A Kingdom Falls (The Mancer Trilogy Book 1) Page 5

  Tania smiled sweetly. Rab turned and left the room.

  Tania stood up and stretched, before taking a drink from her wine glass. “Men,” she thought to herself. “So easy for a beautiful smart woman to manipulate. It was amazing how often the Bank got what it wanted by using a beautiful smart woman or, if that failed, the wonderfully subtle influence of the true power behind the Red Bank.”

  A light laugh escaped her lips. There were many fantastic versions of how the branch at Mon-Li had survived the final attack on it; however, none of them were even close to the truth. The truth was that the Brethren of the Night had founded the Red Bank, had protected the Red Bank, and on that one night, raised it from being an unheard-of bank to one of great fame and notoriety.

  She had been there at the siege and she had seen the true power of the Brethren unleashed on those that dared defy them – the animalistic savagery of the Brethren and the wild frenzied assault of the Lady Joanna Harris with her wild unkempt hair and zealot eyes. There was a truly powerful woman, a woman to look up to and admire.

  Tania Stone moved to the window and looked out towards the palace. With one beautifully manicured finger, Tania caressed the windowsill. “One day, the palace will be mine and the people of Deep Lake my slaves,” she whispered to herself before taking another sip of her wine. “One day.”

  ***

  Alicia Saunt stood up as the shadow-door opened and watched as Gideon Sandhu stepped through. “My Lord Sandhu.” Alicia curtsied.

  “Saunt.” Gideon held out his hand.

  Alicia took the offered hand and allowed herself to be taken through the still open shadow-door.

  ***

  Stumbling slightly, as she always did, Alicia exited the portal and let go of Gideon’s hand.

  “Follow me, Alicia,” Gideon commanded as he walked purposefully down the natural stone corridor.

  “Yes, my lord.” Alicia walked silently behind her lord as he exited the stone corridor and made his way through a large natural cavern. Leaping flames from large bonfires, placed strategically around the room to heat the space, caused shadows to dance on the walls. Screams of pleasure and pain could be heard coming from behind numerous doors in the wall of the cavern.

  As she followed Lord Sandhu, Alicia noted that near one of the bonfires, a group of six naked individuals writhed on the floor. Cries of pure sexual pleasure rang out from the group of men and women as they participated in the most deprived sexual acts. Alicia had to fight against the growing urge to join in.

  To her left, chained naked to the wall, a man was being whipped by two women dressed in black leather. Rivers of blood flowed down his back. The trembling shadows caused by the bonfire’s flames only added to the sadomasochistic drama that was unfolding. Alicia smiled in approval as the women moved their whips to the man’s buttocks and the back of his legs. His screams mixed with others and resounded around the chamber.

  Alicia and Gideon finally reached the far side of the cavern and began to climb the sharply rising stone stairs that they found there. After a good ten minutes had elapsed, Alicia heard the faint noise of waves crashing against rocks and felt the cool night air against her skin.

  It was another two minutes before they reached the top. Gideon stopped and turned to look at Alicia as she took in the view. “Magnificent,” he simply stated.

  “Yes, my lord, it is,” agreed Alicia.

  They were standing at the top of an island, which rose sharply out of a savage sea. Jagged cliffs and sharp rocks formed three of its sides, whilst on the fourth a natural sheltered causeway led to another large island, which rose just as violently out of the sea.

  “Come,” said Sandhu as he made his way to the unlit causeway. Alicia followed, silently.

  The causeway was a straight road with high curving inward sides, which did not quite meet at the top, meaning that rain and, if the sea was rough enough, sea spray would soak anyone who walked along it.

  Alicia straightened her back as she walked along the unlit path, trying not to jump as the waves fiercely crashed against the sides of the causeway.

  “Are you scared, child?” asked Sandhu.

  “No, for I am a daughter of the Red Bank and I fear nothing.”

  “Nothing?”

  Alicia paused for a second. “Only that He will never return and show the world His light.”

  “He shall cometh again, Alicia Saunt, have no fear of that. The Midnight Man will cometh again,” assured Sandhu.

  “-Blessed be His name -” Alicia’s eyes shone with devotion.

  “-for He shall show us the way,” finished Sandhu.

  The pair of them continued walking the causeway as the angry black water crashed all around them.

  As they reached the end of the causeway, a large solid-looking building came into view. It had been carved from the rock itself; the rear of the house was still connected to rock face. A solid wooden door allowed them entry into a long tunnel, which, in turn, ended in another door, that when opened, gave way to a large hallway with a huge sweeping staircase at the far end. Numerous servants moved though the hallway, doing their master’s bidding. “Follow me,” instructed Sandhu as he made his way towards a door on his right. Upon reaching the door, he opened it and strode straight in, with Alicia following in his wake.

  As they entered the room, Alicia looked round and immediately fell to her knees, placing her forehead on the cold stone floor. “Lady Joanna!” she spluttered.

  Joanna Harris, her wild hair framing her harsh angular face, looked down at the trembling woman before her. “Stand, Alicia Saunt, daughter of the Red Bank.”

  Alicia slowly stood, keeping her eyes downcast.

  “Do you have a report for us?” another female voice asked.

  “Yes, Lady Gregorious,” said Alicia, instantly recognising the voice.

  “Raise your eyes, child,” said Joanna.

  “Yes… Yes… Lady Harris,” responded Alicia, as she hesitantly looked Joanna in the face.

  “Are you not a daughter of the Bank?” asked Joanna Harris.

  “Yes, Lady Harris.”

  “Then act like one,” snarled Joanna.

  Rage flickered behind Alicia Saunt’s eyes for a moment before she composed herself. “As you command, Lady Harris.”

  “Better,” hissed Joanna.

  A harsh small laugh escaped Miriam Gregorious’ lips as she watched the minor drama unfold before her. “This is now boring. Get on with the report.”

  “Yes, Lady Gregorious,” replied Alicia. “As per your instructions, we activated Agent Farah Sharpe, a minor noble, and had her make an attempt on Queen Rebecca Rothgal’s life. As we anticipated, the attempt failed. However, as we know, it did not matter if the attempt failed or not. In fact, we were rather hoping it did not succeed.”

  “We were all present at the planning stage, Alicia,” growled Gideon Sandhu.

  “My apologies, my lord. I was just setting the scene.”

  “Just get on with it.”

  “My lord.” Alicia gave a small nod of her head.

  Joanna smiled her approval of Alicia not grovelling before Sandhu.

  Buoyed up by Lady Harris’s approval, Alicia continued, “What happened next was beyond what we had hoped for. The crippled lapdog of the Queen, Shadow Killer, sent one of his best Dev’ver to spy on Farah Sharpe. We caught, bound, and tortured the Dev’ver to within an inch of his sanity.”

  “Is it true what they say – that it is simply exquisite to torture a Dev’ver?” asked Miriam.

  “It is, my lady,” confirmed Alicia. “Not only can they survive the most brutal treatment, they heal themselves quickly so you can do it all over again with little fear of killing the subject.”

  “I will have to try and capture one for myself,” commented Miriam. “Anyway, we digress; carry on, Saunt.”

  “My lady, we tortured the Dev’ver whilst Lady Sharpe led her staff in the wildest of depraved orgies seen outside this hallowed island. He would have been pr
oud of the emotions set free that night.”

  “Praise be His name,” intoned those within the room.

  “-for He is the Midnight Man,” added Alicia.

  “-and He cometh,” finished Joanna.

  Alicia bowed her head before she continued, “In His honour, we made sure that those who found the remains of that night will have its images impressed on their minds for as long as they shall live.”

  “You have done very well, Alicia Saunt,” said Joanna, “and you must be rewarded.”

  “My lady, I only live to serve.”

  Ignoring the glances from Gideon and Miriam, Joanna walked up to Alicia. “That might be, but rewarded you shall be.” Joanna rolled up one sleeve of her dress.

  Alicia gasped and her eyes opened wide in disbelief. “My… lady?”

  “Open your mouth, Alicia,” said Joanna as she ran one of her razor sharp nails along her exposed wrist, causing blood to flow freely.

  Alicia did as she was bid and looked hungrily at the dark blood oozing from Lady Harris’ wrist. Joanna seized Alicia’s hair and pulled her close, whilst placing the cut wrist over the woman’s mouth. “Drink!” she commanded.

  Alicia needed no command and eagerly allowed the rich dark liquid down her throat.

  “Not too much,” Joanna gently scolded as she pulled away her wrist, while keeping tight hold of Alicia’s hair. Alicia meowed like a kitten as she watched the wrist disappear, her hands feebly trying to paw it back.

  “I said enough.” Joanna threw Alicia onto the floor, where she landed on her knees.

  Alicia was breathing heavily as the vampyre’s blood seeped through her stomach and into her blood system. Everything seemed so... so… alive. Every touch and emotion was magnified a hundred fold.

  Alicia did not notice the two naked muscular men enter the room until they reached down and picked her up. Alicia, her eyes wide, turned to look at one of them. She kissed him passionately, her hand grabbing his groin.

  “Take her to pleasure room nine within this residence. Make sure there are enough men, women, and toys to keep her pleasured,” said Lady Harris.

  “Yes, my lady,” replied the man currently free of Alicia’s attention.

  The three vampyres watched as the men dragged Alicia out of the room and away to her night of sexual pleasure.

  “I wonder if she will survive?” mused Miriam.

  “She is young and strong, with a healthy heart,” shrugged Gideon.

  “It will be as He wills,” said Joanna.

  “As He wills,” intoned Gideon and Miriam.

  Joanna made her way to one of the sofas in the room and sat down. “She has done well. The plan is now set in motion.”

  “She did,” agreed Miriam as she sat down next to Joanna. Gideon sat in a plush deep chair opposite the sofa.

  “Shadow Killer,” Miriam scoffed as she said his name, “will be chasing his own mange-ridden tail for further attacks or signs of us.”

  “And, of course, there won’t be any,” added Gideon.

  “The Church, in all of its colourful elements, will also be looking for signs of us, as well as all parties that wish to take the throne of the Twin Kingdoms,” continued Miriam.

  “Which will mean they will be so busy looking over their shoulder for something that is not there, they will forget about trying to take the throne,” said Gideon.

  “Which, in turn, allows us to do two things,” interrupted Joanna: “choose the time to throw the Twin Kingdoms into chaos and, more importantly, find the dead boy – he who will be father to my mother, father of our beloved Lord and Master – the father to the Midnight Man.”

  “The Midnight Man, He cometh again!” Gideon and Miriam screamed.

  “-and He shall RULE THE WORLD!” screeched Joanna.

  ***

  The next afternoon

  Alicia Saunt slowly blinked open her eyes, trying to get them to adjust to the dazzling bright light. Her naked body ached and she felt bruised everywhere. With difficulty, she shielded her eyes with her arm and tried to take in her surroundings.

  The room smelt of sex, blood, wine, and drugs. Other bodies lay around the room. A man lay close to her on his back with his throat ripped out. Alicia become aware of the taste of blood in her mouth, among other things, and wiped her mouth with her forearm.

  Rolling on her side, her back to the corpse, Alicia tried to piece together from her fragmented memories what had occurred. She remembered the gift Lady Joanna Harris had bestowed on her. She remembered hard violent sex. She remembered the emotional highs and lows of the night. She remembered using the sex toys on herself and on others. She remembered the man not wanting to participate. She remembered ripping his throat out with her teeth and laughing about it. She remembered still using the sex toy on the corpse. She remembered wave after wave of pleasure rippling through her body.

  Alicia heard a door open and two people walked towards her.

  “Senior Banker Saunt,” said a woman’s voice.

  “Yes,” muttered Alicia as a soft dressing gown was draped over her.

  “If you would be so kind as to stand, my colleague and I will take you from this room to the bath and steam room.”

  “That sounds wonderful,” managed Alicia as she tried to stand up.

  She felt the two people lift her up, and help her in the dressing gown, before guiding her to the exit of the room. As she left, Alicia asked, “How many?”

  “It looks like four dead and seven alive, including you.”

  Alicia smiled. “It was a good party, then.”

  “It certainly looks that way, Senior Banker Saunt,” agreed a woman’s voice.

  Chapter Three

  Of Church & Cults

  Brother Bruce Warsmith swung his staff to keep the snarling jaws at bay. “Die, vile creature!” he spat out as he swung his staff once more. On Warsmith’s left, Sergeant Guardian Luke Black lashed out with his longsword and managed to score a light wound in the Dev’ver’s side.

  The Dev’ver growled in frustration. It was tired, wounded, and trapped in its lair, and more and more of these humans were pouring in through the cave entrance. Snapping at the staff, which had swung towards him again, Long Tooth feinted to his right before leaping to the left, ripping deep bloody valleys with his razor-sharp claws into the chest of the puny creature that was trying to block its exit. As Long Tooth tried to make his escape, he saw a human raising its arm and pointing something at him.

  Calmly, Sergeant Guardian Dennis Dransfield raised his hand crossbow and sighted on the Dev’ver, which was charging over the writhing form of Guardian Paul Port, straight at him.

  “Shoot!” he heard Brother Warsmith command.

  Dennis waited for a fraction of a second before releasing his deadly bolt and hitting the werewolf square in the chest. Instantly, the creature went wild – howling in pain, flailing its arms, and tripping on the uneven ground.

  Dennis dropped the hand crossbow and half-turned to the man behind him. “The axe!” he commanded, holding out his hand. The man did as he was bid and, as Dennis turned back, clasping the heavy large-bladed axe, he saw Brother Warsmith pinning the convulsing beast down with his staff. Luke Black had thrust his longsword through its back, also pinning the creature to the ground.

  “Kill the vile abomination now, Dennis!” gasped Warsmith. Dennis took position to the side of the werewolf, whose struggles were weakening, and raised the axe high. He quickly glanced at his long-time friend, Luke Black; however, he was refusing to meet his eye – again.

  “The axe!” screamed Warsmith.

  With a yell, Dennis brought the axe down, half-severing the head from the creatures’ shoulders. It took two more brutal chops to finally separate the head from the body. Without a word, Brother Warsmith picked up the grisly trophy and strode out of the cave, accompanied by the remaining Guardians, leaving just Dennis and Luke in the cave.

  “Another vile monstrosity sent back to hell,” said Dennis.

 
“Yes,” replied Luke as he knelt by the still body of Brother Guardian Port and closed the corpse’s eyes.

  “He now sits by our Lord’s hand.”

  “That he does,” replied Luke, standing slowly.

  Dennis watched his friend as he stood. Over the last couple of months, there had been a growing coldness between them. Dennis could not understand why, although he could not shrug off the idea that Sergeant Guardian Aaron Braken had something to do with it, even though Aaron Braken had been dead for over twenty years, killed on a special mission to Castle Black. Still, Luke had never been quite the same after Braken had talked to him all those years ago. A loud cheer from outside the cave interrupted his thoughts.

  “Brother Warsmith showing the head to the crowd?” commented Dennis

  “Mmm,” replied Luke.

  “What is wrong, Luke?” Dennis asked. Suddenly, he had a deep desire to fix whatever problem was between them.

  “Nothing is wrong, Dennis,” replied Luke, lifting his head and looking at Dennis.

  The scars running down Luke Black’s right cheek caught Dennis’s attention and a flicker of guilt ran through him. His own grandfather had caused them. To Dennis’s eternal shame, his grandfather was a filthy werewolf.

  Luke’s eyes flicked to the hand crossbow on the floor. “I will send Guardians to retrieve Port’s body.”

  “Luke?”

  “What?”

  “I know there is something wrong between us.”

  “Dennis… look, we are good. Stop worrying.” Luke started to move out of the cave. “Pick up your weapon and try to not be late.”