Carpathian 23 - Dark Storm

her offering
     to her master.
    Dax and Riordan closed ranks in front of Riley, making certain there was a group of
     worshippers in front of them. The music changed, the notes a heralding of evil. Lights
     flashed on and off, a strobe adding to the hypnotic effect Mitro had on his followers.
     Mist moved through the crowd, a dense stream of foul air, weaving through the swaying
     group.
    Gasps. Faint cries. The scent of blood rose in the air. Red droplets splattered into
     the crowd. As the mist trailed through, a hand with long, sharp talons emerged from
     the vapor and sliced into flesh. Breasts. Chests. Necks. Throats. Most were shallow
     cuts, but a few unlucky ones had deep cuts. One had arterial spray but didn’t seem
     to notice as he leapt up and down and spun with the others in a frenzy of worship.
    Each time the hand materialized from that cold gray cloud, Mitro’s congregation went
     wild. The mist continued its slow procession through the crowd until it was at the
     dais. The vapor stacked dramatically in the shape of a man, but when it wavered, and
     went transparent, there were rats piled upon one another forming that man. As they
     dropped away, unable to hold position, Mitro emerged.
    Hands outstretched, wearing a black, hooded robe lined in crimson, he opened his arms
     to the worshippers. Their yells shook the building. Hands caught at the man with the
     torn throat, shoving him forward, many dipping their hands in the blood and painting
     themselves with it. The boy stumbled to the platform, gazing up at Mitro in awe and
     terror. He made no attempt to cover his torn flesh.
    Mitro pointed to the floor of the dais. The boy crawled up onto it. He scuttled across
     the floor on all fours, groveling, reaching Mitro and wrapping his arms around the
     vampire’s leg. Horrible gurgling sounds came from his torn throat as he begged and
     exposed the wound to the undead.
    The crowd went wild. “Eat! Eat! Eat!” The chant swelled in volume.
    Mitro reached down and caught his victim by his hair, dragging him to his feet. The
     boy had blood running down his neck, into his shirt and dripping on the floor now.
     Mitro jerked his head back hard, exposing the deep wound.
    A cheer went up and the chant grew louder. “Eat! Eat! Eat!”
    Mitro opened his mouth wide, exposing his fangs, those blackened, sharp points, pausing
     for dramatic effect, waiting for his followers to roar again before he sank his teeth
     deep into the wound.
    Mitro would be consumed with the blood thrall, gulping and tearing messily, showing
     off, feeding on the terror of his victim as the boy became aware he would not be vampire,
     but was truly fodder for a predator.
    Now, Dax ordered.
    All three acted simultaneously. Dax rose to the ceiling, positioning himself above
     Mitro, his scales sliding up and over his body for protection while the red-gold scale
     dust rained down on the vampire. The dust settled over the vampire like a sticky silken
     net, holding him in, acting like a glue, so there would be no chance of shapeshifting.
    Riley plunged her hands into the soil and gave her command to the vines. The vines
     instantly complied, weaving tight braids back and forth, up and down, floor to ceiling,
     closing off every entrance and every inch of dirt that could possibly be used to slip
     through.
    Riordan slammed a bolt over the heads of the crowd, forcing them all to the floor,
     where they lay dazed, unable to move. He had to trust Dax to kill the undead while
     he controlled the puppets.
    Pietra fell half on, half off the dais, upside down, arms outstretched toward Mitro.
     The vampire flung the dying boy from him. The body hit the wall of vines and fell
     to the floor. Mitro drew back his thin lips to snarl a challenge. Fresh blood smeared
     his chin and dripped from his fangs. His head slowly swiveled from side to side, a
     cold reptilian motion that made Riley shudder.
    Mitro opened his arms. “Welcome, Danutdaxton. Meet my chosen ones. They are always
     hungry. Rise! Rise, my army, it is your time. Feast on these intruders. Their blood
     will bring you into my world. You will be powerful and immortal. Eat! Feast! Rise
     now!”
    He’s given them his blood. He truly has created an army, Dax warned.
    A collective growl rose as the followers of the undead struggled to rise at his command.
     With Mitro’s blood burning and scarring, prodding so many on, Riordan dropped back
     to protect Riley. Several of the strongest