Date: Sun, 7 Aug 2005 20:41:13 -0700 (PDT) From: Sean ORiley Subject: Vampire-High Priest: Chap 4 Hi everyone, here's the fourth chapter in the Vampire-High Priest series. Its called Heb Sed -- The Jubilee Celebration. Once again I would like to thank my editor Robert Carrien for his encouragement and feed back. Please read and enjoy. Constructive crticism about my writing are most welcome. Please write a few words to me at seanriter@yahoo.com Chapter 4: Heb Sed -- The Jubilee Celebration The Elders left Miu-Oa and Johan much to ponder, like the history between Octavius and the Patriarch and why Malachi Dalton was so closely placed to monitor Johan's life? There were so many questions and very few answers. The Ker Heb was determined to at least find a few answers by the end of this night. Octavius would have to come clean. I dispatched the four champion vampires to make preparations for our departure to the home land of Johan. The twin bodyguards of Johan, Sebastian and Bastien were sent to pack our belongings just to get them out of the way. Octavius stood before me, his head bowed; he knew his interrogation was to begin. "Octavius, explain yourself". Ancient one I thank you for protecting me from the Patriarch. I was once his. I am the first of his children. I stole the secret book of prophetic revelations, unable to contain my burning curiosity and the Patriarch took a blood vow against me. I successfully escaped him and his elite into Egypt but he never ceased to stop hunting. I had no idea of the meaning of the prophecies until I came into your service. Now I know, you are the center of all those prophecies I read in the secret book. I was even more confused than I had been before. What is this book of prophetic revelations and what did it have to do with me. "Octavius what is this book of prophetic revelations and what has it got to do with me?" Ancient one it is said that the Ker Heb Moshe (Moses) was also a prophet and his prophecies are recorded in the book of prophetic revelations. Majority of his prophecies deal with the vampires, you I believe are what the book refers to as the prince of the dead. "Prince of the dead!" Miu-Oa laughed, "fits me I suppose." "Tell me Octavius do you have the book in your possession?" Alas my lord, the patriarch managed to regain his book. But I am sure the Elders will not deny you the book if you ask for it. "Yes I must have this book, it might answer many of my questions" the Ker Heb mused. "Johan what do you know of this Malachi Dalton, why do you think he was placed to play nurse maid to you?" Johan contemplated this for a moment before answering, "Mery I was wondering about the same, Malachi was always odd, very quite and always aloof. The Elders are keeping something from us, they certainly know more than we do." When the champions of the elders returned with all the necessary preparations accomplished for the departure the following night, Ker Heb and his retainers settled in to sleep as the first rays of Ra began to banish the night's darkness. *********************** The flight to DFW (Dallas Fort worth) was uneventful we as flew in a private jet. Johan led us to his mansion in his companies' limousine. I could sense, he was already making plans for redecoration and hiring new help. In spite of the tiresome journey he was so excited like a child at Heb Sed. He felt happy being back home. I could feel he was looking forward to showing me the sights of his world, to share with me everything in his life that he cherished. I too was looking forward to spending time with him, relaxing and having fun but there was much to be done. I had to bring the rogue world under my control and resolve the issues about the prophecies Octavius had mentioned. I had enough funds of my own; some of my burial treasure had been liquidated, which along with the money provided by the Elders would help me establish my kingdom. My only concern was finding servants, reliable and loyal servants. I could not just resurrect my dead brothers, although that thought crossed my mind more than once. Scavenging for their mummies would be a big waste of time. I surely wished I had more of the descendents of my faithful. I feel so handicapped with out them. I had to remedy the situation quickly. I needed strong loyal vampires who would act as my generals, to bring the rogue world under my domination. Johan slept much of the day and night he called it jet lag. I lay beside his bed looking at his angelic face, the one love in my new life sleeping so peacefully. Through our mental bond I could see the sweet dreams he was dreaming. Johan and I making love at the banks of a river with the sun setting and the water splashing on our naked bodies, I felt my manhood spring to life. He too was aroused, I fondled his phallus and he awoke at my touch. A smile quickly formed on his face when he saw me beside him. Unable to contain myself I pulled him close to me our groins pressed together. I kissed him passionately. "Mery". Johan whined, "I was having a wonderful dream". "Han, dear heart, I know, I could not help but wake you" I climbed on top of him planting kissed all over his face. He parted his legs. "It feels like I waited impossibly long for you to awaken, your dream didn't help either" I grinned. Johan blushed at the mention of the dream. My phallus was pointed to his nether orifice, he pushed himself upon it inviting me. I slowly but firmly pushed the crown of my phallus in. He moaned in pain and pleasure, I felt every sensation he was feeling. He raised his hips and I steadily pushed myself in. He grabbed onto the sheets hard, as I impaled him on my manhood. We began a gentle of rhythm of loving, dancing the delicate dance of lovemaking. With each thrust I felt desperation, an inexplicable sense of urgency to relinquish control over my body. His moans, those sensual moans drove me to sexual frenzy. Han was matching every thrust of mine, meeting my hips to his. A fever took over us and our gentle lovemaking turned into lustful fornication. I threw back my head with the impending orgasm, Han cried out as he shot his juices between us. His insides gripped my manhood in a vise and soon I emptied myself in him. I lay atop him, soaked in his seed, exhausted sated, his were fingers in my hair planting loving kisses. He made my life worth living. We were basking in the sexual after glow when someone knocked on our door. I was at first bewildered, then beside myself with fury. I had explicitly left orders not to be disturbed. It was a human, sensing my anger Johan covered himself and stepped out of the door. I could sense a women talking in distressed tone with him and handing him a child. He came in with a child no more than three years old. I instantly recognized him; he was one of my faithful. All my anger forgotten at the sight of this beautiful child, I beckoned Johan to bring him to me. "Miu-Oa meet my son Franz", Johan looking at his son and said "Franz this is um..". I took the child into my arms he was scared looking at his father. Johan was smiling at Franz reassuringly. I gazed into the child's blue eyes they were the same as his father's. He relaxed in my arms; I bit my finger and placed my bloody finger in his mouth he suckled on my finger like a newborn babe. As my blood mingled into his body, realization of our bond, realization of the ancient bond dawned upon the child. He smiled at me in the most adorable way. A feeling of intense love washed into me, Johan felt it as well. "Neb (Lord/Master)" Franz cried out elatedly and hugged me. I played with Franz while his father looked upon our games in amusement. I played games so ancient, it had been ages since anyone had played these dead games. Alas the child got tired and quickly fell asleep in my arms. I marveled at Franz, he was a bundle of joy. It was incredible how the little boy could monopolize me and make me forget the entire world. "Keep him safe Johan, he is most precious to me. Other than you, he is the sole survivor of my faithful." "I will my love, I will keep Franz safe" said Johan. We quickly bathed and readied ourselves there after for the gathering I had called earlier for all my retainers to meet and discuss the plans for future. The meeting was a tedious affair I ordered Dalton, Bartholomew, Mo and Yanomami under the direction of Octavius to make ready for the Heb Sed (Jubilee celebration). All the Elders, great and powerful of the their territories were to be invited. A formal edict to the vampires of the rogue world was to be issued under my name, claiming me as the lord of the rogue world. Further all those who wish my protection and seek position of power in my kingdom were to be invited to attend the Heb Sed and to prove their prowess. Johan had full control of my financial resources. He would over see the selection of the site of Heb Sed. Also he would make arrangements for renovation of the mansion and secure it, as it was a fortress. *********************** The following days to the commencement of the Heb Sed were a blur. Most of my time was spent making final decisions with regards to the security arrangements and all other administrative matters. It was decided that the Heb Sed was to be held on the shortest day of the year on winter solstice at a place Johan called the Grand Canyon. The Heb Sed was to last three days each day after festivities the Gladiator sport would be held for the elimination of the weak vampires and to draw out the best and most skilled. Heb Sed would be concluded on the final day with the induction of the victorious vampires into my service. On the first night of the Heb Sed, I stood on one of the weathered mountains with Johan beside me. Dark clouds obscured what few stars shined in the heavens, the moon a thin crescent almost non-existent. Behind me stood the Elders around the giant mound of the stone we stood on the elite vampires with a multitude of weapons stood guard. Upon the tiers of the red canyon were vampires from across the world, the wildest, the ferocious, the rogue vampires of the world stood in rapt attention to my presence. Vampires ranging from fledgling to ancient were in attendance. Their thoughts a constant rambling in my mind, some thought me to be a mere charlatan. Yet others looked upon me with the purest of adulation and some others skeptical as to the extent of my powers and inheritance. I closed my mind to their thoughts. Before me several hundred feet below was a circular arena flanked by a series of powerful lamps with no apparent flame in them. Also standing guard around the arena were the most skilled and powerful vampires. The physical barriers along with the vampire guards made sure the arena was secure. The glistening eyes of the vampires all over the canyon in utter darkness and the silence of the canyon that was only punctuated by the sounds of nocturnal fauna around made it a sight to behold. I stepped forward and with a clear baritone spoke in the language of the pale skinned. Learning the language was not a difficult task but Johan found my accented pronunciation amusing. "Welcome, welcome children of the night. Welcome Elders Rabbi, Abbot, Patriarch and Shaman to my jubilee celebration." The Elders with a slight bow acknowledged their presence. "I, High priest of the lord of underworld, king of gods Osiris, claim tonight my inheritance, the rogue worlds as my realm, as my kingdom. All who may oppose my claim are welcome to a blood duel." I paused for a short time, only silence greeted my challenge and I continued with a slight smile." I invite you all to participate in the gladiator games and win so you may join me in taming the rogue world. Swear fealty to me in your black hearts and my grace will be yours. Oppose me and I shall consign you to the deaths dark abyss." With a flick of my hand I willed the bonfire amidst the arena to flames. I could hear the gasps of the vampires all around. "I hereby declare the Heb Sed open." The gladiator Olympics began immediately after the fire works, which was preceded by the Elders speeches confirming their support to my claim of inheritance. A vampire would walk into the arena and scream a challenge. Accepting the challenge another vampire would fight until one of them yielded to defeat. These fights were not unto death, killing the opponent would cause immediate dismissal from the Olympics. After a vampire had won at least twenty-five fights or nobody challenged him he would automatically enter the second level of competition. Each time a vampire won, his opponent's victories would be transferred to him. After about twenty-four fights a savage looking vampire stood in the arena. He had a hulking personality a brutish face that radiated malice. I could not help but compare him with the demon guardians of the underworld. He had so far fought six consecutive fights and won, none of his defeated opponents could hold their ground for more than the time that took the sacred crocodiles to kill a man. He needed just one more victory to enter the second level. The spectator vampires around the arena chanted "Attila" over and over. He swirled a menacing mace and roared, the crowd cheered him on. This Attila certainly knew how to get the crowd worked up. His antics amused me. So far he had been able to win only because of his brute strength. Attila in a coarse voice called out "I am invincible, challenge me if you dare". He looked around and the crowd went silent, after what seemed to be an eternity a hooded vampire stepped into the arena. His face and his body were completely enshrouded in gray robes, all one could see were a pair of sparkling yellow eyes. Attila snarled at him. The hooded vampire in a distinctly calm tone, almost sonorous but with an edge to his voice spoke "Attila the barbarian I, Helios challenge your might". The challenger pushed back his hood. I guessed he was a vampire of about thousand years of age who stood facing the barbarian. He was a head taller than most humans and his lean build I believed belied his true strength. Long white mane of hair whipped back in the nights cool breeze, with an almost serene expression he took in the sights of the surroundings until his eyes met mine. I instinctively tried to probe his mind, but I was only met with a fortress like mental shields, that alone spoke a multitude about the vampire. I was impressed, he smiled as if he understood he had caught my attention and bowed low and stepped making sure that he never turned his back to me. The vampire moderating the game spoke in brief about the rules of combat to the combatants and quickly moved out of the way of the fight. Attila and Helios moved in circles measuring each other, Helios was yet to draw his weapon. Attila lunged at Helios, aiming the spiked mace at his head, Helios ducked as the mace swung above his head. Attila had to step back to regain his balance while Helios stood erect and drew his rapier in a flash. Attila swung his mace in criss-cross motion with lightening speed aiming at his opponent's rib cage. Helios still in defensive was pushed back until he reached the far side of the arena at which point he leapt, doing a back flip in the air landing to face Attila's back and jabbed his rapier savagely into his back. The rapier penetrated Attila's bull like hide but it didn't do any visible damage. Attila was surprised but he shrugged it off and turned to face Helios. With a roar, more out of annoyance than anger he attacked Helios with a volley of swings aiming at his head, torso and thighs at random. Helios skillfully dodged the attacks and managed to jab all over the brute's torso. Attila by now sported multiple streaks of blood all over his tunic. His annoyance quickly turned into anger, he bared his fangs and jumped high in the air and flung the mace at Helios. Helios for the first time looked surprised and at the last moment barely maneuvered the mace away from him with his rapier. The rapier twisted unto the mace and both the weapons lay on the ground discarded. Attila smiled menacingly, flexing his body in anticipation of hand-to-hand combat. Once again with a roar he attacked Helios, fists were thrown at each other, their hands a blur. Both the vampires moved at insanely inhuman speeds, every fist that connected with Helios's body made him stagger, even if they were only few but those of that connected with Attila did not seem to do any damage. The vampires disconnected from the combat panting, Helios was bruised all over and Attila was winded. Before Attila could catch his breath, Helios for the first time took the offensive and attacked with a series of kicks and punches. Attila was pushed back several steps before he could through any blows. Once again the fight was joined, Attila at last after prolonged battle managed to hold the challenger in a headlock and brought down his elbow onto his opponents back in a spine-shattering blow. Helios fell to the ground groaning with pain and Attila raised his feet to crush his opponent's rib cage to finish him off. When his foot was about to connect to his ribs he froze and fell with a shriek clutching his head. Helios slowly stood over the fallen brute, tightening his mental grip around Attila's mind. He calmly asked, "do you yield", he was only answered by grunts, and again he asked louder "do you yield". Attila almost in a whisper said, "I yield". The moderator walked in and declared Helios the victor. Helios let his mental grip go, but kept his peripheral vision on Attila until he was escorted out. He once again faced me and bowed and knelt. I stood, "Helios you fought bravely and with great cunning, you have accumulated twenty five victories by defeating Attila. By the rules of the fights you are now qualified to enter the second level of combat." "Thank you my lord Miu-Oa. I am honored to compete and prove myself worthy to serve you", Helios said and exited the arena by stepping back facing me. The night wore on with more fights, but none were as amusing as the one between Attila and Helios. I called the fights to a halt when the bloody red aura of the sun was beginning to emerge in the eastern sky. The surrounding human settlements were evacuated on the pretext of some natural disaster so that the vampires could find shelter in the daytime during Heb Sed. The second night passed by in the same manner with a total of twenty-four vampires emerging victorious. These twenty-four vampires would compete with each other in the second level. The second level tested the vampire's skill of stealth and mental powers. Each of the twenty-four vampires were given a specific piece of information, they would have to guard that information as best as they can. Not only did they have to physically fight but they also had to guard their minds at all times. The vampire who could successfully pry the information out of his opponent and keep his own information secret would win. The vampires were randomly paired with each other to make eleven pairs. This night there would be eleven fights. Helios was paired with Gabrielle, a very beautiful blonde vampire. She seemed puny before Helios, but I had seen her fight most fiercely and that too with only a staff. Both of the vampires bowed to me and bowed to each other before the fight. Without out even a second to spare Gabrielle attacked with lightening speed, Helios was barely able to fend off and draw his rapier. Each was trying to out match the other in speed and agility. Gabrielle's staff was whirring at a disorienting speed, aggressively battling the rapier to connect with her opponent's body. The staff would whiz to break the kneecaps and Helios would effortlessly jump over dodging. He would bring down the rapier in a decapitating motion and the staff batted it away with ease. No matter how hard Helios tried he could not get his rapier close to hurt her, the seven feet long staff kept him at bay. Helios and Gabrielle were quickly tiring and none had a significant advantage over the other. Helios made the first attempt to probe her mind, she quickly gripped him in a mind lock, while they battled physically only through their instincts. The mental battle was joined each tried to tear down the others mental barriers. Gabrielle devised a mental sword to stab into her opponents mind. Helios cried out in pain and almost collapsed, Gabrielle was sifting through Helios's thoughts systematically. She was running into the same memories over and over like she was running in circles. She grew frustrated and let her defenses slip, that's when he struck at the core of her consciousness and spread his tendrils to probe. None of the information clicked with the one he had, he was baffled and then delved deep into her sub conscience, that's where he saw the image of queen Nefertiti and that clicked with the Akhenaten he had in his mind. He pulled out quickly and they both collapsed in exhaustion. I probed both of their minds and found Helios victorious. I could see the signs of the mental struggle and found both had fought valiantly. I felt letting the defeated go would be a waste of talent. I decided to take the defeated as well into my service, to serve under the victorious as their sub ordinates. Gabrielle and others like her would be a valuable addition to my family and help me keep their superiors in check. At the end of the third night eleven skilled vampires emerged victorious. They knelt bowing to me, reciting the oath of loyalty and service. As they intoned the oath I entered their minds, cursorily checked for deception and formed the bonds of oath. They rose upon my acceptance of their fealty. Each pierced their chest with a small tube like needle drawing out their hearts blood. The blood was deposited in an ebony chalice, combined with a little of my own blood. Mixing the blood I called the magic of bonding by drawing the archaic symbols on the bloods surface and drank most of it. Each of my new elite drank a little of the blood and the bonds of service were permanently established. I repeated the same with the defeated as well. With the conclusion of this ceremony the Heb Sed ended. I traveled back to our mansion in Dallas along with my retainers including my twenty-four new elite. *********************** The Elders met to discuss the growing influence of the Ker Heb Miu-Oa after the jubilee at their secret base. They had all received the distressing reports from their champions who were assigned to the Ker Heb. They were concerned that Miu-Oa was asking too many questions about the vampire prophecies and the absence of his faithful was increasingly on his mind. The devious Octavius was not helping matters by assisting the Ker Heb in uncovering their plots. The Ker Heb had even asked for a copy of the secret book of the prophecies during the jubilee. They of course had put off from giving the book right away. The Elders had decided to give him the edited version of the book thereby ensuring at least a modicum of secrecy. The Elders had decided the situation was fast growing out of their control. It was only a matter of time before the Ker Heb would discover their deception and there was no knowing how he would react to his discovery. "Something must be done, something must be done quickly" said the Patriarch nervously. "Calm down Father, the situation might still be redeemable, we must act with utmost stealth and cunning. The high priest is a threat that is for sure, but dare we interfere with the prophecy? There is hope yet; he might still be tamed to guarantee our existence and our supremacy" said the Rabbi. "Do you have a plan in mind Rabbi?" said the Shaman. "No, but we have to come up with one soon or all will be lost?" the Rabbi said. "Do we attack him while his control over the rogue world is still tenuous?" asked the Abbot. "No, no he is more powerful than we are, even when he is most vulnerable he will be able to easily defeat us. All of us! Don't you remember the strength of out sires? No our aim should not be to kill him, because it's just not possible. Instead we must aim to handicap him somehow, remove his fangs and render him powerless." The question was how they would cripple the Ker Heb with seemingly no apparent involvement from their part. The Elders each contemplated the possible solutions for their problem. They discussed several possible plans but none was acceptable, each had too many uncontrollable variables. With no acceptable solution in view they agreed to think it through further and meanwhile monitor the situation and meet back in a year's time. They would each formulate a plan and meet back to decide on the most viable plan if the Ker Heb was still perceived as a threat.