched giggle. She moved herself on top of him, sliding her fingers into his hair and playing with the rich copper curls.
"Never again?"
"Not for a while. Does that please you?"
"Definitely." Erika sat up slightly as the sound of her ring tone echoed in the large room. Grabbing the pink cell phone off the bedside table, she flicked it open and held it up to Marcus. "Its time," she stated with a sigh. On the phone, a digital representation of a clock blinked, the alarm flashing bells that rocked back and forth on the screen. Clapping it shut, he took it from her hand and placed it on the nearby table.
Shifting out from beneath the sheets, he pushed back the sumptuous satin sheets, allowing the chilly air to wash over his nude form. His feet made a slight tap on the ancient stone floor as he moved over to a wardrobe filled with the finest clothing, courtesy of his consort. Staring at the clothing, he decided to wear all black, a sort of subtle mockery for Michael and Selene's duel execution. He finished putting on a pair of trousers when Erika rose from the bed, the robe she wore hanging open to reveal a single pair of silk panties from earlier she fished off of the floor.
"You don't have to go down, if you don't want," he offered, watching her slide on a pair of dark pants. With a shrug, she pulled a black leather corset with red velvet inlays over her head and walked over to him. Turning around, she gestured to the laces with a soft 'please' on her lips. Marcus readily obliged and tugged them hard with each section he worked at.
"I want to. I've been looking forward to her execution for a long time...probably not as much as you and William, but still," Erika told him, her voice hitching with each tightening leather strand. Tying off the loose strands, Marcus leaned down to her neck, sucking on the almost vanished bite mark.
"It won't be a very long event," he told her, stepping away to button up his shirt. "We've already made too much of it with Nyssa's cremation." He paused then laughed under his breath, "I fear this will be rather dull with Selene."
"Why?"
"According to the guards, she's in some type of shock. Her eyes are wide open, she's breathing normally, but she won't respond. One of them even shot her in the leg and nothing happened."
"It was probably seeing Nyssa dead that did it. She flipped out at the lab when she was on the table. Ugh, my ears are still ringing from this morning," she told him with a mock whine as she rubbed at her earlobes. He finished with the last button and pulled on his large overcoat, the crest of the vampires adorning the leather down the back. He pulled her into his arms, kissing her forehead gently before tucking her head beneath his chin. "With her dead, they will fall fast," she whispered into his skin.
"I know. And we'll finally end this war Viktor so foolishly began." He pulled back to kiss her, so close to her lips when...
His eyes grew wide and he pushed her away slightly. Erika scrunched her face, confused as he stared, eyes blazing with shock and anger. She followed his line of vision and let out a short yelp, bumping into the wardrobe as she backed up quickly.
At the window, a pair of silver-blue eyes stared in, snow swirling about them, almost lit up in their glow. What light there was caught the faint outline of something perched on the window's ledge. What looked like large wings were brought together, creating the appearance of a Gothic church steeple on the thing's back; it reminded her of the stone gargoyles at Notre Dame.
The brilliant color swirled away, disappearing into an impenetrable darkness. The steeple spread into large wings and the thing swiftly flew back out into the storm.
Erika leaned against the door of the wardrobe, unable to take her eyes away from the empty window. Marcus, however, did not stand still. Pounding across the room, he threw the door open and began to advance into the hall.
"Marcus..."
"I'm getting William. Meet us in the basement," he called back to her. Erika nodded blankly to no one, moving up from a slightly bent position to stand at her full height.
"It couldn't be," she whispered to herself. Her feet moved her forward, closer and closer to that window, the burning need to look out and see the empty skies filling her.
Images replayed in her mind, fragmented memories of a tiny newborn crying in a crib, arms and legs fighting against the zip-ties that held them firmly in place. When she grew older, they loved to torture her with a picture of Selene and Michael, pointing out that they were her parents, that they loved her and wanted to save her. She saw another brief replay of a toddler cowering in the corner of a room, sobbing out her first words of 'no' as another vampire dragged her back to bare steel cage in order to hose her down with icy cold water.
As her fingers closed around the knobs to the shutters, her mind's eye showed her one last image: a tiny, weak child, barely able to walk without wobbling, having her hands duck-taped together as she sat in the backseat of the envoy that was to take her to the airport for her transportation, actually, to this very castle.
She quickly braced herself then slowly opened them, allowing a rush of wind and snow into the room. Leaning out, she saw nothing but the snow drifts highlighted by the glow from the castle windows below. Several cracks in the snow-puffed clouds allowed some of the full moon's light to slip through, but the clouds closed up quick and it alloted no real assistance with the darkness. Even with her enhanced vision, it was hard to see in the stormy night.
A flicker caught her attention and she leaned out further to look down at where it crossed her vision. A sudden, shooting pain went through her neck and she stumbled backward, falling to the floor. Her breath escaped her and she grabbed at her throat, quickly pulling her hand back to find it coated with dark blood. The sound of cracking stone caught her ear and she looked up to the window.
Brilliant white fangs set against a blue-black skin where the last thing Erika saw lunging toward her and tearing into her blood-coated throat.
"How the hell could she still be alive?"
"Somehow, she must have gotten out of the furnace without us knowing it, but that would be impossible. She couldn't have survived that long inside an incinerator." William growled under his breath, clenching his fists unconsciously. Both he and Marcus stormed through the hallways, heading down toward the basement. A pack of Dealers followed them, armed and ready to take out this new threat. Along the way, a few vampires peered out of the rooms, whispering fiercely as they tried to find out what was happening.
Marcus turned his shoulder slightly, accepting a radio from one of the Dealers. "Yes?"
"We've searched the castle, my lord," a voice crackled through. "There's no sign of entry and no one has reported seeing her anywhere."
"What about the exterior security cameras?"
"We're using them, but the snow is cutting visibility."
"Fuck," he whispered before pushing the button again. "Where's Christian? He should have reported back hours ago."
"My lord, we received report a short time ago that his group was ambushed at the lab site and none survived. The men transporting the target back here were killed, most likely by her."
William tapped Marcus on the shoulder. "She didn't escape. Someone got her and took her to the lab. They probably used the same machines to bring her back." He shook his head as they went down another set of stairs.
Marcus' eyes grew dark and he shook his head with anger as well. "I knew we should have destroyed those things." He pushed the communication button again on the radio, "Bring Selene and Michael down to the basement."
"Yes, m'lord," the voice crackled back, the transmission cutting off as the walls became thicker and thicker. Marcus slipped the radio onto his belt and looked into his brother's curious face. "If it is Nyssa, she'll be looking for them. We'll use them as bait. I'm getting sick and tired of this little brat's escapades."
"We've got orders to bring him down to the boilers." Michael kept his eyes shut but strained to hear the soft conversation between the four Dealers that currently guarded him. Against the chains, he could barely move, so they took little notice "They're already taking the other one down."
"What's going on?"
"The smaller hybrid isn't dead. She's been spotted around the castle and they think she might already be inside. Marcus wants the prisoners down in the basement for bait. Thinks they will draw the thing down to them."
"Fuck. Alright. Should we dose him again?"
"I just gave him another shot about five minutes ago. He should be fine." They began to check their weapons, cocking triggers and slapping new clips in.
On the floor, Michael could barely carry on his facade. Alive! She's alive! It was her scent! She was nearby when I smelled her! Nyssa's alive!...Dear God, they're going to trap her. If they can get her injured, they'll kill her again. The clink of keys and the creak of the cell door broke his thoughts. His blood boiled, but he kept as still as possible and controlled his breathing.
Just stay calm, Corvin. Keep calm and play dead like a good dog. There'll be time enough for them later. Nyssa needs you. Nyssa needs you more than ever. One by one, each of the chains was pulled back, another gun nuzzle pressing into various parts of his back and skull as they stripped away his restraints. Two of them yanked at his arms, dragging him out of the cell, neither of them feeling the slight increase in his pulse.
Marcus, William, and a large pack of Dealers continued down into the basement, Dealers breaking off left and right to research the vast castle. At the junction before the furnace room, they ran into the two groups dragging Selene and Michael along.
"Everyone at the ready. We're going to do these executions after we get the girl," Marcus barked at them, he and William leading them to the door. "I want a full circular, guns at the ready. Kill her or bring her down, do you all understand?"
"Yes, sir!" The men replied, cocking their guns and slapping new clips in. William reached for the handle, unleashing the accumulated hot air of the large room into the small hallway. He walked in front of Marcus, stopping short.
"William, what is-" Marcus moved up to him and halted as well. The door to the large furnace, the one they used one their first attempt to cremate Nyssa, hung wide open. Dealers filtered into the room, about five of them left along with two pairs that dumped the drugged couple on the floor. They all stared at the open space that revealed the dancing orange and yellow flames within the belly of the metal beast.
"She's in here," William warned his brother, looking around the dark hall with cutting green eyes. Marcus turned to the Dealers and silently signaled them to check the room. A current of anxiety ran through every one of them and causing them to hold their weapons closer. Four of their own died, probably rather gruesome deaths at her hands earlier in the night and now they didn't have the ability to contain her in a small space like a car. The room was massive and the boilers provided plenty of places for her to hide and protection from bullets.
But if she was a hybrid, anything like the drugged one laying on the floor, bullets meant nothing to her.
"My lord." Marcus and William turned around to see the Dealer bowing.
"Yes?" Marcus asked in a quiet hiss. The man shifted his weight with an uneasy look on his face that both elders were quiet used to; the general population feared Marcus and William even more so. But there was something in his face that made them both look at him closely. "What is it soldier?" he asked, growing impatient. The Dealer went to speak, stopped, then handed something to Marcus.
Marcus felt his stomach drop down to his feet, a stinging pain going through his heart and brain at the same time. In his hand, a beautiful diamond ring sparkled with a tinge of red, the scent and stain of blood all over the band and stone.
"We were searching the upper levels when we found her. A trail of blood ran from her...from her body to one set of open windows. The hybrid's scent was still strong by the time we got there." The Dealer's eyes widened slightly and he stepped back from Marcus. Clutching the ring tightly, he pressed his fist to his forehead, baring his fangs as he clenched his teeth.
"Erika," he whispered. Absently, he felt William's hand on his shoulder, offering what little comfort he knew how to give.
"Jesus Christ!" Gun fire echoed through the room and they all jumped back. The dying scream and gargle of one of the dealers brought brief silence before more guns went off. They watched another dealer slam into one of the newer furnaces, his belly torn open, entrails pooling down the hot metal surface and onto the floor.
At the end of the hallway, the door to the upstairs and back property sat open to reveal the steps. On those steps, sat a hybrid Nyssa, a beautiful child who departed this world now returned as a demon. Her black eyes, dark skin and black, oily hair dripping down into her face gave her the appearance of a fallen angel twisted into this horrid form. The partially burnt tank top and pants barely covered the bulging muscles on her arms and legs. Her wings wrapped about her body, flickering in the dull light of the room.
Slowly, she peeled her lips back to reveal blazing white dagger fangs. Her mouth opened fully and she let out a screeching cry that caused most of the Dealers to clap their hands over their ears. She rose up to her feet, still the height she was in human form, and took off up the stairs, the flapping of her wings loud enough to be heard across the room.
"AFTER HER!" William cried, running toward the doorway. All of the Dealers followed him, checking their guns as they nearly crashed into one another going up the stairs.
Marcus stood there, still holding Erika's dismembered and burnt arm with care. Silently, the rage bubbled up in him, causing his body to start the change without his conscious effort. Dropping the arm, he tore off his jacket and shirt with one swift yank and loosed a loud roar. Skin thickened and changed colors, his ears drew up the sides of his head to make them appear bat-like.
The walls shook slight at Marcus' roar that grew in intensity as his ribs expanded. His wings tore away from their fleshy prison, shaking out to their fullest span with talons stabbing at the air. "Who does this child think she is?" he screamed as he began to move forward.
A gasp escaped his mouth. Sharp pains moved through his chest, causing him to loose an animalistic screech. Looking down, his eyes grew wide and his vision blurred. A hand, a human hand with long, black claws, stuck out of his torso. He felt an arm come around his neck, placing him in a choke hold.
"My daughter." Marcus' scream quickly stopped as Michael tore his body in two. He watched as Marcus' eyes blinked once more, his hands twitching as he changed back into his human form. Once the energy died, the life fully left the body, Michael lifted the torso and threw it into the open furnace, waiting a few seconds for that horrible smell to signal the burning of his enemy's flesh before tossing in the bottom half as well.
Nyssa. Only one thought took precedence in his mind.
Above him, screams and gunfire filtered down from the open doorways. Carefully, he lifted Selene and carried her to the far corner of the room. She was in shock and would be safe here for now. He left her and ran across the room and up the stairwell, his body swiftly changing into its hybrid form. He needed to find Nyssa. Now.
A/N: (smiles even more)
until next chapter,
anthestria