Working Class Vegas Vamp is a free urban fantasy serial. It is unedited and subject to change. If published later, it may differ significantly, and will probably include additional material. Typos and English errors are likely; feel free to leave a comment or write me at am {AT} amscottwrites.com (revised as a standard email address. Pesky bots!) Available for a limited time only!

Haven’t started yet? Chapter 1: https://www.amscottwrites.com/2024/10/29/working-class-vegas-vamp-chapter-1/ ‎

Chapter 28

I woke before the sun went below the horizon, another new side effect of the Unbound Queen selection. If I was going to leave the gargoyles, now would be the time. But learning more about them seemed smart, especially since they claimed to guard the magic and could teach me more than the vampires.

I meditated, then deflated the mattress and did some yoga. By then, the sun was down. I turned the locking wheel and sliding the bars from the slots in the rock wall. Pulling the door open took a bit of effort, but once I got it moving, it swung easily. Slinging my backpack on, I picked up the mattress and opened the exterior door, jumping when Mattias materialized next to me. “Your glamour is too good.”

He smirked. “It comes in handy, but in this case, I wasn’t even trying. If I lean against rock long enough, I naturally blend into it. Staying human-toned takes a bit of effort for most of us.” He held out a hand. “I’ll take the mattress.”

I gave the bag to him. “Thanks. I rested quite well.”

He nodded. “Have you decided what you want to do?”

“Not going to ask me about the prophecy?” I regarded him skeptically.

“It’s yours.” He shook his head. “We’d like to help, but you’re right, we overstepped and I apologize.”

His admission surprised me; it seemed like a good sign. Or a way to lull me into complacency. “I accept your apology, thank you. I’m torn. I’d like to learn more about your magic, but I feel like we’re running out of time.” It wasn’t until I said the words that I realized just how true that was.

“You may be right. Karski called me. The vampires know you’re sheltering with us and they are not happy.” He shrugged. “They believe we are invaders, overstepping our bounds, and they’d cut us off from the magic if they could.”

“They can’t?” Curious that the native users didn’t have a better grasp.

He grimaced. “If they could use it correctly they might be able to block us. But they don’t understand what they’re doing. They mesmerize humans and each other. The weres use it for shape shifting. Both are instinctive; rather like breathing. But if you know something about science, you can concentrate oxygen and bottle it. We concentrate it to forge new gargoyles, shape shifting, glamour, and protecting the Pool of Life.”

“And yourselves?”

He jerked his chin. “Yes. Only in self-defense. We don’t use magic offensively. It’s too costly to the wielder and the Pool of Life.”

Asking species-survival related questions might get me smacked like a bug, but I had a responsibility. “Speaking of that, you said forging more gargoyles used too much magic. But all of your furnaces were in use. So why not forge fewer, since you‘re practically immortal?”

“The vampires and weres keep turning people. We have to keep up.”

I’d never understood that argument. “That makes no sense.” I held up my hand to count down my reasons. “One, vampires and weres die. Vamps less often, but we all die. Two, if you can guard the Pool of Life with the numbers you have now, you don’t need more. Three, you’ve admitted forging new gargoyles is a load on the Pool, so by continuing, you’re doing more damage than helping.”

Mattias crossed his arms. “How can you judge our guardianship when you don’t even know what we do or how we do it?”

“Then I guess you’d better show me.” I noticed he wasn’t denying any of my charges, though.

Turning up his hand, he swept his arm towards the vault tunnel. “I am not a Guardian of the Pool. The Council guards the Pool. But we can return there.”

I didn’t want to waste time walking through all those tunnels again. “Why don’t have someone else ask while you teach me what you can about the magic? While we’re doing that, I’ll let your people look at the prophecy, but I don’t think you’ll find anything useful. It’s just a lot of dreams. Or nightmares, if you’re human.” I shuddered.

We entered the main tunnel, and began the long downward trudge. But before we had gone more than a few hundred feet, Mattias stopped. I stopped, too. The rock under my feet vibrated, and a roar sounded from below, followed by a crashing sound.

Mattias pulled me to the side of the tunnel, then ran back up, towing me by the wrist. “The vampires are attacking!”

“What? Why?” That made no sense at all.

“They want you.”

I stopped running. “To see me or take me?”

“Come on. We can’t stay here. We’ll get trampled.” Mattias took off.

A thundering sound, like a huge waterfall, resolved into the crack-thud of rock feet on the tunnel floor. I sprinted after him, then zoomed past, careening through the door and over to my bike. The chatter of machine guns and boom of explosives came from beyond the hanger doors. Lacking body armor, I put my motorcycle leathers on.

Before I finished, Mattias joined me. The hanger doors to the tunnel slammed open, and gargoyles poured out. First, the Outer Shield residents, then the larger Inner Shield members. They lined up on both side of the doors, forming a circle along the outer walls of the parking cavern. As more gargoyles joined them, the circle grew.

“We will join and strengthen our shields. Talk to Theoden!” He handed me a phone, then stepped into the line when it reached us. When they’d encircled the entire parking area, they stopped and linked arms.

Me and my bike were outside the protective circle. So much for mutual defense. I tapped the phone’s screen, which opened without a passcode. Theoden’s contact appeared, so I hit the call button.

“I warned you, Mattias.” Klaus Theoden’s tone was unusually angry. “I warned you, and you did it anyway. This is what you get.”

I scowled. “This is Char, not Mattias. I’m a free person, and I’ll talk to whoever I want to talk to. Back off!”

“Don’t tell me what to do, little vamp.” He hissed the words, his venom unchecked.

I hissed back, backed by the prophecy’s fury. “I am the Unbound Queen and you will speak with respect!” The same technique I used to mesmerize, powered by our combined anger, blasted from me. The gargoyles near me wavered, like they were dizzy, and the closest dropped to his knees.

“Yes, my Queen.” Theoden’s tone was subservient. “What are your orders?”

By the burning daylight, I’d controlled the Night King of Vegas over the phone!

But before I could enjoy the moment too long, the prophecy shoved an image at me. The vision showed a beautiful white woman, with vibrant green eyes, long, curling blonde hair and camera-ready makeup wearing a bright red, tight formal gown with a diamond tiara. Her long fangs slid over plump blood-red lips. A feeling of disdain mixed with fondness and gratitude came to me.

I muted the phone and pulled the prophecy from my jacket. “Is this the priestess? You think I should talk to her?” Anger spiked, and the image dropped to her knees and put her forehead to the ground.

“She needs to acknowledge me. Got it. Do you think I can do that over the phone again?” Doubt rose, then the scene changed, showing me bending over the priestess with my hands on either side of her head. “Understood.” I unmuted the phone and let my mesmerization powers flow. “Klaus Theoden. You will stop attacking the gargoyles, and bring the High Priestess to meet me just outside the doors. You will not attack me, nor allow any other to attack me. Do you understand?”

“I understand, my Queen.” He yelled, but the sound was muffled, like he’d covered the microphone.

The sounds of assault lessened, then faded into silence. Carrying the phone and the prophecy, I walked to the exit door. If I could make Theoden obey, I could control the priestess, too.

As I reached for the handle, Mattias grasped it first. Gargoyles clutched Mattias’s shoulders—he’d pulled the entire circle with him. “We have your back, Charlene Flammen, but please pull the magic from all of us, not just those closest.”

Now I understood. The gargoyles near me had sagged because I took their power. Not what I’d intended, but it explained why Theoden gave in. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to. I’ll do my best, but since I don’t know how I did it, I’m not sure I’ll succeed.”

“Understood. We’ll balance it ourselves, then.” He tapped at a keypad, and a clicking noise came from the handle under his hand. “Shields up?”

I swallowed, and wished I had time for a blood box. But I’d demanded the confrontation—delaying made me look weak. I fed power to my shields and thickened the panels in front of me. Theoden could be faking, just to get me out there and shoot me to pieces. “Ready.”

Mattias turned the handle and shoved the door wide.

Swallowing hard, I stepped out like the queen I wasn’t, with my head held high. The door closed behind me, and moments later, vampires sprinted to me. Theoden took the lead, with the beautiful woman I’d seen in the vision hanging on his arm.

For a split-second, I thought about running, but Theoden was too fast. He’d catch me for sure. If I really had mesmerized him, I’d look weak to the others. If I hadn’t, I’d just prove that I wasn’t a leader. If Theoden was faking, he wanted to take me down personally.  I stepped towards them, and stood upright, arms crossed, toe tapping, like I was impatient.

Theoden stopped five feet in front of me and dropped to one knee. “As you commanded my Queen, the High Priestess.”

If he was faking, I didn’t have time to check. The Priestess hissed and sauntered towards me, stopping well inside my personal space. “Well, well, well. If it isn’t the low-bred girl who would be queen.” Her heavy Russian accent almost sounded fake. While she was beautiful at a distance, up close that beauty wasn’t even skin deep. Makeup plastered her face, and long false eyelashes beat against her flushed cheekbones. Her red lips looked like they’d had too many filler injections, and she had to suck the bottom lip in to keep her very long fangs from piercing it, giving her voice a breathy tone. And a severe overbite. She wore elaborately tooled black leather from neck to toe, silver flashing at her neck and over her heart.

I held back my smile. I’d dealt with so many of her type. More money than sense, they followed every pricey medical spa recommendation, and ended up looking like cartoons rather than real people. These women, just like Theoden, were convinced of their superiority simply because they had money. At the bar, I’d had to toe the line, using flattery to make them behave. But here, I set the rules. I held her gaze, but didn’t try to control her. “According to your own prophecy, I am the Unbound Queen.”

“You are not! You have not completed the tests, and you will not complete them now.” She sneered, which looked hilarious with her features, and spun on her heel.

I caught her arm and yanked her close. “If that’s the case, don’t you want your precious prophecy back?” If I was wrong, I was dead. I held the book high, waving it my left hand. The prophecy didn’t project anything to me, so I might be making the wrong move, but it was better to know now.

“Mine!” She swiped at the book, her long nails rasping against the cover, and grabbed it with both hands. Then she screamed and dropped it, pulling her hands to her chest, screaming again when the backs of her hands hit the silver decorations on her jacket.

Leaving the prophecy at my feet, I put my palms against her cheeks. The heavy makeup was slippery, so I threaded my fingers through her heavily sprayed hair and captured her gaze, sending the full force of my power into her. “I am the Unbound Queen. You will submit.” Energy surged through me and into her.

The Priestess sagged in my hold, then straightened. “No. I will not give into a child.” Her words emerged slowly, and she trembled in my hold.

I pushed harder. “You will acknowledge me as the Unbound Queen.” I shoved my will into her, envisioning her dropping to her knees.

She held my gaze, and tried to mesmerize me, but her attempts were like a cloud of gnats. Annoying, but easily swept away. “No, no, no!” The last was a wail. Then she dropped to her knees.

I kept my grip on her face and hair, bending over her. “I am the Unbound Queen.”

She tried to look down, but I didn’t let her. “You are the Unbound Queen. I will serve you forever, my Queen.”

“Unfasten your neck guard.” I loosened my grip, letting her slide away, and wiped my hands on her shoulders. The prophecy told me what to do next. I wasn’t thrilled, but understood the purpose.

“Yes, my Queen.” She fumbled at the buckles, which didn’t seem to be silver. Either that, or she’d already been burned so badly by the prophecy that she couldn’t feel it. The neck guard dropped to the ground, too close to the book.

I grabbed the book, returning it to my inner pocket. Then I pushed her head back and to the side, bent, and sank my fangs into her neck. Warm blood flowed sluggishly into my mouth, rich with power but sour tasting. Probably from the fear and pain of her victims. I sucked her essence into me until I had her completely under control, and power rushed through me. Then I dropped her to the sand without trying to close her wounds. Looking up, I crooked my finger at the closest vampire. “Tend to her.” The vamp leaned over her, licking her wounds.

Then I stalked to Theoden, still kneeling, and did the same. His blood wasn’t as powerful, but it wasn’t as sour, either. As I drank, I could feel the connection to every vampire he’d turned, and their power threatened to overwhelm me. I shut that connection away and concentrated on Theoden. Once I had him under control, I let him go, pointing at the next vampire. “Close his wounds.”

I stepped back from him and faced the gathered vampires. “I am the Unbound Queen, and you will obey me!”

Every one of them dropped to their knees, weapons clattering as they fell. It seemed too easy, but I wasn’t going to complain about success.

Mattias pulled his line of gargoyles closer to me, and the nearest vampires bounded to their feet, blocking his approach. I scowled at Mattias. “Stop. All of you. Mattias, please convey my thanks to the Gargoyle Guardians Council. I will contact you later about a way ahead for the mutual benefit of all our peoples. Please tell the weres the same. Theoden, organize our return to the Tower and put the underground shelter back into caretaker status.”

“Yes, my Queen.” Theoden rose and bowed, then called his lieutenants to him, barking orders.

I faced Mattias. “Thank you. I appreciate your help and I will be in touch soon.”

“You are welcome, Charlene Flammen, Unbound Queen of the Vampires. Rule well.” He nodded his head, then retreated, pulling the linked gargoyles with him.

I hoped they’d return my bike, but I had the feeling it would be a while before I’d get to ride again. A long black limo came to a stop in front of me.

Theoden opened the door. “My Queen, High Priestess, please enter.”

I nodded, and ducked into the car, sliding across and buckling up. The ride across the desert track would be rough. The Priestess—I’d have to get her name at some point—got in and took a seat on the side-facing bench, then Theoden joined her. Two of his bodyguards took the seats beyond him, compact machine guns slung across their laps.

He opened a bottle of blood wine, pouring three glasses, and handing the first to me. “My Queen.” Then he gave one to the Priestess and they both raised theirs. “To the Queen Unbound.”

I nodded, but didn’t bother drinking. I didn’t need more blood—power sparked and fizzled in my veins.

Theoden threw the drink back and laughed, letting the glass drop to the carpeted floor of the limo. “Thank you for taking care of that problem for me.” He jerked his head towards the Priestess. “Now I don’t have to worry about her little cult, because I’ve got the Unbound Queen right where I want her.”

He’d faked his capitulation. Despair sank into my gut, followed by sheer fury, the prophecy joining me. I knew it was too easy, but ignored the signs. Not only would I pay for this, but everyone in Las Vegas and beyond would, too.

 

Chapter 29

Theoden turned towards his henchmen. “Don’t look into her eyes. If she tries to touch me or mesmerize me, shoot her in the legs.” Then he looked at me. “Did you really think you could take me over, little girl? You’re nothing. A low-class, uneducated, stupid call-girl.”

The name-calling was designed to infuriate me, make me act rashly. “I suppose you’ve got a story already worked out for my injuries? I think I know this story.” I looked at the limo’s roof and tapped my chin, then returned to Theoden. “The Priestess broke away from my control and attacked me. In their rush to defend me, I was injured. I will need time in seclusion to heal. Is that about right?” I hardened the part of my shielding facing him and his henchmen, curving it sharply close to my knees and down below my feet.

Then I opened my new connection to Theoden’s network of vampires. He’d evaded my control, but I could feel every single one of the vampires in his network, so drinking from him had accomplished something. I searched for the branches controlling the men in front of me. They’d been turned by a vampire that Theoden had turned. I bypassed that vampire for the moment and searched his line.

His brow furrowed for a moment, then smoothed. “Precisely.”

“Didn’t expect the stupid girl to figure that out, did you?” I smiled and found one henchman, then I found the next. I’d rather put both of them under my control and get them to take out Theoden, but I wasn’t certain I had that kind of precision. So instead, I commanded both of them to sleep. They immediately sagged in their restraints.

Theoden grabbed the closest weapon and fired it at my legs. Bullets flew and rebounded from my shielding, most of them directed to the limo’s floorboards by the curve I’d created. One hit the Priestess, who screeched and curled into a ball on the seat. Several hit his bodyguards, startling them awake, and one smacked into Theoden’s leg. He screamed and dropped a hand across the wound.

I smirked and raised my voice to penetrate the ringing in my ears. “Didn’t expect that, either.” Keeping my shields solid, I grasped Theoden’s connection to his vampires and ripped it away.

He screamed again, the bellow of rage turning into a high-pitched wail of despair. Dropping his head to his knees, he clamped his hands on his head. “No!”

“Yes.” I hissed the word. “They are all mine, not yours.” Turning my attention to my new people, I firmed my connection. “Protect me from Theoden. Staunch your wounds, and care for the Priestess.”

“Yes, my Queen.” Both men bowed their heads, then one knelt to push up the other’s pant leg, while the seated vampire aimed his weapon at Theoden.

I rose and put my hand on the back of Theoden’s neck, then sank my fangs deep again. I drank, pushing my will into the maelstrom of despair and fear he’d become, ripping it all away and giving him a worthy goal—to please me. I rooted through his psyche, ensuring every hint of disobedience was gone. Pulling out, I closed his wounds and retreated to my seat. Running roughshod over his mind made me sick to my stomach, but I couldn’t afford to take chances with this particular vampire. “Klaus Theoden, we will not allow your disobedience. Look at me.”

With a jerk, his head came up and his gaze met mine. “Yes, my Queen. I will obey your every word.”

“And you will never, ever betray me, in thought or deed.” I pushed my will into him, powered by his blood and the vampires under my command.

“I will never betray you, my Queen, in thought or deed. Your wish is my command.” He slid from the seat to his knees, still holding my gaze.

“Excellent. You will continue to run your business network, ensuring we have funds for our rule. But you will treat your employees fairly, and compensate them well. If there is a conflict between those goals, you will consult with me. You will tell me your overall strategy tomorrow afternoon.” I smiled. “And you will remember I’m not stupid or foolish.”

“Yes, my Queen, I will. You are both wise and intelligent.”

“Very well. You may take a seat.” I dropped his gaze, then clicked the intercom button. We’d stopped sometime during the confrontation. “Driver, is the vehicle okay?”

“No, my Queen. The engine has stopped. I think the fuel line was hit.”

I grimaced. “Get us another vehicle, please, and arrange for this one to be towed and fixed. Thank you.”

“Yes, my Queen. The car behind us will take us.”

A dark SUV pulled up next to us, and my driver got out, opening my door. The SUV emptied, the vampires inside spreading out around both vehicles, pointing their weapons out.

I got out, checked the SUV’s interior and saw no one, so I got in. “Theoden, Priestess, join me.” They did, sliding into the seat next to me.

The limo driver took the wheel, and one my new vampire guards took the passenger seat. “My Queen, it is approximately forty minutes to the tower.”

“Thank you. What is your name?” I wasn’t Theo, treating his people like interchangeable, disposable pieces.

“George, my Queen. Tom is your bodyguard.”

“Thank you, George and Tom. I appreciate your care. Please let me know if you need anything to make your job easier.”

“Yes, my Queen.”

Then I turned to the Priestess next to me, and Theoden. “Buckle in. It’s going to be a bumpy ride.” I laughed and fastened my belt.

It would indeed be a rough ride, but I finally had hope for the future. I’d survived, and through hard work and perseverance, I’d keep humanity and the magic of our world safe. Retraining the vampires, negotiating with the weres and other magical creatures, and investigating the gargoyles would take time and effort, but if we could all work together, we could create a better world for all of us.

Compassion and empathy were the key, rather than destruction and command. With thoughtful compromises, everyone could win, rather than Theoden’s pyric victory. Autocracies inevitably ended by the sword, so I’d craft a mutually beneficial way ahead, creating a world where we could all thrive.

I wouldn’t accept anything less.

***The End***

This is the final installment of Working Class Vegas Vamp. I hope you’ve enjoyed it! It will remain up through April, then I’ll take it down.

Let me know if you’d like more in this world.

Working Class Vegas Vamp Copyright © 2024 by AM Scott. All Rights Reserved.

Cover by Achlys Book Cover Designs