The Damascus Chronicles (17 page)

“Father, why do we waste such time on humans? They do not understand us and fear us,” Darius asked.

“My son, these times have grown dark for our family’s bloodline. Our kind is turning to side with our enemy. They have given up their belief in the promise of the Lord, of which the angel Gabriel spoke to me. We need new human allies to aid us in the Great Test, especially if we want to end the war,” replied the old man.

“It has been a waste of time, seven centuries to be exact. We should be looking out forour own interests” replied Darius.

“Son, if you think this is a waste of time, understand this: the Great Test was difficult in my time and so it will be among this generation of our family,” said the old man.

“But how long, for how long, father? What of the future of our species; we are being depleted in number by slayers and by society. We should preserve our kind, not find a way to reform it,” Darius pressed.

”Until all of Reynard Desbode’s forces and the Society have been crushed. It is then that we will be free from our plight,” said the old man.

“Shall I go see Marko then?” asked Darius.

“Yes Darius, go report to Marko; he will provide the information you need for your next mission,” said the old man.

“Yes father,” replied Darius, bowing in respect and left room.

Darius went to report to Marko and his sister Marianna. Julius’s oldest daughter. “Foolish boy,” said Julius under his breath.

Marko, the chief chemist and robotics engineer of Zoratus Enterprises, was hard at work on his newest creations. Marianna was looking at plant samples making medical serums. Marko was Julius’s blood brother. Though ancient as a elder of the Zoratus vampire coven, Marko was an expert and master in technical weapons development with a firm regard to his work.

“How’s it going?” asked Darius, putting on his metaphorical mask.

“Fine, I just isolated the enzymes in these plants,” said Marianna, mesmerized, her eyes locked into the lens of her microscope.

“What are you going to use it for?” asked Darius, actually a little interested.

“Antitoxins. The last raid we were in was a nasty one,” said Marianna.

“Listen, I was wondering Marianna, why do you still want to help out the old man?”

“Because, I love him, he is our father after all.”

“Don’t give me that. Is it because of love or duty to honor?”

“Why bother me with these petty questions? Shouldn’t you be preparing the strike team for the next attack?” said Marianna, annoyed now.

“It’s not them I’m worried about; it’s me I’m starting to be concerned with. I’m tired of this futility,” said Darius.

“We all chose to serve Father because we desire peace with the humans; in redeeming ourselves, we renew the soul,” said Marianna loyally. She was a strong and noble warrior to her clan and beautiful, with eastern Asian eyes, long braided black hair, and peach colored pouty lips. She was dressed in a black PVC outfit. First born, of Julius’s children. Half Japanese and half Italian.

“I hate you defending that ideology. We should be accepted for what we are, as vampires; we should not bend to the laws and ways of humanity. We live longer, fight stronger, and are a lot a better in bed, thank you,” said Darius, annoying his sister with his arrogance.

“Stop your bickering! Both of you are interrupting my thoughts,” said Marko.

“What’ve you been up to?” asked Darius.

“I have been making you a new weapon to use on the Dark Society’s new soldiers, so pay attention. Come here and try this out,” commanded Marko.

Pulling off his welding mask, he turned off his welding torch and sprayed a coolant on the weapon. “Well?” asked Darius. Marko rolled up his sleeves, removing a chain machine gun glove from a small stand. “Hold out your arm,” instructed Marko.

“What?” Darius asked, concerned.

“Trust me.” Marko fit the robotic glove on Darius’s left arm. Finding the trigger tips on his fingers, Darius fired away as the machine gun glove shot rounds of thermite that burned through a test metal, melting holes straight through. “What is the compound?” asked Darius.

“Simple thermite bombs. I was able to protect the weapon from melting with a new alloy I’ve been developing, we got a lot power here in a little package,” said Marko.

“You’re a genius after all.”

“I know, I know. Now prepare the men for the attack.”

“Thanks,” said Darius as he left to continue training the men in his underground compound. Marko just shook his head at the young vampire. “He does not understand the importance of what we are doing,” said Marko.

“He will eventually. We’re trying to reestablish the alignment of our spies and the others in what was agreed upon by the elders of the council,” said Marianna as she continued to review her reports.

Serena knocked on the main chamber door but the old man had sensed who it was. “Serena my child, come in, come give an old man a hug,” the old man smiling.

“Grandfather,” said Serena as they hugged.

“It’s good to see you,” said the old vampire, smiling at his granddaughter. Michael looked at the old man with a feeling of curiosity. He didn’t have much understanding of his new vampiric nature.

“A new lover you have, a handsome and fearless one,” said the old man sternly.

“Julius Zoratus, I presume,” said Michael as he shook the old man’s hand.

“My great-granddaughter did well to choose you,” said Zoratus.

“Save the formalities and let’s get down to business,” said Michael.

“He is bold and forward,” said Zoratus to Serena.

“We have come in need of assistance,” said Michael.

“Alliance must be earned, young man. I know what you desire, there is no need to ask,” replied Zoratus.

“What?” Michael felt insulted.

“Our organization is not like the mafia that you ruthlessly kill for,” said Zoratus.

“But I thought that all vampires killed ruthlessly to survive,” Michael boldly answered back.

“We only take what we need to survive, and we don’t kill anymore to feed; these days, a donor can freely give us his or her blood to sustain us, which is why we are in development of new chemical serums to make up the difference,” Zoratus explained.

“Serena tells me that you also own all the blood banks and hospitals in the city,” said Michael.

“Our corporation does own the blood banks and hospitals. We also use them to trace the infected ones, in order to protect our kind from exploitation by outsiders,” said Julius. “Okay then, I’ll spare the details on us and let’s get to your contact, Jackie Santerini, who you work for, and the Santerini Family.”

“How do you know that?” asked Michael.

“Our global organization has many links to key individuals and our contacts in city have told us much about your former background and who you work with,” said Julius.

“Get to the point then; what do I have to do to win your trust?”

“Impatience will get you nowhere, young vampire,” warned Zoratus.

“Spare me the sermon, please,” said Michael.

“Michael,” said Serena, upset at her lover’s rudeness.

“Forgive me,” said Michael quickly.

“You are forgiven. Now let me bring you to the initiation counsel. There is much to discuss,” said Zoratus.

They entered a chamber through the bookcase in the grand library, which was stacked to great heights with old books; a mountain of knowledge towered in the large room. Michael was in awe; he had never seen a library this size before.

“Glad you like the library,” said Lord Zoratus. “It’s beautiful,” replied Michael.

“I’m also glad to see your pompous friend respects knowledge,” chuckled Lord Zoratus to Serena.

“Very funny old man,” Michael quipped back.

They descended to the corridor below, where an old medieval stone stairwell led to a cloistered room that held a large marble table. Symbols were assigned to each place at the table, the clan symbols, and the main Zoratus coat of arms was set in the center. On the walls lit sconces blazing with blue fire and around the table were navy blue satin chairs. Four vampires were seated, all of different stature, age, and culture. However, two of the chairs were empty. Serena went to sit with the counsel, but Michael stood in the middle of the room, waiting to be introduced. An older vampire wearing glasses and a lab coat turned to Lord Zoratus to speak. It was Marko.

“Brother, who is this poor creature that your great-granddaughter Serena has brought to us? I can smell his scent and he smells like a dog. Send him away. He is not one with this Coven.”

“No, let him stay; I sense that he is brave and a warrior,” said Marianna.

“Silence!” commanded Lord Zoratus.

“He is here to aid us, and he will be useful in gaining allies for our cause,” said Serena.

“How so cousin?” Darius asked from where he was seated in the corner.

“I can help your organization in many ways Darius,” said Michael. This amazed them all.

“How does a fledgling so young posses such great mental power?” asked Marianna.

“Go on then, tell us, I’m sure we would love to know,” gestured Marko.

“I have many leads within the United States government, the CIA, and have many other associates within the criminal underworld in this city,” replied Michael.

“How many of these contacts do you know personally?” asked Scarlet, the half French/Italian vampire. Marianna’s younger sister.

“Exactly two hundred,” said Michael.

“A meager number. My war cyborgs could beat that number any day,” said Marko.

“Be quiet Marko; machines can not understand the enemy’s mind. Only flesh and blood can,” said Lord Zoratus.

“If it would please your Coven to know, Julius, I know of certain supply lines within the city where your organization can obtain better advanced weapons, at least compared to your robotics division that is yet to be fully tested,” said Michael, reading Marko’s mind.

“He does have a point. The war cyborgs have not finished testing. I have seen the weapons he speaks of and they would be of great use to us,” Serena chimed.

“A few moments, if you please Damascus. Step outside the room so we can make our decision,” asked Darius.

Michael nodded his head in respect and left the counsel room to wait outside the door. He still didn’t understand what he was doing, what his purpose was, or the point of being immortal. All of these questions flowed through his mind as if in slow motion. Then all of a sudden the large doors opened again and Serena ushered Michael back into the room to hear the counsel’s decision.

“It has been decided that you will be welcomed into this coven and its organization based upon your completion of the coven’s initiation trials. If you can complete the three special task we request of you, then you will be welcomed in alliance. However, if you fail, by our ancient code you will be killed. Do you agree to this?” asked Lord Zoratus.

“I agree that I will prove to you I am worthy. But first, I have questions of my own,” said Michael.

“Questions will be answered later,” said Lord Zoratus.

“With due respect, if you please, I wish to know a little about who I am working for, either human or immortal; it makes no difference to me,” said Michael fearlessly.

“You will be told in time. Now leave us until you have been contacted for your first trial. In the meantime, my eldest daughter Marianna will keep you informed,” said Lord Zoratus.

“How will we keep in contact?”

“Young fledgling, you have much to learn. Each vampire can speak to another through their thoughts. Believe me, you will know when she speaks to you.”

Michael nodded and thanked his new contacts. Then after Serena had hugged her great-grandfather goodbye, the two left to head home for the night.

Back in the counsel room, the rest of the coven continued to speak for the briefest of moments. “Do you think that this unsavory young fool can be trusted? Not all of our kind believes in the cause as we do. As you have said before, many of our kind have turned to aid the enemy,” countered Marko. “Desperate times call for desperate measures; our family bloodline is dying. I am dying.” Zoratus groaned in pain as his wound that he had received from his archenemy began to open up. “I’m aware of the risk. We must expand the coven’s empire if we are ever able to reclaim the one prize we seek the most, which is that our humanity be restored.”

“But what of the rest of the clans we are allied with around the world; surely they can help us?” said Marko.

“The clans have their own battles to fight now. Reynard Desbode’s followers have destroyed many of our kind,” said Scarlet.

“The Dark Society has grown more powerful than we thought. We must continue to gather new allies if we are to defeat their evil forces. I agree with father and Scarlet,” said Darius.