Empire of Blood [Box Set] Page 23

  "What do you think Diana would think about this?"

  Hank swallowed, closing his eyes.

  "Toby, you know that's not fair. Besides, I'm sure she would have done the same if your life was in danger."

  Toby had no reply. He continued to glare at his father as if his expression was reason enough to change Hank's mind. Then, he turned and walked out of Hank's bedroom slamming the door on his way.

  Hank let out a sob. He wanted so badly to tell his little boy why he couldn't just run, why he couldn't simply walk away. But, at the same time, he was glad that Toby was sheltered from the truth. He couldn't imagine putting his son through that kind of fear.

  He went back to straightening his tie. When he was done, his glance wandered over his appearance until his gaze came to the rectangular monstrosity that marked every Imperial branded suit. The American Imperial flag. Its stripes were a dull black and white, and where the 50 stars had once been, there remained only one. One white star over a black background to symbolize one powerful emperor over all.

  Hank turned away from the mirror, if only to prevent himself from ripping the flag from his garment. He needed to leave, anyhow, or he would be late for the holy ceremony he had to go through to sanctify his position. As he didn't believe in the ridiculous Imperial religion, he knew the ceremony would be all the more hollow.

  * * *

  In what had once been a circular restaurant within the top of the Stratosphere, dozens of human vampires sat at the many tables waiting for Ishan to address them. Simon watched them from the corner of the room. He was even more nervous than he had been for his first kill. The vote for Peter's replacement on the council was about to begin and Simon knew that Ishan would nominate him. The room was noisy with anticipation. All around Simon, he could hear them talking about what had happened the night before. Many of them were talking about Peter and the missing vampires. But almost all of them were talking about Simon. Most of what had happened the night before had somehow circulated throughout the group. What mostly concerned them was the connection that had forged between Simon and Ishan. After several more minutes of listening to the gossip flooding around the place, silence filled the room almost at once. Simon sat up straight and looked up to see Ishan, Edgar, and Stanislov making their way toward the middle of the room amid a flurry of vampires trying to find a place to sit down. When they were all seated, Ishan began to speak.

  "As you all know by now, Peter is dead and Rachel is missing still. We have called together this open emergency council meeting to elect a replacement for Peter. If there is anyone who would like to be considered, please come forward." The room was still for several minutes as Ishan waited. Then, a tall vampire near the far corner from Simon stood up, towering over the sitting vampires at his table.

  "I wish to be considered," he said.

  "Very well, Antonius, you will be the first candidate," Ishan said. "Anyone else?"

  When no one else came forward, Ishan cleared his throat.

  "Since no one else has came forward, I will add a nomination to this election. I nominate Simon Withers."

  The room became loud with discussion.

  "Silence," Ishan said. The room went completely still. "Do either of the candidates have anything they would like to say for their campaign?"

  Simon sat, paralyzed.

  "Yes, I do," Antonius said. "When I was human, I held a place on the Roman senate in the last days of the republic. I served my nation well before its freedom was mutilated. My opponent here, a rather recent former employee of the Empire, hardly knows our ways. How, then, shall we expect him to be a councilman to what to him would be an alien people? I urge you before you vote, to think about these things." He said. He waited a moment, letting his words sink in, and then sat down. Ishan turned to Simon.

  "Simon Withers, do you have anything to say in reply?"

  "No, sir," he said.

  "Then I will speak for you." He looked around the room. "Had Simon not acted last night, this council would no longer stand, and we would be seeing the end of yet another republic. In drinking my blood, he has painfully gained experience equal to my own. I would ask that you consider what I have said when you cast your vote. Thank you. You may cast your votes now."

  The three remaining council members started passing around slips of paper and pencils to the seated vampires. When Simon received his, he quickly scribbled Antonius and folded it in half.

  * * *

  Hank stood fixed like a statue in the large church. He could see the Emperor seated in the throne at the middle of the stage. Above and behind him a large American Imperial flag waved from its flagpole. Sentries were lined up all around the place. In the many pews were the most devout followers, along with pilgrims from all over the world. Anyone who had watched television knew this scene from watching any average Sunday afternoon's television feed.

  The First Church of the American Empire was the most popular church in the world. Mostly from notoriety outside the Imperial borders. Behind him was a long line of men and women awaiting the same ceremony as he was. He was third in line. They were all to be sanctified before entering service to the Empire. The first in line was called up to the throne. A stiff-looking bald guy walked up the steps to the top of the stage and knelt before the Emperor. The Emperor touched his shoulder.

  "You may rise," he said. "Richard Durago, put your left hand on my bible and raise your right hand."

  * * *

  The council had been gone for several hours when it was announced that the votes had been tallied, and the results would come soon. A few minutes later, Ishan, followed by his fellow council members, came out looking pleased.

  "The new council member by unanimous vote is Simon Withers."

  Simon gaped at them. Before his mind had time to process the news, vampires were flooding in all around to congratulate him. But as he shook hands and tried to hold conversations with everyone he could, he saw behind them to the far table. There sat Antonius looking at him with an envious expression. Simon went back to chatting with the many vampires eager to congratulate him.

  * * *

  "Come forward, my son," the Emperor said, gesturing toward Hank. Hank walked toward the stage. He wondered if he had knelt before the Emperor before would the horrible beast of a man be making him do this now? When he was right in front of the throne he knelt down like he had seen the others do. He noticed, as he looked at the emptiness on both sides of the Emperor's throne, that Lotinger was not present, and wondered why that was. Then a clammy hand touched him, and he felt nauseated immediately.

  "Rise, my son. Henry Evans, put your left hand on my bible and raise your right hand."

  Hank did as he was told.

  "Do you swear to serve the American Empire of Almighty God with dignity and pride?"

  "I do." He could feel his heartbeat in his throat.

  "Do you swear to uphold the laws of this holy nation and the laws of your Lord, Joseph Caesar?"

  "I do." He was sure tears were coming down at this point, but he made himself stand still. The Emperor only smiled then.

  "Very good, my son, come closer and I will sanctify your soul."

  Hank moved close enough to the Emperor to receive the holy touch. As the Emperor leaned forward to touch his forehead, he whispered to Hank.

  "Your first assignment is in seven days. Do your job well and you will be rewarded." He grinned. "Fail, and your son will die slowly as you watch, do you understand?"

  Hank glared at him.

  "Yes, I do."

  "Good then. Go and prepare. Your instructions are already waiting for you." The Emperor put his cold, slimy hand on Hank's forehead then and gave it a slight nudge.

  Hank let himself fall backwards, simulating what he had seen here tonight, and on television for many years in the past. When he rose up from the floor, the Emperor spoke out loud once more.

  "You have been sanctified, my son!"

  Hank looked around at the crowd as they cheered pass
ionately. Their faces all showing the same vacant yet desperate expression.

  He made his way down the steps and through the long path that divided the two large sections of pews, toward the door. Along the way, he felt many hands reaching out to him, tugging on his sleeves, and patting him on the back, or whatever else they could reach. It was all he could do to block them out, so he walked faster.

  When he was out the door, he went straight for the car. Once he was there, and sure no one was watching, he knelt over beside the passenger door and vomited on the pavement. When his stomach was empty and the heaving finished, he wiped his mouth on the sleeve of his Imperial jacket. Tears streamed down his face as he sobbed.

  In a week’s time, he would arrive back in Necropolis, and then, he would have to find a way to tell them about the bug. Then, they would have to find a way to fight back. His sobbing subsided as his suffering melted into fury. As he looked down at his own vomit, a gleam of light caught his eye. It was the Imperial Star on his sleeve.

  His father had died fighting for his country’s freedom. And for what? Hank had lived his whole life afraid of the Empire. But now, he wanted nothing more than to see its undoing. To be its undoing. To take back that same freedom his father had died for.

  WHAT HAPPENS IN VEGAS

  An Empire of Blood Short Story

  Jackie didn't really think they would hurt innocent little girls. She had only meant to scare Karen, to have a little fun. But now her sister lay dead in the passenger seat and they would soon get Jackie, too.

  The girls took off on Highway 15 South with the money Mom and Dad left for food while they went on their stupid little "second honeymoon." There was already plenty of food in the house they could take with them. She could use the food money for gas and they could go out for the night of their lives. But she couldn't tell Karen where they were going, no way. If Jackie had told her, she wouldn't have come along.

  So, that morning, they packed up the car with the big cooler and headed southwest. Karen was just tall enough to see over the dashboard, but she mostly read on road trips. Jackie had always wanted to see the city, especially after Robby Shelton told her about all that was left behind. Las Vegas was a huge, wealthy city in its time. She thought about all the money that was just left to rot. Just one U.S. dollar in "acceptable" shape was worth fifty bucks these days.

  "Now, if Mom or Dad call, remember, we're just in town getting something to eat."

  "What if they call late at night and we're still out?"

  "You let me handle that, kid."

  "Hey, you're not much older than me, so shut it."

  Jackie gave her sister the angry face and Karen quickly stuck her nose back into her book. Jackie turned her hungry eyes back to the road. Living in Cedar City, Utah, it was only about a three hour drive to the old city. And so long as they got out of there before dark, they would be just fine. They would even get home in time for Karen's bedtime and all would be right with the world.

  When they crossed the state line into Nevada, Karen watched as the sign flew by, the golden rims of her glasses reflecting the bright sun in Jackie's eyes. Most of the drive was boring. Just more and more desert. Jackie was lucky enough that Karen's face stayed buried in her book when they passed the crossed-out sign that read Las Vegas 58 miles.

  It was common knowledge that the closer to the city you came, the less people you found. And nobody kept you from driving right on in.

  Jackie hadn't counted on just how big of a tourist attraction the city had been. As they came up to the large sign, still mostly intact, that welcomed anybody and everybody to "Fabulous" Las Vegas, she couldn't help but gasp at what had been done to it. Karen looked up from her book and her complexion turned several shades paler.

  Splotches of dried blood randomly adorned the sign and the word Necropolis seemed to be painted in dry blood right over "Las Vegas." The real thing was a far cry from the horror stories they had been told when they were younger. It was always the first thing out of Dad's mouth when they got in trouble. "Lying is a sin, Jackie. You don't wanna grow up and get sent to Necropolis, do you?" Or, "You know what the monsters in Necropolis do to people, don't you? They drink all their blood until they die. If you keep up this nasty behavior, that's where you'll go."

  It took some time to calm Karen, but inevitably Jackie had to just be the boss and make her come along knowing that Karen was too scared to run away. Besides, there was all that desert out there and nobody for miles.

  Jackie's friend Lori's older cousin had been sent to Necropolis. He had been caught kissing another boy and both of them were charged as homos. When Lori's aunt found out, she refused to talk to the boy anymore. It was hard for Jackie to believe that before the city had been taken, there were some states who actually allowed the homos to marry. A mix of guilt and anger waved over her at that thought.

  "We're just gonna look around and try to find some cool things to bring back with us. It'll be awesome, trust me," Jackie said.

  Karen didn't reply. Her book sat at her side as she stared all around at the tall, empty buildings and strange landmarks. Other than the engine and its echo off the buildings, the place was dead quiet. They drove by several huge buildings alongside a big green statue of a lady in a toga holding a torch above her head. It looked vaguely familiar to Jackie. She thought it might be something from history class.

  After a while, they came to a huge replica of the Sphinx with a large dark pyramid sitting behind it. Jackie knew this was one of the places she should probably look. If there were treasures to be found, some of them would be here.

  Jackie got out of the car and stood there just looking up at the huge thing. Most of the Sphinx's features were covered in sand from years of storms. A few spots of flat black could be seen through the dust covering the pyramid. If someone were to replace the other buildings with sand, the place would've looked just like Egypt.

  "Come and look at this, Karen. It's so awesome," Jackie said.

  Karen just sat in the car, looking pekid.

  "Fine then," Jackie said as she came around to the passenger side of the car. She opened the door, grabbed Karen's arms, and pulled her from the car. "Come on. You shouldn't sit in here by yourself. I'm going inside, and like it or not, you're coming with me."

  Karen let out a strange groan. Jackie couldn't believe how much her little sister was sweating. After a short struggle, Karen had no other choice but to come along.

  Jackie flipped on the flashlight and tried one of the glass double doors. It was unlocked. The smell of rotting meat inside was nearly strong enough to gag Jackie, but she pulled her shirt up over her mouth and nose so she could breathe. Karen, however, didn't move fast enough and got hit hard enough to make her throw up.

  "Oh god, can we please go back outside, Jackie? This is terrible."

  "Just do what I'm doing and it's not so bad." Jackie laughed at Karen, who was leaned over, a long line of drool hanging from her mouth. She shined the flashlight all around the room as she waited for Karen. There were graying card tables, rusty slot machines, and large blank TV screens everywhere. It was all covered in cobwebs and a layer of dust thicker than Jackie had ever seen. But there was something else. She kept seeing other shapes in the shadows cast by the flashlight. They were so random she couldn't make them out. She started to walk toward one of them to get a closer look when a hand grabbed hold of her wrist. She jumped and let out a small scream. Karen screamed back at her.

  "Don't go without me, I'm scared."

  Jackie stood there a moment panting, wanting to beat her little sister over the head with her flashlight. When she caught her breath, she gripped Karen's hand too tight on purpose.

  "Ow!"

  "You want a guide, you got one." The two girls glared at each other and then Jackie headed back toward the shadow she had seen. Though Jackie had loosened her grip, their hands were still locked tight. God, her sister was such a scaredy-cat. She pointed the flashlight back to the card table she had seen the shape b
ehind and headed toward it.

  As she came closer, it seemed more and more to be a thicker layer of dust accumulated in a strange shape until she noticed the outline of the bony hand. Finally close enough, she shined the light full on the shape and the rest of the gray withered body, crumpled over the edge of the table, became clear. Underneath the bony hand were five cards and a thick coagulated pool of dried blood spreading out from the body's neck.

  The sound that next came from Karen could have shattered a whole set of fine glasses. Jackie couldn't even find the good humor to laugh at her sister. The thought never occurred to her that they might find any bodies. Her own body started to shake without her consent. Just find where they kept the cash and then we can get the hell out of here, she told herself. She made up her mind before they even hit the road that she wasn't leaving this place without something to show for it.

  Jackie backed away from the table, Karen hugging her arm. The flashlight cast more and more rising shadows everywhere she pointed it. The more they backed away, the more bodies became visible. Jackie turned to run, forgetting all about her little sister, when she tripped over something that felt like tree limbs against her legs. The flashlight flipped through the air, its randomly spinning beam resembling a disco ball. Then it landed with a thin crack and went dead, leaving the room in utter darkness. Karen screamed. Both girls were hyperventilating.

  "Jackie!"

  "I'm down here." Before Jackie could stop her, Karen moved toward her and fell forward in a rush on top of Jackie, knocking the wind out of her.

  "Jackie, what was that?" Karen cried.

  "I don't know, maybe some kind of bench?"

  "Benches don't wear clothes." Both girls struggled away from the clothed "bench." Jackie thought about reaching around on the ground blindly to find the flashlight and quickly decided against it. Her eyes were still filled with the phantom glow of the flashlight, but she could remember the general direction they came in. She grabbed Karen's hand and pulled her along that way.