The Vampire's Crimson Kiss (Editing)

Chapter 43/The Sisters of the dark wheel

Mary was walking through the dock near the base of the dark tower. It  buzzed with activity from both flesh and non-flesh beings alike. The extended negotiation with House Lobishomen had filled the dock area with so many new familiars that it felt like the old days when she was nineteen again. Mary almost found herself feeling happy. She and Cub were practically Victoria's personal stock, which, in turn, meant that she was practically the Duke's personal stock. No coven vampire from either house dared taste her blood for their fancy. The feeding wounds on her skin had practically healed, and while it felt good not to have the feeling of being rundown all the time, she missed her lord's touch. Victoria had offered Mary to the Duke on several occasions, but despite her pleadings, he had kept away.

Mary sauntered through the keep's dock. The dock of her youth was always filled with new sensual delights; today, the same sexual tension was on display here.

Captured by her own thoughts, Mary suddenly stopped. She had passed two familiars; they had curtsied in acknowledgment of Mary's superiority and continued on.  Given her messy status the coven didn't normally curtsy to her. It was a veiled insult. Normally anyone in her uniform would be given this respect, as a governess to a mere human she could not demand it. Mary turned to watch them as the pair began to climb the spiral staircase leading up to the keep beyond. Something was wrong. They walked oddly and wore Meridian uniforms, but she didn't recognize them.

Mary grabbed one of the wolf-head guards.

"Those two on the staircase over there, do you recognize them?" she asked.

"Be it please your mistress, I do not know who they are," he replied.

Even from this distance, Mary could recognize the Meridian crest on their bare arms.

"You wolf-heads, get your guns," Mary ordered to some guards, pulling out her stiletto knife.

*****

Victoria's POV:

I found myself jolted awake in the dead of day, roused from my slumber in a haze of confusion and disarray. Clad in nothing more substantial than my nightgown, bereft of the confining embrace of a corset, I was hastily led by Mary to an elevator. The cool air of the day brushed against my skin, a sudden reminder of my sudden vulnerability. Before I could fully comprehend the situation, Mary was urging me to step back into the confines of the elevator. , Mary said nothing but guards with weapons drawn, something was wrong.

We arrived at the dock and there stood an iron cage the kind they moved prisoners around in. The cage was shrouded in sackcloth, filtering the daylight into a single beam that illuminated it.

Mary, with a firm push, guided me into the cage, offering apologies once I was enclosed within its metallic grasp. She cited the urgency of the tides and the paramount importance of my safety as her reasons. As my eyes adjusted to the enveloping darkness, the realization dawned upon me that I was not alone; Cub was my silent companion in the confinement. The sounds of the cage being lowered to a barge below filled the air, a mechanical lullaby that signified the beginning of an unforeseen journey.

Here, amidst the uncertainty and the shadows, sat Cub with a bundle that held a change of clothes, her makeup tools and her tattoo kit. The minimalism of her possessions spoke volumes; we were embarking on a journey of significant import. Cub, ever the silent sentinel, handed me a note sealed with the Duke's emblem, a beacon of his presence in this unsettling darkness.

 I unfurled the scroll with a mixture of trepidation and urgency, the Duke's words etching themselves into my heart:

"Dearest, several familiars from Malphas's Coven have infiltrated the tower. It appears there's a traitor among us, aiding them. Their vile intent was to capture or eliminate you. Please understand, I cannot—and will not—allow harm to come your way, and will exert every ounce of my power to ensure your safety. The sanctity of this keep has been compromised; hence, I've taken the liberty of hiding you away to the Sisters of the Dark Wheel. The thought of concealing you within a sanctuary dedicated to the Blood God pains me deeply, yet I'm convinced your feigned allegiance will lead your pursuers astray, thus ensuring your protection. The sisters, known for their discretion, will believe you to be an acolyte under the guise of Sister Selem. Maintain this masquerade; trust no one, reveal your true self to none. The presence of Malphas's spies within the coven remains a worrisome possibility. Rest assured, I will reclaim you the moment safety permits. Dispose of this letter at the earliest convenience. Farewell, my unparalleled love."

The weight of his words bore down upon me, a mixture of sorrow, determination, and love. In that moment, I realized the depth of the Duke's affection and the lengths to which he would go to protect me. Cub lifted up some familiar clothes in my size and pointed at some vampiric books to amuse me on our journey. With a heavy heart, I committed his instructions to memory, ready to embrace the identity of Sister Selem and the uncertain path that lay ahead.

***

Dukes Sadisman's point of view

From high in the tower, the Duke watched the iron cage depart on the deck of the ship. Beside him stood the high priestess looking down with him.

"See, Mother, you thought I couldn't persuade her to pray to the blood god," said the Duke with satisfaction.

"How long will you leave her there?" asked the high priestess.

"After she has been willingly initiated into the blood god's fold by the sisterhood and until I am certain the keep is safe, Mary will stay here as a decoy. She will be confined to the room, and I will tell the others the Princess is ill. They may not understand, but they will believe it," said the Duke. He felt pleased; having Mary around was like regaining his right hand. As always, for him, a crisis became an opportunity.

"How did Mary pierce the assassins' stealth?" the priestess inquired.

"I am told their walk gave them away. One stood pigeon-toed as she spoke to Mary," he replied, noting that the obsession with the familiars' gait had brought some benefits.

The high priestess spoke carefully, "My spies tell me they were Malphas' familiars. It's a pity they so readily took their own lives when caught."

"That's a diversion. What would Malphas want with her? If I find out for even a moment that the Lobishomen coven was behind this, then any chance of a formal alliance is off. For now, and forever," said Sadismann as he watched the barge sail up the Thames inland.

"Indeed," said the beautiful priestess, her eyes darting furtively. "Perhaps this is for the best. Now you can concentrate on the negotiations with our guests."

"We must be careful the other covens are watching. If they got wind of what we are planing the shadow Council would crush us like a quail's egg."  the high priestess said. 

"Then we must negotiate with House Lobishomen swiftly." The duke said. "Combine our forces with their weapons. Attack quickly. Our supply lines through the Barrenlands are guaranteed. We could control half of Albion with in the year." 

"And wear the crimson crown in two." the high priestess said. 

The Duke smiled, Victoria's visions had dimmed but she had foreseen that, or at least something like it.