Chapter 31: An Unholy Trinity

March 1999

Later that evening, around midnight, Mortis showed up, with a soft knock at the doorpost of the library. “Sir, I am pleased to announce the return of the Queen to the estate. She will be up to the library shortly. Shall I bring more coffee sir?”

“Has the Queen dined yet?” I asked this question for the obvious reason.

“That issue has already been addressed, Sir. The Queen has informed me she will always have dined before she receives you, for your protection, as always, Sir.”

“Yes of course! I should know that Mortis. I should never doubt the Queen’s efforts to minimize the dangers to me. Thanks, and yes, I suppose some fresh coffee would be in order.”

Mortis left the room with my request as quietly as he had arrived. I wondered with anticipation the agenda of tonight”s conversation: More vampire etiquette, more family history or the impending clash between the clans. I know I wanted to talk to her about the deposit in my bank account, the parallels of specific vampire myths with scripture references and most of all I wanted to know what she had done for the past week.

The room was already cool, but did not drop to a freezing level, as it usually does when she came into the room. This time, Queen Tayla came through the door, as a normal person would. She came in holding her head up high and proud at the head of a procession of vampire courtiers who were in her shadow. Her graceful steps portrayed dignity and pride, perhaps showing off her regality at its best. I would not know, as I never had met with any crowned head or head of state, but I am sure she had seen more than her share. She was in her dark-haired persona, adorned in jewels, tiara, and wearing an evening gown of red satin in the style of the Victorian period. As always, she was stunning, and physically perfect in every aspect to the human eye. I stood up for her, as a man would in respect to her. Tonight, was surely to be about something important.

“Good evening, my dear Malcolm. How have you been the week of my absence?” Her voice resonated still with the same sweet, smoky whispering voice as before when we first met. Her courtiers spread out about the library towards the walls and the corners of the room. Finally, her familiars came in one at a time. First, Anubis entered, followed subsequently by Dread, Necro, Leech, Moon, Shade, Talon, and finally Mortis. It seemed that everyone I had met was here in the library. Shade had her usual smile, plastered all over her cheery face. She waved an inconspicuous hand at me.

“Queen Tayla,” I said, “I have spent almost every waking hour here in this library. Your instructions stated that I have free reign of the library, so I went about making use of the time doing research, and searching for answers to my questions,” I paused again, “And yours too.”

She smiled, (no fangs, thank you) and there was calm in her face. She must have felt as if I had stumbled on something. I did not feel as if I should tell her about my visit from my four new friends just yet. Somehow, I felt that because she was reaching out, God was reaching back. I would discuss this more with her in private as I would other topics. “How was your trip?” I asked.

“It was productive,” she paused, breathing a great sigh, and then added, “But tiring. I went to visit my Brother Rascha. I may have managed to placate his ambitions for a time or at least he is leading me to believe that he is cooperating with me. It does not matter. I know too much of the scheming he has been up to, to take my eyes off him now. I also took care of many business matters. This took up an enormous amount of my time. In addition, I performed at one of my clubs. That was particularly enjoyable. I wish you could have been there. However, I needed you here.”

“So, did you accomplish your goals?” I asked.

“Yes, I did. There is much to discuss with you. I brought all of you into the library as that which needs to be discussed must be fully disclosed to all of you.” She turned around slowly, gazing at her entourage of vampire courtesans and familiars. Then her voice changed. It was not the voice of a blood-crazed vampire but one of sternness, spoken from the position of authority.

“It has come to my attention that some in this room seem to think that I may go back on that which I have said. Some here believe that I may give treachery in return for loyalty, that I reward sincerity with disrespect. I am going to dispel those rumors here and now. We have an invited guest in my house, a guest who we brought here to us. I have given Malcolm Harris the courtesy and respect given to guests. He has demonstrated to me,” she continued, making a gesture of pointing towards her, “to me, that he can be trusted with our safety and our secrets. I have given him safe passage on this estate, by decree. Let no one,” she paused, “No one doubt that should he betray that trust; I will deal with him.

Malcolm, you understand completely what I am saying don’t you?” She was looking at me, still calmness in her face, as if this speech were merely a formality.

“Of course, your Majesty. I have never doubted that there would be a great price to pay for the betrayal of your trust.” I said this solemnly as if I were taking an oath. I wondered if this had anything to do with the incident at the dining room table with Dread.

“I want it known here and now,” Tayla continued, as she stood in the middle of the room, with an air of power in her voice, “Malcolm is not to be harmed, not to be insulted, not to be treated with fear or loathing of any kind. Malcolm is my special counselor. In addition, he is playing a key role in my operations against the Black Clan. Therefore, he is close to me. I still care for all my children, all of you. Be not troubled for I have not abandoned those I have granted special powers and those who have been granted special privileges. I know you have beliefs that I will dispose of Malcolm, at the point in time that his usefulness expires.

This will not happen, for I will release Malcolm, and place him back among his own kind, where he belongs. He is not to come to the crossing over. Malcolm has come to try to understand us and learn of us. He is not a vampire killer. Therefore, he has spent so much time here, alone in this library away from his family. He toils, not for himself, but for me. Grant him the hospitality that I bestow upon him. I command it!”

Upon the speaking of these words, the pause in the room created a silence that was more than deafening. I almost thought I felt the floor shake. Her stare and her sternness in her speech could have stampeded cattle. She had the undivided attention of every being in the room. She slowly held out her hands into the air in front of her. Then, a final utterance that sounded like thunder, “Let us depart!”

I was impressed and honored that she went to all the trouble to give notice that she and I had a relationship, albeit a strange one. She told me that she would return in a few moments, and her group began to file out of the room. Moments later, I was alone again. I gathered my notes, complete with my questions, and got ready to converse the night away with my favorite vampire. I could not believe I was looking forward to talking with her all night, but I was. She probably sensed that, too.

As she had promised before, she returned to the library in her usual way. First, the coolness swirled around the room followed by the icy chill. A cold, damp fog engulfed the lower half of the room giving way to a rising pillar of icy mist, from which she would materialize. I was not sure which version of Tayla would appear. Would it be the dark-haired woman, with thin sharp features, or the blonde-haired person with the bosom? Perhaps even the redhead! The anticipation was too much.

Tayla appeared as the blonde version, sensing that I preferred her. Now she was dressed in a medieval costume of a lady in waiting, or a fairy queen, like something right out of King Arthur’s court. As always, she was impressive. She materialized in a standing posture, as I sat behind the desk table, still as a statue.

She curtsied to me, as if saying, “Well, here I am.” I stood up to greet her. “Shall we sit in front of the fire?”

“Yes, of course, my dear Malcolm!” The small fire already burning became a roaring one in the fireplace. Candles lit all over the room. The electric lights dimmed. After I gathered my papers, I looked up, to see she was already sitting in the chair in front of the fireplace. Her blonde hair was in braids on the sides, full and long. Her dress accentuated her hips with a chained belt of gold, and embroidery adorned her dark red velvet and white satin gown. Her long sleeves had long tails at the cuffs. Golden chains adorned her hair, cascading down from a center point at the top of her head, and holding much of her golden blond hair in place. Her lips were a soft red, while her eyes were a light blue eyeshade that matched her Mediterranean blue eyes. It seemed her expression was one of anticipation, as she felt that the night was going to be exciting for her.