The Bite of Vengeance Read online

  ‘I understand.’

  ‘Well,’ announced Zaichari. ‘It’s all in the past. I’d forgotten about it until just now.’

  Roconn could tell he had not forgotten at all, but decided not to press the matter.

  A black gondola rowed up the canal and stopped before them, the silver dragon crest glittering in the light of the moon.

  ‘Secrecy is hidden, where the sun does not penetrate,’ said Zaichari to the gondolier.

  ‘Climb on board,’ he replied blankly.

  The gondolier wore simple attire, consisting of a plain, white shirt and brown bottoms. He was a middle-aged man with a plait hanging down his back. Roconn climbed in after Zaichari and smelt the unfamiliar scent of a new vampire. The gondolier. Then another scent hit his nose.

  ‘Maria!’ Roconn whispered as her sweet smell filled his lungs.

  ‘Sorry?’ asked Zaichari cautiously.

  ‘Nothing,’ he replied.

  The gondolier punted down the canal with a long pole, for ten minutes until he reached a fork. He took the right turn without thinking, then another right, and finally a left. The Venetian clan had gone to some lengths to keep their fort hidden. A few minutes later they reached a dead end. Roconn assumed he had taken a wrong turn and was not happy.

  He opened his mouth to speak when the gondolier announced, ‘This is the end of the line.’

  Zaichari seemed oblivious to the fact that they were at a dead end, he obviously knew they were at the right destination. All that was in front of them was one thirty-foot wall. Zaichari climbed out, and Roconn followed suit. As soon as they were out, the gondolier left them, leaving them in a deserted street that, again, looked identical to the rest of Venice. Roconn wondered idly whether this was some sort of trap, but the thought vanished when Zaichari walked over to the wall and pushed a big slab of stone to the left, revealing a metal door. Zaichari tapped out a code, which Roconn memorized. At once, the door swung open to reveal a large room that was about the size of a church.

  The vampire who opened the door was a slender and attractive woman with waist length, chocolate-brown, hair and bright sapphire-blue eyes.

  ‘So, the clan-king arrives in Venice. I am truly awed to be in your presence, my lord. My name is Oceana, advisor to Klomano, the clan-leader of Venice,’ she said with a soft voice as she sank onto one knee.

  ‘Thank you, it’s good to be here. I believe I am expected?’ Roconn inquired.

  ‘Yes, my lord, right this way.’ She stood up and walked inside, shouting into the room, ‘Silence, the great clan-king, ruler of vampires, has arrived!’

  At once, over thirty vampires of all builds each knelt on one knee in the centre of the room, either side of a long red carpet. The room was expensively decorated. Many paintings hung on its walls. Ornaments of all shapes and sizes lined the oak furniture including vases and bookcases were in abundance here. A golden throne lay atop a large stone plinth, and this seemed to be their destination. When they reached the throne Zaichari took his place on the left, whilst Oceana took her place on the right.

  Roconn marched up the red carpet with over a dozen vampires either side of him. A silence filled the room. Every vampire knelt in terror before Roconn.

  ‘All hail the vampire-ruler, Roconn!’ bellowed a voice.

  ‘We are your servants!’ chanted each vampire in the room.

  Then, a man walked from behind the throne and sat in it slowly. His hazel eyes met Roconn’s, and the man spoke.

  ‘My lord, my friend, how may I help you? I am forever your servant.’

  ‘Thank you, I was hoping you could help me with a matter of a more personal nature.’

  ‘Of course.’

  ‘You know of my wife Maria? She travelled here to find a courier and then disappeared. I was hoping you could give me some more information on what happened?’

  Klomano shuffled nervously in his seat.

  ‘I..err…I have not heard of er… anything that describes this er…incident.’

  Roconn was not fooled, he was hiding something. Klomano shuffled his robes.

  ‘Klomano, tell me-’ Roconn stopped talking.

  The whole room seemed to inhale sharply. As Klomano had shuffled his elegant red robes, his scent blew towards Roconn, a familiar scent.

  ‘YOU!’ he bellowed, pointing his finger directly at Klomano. ‘Where is Maria? What have you done with her?’ He had smelt Klomano’s scent down that alleyway along with Maria’s blood.

  ‘What?! I have no idea what you are talking about, my lord!’

  Roconn was now shaking with anger.

  ‘You were there, Klomano! Tell me, where is she? Why did you take her?’ he edged forwards and Klomano stood up with his hands held up in front of him.

  ‘Now wait a moment. I have a reason. I swear. Just hear me out.’

  ‘Start talking, before I tear your head from your shoulders.’

  Klomano quivered. Everyone in the room was on tenterhooks.

  ‘Yes, my lord. She was exposing us, you see. This little vendetta of yours is costing us all. She was so caught up in her lust for vengeance that she was becoming careless. She must be silenced, my lord!’

  ‘How dare you! She is the clan-queen. That makes you a traitor, and traitors die! But before I end your reign, tell me, how did you capture her, and where is she now?’

  ‘As you wish. Allow me to explain how I overpowered her.’

  The Capture of Maria

  Darkness shrouded Italy, and a dim glow could be seen in the sky; the moon was hidden behind clouds. A young woman walked carelessly down a deserted path in Rome. She wore a long, hooded, black robe made of the finest silk, with golden broaches adorning her chest. Her destination seemed to lead into the depths of the dark Italy. As she walked, I shadowed her from atop the roofs of many buildings, leaping to the next when the need arose. I ran silently, and with a purpose.

  She was becoming increasingly conspicuous. Her killings were done in the open and she did not care who saw her, or how the bodies were hidden. She was becoming careless, blinded by her hatred, and her lust for vengeance. Someone had to stop her, and that someone was me, leader of the Venetian vampire-clan. I knew the consequences of my actions. I was preying on the clan-queen, and the punishment for this was death. Nonetheless, I must do my duty for the vampire nation, I must save our species. If not, Maria would end up exposing us all, and every vampire would fall.

  Maria walked on; she seemed oblivious to me following her. As she walked, a dark passage loomed on the right. It was a shortcut, and she did not appear to want to waste any more time than necessary.

  I followed her down the alleyway. Now was the time to strike. She must be silenced. I knew you would find me soon, but I would gladly accept the punishment if it meant my own clan back in Venice would survive. I brought my hands to my lips and let out a short breath. The sound reverberated around the alleyway. It was the whistling sound a pigeon made. At once, ten men of my own clan appeared as if from nowhere and jumped Maria.

  My plan used surprise as our advantage. But this didn’t work out. Maria overthrew us immediately, almost as though she had been forewarned of the attack.

  ‘That’s impossible,’ I thought to myself, ‘how could she have known?’ Maria fought her way out of the ambush. One of the men leant in for a bite. She grabbed his jaw and pulled. It ripped clean from his face. She threw it away as he crumpled to the floor. She kicked him into the other vampires, knocking them over in the process. Maria fled, but not before I had joined the battle. She hesitated for a fraction of a second, recognizing my face. I used this to my advantage, landing in a powerful slice to her face, with my hand. Blood spattered the wall behind Maria, my hood slipped down.

  Her flawless face turned from shock to anger. She struck me in the chest with almighty force, cracking one of my ribs. I doubled over as pain seared through my body. Maria took her chance and ran at the speed of a bullet, sending many vampires soaring as she went.

  The six re
maining vampires pursued her, though none were capable of matching her impressive speed. Maria stopped, turned, and smacked a pursuer in the face, sending him smashing into a large house and through the other side. Despite her strength, she became outnumbered as a small number of vampires from my clan, joined the battle. Maria flipped and kicked her way free time and time again. Many had been killed, and I was beginning to doubt his plan. She could not be stopped. She was too powerful. I ordered a retreat to my men; I would face her myself and sped up the dark Italian street, where Maria had fled to. Three decided to follow me. Maria slowed down to face him.

  This was my plan. I knew she would want revenge. She wanted it so badly that it would cloud her natural instinct to sense a trap. Me and my vampires shot round a corner and braced ourselves, when I ordered the retreat this was part of the plan, they would detour to this corner. Maria followed, but they were ready. A dozen vampires jumped on her, forcing her to the ground. Even twelve against one barely managed to subdue her.

  She struggled against a dozen pairs of iron hands, but could not break free. Finally, they managed to talk to her, and she was told that she would be taken as a result of nearly exposing the vampires. Unable to fight off these elite vampires, she surrendered. Maria was taken to a hidden underground prison made of twelve-inch thick, titanium walls. And there she lay, unable to avenge her children, awaiting the rescue of her beloved husband. The clan-queen had been reduced to nothing more than a petty, weak vampire. Maria could not wait for freedom. She swore to take revenge against the Venetian clan. She would kill me.

  The night was still young when I headed back towards Venice. I knew I would be tortured in the end. When I returned, I was surprised to hear the clan-king had been spotted in Venice. It could not be so soon. I sent Zaichari out to see if the rumours were true. I waited, praying that it was not so. But deep down, I knew my time was up, and I would die at the hand of Roconn.

  The Pope’s Party

  Roconn spoke to Klomano with an icy voice. ‘Where is she?’

  Klomano quivered under Roconn’s penetrating stare. ‘My lord, I’m sorry, but I cannot tell you. She is a liability and cannot be controlled nor reasoned with. She must be imprisoned for eternity.’

  He spoke with a plea in his voice, begging Roconn to understand. Roconn smirked as he heard this.

  ‘No. You’re wrong, but I will not kill you. You will be imprisoned. Oceana, come here,’ Roconn said.

  Oceana was at his side right away.

  ‘Yes, my lord, how may I help you?’ She spoke with respect to the clan-king.

  ‘Stay here and keep an eye on Klomano. I’m leaving you in charge of the Venetian clan while I go and hunt for Maria.’

  ‘Of course, my lord,’ said Oceana.

  She then addressed her new clan with such authority that many would have believed she had been the leader for a while.

  ‘Listen up. I am the new clan-leader here. My word is law, and any of you who dare to disobey my orders will meet an untimely demise.’

  Roconn smiled. Yes, she was perfect for the job. Knowing she was trustworthy, he set out immediately. He was soon on his way back to Italy to start his search. Roconn located the alleyway where Maria’s blood was found, with no trouble, not far from the Vatican. His heart filled with sadness as he inhaled Maria’s sweet scent.

  ‘Maria,’ he whispered to the night.

  A breeze blew in response, bringing with it Klomano’s scent mixed with that of numerous other vampires; none were as prominent as Klomano’s. Roconn tried his best to ignore his scent, but found it difficult. Soon he was shaking with anger. He suppressed a growl that had been building deep within his throat. He wished that he could find some conflict to help soothe the anger and hatred he felt for his old friend. He had to find Maria before it was too late. Looking down to the floor, something golden caught his eye. It was a ring, encrusted with jewels. It was Maria’s, given to her by her mother. She treasured this ring, it was her most precious item, and now it lay on the floor, covered in dirt and forgotten. Roconn bent down and scooped it up. He would give this back to Maria as soon as he had the chance, for he would find her, and save her. He could not lose his wife as he had lost his children. Without Maria, he would have no one left, and he must continue his quest for vengeance alone, working to avenge the death of not only his children, but his wife as well.

  Roconn put the ring into his pocket and left the alleyway, following the scent of his wife. It appeared she had fled. The scent led away from the alley; her scent was covered first, meaning she was first to go this way, and the others followed her. But why should she flee? Perhaps they outnumbered her. He knew this was more than likely to be the answer. He knew Maria better than anyone and she was not one to flee unless it endangered her life by staying. Following her scent proved difficult because she moved with such speed that there was not much to track, and it had been almost entirely diluted by the wind and the townsfolk. Nevertheless, Roconn continued to push his amazing sense of smell to its limits in order to trace his wife. Once in the street, he passed a large house which had a gaping hole punched through it. He tried to think positively, hoping this had not been caused by Maria’s body. Roconn followed the scent, which grew fainter with every step he took, towards the end of the street where the scent bared off to the right. He rounded the corner. Maria’s scent was gone, masked by the scents of a dozen other vampires. Roconn feared the worst, but with no evidence to prove him right, he tried his best to remain optimistic. He looked down at the stone floor, which was cracked. He assumed this would be where Maria was caught, the crater indicating she had been held to the ground with tremendous force. The time was now. He would go back to Venice and torture Klomano for information. He would find out where Klomano was keeping Maria.

  A few nights later, Roconn had arrived back in Venice, and was standing in the Venetian clan’s home when Oceana came running up to him at full speed. He wondered for a split second if she might run into him.

  ‘My lord. It’s Klomano. He fled moments after you had left. I sent out a search party to find him, but without success. I then sent out Zaichari to tell you, but he couldn’t find you, so he returned.’

  ‘I see. Oceana, come with me, I will need your help.’

  ‘Yes, my lord.’

  Soon Roconn and Oceana were standing in the moonlight, flies buzzing around them as they walked along a cobbled path.

  ‘Tell me, did Klomano tell you anything? Did he let slip anything at all to do with Maria?’

  ‘No, my lord. Wait, I did find a note, it fell from his pocket when he returned from hunting. He looked distressed.’

  Oceana put her hand inside her white linen dress into a pocket stitched inside and withdrew from it a piece of paper. She handed it to Roconn, who opened it hastily, and read it the words were written in hastily scribbled writing.

  ‘Make sure she remains hidden and locked away. If he finds out, it will be all of our lives on the line. He will not forgive, and he will not forget. We will all die.’

  He shook the paper and the scent of Klomano wafted from it. It made Roconn furious.

  ‘Thank you, you may have just saved the life of the clan-queen.’

  Oceana looked taken aback; apparently she was not expecting to be praised. Roconn understood that he needed to act fast. He didn’t know what his next move was going to be, but he needed to feed.

  Oceana led him back to the hideout. Once inside, she walked off towards the end of the room. Roconn followed her over to a brass tap protruding from the wall. There she seized a crystal goblet, from a nearby table, and held it underneath the tap. She turned the tap carefully. Thick, red liquid poured out and into the goblet, which Oceana then handed to Roconn. He took it gratefully, sipping the liquid. It was warm; the barrels had been slightly heated to keep the temperature, and satisfying, soothing his throat. He gulped it down, it had a funny taste.

  ‘This is vampire blood,’ thought Roconn.

  ‘But it doesn’t make any se
nse, we vampires only drink human blood, not that of another vampire!’ The clan, apparently, did not notice. Curiosity consumed Roconn, who blurted out the question before he could stop himself.

  ‘Why are we drinking vampire blood, may I ask?’

  Oceana looked puzzled. Steadily she poured herself a glass full and raised the goblet to her lips and took a sip.

  ‘My lord?’ she asked, feeling confused.

  ‘I repeat, why are we drinking the blood of a vampire?’ Oceana continued to look puzzled.

  Roconn changed the question. ‘Where and how do you source this new way of feeding?’

  ‘My lord, it is run by a cleverly placed room of spikes, underneath the Vatican. In the room, the roof is spikes and the floor is filled with holes. We place up to ten humans in the room and release the trap. The roof falls, impaling the humans until all of their blood is drained. It is then fed through tubes into barrels, and transported here.’

  Roconn thought this was a brilliant new way of delivering blood to the clan members.

  ‘And how do you collect the humans? Surely the townsfolk would notice?’

  ‘Quite the contrary, my lord. You see, when the Pope holds a gathering, a mass of cardinals attend, and we pick them off. During the euphoria, no one notices ten or twenty cardinals disappear, they all dress the same and everyone is very distracted, many come and go anyway. We call the room the Blood Chamber, and put them in there. We also pick random people from within Venice to join in our meal.’ Oceana gave a light chuckle at the last word and resumed her sipping.

  Roconn, on the other hand, gave a start. A sudden realization gripped him and his heart sank. He was horrified. No, he thought, she could not be! Roconn’s hand clenched involuntarily, the goblet creaked for a split second, and then shattered in his palm.

  Oceana gave him a curious look.

  ‘My lord, is there something wrong?’

  ‘No. I mean yes. I don’t know,’ concluded Roconn, somewhat lamely.

  ‘I need to find out where the Blood Chamber is. I fear Maria may be held captive in there. You must help me, before it’s too late!’