The Tao of Vampires
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The Tao of Vampires
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Symphony of Death Phoebus Apollo watched, from the third level of the Roman citadel, the nymphyre make her way back to Arvo and his troop of slayers. She stopped on occasion to pick flowers. He adjusted his gold body armor and cursed its poor fitment. Xenophanes appeared, dressed in a gold suit and cloak. “You’ll need this,” he said, as he placed a gold crucifix around Phoebus Apollo’s neck. “For good luck.” Phoebus Apollo kissed his charm. “Xenophanes, I’ve made a horrible mistake.” “Yes, you did, overlord. A carnal act.” “I forgot myself.” “Yes, you did, overlord. An unnatural act. You’ve soiled your reputation, but no matter,” Xenophanes patted Phoebus Apollo on the back. “Sextus is a brilliant strategist and we do have the high ground.” Phoebus Apollo and Xenophanes walked up the stairway to the top of the citadel. The gunners were creating pyramids of cannon balls behind each cannon. Phoebus Apollo shook Sextus’ hand. “Sextus, what say you?” “I say we have a cunning foe,” the grizzled and sturdy commander said. “Rather than facing Ares, he eluded our forces by using a circuitous route to Scotland by traveling north-east. They launched their armada from Norway.” “That’s surprising.” Phoebus Apollo made use of his vampire eyes to see the warriors in the fog. “Why would he avoid a battle with Ares? It’s not in his character.” “On the contrary, it’s perfect,” Sextus said. “Arvo’s goal is to capture you and steal the memories from your mind. Since a battle with Ares is not necessary, to achieve his goal, he can avoid a battle that would cost him soldiers, and supplies. He comes to us fresh and in full force.” “Sly maneuver,” Xenophanes said. Sextus scratched his head. “But what confuses me is that Norway is the domain of Odin and his Norse covens. Why would Odin tolerate such a demon in his midst?” “I’m not sure,” Phoebus Apollo replied. “Have our messengers returned with the signed peace agreement?” Phoebus Apollo felt Xenophanes tap him on the foot. Xenophanes said, “Not yet, Commander Sextus.” “In that case,” Sextus started, “we will have to presume that the particulars of the agreement were unacceptable; therefore, we can assume that the Norse covens are allies of Arvo.” Xenophanes sighed. “That certainly complicates matters--overlord.” Sextus turned to another soldier. “Cassius, inform Artorius that Norse axes have joined Arvo’s legion.” “Yes, commander.” Cassius saluted then hustled down the steps. “This just keeps getting better,” Xenophanes muttered. Sextus quickly turned to Xenophanes. “It does get better, you pessimistic fool. You may roll your eyes and entertain us with gibes or other amusements, but withhold your snide remarks regarding our predicament.” “My apologies, mighty Sextus. All snides will be removed from my tongue.” Sextus said, “Overlord, I was about to say, before the rude interruption, that regardless of Arvo’s shrewd maneuver, we are well defended and on the high ground. We have four lines of defense, over five thousand infantry, two hundred cavalry. We will have over one thousand Nocturnes when darkness falls. Best of all we have Artorius.” Phoebus Apollo nodded. “That’s quite formidable.” “Our mortals will start the attack. They’ll help us assess enemy strength and artillery positions. After they’re slaughtered, we have the finest golden infantry, and supporting line, behind them.” Sextus pointed to the right and the left. “Our reserves, flank and wing of cavalry are positioned and prepared.” Phoebus Apollo’s attention to Sextus was interrupted when the nymphyre returned to the Incrementum wearing red samurai armor. He dismounted and received his gift of flowers. Words were being exchanged. The nymphyre nodded, shook her head, nodded, shook her head, shook her head, and then nodded. She trotted off to the right flank of the army of slayers. “And our enemy?” “I will assume that Arvo’s artillery is veiled behind the hides. What’s peculiar is that the hides are in an unorthodox formation. They have one enormous arc before the Rome acropolis, two smaller arcs before Thebes and Athens.” “And?” Apollo said. “If their plan is to sack Apollonia, they should concentrate their firepower in one section, then move their forces into the breach. But if they want to spend day after day banging our stone walls then let them.” They laughed. “Yet, what I also find peculiar is they’re wearing nothing more than kilts, sashes, and what seems to be beaded chain mail underneath.” Sextus wiped sweat from his cheek. “I’ve never seen such lean protection.” “Nor have I.” Phoebus Apollo looked at Sextus. “How much artillery do we have on the field?” “We have twenty cannons, five catapults.” Phoebus Apollo glared at Sextus. “Catapults? I thought they were just for show.” Sextus shrugged his shoulders. “Apollonia was supposed to be for show. This is the first time we have ever had to fend off a siege. The catapults, in this day and age, are virtually useless, but they’ll have to be adequate, until Ares’ troops and artillery reach our location.” “How many days?” “Only four days.” “Four days?” “Yes, but there’s no possibility Arvo’s army can defeat us within a week, if not a month.” Phoebus Apollo looked at Sextus. “How are our archers? Are they well schooled?” “Yes. They are second only to the nymphyres, and luckily, the nymphyres are neutral, thus not involved.” Xenophanes tapped Phoebus Apollo with his elbow. He was staring through a spyglass. “Sextus, did you just say the nymphyres were not involved?” “Yes, they’re neutral. Always have been.” “Not anymore.” Xenophanes pointed. “Focus your eyes upon the troops forming behind the second line of infantry.” Phoebus Apollo squinted to increase magnification and acuity. He watched over three hundred nymphyres, dressed in cloaks, create a line behind Arvo’s supporting line of attack. Their quill and bows were mounted on their backs. Doglock muskets were in their grip. They poured charge powder down the musket barrel, dropped a ball down the barrel, then used a metal rod to ram the ball down the barrel, and secured with cartridge paper. “Impossible,” Sextus shook his head vigorously. “Nymphyres have been neutral for centuries. What changed their minds?” Phoebus Apollo refused to answer. “Don’t say a word,” he whispered to Xenophanes. His servant made no sign of acknowledgement as he continued to peer through the spyglass. “Overlord, unless I am mistaken, your twin sister, Artemis, is riding a black stallion toward Arvo.” Phoebus Apollo focused his vision on his powerful sister on the stallion. “Artemis.” Her clenched fists, jerky movements, and other gesticulations confirmed the sorceress had heard about the rape attempt and was enraged. She whipped the reins and her stallion galloped to the rear of the army. She rode passed her nymphyres, pumping her fist in the air, as she rallied her troops. “Enough sightseeing,” Sextus said. “Advance the mortals!” The flagman relayed the message to Artorius. The mortals, dressed in gold uniforms and protected by shields, marched forward like automatons. Arvo’s soldier’s knelt as the mortals reached the center of the battlefield. The nymphyres raised their muskets. Shots echoed. The mortals dropped as though they were in a firing squad. The second volley finished the survivors. Red blood seeped into the soil. “Damn it! Those nymphyres are quite good!” “Wonderful. It’s getting better and better.” Xenophanes turned away from the spyglass and looked at Phoebus Apollo. “Another one hundred nymphyres have moved into formation.” “It doesn’t change anything.” Sextus turned to the flagman, “Advance the fighting line of golden Antediluvians!” The golden Antediluvians wore gold chest and shoulder plates. Their leggings were knee-high. A helmet and shield were the finishing complements. They marched forward after receiving their orders from Artorius. Sextus smiled. “Don’t worry, overlord. Our armor is too strong for the nymphyres’ measly pellets.” “Overlord, I sense something terrible is about to happen.” Phoebus Apollo slapped Xenophanes. “Shut up, you doom-ridden fool!” He raised his hand again to strike when he noticed the nymphyres had slung their muskets, and resorted to their bows and arrows. The small bulb behind the tip of their arrows disturbed him. “Sextus…” The nymphyres’ arrows filled the sky and arched down into the golden infantry. The shields and archaic armor were useless protection against arrows, with bulbs of explosives that burst upon impact, tearing them to pieces. Gold chunks of vampires rained from the sky with each explosion. “Sextus, what, in the world, just happened?” “Astonishing,” Sextus said. “I’ve seen plenty of flamed arrows, in my time, but exploding arrows are a different problem.” He patted Phoebus Apollo on the shoulder. “No matter. We have thousands remaining. Their quivers will empty. The advantage will change.” Phoebus Apollo noticed the hides were removed. Dozens of long-range cannons were now visible. He turned to his master strategist. “Sextus?” “I don’t know, lord. I’ve never seen cannons of that size or design. Twice the size of any French cannon I’ve ever seen. The ships that delivered them must be enormous. It’s obvious the cannon barrels are designed for long-range targets, but we’re still far out of range of accuracy. I’ll notify Artorius to make—ugh…” Phoebus Apollo watched the multiple flashes of cannon fire. “Oh no.” The front section of the outer wall collapsed into a heap of stones after dozens of cannonballs exploded on contact. “Impossible!” Sextus said. “This I’ve never seen. That moor has learned much from his time in China.” Another cluster of cannon fire battered the wall of the inner wall. He turned to his gunners. “Return fire!” The citadel cannons recoiled violently after spitting the cannon balls towards the enemy. Each round fell short of its target. Xenophanes tapped Phoebus Apollo on his elbow. “Overlord, we should have the praetorians escort the civilians out of the Apollonia immediately.” Phoebus Apollo watched another cannon ball collide and damage more of the inner wall. “Will Arvo fire upon them?” “No.” Xenophanes flinched after the thunderous report of another cannon discharge. “It’s against his nature.” “Do it.” Xenophanes turned to a subordinate. “Boy, relay the message to the praetorian commander.” The mortal boy nodded and hopped down the stairs of the keep. “The walls are down! Apollonia is wide open!” Phoebus Apollo flinched at every burst of the cannons. “Sextus, why aren’t they beginning their siege?” Phoebus Apollo stared at Sextus as he studied the collapsed sections of the walls. Sextus said, “The only reason, I can surmise, is they spread their artillery, and are battering of our walls, to—“ Phoebus Apollo noticed a look of despair on Sextus’ face. “What?” Sextus looked at Phoebus Apollo. “Their plan is not to sack Apollonia. They want to bring it down! They want to bring down Athens, Thebes and Rome. With those cannons, and explosives, they may achieve their goal.” The walls were rubble in less than an hour. In a state of dismay, Phoebus Apollo watched sections of Apollonia collapse after the iron orbs pounded the structures. “This cannot be real.” The relentless cannon fire destroyed majestic structures, audacious shrines, and prominent buildings. His throat became tight as he watched the shrine of The Olympic Coven crumble into ruin. The treasuries, museums and libraries were the only buildings that were spared. Phoebus Apollo turned to his commander. “Sextus! We must do something!” Sextus pointed at the field general. “Mark.” Artorius pushed his entire line of artillery into the range of Arvo’s cannons. “He’s insane,” Xenophanes whispered. “We have no other choice,” Sextus said. Apollonian cannons fired upon Arvo’s artillery disabling many, but too many remained. In less than an hour of violent exchanges, the remaining Apollonian field artillery was destroyed. The citadel was the last remaining structure. Phoebus Apollo stared at everyone. “What can we do now?” “Overlord, if we remain in the citadel, we’ll either be captured or worse.” The next cannonballs destroyed the wall that protected the citadel. Xenophanes tugged on Phoebus Apollo’s elbow. “Overlord,” he shouted over the cannon fire, “Overlord, we’ve got to go!” “Time to go.” Phoebus Apollo said to Sextus. “You go.” Sextus replied. “Take my gunners with you.” “Commander, you’re insane,” Xenophanes said. “The citadel will be rubble in less than a half an hour.” Phoebus Apollo ignored Xenophanes’ tugs of his elbow. “Sextus, why stay? It’s suicide.” Sextus smiled. “I like the view.” He placed his hand on Phoebus Apollo’s shoulder. “Now go.” Xenophanes and Phoebus Apollo ran down the steps of the citadel. His praetorian escorts guided him to the top of a distant hill. He fixed his eyes upon the top of the citadel. Sextus smiled as he waved goodbye. “Overlord, mark!” Xenophanes pointed at a group of hides being discarded. “Oh no. Chinese genius.” Gunners lit fuses on the rear of a dozen launchers. The fuses fizzled until a spray of fire shot the rocket-propelled objects toward the citadel. The objects exploded when they struck the structure, creating gaping holes. Another flurry of rockets collided against the citadel and exploded. Pillars fell, walls crumbled, fires raged. After the smoke cleared, Phoebus Apollo could see the citadel was nothing more than mounds of stone. “He’s gone, overlord. Sextus is gone. We need to get to the ship.” “The ship?” “A man of war.” Phoebus Apollo glared at Xenophanes. “Who gave you the authority?” “You did, overlord. After Arvo entered France, I attempted to speak to you regarding the matter, but you sharply interrupted my words and said, ‘just get it done.’ So I got it done. We have supplies and assistance waiting on the Orkney Islands.” “Well then. Where is this ship?” “Down this hill, overlord. In the cove.” Phoebus Apollo looked down toward the cove. “What ship? I see no ship.” “It’s hidden in a cave, behind the waterfall.”
After the Apollonia was destroyed, the Arvo’s gunners focused their firepower on the golden legions. The once glorious warriors were being pulverized, as cannon balls bowled through the lines. The rocket-propelled explosives blew apart throngs of his best soldiers, their dead bodies were thrown into the air. “We’re being slaughtered, sir!” Xenophanes shouted over the explosions. “Their weaponry is too far advanced!” Another explosion shook the ground as the surviving golden soldiers dropped to their stomachs and crawled into the trenches. The cannon and rocket fire ceased. A breeze sent the smoke out to sea. “Overlord, I strongly suggest that we get to the ship, now.” “Wait.” Phoebus Apollo watched Arvo, on horseback, trot to the front of his black clad army. He removed the faceplate on his helmet and surveyed the enemy positions. “As I imagined,” Xuthus said. “He’s magnificent.” Odin, Lugh and Artemis appeared from the troops on horseback and took their place beside the Incrementum. “What are they doing?” “Consulting, overlord.” Arvo’s commanders melted back in the troops. Arvo raised his sword. “Attack!” Arvo’s warriors broke formation, spreading out as they advanced. With accomplished sword work, and martial skills from the orient, Arvo’s warriors had the golden legion on their heels. Arvo’s cavalry bested Phoebus Apollo’s premier knights. They flanked the golden infantry and cut down every soldier within a sword’s reach. The nymphyres were back in action, sending arrows into the faces of the golden cavalry attempting to flank Arvo’s army. Artorius looked up the hill. Xenophanes pulled a red handkerchief out of his coat and waved it in the air. Sextus barked orders. His golden warriors shifted to the base of the hill, defending the hilltop. The remaining soldiers, reduced to axes and swords, created a line of defense in formation to protect Phoebus Apollo. “Overlord, the ship is waiting!” Phoebus Apollo looked at the cove. The ship was raising its sails. “Not yet. Not yet. The day is almost over. If we can hold on for one more hour, we will have the assistance of the Nocturnes.” “Overlord,” Xenophanes placed his hand on Phoebus Apollo’s shoulder. “The Incrementum sent a detachment to the Nocturne sarcophagi. They placed barrels of gunpowder throughout the dwelling and lit them on fire. Our Nocturnes are dead and buried.” “Halt!” Arvo’s soldiers ceased their attack. They cautiously moved away from their foe. The sounds that remained were the moans of the dying, a relentless wind, the crash of the tides. Phoebus Apollo turned to Xenophanes. “Why did they stop? What are they waiting for?” “For him,” Sextus answered. “They won’t breathe without him.” Phoebus Apollo watched the Incrementum’s troops move aside for riders striding through their lines. “Then let him come.” He gripped the handle of his claymore. He recalled his nightmare. Arvo and Artemis stood before the remnants of the golden legion. Arvo mystified Phoebus Apollo. The Incrementum’s graceful and effeminate countenance was a sharp contrast to his military prowess. Phoebus Apollo realized if Arvo were not his nemesis, he would have loved him. Arvo shouted, “Give me Phoebus Apollo, and the rest of you will be spared.” “We can’t do that!” Artorius replied. “Your dead will rot, brother!” Artemis turned her horse and rode back to the rear of the army. Arvo fixed his eyes upon Phoebus Apollo. “Sooner or later, I will have you. I will have Conscientia.” He rode to the rear. Arvo’s commander shouted, “Attack!” “Kill!” Artorius responded. Both sides charged, as the din of battle cries echoed across the land—gold into black, black into gold. Some of the Incrementum’s soldiers broke through the embattled lines and charged up the hill. The praetorians charged downhill to stop them. Phoebus Apollo retrieved his sword from its scabbard and strode toward his nemesis. He was ready for a glorious defeat but Xenophanes caught him and grabbed him by the wrist. “We’re done, sir. You must flee!” Xenophanes gave the order. “Get him to the boat on shore! Take him to the ship!” Phoebus Apollo shoved his servant. “I’m no coward!” “You’re not a coward, overlord. You were sent to Apollonia for your protection, but the acropolis is in ruins and our lines have been breached. We must get you to safety.” Phoebus Apollo kicked and elbowed his soldiers but they held fast, tossed him in a boat and rowed to the man of war. The cove sailed out of the cove and into the bay. Perseus, captain of the ship, watched the end of battle beside Phoebus Apollo and Xenophanes. “We’ve lost, my friend.” Phoebus Apollo watched Arvo’s soldiers back away from the last remnants of the golden legion in a defensive tortoise formation. Gunners aimed their rocket-propelled weapons at the tortoise. The soldiers were blown to pieces when the rockets exploded. Body parts were strewn across the sandy battlefield as blue blood stained the beach. “What have I done? What have I done?” Phoebus Apollo was in tears as he watched Arvo’s Antediluvians cheer. He watched them celebrate their victory with a bonfire, fiddle and bagpipes. The nymphyres joined in with the merriment, hooking elbows and twirling around. The dark-skinned slayer stood triumphant on the beach. Water splashed against his ankles as he pointed his sword at the fleeing god. The Incrementum remained motionless, his gaze fixed on Phoebus Apollo as the rays of the sun diminished behind the jagged peaks of the highlands. “Incrementum!” Phoebus Apollo shook his fist at him and cursed him in Latin. “I’ll see you in Hades!” The slayer nodded. That creature, with glowing purple eyes, stood and watched Phoebus Apollo, until the curve of the world blocked his vision. |
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