Scott Mariani - Uprising

‘I’m no slave of theirs,’ Alex said.

‘I can see that. Yet it astounds me that someone of your obviously high intelligence could have fallen for their shameless propaganda. Even today’s human dictatorships, for all their transparent crudeness, are more sophisticated. They at least make the effort to dress up their so-called democracies as something fair and egalitarian. Your rulers, by contrast, don’t even try to conceal their corruption.’

‘I see you’ve been studying human dictatorships up close,’ Alex replied. ‘Wasn’t that the politician Jeremy Lonsdale who brought that rag to my cell earlier?’

Stone laughed. ‘Currently pursuing a new career direction. His predecessor sadly passed away at the hands of your friend Solomon. You’re observant, Alexandra. A quality I admire in you, as well as your loyalty. I, too, serve a master.’ Her expression of surprise made him smile. ‘You didn’t know that, of course.’

‘I thought you were the leader of this revolt against the Federation.’

‘Merely its general. I take my commands from beings superior even to myself.’

Alex frowned in puzzlement. ‘I don’t understand.’

‘The original forebears of our race. The purest blood, the most ancient and hallowed line. The Übervampyr.’

Alex was stunned. It took a few moments before the steady look in Stone’s eye convinced her that he was serious.

‘The Über race is ancient history. Part of legend. Isn’t it?’

‘Rather like the cross of Ardaich. It would be unwise to confuse legend with myth.’

‘They exist? Still, to this day?’

‘Yes, they are here still,’ Stone replied. ‘Compared to them, I — we — are nothing.

And I am proud to serve them and help bring about their long-dormant plans for this planet.’

‘Destroying the Federation was just the beginning,’ Alex said, understanding.

‘The very first step, of a very great many. But the first step is often the most important. With vampires freed from the shackles of oppression, they will begin to rediscover the taste of freedom. Just a tiny taste, in comparison to the exquisite liberty we will all enjoy once the Masters’ plans are brought to fruition.’

‘What are you talking about? A vampire takeover? Of the whole planet?’ Alex almost laughed.

Stone nodded earnestly. ‘Invasion, enslavement, complete control. That kind of thing.’

‘Killing humans indiscriminately?’

‘No worse than what they do to one another. In any case, their numbers are grossly excessive. Look what this parasitic race has done to its home planet in the mere blink of an eye since it achieved so-called civilisation. Tell me, Alexandra, what other of God’s creatures so wilfully and wantonly ravages its own habitat to the extent that, left unchecked, it must ultimately destroy itself?’

‘You talk of God?’

‘I am, after all, a vampire of philosophic joys.’

‘And an ecologist, too.’

He chuckled warmly. ‘I only want the best, Alexandra. And humans are simply not worthy to remain the stewards of this planet. They have lost their paradise. Yes, there will be some culling. Kill some, turn some, in the time-honoured way. The rest, we will farm, like the beasts of burden they are.’ He smiled. ‘You look shocked. Why be so coy? You’re a vampire. Take pride in yourself. Embrace it to the full.’

Alex shifted uncomfortably.

‘You haven’t touched your drink.’

‘I’m all right, thanks.’

‘Drink it. You know you want to.’

She reached out for the goblet. Drew her hand back hesitantly.

‘You see? You can’t fight what you are.’

‘Where are they? The Übervampyr?’

‘I’m afraid that’s one detail I cannot reveal to you. Unless of course,’ Stone twiddled the stem of his goblet ‘— and this was very much my purpose in wanting to spend this evening in your beautiful company — I’m able to persuade you to come and work for me.’

‘You’ve got to be kidding.’

‘Not in the least. I will soon be disposing of your Federation colleagues. They are worthless to me. You, on the other hand, have amply displayed a range of talents that are far too valuable simply to snuff out.’

‘That’s just about the nicest threat I’ve ever heard.’

‘I hope you consider it carefully. It would be highly regrettable, criminal even, to have to send you to the same fate as awaits your loathsome former colleagues. I would be quite devastated.’

‘Do I detect a whiff of moral scruple, Gabriel?’

He moved a little closer to her. ‘I’m not the monster you take me for. In fact, I would surprise you, should you get to know me better. I think you and I would rub along very well.’ He paused. ‘What do you say, Alexandra? You and I, together. You at my side, helping me bring about the grandest plan in the long history of the vampire culture?’

‘What about Lillith? I have a feeling she wouldn’t be too pleased.’

‘Oh, Lillith.’ Stone waved his hand. ‘Never mind her.’ His eyes lit up. ‘Does that mean you’ll accept my proposal?’

‘I didn’t say that.’

Stone nodded thoughtfully, then rose from his chair. ‘I must leave you now.

There are some matters I must see to before tonight’s proceedings can be completed.

Please don’t think about trying to escape. You have exactly two hours to decide.’

As he rode, Joel refused to regret having turned down the offer of a hot plate of food and a bed for the night back at the village — though that wasn’t easy as the bumping, rutted road towards Vâlcanul worsened with every mile. He was grateful for a third wheel on the rugged terrain, but the thick leather gauntlets weren’t doing much to keep out the cold wind and his fingers were becoming numb on the bars. The old man had been right about the snow, too. The horizontal sleet that stung Joel’s face as he rode was turning to thickening flurries of white. He had to keep wiping the flakes from the glass of his goggles, and the rocky road was slowly disappearing in the feeble glow of the Dnepr’s headlamp as it merged with the snowy verge.

After another arduous hour, and just as his hands and feet were beginning to feel like lifeless lumps of meat, Joel caught a glimpse of stone buildings a few hundred yards ahead.

Vâlcanul. From the directions he’d managed to prise out of the teacher woman, he knew this had to be the place.

Not a single light was shining. Not a soul around, no vehicles anywhere to be seen apart from his own. The village was even smaller than the one he’d come from, and it seemed to be completely deserted. From the rotted doors and glassless windows, the collapsed roofs, the weeds growing through the paving stones, it was as if nobody had lived here for a hundred years.

Joel braked the bike to a slithering halt in the middle of the snowy street and dead silence filled his ears when he turned off the engine and climbed down from the saddle. The clouds had parted. Pale moonlight shone down through the wisping snowflakes. Joel removed his goggles, unstrapped his helmet and gazed around him at the scene of desolation.

Could this be the right place? It was hard to imagine Gabriel Stone abandoning his manor house in England for a remote ruined mountain village. Joel reached into the sidecar, opened the case and took out the cross, remembering the way it had seemed to thrum with its own life when he’d been near Kate Hawthorne. He gripped it tightly in his fist. It felt cold and inanimate.

There was nothing here.

Joel couldn’t do anything to repress the weight of bitterness that settled over him. He’d come all this way for nothing. And now he was going to have to stay the night in this dismal place. But where? Most of the houses were nothing more than roofless shells.