The Ancient One

Georgia Coast, March 2017

“Sir, there is no response from the ship,” the young ensign reported.

“Alert the ship that we are sending a boarding party,” the captain said.

“Aye, sir.”

Half an hour later, the radio echoed the report, “Captain, there are dead bodies, but no one is alive. All of the bodies are mutilated, sir. This is really messy.”

“Is there any signs of disease, or something that warrants quarantine?” the captain asked.

“Just mutilated bodies, captain. I don’t see any sign of disease or any other contaminant,” the lieutenant reported.

The captain thought about it for a while, then said, “Hold tight. I’ll report this to HQ and get guidance.”

“Aye, sir,” the lieutenant replied.

An hour later, the captain radioed his lieutenant. “Lieutenant. I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but you’re getting a...um...vacation. Enjoy your tropical getaway. CDC will be sending an investigation team ASAP. Supplies will be brought within the hour.”

“Aye, sir,” the lieutenant replied, resigned to his fate.

Meanwhile, there were random findings of mutilated bodies moving inland. The first was found near Richmond Hill, GA, and a string of them up the highway system, all headed towards Atlanta. Once in Atlanta, the trail disappeared. Police were investigating, but unable to find anything that could lead them to a perp. There was only one clue that connected the crimes. Every dead body was mutilated, almost beyond recognition. In addition, and rather frightening to the investing police departments, every one of the bodies was mostly drained of blood, aside from being torn to shreds.

Within the first few weeks, there was a meeting of a government unknown to most people. These leaders called themselves vampires, and at least one of them didn’t like what had come to their city. Yes, they knew and were the reason no bodies had been found in the region around the city.

“Elijah, as the eldest sitting member of this council, what is your assessment of these bodies that have begun showing up?” Stillman asked.

“I’ve read histories of something like this. There are writings of wild porphyrics, or vampires. They are like rabid animals, unable to control their impulses. They aren’t even capable of rational thought. To be honest, I thought they were just legends, from the old world. We’ve never had a report of this in the Americas, until now. I can’t be certain, but I think this is a wild vampire, and from what I’ve been reading, since the first body appeared, if a wild vampire has decided to make a nest in this area, we’ll start having more and more of them. They’re like a cancer. We need to find it and destroy it as fast as possible, if I’m right,” Elijah said.

“If you are right,” Jones said, his reply just short of disrespectful.

“I think I am,” Elijah said, ignoring his tone.

“But you don’t know,” Jones countered.

“With the thing that did this still being unknown, no I am not certain, but what we’re seeing fits the pattern of a wild vampire. We need to put every vampire in the region on the hunt. Stop all other excursions. We must contain this as fast as possible. If I’m wrong, at least we do something positive for the human community, for a change, which ultimately benefits us,” he said.

“We shouldn’t waste our valuable time with this red herring,” Jones said.

“Are you putting forward a motion to devote resources to this hunt, Elijah?” Stillman asked.

“I do put forth such a motion,” he said.

“I will second the motion,” a voice called out. Elijah wasn’t sure who it was, but being that it was female, he had his suspicions.

“All in favor, by show of hands,” Stillman called. Elijah counted along with Stillman.

“That is four in favor. All opposed, by a show of hands,” Stillman said.

After a moment of counting, he said, “13 against. The motion is not carried. Next item,” Stillman said. Elijah tuned out the remainder of the council session. He had no concrete evidence, but he was certain it was a wild vampire. For the first time in a couple centuries, he prayed God would step in and do something, before it was too late.

By late April, the number of mutilated, blood drained bodies was mounting. The vampires, already hiding the bodies, realized they had to do something, or risk possible exposure, which would not go well for them. Their options running out, as the body count kept rising, they called an emergency session of the council.

“Elijah, you had ideas about this problem back in March, but failed to properly present your argument. Would you care to present your argument again, but in a different light?” Stillman said. Elijah was tempted to leave, and let them rot in the mess they’d created, or more accurately, allowed to fester. He was better than that, though.

Putting his ego aside, he stood up, and cleared his throat, “In the time since we last met, I have continued researching the problem, comparing it to events recorded in the histories from Europe. What is happening here in Atlanta is identical to the histories of a wild vampire nesting in a given location. Mutilated and drained bodies, the number increasing with time. What is happening is that more wild vampires are being spawned by the original one that arrived in March. Their numbers are growing, and I’m not certain we are able to contain it on our own, anymore. I will not put forward any motions on this issue, but I will offer the only realistic solution I have found, and it is not one I like or would normally advise. There is an ancient vampire in Europe that has a history of fighting wild outbreaks. She is rather zealous in her efforts to eradicate the wild vampires, but the histories are also clear that she requires concessions for her services. She is known as the Queen of Latvia, and as I said, she is an ancient one, so deal with her carefully, should you decide to pursue that course.”

“How old is this Queen of Latvia?” Jones asked.

“No one knows and the histories do not say. There are mentions of her as far back as the 13th century, although that might be a predecessor.”

“It must be a predecessor, as you suggested, since we all know the myth of eternal vampires is just that, a myth,” Jones said.

“She is called an ancient, but we have no idea. None in America are older than 300 years, give or take. We are young, still. Regardless, I advise caution in dealing with her, should this council decide to pursue that course,” Elijah said.

“And why will you not put forward a motion on this subject?” Jones asked, returning to that topic.

“In March, you countered my hypothesis with disdain, bordering on disrespect. Now that you are scared, you come to me wanting me to take the heat for your miscalculation, and lack of foresight. You make the motion if you want this resolved. I wash my hands of it. If a motion is put forward, I will vote as any member of this council, and then I may return to the lands of my father. I believe I am done here, as I do not wish to live the remainder of my existence in fear of being ravaged by these creatures. By the way, they don’t care where their meal comes from. They will hunt vampires as quickly as humans,” Elijah said. That got the attention of them all.

“I put forward a motion to request the assistance of the Queen of Latvia, offering her any concessions that are reasonable, short of outright dominion of this region,” Andrea stood and shouted. Elijah wasn’t entirely surprised she saw reason, but it didn’t really matter unless the Queen of Latvia decided to come to America, which he doubted.

“A motion is on the floor. Is there a second?” Stillman called out.

“I second the motion,” Jones said, surprising everyone.

“All in favor?” Stillman asked. Before he could give the instructions on the voting, every hand in the chamber was up. The only hand that didn’t go up was Elijah’s. He sat smiling, but there was a resigned lilt to his expression.

“Elijah, as you are the one with the information, this council tasks you with reaching out to the Queen of Latvia, and inquiring what her requirements are for her services,” Stillman said.

“I will take your request under consideration,” he said, not acknowledging the implication that it was a command.

Just before morning, he had finished writing an actual letter, on actual paper, something almost no one did anymore. He’d found the address for the Chamberlain of the Kingdom of Latvia, addressing the envelope very carefully, making sure the writing was as clean and crisp as he was capable of. He wasn’t stupid. These vampires were old school, stilted in tradition, and he wasn’t about to offend them, thus the letter rather than an email.