Dead Souls

Disclaimer: And here is my sequel to Darklight! The title, as probably suspected, was inspired by Nine Inch Nails "Dead Souls". I heard the song and somehow, the inspiration for this fic sprang into my head. Well, like most of my fics, I have a certain...free speech within this one.

"And I knew my vision of the garden of savage beauty had been a true vision. There was meaning in the world, yes, and laws, and inevitability, but they had only to do with the aesthetic and in this Savage Garden, these innocent ones belonged in the vampire's arms. A thousand other things can be said about the world, but only aesthetic principles can be verified, and these things alone remain the same."

-Anne Rice

"Somebody should tell us, right at the start of our lives, that we are dying. Then we might live life to the limit, every minute of every day. Do it! I say. Whatever you want to do, do it now! There are only so many tomorrows."

-Pope Paul VI

By: VampireQueenAkasha

"You have to ask...? Really...? Well, It's...It's because I am your friend..."

-Abel Nightroad

Chapter Six: The Mistress Lives

Earth

Kreuzberg, Berlin

The very tomb of the Countess was observed by several weaker Methuselah. They anxiously moved about, dragging a whimpering human woman with them. They whispered anxiously to one another, looking around the chambers. Smaller coffins had been lined up. Seven of them around Carmilla's tomb.

"I hear she enjoys women sacrifices ... " one of them whispered. He grinned down at the woman and thrust her toward the tomb. Raising his Methuselah blade, he slid her throat, silencing her wails of terror and pain.

The fresh, hot blood splattered all over the stone tomb. The Methuselah took a few steps back, watching in amazement as the blood itself seemed to travel toward the tomb, including the coffins around her. It was as if a magnetic pull controlled the blood.

The blood slithered deeply into the crevices and the two backed up as the shadows bent and shifted. Small wailing sounds filled the air; the howls of the damned. Suddenly, a single powerful word filled the very cold air.

"AWAKE ... "

The tomb lid flew off and a pillar of blackish flame filled the air. Finally, as it faded, the Methuselah looked up in shock at seven shapes surrounding them. Vampires. True undead vampires from legend. They were dressed in 1800's formal wear.

"What have you done?" one of the whispered, in a thick German accent.

They stepped aside as ... SHE approached.

Carmilla.

She was a very beautiful being. Her entire dress was of red; a bizarre blood red color. Her hair was tied up in pins and a bun. Her fingers were frightening and long, like claws. Those eyes, though, they were without life. Disturbing red orbs with nothing in them.

When Carmilla spoke, her voice was rich, deep, and thickly accented. "I should thank you, humans, for bringing me back with this," She glanced down at the dead woman, "prize. But ... " Her red eyes grew colder. "I think I can have use for you."

The two trembled with excitement before this ancient power. Carmilla turned her head toward the seven other vampires. Her seven guardians. "It's time ... time to show ourselves to this world." she told them, "We've lived in the night for far too long."

One of the vampires stared at her with slight uneasiness on his pale features. He was tall, skinny, and well built all at once. He had gleaming blue eyes and his white hair cut similar to a crew cut. He held out two hands.

"Countess, after so many years of keeping ourselves from this world, why do you want to reveal yourself now?" he asked.

Carmilla glanced at him. "Maxwell, the time has come for humanity to meet its end." she told him, coldly, "They've been allowed to live for far too long ... "

Maxwell sighed heavily. He, the more level-headed vampire did not believe in the mass slaughter of humankind. They were weak and frail and killed off each other just the same. So why bother wasting energy on that? He looked up toward the moon and knew what would have to be done.

He would have to find Nyssa.

O

Rome, Italy

Nyssa was flying through the air, a whiskey bottle in hand. She was chasing several men in guns and caught sight of them. With a heavy sigh, she rolled her eyes.

I walked forty-seven miles of barbed wire, I got a cobra snake for a necktie
A brand new house on the road side, and it's a-made out of rattlesnake hide
Got a band new chimney put on top, and it's a-made out of human skull
Come on take a little walk with me baby, and tell me who do you love?
Who do you love?
Who do you love?

Nyssa swerved around the corner, coat - wings flapping slightly. She smirked and chuckled. "Well, come to mama, you little turds." she hissed.

Around the town I use a rattlesnake whip, take it easy baby don't you give me no lip
Who do you love?
Who do you love?
I've got a tombstone hand and a graveyard mind, I'm just twenty - two and I don't mind dying
Who do you love?
Who do you love?
Who do you love?

Finally, Nyssa came diving down like a bullet and smashed into the car. The two men in the car cried out and glanced back. Nyssa was sitting there, smiling, half-drunk. She bared her fangs at them and held out one hand.

"Alright, boys, time to go with me," she said, "And don't try any - - "

The two fired their handguns at her and the bullets simply sucked their way into her flesh. Nyssa stared down, unharmed. She sighed and shook her head. "Gotta do it the hard way, huh?" she muttered, "Alright."

She spread her coat-like wings and they shattered the windows. With a fierce beat, Nyssa lifted the entire car into the air. The men screamed and tumbled about as Nyssa carried the vehicle toward a throng of police cars parked in a lot.

"She's coming!" Abel cried.

The chief of police stood there, a little disgusted with Nyssa's methods. They scattered as Nyssa smashed the car before them. She climbed out, carrying both men in the crook of her arms. Sighing, she walked over to several police officers.

"Here's your rats, Merry Christmas to all, and to all shut the hell up." she snapped, quickly.

As the police gathered the crooks together, Nyssa and Abel took it upon themselves to walk back to the church together. Abel smiled at Nyssa.

"I have to hand it to you, you did well in capturing those guys." he told her. He paused and chuckled. "And with minimal damage."

Nyssa smirked slyly at him. "Well, since it was such a good day, you know what the two of us can do tonight?" she suggested. Abel looked at her curiously and she leaned forward, whispering sensually into his ear, her fangs barely grazing his skin. Abel's eyes grew wide at what she suggested and he blinked quickly.

"Oh ... oh my ... " he gasped, face going red.

Nyssa smirked slyly at him. "If you want ... " she began. She whispered the next words. "I can use my fangs. You know, on your most ... ticklish spots."

Abel shivered a little as she delicately licked his ear. "Lord have mercy ... " he rasped.

Just before the two could continue, Nyssa suddenly froze. She glanced up and raised a hand to Abel's chest. "Hang on ... " she said, sniffing the air. Her face grew hard and she bared her fangs with a deep hissing sound.

Above them, a massive black bat passed overhead. Nyssa's eyes flashed red and the bad shifted form, landing on the ground as Maxwell.

Abel's jaw dropped. "Another?" he exclaimed, "Nyssa, is this one of your kind?"

Maxwell took a step forward and faintly smiled. "Nyssa?" he said, amazed, "Allanyssa, is that you?"

Nyssa's harsh grimace faded and she brightened. "Maxwell?" she gasped, surprised. She grinned and clasped hands with his. "It's been so long! I haven't seen your rotten corpse around since I was a fledgling!"

Maxwell smirked at her. "It has been long!" he said, "I feel your power! You've certainly grown!"

Nyssa chuckled and gestured to Abel. "This is Father Abel Nightroad, Maxwell." she told him.

Maxwell glanced at Abel and frowned slightly. He obviously did not approve of the priest as he glanced at his collar. He chuckled slightly. "Ahh yes ... of course ... " he murmured, "A priest. He is your mate, I can see."

Nyssa nodded with a smile. "Sure is!" she said. She cocked her head, changing the subject. "But why are you here, anyway?" she asked, "I thought you were asleep."

Maxwell sighed heavily, a dejected look crossing his lips. "Yes, we were ALL asleep, Nyssa." he told her, "But we were given a sacrifice of virgin blood and were all awoken." He paused and stared at her in pain. "All of us."

Nyssa looked stunned, her smile melting completely. "You mean ... "

"Yes."

Nyssa gasped softly in horror. "My ... my mother?"

Maxwell looked grim now. "Yes."

O

Note-The song here is "Who do You Love?" by George Thorogood. Sorry this was so short.