The Blood Painted Cage

Four years later...

I stood in the cold, the snow billowing about me without mercy and turning my breath in to a small fog that hovered in front of my face for only a moment before the wind snatched it away. I was warm however in the depths of my thick boots, warm ankle length skirt and heavy coat and warm inducing mind.

I was beside the car with Viorel trying to suppress his shivering. I tried my best to ignore him having attempted to get him to wait inside the warm vehicle but failed when he adamantly refused. It seemed his stubbornness when it came to me had gotten worse as he grew older and his growing ego and need to prove he was not entirely useless didn’t help either. With a slight sigh I let my mind slide to his, warming his body gently. He realised this instantly and shot me a glare behind his glasses but I did not miss the appreciation that slithered in his mind.

“You will catch a cold if you stay outside Viorel. Do not force me to become your sick nurse again.” I commented with a slight smile.

“I will be fine Eva; it’s you who I worry about. This is the last lead we have on what happened to Blackburn and the best one so far. If anything dangerous is going to appear I will make sure it dies before it comes close.” He said firmly, rubbing his stubble covered jaw then covering his face with the scarf once again.

I frowned gently. “I hope you do not have to fight.” I mumbled.

“You hope fighting never has to exist you mean.”

“That would be nice.”

“And impossible Eva although having the whole world think like you do would be for the better even if it would be quite boring.”

I grinned and pulled my hat down when I felt it shift slightly. “I shall take that as a compliment.”

Suddenly our conversation was broken when a loud sharp bleep ripped into the air from Viorel’s pocket. My heart sunk as I saw him take out the phone, flip it open then speak into the mouth piece.

“Dana?” He asked.

“Sonia and Livia are in position on the west while Augusta is on the east.” Came Dana’s easily recognisable faint German accent. “I am also in position. We wait for the Lady’s signal.”

“Alright.” He replied and nearly hung up until Dana called to him.

“Viorel, if anything happens to the Lady, and I mean anything, I will rip your eyes out and gut you alive. You understand?” She said pleasantly with an undertone of steel.

“I understand Dana so stop worrying.” He said with a sigh. I was pleased he had gotten used to Dana’s violent threats having been terrified of her when he was young.

There was an audible grunt from the phone then nothing as both parties hung up.

“It’s now your turn.” He said as he put his mobile away and readied his shot gun. “Let’s see if we find anything this time round, shall we.”

I nodded glumly, half of me hoping nothing was found. Over the years of hunting we had found many leads but all lead to dead ends. Murders; suicides; burnings; missing persons and numerous empty voids were all we found at the end of those small strings of enquiries. It seemed the people behind the poison had fled, destroying all evidence after Blackburn’s killings. They predicted our reaction and went to hide, leaving nothing behind. They were very thorough and it scared me.

However Augusta, a young un-oath witch and lone wolf, came to my attention a couple of years ago after seeking a witch tied to none of the Prides, Clans and Packs. I asked for her help, telling her to report anything she found to me. She did as promised. A few days ago she returned after vanishing for one and a half years with information of kidnappings around a series of cities in the heart of Romania. After finding links between them and hunting the missing people down, she found this old mansion. It was on sale, had been for fifteen years, and she said she felt something wrong within, like the feeling of parasites, and came to me.

And here we were. The last at the spot of our last lead, about to break in to try and find the source of Augusta’s discomfort. And it was my job to make sure nothing happened to my maids or my hired witch.

I took a deep breath of cold air into my lungs before I flung my mind out. Keeping track of four different women was going to be hard but I would manage it. I had no choice.

I located Dana in the southern entrance, Livia and Sonia on the west and finally Augusta on the east, tapping each of their minds in welcome and indication for them to begin. I was wary of the witch, aware that she was uncomfortable with sharing her mind. She trusted my word of just surveying her surroundings, keeping tabs on any dangers and nudging her to them, and not invading her thoughts and memories. She was a secretive one but most un-oaths were so I was not too surprised. My only problem was that I would not be able to speak with her through my mind nor was she able to reach out to me.

Attentively I followed their progress, flicking my focus quickly back and forth to each of the women. As they entered my heart sped as my fear for them grew and reached out for Viorel’s large hand. I felt the heavy darkness of parasites, many of them. Whether or not this was to do with the poison Augusta was right in getting me. This was Clan business and I was the one who had to sort it out.

It was a few heart beats later that Dana spoke.

'I sense nothing but parasites, Lady. No heartbeats, nothing.'

'Do not let your guard down Dana, there is something in there.' I told her firmly.

Suddenly I felt it, a threat. It was so sudden I screamed at Dana to duck from the oncoming attack which she did smoothly. I felt her move, gripping the pole of her scythe then flung it up, catching the bloodied parasite on the chest and slicing him open. But that wasn’t the only one. Everywhere they were appearing and I was ordering each woman to coming attacks and enemies. I was frantic about Augusta and I helped her as much as I could by sending her sensations in her mind but she was cutting them down easily, blasting their hearts out with her guns and whipping out her blade at their throats. She was a surprisingly seasoned warrior for a witch so young.

I tried my best to locate each parasite that was crawling about the mention, tried my best to delve into their minds and seek their memories for their creator but it made my stomach turn horribly. The sickness distracted me so much that I nearly did not warn Livia of an attack from above and decided that trying to touch the black stomach wrenching minds was not the best idea.

For another heart stopping ten minutes the attacks came but my maids fought them off smoothly, showing the reason why they were chosen as my guards clearly. The witch seemed to be unharmed as the wave dwindled and the last of the parasites were killed as they attempted to flee. A few moments later the sensation of the dark fog dissipated. The parasites were gone.

After quickly gathering the knowledge of my maids and witch’s safety, I sighed heavily, returning partly to my body so I could move but keep tabs on my group. Viorel was nervous, standing close beside me with his eyes darting about the white surroundings, holding the shot gun by his side.

“Viorel, be calm. The threat has gone for now.” I said as warmly as I could to soothe him.

He looked down at me sharply. “What happened?”

“Parasites, they attacked them.” I said glumly.

“How many?”

“Too many, far too many. For a Blue blood to create that many Black bloods in one place is strange and they do not normally bother to have more than one Black blood at a time. They know if their Black blood turns rogue it is their heads that will roll.” I sighed lightly then tugged him after me. “We can enter now. We must find out what had happened in there.”

Still keeping Viorel close to me, I waded my way through the snow all the while keeping my mind sharp. I hadn’t sensed the parasites before so there was no reason for them to pop out again. That thought made me very edgy.

The unsold mansion was not far from the hidden road and I had to be careful not to trip as we entered the front garden. Naked trees bathed in snow and numerous walls and status littered the garden while the large windows were bordered up. It made me feel slightly lonely seeing this haunted grey stone and white snow garden and empty, bordered up house.

My eyes latched onto the broken doors after being kicked in by Dana easily and carefully trotted over to the yawning entrance. As soon as I entered the dusty rank smelling entrance hall I waited with Viorel beside me, glaring into the darkness. I knew he would not be able to see any parasites before me as his sight was weak for a human but I would inform him I felt anything.

I waited as promised for my maids return. I could feel them coming towards me slowly, sweeping the house as they did. I stood there patiently and trying my best to ignore the growing sense of pain as my mind flittered about. Something was hurt here, forced through agonising pain, so much so it echoed in the walls. I tried to find the source and located it beneath the mansion.

Taking note that we must delve into the basement, I turned to welcome the first of my maids Livia and Sonia come towards me covered in blood.

“Can you sense anymore Lady?” Sonia asked with fury in her eyes and a mean looking short sword in her hand.

“No but I could not sense them before. Are you both well?”

They nodded in unison. “They were quite weak. It seemed like they had not fed in a while.” Livia replied. “Did you manage to find the creator in their memories?”

“I tired but it made me feel horribly sick and I could not distract myself from caring for you.” I said sadly.

Livia smiled and would’ve hugged me if it wasn’t for the gore spattered over her apron and dress. “Don’t worry Lady, we will find out another way.”

I smiled wanly back and looked up when Dana came, spitting out curses at the parasites with her hefty weapon slung over her shoulder.

“Blasted parasites.” She snapped and continued to stream off into why she hated them so until Augusta entered.

I was always shocked at how graceful and beautiful the fire haired witch was. She was strong too for one so young with an immense knowledge of battle and stealth. I had chosen correctly in hiring her but I could not help but be intrigued by the strange human. She seemed so inhuman for a mortal.

She stood before me, cleaning her glasses, and I knew Viorel’s eyes were fixed on her. Mentally I smacked him as I always had to when they first met, startling him at my suddenly unnoticeable presence in the wake of Augusta. He was not going to date a witch if he was going to have a normal life so deter him from Augusta I would.

“I think all the parasites are gone Eva.” She said with a small smile.

“I would agree but I did not detect them until they attacked. Be on your guard, there may still be some around.” I told them. “Now we must go below. There is something there that bothers me.”

Silently they obeyed and organised themselves around me; Augusta and Dana in the front with Livia and Sonia behind. We moved through quietly with Dana calling to me when the bodies of the slain parasites began to appear. I ignored them as best as I could but the blood spattered over the walls overwhelmed my senses and I accidently looked down. A body of an apparently normal man was collapsed against the wall, his face a contorted mask of rage with his fangs bared. Suddenly an image of Vincent flashed in my mind, making my heart ache and forcing me to tear my eyes away and concentrate on where I was headed.

It did not take long to find the door as my find felt the walls, seeking a hidden entrance. As predicted the door appeared as part of the wall and Dana, in her elegant fashion, raised her scythe and brought down hard, cracking the door in two.

Instantly a stench of old blood and god knows what else waved over us, gushing out and filling my nose horribly. Fear and pain followed, so strongly and living I knew someone was done there still.

On a whim and ignoring my suddenly angry maids, I darted down the dark steps with lights flickering above me. What met my eyes in the corridor below the house made my mind numb. Flashing in and out of existence with every flicker of light was numerous shredded bodies. Limbs and heads were littered across the floor from their bodies with dry blood clinging to every wall and ceiling.

I vaguely heard the running feet of the maids and witch following but it wasn’t until Viorel snatched up my hand and spoke to me softly that I managed to turn my focus away from the mess.

“We can leave Eva, you don’t have to stay here.” He said quickly, gently trying to tug me away.

Adamantly I shook my head. “No, I must stay. Something happened here that is to do with the Clans so it is my job to find out what. I stay.”

He frowned in disapproval but remained by my side, staying close to keep a sense of safety about me. It worked. My brain began to work faster and I could hear the questions my mind was wanting to say.

“How long have they been dead for?” I asked hesitantly.

“No more than a couple of days.” Dana said while she examined the torn body, letting her sharp eyes observe the small details of dust and bugs. She pushed it over to look at the clothes. “They were once human, scientists or doctors of some sort by the clothes and tag.”

“Why were they down here?” Livia muttered.

“And why haven’t the parasite moved on?” Augusta asked. “These people have been long dead with no blood or entertainment left to offer. A Grey blood would have left long ago to find a living human, especially on the scale they were on.”

I let my mind flitter out hesitantly and latched on to something. It was so small I would’ve missed it if it wasn’t for the fact I sensed something alive down here and felt a need to find it.

“They were trying to get to something.” I said and headed off down the corridor, only noticing then that there were iron door lining the walls, flung open or destroyed now. I let my eyes peer inside to see chains and a bench, nothing else. People were kept down here, I knew.

I hurried down a couple more prison cells until I came to a large reinforced door. It had scratch marks on it, littered with them, but it was also covered in blood. Something was wrong with this door.

“It is lined in Matter.” Augusta said almost wondrously. She stepped forward and swept her hand over the metallic surface. “This is an ingenious design. Creating a door powered by Matter would harm the hands of those of the Old Races.” Her emerald eyes flittered over to the sparking mass of wire that was once the lock. “However it is inoperable without the key and someone’s destroyed the lock.”

Instantly I replied and let my mind leak into the door, latching it around the iron.

“Step back please.” I ordered gently.

As one body they moved back, stepping behind me. As soon as I felt they were at a safe distance I forced my invisible hand back, pulling the strings of my mind and ripping the door from its frame in a flurry of wailing iron. It landed heavily on the bloodied floor and created a small gust of wind that fled quickly.

Whatever I had been expecting behind the door did not match up to the heart wrenching pain that enveloped me when I saw the prisoner.

It was a small child.

I rushed forward and kneeled beside the little boy, ripping off the iron manacles from his wrist with my mind. I cradled him to my chest, quickly entering his mind and seeking what was left of his stuttering life.

He was barely alive. As a child vampire he was reliant on food. He was nothing but bones now, starvation and dehydration were on the brink of taking his life. I delved deeper and whispered in his mind, trying to get him to stay alive now that he was safe.

I allowed my attention to briefly be taken by my maids when I looked up at them with tears dripping down my face.

“Search the place. Find any survivors. Find anything that will explain what happened here.” I said urgently.

Without even nodding they fled, leaving Livia and Viorel to guard me as I tried my best to breathe life into the broken child. I was breathing for him, keeping his heart and lungs working all the while seeking for information about the child. He was the child of the Lindstrom clan and by the lack of human qualities in his blood I knew he was a rare Blue. He was snatched when he was lured away from his home and brought here. Bled and subjected to torturous tests. His small body was battered and bruised and his soul was crushed. It made me want to cry so hard for him.

I blinked heavily when I looked up sharply at Dana but she was still a blurry mess behind the tears.

“Lady, there is not much. The computers down here have been completely destroyed and so have most of the papers. The parasites must’ve gone on a rampage when they could not reach their link to sanity.” She said tightly but knelt down and showed me the bloodied file that was clamped tightly in her hand. “We did find this though.” She opened it and let my eyes scan the papers. “It is a list of test subjects, both human and vampire. I think they were testing out different poisons from the blood of parasites. It is why the child is here. They need to create the Blacks for the parasites to come into existence.”

My brain knew what she was telling me. We had located one of the sources of the people behind Vincent’s madness but much too late to gather any useful information. All we found out was that a group of humans were taking our pure blood children and taking their blood to create parasites on a massive scale and in turn create a parasite inducing poison.

There was silence as I thought rapidly. I knew what we had to do next.

“We must go to the Elders now. All Clans must be aware of what is happening. This is a threat to all the Old Races, not just us.” I said glumly.

Dana nodded in agreement and stood up, giving a quick nod in greeting to Sonia’s and Augusta’s return. I tried to follow but I was tired now and could not hold the child. Viorel instead bent down and scooped him up, keeping close to me so I could hold the boy’s hand.

“I will stay.” Augusta informed us. “If anyone comes I will kill them and I will continue to search the house for anything that will be of use.”

I nodded wearily. “Be safe.”

“I will be.” She said and gave me a bright smile before I turned and walked back through the bloodied maze, leaving the witch alone in the centre of the horrors I was wishing I had never unearthed.