Dracula: Hearts of Fire (Dracula Heart's) (25 page)

    “
Is he out there again
?” her mother called to her.

    “
H
e’s calling me.”

    “Don’t you dare go out there!”

    “I’m not.
He wants me to invite him in but I’m not going to do that either. But you don’t know how bad I want to go out there.
”

    Abbey knew
that if she decided to open that door there
was absolutely nothing that she could do about
it
. Her daughter could probably break her in two if she so desired. Arym’s strength
and capabilities far outmatched
her
s
. Vampires weren’t allowed in the building so how’d that one get in?
She went to the window and looked out; there was usually a security guard out there. What she saw was disconcerting to say the least. The guard was flat on the ground, probably dead. She grabbed her cell off the coffee table with shaky hands and called Alexander.

    Alexander
and Tessy
arrived in less than five minutes and Abbey was so happy to s
ee him that her heart jumpe
d, her knight in
black trench coat.
The vampire outsid
e her door had run off as he
sensed the red sheriff approaching.

   
“
Are you okay?” asked Alexander.

    “We’re okay but this is the second night in a row that a vampire has tried to get at her. He stands outside the door and calls to her.
The police won’t even show up when you call them. They pretend they’
re coming but they don’t
.
”

    Alexander turned and looked at Arym who was now sitting on the sofa. “Whatever you do don’t invite him in. New vampires have a distinctive scent to them; it’s not far reaching so maybe he was walking by the buil
ding
when he detected it.
”

    Abbey smiled at him. “Do you think you could stay here tonight and catch him?”

    “Great minds think alike. He’s killed the security guard so we’ll see if he’s dumb enough to return.
I really doubt that he’ll ever be back but who can say for sure.
”
Alexander knew the
vampire wouldn’t return but he would stay the night if it would calm her mind. The family had been through so much.

    The sheriff wasn’t sure what kind of vampire Arym was going to be. If she had substantial magic developing in her
, that vampire may have wanted to grab her in exchange for a spell or two from an unscrupulous wizard.
It was uncommon for people that were bitten to turn into wizards, but impossible things were occurring.
It seemed that everyone was looking to augment themselves these days. But Alexander wasn’t good at detecting certain kinds of supernatural so it was only a thought, perhaps a weak one at that.
However, he was getting unusual vibes from the girl.

    “Alexander, would you like some green tea or coffee?”

    “Green tea would be fine.”

CHAPTER
TWENTY-EIGHT

   
THE MILITARY STYLE BUILDINGS were seeing some activity. Sharpton stood in front of the group as he adjusted his shoulder length black hair.
Beside them the dead animals piled on top of one another continued to burn with black and orange flames. The enchantment was set to burn for over a year without having to add more animals to the fire
, with its energy being reabsorbed over and over
.
He had twenty-one vampires in three rows of seven and they stood at attention. It was an impressive accomplishment to have so many vampires willing to act like soldiers and take orders
, but his goal was to get at least a hundred willing to follow any order that he gave them
.
There was magic involved but they didn’t know it and soon stronger magic.
He had promised them a lot, including high ranking positions in the new world after the
vampires took over. Sharpton really didn’t know if it was possible to take over the world, nevertheless he was going to have some fun trying.
What else was there to do?

  
Sharpton gave his speech to his minions.
“The fact that we will take over the world is inevitable. It will take time and cooperation among us but I am convinced that we will not fail. Even with their guns and tanks they cannot stop us. Our speed and might is simply too much for
their weak bodies
. This is the first step. The timeframe is unknown, but I will have a mission for you by the end of the day. DO NOT fight amongst yourselves. Any that disobey will be killed.
You must be able to see the bigger picture because without it you are useless to me.
We have no need of stupid vampires that won’t follow orders. Do not underestimate me. I am surrounded by powerful magic. Do not attempt to leave the area without being led out. You are dismissed for now.”

   They all headed into the first building where a bar was set up with pool tables and card games. They weren’t allowed to play for money but Sharpton figured that they had to have something to do to guide the passage of time. Granger was a tall lanky fellow with a pronounced fore
head and a pale face. Even at this early stage he
realized that he had made a mistake; he already wanted to kill at least three of the vampires around him. Granger was not one for taking order
s
so why the hell did he get himself into this ridiculous situation?
He knew if he stayed he was bones.
If he tried to flee perhaps the end result would be the same, but maybe not.
If he escaped perhaps they would all flee but he didn’t care.

    “I have to get out of here.” Granger got looks from two big vampires setting up a game of pool. His options were limited. He could run or he could stay and be bones.
The boss wouldn’t stand for him fighting with other vampires but that was inevitable is he remained.
He figured that Sharpton was full of it; he might have lots of status but he guessed that ultimately he was going to get them all killed, and for all he knew that was his plan.
He believed that Sharpton was only
out for himself.
If he truly had a big picture then he imagined that it was him that was privy to it.
If he truly was some sort of mafia vampire, then why didn’t he get his underlings to do the job?

    Granger went through the door instead of opening it. Several vampires went out to see what he was up to as others watched from the door. The vampire paused as he considered briefly whether to turn back or not. But then he went for it, all or nothing. He blurred toward the woods but almost as soon as he entered the forest he burst into flames. Granger was pitiful as he danced around on fire
as it consumed his flesh
.
His body tried hard to regenerate but the flames were faster. Granger was dying a slow horrible death.
Several vampires laughed at him, others simply shook their heads. His skin and insides burned
away and for about almost two minutes
the skeleton continued to dance, and then finally fell.
Two minutes is an eternity when you’re on fire.

    Sha
rpton entered his office, closing
the door behind him and sat in his oversized black leather swivel chair. He stared at a map of New York
on the pine wood wall
. Sharpton was waiting for Oblivion, his second in command. Oblivion had intended to kill and drain Lauren but it hadn’t turned out as he had planned. He had always feigned being a white wizard but the sheriffs never got onto him and he intended to keep it that way.
Because
e
veryone was augmenting
he felt it necessary do to so as well, but he also knew that it could be dangerous.

    Oblivion
was tall and skinny looking
as though he hadn’t eaten in weeks.
He had been poisoned before being turned over two hundred years a
go, and because he had almost starved to death,
his chicken arms and bony legs
we
ren’t pleasant to look at. H
e was one of the few high level wizards and no
t
one to trifle with.
Anyone that was fooled by his sickly appearance would be at a disadvantage.
He wore khaki pants and a white sweater, and a long sword that somehow
managed not to touch the ground. Oblivion had the most captivating blue eyes
, perhaps his one good feature
. He let himself fall into the chair opposite Sharpton.

    “Sharpton
I must say that t
hings are progressing. We
just
lost Granger as he tried to flee
, great entertainment value though
.
One or two at a time is certain death, but all together and they would only receive minor burns that would heal rather quickly.
”

    Sharpton started his de
sk clacker balls swinging
. “Yes,
Granger
looked uncomfortable
right from the start
. He’s extremely uncomfortable now. The way his skeleton danced around was quite amusing.
”

    “You told him.”

    “I did. Have you selected a location that contains not many red sheriffs so that we can inflict the most casualties?
It needs to be a moderately big statement.
”

    “Within the hour.” Oblivion adjusted his position in his chair. “Not going to be easy to get a hundred vampires to follow your orders.”