Chapter 29: In the Lion’s Den

March 1999

Tayla did not speak for several minutes. I supposed that she was pondering the whole idea of who, what, when where and why of her being. It was like asking the meaning of life. She was a complex being, a species that I, as a man, did not quite know how to deal with. I was winging this the whole way here. From the time I had run across the likes of Francisco Cordero, to the time I had been snatched away from my mortal world down in Colombia, there was no way I could have prepared myself for what I was experiencing. I thought I was winging this until I remembered the dream and the angels. God would not have put me here by accident. Everything that was happening to me was for a purpose, meaning that there must be hope either for Tayla, or for humanity. Here was a case of the weak confounding the mighty.

“You mentioned that your brother was preparing for war.

Why?”

Tayla came out of her daydream posture, saying, “The Order of the Black Velvet is vile and eviler than anything you could imagine. If you think that I am cruel with my victims, you should see Rascha in action. At least I feel pity for my lambs that I slaughter. He has a fondness for creating mayhem because his bloodlust is unquenchable, murdering entire households without a care. He has devoured babies ... children! His appetite includes the best, the bravest, the innocent, leaving nothing but destruction and despair in his wake. Rascha does not have the one prize that he is willing to go to any length to attain. He wants to be the supreme leader of all the clans and begin the enslavement of humanity, feeding off all humans, as if you were all cattle, chickens, and sheep. He will feast on all of you nightly. It will not just be Rascha, as all the vampires will do this. There will be no limitations as such that we practice here in the Red Clan. Here, feeding is a strictly controlled and regulated practice. To them, excess is the norm and the rule ... the more blood, the better. To make matters worse, I must contend with the satanic church. They are a repugnant group, worse than a stone in my shoe! They are constantly on the prowl, searching for victims for the Black Clan. Sometimes they come into my clubs, and snatch prey from our hands like bread from a beggar. They are like rustlers in the days of the old west. Necro has had many confrontations with them. Sometimes members of the Black Clan aid them. Sometimes we win. Sometimes we lose. Lately it has gotten a bit, shall we say, a little bloody. Vampires fighting vampires! I thought that day would never come. I have expressly forbidden any violence between the clans. Rascha, in his power lust, wants to rewrite the laws that govern our kind. I am not sure that I can thwart his plans, nor defeat him and his warriors from eliminating the existing hierarchy. It is not likely that I will, unless I can come up with a strategy that will upset his plans. I need a secret weapon and I think you’re it, my dear Malcolm!”

The last few days had been an adventure I had not counted on. Everything seemed so surreal at this point. Vampires going to war with each other. Fighting over who was going to devour humans or at least control it. My head was swimming.

“Malcolm, I know that this is hard for you to understand, but it’s all part of the honesty. I tell you things, truthful things. You tell me truthful things. I have given myself to a new direction. I want to move closer to the end. However, there is a mission to fulfill here first. Anubis recommends a preemptive strike. We know all their locations, their haunts, their tombs, and their satanic guardians. Their familiars are many. Moreover, they are strong. They are empowered by the evil one, the same one that gives me my powers.”

I said “Oh, how well I know! As far as I am concerned, you are all serving the evil one. All four clans are subservient to the devil. These demons that inhabit your dead bodies, well, they are all fallen angels, deserters of the glory of the Heavenly Father!” At that point, I noticed that she began to tense up. Her voice dropped in tone, and I knew that I was speaking to the vampire demon. I knew that this would be a test of faith for me, and a test of will for her.

“Malcolm, you tread on dangerous ground! You must leave this place! Leave or die!”

Tayla was starting to metamorphosis into the monster that I knew lurked under that shell of beauty. A monster she was! Her eyes began to glow red, as if there were red lights inside hollow eyeballs. The claws on the ends of her fingers began to grow, and then the teeth, the huge fangs began to protrude out from under her upper lip. She became diaphoretic and shook as if trying to control something deep down inside. I sat and watched as the monster eyed me as a snake would seconds before striking its prey. She stood up from her chair, appearing ready to pounce on me at any second. I may have been a mouse to this python that sat across from me, but I was determined not to show fear. I had accepted my fate. I was in the lion’s den, perhaps, but I was not alone. I knew God was with me as were my four angels. Eventually, Tayla began to relax, and all the monstrous features she had exhibited began to show signs of normalcy. After a few seconds, it was just Tayla and I, a vampire queen and a saved sinner, squaring off in the library. A few minutes passed, before anyone said anything. I asked her if she remembered any of the last few minutes. She just shook her head, indicating that she had no memory of when the vampire demon took full control of her body. She raised her delicate hands to her face and cupped her face to hide her face in embarrassment. She really was a shy person, after all. At least she had her moments.

“Malcolm, I’m so sorry. I promised you that I’d never harm you.” She began to shed real tears. “I guess you have figured out now that you have a particular effect on me. I have never let anybody into my world that I did not try to bring him or her to the transformation. Yet, I cannot do that to you. I do not have a desire for it. You are beautiful in your present state. Moreover, I know I can never have you in any type of relationship. The world would never accept it ... not yours, or mine. We live in different worlds. Moreover, I want to return to yours. I have thought about it for a long time. As you said, a dramatic change would occur to me. I honestly believe that I would die. Nevertheless, I am close to accepting that.

She looked away and smiled. Turning back to look at me, with kind eyes, she said, “You know, I felt their presence. Just as the vampire half of me wanted to attack you, and I had lost control to it, they stood in between us.”

“Whose presence?” I asked. I was not sure just who she was talking about. At the time, all I could think of was rebuking the vampire demon in the name of Jesus. It kept sounding repeatedly in my mind, like a siren or air raid warning of some kind. I was not afraid, just alarmed.

“You do have four powerful angels.” She sat down, with a bewildered look upon her face. To be honest, I really did not believe you at first when you told me. Sometimes, I am aware when the demon takes over my will. When my other half took control and wanted to destroy you, I could not have gotten near you. I have rarely encountered such a force. And this is the power of your God?” she asked, so incredulously.

“Yes, Tayla, that is the power of my God. What is His, no power can touch without His permission. He has the keys to heaven and hell. His is the power of life and death. He is incorruptible, omnipotent, and everlasting. Moreover, His son, Jesus Christ, is the Truth, the way and the life. I must take this opportunity, while you are in your present state, to tell you, that no man, or woman for that matter, can come to God the Father, without coming to terms with Jesus Christ first. These are not my words, or my laws. They are His words and laws.” I half expected Tayla to explode at this point. I had just given her a glimpse of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

“Let us talk some more. Come sit down with me.” She motioned with the same slender hand as before to sit across from her next to the fireplace. The fire was roaring, as it began to thunder outside. Bolts of lightning flashed light into the library as we began our chat. The room was no longer icy cold at that moment. Tayla’s human half was in complete control at this point. I wondered how long this would last.

“You have nothing to fear, Malcolm. The demon is at rest for a while. It is satiated with the blood of eight men tonight. Be thankful that you are not one of them. However, I will let you know that I would take your love if I could. Alas! It is not mine to take! I know that you love Rachel. I want you to know that I have clansmen watching over them as we speak. Because of my affection for you, I will protect not only you, but also that which you love. It is my way of showing my affection for you. Think of it as a gift. And with all gifts, they are freely given, with no conditions.”