Bloodlines, page 12
part #3 of Amarok Series
House Chance’s influence would be linked with two aspects of the changers. Both the pack bonds, once they discovered how they worked, and their ability to shapeshift. Novak’s previous experiments had only been able to shift between two forms; animal or man. The changers however had three forms; animal, man, and something in-between that combined the best aspects of both. The strongest changers, usually the alphas, could learn to change any part of their body at will and hold the change indefinitely.
Unlike the vampires, changers could not increase their numbers by changing others. They could only procreate by giving birth, but they aged slowly, having five times the lifespan of the average human.
Another boon the new race had been given was a knack for physical activities, especially hunting. They had an innate sense of direction and impeccable reflexes. Normal soldiers had to be trained. Changers could learn to fight in the middle of a battle and emerge more skilled than their opponent by the end of it. The skill only extended to their own bodies. Weapons like spears and bows had to be learned but they had an advantage.
Novak experimented with many creatures. He found that the process only worked with large mammals and, depending on the animal, the changer received different strengths.
Canines had the most endurance, able to run day and night without tiring. The larger cats, such as lions and tigers, were the strongest of them. One of them could rip a tree out of the ground, roots and all. The smaller cats, cheetahs and lynxes, were the fastest, becoming yellow blurs when they sprinted. Bears were the biggest and had outstanding vitality. While they all had outstanding regenerative abilities, bears did so faster and had an extreme resistance to pain.
Those fused with herd animals were the most unique. Doyle did not care for them much because they tended to have very passive natures. However, they could rival bears in size and they had a unique ability. They fought by charging toward their opponents. The more momentum they built up, the stronger the charge. One going at full speed could even rival a lion changer in terms of power.
Clay of House Law proved his usefulness to the plot by creating an invisible chain. A tattoo, carved into the backs of the changers that roughly translated to “Obedience to the fae”. The magic in the words would subconsciously influence the changers marked with them into not only doing what the fae wanted, but making it appear natural to want to do so.
As before, Doyle bred a soldier mentality into them, but this time, the enemy was House Blood. He showed the changers Eternal Spring and the workforce that steadily pushed into the wild lands the creatures thrived in. He told them that one day, the vampires would rob the world of its resources, leaving the land scarred and lifeless. He preached that their resurrection was a mockery of life. That they were an infection that needed to be ripped from the circle of life.
The rationale didn’t have any substance but Doyle didn’t need any. Changers were an aggressive species. Their natural instincts wanted them to hunt, to fight, to conquer. Doyle only needed to point them in the right direction and they happily produced their own reasons to want to destroy the vampires, the very first of which being that they needed to establish their place in the food web. Only one species could stand at the top of nature’s food chain.
Doyle struggled to hold them back. Only the power of the tattoos on their backs kept them from storming Eternal Spring. They waited until their numbers became fearsome.
Many years passed. Doyle spent his time in the city, studying House Blood and the humans. Learning about them as he sought out their weaknesses. Clay stayed with Infini who had taken a liking to the changers he never had with the vampires. They quickly adopted his hedonistic lifestyle and he spent most of his time traveling between their camps in the wild.
Novak remained within his tree, continuing his experiments. The success of the changers had revitalized his imagination and he wanted to create more, eager to see how Roan would handle the threats mounting against him.
Finally, Doyle launched his attack.
Chapter 14
Roan sat in the corner office of the city’s administrative building, reviewing the planned projects for the coming year, when Elipseis, one of the new living vampires turned by Roan himself, came bursting through the door. “Roan, we have a problem.”
“What is it?”
The younger man swallowed. “This is…it would be better if you saw it for yourself.”
“...Alright.” Roan put his materials aside and stood, following the messenger out of the building. On the street, the residents of the city bowed to him in deference. In return, he laid a hand on their shoulders. He felt responsible for every member of his city and did his best to care for them, the way the weaker him had been cared for. They responded in kind. Together, they had created a city that befitted his great king.
The messenger led them out of the city, for which Roan breathed a sigh of relief. “We posted sentries in the area after hearing rumors of bandits from traveling merchants. Five newer initiates. They would be considered fledglings when compared to you or the founding members of our House but no ordinary man should have been able to stand up to them.”
“They were injured?”
Another member of House Blood came running up to them, ducking his head toward Roan before speaking. “Roan. It’s just this way.”
Roan smelled the blood first. Despite the warning, he was still surprised when he found the carnage of the sentries. The young members of his House had been shredded into a mess of blood and parts that made the others guarding the scene pale with fear.
Their leader knelt and lifted a severed arm, his face doing contortions as he strove to control his reactions. “What did this?”
“I don’t know. The smell of animals lingers but no wild predator could…How is this possible?”
“We are not all powerful. Remember, we started as men and women. Mortals. The gods changed that. But people forget that there are more than just the benevolent gods who saved us.”
“The evil gods! I thought the founding members drove them from this continent!”
“It would seem…” He tossed the arm away and stood up. “That they have returned. Call everyone back to the city. We must find and eliminate these dark beasts before they begin harassing the merchants.”
“Right away, Roan.”
-
A dozen meters away, a green-eyed gaze with slit pupils watched the members of House Blood with unwavering intensity. Its body tensed as the beast breathed in the smell of the enemy but a voice of reason told it stop, to wait. Its orders were to observe, to judge their reaction and then report back. With regret, it let them leave, consoling itself with the knowledge that its masters had promised a hunt.
-
They were ghosts.
These creatures, whatever they were, did not move like ordinary beasts. They struck fast in the middle of the night and disappeared before anyone could respond. The dichotomy in their actions confused Roan. On one hand, the timing and location showed that the attackers studied their movements and planned accordingly. On the other, the attacks themselves were savage. The epitome of brutality. Some of the bodies even showed signs of mastication.
Roan couldn’t connect one behavior to the other. The most logical deduction would be different enemies; the beasts and a more intelligent master. But that wasn’t enough. How could these animals follow strategies and coordinate their movements so well? Verdants could manipulate the bodies of living things but they didn’t have the ability to communicate with animals, not in a way sufficient for a general.
And how did they disappear within the city? The beasts weren’t stealthy. They left all manner of trace behind; fur, blood, and tracks. Following them was easy…until the trail disappeared. It usually happened as they came upon a street, which made even less sense. A crowd would have noticed something was wrong and raised an alarm, but no one had approached his people with any complaints.
“Roan!”
Roan turned, the anger on his face causing Elipseis to flinch. “What! What is it now?” Roan forced himself to calm when the smaller man trembled under the force of his words. “Please. Tell me what you’ve come to report.”
“The crypts.”
“No. I don’t care how strong these beasts are. They could not have challenge the sleeping and made it out alive.”
“They didn’t sir. Something, or more likely a group of somethings, dug through the ground, compromising the roof of the crypt. We assume at high noon, the roof collapsed. Sunlight poured in…”
With a roar, Roan swept a hand across his desk. His intention was only to knock off the knick-knacks atop the surface, needing the satisfaction of breaking something, but his grip on his abilities slipped. A burst of wind followed his movements, throwing the desk against the wall. The wood splintered, shards flying in every direction.
House Blood was seen as a pillar, holding up the cradle of civilization. Many believed them to be gods. The undead only reinforced that belief. As long as they consumed blood, they were immortal and even if they died, they came back.
People didn’t see their weaknesses because Roan guarded them with the vigor of a mother bear defending her cubs. The crypts was their biggest secret, their greatest weakness. Those who reawakened didn’t sleep underground during the day because of a ritual. It was to protect them from sunlight. Even a short exposure to the harmful rays caused immolation. There was no way to prevent it.
No one knew of this outside of his inner circle; the founding members of House Blood and the gods who created them. For the enemy to know meant only one thing. Someone in that inner circle had betrayed him.
If only they would meet him head on. Roan had no doubts as to his strength. He and his would decimate an army. But plucking threats from the shadows was one of the few things beyond his capabilities. He needed help.
“Thank you. Convene a meeting of the priests. We can’t evacuate the crypts but we can take precautions. I want each one guarded during the day by no less than ten initiates. Set five around the buildings as observers. They are not to engage the enemy. At the first sign of contact, two will split away, taking separate routes to report back to me. The other three will wait and observe. They will follow them as they retreat. If the enemy should leave the walls of the city, one will break away to report while the others attempt to locate the enemy base. The most important objective is obtaining information. Do you understand?”
“Yes. Right away, Roan.”
Things were beginning to get out of control. Roan had experienced much in his extended life, even his fair share of wars. He thought his experience prepared him for anything, but this…now he understood how the evil gods must have felt when House Blood began their assault.
He had allowed himself to grow cocky, complacent with his place at the top of nature’s food chain.
He wouldn’t make the same mistake as the foolish king who became his prey for one reason. Roan knew what it meant to be weak. He didn’t share Marduke’s delusion of invincibility. House Blood became what it was today through the mercy of others and by depending on their numbers.
His greatest strength was not the magic he had absorbed or the riches at his disposal. His strength came from the power behind him.
This had escalated beyond his abilities. He needed help.
-
It was an addictive feeling. Doyle had to restrain himself as he looked down on the prostrated ruler of House Blood. He thought the position befitted the man. This was how it should be. Humans belonged at the foot of the fae. Roan would soon come to learn his place again. “You needed something?”
“Forgive me for bothering you my lord,” Roan spoke softly, his voice muffled from his lip’s close proximity to the ground. “I seek your wisdom.”
“Something has happened.”
“Yes. House Blood is being targeted by an unknown enemy. More of us drop every day.”
“Impossible.”
“I am dumbfounded as well. From what we can put together, they appear to be some kind of beasts, but they move with the intelligence of an army under the command of a general. Our limited information is on account of no survivors. No survivors mean they are powerful enough to beat our soldiers, fast enough to chase down those who try escape, and organized enough to prevent any leaks. I believe this is the work of the evil gods. They have returned.”
Doyle stood from his throne. He lighted a hand on Roan’s shoulder, bidding him to rise. “I see why you have come to me. Forgive me. In my absence, I have allowed danger to descend upon our city.”
“No! My lord, you are not to blame. If anything, it is my fault for not being vigilant.”
“It matters not. You will continue to handle matters within the city while I search for who may be aiding them amongst my brethren. Do not worry Roan. We will solve this problem.”
“Yes, my lord. I have no doubt.”
-
As Roan departed, a creature stepped around the throne. A foot away from Doyle, its body began to ripple. Fur receded back into dark skin and its spine straightened as it switched to a bipedal gait. A tall human male stopped in front of the fae, his expression twisted into a thick scowl. “Our great enemy is oblivious.”
“He may not share your senses, but do not underestimate him. There is a reason why we fear him.”
“If you say so.”
“I do. You have his scent. Keep close to him. Roan bears too much on his shoulders. He will be compelled to check on every crypt to ensure his people are safe. Mark the locations but do not engage.”
The man waved dismissively and walked off, but Doyle had no doubt his orders would be followed. Even in the dim light, the blue lettering on the man’s back glowed. The strongest of chains, carved into his very skin. As long as the magic of House Law remained in effect, his new soldiers could not disobey his words, even if they wanted to.
The best thing about it was that they didn’t know that a supernatural force guaraunteed their obedience. No matter what they were told to do, they would believe it was their own choice. That meant Doyle didn’t have to pretend about his motives. Truly, they had created the ultimate weapons.
As he peered out over the city, taking in its spectacular beauty beneath the full moon, he couldn’t help believing that it would look so much better set ablaze.
-
The situation only deteriorated.
Five more crypts had been attacked. Luckily, the attackers had yet to find the Crypt of House Blood which held the oldest members of his house. Casualties were limited to those taken in within the last century, but the older members were getting antsy. They needed an outlet, something to fight. Roan wouldn’t be able to keep them corralled for much longer and an indiscriminate witch hunt would devastate the city.
The city governor stood in his office, hunched over a map of the surrounding area, when Elipseis came barging in. He bowed hastily, his words tumbling out of his mouth in an excited rush. “Roan, have received a message for you to go to the Temple.”
Roan’s head popped up, his own excitement visible. “Thank you.”
“I thought the throne in the Temple remained empty in honor of the gods.”
“It was. So, what does it mean if it is not empty now?”
Roan clapped him on the shoulder. That was what he needed to see. Hope. He hadn’t seen it on anyone in his House since this fiasco started.
It was time to strike back.
-
On the fourth floor of the Temple, Doyle sat upon his throne while Infini stood examining his reflection in a tall mirror held by the man who’d been trailing Roan. “What do you think Doy?” He pulled apart his ripped robe, exposing the deep purple bruising across his chest. “Are the bruises enough? Maybe we should add some blood just to really sell the point?”
“You simply want him to cut you,” Doyle said dismissively.
“Ah, you see right through me. I cannot help it. There is something about our animals and their claws.” The fae gave an exaggerated shiver and the man behind the mirror grinned widely. “What do you call them?”
“Beasts.”
“Tsk. You could show a little more interest than that. You. What is your name?”
“Cecian Bear.”
“Ooo, a bear! I hear your family are the…biggest in the pen.”
“Indulge in your proclivities on your own time brother. We have a job to do. Bear, put the mirror away and disappear. Infini, get in position. He will arrive soon and we have a show to put on.”
“Of course.” Cecian left the room with his mirror and Infini arranged himself in a defeated posture at the foot of the throne. Doyle quickly bound him with thick chains, attaching them to the floor, before retaking his seat.
Less than a minute later, Roan entered. His eyes went to Infini. They widened in shock before narrowing in anger the moment Doyle could see them before he knelt, lowering his head. “I have come my Lord.”
“Rise.”
Roan got to his feet. The anger was still there but the emotions were subdued. “Lord Infini…why?”
Infini scoffed, arranging his features into a believable scowl. “Do not speak to me! You forget your place, you trumped up human mongrel! You think I’ve forgotten what you’ve done? Your House of leeches are responsible for the near annihilation of the fae and you will pay for what you have done!”
He continued to rant for a full minute before Doyle noticed Roan reaching the limit of his restraint. Doyle lightly tapped him on the side of the head with his heel and Infini did a most impressive job faking the intensity of the blow. The other fae’s head snapped back and he crumpled to the ground, groaning in pain.
“There is no need to listen to him,” Doyle sneered, putting just the right amount of derision into his voice. “He has told us what we need to know. House Chance has decided to rebel against us. Combining their powers with a rogue member of House Verdant, they have created beasts with the intelligence of men. Novak is studying them now.”
