Blood Line

The Alliance

"Idiots!" Emeritus barked. Either I get conflicting advice from all of you, or none at all. "Do you think I'd still be in this position if I'd forgotten how to lead an army? He flung the intelligence maps at the feet of his generals, causing the uniformed men to draw back in alarm. "These reports are useless to me unless they can be corroborated."

Emeritus railed at his underlings. "We're at a disadvantage against a seasoned army. The Italian Armed Forces defend the Vatican from all aggressors, but the City State has never been at war. The only military action we've seen was when we were bombed during World War II."

Eyes half closed, Emeritus murmured to himself under his breath. "Khan was right, I must Hold out bait to entice my enemy, feign disorder, and then crush her." He turned his attention to a young lieutenant, "Go Demetrio, tell me with your own eyes what is happening on the ground."

"Yes your Eminence." The young guard bowed before racing from the hall.

Sighing, a tall distinguished man, Rafael, one of his oldest advisor's, tried to reason with the imperious holy leader. "Emeritus, if I may?" The Pope petulantly waved his hand granting his friend permission to speak.

"Dracula's daughter wants to recapture her father's castle. It's not clear yet if her plans include also marching on the Vatican."

Emeritus openly scoffed at the distinguished general's naiveté.

"Really? Rafael, I've lived through Vlad the Impaler's siege. I can guarantee you his daughter will make her father's reign of terror look like a mild skirmish by comparison." The general remained standing by his side despite the his stubborn words.

Another young guard arrived. Once acknowledged, hebowed to the Pope.

"Your Holiness, the Minister of Defense refuses to send armored vehicles. He says you are over reacting."

Emeritus banged his palm rest, disgusted with the news. The Pope's private Swiss Guards were equipped with halberds, swords and pikes for tour groups, but if things got hot, they switched to SIGs, HKs and Glocks in double time.  Still, in a skirmish he knew they would need assault vehicles to breach opposing ranks. "We're at a disadvantage without self propelled artillery." He turned to Rafael. "You remember what happened to the Swiss Guards protecting Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette? Emeritus locker gazes with Rafael." They were slaughtered by rogue vampires in the crowd."

"I remember," Rafael answered sadly. "I was there. The peasants did the majority of the killing and mutilation, but only because they were starving."

Suddenly as if on cue, a strong wind blew open the doors to the inner sanctum. A voluptuous female entered the all male chamber. Without hesitation, her gaze brazenly swept the room, landing on the Pope's surprised countenance. When she spoke, her voice momentarily cast a spell on the all men in the room.

"Your Holiness, it will not be optimal to attack until the storm of confusion passes." The woman's  unsolicited announcement commanded everyone's shocked attention, until the generals finally reacted. As if freed from a witching spell, they moved forward to protect their leader. Intrigued, Emeritus waved them off. "What manner of creature are you to possess such knowledge? How do you know such things without being aligned with the enemy?  Who are you?"

"My name is Allasandra." The witch boldly advanced to his dais, unafraid. "And my Lord Lucius is under siege. Your Eminence's instincts are correct. This isn't the time to postpone decisions when you have four superb combat divisions ready to crush the uprising." Allasandra moved closer to the red and gold chair. "I've come to broker an alliance with the Church on my behalf of my Lord. We can help you."

Emeritus leaned forward, his opulent gold robes rustling in the silence.

"How?"

"By casting a spell to raise an army of the dead."

"Sacrilege! Emeritus drew back, hissing.

Undeterred, Allasandra boldly continued her with her offer, her voice low and urgent. "Your Holiness, this isn't blasphemy, it's practicality."

"Two hundred years ago, you would have been burned at the stake, Witch!" Emeritus pointed a trembling finger at her. "Seize her!" His guards eagerly advanced on her like a hungry pack of wolves.

"And two hundred years ago, YOU would have been staked in the heart!" Allasandra spun throwing an arc of fire to repel the advancing soldiers.

"Enough you wicked creature!" Rafael roughly grabbed Allasandra by the arm to drag her from the room.

"Wait." Emeritus's face grew strangely calm as he ordered Rafael to desist. Motioning with a gloved hand, he signaled the rest of his entourage. "Leave us."

Thoughtfully holding Allasandra's gaze, he murmured, "On second thought, I will test this witch's skills."

This chapter is dedicated traci_edmunds  and jenniferkatherine7! 👻