"Brother... you know what... you just left your lady up there after probably turning her out with a canine drop like she's never seen, and when she comes to and rolls over and you come strolling back into the room an hour later smelling like the bar, I don't need second sight to tell you how the thing is gonna go."
Laughing harder, Shabazz knocked down his shot. "I ain't rushing. She don't run me, aw'ight," he said, standing.
"Yeah, I know ... I'm just saying ..."
Shabazz extended his fist and Carlos pounded it.
"For da bruthaz," Carlos said, finally laughing.
"If I hear about this again, I'll shoot you," Shabazz said with a wide grin. Carlos held his hands up in front of his chest. "I don't even know what you're talking about."
"Yeah, okay," Shabazz said, glancing at Carlos over his shoulder, and then he stopped and turned slowly, the smile disappearing from his face. "Why were you down here? You all right, man?"
Carlos looked up from his drink. "Yeah. I'm cool." Shabazz didn't move.
"Just thinking 'bout my boy, that's all." There was no way to explain it to Shabazz, so Carlos forced a smile. "I'm good, man. I just came down here for some headspace. I'll see you in the morning."
Shabazz nodded. "I understand more than you know, just like you just understood my shit a second ago," he said in a quiet, concerned tone. "Remember - been there. Nobody understands what losing your ace is like, unless they've lost theirs, especially when you take the blame for how it went down. Survivor's guilt is a nasty bitch, like none other, brother. Don't forget, I shot my own man by accident hi a vamp alley attack... and had ten years of headspace in the joint to think about it when authorities didn't understand." Shabazz extended his hand for Carlos to shake and held on for a second in a warrior's forearm grasp, sending tactical support into Carlos's system. "When you gotta leave one of your own, that never gets outta your head, man ... so, if you ever wanna talk about it - I got your back."
"That's good to know, man. Thanks," Carlos said when Shabazz let him go. The support charge made him feel bet ter, but he still wasn't ready to talk about it. Still really didn't see what good that would do anyway. It was what it was, f**ked up beyond repair. "Go get with your lady - I'll see you in the morning."
* * ** * *
he'd been called before, but never like this. Two polar-opposite probes splintered his mind. Yonnie put both hands to either side of his head and yelled as pain erupted inside his skull. He stumbled along the edge of the Venice Beach pier and vomited up blood as the searing pain moved from his skull into his fangs. Sweating and only able to go a few feet before stopping, he knew he'd never be able to transport himself to a safe lair by sunrise.
"Carlos ... help me, man," Yonnie choked out, gasping. When he wiped his face, he brought his hands away quickly, staring at them in horror. Putrid flesh replaced what had been smooth, manicured hands, and was quickly aging to his actual two-hundred-plus, dead human years. Rooted where he stood, a dark magnetic force had him in its grip as the ground opened. He didn't even fight it; this had been coming for him for years.
* * *
"I was able to deactivate the spell," Sebastian said with his head and gaze lowered. "I knew the portions of each element and separated them out, one-by-one, once we were able to gain clarity."
"You cannot blame us, husband," Lilith said on her knees with her gaze lowered and wringing her hands. "Every level, including ours, was in a mating frenzy. Their side deceived Fallen, who let it in."
"I had the female Neteru in my clutches to bring to you, Your Majesty," Nuit said, keeping his head down.
"Enough!" a thunderous voice railed. "You allowed my minotaur, my favorite golden calf, to be slaughtered by those Neteru bitches... the calf that they set up in the desert during Moses's time - do you know how long I've had that animal?" Slow-walking hooves echoed within the complete darkness that even vampire sight could not penetrate.
"And you cower before me, quivering and naked, caught in the tentacles of a spawning spell... my legions f**king their brains out instead of making war - major cease-fires were almost put into effect topside on earth while this outrage occurred. If I hadn't pulled you three out of your frenzied coupling this would have gone on until the spell burned itself out - or my entire realm perished from starvation in its tentacles! I demand retribution!" Flames of rage scorched their backs as the unseen beast released a mighty roar. "No animal or human sacrifices have been made during those hours, no tragic deaths for hours on earth. No werewolf howlings and it was a full moon! No vampire turns, no phantom citings, no possessions - no Amanthra treachery, all because you allowed a backfired spell returned to us from the Light to pollute my domain. Such a breach is a sign of weakness, Lilith! An intolerable condition for our side in the end of days. Something so insidious could lull humanity into a false sense of security, thus breeding hope - and hope encourages faith, and should worldwide love blossom, I'll have your heads in my teeth!"
"Never, never, my Dark Lord," Lilith whispered.
"Then gather mine unto me using my dark force from Level Seven, Lilith," a disembodied voice of fury whispered. "I want all vampire resources, the smartest of our kind, to devise a strategy - a patient, skillful one that will not jeopardize my heir." The shift of the ominous presence around the endless black space made the three vampires
on the pit floor draw themselves up smaller to avoid an unexpected lashing.
"I have called the first one, the one who goes by Yolando. He was the only one of our kind not polluted, because he was not in our realms when the incursion struck. I want the topside dark covens aligned as one force, ready and able to spell-cast. Lorelei led me to him - reward her with power, but do not give her the kiss of the undead. We need forces that can withstand the Light to do our bidding day or night," the great voice rumbled and then trailed off in a sinister, hissing whisper. "I will call the men of science and manipulate them."
"We will crush the Neteru team," Sebastian promised with an unsure voice.
"I want them to have time to think we've been conquered so that we can see how best to turn the blade within their minds," the beast murmured seductively. "Didn't Machiavelli teach you anything before the Neterus murdered him?"
"Oui," Fallen Nuit said with a tight voice. "He and I ... strategized together for years. Sebastian should have never taken such risks with a resource of that magnitude from our realms."
Sebastian hissed and the darkness went still for a moment, again causing the vampires on the cavern floor to cringe.
"I agree," the beast finally said in a weary tone. "When I have more time, I may devote myself to raising him. For now, Sebastian, know that you owe me - which is never a good thing ... so do make excellent use of this Lorelei."
Hoof clatter began to retreat from the void. Relief washed through the huddling vampires.