Vampire hunters: Chapter 2- Blood-debt

Chapter 2: Blood-debt

Author's Notes: And the story continues! :P 

The Count.

Five-hundred and fifty . . . no one-thousand and seven-hundred and something . . . he couldn’t remember when. He couldn’t remember how many years it has been since he came into existence. No, he was already five-hundred and something a thousand and sixty years back. It was probably later than that . . .

This was usually how his train of thoughts began and ended. He would try to recall a certain event that happened at a certain time in the history of his lifetime and then would eventually end up meddling up his memories. He was a very old man after all. Almost senile with age. And yet when it came to combat, he was sharper than the youngest fighter out there-whether human or vampire didn’t matter . . . he was after all, very different from both species.

There were so many legends surrounding his true origins, so many times retold and probably layered by thousands of falsified rumours by now. He himself couldn’t recall who he was before he became what he is now. But the stories always started out as him being born a human . . . always the same . . .

“Count.” the harsh voice called. He stared dreamily at the nameless faces. Even the faces escaped his memory. He would once again forget who he works for as soon as he steps out of the tiny hall.

“Yes?” he asked lazily. The elder looked back at him in frustration.

“You said that something similar had happened before, which could be connected to this recent upsurge of new-borns.”

“Did I?” the count asked in a tone of surprise, “I suppose I did . . .” The girl beside him tapped her feet louder than ever. Finally, not being able to contain the impatience, she let out a tiny snarl of exasperation.

“How could you trust this monster? He is a vampire and yet you seem to depend on him unnecessarily?” she complained, "I do not agree with this arrangement any more."

The count looked at her in amusement. This newly acquired partner has been very entertaining. A youngling vampire-huntress with a very haughty temper and great pride in her supposed piety. She couldn’t walk two steps without proclaiming her belief in her religion and faith followed by choiced adjectives invented especially for him and finally ending with dire threats. Although she was usually a person of less words.

She was talented and way ahead of her peers without any question. Till a few months back, they had crossed blades with each other in a number of occasions in which the count was forced to acknowledge her. She was also a master of spells and a student of alchemy, top of her class back in her days at the vampire-hunter’s institute-Cross Academy or whatever it was called-an expert-combater and a fantastic shooter with a lot of hands-on experience. Her weapon of choice was a 380 mm automatic colt pistol made of silver alloy and containing holy-silver bullets encompassed in holy-silver cartridge. The gun was called ‘Holy Rose’ (too many holy’s in there, he shrugged) and the name was carved elegantly on its body. Of course he had got to know of these background details after the accord happened and she was assigned to him. She was even not bad to look at. She had a slender figure, was of relatively more olive in complexion and had black hair, just like him, up to her waist. Her eyes were a deeper shade of blue. But the most interesting part about having her on the team was that she was a virgin and a young one at that, probably in her twentieth year. . . . And a virgin-maiden’s blood always tasted the best.

And of course, there was that incident that had happened the first time they had encountered each other on a fight to death, which was also based on a misunderstanding on her part . . .

“. . . So please if you have to appoint me a partner, appoint me another hunter from the association because no good will ever come working with a monst-”

“Quiet!” the elder said loudly and raised a hand in gesture and the virgin stopped short. She still had a lot of words, about to leap out of her mouth-and a lot of emotions to fling at that. He really appreciated the girl’s self-control.

“You forget your place Miss Ainsworth. It is not up to you to decide who you have as your partner. And you forget that you are in the presence of both the honourable Director Sir Richard Carrow and the Lord and president of the Vampire’s Guild, his highness Lord Rudolphus Behemoth, prince of the current pureblood family ruling the regime of the civilized vampires of England.”

The youngling Tch’ed yet again but didn’t retort. Clearly the idea of a vile creature of the dark being addressed as “highness” didn’t suit her taste. But the pure-blood was smirking already. He only had eyes for the count and no one else. He was the upper-class bred, one of the pure-bloods that were usually considered the aristocrats of the vampire society. He was perhaps as tall as him, with papery skin and eyes the colour of molten gold with the tint of red which would deepen with the growing blood lust. His lips were curved upwards as he regarded his own kind standing before the panel.

The count folded his hands and waited casually for him to say a word. Waited for the onslaught of indirect depreciation covered in honeyed tones.

“Count. It is a pleasure yet again to get this opportunity to have audience with you.” The lord-vampire smirked. He must have been centuries younger than him and yet looked more aged in comparison (to his usual self). Of course it meant that he still looked somewhere in his late fifties by human standards. The count himself could alter his age as per his wish, a talent any pure-blood rarely possessed. He could recede back to his teens if he wanted to, or grow as old as a two hundred year old. But right now, he too was in his middle age minus the papery skin.

“The pleasure is mine . . . Lord Rudolphus.” He replied.

“Please, you humble me. You needn’t address me as Lord. It is a rare pleasure as it is to have an ancient like you to converse with, much less ensue orders to.” Lord Rudolphus said, “And it has been a really long time . . . the last time I saw you must have been on the day you got executed by the king that invaded your cherished kingdom?”

“I don’t think that you were born back then Rudolphus.”

“Ah of course . . . you must have been around, looking the same, even when my grandfather was in his cradle. Anyway, it must have been hard to depreciate to this level despite being one of the firsts of the purebloods. And a noble one at that. Years and fate has been harsh on you my friend.”

“Years? Does time have any meaning to us? These said ‘years’ could pass on from this moment forth and I will still be here looking the same, if not younger or older depending on my whim and so will you if your luck doesn’t favour you so much. Existing is what we are good at and existing is what matters in the end for most of us, ironically. Humans and vampires struggling to survive . . . I’ve seen purebloods such as ourselves rise and fall and even acquire this precious death that seems to evade us otherwise. The few lucky ones should I say. And yet here I am. And as for this fate that you talk of, does it really exist? For all I know and have seen, and you can trust me at this that I’ve seen my share, I could only say that our choices are what makes this so-called fate. Choices that perhaps weren’t the right ones to take. You are a young one. You have much to see. With luck, you will also be on your death bed in a century or two, looking up at the sky and finally finding peace.”

The room went eerily quiet. The Lord Vampire’s face had darkened by multiple shades. A surge of power crackled between his fingers. Almost everyone in the room looked from one to the other apprehensively. Some even had fear etched across their faces. Everyone could feel the tension that had built between the two overlords. Only the count looked relaxed and stared back at the Lord with ease. There was something in the depths of his eyes that prevented anyone to look directly into them either, even though no immediate power emanated from him.

“You seem very keen to wish me death . . . Count,” Lord Rudolphus finally said in a quiet voice. But one could easily sense the tangible wrath it cloaked, “But I hope you remember that you are no longer the king of anything. You are lesser than a servant obeying orders of the higher-ups. You lost your powers and respect eons ago.”

“Aye. That is true. Although it would be by choice.”

“You are still going to hide behind that pathetic excuse? A choice indeed to lose all your powers and position? A choice indeed. And I’d thought very highly of you once . . . back in my youth. You are just a failure and failure is never by choice.”

The count laughed. This young one was also very amusing, “Perhaps . . . But we were discussing something else in this council. Perhaps the panel would like to focus on what’s happening now rather than what happened eons ago?”

The Lord looked at him with venom but the powers that crackled at his fingers seemed to recede. The tension in the room ceased as the panel started buzzing once again.

“Enough of this,” the old human said, “Count. Do you have any clue as to the cause of these recent upsurges? Do you recall anything from your . . . past?”

“Anything? I remember a lot and it still escapes. But this pointless banter has given me enough time to recollect. The upsurge of new-borns is not a new phenomenon. It has happened across the world and in various civilizations, eras, time to time. It usually happens when pure-bloods-the only kind of vampires that have the power to convert indiscriminately-go warring with each other and give rise to such large armies. Or in certain instances, the act of a couple of purebloods addled in their minds to create havoc in peaceful societies or to overthrow the current regime. Of course there are half-breeds with limited powers to convert too, but at the rate in which this is happening is too fast . . . we have already exterminated more than a hundred in the past month. In fact, it is too fast for even a single pureblood.”

The count paused. He looked at the lord Vampire and then the director of the Vampire Hunter’s Association, a tall human in his fifties with a grim look on his thin face. He had greasy auburn hair combed neatly and tied in a tight pony-tail. The man had remained quiet up till now.

“I believe that you have all the purebloods registered?” the count asked.

“We have all the purebloods registered and Lord Rudolphus here assures us that the purebloods under him are least likely to go against him,” the Director said curtly, “This only leaves us with foreign forces under other regimes.”

“I have a question. If this indeed is a war between different vampire regimes, it is not the concern of us humans in anyway right? Why do we have to be involved with this?” a squeaky old man asked from the other end, “I still see no sense in this.”

“Amycus, we have discussed this even before. The whole point of this alliance is so that the humans could be protected,” the director replied in exasperation. This wasn’t the first time he was justifying. “These past six months we have had terrible amount of human losses. It seems that whenever vampires wreak war on each other, humans have to suffer. As hunters, we must remove all elements that could cause further losses, even if it means that we have to ally up with those we share quite the amount of differences with. You will forgive my directness here Lord Rodulphus.”

“Our side shares the sentiment,” Lord Rodulphus said acidly, “Although what you have said up till now is the truth. There is nothing to be ashamed of to rely on the stronger side.”

“Perhaps. And if we think about it, this is a chance to learn more about our friendly ally,” the director replied with a smirk, “In any case, what do you think count? Which regime could these foreign purebloods belong to?”

“I do not know . . . although every regime has their own style when creating such immortal armies. As was in the past, so is the case now. Albeit the way this has been proliferating seemed very unnatural. Almost double the rate at which even a group of pureblood could create vampires. Plus it usually takes a human considerable time to turn into immortals. And the transformation is different from human to human, depending on their constituency. For example, the vampire-hunters would make fine vampire soldiers if they were to subjected under this I’m pretty sure . . .” The count paused to smirk and see the effect of his words on the panel members. Many stiffened while the director’s face darkened. Lord Rudolphus and his entourage of vampires were the only ones who mirrored the count’s smirk.

“Not that a vampire would dare to pull such an act . . .” he said in a dark tone.

“Perhaps not,” the count said in an amused tone, “Humans are more fun to observe anyway-vampire hunters occupy the top of that list. But in any case, the probability of the human not surviving the change remains high. On top of that, the retention of sanity. The once that we encountered recently seemed to have gone mad in their lust. Yet they still seemed very aware. The only close pattern to this that I could remember from the past is that of an Egyptian cult long lost. One called the sons of Anubis, the death god. That group wreaked havoc by creating armies of thousands in the matter of months. And they did, almost overthrowing the existing regime back then. But their plans were superiorly foiled as they lost control over their army of the undead. These immortals were unnaturally conceived and hence they turned mad with the lust for blood. They were living monsters on earth. The regime was overthrown but so was the cult as it lost most of its prominent members. Whole cities were slaughtered. Eventually it died out but that is where the story dies too.”

“And you have seen this with your own eyes?”

“As far as I remember, it must have been AD 500. Or no, before that perhaps. I don’t remember it very well. I must have sent my own army to help the then ruler . . . I guess the Romans were ruling back then, or were they the Byzantines? I do not recall.”

“So you are saying that someone could be emulating the old Egyptian cult’s uprising. Do you know what method they could have used to create an immortal army at such a pace?”

The count didn’t say anything for a while. “I do not know. Nobody knew how it had happened or how did the cult manage. All their secrets destroyed, burnt or lost. It all remains shrouded in mystery to this date. It is surprising if someone has indeed been able to emulate the exact formula of the old Egyptians. In fact I can’t believe it was possible. I just think that this one just follows a similar pattern, not sure if it is the exact pattern.”

“So it is just a possibility . . . very well. Count, you and Miss Ainsworth are hereby to investigate this matter, and find the truth of these unnatural occurrences under cover,” the director of the Vampire Hunter’s Association said.

“If I may . . .” added Lord Rudolphus, “The count belongs to the race of vampires of course. And an ex-pureblood at that. Why should he be under the direct command of the Hunter’s Association?”

“Lord Rudolphus, as you know that the Count cannot be considered a vampire under your regime anymore. He already owes a blood-debt to one of the earliest founders of our association and the legendary hunter Sir Christopher Silver. With that blood debt alone, he remains one of the finest weapons and could also be considered a hunter for that matter. He has done enough clean-ups for us. He is perhaps the only vampire we can trust the most . . . given his unfortunate circumstances.” The director said.

“Shame . . . to betray one’s own kind.” Lord Rudolphus added, scorn laced in his voice.

“Do not worry Lord Vampire, I long ceased to be a part of any of these two species. I am neither. And unfortunate circumstances? Life consists of plenty of those. But what follows is always a choice. And I consider it once again a ‘choice’ that I had taken back then. I have no love for either vampires or humans. I care for none. But if it makes you feel safe . . . aye, use the term blood-debt to your leisure.”

“Quiet!” the director ordered, “The abomination that you are, you have turned quite blind in your pride so much that you refuse to acknowledge your defeats.”

“Defeats? I have had many of those, more than the times I have had victory. I’m used to them. But most of them had been by choice and a mere human like you, who wasn’t there to judge the circumstances for himself can’t possibly comprehend the meaning behind this ‘debt’.” Something more vicious stirred in the depths of the count’s eyes. For the first time, he wasn’t joking around. Even the director had hushed along with the lord of the vampires, “A fine man Christopher Silver was, a worthy hunter, a worthy man, far worthier than any that I have seen in my life time amongst both vampires and humans. Perhaps the worthiest of all. The debt is just. I shall always serve under the bloodline of the Silvers. And only . . . the bloodline of the Silvers shall I protect if everything else ceases to be. I care not if it be a vampire regime, or a human one.”

Silence followed. Even Katrina looked up to his demeanour in awe for the moment. Even the Lord Vampire looked nervous at the sudden proclamation of the ancient of his kind who was a while back standing in front of him in complete servitude to the humans. Even though a king of the past who had lost everything he had, stripped of all-royalty, regime, followers-had not lost the power nor the pride of a Vampire lord. He was not one to be messed with at leisure.

Then the moment was dismissed and the Director sighed.

“Fair enough. That is one thing we both agree upon.” He said, “This meeting is adjourned for now, with your consent Lord Rudolphus.” The Lord nodded curtly.

And the elders started to file out one after the other along with the entourage of the vampires. None of the members of the races looked at each other as the exited the tiny hall.

Both the count and his partner were the last ones to leave. Once they were out, Katrina heaved a little sigh of relief.

“I never knew that you were in debt of one of the founders.” She said impassively as they walked down one of the corridors of the establishment. “I always thought that you were captured and tamed.”

The count laughed. The audacity of this youngling amused him very much.

“You would think so huntress. It has only been a couple of months since we’ve been acquainted. Plus, as the director just mentioned back then, I’m naught but your association’s secret weapon. The very reason that you tried to attack me the many times I showed up in your juvenile missions. Always thinking that I was on the enemy’s side.”

“You attacked me back with equal passion. And do not take me lightly, Vampire. It matters to me not even if you are a part of the Association.” Katrina said in a darker voice.

“Suit yourself.”

“You are just an old fool, who thinks too highly of himself. Even when he can't remember his own place of origin.”

“Once you reach my age, which I highly doubt, you will become more empathetic towards my circumstances. Till then, just laud your piety across the streets where even the peasants can hear you.” The Count retorted, but not in an unamused way. Somehow he always enjoyed these spars of words with the youngling. And she was not the dull kind as the others from the rare times when he had been appointed a partner before. She was always observing and learning, even though she wouldn't admit it, from him. And the emotions that she often displayed, including her coldness were amusing to observe, assess and even manipulate. It was a good pass time to have the virgin by his side. Plus her scent was sweet, very pure . . .

“You disgust me when you at me that way. Beware that I'll not hesitate to retaliate if you pull one of your dirty tricks on me this time,” Katrina said, apparently having seen through his expression, “Anyway. We have to start our investigation. Should we start asking around the city?”

The count sighed. For a smart one, she was quite bad with missions that required stealth. Always the loud one up for a grand entrance. No subtlety at all.

“Why don’t I do the investigation and you keep reporting to the panel from your residence?” he suggested although he knew it would be useless.

“I’m coming with you. I’m not trusting a vampire no matter what oaths you have sworn or debts you owe.” She said stubbornly. The count could clearly see it was more her will to jump into action than her pride speaking this time. He sighed.

“Fair enough. But we are not going to start with this city. There is no point. London especially is too well guarded by the association, and mostly because the Vampire’s guild is based here. No renegade or foreign element would be foolish enough to act from within this city. We need to scan the outskirts where the enemy is more likely to lurk. And I happen to know one certain town. Little Hampstead. A supposed friend of mine resides there. He has ears in places where no one has. He could help us perhaps.”

“So we go to this Little Hampstead instead?”

“By train yes. If we leave by tonight, we reach there by tomorrow evening. Now be an obedient junior and book the tickets.”

She replied with narrowed eyes and a cold shrug.

And Katrina Ainsworth left, leaving the Count once again to his own device, chuckling away to his own thoughts after her retreating self.