Even now, standing in front of the shack, Rosa's opinion hadn't changed. This structure still standing defied all reason of reality. However now that she was closer, Rosa spotted many symbols carved around the decrepit wooden door, some that she definitely recognised. Had they not been at the HQ? And at Louie's house?
"What are they?" Rosa asked gesturing to the border of symbols.
"Runes" Louie responded, "in simple terms, they channel magic to perform a specific function".
"What do those ones do?".
Louie glanced over the runes. "Help maintain the buildings integrity … as well as keep certain unwanted creatures out … and in".
'In?'. Rosa felt the hairs on her arms raise.
Louie grabbed the door's rusted handle. He pulled the door open and an eerie squeak screeched across the empty field. Without a moment of hesitation Louie entered and Rosa quickly followed, making sure to stick close to him, she had no desire to be alone out here.
The shack's interior was completely barren and shrouded in darkness, the only light leaking in through spaces in the worn walls. The structure had been built on a smooth surface of stone and at its centre, through the gloom, Rosa could see a ring of even more runes had been drawn in chalk.
Louie placed a hand on Rosa's shoulder, gesturing for her to remain back. He approached the circle of runes, standing just outside the circumference, he retrieved a small piece of paper from his coat and placed it in the centre of the floor. The paper was completely plain except for what seemed be a crest drawn in deep red that strongly resembled blood.
"Don't move and stay calm" Louie said. He then pulled out a small leather bag. emptying its contents into his hand, Rosa could see it had held a glistening grey powder.
"Pactum Upir" Louie called out, a strange accent lining his words. He lashed the powder down into the circle. The runes began to hum green and suddenly there was eruption of vigorous emerald flames, bathing the room in an ominous jade light. The flames engulfed the entire circle and towered above her, its fiery tendrils reaching six feet into the air. It took every iota of discipline Rosa held to not leap back in panic. Louie calmly took a step back and quietly watched the flames as they viciously whipped at the air. Worryingly, the flames continued to grow more feral now lashing out past the circle of runes. The fire froze. The once rampaging flames retracted back into the circle. To Rosa watched speechless, they began to contort and merge, constructing shapes … no silhouettes. The flames were building people. Suddenly the flames extinguished and shadows once again stretched across the shack. Rosa instinctively stood a step towards Louie. Standing inside of the runes where three beings, not forged from emerald flames but from flesh, hair and cloth.
'How the hell?'.
"They're not actually here, think of it like a video call" Louie said quietly, "just keep calm".
Rosa nodded weakly, her gaze not leaving the newcomers. The vampires. So this was the Vampire Covenant.
The two vampires stood at the back where heavily cloaked in thick black cloth, that revealed no features but their basic outline however, the vampire at the front, a woman, wore nothing to conceal her appearance. Instead she wore an elegant, luxurious black dress, that displayed every aspect of the vampire's feminine wiles. Almost as tall as Louie, she looked to be in her thirties however her crimson eyes told a another more ancient tale.
"Louie Huntor" the vampire greeted with a small bow, she had a thick Russian accent.
"Orina". Louie firmly nodded. Orina had pale, porcelain skin with long lashes and vibrant red lips. Her long silky black was decorated with braids and golden jewellery. Rosa couldn't help but stare at the woman's beauty, it was almost intoxicating, as if she was being charmed by a magical force.
"You have a companion" Orina stated, seemingly surprised. The vampire's gaze locked onto her, and under them crimson eyes Rosa was forced to look away at the ground. It felt as if she was in the presence of an ancient queen.
"Rosa Elacti" Louie informed bluntly, whatever spell Rosa was under didn't affect him in the slightest.
"I never took you for a guardian" Orina said, a hint of amusement coating her tone.
"Times are changing" Louie shrugged and the vampire nodded with a small smile across her crimson lips.
"You wished to convene with the Covenant" Orina stated.
"I wished to convene with you" Louie corrected.
"The Covenant and I are one".
Louie sighed as if he'd been told those words a million times.
"How can we be of aid to you hunter?" Orina asked.
"The vampire whose been attacking England. Who is it?" Louie inquired.
Orina hesitated and Rosa noticed the back two completely freeze up. They were scared … no they were terrified. Orina's confident demeanour vanished, her smile was wiped from her face in an instant and her eyes grew dark, like dripping blood.
"I need a name Orina" Louie insisted, "who is the vampire lord".
"First" Orina spoke, "we need insurances. Do you plan to kill this vampire?"
"We do" Louie confirmed.
"Then we can provide what you seek" Orina said, "but beware once his name is spoken the hunt begins and can't be stopped".
Louie face creased. "Explain".
"His name is cursed. The vampire lord knows whoever speaks his name".
"How is that possible? Spell scripters are no exception to any other mage discipline, they died out centuries ago" Louie questioned.
"The vampire lord you seek is centuries old. He survived the Great Hunt" Orina informed, "He is among the most dangerous vampires to live today, posing even a threat to our covenant".
"And so you want him dead?".
"He is estranged from us, straying from our path and code. The consequences of his actions threaten all vampire life. For the survival of my people, retribution must descend" Orina explained.
"I need a name".
"He will know of this meeting and when it ends the clock begins. For us both".
"You have my word. The vampire will die" Louie stated, "the covenant will not suffer".
Orina nodded satisfied. "You seek the vampire Valdosk" Orina said grimly. Rosa watched as the cloaked figures flinched at the vampire lords name. Just what manner of monster is this?
"Valdosk" Louie muttered clearly unfazed by the threat of the curse, "Do know where I can find it?".
Orina shook her head, "I know he's residing in your city but that is all".
Louie nodded. "Thank you. We'll take it from here".
"The clock has begun Louie Huntor. Do not fail. For the sake of us both" Orina said calmly, but her words seemed to carry the weight of thousands.
The green glow of the runes dimmed and the bodies of the vampires began to crumble to ash on the ground. Louie and Rosa were once again alone inside the dark shack.
"Until its dead, never say that name" Louie stated.
"Trust me I don't plan to" Rosa replied. She had no desire to meet the monster capable of controlling a camaz and terrifying a vampire with just his name.
"Doesn't it now know we're after it though?" Rosa asked.
"It does. That's why I spoke Valdosk's name. It'll either go into hiding and stop killing hunters or it'll rampage and try to escape exposing itself" Louie said, "either way it'll lose".
"What if he now goes after the covenant?" Rosa asked.
"It won't get the chance".