Werewolf Knight 3, page 7
“I was beginning to enjoy that,” I said with a laugh as I stretched my arms above my head. “Alright. Give us the lowdown so that we know what to expect.”
“I have no idea what to expect,” Tabitha replied. “I have no idea if we’re looking at five vampires or fifty. All I know is that it’s another religious site that was overtaken by them. It didn’t catch as much attention as the Obsidian Temple because they didn’t have a leader, like Wenderoth. Mostly, it was just the usual brain dead vampires that were a threat only to those caught by surprise. So the temple was closed officially, and basically forgotten about.”
“Doesn’t sound that bad,” I said.
“We should still prepare for the worst,” Tabitha replied. “Somebody was smart enough to kill Melchior and steal the notebook.”
“Oh, gosh,” Sybil said with a sigh. “I don’t know if I feel like preparing for the worst today.”
“Well, tough,” Tabitha replied. “You want to avenge Melchior’s death, don’t you?”
“Yeah,” Sybil said after a slight pause. “Yeah, you know what? I do. We can’t let them get away with killing someone just to steal some information.”
“Exactly,” Tabitha said.
“Well,” I chuckled. “That is what we did.”
“But only because they were using that information to try to kill the rightful ruler,” Tabitha sniffed. “And now they’ve stolen it back so they can try again.”
“Which is very bad,” Sybil added.
“It is,” I agreed while I thought about Tabitha’s story.
There was a good chance that I would soon be fighting vampires again, though maybe we would get lucky and the thief wasn’t heading for the White Basilica. But no one else would have any interest in Wenderoth’s notebook, except maybe the palace, and the King wouldn’t have to resort to stealing it from Melchior to learn its secrets.
So, yeah. Vampires.
“Right,” I sighed. “Tabitha, you know your way to the basilica from here?”
“I do,” she said. “I mean, I’ll keep an eye on the compass, but honestly, there’s not much else around here. The basilica is pretty much it."
“You could be wrong,” Sybil said. “You said yourself the map was fifty years old.”
“The one with the basilica marked on it was,” Tabitha replied. “But even the newer maps don’t show much around here.”
“Lovely,” Sybil sighed.
“We should get going,” I said. “If we want to kick some vampire ass, it’s better that we get there in the daylight. We’re a strong group, but we’d be at a disadvantage after sunset, especially since we have no idea how many vampires we might find.”
I nudged Casanova again, and the powerful direwolf sprang forward once more. I loosened my grip on the reins, and the pup bounded through the forest with an incredible speed. I couldn’t think of a single animal back home that could run anywhere near as fast as the direwolf. Race horses and cheetahs would roll in their graves if they saw this big puppy at work.
“What’s the compass say?” I called back to Tabitha.
“We’re right on track,” she said. “It looks like we’re going to end up at the basilica, just like I figured.”
“Yeesh,” Sybil said. “I was just getting used to a life of picking mushrooms, being driven around, and watching movies in the basement theater.”
“Oh, come on,” Tabitha laughed. “Admit it. You missed going on a quest to kill the evil creatures of the world.”
“Well, maybe a little,” Sybil replied.
“Life is all about variety,” I laughed.
The endless forest finally began to change as the trees gave way to boulders and thick shrubbery. There was something about the area that didn’t look quite natural, though, and it felt more like an overgrown garden than a truly wild place. It was the first sign that we were near a human settlement, though one that hadn’t seen humans in a long time.
Casanova stumbled slightly for the first time on our quest, and the three of us lurched forward.
“Oof,” I said as I felt both girls’ weight crash into my back.
“Oww,” Tabitha said as she realigned herself.
The direwolf slowed down slightly to adjust his footing, and I looked down to the ground to see what had been the cause of the trip.
Much to my surprise, the ground was covered with vines and brambles that hadn’t died in the winter cold. The thick stems wrapped around the pup’s feet every time he took a step, and thorny bushes tugged at his fur.
“Easy, boy,” I said as I slowed the direwolf. “No need to race through here.”
“This is a very strange place,” Sybil said.
“It feels like an abandoned park,” I replied.
“I can see buildings ahead,” Tabitha said. “And a spire.”
“I see it, too,” I said. “I’m guessing that’s the basilica. I wonder if there’s anyone still living in those houses?”
“Probably not,” Tabitha sighed. “Not if they erased it from the map. That’s usually a sign that they moved all the people out.”
I pulled back on the reins, and Casanova ground to a halt. For a moment, we all took in the eerie silence that seemed to permeate the barren landscape. Even Casanova took a look around and lifted his head to sniff nervously.
“What does the compass say?” I asked
“Pointing in that exact direction,” Tabitha replied. “Right toward the basilica.”
“Of course it is,” Sybil replied. “Because our day wouldn’t be complete in Lupercalia without at least one vampire battle.”
I hadn’t noticed my excitement before a battle before, but this time I almost felt a little high. It was like my body was getting ready to kick ass. Fire jolted up from my stomach and ignited my limbs, and I couldn’t wait to release the pressure on a few vampire skulls.
“We should get ready before we get any closer,” I said as I reached into my sack for the rest of my armor.
I pulled on my gauntlets and then my helmet, which Tabitha adjusted so my ears were free.
“Much better,” the noblewoman said as she pinched the tip of an ear.
“You’re very helpful,” I replied with a grin.
“So, I guess we’ll just head over to that nest of vampires then,” Sybil said. “You know, all in a day’s work.”
“You have some salves, right?” I asked. “I didn’t even think to ask what you had in your basket this morning since we were just supposed to be visiting Melchior.”
“Of course I do,” she replied. “Salves and spells. I may not be of noble birth, but I know never to leave home without a few weapons of my own.”
“Then to battle we go,” I said, and I gave Casanova a nudge.
He bounded forward through the last of the barren forest and then into the abandoned town square that we had seen. Once he was clear of the brambles, the pup slowed to a walk and sniffed the air as he moved forward with a cautious step.
Now that our mount was moving at a normal pace, we could look around at the empty town. Most of the structures were small, stone huts with chimneys in the center and wooden doors. Several of the doors had fallen off their hinges, and most of the homes were missing more than a few bricks. Every so often, there was a splash of paint that hadn’t peeled away, but most of the buildings were drab and depressing.
Casanova made his way forward through the abandoned village until we eventually reached the White Basilica, which wasn’t anywhere near as ornate as I’d pictured it in my mind. I’d imagined something more gothic, but the building in front of us reminded me more of the King’s private getaway in the mountains.
It was basically a large white cube with a half-circle dome at the top, and a silver spire that rose out of the center of the dome. There were two smooth, round marble columns on either side of the door, and that was it for the decorations. It was simple and geometric, and the whole understated exterior would’ve been beautiful if someone had actually taken the time to take care of it. But without the proper maintenance, it just looked dirty, forgotten, and bleak.
“What a shame,” Tabitha murmured behind me. “These vampires really have a knack for ruining everything that’s beautiful in life.”
“You should tell them next time you see one,” Sybil replied. “I’m sure they’d take it as a great compliment.”
I realized that Casanova had stopped moving, so I had to give him a quick nudge to get him moving again. The pup started forward again, but I could tell that he was reluctant to get closer.
Clearly, the direwolf could sense something was wrong with the basilica, and my own wolf senses were in agreement. My fur was standing on end, and my ears twitched with a life of their own.
We rode around to the front of the basilica, where the two columns stood atop a short staircase of three broad steps. There was definitely something creepy about the place, and the fact that all I could hear was our own breathing only added to the horror film aura that surrounded us.
“Okay,” I said, and the two girls looked up at me with wide, attentive eyes. “I don’t think we should leave Casanova outside. I’m sure he could defend himself if one of the vampires got too close, but I’d rather not take that chance.”
“That makes sense,” Sybil said.
“And he’s a direwolf,” Tabitha added. “So he’s meant to be ridden in battle. This is a good way for him to learn how to do that.”
“And there’s that,” I agreed. “So we’re going to charge through the door on Casanova’s back and attack anything that comes toward us. I’ll use the opal dagger, so I can be sure the vampires are dead.”
Both girls nodded and smiled. Tabitha was fully onboard with another battle, but Sybil’s eyes suddenly glazed over, and she seemed to stare into the distance right past my head.
“Everything okay, Sybil?” I asked.
“Hank,” she whispered. “Turn around.”
Shit.
I turned around slowly. I don’t know if it was instinct or the bleak backdrop, but the first thing I noticed was a pair of glowing red eyes at the entrance of the basilica, deep in the shadows cast by the columns.
And they were staring straight at me.
Chapter 5
The glowing red eyes were attached to some of the whitest, most translucent skin I’d ever seen. Sybil was pretty damn pale, but this person looked like they were made out of the most delicate porcelain in the world.
As the figure stepped out of the shadows, I saw that it was a tall and slender woman dressed in a billowing white cloak, with matching white hair in two braids. The braids flew around her head like snakes, so of course, the first word that popped into my head was Medusa.
“She’s a priestess,” Sybil said as she hopped off of Casanova’s back. “Or she must have been before the attack. Those are priestess robes.”
I had the opal dagger in my hand before my feet even touched the ground, and I growled at the one-time priestess when she took a step closer. For a moment, I thought she might back off, but the momentary flash of sanity I’d seen quickly vanished, and the vampire snarled back.
“Let’s move,” Tabitha yelled, and the three of us sprang into action.
Sybil ran ahead of me, and the witch started to make a spinning movement with her hands that looked like she was conjuring something out of thin air. Apparently she was, because suddenly she thrust both arms out in front of her, and an orange light arced from her hands and smashed into the vampire with a shower of sparks and a sizzling sound that reminded me of a bug zapper.
The vampire spasmed as the light lit up her body and then slumped over as the sparks started to evaporate. But the thing wasn’t dead yet, and ever so slowly, the vampire lifted its head and bared its teeth at us.
Now was my chance.
I charged forth with the opal dagger in my right hand. This vampire was weaker than I expected, and Sybil’s spell had done a real number on her, so it would be quick and easy.
At least it would happen quickly, which was more than could be said about the death of many victims of the vampires. As I brought the knife down to end it all, I almost felt a twinge of sadness, because Sybil had said she’d been a priestess.
But it was my job to protect the kingdom, and that meant destroying any vampire nests I uncovered.
I pushed the knife down, but her skin resisted it like she was made of marble. For a second I questioned what was happening, but then everything went black.
The basilica was gone, the town was gone, and I couldn’t see the girls behind me. It was like my weight had completely disappeared, and I was floating in space with this vampire. I felt a familiar wind blow through my body, and I realized that this was the same vortex I went through when I traveled with the ring.
I looked around into the nothingness before I realized that something in the corner of my eye was glowing. I looked down and saw that it was the ring that the moon goddess had gifted me.
I lifted my hand for a closer look, but the ring continued to burn brighter and brighter with a silver light. I didn’t feel any heat against my finger, but the light grew more and more powerful until a giant, jagged beam burst forth and went straight for the vampire priestess.
The cord of light fastened itself around the robed vampire like a ribbon and bound her in place. Then, her entire body began to glow from the inside out, as if every one of her organs had been pumped with a fluid made out of starlight.
The beam from my ring started to move upward, and as it did so, the vampire began to lift into the air in front of me. Her arms slowly dropped down as she levitated, and I saw that the cords of light were moving over her entire body, from the tips of her fingers to the bottom of her feet.
The vampire floated in the air from the power of the ring for a few moments before a burst of light ignited her whole body, and her chest rose as she suddenly took a deep breath. At first, the vampire seemed unsure how to breathe, but then she closed her eyes, opened her mouth, and smiled as she found a rhythm.
And then the beam of light slowly lowered her toward the ground, and when she was safely down, the black tunnel disappeared and the basilica reappeared in front of me.
I looked down at the ring, which gave off a dull silver glow before that faded. The beam of light vanished, and I was left the simple silver ring once again.
But the vampire girl looked noticeably different. She was still far too pale, but something in her seemed at rest. The frenetic energy that had possessed her when she’d charged at me was no longer there.
“What the hell was that?” Tabitha asked as she ran over to me.
“So you guys could see it, too?” I asked.
“Uh-huh,” Sybil said. “Everything was dark, and then your ring wrapped her in light and lifted her into the air.”
“Okay,” I said to Sybil. “So that wasn’t just some freaky side effect from some mushrooms you snuck into my food. Good to know.”
“Is this really the time?” the witch asked. “That light spell was more powerful than anything I’ve seen, but you’re still worried about mushrooms?”
“Yeah, that spell was tooootally amazing,” Tabitha said. “It literally--”
But before she could continue, the girl on the floor coughed a few deep, guttural coughs before she rolled around and spat out some blood on the floor.
“Oh,” Tabitha muttered. “I thought she was dead after all that magic passed through her.”
“So did I,” I said.
But the girl used her hand to push herself into a sitting position, and then she looked around the area like she was trying to find someone. Her gaze finally settled on me, and she blinked a few times as she gazed up at my hybrid form.
And holy shit.
Instead of the piercing red, her eyes now glowed a beautiful bright blue. It looked like they were made out of sapphires, and I could swear that there was a tiny twinge of light that fell from her long, white eyelashes when she blinked.
“O-M-G,” Sybil said. “You’re beautiful.”
The girl looked between the three of us and pursed her lips shut. She wrapped her left hand over her right hand and looked around again. But her eyes kept flitting back to me, and she finally seemed to accept that we were the only ones there.
“Wh-where am I?” she asked in a soft, melodic voice that sounded like Snow White with a slightly less cartoonish register.
Sybil knelt down and placed her basket on the floor.
“Were you a priestess?” Sybil asked.
“I am a priestess,” the girl said, but then she looked sadly at the ground as her face seemed to darken. “Or, I… I guess I used to be a priestess. But then there was… something dark, and all I could think about was survival. I’m not sure, but I think that was… a long time ago.”
“I know,” Sybil said, and she patted the girl on the shoulder. “You were turned into a vampire, weren’t you?”
The girl looked deep into Sybil’s eyes and just shrugged her shoulders.
“I don’t know where all those years disappeared to,” she said. “I feel like I’ve been locked in a cage, like I forgot I existed. What have I done?”
“What’s your name?” I asked.
The girl looked up at me, and her pupils widened in either awe, fear, or both.
“My name is Imelda,” she said, and a smile formed on her face.
The smile revealed that her canine teeth were still sharp and protruding. Evidently, whatever had knocked her out of her vampire state had left a few physical reminders.
When her teeth brushed over her lips, she frowned and held her hand up to her mouth. She felt her teeth, and a look of horror came upon her face.
“You’re right,” she said to herself. “They turned me into a vampire. He did. The man.”
“Wenderoth?” I asked.
“Yes,” she said and looked back up at me. “Yes, that man. He took my home, my place of worship. I grew up in this town, and when I answered the call of the Moon Goddess, I was accepted into the temple here. But… that’s all gone now, isn’t it?”
“It is,” Tabitha replied.
