Daniel Thomas Andrew Daly
2014-11-01 10:46:23 UTC
'Dark Fire Trilogy'
Part One
'Gladitorius the Adversary'
by
Daniel Thomas Andrew Daly
http://noahidebooks.angelfire.com
Copyright 2014
Prologue
'The Dark Fire is a bitch,' said Kardos.
'Why?' asked his son Roary.
'Because it hunts vampires,' said Kardos, and came out of his hiding place suddenly, pointed his hands towards a green burning flame which had entered the area, and yelled 'AQUARIUS!'. Suddenly a bursting shower of blue water erupted from his hands and gashed at the fire. They fought, and steam rose above the scene as the fire twisted this way and that way to try and get past the water, but Kardos just stood there, hands pointed at the fire, the water still gushing forth like an incredible geyser. Soon the fire started giving up ﾖ diminishing ﾖ and then, just as suddenly as it was there, it was gone, and it was all quiet again, deep, deep down in the catacombs of Celestevere, nobody any the wiser.
'Fuck,' said Roary.
'Exactly,' said Kardos.
Dark Fire One ﾖ Upon the Council of Celestevere
Kristen Stewart sat on the ruling council of Celestevere, and gazed out at her opponents. Gladitorius Vigantes, in a green suit with a check coloured waistcoast, a pipe hanging from the corner of his mouth, and a new found polished English accent, betrayed himself ﾖ he was obviously an old world toff suddenly remembering his stylings. She almost grinned at his getup because it strangely suited him in that bizarre kind of way when you know someone has found their niche in life.
'Councillor,' said Kristen, for the council had been silent for several moments. 'Vampires! We don't really have many hanging around Celestevere at the moment. DO WE!' She almost yelled the last words, but retained her sense of decorum about her esteemed position.
'Vampires? I have no idea whatever you could possibly on earth be talking about.' Gladitorius surveyed the council, gazing upon each member. 'Now Vampires don't exist, do they?'
The chuckle from the council summed it all up.
'No, no, no, you're not getting away with it that easy,' said Kristen, and the council's eyes focused on her. 'Vampires are funny things. Undead, you know. They kind of fit in a place like Celestevere. I am sure you have noticed them,' she said, sarcastically. 'They bite people's necks and things. Suck blood. You know. Ghastly undead things like that.'
'I am horrified!' feigned Gladitorius, in a display of his better wit. 'Undead? You would have us believe Celestevere is the domain of the undead? Whatever could she be thinking?' he asked the council, a big grin on his face, and the chuckle from the council was his happy reward.
'You'll be undead by the time I'm through with you,' said Kristen with baited voice, but not loudly, so only those in her vicinity could catch what she said.
'Pardon, milady,' said Gladitorius, hand raised to his ear.
'We are missing our Vampires Gladitorius. And I am not amused.'
'No,' he said, in a more serious tone, gazing at her. 'I guess not.'
Council members gazed at the fierce looks between the two when, after a moment, the judge of the council hit his gavel and said 'Today's affairs are finished. Council members may depart.'
They lingered a bit, watching the rivalry between Kristen and Gladitorius, but soon the chambers were empty, as empty, for nearly the entire part, as upper Celestevere was of Vampires. For nearly the entire part.
The End
Dark Fire Two ﾖ The Concern's of Kristen Stewart
'Mother. I am fine,' said Magenta to her fussing mother Kristen.
'Magenta, you are not fine. You will not be fine for quite some time I feel.'
Magenta put her hand on her mother's arm to console her somewhat. Her husband and son were missing. Darkthorn was missing. The entire Vampire community of Celestevere was missing, and she was beside herself, left only with her daughter Magenta as consolation.
'Makros cares for me,' said Magenta softly. 'You know. They will probably leave me alone.'
Kristen gazed at her daughter as those words sunk in, and pulled her close in a hug. 'I don't know where he is, my heart,' said Kristen, sobbing almost. 'But I will find him. By the hairs on the arse of Gladitorius Vigantes, I will find him.' Yet with those words said, Magenta started giggling, and then Kristen responded, and soon hearty laughter seemed to take the edge off the situation.
'We will find father,' said Kristen. 'Jovius will be here tomorrow night, and we will set to the search we need to do. Your father is ok, I am sure of it.' But her voice betrayed her. Her voice was full of fear. Fear at what might have happened to Kardos. Fear of what Gladitorius Vigantes had likely unleashed on the Vampires of Celestevere. Fear of the most horrible of consequences for those she now knew as her most intimate family members.
The End
Dark Fire Three ﾖ Sadiquatrius Genova
Sadiquatrius Genova was an old woman. Very old. She was human ﾖ sort of. For she had known so many dark agendas and dark spirits in her prolonged centuries of life, she had forgotten that semblance of humanity which once defined her very soul. Not that long ago now, 1840 or so, she had been in Transylvania, in the nether there, and had been the chosen one. The threshold. The first female threshold. The first. But now, in this ancient part of her life, there was another. Another woman chosen. She had to meet her. To share her advice, to even seek her counsel, and to understand what new wonder had been born to this dark life they all lived. Of course, she knew the nether were Kristen, who the threshold was called, dwelled. She had visited ﾖ once, not long ago. A son of her's lived there. And, another son also. But she had not seen them since their youth, when they were split apart, and would not remember, could not possibly remember, their mother, or each other for that matter. For what else could the choice, at the time, have been?
No, they wouldn't recognize her, so she would travel to the Nether, and meet this girl, and seek her wisdom, and seek her story. And then she would rest. Then she could rest, knowing another had been chosen, in the way she had been, and that her life had a purpose, a reason because of it.
She looked at the clock, the ancient clock, on the wall of her abode, and sat there, in the darkness, thinking back, reflecting. An old maid, an old life, an old world. But what new and strange stories she soon could tell? Well God only knows.
The End
Dark Fire Four ﾖ Jovius' is in Town
'Hey babe. Let's party!'
'I hardly think that's appropriate,' said Magenta, sitting down opposite Jovius on the cafe seat in the central hall of Celestevere. The young vampire lady looked at the semi-fallen angel. 'What kind of angel are you exactly, anyway? Your not exactly aligned with the good guys, from all my impressions.'
'Hey, I'm an angel on the light side of the dark side. Or is that the dark side of the light side? I always forget. Anyway, don't stress me down with such queries Maggie. Your mother never really bothered pushing my private life. It's why we get along so well.'
'Seriously. Who do you work for?'
'Technically I'm a gun for hire these days. Stationed in purgatory, which suits me fine, and what work I get, I take. Your mum is paying me you know. But it would be a freebie for her regardless. She's a great chick. Sweet. Pure. Innocent, still. Even now, stuck here. Still innocent.'
Magenta softened, and looked downwards before speaking again. 'Mum changed, not long ago. When she chose the werewolves. She's different now. She doesn't age now.'
'She won't for a long time, as far as I understand it. Did some research. On thresholds. Preternaturally long life is a reward. There was another one, you know. A female threshold. A European one. Sadiquatrius, so I believe. Beleriand know's everything on the subject.'
'He's a hell of a character,' said Magenta casually.
'He watches out for you, you know. And your family. A good heart, that guy. Pays well, as well.'
Silence came over scene for a moment, before Kristen appeared, coming out of the cafe.
'Coffee,' she said, handing some to Magenta and Jovius. 'Black. I think we will need it before we are through.'
Jovius took his coffee and sipped on it. 'Tastes great,' he said grinning that Jovius grin.
'So. How?' said Kristen.
'How what?'
'How do we find Kardos? And the others?'
Jovius tapped the side of a plastic box which he had been carrying since their meeting at Kristen's abode.
'What's that?' asked Magenta.
'A were-weasel. Well trained. I know a guy who knows a guy, if you know what I mean.'
'And what does it do?' asked Kristen.
'That we will find out soon enough,' said Jovius, a big grin on his face, as he slurped down the mornings black coffee.
The End
Dark Fire Five ﾖ Valeria and Sadiquatrius in the Chambers of Beleriand
'Zentroforge opposes,' said Sadiquatrius.
'Blood Crystal refracts the situation,' suggested Valeria.
Beleriand looked at the two ladies. 'Valeria. I trust you quite well. We have been friends long enough now. Yet you don't intercede yourself?'
'Kardos should make a man of himself. He tolerates Gladitorius too easily. All know this. Why should I just step in. I don't mind, though, if you slip a note to Jovius and inform him of the chamber. They'll never get past the darkfire. No angel of whatever status will like it. Jo is still a good kid, in the end. Pretends his coolness to the dark side in all his mannerisms and ways of life, but he ain't in hell yet, and never will be. He'd use his guts and his skill, but the dark fire has a mind of its own and would turn on him,' said Valeria.
'Our Blood Crystal was corrupt,' said Sadiquatrius. 'No dragon, no wyvvern, no creature of noble birth could attest to its creation any more. In no glory would they find its state. Long ago, when Dracula was young, he turned not to the dark, but to evil and corruption. He is hated to this day, for it is a spirit of chaos he birthed in our Crystal, which condemns to nothing but death and destruction all the nether of Transylvania I tell you.'
'I find it oddly pleasant,' said Beleriand. 'It tranquilizes my anxieties and sedates me to the contemplation of nothing but rest.'
'You are strong,' admitted the threshold. 'Yet stay in its presence and chaos will inhabit your heart after time. You will destroy and hate, not for power, not for rulership, but for its own sake. It is malevolent evil, and nothing of life is in it. No eternity of dominion in the world, in heaven above or hell beneath. It is only death and the end.'
'Then perhaps you could trust in Celestevere. It's blood crystal still serves its primary purpose. You could aid the Vampires against the dark fire.'
'Lost my taste for the gems,' said Sadiquatrius and turned her head. 'Yes, I know it is safe. I know it will work. I don't have the heart. But Zentroforge ﾖ that I can help with.'
'It is not a magic which Celesteverans are happy with. They'd disdain your presence and your spells and scrolls. I doubt they'd let you in many levels,' said Beleriand.
'Bah,' said Valeria. 'She fears the crystal for no reason. It's perfectly fine. Zentroforge will upset Celestevere's balance. The Technocrats of Zen are masters of their own imagination only, for they unleash forces with their magic which never settle. It plays around day after day, week after week, month after month, and no rest is ever gained. It is a century of settling the aether, and still it bothers. Even when it rests.'
'Yet it will oppose the dark fire and likely defeat it,' said Sadiquatrius, turning to Valeria. And there is one in the catacombs of celeste who I would redeem from his current malaise. And one I would teach a bloody good lesson to.'
Beleriand sat in silence, looking at the ladies. Finally he spoke. 'I know, in my heart, Gladitorius is not completely a wicked one, for her torments out of jest so much, yet does get carried away. If I sit with you, on council, he will not oppose in the end. The council would agree that he'd had his fun.'
'I will meet you there in three days. At the entrance. I know the place,' said Sadiquatrius. You will have a council meeting ready for me?'
'You yourself won't intervene with the Blood Crystal?' Beleriand asked Valeria.
She shrugged. 'If Gladitorius must have his way. If Kardos and Darkfire can not stand up against this threat. That is life, is it not Beleriand. The strong survive. The weak perish. Let Kardos be a man. I'll not intervene.'
'Three days,' said Beleriand to Sadiquatrius. 'And we will speak with the council.'
The End
Dark Fire Six ﾖ Spice Arrival
'Anyway, I've been retired 4 years now,' said Jovius. 'Finally settled down. Met the girl of my dreams. Emma. You probably knew her in this old girl group.'
'So you are doing this, for?' queried Magenta.
'I get bored. Need something to do. Life has been bliss with Em, but I got a hankering to work again. Don't get me wrong, I don't really need the cash or anything like that. The payout I got from Phanuel when I qualified for living in heaven again recently after all my service to the place was cool. Got a shit load of Eternya product, and don't need to work at all. But, yeh. I get bored. More than that, though. Me and Emma have gone into business together. Guns for hire. Dealing with work from various heavenly departments in their ongoing relations with purgatory and hell. Still a lot of fucking sticky business goes on in this world, and Emma also has a penchant for it. In fact, that will be her now,' said Jovius, as a blonde lady appeared up the walkway a little, coming towards the cafe.
She was dressed in a strange sort of bounty hunter military uniform, armed and with black paint underneath both eyes. She looked deadly.
'Jo. There you bloody are,' she said, and came and hugged her man. 'Do you mind,' she said to Kristen and Magenta, who both nodded, the lady taking a seat with the group.
'Is she ready?' asked Emma to Jovius.
'Helena is always ready,' replied Jovius in regards to the were-weasel. 'She's a smart one. Just like the company I'm with.'
'Aw, your sweet,' said Emma, touching Jovius' cheek.
Emma turned to Kristen. 'He's like that, these days. Says lovely things all the time about women. Very kind compliments. He is very noble and decent.'
'Jovius,' said Kristen, looking at the angel. 'Another side of you,' she said, with a slight smirk.
Jovius shrugged, and sipped on his coffee.
'Your baby spice!' exclaimed Magenta suddenly. Kristen looked at Emma and also just then made the connection.
'Don't let on, ok. Though I don't think I will get much attention in this place. It was hell finding you, ok. All these zombies were staring at me, as if I was their new meal.'
'Yeh, you get that,' said Jovius. 'Did you bring it?' he asked her.
She tapped the weapon on her belt. 'The one you asked.'
'Good,' said Jovius. 'If we get into any deep shit with what is down there, we will have another resource to defend ourselves.'
'So are we ready then?' asked Kristen.
'I think so girls,' said Jovius. 'Now, I've studied the layout of lower Celestevere a fair bit at Beleriand's. There are several problematic places and, at one point, only one passageway downwards which, if the dark fire is guarding, we will have problems with. Can I have that item of clothing?' Jovius asked Kristen.
'Oh, yeh,' said Kristen, and got a small scarf of Kardos' out of her bag.
'What will you do with that?' asked Magenta.
'Helena will get the scent. She'll lead, and we'll follow, and wherever the hell Kardos is. We'll find him, ok. We'll find him.'
Kristen nodded, but didn't say anything. Whatever else, it looked as if they had some sort of chance, now, of finding her husband and the rest of the Vampires. But the dark fire awaited and, from all reports, it was not something to be trifled with. Not something to be trifled with at all.'
The End
Dark Fire Seven ﾖ Gladitourius' objections
'Open your mouth. Let me see your teeth.'
Gladitorius Vigantes stared at the strange women incredulously. 'My teeth?'
Sadiquatrius grabbed Gladitorius head, forced open his mouth, much to Gladitorius objections, and examined the werewolf's teeth.
'They are disgusting, Gladitorius. You should be ashamed of yourself.'
He wanted to protest, but the look in the strange women's eyes brooked no correction.
'Beleriand,' said Gladitorius in a most unsettled tone. 'This lady. What is her problem?'
'I am no lady, youngling. I am a matriarch of Transylvere. You shall treat me with honour. And get that smug look off of your face, or I will swipe you.'
The council chuckled a little.
'Now, young upstart. You will not object when myself and Beleriand follow after Kristen and her entourage. We will be using Zentroforge, and you will accept this.'
'What makes you even think the Vampires are in Celestevere?' stated the lying werewolf. 'They've..... gone on holiday. Found a new home. A change of scenery. Everyone needs a change of scenery now and again, don't they,' he said smartly to the council, which brought a chuckle.
'You know full well where the Vampires are,' said Sadiquatrius in a deadly serious tone, which brought Gladitorius pulling back on his throne, gazing at the strange lady, almost embarassed.
'I certainly do not,' he retorted.
'You certainly do,' she snapped right back.
'They are in France. Getting some sun,' he said in a sneering tone, to which the council chuckled again.
'Then you will have no objection if we go after Kristen and help her find Kardos.'
'Wasting your time,' he said in a tone, trying to put her off.
'In my long life I have had nothing but time to spare. Especially these days.'
'You can't use Zentroforge anyway,' he said in an annoyed tone. 'Everything will be chaotic for centuries.'
'You will remove the dark fire then?' she said. The council hushed.
'I... I don't know what you are talking about.' He glared at her, most annoyed.
'Then myself and Beleriand will be here for a sightseeing trip and nothing more.'
'Celestevere is a passive community. We are in the darkness for a reason. This magic, should you use it, will confuse us all. Its raw and unsettled magic. Those Zen Technocrats are infantiles in their drawings on the dark magic. Besides, who are you anyway, that we should allow such a person into the depths of our home?'
Sadiquatrius Genova drew herself up to her full height and gazed at the council. 'I am Sadiquatrius Genova. Threshold of Transylvere.' She turned to Gladitorius. 'And I am most annoyed.'
Beleriand spoke up. 'You've had your fun, Gladitorius. You'll not admit a thing. We all know that. Its your little game with Darkthorn which you enjoy so much. I would have thought gaining the council would have pleased you enough. I would have thought.'
'Vote,' said Sadiquatrius to the council.
'In favour,' said Beleriand. A majority of the council, just, raised their hands.
'Bah,' said Gladitorius. 'You'll not find them. Mark my words.'
'Then you will not be disturbed,' said Sadiquatrius. 'And I thank you, Council of Celestevere, for not going along with this child's fun and games any longer.'
Gladitorius looked embaressed, and as Sadiquatrius left the chamber Beleriand nodded to himself that she was indeed a Threshold child. And with a character something more than initial impressions might have concluded upon first sight.
The End
Dark Fire Eight - Ariel's Stubborn Twin
'So just fuck Lucy Potter, huh? Gee your faithful.'
Daniel sat down and studied the puzzling diagram on the table. 'Go to hell, Keri. It's been over a century, and you never committed anyway.'
'You never committed,' she said accusingly.
He glared at her. 'Come here. Sweetie.'
She came over to the table. 'What?' she asked.
'This is Beleriand,' said Daniel, pointing to a marker. 'This is where, currently, according to Beleriand, Sadiquatrius should be with Blackrock, who joined them, leaving Beleriand to stay in upper Celestevere instead. And this should be where Kristen, Jovius, Emma and Magenta are. Just about to face the Dark Fire.'
'Humph. Hate the stuff,' said the witch.
'I'm no fan either. There's a problem. Our old enemy is there. Spark.'
'That little bastard,' said Keri. 'He is nothing but a pain in the butt. Scuse my french.'
'Spark has a contract with Gladitorius.'
'And you know this, how?'
Daniel tapped his nose. 'Informants. Aro got me curious about the place a while ago. I have a friend on the council.'
'Good on you. Ravenclaw idiot.'
'Go fuck yourself,' said the member of the Hogwarts house of Ravenclaw.
'You going to intercede?' she asked him.
'WE might have to. Dark fire has slumbered in Gladitorius dark agendas for many years now, and the Vampires our outnumbered by the sheer force of the powers now involved. And, hell, we ARE angels, aren't we sweetie.'
Keri looked at the diagram Daniel had drawn up. 'Keep the balance. The balance of the dark side. Still believe in that, do you?'
'The Council needs both Werewolves AND Vampires. It will fail otherwise, and degenerate into the primitive early eras of history, when they did nothing but fight and also haunt humans. Why, they are practically civilized now. The undead.'
Keri grinned at Daniel's comment.
'So, its off for Celestevere?' she asked him.
'It's off for Celestevere,' he confidently replied.
'One last thing,' she cautioned. 'Do we have to deal with any of his bloody Sparkle Creations? That 'Sparkler' is a pain in the butt as well, and his whole minxy little entourage. I can not STAND Sparkles.'
He looked at her. 'I don't know. The leprechaun wizard may be there alone, or there may be a horde of his Sparkle creations with him. No idea. But thanks, I'll keep that in mind.'
'You do that,' she said, and kissed him quickly on the cheek.
'I'm married,' he said, suddenly alarmed.
'Yeh. So what,' she said, and looked at him with a look of deep love, and, for that moment anyway, love ruled the heart of Daniel Daly, Angel of God.
The End
Dark Fire Nine ﾖ Gladitorius the Adversary
'Bah. Humbug,' said Gladitorius, in his chamber. He sipped on a scotch and looked at Makros. 'Any suggestions?'
Makros came over, poured himself a rare drink, and sipped, and looked at Gladitorius. 'It is like it's all against you.'
'Against us, don't you mean?'
'Sure. Perhaps. I'm not sure how much I oppose Kardos now, though.'
'You are enthralled with Kristen. She is everything to you. He stands in your way.'
'Yet...' he trailed off, sipped on his scotch, and sat down on a couch in the corner of Gladitorius chamber.
'GV Holding is doing well on the exchange,' said Makros.
Gladitorius smiled. 'Human's. I detest them, mostly. But they do buy our product these days,' he said happily. 'Halloween has been good for us this year. Sales have been splendid.'
'Then you have money,' stated Makros.
'What are you getting at?' queried Gladitorius.
'Perhaps this is an opportunity to up the ante with the Vampires in our age long battle. And not just here in Celestevere. But worldwide.'
Gladitorius looked at him curiously, sipped on his scotch and said 'Explain.'
Makros got up, walked over to a bookcase, and reached up and took down a catalogue he had placed up there.
'What is that?' asked Gladitorius.
Makros threw it on his desk.
Gladitorius looked at the cover. 'Apex Military Solutions. Battlefield Merchandise Summer Catalogue.'
Gladitorius opened it up and looked at the weapons. They looked oh, so deadly.
'Turn to page 50,' said Makros.
Gladitorius turned to the page. After a moment he looked up at Makros with a grin in his eye.
'You DO have money, don't you?' queried Makros the Werewolf.
The dark and insidious laugh of Gladitorius, in response, seemed to fill the chamber quickly and echo its black humour deep, deep, deep into the bowels of Celestevere, and who can really say what undead creature of the nether really felt comfortable that day, the dark sarcasm of Gladitorius sure to fill the nightmares of even the darkest of Celestever's fowl inhabitants. Even the darkest indeed.
The End of Dark Fire Trilogy Book One
Part One
'Gladitorius the Adversary'
by
Daniel Thomas Andrew Daly
http://noahidebooks.angelfire.com
Copyright 2014
Prologue
'The Dark Fire is a bitch,' said Kardos.
'Why?' asked his son Roary.
'Because it hunts vampires,' said Kardos, and came out of his hiding place suddenly, pointed his hands towards a green burning flame which had entered the area, and yelled 'AQUARIUS!'. Suddenly a bursting shower of blue water erupted from his hands and gashed at the fire. They fought, and steam rose above the scene as the fire twisted this way and that way to try and get past the water, but Kardos just stood there, hands pointed at the fire, the water still gushing forth like an incredible geyser. Soon the fire started giving up ﾖ diminishing ﾖ and then, just as suddenly as it was there, it was gone, and it was all quiet again, deep, deep down in the catacombs of Celestevere, nobody any the wiser.
'Fuck,' said Roary.
'Exactly,' said Kardos.
Dark Fire One ﾖ Upon the Council of Celestevere
Kristen Stewart sat on the ruling council of Celestevere, and gazed out at her opponents. Gladitorius Vigantes, in a green suit with a check coloured waistcoast, a pipe hanging from the corner of his mouth, and a new found polished English accent, betrayed himself ﾖ he was obviously an old world toff suddenly remembering his stylings. She almost grinned at his getup because it strangely suited him in that bizarre kind of way when you know someone has found their niche in life.
'Councillor,' said Kristen, for the council had been silent for several moments. 'Vampires! We don't really have many hanging around Celestevere at the moment. DO WE!' She almost yelled the last words, but retained her sense of decorum about her esteemed position.
'Vampires? I have no idea whatever you could possibly on earth be talking about.' Gladitorius surveyed the council, gazing upon each member. 'Now Vampires don't exist, do they?'
The chuckle from the council summed it all up.
'No, no, no, you're not getting away with it that easy,' said Kristen, and the council's eyes focused on her. 'Vampires are funny things. Undead, you know. They kind of fit in a place like Celestevere. I am sure you have noticed them,' she said, sarcastically. 'They bite people's necks and things. Suck blood. You know. Ghastly undead things like that.'
'I am horrified!' feigned Gladitorius, in a display of his better wit. 'Undead? You would have us believe Celestevere is the domain of the undead? Whatever could she be thinking?' he asked the council, a big grin on his face, and the chuckle from the council was his happy reward.
'You'll be undead by the time I'm through with you,' said Kristen with baited voice, but not loudly, so only those in her vicinity could catch what she said.
'Pardon, milady,' said Gladitorius, hand raised to his ear.
'We are missing our Vampires Gladitorius. And I am not amused.'
'No,' he said, in a more serious tone, gazing at her. 'I guess not.'
Council members gazed at the fierce looks between the two when, after a moment, the judge of the council hit his gavel and said 'Today's affairs are finished. Council members may depart.'
They lingered a bit, watching the rivalry between Kristen and Gladitorius, but soon the chambers were empty, as empty, for nearly the entire part, as upper Celestevere was of Vampires. For nearly the entire part.
The End
Dark Fire Two ﾖ The Concern's of Kristen Stewart
'Mother. I am fine,' said Magenta to her fussing mother Kristen.
'Magenta, you are not fine. You will not be fine for quite some time I feel.'
Magenta put her hand on her mother's arm to console her somewhat. Her husband and son were missing. Darkthorn was missing. The entire Vampire community of Celestevere was missing, and she was beside herself, left only with her daughter Magenta as consolation.
'Makros cares for me,' said Magenta softly. 'You know. They will probably leave me alone.'
Kristen gazed at her daughter as those words sunk in, and pulled her close in a hug. 'I don't know where he is, my heart,' said Kristen, sobbing almost. 'But I will find him. By the hairs on the arse of Gladitorius Vigantes, I will find him.' Yet with those words said, Magenta started giggling, and then Kristen responded, and soon hearty laughter seemed to take the edge off the situation.
'We will find father,' said Kristen. 'Jovius will be here tomorrow night, and we will set to the search we need to do. Your father is ok, I am sure of it.' But her voice betrayed her. Her voice was full of fear. Fear at what might have happened to Kardos. Fear of what Gladitorius Vigantes had likely unleashed on the Vampires of Celestevere. Fear of the most horrible of consequences for those she now knew as her most intimate family members.
The End
Dark Fire Three ﾖ Sadiquatrius Genova
Sadiquatrius Genova was an old woman. Very old. She was human ﾖ sort of. For she had known so many dark agendas and dark spirits in her prolonged centuries of life, she had forgotten that semblance of humanity which once defined her very soul. Not that long ago now, 1840 or so, she had been in Transylvania, in the nether there, and had been the chosen one. The threshold. The first female threshold. The first. But now, in this ancient part of her life, there was another. Another woman chosen. She had to meet her. To share her advice, to even seek her counsel, and to understand what new wonder had been born to this dark life they all lived. Of course, she knew the nether were Kristen, who the threshold was called, dwelled. She had visited ﾖ once, not long ago. A son of her's lived there. And, another son also. But she had not seen them since their youth, when they were split apart, and would not remember, could not possibly remember, their mother, or each other for that matter. For what else could the choice, at the time, have been?
No, they wouldn't recognize her, so she would travel to the Nether, and meet this girl, and seek her wisdom, and seek her story. And then she would rest. Then she could rest, knowing another had been chosen, in the way she had been, and that her life had a purpose, a reason because of it.
She looked at the clock, the ancient clock, on the wall of her abode, and sat there, in the darkness, thinking back, reflecting. An old maid, an old life, an old world. But what new and strange stories she soon could tell? Well God only knows.
The End
Dark Fire Four ﾖ Jovius' is in Town
'Hey babe. Let's party!'
'I hardly think that's appropriate,' said Magenta, sitting down opposite Jovius on the cafe seat in the central hall of Celestevere. The young vampire lady looked at the semi-fallen angel. 'What kind of angel are you exactly, anyway? Your not exactly aligned with the good guys, from all my impressions.'
'Hey, I'm an angel on the light side of the dark side. Or is that the dark side of the light side? I always forget. Anyway, don't stress me down with such queries Maggie. Your mother never really bothered pushing my private life. It's why we get along so well.'
'Seriously. Who do you work for?'
'Technically I'm a gun for hire these days. Stationed in purgatory, which suits me fine, and what work I get, I take. Your mum is paying me you know. But it would be a freebie for her regardless. She's a great chick. Sweet. Pure. Innocent, still. Even now, stuck here. Still innocent.'
Magenta softened, and looked downwards before speaking again. 'Mum changed, not long ago. When she chose the werewolves. She's different now. She doesn't age now.'
'She won't for a long time, as far as I understand it. Did some research. On thresholds. Preternaturally long life is a reward. There was another one, you know. A female threshold. A European one. Sadiquatrius, so I believe. Beleriand know's everything on the subject.'
'He's a hell of a character,' said Magenta casually.
'He watches out for you, you know. And your family. A good heart, that guy. Pays well, as well.'
Silence came over scene for a moment, before Kristen appeared, coming out of the cafe.
'Coffee,' she said, handing some to Magenta and Jovius. 'Black. I think we will need it before we are through.'
Jovius took his coffee and sipped on it. 'Tastes great,' he said grinning that Jovius grin.
'So. How?' said Kristen.
'How what?'
'How do we find Kardos? And the others?'
Jovius tapped the side of a plastic box which he had been carrying since their meeting at Kristen's abode.
'What's that?' asked Magenta.
'A were-weasel. Well trained. I know a guy who knows a guy, if you know what I mean.'
'And what does it do?' asked Kristen.
'That we will find out soon enough,' said Jovius, a big grin on his face, as he slurped down the mornings black coffee.
The End
Dark Fire Five ﾖ Valeria and Sadiquatrius in the Chambers of Beleriand
'Zentroforge opposes,' said Sadiquatrius.
'Blood Crystal refracts the situation,' suggested Valeria.
Beleriand looked at the two ladies. 'Valeria. I trust you quite well. We have been friends long enough now. Yet you don't intercede yourself?'
'Kardos should make a man of himself. He tolerates Gladitorius too easily. All know this. Why should I just step in. I don't mind, though, if you slip a note to Jovius and inform him of the chamber. They'll never get past the darkfire. No angel of whatever status will like it. Jo is still a good kid, in the end. Pretends his coolness to the dark side in all his mannerisms and ways of life, but he ain't in hell yet, and never will be. He'd use his guts and his skill, but the dark fire has a mind of its own and would turn on him,' said Valeria.
'Our Blood Crystal was corrupt,' said Sadiquatrius. 'No dragon, no wyvvern, no creature of noble birth could attest to its creation any more. In no glory would they find its state. Long ago, when Dracula was young, he turned not to the dark, but to evil and corruption. He is hated to this day, for it is a spirit of chaos he birthed in our Crystal, which condemns to nothing but death and destruction all the nether of Transylvania I tell you.'
'I find it oddly pleasant,' said Beleriand. 'It tranquilizes my anxieties and sedates me to the contemplation of nothing but rest.'
'You are strong,' admitted the threshold. 'Yet stay in its presence and chaos will inhabit your heart after time. You will destroy and hate, not for power, not for rulership, but for its own sake. It is malevolent evil, and nothing of life is in it. No eternity of dominion in the world, in heaven above or hell beneath. It is only death and the end.'
'Then perhaps you could trust in Celestevere. It's blood crystal still serves its primary purpose. You could aid the Vampires against the dark fire.'
'Lost my taste for the gems,' said Sadiquatrius and turned her head. 'Yes, I know it is safe. I know it will work. I don't have the heart. But Zentroforge ﾖ that I can help with.'
'It is not a magic which Celesteverans are happy with. They'd disdain your presence and your spells and scrolls. I doubt they'd let you in many levels,' said Beleriand.
'Bah,' said Valeria. 'She fears the crystal for no reason. It's perfectly fine. Zentroforge will upset Celestevere's balance. The Technocrats of Zen are masters of their own imagination only, for they unleash forces with their magic which never settle. It plays around day after day, week after week, month after month, and no rest is ever gained. It is a century of settling the aether, and still it bothers. Even when it rests.'
'Yet it will oppose the dark fire and likely defeat it,' said Sadiquatrius, turning to Valeria. And there is one in the catacombs of celeste who I would redeem from his current malaise. And one I would teach a bloody good lesson to.'
Beleriand sat in silence, looking at the ladies. Finally he spoke. 'I know, in my heart, Gladitorius is not completely a wicked one, for her torments out of jest so much, yet does get carried away. If I sit with you, on council, he will not oppose in the end. The council would agree that he'd had his fun.'
'I will meet you there in three days. At the entrance. I know the place,' said Sadiquatrius. You will have a council meeting ready for me?'
'You yourself won't intervene with the Blood Crystal?' Beleriand asked Valeria.
She shrugged. 'If Gladitorius must have his way. If Kardos and Darkfire can not stand up against this threat. That is life, is it not Beleriand. The strong survive. The weak perish. Let Kardos be a man. I'll not intervene.'
'Three days,' said Beleriand to Sadiquatrius. 'And we will speak with the council.'
The End
Dark Fire Six ﾖ Spice Arrival
'Anyway, I've been retired 4 years now,' said Jovius. 'Finally settled down. Met the girl of my dreams. Emma. You probably knew her in this old girl group.'
'So you are doing this, for?' queried Magenta.
'I get bored. Need something to do. Life has been bliss with Em, but I got a hankering to work again. Don't get me wrong, I don't really need the cash or anything like that. The payout I got from Phanuel when I qualified for living in heaven again recently after all my service to the place was cool. Got a shit load of Eternya product, and don't need to work at all. But, yeh. I get bored. More than that, though. Me and Emma have gone into business together. Guns for hire. Dealing with work from various heavenly departments in their ongoing relations with purgatory and hell. Still a lot of fucking sticky business goes on in this world, and Emma also has a penchant for it. In fact, that will be her now,' said Jovius, as a blonde lady appeared up the walkway a little, coming towards the cafe.
She was dressed in a strange sort of bounty hunter military uniform, armed and with black paint underneath both eyes. She looked deadly.
'Jo. There you bloody are,' she said, and came and hugged her man. 'Do you mind,' she said to Kristen and Magenta, who both nodded, the lady taking a seat with the group.
'Is she ready?' asked Emma to Jovius.
'Helena is always ready,' replied Jovius in regards to the were-weasel. 'She's a smart one. Just like the company I'm with.'
'Aw, your sweet,' said Emma, touching Jovius' cheek.
Emma turned to Kristen. 'He's like that, these days. Says lovely things all the time about women. Very kind compliments. He is very noble and decent.'
'Jovius,' said Kristen, looking at the angel. 'Another side of you,' she said, with a slight smirk.
Jovius shrugged, and sipped on his coffee.
'Your baby spice!' exclaimed Magenta suddenly. Kristen looked at Emma and also just then made the connection.
'Don't let on, ok. Though I don't think I will get much attention in this place. It was hell finding you, ok. All these zombies were staring at me, as if I was their new meal.'
'Yeh, you get that,' said Jovius. 'Did you bring it?' he asked her.
She tapped the weapon on her belt. 'The one you asked.'
'Good,' said Jovius. 'If we get into any deep shit with what is down there, we will have another resource to defend ourselves.'
'So are we ready then?' asked Kristen.
'I think so girls,' said Jovius. 'Now, I've studied the layout of lower Celestevere a fair bit at Beleriand's. There are several problematic places and, at one point, only one passageway downwards which, if the dark fire is guarding, we will have problems with. Can I have that item of clothing?' Jovius asked Kristen.
'Oh, yeh,' said Kristen, and got a small scarf of Kardos' out of her bag.
'What will you do with that?' asked Magenta.
'Helena will get the scent. She'll lead, and we'll follow, and wherever the hell Kardos is. We'll find him, ok. We'll find him.'
Kristen nodded, but didn't say anything. Whatever else, it looked as if they had some sort of chance, now, of finding her husband and the rest of the Vampires. But the dark fire awaited and, from all reports, it was not something to be trifled with. Not something to be trifled with at all.'
The End
Dark Fire Seven ﾖ Gladitourius' objections
'Open your mouth. Let me see your teeth.'
Gladitorius Vigantes stared at the strange women incredulously. 'My teeth?'
Sadiquatrius grabbed Gladitorius head, forced open his mouth, much to Gladitorius objections, and examined the werewolf's teeth.
'They are disgusting, Gladitorius. You should be ashamed of yourself.'
He wanted to protest, but the look in the strange women's eyes brooked no correction.
'Beleriand,' said Gladitorius in a most unsettled tone. 'This lady. What is her problem?'
'I am no lady, youngling. I am a matriarch of Transylvere. You shall treat me with honour. And get that smug look off of your face, or I will swipe you.'
The council chuckled a little.
'Now, young upstart. You will not object when myself and Beleriand follow after Kristen and her entourage. We will be using Zentroforge, and you will accept this.'
'What makes you even think the Vampires are in Celestevere?' stated the lying werewolf. 'They've..... gone on holiday. Found a new home. A change of scenery. Everyone needs a change of scenery now and again, don't they,' he said smartly to the council, which brought a chuckle.
'You know full well where the Vampires are,' said Sadiquatrius in a deadly serious tone, which brought Gladitorius pulling back on his throne, gazing at the strange lady, almost embarassed.
'I certainly do not,' he retorted.
'You certainly do,' she snapped right back.
'They are in France. Getting some sun,' he said in a sneering tone, to which the council chuckled again.
'Then you will have no objection if we go after Kristen and help her find Kardos.'
'Wasting your time,' he said in a tone, trying to put her off.
'In my long life I have had nothing but time to spare. Especially these days.'
'You can't use Zentroforge anyway,' he said in an annoyed tone. 'Everything will be chaotic for centuries.'
'You will remove the dark fire then?' she said. The council hushed.
'I... I don't know what you are talking about.' He glared at her, most annoyed.
'Then myself and Beleriand will be here for a sightseeing trip and nothing more.'
'Celestevere is a passive community. We are in the darkness for a reason. This magic, should you use it, will confuse us all. Its raw and unsettled magic. Those Zen Technocrats are infantiles in their drawings on the dark magic. Besides, who are you anyway, that we should allow such a person into the depths of our home?'
Sadiquatrius Genova drew herself up to her full height and gazed at the council. 'I am Sadiquatrius Genova. Threshold of Transylvere.' She turned to Gladitorius. 'And I am most annoyed.'
Beleriand spoke up. 'You've had your fun, Gladitorius. You'll not admit a thing. We all know that. Its your little game with Darkthorn which you enjoy so much. I would have thought gaining the council would have pleased you enough. I would have thought.'
'Vote,' said Sadiquatrius to the council.
'In favour,' said Beleriand. A majority of the council, just, raised their hands.
'Bah,' said Gladitorius. 'You'll not find them. Mark my words.'
'Then you will not be disturbed,' said Sadiquatrius. 'And I thank you, Council of Celestevere, for not going along with this child's fun and games any longer.'
Gladitorius looked embaressed, and as Sadiquatrius left the chamber Beleriand nodded to himself that she was indeed a Threshold child. And with a character something more than initial impressions might have concluded upon first sight.
The End
Dark Fire Eight - Ariel's Stubborn Twin
'So just fuck Lucy Potter, huh? Gee your faithful.'
Daniel sat down and studied the puzzling diagram on the table. 'Go to hell, Keri. It's been over a century, and you never committed anyway.'
'You never committed,' she said accusingly.
He glared at her. 'Come here. Sweetie.'
She came over to the table. 'What?' she asked.
'This is Beleriand,' said Daniel, pointing to a marker. 'This is where, currently, according to Beleriand, Sadiquatrius should be with Blackrock, who joined them, leaving Beleriand to stay in upper Celestevere instead. And this should be where Kristen, Jovius, Emma and Magenta are. Just about to face the Dark Fire.'
'Humph. Hate the stuff,' said the witch.
'I'm no fan either. There's a problem. Our old enemy is there. Spark.'
'That little bastard,' said Keri. 'He is nothing but a pain in the butt. Scuse my french.'
'Spark has a contract with Gladitorius.'
'And you know this, how?'
Daniel tapped his nose. 'Informants. Aro got me curious about the place a while ago. I have a friend on the council.'
'Good on you. Ravenclaw idiot.'
'Go fuck yourself,' said the member of the Hogwarts house of Ravenclaw.
'You going to intercede?' she asked him.
'WE might have to. Dark fire has slumbered in Gladitorius dark agendas for many years now, and the Vampires our outnumbered by the sheer force of the powers now involved. And, hell, we ARE angels, aren't we sweetie.'
Keri looked at the diagram Daniel had drawn up. 'Keep the balance. The balance of the dark side. Still believe in that, do you?'
'The Council needs both Werewolves AND Vampires. It will fail otherwise, and degenerate into the primitive early eras of history, when they did nothing but fight and also haunt humans. Why, they are practically civilized now. The undead.'
Keri grinned at Daniel's comment.
'So, its off for Celestevere?' she asked him.
'It's off for Celestevere,' he confidently replied.
'One last thing,' she cautioned. 'Do we have to deal with any of his bloody Sparkle Creations? That 'Sparkler' is a pain in the butt as well, and his whole minxy little entourage. I can not STAND Sparkles.'
He looked at her. 'I don't know. The leprechaun wizard may be there alone, or there may be a horde of his Sparkle creations with him. No idea. But thanks, I'll keep that in mind.'
'You do that,' she said, and kissed him quickly on the cheek.
'I'm married,' he said, suddenly alarmed.
'Yeh. So what,' she said, and looked at him with a look of deep love, and, for that moment anyway, love ruled the heart of Daniel Daly, Angel of God.
The End
Dark Fire Nine ﾖ Gladitorius the Adversary
'Bah. Humbug,' said Gladitorius, in his chamber. He sipped on a scotch and looked at Makros. 'Any suggestions?'
Makros came over, poured himself a rare drink, and sipped, and looked at Gladitorius. 'It is like it's all against you.'
'Against us, don't you mean?'
'Sure. Perhaps. I'm not sure how much I oppose Kardos now, though.'
'You are enthralled with Kristen. She is everything to you. He stands in your way.'
'Yet...' he trailed off, sipped on his scotch, and sat down on a couch in the corner of Gladitorius chamber.
'GV Holding is doing well on the exchange,' said Makros.
Gladitorius smiled. 'Human's. I detest them, mostly. But they do buy our product these days,' he said happily. 'Halloween has been good for us this year. Sales have been splendid.'
'Then you have money,' stated Makros.
'What are you getting at?' queried Gladitorius.
'Perhaps this is an opportunity to up the ante with the Vampires in our age long battle. And not just here in Celestevere. But worldwide.'
Gladitorius looked at him curiously, sipped on his scotch and said 'Explain.'
Makros got up, walked over to a bookcase, and reached up and took down a catalogue he had placed up there.
'What is that?' asked Gladitorius.
Makros threw it on his desk.
Gladitorius looked at the cover. 'Apex Military Solutions. Battlefield Merchandise Summer Catalogue.'
Gladitorius opened it up and looked at the weapons. They looked oh, so deadly.
'Turn to page 50,' said Makros.
Gladitorius turned to the page. After a moment he looked up at Makros with a grin in his eye.
'You DO have money, don't you?' queried Makros the Werewolf.
The dark and insidious laugh of Gladitorius, in response, seemed to fill the chamber quickly and echo its black humour deep, deep, deep into the bowels of Celestevere, and who can really say what undead creature of the nether really felt comfortable that day, the dark sarcasm of Gladitorius sure to fill the nightmares of even the darkest of Celestever's fowl inhabitants. Even the darkest indeed.
The End of Dark Fire Trilogy Book One