Dracula Hearts of Fire Book two of Dracula Hearts

The shining sun shone on the FINGER LAKES NATIONAL FOREST of New York State, alternately blocked by summer’s puffy clouds. The scents of the nearby pine trees were defeated. The birds that had been singing stopped as supernatural whispers glided around them. Two newly constructed military-type barracks were out of place in the middle of the woods. The dwellings were miles from everywhere and would soon be under cover of enchantment. No roads led to the buildings painted dark olive green. The empty barracks stood side-by-side and awaited the vampires that would reside within. Animals shunned the area, with a few rabbits running for their lives as they felt pursued by the stench of burning flesh.

A mid-level blood wizard named Ahmet was putting the final touches on a spell that would keep all humans several miles away from the place—dressed in black with a leather motorcycle vest and black chaps, including a leather skull cap with red flames. He was mean-looking, likely in his mid-fifties, only he had been born in San Francisco in 1852 to famous gold rush parents. He had killed his parents long ago; his father had been a nasty vampire. The idea was to make the buildings invisible to curious eyes. The enchantment was also supposed to keep the vampires away. However, the wizard was unsure of that part of the spell but wasn’t about to notify Sharpton. He would take the money, disappear, and never look back.

Ahmet was a mountain man with his salt-and-pepper beard down to his chest. His arms were tattooed with demons that looked real from a distance. One of the tattoos was a skeleton holding a double-edged ax dripping blood; it certainly frightened small children. Ahmet had two dozen dead animals stacked in a pile in front of the buildings; they were set ablaze and burned with peculiar black and orange flames. There were deer, foxes, crows, rabbits, porcupines, and a big cow moose at the base of the fire. He went through stylized movements and hand strikes in the air that magically pushed the smoke, engulfing the buildings. His hands cut through the air like a master of Kung Fu, with strength, concentration, and a mantra that circled the buildings. His rough voice echoed around and returned to him.

“Sssshhhhhhhhhhooooo!” Ahmet’s vocals produced a sound that nearly mimicked an arrow cutting through the air. He stood very still and listened; it was as if all sound had been removed from the environment; he stood with both hands extended as he felt a small amount of energy leave his body and mix with the air. His extremities tingled, emitting sparks, and he was satisfied with the enchantment. Ahmet whispered to the dark spirits, and they hissed back at him.

Sharpton blurred into the area with a leather satchel containing the payment for the deed, twenty thousand dollars in cash. He was just over six feet two inches tall with black hair down to his shoulders and a dark complexion with amber eyes. His mother had been black, and his father was a nasty Irishman who liked to beat anyone who got in his way. He was partially the product of unfit parents. Sharpton was handsome enough, better than average looking. He faced Ahmet and held up the satchel, and shook it. Sharpton was a blood wizard himself, but at such a low level that he hadn’t bothered with it; he thought it a waste of time to learn spells that couldn’t kill anyone.

“Sharpton,” said Ahmet, “how’s life treating you?”

“Pretty damn good.” Sharpton tossed the satchel, and Ahmet caught it. He noticed the wizard was tired and sweaty, probably because the spell had taken a lot out of him. “Is it done?”

“Yes.”

“You, of course, guarantee your work?”

Ahmet hesitated but only briefly. “Enchantments are tricky, but the spell seems to work just fine.”

“I’m not going to be happy if this doesn’t hold together.” Sharpton smiled and raised his eyebrows at him.

A white-tailed deer ran through the area and smashed right into the building on the left as it had been invisible to the animal. Sharpton watched as it finally made its way around and continued into the forest; he was impressed. He nodded at the wizard to indicate that he approved.

“See. The buildings are invisible, so they can’t be spotted from a distance. More important is that most will shun this area. That small bag I gave you of sulfur and salt allows you access to the area, but the vampires that you are bringing here will have to be led in.”

Sharpton nodded. “Well done. Can I interest you in joining the cause?

“Not a chance in hell.”

“Really? Are you sure?”

“Sharpton, I meant to say I am occupied elsewhere with my project. I’m in the process of enhancing my abilities.”

“Off with you then.”