A Tale of the Unnatural: January 2014

Friday, January 31, 2014

Chapter Two Part Thirteen

It was a recitation. The Keepers went on and on in that growling deep voice. Most of what they said no one cared about and some of it just couldn’t be figured out. When the recitation changed wolf, close attention was required again. Reconciliation was the word repeated and understood by most.

Kalina couldn’t keep her eyes off the young vampire. He looked alive. She was thankful he never looked towards her. She wouldn’t want him to see her like that with such putrid skin. Kalina had been taken beyond death as a teenager. Her heart and mind were still there. She never made much of her ancestry, witchcraft and all that; it kind of didn’t matter anymore. Maybe when she got older, they’d say... But she won’t get older, ever.

Agros is very comfortable by now, so he cockily hopped on the largest rock on his side of the glade and sat with his legs crossed. Remus, who had stayed in the shadows until now, appeared to feel the need to show off; especially in front of Argos. So he also skipped and hopped agile onto the opposing rock.

The Keepers, the zombies and the vampires all turned their heads. Remus, with a strange smile on his face, also sat crossing his legs. Zombies can’t be able to do that. Remus was so full of himself that he didn’t notice a thing.

And all that were looking noticed that Remus’ skin was not rotten anymore.

End of Chapter Two

(To Be Continued.)

Tuesday, January 28, 2014

Chapter Two Part Twelve

Actually very few creatures have ever been to a Consiglio. Only the parties concerned are invited. Anyone could attend but no one ever knew when or where it would happen. There is no need for a fire, all of the creatures could see perfectly well in the dark. In a way, a fire only made everything outside it darker.

The vampires arrive. The assembly is complete. The wolves sat like sphinxes on the slightly higher ground. The zombies kept to their side of the woods and the vampires took what was left. The Keepers could speak but their voice is very much like a growl. It took a few beats to become accustomed to the tone and be able to understand the words. It also became very boring for Tyrol. “Mumbo jumbo.” he thought to himself.

After a couple of minutes it became obvious that nothing bad was going to happen there. The gypsies are the first to relax and look for a spot to sit. The vampires follow. Tyrol simply wanders along the edges of the glade, bored. It seemed that the full moon willfully followed him around.

At least it seemed that way to Kalina, Madame Ajándék’s great granddaughter and Dante’s niece.

(To Be Continued.)

Saturday, January 25, 2014

Chapter Two Part Eleven

Tyrol was the first to see and pick up the strange parchment. After a brief examination of the script he quickly took it to Agros. It kept well in the darkness. On the appointed evening the nest gathered to leave. Agros would always exit by the front door. The other vampires followed. Tyrol stayed behind a little. He wasn’t too sure if it was because he was embarrassed by Agros’ strut and his continued use of the vampire gear, cape and all, or maybe he just wanted to take it all in. Tyrol left his yellow hoodie behind. He was well aware that Agros hated it.

Morrison and his deputies walked into the forest together. They loved the forest. As they got deeper into the wilderness they slowly transformed into the wolves they also were. Morrison became Maxus in full daylight. The Keepers had learned to shift their shape by willing it. They kept alive the myth about the full moon and such because they preferred maintaining the other creatures in the dark about it. They also hid their human identity. That knowledge could make them vulnerable to a treacherous attack.

Agros and his nest were the last to get to the glade.

(To Be Continued.)

Tuesday, January 21, 2014

Chapter Two Part Ten

Surrounded by oaks on one side and a grove of ancient pine on the other, the glade is perfect for a Consiglio. The clearing formed a semi circle. The flat side was slightly elevated and the circular part had stones arranged like an amphitheater, following the outline made by the trees. The very center was flat and spacious. The exponents and its audience each had its place. A few of the stones are large enough to hide behind or sit on top and be sort of above it all.

The gypsies were the first to arrive. With enough time before night fall they set about finding a place, not too close by, to corral the wagons, and another place to tie and feed the horses, still farther away. The horses had no problem during the day when the zombies look human. It’s at night when they transform into the monsters they really are, that the horses panic. So horses were kept at a safe distance until morning.

Had Madame Ajándék not given up her life for the sake of all, the tribe eventually would have self destructed. “She was the greatest of witches,” remembered Dante, “the grandest of them all! The power she had!” he marveled.

(To Be Continued.)

Wednesday, January 15, 2014

Chapter Two Part Nine

Werewolves have always felt comfortable in the city of Rome, obviously, because the city was founded by werewolves. It may not be the official version but why would the brothers be thought to be demigods? Why else would the She-wolf care and feed the twins? They were one of a kind, well almost. Of course, the werewolves like the demigods were mortal. It was that mortality that the original Keepers embraced.

Their defense of the human population of ancient Rome from the vampires was what gave base to the myth that vampires and werewolves are mortal enemies. Yes, they were forced to destroy a few of the more cocky ones, then, but for the most part it was convincing them to go on to other pastures or be preyed upon right there. The werewolves are enormous beasts and could destroy most anything but they were also creatures of the night. They knew the unnatural was as real as the world mortals are aware of. But the wolf-men also knew what dying meant. They felt that all creatures mortal or undead had the right to exist. That right had to be protected.

It was their mortality that made them think that way.

(To Be Continued.)

Thursday, January 9, 2014

Chapter Two Part Eight

Dante received the message. An enormously beautiful Great Dane carrying a leather pouch had brought the parchment. It sat patiently at Dante’s feet waiting for a response. From a slight arching of an eyebrow it knew Dante had understood the message. The beast turned on its hind legs and was gone the same way he came. The gypsy left in Dante was spooked by the dog. It felt like the animal was channeling some other mind. He wondered, “If I followed that dog..., where would it lead me?”

He looked at the message again. The script was quickly fading in the sunlight. But he had a good idea of where the glade was. It was about mid distance to a town he wanted to visit for some time.

The paper was the greater mystery for Dante. He had never seen parchement like that before. In a few more moments it granulated into a bluish dust. He called the tribe to a brief counsel.

“The issue with the demons will find resolution when the moon fills. The place to meet is a three day ride from here. We should collect all our things. After the arranged gathering we’ll continue on to Bruël and tent there for a while.” he said loudly.

(To Be Continued.)

Tuesday, January 7, 2014

Chapter Two Part Seven

Turning into a vampire isn’t going to make you any smarter. That was the conclusion that ended the meeting. Agros was plain stupid, as stupid as he was when a mortal. He didn’t really break any rules. The gypsies were zombies, not human. And they had camped just far enough away from the vampire nest to be game.

Morrison and his two deputies stood up from the triangular conference table. They had decided to hold a conclave at the clearing by the oak grove on the next full moon. It’s easy to find. All parties would be invited to make peace. They’d go over the rules and why the vampires would not be sanctioned. Maybe have each side make some kind of peace offering, but nothing more than a well meaning get-together.

Morrison’s only concerns were the zombies. They didn’t act like zombies. Their brains didn’t seem to be addled like is usual. During the fight they acted individually, not the mindless throng they had always been finding. But Morrison didn’t share his thoughts with the others.

“Who needs zombies? Damn! Like if vampires weren’t enough.”

(To Be Continued.)

Thursday, January 2, 2014

Chapter Two Part Six

For a while it became fashionable in ancient Rome to drink blood. The custom started as a sign of respect for the animal being slaughtered. It promptly became entertainment. The animals were bled as a spectacle for the dinner guests and the blood became an appetizer. Depending on the size of the party, three or more different animals could be killed. It became a matter of refinement to be able to recognize the source of the blood only from the taste.

After a while, it really was too messy, the bleeding and slaughtering was removed to another room and only the fresh blood was served. It was only a skip and a step away for someone to come up with the idea of bleeding a Christian, they were relatively inexpensive, and serve up a uniquely flavored blood. Determining the origin of the blood became a guessing game. Lamb! Goat! Pig! Lion! But human blood has a special sweetness to its taste. I guess it’s because it tastes like ourselves.

The Romans couldn’t have been more successful attracting vampires had they put out a want-ad for them. The werewolves had no choice but to step up their game.

(To Be Continued.)