The Law of Beasts Book 1 - Act 2: VULTORIAN

Memories of Alicia's Coronation. 3 B.C. Looks can be deceiving little liars. There was applause for the dark-skinned supernatural and powerful Greek czar and my procession of guests. My regal attire was sophisticated, but my skin beneath was ridden with smallpox and I hadn't a bath because my masters won't let me. In the middle of a procession of a thousand able-bodied slaves carrying my wheel-less chariot, we marched toward Armona, the Queen Mother and Alicia. They were adorned in silk and jewelry.

As Alicia was led behind the concrete platform of a wrought coliseum, I approached Armona, kissing her hand, her cheek, and then her tempting lips. Why not kiss both sets to seal the deal, but with smallpox maybe not.

She purred with emotion. Her face flushed with delight.

"I see you made it, Suh'Kyng Drykaten."

I gave her a knowing look. My thick eyebrows were lined with hieroglyphics pouring into the bone structure of a broad nose. Two piercings on each side sent lightning into my mesmerizing grayish eyes. She found me intriguing.

"When the Supreme Queen of the Dershakney calls, surely I could make a grand entrance. It's not every day I get to...see you in any capacity.

"I appreciate the words, but today is not about me. It's about a special moment in supernatural history. Surely you know the heads of hundreds of countries are in attendance."

I lowered my eyes, keeping a smile. I had to save face to keep the peace between the supernatural kingdoms and The Dragonhead Ancients. I give any inkling that I was cursed I would be burned at the stake. "In that case, I'll leave you..."

Alicia strolled along in an elegant dress of silk and diamonds that trailed behind her by one hundred feet as she dismissed herself. Alicia took my breath away. What man wouldn't kill just to have her on his arm, but that life was not to be.

When she reached the main balcony, she took in the damp air as dark clouds loomed above, blocking the sunlight. A loud trumpet sounded, startling me, followed by melodic harps and soft violins that relaxed her.

"Members of my Council at the round table, please stand. The peasants in the upper balconies, those in my Cabinet of the order, please stand," said Armona.

Twenty elite vampires with unspeakable power stood at attention.

"Today is a remarkable day. A day I never dreamed would come, but it's here. Up until this very moment, Khovahsh was my Enforcer and Executioner. But his role in my government far exceeds what I have set forth. He was only a temporary solution, a stand-in."

Thunder boomed, and lightning flashed through the rolling black clouds.

Alicia held her throat, keeping her bearings. Something troubled her. I invaded her thoughts hoping she didn't remember my smile from so long ago. My eyes I wasn't worried about giving anything away. If you didn't know what to look for, your eyes will never betray your thoughts.

"I know you're nervous, Alicia." Came a voice in her subconscious.

"You can't begin to imagine." Her voice was sweet honey in my mind. I savored the taste.

"Just go with it. I'm sorry we weren't formally introduced to each other." Even though we were introduced before, under undue circumstances, I couldn't blow my cover since we met way before she was even the Queen of the Hounds or the Queen Mother's trophy.

Alicia tried to remain stoic but wound-up blushing. I flashed a smile, a smile that made her narrow her eyes, but after a moment she smiled with glistening fangs.

"Are all dark Greek men this engaging to a person they don't know?" Alicia asked me.

"I can only speak for myself. "

Armona's next words took everyone and everything by surprise.

"Today, Khovahsh renounced the throne of Executioner to return to the foundation of the very hierarchy I am Queen."

Members of her cabinet were in a state of confusion.

"Armona, Queen Mother...without Daybreak, how can one take the throne of the Enforcer and the Executioner. "

"Ah, but someone has successfully made it through Daybreak. And she is here, now..."

"I'll leave you to your thoughts, Alicia; maybe when you find the time, you can pay me a visit. Let me entertain you."

Alicia opened her eyes and rose to her feet.

"Ladies and gentlemen, she's not only the Executioner, but she's also your new Queen. Alicia Chay, come beside me."

Alicia casually stood up and floated along a thousand-foot platform. As her dress sparkled, she was greeted with standing cheers and praise. I clapped with my head high. As she settled next to Armona, Queen Mother, she raised her arms in the air and brought the place to order.

"Do you accept the role of Enforcer and Executioner?"

"That I do, Queen Mother."

"Then it is done. Alicia Chay is the new Executioner and Enforcer to the Queen Mother."

Hail to Alicia.

After the Coronation ended, I was stripped of my attire and my luster, restricted to a cave....

Suh'King Drykaten, dark-skinned Greek ruler, wasn't a ruler at all. He was bound in the Cave with no eyes and only his smile kept him sane. He thought back to Alicia's coronation. When they spoke via telepathy. She looked into his eyes and had no idea he was that cursed, eyeless being from the cave, at the dawn of her supernatural journey, when he loved her on a Bed of Roses. Suh'King was the heir to both African and Greek royalty, the Drykaten Regime, dating back to his African mother mating with a powerful Greek ruler the world over never questioned or challenged.

Suh'King was raised by his olive-colored father after his mother was slain by her grandparents for mixing the gene pool and was brought up walking a fine line, but at age 21 Suh'King mated with a woman outside of the bloodline and he was cursed by his father, stripped of the royal heir to the throne and abandoned when his son disappeared on his 18th birthday.

When Alicia turned his son into a vampire against his will, he lost his eyes when his son became Muzzle.

To save face and to keep the peace amongst the supernatural realms, Suh Kyng was present, with his eyes, in regal form with no power to keep the kingdoms pacified and restricted to the cave at night with no eyes. A sculpted totem pole kept him magically shut with no vision, unless he faced a mirror. He had no way out of the cave. Or so the kingdom of his belonging thought. He encountered a witch that granted him the ability to walk through stone.

That's how he bypassed the totem pole. She was also a sorcerer. He's a fleshy suit Vultorian wears at will. Whenever you see Suh'King televised, that's the Suh'Kyng and Vultorian connection he played like a skilled violinist.

Once the Dragonhead Ancients found out, Khovahsh paid Alicia Chay an unannounced visit at her castle in Vencreashia, putting her on high alert.

"Say that again?"

"You met Suh'Kyng before..."

"I met Suh before my coronation," Alicia said slowly, confused. "There's always something with you."

"Not only that, but he's also Muzzle's father. And rumor has it that Muzzle and his father have combined. Suh looks through Muzzle eyes for sight, and they want you destroyed, and Vultorian."

"Who is Muzzle, Khovahsh?"

"A rebellious introverted vampire that told me to give you a message months ago, I forgot to tell you. He wants you and your animal treaty destroyed."

Alicia turned her back on him. "How do we kill him?"

"The only way to kill his father is to have him drink his own blood. You can't trick him by putting it in a cup, you have to find a way, or he and Muzzle will destroy you. But if you get him to drink his blood, his essence dies, leaving Muzzle to battle you on his own. Since you took the throne, the Dragonhead Ancients allowed it. I didn't agree, so I'm here with you."

Alicia returned to the ancient totem pole at Blind's Cave. She waved her hands over the second and fourth hieroglyphic and they magically opened, closing after she entered. Floating along darkened alleys, she could see flames flicker in the distance. Faint at first, but the closer she got to the bed of roses, the stronger the flames became until she entered the chamber she was assaulted and took into account Muzzle was having a conversation with his blind father. She ran from him before; she would face her Leviathan today.

"Started the meeting without me, I see." Alicia said, clad in jeans and a spaghetti strap halter top.

Muzzle and his father jumped out of their skin, facing...

"Alicia Chay," said Muzzle in disbelief.

"How did you get in my cave?"

"The same way you do. With the stroke of my wrist."

Muzzle was amused. "Why do I get the feeling that you and my father know each other."

"We know each other quite well."

"She lies, son."

"Remember the bed of roses?"

Muzzle angrily faced his father. "How does she know it's called the bed of roses if she doesn't know you or never been here, obviously she knows the code to enter a cave I gifted you as a port from your curse, Suh'Kyng."

"I also heard you had a message for me, Muzzle. About my animal treaty. Well, I'm here. Kill me, like you promised Khovahsh"

"As a matter of fact, I do."

He walked into his father, and eyes formed on his father's face, coupled with a twisted smile. "You make life worth unliving." Gators sprinted into his body from the pit.

He dropped on top of her, biting into her neck, drinking while suffocating her. A bright light burst from her body, sending him into the rocky wall behind him. Khovahsh was in Alicia's body as a host, reenergizing her.

"Khovahsh, I knew you were sweet on a woman my father had before either of us, but this is cockblocking on its own set of China plates."

"That's not the way I see it, from the truth of her memories I skim through like photographs. Suh'Kyng found her after she fainted by the totem pole of his curse and fondled her on a bed of roses."

"Still a homerun."

"Two men fighting a woman, and not over her, is a bit queer. With my presence, I leveled the playing field. She answered your message by coming to your face, the threat imposed on her life."

"I'm going to kill your father so I can fight you, on my own," promised Alicia..

Muzzle and his father laughed and grunted.

"And I'll buy some girl scout cookies with lime, mint and coconut," joked Muzzle. "You can't kill him unless he drinks his own blood."

Alicia smiled inwardly. "Exactly. He already has, both of you, of your own free will."

He grew quiet as the first sting of pain in his chest told him that something wasn't right. He started to get weak.

"Your father drank my blood when he was bouncing deep inside my gushy, wet-wet flesh for pleasure while I was unconscious. I also drank of his blood to learn of his deception. You came to Khovahsh and destroyed a mega church with your warning. My answer, find me once your father dies, and we'll discuss the specifics. He drank his own blood tonight when you both fed on me. Don't expect flowers, I'm Sorry for your loss cards queens aren't into."

Khovahsh and Alicia separated into their respective bodies and watched Muzzle squirm as his father turned to ash and spiraled into the pit of gators, killing them all.

"Our work is done here."

"I appreciate you helping me."

"Where will you go?"

"That's for me to know."

"Hate to see you go."

She was already gone. He lowered his head.

June of 2003

Patricia O'Neil grew up in a nonviolent atmosphere. She never had to fight or earn a thing. Everything was handed to her. Limos to school. Sheltered. All her activities were heavily monitored with an iron-clad fist.

Her bedroom had no doors, no mirrors. No privacy. Being born into a hidden system of wealth wasn't what it was cracked up to be. Her parents raised her to be a bougie over thinker and overachiever. Never speak to anyone that was beneath you.

Despite your black skin, you're not a color, baby. You can be any color you so desire. What if I want to be white...? Then you can be white, darling! Her mother's words would be her Scarlet Letter.

Her moneyed parents were seedy, celebrated District Attorneys (with perfect records in the courtroom) by day and ruthless industrialists by night.

Their ninety-six-mile island (Goudy Island) was self-sufficient, with a shopping mall, nine grocery stores, five hospitals, an Army base, a fire department, and top-notch technology.

There was an enormous reserve of water, vegetation, and wildlife. Zebras, wild cats, elephants, nutrias, lions, and huemuls were plentiful. An hour by speedboat or helicopter returns you to its shore home with dockage and a helipad at a Club House in California. There was an airstrip for private jets and Concordes.

Currently, the island features one main sea-view mansion. It was the size of twenty football fields. There were forty bedrooms with private entrances, eleven caretaker's cottages, and eleven furnished apartment complexes with generational wealthy multi-millionaires as tenants.

Actual military men serve as security. Four separate police stations were scattered about. A mega-church set in the heart of the island, where Pastor Damon Gouty-O'Neil, Patricia's father, served as minister.

There were two nine-acre lots used for private prisons. Tucked away on thirty acres of secluded land (south of the mega-church) was Gouty Estates, where Patricia lived.

Jobs were plentiful.

Mindless humans ran the ports...

Through crooked means, they succeeded in both the political and business worlds. They sacrificed everyone who helped them rise to the top, both in business and in their personal lives. Addicted to currency to the brink of psychosis. In fact, they were ghoulish psychos that wore Colgate smiles through it all. Patricia had a best friend named Moderna she was allowed to interact with only because of who her elite, seedy parents were. Pat's dad had great business affairs with Moderna's parents, parents Patricia has never met. They come from a long line of wealth dating back to the B.C. era.

In fact, they were immune from following sovereign laws.

Patricia and Moderna did everything together. They were like real sisters. They gushed over boys, but Moderna was five years older than Patricia.

She influenced Patricia in ways that allowed Pat to always keep her guard down.

Moderna used to beat up girls in a private school that bullied Pat. They were loyal to each other. So loyal, in fact, Moderna used to steal important, sensitive information on Pat's parents while they soundly slept. All the information, from the security detail, blueprints of the estate, insurance and bank account information, contracts, and incriminating photos, were sent to the Patriarch of her murderous family. A family filled with secret vows, arranged marriages, NDAs, blood oaths, and unnatural rituals has afforded her family generational wealth infinitely.

By Pat's graduation day, she was a high school and college graduate within a five-year span. Therapy and psychology were her majors.

After she and Moderna obtained their BAs together in business management, they lost touch after Moderna moved away to start her life.

What neither of them knew was that their billionaire family pulled some strings, including buying the land the universities and high schools sat on, for those academic doors to open. Both blood families weren't to be associated with.

Rumor has it that Moderna climbed the Airforce corporate ladder with deceitful aplomb. Killed them with a smile. Bedded generals for access. Pat had her Ph. D and her master's by her twenty-eighth birthday. Therapy sessions with moneyed clients became the very air she breathed.

It wasn't until her parents mysteriously died that she was introduced to the Tillian's: a feared, powerful family dynamic that opened a whole new world of lap and luxury for her. Inherently, she became a mark. Because of her skin color, she was heavily monitored by her family and the authorities.

She was chauffeured to Max Tillian's estate in the Hamptons a few days after her advisor dropped by her high-rise condo in Manhattan unannounced and interrupted her spa session with news of her parent's untimely demise at an ungodly hour on their seventieth anniversary.

As she took in all the wealth, she was ushered into Max's chambers. The estate sat on two hundred freaking acres of paradise. Well-sculpted trees, rose gardens, and immaculate landscaping was to blush for.

They shook hands. Max looked her over like a beam over an unsuspecting deer. "I take it that congratulations are in order, Patricia."

Pat's eyes were glazed. "This isn't the right time for cheese and wine. I just lost my parents."

Max's face was blank, yet his eyes seemed to smile. "I'm sorry for your loss."

"Thank you. I must say, I'm not quite sure why circumstances led me to your beautiful estate. Why am I here, exactly?"

"I am or was one of your mutual acquaintance's advisors and closest friends. Moderna's parents, as well as friends and business partners with yours. Family, if you will."

His temples twitched when he said that empty six-letter word wrought with blood and secrets locked deep in Pandora's box.

On his lavish desk, a huge serpent head carved from stone and black marble protruded from the front.

Thirty feet in the air in length. In it was her family's payoff of her college education, things that would land them in federal prison without daylight again. Just think that he literally locked the architects and designers of his property in a steel room and poisoned them to death with CS gas. Their blood was mixed with the black lacquer paint of the cobra, with red scarlet diamond eyes.

He grimaced at her like she was nothing.

She was confused. "Ok, I see."

He finally smiled, like a Cheshire cat. "Do you need anything? How are you holding up? I'm sure you feel like the rug was pulled from under you."

She lowered her guard and relaxed. "What am I going to do without them? I'm still building my career as a seasoned therapist. I've become a global brand in my own right, outside of their legacy and their money."

I just want to strip her of her rights, enslave her, plant my seeds, and toss them when they're born to the wolves. He smiled at his twisted thoughts.

"Congratulations on winning the prestigious Governors Therapist Medical award. I hear you're the youngest and the first black woman to receive it."

"Max, black is just a color. My mother taught me to never let that, nor slavery be a hindrance."