a grin. “You’re sending me?”
“That was a consideration, yes. But, at this time, only a consideration. Jamie is another likely candidate, one that outranks you. However, you were in the atrium with us when Malick made his exit, so your testimony might be of more value.”
Verchiel clasped his hands behind his back respectfully, though his eyes danced. “Yes, of course.”
“However, I need to be convinced that you and Jorick can work together.” He held up his hand as if to silence the other. “I know about your… differences, and they concern me only so far as your work is concerned, do you understand? If you are sent, I expect you to conduct yourself with the decorum and professionalism of one who is representing The Guild.”
Verchiel bowed his head. “Yes, Master. Of course.”
“Good. The… network is still down, from what I understand, but as soon as it is operational again we will generate the necessary paperwork for a trip to Germany. Assuming we decide to send you, that is.”
“Of course, Master.”
Eileifr made an appraising noise that sounded like “hmmmm.” He looked on the point of speaking further when a knock sounded on the door and he instead called, “Enter.”
Ark strode through the doorway, his long black coat swooshing behind him and a stack of paperwork in his hand. He glanced at Verchiel and then directed his attention to Eileifr. “The Executioner applications, Master.”
Eileifr took the stack and dropped it on the table in front of him. “Very good. Thank you, Ark.” He turned to Verchiel. “You may go. And might I suggest that, for the benefit of all, you stay away from both Jorick and his human for the time being?”
Verchiel’s smile was tight and obviously fake. “As you say, Master.”
“Good. I will see you tomorrow. We will have to choose the replacements, and I want everyone’s input.”
Verchiel bowed again, mumbled, “Of course, Master,” and then let himself out. Despite the last minute edict, he was still delighted. A trip to Munich would be just the thing.
Even with ol’ grumpy boots!
Malick
January 10th
Malick’s New Headquarters
Somewhere warm…
Malick motioned to the left and with a grunt Senya and Greneth heaved the fountain to its new position. The ancient master surveyed the effect, then nodded his approval.
Senya straightened and glared around the room. Lush green plants and stone statues looked back at her. The shabby building almost appeared habitable.
“More than habitable,” Malick commented to her thoughts. “For now this will be our new home, our palace! And a palace we will make it.” He clapped his hands and an assortment of guards, still wearing the old black and silver uniforms of the Guild, hurried inside. As if commanded, they quickly arranged themselves before their master.
Malick surveyed them and smiled. “Ah, my faithful children! It saddens me that so few of you have come, but those that have warm my heart as you cannot imagine!” He motioned Senya and Greneth to the fore. “Before, we had a group of the elite; the best, my Executioners. So we shall do so again but you will not be my Executioners, rather you will be my avenging angels. All of you have chosen to follow me, and so all of you will be the foundation of our new world. Griselda!”
The blonde vampiress marched into the room bearing a large wooden chest. She sat it in the center of the floor and opened the lid. Inside was what looked like folded black cloth and small red boxes.
Malick motioned the group to the chest where Griselda handed them each a stack of cloth and a box. The cloth shook out to be long black coats, emblazoned with a golden eye on the back, and in the boxes were matching golden medallions. It was Malick’s former symbol, the one he’d used before he’d organized The Guild. It was the all-seeing eye, the same as he had tattooed on his back.
“Wear them with pride, my children!” At his command the guards peeled off their Guild issued coats and slid into their new ones. Malick sat back in his chair and watched them fasten the emblems around their throats. Things were progressing just as they should with one exception: his son. But, he would see him in a few days and then… then perhaps he could persuade him to join them. And if not, at least he would discover the hiding place.
Either way, things were shaping up to be quite interesting indeed.
Maeko
January 10th
Maeko’s apartment
Japan
Maeko hung up the phone and composed her features before she turned around. Hikaru leaned against the doorframe. His dark hair fell past his shoulders and his deep brown eyes watched her, as if trying to see into her mind. She purposefully shielded her thoughts and saw his lips twitch with concern.
She covered her mouth, but was too late to stop the giggle. “You look worried, Hikaru-chan! But there’s nothing to be worried about. The arrangements are all made and our guests will be here soon.”
He nodded his head, a short, quick motion. “Hai.”
She rubbed her hands together as she looked around the spacious living room. “I believe this den will suffice. We should stock some extra blood, perhaps?”
He nodded again and left on the errand. They both knew it could wait, but it was an excuse to let her be alone with her thoughts.
A doll with pink hair sat in a nearby chair. She sported a black ruffled dress and painted vampire fangs. Maeko picked her up and smiled into the tiny plastic face. “He’s coming,” she whispered. “Do you know how long it has been since I’ve seen him?”
The doll stared back blankly, but Maeko carried on as if it had spoken. “It was a long time ago. Hikaru-chan was still human then. It was a long trip but he served me well. That’s when I decided I’d turn him later. He was too young then, you see Aimi-chan. I had to wait for him to grow up a little bit more. There’s no point in two of us that look like children.”
That she looked no older than fourteen was a limitation she accepted. Each person in the world had some imperfection or some obstacle to overcome and that was hers. There were many worse ones, so she was lucky. Appearing like a child was inconvenient, but so long as she kept someone with her who could pass for an older brother, the social conventions were met and no one paid her any mind.
She giggled and sat the doll in the chair again. “You’ll like him, Aimi-chan. I’m sure you will. He’s quiet, like Hikaru-chan, but he’s older; much older.” She frowned suddenly. “The last time I saw him he was so angry! Not at me, but…” she trailed off and rubbed her chin. “You don’t think he is still that way, do you, Aimi-chan? He would be… better now?”
The doll didn’t answer and with a sigh Maeko turned to the full length windows. The lights of the city twinkled back at her, telling silent stories of those who sheltered in their beams from the ever pressing blackness of night. Each light illuminated a tiny stage where people acted out scenes of love, lust, betrayal, anger or loneliness. The lights in her own living room shone back, sharing her tale with the world. She couldn’t help but wonder just what kind of story they told.
BONUS: Chapter One of Heart of the Raven
January 11th
The Vampire Citadel
Iowa
Katelina stared at the sandwich as though it were an enemy. The limp tomato stared back from between layers of stale bread and suspicious lunchmeat. It was a clash of wills, and sadly the wilted lettuce won.
Katelina tossed the sandwich on the coffee table and leaned back on the couch with a groan. It had been three days since the vampires’ underground Citadel had been attacked and the sixth floor, home to the handful of humans who lived there, had been decimated. Though many repairs had been made, the human amenities were still in shambles. Jorick had done the best he could, but the only available food was several crates of premade sandwiches.
Jorick. Boyfriend. Significant other. No label really fit the vampire but, for better or worse, she was in love with him - and she was supposed to meet him outside the audience cham
ber in a few minutes.
With a resigned sigh, she ate the limp sandwich in three bites, gave her long blonde hair a final pat, and charged out of the apartment and into the black carpeted corridor of the exclusive Executioners' block. Like a private building, one had to have a special keycard to get in and out of the living area.
Outside was a public corridor. Largely undamaged, the hallway was bordered by hotel-like doors that gave way to mall style entertainment: a spa, an arcade and a movie theater. Vampires, already bored with the events of two days ago, lounged, and chatted as if it was just another day. Most ignored Katelina as she walked past.
The hair stood up on the back of her neck and Katelina hurried past them. Despite their indifference, any one of them could kill her without a second thought. Or maybe not. After all, she’d killed her share of vampires.
The thought squared her shoulders and she climbed in the elevator with a group of them. In the close quarters her courage waned. Luckily, the trip to the third floor was short. She exited quickly and turned for the audience chamber, a sense of dread in her stomach. She knew Jorick would be there, but it was little comfort. She still remembered the trial that had left Jorick sentenced to work as an Executioner, a member of The Guild’s “police squad”.
That had been Malick's idea. Just thinking of his name was enough to make Katelina shiver. The former head of The Guild, the last time she’d seen him, he’d marched with his faithful underlings over a