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Chapter VIII
See the light
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It was almost midday when the crew arrived at the castle. They had a plan, though they had to quickly improvise with what they already had on the Nomad. Firouz and Rongar had spent an hour working on a device that would allow them to shatter the wooden boards they presumed were covering the ballroom’s windows. They had to face an issue : how would they bring the supplies they needed to the castle, without making the vampires feel suspicious about it ? Maeve suggested they offered it to Crimson, as a present. She knew the aristocrat well enough ; he loved being offered gifts.
‘’There’s something else we should consider, little brother’’, Doubar told Sinbad. ‘’Last night, Xander attacked us. He could have killed us. Will our presence endanger Maeve and the others ?’’
‘’I don’t know, but we don’t have much of a choice. The more numerous the humans, the more likely the vampires being defeated’’, the captain answered.
‘’Or …’’, Maeve thought out loud, ‘’you pretend it was your duty to bring me back to them’’.
‘’Lass, why would that help us ?’’ Doubar asked her. His voice betrayed his worry for her.
‘’Crimson would be thrilled to have me back’’, Maeve stated. Sinbad and Doubar shuddered from disgust as they recalled last night’s events.
‘’I think Maeve is right’’, Firouz added. ‘’Not only Crimson, but Xander too. He’s a warrior after all. By returning Maeve to them, we submit to his authority, thus he might aknowledge our sense of duty and consider us harmless’’.
‘’Xander will not give a dinar about your sense of duty. Crimson, however, will.’’ Maeve answered. ‘’As a living man, he used to have many people working for him, after all, his status allowed him to. He values duty because it empowers him, so do flatteries and gifts. That’s why Crimson enjoys our little arrangement so much, because he knows I will stand by my words. I always made him feel like it was a pleasure for me to hunt for him. I allowed him to choose my wardrobe because it pleased him, and I always pretended it pleased me too. Once he believed my submission was out of respect and admiration for him, I was able to negociate. His need for empowerment is what we truly need to focus on. ’’
Sinbad nodded. He really appreciated the fact Maeve knew Crimson well enough for them to identify and play upon his weaknesses. However, he had to struggle against that weird feeling flutturing in his stomach, the rage which caused his heart to race and his blood pressure to increase. Sinbad tried to fight his anger as he sheepishly realized the weird feeling was actually jealousy. He felt stupid, once again, for being jealous of Crimson. He was dead, for Allah’s sake. Dead, hostile, brutal, haughty … He had weird looks too. He was way too eccentric for Maeve. Not that good-looking either. A bit shorter than she was ; didn’t women usually prefer taller men ? Oh, and he could act so childish, Sinbad thought with disdain. The young captain shook his head as he realized his thoughts were ridiculous. Why was he even trying to convince himself Maeve was not attracted to Crimson ? He
knew she couldn’t be attracted to him. Yet, their bond, even if it was only a hierarchical one, bothered him deeply. He couldn’t help but think about how much time Crimson had spent with
his Celtic sorceress, and he was jealous of it. Jealous of Crimson’s courteous and somewhat flirtatious manners with her. Sinbad was well aware he used to act similarly when she was on the Nomad, but he dispised the idea that another man – even if he were a vampire – would. He couldn’t explain it, but he almost felt entitled to this courting behavior with her. His train of thought was interrupted by Bryn’s voice when she asked almost shyly :
‘’Should we bring Dermott along ?’’
Sinbad and Maeve simultaneously answered ‘’Yes.’’ ‘’No.’’ Maeve frowned and looked at Sinbad. ‘’He is not coming with us’’, she protested.
‘’Maeve, he can be helpful. He can reach the roof within seconds. He can tell us where the windows are’’, Sinbad replied. ‘’The pigeon got in, Dermott could too’’.
‘’Are you out of your mind ?’’ she scowled. ‘’Don’t you remember what happened to that pigeon when Xander found out about it ?’’
‘’Might I recall you it was Kane who actually killed it ? The two others don’t drink from animal blood and you know it’’, Sinbad argued.
‘’Hmmpfff ! Sometimes, Sinbad, I swear …!’’ she vociferated before she continued on.
The crew couldn’t help but laugh as they witnessed the confrontation. ‘’Just like the old days !’’ Firouz stated. Rongar and Doubar laughed even more. Bryn first felt guilty for she had brought the subject up. However, when she saw her friends laughing, she started chuckling, thinking her captain had always enjoyed a good challenge. Thus, she wasn’t surprised Sinbad was drawn to the fiery sorceress.
Bryn really liked Sinbad. She had once thought her feelings for him were actually love. However, as time passed, she had realized it was rather this deep, unconditional love that tied close friends as well as brothers and sisters. She knew it from the day she realized she had never truly been jealous of any of the women she had seen him flirt with. Even these past few days, when he had reunited with the sorceress she had come to understand he deeply cared for – so much, the crew didn’t feel allowed to talk about her on his ship – she had not felt jealous nor threatened by her. She could only acknowledge her great beauty, her wits and her courage. And Bryn sensed something in her captain had changed from the moment he reunited with Maeve. She couldn’t tell what it was exactly, but she felt his heart had lightened. Strangely, Bryn sensed that their arguing actually increased this feeling. Bryn frowned. Did he actually enjoy this ? It was almost as if he had
missed arguing with her. The brunette shook her head in disbelief. She wasn’t one to wearisomely debate, but she recalled how arguments used to send Sinbad on the brink of madness, especially a few weeks before he encountered Scratch. And Mala, of course. The sweet woman’s intervention, which the whole crew was thankful for, seemed to have settled the captain back on track. But this was different. Even though Sinbad looked annoyed, Bryn could tell he wasn’t. Bryn smiled as she understood why Maeve and Sinbad’s fight actually made the whole crew giggle. They already knew all this. For the stubborn captain and sorceress, arguing was in fact another way of flirting. She chuckled and had to admit Sinbad and Maeve made a stunning couple.
Finally, Dermott ended the argument by telling Maeve he would scout in the sky so he could indicate where the ballroom's windows were. He also agreed to wait for them outside the castle, so he wouldn’t be preyed upon by the vampires.
‘’Sounds reasonable to me’’, Sinbad nodded once Maeve told him what Dermott had said.
‘’It’s nice to see you two can already work up compromises’’, Doubar teased his brother. Sinbad only shrugged at his comment, making the crew chuckle once more.
***
They were now standing before the same huge wooden doors that had opened by themselves, the evening before. The castle was even more frightening, if possible, under daylight. It looked decadent and ravaged. They could see openings that used to be windows, but as Sinbad had noticed, they were darkened, as if someone had pulled heavy tapestries or wooden boards to prevent the sunlight from breaking into the castle.
‘’They’re here’’, Bryn confirmed, feeling chills down her spine. ‘’I think they’re asleep’’.
‘’They never sleep’’, Maeve corrected her. ‘’They’ll smell us and hear us way before we get to them. We’ll have to meet them in the ballroom, where they spend most of their time. This could be a deadly trap’’, she warned them.
‘’Let’s get this over with,’’ Doubar encouraged them. He and Rongar stepped forward and started pushing against the heavy doors. After a few minutes, the doors finally opened and the crew walked in. They stood still in the hallway. It was dead silent. They could almost hear their own heartbeat. To their surprise, they heard the ballroom doors open, the eery cracking sound they made inviting them in. The doors closed behind the crew after they had entered the room. It was dark, though several candles were lit. Three sets of red eyes gazed at them from across the room.
‘’Look who’s here’’, Xander said with a guttural voice.
‘’What brought you back ?’’ Crimson grinned, revealing his pointy teeth.
Sinbad stepped forward, grabbing Maeve’s arm. ‘’We thought you might want your precious hunter to return safely, where she belongs’’, Sinbad declared. ‘’Thus, we made sure she did’’, he added, pushing the sorceress gently to Crimson. Sinbad quickly glanced at Maeve before letting go of her arm. Had he read any worry or hesitation in her eyes, he would have gladly pulled her away from the vampire. But they didn’t : her eyes only expressed approval. Sinbad reluctantly released her arm from his grip.
‘’Such a nice thing to do’’, Crimson answered, smiling widely to Sinbad. His eyes were devouring Maeve as he stepped forward to grasp her hand. She didn’t resist when Crimson pulled her by her waist so she stood closer to him. ‘’Did you miss me, my darling ?’’ he asked her. She smiled to him, trying to look thankful the crew had brought her back to him. Then, she looked away, turning her face from his. Crimson’s eyes wandered over her shoulders and neck. He stared at the two, tiny wounds caused by his biting. He cleared his throat, then looked at the crew. His smile had disappeared. He couldn’t blush, but his sudden uneasiness betrayed what the crew understood to be embarrassment.
‘’About that fondling thing …’’ Crimson started. The crew was puzzled, but Doubar and Sinbad knew exactly what he was talking about. It even made them blush slightly. Fondling was rather an euphemism for the way the vampire had run his hand over her body while drinking her blood the night before. Crimson didn’t finish his sentence. Maeve turned her face to him, staring at the vampire, her eyebrows frowning of displeasure.
‘’Yes, what about it ?’’ she asked him defiantly.
‘’Forgive me, my dear’’, Crimson asked her with a soft voice. ‘’I couldn’t restrain myself. I won’t do it again’’.
The crew was startled, for they never expected the vampire to submit to anyone, especially not to the woman he considered his personal pet toy. Kane and Maeve had spoken the truth. The redhead could indeed manipulate Crimson. Just like Maeve said earlier that day, aside from when he was hunting, the aristocrat only felt empowered whenever he thought others admired him and wanted to please him. The fact that Maeve disapproved of his behavior made Crimson look like a little boy whose mother had just admonished. Maeve raised her hand and Crimson kissed it as an apology.
‘’Are you leaving, sailors ?’’ Kane asked them, his eyes expressing that Crimson’s lame behavior truly annoyed him. Xander remained silent, glaring at them.
‘’We are. We’ll be catching the next tide. But before we do, we wanted to thank you for the lovely reception. We don't often spend the evening in a castle’’ Sinbad grinned. ‘’Firouz ?’’ he asked the scientist.
‘’We thought we should thank you by offering you brand new weapons for you to hunt with’’, Firouz said as he stepped forward. ‘’Your bows and arrows, I’m sure, can still do the job, but they’re archaic. Let aside precision issues. We thought something more technical, yet easier to use, could be useful. Here, we brought you crossbows’’. Rongar, who held the two crossbows, handed one over to Firouz so the scientist could show Crimson what the device looked like and how it worked.
‘’What an eccentricity’’, Crimson replied enthusiastically. He stepped forward, excited to get a gift and intrigued by the crossbow’s design. He barely noticed when Maeve swiftly escaped from his reach. She walked over to Kane. The clerk frowned and his eyes questioned her as he felt the crew was up to something. She glanced away, trying to keep her composure. But deep inside, she was struggling. She had to show no fear, no nervousness whatsoever, or else the vampires would detect her emotion and their plan would be nulled.
Sinbad smiled as he watched Crimson examining the new toys Rongar and Firouz had brought him. The vampire kept clapping in his hands from excitement, just like a child. Maeve was right. Though the aristocrat had been smart enough to discern Maeve’s toying the evening before, he became less suspicious, if not clueless, when it came to flatteries and gifts.
‘’What is this ?’’ Crimson asked Firouz when he noticed the exploding sticks Rongar and Firouz had previously taped around each of the arrows.
‘’Oh, just a little something to increase the arrows’ velocity’’ Firouz explained. ‘’Dare for a demonstration ?’’
Kane was staring at them, wondering what they were up to. Of course, he had never seen an exploding stick before. But even from where he stood, he could detect the powder’s scent perfectly well. He recalled immediately what it was ; he used to experiment with exploding powder in his science classes. His eyes discreetly glanced at Xander, and he knew the warrior had identified the scent of exploding powder, too. Kane couldn’t feel worry or fear. But an unknown sensation, another of his instincts probably, told him things were about to turn out badly, especially when he saw Xander slowly standing up from his chair.
The crew and vampires were in the left part of the ballroom. Firouz and Rongar aimed their crossbows high at the opposite wall, where Dermott had told them the windows would be. They glanced at each other, making sure they would shoot the arrows at the same time. Rongar nodded, and they both pulled the trigger, releasing the arrows.
‘’Now !’’ Sinbad yelled.¸
Maeve stepped forward, pointing at the arrows. A yellow thunderbolt escaped from her finger and set the exploding sticks on fire. The arrows pierced through hard wooden boards and stuck there, just like Firouz hoped they would. The crew threw themselves on the ground, covering their head as the sticks exploded violently, sending sharp pieces of wood and broken glass flying across the room and all over them. The vampires gasped as the room was suddenly enlightened, the sunlight breaking into the ballroom by the huge hole the explosion had created through the wall.
Xander stepped back as the sunlight’s shape on the floor almost reached his feet. Crimson ran to the doors, willing to escape from the ballroom as he knew too well what the crew’s plan was. Without thinking, Rongar and Bryn reached for him and each caught one of his arms. Doubar plunged to the ground and wrapped his arms around the vampire’s legs. Crimson was stronger than most humans ; however, having three of them restraining him made him lose his balance. Staring at the sunlight’s irregular shape reflecting on the ballroom floor, the aristocrat decided he wouldn’t struggle, for he knew the sunlight would immediately destroy him if the sailors pushed him in it during a fight.
Xander was mad. His eyes radiated with pure hate. He decided it was time to torture and slaughter them all. He started by mentally inflicting an electrical discharge through Bryn and Rongar’s bodies, causing them to contort painfully on the floor as they were being electrocuted. Crimson released himself from Doubar by kicking him, then he fled the room. Xander lifted Doubar up in the air with his telekinesis and started choking him. Even though Sinbad knew it was suicidal, he ran to Xander and kicked the vampire harshly in the stomach. The vampire lost his balance and it broke his concentration. Doubar fell heavily on the floor, almost passed out. Bryn and Rongar, weakened, crawled to him as Firouz ran over to check on them.
Xander turned around, facing Sinbad. He was infuriated, but being a warrior, he couldn’t help but acknowledge the captain’s audacity and courage. Such a worthy opponent deserved a special treatment. He would torture and kill him last. Xander mentally kicked his adversary, sending Sinbad crashing on the ground. The captain laid a few seconds on the floor, breathless and aching.
‘’You !’’ Xander roared ferociously at Maeve. Her eyes widened out of fear as Xander stepped forward. She knew her betrayal would only lead her to a deadly fate. Still, she forced herself to keep looking into his eyes as he walked closer to her. He could take her life, but she would never allow him to take her pride. She didn’t look away. She rather straightened herself, gazing haughtily at him. Her defiant attitude brought a scornful smirk upon Xander’s lips. Instead of torturing her with his telekinesis, Xander grasped her throat so he could strangle her with his bare hand. His nails thrusted into into her biting wounds, thus making them bleed. She cried weakly out of pain as he choked her. ‘’Xander !’’ Kane barked at him when he grasped Maeve. He pushed Xander away from her, snarling at him, trying to protect her from the warrior’s deadly grip and merciless bloodthirst.
Sinbad had caught his breath by now. He ran to Maeve as she slipped to the floor, her hand pressed against the bleeding wound on her neck. He knelt beside her, pushing her hair off her face and shoulders, his eyes worried as he made sure she was okay. Xander violently pushed Kane and the clerk landed on his back, only steps away from them. Kane got up, ready to fight Xander. The warrior raised his hand as he was about to crush their bones with his telekinesis. Kane was now standing between Xander and the couple. He glanced at Xander. Kane’s eyes then caught sight of the sunlight’s shape reflecting on the floor, only a few steps behind Xander.
‘’No’’, Maeve protested softly when Kane swiftly glanced at her. Her eyes widening in horror as she understood what he was about to do. The vampire smiled to her. It was a sweet, farewell smile. ‘’Kane, NOOOOOOOOOO !!!’’ Maeve screamed when Kane jumped and brutally tackled Xander to the ground … straight into the sunlight pattern on the floor. Sinbad grabbed Maeve’s waist and held her tightly as she struggled against him, desperately trying to escape his grip, screaming for Kane, screaming they had to help him.
After they fell, Kane fought his way, with a strength and fierceness he didn’t know he had, so he remained on top of Xander, holding the warrior firmly on the ground. Xander cursed, growled and struggled, but his efforts to escape from Kane remained unsuccessfull. Within seconds, all the crew could hear were Kane and Xander’s screams of agony, as the sunlight violently started piercing through their skin and consuming their body. Yet, Kane didn’t move, even when he felt his bones crushing and every inch of his body being destroyed by the powerful, merciless sunlight. Soon, both vampires had vanished into dust.
Sinbad felt Maeve becoming numb against his chest. His arms released her. She knelt on the floor, tears running down her cheeks. She covered her face with both hands and started sobbing. Sinbad knelt beside her, feeling helpless to comfort her. He reached for her shoulder, then he gently rubbed her back. Usually, Maeve would have shivered under his touch, but this time, her grief was too overwhelming for her to savour her captain’s concern and affection for her. After Firouz made sure Doubar, Rongar and Bryn were out of danger, he ran to the couple and knelt beside Maeve, worried about the bleeding wounds on her neck. The sorceress took a deep breath and wiped off her tears as she let the scientist examine her.
‘’I can’t believe he did this. He sacrificed himself for me, for us. He saved us all.’’ Maeve said softly, almost in a whisper. ’’No vampire would ever do that, not for humans’’, she added before turning her face to Sinbad. The captain’s blue eyes expressed much concern. ‘’I always believed Kane still had a soul. I’m sure he did. He had to...’’ she told him. Her voice was broken. Sinbad nodded and reached for her hair and stroke it gently. He knew nothing he would say could really comfort her. Yet, he spoke with his heart : ‘’If he indeed had a soul, then all we can hope for, is for him to be free at last’’, he answered softly, stroking her cheek. She looked away. Sinbad felt his heart squeeze. He hated to see her like this. So much sadness, sorrow and grief in her beautiful hazel eyes. She had just lost a friend. One who willingly sacrificed himself so she could live. Sinbad knew perfectly well such a sacrifice was the strongest and purest demonstration of friendship. After all, weeks ago he had been willing to do the same so Scratch wouldn’t kill his friends … and Maeve.
‘’Sinbad !’’, they heard Doubar calling from behind. Firouz, Maeve and Sinbad turned their faces to him. They saw Crimson standing in the doorway, staring at Maeve. The aristocrat slowly walked over to her. Instinctively, the sailors drew their swords, even though they knew it would be uneffective against the vampire. It didn’t seem to bother Crimson ; the vampire never took his eyes off of the redhead. With his usual elegance, he offered one hand to the sorceress. ‘’My darling’’, he said. To everybody’s surprise, Maeve stretched her arm, allowing him to take her hand in his so he could help her standing up.
‘’Please, put your swords back’’, she asked the crew once she stood on her feet. The crew hesitated, but Maeve didn’t seem to fear Crimson at all. Though they were still worried about her safety - and their own, of course -, they obeyed her. Crimson was alone, now. He couldn’t win against the six of them, had he tried to fight against them. The aristocrat kept staring at her silently. The crew were surprised when they saw a small frown appear on Crimson’s forehead. For a few seconds, his red eyes expressed something that looked like sadness.
‘’Why are you doing this to me ?’’ Crimson asked Maeve softly, with a childlike voice. She looked startled, but she answered gently : ‘’Crimson … You and I can only make each other unhappy’’.
‘’Untrue. If you stay, I will give you everything you could ever dream of’’, he protested.
‘’What about freedom ?’’ she asked him. ‘’What about love ?’’ she added after glancing quickly at Sinbad.
‘’But I love you’’, Crimson answered, his face expressionless.
At this point, the crew almost pitied him. But Maeve chuckled when she heard his answer. ‘’Crimson, you can’t love. Not anymore’’. She smiled mischievously. ‘’Even as a living man, you had several concubines’’, she chuckled, ‘’I don’t think you’ll ever know what love is’’, she teased him. Crimson grinned in approval. He had only said this to trick her. Maeve shook her head. ‘’Thus, it doesn’t convince me’’, she told him.
‘’I know, but at least I tried to’’, Crimson smiled devilishly. The aristocrat glanced at the crew, then back at her. ’‘Well, I’ll have to find myself another hunter, another pet toy to replace you’’, he told her. ‘’That won’t be too difficult’’.
Maeve rolled her eyes, and reached in closer. Everybody was startled when she kissed Crimson’s cheek softly. ‘’Be good’’, she told him like a mother speaking to her child. ‘’Hunt wisely, like the great, mercyful man I know you were, and maybe still are’’, she added. He smiled proudly, delighted by her flattery, and nodded.
Crimson and Maeve said goodbye, then the crew followed the sorceress out of the ballroom. They all sighed of relief when they stepped out of the castle, welcoming the daylight and the sun’s warmth upon their skin. Dermott screeched to greet them. He flew to Bryn and perched on her forearm. The hawk was relieved to see everybody was still alive.
*****
To be continued ...
I will ask as soon as I feel I can't solve this issue (the next chapter). I already know what happens in the final one. I just didn't really have the time to write much lately and the technical aspect of how one of Firouz's inventions will allow them to free Maeve or destroy the vampires is problematic right now, but I'll find a way, hehe.
But I want to post them in the right order. But as I said, since I have, roughly, a 2 year timeline so far, I really HAVE to make the stories shorter and less detailed than I did here. That means less action, maybe. I'll see what I can do.
), so I might refer to some activities, but always in a tasteful / humorous manner (unless you think what I have written in this fic was not, but it won’t get more graphic/offensive than what I have written so far). 