Chapter 9: Secrets and Questions

Another unsolved murder and an unstable dhampir. None of it makes sense. But what happens when the vampire's search for answers turns up even more questions?

 

Vincent glanced at Varcolak’s journal all through the trip. He was compelled to take up the book and read another entry but too many things were weighing on his mind. This case was getting stranger by the day. And not just the method of killing, but the Hunter’s increasing instability. He knew that scream was not just from shock or startling. Something about that mark had disturbed her deeply, to the point where her composure and control had been shattered. The sliver of metal she’d extracted from the corpse may have induced her behaviour, but that strange cross carved into the dead woman’s arm certainly was the trigger. And the tattoo on the inside of her wrist was even more concerning. A cross with entwined with bloody thorns. Who in their right mind would possess such a mark? And what link did it have with this case? One thing was certain; if he ignored this for too long she could lose control completely. She could become a beast and slaughter everyone in her path. Including him.

I knew it was a mistake to enlist her service, he thought acidly. And yet I thought it was within the council’s interest. The infamous Vampire Hunter working for us. How could anyone pass up such an opportunity? Yet, if I had known first off she was dhampir, I would never have allowed such a reckless line of thinking. There is something about her that is making me uneasy. But what? Perhaps he could help me in this dilemma.

“We’re here, Sir.” The driver’s voice startled him out of his train of thought and he glanced out the window. It was a large house that had been constructed out of the remnants of an abandoned sanatorium. After the building had been condemned in the 1920s, someone had procured its restoration and re-designed it from the ground up. It still had traces of its old occupation, but otherwise it was unrecognisable. A large wrought-iron plaque was nailed to the stone pillar that housed the letterbox. It read Dr Jorgen Severin, Specialist. The vampire lord was confident he would find his answers here.

 

The driver opened the door to let him out and the vampire walked through the open gate to the door. An intercom with a monitor was set into the wall by the door. The door bore the insignia of the Dracului. Vincent pressed his ring into the recess by the monitor and then pressed the intercom button. A loud trill sounded before an articulate yet gravelly voice answered.

“Yes?”

“Dr. Severin?”

“That would be I.”

“This is Vincent Angelus of the Dracului Containment Sector. I am here to make some inquiries.”

The monitor flickered, projecting the image of a thin man with balding brown hair and black eyes. It greatly reminded Vincent of an old scientist he’d met during the First Sanguine Rebellion, a war that was waged between vampires and humans for control of Germany. Though many died on both sides during that grisly time, the vampires succeeded in wresting control of the land. The scientist had been one of the many casualties.

“Is this about my research?” demanded the man. “Because I’ve already informed the High Moon that it will take some time to complete it.”

“No, it is not regarding his Lordship, Doctor.” Vincent didn’t need to ask about the research, nor did he want to. Anything regarding the High Moon, the elite of the Dracului, was strictly classified. Even in the Dracului, there were secrets that should never be uncovered. This research happened to be one of them. “It is about a recent murder.”

The monitor flickered off and the door clicked, swinging open to reveal the man himself. He smiled excitedly, very eager to give his assistance.

“Come in, come in, my Lord!” Severin ushered the vampire lord inside and shut the door, locking it tightly. He took Vincent’s coat and hung it on the hook by the door before leading the vampire down the hallway. A large steel door was before them. Severin punched in a few numbers and the valves hissed, unlocking the door and swinging open. Vincent followed the man inside and down the stairs, feeling a little uneasy. This was the first time he’d ever had to question Severin, but he was highly commended for his research and work for the council so he couldn’t pass up the opportunity to find out what this man knew.

After a long walk down the corridor, they came to another door and the vampire waited for the specialist to input the code. The door unlocked and Severin ushered Vincent inside. What the vampire saw was enough to even impress him.

 

It was a huge underground lab complex. Doors opened and shut as scientists passed through the corridors, checking clipboards or carrying bundles of folders to their designated areas. Some even stopped to discuss their findings in their research and compare notes on everything from chemical analysis to blood work. Large glass windows peered into the labs, giving Vincent a very clear view on what each division was working on. He paused momentarily to watch an autopsy on a lycanthrope carcass. Monitors surrounded the operating table while men and women in lab coats watched intently as their superior discussed the physiology of the common werewolf.

“Fascinating, isn’t it?” murmured Severin. “Each day we’re getting closer to unlocking the secrets of their anatomy. Why they transform into beasts only during the full moon, their susceptibility to silver and why human characteristics are absent in their beastly states. It’s truly remarkable what we’ve discovered so far.”

“This place has been underground all this time?” asked Vincent, very surprised he didn’t know of this complex.

“Such is the nature of the Biochemical and Genetics Sector, Lord Vincent.” Severin was very pleased to see the expression of surprise and admiration on the vampire’s face. “We are to keep this research secret. If this were to get into the hands of our enemies, it can be used against us. You know very well that there are many who wish to exterminate our race to wrest control of the government from our hands.”

Vincent knew this all too well. If this kind of information were to be discovered, new ways of combating them could be devised. Armour, serums, even weapons could be created to bring them down and make their enemies impervious to what usually harmed them. It would be chaos, pure and unadulterated. It would be the bad old era all over again. The slayings, the beatings, the torture, all of it would return and vampires would be forced to hide once again. It would spell the extermination of their world.

“But I got distracted. My apologies, my Lord.” The specialist bowed in deference. “What is it you require help with?”

“I need information on a mark that was carved into a dead woman’s body.” Vincent dipped his hand into his jacket and pulled out a large envelope from his pocket. “These are photos of the crime scene.”

Severin pulled out an old pair of wire-rimmed glasses from his pocket and took the photos from Vincent. His black, beady eyes roved the images, noting every detail. He seemed to relish the fact the vampire lord had involved him in this case for a slight grin spread onto his gaunt features. However, when his eyes latched upon the image carved into the corpse’s flesh on the last photo, his face went deathly white. He shot the vampire lord a terrifying look.

“Who else have you shown these images to?” Severin demanded. Vincent blinked in surprise and a chill ran down his spine. Something about the mark clearly upset the scientist; his expression was one of great fear.

“The only other people who have seen these other than me are the investigators and a Vampire Hunter,” he replied. Severin’s beady eyes narrowed.

“A Vampire Hunter? You have procured a Hunter’s services to investigate these crimes?”

“That is the reason I am here. She reacted very strangely when she saw that mark. She screamed and lost control of herself. Not only that, a very similar mark is tattooed on the inside of her left wrist. It cannot be a mere coincidence.” Vincent’s eyes flashed a pure crimson. “Severin, I demand you tell me the significance of this mark.”

The specialist sighed. “Come with me into my lab.” Severin lead the vampire lord into a large lab on the far side of the room. He punched in a certain code and a glowing pad slid out of the wall beneath the number plate. The specialist took a small penknife and slashed his palm, squeezing out the blood before placing his hand palm-down onto the pad. The pad flashed red three times before the light above the door went green. Literally shoving the vampire lord into the lab, he swiftly entered behind Vincent and locked the door. Vincent frowned in annoyance at his odd behaviour.

“What is the meaning of this?” demanded the vampire. Severin turned to him with that same frightening expression.

 

“Have you ever heard of the Circle of Devils?”

Vincent nodded slowly. “It was a legend I was told as a child. They congregate in areas where nothing grows or mortals would not dare to enter.” He frowned. “But what does a myth have to do with this mark?”

“It is not a myth,” snapped Severin . “The Cerc De Diavoli are the most ruthless assassins and hunters ever to stalk the shadows. Anywhere they congregate, nothing ever grows again. This mark is their insignia.”

“What?!” The vampire lord couldn’t believe his ears. “But why was their insignia carved into a woman’s corpse?”

“There could be many reasons for it. A copycat crime, cult ritual or even a twisted descendant wanting to continue their legacy. But none of those reasons would explain the perfect detail of that mark…” The specialist seated himself at a large desk. “They concealed themselves from the world, hiding in the catacombs of an old castle in Transylvania. There they were isolated from the rest of society, allowing them to evolve into perfect killers. They are monsters, even amongst vampires. No one dared to approach them. None even dared to affect control of them. Until the 16^th century when all those girls turned up missing.” He pulled opened a drawer and took out a small box of cigarettes, placing one in between his teeth. He offered one to the vampire lord who waved a dismissive hand at him. He fished in his pocket for a lighter as he went on. “But the castle is pretty much in ruins now. It would be impossible to locate them even if they have come out of hiding.”

“And where would this castle be?”

“You’re of the Full Moon Circle and even you didn’t know this?”

Vincent glared at him.

“Well, I suppose it’s of no surprise. Considering your sector of work, my Lord.”

“Stop dancing around. Tell me: where was their location?”

“Castle Cachtice.”

 

The anger vanished swiftly from Vincent’s face. He stared at the specialist, hoping this was nothing more than a sick joke. “But...but that is where-“

“Indeed.”

The vampire lord slammed his palms down upon the stainless steel desk, the dull metallic thud echoing through the laboratory. “Doctor, you cannot be serious. If they are indeed still there, that would mean she escaped centuries ago!”

“Yes, I imagine her Ladyship will be rather angry for her imprisonment.”

Vincent vanished in a blur of motion and appeared before the specialist. Thrusting out his left palm, he hurled the man back several feet with tremendous force. Stalking to the fallen specialist, he lifted him up by the collar of his none-too-clean lab coat and slammed him against the wall. His eyes were twin crimson flames.

“You better not be playing with me, Severin,” he growled, his voice incensed with rage. “The reports clearly state that Elizabeth Bathory escaped from Cachtice six months ago. If your information is indeed genuine…..well, you know what that would mean.” He tightened his hold on the man’s coat, almost choking him.
“You actually thought those reports were real?” spat Severin. “She has been on the run for centuries! She falsified her own death in order to escape and release the Circle from their slumber.”

“You just said yourself minutes ago the Circle cannot be controlled.”

“Not by just anyone! Lady Elizabeth is sadistic and clever enough to bend people to her will. Why do you think she was able to get away with over 600 counts of murder? It wasn’t just because of her beguiling charms!” Sarcasm dripped from the last sentence. “I may be only a genetics researcher but I know a little about the Circle to know that if there is something in it for them, they will latch onto it without a second thought.”

“And how is it I was not informed of her escape when she broke out?”

“Even you know the answer to that, my Lord. No one would dare question the actions of the High Moon.”

Severin had a pretty damn good point. But it still did not answer all of Vincent’s questions. “Ok, say I do believe you. Why was the mark on Kaileena’s wrist?”

“Kaileena?”

“Kaileena Rose, the Vampire Hunter I mentioned.”

Severin’s eyes bugged out of their sockets. “You procured the services of the Death Rose?!”

“She was asking for help searching for Bathory. In fact, she was desperate. Otherwise she would never enlist the help of her prey.”

Severin burst out laughing. “Oh my!  I never thought the infamous dhampir actually existed! This is indeed a wonder.”

“Even that necessary detail about her was never revealed to me,” said Vincent. “And she seems to know a lot more than she’s saying. Also…….”

“Also?”

The vampire lord looked at him. “There was a scar on her back.  A double X. When I asked her about it, she grew strange and refused to answer me.”

“Hmm, I see. It does sound like a familiar injury.” Severin met the vampire’s gaze. “I shall look more into the matter, Sir. But believe me when I say this; the Circle are not to be trifled with. They will do worse to you before they grant you death.”

“I’ll remember that.” Vincent released the specialist who crossed to the desk again. Opening a coded lock, Severin pulled out a large case form his drawer and handed it to the vampire. Vincent looked at the case and then glared at the scientist with a frown.

“What’s this?”

“Something that will help you on your mission. There are also documents in there that the High Moon entrusted me with. But they are of no use to me.”

“If they discover you gave this to me, you will surely be executed.”

Severin laughed. “Ah, well I’ve lived a long and full life. We all have to die sometime. Even you, my Lord.”

 

The vampire lord hefted the case and placed it under his arm before extending his hand to the specialist. “Thank you, Doctor. You have proven very useful to me.”

Severin chuckled before enclosing the large pale hand in his own. “It is always a pleasure to serve one of the Full Moon, Lord Vincent.” He led the vampire back up the stairs and to the main house. Escorting him to the door, Severin opened it to let him through. Vincent hefted the case once more and nodded to the scientist, turning on his heel to leave the residence.

“Oh, my Lord.”

Vincent turned to regard him.

“Do not judge the girl too harshly. Even half-breeds are creatures of good intention.”

Vincent frowned. “What do you mean by that?”

Severin grinned. “You’ll have to see for yourself.” Shutting the door with those words, the lock clicked in finality. The vampire lord shook his head and returned to the waiting vehicle, sliding in the passenger’s seat. The driver shut the door and slid into the front, grasping the wheel and turning his head to look at his passenger.

“Where to now, my Lord?”

Vincent set the case down on the floor, his eyes wandering to the tome sitting next to him. He pondered the scientist’s words and frowned slightly. Why would the High Moon keep so much secret? What exactly did all this mean? And what did it have to do with the Vampire Hunter?

“My Lord?”

The vampire lord shook out of his train of thought. “Hm?”

“Are you all right, Sir?”

“I’m fine. Take me home please.”

“Yes, Sir.”

The vampire glanced out the window, new questions running through his mind. But none he could answer at the moment.
We’ll just have to wait and see what turns up. But one thing is certain: all of this is connected to her. And I intend to find out what that connection is. His thoughts wandered to the dhampir that he’d enlisted to help in the case. But it would seem she was a case in itself.

Kaileena…

He shook himself out of it. He shouldn’t be thinking about the brazen Hunter. She was a half-breed. Nothing more than an expendable asset. Even though, he had to wonder just which case he would solve first.