After the Pandemic: The Enemy of My Enemy (part 9): The Gathering (991 hits)
Category: Quotes & StoriesRating: 1.95 on 30 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by TheCaes (View user info) at 2005-04-28 23:16:26 EDT
http://www.ubersite.com/m/61238 -- Introduction -- Jack McCallum
http://www.ubersite.com/m/61350 -- Variant C -- Jack McCallum
http://www.ubersite.com/m/61505 -- Part 1: Brianna
http://www.ubersite.com/m/61614 -- Part 2: Khalid
http://www.ubersite.com/m/63145 -- Part 3: The Meeting
http://www.ubersite.com/m/63504 -- Part 4: The Conversation
http://www.ubersite.com/m/63663 -- Part 5: The Story of Manhattan
http://www.ubersite.com/m/64024 -- Part 6: On the Streets of Jersey
http://www.ubersite.com/m/64325 -- Part 7: Tome
http://www.ubersite.com/m/64611 -- Part 8: Faing
It was a warm and pleasant New York evening, almost like the ones from before the Pandemic. Except the air was less cluttered with poisonous fumes and random, relentless noises. There was still the occasional scream, framing the berths of silence like punctuation marks. That much had not changed.
Abayome glided onto her balcony with a natural gait that would have made any supermodel jealous. Her walk was not the only thing they would have coveted. Though she was exotically beautiful, she did not have the stick-man physique that women in this absurd country seemed to lust after. Every inch of her was richly curved. Her muscled thighs rubbed together slightly with every step, and looked as if their only purpose was to crush men between them. Her skin was that shade of African black that told you that she came from the darkest parts of the Dark Continent. Her lips were perpetually moist, and the colour of arterial blood.
She moved to the edge of her balcony, overlooking the remains of New York City that sprawled before her like a stranger's grave. She ran her fingers lightly through the leaves of one of the many plants that she cared for as the breeze ruffled through the sheer robes she was wearing. Her breasts were visible through the transparent cloth, sloping down from her chest imperfectly. A plastic surgeon might look at them and say she would benefit from a boob job, but that would be missing the point. Her breasts lounged on her torso with the kind of natural flaw that only made them more sexual and beautiful. And though her clothes left little to the imagination, she wore her near-nudity like it was the most comfortable thing in the world, instead of the plea for attention that a jealous observer might judge it to be.
"Is there anything else required of me, Priestess?" A young black man asked from the entrance to her apartment. His eyes were cast on the ground.
"No, Makalo. That will be all for this evening." She spoke in that slow African accent that took care to pronounce and caress every word. Makalo bowed and backed away, closing the sliding glass door as he retreated.
Abayome breathed in the various scents of her garden. Though breathing was something she had not done in three hundred years, it still pleased her to inhale the rich tapestry of smells that swirled about her plants. As she savored each one, a strange scent became apparent. It smelled necrotic and alien, and she knew it immediately.
Calmly, she walked with her model's stride to the basket that sat by the balcony door. In one fluid motion, she closed her fingers around a spear, then spun and threw it at a shadowy corner.
A part of the shadow dashed away as the spear penetrated the darkness. With a crunch, it imbedded itself into the concrete wall and vibrated with a soft hum. The shadow rolled along the floor and came up into a ready crouch, revealing itself to be not a shadow at all.
"Bashir," the African woman hissed, making ready another spear.
"I see you have kept sharp, Priestess," the tattooed vampyre said, twirling a curved dagger in his hand. "Not many can perceive me when I do not wish it."
"Why have you come, assassin? If someone has employed you to remove me, you shall soon find that it will cost you more than anyone could afford to pay you." Abayome kept the spear pointed at his heart.
Bashir's mouth twitched into something that barely passed for a smirk. "You malign me, Priestess." He sheathed his dagger. "I am here as an emissary, nothing more."
"What is your message, then?" The spear tip did not lower.
"Your distaste for the new breed is well known. Perhaps you would be willing to do something about it?"
*********************
Faing was walking down Richmond Hill Rd, muttering unintelligibly at the stained piece of paper in his meaty fingers. From time to time, he would glance up at the numbers of the houses he was passing, then back at the crumpled paper, and continue walking and muttering. He had been searching for this address for hours and was reaching the limits of his well of patience - which was admittedly more like a cup than a well.
"Aha!" he exclaimed suddenly. Finally. He stood in front of an old stone building that was half-house, half mansion. A stone fence with a wrought-iron gate surrounded it. Two concrete lions were guarding the gate, faces menacingly contorted. Ivy climbed rampantly up the sides of the mansion, binding it to the ground. It was the type of home that only the bravest of children would visit on Halloween night.
He looked at the number on the paper and compared it to the one on the copper plaque mounted by the gate. They matched. Stuffing the paper into his shirt pocket, the Scot pushed his way past the gate.
There were flickering stone lanterns bordering the concrete path. He climbed the stairs leading to the front door, passing two gargoyles and a rat that scurried off when he came too near.
"Christ," he grumbled. "It's like walkin' up tae Dracula's hoose."
Ignoring the knocker shaped like a demon's mouth, he pounded his wrecking-ball fist on the black oak door.
"Oi!" he called. "Away an' answer the door!" Nothing happened. He repeated the process twice more, then shrugged and opened the door. It swung open with the creak he expected it to.
The inside of the mansion reflected the outside perfectly. The torches on the walls illuminated the stone architecture with a creeping glow. A stairway wide enough for five men sprawled up to a mezzanine. The walls were hung with portraits of men and women long dead.
"Losh almighty, I'm in a wanker's den." Faing said. "Oi! Ye've a visitor! Come an' say halloh then!"
Faing's harsh Scottish prose echoed back at him. There was silence for a moment before a disembodied voice responded.
"Who dares enter my home?" The voice seemed to come from everywhere, like it was being broadcast from a sound system, though Faing saw no wires or speakers.
"Er...me name is Faing. I've come 'ere luking for someone..."
"You'll not find friendship here, loathsome thing. Only your own doom." The voice echoed. "Behold, the fruits of your folly!"
The voice was above him. A cloud of greenish mist was gathered at the ceiling, and descended dramatically to the floor. It was translucent and floated on the air, but it didn't disperse or level out the way mist should. It retained its blobby shape until it touched down on the plush red carpets. Then, it shimmered and collapsed upon itself, growing tighter and smaller before his very eyes. Within seconds, it had coalesced and became a man.
He stood before the Scotsman, dressed like a Bram Stoker character. He wore a velvety black cloak, fastened to his neck with a gold clasp. His white shirt was unbuttoned down to the middle of his sculpted chest and was generously decorated with ruffles. His eyes were blood red, and his white hair was held by a bow in an aristocratic ponytail. "What say you now, in your final moments?" the man asked, his mouth open just enough to make the tips of his incisors visible.
"Losh, thas quite a trick," he said, honestly impressed. Faing had never met any Kin who could transform into mist; being able to do so was a rare gift. "Luke, yoo must be Vilhelm. I've come t'find ye."
The vampyre's eyebrow arched curiously. Faing noticed it was brown, unlike his hair. "Then you have found me, leech scum. Vilhelm Draconis." He bowed with a flourish. "I must warn you however, your business must be very compelling if you wish it to spare you from my wrath."
"What?" The Scot shook his head. "Luke, I'm no' a' leech, aright? I'm Kin, like yoo. And I've - why are ya lukin' at me like that, ye ponce?"
"Brother!" Vilhelm clasped Faing by his wide shoulders. "Long has it been since I have encountered one of my kind! I apologize for the shoddy treatment, but you must forgive me. I mistook you for one of the false ones, the pretenders. But no, now that I see you up close, your heritage is clear. Forgive me, brother. It is good to see a fellow creature of the night after so long." He was practically beaming.
"Er...right then," the Scotsman said, brushing his hosts hands from his shoulders. "Now that we've goat that oot of the way, how d'ye feel about visitin' Manhattan?"
*********************
Khalid sloshed through the grungy brown waters, his mouth set in a grim frown and his nose wrinkled distastefully. The splashes echoed off the sewer walls as he continued his search.
His time in the sewers had been largely fruitless. Tome was unable to pin down with any certainty the location of the vampyre he was seeking, and could only confirm that he called at least thirteen city blocks of sewer as his home. Why any would choose such squalid surroundings was beyond Khalid. When he asked Tome of this, he replied that this Domokos was rumored to be "unpleasant on the eyes." Khalid thought that however offensive it was to see this vampyre, it must be infinitely more offensive to smell him, if this place was indeed his home.
On his second night in the tunnels, Khalid had happened across a group of leeches that the humans referred to as 'shakers.' Nicotine had some kind of deleterious effect on leeches, and a large enough dose would turn them into palsied, pitiable creatures. Heavy smokers who were affected by the virus, or leeches who attempted to feed from pack-a-day smokers sometimes contracted this malady. Ostracized by the leech community, they were forced to live out of dumpsters or in sewers, feeding on rats or unwary humans.
Khalid had avoided the shakers, knowing the trail he was following must be cold. Tome had told him that Domokos somehow fed off shakers. Khalid did not know how this was possible. He could not even stand a drop of leech blood, let alone a bellyful of it, coursing with chemical tar and nicotine.
On the fourth night of searching, Khalid came across the bodies of three shakers. They appeared to have been mauled by some animal. Limbs were missing, ribs jutted out of their torsos, and their insides were splattered across the grimy walls. Khalid smiled slightly. He was getting closer. And the condition of the bodies spoke of something that held no love for leeches.
He took care to travel more quietly after that. Another three hours passed as he made his way through the tunnels. His sense of direction was excellent, but he had to admit he was lost. He knew the sun would be up before long, and he would need to go above ground to get his bearings so he could find shelter. This night had proven as futile as the last. He spat out a hissing curse in Arabic. Then he heard a small scratching sound.
It was a rat. Several rats. His nightvision allowed him to watch them scuttle past him. His pupils widened, amplifying the light reaching his ocular nerves. There weren't several. No...several hundred, manifesting abruptly all around, surrounding him.
It is he, Khalid thought. He commands the rats.
"Show yourself, sewer-dweller," Khalid said.
The only response was the sound of dripping water. Drip. Drip. Drip. Thap.
Something had dripped onto his shoulder. Khalid looked up only in time to see a black shape dropping on him. He reached out and caught his attackers wrists, and together they splashed down into the fetid water. It fought like a demon, ripping and tearing at him, twisting around like a captured rabbit. It was all Khalid could do to hold on. Finally, Khalid managed to center his weight, and put his unnatural strength to use. He threw his attacker away.
The creature grunted as it made substantial contact with the stone wall. But within instants, it had righted itself and clambered up the wall, crouching against it like a monkey in a tree. It growled at Khalid and tensed for another attack.
"HA-LASS!!" Khalid shouted, his booming voice bouncing down the tunnels. "Stop! Domokos Lehotka, I come seeking you!"
There was silence as the creature considered his words. Khalid took the moment to spit sewer water out of his mouth.
"Who callsss me by my forgotten name?" It said.
Khalid fixed his eyes upon Domokos, and saw that Tome's estimation of its ugliness was sorely lacking. Most of his body was hidden beneath a shapeless black covering that he wore like a tattered blanket. His fingers were long and spidery, and ended in jagged claws that were currently embedded into the walls as comfortably as fingernails in mud. His face was hideous. He was hairless, and had no nose to speak of, only uneven slits that opened and closed as he sniffed the air. His misshapen jaw started from his pointed ears and ended in a prominent underbite. Teeth sprouted from his mouth like weeds, protruding at odd angles. His skin was creased and scarred and stretched too tightly across his face.
"I am Khalid Ibn as-Saffah," he said, snapping himself away from his morbid fascination. "I have come asking for your help."
Domokos produced a croaking wheeze. After a moment, Khalid realized he was laughing. "You want my help, surfacer? What could you possssibly have to offer me, that I would help the likessss of you?"
Khalid ran his hands through his wet hair, pulling it out of his eyes. He spat out sewer water once more. "A new home for you and your...friends," he said, gesturing to the rodent legion that encircled him, waiting like a vermin jury. "A place where you can feast on human blood, instead of feeding on pathetic, diseased intruders. A network of new tunnels to explore and make yours."
"Continue." It said.
"I offer you dominion over the underbelly of Manhattan."
User Reviews
Submitted by Axolotl (user info) at 2006-04-06 10:54:07 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by zakalwe (user info) at 2005-08-28 11:12:32 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I like this collection of characters. let's hope they all get drunk together and waste a few city blocks.
Submitted by notyou (user info) at 2005-07-06 17:56:59 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by corn_nugget (user info) at 2005-05-25 18:00:39 (#)
Ranking: 2
Loved this post, too. This, in particular, was a beautiful description:
"Though she was exotically beautiful, she did not have the stick-man physique that women in this absurd country seemed to lust after. Every inch of her was richly curved. Her muscled thighs rubbed together slightly with every step, and looked as if their only purpose was to crush men between them. Her skin was that shade of African black that told you that she came from the darkest parts of the Dark Continent. Her lips were perpetually moist, and the colour of arterial blood. "
Submitted by MyNameIsTim (user info) at 2005-06-30 21:05:47 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
nice
Submitted by corn_nugget (user info) at 2005-05-25 18:00:39 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Loved this post, too. This, in particular, was a beautiful description:
"Though she was exotically beautiful, she did not have the stick-man physique that women in this absurd country seemed to lust after. Every inch of her was richly curved. Her muscled thighs rubbed together slightly with every step, and looked as if their only purpose was to crush men between them. Her skin was that shade of African black that told you that she came from the darkest parts of the Dark Continent. Her lips were perpetually moist, and the colour of arterial blood. "
Submitted by nrduncan (user info) at 2005-05-12 17:58:16 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by Viper_04 (user info) at 2005-05-08 06:00:55 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Here people.....read this...
Submitted by thecaes (user info) at 2005-05-02 18:41:15 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by hcp28 (user info) at 2005-05-02 10:37:05 (#)
Ranking: 2
This was excellent. The only part I didn't like was the sudden trasnformation of the second vampire from a dark forboding character into something that resembled my drunk uncle. Also, where did she get the second spear?
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Drunk uncle?? Does he dress in capes and frilly shirts too? I never intended him to be dark and forboding...I intended for him to be so over-the-top with the dark and foreboding that he seemed silly.
And the second spear came from the same basket. What? You don't have a basket of spears by the door? It's the African equivalent of a redneck's gunrack.
Thanks for the criticism.
Submitted by the_mysterious_stranger (user info) at 2005-05-02 17:38:04 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by tlozoot (user info) at 2005-05-02 17:28:56 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by mbstateside (user info) at 2005-05-02 12:51:38 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Just relised that I forgot to rate this. Ooops sorry
Submitted by hcp28 (user info) at 2005-05-02 10:37:05 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
This was excellent. The only part I didn't like was the sudden trasnformation of the second vampire from a dark forboding character into something that resembled my drunk uncle. Also, where did she get the second spear?
Submitted by rad1101 (user info) at 2005-05-01 10:23:02 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
"The good stuff doesn't get attention" -Rad
Submitted by thecaes (user info) at 2005-05-01 10:18:33 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by Kre8rix (user info) at 2005-04-29 01:20:32 (#)
Ranking: 2
Dude...
I swear I read your submissions half a dozen times, leave, then come back and read half a dozen more in a less-than-successful attempt to offer some sort of useful critique.
*****************************
I appreciate the effort. Hell, I know there's stuff I can do better. Not as many people reading this one, it seems. * sigh *
I crave attention. READ THIS, DAMMIT!!
Think anyone heard me?
One more post, then we'll see some action-packed segments.
Submitted by garcon_fou (user info) at 2005-04-30 17:39:00 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
awesome
Submitted by stardamage (user info) at 2005-04-30 09:58:13 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
:)
Reading this and listening to Freezepop is kind of a weird combination but this was wicked good.
As usual.
Submitted by LadyPlural (user info) at 2005-04-30 00:26:14 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by ChronicMasturbator (user info) at 2005-04-29 23:07:40 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
YOU KNOW ME, TAKE IT YOU LITTLE HORNEY BOY.
Submitted by bob (user info) at 2005-04-29 22:32:25 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
9 out of 15
Submitted by Jack_McCallum (user info) at 2005-04-29 12:37:11 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
THANK YOU for posting something to sink my teeth into on a Friday!
If you give away the piggy leftovers, would it be considered 'second-hand-smoked ham?'
Submitted by Yes (user info) at 2005-04-29 12:07:30 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Great stuff, kepp on keeping on, I look forward to whatever you can produce.
Submitted by mbstateside (user info) at 2005-04-29 10:12:26 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by thecaes (user info) at 2005-04-28 23:19:13 (#)
Ranking: 0
I've got some bad news. My roomate's mother is visiting him for a length of time that could only be described as torturous, so I might not be able to write very often for the next little while
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Nooooooooooooooooooo!
Where do you live I'm good with a rifle (well ok actually I'm not but I could learn) I can solve this problem for you in no time.
In all seriousness though this was/is another excellent addition to the story. It could quite easily have turned "Cheesey" with the more stereotypical characters (I espcially liked the Domokos) but I think you did it excellently.
Well done.
Submitted by indoninja (user info) at 2005-04-29 08:35:11 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by Spam (user info) at 2005-04-29 03:37:48 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I'm running out of superlatives for this series.
Submitted by Rasta (user info) at 2005-04-29 01:21:32 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I love this series! I'm ready for undead wars! Bring it on!
Submitted by Kre8rix (user info) at 2005-04-29 01:20:32 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Dude...
I swear I read your submissions half a dozen times, leave, then come back and read half a dozen more in a less-than-successful attempt to offer some sort of useful critique.
Fuck you; I've got nothing.
Well done bro.
Submitted by Revolutionman (user info) at 2005-04-29 01:17:52 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Very good. LONGER!
Submitted by CoreaPeekay (user info) at 2005-04-29 01:17:13 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Kickass.
Submitted by peckerhead (user info) at 2005-04-29 00:47:36 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Excellent from start to finish. Abayome is beyond erotic.
Submitted by thecaes (user info) at 2005-04-28 23:19:13 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
I've got some bad news. My roomate's mother is visiting him for a length of time that could only be described as torturous, so I might not be able to write very often for the next little while. And I'm still struggling with the next couple of parts -- I know what I want to do, but I'm not sure how to do it.
Anyhoo. My apartment smells of second-hand smoke and Wal-Mart ham. Sigh.