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 Seven: Rise of the Vampires

Earth

Rome, Italy

Nyssa stood atop a building, singing a happy tune to herself. Yet, somehow, it was deranged. She had taken a spot to herself. Sometimes, it helped to get a little alone time. It was always good for her, even with the acception of alcohol.

"Heute wollen wir ein Liedlein singen,
Trinken wollen wir den kühlen Wein
Und die Gläser sollen dazu klingen,
Denn es muß, es muß geschieden sein.

Gib' mir deine Hand, deine weiße Hand,
Leb' wohl, mein Schatz, leb' wohl mein Schatz,
Leb' wohl, lebe wohl
Denn wir fahren, denn wir fahren,
Denn wir fahren gegen Engeland, Engeland."

Suddenly, she halted and her eyes grew wide. Her gaze traveled hundreds of miles. No, thousands. As her third eye opened, she could see. The Bathory castle. Through dark magic and bats, the castle drifted ominously through the clouds. Nyssa's home. It was coming here. So it was true.

"Nyssa ... what will you do now?"

Maxwell walked up to her. He seemed just as grim as she did. Nyssa lowered her head.

"What do I have to do?" Nyssa murmured, "I ... I don't want to fight my own mother ... I ... I don't know what to do." She stared at Maxwell with pained eyes. "What do I do, Maxwell?"

Maxwell's slit eyes narrowed like a cat's. "Do what you believe is the right thing, Nyssa." he told her, gently. "The Knights of Blood will not follow my way of thinking. All they know is to obey the Countess. Perhaps you can remind them what we stand for."

Nyssa did not look so sure. But she nodded and turned toward the moonlight. A smile touched her lips. "Still, we can enjoy the night before that time comes, can't we?"

Maxwell smirked and nodded. "Yes we can."

Nyssa's eyes flashed red and she jumped from the building. She ran down its length as a wolf and into the streets, howling her blood lust to the creatures of the night. Maxwell watched her from above. He raised his cloak and his entire form shifted into a massive black bat.

You're still just a child to me ... he thought, with a chuckle in his head.

O

The wolf ran wild and free that night. Nyssa felt a dull ache in her chest. Could it be that her mother drew so near? Or the sheer hunger she felt for not feeding on a big meal in some time? Either way, the run was all worth it.

Nyssa - the wolf, ran through town, trying to pinpoint a desirable kill. Old people were never too pleasing, and sometimes young ones were not fully in their prime yet; their blood taste anyway. Nyssa's paws thudded heavily across the ground. Finally, she halted and scented the air. Something ...

Nyssa's furry lips pulled back with a snarl. She sensed something familiar moving in the air. A mixture of pain, terror, and ...

Catherine!

The wolf sprang to action and raced madly across a park bridge. Nyssa snarled inwardly, red eyes flaring with murder. The vampire rounded a corner and halted. Catherine was against the wall of the orphanage, holding a cat in her arms. Two older men were standing over her, smirking. Obviously, Nyssa could tell they had tried to grab her from the wicked bruises on her wrist.

"Do you want us to tell your mommy you've been bad?" one of the men purred.

Nyssa watched the situation and she flashed back to Wulf looming over her in the same fashion. That was it. Snarling, she shifted back to her usual form and the two men sensed her presence. They glared back at her.

"Hey, take a hike!" one snapped.

Nyssa's eyes glowed seemingly in the shadows. "You disgusting men and your sick desires." she growled, with hate. "You enjoy fucking little children, don't you?" She took a step forward. "Because they can't fight back? Because they're just making up shit? Because no one will ever believe a child?" She bared her fangs and dove at the two men. Seizing them tightly in two hands, she shoved them against the wall. Catherine quickly ducked around the wall to hide while Nyssa held the two men.

Their legs kicked and thrashed. Nyssa snarled at them. "Well, why don't you fuck me instead?" she hissed, savagely. Her hands morphed into animal claws covered with fur. Her face shifted into a canine face and her voice deepened as the men screamed. "What's wrong?" she growled, "Don't wanna fuck me now?" She roared loudly and they screamed again.

Catherine covered her ears at the sounds of flesh tearing and screams as they filled the air. Finally, as the noises subsided, Nyssa loomed over her and scooped her up gently into her hands. Catherine cried out in surprise and looked up into that red gaze.

"Catherine ... let's get you inside ... " Nyssa said, softly.

Bathory Castle

Carmilla was watching Rome below through a shimmering demonic mirror. She smiled, a dark fanged grin. "Daughter ... where are you?" she purred, swirling her hand in a delicate circle. "I'll find you, my sweet Nyssa...and you will be punished for what you have done ... "

O

Note-Here is part of the opera, Der Freischütz "Das Engeland Lied".