Chimera: Quadroon [Generation Iv]

By Bonnie J. Snowden

WHEN THE VAMPIRE PRINCESS GOES MISSING, ALL OF LAC'AROON WILL PAY THE PRICE.


Chimera delicately sat in a vacant chair and crossed her legs, all the while maintaining her grip on Lokeys arm. Lokeys fingers were starting to lose their feeling and her shoulders ached. My friends here thought I needed a broader education than my Queen Aunt could or would provide me. So, Lokey here drugged me, stole a horse, and kidnapped me.
The Major winked handsomely at Lokey. Nice friends.
Lokey hissed back.
We caught a ship to Telt, were assaulted by Bartholomeu Roberts and Edvard Teach in Bahaba Delta, converted a captain and were chased from the forest outside of Goldavia by The Queen's minions. Chimera leaned forward with the flow of her tale. I am told that humans here have worth beyond the quality of their blood. I am here to learn what that means and decide if that is more or less important than the vampire purist education I received at Kimilt.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Sep 16, 2013
• ISBN: 9781483690001

Bonnie J. Snowden

A Theatre technician by trade, Bonnie spends most of her time listening to the rain, reading books and making bald men blue.

Book preview

Chimera: Quadroon

[Generation IV]

BONNIE J. SNOWDEN

Copyright © 2013 by Bonnie J. Snowden.

Library of Congress Control Number:       2013915314

ISBN:         Hardcover                               978-1-4836-8999-9

                   Softcover                                 978-1-4836-8998-2

                   Ebook                                      978-1-4836-9000-1

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Rev. date: 09/11/2013

To order additional copies of this book, contact:

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Contents

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To Drew and Zola, quite possibly my greatest fans.

And my proof readers: Bart, Justin, Roxy, Nacho, Jen and Mom, without your help, this would be grammatically-challenged, plot-deprived muck.

1

There was nothing but darkness, and if Kevlik had not had the irritating sensation of dust in his eyes, he would have been sure that his eyes were closed all along. His head throbbed, he had a curious feeling that his brain was bruised by the beating he had taken in his capture and delivery, and everything was darkness. But even if his sight was impaired, his ears still worked in a muffled sort of way. He could hear people talking, at least a dozen different voices on the other side of this darkness, but he couldn’t tell what any of them were saying. His mind was still fuzzy, his limbs were still weak and bloodless, and even his toes felt beaten; but as the voices on the other side escalated, he felt moved to pay attention.

The voices seemed to be coming clearer. He could even make out individual words. Come… trouble… a surprise… What we have hidden back here. And as the voices became clearer, he realized with wonder and dread that the clarity was due to proximity, and with a flourish, the darkness was gone. A man had removed the curtain.

Kevlik blinked his dust-ridden eyes to try and focus on what he could now see. It wasn’t particularly bright, but his eyes were hard to adjust. It was a relief not to be in the tent anymore. The room was large, filled with odd furnishings common for an abandoned ballroom—tables, chairs, mirrors, and tapestries. A tapestry, what he could only assume was used to hide him, now lay on the floor next to a spry man with four thin lines of charcoal marring his otherwise pale face, holding an axe. Following this man’s gaze, he saw that the right side of the room was full of at least two dozen people. He gulped as he realized that people was probably an incorrect term, as in the middle of this mass stood a tall, gilded chair that held a beautiful woman wearing a crown that looked as if it was made out of small bones. Her perfectly pale and elegant, if not a little morose, face was marred by two lines of charcoal.

This must be The Queen at last. She was flanked by twenty or so of her most loyal subjects, all with ash across their faces in displays of rank, all armed to the teeth. And everyone stared, not at him, but rather at the open door at the other end of the room to Kevlik’s left. In the light of the door, two people stood silhouetted in the bright hall light.

Kevlik gulped down a bout of nausea that had risen in his throat. A small pregnant woman and a crazed woman with a knife stood in the door across from two dozen angry and vicious soldiers. A single tear escaped Kevlik’s eye. Ankh . . .

I have brought you your prize, Your Grace, now I would like my money. Myra was mercenary to the core. She tightened her grip on the diminutive arm of the pregnant girl.

The Queen stood and looked out with an almost uninterested gaze. And what prize is that supposed to be?

Myra looked both betrayed and horrified. The dunpeal and her… pet! She motioned to Kevlik. We were promised… I was promised 1,000 for bringing her to you! Telya assured me only this afternoon that I was in for a great…

There was a hiss from the council. The Queen silenced them with a flick of her hand. Come closer, child.

Myra hesitated. Just give me my money and I’ll go. You can do what you want with her. Myra looked caged, trapped. Kevlik felt no pity for her. Only anger and justice.

Telya, this… girl says she is with you. Is that true?

The crowd laughed a merciless, communal chuckle. Myra tightened her grip on Ankh.

Well, I met her outside Stonyaka if that is what you mean. She had killed all of my mercenaries, even my personal pet, Ivan.

The Queen feigned a look of shock and sadness. My poor Telya. You were going to promote Ivan, were you not?

Telya’s eyes flashed at Myra. Myra blanched at the stare. Yes, actually, after he offered up the girl and boy, I was going to… promote him.

The Queen’s look settled back on Myra. Kevlik would have had to be devoid of a soul not to pity Myra for being the recipient of that cold, evil look. There was silence for a moment or two while The Queen considered and Myra shifted uncomfortably.

Very well, give her what she has asked for.

At these words, Myra smiled wide and loosened her grip on Ankh. The gap between them was small. But little did that matter, because to her left and right, The Queen had the most accurate archers in Lac’aroon. A moment later, Myra fell down, having received in her heart exactly what she had deserved.

I do hate intruders, The Queen addressed Ankh now. But you, you are no intruder. You are expected. Please enter. Telya has told me so much about you. A sick smile played on The Queen’s lips. Kevlik felt his empty stomach turn.

Do you like my surprise for you? The Queen smiled a hateful smile. I had heard that you travel with this… man and I just thought he should be here for your last supper.

Ankh didn’t say anything in reply. Instead, she raised her eyes to Kevlik. Desperately, he tried to focus his thoughts toward Ankh. It took a few moments of blinking and swallowing, but finally the thoughts began to pour past his mind to hers: I guess we finally made it, Ankh. I always said I would help you find The Queen and there she is . . . provoking you. Just leave me and get out. I failed you so many times, Ankh. I am so sorry, but just this once, think of yourself. You have our child to consider. Just leave me and get out while you still can!

A faint smile played upon Ankh’s white and scarred face. She was no longer veiled, and boils marked where she had seen the sun or moon barefaced recently. A faint whisper emanated from her pale mouth, barely making it to Kevlik’s ears, "While you still can."

What was that? The Queen’s voice was sharp and unforgiving. She had missed the conversation in Kevlik’s head, which suited Kevlik just fine. He tried to keep his thoughts quiet so he could listen without distracting Ankh every few moments. Ankh stared straight at The Queen with no apparent expression.

I have come all this way. I would like to ask some questions while I still can.

The Queen’s malicious smile turned positively smug. Questions… that’s right, questions. That’s why you came here tonight was for questions. Well, I am not sure I can answer your questions. I have my own to ask right now. She turned slightly to her right. Telya here tells me that you caused quite some trouble when you were her guests some months ago. Now why was that? She was nothing if not hospitable toward you.

She did not let me ask questions.

I see. So you escaped from her, killing many useful sheep and knights on your way. Tut tut, that was not smart. Kevlik could see that The Queen quietly drummed her fingers on the elaborate chair. She was playing with Ankh. Playing with her food, he thought with a spasm of pain.

You then moved on to Holta where you reformed my clever little Roxannavich and killed my promising consort Wilt. What have you to say to that? The Queen was tapping her cheek with one perfect finger. She looked every inch in control.

They did not let me ask questions… and they tried to kill me.

But you killed him… how?

I ran him through, in a normal battle to the death.

And now I understand you have grieved Telya by destroying one of her favorite toys in her hometown.

Ankh lowered her chin slightly. That was not my fault. I was unconscious.

I see, and through all this you have kept this filthy animal as, what, your pet? Your guide? Your… lover? The Queen now pointed one long, delicate, white finger toward Kevlik but not looking at him as though the very sight of him tainted her.

He came with me because I asked him.

A loud breath escaped Kevlik’s mouth. He hadn’t even been aware he had held his breath. But to his memory, Ankh seemed to be embellishing the truth a little. He returned his eyes to The Queen when she spoke again.

You have deprived me of a very capable shepherdess, a worthy consort, and now a loyal Lordly Knight. Tell me, why should I listen to your questions before I just kill you?

Perhaps you could call it my final request.

The Queen seemed to mull that one over. Kevlik guessed it had more to do with the tone of the statement: the final request of one who knows they are going to die rather than pleading for it not to be so.

No, Ankh, no, not final requests. Run! But The Queen seemed to arrive at her decision abruptly, knocking Kevlik out of his mental plea for Ankh’s safety. Her head snapped up. No. And with that simple word, every weapon—knives, arrows, bolts, a hand axe, and a sai—went soaring across the room with deadly accuracy toward Ankh. But something else happened too.

It took Kevlik and his bruised mind a few long moments after the event to really see it all. In the brief millisecond before The Queen had sent the ambush on Ankh, Ankh had already resolved to block against it. Her right hand flew out and grabbed the heavy wooden table that looked to be ten feet away and set it vertical in front of her to block the ambush. She was quick and all the weapons slammed against it, sticking as if in cork. All except a single knife, thrown inexpertly wide to the left. That one hilt, Kevlik could see, was in the front of her bicep with the point stuck out the back of her arm. A thin trickle of blood was already beginning to run from it onto the cold stone floor, but Ankh made no movement to remove it. Instead, she braced the table with her now injured left arm, broke off one of the heavy legs with her right, and then threw, or rather pushed, the whole table back toward The Queen’s entourage. It exploded into The Queen’s right flank, beyond Telya, and left seven wounded and three fatally impaled on sharp splinters of the broken wood.

Kevlik was shocked. Ankh didn’t appear weak anymore.

The Queen no longer sat. Anger flared her nostrils as she looked down upon the small woman that had just caused such destruction. How did you do that? Tell me!

Are you ready to answer my questions? The blood from the knife was beginning to create a red gold puddle on the floor, and the smell was seeping. The sharp metallic scent of blood was everywhere, and it made his skin crawl. How long would they wait to kill her now? How long could they wait to feed?

Who are you that you can defend against something I had not even ordered yet?

Perhaps you can tell me. My father told me to ask you and only you. The Regent at Baltoix told me the same thing.

Your father… who was your father?

I never knew his name. I only know that he was a human that Telya killed the same day I escaped her mansion.

Kevlik looked back just in time to see Telya’s reaction. Her face lost its healthy brown and paled in shock. Her mouth opened, but no words came out. The Queen, too, noticed her behavior and roared for her to say what it was she knew. But Telya seemed incapable of sound and whispered it in The Queen’s ear rather than aloud. The Queen stood back up slowly after the news seeped into her ear like poison. Her face became a single grim line. Well, well, well, and how is that allergy to the sun of yours?

She knew. Kevlik cringed closer to the cold, slimy wall he was shackled to. Ankh was going to die because she knew. Whatever the secret of her parenthood was, The Queen definitely knew her.

Ankh didn’t move an inch or give any sign that her final recognition was at all her doom. Better every day, thank you.

So Jhim was your father. That would mean you get your talents from your mother. How much magic do you know?

You call it magic.

Because magic is what it is. Now do tell me, is that a baby in your stomach? And even more interesting, is it the unholy offspring of that insect on the wall?

Ankh looked over at Kevlik, and the small contact made his mind clear again. He is my friend, my guide, and my love.

Disgusting, but oh so appropriate. Do you want to know how your mother died, little girl? She died just like you are going to. She died because she fell in love with a human just like that one—

Ankh cut her off. I just need you to tell me who she was.

So you can do what? Die in peace? Because I promise you, you are going to die here, you and that boy and that abomination you are carrying.

I need you to tell me so I can kill your friends before I die. Kevlik flinched. Ankh still bled profusely.

I suppose you can try to kill us all if you like, I mean, you have already made a good start, but do you really think you are going to get away? There are more than a dozen of us here to kill you, you who are bleeding already. It will be easy, even if you are The Magic One.

Kevlik’s mind slammed into place. The Magic One, the sister to The Queen. The Queen’s curse at birth, like a death sentence, The Magic One disappearing around the same time Ankh must have been born. That meant The Queen had finally killed the Magic One, but only after she had had a daughter. Ankh was the Magic One’s daughter… Ankh was the Magic One. A new idea collided with this realization; if Ankh wasn’t careful, she was going to end up just like her mother, dead at the birth of her child. Ankh, his mind screamed, get out of here now!

But whether or not she heard any of this, she did not look at Kevlik. She held the table leg like a dagger, ready for any attack. Tell me what I need to know.

I shall take the secret to your grave. And with that, The Queen flicked her fingers at Ankh and eight soldiers began their deadly steps toward Ankh.

Two had crossbows and shot at Ankh while they were still half the room away. Deftly, Ankh raised her wooden stake and deflected both of these attacks. The first bolt glanced off the stake and ended up inside one of the approaching women’s chest; the second went wide and ended up three inches to the left of The Queen’s bony crown. The soldier fell dead with a sudden thud.

The first woman to get close enough to attack had long black hair, braided down her back, and carried sais. With lithe and studied movements, she moved to slash Ankh across the chest. Mid-swing, Ankh shifted her weight, grabbed her with her damaged left arm, swung her into her momentum, and with the black braid between her belly and the woman’s back, stabbed the woman in the chest with her own sai. She fell useless in front of Ankh, as the next woman, this one with a long two-handed sword, swung into Ankh’s hip. Ankh moved, but not enough and it landed with an eerie slush in her flesh. Ankh quickly used her stake to swing upward and diagonally across the woman’s chest and face with the splintery wood, rending a long cut and a shower of blood. That woman, too, fell with a thud, her sword fell with a metallic clamor.

The next came behind her with a short sword to stab down into her back, but Ankh turned around with such force that the blunt end of the stake connected with her temple and knocked her unconscious. Then there was the girl with an axe that rent a long cut on Ankh’s cheek before Ankh pushed her nose up into her skull with the heel of her hand. Two tried to attack together, positioned on either side of Ankh, leveling knives and a staff at her swollen body. But before either could attack, Ankh closed her eyes and both women burst into flames, screaming and dropping to the ground. The last that advanced was one of the two with crossbows, but her every bolt went inexplicably wide. Finally, Ankh used the hand axe that was on top of the pile of dead or almost dead bodies to sever the crossbow operator’s head from her body. When that body fell, Ankh was left facing only four enemies on the other side. The Queen, her right-hand Telya, a woman with three charcoal lines and a two-handed sword, and the pale man that guarded Kevlik. For a moment, Kevlik even began to hope. But then he saw Ankh falter.

Great pools of blood collected at Ankh’s feet. Rivers of red ran from her cheek, her shoulder, her arm, and her calf. She stood very tall and proud, but her legs shook slightly. Kevlik knew it would only be minutes now before she collapsed entirely and The Queen would kill her and him. Hold on Ankh, hold on, he chanted in his mind.

You are going to die here.

I know.

Then why not let me help you out with the process? First I will cut off your legs so you do not have to stand and then I will cut off your head so you don’t have to see, then I will throw the rest of you out into the sun to simply burn away, but you will not feel it, will you? And that thing inside of you can just shrivel and die… like it should.

Kevlik’s eyes darted back to Ankh. That speech had certainly gotten her attention and she no longer shook, but it seemed to take all of her energy to keep still. Her eyes were cool and piercing. She looked only at The Queen. Kevlik doubted she even saw the others anymore. Just say it, Queen, and let me die with the knowledge.

A cold smile wrapped about The Queen’s mouth. No. Kill her, Telya.

Telya quickly drew her great bow from her back and began to pull a lethal arrow into position. Kevlik shuddered as he thought about that great arrow piercing through Ankh’s small frame, through his unborn child as well. He bowed his head for the execution. What he heard however was not the snap of the string but a body falling from his left; he looked up.

Ankh was fine; she still stood straight, but the deadly arrow now stuck out of her left shoulder, just missing her heart. He looked right. To his amazement, it was Telya who had fallen, with the piece of wood Ankh had held now sticking out of her forehead; her eyes, unseeing, stared at the ceiling. The Queen was looking with horror at the body of Telya, her favorite.

Ankh looked vaguely disappointed. I missed.

So why did you not just kill me? Kevlik knew what The Queen was thinking: Ankh could have.

You still have not answered my question. I just need to hear from you who I am. I have come so far, killed so many, and done so much to find out. I need to hear you say it.

The Queen’s eyes had not missed the effect of all the combat on Ankh’s tired body.

Blood gushed toward the floor from her shoulder, and her left arm was completely useless. It was only moments now before The Queen would have her victory. Kevlik supposed that was why she began to talk.

How like my sister you are, Dunpeal. Defiant to the very last. You had such spirit and strength too. It is a shame you never joined me. I could have shown you how to use your magic, instead, you are about to let it die with you. You will not pass on your magic as my sister did. What a waste.

Ankh smiled a small sad smile. The Queen’s concession must have been enough for her, Kevlik thought; she is going to die now anyhow. A tear began to roll down his cheek.

I love you, Ankh, he thought sadly, and I would have loved to have raised our child together in Baltoix. We should have stayed there with the protection of Magdalie. I am so sorry I couldn’t save you.

Ankh answered his thoughts by turning her head to him. Kevlik. And with a sudden ferocity that only impending death can bring, he watched as she steeled herself and suddenly grabbed the knife in her left arm with her right hand and pulled. Torrents of blood shot from her arm, and she fell to her knees. But she was not done. She closed her eyes as an electric energy filled the room. The Queen screamed an angry screech. Carefully and slowly, Ankh cut across her lower stomach. Kevlik had to look away. When he looked back again, the energy in the room had faded slightly and Ankh held in her good arm a bloody little lump and crooned softly. Kevlik couldn’t hear what she said, but he could guess and so he sang along softly, Black bird singing in the dead of night… And then Ankh fell backward, baby still at her breast, and did not move again.

Ankh!

Roth, keep that creature quiet! Tetiana, see if it is dead. The Queen’s voice was cold and low. Fear showed on her face. Kevlik couldn’t see after that because Roth’s punch in the jaw sent his bruised head reeling. He shook himself back as soon as he could.

She’s dead, my Queen. Kevlik’s whole body went numb. It wasn’t possible. Life was over. But the child is alive. What should I do with it? Her sword was already hanging in position to strike. Kevlik began to choke as his worst fears became stunning reality.

The Queen finally moved from her chair. She walked, slowly and carefully, around the bodies of her former court toward the now still body of Ankh. She stared down at Ankh silently and then spoke to the corpse with regret in her voice.

How like my sister you were, you gave up everything I could give you for humans. I should kill this one right now for your traditional insolence. But—

It was the but that stopped Tetiana’s downward stroke. She looked as if a great treat had been taken away from her. But Kevlik had to look back at The Queen as he realized that she stared straight at him now. He gulped.

If I raise my great niece as a vampire, perhaps there might be a way of saving the race still. Obviously, killing does not make as great an impact as I had hoped. I killed my sister, I killed her daughter, this time, I will raise my great niece and make her into my pet. She now stood right in front of Kevlik’s chains, smiling a malicious smile. What do you say, Daddy, shall I make her into my own? Kevlik couldn’t help it; he screamed as loud as he could. His heart was positively broken. Not only had this woman standing two feet in front of him killed his love, but she was also about to steal and corrupt his daughter. His probable impending death meant nothing compared to those two, and still, chained to this wall, he could do nothing about it. So he screamed.

Amusing. Roth, I think we will keep him. He can be Chimera’s birthday present one year. What a treat he will make her.

Roth looked confused. Chimera, my Queen? You are going to name it?

She had walked back over to Ankh’s body and supervised as Tetiana carefully wrapped the baby in what used to be Ankh’s gauzy headdress.

Hush now, Roth. Show some respect to my new great niece. Her name will be Chimera. Named after an ancient beast mixed from various fiends and creatures. What a delightful little monster she will be. And if she is bad, we can always eat her.

She laughed a dangerously steely laugh. Tetiana, feed the monster some of her mother’s blood. She will be hungry and I want her drinking blood right away. And when you are done, throw those bodies out of my castle and burn them. They were not worthy… . And as for the dunpeal, just toss her outside. She will burn away on her own.

Kevlik was aware only of his broken heart, the sound of his screams, and the demonic laughter emanating from The Queen until the world suddenly went black again and Roth began to suck his life away.

2

15 years later in KIMILT

Laundry wasn’t something that Lokey enjoyed doing. In fact, of all the menial chores at the mansion, it pretty well was the chore she hated the most. No matter how many times she scrubbed the rust colored stains, they just didn’t dissolve into the cold water. Lokey sighed. Nothing more than total dedication to her mistress could make her wash bloody clothes day in and day out. And if Lokey was anything, she was dedicated to Chimera.

After the last stain had been scrubbed and her hands became puckered and raw, Lokey lingered near the wash basin. The next step was almost as detestable as that of actual washing, but The Queen had very firm rules about the way everything in the mansion was to be done and according to law, all laundry was to be hung to dry in the courtyard. Good old wind and sunshine. Lokey cringed. There were few things Lokey hated more than sunshine, but The Queen had the entire mansion infested with spies and informants and would know within minutes if Lokey dried Chimera’s dresses in the servant’s quarters instead. Punishment was swift and severe, thus Lokey stalled at the door to the courtyard as long as she dared.

In a perfectly practiced movement, she edged the door open while holding the basket of wet laundry on her hip. But before she could slide through the gap into the sunshine, the door slammed shut in front of her nose. Out of sheer surprise, she lost her grip on the basket and hours of washing tumbled out of the wicker basket onto the dirty corridor floor. It was just going to be one of those days. Agitated, Lokey looked around to see what had closed the door on her, but caught a fist to the stomach.

The wind was knocked out of her lungs as she fell to the floor; gasping and coughing for precious air, she saw the first flecks of blood land on her clean laundry. Small rosettes stained her hours of work. Hell. She gave up and rolled to her back to see her attacker as she puffed. He was tall, as anyone would be from such a low angle, dressed in a dark purple coat and the white starched ruffles of court. Perfect, this man was a courtier and from the looks of it, a very angry courtier. His eyes shown red and his nostril flared. A heavy black bush of a beard could not hide his snarling mouth. His ears seemed to burn as if lit fuses were beneath his flounced cap. When he spoke, he hissed.

Where is your mistress? She was to meet me an hour ago.

I do not know… sire. Lokey poured as much malice as she could over the words, but the effect was hindered by her coughing.

Then, I suggest you go and find her.

"I don’t know