The Vampire Covenant

Chapter Five

Deep in the abandoned darkness of an old cathedral, three bats flapped their black veiny wings, and peered at the scene about to unfold before them with blind eyes of witches that had walked the earth long before man became a man. The children of the dark ones; they were the embodiment of chaos, the darkness that enshrouds tighter than ignorance, and the bane of everything good and holy.

Footsteps echoed around the large hall, bathed by the watchful glare of the moonlight. Wicked feet trampled upon marble as they shuffled around the grand round table. King Arthur –it is said, had held council with his knights at this very table. Where it was once an embodiment of bravery, loyalty and sacrifice, it now caves under the weight of the sins of those that gather around it.

Oh how the mighty have fallen. Oh how the gloom had taken over.

Silence fell upon the room as the seven sinners sit in anticipation.

Her heels were the sound of bullets. It sent fear into the hardened hearts of even the vilest of creatures. The three bats shivered, and the witches watching through their eyes blinked. It was a cold night. It was a long night. They had a lot to see, and a lot more to dread. She sat at the head of the table; a seat once reserved for King Arthur, now reserved for her; Queen Pandora.

In the light of the moonlight, she looked translucent and angelic. But the seven sinners knew better. For while they themselves are malefactors; she is the serpent that prompted Eve towards the apple. Her fiery red hair was like a torch, the strands curled and bounded atop her head like a crown. With every slight jerk of her head, a strand would fall and frame her face enticingly.

"Bring in the prisoner." She ordered, and the darkness itself quivered at the cold ruthlessness of her tone.

Another door opened, and two guards dragged Grace Clemonte into the room. Bruises and blood covered her body, but her spirit stayed untouched, because even with three broken ribs and a fractured leg, she struggled to break free of the guards' clutches.

"Where is she? Where is my sister?!" She screamed, fighting against strong hands.

Queen Pandora looked upon her with distaste and unguarded hatred. That fearless spirit; that fighting zeal... she wanted to crush it. She wanted to see her —and all Clemontes, begging and grappling at her feet for mercy. "I detest screaming in my court." She warned.

The seven sinners shifted uncomfortably in their seats. There was much to discuss. Was this scrawny human really relevant? The Queen should be more focused on how they —the children of darkness, would reclaim their place in the world.

Their birthright. Their throne.

"f**k you." Grace spat at the Queen's feet. Her vision swarm in front of her. Any moment, she could pass out, and without a doubt, she would wake up to another round of t*****e. She blinked vigorously to keep herself conscious.

What happened to the tracker she swallowed? Where's her sister? Is she safe? Are her family safe? She could only hope.

Queen Pandora grinned. Leave it to the Clemontes to have the guts to insult someone as powerful as her. She got to her feet, walked to steps in front of Grace, and crouched down to her eye level. "Oh, feisty..." She murmured, lifting her chin and observing her face which was covered in blood and grime. "Just like your grandmother." The sound of her hand connecting with Grace's cheek made the bats flinch.

A fresh drop of blood appeared on the torn skin of Grace's cheek. The Queen's ring was a circle of sharp metal pricks. Her eyes watered, but she kept her focus straight, and gritted down the pain. "Where is Ophelia?" She asked, her voice hoarse and wounded from all the screaming.

Queen Pandora smirked. "She's not here." She laughed, feeling the satisfaction of Grace's regret.

They had lied, and used the possibility of her sister being in danger to lure her. She rose to her feet, and sauntered back to sit on her makeshift throne. "You're cursing your foolishness aren't you?" She chuckled. "But don't worry. Soon, I'll have not only your sister, but all the Clemontes at my disposal."

Grace fumed. If only she hadn't gone out that day. If only she hadn't been sent to deliver the package. But there was still hope. A tracker was beeping somewhere in her intestines, and as long as they don't realize it, help will come. The cartel will come to her. If not for her, then at least for the goods she failed to deliver.

"And you'll bring them to me... that bloodline Robert Clemonte cherished so much." Queen Pandora continued. "Let's see if you'll survive the t*****e and transformation, or if you'll cave in and die like your mother."

Out of a blind flash of anger, Grace lunged for the woman in front of her. But before she could get even a fraction closer, the guards yanked her back and restrained her. A sharp pain shot through her body like she was being stabbed repeatedly. "I'll kill you. I swear to God, I'll f*****g kill you!" She bellowed, kicking and fighting against the guards violently.

"Take her away." The Queen ordered.

"Let me go! Let me go you cursed devils!" Grace's voice echoed through the walls of the cathedral, as she was led back down to the dungeon below; where the rats and spiders had made their home.

Queen Pandora turned to the seven sinners; her loyal ministers, and the only existing beginning of the vampire bloodlines. They had been the ones who went through the purging with her. The ones to survive. The ones to evolve. And soon, and soon...

They'll wreak havoc on a world that had forgotten about their existence.

"Give me some good news, or I'll have one of your heads." She had no intentions of beheading any one of them, but liked to see them squirm while trying to stay on her good side.

Alberto Cliff, representative of the sin of envy gulped and cleared his throat. "The forging of the moonshine amulet was a success." He announced with a crooked smile. It was the best news they had received in years. With the moonshine amulets, they would be able conquer the curse of the shadows. Sunlight would no longer be their natural adversary.

Queen Pandora sighed, and let loose a grin of satisfaction. "Ah, finally."

Taking advantage of her good mood, Endor Ymir; the representative of the sin of gluttony spoke up. "The subjects are getting restless Your Majesty."

Her smile fell. "Our time is near. They've waited a century. They can wait a few more days." She answered dismissively.

"But what about..."

A sharp look from the Queen silenced Endor, and he shrunk back in his seat, a little defeated. "My apologies, Your Majesty." He said quietly, bowing in respect and keeping his head down out of embarrassment.

She looked to the other ministers. "Anything else?"

The representative of greed; Arnold Bonavich leaned forward. His hands folded on the table, and with a confidence both Endor and Alberto lacked, he looked at the Queen to address her. "The Clemontes have moved back to Westwend."

A neat eyebrow shot up. "Oh?" She mused with a chuckle. When will they learn that nowhere is safe for them? The flimsy rules Susan Clemonte had created based on her rough superstitious knowledge of vampires were barely keeping them out of harms way. "Good. Very good..." She whispered to herself. "The birds that gather in the same cage makes the killing easier for the cat."

From the shroud of the darkness, the bats flapped their wings in approval.