The Vampire's Heart (14 page)

“
Father Holste, you are meddling with magic you do not understand. To attack a specific kind of magic instead of the entire spectrum can be useful, I agree, but when your own magic is still evolving, you cannot tell when one magic becomes another, albeit still endorsed by the Great Calcia,” Legion explains. I swallow hard as a terrifying thought comes to mind.

“
Are you saying that we are going to become witches?”

“
No, but when you target specific magical matrixes you cannot be sure of locking the spell to that one you require. It may bleed to others, and in that situation, Calcia forbid it ever happen, your men would be left defenceless, unbeknownst to them.”

I know he is right. I see my mistake now. We are learning new magics and I have no idea what they effect that will have on the ‘matrixes’. We can do some of the things that witches can do, but does that mean that we are witches ourselves, even though we still have faith in Calcia?

“
Legion, I am sorry, now I understand that my actions were foolish. I will await my punishment.”

“
Do not fear young Father Holste, I do not wish to punish you. Nor do I wish to scold you. I am proud that you are willing to advance Calcian magic on your own, without the aid of research. It is just that the spell you created could be a hindrance if used again. But do not forget it. One day that spell may be your only chance of survival, no matter how risky,” Legions says, his voice resounding with power. “Now, Head Researcher Iniar, what have you gathered from the new subject thus far?”

Iniar started a little when Legion said his name, and he almost turned to face our commander, before he caught himself and schooled his bodily reflexes.

“
Not much, I am afraid; he is still dramatically weakened by the Void spell. I believe he is too weak to cast efficiently in a combat situation. We are currently monitoring him for any magical or physical repercussions of our capture of him.”

“
Very well, then I shall take my leave of you gentlemen. Calcia watches over you in all that you do.”

I nod silently, barely even breathing; the only sound that pierces the silence is that of the door opening behind us. I watch the reflected, shady, and unfocussed figure move through the door and close it behind him. Still the silence prevails. But something nags at the back of my mind. Something is not right. I can’t put my finger on it.

I turn to face the men at either side of me. Almost as one we let out a breath of relief. Legion always has this effect. He makes people uneasy, worried, and scared even. His power is phenomenal. I would not like to be on the end of an offensive spell from him.

“
I’m going to my quarters for a while. Inform me if anything happens with him,” I say, gesturing to the man behind the glass. The witch is completely unaware that we are watching him.

I take a step towards the door and freeze, my footfall echoing loud in the large room. My unplaced finger falls hard on realisation.

No footsteps.

- Muzbeth -

I enjoy hunting. It further hones my instincts and abilities, and I also fall further into the depths of evil and bliss. The night has lifted and the blue sparks are hidden by the light blue sky of the first day of spring. I’m running alone toward my latest hunting ground, a small hill-top village.

During the day Witch comes with me, to exact her revenge on the people that betrayed her, and during the night Kellum and I ravage settlements, whenever we can find them.

We’d eventually left Sacrem, heading north towards Gatheck, in a small boat during the night, island hopping in the darkness. Each day we would stop on an island and each night we would forge on. Kellum says that there should be just two more nights before we reach Gatheck proper.

It has been too long since we last found unprepared civilisation to torment. As of late the towns and villages have usually been evacuated to some extent.

During our travel overland I had noticed a small hamlet on the horizon. I grow bored so easily at the moment that I made a mental note of it. I’m heading there now to have some fun.

Technically I’m here with Witch, but I’ve left her trailing behind me. I’m going to devour everyone there, so that when Witch finally turns up we can’t be interrupted; I’ve wanted to ‘have’ her since we first met. I’m bored of travelling and now I’m bored of playing her games; if she doesn’t want to give me her body, then I will just have to take it from her, dead or alive. It matters little to me.

During our travels I’ve not been able to eat properly as the villages have become scarce and the inhabitants of those villages had fled their homes. As such I look like a three-week-old corpse that’s been left out in the sun, which is pleasant enough for me, not so much for Witch or the humans I encounter.

As I get nearer to the village I realise that it is in fact perched atop a cliff, not a hill. I reach inside myself to connect with the Demon and cast my magic. As it takes effect I feel the musculature on my back shift; the bones change shape and my insides move to make room for the massive muscles forming down my sides. My skin ripples and stretches, sliding over new bones. I wonder if it hurts when living creatures, capable of feeling pain, BodyShift. That’s the name given to the spell by... the Calcians? I’m not sure who actually.

There is a tearing sound as my dirty shirt rips from the strain of my expanding torso. I pull it off with a yank and let it flutter off into the sky, playing on the strong winds.

I do the same; tensing my new muscles harshly, I drag down the two fourteen feet long wings, which sprout from my shoulder blades, and rocket into the air, straight up. A few more beats and I’m about seventy feet up. It is truly amazing to be able to fly. To see a portion of Gatheck laid out below me, so small and seemingly useless. It makes me feel alive and powerful for some reason; I feel like a god up here.

I glance down at the entire island which is displayed beneath me; I can see the empty tavern Kellum is staying in, see the tiny speck that is Witch trying to find me on the ground, and the cliffs on which the little village nestles, perched above a massive drop down to the hard rock, which would smash to pieces any that fell upon them. I beat my wings a few times and manoeuvre myself until I am facing the village. A mighty beat of my wings propels me at speed toward the cluster of buildings.

I swoop in low over the houses, letting the wind carry me there. I drop into the middle of the houses, a central area that has remained clear of buildings. A road divides the village in two, with houses seemingly scattered randomly about it. There are no people on the trodden dirt road, which leads only from the first house to the last. I dispel my magic, feeling my body return to its natural shape as my wings fail to exist any longer; their magic seeping into the space around me.

Something thuds into my shoulder, I look down; an arrow sticks out of my dry flesh. I cast around with my eyes and pick out the lone figure on a rooftop, a bow in hand, and a second arrow nocked and ready to loose. He fires again but misses my head by less than an inch. I don’t flinch. It is not because I am making an effort to stay still, but because I am not scared at all. I know such a crude weapon as an arrow cannot kill me. Something thuds into my back, tearing through my lungs and out of between my ribs; breaking my chest cavity wide open.

- Meth -

The vampire came in low over the rooftops, and thankfully failed to see Pryor hiding atop the agronomists building. It landed in the centre of the houses with an air confidence. Its pale wings shimmered and faded to nothing as the flesh of its bared torso contorted and reverted.

I looked up to see Pryor’s pale face looking back and I gave him the nod, signalling him to commence. I looked to my left at Satch, indicating that we should raise our shields. Together we hefted the six-foot length of sharpened stake and walked out on to the single street.

I felt the stakes weight lighten and, as planned, let it go. It remained in the air, defying gravity; Thack is playing was part, thankfully. I stood next to Satch and touched his hand. His power flooded into me. Immediately I felt our magic, gifted to us by Calcia, entwine and become stronger for it. We cast together, forcing the stake toward the vampire’s back at tremendous speed.

It struck home.

- Muzbeth -

I look down at my ruined chest. A branch has forced its way through my once vital organs. I drop to my knees and howl, though no sound comes out; my lungs are ruined.

I feel for the branch at my back, it’s about six inches thick, and it protrudes from my chest a good ten inches at the front. Something hits the ground to my left. I look and see an arrow lodged in the dirt. More arrows begin to fall; they thud into the ground all around me, every now and then one lances into my body. I ignore them all.

Gripping at the protruding branch which leers out of my chest, I push it out of my back, reaching around to remove the last half foot of it when I can reach no further to push it through me from the front. Another arrow bites into my cheek. I only notice because now I cannot close my jaw.

I stand up, finally free of the weaponized-branch. The hole in my chest heals over after just a few instants and a little magic. I look around to see that there are many archers, and walking toward me are three men. I recognise one of them, but the other two I do not. The one I have seen before is tall and young, and looking a lot worse for wear since I last met him. His black hair is singed and his face is pale from weariness, though he still wears his dark leathers. Of the trio, the biggest is probably in his middle twenties. He’s also the tallest; his height and stature improved by a broad chest surrounded by muscle ridden limbs. The other man is probably still in his teens and is small and scrawny looking. He has dark brown short hair and a small moustache covering his top lip. The leather dressed man’s new friends are dressed in the Calcian garb; they’re probably hired Hunters. How foolish.

“
You are mistaken if you think you can kill me.”

“
You underestimate the power of Calcia.”

It was the small man that spoke, and in his eyes was a glint of malice. Malice and Calcia, how those two go hand in hand. And it is said that we vampires are brutal. The Church is more a murderer than I.

“
Oh, Calcia does not scare me, gentlemen, for I am a god amongst vampires.”

A smile would have reached my lips if they were not pulled back by rigor. I liked feeling like a god. But I am. I’m a Lys-Karalis. Deity and Ruler.

“
Name, vampire, now.”

“
I am Muzbeth, high lord to Mankind and supreme ruler of Gatheck. I would ask your names too, but it would be a waste of your breath. You don’t have much left,” I pause, mainly for effect, “I can assure you.” I finish sinisterly in my malicious voice.

Now the man in black steps past the dark haired Calcian and addresses me a little too bravely considering our last encounter and how that turned out for him.

“
Well, that may be so, but we will take our chances. I am Thack, and these are my brothers, Meth and Satch,” he says, gesturing that Satch is the larger of the two.

“
And I am supposed to care about you, why?”

“
Because we are your destruction. You are evil,” the one called Meth announces.

“
Thank you, but good and evil are points of view,” I say as I pull out an arrow from my shoulder.

“
Only those of evil have that opinion,” the bigger man, Satch, spoke through gritted teeth.

Maybe these three brothers would prove a challenge to me after all; a worthy opponent at last. The brother called Satch continues.

“
You will leave the Cracked Lands now and you will not return here. You have seen what our magic can do. If you wish to face us we will engage you at the north end of the Gatheck Range, outside the City of Scathack. It is our home.”

“
And I’m going to do as you ask because?” I ask, playing with the hearty meal standing before me.

“
Because we will kill you now if you do not. We are giving you a chance to grow more powerful, we on the other hand are buying ourselves time to set our affairs in order so that should we fail to destroy you we will not leave considerable difficulties behind us for those that follow,” Meth says in what is evidently his most political voice. His eyes still hold their malice and distaste.

“
No. You do not understand,” I tell them, “I am going to kill all of you on this cliff-top. Every last one of you, and I can promise it won’t be quick.

“
These men with us defend their homes, they will not easily fall.”

I chuckle to myself hollowly.

“
So?”

I raise my palms and flame erupts from my hands, cascading toward the three brothers, but the flame hits some invisible barrier and rolls around them, harmlessly.

“
You are outnumbered Muzbeth, leave here.”

I do not catch who said it, but their overconfidence pisses me off. I roar, this time making a bestial sound which is carried for miles around thanks to the wind and the open geography up atop the bluff.

I rush forward, moving as fast as my dead body can carry me. I brush past Meth, let a hand connect with Satch’s jaw and crash directly into Thack, pitching him off his feet. I grab him in mid-flight and carrying him toward the cliff edge, intent on throwing him to his death at the base of the vertical rock. Just a few more steps to the edge, and as one of the steps go, so does my captive. His weight changed in my arms and then he disappeared.