The Vampire King's Possession

Chapter 4 - An Uncalled Visit

Zane;

I hear a knock at the door and my head turns, allowing my glowing eyes to lock onto it.

I am of course extremely cautious of someone being here at my apartment at this time of the early morning. I don’t usually have visitors, other than some of my closest friends and colleges.

But why would any of them choose to bother me now?

Something smelt off and naturally, I prepared myself for an ambush.

I needed to be prepared.

‘Knock, knock, knock.’

By the time I reach the heavily fortified silver door I pause and turn toward the security camera I have set up overhanging the doorway. Of course, vampires normally wouldn’t be seen on videos or cameras, but mine is totally unique.

It measures movement frequencies.

My eyes lock onto the figures that appear to be standing around my front doorway and I grip the wooden handle of my silver blade hidden behind my back as unfasten each of the locks, one by one with my free hand.

Then, reaching for the door handle I slowly turn it and open the door just a crack.

Peering out, I remain as calm as possible. I must not show any agitation or nervousness, or they will know something is up.

‘Calm and cool…’

I sight three vamps standing around the doorway, all dressed in black suits with stylish black glasses and trench coats. I have no idea why they would choose to use sunglasses; I find the idea ironic to the highest degree and supress the chuckle that threatens to surface.

But then my demeanour changes instantly as I come to realise. I know those uniforms and I pause with confusion.

They wear the uniform of the Royal Elite.

The Royal Elite are like the highest level of soldiers who work directly with the Vampire King…

They are said to be super-fast and extremely strong when compared with any of us other vampires.

My head begins to fill with so many unanswered questions.

Why are they here?

Have they come for the human, and if so, how did they learn of her so fast?

Then finally, why would they come all the way here with the sun set to rise within the next ten minutes or so?

Something just didn’t add up.

“You Zane?” the one standing in the middle speaks sternly with his husky voice.

“Maybe… who wants to know?” I shoot back softly, calmly.

That same vamp reaches into his trench coat and pulls out a black leather flip wallet, holding it up for less than a second for me to view his credentials and the shiny symbol beside it before flipping it closed once more.

Once again, I feel a strange sense of unease as the hairs across my cold undead skin stand on edge.

“Trace Harrington. I’m one of the Royal Elite.” the vamp begins to introduce himself, while re-pocketing his wallet as he goes on.

“We’re on the lookout for a possible Euphoric being transported into the Vamperial City this evening. Our sources say that a ‘Zane Williams’ called it in an hour ago?”

His eyebrows lift in question.

“Was that you?” Trace asks bluntly.

‘f**k! Think Zane, think fast! Something’s off about these guys, I can smell it…’

My amber eyes dart downwards to see the outline of a familiar tattoo running down the length of Trace’s wrist as he places his hands together, both in front of himself. It’s a snake.

‘s**t!’

My mind immediately goes on high alert at the sighting, though it raises even more unnerving questions.

That snake tattoo is a popular marking of the Jedaahn, a secret race of Vampires dedicated to locating Euphoric humans and hiding them away from the King.

Rebels we Vampiric Soldiers would call them.

They are Vampires fighting against our own kind… and for what? Their own stubborn beliefs?

Apparently, they don’t agree with our King’s rule and have therefore risen up against him in the form of their secret society.

I think for a moment; it’s been around fifteen years or so since I’ve sighted one of their mercenaries as they tend to keep to the shadows.

They must have really been keen to get their hands on this human to come out of the shadows now, especially when the King himself is aware of the human’s presence here in the Vamperial City!

I am pulled back to our awkward conversation as I voice my reply.

“Uh… yeah. That was me, but er…” I pause and think on my feet; something I’ll admit I’m still improving with over time.

“…I, well I lost the human during transportation, you see.”

The vamp frowns. I can see his forehead crinkling inwards as he assesses me.

“You… lost it?” he asks snidely, as if overcome by disbelief.

I nod confidently a few times, pursing my lips tightly together.

“Mm-hm. Yeah, she pulled one over me and escaped on our way back here. Sorry, I forgot to call it in, it’s getting late, what with sunrise and all… I thought I’d just deal with the blow-over after sundown.”

I KNOW my lie sucks, and that they probably won’t be stupid enough to believe me, but it’s all I can come up with on such short notice.

Even I wouldn’t believe something so ridiculous!

The other two standing just behind him seem to shift slightly, as if uncertain of their next move now as they each look to their apparent leader. I mean, I’m guessing that’s what Trace is. He seems to take the lead here.

After a pause of silence Trace raises his left brow once more as he speaks again.

“I see. Well, you won’t mind if we come in and have a look around now, would you? Just to be sure.”

My icy-cold heart sinks within my chest at the realisation; I guess a small part of me knew this might happen and I pushed it aside… until now.

‘f**k!’

“Sure.”

My voice remains calm as I step aside, with my arm held out in a silent gesture for them to step inside.

“Come on in. I’ve got nothing to hide.” I lie obviously.

Trace looks me over wearily before he and the others march on in through my entryway leading down into the large, darkened living room I’ve had converted. There are minimal lamps turned on in an effort to keep the room as dark as possible; just how I like it during the daylight hours.

“Is there anyone else in here with you at the moment, Mr. Williams?” the vamp to Trace’s left questions; the one with the long white hair down to his shoulders.

I glance around the place innocently and then shake my head as I respond.

“Not to my knowledge.”

Once again, I lie, my hands reaching in behind my back as I slowly and silently unsheathe a pair of silver daggers, one in each hand.

Trace gives the other two a firm nod, silently commanding them to do a thorough sweep of the place I imagine.

I’m no mercenary, but I know enough to keep my head above water, so to speak.

“You guys are cutting it a little close to sunrise, aren’t you?” I query, trying to focus the majority of their attention on me instead of searching my place.

“We are but loyal servants to the King. We follow his command without question.” Trace replies, glancing in through an open doorway leading into my office.

“I guess as the King’s Elite, you’ve gotta do what you’ve gotta do.” I announce playfully as my eyes watch the third vamp making his way down towards the end of the hallway.

I can hear their boots ‘thudding’ loudly against the ground, with my senses heightened in obvious alert with what I know is to come next.

They’re gonna find her, there’s no doubt in my mind. A Vampire is capable of sensing the heartbeat of a human from over a mile away, so with one less than a few metres away, there was no other possibility of how this would end.

They’d find her and then I’d have to explain myself… my way.

I know now that things are about to get very messy for my new friends here...

And not the kind of messy that I usually like.

My hands grip tightly against the handles of my daggers as I take in a steady breath, my eyes beginning to glow brightly as I prepare to take these fools out.

-

Adella;

Opening my eyes, which feel like they are lined with lead, I blink many times as I glance around at the darkened room I am now lying in.

I am on top of a large mattress, in a room which appears furnished and modern.

Grunting, I pull myself up to sit upright and rub my eyes as I fight to overcome the hazy feeling I am left with. Probably from being knocked out I’d imagine.

‘What the hell did they use on me anyway?’

Then my reality hits and hits hard; I’ve been kidnapped!

Gasping, I look around the room for any signs of my kidnapper. That tall, dark and incredibly handsome man who stole me from the nightclub.

‘Focus Adella! Keep your head in the game.’

My mouth is incredibly dry as I swing both my legs around to drape over the edge of the bed and attempt to stand. My legs feel like they are made of jelly and I use my hands to steady myself on the mattress.

I feel like I’m suffering from one of the worst hang-overs I’ve ever experienced, but I need to get my bearings and find a way out of here. I need to get back home and fast!

After fighting to keep myself upright as I slowly pace across the length of the room, I finally reach the door and reach out to turn the handle. I fully expect that the door is locked as my wrist turns, but I am startled to find it turns and the door opens!

Opening the door I am not prepared for what I immediately come face to face with and I freeze in place at the sight of them.

There are four of them in total, all men and all staring directly at me!

‘I think I forgot how to breathe!’

So much for escaping…