Without A Heartbeat

My child, you have returned to me,” said Mrs Ellison in a crooning voice. It was the same voice Scarlett had heard on that night coming from the cellar. She was the one in the garden, the one who sent the Hiveminds after me.

“Mother of Blood,” Gabriel said, his voice wavering with emotion.

“Come to me,” she said, extending a hand.

The Bloodling moved through the writhing bodies, which parted like the red sea around him. He knelt down at the chair and as Mrs Ellison cupped a hand to his face, stared up with adoring eyes.

“I thought you were lost to me.”

“I almost was Mother.” He turned to Scarlett, who stood trembling at the entrance to the horrifying room. “She saved me from Sinner’s Vault.”

Mrs Ellison looked up, as if seeing Scarlett for the first time. “Come here child.”

Without any other option, Scarlett edged forward, moving her way through the mass of naked bodies, which snarled and hissed at her.

She is nesting them.

It was a process Scarlett had read about in the handbook, where large numbers of Bloodlings were placed together in close proximity for a long period of time, which had the effect of stamping out individual thoughts, making them almost like a single being, obedient and subservient to their higher authority.

Scarlett reached Mrs Ellison, trying not to show her fear. The woman smiled, showing too many teeth. The human mask that she used in the manor had slipped away, showing the terrifying truth that lay beneath. She was a powerful force, one who was as close to madness as Gabriel. She was the Mother of Blood.

“It is good to see you again, Scarlett,” she said. “I thank you for rescuing my child.”

“W-what is this place?” asked Scarlett, her voice as timid as a field mouse.

Mrs Ellison spread her arms out wide. “This is the Order of Blood and Teeth. We serve Almighty God, whom the Pandemonian fools do not realise governs their world as well as this one. The dead Dragons they worshiped were nothing more than false gods sent to test us. What you see here is but one part of a much larger whole created by me, which seeks to create a world free from the corrupt Alliance. A world where humans no longer have to fear, because humans no longer exist.”

“You want to kill every human?” said Scarlett with a gasp.

Mrs Ellison smiled. “Of course not.” She leaned forward, “We seek to turn them all into Bloodlings, just as God decrees. Bloodlings are the future of the human species, not the filthy Chosen.”

“If there are no humans left, how will Bloodlings survive without their blood?”

“We leave that in the hands of God. He will show us the way.”

She is utterly insane.

“The Mother of Blood came to me,” said Gabriel. “She took me into her protection and showed me the way when I was lost and alone.” Mrs Ellison rubbed a hand under his chin and he stared up at her with a look of absolute adoration. Scarlett felt like she wanted to be sick. She hadn’t known what to expect when she had followed Gabriel, but anything, anything was better than the horror of where she now stood. Malachi was right, it was some kind of insane cult.

“H-how can this place exist under Oakley Manor?” said Scarlett, trying to keep her voice calm.

“It is quite a simple tale really. Firstly my name is not Mrs Ellison, but Elizabeth Bathory. I created the Order of Blood and Teeth long ago, when God came to me in a vision. He told me to make it my divine mission to save people who were suffering, by creating them anew through the fire of the crucible. The order grew quickly, as an effective defense against the tyrannical Chosen and their corrupt organisation.” She clawed her hands around the edges of her chair as her face flecked with disgust.

“However, the Chosen discovered what I was doing, besmirching my name by making up ridiculous stories about me, such as me murdering young girls and bathing in their blood. They killed the precious children I had created and tore down everything I had built. I was forced to run, but eventually they caught me and my Hivemind siblings, leaving us in a sealed castle tower without blood to die.” She held up her hands, staring at them. “I used these to scrape away at the walls until we escaped. I have been moving between countries for a long time since, constantly changing my identity to remain anonymous and setting up the Order of Teeth in every place I settled, leaving my followers to continue my holy work. After I arrived in London, I discovered Gabriel, confused and alone, his beloved dead to The Great Plague. He became my favourite child. Together with my siblings, we travelled together, setting up new orders with renewed strength.” She smiled down at Gabriel.

“You came to Ireland together?” asked Scarlett.

“Yes. Gabriel joined the Alliance and transferred to Sciath Outpost. Whilst there he discovered Richard Clarke was a benefactor to the Alliance, a man who was obsessed with becoming a vampire. I joined his household under the guise of Mrs Ellison, while Gabriel had him commission this place to be built, before killing all the workers involved.” She scoffed. “That ignorant fool Master Clarke didn’t even realise that I was the leader of all this. He simply thought I was a Bloodseeker desperate for work.”

“We would never have turned that evil man,” added Gabriel, turning to face Scarlett. “As soon as we were ready to leave, we were going to kill him.” He smiled. “You beat us to it.”

Scarlett heard her name being excitedly called from the side of the room. She turned to see Rupert and Isabel run from a small opening. They flung their arms around her and pressed their faces into her side. Scarlett felt absolute horror fill her up and it was all she could do not to cry.

They were both vampires.

“Children, mother is talking to Scarlett now. You can play with her later. Go back to your rooms.”

“Yes Mother of Blood,” they both said with sullen expressions. Giving Scarlett a final hug, they skulked from the room, back into the opening they had emerged from.

“You turned children? How could you?” Scarlett screamed, unable to control herself.

A universal hiss came from behind her, so loud it made her jump. All of the Bloodlings had stopped moving and were staring at her, mouths open and teeth bared. Among them were Bridget and Claudia.

“Please calm yourself,” said Elizabeth. She lowered her hand slowly and all the nesting Bloodlings settled. “I did not want to do this. I only permitted Gabriel to bring sick and dying people to me. God told me to save those he could not. Through me, they are granted a second chance at life, one of beautiful immortality.” She gestured towards one of the more sentient Bloodlings who stood at the side of the room. “Such as Judith here, who Richard Clarke abused before you and tried to bury alive in the woods.”

Scarlett scared open mouthed at the blonde girl. The one he thought he killed…they saved her from death. The girl was glaring daggers at Scarlett, as if she had done something to offend her.

“I am not evil,” said Elizabeth, as if convincing herself. “I only seek to guide the human race into the next stage of evolution as God willed, one that leans away from the Chosen and their corrupt organisation. I do not wish to have people follow me simply because I am their master, but also because they know I saved them from death and misery. That is why at first I only turn people who are dying.” Elizabeth seized Gabriel’s chin and squeezed with enough force that he winced. “However, my errant child forced my hand when he turned you instead of bringing you to me. Without my Bloodseeker influence, you were unruly and Richard Clarke’s premature death was the result.”

“Please forgive me mother,” whispered Gabriel, bowing his head. “I was selfish.”

“Shush child,” Elizabeth soothed, smiling down at him. “All is forgiven.”

Scarlett could see that through Gabriel’s eyes, Elizabeth Bathory was someone to be worshiped and obeyed at all costs. For a moment she remembered the note that had been stored in the copy of The Monk that he had returned to Scarlett, and realised what it was that had bothered her about it. Gabriel had capatalised a single word – the H in ‘her’.

The Mother of Blood is their god.

Elizabeth turned her attention back to Scarlett and continued speaking. “Richard Clarke was in great financial debt, having given so much of his money both to the Alliance and us. With him gone, word has spread and the bank is now going to foreclose on the estate, selling it to the highest bidder. The workforce would have scattered, and Mrs Clarke and her children would have been forced onto the street, where they surely would have died. We would have had to start all over again. I could not allow that, so I turned everyone here, so that we could push forward our plans before the manor is lost.”

“Everyone…” Scarlett choked.

“I have not touched your family.”

Thank god, she thought with a sigh of relief.

“Where is Mrs Clarke?” Scarlett asked after she had calmed, looking around the creepy room and not seeing her.

“Unfortunately that poor soul was not strong enough to survive the change. She is with God now.”

“Rupert and Isabel are orphans,” Scarlett breathed, feeling utter heartbreak for the poor children.

“They are not orphans. We are their family now. I am their mother.”

Scarlett could see the true madness in Elizabeth’s eyes. She is drunk off her own power.

“Why did you send your Hiveminds to kill me?” she asked.

“I did not want to kill you. It was always my plan to save you myself, so you can imagine my shock when I saw you as a Vampire already, killing Master Clarke. At first I was angry, but then I was excited at the prospect of bringing someone new into the fold. I keep those who I feel are the strongest unnested, to help me lead and find new members. But I needed to be sure, so I sent some of my siblings to test you. When I felt them die, I knew that you were a survivor, someone I could use. I came out to find you, however, the Alliance were close on Gabriel’s trail and got to you before I could.” The Mother of Blood clasped her hands together and stood up suddenly. “Anyway, all this talk is pointless. You are here now. You have bought my child back to me and I will happily accept you into my family.” She narrowed her eyes. “You will join us won’t you?” Gabriel turned his head towards Scarlett, his expression expectant.

Scarlett knew she had to play along with their madness. To reject them now was to secure her own death. Just until I can tell Faru what is happening.

“Yes, I will join you.”

Elizabeth and Gabriel’s faces both broke into a wide smile.

“I cannot tell you how glad I am to hear you say that.” She turned to Gabriel. “Now that you are back, there is no reason to delay any further on our plan.”

He stood up and smiled. “When?”

“This evening.”

“What is the plan?” asked Scarlett.

“Tonight we will take Sciath Outpost for ourselves.”

Gabriel led Scarlett to one of many alcoves carved into the rocky tunnels that lead off from the main chamber. A threadbare mattress had been squeezed into the tiny space.

“Rest up here and prepare for later,” he said placing a hand on her shoulder. “I will bring you blood soon to help heal your wounds. He paused for a moment as he struggled to say something else. “You were sick you know.”

Scarlett frowned. “I don’t understand.”

Gabriel placed a palm gently on the left side of her chest. “Here. Something was wrong with your heart. You would have only survived for a few more years at most. That is why the Mother of Blood chose you.” He gave a shy smile. “I wanted you more. You remind me so much of my beloved Regina. Not only do you look like her, but also you carry the same energy as her, the same way about you. That is why I had to have you for myself.”

Scarlett stood opened mouthed at his words. Only her family knew about her heart condition, and even then they had never realised it was serious. Conflicting emotions poured through her. He saved me. She tried to speak, but nothing came from her mouth.

Gabriel gave a nod and turned to depart, pausing with his hand on the wall. “Words cannot express how happy I am that you have joined our family,” he said without turning. “After we have cleared the Alliance scum from their base, you and I will have all the time in the world to begin our courtship.” Then he stepped from the alcove and disappeared into the network of tunnels.

Despite his sinister words, Scarlett was astonished to discover that she no longer harboured as much hate towards Gabriel. It was an odd feeling, a shifting away from anger towards something more neutral and pitying. Gabriel was a lost soul, one who had been taken in by a manipulator, who warped his mind to her insane ways of thinking.

It makes no difference; I can’t let Elizabeth just carry out the slaughter of unsuspecting Guardians.

Peering out of the alcove, Scarlett checked to make sure she was alone, before pressing back against the wall as far as she could, so that she was hidden from sight.

“Faru, are you there? Come here if you can hear me.”

A few moments later Scarlett felt her body convulse and the Huntmaster appeared in front of her. He had a relieved expression on his face.

“Thank the Elementals you are alive. I have been worried sick about you. I heard you escaped Sinner’s Vault, but didn’t want to call on you in case I aroused Gabriel’s suspicions.”

“I am okay, but you have to listen Faru, there isn’t much time. I am back in Teine. The woman who was housekeeper here at Oakley Manor, she is Gabriel’s master.”

He looked shocked. “Mrs Ellison? Outleader Kodessa told me she was nothing but a stern, old Bloodseeker.”

“She is anything but that. Her real name is Elizabeth Bathory, however, they all call her the Mother of Blood.”

The Huntmaster’s face became one of absolute shock. “The Alliance has been searching for Elizabeth Bathory for centuries. I cannot believe she was under our nose the entire time. Scarlett, she is incredibly dangerous.”

“I know! Listen, she is going to force us attack the Outpost tonight so she can strengthen her order.”

“I will warn Outleader Kodessa. They will prepared.”

“They will need to be. There are at least eighty or more Bloodlings here. She has been doing that nesting thing with some of them.”

“That is a serious problem.”

“Why?”

“Nesting turns Bloodlings into a united force who know no fear, only the commands that their master gives them. They will be difficult to kill.”

“We can’t kill them! They are innocents. Can they not be saved, if we kill the Mother of Blood?”

Faru looked despondent. “I am afraid not, if she has been nesting them to the point that she is ready to use them against us, then they are beyond saving. When Elizabeth dies, they will be driven to madness. I am afraid that death will be their only salvation now.”

Guilt filled Scarlett up. She was effectively signing the death warrant for all of the innocent people in the room, who had been taken against their will and turned into slaves. Something that could have happened to me. She shook her head trying to dislodge the thought. They aren’t people anymore. Elizabeth has taken that from them, it is she who has to pay the price for their deaths.

“I will bring a large force with me on the Iron Whale straight away.”

“They have children here too. Children Vampires.”

Faru shook his head in dismay. “There is nothing we can do for them at the moment. However I promise we will rescue them and see that they are looked after when this is over.”

“Thank you. Listen, I have to go with Elizabeth tonight or it will look suspicious. But I must know, will the Guardians be planning to kill me too?”

“No. Things have changed here. I will ensure that no one-”

“Wait, I think someone is coming.”

Faru departed in an instant. Judith stepped into the alcove a second later, and Scarlett tried to appear normal. The girl stared at her without speaking for a long while, her lips curled back into a snarl.

“You aren’t one of us,” she said finally.

“Excuse me?”

“The Mother of Blood is nothing to you. You were just a mistake created by a lovesick fool.”

“Why are you being so hostile?”

“Because I was going to be the one they let kill Master Clarke, and you stole that from me,” hissed the Bloodling.

“Judith, we were both his victims. Be happy he is dead,” she said.

“No. I have fantasised about the ways I would kill him, since I was first bought here. How I would crush his throat, or pull out his innards. Now, because of you, I will never get that chance.” She leaned forward until her face was inches from Scarlett’s. “You had better keep out of my way this evening.” With that, she stormed away, leaving Scarlett humming with adrenaline.

Judith is what I could have become, had the Alliance not found me. Someone so fueled with hate and anger that she cannot think straight. Gabriel had saved her from death and Master Clarke, but in turn he had taken away the person she had once been. It was the Alliance who had given it back to her.

Scarlett sat down on the mattress and waited for night to come.