Bloodbound
by Grannd Kane
Joel looked down the shaft of the specially-modified crossbow at the
approaching coach. His lips twisted into a sneer as familiarity dawned
on him. He aimed the crossbow down at the vehicle's door and watched a
pale red-haired man get out, followed by a giant. A raven landed on
Joel's shoulder, but he ignored it. Instead, he re-aimed the crossbow
and fired, sending one of the large discs flying through the air. The
dummy splintered under the impact. The smaller of the newcomers stopped
and flinched at the sound, causing his larger companion to walk into
him.
Joel pulled himself back, letting the lip of the roof hide him. He
pulled out a small shaving mirror and used it to reflect some of the
dying autumn sunlight. Another light flashed in response and he
returned the mirror to his suit.
He listened as the man and the giant entered the house, taking a small
pleasure in disgruntling his guest. Gathering up his equipment, he
dropped from his perch and landed on the balcony directly beneath him.
He entered the bedroom and quickly bowed to the mask of the so-called
Pirate Lord John Silver, which hung above his bed, then stripped off
the leather suit. He opened the secret compartment underneath the bed
and placed the suit in, then stored the weapon in the secret
compartment in the wardrobe. He tried to erase the creases of the
jacket, then gave up and entered the adjoining library.
He opened the drinks cabinet next to the fireplace. A statue of a
soldier stood on the cabinet's other side. The other door opened as he
was pouring amber liquid into a pair of glasses. He held one up as the
red-haired man entered, the giant close behind him. Up close, the
giant's unnatural blue-grey complexion was clear. "William," he
greeted, offering the glass. "Care to partake?"
William took the glass and sniffed the contents, the glass scraping
against the incomplete gimmal ring on his finger. Joel held up his own
and they clinked, each taking a sip. "So what brings you out here, if I
may ask?"
"You know why I'm here, Silver," William answered. "Have you
reconsidered my offer?"
Joel stared idly at the fireplace for a moment. "You mean the offer
regarding my heir? If that's the case, then I'm afraid you've wasted
your time, William."
William snarled at him. "Do you want your daughter to remain a
governess to some barren whore's brat?" Dust fell from the statue as he
said that.
"I want Jacinth to be happy, not stuck with a would-be priest who
refuses to respect vows of chastity, Forrester!"
The other man's eye twitched. He nodded at the giant who stepped
forward.
Joel flew backwards, hitting the bookcase. He crumpled in a pile on the
floor, numbness descending through his body. He grabbed a chair and
pulled himself into it, then wiped blood from his chin. "Your conduct
is unbecoming for one of your station, Forrester."
William smiled and swirled the whisky in the glass. "I don't believe
I've introduced Mr. Karlovy. He fought in Eastern Europe. Admit it,
Silver: you're getting weak and feeble. Why else do we outnumber you?"
Joel rose to his feet, leaning on the nearby statue of the soldier for
support, then laughed. "I climb buildings for leisure, so no, not weak.
Secondly, I don't believe I've introduced Hoskins." The statue twitched
and swung the butt of the rifle up, bringing it down on Mr. Karlovy's
head. Before the giant could respond, the statue kicked the downed man,
shaking the layer of stone dust free. "He fought in the Jacobean War 21
years ago."
Hoskins cracked his knuckles, dislodging dust and exposing the skin
underneath. "I think it's time you were on your way, my Lord."
Joel nodded. "I agree. You've violated the guest rights I offered you,
and insulted my staff. Now get out or I'll let Hoskins show you the way
out." He leaned in close. "Just so you know, he's not too keen on those
who call his wife Berenice a whore or his son Isaac a brat."
"You'll regret this," William said. He grabbed Mr. Karlovy and helped
the giant up. "I'll leave Larkin here, for when you see sense." They
left.
Joel pulled Larkin into the room. He was little more than a boy, and
stared at the floor and shuffled his feet while Joel inspected him.
Joel finished his inspection. "Well lad, seems you've been abandoned.
If you're willing, I could do with an extra pair of hands around the
place."
Larkin looked up. "Really? I mean, yes sir."
Joel instructed Hoskins to show the servant around. The guard growled
his objection but obeyed, dragging the lad around the place while Joel
headed down to his workshop.
The workshop, with a stone forge, was sweltering. Joel removed his
jacket as he entered, tossing it on his workbench. Behind him, his
daughter Jacinth clashed swords with the smith Berenice, though the
older woman lazily parried the blows.
Joel placed a box on the workbench and opened it to reveal a long tube.
He pulled the tube free of its casing then removed the piston from
within the tube, setting it aside. He placed a small glass bowl on the
surface and filled it with lamp oil, then grabbed the piston and
depressed it while holding it over the bowl. The oil caught and burst
into flames. He threw the bowl into the forge.
The bowl shattered and fire roared as the oil met hot coals. Berenice
cursed as she heard the explosion. "Bloody fool!" she yelled, tossing
aside her sword as she went to control the inferno. "Get out, both of
you!" she snapped.
Joel stepped outside with his daughter, the bitter night wind having
long replaced the mild day air. He rubbed at his eye, trying to erase
some of the forming pain.
Jacinth grabbed his chin and forced him to face her. He stared into
eyes which reminded him of his wife, long since dead, as his daughter
ran a finger over the forming bruise. "Who did this?" she asked.
"That damned bastard Forrester."
She flinched at his harsh words. "I'm sure he didn't mean it."
Joel growled and pulled away. "Of course he meant it. I've told him to
stay away, but guys like him are wont to ignore paternal requests."
"Father, I can handle Will. I can understand your desire to protect us,
but I am not defenceless." She picked up the sword from where she'd
driven it into the ground, swished it through the air then returned it
to its sheath. "Don't let your anger cloud your judgement, and don't
give into carelessness. You'll destroy the house otherwise."
Something about the situation set Joel's mind at unease, though he
couldn't identify what. "Of course. I'll bolster Berenice's wages for
my error. I trust her teachings have proven useful?" Above, a raven
cawed a sickly song.
There was a crash and much yelling. Jacinth pulled the sword out and
held it up. "Identify yourself," she commanded of the writhing figure.
Larkin held up a hand, his face inches away from the sword's point.
"Sorry ma'am, sir, but this letter just arrived." Jacinth pulled the
blade back as Joel helped the servant to his feet, taking the letter.
The lord retreated into the workshop, using the light of the
now-controlled forge to read the letter. Berenice glared at him as she
sorted through her ruined work, judging which blades to save.
"Larkin, go get Hoskins and tell him to arm himself. Berenice, I'll
need you in on this as well," Joel said. He grabbed a fresh sheet of
paper and transcribed the letter, then tossed the original into the
cooling forge. It curled and blackened.
Larkin looked up at the moon. "What, now?"
"I don't mean next week," Joel snapped as he wiped his oil-stained
hands on a cloth before pulling down a crossbow. Behind him, Berenice
was testing swords. She settled on one as Joel checked a pistol and
strapped it to her waist.
Hoskins entered, Larkin behind him, as Joel returned the piston to the
tube. Though he'd cleaned his face and hands, grey dust still clung to
his old uniform and balding head. "Sir, there trouble?"
Joel nodded as he handed Larkin the pistol. "I'll explain on the way.
Bring the coach round boy, we leave within the hour."
Larkin's hand trembled as he took the pistol. "Y-yes sir." He went out
into the night, tripping over his feet as he went. Hoskins pulled him
to his feet and followed him to the coach.
Berenice placed a hand on Jacinth's shoulder. "I trust you'll watch
over Isaac until we return." She followed her husband into the night.
Joel secured the tube in a long box then secured it to his back. He
hefted a box containing three oil-filled globes in his arms. "We'll be
back before you know it," he told his daughter as he left the workshop.
The coach pulled up as Joel climbed the steps into the night air.
Hoskins got out and helped him secure the tube and box on the roof of
the coach. Once they were in the coach, they set off.
Joel removed the transcribed letter from his coat and handed it over.
"It seems there are those who are unhappy with the leadership of our
country."
Hoskins read it then handed it to his wife. "You think it's the
Stewarts?"
Joel shook his head. "That line is dead. I have my suspicions, but
first, we make our way to meet this group."
Berenice folded up the letter and handed it back. "You think we can
trust them?"
"No, but that is why I brought you along. I fully expect a betrayal,
but I do not foresee our demises this night."
"Where are we headed anyway?" Hoskins asked, peering out the coach's
window. The coach bounced along a rough road.
A mass of feathers burst through the opening. The raven righted and sat
on the floor, cawing at them.
Joel peered out the window. The area around seemed unfamiliar. "Larkin,
where are you going?" he called out.
The horses neighed as the servant pulled them to a stop. He fell from
his seat with a thud. "I'm sorry sir, but they said I had to or they'd
kill me," he said. He started running.
Joel opened the door and held up his crossbow. "Larkin, get over here!"
A creature detached itself from the nearby buildings and landed on the
fleeing servant. "You said you'd spare me!" Larkin cried out as the
creature bit into him. A second creature joined them, seizing Larkin's
arm and tearing into it.
Joel aimed his crossbow and fired. The bolt flew true, striking the
first creature in the head. The creature collapsed.
A second later, the creature rose and hissed at Joel. It charged at the
coach. As it got closer, it took the form of a deranged sickly-looking
man, with blue-grey skin. Yellow pus leaked from the head wound.
Hoskins grabbed Joel and threw him to the ground. He raised his gun and
shot the creature that had been charging for the coach.
The sickly man fell back, skull fragments and blood flying free. He
straightened himself and hissed at Hoskins, his remaining eye a pale
grey mist. He leapt, being met by the butt of the gun.
Joel got to his feet, driving his fist into the next sickly human that
attacked, sending them sprawling. He pulled a knife free and stuck it
in the madman's temple, climbing to his feet again as Hoskins knocked
his foe over.
The coach rocked as Berenice jumped through it. Another of the sickly
humans followed, met by the smith's gauntleted fist. She rolled onto
her attacker, grabbed the head and twisted.
The creature's limbs went limp, but he kept gnashing and trying to turn
his head.
"What are these things?" Berenice asked.
Two more attacked them, one leaping through the carriage and the other
going over. Hoskins screamed as one latched onto him and bit at his
neck, the other grappling with Berenice. As the guard struggled to
detach his assailant, two more grabbed him, one with a knife in his
head.
Joel turned, watching as a wave of necrotic-skinned beings charged at
them. He fired at them, knocking one down. His comrades swiftly
trampled him.
Hoskins pulled the first of the creatures biting him free and slammed
him against the coach, staining it yellow with pus. The necrotic skin
cleared, turning a grey-blue hue.
Joel ran to the other side of the coach. Four of the creatures were
trying to right themselves, their sprawling limbs taking those behind
them down.
"Up!" he yelled, climbing to the roof of the coach. Hoskins lay on the
ground, his skin pale, one of the creatures -- the vampires -- feasting
on him. Berenice was leading those she could away from the coach, their
jaws unable to penetrate her reinforced leather armour. Larkin was lost
beneath the mass of vampires. The horses screamed as the vampires ate
them alive, ripping off strips of flesh.
Joel unstrapped the gun on the roof of the coach, opening the crate
next to it. He pulled out one of the glass liquid-filled orbs, fit it
in the gun, and fired. The orb flew, wreathed in flames, and landed
amongst the vampires, shattering and igniting the fuel inside in a
fiery explosion. The creatures screamed and fled, some collapsing.
He fit the next orb into his gun -- his Feuerstock -- and fired at
another mass of bodies, watching with grim satisfaction as more
vampires went up in flames. He grabbed the final orb.
The entangled vampires freed themselves and launched at the coach,
rocking it. The orb fell from his grasp, breaking on the roof.
He cursed and stripped the Feuerstock, pulling the firing piston free.
He abandoned the gun and pressed the piston to the fuel, depressing the
plunger. Air hissed as it escaped.
A large figure pulled some vampires off of Larkin to retrieve the
pistol in his boot. They knocked a vampire off Berenice, raised the
pistol and fired. The shot went through Berenice's helmet and she
dropped.
Joel tried the piston again as the figure moved towards the coach,
dropping the pistol. Air hissed as it escaped once again. He tried
again as the coach rocked, the figure climbing aboard. He yelled in
frustration as air hissed again.
The figure kicked the piston from his hands, grabbing Joel and pulling
him up.
Joel reared back his head and slammed it into the vampire's. Mr.
Karlovy blinked before returning his own headbutt, stunning Joel as he
bit down.
Pain flooded Joel as he felt Mr. Karlovy sucking at his blood, and the
world went black.
*****
Flashes of light passed through his eyes as he awoke with a start. He
gazed around his surroundings. The dank stone walls suggested that he
was still in the sewers. The air had taken on a metallic quality.
He stared round, trying to identify the source of the sucking sound.
One of the pale vampires was digging into a severed arm, stopping to
lick the flesh before pulling it apart with his teeth. Joel punched the
creature.
The vampire snarled. "Get yer own!" he snapped, hugging the arm
possessively.
Joel stared down at his hands and saw the black patches. He stared at
the vampire and snarled. "Larkin, you treacherous snake," he said and
leapt on the servant. He began punching the undead creature. "What have
you done to me?"
He sensed another vampire approaching them, but he ignored them,
continuing to attack Larkin. A fist grabbed his shoulder and
effortlessly threw him off.
Mr. Karlovy placed a foot on Joel's chest before he could rise. "It is
good to see that you are finally awake," he said. "You've been out for
a few days. I see you still have your senses. Come with me."
He followed the giant out, who sealed the door behind them, and they
walked along the narrow passage in single file; a single misstep and
they'd end up in the murky sewer water. They entered another
stone-walled room, this one fitted with a bed in one corner and a table
containing a bowl. The bowl had a dark liquid in it. Something about
the bowl sang to Joel, and he grabbed it, pouring the coppery liquid
into his mouth.
"You will have questions. They always do," Mr. Karlovy said. "First, I
do not fully understand why we are what we are, only that we are. Some
of us, like ourselves, retain our intellect and senses while others,
like your man Larkin...they surrendered themselves fully to the hunger,
and care only about sating that which cannot be sated."
Joel put the bowl down. The black patches on his hands had faded. "I
don't care," he said. "Who put you up to this? Why?"
"Why do you ask questions you already know the answer to?"
Joel growled and slammed a fist against the table. "Forrester!"
The larger vampire nodded. "You must be patient."
Joel grabbed the bowl and threw it against the wall. It shattered,
splattering the remaining blood. "Why should I? He has conspired to
take everything from me! My daughter, my friends..."
"It gave me no pleasure to betray you as I did, believe me. I was
compelled to though. Forrester has power, power I could not resist. But
I am free now. Listen to me, and you shall take your revenge in time,
but not yet."
"Why not?" Joel roared. "Let me out of here!"
Mr. Karlovy shook his head and crossed his arms. "Not yet. Do you wish
to feed on your daughter?"
Joel growled. "Fine then. Teach me."
*****
The man kicked down the wooden door. "Come out, you whore!" he yelled.
"I know you're in here." A raven flew in after him.
The nun stood before the man. "Sir, you stink of the Devil's gin and
are disturbing the children. Please leave."
The drunk man held up his knife. "Get out of my way and show me to that
whore." The nun stood her ground, staring down the knife's edge.
Joel growled as he burst through the wrecked entry. He wrapped his
hands around the drunk man's head and pulled him back, exposing the
neck. He bit down, embracing the song of the blood as he drank deep.
The man yelled and flailed his knife, cutting the blackened flesh of
his attacker.
Joel pulled himself free and dropped his victim. Blood dribbled down
his chin as he stared at the nun. She held up a small crucifix. "Christ
preserve me. Back, demon!"
Joel paused, the song diminished as some distant memory of a church
service made itself known. He grunted and banished the memory. He tore
the nun's clothing and bit down on her.
He heard footsteps behind him and felt the presence of his undead kin.
He turned and snarled as Mr. Karlovy kicked him in the face. "How do
you hope to rescue your daughter if you cannot control yourself?" he
admonished. He placed a cloth over Joel's mouth and the former lord
blacked out.
It had been two weeks since he'd last seen his daughter.
*****
Joel sat in the pew, staring up at the pulpit, wringing his hands. They
had returned to their necrotic black state. Footsteps echoed softly
behind him.
"Can I help you?" the priest asked. Joel looked at him. He was small
and completely bald, wearing a black cossack, a white collar at his
throat. A metallic song hummed from the priest, a song only Joel could
hear.
"Forgive me Father, for I have sinned," he intoned. "I have violated
the Commandments. I have coveted that which mine neighbour does hold
dear, and I fear before long I may kill him and steal that which I
covet from him."
The priest sat down. "But you have not. You have yet to be truly led
astray."
Joel looked away, trying to ignore the song. "I have also consumed of
the dead, and made deals with unnatural forces, in the name of
vengeance. I did not forgive my enemy for the slight he dealt against
me. I have let my baser instincts rule my mind."
"But you may yet be redeemed, my son. Beg the mercy of the Lord and He
will forgive you."
Joel chuckled grimly, the song ringing loudly in his ears. "You
misunderstand, Padre," he said. "I did not come here to seek absolution.
"I came here to see if I could resist temptation, and I fear I have
failed." He grabbed the priest and pulled him close. The priest
screamed for help as Joel bit down, savouring the song and the blood.
When he had had his fill, he let the body drop.
He stood and walked to the altar. A copy of the Bible lay open at the
Gospel of Matthew. He laid a finger on the passage marked by the
deceased priest, 6:13: "And do not bring us to the time of trial, but
rescue us from the evil one." He tore the page out.
He looked up as the door opened. An elderly man entered the church. He
saw the body of the priest and gasped. "Father Hackett!" he cried and
shuffled up to the body.
Joel leapt over the altar and stood over the body. "Leave, now!" he
said, baring bloodstained teeth.
The man stared, turned and ran out the door. He gave a cry as he came
across somebody else.
Mr. Karlovy entered the church, carrying the old man.
"Leave him be," Joel said.
Mr. Karlovy held the man up and smiled at him, then threw him to the
ground. "Pray to your God that He spared you this day." The man
scrambled away on his hands and knees and Mr. Karlovy walked up the
aisle. He saw the body of the priest. "How long before you fed?"
"Several minutes," he answered. "I was not strong enough to resist."
"And you never will be. You are ready. When they celebrate the Feast of
St. Valentine, you will strike."
Joel nodded. It had been four months since he had last seen his daughter
*****
Three days later, the vampires crawled out of the same manhole they had
entered four months ago. Joel stared up at his former home. Straight
away, he noticed that the sigils on the wall surrounding the place had
been changed to the symbol of Clan Forrester. A raven cawed at them
from atop the pillar.
"How do you wish to approach this?" Mr. Karlovy asked. He held a pistol
which looked suspiciously like it had come from Joel's armoury. Joel
himself had his old crossbow, which he'd tested before setting off.
Both of them had fed off a drunk who had taken a wrong turn.
"I'm taking the bastard," he said. "Feel free to distract the guards."
Mr. Karlovy nodded. "Find where he's casting his spells and free us,"
he said then walked up to the gates. He kicked them apart and shot the
first guard, then danced away from the second guard and punched him.
Joel scrambled up the wall and dropped over the wall, keeping low in
the bush. The guards were calling for reinforcements, but hadn't yet
noticed his presence.
He stole across the gardens, keeping low. He slid into his workshop,
the door banging as he did.
The place was full of boxes and furniture. He wiped a finger across the
surface of the workstation, disturbing months of dust. He kicked open a
chest to reveal his banners, folded up, along with his grandfather's
mask and swords.
He picked the weapon up. Flecks of rust lined the blade, which he
scraped off. He thumbed the edge. Dull.
Somebody entered the workshop. "Hoy. We've got an intruder!"
Joel froze, his hand on the blunt blade.
"Come on, off your arse. Maybe the boss will reward us for catching
him."
Joel relaxed. "Of course. Deal with the intruder at once." He released
his grip on the sword. "Tell me, when did you start working here?"
"Last month," the guard answered. "Lord Forrester said he wanted a bit
of extra protection, thought somebody wanted to kill him."
"You're not wrong there," Joel said as he pulled out his crossbow. He
turned and shot the guard, pulling the body into the workshop and
closing the door.
He searched the body, taking the guard's knife. He slipped his
grandfather's mask over his face and left the workshop.
Another guard approached him as he was sizing up the wall. Joel didn't
give him a chance to respond, driving the point of the knife through
the guard's skull. The guard dropped and he returned to the wall.
He grabbed a handhold and started pulling himself up. He rolled himself
onto the roof and stole across the tiles. One of the tiles slid free as
he approached his destination, falling and breaking on the lit balcony
below.
"What was that?" a voice called out. A shadow appeared in the light
spilling out onto the balcony and a guard, half naked, emerged. He
stared out at the fight near the gate then knelt by the broken tile,
poking at it. A raven landed in front of him, cocked its head and cawed
curiously.
Joel dropped and landed on the guard's back. He pulled out the knife
and drove it into the guard's neck, then entered his bedroom.
The place had changed since he had last been in there. The black had
been replaced by reds and greens, the bookcase had been removed, and
the kitchen maid stared at him from the bed, completely naked. She
glanced at the guard's body then at Joel.
"Keep silent," he advised her as he knelt by the bed. The secret
compartment came free and he pulled out his protective leather coat,
slipping it on. He moved over to the wardrobe. The clothes had been
replaced, but he pushed them aside and pressed the back panel. It slid
back, revealing the prototype weapon he'd stored there. He pulled it
out and quickly tested it.
He strapped the weapon bag onto his back and moved to the door to the
library. Kneeling by the handle, he peered through the lock.
Forrester was pacing by the fireplace with a pair of guards. One stood
facing the door leading to the hallway, sword out.
Joel inserted one of the three discs into the weapon and aimed it. He
muttered a few calculations to himself, took a few steps back, then
fired. It flew through the door and struck the guard with his sword
out, slicing through his neck.
Joel kicked his way through the remains of the door. Forrester grabbed
the other guard's pistol and fired, missing wildly.
"Run, Sir," the other guard said, pulling out his sword. The
treacherous lord did so as Joel discarded the crossbow for the knife,
meeting the guard's attack. He grabbed his foe's sword hand and punched
him, then stuck the knife in the man's jugular. The guard fell, choking
as he died.
Joel continued his pursuit, running through the door as the door
directly opposite him slammed shut. He kicked it open and Forrester
fired at him again, missing wildly again.
The first guard attacked. Joel quickly relieved the young man of his
weapon and knocked him flat before stabbing the other guard in the gut.
The third guard stabbed him in the neck with a knife. He grunted and
drove an elbow into their face and advanced on the treacherous lord. He
pulled a disc free from the bag and grabbed a handful of cloth.
"No, please!" he begged as Joel ran the edge of the disc across his
neck, severing his windpipe. The vampire let the body fall.
The guard with the knife threw herself at him. He caught her fist
before she plunged her knife into him again.
Jacinth spat at him and tried to pull her grip free, the ring catching
on his glove. "You bastard," she said.
He let go of her hand and she tried to attack him again. "First my
father, now my husband! Why don't you just take me, you freak?"
"Husband...." He saw the completed gimmal ring on her finger, then
noticed Forrester's incomplete ring was missing. "How long...?"
She slashed the knife, catching him on the mask.
He ignored her attacks as his eyes fell upon a desk littered with
papers. He picked one up.
It was a newspaper clipping about the priest's disappearance, dated 11
February 1767. The next piece was about a church-run orphanage, which
had been attacked by a madman who had killed the head nun. It was dated
25 October 1766. The final piece he picked up was about the burnt
remains of his coach being found on 3 November 1765.
Not four months. Sixteen months!
He caught his daughter's latest assault attempt and disarmed her. She
started hitting him as he headed for the door.
A guard with a pike blocked the door. "Hold it right there!" he warned.
"I'll take care of this, Lady Forrester."
Joel smiled, hidden by the mask, as he turned and threw himself out the
window, shards of glass falling with him.
THE END
© 2017 Grannd Kane
Bio: Grannd Kane was born in Aberdeen, Scotland. He studied
Social Sciences at Aberdeen College. He is an enthusiast of Celtic
culture and is currently self-learning Scottish Gaelic. He has
previously been published in CEA Greatest Anthology Written. He lives
in rural Aberdeenshire, Scotland, with a displeased cat.
E-mail: Grannd Kane
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