Dracula Hearts of Fire Book two of Dracula Hearts

THE MILITARY STYLE BUILDINGS were seeing some activity. Sharpton stood before the group as he adjusted his shoulder-length black hair. Beside them, the dead animals piled on top of one another continued to burn with black and orange flames. The enchantment was set to burn for over a year without adding more animals to the fire. Its energy would be reabsorbed over and over. He had twenty-one vampires in three rows of seven, and they stood at attention. It was an impressive accomplishment to have so many monsters willing to act like soldiers and take orders, but his goal was to get at least a hundred ready to follow any order he gave them. There was magic involved, but they didn’t know it, and soon more potent magic. He had promised them a lot, including high-ranking positions in the new world after the vampires took over. Sharpton didn’t know if it was possible to take over the world. Nevertheless, he was going to have some fun trying. What else was there to do?

Sharpton gave his speech to his minions. “The fact that we will take over the world is inevitable. It will take time and cooperation, but we will not fail. Even with their guns and tanks, they cannot stop us. Our speed and might are simply too much for their weak bodies. This is the first step. The timeframe is unknown, but I will have a mission for you by the end of the day. DO NOT fight amongst yourselves. Any that disobeys will be killed. You must be able to see the bigger picture because otherwise, you are useless to me. We have no need for stupid vampires that won’t follow orders. Do not underestimate me. I am surrounded by powerful magic. Do not attempt to leave the area without being led out. You are dismissed for now.”

They headed into the first building, where a bar was set up with pool tables and card games. They weren’t allowed to play for money, but Sharpton figured they had to have something to do to guide the passage of time. Granger was a tall, lanky fellow with a pronounced forehead and a pale face. Even at this early stage, he realized he had made a mistake; he already wanted to kill at least three vampires around him. Granger was not one to take orders, so why did he get into this ridiculous situation? He knew if he stayed, he was bones. If he tried to flee, the result might be the same, but maybe not. If he escaped, they might all run, but he didn’t care.

“I have to get out of here.” Granger got looks from two big vampires setting up a game of pool. His options were limited. He could run, or he could stay and be bones. The boss wouldn’t stand for him fighting with other vampires, but that was inevitable if he remained. He figured that Sharpton was full of it; he might have lots of status, but Granger guessed that, ultimately, he would get them all killed, and for all he knew, that was his plan. He believed that Sharpton was only out for himself. If he genuinely had a big picture, it was unknown. Why didn’t he get his underlings to do the job if he was some mafia vampire?

Granger went through the door instead of opening it. Several vampires went out to see what he was up to as others watched from the door. The vampire paused as he considered whether to turn back or not. But then he went for it, all or nothing. He blurred toward the woods, but almost as soon as he entered the forest, he burst into flames. Granger was pitiful as he danced around on fire as it consumed his flesh. His body tried hard to regenerate, but the flames were faster. Granger was dying a slow horrible death. Several vampires laughed at him; others simply shook their heads. His skin and insides burned away, and the skeleton continued to dance for almost two minutes, finally falling. Two minutes is an eternity when you’re on fire.

Sharpton entered his office, closed the door behind him, and sat in his oversized black leather swivel chair. He stared at a map of New York on the pinewood wall, waiting for Oblivion, his second in command. Oblivion had intended to kill and drain Lauren, but it hadn’t turned out as he had planned. He had always feigned being a white wizard, but they never got on to him, and he intended to keep it that way. Because so many were augmenting, he felt it necessary to do so, but he also knew it could be dangerous.

Oblivion was tall and skinny, looking like he hadn’t eaten in weeks. He had been poisoned before being turned over two hundred years ago, and his chicken arms and bony legs were a sight because he had almost starved to death. He was one of the few high-level wizards and not one to aggravate. Anyone that was fooled by his sickly appearance would be at a disadvantage. He wore khaki pants, a white sweater, and a long sword that did not touch the ground. Oblivion had the most captivating blue eyes, perhaps his one good feature. He let himself fall into the chair opposite Sharpton.

“Sharpton, I must say that things are progressing. We just lost Granger as he tried to flee. Great entertainment value, though. One or two at a time is certain death, but together they would receive only minor burns that would heal rather quickly.”

Sharpton started his desk clacker balls swinging. “Yes, Granger looked uncomfortable from the outset. He’s extremely uncomfortable now. The way his skeleton danced around was quite amusing.”

“You told him.”

“I did. Have you selected a location with few red sheriffs so we can inflict the most casualties? It needs to be a moderately big statement.”

“Within the hour.” Oblivion adjusted his position in his chair. “Not going to be easy to get a hundred vampires to follow your orders.”

“No, in fact, it might be impossible. The twenty that we now have do not mesh. My words of wisdom won’t last long. Oblivion, how goes the spell? We need that spell like I need blood.”

Oblivion’s shrug was not inspiring fate in his ability. “Using an enchantment on a single vampire is one thing, but on twenty is quite something else, as magic from one feeds off the others. See, everyone is made from a different chemical soup. I told you from the beginning that it might be impossible. I’m working hard on it with not much progress.”

Sharpton considered dishing out a threat, but with such a powerful wizard, he decided otherwise. “Keep at it. If we could create a hundred zombie vampires, that would be a step in the right direction. But you need to get your ass in high gear.”

“Yes, well, they would be zombie-like.”