Post by demona on Jul 23, 2010 19:37:09 GMT
Thank you so much for all of you who have stayed with me through my attempt at writing a second series of our beloved show. I hope I have not dissappointed you, and I hope you will enjoy this final instalement
Much love and thanks
dxx
The central room in the basement was busier than normal, nine vampires and two humans, sat, stood and leant about the vicinity, listening to the Vampire Elder and their Human mentor speaking in turn, enlightening them on the events of the day. Marty watched the others as his real reason for his being in the experiment was revealed, their look of disbelief displayed in perfect unison. Drew looked unimpressed as he stood, his arms crossed, leaning against the archway that led to the guys dorms.
Marty knew that his old team were watching him, trying to figure out who he now was. Was he the vampire that they remembered or something new? He could feel Daltons gaze boring holes into the back of his head; they had not left on the best of terms. The atmosphere was tense to say the least.
“So you’re saying that Marty isn’t Fury?” Karl asked needing confirmation of the wealth of information being given, Drew snorted at his question.
“Ah what’s up Drew?” William moved across the room, “Disappointed?” The vampire laid his arm around Drew’s neck. “Better luck next time kiddo.” He said patting Drew on the chest with his other hand before returning to stand alongside his beloved and Dalton. The trio stood uniform in their black clothing and military stance.
“No Karl, Marty is not or has ever been Fury.” Their teacher gently reminded his student. Karl nodded.
“The Fury have their army, we have ours.” Vaakal added.
“Marty was sent here under cover as one of the experiment to protect it from the Fury.” Murdoch concluded, “I was not aware of this fact myself until today. All I was aware of was that Marty was ‘unruly’.” Murdoch gave Marty a smile trying to lighten the mood.
Marty stood in the corner his eyes down, unable to look into the faces of either his previous life or the current one. He felt divided, like he had betrayed both his past and present lives.
“So is Jack your real name?” Karl continued his questions.
“Nah, it’s just what the public named him after his antics in the 19th century.” William answered the question before Marty had even thought about his answer.
“Antics?” Karl repeated,
“Yeah this boy is famous!” William said slapping Marty on the back. Karl frowned, thinking of a famous Jack in the 1800’s.
“You mean Jack the Ripper?” He asked wide eyed at the thought that it was Marty who was one of history’s most legendary serial killers. William laughed at Karl, shaking his head.
“Spring-heeled Jack;” William corrected, “The ripper was just some demon with the munchies.” The vampire hugged Marty by the shoulders, “You just loved jumping out in front of the ladies and scaring them, didn’t you lad? Glowing those red eyes of yours at them.”
“So what’s the mission?” Marty looked at his vampire friend of the past, changing the subject to the present.
“Oh so now you want to know?” William teased, “I’m not sure we should let you in on it anymore.” He continued walking away from his young friend.
“The Elders have come to locate the whereabouts of Skakari,” the hooded Elder vampire answered the question, drawing Marty’s attention; “you are to infiltrate his lair and kill him”.
“Oh so just a small job then;” Marty quipped.
“So are you in?” William asked, spinning around fixing Marty with his stare.
“Love to, but I’ve been on this programme thing, and it’s kind of taught me not to kill anymore.” Marty said thingying his head to the side, sarcasms edging his tone.
“You have been taught to value the life of the mortals, to live with them. Skakari is far from human and he must be stopped once and for all. Our information suggests he is going to make a final assault on the convocation. We must strike now!” Vaakal growled, his eyes glowing.
“Can’t you just imprison him instead?” Dillon’s comment was greeted with a deadly stare from the vampire Elder.
“This matter does not concern you human. Just because you know about the existence of the experiment does not mean you have a say in how it is run.” The Elder replied. Dillon threw a glance at the teacher she shared with the vampires, she watched as he caught her eye with his and was given a slight shake of the head. Dillon began to understand that the Elders had not yet been fully informed of how and why she knew about the Mansbridge experiment.
“Dillon, I think it is best if you return to your room.” Dr Murdoch instructed.
“But I...” Dillon whined.
“Please.” The teacher cut off her plea. The human lowered her head as she slowly trudged out of the room. William arched his eyebrow at the fact that both Drew and Karl watched her leave, slightly sad expressions on their faces.
“Well at least that removes the temptation of a snack.” William muttered, moving towards the central table, he sat down kicking his feet up onto the table. The room drew silent.
“So Marty’s like a secret agent for the Convocation?” Karl whispered to Essie,
“I’m surprised we didn’t figure that out from their wardrobe.” Essie returned the whisper a catty tone in her voice as she eyed Adrienne up and down. ‘My civilian attire rivals that of the Royals.’ The female voice with a French accent echoed in her head, startling the blonde with the intrusion into her mind.
“The mission must take place tonight.” Vaakal’s voice boomed through the basement, “You will join the rest of the team to kill Skakari.” his cold blue eyes focusing on Marty. The vampire sighed loudly in response. “Perhaps this will invoke a better response from you.” Vaakal growled; his eyes fixed on Marty.
“The Fury do know about your location. They are the ones who set the school on fire.”
“What?!” Essie’s shriek over powered those of the other Mansbridge vampires. Karl growled at the thought that the Fury had almost killed his sister. Marty merely nodded his head. He had suspected as much.
“To kill Skakari, is the only way to save your brethren.” A thin smile spread over the Elders lips.
***
“I can’t believe you are doing this.” Merrill’s voice came from behind. Marty turned round, fully uniformed in black leather trousers and a tight black T-shirt, to see the vampiress stepping through the drawn curtain separating the dorm from the central room. He expected her eyes to be full of concern but they were not, they merely displayed anger and disappointment.
“What?” Marty snapped at her, crossing his arms; his stance mirroring the aggression of Merrill’s own.
“I thought you had changed, like the rest of us.” She said narrowing her eyes.
“What do you want me to do Merrill? Go up against the wishes of the Elders?” He asked her, the vampiress fell silent, her gaze drifting to the floor, the energy leaving her body.
“I just can’t believe you didn’t tell me about this. Instead you thought you would hurt me.” She whispered. Marty soften, letting his arms drop to his sides. He took a few paces forward closing the gap between himself and Merrill.
“I was trying to protect you.” He whispered.
“You never think about anyone else but yourself.” She said fighting back tears, trying to convince herself that Marty’s cruel antics was a game rather than to distance himself from others to prevent them getting hurt.
“That’s not true.” Marty argued and Merrill regretted her statement knowing that he changed along with the rest of them despite his efforts to fight it. But at least she understood why now.
“Please don’t go; I have a feeling that something bad will happen.” Merrill’s voice was fragile and thoughtful. Marty wrapped his arms around the vampiress, hugging her. He kissed the top of her head, wishing that he could no longer be a part of what he was.
The pulling of the curtain interrupted their moment.
“We are ready to leave.” Dalton’s voice was icy cold as he stared at the vampire cradling the female. Marty looked at him and nodded.
“I have to go.” Marty whispered. He felt her shake her head in response and her efforts to keep him close. But Marty easily removed himself from her grasp. Merrill suddenly felt cold as Marty left her side, and knew that she was the only thing other than himself that he did things for. She kept her eyes closed, cuddling herself, listening to the sound of his boots growing fainter as he moved to carry out his mission. She opened her eyes and knew what she had to do. Straightening herself up, she walked out of the boy’s dorm and into her own dorm, determined she would find the right book to help her.
***
Dillon sat in the library it was almost 2am, but she didn’t feel tired. She wanted to know what was going. She had hung around in Murdoch’s office trying to catch bits and pieces of the conversations occurring below; her new vampiric sense of hearing aiding her. She had hid behind the huge oak desk when four of the vampires had emerged; ready to fulfil their mission, her friend amongst them. Foolishly she had poked her head up too soon and had been caught out by Murdoch himself. Now here she was waiting for him to return from the kitchen with some tea.
“Hey, what are you doing in here?” The voice cut through her thoughts and she turned towards the library doors. Drew walked out of the gloom.
“I’m waiting for Murdoch. What are you doing here?”
“I needed some time to think.” The vampire replied sullenly.
“About?” The human enquired.
“I think this experiment is a waste of time.” The frustration Drew felt evident in his voice.
“Really?”
“Well look at what’s happening. We are suppose to be learning how to value life, to prove that killing doesn’t have to be our nature, and then the first chance we get we’re off to ram a stake through Skakari’s heart. It’s like we haven’t changed at all.”
“But you have.” Dillon argued, “The very fact that you are questioning Vaakal’s orders proves you are no longer wish to remain what you were before. You can do it Drew; you can be who you want to be.” Drew looked at the human who told him the truth, smiling he nodded his head. He sighed approaching the human, who was sat perched on the end of the desk, her feet on a chair.
“I never thought I could really turn human before.” He whispered.
“Not even for Sherry?” The sound of her name threw Drew, lightening struck his heart, at the moment he realised he had not thought of her for days and guilt overcame him. Dillon saw the pain on his face. “It’s ok, the first time I realised I hadn’t thought of my brother for a while I thought I was betraying his memory. Like I didn’t love him anymore.”
Drew looked up at the human, his eyes glistening; he closed the gap between the two of them.
“You lost someone you loved too?” He asked knowing the answer already.
“Hit and run, driver was drunk.” Dillon said with a hint
of emotion. “You will go on with your life,” she paused knowing the word was wrong, “but they will always have a place in your heart, even if you don’t think of them every second of every day.”
Drew smiled and ran his fingers through Dillon’s shoulder length black hair.
“I like your hair this colour.” He said as his lips slowly descended on to hers. Dillon felt her heart flutter as she felt his cool lips brush hers.
“So then, what shall we talk about?” Murdoch voice cut through the atmosphere like a knife, as Drew used his vampire abilities to move himself quickly towards the near-by book shelves.
“Drew, I didn’t see you there,” The teacher said as he walked across the library a tray of tea and pie in his hands, “care to join us?”
***
Merrill tumbled through the curtain, lightening flashing before her eyes, an explosion occurring in her brain. The spell was too powerful to handle, she had known that, but she needed it to know that Marty was safe. The book she was holding dropped to the floor as another bolt hit her, the pain causing her to drop to her knees.
“Merrill what is it?” Essie asked her fellow female vampire, getting up from the table the blonde’s heels clattered on the stone floor as she raced to Merrill crouching on the ground.
“Something’s wrong; very wrong. I can feel it. They are going to die.” She said through gritted teeth.
“Merrill, what did you do?” Essie asked taking the book in her hands and looking at the pages filled with the most powerful of black magic.
“What’s going on?” Karl asked joining the girls.
“I don’t know. I just...” Merrill grasped at her head, and whimpered in pain. Essie turned to Karl.
“Get Murdoch now.” She demanded
“But ...”
“Now Karl!” The royal shrieked; a blur raced out of the basement.
“Which spell did you use?” She asked the tormented
brunette.
“I had to know what was happening with Marty, with the attack.” Merrill said through gritted teeth. “It’s the spell of foresight.” She said pointing to the book. Essie picked the leather clad pages up and flicked through until she found the spell, and began to read.
“What’s going on here?” The teacher demanded as he entered the basement, followed by Drew, Karl and Dillon.
“Merrill’s used some kind of spell to enhance her mind reading abilities so she can find out what’s happening with the attack.” Essie said cradling the brunette in her arms, as another wave of pain over took the psychic vampire.
“Tell us what you see Merrill.” Their tutor demanded gently crouching on the floor, his hand tenderly rubbing her shoulder. Merrill opened her eyes, her irises were glowing red, but her gaze was vacant.
“He’s too powerful for them; he is going to use its power.” She whimpered,
“Merrill can you describe what you see?” Murdoch probed gently. Merrill screwed up her eyes concentrating through the pain to see more clearly,
“It’s a weapon made of metal, No wait it’s alive, it’s... it’s... filled with anger and hatred, so much power.” Merrill muttered “All I can see is an eye”; Drew’s eyes widened in realisation.
“No, it can’t be.” Drew said lost in his own thoughts before moving at speed back in to Murdoch’s office. The vampire crouched by the wooden panel at the foot of the wall hidden by a small table. Moving the table aside he removed the panel, to reveal a secret safe. He thought hard remembering the combination to open the door, and silently hoped as he reached inside his hand would come upon what he was willing was there. Drew closed his eyes and grabbed at the safes contents, he inhaled sharply as his eyes flew open pulling his hand back into the light, knowing that his fingers had grasped nothing but air.
“Drew?” Murdoch said coming up behind him.
“Dracon’s amulet is gone.” The vampire answered solemnly.
Their attention was pulled back down to the basement by Merrill screaming with fear, panic and pain. Drew made to the table to see her finally pass out, slumped against Essie.
“What do we do now?” She asked him.
***
“I don’t like this Will, it’s too quiet.” Marty whispered to the blond male slightly in front of him. The pair crouched by a corridor wall, William peering cautiously round the corner into the gloom of night. The next corridor was empty.
“Moi aussi.” The French female voice echoed in Marty’s mind and he knew Will had heard Adrienne’s voice too. He looked behind him down the corridor and saw her red eyes glowing in the darkness, beyond her Dalton stood brining up the rear, watching for an attack.
“According to the Intel, Skakari should be in the office at the end of that corridor.” William whispered back.
“Yeah right, we’re in a law firm Will. Doesn’t this all seem a bit too clichéd and convenient, only a few guards, and the alarm system was too easy to hack into?” Marty pressed. He could not shake the words he had heard from Merrill earlier that night.
“Clichéd or not, we have to do this tonight.” William turned to face Marty, showing him the serious glint in his pale green eyes. The older vampire looked past Marty down the corridor to his beloved and friend. He signalled at them to move closer to their location. “Ok Skakari,” Will breathed as the group totalled four, “ready or not here we come.”
Marty used all his strength to kick the door down with one strong mental blast. The four vampires rushed inside the office ready for a fight. The group paused, and looked around the empty office lit only by a single lamp at the end of the large conference table. All the empty chairs edging the table faced inward save the chair at the far end near the lamp. This chair was larger than the others and was made of leather and stood ominously in the shadows its back to the intruders. William pointed at the chair and the four vampires moved into an attack formation, two taking each side of the long table; William and Marty to the left, Adrienne and Dalton to the right, slowly moving forward towards their target.
With only metres to go Marty and the others paused as the head chair slowly swivelled round, ‘so Skakari really is here’ Marty thought to himself as the familiar face came into view.
“I knew Vaakal would send you,” Skakari whispered with glee, “although I am surprise to see you here,” he nodded at Marty, “I guess the Elders big experiment didn’t work.” Marty’s uneasiness grew, why was Skakari here alone, no guards, no security when he obviously knew of the Elders plans.
“Surrender Skakari, you’ve lost.” William growled.
“I don’t think so.” The lord of the Fury sneered. Marty saw Skakari lift his hands from below the desk, he didn’t know what was in it; he just knew it wasn’t good.
“Get down,” he screamed to the others as he dived on top of William dragging him down to the floor, knocking him unconscious as the bright light began to penetrate the darkness. Out of the corner of his eye, Marty saw the triangular metal, and the living eye within its core, Dracon’s amulet.
***
Dillon rinsed the cloth in the cool water and wrung it out, placing it once more across Merrill’s brow as she lay in her coffin. The human ran her fingers across the edge of the smoothened wood, she wondered if she turned whether she would have to sleep in a coffin too. She frowned at the lack of space there was, and how enclosed it must seem when the lid was closed, and hoped she could still sleep in a normal bed.
“Penny for them.” Dillon jumped at the voice of her teacher. She looked over her shoulder at the aging teacher. Dr Murdoch looked weary from lack of sleep; he had removed his suit jacket and stood before her, his waistcoat undone, his tie loosened and his shirt top button undone; a saucer and cup in each hand. Dillon smiled at him.
“I thought that vampires were supposed to be all powerful and yet...” Dillon’s voice trailed off as she looked once more at the comatose vampire. The mentor nodded as he approached and handed his student a cup. Dillon sipped the warm milk.
“We all have our strengths and weaknesses including vampires, theirs are just a little different to ours.”
“You mean yours, I don’t know what my strengths and weakness are any more.” Dillon looked back at Merrill, “I’m faster, stronger, can see better in the dark, hear better, but the sun hurts my eyes, and I crave blood,” Dillon paused bowing her head; “I’m becoming one of them aren’t I?”
“I really don’t know Dillon, but when tonight is over, we will ask the Elders for their guidance.” Dillon nodded her head.
“Life used to be so much simpler.” The girl whispered. Murdoch looked at his student, normally so strong and stubborn, she now looked fragile.
“I’ll take over,” he said warmly, “its ok, you go to bed, try and get a couple of hours sleep before class tomorrow.”
***
“Dr Murdoch!” Murdoch raised his head from the side of the coffin realising he had fallen asleep, he checked his watch, it was less than an hour to daw; the others must be back. Briefly checking on Merrill, he stood and moved into the central room. He jaw fell open at the scene before him.
Marty was laying Dalton on the table; he was bleeding badly and had burn marks all over his body and clothes, he whimpered in pain. Marty didn’t look like they had fared much better in the battle, he too was covered in blood, a wound across his forehead still leaked blood, but at least it was healing. The teacher immediately sprang into action knowing that they would require blood in order to heal fully; he jogged across to the blood bank, not needing to open the lock after William had already tore it from its hinges, he retrieved several blood pouches. Karl came down the entrance way dragging Williams’s unconscious body.
“Where do you want him?” Karl asked Marty.
“Anywhere.” Marty said wearily, gratefully accepting the blood pack that Murdoch gave him. The thud that came from behind him told him William had been left on the floor. Murdoch gave a couple of pouches to Dalton, his hand shakily taking the packets and draining then in a single shot.
“So what happened?” Drew asked coming out of the guy’s dorm.
“Yeah, did you take out Skakari?” Karl asked wide eyed.
“And where’s Ms Paris?” Essie added a royal tone adding to the imitation French accent in her voice, joining the group.
Marty looked at the trio, a hatred burned in him at their stupid questions, could they not see and figure out themselves what had happened.
“Her name is Adrienne and she’s dead.” Marty spat with distain targeting his stare at Essie, the vampire royal dropped her head, regretting the way she had phrased her question.
“We were ambushed, they knew we were coming; they have...” Marty continued.
“Dracon’s amulet.” Drew finished the sentence for him,
“I’m afraid it’s more than a mere amulet, it is believed to be all that is left of Dracon himself.” Dr Murdoch enlightened his student.
“It’s the third eye of Dracon.” Marty added, “it all the power the Fury gave him, when they made him into a god.
“So Skakari isn’t dead?” The question irritated Marty.
“What do you think Karl?” Marty answered sarcastically, the vampire paused his onslaught of torment before it started, looking about him, “Where’s Merrill?”
***
Marty stood over the coffin. His wounds were healing well, but the dried blood remained on his skin, he knew he should wash it off, attend to Dalton and William, report back to the Elders, yet he stood frozen to the spot, his eyes unable to leave her fragile frame. Skakari would pay for this.
No. The voice in the back of his mind whispered. That’s not what you are now; you are better than a mere killing machine. You should value all life. Marty allowed himself to vamp out, baring his fangs, if she dies then he dies too, he growled back at himself, silencing the voice of the experiment within him. Marty reached into the coffin and gently stroked Merrill’s cheek willing her to wake up. The vampire bent down and kissed her forehead.
“Please come back to me,” he whispered, “I’m not strong enough to change on my own.” A crash from outside the dorm alerted Marty that William had regained consciousness and was not happy with what had happened; Marty reluctantly moved away from the coffin to confront him. Marty looked about the central room, Drew was setting the table upright after William had thrown it over.
“Where are they?” William blasted Marty with a forceful mental blast knocking backwards, but somehow the young vampire remained on his feet. William obviously hadn’t regained all his strength yet.
“Dalton’s in my coffin, Essie and Karl are looking after him.” Marty answered, dreading what his next question would enviably be.
“Where’s Adrienne?” Marty dropped his gaze to the floor.
“Is she through there?” Marty looked up to see William gesturing to the girls dorm behind, where only Merrill lay.
“Adrienne’s not here,” Marty said solemnly.
“What?” William throwing Marty a questioning look, “Where...?”
“She didn’t make it back mate.” Marty said hurriedly.
“What? You just left her behind?” He continued his rant, “We have to go back for her, now!”
“You can’t; the sun’s about to come up.” Drew informed him. William swung round moving his focus from Marty to the tall dark vampire. Drew looked directly into his emerald eyes that glowed with anger, the cuts about his face healing before his eyes, completely mesmerised he failed to move when William lunched at him grabbing him by the throat William pinned Drew easily against the wall.
“Don’t you dare tell me what to do, boy!” William spat at him. Essie and Karl came into the central room the yelling alerting them to the trouble brewing.
“Will, she didn’t get left behind.” Marty said swallowing, slowly moving closer to William and Drew, knowing that his next sentence would likely send William over the edge. “William, listen to me, he was too powerful; and there were too many of them, I couldn’t get to her in time.” William loosened his grip on Drew’s throat, his eyes moving slowly to once more focus on Marty.
“What do you mean?” William’s voice suddenly became a whisper dropping Drew to the ground.
“I’m sorry Will, she’s gone.” Marty said standing his ground as William moved towards him.
“What?” William asked again, the shock of the information was not allowing him to process it.
“She died.” Marty put it to him plainly.
“No,” He yelled, “She can’t die, she’s a vampire; she IS immortal.” The conviction in his voice died on his last syllable. The powerful vampire they had feared all just moments ago became a shaking wreck before their eyes. William sank to his knees before Marty and started to sob. Marty looked at his Mansbridge brethren, signalling them to retreat elsewhere. The three of them moved up the entrance way and into Murdoch’s office, allowing William the privacy he needed.
***
William looked down into the coffin.
“Is she the One?” He asked. Marty looked at his old friend staring down at Merrill.
“I don’t know.” Marty answered.
“You always know.” William snapped back, looking at Marty, the younger vampire slowly nodded his head.
“Do everything in your power to protect her. Learn
from my mistakes as you always have done.” William commanded. Again Marty nodded. “Get her far from here.” He continued looking back down at Merrill’s sleeping form.
“Yeah I know Skakari is a major threat but...” Marty began.
“No.” William cut him off, “Not Skakari, the experiment
is the threat.” Marty remained silent, slightly shocked at his words. William fixed Marty with a serious stare. “I don’t blame you for Adrienne’s death,” he said quietly, “it is the Elders fault; their experiment has made you weak.” Williams tone indicated he was resolute in his opinion.
“Will,” Marty began, “this experiment, it’s supposed to change us, help us survive in the human world.”
“But we are not in the human world, we are vampires, and this is our world we are fighting against.” William gripped the side of the coffin, “The Elders got it wrong, we shouldn’t change. We can’t.”
“We can if we want it badly enough.” Marty argued. William laughed at him.
“They really have done a number on you mate.” William moved away from the coffin stepping towards Marty. “You have forgotten what you are.”
“I know you’re hurting Will, but you believed in what the Elders were doing.”
“I believed we needed to stop the Fury. They will wreck everything with their want for world domination; all those centuries of bargains with the humans to keep our world secret, to cover our tracks, gone because of their need to rule the humans like cattle.”
“Exactly, if we can prove to the rest of our race that we can change, tame our instincts to kill, stop feeding off humans, so we can live alongside the humans, then...”
“Then what?” William questioned, “the humans will accept us? I don’t see what is so wrong with how we have lived for centuries.” William paused his rant and turned back to the coffin.
“I need to avenge Adrienne’s death, will you help me?” The older vampire whispered.
“The two of us to take out Skakari?” Marty said in disbelief.
“Don’t tell me that you non-killing rules extend to those who killed your blood sister?” William growled; he eyes turning flaming green, his fangs protruding from his lips.
“No, but being that he has Dracon’s amulet, I think we may need an army to even scratch him.”
“You and I were an unstoppable force, we wreaked havoc for centuries my boy, we alone can kill Skakari; you just need to become the vampire you once were, the vampire you truly are.” William watched at Marty’s stare turned from him to the girl in the coffin.
“Merrill believes in the experiment, she lives for it, she’d never forgive me.” Marty felt the stare of William, his expectations. All the favours that Marty had owed him over the time they had wandered the earth together were suddenly called in. The silence was uncomfortable as William awaited Marty’s answer.
“Marty?” The voice was hesitant, so unlike its normal tone. The vampires looked up to their intruder, to see Essie hovering outside the dorm, “erm sorry to interrupt but Daltons asking for you.” Marty looked at William; William looked at Marty.
“Go to your son, he needs you.” William commanded returning his stare to the coffin. Marty nodded and left the dorm. The blond male vampire watched out of the corner of his eye as Marty and the royal left, when he was alone he slowly lifted his wrist to his mouth and softly bit into the skin. The wound swelled with fresh blood.
“Now my dear, become part of our family,” he whispered as he lowered the bleeding limb onto Merrill’s lips.
***
Dr Murdoch stood outside the library; he listened to the chatter coming from within. His human students had gathered for their morning class, with a heavy heart he opened the door, knowing that the Mansbridge experiment had failed. His vampires were now a significant danger to his day school, and he must now protect his humans at all costs.
“Good morning.” Murdoch beamed trying to sound and appear cheerful. “I’m afraid I have some rather bad news.” He moved towards the front of the library pacing around the front of the classroom.
“Oh yeah, what’s that? The exams have been cancelled.” Nick called out.
“Well no, it’s not that bad,” the teacher replied with a slight chuckle.
“But you will have to sit them elsewhere.” A cry of puzzlement went up from his students.
“It seems that there are areas of the school that are unsafe, a legacy of the fire, and therefore I cannot let you stay in the building. I am moving you to a hostel a few miles from here and you will sit your exams in the town hall.” A few mutters and disgruntled noises came from various students. “So if you can all return to your rooms, and pack for a week, I will meet you in the common room at noon.” The library became filled with the screeches of chairs being moved as the students departed from the room. Dr Murdoch put his hands on the desk and hung his head.
“Dr Murdoch?” He recognised the female voice answering without lifting his head.
“Yes Dillon.”
“What is really going on?” The mentor lifted his head checking that the room was indeed empty apart from himself and Dillon. He sighed and stood up straight.
“I’m afraid it is no longer safe for us to stay here, things have not gone to plan.” Murdoch answered.
“I’m not running, I’m staying.” The human girl stood crossed armed, resolute in her decision, Murdoch sighed.
***
Dalton looked up at Marty, pain racked his body; he wasn’t healing. Dalton had pushed Adrienne out of the way when the eye on the metal plate had opened. The blast of light that emanated from it burnt his body in place of hers. He thought he had spared Adrienne’s life and finally ended his own; he was fed up of fighting, but it was not to be, he lived again. Scores of Fury came out of nowhere attacking Adrienne; she was powerless on her own as he lay helplessly on the floor the pain overcoming his desire to help her.
“You need more blood.” Marty said emotionlessly, he turned to leave, but the cracked dry hand held onto his own, causing him to pause.
“No.” Dalton whispered. Marty couldn’t look at him, it was his fault that he was here, like this, he should have just...
“You need blood or you’ll die.” Marty replied staring at the wall in front of him.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t save her. Tell William that I tried but...” Dalton said his words edged with tears of frustration and regret, he watched his makers thick black hair move up and down as Marty accepted his apology.
Marty finally turned to face the dying vampire. He saw in his eyes that Dalton no longer wished to be a part of this world. Marty had seen this look in his eyes before, back in 1914, France, when he had first met him on the battle fields. Dalton had no fear of him then, thinking he was the angel of death come to take him away from the war, but he had not. Dalton may have been a soldier in the world war but he was not a warrior and that was what Marty had been sent to recruit.
“Why?” Dalton’s question caught Marty off guard. The vampire wondered whether he son had learnt how to mind read from Adrienne.
“If I had to live like this then it was about time someone else did too, you were the only one who had hope in their eyes that I was going to end your suffering instead of fear. You didn’t beg me to spare your life.”
“Why?” The question came again.
“Because I like to torment people,” Marty said matter-of-factly, but he was unable to look Dalton in the eye “to keep you alive when you wanted to die was fun for me.”
“And then you thought you would torment all of us when you left to join this experiment?”
“I was sick of the fighting.” Marty said through gritted teeth.
“Then you know how I feel.” Dalton said making his
point. “Please.” He begged. “Don’t let me live again, I am sick of the fighting. Have mercy; please do not torment me any longer.”
Marty sighed heavily as he gripped the edge of the coffin.
“Please father.” Marty shut his eyes as he pulled at the wooden coffin. The edge snapped off in his hand. He looked at the jagged edge, fighting back the tears of regret; he should have done this decades ago, he should never have made Dalton into a vampire. Marty opened his eyes to see Dalton close his, a peaceful happy expression across his face; he was ready. Marty lifted the wood high above his head and plunged it down into Dalton’s chest.
“Thank you,” came the whisper as Dalton’s body turned to ash before Marty’s eyes. Marty gasped as he dropped the stake, and staggered backwards. Slender arms caught Marty in an embrace,
“It’s ok.” Merrill whispered as Marty sank to the floor. “It’s ok.”
***
The familiar clicking of the ceiling giving way alerted the vampires in the cellar that darkness had descended. Dillon watched the skylight twist open revealing the full moon above. Anything to escape the tension in the room. Dalton had died during the day, but no one had told her how; William was grieving for the loss of his ‘One’ and the Fury had some all powerful amulet. The human girl wondered when her life got so interesting and dangerous.
“What is the human still doing here?” The voice of the vampire elder boomed from the darkness as his cloaked form materialised before their eyes. Dillon moved her gaze from the moon to his eyes, unable to read an emotion, if there was any, within them, she shuddered at the sight of his white wrinkled skin, yes she thought to herself he is most definitely an Elder.
“My Lord, there are certain circumstances that would pertain to Dillon staying here with us.” Murdoch answered bowing slightly. The vampire waved his hand at them, signalling there were more important issues at hand than a human. Skakari turned to address the two vampires clad all in black, stood leaning against the wall; their battle wounds healed but the scars still left on their souls.
“You were defeated.” It was more of a statement than a question.
“He had the eye of Dracon.” William answered through gritted teeth, angry he had not acknowledged the deaths of the team, especially Adrienne; “We couldn’t have possibly taken him out.”
“Yes, it was taken from here during the fire.” The elder mused.
“The eye was here?” Marty asked, throwing a questioning look at his human teacher, if he had known then he wouldn’t have had to have acted so dumb when the subject of Dracon had come up last year and perhaps he could have prevented the deaths of his team mates. “So the fire was a diversion.”
“If you knew, why didn’t you tell us? We could have been better prepared!” William yelled full of grief for Adrienne. “You sent us to our deaths!”
“Silence,” The Elder snapped, “you have failed. Skakari still lives.” William growled with fury, he eyes turning from pale green to that of emerald. He felt his young comrade hold on to his arm, whispering meaningless sentences about a better time and place for arguing their case, trying to calm him. William ground his teeth as he nodded agreement; he knew the council would pay for their betrayal.
“Give them a break; they’ve lost two members of their team.” Karl interjected seated at the central table.
“You.” Vaakal muttered darkly, staring at Karl out of the corner of his hood remembering past sins. Karl bowed his head in submission. Vaakal moved to address the room, his cloak spinning out adding a sense of importance to what he was going to tell them.
“The Fury, led by Skakari are on their way here, we must retreat in order to face them another day. The Experiment is no longer active.”
***
Marty opened the bag and threw in some of his favourite shirts; everyone was packing as fast as they could to get out of the school before the Fury arrived.
“You can stop this!” The voice had a touch of anger in it, so unlike the normal tone of its owner. He turned to see Merrill, she stood there in black leather trousers and a black shirt, ever since she had woken up there was something different about her but Marty could not place what. “We should be taking revenge for the death of Adrienne and Dalton. We should be facing the Fury.”
“I killed Dalton remember, and I should have done it long ago; none of us really wanted to live this life.” Marty said returning to his packing.
“Tough because you are, and you have to start acting like a vampire and kill Skakari, so it’s safe for all of us.” Merrill said grabbing his arm, and forcing him to turn and look at her.
“Hey, when did all this responsibility get passed to me?” he questioned her.
“Because you are a warrior.” Merrill spoke as if she knew aspects of his past, had she somehow managed to get past his defences and read his memories, or had William allowed her to enter his.
“Look Merrill, I don’t know what you saw in your visions but...” Marty stopped as he looked into Merrill’s eyes, and he knew from the pale tinge of green in her normally blue irises, why she was so thirsty for bloodlust and revenge.
“If we want to save the experiment then we have to show that we have become humane, believe me I want revenge as much as anyone, but we are better than that now, and you know it Merrill, deep down you still know this.”
Merrill looked around wondering how she could get Marty to see sense that they had to fight to survive. She looked up into his eyes and wrapped her arms around him, huddling her head into his shoulder she smiled when she felt him return the embrace.
“I’m scared.” She whispered.
“Yeah; me too.”
***
“We need to feed, keep our strength up.” William commanded carrying out as many blood rations from the lock up as he could hold. He passed them to Drew and Karl.
“Are you ready to fight if we need too?” He asked them.
“Fight?” Essie asked over hearing, “We’re supposed to be running away to safety.”
“Hell yeah.” Karl said excitedly.
“Karl,” Essie pulled him away from the other males, “This isn’t a high school fight, this is the Fury, you will get yourself killed.”
“It’s a last result Es, it will all be ok.” Karl said gently rubbing the arm of his ex-girlfriend hoping to calm her fears.
Dillon took more blood packs out of the store intending to hand them over to the others, but the red liquid moving around in the plastic caught her eye. Her hand gently crushed the ration, hypnotised by it, she could almost smell the metallic taste.
“Dillon.” Murdoch called out trying to warn the girl who was drawing the attention of the hooded Elder. Dillon failed to hear her mentors’ voice; she was salivating at the thought of allowing herself to drinking the nourishment in her hand. Fangs slipped out of the corner of her mouth, and she brought the packet up to her lips and allowed the sharp incisors to pierce the pouch.
“Dillon, No!” Drew called out alarmed, pulling Dillon’s hands cradling the blood away from her mouth. The commotion brought the situation to the attention of the others. William stood in surprise, the others in fear for what would happen next.
“WHAT IS THIS?” Vaakal roared out with horror.
“My Lord,” Murdoch moved forward, blocking the Elders view of the supposed human drinking blood.
“She has turned!” The cloaked vampire announced.
“No, my Lord,” Drew said coming forward, “She is merely caught between our two worlds, she is not a vampire.” Vaakal looked passed the human mentor and young vampire to the human girl blood smeared across her face. Her maker protectively putting his arms around her.
“Lord Vaakal, we were coming to the Elders for advice as to what to do about this situation, we do not know whether Dillon is still turning, or whether she is truly half vampire, half human.” Murdoch said trying to rectify the situation.
“How long as this been known?” He asked the aging human man.
“We have only been certain for a few days.” Murdoch said trying not to lie. Vaakal became very still, contemplating the information, making a decision. He looked to William.
“That creature is an abomination and a threat to us all, William destroy it. The experiment has failed, it will be no more.” Vaakal said turning away from the scene to face the wall.
“No.” Cried out Drew, stepping back, he turned to look for Dillon, but she was no longer there. Karl walked back down the stairs.
“You will not harm her; it is not her fault that she is what she is.” He said crossing his arms across his chest. The young vampire turned to William, “I’m ready for that fight now.” The blond vampire stared back at the young protector, and he smiled.
***
Dillon ran around the outside of the school. For the first time she feared for her life. Vaakal, an Elder, one of the good vampires wanted her dead. So much for the vampire race wanting to change she thought as she passed through the academy gates and onto the private road. She stopped to turn and look at the school in complete darkness except for the outside security lights. The place looked deserted, but Dillon knew that appearances can be deceptive. Dillon exhaled heavily catching her breath, then turned once more away from her home to seek sanctuary elsewhere.
The round ball of glowing red light before her in the darkness distracted her from her task. The orb moved closer to her allowing her to make out the form of a man holding the globe. Dillon’s heart began pounding in her chest as panic and fear froze her to the spot. The man’s eyes began to glow amber, and pristine white fangs glistened.
“Well, look what we have here.” Skakari said with a smile.
Much love and thanks
dxx
The central room in the basement was busier than normal, nine vampires and two humans, sat, stood and leant about the vicinity, listening to the Vampire Elder and their Human mentor speaking in turn, enlightening them on the events of the day. Marty watched the others as his real reason for his being in the experiment was revealed, their look of disbelief displayed in perfect unison. Drew looked unimpressed as he stood, his arms crossed, leaning against the archway that led to the guys dorms.
Marty knew that his old team were watching him, trying to figure out who he now was. Was he the vampire that they remembered or something new? He could feel Daltons gaze boring holes into the back of his head; they had not left on the best of terms. The atmosphere was tense to say the least.
“So you’re saying that Marty isn’t Fury?” Karl asked needing confirmation of the wealth of information being given, Drew snorted at his question.
“Ah what’s up Drew?” William moved across the room, “Disappointed?” The vampire laid his arm around Drew’s neck. “Better luck next time kiddo.” He said patting Drew on the chest with his other hand before returning to stand alongside his beloved and Dalton. The trio stood uniform in their black clothing and military stance.
“No Karl, Marty is not or has ever been Fury.” Their teacher gently reminded his student. Karl nodded.
“The Fury have their army, we have ours.” Vaakal added.
“Marty was sent here under cover as one of the experiment to protect it from the Fury.” Murdoch concluded, “I was not aware of this fact myself until today. All I was aware of was that Marty was ‘unruly’.” Murdoch gave Marty a smile trying to lighten the mood.
Marty stood in the corner his eyes down, unable to look into the faces of either his previous life or the current one. He felt divided, like he had betrayed both his past and present lives.
“So is Jack your real name?” Karl continued his questions.
“Nah, it’s just what the public named him after his antics in the 19th century.” William answered the question before Marty had even thought about his answer.
“Antics?” Karl repeated,
“Yeah this boy is famous!” William said slapping Marty on the back. Karl frowned, thinking of a famous Jack in the 1800’s.
“You mean Jack the Ripper?” He asked wide eyed at the thought that it was Marty who was one of history’s most legendary serial killers. William laughed at Karl, shaking his head.
“Spring-heeled Jack;” William corrected, “The ripper was just some demon with the munchies.” The vampire hugged Marty by the shoulders, “You just loved jumping out in front of the ladies and scaring them, didn’t you lad? Glowing those red eyes of yours at them.”
“So what’s the mission?” Marty looked at his vampire friend of the past, changing the subject to the present.
“Oh so now you want to know?” William teased, “I’m not sure we should let you in on it anymore.” He continued walking away from his young friend.
“The Elders have come to locate the whereabouts of Skakari,” the hooded Elder vampire answered the question, drawing Marty’s attention; “you are to infiltrate his lair and kill him”.
“Oh so just a small job then;” Marty quipped.
“So are you in?” William asked, spinning around fixing Marty with his stare.
“Love to, but I’ve been on this programme thing, and it’s kind of taught me not to kill anymore.” Marty said thingying his head to the side, sarcasms edging his tone.
“You have been taught to value the life of the mortals, to live with them. Skakari is far from human and he must be stopped once and for all. Our information suggests he is going to make a final assault on the convocation. We must strike now!” Vaakal growled, his eyes glowing.
“Can’t you just imprison him instead?” Dillon’s comment was greeted with a deadly stare from the vampire Elder.
“This matter does not concern you human. Just because you know about the existence of the experiment does not mean you have a say in how it is run.” The Elder replied. Dillon threw a glance at the teacher she shared with the vampires, she watched as he caught her eye with his and was given a slight shake of the head. Dillon began to understand that the Elders had not yet been fully informed of how and why she knew about the Mansbridge experiment.
“Dillon, I think it is best if you return to your room.” Dr Murdoch instructed.
“But I...” Dillon whined.
“Please.” The teacher cut off her plea. The human lowered her head as she slowly trudged out of the room. William arched his eyebrow at the fact that both Drew and Karl watched her leave, slightly sad expressions on their faces.
“Well at least that removes the temptation of a snack.” William muttered, moving towards the central table, he sat down kicking his feet up onto the table. The room drew silent.
“So Marty’s like a secret agent for the Convocation?” Karl whispered to Essie,
“I’m surprised we didn’t figure that out from their wardrobe.” Essie returned the whisper a catty tone in her voice as she eyed Adrienne up and down. ‘My civilian attire rivals that of the Royals.’ The female voice with a French accent echoed in her head, startling the blonde with the intrusion into her mind.
“The mission must take place tonight.” Vaakal’s voice boomed through the basement, “You will join the rest of the team to kill Skakari.” his cold blue eyes focusing on Marty. The vampire sighed loudly in response. “Perhaps this will invoke a better response from you.” Vaakal growled; his eyes fixed on Marty.
“The Fury do know about your location. They are the ones who set the school on fire.”
“What?!” Essie’s shriek over powered those of the other Mansbridge vampires. Karl growled at the thought that the Fury had almost killed his sister. Marty merely nodded his head. He had suspected as much.
“To kill Skakari, is the only way to save your brethren.” A thin smile spread over the Elders lips.
***
“I can’t believe you are doing this.” Merrill’s voice came from behind. Marty turned round, fully uniformed in black leather trousers and a tight black T-shirt, to see the vampiress stepping through the drawn curtain separating the dorm from the central room. He expected her eyes to be full of concern but they were not, they merely displayed anger and disappointment.
“What?” Marty snapped at her, crossing his arms; his stance mirroring the aggression of Merrill’s own.
“I thought you had changed, like the rest of us.” She said narrowing her eyes.
“What do you want me to do Merrill? Go up against the wishes of the Elders?” He asked her, the vampiress fell silent, her gaze drifting to the floor, the energy leaving her body.
“I just can’t believe you didn’t tell me about this. Instead you thought you would hurt me.” She whispered. Marty soften, letting his arms drop to his sides. He took a few paces forward closing the gap between himself and Merrill.
“I was trying to protect you.” He whispered.
“You never think about anyone else but yourself.” She said fighting back tears, trying to convince herself that Marty’s cruel antics was a game rather than to distance himself from others to prevent them getting hurt.
“That’s not true.” Marty argued and Merrill regretted her statement knowing that he changed along with the rest of them despite his efforts to fight it. But at least she understood why now.
“Please don’t go; I have a feeling that something bad will happen.” Merrill’s voice was fragile and thoughtful. Marty wrapped his arms around the vampiress, hugging her. He kissed the top of her head, wishing that he could no longer be a part of what he was.
The pulling of the curtain interrupted their moment.
“We are ready to leave.” Dalton’s voice was icy cold as he stared at the vampire cradling the female. Marty looked at him and nodded.
“I have to go.” Marty whispered. He felt her shake her head in response and her efforts to keep him close. But Marty easily removed himself from her grasp. Merrill suddenly felt cold as Marty left her side, and knew that she was the only thing other than himself that he did things for. She kept her eyes closed, cuddling herself, listening to the sound of his boots growing fainter as he moved to carry out his mission. She opened her eyes and knew what she had to do. Straightening herself up, she walked out of the boy’s dorm and into her own dorm, determined she would find the right book to help her.
***
Dillon sat in the library it was almost 2am, but she didn’t feel tired. She wanted to know what was going. She had hung around in Murdoch’s office trying to catch bits and pieces of the conversations occurring below; her new vampiric sense of hearing aiding her. She had hid behind the huge oak desk when four of the vampires had emerged; ready to fulfil their mission, her friend amongst them. Foolishly she had poked her head up too soon and had been caught out by Murdoch himself. Now here she was waiting for him to return from the kitchen with some tea.
“Hey, what are you doing in here?” The voice cut through her thoughts and she turned towards the library doors. Drew walked out of the gloom.
“I’m waiting for Murdoch. What are you doing here?”
“I needed some time to think.” The vampire replied sullenly.
“About?” The human enquired.
“I think this experiment is a waste of time.” The frustration Drew felt evident in his voice.
“Really?”
“Well look at what’s happening. We are suppose to be learning how to value life, to prove that killing doesn’t have to be our nature, and then the first chance we get we’re off to ram a stake through Skakari’s heart. It’s like we haven’t changed at all.”
“But you have.” Dillon argued, “The very fact that you are questioning Vaakal’s orders proves you are no longer wish to remain what you were before. You can do it Drew; you can be who you want to be.” Drew looked at the human who told him the truth, smiling he nodded his head. He sighed approaching the human, who was sat perched on the end of the desk, her feet on a chair.
“I never thought I could really turn human before.” He whispered.
“Not even for Sherry?” The sound of her name threw Drew, lightening struck his heart, at the moment he realised he had not thought of her for days and guilt overcame him. Dillon saw the pain on his face. “It’s ok, the first time I realised I hadn’t thought of my brother for a while I thought I was betraying his memory. Like I didn’t love him anymore.”
Drew looked up at the human, his eyes glistening; he closed the gap between the two of them.
“You lost someone you loved too?” He asked knowing the answer already.
“Hit and run, driver was drunk.” Dillon said with a hint
of emotion. “You will go on with your life,” she paused knowing the word was wrong, “but they will always have a place in your heart, even if you don’t think of them every second of every day.”
Drew smiled and ran his fingers through Dillon’s shoulder length black hair.
“I like your hair this colour.” He said as his lips slowly descended on to hers. Dillon felt her heart flutter as she felt his cool lips brush hers.
“So then, what shall we talk about?” Murdoch voice cut through the atmosphere like a knife, as Drew used his vampire abilities to move himself quickly towards the near-by book shelves.
“Drew, I didn’t see you there,” The teacher said as he walked across the library a tray of tea and pie in his hands, “care to join us?”
***
Merrill tumbled through the curtain, lightening flashing before her eyes, an explosion occurring in her brain. The spell was too powerful to handle, she had known that, but she needed it to know that Marty was safe. The book she was holding dropped to the floor as another bolt hit her, the pain causing her to drop to her knees.
“Merrill what is it?” Essie asked her fellow female vampire, getting up from the table the blonde’s heels clattered on the stone floor as she raced to Merrill crouching on the ground.
“Something’s wrong; very wrong. I can feel it. They are going to die.” She said through gritted teeth.
“Merrill, what did you do?” Essie asked taking the book in her hands and looking at the pages filled with the most powerful of black magic.
“What’s going on?” Karl asked joining the girls.
“I don’t know. I just...” Merrill grasped at her head, and whimpered in pain. Essie turned to Karl.
“Get Murdoch now.” She demanded
“But ...”
“Now Karl!” The royal shrieked; a blur raced out of the basement.
“Which spell did you use?” She asked the tormented
brunette.
“I had to know what was happening with Marty, with the attack.” Merrill said through gritted teeth. “It’s the spell of foresight.” She said pointing to the book. Essie picked the leather clad pages up and flicked through until she found the spell, and began to read.
“What’s going on here?” The teacher demanded as he entered the basement, followed by Drew, Karl and Dillon.
“Merrill’s used some kind of spell to enhance her mind reading abilities so she can find out what’s happening with the attack.” Essie said cradling the brunette in her arms, as another wave of pain over took the psychic vampire.
“Tell us what you see Merrill.” Their tutor demanded gently crouching on the floor, his hand tenderly rubbing her shoulder. Merrill opened her eyes, her irises were glowing red, but her gaze was vacant.
“He’s too powerful for them; he is going to use its power.” She whimpered,
“Merrill can you describe what you see?” Murdoch probed gently. Merrill screwed up her eyes concentrating through the pain to see more clearly,
“It’s a weapon made of metal, No wait it’s alive, it’s... it’s... filled with anger and hatred, so much power.” Merrill muttered “All I can see is an eye”; Drew’s eyes widened in realisation.
“No, it can’t be.” Drew said lost in his own thoughts before moving at speed back in to Murdoch’s office. The vampire crouched by the wooden panel at the foot of the wall hidden by a small table. Moving the table aside he removed the panel, to reveal a secret safe. He thought hard remembering the combination to open the door, and silently hoped as he reached inside his hand would come upon what he was willing was there. Drew closed his eyes and grabbed at the safes contents, he inhaled sharply as his eyes flew open pulling his hand back into the light, knowing that his fingers had grasped nothing but air.
“Drew?” Murdoch said coming up behind him.
“Dracon’s amulet is gone.” The vampire answered solemnly.
Their attention was pulled back down to the basement by Merrill screaming with fear, panic and pain. Drew made to the table to see her finally pass out, slumped against Essie.
“What do we do now?” She asked him.
***
“I don’t like this Will, it’s too quiet.” Marty whispered to the blond male slightly in front of him. The pair crouched by a corridor wall, William peering cautiously round the corner into the gloom of night. The next corridor was empty.
“Moi aussi.” The French female voice echoed in Marty’s mind and he knew Will had heard Adrienne’s voice too. He looked behind him down the corridor and saw her red eyes glowing in the darkness, beyond her Dalton stood brining up the rear, watching for an attack.
“According to the Intel, Skakari should be in the office at the end of that corridor.” William whispered back.
“Yeah right, we’re in a law firm Will. Doesn’t this all seem a bit too clichéd and convenient, only a few guards, and the alarm system was too easy to hack into?” Marty pressed. He could not shake the words he had heard from Merrill earlier that night.
“Clichéd or not, we have to do this tonight.” William turned to face Marty, showing him the serious glint in his pale green eyes. The older vampire looked past Marty down the corridor to his beloved and friend. He signalled at them to move closer to their location. “Ok Skakari,” Will breathed as the group totalled four, “ready or not here we come.”
Marty used all his strength to kick the door down with one strong mental blast. The four vampires rushed inside the office ready for a fight. The group paused, and looked around the empty office lit only by a single lamp at the end of the large conference table. All the empty chairs edging the table faced inward save the chair at the far end near the lamp. This chair was larger than the others and was made of leather and stood ominously in the shadows its back to the intruders. William pointed at the chair and the four vampires moved into an attack formation, two taking each side of the long table; William and Marty to the left, Adrienne and Dalton to the right, slowly moving forward towards their target.
With only metres to go Marty and the others paused as the head chair slowly swivelled round, ‘so Skakari really is here’ Marty thought to himself as the familiar face came into view.
“I knew Vaakal would send you,” Skakari whispered with glee, “although I am surprise to see you here,” he nodded at Marty, “I guess the Elders big experiment didn’t work.” Marty’s uneasiness grew, why was Skakari here alone, no guards, no security when he obviously knew of the Elders plans.
“Surrender Skakari, you’ve lost.” William growled.
“I don’t think so.” The lord of the Fury sneered. Marty saw Skakari lift his hands from below the desk, he didn’t know what was in it; he just knew it wasn’t good.
“Get down,” he screamed to the others as he dived on top of William dragging him down to the floor, knocking him unconscious as the bright light began to penetrate the darkness. Out of the corner of his eye, Marty saw the triangular metal, and the living eye within its core, Dracon’s amulet.
***
Dillon rinsed the cloth in the cool water and wrung it out, placing it once more across Merrill’s brow as she lay in her coffin. The human ran her fingers across the edge of the smoothened wood, she wondered if she turned whether she would have to sleep in a coffin too. She frowned at the lack of space there was, and how enclosed it must seem when the lid was closed, and hoped she could still sleep in a normal bed.
“Penny for them.” Dillon jumped at the voice of her teacher. She looked over her shoulder at the aging teacher. Dr Murdoch looked weary from lack of sleep; he had removed his suit jacket and stood before her, his waistcoat undone, his tie loosened and his shirt top button undone; a saucer and cup in each hand. Dillon smiled at him.
“I thought that vampires were supposed to be all powerful and yet...” Dillon’s voice trailed off as she looked once more at the comatose vampire. The mentor nodded as he approached and handed his student a cup. Dillon sipped the warm milk.
“We all have our strengths and weaknesses including vampires, theirs are just a little different to ours.”
“You mean yours, I don’t know what my strengths and weakness are any more.” Dillon looked back at Merrill, “I’m faster, stronger, can see better in the dark, hear better, but the sun hurts my eyes, and I crave blood,” Dillon paused bowing her head; “I’m becoming one of them aren’t I?”
“I really don’t know Dillon, but when tonight is over, we will ask the Elders for their guidance.” Dillon nodded her head.
“Life used to be so much simpler.” The girl whispered. Murdoch looked at his student, normally so strong and stubborn, she now looked fragile.
“I’ll take over,” he said warmly, “its ok, you go to bed, try and get a couple of hours sleep before class tomorrow.”
***
“Dr Murdoch!” Murdoch raised his head from the side of the coffin realising he had fallen asleep, he checked his watch, it was less than an hour to daw; the others must be back. Briefly checking on Merrill, he stood and moved into the central room. He jaw fell open at the scene before him.
Marty was laying Dalton on the table; he was bleeding badly and had burn marks all over his body and clothes, he whimpered in pain. Marty didn’t look like they had fared much better in the battle, he too was covered in blood, a wound across his forehead still leaked blood, but at least it was healing. The teacher immediately sprang into action knowing that they would require blood in order to heal fully; he jogged across to the blood bank, not needing to open the lock after William had already tore it from its hinges, he retrieved several blood pouches. Karl came down the entrance way dragging Williams’s unconscious body.
“Where do you want him?” Karl asked Marty.
“Anywhere.” Marty said wearily, gratefully accepting the blood pack that Murdoch gave him. The thud that came from behind him told him William had been left on the floor. Murdoch gave a couple of pouches to Dalton, his hand shakily taking the packets and draining then in a single shot.
“So what happened?” Drew asked coming out of the guy’s dorm.
“Yeah, did you take out Skakari?” Karl asked wide eyed.
“And where’s Ms Paris?” Essie added a royal tone adding to the imitation French accent in her voice, joining the group.
Marty looked at the trio, a hatred burned in him at their stupid questions, could they not see and figure out themselves what had happened.
“Her name is Adrienne and she’s dead.” Marty spat with distain targeting his stare at Essie, the vampire royal dropped her head, regretting the way she had phrased her question.
“We were ambushed, they knew we were coming; they have...” Marty continued.
“Dracon’s amulet.” Drew finished the sentence for him,
“I’m afraid it’s more than a mere amulet, it is believed to be all that is left of Dracon himself.” Dr Murdoch enlightened his student.
“It’s the third eye of Dracon.” Marty added, “it all the power the Fury gave him, when they made him into a god.
“So Skakari isn’t dead?” The question irritated Marty.
“What do you think Karl?” Marty answered sarcastically, the vampire paused his onslaught of torment before it started, looking about him, “Where’s Merrill?”
***
Marty stood over the coffin. His wounds were healing well, but the dried blood remained on his skin, he knew he should wash it off, attend to Dalton and William, report back to the Elders, yet he stood frozen to the spot, his eyes unable to leave her fragile frame. Skakari would pay for this.
No. The voice in the back of his mind whispered. That’s not what you are now; you are better than a mere killing machine. You should value all life. Marty allowed himself to vamp out, baring his fangs, if she dies then he dies too, he growled back at himself, silencing the voice of the experiment within him. Marty reached into the coffin and gently stroked Merrill’s cheek willing her to wake up. The vampire bent down and kissed her forehead.
“Please come back to me,” he whispered, “I’m not strong enough to change on my own.” A crash from outside the dorm alerted Marty that William had regained consciousness and was not happy with what had happened; Marty reluctantly moved away from the coffin to confront him. Marty looked about the central room, Drew was setting the table upright after William had thrown it over.
“Where are they?” William blasted Marty with a forceful mental blast knocking backwards, but somehow the young vampire remained on his feet. William obviously hadn’t regained all his strength yet.
“Dalton’s in my coffin, Essie and Karl are looking after him.” Marty answered, dreading what his next question would enviably be.
“Where’s Adrienne?” Marty dropped his gaze to the floor.
“Is she through there?” Marty looked up to see William gesturing to the girls dorm behind, where only Merrill lay.
“Adrienne’s not here,” Marty said solemnly.
“What?” William throwing Marty a questioning look, “Where...?”
“She didn’t make it back mate.” Marty said hurriedly.
“What? You just left her behind?” He continued his rant, “We have to go back for her, now!”
“You can’t; the sun’s about to come up.” Drew informed him. William swung round moving his focus from Marty to the tall dark vampire. Drew looked directly into his emerald eyes that glowed with anger, the cuts about his face healing before his eyes, completely mesmerised he failed to move when William lunched at him grabbing him by the throat William pinned Drew easily against the wall.
“Don’t you dare tell me what to do, boy!” William spat at him. Essie and Karl came into the central room the yelling alerting them to the trouble brewing.
“Will, she didn’t get left behind.” Marty said swallowing, slowly moving closer to William and Drew, knowing that his next sentence would likely send William over the edge. “William, listen to me, he was too powerful; and there were too many of them, I couldn’t get to her in time.” William loosened his grip on Drew’s throat, his eyes moving slowly to once more focus on Marty.
“What do you mean?” William’s voice suddenly became a whisper dropping Drew to the ground.
“I’m sorry Will, she’s gone.” Marty said standing his ground as William moved towards him.
“What?” William asked again, the shock of the information was not allowing him to process it.
“She died.” Marty put it to him plainly.
“No,” He yelled, “She can’t die, she’s a vampire; she IS immortal.” The conviction in his voice died on his last syllable. The powerful vampire they had feared all just moments ago became a shaking wreck before their eyes. William sank to his knees before Marty and started to sob. Marty looked at his Mansbridge brethren, signalling them to retreat elsewhere. The three of them moved up the entrance way and into Murdoch’s office, allowing William the privacy he needed.
***
William looked down into the coffin.
“Is she the One?” He asked. Marty looked at his old friend staring down at Merrill.
“I don’t know.” Marty answered.
“You always know.” William snapped back, looking at Marty, the younger vampire slowly nodded his head.
“Do everything in your power to protect her. Learn
from my mistakes as you always have done.” William commanded. Again Marty nodded. “Get her far from here.” He continued looking back down at Merrill’s sleeping form.
“Yeah I know Skakari is a major threat but...” Marty began.
“No.” William cut him off, “Not Skakari, the experiment
is the threat.” Marty remained silent, slightly shocked at his words. William fixed Marty with a serious stare. “I don’t blame you for Adrienne’s death,” he said quietly, “it is the Elders fault; their experiment has made you weak.” Williams tone indicated he was resolute in his opinion.
“Will,” Marty began, “this experiment, it’s supposed to change us, help us survive in the human world.”
“But we are not in the human world, we are vampires, and this is our world we are fighting against.” William gripped the side of the coffin, “The Elders got it wrong, we shouldn’t change. We can’t.”
“We can if we want it badly enough.” Marty argued. William laughed at him.
“They really have done a number on you mate.” William moved away from the coffin stepping towards Marty. “You have forgotten what you are.”
“I know you’re hurting Will, but you believed in what the Elders were doing.”
“I believed we needed to stop the Fury. They will wreck everything with their want for world domination; all those centuries of bargains with the humans to keep our world secret, to cover our tracks, gone because of their need to rule the humans like cattle.”
“Exactly, if we can prove to the rest of our race that we can change, tame our instincts to kill, stop feeding off humans, so we can live alongside the humans, then...”
“Then what?” William questioned, “the humans will accept us? I don’t see what is so wrong with how we have lived for centuries.” William paused his rant and turned back to the coffin.
“I need to avenge Adrienne’s death, will you help me?” The older vampire whispered.
“The two of us to take out Skakari?” Marty said in disbelief.
“Don’t tell me that you non-killing rules extend to those who killed your blood sister?” William growled; he eyes turning flaming green, his fangs protruding from his lips.
“No, but being that he has Dracon’s amulet, I think we may need an army to even scratch him.”
“You and I were an unstoppable force, we wreaked havoc for centuries my boy, we alone can kill Skakari; you just need to become the vampire you once were, the vampire you truly are.” William watched at Marty’s stare turned from him to the girl in the coffin.
“Merrill believes in the experiment, she lives for it, she’d never forgive me.” Marty felt the stare of William, his expectations. All the favours that Marty had owed him over the time they had wandered the earth together were suddenly called in. The silence was uncomfortable as William awaited Marty’s answer.
“Marty?” The voice was hesitant, so unlike its normal tone. The vampires looked up to their intruder, to see Essie hovering outside the dorm, “erm sorry to interrupt but Daltons asking for you.” Marty looked at William; William looked at Marty.
“Go to your son, he needs you.” William commanded returning his stare to the coffin. Marty nodded and left the dorm. The blond male vampire watched out of the corner of his eye as Marty and the royal left, when he was alone he slowly lifted his wrist to his mouth and softly bit into the skin. The wound swelled with fresh blood.
“Now my dear, become part of our family,” he whispered as he lowered the bleeding limb onto Merrill’s lips.
***
Dr Murdoch stood outside the library; he listened to the chatter coming from within. His human students had gathered for their morning class, with a heavy heart he opened the door, knowing that the Mansbridge experiment had failed. His vampires were now a significant danger to his day school, and he must now protect his humans at all costs.
“Good morning.” Murdoch beamed trying to sound and appear cheerful. “I’m afraid I have some rather bad news.” He moved towards the front of the library pacing around the front of the classroom.
“Oh yeah, what’s that? The exams have been cancelled.” Nick called out.
“Well no, it’s not that bad,” the teacher replied with a slight chuckle.
“But you will have to sit them elsewhere.” A cry of puzzlement went up from his students.
“It seems that there are areas of the school that are unsafe, a legacy of the fire, and therefore I cannot let you stay in the building. I am moving you to a hostel a few miles from here and you will sit your exams in the town hall.” A few mutters and disgruntled noises came from various students. “So if you can all return to your rooms, and pack for a week, I will meet you in the common room at noon.” The library became filled with the screeches of chairs being moved as the students departed from the room. Dr Murdoch put his hands on the desk and hung his head.
“Dr Murdoch?” He recognised the female voice answering without lifting his head.
“Yes Dillon.”
“What is really going on?” The mentor lifted his head checking that the room was indeed empty apart from himself and Dillon. He sighed and stood up straight.
“I’m afraid it is no longer safe for us to stay here, things have not gone to plan.” Murdoch answered.
“I’m not running, I’m staying.” The human girl stood crossed armed, resolute in her decision, Murdoch sighed.
***
Dalton looked up at Marty, pain racked his body; he wasn’t healing. Dalton had pushed Adrienne out of the way when the eye on the metal plate had opened. The blast of light that emanated from it burnt his body in place of hers. He thought he had spared Adrienne’s life and finally ended his own; he was fed up of fighting, but it was not to be, he lived again. Scores of Fury came out of nowhere attacking Adrienne; she was powerless on her own as he lay helplessly on the floor the pain overcoming his desire to help her.
“You need more blood.” Marty said emotionlessly, he turned to leave, but the cracked dry hand held onto his own, causing him to pause.
“No.” Dalton whispered. Marty couldn’t look at him, it was his fault that he was here, like this, he should have just...
“You need blood or you’ll die.” Marty replied staring at the wall in front of him.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t save her. Tell William that I tried but...” Dalton said his words edged with tears of frustration and regret, he watched his makers thick black hair move up and down as Marty accepted his apology.
Marty finally turned to face the dying vampire. He saw in his eyes that Dalton no longer wished to be a part of this world. Marty had seen this look in his eyes before, back in 1914, France, when he had first met him on the battle fields. Dalton had no fear of him then, thinking he was the angel of death come to take him away from the war, but he had not. Dalton may have been a soldier in the world war but he was not a warrior and that was what Marty had been sent to recruit.
“Why?” Dalton’s question caught Marty off guard. The vampire wondered whether he son had learnt how to mind read from Adrienne.
“If I had to live like this then it was about time someone else did too, you were the only one who had hope in their eyes that I was going to end your suffering instead of fear. You didn’t beg me to spare your life.”
“Why?” The question came again.
“Because I like to torment people,” Marty said matter-of-factly, but he was unable to look Dalton in the eye “to keep you alive when you wanted to die was fun for me.”
“And then you thought you would torment all of us when you left to join this experiment?”
“I was sick of the fighting.” Marty said through gritted teeth.
“Then you know how I feel.” Dalton said making his
point. “Please.” He begged. “Don’t let me live again, I am sick of the fighting. Have mercy; please do not torment me any longer.”
Marty sighed heavily as he gripped the edge of the coffin.
“Please father.” Marty shut his eyes as he pulled at the wooden coffin. The edge snapped off in his hand. He looked at the jagged edge, fighting back the tears of regret; he should have done this decades ago, he should never have made Dalton into a vampire. Marty opened his eyes to see Dalton close his, a peaceful happy expression across his face; he was ready. Marty lifted the wood high above his head and plunged it down into Dalton’s chest.
“Thank you,” came the whisper as Dalton’s body turned to ash before Marty’s eyes. Marty gasped as he dropped the stake, and staggered backwards. Slender arms caught Marty in an embrace,
“It’s ok.” Merrill whispered as Marty sank to the floor. “It’s ok.”
***
The familiar clicking of the ceiling giving way alerted the vampires in the cellar that darkness had descended. Dillon watched the skylight twist open revealing the full moon above. Anything to escape the tension in the room. Dalton had died during the day, but no one had told her how; William was grieving for the loss of his ‘One’ and the Fury had some all powerful amulet. The human girl wondered when her life got so interesting and dangerous.
“What is the human still doing here?” The voice of the vampire elder boomed from the darkness as his cloaked form materialised before their eyes. Dillon moved her gaze from the moon to his eyes, unable to read an emotion, if there was any, within them, she shuddered at the sight of his white wrinkled skin, yes she thought to herself he is most definitely an Elder.
“My Lord, there are certain circumstances that would pertain to Dillon staying here with us.” Murdoch answered bowing slightly. The vampire waved his hand at them, signalling there were more important issues at hand than a human. Skakari turned to address the two vampires clad all in black, stood leaning against the wall; their battle wounds healed but the scars still left on their souls.
“You were defeated.” It was more of a statement than a question.
“He had the eye of Dracon.” William answered through gritted teeth, angry he had not acknowledged the deaths of the team, especially Adrienne; “We couldn’t have possibly taken him out.”
“Yes, it was taken from here during the fire.” The elder mused.
“The eye was here?” Marty asked, throwing a questioning look at his human teacher, if he had known then he wouldn’t have had to have acted so dumb when the subject of Dracon had come up last year and perhaps he could have prevented the deaths of his team mates. “So the fire was a diversion.”
“If you knew, why didn’t you tell us? We could have been better prepared!” William yelled full of grief for Adrienne. “You sent us to our deaths!”
“Silence,” The Elder snapped, “you have failed. Skakari still lives.” William growled with fury, he eyes turning from pale green to that of emerald. He felt his young comrade hold on to his arm, whispering meaningless sentences about a better time and place for arguing their case, trying to calm him. William ground his teeth as he nodded agreement; he knew the council would pay for their betrayal.
“Give them a break; they’ve lost two members of their team.” Karl interjected seated at the central table.
“You.” Vaakal muttered darkly, staring at Karl out of the corner of his hood remembering past sins. Karl bowed his head in submission. Vaakal moved to address the room, his cloak spinning out adding a sense of importance to what he was going to tell them.
“The Fury, led by Skakari are on their way here, we must retreat in order to face them another day. The Experiment is no longer active.”
***
Marty opened the bag and threw in some of his favourite shirts; everyone was packing as fast as they could to get out of the school before the Fury arrived.
“You can stop this!” The voice had a touch of anger in it, so unlike the normal tone of its owner. He turned to see Merrill, she stood there in black leather trousers and a black shirt, ever since she had woken up there was something different about her but Marty could not place what. “We should be taking revenge for the death of Adrienne and Dalton. We should be facing the Fury.”
“I killed Dalton remember, and I should have done it long ago; none of us really wanted to live this life.” Marty said returning to his packing.
“Tough because you are, and you have to start acting like a vampire and kill Skakari, so it’s safe for all of us.” Merrill said grabbing his arm, and forcing him to turn and look at her.
“Hey, when did all this responsibility get passed to me?” he questioned her.
“Because you are a warrior.” Merrill spoke as if she knew aspects of his past, had she somehow managed to get past his defences and read his memories, or had William allowed her to enter his.
“Look Merrill, I don’t know what you saw in your visions but...” Marty stopped as he looked into Merrill’s eyes, and he knew from the pale tinge of green in her normally blue irises, why she was so thirsty for bloodlust and revenge.
“If we want to save the experiment then we have to show that we have become humane, believe me I want revenge as much as anyone, but we are better than that now, and you know it Merrill, deep down you still know this.”
Merrill looked around wondering how she could get Marty to see sense that they had to fight to survive. She looked up into his eyes and wrapped her arms around him, huddling her head into his shoulder she smiled when she felt him return the embrace.
“I’m scared.” She whispered.
“Yeah; me too.”
***
“We need to feed, keep our strength up.” William commanded carrying out as many blood rations from the lock up as he could hold. He passed them to Drew and Karl.
“Are you ready to fight if we need too?” He asked them.
“Fight?” Essie asked over hearing, “We’re supposed to be running away to safety.”
“Hell yeah.” Karl said excitedly.
“Karl,” Essie pulled him away from the other males, “This isn’t a high school fight, this is the Fury, you will get yourself killed.”
“It’s a last result Es, it will all be ok.” Karl said gently rubbing the arm of his ex-girlfriend hoping to calm her fears.
Dillon took more blood packs out of the store intending to hand them over to the others, but the red liquid moving around in the plastic caught her eye. Her hand gently crushed the ration, hypnotised by it, she could almost smell the metallic taste.
“Dillon.” Murdoch called out trying to warn the girl who was drawing the attention of the hooded Elder. Dillon failed to hear her mentors’ voice; she was salivating at the thought of allowing herself to drinking the nourishment in her hand. Fangs slipped out of the corner of her mouth, and she brought the packet up to her lips and allowed the sharp incisors to pierce the pouch.
“Dillon, No!” Drew called out alarmed, pulling Dillon’s hands cradling the blood away from her mouth. The commotion brought the situation to the attention of the others. William stood in surprise, the others in fear for what would happen next.
“WHAT IS THIS?” Vaakal roared out with horror.
“My Lord,” Murdoch moved forward, blocking the Elders view of the supposed human drinking blood.
“She has turned!” The cloaked vampire announced.
“No, my Lord,” Drew said coming forward, “She is merely caught between our two worlds, she is not a vampire.” Vaakal looked passed the human mentor and young vampire to the human girl blood smeared across her face. Her maker protectively putting his arms around her.
“Lord Vaakal, we were coming to the Elders for advice as to what to do about this situation, we do not know whether Dillon is still turning, or whether she is truly half vampire, half human.” Murdoch said trying to rectify the situation.
“How long as this been known?” He asked the aging human man.
“We have only been certain for a few days.” Murdoch said trying not to lie. Vaakal became very still, contemplating the information, making a decision. He looked to William.
“That creature is an abomination and a threat to us all, William destroy it. The experiment has failed, it will be no more.” Vaakal said turning away from the scene to face the wall.
“No.” Cried out Drew, stepping back, he turned to look for Dillon, but she was no longer there. Karl walked back down the stairs.
“You will not harm her; it is not her fault that she is what she is.” He said crossing his arms across his chest. The young vampire turned to William, “I’m ready for that fight now.” The blond vampire stared back at the young protector, and he smiled.
***
Dillon ran around the outside of the school. For the first time she feared for her life. Vaakal, an Elder, one of the good vampires wanted her dead. So much for the vampire race wanting to change she thought as she passed through the academy gates and onto the private road. She stopped to turn and look at the school in complete darkness except for the outside security lights. The place looked deserted, but Dillon knew that appearances can be deceptive. Dillon exhaled heavily catching her breath, then turned once more away from her home to seek sanctuary elsewhere.
The round ball of glowing red light before her in the darkness distracted her from her task. The orb moved closer to her allowing her to make out the form of a man holding the globe. Dillon’s heart began pounding in her chest as panic and fear froze her to the spot. The man’s eyes began to glow amber, and pristine white fangs glistened.
“Well, look what we have here.” Skakari said with a smile.