Vengeance in Blood (Book 2): Tribulations (9 page)

Getting off the floor, Tiffany patted the dogs and went to the bar and sat down. “Yes, they drain your life force,” she told him. “Let me start at the beginning,” she said in a sigh.

“I traced the ed…vampire virus to an island in the Indian Ocean that sank about 7-6,000 B.C. Now the island was very big, not some little thing. From the writings I found, it measured hundreds of square miles. The vampire virus originated from a tribe there. I found as I kept researching that werewolves came from the same island from another tribe. These two tribes fought each other and raided other islands and the mainland for humans to feed on,” she said, looking over to watch Besseta fix supper.

“There was a ruling class on this island that ruled both tribes,” she said in a low voice. “Incubi and succubi.”

“Whoa,” Kenneth said and started writing.

“Indeed,” Tiffany said. “I guess you know incubi are male and succubi are female?” she asked.

“Yes.” Kenneth nodded but didn’t look up as he wrote.

Tiffany watched him, impressed with his penmanship. “They are said to be demons like edimmu or vampires and werewolves,” she said, “but since we aren’t demons, I don’t believe they are either, but I’ll come back to this. They take the life force from humans to prolong their life. They do this when they have sex with them,” she said, and Kenneth’s pen froze over the paper. He looked over at her with a dubious look. “I’m serious; they seduce humans and drain their life force. They prefer to drain the life of a human over several days but can do it at once. If they do it fast, they don’t get as much from the human. I personally think they just like tormenting humans. That is where the human legends come from as they seduce them at night.”

“Are they dangerous to vampires?”

“Very,” Tiffany answered. “They like draining us because we can go out and feed, replacing the life-force they took. It’s the same with werewolves.”

“Hold on before you continue,” Kenneth said, lowering his pen to the paper. “Vampires drink blood to prolong life. What do werewolves do?”

“They must feed during the change. Like us, they must feed on humans but must also eat. Unlike us, werewolves have to eat a lot,” Tiffany answered.

“You can’t live off the blood of animals?” Kenneth asked.

Besseta started laughing. “Oh man, I can’t believe you asked that,” she giggled.

“It’s a good question,” Tiffany said, looking at Besseta, who was holding on to the counter and laughing. “We can drink the blood of animals, but our bodies only use it as food. It does nothing for the thirst. We must drink human blood; we are still similar to humans basically. That’s why we must feed from them, just much more evolved,” Tiffany said. “Before you ask, there are some animals we can feed on like humans: the higher primates you call chimps.”

Thinking about that, Kenneth nodded, following the reasoning. “So on this island, the incubi and succubi ruled, feeding off the life force of their subjects: vampires and werewolves?” he asked.

“Yes,” Tiffany smiled. “You follow very well.”

“Wait till he gets cranked up,” Besseta said, continuing supper.

Glancing over at the dogs, Tiffany continued. “Now after the island was destroyed, some of the survivors made it to the mainland. I’ve found writings saying a large group of almost fifty arrived in India. This group was composed of all three: vampires, werewolves, with the incubi and succubui ruling class.

“It was two incubi and two succubi with the werewolves and vampires. With only four of the rulers, the werewolves and vampires started fighting and broke off from the rulers. Now, a few others made it ashore, but none were near the size of this group,” Tiffany said, and Kenneth started writing again.

“How are werewolves made?” Kenneth asked.

“They have to survive a werewolf bite and feed from the one that bit them like we do,” Tiffany told him.

“Shit, the books got that wrong,” Kenneth mumbled. “What about the incubi and succubi? How are they made?” he asked.

“You must be born one of them,” Tiffany told him. “An incubus and succubus mate to make more of their line.”

“Does that occur often?” he asked, pausing his writing.

“Thankfully no,” Tiffany said. “If you think vampires are egotistical and arrogant, we have nothing on them. They don’t get along together very well.”

“Are they as strong as vampires?” he asked

“Yes but not as fast as us, and neither are werewolves, but werewolves are much stronger than both of us,” Tiffany said, and a shiver went through Kenneth’s body. “If they catch you asleep, they can make you do what they want, which is have sex or kill you. They take control of your mind, and you are theirs until you die. They just need to touch you. Since werewolves and vampires are somewhat strong, they like catching us asleep, but humans they just touch.”

Kenneth shook his head. “That’s quite an advantage,” he admitted. “How close do they have to be when you’re asleep?”

“Like I said, they must touch you. But even we don’t have to be asleep, but touching us can be difficult and dangerous,” Tiffany told him.

“You’ve met one?” Kenneth asked.

“Yes,” Tiffany said with a shiver. “An incubus. It was in Jerusalem when the knights took the city.”

“So you knew right away?” Kenneth asked.

“No I didn’t,” she said. Kenneth put his pen down and stood up.

“You didn’t smell him?” he asked, getting worried.

“Yes I did, but he smelled just like any human. Werewolves and vampires smell different, but not them. He had approached me as I was in a temple, reading some scrolls. I thought he was just a human. If he wouldn’t have tried to follow me, I never would’ve made the connection,” she said, looking away. “Let me clarify. It’s not just a brushing contact; they must hold you as they take over your mind. I’ve read the touch is painful to all. That’s why he just didn’t run over and touch me.

“I smelled other vampires at times in the city. After losing the incubus, I tracked down one of the vampires I had smelled and found the incubus with it. It was a female vampire,” Tiffany said, closing her eyes. “She was following the incubus like a trained pet. Looking in her eyes, I could see she had no free will of her own.”

“Hold on,” Kenneth said. “You mean the vampire had no free will?”

Tiffany looked over at him. “That’s what I’m trying to tell you; when they take your mind, you don’t get it back. That is why they were the rulers.”

“Shit,” Kenneth said, turning around and throwing up his hands. “Are there any other wild myths out there?”

“Several,” Tiffany said.

Shaking his head, Kenneth walked back to his stool and sat down, picking up his pen. “Please continue,” he said as he started writing.

“Well, since I wasn’t asleep and wasn’t tired, I marched inside the house. I had lost him very easily, so I wasn’t that worried, plus I could do things with my mind,” she admitted. Kenneth nodded.

“I did surprise him and told him I knew what he was, and this made him rather mad,” Tiffany said with a small grin. “He finally calmed, and we talked for several days. I found out he was over three thousand years old then and one of the rulers on the island. I studied him closely, and it’s remarkable how much they look and smell like a human.”

“How do you kill them?” Kenneth asked.

“Chop off the head, burn the body, and scatter the ashes,” Tiffany answered.

“What if a vampire or werewolf tried to feed off of one?” he asked.

“We can’t,” she said. “If we drink from them, we will die.”

“You’re sure?” Kenneth almost pleaded.

“Very. He told me after I asked and made the female with him do it,” Tiffany said, closing her eyes. “She didn’t drink much and withered away for hours till she died.”

“He let her die just to prove you couldn’t feed off him?” Kenneth asked, amazed. “That goes way beyond arrogant.”

“Now you understand,” Tiffany said, looking down at the dogs. “He wanted me and thought I would stay close when I left, but I was out of the area in one night.”

“They can smell vampires and werewolves?”

“Yes but not from very far away,” Tiffany admitted.

“Besseta told me some vampires like you and her have
abilities
. Do werewolves, succubi, and incubi?”

“I only know from what I’ve gathered over the years in writings. Werewolves can have some abilities. I’ve met very few werewolves, and none of them talked to me, and the incubus had the ability to control. They are all born with that,” Tiffany explained.

“Did you notice before you became a vampire that you had telekinesis?” he asked.

“No.” She smiled. “I remember when I would get mad stuff would fall around me.”

Nodding, Kenneth kept writing. Tiffany turned to Besseta, who was putting food on the counter. “You’re right; when he gets going, his mind is moving a thousand miles an hour,” Tiffany said.

“Yep.” Besseta smiled as Kenneth kept writing.

Kenneth paused to ask, “You have any idea how many of the ruling class is left?”

“I’m only guessing, but it’s based off the writings,” Tiffany said, nodding to Besseta and smiling. “It would be no more than a few dozen of each sex. They don’t get along well together and will fight each other at the drop of a hat.”

As she spoke, Kenneth’s pen flew across the page. “And the only way they can reproduce is with another ruler?”

“Yes,” Tiffany said. “They take them in combat.”

Looking up, he asked, “You mean they beat down another one, tie them up, rape them to make more?”

Tiffany nodded. “Basically.”

“They let them go afterwards?” he asked.

“Oh yes, just so they will know they were beaten and the other has the offspring,” she answered.

Kenneth shook his head. “That’s some evil shit,” he mumbled and continued writing.

“Okay,” Besseta said, clapping her hands. “Enough for tonight. Let’s eat.” They all sat at the bar, the two girls nibbling as Kenneth ate.

After supper, Besseta showed Tiffany her room and asked her to let the dogs stay with her, which Tiffany was only too happy about. When Kenneth followed Besseta into the bedroom, he smiled. “At least you don’t have to throw the dogs out,” he snickered.

“I have never
thrown
the babies out,” Besseta snapped.

“You just don’t like the eyes at the end of the bed; I know,” Kenneth said, pulling her to the shower.

“It’s unnerving,” Besseta admitted. “We need to talk about what we are going to do.”

Kenneth paused. “You never wanted to know what I was going to do before. I’m sorry, babe, but I don’t come in the bedroom with a master plan. I just improvise and do what feels good.”

Besseta giggled. “Not that,” she told him. “What are we going to do in this war?”

Raising his eyebrows, he offered, “How about we talk about that tomorrow?”

“Sounds good,” Besseta giggled.

Chapter 6

After Kenneth fell asleep, Besseta just laid beside him for several hours then got out of the bed and headed downstairs. She found Tiffany on the couch reading with the dogs asleep beside her. Smiling as she walked past to the kitchen, Besseta grabbed the notebooks and headed back to the couch. She sat down, pulled up her legs carefully to not wake the dogs, and started reading Kenneth’s notes.

“I’m amazed you haven’t broken Kenneth yet from what I heard,” Tiffany snickered.

A blush crept up on Besseta’s cheeks. “It’s not easy,” she admitted.

Looking over, Tiffany saw Kenneth’s notes. “His handwriting is perfect,” she said then went back to reading a leather bound book.

“Wait till you see his calligraphy,” Besseta said without looking up. “What are you reading?”

Holding up the book, Tiffany responded, “The writings of a monk in northern Greece from 1580.”

“What have you learned so far?” Besseta asked, turning a page.

“Talk about a dull life,” Tiffany said, making Besseta snort a chuckle. “He figured out how to kill a werewolf with mercury.”

Besseta looked up at Tiffany. “Are you going to fight in this war?”

Closing the book, Tiffany put it on the coffee table. “I’ll fight with and for you.”

With a small smile on her face, Besseta gazed at Tiffany, studying her. “You don’t like other vampires.” It was a statement, not a question. “May I ask why?”

Reaching down, Tiffany caressed the sleeping dogs. “Besseta, you are the only one who may ask me anything,” she said. “To answer your question, yes, I don’t like the majority of ed…vampires.”

Looking down at the sleeping dogs as she stroked them, Tiffany sighed. “They could’ve accomplished so much, but the majority just act like gods and enjoy living for the kill. With the exception of you, I only like two others, and I created them.”

“Why did you create others?” Besseta asked.

“They asked after helping me. But like you, I fell in love with a human,” Tiffany told her.

“How many have you tried to create?”

“Nine,” Tiffany responded, looking away.

Shocked, Besseta leaned forward. “Out of nine, you had two change?”

Tiffany shook her head. “No, of the nine, six changed.” Stunned at the news, Besseta fell back against the couch. “Of the six, four died by their own hand later that I know of. The three that didn’t make the change killed themselves before the change was complete,” she said in a low voice.

“How?” Besseta mumbled. “No one I’ve ever talked to has changed more than one or two.”

Tiffany looked up with misty eyes. “I’ve studied and know our race more than any of our kind.”

Seeing Tiffany’s eyes, Besseta reached over and placed her hand on Tiffany’s leg. “You changed one that you loved, didn’t you?” she asked.

“Yes,” Tiffany whispered with a slight nod. “He was a teacher from Greece during Alexander’s rule. We loved each other and loved learning,” she said in a low voice. “He stayed with me for almost six hundred years but just got tired of living.”

Besseta’s eyes got wide. “What about you?” she asked.

“I love learning something. I love watching the world change,” Tiffany sighed, wiping her eyes. “I tried to keep him interested, but undoubtedly, love wasn’t enough for him to keep living. I returned home one day to find his body. He drank mercury.”

Getting up, Besseta went to Tiffany’s side and curled up next to her, hugging her. “I’m sorry,” she whispered.

“Besseta, that’s what kills most of our kind: boredom of life,” Tiffany said. “Only those that have something to live for continue on. One must be very strong to continue. The average vampire only lives four to six hundred years, then they just kill themselves.”

“What was his name?” Besseta asked.

“Herotho,” Tiffany said, smiling.

“Tiffany, how have so many of yours made the change?”

“For one, I stay with them, helping them through the change.” She smiled. “Most die of thirst because they are alone with nobody to care for them while they change. Those of us that survived the change was because of blind luck with food and water close.”

Besseta thought about that, looking away. “You mean that’s why the change takes so many?”

“That has been my findings,” Tiffany said. “The virus is deadly to many, but I believe with proper care, a quarter would survive the change instead of one in a hundred thousand,” she said and looked over at Besseta. “You remember the one I was changing in Greece when you found me?” she asked, and Besseta nodded. “He would’ve died without me there. His body accepted the virus, but he would’ve died without me caring for him.”

“Why did you choose him?”

“He was a scholar,” Tiffany responded, looking away, “and he was a distant relative of Herotho.”

“Is he still alive?” Besseta asked.

“I don’t know,” Tiffany admitted. “The last I saw of him was before the twisted cross people.”

Laying her head on Tiffany’s shoulder, Besseta hugged her arm. “How should we fight this group?” she asked.

“There is only one way,” Tiffany said, resting her hand on Besseta’s legs. “They will all have to die, from the top all the way down.”

Letting out a huff, Besseta moaned, “That might take a while.”

Laughing, Tiffany said, “This from the woman who has hunted the scourge of humans for over six hundred years.”

“So studying is what keeps you going?” Besseta asked.

“Oh yes,” Tiffany smiled. “I love learning.”

“Would Kenn—” Besseta started to ask but stopped.

“Would Kenneth what?” Tiffany asked.

Besseta shook her head. “Nothing,” she said, getting up. “His thoughts are fading from my mind, so Kenneth will be awake soon.”

“How does he do that?” Tiffany asked.

“He keeps his thoughts buried,” Besseta said, picking up the notebooks. “He trained himself to do it so he could keep a blank face as a cop.”

“Remarkable,” Tiffany gasped.

“Humph,” Besseta huffed, “it would be easier for me if he didn’t do that. I don’t know what he wants,” she said.

Gently standing up so she wouldn’t wake the dogs, Tiffany giggled softly, “That is the way it’s supposed to be, Besseta. From what I’ve seen, you are having no trouble making him happy.”

Shaking her head, Besseta turned and headed to the kitchen. “Maybe, but I like having an edge,” she said over her shoulder. “I don’t want him leaving because I did something that hurt him.”

“That is what love is, Besseta,” Tiffany said, following. “You are doing fine.”

In the kitchen, Besseta started fixing breakfast, and Tiffany tried to help, but Besseta grabbed her arm and guided her to a chair at the bar. Smiling, Tiffany sat down. “I like cooking for him,” Besseta said, turning around.

“You like cooking,” Tiffany corrected. “You would fix enough food to feed a small village when we were together, yet both of us together could only eat what a child can.”

“He likes watching me cook,” Besseta said, lifting her chin.

“Kenneth likes watching you period,” Tiffany snickered. “I bet he really likes watching you in that.” She pointed at the small shirt hanging open.

Dropping her chin as she blushed, she admitted, “Please don’t be offended, but he really loves it when I just wear the bra, panties, and this shirt.”

Waving her hand across her body, Tiffany admitted, “Besseta, if I were you, I would walk around naked to make him happy.”

“I did that, but he likes this better.” Besseta smiled and went to work. “When I walked around naked, all he wants to do… Well, you can figure it out.”

Laughing, Tiffany watched Besseta work and hummed softly. Besseta had a grin on her face as she moved around the kitchen that let the world know she was happy. Tiffany just watched, glad to be there with Besseta and sharing the joy emanating from her.

Looking down at the notebooks Besseta had put on the bar, Tiffany asked, “Do you think he would mind if I read what you two have learned so far?”

“No, why would he?” Besseta asked. “Would you mind if Kenneth read your work?”

“Of course not,” Tiffany gasped, making Besseta laugh. “What good is knowledge unless it’s shared?”

Opening the notebooks, Tiffany put one of Besseta’s beside one of Kenneth’s and started reading both. Upstairs, she heard Kenneth yawn and groan as he got out of bed. Looking up at Besseta, Tiffany could see her excitement at hearing Kenneth wake up. Happy for her friend, Tiffany kept reading.

With a sore, stiff body but a very blissful expression, Kenneth slowly walked down the stairs wearing shorts and house shoes. Hearing noise in the kitchen, he took some deep breaths and forced his body to relax and move normally.

When Kenneth walked in the kitchen, Tiffany looked up, and her eyes got wide. Not because Kenneth had a great lean and muscular body but because it was covered in bruises in various stages. His chest, back, upper arms, torso, and upper legs looked like someone had taken a baseball bat to him daily. Thankfully, Besseta was busy and didn’t look over, and Tiffany kept her mind blank. 

“Hey, sexy,” Kenneth said, walking up behind Besseta and wrapping his arms around her.

Turning off the stove, Besseta turned around and reached up. She pulled Kenneth’s face down. “Sleep good, baby?” she asked, kissing him.

“Sorry I passed out,” he whispered, putting his forehead on hers.

Leaning her head back, Besseta brushed the tip of her nose across his. “Don’t be sorry,” she said in a normal voice, and Kenneth visibly cringed at the volume. With a grin, Besseta kissed him. “Baby, don’t forget she’s a vampire. Whispering doesn’t mean anything,” she told him as she released the kiss.

Sheepishly, Kenneth looked over at Tiffany and found her staring at them, smiling. “Hope we didn’t disturb you,” he grinned.

“Hardly,” she smiled. “Kenneth, I hope you don’t mind, but I’ve been reading your notes,” she said, looking down.

Kenneth looked back at Besseta. “Am I supposed to mind?” he whispered.

Besseta smiled and whispered back, “No, baby.” Tiffany chuckled.

“I can still hear you,” Tiffany said as Kenneth let Besseta go. “You have identified the command group of the Manu Fortis along with many of their installations. How are you planning on getting at them?”

Kenneth poured a cup of coffee and stared at Besseta, who was standing at the bar and fixing him a plate. Shaking his head, Kenneth looked over at Tiffany. “I think we should give the League some targets and see if they can hit them,” he said, turning back to Besseta to ogle her body.

Not able to help it, Tiffany covered her mouth so she wouldn’t laugh. “You don’t think they will?” she finally got out without laughing.

“It’s more to test their resolve,” he replied, not looking away from Besseta.

The dogs came trotting in, giving Tiffany an excuse to get up and take her eyes off the two. Pouring the food in the bowl, Tiffany was happy the dogs went to the correct bowls. “For someone who hasn’t met the League, you seem to know them well,” she stated as she bent to pet the dogs.

“What, a spineless political body that wants others to do the work?” Kenneth asked.

“I see your point,” Tiffany laughed. “You don’t think vampires will be different?”

“We’ll see, but from what I’ve seen and read, throughout history, those with power rarely fight, preferring to send others to do it for them,” Kenneth said, going to the bar as Besseta put his plate down. “Can one of you feed off Ted today before I start questioning him and not kill him?” he asked, picking up his fork.

“Why?” Besseta asked as she climbed up on the bar and sat beside him.

“Let him know information is the only thing keeping him alive,” Kenneth answered.

Tiffany looked up. “Seems callous for one human to ask that for another,” she said.

Looking over his shoulder, he informed her, “You haven’t read what he’s told me then. That agent is a cold-blooded killer.”

Besseta looked over at Tiffany. “You are better about keeping them alive when you feed. I just drain and kill them,” she said casually.

“So you can do it?” Kenneth asked as he continued eating.

Before Tiffany could answer, Besseta did. “Yes, Tiffany was the first I met that didn’t kill the ones she fed off of.”

“I didn’t say I would,” Tiffany said, petting the dogs. “This is to scare the man, not to let me feed.”

Shaking her head, Besseta said, “Tiffany, the man is going to die, and you need to feed. What is the problem?” she asked as Kenneth reached over and flipped the pages in one of his notebooks.

“Besseta, I know what needs to be done, but it doesn’t mean I have to be happy about it,” Tiffany said, looking up as Kenneth handed the notebook to Besseta.

“Show her that,” Kenneth said and started eating.

Taking the notebook, Besseta read the page, and her face became red. She jumped off the bar, and Kenneth turned, wrapping his arms around her. “Kenneth, let me go,” she said in an icy voice.

“Show her,” Kenneth said.

“Why didn’t you tell me about this?” Besseta asked, not looking up at him but down at his arms wrapped around her. She started studying how to get out of the hold without hurting him.