Ten

Contrary to popular belief not all vampires kept out of the way in the human world, nor did they all live in hovels, cottages or shacks. It was clear to Mercy and the others that this vampire liked style and money and therefore lived accordingly; in a mansion.

In Mercy’s opinion it wasn’t even a well decorated mansion, a bit odd for Mercy’s taste but the sarcastic vampire who owned the house obviously knew what she liked. Mercy noticed how close the sarcastic unknown vampire and Laurence were standing. It spoke of a shared past, Mercy didn’t care much as long as it didn’t interfere with her plans.

‘Anya’ cried a middle aged woman running down the main staircase and across the foyer so she could launch herself into a hug with Anya.

‘Olga’ Anya replied, ‘It’s good to see you’.

‘This is the vampire we were searching for?’ asked Mercy.

‘Yes, this is Olga, she lived in the castle but you wouldn’t remember her. She painted you when you were born but was kept hidden in the castle after that’ said Anya.

‘You were such a beautiful baby, so pretty to paint and I see you have grown into a beautiful woman as well!’ said Olga.

‘I’ve never seen the picture you painted’ said Mercy.

‘Of course you haven’t child, your brother destroyed them all when he became King, such a pity’.

‘Why did he banish you?’ asked Mercy.

‘He wanted my gift’ she said ‘please let’s sit down comfortably before I tell you what happened’ she added.

Margret who had stayed silent up till now discreetly took out a notepad and pen, posed to take notes on the next story to be told. After all, all legends and myths start off as real life.

‘Are you serious?!’ said the still unknown woman, they walk into our territory and we just let them into our home and tell them everything. Future Queen or not we deserve respect before being questioned’ she said.

Mercy growled, ‘I don’t give respect to pathetic creatures like you, Laurence control you pet’ she said inwardly smiling when they both blushed and moved away from each other, ‘regardless of your constant moaning, I am your future Queen and unlike you I was not banished by my brother, I came here of my own free will. I intend to create an army by tracking down those my brother wronged and asking them to join my cause’.

‘Even with the many vampires your brother banished you, you cannot hope to win with so little numbers’ said the unknown woman.

‘I don’t intend to just involve the banished vampires. I intend to track down the bitten ones as well’ said Mercy.

‘You’re ridiculous! Involving those half creatures, would be suicide, you can’t trust them!!’ shouted the woman.

‘ENOUGH! Astrid!’ shouted Olga seriously.

The room quietened down.

‘You may not like what Mercy does or how she operates but she always does what’s best for the cause. Can you say you’d do the same?!’ questioned Sam but he was met with silence. That in itself answered his question.

‘Right, now can I tell my story’ asked Olga impatiently.

Mercy nodded.

‘Well my name is Olga, obviously. I was, for many years, the Royal Painter, although since your brother became King many of the portraits I painted have disappeared. However my skill at painting came with a rare and wonderful gift, which I believe is sometimes a curse. Due to the star alignment of my birth (which my parents saw as a blessing), I can predict future events through painting’.

‘Of course this was a talent that Thayer had been quick to seek out, he wanted to know all about the prophesies from the past and tried to get me to tell him all of my future ones. Presumably this was so he could stop any event of him being overthrown or killed if it was predicted in a painting of mine’.

‘It was sheer dumb luck that saved me, for prophesy painting isn’t something I can control, it can happen at any time and without my consent. Thayer never did have much patience and grew bred waiting for me to predict something and so he concluded that I must have been lying to him. Thus he banished me for my supposed ‘betrayal’. It was Gustavo’s guiding hand that bought me here. I always did like the sun’.

‘Have you predicted anything since arriving here?’ asked Mercy.

‘I have. A mere couple of days after I was banished I painted a vision of Mercy rising pup against her brother’ she replied.

‘Any others?’ prompted Mercy.

‘There was another but it is for your ears only and I shall not repeat it here’ said Olga seriously.

A small pause of silence followed her words.

‘Urgh, it’s my turn now I suppose’ said Astrid bitterly.

‘Astrid behave’ said Olga firmly.

Astrid sighed, ‘I was – while in our Kingdom – in a similar line of work to Laurence. That’s how we know each other and no I won’t elaborate. I was known as a strategist and I was a very good one. I refused to do something for the King and he banished me, end of’ she said.

‘That wasn’t very informative’ said Sam.

‘Listen short stuff I don’t have to answer to anything let alone tell you my tale’ she replied.

Mercy growled, ‘Don’t insult Sam’.

‘Why, going to hurt me?!’ she mocked.

Mercy starred at her intently. It only took a couple of seconds for the process to kick in. For Astrid to clutch her hand to her head in pain. She dropped from her chair to her knees screaming in pain. A moment before she was about to faint the pain stopped but she remained on the floor whimpering pitifully.

The room stood in a shocked silence, they had forgotten how dangerous Mercy could be.

‘I should have killed you for what you said but I believe I may have learnt a little ‘Mercy’’ she said smirking, ‘don’t make the same mistake twice’ she added.

She was still met by silence.

‘Olga, is there somewhere I can rest?’

Olga nodded and motioned for her to follow.

‘Mercy wait!’ called Sam running after them.

‘How could you do that?’

‘Accept all of me or none of me but make a choice Sam’ she replied quietly.

‘But’ began Sam.

‘I’ll never pretend to be something I’m not, this is who I am’ she said.

Sam stayed silent but you could see he was thinking hard within his brain. Olga let Mercy to a large room with cream walls, soft features and a comfortable looking bed.

‘What was the other prophesy you painted?’ asked Mercy.

‘It was of you and who I now know to be Sam. You cannot survive this mission successfully if you two are not together. But I see you do not need my interference’ said Olga kindly.

‘I am trying’ said Mercy, a rare sense of vulnerability shining through.

‘You are special dear one, don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. Who else would survive all that you have and still be fighting? Just remember to keep an open mind to things you once saw as a weakness’ she said.

Mercy nodded.

‘You can rest now, I will keep an eye on the troublesome Valencia and Astrid’ she said with a wink.

‘How did you know?’ asked Mercy.

‘I was once a Mother, I know misbehaving children when I see them’ she said while Mercy let out a small quiet giggle.

When Mercy returned downstairs several hours had passed and the sun was just beginning to set. There was no longer a silence stretching over the room. It seemed that in her absence they had gotten over their shock and began talking again. Mercy caught Sam’s eye and he offered her a small smile, it was enough to make her feel better about her previous actions. She put up a front and kept it up at all times but she wasn’t as ruthless as she had once been and she was beginning to care what others thought about her actions. Well actually not others but just Sam really. Yes, she cared about what Sam thought.

The group seemed to be in deep discussion on the topic of bitten vampires. IT was a topic Mercy had often thought of herself, she believe that there were some bitten vampires out there that would be willing to join her cause and not for nefarious reasons.

‘We have some living near us’ said Olga.

‘You do?’ questioned Sam.

Mercy supposed he wanted to find others that were like him, but Mercy saw him as special, unique and not like others who had been bitten.

‘Yes they’re quite a nice group, small, only five of them. I believe one has a talent’ she said.

‘A talent?’ questioned Grifel, ‘and he’s bitten?’

‘Yes, I know it’s rare to have that combination. I think I once heard a rumor about bitten vampires with gifts but I cannot remember it. Besides it’s not so rare, Sam here was bitten and has a gift?’

‘I do’ said Sam astounded.

‘Indeed but it seems you have not discovered it yet’ said Olga.

‘It’s true, I sensed the same thing’ said Gustavo.

Mercy looked at Sam curiously trying to determine if she could identify his gift but she could not. So she resigned herself to knowing when it was time to learn it she would.

‘Can we meet the other vampires?’ asked Mercy.

‘Yes but you’ll have to meet on their turf and I don’t recommend that you all go’ replied Olga.

Mercy nodded, ‘Sam, Grifel and Gustavo, I require your assistance’.

Olga nodded as if approving Mercy’s choice.

‘Where can I find them?’ she asked.

‘Four acres west of this building, the leaders name is Michael’.

Mercy nodded leading her group from the house. She could tell that Laurence was angry at not being picked to accompany her but Mercy didn’t want his hot headed behavior getting in the way and causing unnecessary violence. She’d chosen her entourage accordingly; Sam as he was also once a human now bitten and could relate, Gustavo because he was the navigator and had a knack for sensing sudden changes in people and Grifel because he was calm and helped defuse tension.

Together they left the bright lights of the mansion behind them and the further they walked, the more trees appeared. It was nighttime now, so they had to be extra careful less they cause offense or set them on guard.

‘Who goes there?’ asked a deep mysterious voice.

‘Olga sent us’ replied Mercy.

‘You are not bitten’ he stated.

‘I am’ replied Sam.

‘Yet you walk with them’ replied the man, bitterness evident in his voice.

‘It’s complicated’ replied Sam.

‘You had better come in then’ he replied.

Suddenly the whole place was illuminated. The leader of the pack, Michael stood before them while the rest of his group stood near the house.

Mercy took the first step forward, followed by the others and they made their way into the house of the bitten vampire.

‘So what did you want to talk about?’ asked the man taking on a no nonsense attitude and crossing his arms.

‘No introductions? Ok, well I wanted to hear your stories and opinions before asking you to join something’ said Mercy.

There was a pause, ‘ok’ said the man, Michael.

Another pause followed then Michael began talking but Mercy wasn’t listening. She’d noticed the odd quiet behavior of those behind her, seen their glazed eyes and tracked it to the source. She was so hoping she wouldn’t get angry during this visit.

‘Stop’ she shouted.

The man stopped talking and looked at her rudely, ‘How dare…’

‘No you don’t get to talk! Now, I came here with an open mind and you disrespect me is such a blatant way. Tell your man over there to stop manipulating their dreams’ said Mercy seriously.

‘Or what?’ challenged the man.

‘Oh Michael, you may hate the man that turned you but if you don’t get your man to stop you’ll be dead before you’ve even learnt what real hate is’ growled Mercy, her voice sinfully low.

‘Billy, stop’ said Michael fearfully.

As soon as Billy had stopped it was as though Gustavo, Sam and Grifel came out of trances.

‘What happened?’ asked Sam.

‘Are you hurt?’ asked Gustavo.

‘Who are you?’ asked Michael.

‘Your highness are you alright?!’ Grifel said half shouting.

That seemed to snap everyone from their moods.

‘Your Highness’ questioned Michael.

‘The future Queen of vampires, yes’ replied Grifel.

‘Are you responsible for the vampire that turned us?’ asked one of the girls.

‘No, that would be my brother the current King’.

‘If he is King now will you become Queen’ asked Billy, looking slightly concerned.

‘By killing my brother’ Mercy replied.

‘What do you want with us?’ asked the other girl.

‘Your stories’ replied Mercy making herself comfortable on a nearby chair.

Michael started, ‘I was turned fifteen years ago by a vampire called Ryder. He turned people for his own enjoyment. He liked to gamble and used to run a joint where he put newly turned vampires up against each other for entertainment and profit. For a while I didn’t know myself and got caught up in his games. I didn’t even realize he’d forced me to kill my own fiancé till it was too late and the deed was done. I knew I had to get out and I did but I’m still seeking my revenge on Ryder, when I find him, he’s dead!’

Mercy nodded thoughtfully.

‘You know everywhere there are thoughts and whispers about you and the supposed uprising. The words are all jumbled together like a riddle but Guardian of Six has been thrown around. Everyone knows you are here’.

Still reeling from his mention of the Guardian of Six, Mercy managed to ask, ‘Why do they not seek me out?’

‘They do not know what you look like’ said Michael.

‘And they fear your power’ added Billy.

‘I do have a lot of power’ smirked Mercy.

‘What’s the bitten’s role in all this?’ asked Michael.

Mercy growled in warning, ‘first of all his name is Sam, second off he’s important to me’ she said grabbing Sam’s hand in her own momentarily surprising him.

‘Till you get bored of him I suppose’ replied Michael.

‘No’ said Mercy.

‘Why don’t you come stand by us Sam’ said Michael.

‘No I’m fine’ Sam replied.

‘That’s not you talking Sam, that’s her. Just step away’ said Michael patronizingly.

Mercy was fighting a losing battle and was hanging on by a mere thread. She would have already killed him had it not been for Sam’s thumb making patterns on her hand and calming her down.

‘Michael that’s enough’ came another male voice as someone else stepped into the light of the room.

This third man was tall and exotic looking, his chocolate colored skin in complete contrast to the others surrounding him. He was giving off a strange vibe, Mercy could tell he had a power but couldn’t see what it was. He certainly played the part of ‘imposing fellow’ well.

‘Who are you?’ asked Mercy calmly.

‘Zack’ he replied.

‘Nice to meet you’ said Sam trying to defuse the tension.

‘I’m sorry about Michael, he has a bit of a temper, doesn’t know when to shut his mouth’ said Zack.

‘You have a gift’ stated Mercy.

‘Yes, I can identify relationships’ he replied.

‘Were you curious as a human?’ asked Mercy.

‘Perhaps’ he replied with a smile, then added, ‘now that Michael is sulking, why don’t you tell your story Mischa’.

The girl in question looked startled at being called on but nevertheless moved closer to the group.

‘I’m originally from Scotland’ she began, her accent coming in strong, ‘I worked in an orphanage during the 60s. It was a quiet time and I was a shy girl. I was naïve and innocent and the world was new and exciting. I met a guy, new in town. He wooed me, took me out, showered me with gifts and in return I gave him my heart. One evening I’d been called to the orphanage on an emergency. When I returned to the apartment I shared with him, I found him, lips locked, with another woman. He broke my heart and as a punishment for interrupting him, he bit me, ended my life and turned me’ she finished.

‘That’s horrid’ said Sam outraged.

Mischa smiled, ‘I got my revenge, three months after the incident I killed him. He wasn’t expecting it and I was still in my strong newborn state. I had fun making him suffer’.

With that information Sam didn’t see her as much of a victim anymore.

‘Can I go next?’ asked the other girl.

Mercy nodded.

‘My name is Penelope, Penny for short. I am not a victim, my story isn’t tragic. I grew up reading vampire novels. I wanted to be turned, I found someone to turn me and here I am’ she said bluntly.

Sam looked a little sickened by her tale but otherwise nothing was said. What do you say to that? Usually humans turned vampires are so restricted. There is the no associating with family anymore, having to feed of your own species and the fact that you can no longer have children. However, Mercy could understand to some extent why Penny had chosen this life.

‘Billy, you’re next’ said Zack.

Billy sighed and rolled his eyes.

‘I’m Billy, I was strong as a human, had a great career ahead of me and lots of girls to bang. There was a man going around, lots of money, spouting off all this crap. He was collecting followers, unique people he said. I didn’t know he was a vampire until my turning process was complete. He kept me close after my transition, said I was the best one’.

‘Took me a while to realize I had a gift and that that’s why he thought I was the best. Suddenly this new life didn’t seem that bad. You’ve seen part of what I can do. The manipulator of dreams is quite easy, you don’t have to be asleep for me to do it. I can also create illusions’ he said proudly.

‘What happened to the man who changed you?’ asked Gustavo.

‘He got too big for his boots and demanded too much from us. Some of us ran and some of us stayed to fight him. We won’!’

‘Did you ever find out why he was building an army?’ asked Mercy.

‘No but he was half mad, always rambling out loud and he flinched at every movement’ Mercy turned to Zack, her eyebrow raised in question.

‘My story is I have none. One day I was human, the next I awoke to my new life in an alleyway at night. I adopted quickly, there was nothing else to do’ he said solemnly.

‘Thank you for telling me your stories’ said Mercy.

Zack nodded, ‘Where are you headed next?’

‘Italy, there is a family there I long to see again. I believe you know them’ replied Mercy.

‘Yes I do, they undertook the great task of keeping the peace and law in your absence’.

‘What of us? What do you want?!’ growled Michael.

Mercy sighed irritably, she did not like him.

‘Are you happy with your life here?’ she asked

Her question was met with a chorus of yes and no.

‘I want you to join the army that will help me defeat my brother. In return I can offer citizenship in my Kingdom. I do not believe there should be a divide between us’ said Mercy.

‘And if we don’t want to help?’ asked Penny.

‘Then I won’t force you. I will welcome all that wish to join but if your thoughts are nefarious, or you try to cause me harm. I’ll hang you on the end of a long rope’ said Mercy sweetly.

‘I will join you’ said Zack, ‘I would like to see a different sky’.

‘As will I, I would like to be accepted’ said Mischa.

‘Well I have no choice, I have to come’ said Billy, too much confusion and didn’t explain why.

When Mercy raised his eyebrows at him he added, ‘I’ll explain in Italy’.

Michael didn’t look happy and merely said, ‘I’ll travel to Italy alone’.

However it was Penny that declined the offer, ‘I’m a big fish in a small pond and I like it’ she said.

Mercy had no choice but to accept her decision. She wasn’t that bothered as Penny didn’t look like she could offer much.

Mercy began to feel more positive, she had the beginnings of a real army and – quite surprisingly – the support of Sam, who had yet to let go of her hand…