Chapter 3

We have nothing we want to talk to you about.” Rachael shook off Osgar and brushed off her robe.

Luna gave her a toothy grin. “Rachael, I thought we were best friends.”

“No.” She shook her head sadly. “I was best friends with Leila; you are nothing more than an undead abomination. You of all people should know that.”

The Vampire stared at her old friend for a moment then turned away to face Michael. “Are you interested in what I have to say or not?”

Lord Kinsley looked at Luna, once Leila, then turned to his companions. “Please leave, I wish to speak to her alone.” Lord Kinsley took a seat at one of the pews.

“Michael.” Rachael objected her voice filled with concern.

“I’m perfectly safe.” He gave her a sad smile. “Please release everyone tonight and tell them good job.”

Osgar looked at his friend for a moment and could see sorrow in his eyes but it was probably for the best. “Come on lass; we don’t need to be in the way of their little reunion.”

“It’s been a while, Osgar.”

“Almost four years since the funeral, Miss.” Reaching for Rachael, he escorted her out of the Church. “If you need me sir, I will be right outside.”

Luna watched the pair leave, then turned her head towards Michael. “You had a funeral for me?”

“No. We had a funeral for my wife Leila.”

“Without a body?”

“We made do.”

“I’m surprised Sarah isn’t here with you.” Besides Rachael, she was also good friends with Michael’s sister. “She at least had a rational head on her shoulders. Well most of the time.” She smiled.

“I buried her next to my wife.”

“What!” The Vampire’s face, if possible, went even paler. Stumbling, she found a seat near Michael. “How, when? When we were running away from Lord Giovanni she seemed to have gotten away.” The Vampire that attacked Leila at home had chased them through the grounds of the estate. Lord Giovanni and his minions were there to inflict revenge on the Kinsley family, for the destruction of almost an entire Vampire clan in Rome.

“She didn’t get away, no more than you did. Arthur found her before she turned.” Michael looked at the floor, there was pain written all across his face. “As a precaution, he decapitated Sarah before we placed her in the coffin.”

“Poor Arthur.” Arthur was Sarah’s husband; they had been married less than a year. “Where is he now?”

“Somewhere in India last time I heard.”

Luna turned and looked at the doorway. Her body was never found, it was assumed it was lost in the battle. Lord Giovanni and most of his minions had been killed that night but Leila was missing. Michael thought she was going to be used as some sort of hostage but Lord Giovanni had other ideas. He would take his most hated enemy’s wife for his own. The Vampire had obviously turned her before his own death. “I assume you would have taken my head if you found me.” Luna had appeared several weeks later in their old bedroom, with the light of the moon shining on her pale body. She was there to turn her husband, so the two of them could be together for all eternity. He declined the offer and she barely escaped. She should have defeated him but he seemed different, stronger something had happened in those two weeks that she didn’t understand.

“What do you want, Luna?”

“Why do you still call me that, Michael? I appreciated the joke when I snuck into our bedroom but my name is Leila.” Since he named her that fateful night, she had actually kept the name as her own. Still, she would have like her husband if no one else, to call her by her proper name.

“Leila is dead. You might possess her body but she is gone from this world.” There were many discussions amongst the magical community whether a Vampire was truly the person that was turned. Most believed that the personality was just a magical construct created in the process and the true person, the spirit was gone. “Why did you leave Barcelona?”

“So you did keep tabs on me.” The Vampire looked at her husband. “Menenius is dead.”

“Impossible.” Michael rose from the pew. Menenius was an ancient Vampire, a Roman scholar, a collector of mysteries and artifacts. Reading old books, studying ancient manuscripts; most of what was known about the world before the fall of Rome was because of this Vampire. Even the Church knew about Menenius and left him alone.

“I would have thought as well.” Luna leaned back on her seat. “You must know I was working for him, roaming around the continent looking for books and whatever else interested him. My” She smiled. “Background made me most suitable.” Sarah and Leila’s job in the society was that of researchers. One of the things certain elements of the Society wanted to do was hunt down Luna because of her knowledge.

“What about the books, artifacts?” Menenius had a massive collection; much of it was things that no one, even those who walked among the shadows, would want released into the world.

“Destroyed, well most of it at least.” Luna returned to Menenius’ underground lair to find it burned out, as if some great conflagration consumed everything within.

“Did you come here just to tell me that? I would have found out eventually.”

“I need your help.” The Vampire begged. “I need your protection.”

“I don’t know if I can do that.”

“Please Michael, whatever killed Menenius is after me as well. I can feel something following me.” Rumors of her husband’s power had filtered back to her. She could sense it now; it was like sitting with Menenius but much more.

“Let me think about it, you know the Society wouldn’t approve.”

“They never had a problem dealing with Menenius. I know he was even invited to a few of their meetings in Spain.” Michael knew he was more than invited; Menenius was actually a founding member of the Society. Only a very few knew that little detail.

“He was a special case.”

“And I’m not? I’m your wife for God’s sake.”

Lord Kinsley stepped forward; his cane began to give off an eerie glow. “Let’s get this straight, Luna, you are not my wife. She is gone, dead these four years. However, as you say you were Menenius’ assistant, it would be wise for us to protect you at least for now.”

“If I’m not your wife Michael why didn’t you kill me?” She whispered. When she climbed through their bedroom window to turn her husband, another part of her wished that he would end her life. She didn’t escape, he let her go.

“Come on, it’s going to be dawn soon and we have a ways to drive before we make it to Bedford Park.”

Luna sat in the carriage her head back listening to the world around her. She wasn’t surprised that Osgar and Rachael were still standing outside when they exited the Church. The Irish Witch threatened her if she harmed Michael; of course, she wasn’t talking about physically.

“You may think this is rather odd but I heard a rumor that you got married.”

“Nothing more than a rumor.”

“I see. You could have married you know.” The Vampire looked at her husband who sat in the darkness off the carriage, his eyes closed. Only the jewel on his cane gave off a warm blue light. Michael didn’t answer her and the two of them sat in silence as the carriage made its way through London. It wasn’t until they crossed the first of the wards that Luna spoke again. Her entire body felt like an electrical shock went through it.

“You aren’t taking chances?” She would not have wanted to cross that ward uninvited.

“I learned my lesson four years ago.”

Stopping in front of the door, Luna expected a footman but when it opened, there was no one there. After helping her out of the carriage, the two of them approached the doorway.

Before they could take another step, the door opened to reveal two redheaded girls. Luna froze, who were these girls? They didn’t appear to be very happy with her presence.

“Luna, this is Macha and Nemain, girls I would like to introduce you to, Luna.”

The three women started at one another but it was Luna who broke off the contest first. “Michael, it’s going to be dawn soon.” For the most part Vampires are perfectly capable of walking about during a cloudy day however direct sunlight was extremely painful. They ruled the night, during the day their powers were reduced considerably.

“Luna you are welcome into my home. Girls, she will be staying in the east bedroom.” As Luna passed through the doorway, she shivered. “Please do not wander around. “ Reaching into his shirt pocket, Lord Kinsley checked the time. “If you need anything just ring for Macha and Nemain.”

“I thought we would talk more.” She felt as if she was being sent away. She could understand that Michael didn’t want the rest of the household servants to know of her presence. It would cause somewhat of a disturbance.

“Perhaps this evening.”

Luna nodded; obviously, he would need to get some sleep. All she wanted to do at this point was to get away from the two girls. The room was on the other side of the house and appeared to get the least sun. With the blinds shut, it should be a comfortable place for her to remain until the evening. The Vampire knew that she would need to feed eventually but there was no one in the house she wanted to touch. The problem would be getting back into the house. Closing her eyes for a moment, she waited.

Little time seemed to have passed when she opened her eyes, looking outside she could see London covered in a thick layer of pea soup. Nothing like the earth covered in a thick heavy fog, to make a Vampire girl’s day. Opening the door, she ventured forth into the hallway. She was positive her husband’s room was at the end of the hall.

Reaching the end of the doorway, she looked into a bedroom. It was very masculine. It smelled like Michael. Entering she looked around. The walls were adorned with images of foxhunting scenes and military art. The dresser held several photographs of Michael in uniform and surprisingly there was one of her and Sarah together on the beach. Luna remembered that day as the two of them stood for a picture in front of the long Irish coast. Female voices in the adjourning room caught her attention.

“So he doesn’t have a wife but it sounds like he has a mistress.” With a slight sway of the hips, she opened the door and entered an obvious female looking room beyond. Whoever furnished this room had excellent taste. To her surprise, she found the twins but also another woman, she didn’t recognize.

Luna stepped into the room, the blinds were opened but the fog kept the room quite comfortable. “Leila, I didn’t expect you to be up so early.” The woman in the chair smiled. It wasn’t a warm smile but neither was it hostile. The two girls, on the other hand, didn’t bother to hide their feelings for the Vampire. Luna thought the feelings were mutual.

“I’m sorry to disturb you.” She gave a half smile. Now who was this woman? It was so unlike her husband to have a mistress, unless he was lying about a wife. Suddenly the Vampire stopped. “Michael?” But it couldn’t be. Even if he was dressed as a female, it was but it wasn’t him.

“Well, yes and no. My name is Erin.”

“Erin is Michael’s grandmother’s name.”

“Yes, I know.”

“I don’t understand.” Was this or wasn’t this Michael?

“After you were turned, Michael was cursed by Medb. On the sunrise I appear as I am now and at sundown I change back into Michael.”

Luna staggered for a second looking for a chair. She couldn’t believe what she just heard. Why would the goddess curse Michael, he was of the old line. His blood ran back to the Ulster Cycle directly back to one of her seven sons. “But why?”

Erin smiled sadly. “When you died, Michael went into the crypts and blamed her for your death. He started to desecrate her shrine when she appeared. They had quite the fight.”

The Vampire nodded. She remembered that Michael used to tell her stories about when he was young, he used to visit the crypts at night and play with the woman he called Grandma. No one in the household believed him of course but he always had their air about him. She knew his blood ran true.

“So why a woman? She could have turned him into anything.”

“She didn’t really curse him Leila, although he doesn’t see it as such. It appears that Michael’s line actually runs back to her only daughter Findabair ‘The White Enchantress’. Medb is very angry with him but she does love him. She was also horrified with what happened to you.”

Leila shifted uncomfortably in her chair. She still didn’t understand but the thought of an angry goddess stopped her from pressing for an explanation. “But you’re him right?”

Erin smiled. “Yes and no.”

Luna put her hands over her face. “I’m sorry this has happened to you. It’s my fault isn’t it?”

“Of course not Leila, how could it be your fault? If it’s anyone’s fault it’s Lord Giovanni and Michael made sure that the Vampire paid for it in full.”

“Michael…I mean Erin why are you calling me Leila?”

“Because that is your name.”

“But he said I was no longer his wife.”

“That might be true but it doesn’t strip the name you were given. Michael cannot…emotionally call you Leila. You understand that don’t you?”

“But why can you?”

“I don’t have the same emotional attachment; you’re more like a sister or sister-in-law. In addition, Leila, names have power.”

Luna didn’t like this side of Michael. He was dangerous for a human however; this side of him was terrifying.

The carriage moved quickly through the foggy streets of London. Inside the carriage, a heated discussion continued that had been going on since the three left the Society.

“I don’t see why she needs to stay at your home.” Rachael sat back with a frown.

Osgar nodded. “We can’t exactly trust her, Lady Kinsley.”

“As I said before, the twins are keeping an eye on Leila.” Erin sat watching the streets go by. “I’m more concerned with what happened to her employer. Menenius has been around before Rome became an Empire. I cannot imagine the power necessary to even breach his wards.”

Osgar and Rachael looked at one another. Michael had obviously been upset about Luna’s return but Erin didn’t seem to be bothered by it at all. “Do you think it’s a coincidence?”

“I hate coincidences.” Rachael said.

“I agree, these strange summoning circles, Menenius death and now this so called experiment.” Lady Kinsley made a face. Another summoning circle had been discovered last night but before anyone could destroy it, the Society was told that another group was available.

The carriage finally came to a stop in front of a warehouse near Wapping Pier. Outside the entrance, stood several men in suites and a half a dozen others dressed in dark green uniforms. A fashionably dressed dark haired man approached the carriage. “Lady Kinsley, it’s an honor to finally meet you. I am Richard Dixon.”

“Richard, yes it’s a pleasure to finally meet you. I’m sorry that Jack couldn’t be here.” Erin greeted Black Jack’s brother, an influential man in the House of Commons.

“Yes, I know he worked late last night. I caught up to him as he was heading off to bed.” He smiled. “You people do live busy lives.”

“So Richard, what exactly is this all about? Jack was going to take care of this last night be he was stopped by Scotland Yard.”

“I am in the dark as much as you, Lady Kinsley. As you know, there has been quite the vocal opposition to your Society’s work these last few weeks.”

“The fires, unfortunately these circles require cleansing.”

“Yes, my brother explained it to me. It makes sense, it’s like cauterizing a wound is it not.”

“Something like that, yes.”

Richard nodded as the group began to walk to the doors. A portly man, dressed in white and grey approached the group. “Good morning Lady Kinsley, I am Dr. Anthony Myers. I am with the Transaccendo Corporation. I’m in charge of this morning experiment.”

“Experiment? I find this disturbing Dr. Myers. I can feel what is inside that Warehouse and experiments can only lead to trouble.”

“I’m sorry, I thought you knew?” Dr. Myers looked around nervously.

“Lady Kinsley.” A gray haired gentleman approached. “I am Sir Henry Wilcox. I apologize for this short notice but I wanted to make sure that this was done under your observation. Others like myself, appreciate your Society’s hard work and everything you have done for the Empire but it never hurts to take a look at a new approach to old problems.”

“I see, Sir Henry. Then I will keep my opinion to myself until the end of the experiment. Looking at old problems in a different way is commendable.”

A smaller group entered the first room of the warehouse. To no one’s surprise, it contained the bodies of three men that appeared to have been attacked by a wild animal.

As the Doctor approached, one of the fallen men Osgar said. “I’d be careful around them Dr. they tend to bite.”

“Yes, I have seen it happen. We believe that some sort of electrical pulse is produced during these events. The pulse reanimates the dead flesh for a while, much like our own experiments with electricity.” Reaching into his pocket, he pulled three vials. “Burning of course is necessary but it should be a local event.” Removing one of the stoppers, he poured a silvery green powder all over the first corpse. In seconds, the body began to burn with a white pure light and moments later, there was nothing left but ash.

“Impressive.” Sir Henry said. “I see that you do not need to use a lot of that?”

“It’s a chemical compound Sir Henry; our scientists have been refining it to enhance its burn potential. Now if you follow me, there are eight others that need to be cremated.”

“That’s quite the compound.” Osgar leaned over and whispered to Erin.

“Indeed.” Erin felt something each time the powder was used.

Rachael looked at the corpses. “I don’t think it was alchemical.”

“You are correct, Ahhh.” Dr. Meyers said.

“Rachael.”

“Yes, Miss Rachael. It is not some sort of archaic alchemical compound. We have found that more modern, scientific methods provided often better results.”

Rachael made a face. “If you say so.”

He smiled. “I do and if you follow me to this last room, you will be most impressed with our work.”

The last room was a summoning room much like the one Michael destroyed a few nights before.

“Are you going to use more of that ‘compound’ Doctor?” Osgar inquired while making sure he had his British Bulldog ready. The good Doctor might have missed a few bodies.

“Oh good heavens no something much more interesting.” He motioned to a group of men in green who wore tanks on their backs and each of their hands held a nozzle. The men pointed the nozzles into the room and white green foam began to fill the space. When the room was full of foam the men in green retreated.

“If everyone could be so kind, please step back into the hallway.” The Doctor produced a vial of a greenish liquid and tossed it into the room. A ball of green white light filled the room then vanished.

“As you can see we have cleansed the bodies and the rooms.”

“What about the rest of the building Doctor? There is a residue left over that must be…” Rachael waved her hands about.

“That will dissipate in time.” The Doctor dismissed the concern. “Such erroneous energies are unimportant.”

“You’re wrong…” Rachael began but was interrupted.

“Thank you, Doctor, that was most enlightening and without the need to burn half of London as well.” Sir Henry said.

“That is unfair, Sir Henry, the Society has accomplished, much more than what we have seen the last few weeks.” Richard Dixon shook his head. “One successful experiment.” He didn’t sound like he thought it was that successful. “Doesn’t give them the right to take over all activities that the Society had been responsible for hundreds of years.”

“Richard, your brother is a member of the Society, so I am afraid your views are somewhat suspect. I have a responsibility to her Majesty’s Government, to make sure that money spent is spent wisely.”

“What do you mean all activities?” Osgar didn’t look happy. Who were these people?

“Yes of course.” The Doctor said smiling. “Obviously someone with your experience could find advancement in our corporation. I’m sure that my superiors would be willing to talk to any member of the Society that wishes to join.”

Sir Henry nodded, bringing in experienced members of the Society would be a windfall to the company. “Lady Kinsley, what do think?”

They were all surprised as they watched her walk away but not before saying something to the entire group.

“Excuse me what did she say?” Sir Henry turned to Erin’s companions.

Rachael watched as Lady Kinsley left the building. “Lady Kinsley said, Sir Henry, that she doesn’t believe in coincidences.”

Authors Notes: A special thanks to djkauf for a little elvish editing. If you like the story please leave a Kudos, if you have the time I would love to hear from you. Thanks to all for reading! - Elsbeth