Marked - Prophecy of Aries - Book 1 Read online

  He could feel her fangs grazing on his neck and his blood ran down in streams.

  He let his body lay defenseless in her arms and filled his mind with the memories of Madeline. He thought of the time they’d spent together. Their happy moments. He saw her face in the temple of the eternal flame, when they got married. He remembered the most precious moment when they consummated their love.

  Isabel hissed and dropped him to the floor.

  “Guard!” she called out.

  He heard footsteps. Someone came inside the room. Someone lifted his shoulders. “Is he dead?” a male voice asked.

  “No, he’s not dead. Put him on the sofa over there. Where did you put the other guy?” Isabel growled.

  “In the basement.”

  “Why did it take so long to get him here?”

  “The human doctor you hired at the research station, he wanted to take the guy. It took ages to get the guy back. I told the doctor he needs your permission. But he wouldn’t listen…”

  “Well, he should ask for my permission. But sometimes, he forgets who he really is. I’ll make sure I remind him. Now, tie this one up and go down to the basement with me.”

  “Tie him? He doesn’t look like he’ll be moving soon.”

  “Do you know who this man is? Tie him.”

  “Yes, Isabel.”

  The high heels clanked on the cold floor, heading toward the distance. He could feel the vampire tuck a rope loosely around his wrists, mumbling some apologies at the same time.

  Then the door slammed.

  Quiet.

  A few seconds passed.

  More silence.

  He slightly opened his eyes. There was no one around.

  Ciaran concentrated and switched on his eudqi. He waited for a few seconds, the pain had become a mist. He stopped the healing process to leave some physical wounds present. He moved his hands slightly and, in a short moment, he freed himself. He sat up and glanced around, noted his position on the sofa, just in case he had to return to playing dead.

  He was about to wipe the blood on his neck. But he thought better of it and left it smeared across his skin.

  He stood up and surveyed the room.

  It was a magnificent office. Lavish. The most powerful spot in the heart of Vampire City.

  He located a large painting on the wall and shook his head. “How cliché,” he muttered and approached the painting.

  He took the painting off the wall and behind it was the door of a steel safe. Ciaran pressed his palm on the key panel and entered a series of code and commands into his wrist unit. In a couple of seconds, the lock clicked open.

  “Who would have thought the vampire’s mind could be so … simple?” He opened the door of the safe and pulled out a small box. Inside the box was a red round stone, glaring back at him. He took the stone out of the box, admired it for a brief moment and slid it into his pocket.

  He collected his weapons.

  Then he heard footsteps approaching the door.

  CHAPTER 13

  M adeline followed Emily, who still had the knife against Adam’s back, and pushed him toward his office. They advanced to the upper deck of the station. Madeline checked the platform and saw nothing suspicious. There were no signs or scent of creatures around the station.

  As the doors whispered shut and the horizontal cart pulled away, Madeline discreetly nodded at Emily. Emily shoved Adam into his office and slammed the door closed.

  Outside, two men in uniform were talking to a technician. Another staff exited the platform and went to the lower deck.

  Madeline took the time to scan the environment of the station she felt sure was hiding the Virgo key somewhere. It was the most impressive research station in Antarctica yet. Fancy lights were spaced at regular intervals along the high vaulted ceiling. Endless steel floors seem to have been polished to a ridiculous sheen.

  It was more like a space station where they made space shuttles than a research station claiming to research wildlife in the South Pole.

  “What do you want?” Adam grunted out the question.

  “There is an artefact hidden in this station that we need to retrieve,” Madeline told him. “You know what I’m talking about. So, do you want to tell us where it is, or do you want us to turn the whole place upside down?”

  Adam snorted. “Just the two of you and a pathetic knife?”

  “This pathetic knife was enough to scare you,” Emily said.

  Adam shook his head and one corner of his mouth lifted. “I’m not scared. I didn’t want to hurt you. There have been enough accidents in this place. It’s only a research station. What do you want, really?”

  “I told you,” Madeline said, irritated.

  “I don’t know any artefact hidden here. Yes, this station is illegal. But apart from stealing minerals, we don’t do anything else.”

  “You collect blood,” Emily said.

  “Bullshit!” Adam growled.

  “Do you think Doctor Ivan Costa really researches Antarctica wildlife?” Emily sneered.

  “I don’t know. You tell me. You’re his research assistant.”

  “Who is Ivan Costa?” Madeline asked. “What does he have to do with all of this?”

  “You helped Ivan collect blood from animals and humans,” Emily accused him, looking at him with disgust.

  “Rubbish,” Adam shot back. “This is total bullshit, Emily. He only collects blood samples for research. I didn’t do anything wrong!”

  “You turned a blind eye on human bloodless bodies with fang marks.”

  He stared at her, some of his rage deflating. “That has nothing to do with Ivan.”

  “So, what does that have to do with… Vampires?” Madeline asked.

  “You don’t know what you are talking about,” Adam insisted. “You might not love your life, but I do love mine. I don’t know anything about an artefact. I’m retiring in two days. Leave me alone.”

  Adam turned to leave the office, but Emily thrust the knife at him again. “Since you love your life that much, let me tell you, Ivan works for the most notorious paranormal creature you have ever known. He collects human blood and he used vampires to collect his samples.”

  Adam stared at her, processing what she’d said. “Maybe,” he conceded. “But still, it has nothing to do with me. Why don’t you come back in a few days and talk to the new manager?”

  “Who would that be?”

  “Isabel Mendoza.”

  “Never heard of that name,” Emily said.

  Madeline looked at Adam. “What exactly do you have to do before you retire?”

  He lifted his chin, as if considering whether he should tell them. Then he blew out a breath. “All I have to do is run the drill one last time.”

  “How many people in this station can run the drill?”

  “At the moment, only me. Isabel will take in new people and provide them with training.”

  Madeline snorted. “Are you naive or ignorant? The object that we are trying to retrieve will trigger an explosion that will sink the Antarctica if you remove it. Do you know the consequences of that?”

  “That’s not possible,” Adam yelled. “Do you know what you’re talking about?” He took a deep breath and thought things through for a moment. “Okay. Let’s say if that is the case, why try to retrieve it? If you leave it where it is, wouldn’t that solve the problem?”

  “In two days, someone will try to take the object,” Madeline told him. “The person might be Isabel, or maybe whoever hired her. And the object, I think it’s under the water. That’s why you have to drill down.”

  “But you tried to get the object too,” Adam said, glaring at her. “So why talk about the consequence of the explosion?”

  “Because we will shield the astrological hole before taking the key, it will stop the explosion. And we will keep the key at a safe place.”

  “Why should I trust you?”

  Madeline gave Adam a stern stare. “You don’t have a choice
,” she said. “Before Isabel takes over this station, who is keeping you in check?”

  “I …”

  “You have two options,” Madeline interrupted him. “I can kill you and interrogate all staff in this station until I find out. Or, you can tell me. I will take care of the person for you. And we’ll be good.”

  Madeline concentrated and switched on her silver blood. In a second, she pulled out her katana sword and slid the wooden shelf next to Adam in half without moving any objects on it.

  Adam gaped.

  Madeline swung the sword horizontal, cutting the shelf across. Still, no objects moved. Then she approached and used her pinkie to nudge at the shelf. The whole structure collapsed.

  It was Emily’s turn to gape.

  “Who is the contact person when Isabel isn’t here?” Madeline repeated her question.

  Adam swallowed and met her eyes. “He isn’t a guy you want to mess around with.”

  Madeline arched an eyebrow. “I don’t mess around with anyone. Who?”

  “Okay. It’s Doctor Ivan Costa.”

  “What?” Emily exclaimed.

  They heard a whistle from the door. Madeline turned around and saw a formidable man standing with a gun in his hand. “Someone mention my name?” he said.

  CHAPTER 14

  C iaran pressed his knife against a vampire’s back, pushing him forward. The silver blade burned his flesh, making him hiss and growl. The vampire tapped on a small door in a basement. A small window opened from the inside and a pair of eyes beamed out.

  “What?”

  “I need to take the prisoner to Isabel.”

  “She just left.”

  “Well, she changed her mind and sent me back.”

  “Why?”

  “Why don’t you go ask her yourself? Now open the door.”

  The door swung open.

  Ciaran threw the vampire he was holding inside, falling on top of the other vampire. When they both scrambled up, he had his sword pointed at them. “One wrong move and I’ll detach your heads from your bodies. I wager neither of you want to try my temper. So, stay still.”

  The warden vampire darted at Ciaran. He swung his sword. The vampire’s head dropped on the floor, rolling toward the corner of the room.

  “Do I need to prove my point again?” Ciaran asked the remaining vampire.

  The creature shook his head.

  “How many of you are in this tower?”

  “More than forty. Isabel took about ten with her.”

  “Where did she go?”

  “Some trouble caused by newcomers.”

  “Where and who?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “Think harder.” Ciaran thrust the blade toward the vampire’s arm, cutting into it. The vampire’s flesh sizzled.

  The vampire hissed, “All right. Okay. I heard it was somewhere in a human research station. I don’t know where and why. I heard there are two women causing trouble, so Isabel had to go and sort it out.”

  Ciaran smiled on the inside. He knew who the two women were. He came to the corner where Antonio was chained to the wall, unconscious.

  “Did she torture him?”

  “Was about to, but didn’t have a chance. She just sedated him.”

  “Wake him and unchain him.”

  The vampire obeyed. In a short moment, Antonio sat up groggily on the ground. Ciaran crouched. “I’m going to take you out of here. But we have something to do before we can get back to the research station. Can you walk?”

  Antonio nodded and stood up. Ciaran signaled the vampire to lead to the door. They exited the basement corridor and headed toward the upper floor for the entrance. In the foyer, a group of more than thirty vampires stood, waiting for them.

  “I don’t want to kill you all. So before you advance on us, you might want to check out the example in the basement,” Ciaran said.

  The vampires smirked and snorted, clearly unconvinced. One lunged in their direction and Ciaran pulled out a small round device, holding it toward the brave one, who skidded to a halt.

  Satisfied that he had them cornered, Ciaran placed the device on the floor. “This is a silver bomb. It’s triggered by movement sensor and remote control. I wouldn’t recommend you test it on yourselves. Neither you nor any of your friends will be very happy. So, stay really still where you are.”

  Ciaran and Antonio withdrew very slowly toward the door and exited the building while the vampires stood frozen, staring at a flashing device on the floor.

  Once outside, Ciaran tucked the remote control away.

  “How does the sensor work? We got out. I’m sure we’ve made some movement,” Antonio asked.

  “I bluffed. It works by remote control only. Turns out, vampires are quite gullible.” Ciaran chuckled.

  Antonio shoved his hand into Ciaran’s pocket and yanked out the remote control. Before Ciaran could stop him, he pressed the activate button, pointing it toward the building.

  From the distance, they saw a silver fume leak out of the building and shoot into the sky like a small volcano. Screams from the vampires tore the air before their throats closed up and their brains shut down. Before they died a true death.

  “That was unnecessary,” Ciaran roared at Antonio. “Why did you do that?” Antonio stood with the killing weapon in his hand, jaws clenched, satisfaction filling his eyes.

  “Vampires and human cannot co-exist. It’s either us. Or them,” Antonio muttered.

  Ciaran glanced at Antonio, measured. “You’re a vampire hunter? That’s why your name was on their blood list.”

  “Yes. And I’ve never had a kill this big. Thanks to you. I think I like your weapons.” Antonio grinned.

  “Does Emily know about your unjustifiably bias world view?”

  “Unjustified?”

  “All species are equal. Your sister said as much earlier.”

  “Equal my ass. These blood suckers killed two of my journalist friends. Who knows how many others they have killed,” Antonio snarled.

  “Did they provoke the creatures?”

  “I don’t care. These guys had families. For those left behind, it isn’t fair however you put it.”

  “I don’t support the killing of creatures unless it is absolutely necessary. If you pull that stunt on me again, I’ll make sure I give you to the vampires. I rescued you. I can always take you back. I am sure Madeline would understand.”

  They heard footsteps from across the road. Not just a few. So many. They could feel the ground shake with the movements of what was coming at them.

  “They saw your signal. Well done, Antonio.”

  The group of vampires stopped from across the road, looking at them menacingly. A sea of vampires. The vampires looked at the entrance of the tower, where silver dust was still pumping out in waves.

  “How many silver bombs do you have?” Antonio asked, swallowing hard.

  “One. You just blew it.”

  “How do we get out of here?”

  “There is a dimensional gateway. They are standing in front of it,” Ciaran deadpanned.

  CHAPTER 15

  “ T he pitiful hole you call an office is too small for me to fit in, why don’t you all step outside.” Doctor Costa said, pointing his gun at the corridor in front of the office.

  Doctor Costa didn’t look like a doctor at all, Madeline thought. Sleazy basket case! She scolded on the inside. The cowboy outfit was totally out of place. She was sure the furred vest he was wearing was made of polar bear skin.

  Hands up, Adam walked out, followed by Madeline and Emily. Doctor Costa took a step back away from the group.

  Madeline glanced around. The station was extremely quiet. All staff had disappeared? Moved to the North Pole? Turned into penguins? Turned into vampires? Surely it couldn’t be that fast.

  Reading her thoughts, Doctor Costa said, “I’ve just cleaned them up. A quick experiment. No pain though. I gave them some tea, and they all walked into the chamber for me to distil.
See, I’m quite humane when it comes to test subjects. When we sink this station, they will all be dead anyway. I don’t want to waste any samples.”

  “Samples to do what?” Madeline asked, disgusted, but keeping him talking.

  “Making super soldiers,” Emily spit out and earned a slap across the face. The slap was so hard it sent her falling backward onto the steel rail.

  “We don’t sink this station, or anything in Antarctica for that matter,” Adam growled.

  Doctor Costa clucked his tongue. “You’ve gotten too attached to this station, Adam. You steal minerals. You’re a thief. Don’t forget that.”

  Adam glared at Ivan.

  The doctor sneered and said, “Don’t upset me or I’ll tell Isabel and you won’t get your retirement money.” He looked down at Emily, who was still sitting on the floor. “And you, you disappoint me. You won’t get a penny.”

  “Isabel will manage this station. I am sure she wouldn’t let you sink it,” Adam said.

  The doctor chuckled. “You think that vampire bitch knows anything. She thinks she’s important. But she’s only a pawn. I am the one in charge, you dumb ass. Now I need you to control the bloody drill, Adam, so behave.” He glanced at the two women. “I don’t need these bitches, so, I’ll clean them up with the rest of the staff.” His lips curved up in a grin so evil Emily shivered. “Would you prefer tea or coffee?”

  “I’ll call Isabel!” Adam said, desperate, saying anything.

  The mad doctor thrust the gun at Adam’s forehead and said softly, “Try it. See if she can help you. The thing is, I’m paid to kill her and take the object after she retrieves it using her exceptional vampire skills. And I’m paid by the same person who paid her. Get the picture? She is only a sacrificial lamb. Or sacrificial vampire to be precise.”

  Costa let out a short laugh that made his face crooked, as if he was in pain. “Now if you want to live, stay here.”

  The doctor turned to Madeline and Emily. “Tea or coffee …” he asked again and Madeline flew at him. She had her eudqi on, so Costa stood no chance fighting her. A rain of punches and kicks flew at him. Soon, he turned into a pile of bloody meat.